Essex Wine Review

Winemaker’s Notes:
This full bodied Meritage is a blend of 64% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc. Each variety was aged over twelve months in French oak barrels before being blended.

This Meritage is full of flavours including: cherries, plums, and dark chocolate. An excellent pairing for steak, braised lamb shanks or roast beef.

Hand-harvested: between October 6th and October 22nd, 2008
Total production: 85 cases

VQA Lake Erie North shore

12.9% alc./vol.
unfiltered

Price: 750 mL $30

Rate and review Muscedere Vineyards Meritage 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Bird Dog has developed kind a cult following in “The County” and this ’05 is a great example of why. This a serious, full-bodied wine with a prominent whack of oak – however, with extended cellar time at the winery it has become really nicely integrated and lost most of the youthful, astringent edge seen in its earlier tastings. It is still very firm though, packing a good tannic punch on the finish and would continue to age nicely in your cellar through 2015. At the time of this tasting (Nov. 2009) it showed deeply extracted ruby colours and was just beginning to take on some lovely, mature, garnet hues. The palate was also evolved, with all that sweet, elegant oak and notes of old leather in the forefront nicely integrated into the core of jammy raspberry fruit. This is a great fall/winter wine to serve with hearty braised meats or Sunday roasts.

Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Cabernet Franc 35%, Merlot 25%

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
13.5% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $19.95

Rate and review Sanson Bird Dog Red 2005

Winemaker’s Notes:
Serenade your palate! A passionate duet of fine wine and the melodic harmonies of Pavlo’s Mediterranean music. Mastronardi’s finest hand selected grapes create this exquisite Meritage with aromatic anise, velvety dark chocolate and hints of black current. Match with lamb or full flavoured entrées

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
13% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $30

Rate and review Mastronardi Pavlo Signature Reserve Meritage 2006.

Winemaker’s Notes:
A classic blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes in the style of the classic wines of Bordeaux. Complex, concentrated wine that combines richness with elegance. Aged for 16 months in French and Hungarian barrique barrels.

A full-bodied wine with lots of character, this wine will continue the tradition of excellence which began with the “Vinedressers” of Pelee Island Winery, to shine into the next millennium.

While strolling through the vineyards taking a look at the progress of our grapes, we decided that it was high time to add another premium brand to our line of Vinedresser Series wines. Seeing as we had enough matured fruit on vines that had been planted for fifteen years or so, we hand selected the grapes and came up with a wonderful blend idea. We would try our hand at a Bordeleaux blend known widely as Meritage. This vintage has excellent aging potential that we expect will continue well beyond 2006.

One sip of this wine and you’ll see why it deserves such a prestigious name. A wine this rich and flavourful would be excellent served at room temperature with tender cut of prime rib or all on its own.

Years ago, in an international contest to name the distinct blend of “Meritage,” the name was chosen as a word that combined “merit” and “heritage” to reflect the spirit of the members of “The Meritage Association.”

GRAPES:
50% Cabernet Franc 2003,
30% Cabernet Sauvignon 2003,
20% Merlot 2003

BRIX: 21.4
ALCOHOL: 13% alc./vol.
ACID: 5.3 g/L
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 2.5 g/L
Sugar Code: (0)

VQA Pelee Island

Price: 750mL bottle – $24.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Meritage 2003

Winemaker’s Notes:
The first Meritage release from Muscedere Vineyards. Aged eighteen months in French oak barrels. It is a blend of our finest hand-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabenet Franc grapes. The Mertitage is full of flavours including: cherries, plums, and dark chocolate.

An excellent pairing for steak, lamb or big game dishes.

Total production: 85 cases.

Price: 750 mL $25

CLICK HERE to rate and review Muscedere Vineyards Meritage 2006.

Winemaker’s Notes:
An exceptionally elegant full bodied wine that displays aromatic layers of licorice, fresh herbs and sweet tobacco. Velvety dark chocolate and blackberry on the palate. Match with grilled meats and well ripened cheeses.
Sugar Code: 0

You can rate and review this wine HERE