Essex Wine Review

Winemaker’s Notes:
Brilliant! Full bodied and delicious this wine offers the palate a rich variation of flavors to explore. The bright aromas of red licorice and cherry reflect in a wine exhibiting great balance amongst fruit, acid, tannin, and body. The mid palate is lush and hints at black cherry, with an excellent finish that lingers on the tongue and in the mind. Enjoy.

Blends:
40% Cabernet Sauvignon
30% Cabernet Franc
30% Merlot

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
13% alc./vol.
Sugar Code: 0

Price: 750 mL $21.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Meritage 2007

Winemaker’s Notes:
These grapes were left on the vine until early October.

This wine would be excellent slightly chilled and served with a beef or lamb dish. A superb choice for the summer BBQ or dinner table.

GRAPES: 85% Merlot, 15% Zweigelt
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 3.0 g/L
SUGAR CODE: (0)

Price: 750 mL $12.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Merlot Reserve 2009

Winemaker’s Notes:
None available at this time.

(Not available at the winery, available at LCBO locations only)
LCBO #220723

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

Price: 750 mL $12.95

Rate and review Viewpointe Cabernet Merlot 2006.

Colio Estate Vineyards (CEV)-Ultra Premium

Colour: Garnet
Bouquet: Fresh, dark fruit, earthiness
Taste: Blackberry, raspberry, cedar and firm tannins
Serve at: 10º – 12º C

Winemakers Notes:
A short, warm spring in the Lake Erie North Shore was followed by a hot, relatively dry summer which allowed for ample maturation of most red grape varieties.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

Blend: Merlot 60%, Cabernet Franc 40%
Brix at Harvest: Merlot 21.0, Cabernet Franc 20.9
Fermentation: Whole berry on skins for 10-14 days
Aging: 18 months in oak barrels
Residual Sugar: 2 g/l
Alcohol Content: 13.0 %
Production: 2000 cases

Food Match: Vegetarian, Veal, Pork, Lamb, Cheeses-strong, Beef-roasted, Beef-grilled

Awards & Reviews:
Silver medal winner at the 2010 Shores of Erie Wine Festival competition.
Gold medal winner at the 2010 Great Lakes Wine Competition.
Bronze medal winner at the 2010 Canadian Wine Awards.

Price: 750 mL – $20.75

Rate and review Colio CEV Meritage 2006

Winemaker’s Notes:
She’s back and better than ever – fresh and lively – a light bodied crowd pleaser.

Gamay / Chambourcin / Merlot blend
VQA Ontario

11% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $12

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Ruby Tuesday 2009.

Winemaker’s Notes:
One of our fullest reds, with the warmhearted character that Merlot fans enjoy. A good balance of richness, mellow sweet flavours and the essential bite for food.

A wine of dark red colour rounded through oak aging with a hint of black cuurant flavour.

GRAPES: 85% Merlot, 15% Zweigelt
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
VQA Ontario

Price: 750 mL $12.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Merlot 2008.

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.

CEV Signature Series-Limited Edition Wines

Winemaker’s Notes:
A cool spring with relatively normal rainfall was followed by a hot, dry summer with an extended warm, dry autumn creating excellent ripening conditions for the Bordeaux varietals that demanded just that. Chocolate, blueberry and dark toast highlight the nose while the taste expresses choclolate, white pepper, and ripe blueberries with a longstanding fruit finish.

The award winning wines that wear our CEV label are the ultimate expression of our winemaker’s art. Ultra Premium, hand crafted VQA wines.

Colour: Dark garnet
Harvest Date(s): September 27, October 1, 3, 2005
Bouquet: Chocolate, blueberry and dark toast highlight the nose
Taste: Chocolate, white pepper and ripe blueberries with a longstanding fruit finish
Serve at: 18º – 20º C
Blend: 100% Merlot
Brix at Harvest: 21.6
Fermentation: Stainless steel tanks, 10 to 14 days on skins
Aging: 20 months in oak barrels
Residual Sugar: 3 g/l
Alcohol Content: 12.7%
Production: 1100 cases
Winemaker: Tim Reilly
Food Match: Veal, Lamb, Cheeses-strong, Beef-roasted, Beef-grilled

Awards:
2009 Great Lakes Wine Competition: Double Gold Medal
2009 Ontario Wine Awards: Silver Medal
2008 Ontario wine Awards: Bronze

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

Price: 750 mL – $20.75

Rate and review Colio CEV Merlot Reserve 2005

Colio Estate – Lake & River Series

Winemaker’s Notes:
Colour: Light garnet
Bouquet: Blackberry, raspberry and bing cherry
Taste: Tart dark berry, pepper and plum, light oak finsh
Serve at: 15º – 18º C
Brix at Harvest: 20.63 combined average
Fermentation: Stainless steel tanks, 10 to 14 days on the skins
Aging: 12 months in oak barrels
Residual Sugar: 2 g/l
Production: 4444 cases
Winemaker: Tim Reilly
Food Match: Beef-grilled, Cheeses-strong, Lamb, Pasta-tomato based

VQA Ontario

Blend:
Cabernet Franc 62.5%,
Shiraz 12.5%,
Merlot 12.5%,
Cabernet Sauvignon 12.5%

Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Sugar code: (0)

Price: 750 mL – $10.75

Rate and review Colio River Rock Red 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
One of our fullest reds, with the warmhearted character that Merlot fans enjoy. A good balance of richness, mellow sweet flavours and the essential bite for food. Delicious now but could be aged a year or two.

These grapes were left on the vine until early October.

This wine would be excellent slightly chilled and served with a beef or lamb dish. A superb choice for the summer BBQ or dinner table.

GRAPES: 85% Merlot – 15% Zweigelt
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 3.0 g/L
Sugar Code: (0)

VQA Ontario

Price: 750 mL $12.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Merlot Reserve 2008