Taste of the County Wines



Essex Wine Review, Wine of the Month, March 2010
Wine of the Month - March 2010
Aleksander Estate Chardonnay 2008

I can't help but think about how busy it must be at local wineries in the month of March as I enjoy this Chardonnay. Prunning is well underway as the wineries wonder what will be in store for the 2010 vintage.

Aleksander Estate Winery has been producing a lovely Chardonnay and this 2008 is no exception. I tasted this wine last May shortly afer it was bottled. It was quite good then and seems to be really improving as it sits in the bottle. Wonderful citrus notes greet the palate. There is a nice balance of acidity and sugar making this a nice quaffer.

Aleksander's 2007 Chardonnay sold out without much notice. If you haven't tried this one yet, get it before it's gone.

CLICK HERE to see reviews of Aleksander Estate Chardonnay 2008



Essex Wine Review







Wine Reviews - Lake Erie North Shore


Pelee Island Pinot Noir Reserve 2008 Review

Sun 7, Feb. 10
2 Reviews
0 Reviews
5 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
Ripe smooth and polished, this full-bodied Pinot Noir has elegant black cherry, currant and toasted oak flvours. This wine is best enjoyed with red meats, roast pork and ham.

The harvest for these grapes was in late September when they had reached 22.8 brix. The grapes were crushed but not pressed, then placed in a temperature-controlled rotary fermenter (18-20 degrees Celsius) for 5 to 7 days to draw out the colour from the skins. They were then pressed and the juice was placed in European-style French Oak barrels to finish fermenting. After about two weeks the wine was racked into an aging-barrel.

During maturation, the wine spent about eight to twelve months in European-style French Oak barrels with about 25 to 30% of the wine experiencing a malolactic fermentation.

This wine is best when enjoyed with grilled or roasted red meats, roasted pork, ham and Atlantic Salmon.

GRAPES: 100% Pinot Noir
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 2.9 g/L
Sugar Code: (0)

VQA Pelee Island

Price: 750 mL $14.95

Awards: 2009 Ontario Wine Awards BRONZE

Rate and review Pelee Island Pinot Noir Reserve 2007

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Colio CEV Pinot Noir 2007 Review

Wed 4, Nov. 09
1 Reviews
0 Reviews
5 overall score

CEV Signature Series-Limited Edition Wines

Winemaker’s Notes:
Aromas of cherry, dark chocolate and smoke with ripe cherry, plum and toasted vanilla flavours

Colour: Light ruby
Serve at: 15º - 17º C
Blend: Pinot Noir 100%
Brix at Harvest: 19.8
Fermentation: 10 to 14 days on the skins
Aging: 14 months in European oak
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Alcohol Content: 12.5 %
Production: 550 cases
Winemaker: Tim Reilly

Price: 750 mL - $19.75

AWARDS:
Silver Medal at the 2009 All-Canadian Wine Championships
Bronze medal winner at the 2009 Great Lakes Wine Competition

Rate and review Colio CEV Pinot Noir 2007.

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Pelee Island Pinot Noir 2008 Review

Sat 19, Sep. 09
1 Reviews
0 Reviews
3 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
This wine is best served at room temperature with grilled or roasted red meat, game, ham, roast pork or grilled Atlantic salmon.

Our Pinot Noir is a medium red wine with a leather / tobacco aroma and a distinctive tannic finish.

PINOT NOIR
This Burgundy grape is one of the oldest varieties cultivated by man. On Pelee Island it thrives in a microclimate that enjoys the longest growing season with the greatest amount of heat units in Canada.

VQA Ontario

GRAPES: 85% Pinot Noir - 15% Zweigelt
ALCOHOL: 13%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 3.9 g/L

Price: 750 ML $12.45

Rate and review Pelee Island Pinot Noir 2008.

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Smith & Wilson End Of The Line 2008 Review

Fri 31, Jul. 09
1 Reviews
0 Reviews
5 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
Our first white blend. Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris & Pinot Noir (vinted off the skins)

VQA Ontario
12% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $13

Rate and review Smith & Wilson End Of The Line 2008.

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Sprucewood Shores Pinot Noir 2007 Review

Sat 18, Jul. 09
3 Reviews
0 Reviews
2.73 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
This Pinot is considered a light-bodied wine, but be prepared for a big burst of flavour. Explore the many facets of this versatile wine as you go from toasty mint, cherry, strawberry, and oak, to a soft lingering sensation on your palate.

Serve with cheese and crackers or grilled summer vegetables and chicken.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12.7% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $14.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Pinot Noir 2007

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    • 3.7 from 5
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    • 2.0 from 5

Muscedere Vineyards Pinot Noir 2007 Review

Thu 7, May. 09
2 Reviews
0 Reviews
5 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
A follow-up to our 2006 All-Canadian Wine Championship Best of Category Pinot Noir. This Pinot Noir promises to be even better. Again due to its finicky nature, we spent extra time in the vineyard to care for this delicate variety. We kept our yields low, only permitting one cluster per shoot, which allowed the grapes to mature to their maximum potential. This Pinot Noir is an elegant light-bodied red wine with a slight hint of oak and smooth finish. A wonderful partner with grilled pork and seafood dishes.

Hand-harvested on September 6th, 2007
Total production: 50 cases.

Unfiltered
12.9% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $35 Now $30

Rate and review Muscedere Vineyards Pinot Noir 2007

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Sprucewood Shores Rose 2007 Review

Fri 24, Apr. 09
1 Reviews
0 Reviews
5 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
Grapes hand-selected from our Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc vines were chosen to create this delicious Rose wine reminiscent of cotton candy. Perfumed nuances of rose and black cherry surprise you with their sweet elegance and clean finish; this refreshing blush wine is an enjoyment to drink. Bring this rose under your arm to any party!

Sugare Code: (2)
11.5% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $10.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Rose 2007.

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Viewpointe Pinot Noir 2005 Review

Thu 16, Apr. 09
1 Reviews
0 Reviews
4.8 overall score

Viewpointe Pinot Noir 2005

2005 FINE POINTE - Pinot Noir VQA

Winemaker’s Notes:
Nose of smoky earth and strawberry, flavours of strawberry compote, cherry and cinnamon. Solid tannins.

Food Pairing:
Porkloin with mushrooms. Great for most holidays.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12.7% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $20.15

Rate and review Viewpointe Pinot Noir 2005

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Pelee Island Pinot Noir 2007 Review

Sat 11, Apr. 09
2 Reviews
0 Reviews
4.4 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
Our Pinot Noir is a medium red wine with a leather/ tobacco aroma and a distinctive tannic finish.

This wine is best served at room temperature with grilled or roasted red meat, game, ham, roast pork or grilled Atlantic salmon.

Pinot Noir: This Burgundy grape is one of the oldest varieties cultivated by man. On Pelee Island it thrives in a microclimate that enjoys the longest growing season with the greatest amount of heat units in Canada.

GRAPES: 100% Pinot Noir
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
ACID: 5.7 g/L
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 3.9 g/L

VQA Ontario

Price: 750 mL $12.45

Rate and review Pelee Island Pinot Noir 2007.

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Aleksander Estate Pinot Noir 2007 Review

Sun 15, Mar. 09
3 Reviews
0 Reviews
4.4 overall score

Winemaker’s Notes:
Reserve 2007 Vintage Pinot Noir is a medium bodied, dry red wine with aromas of strawberries, earth, livorice and toffee. Gentle but firm tannins are complemented by ripe berry flavours.

Food Pairings:
Enjoy with hearty stews, game birds, grilled salmon and cheeses.

12.8% alc./vol.
Small vintage lot - (only 35 cases - 420 bottles)

Price: 750 mL $24.95

CLICK HERE to rate and review Aleksander Estate Pinot Noir 2007.

    Colour ....................
    • 4.7 from 5
    Aroma ....................
    • 4.7 from 5
    Taste ......................
    • 4.7 from 5
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    Overall Impression ....
    • 4.3 from 5
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