Essex Wine Review

Winemaker’s Notes:
A wonderful expression of Merlot that exhibits bold and intense licorice and plum notes. The mouthfeel is clean and full bodied with a dry finish. This wine is perfect for aging and will show it’s best in 2-3 years.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

Released On: August 20th, 2011
Category: Dry Red Wine
Oaked: 20 months
Blends: 100% Merlot
Sugar: 0
Serve At: 12°C (53.6°F)

Price: 750 mL $24.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Hawk’s Flight Merlot Reserve 2008

Winemaker’s Notes:
I think I detect a slight change of style this year. Previous vintages seemed to have a more defined oak influence but this one is really focused on fruit character – Baco fans can rejoice! Lots of that brambly elderberry and wild currant aroma and flavour backed by the lively, juicy acidity that purists love. There are still evident notes of wood to add complexity but this wine is like the old Tiger’s Stadium compared to that damned new “ballpark” they have – one for the purists.

VQA Ontario
12.5 alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $24.95

Rate and review Sanson Baco Noir Reserve 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Full bodied, bold tannins with blackberry and licorce flavours. Serve with steak, veal, chocolate or aged cheese.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12.5% alc./vol.
Sugar Code: 0

Price: 750 mL $24.95

Rate and review Sprucewood Shores Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007

On the heels of a marginally cool spring, the warm, dry 2007 summer made way for timely rains in the early fall and excellent ripening conditions in the Lake Erie North Shore.

Colour: Pale straw
Bouquet: Honey, melons and baked apple
Taste: Green apple, lemon zest and honey finish
Serve at: 8º – 10º C
Blend: Riesling 100%
Harvest Date: Oct 9, 10, 11, 2007
Brix at Harvest: 18.2
Fermentation: Stainless steel tanks
Aging: Stainless steel tanks
Residual Sugar: 9 g/l
Alcohol Content: 11.5 %
Production: 1100 cases
Winemaker: Tim Reilly
Food Match: Vegetarian, Turkey, Thai, Seafood, Salmon, Pork, Oriental, Fish – Light Flavoured, Chicken, Cheeses-mild

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

Price: 750 mL – $15.35

Rate and review Colio CEV Riesling Reserve 2007

Winemaker’s Notes:
Not quite a dry wine, Gewurztraminer is a pleasant afternoon glass by itself, and has enough weight and length to match well with spicy dishes, seared scallops or veal scallopini.

GRAPES: 100% Gewurztraminer
Alcohol: 12.5 %
Sugar Code: (1)

VQA Ontario

Price: 750 mL $14.95

Rate and review Pelee Island Gewurztraminer Reserve 2006

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

Winemaker’s Notes:
The great 2007 vintage, but a reserve aged in French Oak for 18 months. Like the 05 Reserve, this one is selling quickly at this great price.

The Bordeaux variety is particularly well suited to Essex County with our long and warm summers that continue into the fall. The result is a rich full flavoured red wine which has been gently aged in French oak barrels.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12% alc./vol

Price: 750 mL $18.95

Rate and review Erie Shore Cabernet Reserve Reserve 2007.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Aged 12 months in French oak, this red wine displays a radiant crimson colour with full-bodied mouth feel. The fruit driven intensity on the palette gives way to a smooth well balanced finish.

A wonderful partner with strong cheeses, grilled meats or game.

Awards:
2009 “All Canadian Wine Championship” Bronze medal

Hand-harvested on September 24th, 2007
Total production: 330 cases.

VQA Ontario
Unfiltered
13.3.% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $18

Rate and review Muscedere Vineyards Baco Noir Reserve 2007

Winemaker’s Notes:
This rich dark full-bodied wine was made from the oldest vines on the property, planted in 1984. Fermented on its skins for seven days, barrel aged for 18 months, this wine is drinking now but will improve with age. Cellar potential up to three to five years.
 

Vintner: Sal D’Angelo
 
14% alc./vol.
Sugar Code: (0) – “off dry”

Price: 750 mL $20

Rate and review D’Angelo Estate Old Vines Foch Reserve 2005.

Winemaker’s Notes:
An intense dry red and aged in oak barrels for eighteen months. This wine has good tannins and structure and will develop in the cellar for three to five years.

Vintner: Sal D’Angelo

13.5% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $20

CLICK HERE to rate and review D’Angelo Vineyards Cabernet Franc RESERVE 2005.