Essex Wine Review

Winemaker’s Notes:
Character: Cool spice and a just a hint of sweetness give our Gewurztraminer lots of character, with a flowery nose and refreshing acidity in the finish.

Pleasant Pairings: Rich food like pork or ham work well here, especially when served with a fruit chutney or aromatic spices like cinnamon, clove, ginger or curry.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $13

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Gewurztraminer 2009

Winemaker’s Notes:
(vee-own-yay) A wonderfully floral white from the Northern Rhone valley, this grape carries a creamy mouth feel with notes of honey and stone fruits.

Pleasant Pairings: This is a great wine with food! Spicy – but not hot – flavours, like ginger, turmeric and cumin are good partners here, as are game meats such as goose, turkey, and duck.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
Estate Bottled
12.3% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $13

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Viognier 2008

Winemaker’s Notes:
One of our flagship wines, Rondeau is a simple, tasty, unoaked Gamay/merlot blend with hints of black pepper and cinnamon. Pleasant Pairings: Rondeau works beautifully with grilled and charred foods, black olives, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.

VQA Ontario
11% alc./vol.
Price: 750 mL $13

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Rondeau Red 2009

Winemaker’s Notes:
A Rose made in the traditional manner – red Chambourcin grapes rested on their skins for a short time after hand-picking, then pressed and fermented off the skins. Just slightly sweet, Ridge Rock is a brilliant cranberry colour and carried just a suggestion of cranberries and almonds on the palate.
Pleasant Pairings: Poultry and pork dishes are enhanced by our rose, and it makes for a lovely lunch partner. Also a nice accompaniment to paté and French bread in the picnic basket.

VQA Ontario

11.8% alc./vol.
Price: 750 mL $12

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Red Rock Rosé 2008.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Medium dry Cab Franc.
Plumy fruits, zesty, dark and rich – an unoaked, tasty food wine.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
11% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $13

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Merlin Rouge 2009

Winemaker’s Notes:
Fruit Wine – Montmorency Cherry

Just made for the patio and a hot summer day! Great for spritzers.

A light fruit wine with surprisingly intense cherry flavour. Three Belles is perfect for sipping under a shady tree after a day in the garden. Try this with some crushed ice and sparkling water for a refreshing spritzer. Excellent served chilled as a light dessert wine.

Pleasant Pairings. Fine on its own but if you want something to nibble, try Three Belles served with a very light, simple appetizer – a shrimp ring or melon platter. Tasty with poultry and pork recipes too.

11% alc./vol.
Price: 750 mL $12

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Three Belles 2005.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Fruit Wine – Raspberry / Apple

This light and refreshing wine is the ultimate patio sipper, served well chilled on a hot summer day. Razzleberry is a blend of 2 wines – locally grown apples and raspberries grown right here on the farm.

Pleasant Pairings. This gem is wonderful as a summer sipping wine on its own, or over ice. Razzleberry pairs well with a not-too-sweet chocolate dessert. A plate of mild cheeses would also pair nicely with Razzleberry.

10.9% alc./vol.
Price: 750 mL $13

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Razzleberry 2009

Winemaker’s Notes:
Crisp and ready to quench your thirst.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12.5% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $14

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Pinot Grigio 2009

Winemaker’s Notes:
Dry and slightly oaked blend of Viognier and Chardonnay. A complex treat.

VQA Lake Erie North Shore
12% alc./vol.

Price: 750 mL $14

Rate and review Smith & Wilson Lighthouse 2009.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Delicous & decadent, black currant dessert wine.

Fruit Wine
9.3% alc./vol.

Price: 375 mL $17

Rate and review Smith & Wilson A Currant Affair 2004