Wine Review – Hidden Bench Locust Lane Rosé 2015

A delightful, balanced, and complex rosé from Hidden Bench… Name: Locust Lane Rosé Vintage: 2015 Producer: Hidden Bench Vineyards and Winery Region/Country: Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Unknown Consumed: At home Recommended By: Harald Thiel, Proprietor and Vigneron Cost: $19.75 (from the winery) Bottle Presentation: Simple, recognizable label. Appearance: Pale salmon, although you could … Read more

Wine Review – Megalomaniac Pink Slip 2015

For once, we were delighted by a pink slip… Name: Pink Slip Vintage: 2015 Producer: Megalomaniac Region/Country: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon Consumed: At home Recommended By: Pick randomly off the Rosé shelf at the LCBO. Cost: $19.95 CAD Bottle Presentation: Distinctive, recognizable label, which fits with the philosophy of … Read more

Wine Review – 13th Street Cellar Door Cabernet Franc 2013

13th Street Cellar Door Club members rejoice with this great, exclusive Cabernet Franc… Name: Cellar Door Cabernet Franc, Members’ Selection Vintage: 2013 Producer: 13th Street Winery Region/Country: Creek Shores, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Cabernet Franc Consumed: March 25th 2017 at home Recommended By: Jean-Pierre Colas, the winemaker Cost: Gift Bottle Presentation: Distinct, with a somewhat … Read more

Wine Review – 13th Street Viognier 2015

A well-balanced Viognier, with a burst of flavours to entertain your palate… Name: 13th Street Viognier Vintage: 2015 Producer: 13th Street Winery Region/Country: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Viognier Consumed: At home Recommended By: The affable, self-assured 13th Street winemaker, Jean-Pierre Colas Cost: $19.95 Bottle Presentation: Clean, classy, and easy to read. Appearance: Pale … Read more

Wine Review – Coteau Rougemont Versant Rouge 2015

Still searching for a point of comparison… Name: Versant Rouge Vintage: 2015 Producer: Vignoble et Cidrerie Coteau Rougemont Region/Country: Québec, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Frontenac Noir and Marquette (proportions unknown) Consumed: On a weekend getaway in Montreal Recommended By: Filled a display case at the SAQ in Montreal. Cost: $15.20 Bottle Presentation: A clean, distinctive look, … Read more

Wine Review – Hidden Bench 2012 Pinot Noir Felseck

A good example of a Niagara (Ontario) Pinot Noir… Name: Pinot Noir Felseck Vineyard Vintage: 2012 Producer: Hidden Bench Vineyards & Winery Region/Country: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Pinot Noir Consumed: At home on a cool autumn evening Recommended By: Harald Thiel, proprietor and vigneron Cost: $38 Bottle Presentation: Distinctive, easy on the … Read more

Wine Review – Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Réserve 2011

Still our house red… Name: Baco Noir Réserve Vintage: 2011 Producer: Henry of Pelham Region/Country: Niagara, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Baco Noir Consumed: Over a beef tenderloin holiday dinner with family Recommended By: Paul Speck, President, Henry of Pelham Family Estate Cost: $25 Bottle Presentation: Distinctive dark blue Henry of Pelham label, although we know … Read more

Wine Review – Hidden Bench 2013 Riesling Felseck Vineyard

A well-balanced, good example of a Niagara Riesling… Name: Riesling Felseck Vineyard Vintage: 2013 Producer: Hidden Bench Vineyards & Winery Region/Country: Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Ontario, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Riesling Consumed: At home Recommended By: Harald Thiel, proprietor and vigneron Cost: $28 CAD Bottle Presentation: Distinctive and easy to read. The fonts hold well together. Although … Read more

Wine Review – Palatine Hills Estate Winery 2014 Neufeld Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

A crisp, balanced Sauvignon Blanc without an aggressive kick in the… Name: Palatine Hills Estate Winery 2014 Neufeld Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Vintage: 2014 Producer: Palatine Hills Estate Winery Region/Country: Niagara Lakeshore VQA Grape Varietal(s): Sauvignon Blanc Consumed: At home with a creamy risotto dish Recommended By: Jeff Innes, Winemaker at Palatine Hills Cost: Unknown, but … Read more

Wine Review – Palatine Hills Estate Winery 2015 Riesling

If you like sweet, fruity Riesling, this one’s for you… Name: Palatine Hills Estate Winery 2015 Riesling Vintage: 2015 Producer: Palatine Hills Estate Winery Region/Country: Niagara Lakeshore VQA Grape Varietal(s): Riesling Consumed: At home on another beautiful summer’s evening Recommended By: Jeff Innes, Winemaker at Palatine Hills Cost: $13.00 Bottle Presentation: Clean, simple label, but … Read more