Our wine reviews
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
A very good example of a classic Pinot Noir… Name: Fox by John Belsham 2014 Pinot Noir Vintage: 2014 Producer: Foxes Island Wines Region/Country: Marlborough, New Zealand Grape Varietal(s): Pinot Noir Consumed: At home Recommended By: End of the bin at the LCBO Cost: $27.95 Bottle Presentation: Simple, clean label, with a subtle texture Appearance: … Read more
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
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
A very good, home grown, Pinot Noir… Name: Pinot Noir Vintage: 2012 Producer: Stoneboat Vineyards Region/Country: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada Grape Varietal(s): Pinot Noir Consumed: At home Recommended By: End of the bin at the LCBO Cost: $29.95 Bottle Presentation: Simple, unassuming label, which would blend in with many others on the shelf Appearance: … Read more
You know you have a great bottle of wine when you look forward to drinking it again… Name: CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Vintage: 2009 Producer: Tenuta CastelGiocondo, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Region/Country: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy Grape Varietal(s): Sangiovese Consumed: October 1st 2016 at home Recommended By: LCBO vintages Cost: $50 Bottle Presentation: Classic and distinctive. We … Read more
Young, full-bodied, and Intense… Name: Supreno Vintage: 2013 Producer: Alma – Santa Maria della Versa Region/Country: Puglia, Italy Grape Varietal(s): Sangiovese, Merlot Consumed: Firegrill Restaurant, Montreal Recommended By: An amiable waitress at the Firegrill Restaurant Cost: $59.00 Bottle Presentation: Modern, bordering on dramatic (somehow reminiscent of Dracula), would definitely stand out on the shelf Appearance: … Read more
A light, dry rosé with plenty of floral notes… Name: L’Opaline Vintage: 2015 Producer: Pure Provence SARL Region/Country: Provence, France Grape Varietal(s): Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault Consumed: At Le Riverain Restaurant, Fairmont Le Château Montebello Recommended By: The waitress at Le Riverain. Cost: $12.50 per glass. Bottle Presentation: Simple, yet modern and stylish. Appearance: Pale salmon. … Read more
Able to pair with multiple foods… Name: Château du Port Vintage: 2009 Producer: Domaine Pelvillain Frères Region/Country: Cahors, France Grape Varietal(s): Malbec 90%, Merlot 10% Consumed: At Aux Chantignolles Restaurant, Fairmont Le Château Montebello Recommended By: Marie-France, the Maître D. Cost: N/A Bottle Presentation: Classic, conservative – unlikely to catch your eye on the shelf … Read more
Paired surprisingly well with a summer BBQ… Name: Vérité Grande Cuvée Vintage: 2014 Producer: Laurent Miquel Region/Country: Pays d’Oc, France Grape Varietal(s): Viognier Consumed: at home Recommended By: SAQ selection Cost: $24.15 (SAQ) Bottle Presentation: Textured, simple and elegant label, although the top and bottom pieces are at stylistic odds, which detracts from the overall … Read more