Another hidden gem from Southern Ontario, a classic Pinot Noir from the Beamsville Bench (Niagara) VQA…
This classic, elegant red from Kew Vineyards Estate Winery in Beamsville Bench, Ontario, offers exactly what you’d expect in a Pinot Noir. It’s also another fantastic offering from Philip Dowell, an award-winning winemaker. The red fruit and forest floor notes on the nose and in the mouth, combine with integration and balance, resulting in an outstanding offering worth drinking now or holding for a few years.
The bottle presentation comes across as clean, feminine, and classy, and proves easy on the eye. We also appreciated the use of a real cork, as opposed to the synthetic or composite versions that are increasingly common.
This wine would pair well with lighter fare, including pork tenderloin, turkey, and lean cuts of beef. We could also see it pairing well with several cheeses, including Gruyère, Emmenthal, and, possibly, Brie. At under $24, this Pinot Noir represent very good value for the money.
Rating (from 70 to 100): 91/100
Value: 4/5
The Bottle Details…
Name: Kew Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2013
Producer: Kew Vineyards Estate Winery
Region/Country: Beamsville Bench VQA, Ontario, Canada
Grape Varietals: Pinot Noir
Alcohol content: 13.9%
Consumed: At home
Recommended By: Picked it from the LCBO Vintages magazine, but we have long been fans of the Kew Vineyards Winemaker, Philip Dowell, so we had a pretty good idea what we were getting.
Cost: $23.95 CAD
Bottle Presentation: A clean, feminine-looking label that came across as distinct and easy on the eye.
The Tasting Details…
Appearance: Pale garnet
Nose: Medium-to-pronounced nose, with classic Pinot Noir notes, including red fruit (raspberries, cranberries, and strawberries) and forest floor. We also had some green cedar aromas, as well as a hint of old cheese.
Taste: A dry, medium-bodied red, with light, drying tannins and medium-high acidity. In the mouth, we had more red berries, especially sour cranberries, forest floor, minerals, iron, green cedar, and a touch of savoury spice.
Finish: A medium finish of tart cranberries and wet earth.