Wine Ratings
Canada
White
91 Tawse Limestone Ridge North Block Riesling 2015, Twenty Mile Bench ($23.95)
White flowers, lime zest, honey, crushed rock, apple juice, peach and pineapple are all present in this rich and intense Riesling. There is lots of acidic verve on the finale, giving the impression of a dry wine even though there is 29g/l of residual sugar. (ES)
91 Tawse Quarry Road Vineyard Riesling 2015, Vinemount Ridge ($24.25)
Peach, lime, bergamot, powdered candies, minerals, flowers and pear are built on a steely core of acidity. More linear than the Limestone North Block. There is electric acidity and 32 g/l of sugar, and like its brother, Limestone Ridge, it comes across as a dry. Long lasting minerality carries the finale. (ES)
91 Tawse Quarry Road Vineyard Chardonnay 2013, Vinemount Ridge ($35.35)
Oaky, but not over the top, as the aromas of vanilla, hazelnut and spice mesh with green apple, Bosc pear and white peach. Med plus body, there is excellent length with a creamy/acidic interplay making for a delicious pairing with lobster and drawn butter. (ES)
90 Flat Rock Cellars The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2013, Twenty Mile Bench ($24.95)
The Rusty Shed continues to over-deliver for its price point, or in other words, one of the best value Chardonnays to be found in Niagara. Toast, spice, vanilla, white flowers on the nose meet up with honey, cream, citrus, pineapple and banana on the palate. Brilliant persistency with freshness squaring everything up. (ES)
90 Tawse Robyn’s Block Chardonnay 2013, Twenty Mile Bench ($45.95)
A bouquet of toast, anise, vanilla, green apple and lilac gives way to a mineral driven palate with notes of cream and spice. There is no lack of freshness here, and it carries long on the taste buds. (ES)
90 Trius Showcase Wild Ferment Chardonnay Oliveira Vineyard 2014, Lincoln Lakeshore ($36)
Banana, cream, peach, golden apple, spice and hints of hazelnut are all present in the wine. There is a rich mouthfeel, with creamy notes intermixing with freshness. Long lasting and a brilliant match with shrimp risotto. (ES)
89 Stratus Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Niagara-on-the-Lake ($29)
An oaked Sauv Blanc with honey, peach, white flowers, grapefruit, fig, spice and gooseberry. There is crisp acidity interplaying with creamy notes. Great length. Try with red Snapper Veracruz-style. (ES)
88 Burnt Ship Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Niagara ($14.95)
This Sauvignon Blanc delivers above its pay grade. A huge bouquet of nectarine, guava, passion fruit, poached pear and grapefruit. On the palate, it is dry with fresh acidity and very good length as well as added nuances of lemon balm and minerals. Ceviche please! (ES)
88 Henry of Pelham Estate Riesling 2016, Short Hills Bench ($17.95)
Sweet peach, applesauce, lime, minerals, white flowers and honey coalesce around fresh acidity. Very good length. Drink now. (ES)
87 Eastdell Riesling 2016, Niagara ($13.95)
A lovely Ontario Riesling at a friendly price! White peach, lime, honey, bergamot, mineral and green apple flavours are supported by acidity. Off-dry and ready to go with Sushi. (ES)
86 Eastdell Chardonnay 2015, Niagara ($13.95)
A clean, well-made and unoaked Chardonnay with a personality of peach, sweet apple, pineapple and citrus, Dry, with some fleshiness and medium plus length. Summer fun wine! (ES)
87 Reif Estate Winery Pinot Grigio 2016, Niagara ($16.95)
A ripe Grigio, benefiting from the heat of the 2016 vintage. Peach, banana, honey and spice burst on the palate, turning dry and citrusy on the finale. Chill and serve this summer on the patio or with fresh water fish. (ES)
Red
91 Trius Showcase Red Shale Cabernet Franc Clark Farm 2014, Four Mile Creek ($45)
The best Cabernet Franc I have tasted so far from the 2014 vintage. Concentrated and elegant, there is cassis, raspberry, tobacco, violets, vanilla, spice, turned earth and a hint of olive. On the fuller end of the spectrum, there is excellent length and is ready to drink now or cellar until 2023. (ES)
90 Tawse Chery Ave Vineyard Pinot 2012, Twenty Mile Bench ($48.95)
This Pinot packs quite a punch as there is lots of extract as well as elevated, dry tannins. Cherry, raspberry, plum, spice, dried earth and flowers are all in play. Excellent length. This wine needs food, so duck breast will do the trick, quite nicely. (ES)
90 Creekside Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, St. David’s Bench ($39.95)
From the fabulous 2012 vintage, this robust red spent 32 months in barrel and 18 months in bottle before being released. Cassis, raspberry, violets, herbs, vanilla, dark cocoa and spice are built on 14% alcohol and masses of tannins. That said, my preference would be to drink it over the next seven years, with some medium rare beef. (ES)
89 Tawse Redfoot Vineyard Gamay Noir 2015, Lincoln Lakeshore ($28.95)
The mid-weight Gamay offers up strawberry, raspberry, plum, fresh earth and black pepper flavours. Nice depth, suave tannins and just the right amount of lift make this is a proper pairing with roast pork or rillettes. (ES)
89 Flat Rock Cellars Gravity Pinot Noir 2013, Twenty Mile Bench ($29.95)
Lovely and seductive, this Pinot beguiles with red berry fruit: cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Add red flowers, spice and herbal notes, and you have a complex wine ready to paid alongside Boeuf Bourguignon or grilled quail. (ES)
88 Thirty Bench Double Noir 2015, Niagara ($19.95)
This blend of 60% Gamay Noir and 40% Pinot Noir is Thirty Bench’s answer to a Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains – but vastly superior! Cherry, raspberry, pepper, spice, cocoa and earth are built on a soft and easy drinking texture. (ES)
88 Fielding Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2015, Niagara ($21.95)
Accessible and cheerful, this Franc features raspberry, red flowers, cassis, mint/herbs and chocolate. Medium body and ready to drink. Solid value! (ES)
France
88 Chateau Vrai Caillou 2014, Bordeaux Supėrieur ($15.95)
This blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon offers punch for its price. Dark cherry, plum, cassis, raspberry, cocoa, anise, purple flower and herbs are present as well as pinpoint tannins. Braised lamb shanks or steak tartare would be brilliant accompaniments. Drink until 2019. (ES)
New Zealand
89 Sacred Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Marlborough ($18.95)
No denying that this is Sauvignon Blanc what with its nectarine, passion fruit, fruit salad, line zest and tomato vine. Crisp and dry with a lingering finale. Pair with halibut ceviche or chicken souvlaki. (ES)
Red
89 Pencarow Pinot Noir 2015, Martinborough ($24.95)
Pencarow is Palliser’s soft/easy drinking range of wines. This Pinot Noir, which exemplifies said style, offers up sweet cherry, plum, liquorice, red flowers, vanilla and baking spice notes. Medium body, with good freshness and a good amount of fine-grained tannins. Lengthy with red fruit carrying the finish. (ES)
USA
90 La Crema Chardonnay 2015, Monterey ($26.95)
On the full-side, this is quintessential Cali Chard with its nose of cream, pineapple, vanilla, mango and fig. The palate adds a creamy texture and tropical fruit as well as an interesting black olive note. There is also some heat. Great length. (ES)