Taste Ontario!

I was invited to a great event! Ontario wines.
There was vast range of wineries from all Ontario famous wine places. From Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara On The Lake, prince Edvard County and some emerging regions.

It was walk around tasting, great selection of wines. I thought it was impossible to taste everything, but I tried my best!:0)
There were great examples of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc,lovely lightly oaked Chardonnays.
Cold climate grapes that are doing great in Ontario, producing nice wines.


 I started with

 Colio Estate Wines 

http://www.coliowinery.com/our-winery/winery

CEV Reserve Cabernet Franc 2007 

That was a great example of Cabernet Franc!
Light and fruity, with little bit tobacco and raspberry on the finish.



Cooper's Hawk Vineyards 

http://www.coopershawkvineyards.com/index.php

presented lovely and aromatic Gewurztraminer 2011.

13th street winery.

Can't say that that was my favorite.
Their sparkling was nice and dry but, not enough aromas and structure and bubbles disappeared very fast from the glass.
Gamay also didn't have good structure and was a little bland.

Bachelder

http://winesinniagara.com/2012/02/thomas-bachelders-dream-trilogy-of-chardonnay-niagara-burgundy-oregon/

Their Chardonnay was really great! Oaked, just how I like it, but not overoaked. Buttery on the palate with nice nose.

Fielding Estate winery

http://www.fieldingwines.com/

Riesling 2001 was wonderful! very good nose, green juicy apple. German style, little bit off dry.

Flat Rock Cellars.

http://www.flatrockcellars.com/

I visited this winery, so I was familiar with their wines.
I tasted  Gravity Pinot Noir 2010
http://www.flatrockcellars.com/products/view/58

Lovely Pinot, nose little mushroomy, red berries on the palate, dry, light body. very cold climate style.

Talon ridge vineyard Pinot Noir 2009

Another Pinot. Some similarity on the taste. Lovely Pinot, little too acidic to my taste.

Then it was Pinot from Mike Weir Wine, 2009
Very elegant, red fruit, light tannins, dry, light body.

Next Pinot was from Lailey Vineyard
It was very juicy, floral, jammy. Lovely.

Also I've tasted Syrah from this winery. I liked very much this cold climate Syrah .
Dry, peppery, fruity. Unexpected and nice.

Then I tried two unfiltered Pinot from Norman HardieWinery & Vinyard.
County Unfiltered Pinot Noir 2010 from Prince Edvard County
http://www.winealign.com/wines/24981-Norman-Hardie-County-Pinot-Noir-2010
and
Unfiltered Pinot Noir from Niagara peninsula 2009

Both were very interesting and different, because the soil in Prince Edvard county is  broken limestone bedrock and stony.
 And in Niagara region clay mineral soil. All this difference you can taste in the wines.
I liked 2010 more.

 I finished this brilliant evening with the amazing red icewine from Stratus vineyards.
Red Icewine 2010. Great, nice balanced with acidity, pleasure!

And I can't forget to mention the great and tasty food we were served. There is just small part of it.

L'Oca Ciuca Chianti Docg Riserva 2008

Grape- Sangiovese
Italy, Tuscany.
In the glass  deep dark cherry color.
On the nose floral, spices, tobacco.
On the palate dry, medium bodied, intense, ripe, balanced tannins and acidity. Plum, black fruit. Soft finish, nice length.

Umberto Fiore Barbaresco 2006

Nebbiolo grape.
Piedmont, Italy.

Semi opaque in the glass, garnet color.
On the nose more floral aromas, licorice, red berries.
On the palate dry, medium bodied, I'd say still young. First acidity jumps to your palate, good balance of oak and tannins. Little high in alcohol. Overall little unbalanced, but  very food friendly.

Wolf Blass Wine Tasting: An Unforgettable Evening

With Natalie MacLean
http://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/wolf-blass-wine-tasting-an-unforgettable-evening/

Two Amarone

DUE TORRI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2008

 A fantastic Amarone!

On the nose chocolate, cherry, raisins, coffee. 

On the palate dry, with hint of sweetness, rich aromas replays  on the palate. Very intense. Tannins are soft and the acidity is nicely balanced. Full bodied with long and fruity finish

 We had in another glass of

 

  

Giacomo Montresor Fondatore Amarone della Valpolicella 2008

 

 Also it was very nice. And it was very interesting! Same year, but different wine. Even in the glass it wasn't as rich as previous one.

Dark ruby-red color, floral, dried fruit  cherry, chocolate and cedar aromas and flavours.

On the palate dry, full bodied, with balanced acidity but more pronounced. Firm tannins and good length.

A little minerality, pomegranate, floral notes and mint. Little less intensity than Duetorri. 

Both wines were wonderful, subtle and delicious, but the first one was softer, jucier. Different cheeses tasted opposite with those two wines.

 

Wolf Blass wine tasting with Natalie MacLean

I had a great chance to taste wonderful wines, meet famous wine maker, and talk to amazing Natalie MacLean. Got her new book signed by her and Wolf Blass! That evening was unforgettable and magical!
We had 7 very interesting wines and beautiful and tasty dishes.

At first we had 5 wines to taste.

First was

Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling 2011

In the glass bright, light straw color with little bit of green on the rim.On the nose apple,  mineral, petrol.On the palate dry, mineral, lovely fresh citrus notes and apple. Some petrol.Medium finish with grapefruit aromas.

Next wine was

 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Pinot Noir 2010, Victoria, Southeastern Australia

Light cherry color, clean, clear.

Nose is very fruity, sweet cherry, berry pie, strawberry, caramel.

On the palate dry, medium to light body, cherry, whiff of nuts.

Medium finish with touch of sour cherry flavour.

Then it was Shiraz. it was wonderful!

  Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz 2008

In the glass deep red-garnet color, opaque.On the nose stewed berries, black berries, spices.On the palate dry, medium to full body, nice crisp acidity, firm tannins, lots of black fruit, vanilla, plum.Long finish with lots of cherries. 

Another great wine was

 Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz Cabernet 2009, Robe / Mt. Benson 

In the glass dark ruby color, semi opaque, pink watery rim.On the nose cassis, black berries, allspice. On the palate medium bodied,  dry, juicy, cassis, vanilla, very good balance.

 and

 

Wolf Blass Black Label Cabernet Shiraz Malbec 2007, Langhorne Creek/Mclaren Vale

 Deep garnet red in the glass, semi opaque, pink on the rim.On the nose spices, tobacco, very complex aromas.On the palate dry, very rich and spicy, high tannins, lots of wood, dark fruits, leather. Medium finish with hint of tobacco. Still can age a few years more. Very interesting wine.

Wine was getting cold, so I couldn't really appreciate the last one.

During the wine tasting Wolf was answering some of Natalie's questions and told  interesting and funny stories! 

Then we had the most amazing food! There is some of it!

 

With the food we had

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay 2011

Straw color, on the nose oak, tropical fruit, citrus.

On the palate a little frizzi, dry, oaked, buttery. Very refreshing with vanilla and melon notes.

Medium finish with touch of minerality. Loved its nicely balanced oak. 

And the last one

 

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, South Australia

Deep red purple color, semi opaque.Nose dark berries, cassis, plum.On the palate dry, very good balanced tannins and acidity,  dark fruit, blackberry.Long juicy finish with hint of eucalyptus. 

 

But that was not the end of the great evening! I met Natalie, got her book and she and Wolf signed it for me!

 

 After that I went home feeling great!

Hawkes Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

 What can i say?! Very interesting experience! I felt a little sorry, that we opened this 9 year old! It still can age a few years more. But! I was also glad, that we've tasted it. Very amusing wine.
Color is dark but semi opaque, magenta on the rim. No sighn of aging in the color yet.
On the nose, first alcohol. But it was my mistake, we didn't let this wine reach room temperature. After a while, nose got richer but still subtle with black fruit and chocolate aromas. Then leather and spice.
On the palate dry, medium bodied, acidity and tannins are balaced, but bright. Very good structure, all tells me that this wine can age.
Palate is rich with blackberry notes, herb, black currant, then cocoa, little bit of mint and vanilla.
Good, long, rich finish.
Now I'm really curious, how this wine will change with time!

Michele Chiarlo Le Marne Gavi 2011, Docg

Piedmont, Italy.
$14.95 in LCBO
Light straw color it the glass.
On the nose soft aromas of peaches, floral notes.
On the palate dry, fresh acidity, fruity, with mineral notes.
Nice citrusy,  lengthy finish.
Very refreshing, would be great with seafood.

Folie À Deux Ménage À Trois Red 2010

Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
I loved this blend!
In the glass dark cherry color, semi opaque.
On the nose there are very bright aromas of berries, berry pie, chocolate, vanilla.
On the palate dry, juicy, each grape variety brings taste to harmony.
Very fruit forward, lots of jam-like fruit,  spicy and soft, delicious trio. Rich flavours and tannins of Cab give this wine nice backbone.
Very rich finish with raspberry and blackberry flavors.

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