LAILEY PINOT NOIR 2007
VQA Niagara River

TASTING NOTE: Pinot Noir is making a strong impression in Ontario and Lailey’s 2007 version is a case in point. Features black cherry, spring flowers, cocoa and beetroot aromas. Dry, round and textured with moderate tannins to give it structure. Medium bodied with a long, very impressive finish. Cellar it 2-3 years, or, enjoy it tonight with grilled steak or rare roast beef. This is a great Pinot! (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

591404     (XD)            750 mL    $ 24.95   

New at VINTAGES
OAK HEIGHTS ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula


Located in Northumberland County (northeast of Cobourg and southeast of Rice Lake), Oak Heights opened as a commercial winery in 2007. While the estate has 7 acres (2.83 ha) of vitis vinifera and hybrids currently under vine, this Chardonnay was made with Niagara fruit. Oak Heights’ signature is to use only Canadian oak for its barrel-aged wines as in the case of this delicious Chard.

129817    (D)            750 mL    $14.95   

On the Back Cover
THIRTY BENCH RED 2007
VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Sourced from Thirty Bench’s own vineyard, this wine is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Barrel aged separately for a year in French and American oak, the best lots are then selected for the final assemblage. Look for aromas of cassis, redcurrants, cocoa, garrigue, black olives and underbrush. Dry, intensely fruity with wonderfully firm tannins suggesting 4-8 years ageing potential.

053389    (XD)            750 mL    $24.20   

New at VINTAGES
LE CLOS JORDANNE TALON RIDGE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula, Vinemount Ridge 

TASTING NOTE: This is the debut vintage for this attractive Pinot Noir from Le Clos Jordanne’s young Talon Ridge Vineyard. Dominated by plum, raspberry, spring flowers and beetroot/earth aromas. Dry, tannic and tight with good, youthful fruit waiting patiently to come to the front. Will reward 3-5+ years in a cellar, or enjoy tonight, decanted, with lamb chops. (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

143545    (XD)            750 mL    $37.00   

This wine won a Gold Medal at the 2009 Ontario Wine Awards for best Gamay.

TASTING NOTE: Lovely vanilla bean, sumptuous black cherry and an elevated hint of black currants in the aromas. The flavours are expansive and wonderfully extracted with cola, cassis and black cherry depth. Food suggestion: Ribs or cured meats. Score – 91. (Gordon Stimmell, The Toronto Star, April 25, 2009)

591313    (XD)            750 mL    $17.95   

13th STREET WINERY GAMAY NOIR 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: ...Thirteenth Street is another house dedicated to the advancement in stature of the Gamay grape here in Ontario. … The nose is gorgeous, with cherry and raspberry notes mixed in with hints of vanilla. Taste follows with more of that great cherry, a touch of oak, along with floral on the front palate and vanilla cream in the back ... there’s also a touch of tannin grit that’ll smooth with time. Juicy and fruity, this wine shows real elegance and finesse. It shows what can be done with this grape when handled with respect ... they’ve done a fantastic job with this one. Score – (out of 5). (Michael Pinkus, www.ontariowinereview.com, July 23, 2009)

130195    (XD)            750 mL    $18.00   

Wine of the Month
TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA MERLOT/CABERNET 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: Tawse’s second label, Sketches of Niagara, continues to impress on the quality vs. cost axis. The Sketches wines are proving to be total bargains. Made in an appealing Bordeaux style, with serious structure, remarkable purity of fruit and refreshing acidity, this red blend is a great candidate for cellaring. The quality of the fruit and the elegance of the presentation can be chalked up to the collective creativity of the vineyard crew and winemaking team. It also begs the question: If the declassified barrels are this good, what can we expect from the top-of-the-line reds? Score – (out of 5). (Christopher Waters, Vines, March/April 2009)

HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2007
VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula 

Hidden Bench is an artisanal winery guided by a non-interventionist and terroir-driven philosophy. Their wines are made exclusively with estategrown fruit.

TASTING NOTE: This medium yellow-gold Chardonnay expresses aromas of melon, yellow plum, grapefruit and sweet pear, with coconut and smoke accents. Dry, toasty and concentrated with abundant crisp fruit flavours and a subtle mineral streak. The wine is full-bodied with a lingering, balanced finish. (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

068817    (XD)            750 mL    $35.20   

CAVE SPRING ESTATE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2007
VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Cave Spring Vineyard

TASTING NOTE: This offers terrific value showcasing the superb ’07 vintage and with the pricequality ratio skewed in your favour. Expressive aromas of rosewater, exotic spice and lychee fruit blossom forth while the palate is treated to a generously textured mouthful of flavour with spiced yellow plum, tropical fruit and a gorgeous bite of citrussy tang on the lip-smacking finish. Pair this with spicy Asian cuisine. Score – 1/2 (out of 5). (Vic Harradine, www.winecurrent.com, Nov. 22, 2008)

302059    (D)            750 mL    $15.95   

FIELDING ESTATE CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: Chardonnay Musqué, a varietal clone that tends to excel in Ontario, is known for its heady, exotic perfume. This version doesn’t disappoint, with its expressive floral, candied citrus, white peach and apricot aromas. On the palate, the wine is off-dry, its subtle sweetness balanced by fresh acidity; the aromas replay beautifully along with notes of marzipan and clover honey. This intriguing wine will complement grilled tuna with mango salsa, or tempura with plum sauce. (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

129643    (MD)            750 mL    $13.95   

HENRY OF PELHAM OFF-DRY RESERVE RIESLING 2007
VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: Pelham’s Rieslings are consistently good values and well made wines year after year – this one is no exception. … This is a wonderful peach/apple mix of fruit on both the nose and palate and a nice petrol undercurrent is already beginning to develop. I recommend that you also taste for the mango that’s present, and pleasant, in the mouth. (Michael Pinkus, www.ontariowinereview.com, June 17, 2008)

557165    (D)            750 mL    $15.95   

hot off the (wine) presses Already typically warmer than the vineyards west of St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake basked in the sizzling heat of ’07. The result is an abundance of impressive and rich reds, particularly Cabs, Merlots and spicy Syrahs.

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE SYRAH 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: ... Fruit from Lincoln Lakeshore and Niagara River. Medium-deep ruby red with purple highlights. Nice fresh, juicy peppery black and red fruit with youthful high quality oak notes — lots of varietal character. Dry, clean, salivainducing acidity, with attractive cherry-vanilla flavours, rather surprisingly soft and plush tannins and moderate plush finish. This is a highly successful example of well-made, drinkable and food-friendly Syrah that should drink well from the starting blocks and age well mid term. Score – 90. (John Szabo, M.S., www.wineaccess.ca, Undated)

129809    (XD)            750 mL    $24.95   

Organic Product
FROGPOND FARM ORGANIC CABERNET/MERLOT 2007
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 

Our Quality Assurance Laboratory has determined that this wine contains 7 mg/L of free sulphur.

TASTING NOTE: Ontario’s first certified-organic winery steps up with a fine Cab/Merlot blend from the exceptional 2007 vintage. Expressive aromas of mincemeat, cassis, blueberry, leather, and even a hint of peat. Dry and quite fruity at first, then tannins come in on the mid-palate bringing balance. Medium full-bodied with a lengthy finish. Age it 2-3 years, or have it tonight with roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic. (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

058354    (XD)            500 mL    $15.95   

hot +dry=wow! 2007 saw near-drought conditions in Niagara in the late summer and a drier-than-average autumn. With the lack of rain, vines produced smaller berries with more concentrated juice. This concentration is front and centre in the densely fruity flavours of the wines.

FLAT ROCK CELLARS GRAVITY PINOT NOIR 2007
VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula  

TASTING NOTE: Deeply impressive Pinot Noir from Flat Rock. They make this wine from their best clones, batches and individual barrels, and it shows. Aromas suggest cherries jubilee, vanilla, hummus and smoked meat. Dry with fruit and tannin in near-perfect harmony. Medium fullbodied with a lingering finish. It may be enjoyed with grilled lamb with root vegetables or cellar it 2-4 years. (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

001560    (XD)            750 mL    $29.95   

WILDASS RIESLING 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: Fruit is sourced from the Niagara Escarpment. Moderate intensity, reserved, ripe stone fruit flavours, floral honey-petrol notes, already showing some maturity. Dry, full bodied for riesling, quite rich and substantial with a lot of weight on the palate and glycerous. More of a pinot gris-like texture; moderate plus finish. A solid, muscular very ripe style best enjoyed in the short to mid-term. Score – 88. (John Szabo, M.S., www.wineaccess.ca, Undated)

129700    (D)            750 mL    $17.95  

STONEY RIDGE FOUNDER’S SIGNATURE COLLECTION PINOT NOIR 2007
VQA Ontario, Unfiltered

TASTING NOTE: Filled with pomegranate, sour cherry, underbrush and vanilla aromas. Dry, with fruit supported by fresh acidity. Medium bodied with a lingering finish, this well-typed Pinot Noir is a good choice for barbecued rainbow trout or rotisserie chicken. With its gentle tannins, this wine would also reward short-term cellaring. Excellent value. (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

000588    (D)            750 mL    $14.95   

HUFF ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2007
VQA Ontario

Huff Estates was named one of Canada’s Top 20 wineries at the 2008 Canadian Wine Awards.

TASTING NOTE: Now that’s a zippy Chardonnay! Bursting with vibrant acidity plus plenty of citrus and apple character, this super-refreshing wine also offers notes of fresh herbs and a hint of cinnamon on the medium full-bodied palate. A lively wine for fried seafood, or freshwater fish with lemon juice. (VINTAGES panel, July 2009)

TASTING NOTE: Beguiling aromas of exotic spice, green apple and mineral notes provide segue to this ample-textured medium-weight gem. Pristine and focused flavours — ripe yellow peach, Granny Smith apple and tangy citrus — stream over the palate and through the balanced mouth-watering finish. Vinified from meticulously handled 100% ‘county’ fruit, it certainly deserves a place in your shopping cart. Score – (out of 5). (Vic Harradine, www.winecurrent.com, July 13, 2009)