Tyler Philp

Malivoire Gewurztraminer 2008, VQA Beamsville Bench

The Malivoire smelled of peaches and soap - in a good way and quite interesting at that; fuller in the mouth while still displaying the typical Gewurztraminer aroma and flavours profile; a bigger wine than most examples of the variety though a little flat on the mid-palate. On the whole, a nice wine with just a touch of effervescence. (northof9finewine, Feb 2011)

Cave Spring Estate Riesling 2009, Beamsville Bench

Clean nose of crisp green apple and hints of lemon; an off-dry honeyed citrus character on the palate and a good balanced of acidity. Leaves you with a mix of apple and pink grapefruit on the finish. Lovely. (Northof9finewine, April 2011)

Beringer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

An incredibly smooth wine, full of rich aroma and taste: black currant, cassis and chocolate followed by smoke and a hint of spice. A full bodied wine that begs for a pot roast sprinkled with pepper and smothered in gravy.

Torres Gran Coronas Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2006, Penedès

Gran Coronas is one of those 'hit or miss' wines in our cellar; sometimes it works beautifully and other times, I'm not quite as thrilled about it. It's a food wine though so I don't recommend that you sip this one on its own. Instead, pair it with a rich red meat dish and expect dark fruit, leather, chocolate and a touch of smoke surrounded by normally, very smooth tannins. (northof9finewine.com, Feb 2011)

Weingut Bründlmayer Kamptaler Terrassen Grüner Veltliner 2010

This example is from a top Grüner producer and shows notes of pepper spice and citrus with a very clear mineral character. The combination remains perfectly balanced through to a slightly chalky finish. Incidentally, this is one of the few wines that will pair well with the more aggressive tasting foods such as artichokes and asparagus. Tasted April 2012.

Muskoka Lakes Winery Red Maple 2007 (375ml)

I enjoyed this so much at our Thanksgiving feast that I wrote Muskoka Lakes a letter praising their effort.
To be very honest though, you'll either love this dessert wine or find it a bit too much and at the last North of 9 Pairing Dinner that was exactly what the group thought. Those who find it a bit too intense might try adding tonic water to create an aperitif style wine. I love it just the way it is though...

St. Supéry Merlot 2007, Napa Valley

A full-bodied Merlot that surprisingly shows more earthiness than fruit on the nose; I like that. At 14.5%, the alcohol is not overbearing but rather is nicely integrated with the raspberry notes and hint of dry cocoa powder on the finish.

Domaine Pierre Gelin Fixin 2006, Ac

Wonderful nose of wintergreen mint followed by combinations of cherry, cranberry, and subtle spice on the palate. Try it with pork tenderloin brushed with Dijon mustard and thyme. Tasted Oct 2012.

Zenato Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, Doc

My notes remain consistent on this wine from one vintage to the next. "Amarone with a more new-world twist."
This is a mouth full; huge stewed fruit - it's really quite amazing, but in no way old-world. Ultra rich, viscous, port-like and lip-smacking good. '06 is a big year in Veneto so let this one cellar until 2012+ and see if it mellows a bit or at least decant 1-2hrs before serving. (northof9finewine, April 2011)

Château Haut Vigneau 2006, Ac Pessac Léognan

This review is for the 2003 vintage:

A deep brick hue as this Left Bank example begins to show its age; light weight, delicate, and subtle with hints of cinnamon stick and blackberry. The juicy red currant core will keep you coming back for more. Drinking wonderfully now.
Substantial sediment in the bottle – decant before serving. Tasted Feb 2012.