Gary Killops
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Reviews (280)
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Growing up in Essex County most of life I really wasn’t aware that there were so many local wineries producing such good wine. My first introduction to an Essex County wine that I can recall was way back in the early 80’s when Colio wine was the only local winery that I had ever heard of. At weddings it was often Colio wine that was found on the table.
Several years ago Wanda and I took a tour of several wineries in the Niagara Region. This sparked our interest in Ontario wines. Up until that time my perception was that good wines only came from California, France, Italy, and maybe Australia. It didn’t take me long to find out that I was wrong. Grapes grown in Ontario produced some of the best wines I have ever tasted.
After the Niagara tour Wanda and I decided to check out the wineries in our own backyard. It didn’t take us very long to discover one of Ontario’s biggest secrets. Wines produced in Southwestern Ontario (Essex County) are just as good and often even better than wines we have tasted from around the world.
Reviews
Vineland Estates St. Urban Riesling 2008, VQA Niagara Escarpment
Ontario, Canada$19.95
Alsacian in every sense. Nose and taste both echo the big mineral backbone.
Mineral is balanced with juicy tropical fruit notes and sharp, clean and crisp acidity.
EXCELLENT STUFF!
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Trimbach Réserve Riesling 2008, Ac Alsace
Alsace, France$24.95
Lovely layers of citrus, green apple and mineral notes. Lively acidity supports a long finish.
Very good right now, but suggest that you put this one in the cellar, it is just going to get better with time.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2009, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$35.20
(Tasted September 2012)
Light straw colour, those who have cellared this wine will be rewarded now with lovely mineral / petrol notes that have started to develop. Baked apple fruit notes balance the acidity and mineral notes. Enjoy this one now or hold and see what else develops over the next year or two.
3.5 Stars
Carabella Dijon 76 Chardonnay 2006, Chelahem Mountains, Willamette Valley
Oregon, Usa$24.95
I haven't tasted a lot of wines from Oregon. Tasted this one in wine class (Niagara College Master Taster).
Shy nose, not very open but hints of canned peaches noted. Also some sweet oak.
Taste shows more than the nose. Lots of peach, good acidity, nice mineral back bone and just a hint of oak.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Lan Reserva 2005, Doca Rioja
Spain$21.95
Simply Irresistible! I can't get this Robert Palmer song out of my head after tasting this wine because it best decribes this wine! It really is "simply irresistible".
Aromas of smoke, spice, and black berry. Same notes greet the palate along with leather, dark chocolate, and expresso. Complex and perfectly balanced.
Simply Irresistible!
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Fontanafredda Serralunga D'Alba Barolo 2005
Piedmont, Italy$44.95
Interesting amd complex nose: black cherry, earth, and a floral hint of rose pedal and lilac, ... yes lilac!
This is a full bodied wine with firm tannins. Good balance.
Taste is also complex. black cherry, plums, black pepper.
There is a hard mineral finish. The finish itself is long.
Not a bad barolo at all.
3.5 Stars
(0)V
Amarone Classico - Masi Costasera 2007
Veneto, Italy$39.95
Nose shows blueberry notes now, also, spice.
Taste: full body, ripe, raisined fruits, cherry, blueberry, black pepper, earthy soil, cinnamon. Some leather too. Tannins are a bit grippy. Nice layer of sweetness on the finish.
Didn't notice the heat that I did when I first opened the bottle. (it's 15% alc/vol.)
Excellent balance and will only improve with time in the cellar. Lay this one down until at least 2015 before opening.
(tasted October 2011)
3.5 Stars
(0)G
Lillet Blanc
Bordeaux, France$20.50
This one didn't lasttoo long on the shelves of our local LCBO. It is a popular local favourite and when word gets out that it has arrived, it flys out the door.
Very tropical, banana, kiwi aperitif. Good thick body gives it a nice smooth mouthfeel.
3.5 Stars
(1000+)V+(40)O
Tawse Quarry Road Riesling 2010, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara
Ontario, Canada$23.95
I consider this a lucky find. I was at my local LCBO in Windsor checking out the Ontario wines in the Vintages section. One odd bottle stood out, I recognized the Tawse label and wondered why it was the only one and it wasn't there earlier in the week.
It didn't have shelf space it could call its own which also meant I didn't know the price of the bottle. Checked the VQA isle, no more bottles were returned and lucky for me I was in the store to take it home.
Rieslings from Niagara are usually good, especially those from the bench. This one from Tawse did not disappoint!
A delicious, tasty mix of lime citrus notes, peach and mineral finish. Lip smack’n acidity. One bottle is not enough for me. I am going to order some more of this extraordinary wine!
(Tasted april 2012)
3.5 Stars
(0)W