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
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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
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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
Zonin Amarone Della Valpolicella 2006, Doc
Veneto, Italy$39.95
This one left me wanting more when I fished my glass. Excellent! very food friendly wine.
3.5 Stars
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Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling 2008, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$35.20
A delicious Riesling, slightly of dry, terrifically balanced and focused with citrus and green apple fruit and enticing stony mineral notes.
(Tasted 16 March, 2012)
3.5 Stars
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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
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
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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
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Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Napa Valley
California, Usa$25.95
Have a couple of these in my cellar, time to open one and give it a try!
Very aromatic. Nose whaffs dark fruit notes, blackberry seems to dominate.
Do decant this wine for a 1/2 hour or so, a little exposure to air really improved this wine's taste.
Well structured taste. Ripe fruit notes, blackberry and black cherry along with vanilla and cedar. Soft tannins with a nice lip smack'n finish.
Still tasting very good!
(Tasted April 2012)
3.5 Stars
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