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
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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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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Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2007, VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$44.95
When this wine was released several years ago I bought a case immediately after tasting it. It was good but really needed some time in the cellar to resolve the austere tannins.
A year later and another tasting, still as good as when first tasted and still needs at least a few more years in the cellar.
This wine is a beauty! Complex taste, there is so much going on it is a wine that makes you want to slow down and enjoy the moment. Dark berry, plum, cherry, chocolate, coffee bean, cedar ... If you can find this one of the shelf, BUY IT and put it away for a few years for a special occasion. You will be rewarded for doing so.
(tasted again July 2011)
3.5 Stars
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Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench
Ontario, Canada$60.25
If I could only win the lottery I would buy a case (or two) of this wine. Since I haven't hit the jackpot one bottle will have to do and is enough to make me feel like I won the lottery for a little while.
Complex nose and taste. Earth, smoke, cherry, leather, and spice. Lively acidity supports the long, enjoyable finish.
This is the good stuff! Buy as many as you can afford.
(tasted December 2011)
3.5 Stars
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Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough, South Island
New Zealand$16.95
Loaded with a grapefruit nose. Taste shares the same fruit nose along witha nice mineral backbone.
Great zesty acidity keeps the citrus taste going for quite some time in the finish.
Chill to serve. Allowing the wine to warm to room temperature reveals some sulfer tastes.
Tasted: May 2010
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
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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
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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
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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Domaine Puig Parahy Georges 2007, Ac Côtes De Roussillon
Languedoc, France$17.95
This one may benefit from a years in the cellar. Tannins leave the mouth dry. Tannins are a bit too harsh right now, it will be interestin to see what happens when they soften.
Complexity is good in this wine. . blackberry, toasted oak, smoky flavours,
Just a bit too tannic right now to really enjoy.
3.5 Stars
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