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
Henry Of Pelham Riesling 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$14.95
A classic Alsacian style riesling made right here in Ontario.
Nose offers citrus and mineral (petrol) notes.
Taste is much the same. Those looking for that classic taste of "petrol" in a riseling will find it here.
Wonderful long finish. Exceptional riesling that will impress.
3.0 Stars
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Colio Cev Barrel Aged Reserve Merlot 2002, VQA Lake Erie North Shore
Ontario, Canada$16.25
The 2005 Vintage is currently available at LCBO Vintages. (tasted May 2010)
This is one complex wine that is deserving of all of the awards it has one.
Complex primary and seconday nose and taste: Leather, raisins, plums, black cherry, toasted oak with just the right amount of tannin.
This is a big bordeaux style wine, big and chewy and oh so good!
Pair with a nice roats beef meal to fully enjoy.
Available at the winery and at selected LCBO Vintage locations. BUY this one, it is the good stuff!!
3.0 Stars
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Pelee Island Pinot Noir Reserve 2008, VQA Pelee Island
Ontario, Canada$15.95
Reviewing the 2008 Vintage Pelee Island Pinot Noir Reserve.
This is a wonderful premimum wine at a not so premimum price. If I owned a restaurant, this is one of the wines I would have on my wine list. It’s affordable and will pair well with most meals.
Keep in mind that Pelee has three Pinot Noir labels. There is this one, the Reserve, a VQA Ontario red label bottle and a NON VQA Cellered in Canada blend. Buy the reserve!
Nose is not overwelming, but most Ontario Pinot Noir’s arn’t anyway. Some hints of earth, soil, and oak.
Great balance, making this a nice smooth wine. Mild tannins on the finish. Noted flavours of strawberries, earth and oak in the taste.
This one is currently available at Pelee Island’s retail store in Kingsville. Now also available at the LCBO, would make an excellent LCBO Vintages selection.
3.0 Stars
Château Des Charmes Chardonnay (Black Label) 2007, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$13.95
Excellent value.
Too many chards are way over oaked. This one breaks that mould and offers a nice balance of fruit and oak.
Apple, pear, butterscotch working well together.
3.0 Stars
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Mission Hill 5 Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2007
British Columbia, Canada$15.95
Tasty, tasty, tasty!
Fresh and alive. This wine will wake up your palate with the fresh citrus taste. Perfect acidity to keep it crisp and clean.
Long finish.
Salute the Winter Olympics with this one. This is good stuff!
3.0 Stars
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Pierre Sparr Réserve Gewurztraminer 2008, Ac Alsace
Alsace, France$18.95
Gewurztraminer is not my "go to" wine but this one could have me changing my mind.
Light yellow colour in the glass. Aromas of white flowers and classic lychee.
On the palate this wine dry, medium to full bodied and offers terrific balance. Lycee, apricot and lime notes. Lovely long finish.
3.0 Stars
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Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough
New Zealand$18.95
Crisp and clean. Typical grassy notes.
Medium body, shows some good weight on the palate.
Good balance with medium length finish. Very enjoyable.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Les Vignerons Du Castelas Vieilles Vignes Signargues Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2007, Ac
Rhône, France$16.95
Very nice.
Smoky oak nose.
Taste: cherry, smoky oak, and pepper.
Nice, well rounded red. Excellent balance aith a wonderful finish. Big tannins indicate that this one will sit well in the cellar for a few years.
3.0 Stars
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Terres D'avignon Les Cardinalices Grande Réserve Côtes Du Rhône 2007, Ac
Rhône, France$14.95
Excellent.
Easy to drink. A real good quaffer.
Nice big red cherry taste lead to a wonderful smooth mouthfeel. Tannins balance this wine perfectly.
Easy drinking wine. Enjoyable.
Tasted: Feb 2010
3.0 Stars
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Domäne Wachau Terraces Grüner Veltliner 2008, Wachau
Austria$15.95
Pulled this one out of my wine cooler for a nice evening sipper. Stelvin cap so no need to cellar this one.
12% alc/vol is just the right amount to not overpower the peach and mmelon fruit.
A dry white for sure with a nice mineral backbone to it.
Smooth mouthfeel. Good stuff!
3.0 Stars
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