Shawn McCormick
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Reviews (79)
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Passionate local wine/food supporter. Sommelier-in-training. Wine blogger. Tech guy and social media enthusiast. Chief Instigator of Uncork Ontario iPhone/iPod App (Ontario Winery Locator) in iTunes Store!
Reviews
Dr. Pauly Bergweiler Riesling Spätlese 2008, Wehlener Sonnenuhr
Mosel, Germany$29.95
Lovely honeyed stone fruit with hints of petrol, beeswax, and candied lemon. Viscous and luscious on palate, with some cleansing acidity that keeps it from cloying. Tasted Mar 2015
3.5 Stars
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Karlo Estates The Fifth Element Petit Verdot 2010, Ontario
Ontario, Canada$33.00
Petit Verdot is also rare in Ontario, and rarer in the form of a single varietal wine (it is usually blended). I had the opportunity to taste this wine twice in the barrel, and when it was finally released I grabbed some and hung onto it, waiting for a special occasion. I finally decided I couldn’t wait any longer and opened a bottle in November. The nose was sweet, rich, almost jammy plums and black cherry, with light notes of vanilla, cedar, and pencil shavings. There is a definite herbaceousness behind the dark fruit that is more noticeable on the palate – not unlike a freshly opened cigar box with cedar and tobacco notes. There’s some decent acidity rounding out this well structured wine. $39, available at the winery.
3.5 Stars
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Tawse Sketches Of Niagara Chardonnay 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$19.95
This is a well made and well priced Chardonnay. With ripe red apple dominating, there are light smoky, toasty notes with vanilla and spice from the oak treatment. The palate adds a nice tropical twist, and a great acidity typical of Ontario wine makes this very food friendly. This will pair nicely with your turkey dinner with all the fixings (stuffing, mashed potatoes with butter, etc.) but I really like it with my favourite turkey leftover recipe – turkey pot pie.
3.5 Stars
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Creekside Shiraz 2010, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$15.95
With brooding (yes I did say “brooding”) dark fruit dominating the nose, there is also characteristic black pepper notes amid the smoky vanilla notes from the oak. The palate turns more towards fruit more tart than the nose indicates, with plums, some red current, and light cherry notes dominating. Try with any red meats, or sip in front of the fire after a tree-cutting event.
3.5 Stars
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13th Street Sandstone Old Vines Gamay Noir 2010, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$22.75
This Cuvee award winner is superbly integrated, from the nose to the finish. Cherry, sweet spice, with some cedar and oak notes and a hint of alcohol on the nose. Bright acidity keeps the bold cherry fruit in check. With a decent tannic structure from 9-10 months in oak, this wine should hold together for several more years and expose even more character.
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Les Yeuses Les Épices Syrah 2011, Igp Pays D'oc
Languedoc, France$15.95
Sweet, creamy berries with sweet smoke and some unusual olive and herb notes. Palate is dark cherry, white pepper, and red cherry with some grippy tannic astringency.
3.5 Stars
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Luccarelli Primitivo 2013, Igt Puglia
Puglia, Italy$10.95
Wow. Great value for $10.95! Light fruit notes of plum and black cherry on the nose. Slightly sweet dark fruit on the palate at first turns to balanced fruit, acidity, and soft tannins. Great sipping or with a meal.
3.5 Stars
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Schild Estate Shiraz 2012, Barossa Valley, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$24.95
Smoky lavender & cool menthol/eucalyptus notes ride blueberry and blackberry core. Palate continues with floral, dark berry, and light black pepper and sweet spice. Not overdone, tannins in check with nice acidity to balance. Drink 2015-2018.
3.5 Stars
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Huff Estates Winery Off Dry Riesling 2008
Ontario, Canada$17.95
I’m a huge fan of off-dry Rieslings and this one has lemon-lime and stone fruit on the nose and palate, with hints of honeydew melons and floral notes. The crisp acidity keeps the residual sugar in check, and the finish is mineral driven, with a palate-cleansing tartness. While this wine would work with turkey dinner (especially for those that like a little sweetness in their wine), you could also pair it with anything spicy, or those goat cheese based hors d’oeuvres you’re serving as appetizers.
3.0 Stars
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Rosehall Run Cuvée County Chardonnay 2009, VQA Prince Edward County
Ontario, Canada$21.95
2009 Rosehall Run Cuvée County Chardonnay: Winemaker Dan Sullivan explained that 2009 ended with near perfect conditions for harvest - dry days that ripened the fruit but cool nights that left the acidity and structure in place. 100% barrel fermented, the wine spent 14 months in French oak (about 50% new), a mixture of 500L puncheons and 228 litre barriques. On the nose at first it is ripe pears, red apples, and some smoky butterscotch nuances. As it warmed closer to room temperature, the pear became more dominant and a nice accent of melon appeared. With all the fruit sourced from Hillier cl
3.0 Stars
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