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
G. Marquis The Silver Line Chardonnay 2008, Single Vineyard Niagara Stone Road, VQA Niagara On The Lake
Ontario, Canada$17.95
The bright, slightly pale straw colour gives hints to a moderate oak treatment, and the nose remains truthful. With green apple, lemon, and pear dominating the buttery secondary aroma, and the even lighter smoke and butterscotch. On the palate, light butterscotch notes permeate lemon-lime, tangerine, and red apple. There’s decent minerality here and enough acidity to keep the palate fresh and mouth-watering on the medium citrus finish. $16.95 (Great value ON Chardonnay).
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Hinterbrook Riesling 2010, VQA Niagara Lakeshore
Ontario, Canada$14.25
The dominant petrol (pool vinyl) masks the honey, lemon-lime, and peaches. The petrol shows early in hot vintages so this is not surprising. On the palate, the juicy, sweet peach, apple, and honey is almost a touch flabby (very full bodied) with slightly less acidity than I expected. The finish is long, sweet lemon-lime that matures into a lemon-pith finale. Nice paired with sweet potato and lentil curry. Tasted January 2013.
3.0 Stars
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S D.O.V. Grenache 2008, Barossa Valley/Mclaren Vale, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$22.95
Remarkably light (pale) colour. Nose of candied raspberry and cherry, with slight menthol/eucalyptus notes accentuated by the alcohol (16%). The palate is raspberry, strawberry, and sweet spice notes with surprising acidity and smooth tannins. Very drinkable now.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Hogue Genesis Syrah 2009, Columbia Valley
Washington, Usa$19.95
Deep purple colour, the nose is spicy, black pepper, and damsom plums. On the palate hints of vanilla and chocolate complement the dry, cherry-plum fruit. Nice acidity would pair with food well. Somewhat long, slightly astringent cherry finish smacks of minerality.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Kevin O'leary Unoaked Chardonnay 2011, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$13.95
2011 O'Leary Unoaked Chardonnay: Yes. That Kevin O’Leary. “Honest and Direct” as the label states, but also a somewhat unlikeable fellow. I really didn’t want to like this wine, but when Brian Schmidt from Vineland Estates is the winemaker, it makes it very challenging to not like a wine. As Vineland has their own very successful Unoaked Chardonnay, Brian explained that they needed this one to be different. They achieved this by leaving the wine in contact with, and frequently stirring the lees. So while this wine exhibits crisp fruit like ripe green apples and lemon-lime of the Vineland’s ow
3.0 Stars
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Mike Weir Pinot Noir 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$15.95
One of the last to release of Ontario’s fantastic 2009 Pinot Noir collection, this wine has been worth waiting for. The nose is primarily cherry, raspberry, and red currants, with a lovely earthiness and a light mineral component that reminds me of graphite. There’s hints of coffee and milk chocolate there too, but so slight that they come as an afterthought. Served somewhat cool, this wine’s palate is dominated by cherries and black raspberries, and just the hint of tart cranberries. Light cigar box notes from the oak become more influential as the wine warms, bringing out more vanilla and sweet spice notes. Pair this with lamb, beef stroganoff, mushroom risotto, or a vegetarian nut loaf.
3.0 Stars
(0)G
St. Francis Chardonnay 2009, Sonoma County
California, Usa$19.95
I only rate this 88 based on my wife's love of heavily-oaked Chardonnay. Nose is cheesy-caramel that hints at a sweet creamy texture. Yet on the palate, smooth apples and creamy smooth fruit & smoke is cleansed with a strong acidic backbone. Oak notes linger into along smoky caramel finish. Not really sure what to make of this one.
2.5 Stars
(0)V
G. Marquis The Silver Line Pinot Noir 2011, VQA Niagara On The Lake, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$19.95
Quite a deep cherry colour on the Pinot Noir gives some hint to the weight behind this Pinot. The nose is a delicious blend of dark cherry, pipe tobacco, sweet cranberry, strawberry (unexpected jammyness), and sweet spices. On the palate, the cherry dominates with nuances of sweet spice, earthiness, and cranberry. Another super food friendly wine, the acidity is quite high and keeps the palate fresh. A very good value wine.
2.5 Stars
(0)V
Calamus Pinot Gris 2013, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$16.95
Nice mid-weight PG with solid fruit, a balance between the acidity and the slight sweetness, and a crisp finish. Paired well with a pasta dish accented with some slightly salty prosciutto.
2.5 Stars
(0)V
Fielding Pinot Noir 2009, Niagara Escarpment & Twenty Valley
Ontario, Canada$20.00
Spicy nose that's earthy and leathery with some tobacco leaf nuances. On the palate, spicy, tart cherry, red currant and a hint of cranberries. Oak presence with some slight astringency from the tannins. Slightly hot on the dry finish.
2.5 Stars
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