Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Ottawa, ON May 2017 Matt's review: 13th Street Winery's popular June's Vineyard Riesling is made from old Clone 49 Riesling sourced straight from Alsace, France, which contributes to its expressive varietal characteristics but with the added benefits from the limestone influence of the Creek Shores appellation vineyard. June's Vineyard Riesling shows crisp stonefruit, lime,... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2017 Matt's review: Each vintage of Painted Rock Rosé I've tasted I'm consistently impressed with how delicious it is, and reminded how much I enjoy the style they produce (and that I need to stock up on it for my own enjoyment this summer). Produced in the Saignée method following 12 hours... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2017 Matt's review: Burgundy, take note...Ontario is quickly becoming known as the cool-kid on the block! With wines such as Icellars Chardonnay, Ontario is showing the world just how great its wines can be. Icellars 2014 Chardonnay is a remarkably delicious, complex, and beautifully balanced cool-climate Chard, in fact, this is one of... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2017 Matt's review: Icellars 2015 Pinot Noir is light ruby in colour with a garnet hue. The aromas show the warmth of the vintage with sweet baked goods (imagine fresh gingerbread cookies), spice box, dried cherry, sweet herbs, and flinty minerality that shows the complexity of this premium Ontario Pinot Noir. Tart cherry... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2017 Matt's review: Icellars Estate Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the finest Ontario Cabernet Sauvignon's I can recall tasting! This boutique winery from Niagara-on-the-Lake produces a very limited amount of wine, including only 150 cases of Cabernet, with every drop benefiting from their exceptional care and attention to detail in... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2017 Matt's review: Tidal Bay is uniquely Nova Scotian, in fact this is Nova Scotia's first wine appellation and also the name of their signature white wine. Benjamin Bridge's Tidal Bay is a unique blend of L’Acadie, Oretega, and Geisenhiem (grapes) that shows perfumed sweet orchard fruit, floral blossoms, and a refreshing... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2017 Matt's review: A gold medal winner at the 2016 Ontario Wine Awards, this value-priced rosé was produced with 100% estate grown Pinot Noir from one of Canada's famous wine regions, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Deeply coloured for a rosé thanks to a cold-soak the winemaker employed to extract the right amount of colour... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2017 Matt's review: Benjamin Bridge has been making a real fizz in the sparkling wine scene over the past decade. This Nova Scotia (Canada) based winery is producing sparkling wines that rival those from Champagne and other storied wine regions around the world. A combination of ideal terroir for producing crisp &... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON March 2017 Matt's review: Featherstone's limited production (140 cases) 2013 Pinot Noir has an intriguing rustic profile that showcases the complexity of wines from one of Canada's premiere sub appelations, the Twenty Mile Bench. The expressive nose shows cherry, pepper, dried leaves, cured meat, and leather notes that highlight the savoury characteristics... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON March 2017 by Matt Steeves Ottawa is without a doubt a place to visit in 2017! With Canada 150 events happening throughout the year, leading up to Canada's 150th anniversary on July 1st, the city is booming with world-class entertainment, festivities, wine, food, and cultural experiences that are capturing the attention of many within Canada... Continue Reading →
Quercus Vino 