Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Ottawa, ON March 2018 Matt's review: Rich golden colour as one can expect for an oaked Napa Chardonnay, but it's the balance and freshness on the finish that makes the Franciscan Napa Chard a (value-priced) wine to get excited about. The nose displays a fragrant bouquet of sweet yellow apple, pear, and baked vanilla-almond french toast.... Continue Reading →
March 2018 By Matt Steeves I attended the Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF) from February 28 to March 3 and like all media and patrons that attended I was treated to a wide array of tasty Spanish and Portuguese wines, in all styles, from dry whites and reds, sparkling, sweet fortified reds (Porto, Sherry), to... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON March 2018 Matt's review: Wow, such a well balanced and surprisingly soft and integrated Single Malt Irish Whiskey esp at 46%... Amber with a redish hue, with notes of Oloroso Sherry, Manhattan cocktail with fresh orange peel, and spicy plum. The subtle smoky single malt characteristics show up on the finish which contributes handsomely... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON March 2018 Matt's review: Gorgeous! A blend of 90% Zinfandel and 10% Charbono, Mourvèdre, and Carignane sourced from the Brandlin Vineyard perched up high on Mount Veeder in Napa Valley. With layers of raspberry, blueberry pie, clove, and cedar, this premium Zin is perfumed and simply sensational! Showing a great harmony of... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2018 Matt's reivew: The provenance of Robert Mondavi's Fumé Blanc Reserve is some of the finest Grand Cru quality vineyards in North America, being the world-renowned To Kalon Vineyard in Napa Valley's Oakville AVA. A blend of 98% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Semillon sourced entirely from To Kalon Vineyard, where some... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2018 Matt's review: Sibona Distillery's Madeira barrel-aged Reserve Grappa is a beautiful amber colour thanks to the time it spent in sweet Madeira barrels picking up not only colour but flavour and subtle texture complexity too. The nose shows spicy poached pear, lychee, candied orange peel, with a lovely Ambroisal fragrance. The... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2018 Matt's review: Maynard's 2013 Late Bottled Vintage Porto offers terrific quality at a remarkable price. A blend of five organically grown grapes (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão) from throughout the Duoro region of Portugal, which were aged in barrel for over four years before bottling. Maynard's 2013... Continue Reading →
February, 2018 Ottawa, ON Today on CTV Morning Live, CTV’s Henry Burris and Sommelier Matt Steeves showcased some sexy wine picks that are perfectly suited for a romantic Valentine’s date night. Check out the full CTV video here. When planning a special Valentine's date night, there are so many terrific wine styles from all over... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2018 Matt's review: An impressive crowd pleasing Ontario Cabernet! The Konzelmann Estate Lakefront Series 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon shows layers of black fruit, dried cherry, vanilla, clove, perfume, and dried herbs. Super pleasant on the nose and palate, it's soft and refreshing with impressive body making it a wine that can stand-up to... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON February 2018 Matt's review: The Gran Feudo Reserva is a delicious blend of 65% Tempranillo, 20% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from the unsung hero Spanish wine region of Navarra which shares a border with France. Spanish wines are renowned for delivering great value and the Navarra-based Gran Feudo is an exceptional example... Continue Reading →
Quercus Vino 