Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Ottawa, ON June 2020 Matt's review: With each and every vintage CheckMate Artisanal Winery is solidifying their reputation as one of Canada's leading wineries, producing world-class Chardonnay and Merlot from the south of the Okanagan Valley, in Canada's wine capital, Oliver, BC. CheckMate's 2015 Knight's Challenge (100% Chardonnay from the Sunset Vineyard along the Black... Continue Reading →
An outstanding 96 point Chardonnay that showcases how incredible CheckMate's Golden Mile Bench focused winemaking program is!
Ottawa, ON April 2020 Matt's review: Benjamin Bridge has been making a real fizz in the sparkling wine scene over the past two decades. 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... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON March 2020 Matt's review: Sourced from the Southern Okanagan Valley, where expressive Shiraz flourishes in the hot Okanagan sun, Black Sage Vineyard Shiraz is a great example of a big and bold Okanagan red. The aromas showcase its namesake, with loads of fresh Black Sage, Damson plum, blackberry, currant, charcoal and sous... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON April 2019 Matt's review: 2017 Arterra Pinot Noir benefits from a touch of appassimento winemaking where a portion of the grapes were carefully set aside and left to dry for a period of time after harvesting, similar to what they do in Valpolicella (Italy) with the iconic Amarone wines, before the partially dehydrated... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON March 2019 Matt's review: Iconic Canadian winery, Inniskillin, is renowned for their luxurious Icewines as they consistently deliver the most impressive style of sweet, full bodied, richly textured, and incredibly refreshing (dessert) wine that's sought after in the finest dining establishments around the world. Their 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine, a first for... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON November 2018 Matt's review: This beautiful Okanagan blend showcases the strength, elegance, and harmony of Burrowing Owl's premium wines. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Syrah, from Burrowing Owl's estate vineyards on the Black Sage Bench, it's deep and concentrated with layers of dark fruits, sweet spices, and an elegant yet... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON October 2018 Matt's review: Featherstone's Four Feathers blends four cool climate white grapes: Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and a splash of Gewürztraminer, in one fragrant, creamy, and refreshing wine that's both super versatile and super value priced. Pale straw in colour, it's loaded with sweet orchard and tropical fruits, fragrant floral blossom, and... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON July 2018 Matt's review: Niagara's ultra premium boutique winery, Icellars Estate Winery, produced a stunning Riesling Icewine that highlights the strength of the exceptional 2016 vintage. Picked on December 24th, and bottled in spring 2017, this decadent and refreshing wine showcases beautifully the strengths of Niagara Riesling in a style that Canada does better... Continue Reading →
Ottawa, ON May 2018 Matt's review: Icellars Estate Winery's Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from the Twenty Mile Bench Wismer Homestead Vineyard, further demonstrates just how exceptional the wines from this boutique winery can be. In its inaugural vintage, this small production (120 cases) wine is beautifully structured with crisp acidity, great exotic and tropical fruit characteristics,... Continue Reading →
Quercus Vino 