Tag: canada

wine review: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Elisha’s Chardonnay 2018 – Niagara Peninsula VQA – $26.95

Light gold colour, the nose is inviting with rich orchard fruit, baked apple, pineapple, melon, and a hint of hazelnut. Full-bodied and creamy, offering an array of luscious orchard and tropical fruit flavors. The winemaker's careful attention in crafting this fine wine included fermenting in stainless steel followed by aging in French oak, and a small amount of Hungarian and Bulgarian oak. The result is a great expression of high quality and great value Niagara Chardonnay. Rich, ripe, and creamy, it’s a wine that showcases both the depth and power of the 2018 vintage. A testament to the skill of winemaker Sue-Ann Staff and the high quality fruit she's working with to offer such impressive wines at great prices. Enjoy over the next five years. Tasted March 2025. 90 points. Matt Steeves

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wine review: Black Bank Hill Cabernet Franc 2022, Lincoln Lakeshore VQA, Ontario, Canada – $40 winery-direct

the earthy sweetness of roasted beets. These aromas combine to create a nuanced and multi-layered bouquet that invites deep exploration. On the palate, elegant and beautifully composed. Medium to full-bodied, it reveals a repeating pattern of dusty plum, raspberry, black tea, and graphite, which carry through from the nose with great persistence. The balance between fruit, structure, and acidity is impressive. Proprietor/vintner Taylor Emmerson and winemaker Jonathan McLean have beautifully crafted a wine that is sophisticated, complex, yet so approachable. Fine, ripe tannins frame the wine’s complexity, offering a smooth yet substantial mouthfeel. The acidity adds freshness, while the wine’s rich fruit and savory depth linger on a long, pleasant finish. For those seeking a nuanced, terroir-driven wine, Black Bank Hill Cabernet Franc 2022 offers an exciting opportunity to experience the potential of this region and how big reds can shine in Niagara. Its deep, complex flavors and structured elegance make it a perfect candidate for medium-term cellaring, though its current expression is perfectly primed for enjoyment as soon as it's released in late March/early spring 2025. Black Bank Hill Cabernet Franc 2022 is a stellar example of Niagara Cabernet Franc, offering a complex mix of fruit, savory notes, and minerality. At $40 a bottle, this wine delivers great value for collectors and enthusiasts alike, offering both immediate enjoyment and medium-term aging potential.

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wine review: Lailey Off-Dry Riesling 2022

Ottawa, ON February 2025 Matt's review: From Lailey's vineyards along the picturesque Niagara River Parkway, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, their off-dry Riesling is an elegant expression of premium Niagara Riesling. The nose shows a fragrant bouquet of orchard and stone fruit, apple, pear, with wildflower honey and floral blossoms and impressive steely minerality. The palate repeats,... Continue Reading →

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winery profile: Rizzini – Franciacorta, Italy

Founded in 1985, Rizzini is a small, family-owned winery in the heart of Franciacorta, Italy, dedicated exclusively to crafting vintage Blanc de Blancs sparkling wines from their 'single cru' vineyard. Nestled at the base of the Monticelli Brusati hills, their two-hectare estate was replanted in 1995 and 2000, focusing entirely on Chardonnay — where they have been focused on producing the finest expressions of traditional method sparkling wine from their unique terroir each year.

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winery highlight: Tenuta delle Ripalte Winery, Elba Island, Italy – off the coast of Tuscany

Tenuta delle Ripalte is a stunning Mediterranean resort and winery located on Elba Island, off the coast of Tuscany, north of Rome and south of Florence. Nestled within the rugged landscapes of the island’s southeastern coast, the estate is part of a sprawling 450-hectare private nature reserve, offering breathtaking views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and their 16 hectares of rolling vineyards.

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wine review: Hester Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

The 2022 vintage presented challenges, yet it resulted in fruit of exceptional quality. Hester Creek's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the remarkable potential of this variety in the southern Okanagan. Despite a cooler-than-usual spring, the extended growing season allowed the fruit to fully ripen, with some even slightly withering on the vine. This extended maturation resulted in a beautifully balanced and harmonious Cabernet with impressive aromatic and flavor complexity. The wine reveals a deep ruby color, with a nose offering fragrant dark fruits, sweet spices, dried fruits, cassis, forest floor, and a hint of graphite. On the palate, dark fruits, spices, and herbal notes persist, leading to a long, lingering finish. The tannins are exceptionally soft and well-integrated, a true testament to both the terroir and winemaking expertise. Tasted over two days, the wine showed even greater harmony and enjoyment on day two. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2035, with decanting recommended before serving. Tasted January 2025. 93+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca

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wine review: Checkmate 2021 Little Pawn Chardonnay 

Ottawa, ON December 2024 Matt’s review: Checkmate 2021 Little Pawn Chardonnay  With each vintage CheckMate further demonstrates their exceptional winemaking artistry highlighting the great potential of the impressive vineyards they work with to craft their world-class wines.  While 2021 brought unprecedented challenges during the growing season, the team at CheckMate delivered the consistent high-quality standard... Continue Reading →

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