Niagara-on-the-Lake

What could be nicer than driving around Niagara on the Lake tasting wine? It really is a lovely area, and many of the wineries are close together.

I was particularly happy to visit Frogpond Farm, Ontario's first certified organic winery. I've been buying from them for 3 years now, but hadn't been down to meet owners Jens and Heike. It was a pleasure to see them.

The other highlight for me was to visit Southbrook Winery, Ontario's only Demeter-certified biodynamic winery. Elena Galey-Pride, Director of Customer Experience, joined me for an incredible tasting that included some 10 year old Chardonnay (stunning!) and a few wines only available to restaurants.

Here are my top picks from the wineries I visited:

Southbrook
09 Fresh White
The big shock here - it's 100% Vidal. Fresh is the right word - fruit forward, with lemon and vanilla.

07 Triomphe Chardonnay
Honey, lychee, light citrus. The palate shows restrained oak with a nice acidity. Really yum.

05 Triomphe Cabernet Merlot
This is restricted to licensee only - no LCBO or even winery sales.
ripe dark cherries, smoke and smooth tannins with a coffee finish. One of the best full-bodied Ontario reds I've tasted.

Palatine Hills
I didn't love anything, but liked a couple:

08 Fume Blanc - well balanced vegetal and acidity

07 Cab Merlot - avbl only in 1.5 litres. Good balance, but not outstanding flavour

07 Merlot - soft tannins, rich plum and raisin notes. Low acidity. My favourite Palatine product.

Stonechurch
07 Pinot Noir Reserve
Big tannins, lots of dark fruit. Reminds me of the Chilensis.

07 "Quintet" - Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, other stuff. Black pepper and big tannins, with a lot of spice on the finish.

Strewn
07 Chardonnay
Butter and sweet apples, minerality. Toast on the palate is offset by the acidity. Very, very nice.
07 Cab Sauv
Candied red fruit, smoke and leather. Full tannins and good acidity, if a bit light on fruit on the palate. At $12 a bottle, though...

Also, watch for the 07 Sauvignon Blanc, not yet in the bottle.

Stratus
Lots of lovely wine, but it`s all very pricey.

07 Gamay (includes 15% Cab Sauv)
Rich red fruit and leather. Subtle and complex.

Frogpond Farm
08 Cabernet Merlot
Delicate, gentle tannins, red fruit and good acidity.

08 Vidal
Tart, bright fruity, spicy finish. Not as good as Southbrook's, but it`s only $12.

Lailey
07 Gamay-Zweigelt
A pretty colour with ripe fruit and tobacco on the nose. In the mouth, fresh red fruit, medium tannins and a nice acidity. Serve chilled.

07 Cab Franc
Chewy tannins and ripe fruit and smoke to the long finish.

Inniskillin
07 Shiraz-Cab
Lots of red fruit, cigar box. Big, rounded tannins. For the Australian Shiraz lovers.