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.

Niagara Escarpment

I just got back from 2 days in Niagara. I visted 14 wineries and tasted over 100 wines. I won't post notes on all of them, but here are the ones I loved.

I hope to see many of them appear on the ZenKitchen wine list soon!

13th Street
08 Funk Riesling
Despite the unfortunate name, this is crisp with lots of dry lime flavour - really austere.

07 Gamay Noir
Candied fruit, strong smooth tannins and low acidity - nice for the patio.

08 Rose
Cab Franc and Cab Sauv blend, it's off-dry with a lot of dried fruit flavour.

13 Bellow
Basically a late harvest riesling, it's honey-scented with good acidity.

Cave Spring
Lots of nice wine, but most of it is LCBO general list. The exception:

07 Riesling CSV ($30)
Classic Riesling nose of petrol and lime
Dry, but with a hint of residual sugar
Long lime finish. Stunning, and worth every cent.

Vineland Estates
A lot of excellent product here, too.

07 Sauvignon Blanc
Real NZ style - canned peas, citrus. Beautiful.

08 Pinot Grigio
Will be released in a few weeks.
Grigio with flavour! Melon, minerals, crisp finish. Loved it. Loved. It.

08 Chenin Blanc
Lots of fruit, honeysuckle, crisp finish.
I think this is the Chenin we've been looking for.

Malivoire
08 Old Vines Foch
Tannic, with dark fruit and well-balanced acidity. I like Sandbanks' better, though.

09 Ladybug Rose
Currently at Vintages
Dry, good acidity, lots of fruit. Cheap, too.

Gewurztraminer Icewine
Gorgeous honey and floral flavours with a light acidity to balance.
On sale, but still expensive.