Cave Spring 2008 Riesling Icewine: Review

Cave Spring Icewine

Cave Spring Cellars

Jordan, Ontario, Canada

Cavespring.ca

10% abv

100% Riesling

Appearance: golden crystal with nice legs on the glass

Aroma: light bouquet, sweet pear

Flavors: honey dipped white summer fruit – apple and pear; golden raisin; very light lemon twist on the finish

Mouthfeel: silky smooth, nice icewine syrupy feel coats the palate and lingers on the palate with a touch of lemon twist – the kind you just rub on the rim of a glass.

To the Point: a must buy for icewine drinkers.  This is a sipper – just like all icewines.  One or two ounces and that is it – the sugar content is way too high to drink more – believe me.   

Crew Meritage 2007: Review

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery Inc. (CREW)

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Colchesterridge.com

13.4% abv

Appearance: light crimson body with a crystal edge; this is going to be a lighter bodied Meritage in weight and flavor … I’ll bet

Aroma: nice berry on the nose … then not much else … a bit of tobacco

Flavors: plum, raspberry, red current, light dry green spice, little dusty earth

Mouthfeel: too thin on the delivery, little acidity on mid and finish, berry bowl on the finish but light in feel, mild-medium overall in body,

To the Point: I bought this a couple of years ago and had one bottle and to me it was on the thin side for a Meritage and thought a couple of years of aging might … just might help it a little … so I saved the other bottle.  I would have to say, it didn’t help.  If you like a lighter bodied red this will work for you.  If you know what you are drinking … this is not that impressive.  The berry flavor is nice and if you are eating a burger this bottle should do the trick then.   

Muscedere 2010 Riesling vs Bower Harbor 2010 Riesling

Michigan Riesling vs. Ontario Riesling

First Up: Muscedere Vineyards 2010 Riesling

Coming from: Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Muscederevineyards.com

11.8% abv

$16.00 a bottle

Appearance: bright straw

Aroma: very faint, fresh apple, and let’s call it sweet apple blossom.  You will have to swirl that glass a bit and get the nose down in there. 

Flavors: a mix of fresh apple, maybe a touch of tart apple, and the acidity is giving it a little citrus squeeze. 

Mouthfeel: the acidity is a touch more than I would expect and it comes across like a citrus note. 

To the Point: I don’t know if I would guess Riesling here but, it is a tasty little white wine.  The more I drink it the more I like it.  I would pair this with shellfish – lobster, shrimp, and mussels – oh yes; cook some mussels with this that would be perfect. 

Why would I not guess Riesling?  I think for one it is the apple focus and not peach like and I am not picking up that classic petrol or mineral like quality.  So what – pick up a bottle and you’ll like it. 

Next up: Bowers Harbor Vineyards 2010 Riesling

Coming from: Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Langley Vineyard on Old Mission Peninsula

Bowersharbor.com

10.5% abv

$19.00 a bottle

Appearance: looks just like the Ontario wine – a bright straw color

Aroma: oh, that nice touch of mineral or the good old term of petrol,

Flavors: white peach like on the delivery, washed stone mineral note, a little honeysuckle, just a wee hint of citrus (actually, I think that is more on the aftertaste) and a sweet finish with a touch of petrol on the aftertaste. 

Mouthfeel: a nicely balanced white wine, the acidity seems undercontrol, a lingering touch of sweet citrus with a hint of petrol

To the Point: a nice display of the Riesling grape, very tasty and I think I’ll do this with my fish dinner tonight. 

Muscedere Baco Noir Reserve 2008: Review

Muscedere Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

MuscedereVineyards.com

VQA

13% abv

When I visited their winery I bought a bottle of this Baco and a bottle of the Pinot Noir but, I got two bottles of the Baco in my bag.  So, I just get to enjoy one of these Baco’s for my pleasure and I’ll review the other.  I’ll just have to get back there and pick up the Pinot on my next visit. 

Appearance: deep garnet

Aroma: dark berries, spice, earth

Flavors & Mouthfeel: the acidity seems to have a bit of a bite compared to the bottle I had last week.  Blackberries and tart cranberries seem to dominate.  Wool like on the palate, short tart note on the aftertaste, lingering berries. 

I wish I reviewed the other bottle.  I remember that I really enjoyed that bottle and I was looking forward to this bottle. 

Crew Cabernet Franc 2008: Review

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery (Crew)

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Lake Erie North Shore

VQA

ColchesterRidge.com

13.8% abv

$17.80 from the winery (Canadian $)

Appearance: bright ruby body with a big ruby-red edge

Aroma: berries with a touch of light spice, the bouquet is light overall

Flavors: red berries that remind me of currant, cranberry, and a hint of raspberry; sweet cherry, mulberry, and a touch of brown spice box.   

Mouthfeel: touch of acidity, a tart note from the cranberry like flavor; soft feel overall, a bit of a watery edge.

To the Point: an okay to decent Cab Franc.  The bouquet and mouthfeel seem to be on the weak side for a Franc wine.  The flavors are tasty but, the watery edge takes way from this.  For under 20 bucks it’s worth a bottle purchase. 

CEV Icewine Vidal 2007: Review

VQA Lake Erie North Shores

Colio Estate Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

11.5% abv

$20.00 a bottle Canadian

Coliowinery.com

Here is their description from coliowinery.com

Aroma: Dry apricot, honeysuckle and raisin

Flavors: Honeyed raisins, apricot and tropical finish

Appearance: amber

Aroma: apricot for sure, faint sweetened raisin,  

Flavors: apricot all the way, super sweet nectar, with a slight tart finish

Mouthfeel: the sweetness just coats the palate for a long lasting aftertaste of sweet nectar and apricot



Look at those sugar crystals on the end of this cork



To the Point: this is fuller bodied Vidal Ice Wine.  I wouldn’t call it smooth or elegant – maybe – flannel like – drink this after a hearty pot roast dinner.  If I was grading this I would give it a B- 82%.  Decent.   

Muscedere 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon: Review

Muscedere Vineyards Estate Winery

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Muscederevineyards.com

13.5% abv

$30.00 a bottle

Aged 15 months in French oak barrels and unfiltered

I visited this winery back in the fall and had a very nice visit.  I have never been to Muscedere Winery before.  They have an outdoor brick oven where they cook pizza and of course I had to have one.  It was delicious.  If you have never been here before and I’ll bet you have not, you need to make a visit and plan to have lunch. 

Appearance: deep ruby color with a lighter ruby edge

Aroma: dark berries, a touch of spice

Flavors: I poured a little in a glass to see what it tastes like right after opening the bottle and the wine had a nice spicy taste which worked with the alcohol note on the nose.  Just had to do that for fun. 

I poured some more into the glass to get ready to review.  After a few swirls of the glass and a few minutes to breath I was ready for a taste.  It is clearly fruit forward as they say.  The blackberries, dark currants, and a touch of dark cherries make for a tasty Cab.  Throw in a touch of anise, a little spice coming from the oak barrel aging and alcohol, and 80% dark chocolate bite.

The mouthfeel is smooth and luscious; the dark chocolate bite is on the mid-palate and that is when the oaky note hits the tongue.  The dark berries linger on the palate. 

This first glass is very tasty. 

If I am reading their web site right this is only their second year for Cabernet Sauvignon from their vineyard.  So, the 2007 Cab must have been outsourced?  For being only their second year with the Cabernet grape this sure is good.  Hell, even if it was their 10^th year it sure is good. 

An hour later I pour myself a second glass from the decanter.  The texture is still smooth but, the body seems to have built some strength.  The dark berries seem a touch fuller and there is a good earthy tone that seems to coat the palate.  The high percentage dark chocolate and the sweet anise gives some balance.  Thinking about balance – the acidity and the tannins sure are under control here. 

My Strength Rating: 7 – a good medium-full style wine.  The blackberry and dark chocolate notes show off the acidity in style.  The mouthfeel builds from decanting this wine. 

To the Point: for only 30 bones this is a very worthy Cabernet Sauvignon.  I will be buy more. 

I paired this Cabernet with a Por Larranaga Maduro Cigar on my third glass of wine during a Monday Night Football game and a Detroit Red Wing and Edmonton hockey game.  It is great having three TV’s out in my cigar/wine/beer lounge.  This is my last Por Larranaga Maduro.  I had to have purchased that box about 4 years ago, when the store was closing them out.  I don’t even know if they make this one anymore.  Anyways, this was a great match.  The medium bodied cigar played well with the medium-full bodied red wine.    

Sprucewood Shores 2007 Meritage: Review

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Sprucewoodshores.com

13% abv

$21.95 a bottle

I remember visiting this winery in the winter of 2007.  They opened their doors in June of that year.  They have a wonderful dog that will probably greet you in the parking lot or at the front door.  On my next visit I’ll take my three dogs and maybe they can all play together. 

 

Blend: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cab Franc, 30% Merlot

Appearance: a pretty crimson color with a ruby edge

Aroma: smoky black cherry that would make a good pipe tobacco blend

Flavors: black cherry, juicy berries – red currant and black raspberry, smoky earthy tone, cocoa powder 

Mouthfeel: this is velvety smooth, the tannins and acidity are in balance, a moderate dry feel on the finish, the lingering berries seem a bit short

My Strength Rating: 5 – a solid medium body for a Meritage, the short aftertaste and silky smooth style keeps it in the medium range to me.

To the Point: I will have to make a special trip to get back to this winery to pick up a six pack of this wine.  The overall flavors of this wine are just plain sexy smooth. 

CEV Gamay Noir 2008: Review

Colio Estate Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Lake Erie North Shore

Coliowinery.com

12.1% abv

$14.00 a bottle Canadian

100% Gamay Noir

Here are the tasting notes as stated on the bottle: “Scents of dark cherry, cedar spice and strawberry pie foretell the dark cherry, cranberry and pomegranate finish.”

Appearance: ruby body with an amber-ruby edge and a crystal rim. 

Aroma: I like the cedar spice, cherry and currant nose.  I also get a little earthy tone here as well.

Flavors: Wow, on my first few sips (after swirling the glass) the cedar comes through.  It is like a cigar box cedar with each sip and sniff. And, I have smelled a few cigar boxes in my day.  Dark berries on the taste with some nice green peppercorn spice along with that cedar note and rich soil for the earthy tone. 

Mouthfeel: It started off feeling a little thin (on the first few sips after opening the bottle) and when it opened up (a few swirls of the glass) it filled out the palate.  There is a blackberry bite that greets the palate.  The cedar, spice and dark berries linger and cling to the palate.  I can feel it coating my teeth and gums.  Dry finish, tannins semi-smooth, acidity under control. 

My Strength Rating: 7 – truly coats the palate.

To the Point: You can’t go wrong with this $14.00 bottle.  Nice medium-full feel without being overwhelming.   

The wine held up just fine when I paired it with some 9 year old white cheddar and then a whole grain cracker with horseradish cheese. 

This wine should go well with a fine cigar.  Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with this wine. 

I just noticed that I did a review of this wine back in January of this year.  Click here to read that review. 

Sanson Bacobama: Review

Red/White Blend

No Vintage

12% abv

Sanson Estate Winery

Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada

Sansonestatewinery.com

$14.00 Canadian

My Strength Rating: 3

This is a blend of Baco Noir and a touch of white wine (probably Vidal). 

Okay, I have to admit I do not have much hope for this wine.  Like its name sake it is probably all style (nice label) and no substance.  If you believe in Obama’s substance then, if you are in debt, come on over and buy as many cases of this wine as possible.  According to the President if you are in debt you can spend your way out of it.  Great idea! 

Now, I do have some hope for this wine.  I did try it at the Sanson Winery and it was okay.  My Obama loving sister thought it was very good. 

This red/white blend has a nice purple color and a light very-berry aroma.  To me this wine has a nice black raspberry taste, a light plum, there seems to be a little strawberry swirling around, a light mouthfeel, and a bit of dark berries lingering on the back of the palate. 

I have to admit this – I liked this wine.  While, I did rate this on my strength scale as a 3 it is not thin or watery. 

At first I could not figure out the flavor then, it hit me that I have tasted this before.  So, I went to the cellar and opened up a jar of black raspberry jelly that I bought from a local farmer in Port Austin Michigan and tasted the jelly.  Yep, that tastes like the flavor I was trying to figure out – black raspberry. 

Funny thing … I called my sister and asked her if she opened her bottle yet and she had … and she did not like it. 

The one thing you will notice about this bottle is that it does not have the VQA distinction.  VQA stands for Vinters Quality Alliance.  This is an organization for Ontario Wineries that meet quality standards for their wine.  One of the standards is that the grapes are grown in Ontario.  Sanson Estate grew these grapes at their vineyard in Ontario.  But, the organization probably does not recognize the blend of a red and white grape or they just did not have it's birth certificate for those grapes.  So, Sanson Estate says, this is their wine to ‘recognize change.’  Just like Obama said during his campaign, “Change.”  Well, Sanson Estate and the American’s found out that things just stay the same.

Sanson barncat 2006: Review

13.5% abv

Sanson Estate Winery

Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada

Sansonestatewinery.com

Blend of: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir

Appearance: rich ruby

Aroma: light berry mix and spice

Flavors: red and black berry mix, tart red berries, some white pepper mustiness

Mouthfeel: light lingering berry notes, fairly light in body

My Strength Rating: 4

This was okay overall.  I think I prefer the Sanson Bird Dog Red.

CEV Signature 2002 Merlot: Review

13% abv

100% Merlot

Fermentation: 14 days on skins

Aging: 26 months in New European oak barrels

Colio Estate Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

$59.45 Canadian

Coliowines.com

Appearance: deep deep purple body with rich ruby highlights, almost black looking from the side.  As I look closer at the highlights I see some light browning in color.  This wine might be starting to show its age.  It is 9 years old now. 

Aroma: Oak, smoke, faint berry notes

Flavors: a solid oaky style is front and center to me.  Tobacco leaf, dried cranberries, tart cherry, and dried brown spice on the back of the palate

Mouthfeel: a dry 85% dark chocolate like finish and aftertaste.  The aftertaste is very dry and a glass of water would be perfect with this merlot.  The wine has a smooth leathery feel.

This is my kind of Merlot

Sanson 2008 Reserve Baco Noir: Review

Sanson Estate Winery

12.5% abv

$25.00 Canadian

Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada

Sansonestatewinery.com

My Strength Rating: 4/4.5

Baco Noir is pronounced: BA-koh NWAHR

I can remember stopping by this winery back when they first opened up.  The wine was the usual start-up wine taste a little on the thin side.  Well, now is the time to stop on by this little winery.  I have sampled a few of their wines and I have enjoyed them.  I enjoyed the Bird Dog Red so much I went back and bought four more bottles. 

Appearance: Garnet with ruby crystal highlights

Aroma: plump big dark berry notes and a whiff of oak

Flavors: this is a fruit forward wine here for the taking.  Mulberry, touch of blueberry, hint of boysenberry, red currants, and sweet cedar.  The tannins are low, which it should be for a Baco, and the acidic level is pleasing, which can be high for a young Baco Noir.

Mouthfeel: light and lively feel on the palate.  The sweet berries linger for a spell on the palate.  There is a light edge.

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with this wine.

Wines of Ontario Month

This April I will be reviewing Wines from Ontario, Canada.

There are 14 wineries southeast of Windsor Ontario Canada.  From Amherstburg to Pelee Island and don’t forget Smith and Wilson out by Chatham.  There are four planned wineries to open in the next few years.  If you are looking for a fun day trip look no further than the Lake Erie North Shore Wine Route. 

During the month of April (maybe longer) I am going to introduce you to some of the Lake Erie North Shore Wines.

There are two wineries that I have been visiting over the years (decades now) they are D’Angelo Estate Winery in Amherstburg and Colio Estate Wines located in Harrow.  I have reviewed a few wines from these two wineries already.  Look in the left margin for the links to their wines that I have reviewed.  Colio wines are listed as CEV in my links.

This month I am planning to review some wines from, of course, D’Angelo and Colio.  I have wines from Viewpointe Estate and Sprucewood Shores and then Sanson Estate Winery.  The bottle from Sprucewood is from the first year they opened. 

If you live in driving distance this is a worthy day trip to this wine region.  And they have wines that will interest the newbie to the experienced consumer. 

Visit

WinesofCanada.com

Essexwinereview.com

Here is the lineup
I will link them when they get posted
Colio 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
CEV Signature 02 Merlot
Colio 2006 Meritage
Sanson 2005 Bird Dog
Sanson Barn Cat 06
Sanson Res. Baco Noir 08
Sanson Bacobama
Sprucewood Cabernet 2006
D'Angelo 2006 Old Vines Foch
View Pointe Focal Pointe 02