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	Thirty Bench Winemakers 2006 Riesling The 2005 Thirty Bench Riesling became a model for all to follow – a blend of Riesling grapes from 3 of their vineyards. Then Thirty Bench made more expensive and more expressive single vineyard Rieslings using the best grapes plucked from those vineyards. I’m not surprised to see them do the same thing this year, because it proved to be wildly popular, not just with Riesling drinkers, but with all wine drinkers because it gave them a something-for-everybody selection. This ’06 is another tast... Hits: 6363
	Smith and Wilson Estate Wines 2006 Viognier While some yahoo out in Niagara believes he can get $49 for his 2006 Viognier, let me tell you there’s a better option for much less money; the one drawback is its further away from Niagara – not such a drawback if you’re in the area or willing to make the drive. In Blenheim, 50km east of Leamington, lies Smith and Wilson, and they make the only Viognier in the Lake Erie North Shore area, from their own 4 year old vines. An aromatic white that has luscious apple and peach on the nose with flav... Hits: 5525
	WildAss Red 2002 (Stratus Winery) When it comes to blending JL Groux has got to be one of the masters. With Hillebrand he was instrumental in launching the Trius line. Now with his own winery he can mix and blend to his heart’s content. And he’s done it again with WildAss Red – a side venture to his Stratus winery. At 19 dollars a bottle it is the lowest priced red in the Stratus line – but unfortunately it is not available directly thru or at the winery. There is a completely separate website to order from: www.wildasswin... Hits: 4624
	Southbrook Winery 2004 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Southbrook has always been known for their award winning Triomphe (Reserve) line of Chardonnays, but this little barrel-fermented beauty shows they are making great Chardonnay at both ends of the spectrum. With the wine making team of Steve Byfield and Ann Sperling and an imminent move to Niagara scheduled for early 2007, we’re expecting even greater things from this winery. But considering that Miss Sperling joined at the end of 2005 – this Chardonnay is a pure Byfield original. Notes of Pin... Hits: 3710
	Munro’s Meadery Raspberry Melomel Mead is wine made from honey – probably one of the oldest alcohol-based drinks in the world, according to John Bryans, owner and mead maker of Munro’s Meadery in Alvinston, Ontario (west of London between Hwys 401 and 402 in Southwest Middlesex county). John has not only won a few awards for his mead (at the International Mead Festival held annually in Denver, Colorado), but he has researched the product quite extensively, so he knows of what he speaks. “Melomel” is the term given to Mead that... Hits: 4028
	Flat Rock Cellars 2006 Twisted The percentage blend changes annually, but the enjoyment factor does not. Each year Flat Rock’s Twisted has been a favourite of visitors – partly due to its reasonable price and partly due to its “yum-factor”. This year the blend goes something like this: 46% Gewurztraminer, 29% Riesling and 25% Chardonnay and each grape adds something to the mix. We get lots of peachy, lychee and rosiness on the nose, with apples, pears and peaches on the taste … perfect for patio-prattle or those down-by-t... Hits: 4255
	Hillebrand Winery 2006 Trius White I’d say it’s about time a Trius White came out. For years now the flagship wine of Hillebrand has been their Trius Red Bordeaux-blend, but until now it has never had a white partner. Darryl Brooker (winemaker) came on board a couple of years back and voila, now we finally have a wine to match up with the red. This is a soft white, meaning it’s meant to drink now, when compared with its red brother, which is meant for the long haul. Made up of primarily Gewurztraminer (33%) and Riesling (30%)... Hits: 3290
	Erie Shore Vineyard 2005 Duet Erie Shore Vineyards continues to impress me with their wonderful wines and great hospitality – I always walk out of their small wine boutique feeling like one of the family, and with the slightly pleasurable, yet guilty notion that I have tasted a secret family recipe. The Duet this year is a little different than previous year’s releases. This time, it’s a two-thirds/one-third blend of Zweigelt to Cabernet Franc, (it is usually the other way around). This is mainly due to the great abundanc... Hits: 4419
	Smith & Wilson 2004 Double Barrel Smith & Wilson is one of the newest wineries in the Lake Erie North Shore (LENS) area … they are also the furthest away from where all the action is – about half-an-hour east of Lemington along highway 3 near Blenheim. There they make a variety of fruit wine, grape wine and dessert wine. There’s something for every taste and palate. Their Double Barrel is a take off of their name (Smith & Wilson // Smith & Wesson) and is a blend of Cabernet Franc (85%) Merlot (15%) with notes of smoked bacon,... Hits: 1069
	Dan Aykroyd 2005 Cabernet-Merlot Now this is more like what I was expecting from a man who claims to love Bordeaux (“I like the big, bold monster Bordeauxs …” Dan Aykroyd). This blend is 45% Franc, 25% Sauv and 35% Merlot from the hot 2005 vintage; 13 months in French and American oak have given this wine some real heft. Currently, the nose is spicy oak and cedar with some leatheriness and herbaceous undertones. The taste is dark fruits and oak dominated, but should smooth out and start showing more fruit over the coming yea... Hits: 4264

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