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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: 605
	Viewpointe Estate Winery 2005 “Ideal Pointe” Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Viewpointe’s price structure has most wines below $20, but then there are the 4 “pointe” wines which are their reserve wines and range in price between $20 and $33. This barrel fermented Chard spends 6 months on the lees and is showing beautifully right now. A buttery nose of vanilla and oak is followed on the palate with pineapple, vanilla, papaya, fresh tree fruit, like apples and pears, with good length, buttery-oak and smooth-vanilla finish … ideal indeed.... Hits: 294
	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: 410
	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: 551
	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: 668
	Sanson Estate Winery 2002 Bird Dog Red This wine is classic Sanson, and classic Ontario 2002: big flavours with a complex nose. Bird Dog is a typical Meritage blend of Cabernet Franc (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Merlot (20%), made from an exceptionally good year for grapes in Ontario, and by a very deft hand. Sanson continues to be one of those quiet wineries that’s making quality wines with a very loyal following – as our 2006 Crystal Cork Awards proved. I have met Dennis Sanson on a few occasions and his winery reflects ... Hits: 342
	Riverview 2003 Fontana Dolce Smooth and supple tannins, a wonderful nose of sweet cherry and strawberry, and a taste of figs and plums with a byng cherry finish that’s medium long – are all features of this delicious sweetie. It enters the mouth sweet, but ends on a dry note. The Fontana Dolce is made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Baco Noir from domestic and imported fruit. A claimed 3 on the sugar code makes it sweet, but not sickeningly so. It coats the mouth with its subtle sweetness, before ending ... Hits: 489
	Sandbanks Estate Winery 2005 Cabernet Franc When you only have 4 wines (currently) – it makes it easier to pick a favourite than when you have a wall full … that’s why this Cabernet Franc is the Pick of the Bunch this week. Had I not been to the winery, tried the wine there; then bought a few bottles and tried them again at home, I would have totally believed this fruit-bomb was from California or Australia. It shows that here in Ontario we can make a fully fruit driven wine from this grape. Aged 6 months in oak, this Cab Franc is allo... Hits: 444
	Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2005 Cabernet Franc It’s only a matter of time before Ontario winemakers start to really pay attention to what this grape is telling them – if you lean in real close you can actually hear them whispering, “I’m your grape.” Name any other grape and I’ll give you the country that is most recognized for it … but Cabernet Franc is a homeless wanderer – until now. Ontario winemakers should be focusing on this grape as our signature red wine. This Thirty Bench is a perfect example of what can be done with Franc here: ... Hits: 639
	Huff Estates 2006 First Frost I’m almost positive this wine was in a bigger bottle last year and as I am writing this review I am looking it up … yes there it is, 750ml bottle, oh but the price was also higher ($22.95) … kudos to Huff for lowering the price along with the bottle size, that renews my faith of honesty in the wine business. Alright enough with my critique about prices and bottle size and on with what you’ll find when you pull the cork on this one. The nose has some great tropical fruit notes of apples, kiwi, ... Hits: 524

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