20
Apr
2018
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Category: Uncorked Tonight
(October 22, 2016) ... A real mish-mash-melee array of wines hit the table this evening, here are some brief notes about them:
The Crusher 2011 Pinot Noir, Wilson Vineyard (California) ... smoky notes kick things off with red and black cherry to follow, sweet cranberry and white pepper also show up.
Henry of Pelham 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir (Ontario) ... the focus these days is on Ontario Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this reserve Henry is dusty and smoky, with cassis and harsh tannins; it's almost a fruit-less wine if not for those 
cassis notes.
Southbrook 1999 Cabernet Franc, Lailey Vineyard (Ontario) ... hot damn, this puppy is performing better than expected: red pepper jelly character on the nose with smoky, sweet strawberry, vanilla-oak, and a long finish filled with great acidity - this one's hanging on.
The Show 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (California) ... not sure why I hold some wines, curiousity I guess, but this one seems to be kicking around in a good way: dried blackberry with cedary and spice.
Tyrrell 2004 Shiraz (Australia) ... nothing wrong here, with 12 years under its belt it's still a wine I'm happy to have a full glass of: plum, black cherry, coffee, and mocha,
Chateau des Charmed 2012 Gamay Noir 'Droit' (Ontario) ... another wine that's still hanging on with full-fruited up-front flavour that proves to be simply delicious it also has that signature subtle peppery/spice that 'droit' is known for.
13
Apr
2018
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Category: Uncorked Tonight
(October 18, 2016) ... A night spent with my podcast partner, Andre, is usually filled with talk, food and older wines from my cellar ... these were tonight's gems (and flops) - all Ontario wine unless specified:
The Hatch 2014 Black Swift Vineyards Syrah (British Columbia) ... we interviewed the guys from the Hatch winery tonight (link here) and I try this simply amazing Syrah they produce fro the first time, which I later turned into a video review ( link here ) love what these guys are doing and this wine: gorgeous smoky, meaty black fruit, with coffee, cocoa and spice - just what the doctor ordered for BC Syrah and at a respectable 14.2%.
Colio 2007 CEV Cabernet Franc Reserve ... this wine was sealed under plastic and it showed undertones of oxidation, a little balsamic raspberry, and funky harshness - it was totally unpleasant and certainly not the exciting wine I was hoping for based on the vintage and pedigree of the winery.
Jackson-Triggs 2004 Shiraz, Proprietor's Reserve ... another plastic corked wine and even older, the plastic plug has done nothing to help this average-vintage wine: disgustingly atrocious, foul and more port-like than port, but in all the wrong ways, it seems to have turned rotten plum into dog food (and that's a quote).
Hacienda Araucano 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile) ... nicely spiced , plummy and also slightly pruney, but with some elegance on the mid-palate that follows through to the finish.
Roquevale 2004 Grande Escolha (Portugal) ... blackberries and spice with some pepper, but this wine has also turned a corner and developed more secondary and tertiary notes than primary fruit and even has a port like nuance, this time it's in a good way.
Robinson Creek 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon ... CORKED, proving plastic ruins old wine but there is always room for good, old-fashioned cork taint.
To read about Night 1 - click here
A night at Andre's always includes a dog, and here is Henri:
