14
Jan
2019
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Not all reviews make the newsletter, there's just so many good wines and not enough space ... so every three to six months (or so) I clear out the backlog of wines ... here are the reviews that were written but until now have never seen the light of day.
(click on the wine name to link to the full review)
Lake Erie North Shore
Pelee Island Mousseux de Pomme
Pelee Island 2016 Meritage, Vinedressers
Pelee Island 2017 Riesling Late Harvest
Pelee Island 2017 Pink
Niagara Escarpment
Angels Gate 2015 GSM
Creekside 2016 Semillon “Naked”
Creekside 2017 Backyard Bubbly
Creekside 2017 Gamay Noir
Creekside 2017 Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon, Iconoclast
KEW Vineyards 2015 Rosalie
KEW Vineyards 2016 Pinot Meunier
Magnotta 2016 Pinot Noir, Venture Series
Magnotta 2017 Dry Rosé, Venture Series
Malivoire 2016 Chardonnay, Forgotten Row
Malivoire 2016 Chardonnay, Small Lot
Redstone 2016 Sparkling Rosé
Rockway 2016 Staterra Red
Tawse 2014 Blanc de Noirs, Laundry Vineyard
Tawse 2015 Chardonnay, South Bay
Tawse 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Growers Blend
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Pondview 2016 Riesling
Queenston Mile 2016 Mile Red
Queenston Mile 2017 Mile High
Queenston Mile 2017 Mile White
Queenston Mile 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé
Reif Estates 2015 Meritage
Reif Estates 2016 Shiraz Reserve
Trius 2017 Cabernet Franc
Prince Edward County
Fieldbird 2017 Black Tail
Fieldbird 2017 Buzzing Chatter
Fieldbird 2017 Northern Spy
Other Regions & Virtual Wineries
Fogolar Wines 2015 Chardonnay
Fogolar WInes 2016 Riesling
Meldville 2017 Chardonnay, Third Edition
Meldville 2017 Sauvignon Blanc
Nyarai Cellars 2014 Cadence
03
Jan
2019
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(October 2018) ... Truly a very eye-opening experience based on the group Grandes Pagos d’Espana – which was established in the year 2000 by five estate wineries whose sole purpose was to deepen and promote the concept of single estate wines within Spain, because that is what a “Pagos” is, a single estate – their goal is to express origin and typicity based on soil and climate, or as is more commonly known as “Terroir”.
In 2004 they established their name of Grandes Pagos d’Espana with 12 estates under their umbrella; today they number 29 wineries – with a rotating number of wineries. If quality standards drop for two years in a row a member can be removed, while others are continuously submitting wines with an effort to get in.
Not all these wines fall into Spain’s legal DOC or IGP domination standards, it’s the expression of the terroir they are looking for, not the legal definition of sanctioned wines. Currently these wineries represent 30 varieties (20 red / 19 white) and 4.5 million bottles, 18 viticultural zones, 1881 hectares, many are just small properties – maybe you’ve heard of some of them. Let’s take a look at some of the eye-popping wines from the major first tasting day of this visit which happened at Lavinis wine store and bar – 14 wines were tasted and these were my selections with links to some of the best:
Aalto 2016 Aalto … **** (full review here)
Abadia Retuerta 2014 Pago Negralada … *** ½+
Belondrade 2016 Belondrade y Lurton, Verdejo … *** ½+ (full review here)
Bodegas E Mendoza 2015 Estrecho … ****+ - (full review here)
Dehesa del Carrizal 2014 Seleccion Privada … **** - (full review here)
Fillaboa 2016 Seleccion Finca Monte Alto, Albarino … ***+
Marques de Grinon 2011 Graciano … **** ½ - (full review here)
Mauro 2016 Mauro … ****+ - (full review here)
Numanthia 2014 Numanthia … ****+ - (full review here)
Propiedad de Arinzano 2014 Gran Vino Tinto … *** ½