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Trip to Niagara
Niagara on the Lake, Canada
Tasted May 1, 2009 - May 2, 2009 by indiscriminate palate with 880 views
Introduction
A weekend of informal tasting in Niagara. I took very few notes, so these are mostly quick, general impressions.
Flight 1 - Reif Estate (4 notes)
Reif was a disappointing visit.
Red
2006 Reif Estate Cabernet Franc
My favorite of the Reif reds tasted. L however disagreed: "sour swill. Mouthfull of manure."
Red
2006 Reif Estate Merlot Reserve
Velvety, fuzzy, mouthfeel. Wood dominates the hint of cherry on the palate. Cherries dropped into liquified wood. L's note: "velvety swill." I was a drop more charitable.
Flight 2 - Reif Estate icewine (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2008 Reif Estate Vidal Icewine
Lighter than many of the other vidal-based ice wines we've had on this trip. Apricot, other stone fruit. Good acidity, though my palate begged for a bit more.
Flight 3 - Marynissen Estates whites (4 notes)
White
2007 Marynissen Estates Chardonnay American Oak
Comparison of three Marynissen chardonnays, one unoaked, one in French oak, and one in American oak. We both preferred the French oak version. American oak was third.
White
2007 Marynissen Estates Chardonnay Barrel Fermented French Oak
Comparison of three Marynissen chardonnays, one unoaked, one in French oak, and one in American oak. We both preferred the French oak version. American oak was third.
White
White
2007 Marynissen Estates Chardonnay (Unoaked)
Comparison of three Marynissen chardonnays, one unoaked, one in French oak, and one in American oak. We both preferred the French oak version. American oak was third.
Flight 4 - Marynissen Estates Reds (4 notes)
A fairly disinterested woman met us in the tasting room. Her aloofness was a perfect match for the fairly uninteresting wines.
Red
2004 Marynissen Estates Merlot
Cedar, eucalyptus, sage, and lots of green walnut. Worst of the four Marynissen reds tasted.
Red
2004 Marynissen Estates Cabernet-Merlot Estate Bottled
Like all of the Marynissen wines tasted, this was entirely unremarkable.
Red
2006 Marynissen Estates Cabernet-Merlot Estate Bottled
Like all of the Marynissen wines tasted, this was entirely unremarkable. This I rated second (and L ranked first) of the four reds tasted.
Red
2004 Marynissen Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
The best of the four Marynissen reds tasted, though that is not saying much. Canned green pepper dominated the nose.
Flight 5 - Marynissen Estates icewine (1 note)
Only one dessert wine was available for tasting, but it was fairly nice.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Marynissen Estates Riesling Icewine
90 points
Very nice initial attack, though a very flat, hollow midpalate.
Flight 6 - Konzelmann (3 notes)
Flight 7 - Konzelmann icewine (3 notes)
A very nice lineup
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Konzelmann Riesling Icewine
93 points
Stone fruit, honey, brown sugar. Very racy. Great balance. Nice medium finish.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Konzelmann Riesling Icewine
91 points
Sweeter than the 2006 without the additional acid to balance it. Still quite good.
Flight 8 - Peller estates Signature Dinner Menu with wine pairings (8 notes)
Dinner at the Peller Estate restaurant. Eight courses matched with wines.
Rosé
2007 Peller Estates Rosé Private Reserve
83 points
Primarily cab franc. Very light-bodied, little depth of flavor, somewhat watery; boring. With game terrine.
White
2007 Peller Estates Pinot Gris Private Reserve
One-word scribbled note: "baah." With potato & fennel soup & smoked salmon.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Peller Estates Ice Cuvée Rosé Andrew Peller Signature Series
88 points
Very deep red. Light botrytis on the nose. Finishes primarily sweet. As aperitif.
Red
2004 Peller Estates Merlot Andrew Peller Signature Series
87 points
Deep, rich rose colored. Oak is overpowering. With duck breast.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Peller Estates Vidal Blanc Late Harvest Private Reserve
91 points
Very faint gold color. Botrytis. Served with St. Honore Cheese.
Red
2004 Peller Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Andrew Peller Signature Series
89 points
Very pronounced nose of eucalyptus. Somewhat unbalanced acid & wood. Persistent tannins. With dry-aged beef loin.
White
2007 Peller Estates Chardonnay Private Reserve
Very little detectable oak. Tinny. Just ok. With scallops.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2007 Peller Estates Riesling Icewine Andrew Peller Signature Series
92 points
A bit darker than the '04 Private Reserve late harvest, but still faint. Also, more concentrated aromas on the nose, but a bit less botrytis. Very sweet, but not at all cloying. Lots of acidity on a very light but concentrated frame. Short+ finish.
Flight 9 - Lailey Vineyard (5 notes)
Lailey kindly insisted that we taste several of their chardonnays and cabs before trying their icewine. They were entirely unremarkable (literally, my tasting sheet had no marks). However, the 07 riesling icewine was among the best of our trip.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2007 Lailey Vineyard Riesling Icewine
Very good ice wine. Very rich and clean, with amazing acidity. Scribbles read "Very racy. Excellent!"
White
2006 Lailey Vineyard Chardonnay
Tasted as part of the "you have to try these before the icewine." No notes.
Red
2006 Lailey Vineyard Cabernet-Merlot
Tasted as part of the "you have to try these before the icewine." No notes.
White
2007 Lailey Vineyard Chardonnay
Tasted as part of the "you have to try these before the icewine." No notes.
White
2007 Lailey Vineyard Counterpoint
Body and flavor profile closer to a riesling than a Gewurzt, with lime and green apple. The faint gewurzt notes are actually a weird distraction. I recall being more interested by this than enjoying it.
Flight 10 - Strewn (5 notes)
Strewn appears to have the right idea. While other wineries in Niagara insist on trying to make world-class cabs and merlots, Strewn works with the climate it is given. The cab francs are quite good, and the cab-merlot aims at a simple, easy-drinking wine.
Red
Red
2006 Strewn Cabernet-Merlot Two Vines
Very fruit-forward, light, simple style. A quaffing wine. My fourth of five Strewn red wines tasted.
Red
2006 Strewn Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon Rogue's Lot
80% Cab Franc. My fifth of five Strewn red wines tasted.
Red
Flight 11 - Strewn dessert wines (3 notes)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Strewn Riesling Icewine
92 points
Very nice, moderately racy, and clearly better than the cab franc-based dessert wines.
Red - Sweet/Dessert
2007 Strewn Cabernet Franc Late Harvest
83 points
Similar flavor profile to the '06 icewine, but with a very muted nose and no finish.
Red - Sweet/Dessert
Flight 12 - Joseph's Estate (3 notes)
Fairly short availability for tasting, including one vidal icewine.
White
2006 Joseph's Estate Wines Gewürztraminer/Riesling
84 points
A simple, off-dry, fully predictable, eminently drinkable, but characterless wine.
Red
2006 Joseph's Estate Wines Chancellor Chancellor-Merlot
78 points
Tasting room staff described this as "unique." Uniquely smoky, harsh, and not pleasant.
Flight 13 - Southbrook Winery reds (4 notes)
The reds were all seriously overoaked.
Red
2005 Southbrook Winery Cabernet-Merlot Triomphe
Much more toned down oak than the 2000 and 2001 tasted alongside it. Both of our favorites of the three vintages, not for its strengths but because the other two were so overpowered by cedar notes. Shows almost no tannin. A drink-today quaffer.
Red
2001 Southbrook Winery Cabernet-Merlot Triomphe
Tasted three vintages of cab-merlot. The 2000 and 01 were both quite oaky, with cedar dominating.
Red
2000 Southbrook Winery Cabernet-Merlot Triomphe
Tasted three vintages of cab-merlot. The 2000 and 01 were both quite oaky, with cedar dominating.
Red
Flight 14 - Southbrook Winery icewine (3 notes)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Southbrook Winery Vidal Icewine
2004 "Barrel Fermented". My third, L's second of the three Southbrook dessert wines we tasted, though far behind the 2005 vidal icewine. Brooding. Blackberry.
Red - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Southbrook Winery Cabernet Franc Icewine
Deep red. My second of the three Southbrook dessert wines we tasted.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2005 Southbrook Winery Vidal Icewine
92 points
Both had this first of three Southbrook dessert wines. Quite good. Dried pineapple, apricot; racy.
Flight 15 - Horrible by the glass selections at an undeservedly pompous restaurant (3 notes)
They were very proud of their selection of local wines.
Red
White
2007 Peninsula Ridge Estates Viognier
84 points
Pretty, subtle nose overpromises. Boring, characterless new world viognier, but more dilute.
Red
2006 Henry of Pelham Cabernet-Merlot Meritage
85 points
Typical, cheap by-the-glass restaurant offering, though without the usual ridiculous injection of oak.
Flight 16 - Inniskillin (5 notes)
Red
2006 Inniskillin Meritage Reserve Series
My 2nd of the three Inniskillin bordeaux-variety wines tasted.
Red
2006 Inniskillin Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker's Series
My top of the three Inniskillin bordeaux-variety wines tasted.
White
2007 Inniskillin Chardonnay Winemaker's Series Montague Vineyard
Only quickly scribbled note: "ehhh"
Red
2004 Inniskillin Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Series Montague Vineyard
Served at the Inniskillin tasting room. Strangely tropical fruits, pineapple, and pickled red cabbage. I *hope* this wine is flawed, though the tasting room attendant thought it "a marvelous accompaniment to German food." Ummm...
Flight 17 - Inniskillin icewine (3 notes)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2007 Inniskillin Vidal Sparkling Icewine
Very sweet and entirely without balance (though L proclaimed: "I like it" with very mild enthusiasm)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Inniskillin Riesling Oak Aged Icewine
89 points
Tasted the oak-aged and non-oaked aged versions side by side. Almost no difference as they used a minute amount of oak aging.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Inniskillin Riesling Icewine Niagara Peninsula VQA
89 points
Tasted the oak-aged and non-oaked aged versions side by side. Almost no difference as they used a minute amount of oak aging.