4/12/2024 - Eurojon wrote:

Opened but not decanted. Sampled at opening and every hour for next two hours. Overnight in fridge and the rest consumed the following day. Fontodi is one of my favorite Chianti Classico producers so I was excited to try the 2020. Day 1 started off confusing; on the nose, it was hard to make sense of the fruit and I could feel a bit of heat, so I was bit worried. The first sips confirmed the alcohol heat (bottle said 14.5%) was clearly not integrated at this stage. After about one hour, the fruit was a bit more focused and I could detect some black cherries along with medium + acidity. Tannins were medium and quite smooth. After hour two, it felt like the wine shut down a little- the fruit gave very little and the acidity was more pronounced. There was little development in the wine for the next day. Overall, a disappointing effort. Hopefully an off bottle.

4/15/2024 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Drank at the Stratus launch event for their amphorae made wines at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. Deep ruby color, no sediment or gas. Great nose; fresh red and black berries - floral/herbal notes, hint of vegetable. On the palate, super fresh fruit and great structure with medium acidity, very smooth tannins and well integrated alcohol. Long finish. Delicious! I was already a huge fan of their regular Cab Franc for the same vintage, but this is another step up. Best red I’ve had from Ontario. Ready to drink but can be cellared for at least a decade. Bought a case on the spot and can’t wait to try it again.

3/3/2024 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Appearance: Clear, dark ruby color with no sediment in the bottle.

Nose: Weak perfume with dominant red fruits, accompanied by notes of vanilla and a hint of smoke.

Palate: Juicy red fruits such as raspberry, currants, and cherry, with a hint of plum. The purity of the fruit is striking, with a fresh character and a great bright acid line.

Other characteristics: Medium-light bodied with smooth tannins and an elegant texture. While not complex yet, it shows potential. Ready to drink now, but a few years in the cellar might soften the edges a little bit.

2/18/2024 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

It’s a good Chianti but nothing special and not a great QPR. Given that more recent vintages have increased significantly in price, there are similar or better quality available at much lower prices, so I won’t be buying this cuvée again.

11/30/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Appearance:
The 2020 Stratus Cabernet Franc revealed a deep, garnet hue, hinting at its youthfulness with a touch of violet at the rim.

Nose: The wine's bouquet is an enchanting dance of aromas that emerge gracefully from the glass: Waves of blackcurrant and dark cherry accompanied by subtle hints of violet, cedar, and just a touch of green pepper. A two-hour decant allowed the wine to unfurl, revealing an alluring perfume that sharpened the senses - and is only rarely found in young Ontario wine.

Palate: On the palate, this wine exhibits a delightful harmony between fruit, acidity, and fine-grained tannins. The initial taste is marked by a burst of ripe blackberries and plums, framed by a backbone of refreshing acidity that imparts energy and freshness to the wine. The decanting softened the tannins, giving them a velvety texture that I really enjoyed.

Structure: While not overly complex at this moment, the wine showcases a promising structure that hints at its aging potential. The balance between the pronounced fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and refined tannins suggests a maturation process that should evolve into further complexity over time. The finish is persistent, leaving a lingering impression of dark fruit and a subtle interplay of spice.

Conclusion: The 2020 Stratus Cabernet Franc, with its excellent perfume and fine-tuned tannins, is a testament to the winemaker's skill and the quality of the vintage (according to many wine makers, 2020 was the best vintage ever in the Niagara region - at least something good to come from that pandemic era vintage!). While approachable now, its inherent balance suggests a bright future ahead, making it a compelling choice as it matures and reveals its full character. I have already bought more.

12/5/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Served chilled, which worked out very well. Consumed over 90 minutes. No detailed notes: was easy drinking, light and refreshing. I’ll probably buy it again.

11/11/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Shared with friends at a French restaurant. Decanted but not much time to air, consumed over 90 minutes. The wine was dark purple with prune and dark fruits on the nose. On the palate big flavors of licorice and tobacco mix with the fruit which is still going strong, maybe too strong if I’m being picky. Medium acid and smooth tannins made for a great, velvety, full bodied mouthfeel. Had the wine with French onion soup followed by steak frites; with the food, red fruit became more prominent, but this is a wine that can be enjoyed both with and without food. I have two more bottles of this vintage and will probably wait another 3-4 years before opening the next one.

11/9/2023 - Eurojon wrote:

Corked

8/27/2023 - Eurojon Does not like this wine:

Thin fruit and high acid. Not my style.

8/1/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Decanted and consumed over 4 hours. The bottle had a significant amount of sediment. This is a really nice shiraz, but this bottle lacked somewhat compared to my previous one. Classic shiraz perfume; dark, jammy berries and hint of tobacco. On the palate, dark berries, black olives, tobacco, meat and iron. Medium - mild acidity and tannins. Very pleasant and well made wine but lacked the velvety texture and complexity my previous bottle had.

7/31/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Great Vin Santo. Had over two days. At first, prune and some citrus. Later the prune was less dominating with Christmas spices coming to the fore. Sweet but elegantly balanced by the acidity and a long aftertaste. Not sure this will improve further with age but no rush.

7/31/2023 - Eurojon wrote:

I love the La Grola! Easy drinking, nice and refreshing. Deep purple, with wild blueberries, currants, dark cherries, dark chocolate , cinnamon and vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied with the dark fruits, some tobacco coming to the fore with some refreshing acidity. Tannins are soft at this point. Great sipping wine! Regretfully, my last bottle of this vintage.

7/30/2023 - Eurojon wrote:

The Wine was slow-oxed for 3 hours, decanted for sediment and then consumed over 90 minutes. Throughout that period the wine offered very little on the nose and on the palate. If I’m generous, I’d say that some fruit started to come to the fore towards the end of my experience, but it was still overpowered by the heat at the end and had no business being on the table with a grilled tomahawk at any time. Disappointing. I’ll certainly have to give my remaining bottles more time and air next time, but on this showing, I’ll also have a backup bottle on hand.

7/9/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

My first time tasting the Showcase Pinot Noir from Trius. Wine was opened and consumed over 4 hours, partially chilled but room temperature after a while. Did not decant. Initially the wine was enjoyed with grilled ribeye and asparagus, the end was enjoyed on its own. The wine was dark ruby the wine had a classic Pinot Noir nose with strawberry jam and smokiness standing out. On the palate the wine is medium bodied with impressive fruit, smooth tannins and medium to low acidity and great texture. The wine is in balance and ready to drink now but would probably improve and develop some complexity with 3-5 years cellaring. The wine complemented the rib-eye really well.

This was my first Niagara Pinot Noir of the much anticipated 2020 vintage and I was positively surprised. At CAD 45 this is great QPR compared with Willamette Valley and Napa Pinots. I’ll be buying more while waiting for my other pre-ordered ‘20 Pinots from Niagara to be delivered.

6/24/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

One of my favorite Chiantis. The ‘17 edition came about during a somewhat challenging vintage for growers in Chianti. The result is a more fruit forward Passignano than I usually get from this producer with a darker fruit profile than most chiantis. Lovely nose with cassis, dark cherries, a hint of strawberry against a mild backdrop of warm moss. The palate matches the nose; the fruit feels ripe but nicely balanced against medium acidity and creates a great texture and highly enjoyable wine. The wine was decanted to rid of a small amount of sediment in the bottle and drank about an hour later. Super effort, but not one for the long haul.

3/27/2023 - Eurojon Does not like this wine:

Decanted for 30 minutes - consumed over 2 days. The wine is clear red. Nose: funky, leathery - no fruit or other discernible scents. Palate; Thin, no fruit, acidic and medium + tannins. No change on day 2. Pointless wine.

3/17/2023 - Eurojon wrote:

Had at the Writers Room with a friend. No detailed notes, but was thoroughly enjoyable. Typical cab franc profile but on the lighter side. Tannins still a little grippy - medium acidity. Improved with air. I’d get more if I could.

3/8/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

PnP. Nice, approachable wine made from 44% Pinotage, 29% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The wine is dark, opaque burgundy. The nose is somewhat muted, but black fruits - esp black Cherry - with a hint of vanilla and milk chocolate coming through. On the palate, the flavor profile changes a little bit with red fruits and sour Cherry dominating. The wine is medium to full bodied, with medium tannins and slightly above medium acidity. I enjoyed the wine with ribeye and roasted veggies; it didn’t quite have the muscle to play in that setup, but enjoyable on a Wednesday nevertheless. At CAD $20, I continue to be impressed by the QPR of this cuvée and will buy more. The wine may benefit from 1-2 years in the cellar, but only marginally I think.

2/26/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Opened right from the cellar and decanted. Poured a small tasting sample immediately: great perfume; red berries - raspberries, redcurrant - and spices in the form of cardamom and anis. On the palate, it was entirely different; the fruit didn’t come through at all. Did another sample after one hour; still nothing. Let it sit for another two hours and now the fruit had emerged; fresh red berries, a touch of leather and tar. The wine was light bodied with medium tannin and medium-low acidity. A very pleasant and refreshing sipping wine! In the future, I’ll give it som air, but my cellar is 12 C and I think that was part of the initial problem so as long as the wine is drinking temperature, I suspect an hour of air will suffice. The wine is ready to drink, but I might wait another before I have my other bottle. I’d buy more if I could.

2/19/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Drank over two days. Decanted with a little bit of sediment in the bottle. The wine was dark purple. Left in decanter for about two hours with a couple of samples tasted under ways. The nose was very closed off in the beginning. After about 90 minutes it began opening up with black fruits and some vanilla coming to the fore. On the palate, delicious black currants, blueberries and herbs started to show. Medium to full bodied, medium acidity and medium tannins and medium length. Very nice wine! Saved a couple of glasses for the next day, drank with home made vegetarian spaghetti bolognese. Wasn’t bad, but not a perfect fit with the meal. The fruit was less present, the tannins more on this occasion. Felt like it has potential to evolve a bit more - I have three more bottles and will probably try the next one in 2-3 years.

2/15/2023 - Eurojon wrote:

Opened by the table and decanted. Had with a entre of duck breast. Warm, sweet red and dark fruit on the nose, but not a particularly strong aroma. Initially, this was disappointing: it was lacking mid-palate and felt it was past it’s peak. Tannins we’re smooth and resolved. It did gain some body and complexity over the meal, but never stood up to the duck, which was disappointing.

1/14/2023 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Decanted for 30 minutes, a bit of sediment in the bottle. The wine is dark and opaque. On the nose, immediate wiff of raisins, with undertones of jammy red berries and bit of honey. On the palate a mix of dark and red berries that is dominated by anis and tar. The tannins are resolved and acidity on the medium-low side. The bottle says 15% alcohol but the heat was not noticeable. About 20 second aftertaste. Maybe somewhat unusual taste profile for a CdP, but very enjoyable. Glad I have two more, though I won’t save them for long.

12/31/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Drank over two days. Some sediment in the bottle - dark, opaque color. A bit closed on day 1 - much better on day 2; mostly red fruits on the nose; medium bodied with nice acidity and smooth tannins; very pleasant texture and easy drinking - regretfully, my last bottle.

12/4/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Had before and after grilled rib-eye. Opened about an hour early; decanted and eventually poured back in the bottle. Enjoyed the following 2.5 hrs. Nose black Cherry, dark plums; really nice texture on the palate, dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla. Full bodied and sexy, medium acidity with well integrated tannins; velvety texture; great depth and medium finish. Glad I have one more. Don’t think it’ll get better but will probably keep another 5 years at least with proper storage.

11/17/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Decanted by the table and consumed the next hour. Too early. The wine is dark, opaque red. Offers little both on the nose and palate, but the potential is there in abundance. Delicious texture feels like velvet on the tongue. Medium to low acidity. I’d wait 3-4 years or plan a longer decant to tease it open. At 2X retail, the restaurant (petros82, Toronto) price was too attractive not to try this time.

10/21/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Perfect time to drink. Medium bodied, great fruit, low acidity and nice complexity. Medium length. Very enjoyable!

10/15/2022 - Eurojon wrote:

Decanted and drank over 90 minutes: way too early. Not going to touch my next bottle for another 6-8 years.

4/29/2022 - Eurojon Does not like this wine:

Got that little fizz as well. Some real funk on the nose: initial feeling is that this has been cooked, but it is possible that it is just weird. Don’t think I’ll finish the bottle.

4/20/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

No detailed notes: ready to drink, med+ bodied and smooth tannins. One of the best Niagara wines I’ve ever had.

4/17/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

My first Great Enemy! Decanted 4 hrs - drank over two days. Had with spaghetti bolognese on day 1 and herbed rack of lamb on day 2. Nose was quite muted, picked up hint of plum, raspberry and wild strawberries. On the tongue, red fruits and spices. Mid-light bodied, it lacked a little substance. Great acidity and smooth tannins made for excellent mouthfeel. Worked very well with both meals, thanks to the freshness provided by the acidity. All considered, a very good wine, but not a great one. No rating due to my relative inexperience with CabFrancs and for the same reason, I can’t tell if further cellaring is worthwhile. It certainly felt ready to drink at this point.

3/17/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Big wine. Delicious! Dark fruit - blackberries, cassis - and tobacco, spices - cinnamon and cloves. Low - medium acid and very smooth tannins. For me this is not a food wine, but rather something to enjoy on it’s own. I will wait a couple of years before I open the next bottle in the hope that it develops a bit more complexity. But, it is a hope rather than a belief, I should say. Still, very enjoyable and unique wine.

1/16/2022 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Drank over two days; much better on day 2; needs air. Felt poorly integrated on day 1, but after about an hour in the glass on day 2 it was a different wine; red fruit, great balance, medium to full body, medium acidity. Worked well with food - homemade pasta bolognese - and on its own. Would probably be better in 2-3 years. Great QPR!

12/28/2021 - Eurojon wrote:

Drank over two days. This bottle was so much better than my previous one (drank in Sep’20). It’s probably bottle variation, but this was California Pinot at its finest. Yes, there’s big red fruit, but it didn’t overwhelm the way my previous bottle did; instead this was multi-layered - great balance, medium-light acidity and very smooth tannins. Had it with homemade porchetta on day 2 and it was a perfect compliment- but drank very well on its own as well. I preferred when it was slightly chilled. I wasn’t happy with the first bottle- very happy with this one.

8/28/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Amazing rosè! So rich and complex! Perfect balance and acidity! What a treat! It can probably keep for a few years more, but I don’t see it improving.

8/21/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour, consumed over 2 nights. Still a pretty good wine but there are signs it’s over the hill. On the nose hints of red berries, herbs, mushrooms and tobacco. On the palate, sour cherries, mushrooms. On Day 2, the wine was more fruity; strawberries, field strawberries and currants coming to the fore. The wine is medium bodied with low acidity and medium aftertaste (~20 sec). Regrettably my last bottle.

8/3/2021 - Eurojon wrote:

Too soon. Decanted 6hr early, but was still closed off. Not sure this is going to live up to the hype, but I have 5 more so I hope I’m wrong. Hold for another 2-3 years for now.

8/3/2021 - Eurojon wrote:

No rating this time: Opened the wine 30 minutes before dinner (bbq pork tenderloin) so the wine had limited time to open up. It was medium bodied, medium acidity but quite closed. At the 2 hour mark it had opened up and fruit just started to be more accessible. Alas, too late for us and it was the Chef’s (read:me) fault, not the wine. I have one more bottle from this vintage and will probably give it another couple of years. I don’t expect anything earth-shattering but based on last night’s experience it should a fine, dark, medium bodied Bordeaux style wine - probably 90-91 pts.

8/1/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Drank over two days. Better than expected. Wasn’t going do open it yet but the cork had started to push against the cap so I got worried. Turned ok, thankfully. Was quite austere at first, but on day two it opened up in a very pleasant way. Classic Chianti Classico on the nose, balanced, medium plus body on the palate. Beautiful aftertaste following the usual sour cherry, red currants, cinnamon and anis fruit. Very satisfying! If I had more and my storage conditions were great I’d keep one for at least another 5-10 years, because this feels it has much longer to go.

8/1/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Had with bbq tenderloin. Decanted two hours in advance. Very pleasant wine. Not complex. Quite fruity still, but not in an overwhelming way. The food pairing was fine but not great; possibly more to do with the delicate nature of the food than the wine itself. The wine was ripe - don’t think time will improve it.

7/18/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Excited to try this vintage of Fontodi CC. Drank over two days. On day 1: Youthful, fruit-powered bravado right out of the gate. All the classic Sangiovese hallmarks; red berries and cherry, a bit of tar. Gripping tannins and a tingling acidity, very much to my liking. On day 2, the tannins had mellowed out a bit and the fruit was complemented by spices and herbs. In my opinion, this is a big wine both by Fontodi and regular Chianti Classico standards and would probably rate highly even amongst top end Gran Seleziones. Very excited to see what the next 5-10 years will bring.

4/30/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

PnP and drank over two days. Never had this before and by my standards, this is a very classy wine! Dark, translucent with long legs. On the nose; classic pinot noir with a hint of smoky BBQ sauce as the main characteristic. More Burgundy than California style with medium-light body, medium acidity, silky tannins and very elegant structure (feel like I’m describing my dream date almost…). Nice red fruit complemented by a hint of forest floor and truffles and a light floral quality on the palate. Medium- long aftertaste. Interestingly, I didn’t feel the 14.2% alcohol at all. Great now, but I think this would be even better in 3+ years so will be holding on to the rest of my bottles until then - if I can resist.

4/14/2021 - Eurojon wrote:

Not sure what to say about this white blend: I’ve certainly never tasted anything like it. It’s not bad, but it does feel disjointed. I’m not sure the gewurstraminer and the chardonnay wants to be in each other’s company; the gewurstraminer possibly with some help from the riesling presents soft, tropical flavours with a hint of sitrus at the tip of the tongue while the voluminous structure from the chardonnay operates at the back of the tongue. I’d like to give it a bit more time to come together before I open the next bottle. After all, the previous vintage was simply delightful so I’m thinking patience would be rewarded.

4/10/2021 - Eurojon wrote:

This was my third bottle from this vintage; I’m a big fan of Creekside; I believe they offer outstanding QPR for most of their wines. Tonight was an impromptu decision, based on my previous tasting of this vintage I had wanted to wait a little longer before I opened the next, but I suddenly found myself with a rib-eye steak in hand and thought it deserved a companion. It was a little closed at the beginning, but the smokiness from the cab franc, the earthiness of the Merlot and the pepper from the shiraz - the three dominant grapes in this red blend - immediately hit the nose. After about 45 minutes it started to unfurl a little and fruit in the form of red and black currants, hint of raspberry and sour cherries started to emerge. When I previously tasted this vintage it felt a bit disjointed with the various grapes not having integrated particularly well. That was not the case anymore, but with some grippy tannins I still think the wine will continue to improve with time. On the palate, the wine is balanced, with fresh acidity and a medium-long aftertaste. Hints of sour cherry, red currents and spice made it a great companion to the ribeye. Very enjoyable! I will probably wait another couple of years before I open the next bottle from this vintage.

4/9/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

PnP. This wine is ready out of the gate and in a great spot. Decanted but no sediment at all. I really enjoyed it - Friday night sipping; no food. Plum and ripe strawberries on the nose. Medium bodied, elegant, perfectly balanced; medium-light acid and long finish. Has clearly lost a bit of the fruit along the way and as a result it has the mouthfeel of an aged wine. So pleasant now - not sure I would keep it much longer.

3/29/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Great wine! 8 years old and it felt like the perfect moment for this vintage. Decanted for 30 minutes and enjoyed over 4 hrs. An impressive amount of solid sediment. The wine is dark, opaque ruby. On the nose, I’d say a classic rich shiraz; a cross between dark berry jam, licorice and leather. Delicious mouthfeel, well balanced, low to medium acid, smooth tannins; blueberries and bloody steak. Medium length. Although, when paired with delicious home made lamb chops, the wine fell through a little. However, the chops were made with an amazing balsamic glaze that completely overpowered the wine, so not really a criticism of the wine; the glaze was concentrated and I don’t know any wine that would have stood up to that. Regrettably, this was my final bottle of this vintage; one of those wines that really reward a little bit of patience. If you’re among the lucky ones to still have this vintage: Enjoy!

Edit - day2: Saved a couple of glasses that I enjoyed on its own the next day. Really good; less big fruit, more elegance, longer aftertaste. Regret this is my last bottle.

3/12/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Interesting test of patience! This took a while to open up; was very closed at first and quite disappointing; only some 4+ hours after decanting did the fruit start to show and suddenly this was a very different wine; from austere and tart to softer, and much more approachable with red fruits, leather and tar. Medium+ bodied, but enough stuffing to elegantly complement rib-eye steak with asparagus and mushrooms. Not sure it will evolve with more time in the cellar, but I’m not in a rush to drink my last bottle.

2/20/2021 - Eurojon wrote:

Decanted for 2 hrs and consumed over two days. A pretty unique expression of a Chianti. I know 2014 wasn’t the best of vintages in that region, but this bottle had already lost almost all its fruit at only 6+ years. On the nose there was lovely cassis, but on the palate it was leather and tar behind which only a faint hint of sour cherry could be detected. The wine was light to medium bodied, with medium to high acidity. The texture felt more like a barbaresco at twice its age, so not unpleasant, just unusual in my experience. I have one more bottle of this vintage and won’t wait long until I consume it.

1/29/2021 - Eurojon wrote:

Regrettably, this is my final bottle from this vintage. PnP. Its started to lose a little bit of its flesh so comes out medium bodied, dry but with the lightness of an ages wine, even if its just over 8 years. 2012 wasnt the best vintage in Chianti so that might explain the development. On the nose, there’s some strawberry jam, barnyard and tobacco; on the palate a hint of sour cherries, licorice and herbs. Medium to low acidity and medium tannins. The dryness of the wine means it is best consumed with foods like pizza and bolognese. The wine has potential to evolve for a few years still, but given how much of the fruit has gone the last couple of years I wouldn’t wait to long. A fine wine!

1/2/2021 - Eurojon Likes this wine:

Third and final bottle of this vintage. Drank over two days. First day with sirloin steak and worked beautifully! Medium bodied, some red berries on the nose, but very little fruit on the tongue; instead notes of leather, tar and truffle came through - worked a treat with the steak! Medium finish - low acid. Next day was less interesting, but overall pleased with the wine.

12/28/2020 - Eurojon wrote:

Drank over three days. My third bottle of this vintage and the most disappointing. Found it to be quite hot and acidic the first day; the second day it was still hot, but less acidic and it opened up and presented some black fruit. Had with lamb stew on the third day, which worked well enough. Overall, this bottle was not what I expected following the lush enjoyment from the previous two bottles I had in 2019; maybe a bottle from the bottom of the barrel? Not sure this will improve much more.