STONEY RIDGE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2006

I picked up this pinot when I visited several Beamsville Bench wineries in August. The grounds at Stoney Ridge was very impressive, with large beautiful gardens full of flowers and herbs. They very much deserve to be know as "Niagara's Garden Winery." Inside, the tasting bar was small yet busy, and you could pick up a variety of cheeses and other food to go with your wine.

I wish I could be as positive about the wine. The boquet showed hints of strawberry, and I could detect cranberry and roses on the palate. I found it to be a very simple wine, and the low alcohol content was very noticable (12.2%). The label claimed that the wine had been oaked for at least a year, however it was undetectable. For a "reserve" wine I was quite disappointed.

CHATEAU D'ARGADENS 2004

This Bordeaux was the Vintages wine of the month for October. It is a Bordeaux Superieur, meaning it is a common wine produced with grapes from all over the region. Consisting of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, this red is refined and well balanced. The bouquet is subtle with notes of liquorice, black current, and leather. The palate suggests cloves and blackberry, and hints of the twelve months of oak aging.

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PENFOLDS KOONUNGA HILL SHIRAZ CABERNET 2006

It has been a long while since I last posted a review. Not that I haven't drank any, it's just been in situations when I didn't have the time and/or patients to take any notes. Recently I was at a local steakhouse for my birthday and happened to order a bottle of Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet. I liked it so much I decided to buy a bottle from the liquor store and perform a proper tasting. As an aside, I really wish restaurants in Canada would not charge so much for wine. I recall paying about $35 at the steakhouse versus about $17 in the liquor store. Obscene!

I really liked the balance of this wine - the spiciness of the Shiraz against the warmth of the Cabernet. The oak was detectable yet subtle, so as not to overpower the wine. As with many Aussie reds this one had big, bold fruit, with hints of raspberry on the nose. The high alcohol level (13.5%) was also quite detectable even after breathing for several minutes. It pairs really well with beef - no wonder it's available at the steakhouse.

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MALIVOIRE - GEWURZTRAMINER 2006

Fragrant, perfumey bouquet with strong notes of pear, honey, lavender. Nice colour of golden straw. I always think of my Dad's advice about Gerwurz: it goes really well with Asian food because it can stand up nicely. It can, however, overpower other food that you typically accompany with a white wine. Tonight we had salmon and a tomato and bocconcini salad, and I think this wine was a bit too flavourful. A nice Gewurztraminer, but probably mismatched with our dinner.

This was another wine from our first tour of the Niagara wine region. Last weekend we visited the peninsula again and discovered some new wineries. I will write them up soon.

PENINSULA RIDGE 2006 FUME BLANC

The second of two bottles we picked up from Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery. This one was even better than I remembered it being at the tasting bar. It reminded me a lot of the Malivoire Chardonnay I tried a couple of months back - lots of honey, vanilla, apricot, and citrus. It was silky smooth and absolutely delicious. Niagara's whites absolutely shine!

Until now I had no idea that Fume Blanc is actually Sauvignon Blanc. Apparently, the term Fume Blanc was made popular by Robert Mondavi when he began producing a dry Sauvignon Blanc that was different to the sweeter SBs that he had previously produced. I always thought it was just another type of grape.

My parents are coming to visit in a couple of weeks, and we are hoping to take another trip to the Niagara Peninsula region. I'm not sure which wineries we will visit this time. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

PENINSULA RIDGE ARCANUM 2001

Another wine from our recent trip to the Niagara Peninsula region. This red is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Extremely dark in colour, and somewhat thin legs. Notes of cedar on the nose. The palate is light on tannins, with strong berry flavour. I expected a fuller body, but it still stood up well to my steak dinner.






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ANGELS GATE CABERNET MERLOT 2004

Had this a few nights ago along with beef stir fry. We picked up this bottle during our wine tour of the Niagara Peninsula two weekends ago, and I must say I liked it a lot better than the sample I had at the winery. It was very mellow, with just the right boldness that I look for in this type of red. It had a resiny nose, and a nice brownish tinge in the class that indicated some aging. Hints of saddle leather (don't you love it?) and plum. Very satisfying.

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