FLAT ROCK CELLARS THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2007

Yet another bottle I picked up during a tour of the Niagara Peninsula. I had been very impressed by the Flat Rock Cellars winery itself. Perched atop a lookout, the tasting room ajoined a deck from which I could view the vineyards. The Rusty Shed Chardonnay is made in small batches, and each one is marked with the bin number (mine was number 05007). At $30, I had high expectations for this wine and I have to admit I was a little disappointed. The nose had apples, toast, and a slight fishiness. It wasn't offensive, but it was there. On the palate I had expected the rounded, honey-and-vanilla character of other Niagara chardonnays, but the Rusty Shed was quite different. Very dry, with a sharp citrusy finish, I could detect granny smith apples and minerals, much like a Chablis. Julia detected a creamy smoothness before the sharp finish, which was quite short. Again, rather than the golden straw I had expected, this wine had a very pale almond colour. Overall, the Flat Rock Rusty Shed Chardonnay had very distinctive and unique characteristics, and would pair well with a light garlic seafood dish.

INNISKILLIN CHARDONNAY 2006

Whenever I travel I usually stop in to the duty free to pick up a bottle of something to bring home. In a foreign country I am always curious to see how Canada is represented in the world of wine and spirits. Canada seems to be best known for two types of booze: Canadian whiskey, and ice wine. Canadian whiskey is often referred to as "rye" whiskey due to rye comprising a primary ingredient. However, Canadian whiskey is not always purely made from rye. Lower rye content prevents Canadian whiskey from being labeled as "rye whiskey" in the United States. When it comes to brands, the two that I often find in any duty free store are Canadian Club and Crown Royal. The other type of liquor I often find is ice wine. Canadian ice wine wins many international awards and is popular domestically and internationally. Whenever ice wine is available at a duty free store I will often find the brand Inniskillin. Often credited with producing the world's first ice wine, Inniskillin has built an international reputation. The harsh, cold winters of Niagara-on-the-Lake provide the right conditions for producing high quality ice wine.

Inniskillin also produces table wine, both red and white. Julia and I were given a bottle of Inniskillin Chardonnay 2006 at a recent party we threw. Last night we opened it to accompany a chicken curry and a few games of Wii. The nose and taste was dominated by one single note: strawberry! It was all I could think of. Julia was able to detect some cranberry, however I found that there was very little else I could get from this wine. Overall the lack of depth and complexity was very disappointing. I think Inniskillin should focus on what it does best and stick to ice wine.

FARNESE MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2007

For a recent party Jules and I picked up several magnums of inexpensive Italian and Chilean wine. Turns out we totally overestimated the amount that would be consumed, so many bottles remained unopened and we have been slowly sampling them ever since (oh, what a world). I particularly like the Farnese Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, which only cost $12.65 for a magnum (1.5 L) at the LCBO. I had noticed Farnese wines for their low price in both B.C. and Ontario liquor stores, but was always hesitant about the quality. Recently, I noticed that Farnese had been mentioned a couple of times in the most recent Wine Access International Value Wine Awards results so I decided to give this one a try. It really was quite decent, with hearty, earthy tones that worked well with the lamb stew I made. This wine reminds be of a cab sav or merlot because of its full bodied flavour and distinct tannins. Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is a wine grape grown in the Italian region of Abruzzo, and is known for its fruitful flavours.




As a side note, I received a Peugeot of France double action wine and champagne pump set for Christmas. This acquisition is well overdue as I had previously just used a cork to close unfinished wines - a definite no-no that results in oxidisation. The pump is especially ideal for these magnum bottles that can last for days.

CARMEN VALLE DE CURICO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008

If you are a regular reader of this blog you will recall that every Christmas Eve my family sits down to a delicious crab dinner. This year my dear old dad selected Carmen Valle de Curicó Sauvignon Blanc to accompany this magnificent feast. This was a delicious wine that complemented the crab beautifully. The body was very smooth and rounded, with well balanced citrus notes. It would easily stand up alone as a sipping wine with strong notes of grapefruit and hints of pineapple. The long finish was very pleasurable; I was sad to see the empty bottle.

REIF ESTATE WINERY CHARDONNAY RESERVE 2006

We visited Reif Estate Winery near Niagara-on-the-Lake during our most recent tour of the Niagara region. The winery was founded by German wine maker Ewald Reif in 1983. The current wine makers are dedicated to growing premium quality grapes, mainly Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.

The Chardonnay Reserve 2006 showed qualities typical of a new world Chardonnay. Jules immediately noticed the vivid straw colour that seemed to almost glow in the glass. This wine had scents of honey, maple syrup, pear, and kiwi fruit. On the palate were hints of peach and appricote. I mention "new world" because during a trip to Montreal last weekend, Julia and I had a delicious meal at Restaurant Julien that included a bottle of Domaine Brintet Bourgogne Blanc, a classic old world Chardonnay. It was noticably different: it was drier and more acidic, with hints of citrus and minerals. New world Chardonnays tend to be more rounded and sweet, and show honey, vanilla, and pineapple. As a relative newcomer to the world of wines, this has been quite a revalation for me.

JACKSON-TRIGGS DELAINE VINYARD SYRAH 2006

Picked up this bottle during another recent visit to the Niagara wine region. Jackson-Triggs is one of my favourite Canadian wineries. I find their wines to be consistently outstanding. Of the wines I tasted, the Delaine Vinyard Syrah stood out for its distinct character. It had just been released to the public when we visited and was apparently selling very well.

The Delaine Vinyard is a 100-acre plot along the Niagara Parkway that grows vines for JT's premium wines. Several varietals are grown in this vinyard, including Syrah. Also known as Shiraz, this grape is well known for comprising many Rhône wines from Southeastern France. I often associate Shiraz with spice, although the spice was subtle in this wine. I detected leather, cloves, and cinamon on the nose. This wine showed nice tannins, with flavours of blueberry pie and cranberries. I also found hints of chilli peppers. This wine could probably benefit from a year or two of aging, but it definitely shows well now. It was a very enjoyable accompaniment to the lamb chops and grilled vegetables we had tonight.

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.