RICK VANSICKLE/Wines in Niagara
Well, Happy New Year to all!
Vintages is back with its regular wine releases every two weeks after a brief holiday and is offering up a nice selection of white and red wines from Niagara. We’ve chosen a fruity white and two Cabernet Francs from different vintages as our WIN wines of the week.
Here’s what’s available at LCBO/Vintages stores beginning this Saturday:
Trius 2010 Pinot Grigio
($16, 87 points)
Winemaker Craig McDonald strives to make this varietal in a “Pinot Grigio” style for the Trius brand.
By that he means made is a style that’s fresh and forward, like Italian Pinot Grigio. But his first effort with this variety definitely falls more into the “Gris” category with ripe melon, apple and pear notes.
It’s soft on the palate with round, ripe and juicy fruits.
Coyote’s Run Black Paw Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2010
($25, 90 points)
This lovely Cab Franc is thick and concentrated on the nose with brambly dark fruits, some stewed garden herbs, tobacco leaf and rousing red fruits.
It’s firm but juicy on the palate with ripe tannins, good structure and weight on the palate.
The vivid fruits are balanced by decent acidity through the finish.
You can lay this down in the cellar for five or more years.
Tawse Estate Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2009
($32, 90 points)
This Cab Franc spent 16 months in French oak (20% new).
It has a gorgeous and pretty nose of cherry fruit, bramble, herbs, tobacco leaf and soft oak-spice.
In the mouth look for notes of juicy cherry, savoury dark fruits and spice in a mid-weight package.
Classic Niagara style Cab Franc.
Enjoy!
Rick Vansickle is a veteran journalist, wine reviewer and publisher of Wines in Niagara. His reviews appear each Friday in Bullet News. Previous reviews are archived under “Grapevine” tab on the Bullet News home page, under Wines in Niagara. Rick can be found on the web at www.winesinniagara.com.
Click here to visit the Wines in Niagara ARCHIVE, where Rick’s past stories and wine review’s can be found.
