RICK VANSICKLE/Wines in Niagara
The Vintages release Saturday at the LCBO includes a trio of wines from the excellent 2010 vintage.
Of particular note is the Creekside Laura’s White, an interesting blend of grapes that got my full attention when I first tried this wine last summer.
The Laura’s White and two reds from 2010 are our WIN wines of the week.
Creekside Laura’s White 2010
($19, winery, 90 points)
This is Creekside’s white assemblage and includes Chardonnay, Chardonnay Musque, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.
Winemaker Rob Power says he’s trying to mimic the style of white Bordeaux and wants to move to the more traditional Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend.
The nose is gorgeous with tropical fruits, pear, floral notes and spice. The flavours are broad on the palate with grapefruit, tropical fruits, and a touch of vanilla and spice.
Malivoire Guilty Men Cabernet Merlot 2010
($20, 88 points)
Very interesting nose of ripe, succulent blackberry, cherry, cedar, loam and cocoa.
It’s a full-bodied red with meaty-earthy fruits, evident tannins and pretty good length through the finish.
To enjoy now or cellar for three years.
Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Reserve Red Assemblage 2010
($17, 88 points)
The blend is almost equal parts Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with the fruit spending 18 months in a blend of French and American new and older oak barrels.
The aromas range from cherry-vanilla, spice and currants to earth, cedar and mocha.
It’s a nice blend of red fruit flavours on the palate with earth, roasted Espresso bean and spices to go with firm tannins and length through the finish.
Could stand some time in the cellar.
Enjoy!
Rick Vansickle is a veteran journalist, wine reviewer and publisher of Wines in Niagara. His reviews appear each Friday in Bullet News.
Rick can be found on the web atwww.winesinniagara.com.
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