By Michael Fagin Winemaker Anthony (Tony) Lewis told us that all you need to enjoy his wine is some music, art and good chemistry. The music came first with the rock band called Storytyme. Tony and his two brothers played in the band and had a fun seven year run that ended in 2008. The brothers kept the good times flowing as Tony became the winemaker perfecting his skill in chemistry and the art of winemaking. Tony’s brother Phil gives the artistic touch to the wine bottles. My wife and I are slowly decorating our house with these wonderfully crafted […]
Wine Picks
April 2 New Wine Reviews: Vintages Release
Number of Wines Recommended: 62 Review date: April 2, 2011 The highlights in this Vintages release include… 2009 Inniskillin Riesling Winemaker’s Series Two Vineyards, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario Bring-you-to-your-knees mouth-watering aromas and flavours of lime, white peach, and green apple. Juicy and vibrant: this wine cries out for food. Although it’s medium dry, it tastes bone-dry to me. Drink: 2011-2016. 105387 12% MD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 89/100. 2009 Domaine Roux Père & Fils Chardonnay Les Chaumes Chassagne-Montrachet 1Er Cru, A.C., Burgundy, France VC : This is a simply gorgeous wine. The complex nose carries tones of vanilla, apple, citrus, […]
March 19, 2011 Vintages Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 67 Review date: March 19, 2011 There are some amazing reds from Spain and Portugal in this release, plus Californian cult wines and more bargains to stock for parties … White Wine 2009 Colmello Di Grotta Pinot Grigio, D.O.C., Isonzo Del Friuli, Italy: VC: Pinot Grigio from the tiny region of Friuli has rightly become renowned, and Colmello di Grotta’s version features many of this variety’s great strengths. Light straw in colour, this is crisp and light with melon and apple tones. Traces of candied fruit, accented by mushroom and nut, add complexity and depth. […]
March 5, 2011 Vintages Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 74 Review date: March 5, 2011 In this release, we have many wines under $15 from Chile and Argentina that I’ve scored 89-90 points, robust reds from northern Italy that are perfect for pasta and lots of mouth-watering, zippy whites for St. Patrick’s Day … White Wine 2008 Charles Baker Riesling Picone Vineyard, V.Q.A., Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: I love this wine: it’s an elevation of what Niagara does best among white wines: Riesling! Deep minerality with lime and green apple. Superbly made by one of Canada’s superstar winemakers. Drink: 2011-2018. 126433 […]
Wine Cellar Tips to Build and Stock Them
Here’s a terrific story from the Ottawa Citizen on building and stocking your wine cellar. You can find more stories on this right here. Forget meaningless one-night stands. An increasing number of North Americans are having a hot and heavy love affair with wine — a passion that rages on, long after the red roses have wilted and the Valentine chocolates are gone. According to government statistics, "the intake of wine has continued to increase over the last 10 years reaching 13.9 litres (per person)." Ottawa wine writer Natalie MacLean says in the last two years alone, wine consumption has […]
Pairing books and wine
In a recent column for the Globe & Mail, I paired some of my favourite books with wine … I can’t think of a better book to read on January 1 than Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. It has one of literature’s finest descriptions of a hangover: “Consciousness was upon him before he could get out of the way; not for him the slow, gracious wandering from the halls of sleep, but a summary, forcible ejection … His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum.” On the […]
Sparkling Wines that Won’t Blow Your Holiday Budget
Champagne can only be produced in the French region that bears its name, but the joy that comes from hearing a cork pop can come from any number of other sparkling wines – at a fraction of the cost. "The central problem is that wine pricing is almost completely arbitrary … the price of a wine does not significantly correlate to the pleasure it brings," said Robin Goldstein, editor of "The Wine Trials," an annual guide to wines under $15 a bottle that beat wines costing $50-plus a bottle in blind tastings. Dom Perignon producer Moet & […]
LCBO Vintages Release November 13: Best Value and Highest Rated Wines
Number of Wines Recommended: 46 Review date: 11/13/2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include: – 18 wines under $20 – Best value white: Refreshing Chilean Sauvignon Blanc $13.95 – Favourite white tied: Zesty, mouth-watering Niagara Riesling 92/100 – Favourite white wine tied: Classic California Chardonnay 92/100 – Best value red tied: Rich, robust Chilean red $13.95 – Favourite red wine: Benchmark Rhone red 95/100 – Favourite sparkling wine: Blanc de blancs with green apple notes for parties $19.95 – Best value sparkling wine: Lovely French bubbly for shellfish and dinner party starters $17.95 Here is the text-only […]
Best Value Wines at the LCBO for November
There are so many well-priced wines among the regular list stock at the LCBO as well as from Ontario wineries themselves. Here are just a few of my favourites this month: 2007 Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Gewurtztraminer Non-Estate, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: A delightful and spicy white with classic aromas of lychee, rose petal and Asian pear. 2911400004 12% MD 750 mL $22.00 Score: 88/100. 2007 Creekside Estate Winery Butler’s Grant Riesling, V.Q.A., Jordan Station, Ontario, Canada: Bursting with lovely apricot and peach notes,fragrant and pretty with a starfruit-infused finish. Makes a terrific aperitif as well as a companion to many […]
New Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 42 Review date:October 16, 2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include: – 18 wines under $20 – Best value white: A floral white from Argentina for seafood, salads $16.95 – Favourite white: Zesty, mouth-watering NZ Sauvignon Blanc 92/100 – Best value red: Robust rich Syrah from France for steak and brisket $14.95 – Favourite red wine: One of Niagara’s best Pinot Noirs 94/100 – Best value sparkling wine tied: Toasty French bubbly with green apple notes for parties $19.95 – Best value sparkling wine tied: A lovely cremant rose for shellfish and dinner […]
