A Few “Ontario Wine Awards” Winners

By / Wine + Drinks / May 21st, 2014 / 1

It’s been over a week now that the Ontario Wine Awards (of which Quench is a sponsor) handed out their hardware: 88 medals in all – 26 Gold, 29 Silver and 33 Bronze.

Big prizes went to Brian Schmidt of Vineland Estates Winery for the well-deserved Winemaker of the Year, and my colleague, Rick Van Sickle (who also writes for Quench) received the Wine Journalism Award for his article Rows.

As for the wines that won, here’s a sampling:

Oaked Chardonnay over $20 Gold …

Exultet Estates 2012 Chardonay, Prince Edward County ($40.00)

This is the wineries fourth time winning this award (in a row), simply amazing; the consistency of Gerry Spinosa with this grape shows that he has a handle on making great Chardonnay. The 2012 is extracted and rich, as the hot vintage would dictate, but along with it there is plenty of fruit like apple and peach, a lovely seam of caramel and great spice finish.

Cabernet Sauvignon Gold …

Ravine Vineyard 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Niagara ($55.00)

Sweet red and black fruit with a touch of anise, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of baking spice and chocolate, elements of white pepper on the elongated finish that wows with a spiced-cherry replay.

Meritage and Cabernet/Merlot Blends Gold …

The Foreign Affair 2010 Temptress, Niagara ($44.95)

A Merlot dominated wine with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot made with 40% dried fruit. The nose seduces with black cherry, cinnamon, cassis and mocha; the palate is truly tempting with its rich mouth feel and black cherry-mocha notes: sweet fruited entry that kicks around all the way to the finish, where there’s a nice mineral-chalkiness.

For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is an award-winning journalist: Promoting the Promoters Award Cuvée 2010 and Ontario Wine Awards Journalist of the Year 2012.  He is also a national and international wine judge - Ontario Wine Awards, All Canadian Wine Championships; Best of Riesling — Germany; Essencia do Vinho — "Top Wines of Portugal".  He is currently the President of the Wine Writers Circle of Canada and the wine columnist for Ottawa Life and Grand magazine as well as regular contributor to Tidings, and Grapevine ... his reviews have also appeared in the LCBO Vintages magazine. Michael has also added a YouTube channel to his activities where he reviews bottles of great Ontario wine on a weekly basis. In whatever he does, it is Michael’s desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine – and to realize that it is their palate that ultimately makes the decision.

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