Always one of Niagara’s best Gamays! Still youthful, it possesses a combination of prunes, raspberries, tobacco leaf and black pepper. Fresh acid, soft tannins and a juicy mid palate make this bottling a perfect candidate for grilled marinated quail or herb marinated roast pork.
This latest bargain-priced brand from Magnotta offers varietals at wallet-friendly prices. This wine is ruby-coloured with a minty, cherry and pencil lead nose. It’s light on the palate with a fruity redcurrant flavour.
By no means was '08 an easy red wine vintage in Ontario, but Ann Sperling and her team have pulled of a minor miracle. I credit this to the biodynamic practices that are in place at the Southbrook. This blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 26% Franc possesses a deep cherry colour and a profile of plums, tobacco smoke, spice, flowers, vanilla and pencil shavings. Medium bodied and elegantly styled, there are some noticeable tannins. Drink over the next 3 years.
Here is an aromatically enticing Franc with a bouquet of cassis, bell pepper, peppermint, violets, vanilla and earth. The palate emulates the nose and the soft texture makes it amiable to grilled calf’s liver in a mushroom sauce.
This soft and approachable Merlot is all about the fruit, as it hasn’t been touched by any oak. Mid weight, the plum, cherry, tobacco leaf, menthol and mocha are supported by supple tannins and sound acid.
Deep ruby in colour with a cedar, blackcurrant and plum nose, firmly structured, spicy, savoury fruit with mellow tannins. Finishes with toasty oak. A good buy at the price.
Without a doubt, HOP’s Reserve Baco is consistently Ontario’s best! This vintage, a worthy successor to the superb '07, is a concentrated offering full of raspberries, blackberries, mocha, espresso, spice and game. Typical hybrid acidity and supple tannins backstop the fabulous finish. Drink over the next 5 years, preferably with duck rillettes or a pork terrine.