by Zoltan Szabo
As Ontario gets ready for GoLocal, the wine industry’s big promotional push in restuarants and the LCBO, GFR’s Zoltan Szabo offers three newly released local wines worth trying. – Ed.
2009 Pinot Gris Barrel Aged ‘Winemaker’s Series’ Inniskillin – Niagara Peninsula
Straw colour; peaches, honey and butterscotch expressions on the bouquet; medium-bodied and plush with sappy acidity and dried peach – almond fragrance on its long finish. ($19.95, LCBO# 177766, inniskillin.com)
2009 Pinot Noir ‘Queenston Road Vineyard’ Twenty Twenty-Seven – St. David’s Bench – Niagara Peninsula
Clean, pure and classic Pinot, wild fermentation, no fining, nor filtering involved here, minimalist approach to winemaking. Bright red berry fruit with really soft and refined earth – spice – floral impressions in the background. Fresh, silky and delicious. I tried it with Treadwell’s pan roasted Atlantic salmon with dill potatoes and zucchini, a great pairing, indeed. ($34.95, direct from winery: 2027cellars.ca)
2007 Petit Verdot Stratus – Niagara Peninsula
Blueberry fruit – driven with bittersweet chocolate and cedar accents. Full bodied and ripe with dusty tannins. Warm and harmonious. Try it with a rare T–bone, well sauced ribs, or bison burgers. ($38.20, LCBO# 142638, stratuswines.com)
All scores are out of five apples.
Read more of sommelier Zoltan Szabo at zoltanszabo.org and follow him at twitter.com/zoltanszabo.
