• The following three wines may be purchased online from this link - Casa-Dea Estates Winery. For a limited-time only; buy 6 bottles or more of any wine and receive FREE shipping in Ontario to your home, office or licensed restaurant.
• The following 2021 Casa-dea Estates Winery Pinot Grigio was sourced from 50% machine-harvested, estate Pinot Grigio fruit and 50% from Niagara Escarpment with both lots fermented separately in stainless steel then blended together before bottling.
91
Casa-dea Estates Winery Pinot Grigio 2021
VQA Ontario $19.95 (237883) 11.8% alcohol
Ethereal aromas of ripe apricot, almonds and exotic spice precede a spell-binding gusher of palate flavours with Meyer lemon, Key lime pie and hints of green apple and pineapple adorned with nerve, verve and plenty of tang and pizzazz to and through the finish and aftertaste. It’s medium-plus textured with creamy smooth mouthfeel and leaves the palate clean crisp and refreshing. Pour alongside spicy prawns cooked in a pan in butter with a side of Jasmine rice steamed in a rice cooker and infused with finely cut red and green bell pepper. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2021 Casa-dea Estates Winery ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay was sourced from machine-harvested, estate vineyards with vines of 100% chardonnay from that were plus-20 years old that saw not a chip of oak. It was fermented and settled in stainless steel tank before being bottled.
92
Casa-dea Estates Winery ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay 2021
VQA Prince Edward County $18.95 12.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas, bordering on elegant, are easily sourced with gentle swirls—floral notes, exotic spice and delightful incense abound on the nose followed by lovely aromas of citrus—lemon and lime—and ripe apricot and pear. It’s deftly balanced on the palate and is quite smooth and mellow on the finish and aftertaste. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour, pick up a few before they’re all gone then give it a go alongside skillet seared Atlantic salmon fillets under a squish of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2021 Casa-dea Estates Winery Melon de Bourgogne was sourced from machine-harvested estate vines in a vineyard planted some twenty years ago. It was then fermented in stainless steel and saw no oak.
93
Casa-dea Estates Winery Melon de Bourgogne 2021
VQA Prince Edward County $24.95 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of green apple, minerality and floral notes precede a smooth and mellow, nicely textured stream of honeydew melon and Mirabelle plum juxtaposed to lemon curd and notions of Key lime pie. The persistent purity of fruit extends to and through the crisp and refreshing finish and mouth-watering aftertaste—in a word, yummy! Pour alongside oven-roasted chicken, freshly shucked Malpeque oysters or crab cakes. Pick up a half-dozen or so and drink now to 2025 after careful cellaring. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2021 Casa-dea Estates Winery Melon de Bourgogne was sourced from machine-harvested estate vines in a vineyard planted some twenty years ago. It was then fermented in stainless steel and saw no oak.
93
Casa-dea Estates Winery Melon de Bourgogne 2021
VQA Prince Edward County $24.95 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of green apple, minerality and floral notes precede a smooth and mellow, nicely textured stream of honeydew melon and Mirabelle plum juxtaposed to lemon curd and notions of Key lime pie. The persistent purity of fruit extends to and through the crisp and refreshing finish and mouth-watering aftertaste—in a word, yummy! Pour alongside oven-roasted chicken, freshly shucked Malpeque oysters or crab cakes. Pick up a half-dozen or so and drink now to 2025 after careful cellaring. (Vic Harradine)
• Closson Chase was an early entry into the nascent Prince Edward County winery scene in the late 1990s and recently made an almost seamless transition from a former doyen of Ontario winemakers, Deborah Paskus, to the present winemaker, Keith Tyers, highly capable with focused vision on making fine wine—especially chardonnay and pinot noir—from what nature provides.
• Order the following wines by the case for daily office, home or restaurant delivery direct from the winery either by using this link Closson Chase, phone toll-free 1-888-201-2300 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or pick them up from the winery 629 Closson Road, Hillier, Ontario K0K 2J0 – it’s an easy 2 or so hour drive, or less, from the GTA or Ottawa and environs - Here’s a map. Phone ahead 343-261-6465 for complimentary curbside pick-up or local delivery. They are now open 7 days a week from 11am to 5 pm.
• The following 2021 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘The Loyalist’ Chardonnay was sourced from 100% locally grown fruit and is accredited and certified as vegan by VegeCert.
92
Closson Chase Vineyards ‘The Loyalist’ Chardonnay 2021
VQA Ontario $28.00 12.5% alcohol
Lifted and alluring aromas waft easily from this gem of a delicious and affordable smooth and mellow chardonnay—floral and tropical fruit aromas followed by delicious palate flavours of pineapple, mango and ripe apricot along with citrus and mineral notes persist to and through the lingering finish and mouth-watering aftertaste that’s crisp, clean and refreshing. Pick up a few and pour alongside a Thanksgiving roast turkey with all the fixings. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard’ Chardonnay was sourced from 100% Prince Edward County fruit and is accredited and certified as vegan-friendly by VegeCert. The grapes were whole cluster pressed then 100% barrel fermented. Less than 10% new oak, the rest in seasoned French oak barrels.
92
Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $34.00 13.3% alcohol
Delicate, elegant aromas of vanillin, floral and notes of baking brioche and buckwheat honey can be coaxed with a number of swirls. It blankets the palate with pit fruit—Mirabelle plum and ripe apricot along with notions of ripe nectarine, It’s medium bodied with good texture and mouthfeel and dishes up both a lengthy finish and aftertaste of lemon-lime citrus and saline minerality. Pour this alongside roast fowl—chicken, turkey or duck. (Vic Harradine)
The following 2020 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard - Unfiltered’ Pinot Noir was sourced from 100% Prince Edward County fruit and is accredited and certified as vegan-friendly by VegeCert.
92
Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard - Unfiltered’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $36.00 (145888) 12.5% alcohol
A layered and complex nose sports aromas of piquant spice, wood smoke, gamey notes and notions of exotic incense. In spite of its light purple hue it blankets the palate with ripe dark fruit flavour—pie cherry, black raspberry tang and pizzazz and is underpinned by still evolving tannin. A two-hour aeration/decant will produce a more positive imbibing experience and this will play nicely with chicken pot pie, bobotie or cassoulet. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following two wines by the bottle(s) or case(s) for daily delivery to home, office or restaurant online from this link to Henry of Pelham – There is free delivery on 12 or more bottles in Ontario. Select ‘12 Bottles+’ at check out and allow up to 10 days for delivery or, order online then pick up bottle(s) or case(s) from the winery at 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines ON. Here’s a map.
• The following 2021 Henry of Pelham ‘Classic’ Pinot Noir was sourced from an excellent vintage that’s almost as dazzling as the 2020 vintage. Imagine, two in a row! This particular wine was sourced from four numbered pinot noir clones—115, 667, 777 & 375—that are sustainably-grown and accredited by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario. This wine was fermented in stainless steel tank then matured for +6 months in European oak.
92
Henry of Pelham ‘Classic’ Pinot Noir 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (13904) 12.8% alcohol
An abundance of interesting aromas appear on the nose of this excellent pinot noir—with tobacco leaf, dark cherry/berry fruit juxtaposed with rosewood and exotic incense. The palate’s treated to a gusher of fruit flavours with red Montmorency pie cherry and hints of passionfruit with both contributing to the wonderful tang and racy pizzazz. It’s medium-bodied with good texture, loads of fruit flavours and good mouthfeel throughout. Give this a go with pan-seared, East coast salmon fillets adorned with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour, pick up six or more. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Gamay was sourced from Estate grown Gamay from the VQA sub-appellation of Short Hills Bench in the dazzling vintage of 2020. The grapes for this wine were harvested from 27-year-old-vines.
92
Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Gamay 2020
VQA Short Hills Bench $21.95 (19903) 13.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of violets, crunchy red cherry and passionfruit precede a river of ripe black bramble berry and juicy Bing cherry on the palate and to and through the racy finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. It’s quite smooth and mellow on entry and marries well to just about anything you do on your barbecue e.g. pork back rib slathered with spicy barbecue sauce, grilled tandoori chicken, grilled skirt steak, or simple backyard burgers. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following wines by the case for daily office, home or restaurant delivery direct by toll-free phone 1-888-399-1183, from the Rosehall Run Vineyards winery using this link - Rosehall Run - or pick it up from the cellar door on your next visit to the winery 1243 Greer Rd, Wellington, Ontario K0K 3L0 in Prince Edward County—it’s best to call first and make an appointment—it’s an easy approximately two-hour drive, or less, from the GTA or Ottawa via the 401 - Here’s a map. All orders of $85.00 and over receive FREE SHIPPING in Ontario.
• The following 2021 Rosehall Run Vineyards Chardonnay Musqué is a ‘Small Lots’ venture from a single-vineyard plot of estate-grown fruit in a particularly dazzling vintage.
• Winemaker notes - Sourced from our small ‘Vina de Casa’, a one-acre plot of Chardonnay Musqué clone 809, which are the first vines you see when you arrive at the estate. Prince Edward County is benefitted annually by not getting as many rain episodes as the rest of Ontario. One of the most fruitful benefits includes being one of the driest areas for grape growing in Ontario, and our Chardonnay Musqué welcomes the partial aridity. The wine was cold fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the perfumed orchard fruit aromas of our Chardonnay Musqué. To further preserve freshness, the Chardonnay Musqué was aged for a short period of about 4 ½ months and put into bottle in early May.
92
Rosehall Run Vineyards Chardonnay Musqué 2021
VQA Prince Edward County $26.00 12.0%
There are aromas of nutty nuances, exotic spices and floral notes on the nose. It dazzles the palate with a wash of balanced and bountiful flavours with blood orange, lemon pie filling and plenty of tang and pizzazz. It’s balanced with smooth flavours. It finishes lengthy with a lip-smacking finish and crisp refreshing aftertaste. Pour with pan-seared salmon fillets, grilled calamari rings or a sushi platter. (Vic Harradine)
93
Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘Silver Fox Block – Nedelko Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $39.00 13.0% alcohol
Sporting an alluring nose of exotic incense, red berry fruit and tobacco leaf aromas—it envelops the palate with a stunning array of complex flavours—tangy, ripe, bramble berry fruit robed in piquant spices and black currant with racy pie cherry appearing on the back palate. It’s medium-bodied with good mouthfeel and showcases dazzling fruit flavour, excellent acidity and deft balance. It’s stylish and charming while the long, balanced and bountiful finish adds to its allure. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following wines online for home, office or licensed restaurant: delivery in Ontario is FREE on orders of $100 or more from this link - Vineland Estates Winery. The wine shop is open for Curbside Pickup 7 days a week, 11am-5pm. Purchase online from the above link or place your order at 905.562.7088 ext. 124. Restaurant is open for Takeout Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm. Please order directly with the Kitchen at 905.562.7088 ext. 165. Best to check with the winery first as COVID-19 rules and regulations often change; and lately they’ve been improving.
• The following 2020 Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Sparkling Charmat Method Chardonnay was sourced from 100% Chardonnay old-vines from their prime estate vineyards in the best vintages only, and 2020 was one of the recent best, with 2021 a close runner-up.
90
Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Sparkling - Charmat Method – Chardonnay 2020
VQA Ontario $30.00 12.0% alcohol
This pours with a frothy mousse of fine-bead bubbles along with aromas of saline minerality and notions of grapefruit and green apple. Palate flavours of honeydew melon, lemon curd and plenty of tang and pizzazz along with persistent purity of fruit from the palate to the lengthy finish and aftertaste. Pour when guests arrive and on to lighter-styled appetizers. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ – Sparkling – Charmat Method - Pinot Meuniere sourced from old vines on one of their best and most picturesque estate vineyards. Pinot Meunier is a red grape, and there are only two über-popular red grapes in sparkling Champagne. The other red grape? Pinot Noir!
91
Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Sparkling - Charmat Method – Pinot Meunier 2020
VQA Ontario $30.00 13.0% alcohol
Nutty notes and baking brioche aromas precede palate flavours of peel marmalade and traces of blood orange and lemon-lime. This has good texture and creamy smooth mouthfeel with excellent balance of flavours, tang and a lip-smacking finish and aftertaste and always attractive in the bottle and wine glass with its light pink hue. A lovely way to greet guests and a perfect way to begin a romantic evening for two. Pour with cocktail sandwiches and salted almonds. (Vic Harradine)