Calamus ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay’ 2011
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 12.6% alcohol
Lifted floral notes escape from the glass, mingling with aromas of sweet orchard fruit and citrus. A touch off-dry, this wine is creamy, fruity and nicely balanced offering a hint of lees. Pear, peach and citrus flavours linger on the tasty, slightly pithy finish. Enjoy with roast pork or chicken. Order for home or office delivery from Calamus Estate Winery. (Susan Desjardins)
Calamus ‘Calvin’s’ Cabernet 2011
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.20 12.5% alcohol
A blend of the Cabernets, principally Cabernet Franc, this is a mellow, balanced, easy-drinking light-mid-weight red with silky tannin and mouth-watering, fresh acidity. Lovely spicy notes lift the aromas and flavours of red cherry/berry while a note of pepper expands through a tasty, fruit-filled finish. Offering good value, this wine can be enjoyed on its own or with casual fare. Order for home or office delivery from Calamus Estate Winery. (Susan Desjardins)
Reif Estate ‘The Hanging Man’ Kerner Nouveau 2012
VQA Niagara River $10.75 12.0% alcohol
Honeyed pit fruit, lanolin and floral notes on the nose, this idiosyncratic Kerner—aromatic German cross, Trollinger x Riesling—dishes up a glorious mouthful of ripe yellow peach and sweet nectarine mingling with tangy, peel marmalade that’s lip-smacking delicious. It’s medium weight with a silky smooth mouth feel and nicely balanced off-dry, freshly pressed grape aftertaste. Order for daily home or office delivery from Reif Estate. (Vic Harradine)
The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards & Estate Winery is a study of contrast. Prince Edward County (PEC) is a nascent VQA wine region while the winery, with its circa 1826, restored barn, sits on land granted to United Empire Loyalists who arrived in the late 1700’s. Caroline Granger, owner, winemaker, vine planter and tractor driver began her career living in Paris, gracing the pages of Vogue magazine as a fashion model. Her first crack at planting vines on her own property was 2001, this planting resulted in the 2003 Trumpour’s Mill Gamay Noir—PECs first Ontario award-winning wine. She received a round of applause from Niagara winemakers present at the awards.
That was then, this is now. As Caroline puts it, “It went from hayfields to 60 acres of productive vineyards; it was such a big undertaking.” Producing well over 10 000 cases annually, the line-up includes sparkling, dessert and table wine with enough fruit from their own vineyards to produce estate-only wine. When pressed for what she saw in the future, she easily enumerated the following, “We’ll be moving the farm into a new model for agricultural production with a view to improving our sustainability over the next five years including the development of a market garden which will supply food for both visitors and employees alike as well as providing us with inputs for preserving. Decreasing the amount of spray we use by 25 per cent by introducing biodynamic techniques for improved vine health and introducing new crops to our total output.
As you’ll see, and taste, from the wines below, her wines have become sophisticated, complex and well-structured gems delivering great value and oodles of pleasure. You wouldn’t go wrong picking up a few from the winery or your local LCBO.
Grange of Prince Edward ‘Limited Edition - Sparkling Wine’ Riesling 2010
Prince Edward County $24.95 11.7% alcohol
This is hi-toned, lively and delicious and the price-quality ratio skews well in your favour—it’s off-dry and brimming with delectable flavour. Sealed by crown cap, lively aromas of slate/mineral, citrus, apple and biscuit waft from the bottle. Crisp, refreshing waves of green apple, lemon-lime, minerality and grapefruit interweave with a solid stripe of ripe pit fruit—nectarine and white peach—carried along on a profusion of tiny-bead bubbles. Available only at the Grange winery cellar door. (Vic Harradine)
Grange of Prince Edward ‘Estate’ Chardonnay 2011
VQA Prince Edward County $16.00 12.7 % alcohol
This opens with a fairly quiet nose of cedar and white flowers followed by a
wash of lemon-lime, blood orange and slate/mineral flavours that spread over the palate on a good spine of racy acidity. Full of nerve and verve throughout, the racy mouth-watering aftertaste finishes in a blaze of Granny Smith apple and lemon zestiness. Pour alongside pan-seared tilapia under a generous squeeze of fresh lemon. Order by the case for daily home or office delivery from the Grange. (Vic Harradine)
Grange of Prince Edward ‘Single Vineyard - Fume Blanc’ 2011
VQA Prince Edward County $24.95 13.0% alcohol
Honeysuckle, cedar and herbaceous aromas provide segue for a tangy, racy, river of key lime, minerality and blood orange. It’s medium bodied with very good texture and a crisp, refreshing aftertaste layering on ripe, pit fruit and nuances of green herbs. A riveting spine of acidity provides focus while the pit fruit balances the flavours nicely. Pair with prawn ceviche. Order by the case for daily home or office delivery from the Grange. (Vic Harradine)
Grange of Prince Edward ‘Estate’ Pinot Gris 2011
VQA Prince Edward County $14.95 (069336) 12.8% alcohol
Richly spiced aromas of floral notes and pit fruit waft easily from this balanced and beautiful, tangy Pinot Gris. Oozing nerve and verve, it races across the palate in a blaze of blood orange, white grapefruit and lemon zest. It’s mid weight with good mouth feel and mouth-watering finish with a pleasant bite of lemon pith on the aftertaste. Pour with prawn ceviche or mussels steamed in this white wine. Order by the case for daily home or office delivery from the Grange. (Vic Harradine)