Peller Estates Andrew Peller Signature Series Chardonnay 'Sur Lie' 2002
VQA Niagara Peninsula $28.00 (981159)

Another stunning Ontario wine from the 2002 vintage, this is a rich, luscious Chardonnay with intense aromas of tropical fruit, peach, and lemon zest, and hints of toasty oak. It's all rich fruit on the palate (peach, pear) with soft spicy accents, and the finish is long and focused. It's quite beautifully textured, soft and mouth-filling. Pair this with rich sweet meats (chicken, pork) or seafood (lobster), but you can profitably cellar it for another three or four years. It's available from the winery (use the link at winecurrent.com) or from select Vineyard Estate wine stores. (RP)


Creekside Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001
VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95

The 2001 vintage in Niagara was excellent, and it shows through in this Cab. It has fine-tuned dark fruit and berry flavours, loads of complexity, with spice, pepper, leather and cedar notes, a light herbaceous tanginess, and sweet, long tannins. Almost two years aging in French and American barriques have contributed structure and texture without intrusive flavours. Well balanced and finishing long, this Cab has a lot of personality. You can drink this now (with grilled lamb) and over the next five years. (RP)


Creekside Estate Winery Pinot Noir Reserve 2001
VQA Niagara Peninsula $24.95

A quite elegant and impressive Pinot Noir, with beautiful fruit flavours (sweet cherry, mulberry) with hints of spice and white pepper. It has a silky texture, light tannins, and lovely balance. A really delicious Pinot Noir that helps consolidate Niagara's claim to becoming a benchmark for the varietal. (RP)

* Lailey Vineyard provided a number of new wines for tasting and we offer notes on the best of them below. Order direct from the winery (they will deliver to your home), by case lots, via the link to Lailey www.winecurrent.com.



Lailey Vineyard Vidal 2004
VQA Ontario $9.95

The aromatics are quite prominent and include baked apple pie with spice and floral notes. The texture is creamy with apple, pear and citrus flavours to fashion an involved palate. Coupled with pin point balance, it reaches the point of elegance. The amazing component is the acidity, often excessive in dry Vidal, but not here. In this it is complimentary. Cannot urge you strongly enough to try this before it is sold out. (VH)


Lailey Vineyard Gamay Rosé 2004
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.00

Strawberries and cherries bolt from the glass of this copper toned tangy rosé. No sissy wine, this medium-bodied beauty has depth and character through the plum and cranberry flavours to the sweet and sour finish. Greet your guests with this as a chilled aperitif or serve as the perfect foil to spicy Asian or curried dishes. (VH)


Lailey Vineyards Cabernet Franc "Canadian Oak" 2003
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.00/375ml bottle

A rich, concentrated Cabernet Franc with almost everything you want that grape to produce in your glass. The complex aromas and flavours give off ripe red fruit and spice, and the characteristic bell pepper and woody notes. The oak contributes some herbal accents and also fills out the texture. Overall, it's very well balanced now, and will improve with three or four years' aging. Pair it with a fairly gamey and earthy dish, like venison and wild mushrooms. (RP)


Lailey Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2003
VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.00

Just a 6% touch of Merlot in this stunning red. A huge nose of toasty oak (¾ French ¼ American - 40% new), currants, cherries and tar blasts from the glass. Lots going on here with cassis and currant flavours, perceptible tannins and good acidity for balance. Will benefit from some time in the cellar with an optimum drinking window 2007 - 2012. Then try with grilled venison backstrap medallions. (VH)


Lailey Vineyard "Canadian Oak" Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
VQA Niagara Peninsula $22 (375 ml) $45 (750 ml)

375 ml available now, 750 ml September/October. A deep rich garnet colour is the entrée to this chunky red. Spicy cherries and plums form the lifted nose. The texture is in 3 discrete parts right now - gobs of ripe fruit, grainy tannins and bracing acidity. Needs 2 additional years of bottle ageing to allow it all to knit together. The finish is lengthy and luxurious with a pronounced coconut flavour. Drink 2008 - 2013 as patient cellaring will be well rewarded. (VH)


Lailey Vineyard Barrel Aged Vidal Icewine 2003
VQA Niagara Peninsula $28 (375 ml)

A gargantuan nose of caramel, mango and treacle that provide a segue to  an unctuous offering that fairly coats the mouth with sweet nectar. There is sufficient acidity to balance this off and the overall structure, balance and sensual effect is quite spectacular. Flavours include pineapple and sweet marmalade. Lovely on its own or served with simple apple and pear desserts. (VH)

* Vineland Estates provided a number of new wines for tasting and we offer notes on the best of them below. Order direct from the winery (they will deliver to your home), by case lots, via the link to Vineland Estates at www.winecurrent.com.



Vineland Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2003
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (563361)

Sauvignon Blanc has established itself as a premier grape variety in Niagara, and here's a reason why. This has elegant and intense lemon-lime aromas, with some mineral, herbaceous and aniseed notes. They flow through to the flavours, where the fruit and characteristic Sauvignon Blanc acidity form an excellently-balanced partnership. Overall, it's a delicious wine that's superb with raw oysters and most seafood appetizers and dishes. (RP)


Vineland Estates Chenin Blanc 2004
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95

Chenin Blanc hails from France's Loire Valley, where it's made in many different styles. Here you have a crisp white with lovely fruit (lemon and white grapefruit to the fore) with notes of honey and passion fruit. It's a gorgeous, finely-poised wine, that's rich and layered, and it pairs beautifully with seared scallops or grilled white fish and a squeeze of lemon. (RP)


Vineland Estates Pinot Gris 2002
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95

This is a Pinot Gris that has far more colour-an attractive salmon pink-than most. Verging toward a rosé in style, too, it offers layered notes of strawberry and rhubarb, along with more characteristic white peach and apricot pit flavours. Balanced toward food-friendly crispness, this is a wine to serve with summer salads that feature (for example) spicy beef or aged prosciutto. (RP)


Vineland Estates Cabernet Merlot 2001
VQA Niagara Peninsula $10.95

The aromas are a bit quiet, but the flavours come through very nicely. Look for red and dark fruit (plum, cherry) with some spicy/smoky complexity, a tangy texture, good length, and soft tannins. It's a good partner for not-too-rich red meat and flavoursome vegetarian dishes. (RP)


Vineland Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (422808)

A well-made, flavoursome Cab with complex aromas and flavours (plum, raspberry, black berry) with spice and vanilla notes. The fruit is nicely tuned and is complemented by food-friendly acidity. With light tannins, this is very good drinking now. Pair it up with grilled red meat or even with rich tomato-based pasta. (RP)