• Order the following by the case for daily office, home or restaurant delivery direct from the winery, along with others in the previous June 3 newsletter, either by using this link Closson Chase, by phone 1.888.201.2300 or 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.
• The following 2016 Closson Chase ‘Churchside’ Pinot Noir was sourced 100% from this vineyard from hand-picked fruit and low-yielding vines – 1.3 tonnes/acre. It was fermented in wood fermenters and matured in French oak barrel, 20% new.
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Closson Chase ‘Churchside’ Pinot Noir 2016
VQA Prince Edward County $39.95 12.5% alcohol
Spirited aromas of exotic incense, cola, red cherry and slate/minerality provide segue to a lightly hued, lightly textured stream of absolute ambrosia showcasing persistent purity of fruit, deft balance, finesse and elegance. Palate flavours of ripe, juicy red fruit—raspberry, cranberry, plum—intertwine with spice and mouth-watering acidity. This adds up to more than the sum of its parts and it’s seriously delicious. (Vic Harradine)
• This is the first vintage that the following ‘South Clos’ pinot noir has been bottled on its own – hats off to winemaker, Keith Tyers, for this excellent first bottling. All fruit was treated exactly as the above ‘Churchside’ pinot including harvest and bottling dates with the only difference being fruit was sourced from these two separate estate vineyards at Closson Chase. Interested in seeing and hearing Keith share his outlook on making wine in general and Prince Edward County specifically? Keith shares that with you here.
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Closson Chase ‘South Clos’ Pinot Noir 2016
VQA Prince Edward County $44.95 12.3% alcohol
This is a lovely pinot with everything in sync—delicate aromas of beetroot, spice and black plum set the table for a smorgasbord of flavours. Tangy cranberry, strawberry/rhubarb pie and ripe juicy cherry envelop the palate interlaced with piquant spice and wisps of soft tannin. It’s medium bodied with very good mouthfeel and near-perfect balance throughout. It pours well on its own and has the oomph to pour with hearty stews and grilled red meats such as beef tenderloin and venison. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following wine by the case for delivery to home, office or restaurant in Ontario online from Featherstone Estate Winery or pick up a bottle or case at the winery at 3678 Victoria Ave, Vineland, ON. Here’s a map.
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Featherstone ‘Premium Cuvée Joy’ Rosé 2016
VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95 12.5% alcohol
For ease of opening, this is sealed under crown cap. This méthode traditionelle, 100% pinot noir was hand harvested, whole-cluster pressed and rested on its lees for 12 months before disgorgement. It bubbles over with frothy mousse and a delightful array of barely off-dry palate flavours with bright red currant, ripe strawberry and oodles of tang to the fore. It’s medium weight and showcases a monumentally lengthy lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. Pour with an assortment of appetizers on the patio. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following by the case for daily office, home or restaurant delivery direct from the winery, along with others in the previous June 3 newsletter, using this link - Rosehall Run - or pick it up from the cellar door at on your next visit to the winery 1243 Greer Rd, Wellington, Ontario K0K 3L0 in Prince Edward County – it’s an easy two-hour drive, or less, from the GTA or Ottawa via the 401 - Here’s a map.
• Fruit for the following 2016 Rosehall Run ‘Estate – Hungry Point’ Pinot Noir was sourced from 12 and 13-year-old, dry-farmed vines with Dijon numbered clones - 115, 667, 777, 114, 459, 828. After pre-ferment maceration in open- and closed-top fermenters using punch downs and pump overs respectively, it matured in 80% seasoned/20% new French oak barrel and was recently bottled with minimal filtration and no fining.
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Rosehall Run ‘Estate – Hungry Point’ Pinot Noir 2017
VQA Prince Edward County $24.95 12.0% alcohol
This showcases superb value, complexity, low alcohol, purity of fruit, near-perfect balance of sweet and tang flavours and a lengthy mouth-watering aftertaste. Floral notes, piquant spice and berry fruit aromas precede a balanced and beautiful mouthful of spice-infused flavour with ripe red raspberry, strawberry and crunchy pie cherry melding with hints of minerality. It’s medium bodied with good texture and a lip-smacking finish. Grand to sip on its own, it pours well with duck confit, coq au vin or prawn and chorizo paella. Kudos to winemaker Dan Sullivan and his magic touch. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2016 Rosehall Run ‘Rosehall Vineyard – JCR’ Pinot Noir was sourced from 14- to 15-year-old vines of predominantly Dijon numbered clone 115 with smatterings of 667, 777, 828. Matured in 265 L French oak hogsheads, approx. 60% new, for 18 months on fine lees with no racking, the final selection was made from the top barrels that were bottled with no fining and minimum handling.
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Rosehall Run ‘Rosehall Vineyard – JCR’ Pinot Noir 2016
VQA Prince Edward County $39.95 12.3% alcohol
Beguiling aromas of rose petal, cherry pastille and baking spice herald a drying swath of pie cherry, black currant and passionfruit interwoven with delightful cranberry tang, This is underpinned by fine-grained, ripe tannin and wisps of minerality. This is medium-plus weight with good texture, complexity, depth and focus throughout. Palate flavours replay on the dry finish and aftertaste along with oaky notes and wisps of tannin. Aerate/decant a couple of hours before pairing with pork roast, grilled, smoked duck breast or roast Cornish game hen. (Vic Harradine)
• The following two wines from Redstone Winery and the following Tawse wines can all be purchased through Tawse Winery by the case for daily home, office or restaurant delivery online at Tawse Winery, by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone +1 (905) 562 9500 or for pick up by the bottle or case at the winery 3955 Cherry Ave, Vineland ON. Here’s a map.
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Redstone ‘Limestone Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc 2016
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $24.95 12.0% alcohol
Sandalwood, lime and mineral notes abound on the nose of this medium-weight, generously textured riesling. It coats the palate with grapefruit pith, bracing lime tang and nuances of oak; this was aged eight months in French oak barrels. The finish reveals more flinty minerality while the aftertaste showcases a crisp, clean and refreshing character. Pour alongside a deli platter, crab cakes or fish tacos. (Vic Harradine)
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Redstone ‘Redfoot Vineyard’ Viognier 2016
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $22.95 13.0% alcohol
Honeysuckle and oaky aromas provide segue to a medium-full bodied, fully textured mouthful of honey-drizzled lemon and lime intertwined with ripe apricot, ginger snap and notes of buttered toast; this was aged eight months in French oak barrels. This dishes up purity of fruit, deft balance, depth, complexity elegance and charm. Pour with pan-seared pork chops and apple sauce or chicken pot pie. (Vic Harradine)
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Tawse ‘Quarry Road Vineyard’ Rosé 2017
VQA Vinemount Ridge $28.15 11.0% alcohol
Pale-pink hued, this method saignée—from free-run juice—organic/biodynamic, 100% pinot noir wafts easily from the glass with perfumed aromas of floral and citrus notes. It glides over the palate riding a crest of tang-laden flavour—red grapefruit and strawberry with flinty/saline minerality. This is medium weight with good mouth feel and a long finish that’s dry and mouth-watering good. Pour alongside fish, shellfish or sushi. (Vic Harradine)
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Tawse ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay 2017
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 12.5% alcohol
Apple, white peach, struck-flint notes and wisps of tropical fruit aromas spin from this lively and lean chardonnay. A bracing line of tang streaks across the palate borne on a laser-like line of lime, minerality, white grapefruit and pineapple. It’s medium weight on the palate with a dry, mouth-watering, tang-laced finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside pan-seared fish under a squeeze of fresh lemon or mussels steamed in white wine, garlic and leeks. (Vic Harradine)
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Tawse ‘Cuddy by Tawse – Spark – Limestone Ridge Vineyard’ Non-Vintage
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $24.95 12.0% alcohol
This was made with 100% organic, riesling grapes. Bright and lively aromas and flavours coalesce on the nose and palate with lime cordial, slate/mineral notes and orchard fruit—green apple, yellow plum and pear—all making their debut on centre stage. This showcases a solid line of acidity from cork pop to last drop with citrus fruit flavour to the fore along with a dry, lengthy finish. Pour with steamed clams, lemon chicken or scallop ceviche. (Vic Harradine)