Château des Charmes ‘St. David’s Bench Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2010
VQA St. David’s Bench $19.95 (430991) 14.0% alcohol
Barrel fermented and aged in French oak, this wine offers rich aromas of vanilla, toasted nut, butter pastry and autumn fruit pie. Dry, medium-full bodied, it has a lovely smooth, round texture, a subtle structure and a great replay of orchard fruit garnished with sweet spice. A touch of warm, toasty oak lingers on the full-flavoured finish. A good choice for roast pork or chicken. This also available in CdC Boutique stores in Toronto and Hamilton or for daily home or office delivery from Château des Charmes. (Susan Desjardins)

Lailey Vineyard consistently produces wine that over-delivers in value, taste and overall enjoyment. Winemaker, Derek Barnett, recently dropped by with ten wines for tasting. Always an uplifting experience, five are reviewed below and another five slated for the next newsletter. You can order a mixed case, or cases, for home or office delivery online from Lailey Vineyard.


Lailey Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
VQA Niagara Peninsula $25.20 12.5% alcohol
The lively, gorgeous nose blossoms with aromatics—lilac, red berry fruit and gamy notes. This is medium bodied with very good texture and a tangy river of sour cherry and ripe cranberry interlaced with sweeter mulberry and spice. Balanced on the palate and finish, there’s a lengthy aftertaste that’s juicy, tangy and lip-smacking good. Delicious on its own, it has the structure, balance and charm to pour with grilled duck breasts or veal medallions. (Vic Harradine)


Lailey Vineyard Cabernet-Merlot 2011
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.20 13.5% alcohol
This is mid weight with generous mouth feel and a boatload of style, complexity and charm. This red blend—48% Merlot with an even split of Cabernets—over delivers on all counts. Aromas of spice, red and black berry fruit presages structured, complex waves of flavour caressing the palate infusing the lengthy delicious finish—black currant and bramble berry infused with mixed spice and toasty notes. (Vic Harradine)


Lailey Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2011
VQA Niagara River $25.20 13.5% alcohol
Opening with a delicate nose of black currant, red cherry and graphite, it jumps into gear on the palate with a spice-infused wave of red raspberry, juicy black plum and oodles of racy acidity. It’s complex and structured with a lingering finish and aftertaste with good fruit, acidity and a supple tannin underpinning. This is a great food wine, try grilled rib eye. (Vic Harradine)


Lailey Vineyard Merlot 2011
VQA Niagara Peninsula $25.20 13.9% alcohol
This is stunning Merlot showcasing ripe, mature fruit, deft balance, structure and style; one of the top Merlots of the vintage. Rich, luscious black berry, fig, blueberry and juicy black Bing cherry coat the palate, infusing the lengthy finish and aftertaste. It’s medium-full bodied with silky mouth feel and a fully integrated 18 months of oak. Pour with roast beef or grilled strip loin. (Vic Harradine)


Lailey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
VQA Niagara Peninsula $25.20 13.5% alcohol
Subdued and elegant aromas—red and black berry fruit, dark toast and dark cherry—precede waves of flavour with black currant, ripe mulberry and tangy juicy red cherry to the fore. The lengthy dry finish shows good structure and plenty of grip. This is clothed in a cloak of tannin, needing a further 2 years in bottle before opening. Patience handsomely rewarded as this has great promise at a very reasonable price. Drink 2016-2022. (Vic Harradine)