German Wine Fair, Riesling & Co. World Tour 2013, Toronto, Ontario

It was with great anticipation I attended the trade portion of this show, in the afternoon of May 28, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario. Just to tell you how much I enjoy German Wines, I made a four hour trip to attend this event. In my 30 years of enjoying, tasting and purchasing wines, of them mostly German Riesling, I was definitely looking forward to taste other varieties like Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Sylvaner.






Red Wines;

Pinot Noir;

I tasted 8 Pinot Noir (PN) (local name is Spätburgunder) in total from the regions of Ahr and Baden. They were definitely more Burgundy in style than let’s say California’s, lighter bodied reds with sweet and sour fruit flavours, strong mineral notes and fine dusty tannins. I did enjoy both Pinot Noir from Salwey in Baden but definitely preferred their Grand Cru (Grosses Gewächs) 2010. A dry PN with a fuller bodied, more complexity with flavours of sweet and sour red fruit, floral and spicy notes and mild tannins. I also tasted all four PN from Meyer-Näkel in Baden and found them to be very interesting, but again preferred their Grand Cru 2010, with a strong earthy and mineral presence throughout.  


White Wines;

Pinot Gris;

I tasted 3 Pinot Gris (local name is Grauburgunder) in total, from the regions of Baden and Nahe. All were very enjoyable with the standout from Weingut IM Zwölberich Grauburgunder C 2011 in Nahe a medium weight Pinot Gris with alcohol coming in at 13.5%. With its beautiful creamy texture, bright acidity and citrusy flavours. Salwey Grauburgunder 2011 was also very nice.

Sylvaner;

I only tasted two of them, both from the same winery Graf von Schönborn. I have purchased these wines in the past and find them to be very versatile at the table with so many food pairing possibilities. I quite enjoyed Graf von Schönborn Silvaner Kabinett “Alte Reben” 2011, from old vines with a low alcohol at 12.5%, fresh acidity and fruity flavours.

Riesling;

Riesling is truly the Queen of German wine making, and for me, the Queen of white grapes, period. There is something so special about German Rieslings, their complex aromatics, great mouthfeel, with its fruity  flavours, but well balanced by its vibrant acidity. This makes them very flavourful and a great joy to drink. In all, I tasted 27 of them, in every sweetness level, from dry to Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese and one Beerenauslese.

• The standout by far was the lineup from Gunderloch located in Rheinhessen, all of their wines were perfectly balanced and so delicious. Gunderloch Beerenauslese 2008 was absolutely spectacular, my last wine tasted and a sweet ending to this fair.

• Of the 10 Riesling Kabinett tasted, the standout by far was Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Kaseler Nies’chen Riesling Kabinett 2006. A superb example of how complex these wines can be when given some time in bottle. In my descriptors I wrote “classic” and delicious beside these other two Kabinett; Schloss Schönborn Erbach Marcobrunn Riesling Kabinett 2011 and St. Urbans-Hof Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett 2011.

• Of the 9 Riesling Spätlese tasted, three of them stood out for me. Starting with Moselland Goldschild, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2012 from Mosel, a classic Spätlese with low alcohol of 7.5%. Also from Mosel, Bollig-Lehnert Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spätlese 2011 and finally Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothberg Riesling Spätlese 2011 from Rheinhessen.

• Of the 7 Riesling Auslese tasted, two of them really stood out for me. Weingut von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Auslese 2007 from Rheingau and Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothberg Riesling Auslese 2011 from Rheinhessen, both of them absolutely stunning.

Here are my top 15 wines tasted at this Fair;

1- Bollig-Lehnert Droner Hofberger Riesling Auslese 2009 from Mosel

2- Bollig-Lehnert Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spätlese 2011 from Mosel

3- Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothberg Riesling Spätlese 2011 from Rheinhessen

4- Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothberg Riesling Auslese 2011 from Rheinhessen

5- Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothberg Riesling Beerenauslese 2008 from Rheinhessen

6- Weingut von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Auslese 2007 from Rheingau

7- Moselland Goldschild, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2012 from Mosel

8- Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese 2010 from Mosel

9- Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Kaseler Nies’chen Riesling Kabinett 2006 from Mosel

10- Salwey Spätburgunder “Grosses Gewächs” 2011 from Baden

11- Schloss Schönborn Erbach Marcobrunn Riesling Kabinett 2011 from Rheingau

12- Graf von Schönborn Silvaner Kabinett “Alte Reben” 2011 from Franken

13- St. Urbans-Hof Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett 2011 from Mosel

14- St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Auslese 2011 from Mosel

15- Weingut IM Zwölberich Grauburgunder C 2011 from Nahe

                           

I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the Fair as a whole; a beautiful venue, music and food.  Music, with a DJ supplying nice background music, in sync with the tempo of the room. The superb food catered for this event paired quite well with the wine and made the whole afternoon a memorable one.

Prost
Paul YWG

California Wine Fair 2013 Canadian Tour – Ottawa, Ontario

I attended the trade portion of this show in the afternoon of April 5, 2013 here in Ottawa. A sure sign that spring has finally arrived, is the annual California Wine Fair travelling throughout Canada and bringing with it their sun drenched, ripe and fruity wines. Into its 33^rd year, this travelling wine show will be visiting six Canadian cities, Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Halifax from April 2 to May 2.  This year they will be skipping Vancouver, as California was featured at this year’s Vancouver International Wines Festival (VIWF), held February 25 to March 3, 2013.

 

At the VIWF, I had the opportunity to enjoy about 2 hours tasting some of California wines, my objectives at this wine fair was to visit wineries which I hadn’t visited in Vancouver. After studying the list of wineries and wines being poured at this Fair I tried to follow my list as close as possible starting with white wines, mostly Chardonnay’s with a few Sauvignon Blanc. As for the reds, everything from Bordeaux blends to Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

 

White Wines;

Chardonnay; Chardonnay was the featured grape varietal at this year VIWF, after tasting a number of them at that show including many from California, this fair here in Ottawa gave me the opportunity to taste 10 more California Chardonnay. In general I enjoyed most of the Chardonnays’ I tasted, most of them from the cooler regions of Sonoma County and Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Carneros. My two favourites were the very elegant and smooth Benovia Chardonnay 2010 from Russian River Valley and the fuller bodied and creamier Davis Byrum River West Chardonnay 2011 from Russian River Valley.

 

Sauvignon Blanc; I tasted 5 of them and I didn’t enjoy any of them. My preferred style of SB is refreshing with crisp acidity and un-oaked. Almost all of them except one were partly barrel aged, with one of them tasting like an oaky Chardonnay.

 

Red Wines; 

Cabernet Sauvignon; Tasted 14 of them from a variety of ultra premium to a more entry level, $20 to $30 dollars range. I always enjoy the opportunity to taste ultra premium wines, priced out of my affordability range. I find that most of them are serious cellar candidates, big wines, deep color, very concentrated and tannic.

• My favorite of these ultra premium Cabernets was Heitz Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Rutherford, Napa Valley.
  
• I also quite enjoyed Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Rutherford, Napa Valley, rich, well structured and beautifully balanced.
  
• And finally for $35, Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Napa Valley, which represents a solid value for such a delicious and well made Cabernet.

 

Merlot; I thoroughly enjoy California Merlots, but few of them were poured at this fair, I tasted two of them. A merlot that did make it into my top 15 wines from this fair, Buccella Merlot 2010 from Napa Valley. This wine is a great example of the type of Merlot I enjoy, rich fruit, savoury herbs, well managed oak maturation with a soft and smooth texture. At $130 a bottle, it is a bit out of my price range but a real treat, small production of only 310 cases.

 

Zinfandel; I tasted seven of them including all four from Seghesio Family Vineyards, which was definitely one of the highlights of the Fair for me, with my favourite of those four being Seghesio Old Vines Zinfandel 2009.  My favourite Zinfandel and my first experience with this winery, was Elyse Morisoli Vineyard Zinfandel 2008. It was an absolute beauty, ripe fruit but not jammy, savoury, incredibly smooth and very elegant, great winemaking skills here.

Pinot Noir; I also tasted seven of them. What I am looking for in a Pinot Noir is descriptors like medium bodied, slightly spicy, earthy notes, wild berry fruit, floral, smooth, light tannins, pretty and feminine. But descriptions like deep color, high alcohol, jammy, oaky and tannic should never be associated with Pinot Noir in my view. These kinds of Pinot Noir are like a wine with a split personality, Bordeaux’s want to be. The only one I enjoyed was Benovia Pinot Noir 2010 from Russian River Valley.

 

Syrah; I only tasted one,  but what a surprise. I would be interested to include Dierberg Vineyard Syrah 2009 from Santa Ynez Valley as a pirate wine in a Rhône Valley Syrah blind tasting. It’s everything you expect in a great Syrah, black fruit, peppery, meaty and savoury notes, and a wine with real sophistication. A great example of a Syrah that could be the next big thing in California.

 

 

 

In conclusion, I did manage on that afternoon to gain better knowledge of California and its wines, by talking with some of the wineries reps and I want to highlight my favourite wineries visited;

- Benovia Winery

- Dieberg Vineyard

- Duckhorn Vineyards

- Flowers Vineyards

- Heitz Cellars

- Schug Carneros Estate

- Seghesio Family Vineyards  

 

 

Here is. in no particular order, my list of top wines from this Fair. You will notice that a majority of them are from the cooler regions of California.

Here are my top 15 wines tasted at this Fair;

1-Benovia Pinot Noir 2010 from Russian River Valley

2-Benovia Chardonnay 2010 from Russian River Valley

3-Buccella Merlot 2010 from Napa Valley

4-Davis Byrum River West Chardonnay 2011 from Russian River Valley

5-Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry 2009 from Napa Valley

6-Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Rutherford, Napa Valley

7-Dierberg Vineyard Syrah 2009 from Santa Ynez Valley

8-Elyse Morisoli Vineyard Zinfandel 2008 from Rutherford, Napa Valley

9-Flowers Vineyards Chardonnay 2010 from Sonoma Coast

10-Heitz Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Rutherford, Napa Valley

11-Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Chardonnay 2010 from Russian River Valley

12-Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Napa Valley

13-Schug Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Sonoma County

14-Seghesio Home Ranch Zinfandel 2010 from Sonoma County

15-Seghesio Old Vines Zinfandel 2009 Sonoma County

 

 

Vancouver International Wine Festival, February 25 – March 3, 2013

It was another great year for the Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF). I attended the trade tasting events of Thursday and Friday afternoon, in total; 175 wineries from 15 countries; 960 wines available to taste. This year VIWF “Regional Theme Country” was California and the Global Focus was on Chardonnay. My plan of action this year, one hour tasting wines from British Columbia, an extensive tasting of Chardonnay, California wines and my list of vineyards from around the globe. I didn’t taste as many California wines as one might expect (the festival featured country), since the California Wine Fair will be visiting my home town of Ottawa in April. Which also explains why the California Wine Fair will not be visiting Vancouver this year. 

Winery principals;  An important feature of this festival is that a principal from each winery must be in attendance at the festival, included in this are winemakers and proprietors. These people are in the know and there to answer questions about their wines and vineyards. Some of those principals were so inspiring and passionate about their wine and what they do. I find that listening to their stories very invigorating. Here are three of those principals which made this festival so memorable for me.

• Champagne Pol Roger from France was represented by Hugues Romagnan, their International Export Director. I tried to taste their wines on the first day (Thursday) but it was so busy, people lined up, three to four deep. I decided to try first thing the second day (Friday) afternoon. Our group of four arrived first at the table, where Hugues Romagnan led us through their selection of 5 Champagne. All of them where excellent, but the last three where absolutely outstanding; Brut Blanc de Blancs 2002, Brut Vintage 2002 and Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2000. Which other wine festival could you have the opportunity to taste a wine dedicated to the great British Leader Sir Winston Churchill,very few. The Champagne from Pol Roger were the highlights of the festival for me, by far. Thank you Hugues for sharing your wines and the great insight on the Pol Roger style of Champagne.
  
   

•  Marimar Estate from California was represented by Marimar Torres, born into Spain’s iconic Miguel Torres wine family. What a lovely lady with such passion about food and wine. I really enjoyed tasting her line up of organically grown estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley vineyards. All four wines tasted were very good but my favourite was La Masia Chardonnay 2009.

• Stag’ Leap Winery was represented by their passionate winemaker Christopher Paubert. Born and raised in Bordeaux, his style of wine making is very much French meets California. Terroir driven, well structured and balanced wines with ripe California fruit and French oak with a real attention to details. A real joy to taste all four of his wines; Chardonnay 2011, Petit Syrah 2009, Merlot 2009 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 all of them outstanding and very enjoyable wines, I also enjoy the opportunity to converse in French, here in Vancouver, while speaking with Christopher. After Pol Roger this was my most enjoyed table at this festival. 

Chardonnay;  In total I tasted 21 Chardonnays from Argentina, Australia, California, Canada, France and Italy. In general I prefer a cool climate Chardonnay (lower alcohol with better acidity) where the oak treatment is used to soften up acidity that gives it slightly sweeter flavours with a creamy texture and not an oaky one. Here are four of that I really enjoyed;

• Marimar Estate La Masia Chardonnay 2009 Russian River Valley California – There is a nice cool-climate feel to this very classy, elegant Chardonnay, estate organic grown fruit (Don Miguel Vineyard), nine months sur lies with maturation in 100% in French oak (30% new). There is a nice elegant texture on this Chardonnay with flavours of pineapple, pears, orange zest, gentle oak spices and light roasted nuts. The finish is long, lightly creamy and very smooth.

• Stag’ Leap Chardonnay 2011, Napa Valley, California – This is a beautiful, rich full bodied Chardonnay with flavours of pineapple, tree and citrus fruit, wood spices, crème Brulée, light vanilla notes with great length and depth  on the finish. This is a big, delicious, well made California Chardonnay where ripe fruit is well balanced by fresh acidity and carefully managed well integrated French oak.
  

• Mission Hill Perpetua 2010, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada – Mission Hill winemaker John Simms has a great hand with Chardonnay. This wine is 100% estate grown Chardonnay fruit (Osoyoos Vineyard estate), maturation in new French oak, eight months sur lies and alcohol coming in at 13.5%. Medium bodied with flavours of citrus and tree fruit, light minerals, vanilla and gentle wood spices with vibrant acidity. This is a very elegant and lightly creamy Chardonnay with great balance between fruit and acidity.

• Domaine Larouche Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes 2008, Burgundy, France – Of all four tasted from Domaine Larouche Chablis, this was my favourite one. Made with 100% Chardonnay grapes and opened up with a very complex aromatics of yellow plum, pear, citrus fruit, light minerality and flinty. On the mouthfeel, a medium-full bodied, creamy texture with an underlining minerality and well balanced by its natural acidity and ripe fruit. The wine finish is long, very elegant and enjoyable.

British Columbia Wines; Again this year I noticed that a few of my favourite BC wineries where not in attendance at the festival. Over the past three years these wineries, which used to attend the wine show where missing; Blasted Church, Borrowing Owl, Hester Creek, Laughing Stock, La Stella, Le Vieux Pin and Tantalus. Which means, many new wineries which I had never heard  of before I passed in favour of the more familiar wines that returned.

• Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars – As usual their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (both from the 2011 vintage) were well made and quite enjoyable, especially the Pinot Noir. This is the style of Pinot Noir I enjoy, low alcohol (12.5%), minimum amount of oak, ripe berry fruit and light floral, vanilla and spices notes. Feminine and pretty.
  
  

• Mission Hill Family Estate – From their Legacy series of wines, I tasted Perpetua 2010 (Chardonnay), Compendium 2009 (Bordeaux blend) and the second vintage of Martins Lane Pinot Noir 2011. All of them were very good.
  
  

• NK’Mip Cellars – Aboriginal owned and operated winery in the south Okanagan Valley, four wines tasted here with their QwAM QwMT Syrah and Mer’r’iym (Bordeaux blend) being my favourite. I truly enjoyed the savoury character of the Syrah but the QwAM QwMT Pinot Noir is definitely not my style, much more extracted and tannic.
  
  
• Painted Rock Estate Winery – Represented by Proprietor John Skinner. Again this year, a great line-up of wines with their Merlot 2009 and Red Icon 2009 (Bordeaux Blend) being my favourite. I didn’t enjoy their Syrah 2010 as much as their 2009 vintages. But overall, they make beautiful full bodied wines.
  
  
• Poplar Grove Winery – One of my favourite BC wineries, their Cabernet Franc 2009 was stunning, one of them is now resting in my cellar.
  
  
• Tinhorn Creek Vineyards - Represented by Sandra Oldfield winemaker and CEO, I very much enjoyed their wines in the past but this was my first experience visiting there booth. All three wines tasted here; Oldfield Series Merlot 2009, 2 Bench Red 2009 and Cabernet Franc 2009 were superb. Sandra asked which wine I preferred, I had to say, the Oldfield Series Cabernet Franc 2009. She told me it was so Canadian of me to choose the Cabernet Franc. I just love the poise, aromatics and elegance her Cabernet Franc.
  
  
• Township 7 Vineyards & Winery – I had heard a lot about this winery, they have won many medals for their Merlot. There Merlot Reserve 2009 certainly lived up to my expectations, full bodied, rich and structured with a very masculine style of Merlot. Township 7 Reserve 7 Meritage 2008 is also very nice, a blend of 75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc, very savoury flavours and  smoother than the Merlot.

 

Tinhorn Creek winemaker Sandra Oldfield.
Thirsty anyone? How about this great Merlot

                                                                                                   

Here are my top 20 wines tasted at the Festival;

(In no particular order)

1- Antica Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Napa Valley, California

2- Marimar Estate La Masia Chardonnay 2009 Russian River Valley California

3- Stag’ Leap Chardonnay 2011, Napa Valley, California

4- Stag’ Leap Petit Sirah 2009, Napa Valley, California

5- Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

6- Wakefield St. Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Clara Valley, Australia

7- Wakefield St. Andrews Shiraz 2009, Clara Valley, Australia

8- Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

9- Mission Hill Perpetua 2010, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

10- Painted Rock Red Icon 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

11- Tinhorn Creek Oldfields Series Cabernet Franc 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

12- Champagne Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2002, Champagne, France

13- Champagne Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2000, Champagne, France

14- Famille Perrin Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010, Rhône, France

15- Les Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010, Rhône, France

16- Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2009, Rheinhessen, Germany

17- Antinori Guado Al Tasso Bolgueri Superior 2008, Tuscany, Italy

18- Antinori Tignanello Toscana Igt 2008, Tuscany, Italy

19- El Nido Clio 2010, Jumilia, Spain

20- Nathalie Bonhomme Dominio de Pingus PSI 2010, Jumilia, Spain

Festival wine store

Here are the wines I purchased at the Festival;

1- Ateca Atteca 2010, Aragon, Calatayud, Spain

2- Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

3- Domaine Larouche Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes 2008, Burgundy, France

4- Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2009, Rheinhessen, Germany

5- Jacob’s Creek St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Coonawarra, Australia

6- Painted Rock Red Icon 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

7- Poplar Grove Cabernet Franc 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

8- Stag’ Leap Chardonnay 2011, Napa Valley, California

9- Tinhorn Creek Oldfields Series Cabernet Franc 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

BC wines purchased

                                                         

                                                                                                          Foreign wines purchased

One element to consider, when I am interested in purchasing wines at the Festival, is their availability either in my own province of Ontario (LCBO) or neighbouring province of Québec (SAQ). The difference in pricing between provinces is shocking, the taxes on alcohol in BC are much higher. I usually try to purchase wine that is not stocked at my local LCBO, such as British Columbia wines.

After several years of attending this Festival I noticed they always have Québec cheese producers in attendance. I was born in Québec, and of course I love Québec cheese, but this year the cheese was a product of British Columbia. I must admit, I really enjoyed the cheese from BC and the people representing them. Whoever made the decision to change to cheese from BC should be congratulated; it makes a lot of sense to promote your own cheese industry.

Well another great festival this year, as always, the organization runs a very smooth festival and I thank the many volunteers, your efforts and pleasant nature are much appreciated. The highlights for me, was the selection from Italy and especially France. It was announced that next years Theme Region for 2014 will be France and the Global Focus will be sparkling wine. I am excited with these choices, with centuries of wine making in display and so many styles of wines, regions, terroir from la Loire to Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Rhône Valley and le Midi. They impressed me with 13 wineries I can’t even imagine what they will bring with what could be over 70 wineries. The Vancouver International Wine Festival continues to be my favourite wine festival, simply can’t wait for next year.

Cheers

Paul YWG

New Zealand Wine Fair, Ottawa May 8, 2012

 

What a pleasant and insightful wine event I attended, on 08 May 12, here in Ottawa, Ontario. We all know the quality of New Zealand (NZ) Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, but I also tasted a variety of other aromatic whites and Syrahs from Hawke's Bay region. New Zealand is a nation of islands, strongly committed to the environment and sustainability, with a vast combination of soil and maritime climate temperature. The challenge in NZ is not high alcohol or jamyness but high acidity. When winemakers get the balance between fruit and acid right, their wines are simply delicious. Here are my highlights from this wine fair.   

Sauvignon Blanc; I would say that 80% of Sauvignon Blanc (SB) I purchase are from NZ. Which means, tasting my way through a line-up of SB at this wine fair, I was able to discover wines from producers which I have never tasted before. There seem to be two styles of Sauvignon Blanc (SB) produced in NZ. One style which made them highly popular, the more herbaceous style with green pepper, tinned asparagus, green peas and fresh cut grass; the other, a fruitier and more pungent style of SB with flavours of pine nettles, fresh cut grass, passion fruit, kiwi, citrus fruit, peach, melon and even more tropical fruit like pineapple with classic NZ acidity and generally unoaked. I personally prefer the latter style. I was actually quite impressed with most of the SB I tasted, I found them to be well balanced and well done in both styles. My favourite and a good value, Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2011, a crisp, refreshing, unoaked SB with flavours of pink grapefruit, gooseberry and pine nettle. Also very enjoyable and well done were, Astrolabe "Province" Sauvignon Blanc 2011 with nice fruit/acid balance and slight creaminess on the finish and Spinyback Sauvignon Blanc 2011 with and interesting flinty and minerals notes. An excellent example of the style of SB that I enjoy, Giesen Wines Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011 and Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011 both are intensely flavourful and refreshing wines. Finally, Giesen August 1888 Sauvignon Blanc 2010 an interesting and more complex SB with extended time on lees and barrel fermentation with luscious fruit and creamy finish best enjoyed with food.

Other Whites; I didn't tasted any Gewürztraminer, I must admit, this is not a grape I enjoy. I have on occasion tasted very nice Alsatian Gewürztraminer, but it has to be paired with the right food. I don't like smelling excessive floral notes in my wine and if I smell lychee, that's it, I am not going there. I did taste some very nice wine, my favourite was Churton Viognier 2010, wow great aromatics with white peach, apricots, orange peel and a creamy off-dry mouthfeel, fruity and honeyed flavours top off by lively acidity. I Quite enjoy the two Pinot Gris from the same producer, Fairhall Downs Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2011 and Torea Pinot Gris 2011. Now for Rieslings, I much prefer off dry Germain Mosel Riesling, but in a blind tasting I would have been fooled by Giesen Wines Estate Riesling 2011, the aromatics brought me back to Germany with aromas of lime, peach, orange peel, honey and kerosene, on the palate, light bodied (9% Alc.), luscious fruit texture and crisp acidity. Well done guys, I really enjoyed that Riesling and at that price $15.95... are you kidding me.

Pinot Noir; What I like in a Pinot Noir (PN) is a lighter bodied wine with a good balance between soft berry fruit, sweet spices some earthy notes (I also enjoy some barnyard notes) and soft silky tannins. Of the dozen PN tasted, I found them to have good varietal character, the under $20.00 easy drinking and over $20.00 with a little more complexity and character. Funny thing almost all the PN tasted were at 14% alcohol. My favourite PN was from Giesen Wines, The Brothers Pinot Noir 2010, very attractive aromatics with cherry, plum, Asian spices, clove, tobacco leaf and damp earth. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied (13.5% alc.) with lots of detail and flavours, balanced acidity and fine grained tannins. Good length and very smooth on the finish, with seductive fruit, spices, vanilla and oak notes. Also very enjoyable the complex and nicely layered Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2010 and these three youthful, fresh and bright PN; Babich Wines Pinot Noir 2009, Giesen Estate Pinot Noir 2010 and Yealands Estate Pinot Noir 2010.

Syrah;  There was only one Syrah on the main tasting floor, a very nice, Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Syrah 2009, delicious, well made and spicy example of Syrah. But I soon discovered that hidden behind the curtains, a seminar with four flight (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Syrah) was being held. Since I had already moved on to red wines, I decided to only try the Syrah. I tried seven wines in total, two of them I found to have a strong medicinal aromatic (like opening your medicine cabinet) but overall these Syrah were quite different and interesting. My favourite was John Forest Collection Syrah 2007, a more complex layered, almost Northern Rhône like Syrah. Followed up by Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2009, with velvety texture, reminding me of some of the best California Syrah or even Merlot, with luscious fruit, toasty oak and very smooth finish with a price tag to match at $97.00. Finally the only Syrah grown on fossilised limestone soil, Coopers Creek Reserve Syrah 2010, a elegant, medium body beauty, where 2.43% Viognier was co-fermented with the Syrah to produce a very aromatic wine with aromas of wild berries, plum, violet, white pepper and savoury notes. I was ask to revisit Man O’ War Dreadnought Syrah 2009, I was the first one to try a newly opened bottle without the benefit of decanting. I had found it to be too medicinal for me, on second try a bit better but still not a top three for me. There was no clear favourite, those tasting with me were split between John Forest Collection Syrah 2007, Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2009 and Man O’ War Dreadnought Syrah 2009. That’s the beauty of wine, no bag wines but wines which appeal to different palate. Very interesting and enjoyable line up of New Zealand Syrah.

Here are my top 15 wines tasted at this Fair
(In no particular order)
1- Astrolabe "Province" Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough  - $21.95
2- Babich Wines Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough - $19.95
3- Churton Viognier 2010, Marlborough - $36.95
4- Coopers Creek Reserve Syrah 2010, Hawke's Bay - $28.95
5- Fairhall Downs Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2011, Marlborough - $25.00
6- Giesen Wines Estate Pinot Noir 2010,  Marlborough - $19.95
7- Giesen Wines Estate Riesling 2011,  Marlborough - $15.95
8- Giesen Wines Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011,  Marlborough - $17.95
9- Giesen Wines The Brothers Pinot Noir 2010,  Marlborough - $29.95
10-John Forrest Collection Syrah 2007, Gimblett Gravel, Hawke's Bay - $59.95
11-Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2009, Gimblett Gravel, Hawke's Bay - $97.00
12-Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2009,  Marlborough - $35.95
13-Whitehaven Wine Company Sauvignon Blanc 2011,  Marlborough - $19.95
14-Yealands Estate Pinot Noir 2010, Ortogo - $19.95
15-Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough - $19.95

Who knew I would learn so much in 3 short hours. I appreciate that most booths had a winery principal, you can feel the passion, knowledge, and love for what they do. What was most memorable for me , the Syrah seminar and Giesen Wines. I tasted six of Giesen wines and in my book, all winners. Sometimes a winery will make wines that seems tailored to ones palate, and this is a good example of that. Most of their wines are available through private order only, I would certainly like them to be at the LCBO.  I would not want to miss the opportunity to thank the organizers who provided three delicious Canadian cheese from the province of Québec including Louis D’Or, the Grand Champion, 2011 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix as well as winner in the Firm, Farmhouse and Organic categories.

Cheers

 A Gisborne, New Zealand vineyard