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by
Rick VanSickle
'Tis
the season when we empty the shelves
at our local wine stores as we celebrate
the most glorious of all holidays
- Christmas. The holidays mean a
lot of different things to a lot
of different people but one thing
is the same for all of us, we will
be eating and drinking merrily from
now until New Year's.
This
month's picks will focus on some
last minute treasures from Ontario's
Niagara region and some under $20
wines to stock up on as the onslaught
of family and friends crash your
party.
First,
wines from Niagara:
If
you're still looking for a unique
wine gift for that someone special
you might want to consider the wines
from Niagara College Teaching Winery.
These are wines with a good story
behind them.
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This
fall one the most recognizable
men in the world, Prince Charles,
made a visit to the college's
new Wine Visitor and Education
Centre where he toured the
new facility and tasted a
few of the wines. While guests
were kept well back from the
prince during his tasting,
I was able to taste the same
wines later with college winery
staff. Here's what the prince
enjoyed (please note that
these wines are only available
at the winery which is a quick
stop off the QEW at Niagara-on-the-Lake).
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NCT
Dean's List Chardonnay
2007 ($28)
The
Dean's List tier is
the super-premium level
for Niagara College
wines. This is a creamy,
buttery white with tropical,
apple and pear fruit.
It's a nice marriage
of oak, spice and fruit.
And, to top it off,
it's "prince approved."
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NCT
Dean's List Meritage
2007 ($48)
The
cream of the crop from
Niagara College, this
is a five-varietal Bordeaux-style
blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc, Merlot,
Petit Verdot and Malbec.
It shows the exceptional
weight of the vintage
from the opening sniff.
Big, powerful black
fruits, cedar, toast,
spice and vanilla notes
swirl on the nose. It's
a wine that needs to
open up with cellaring
and/or decanting to
fully appreciate.
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NCT
Dean's List Cabernet
Franc Icewine 2008 ($55
for 375 mL)
A
rich nose with ripe
red fruits and laced
with funky spice notes.
A delight on the palate
with elegant fruits,
herbs, spice and an
underlying savoury note.
Could even put in the
cellar for a couple
of years.
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Some
other great Ontario wines available
at Vintages:
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Cave
Spring Cellars CSV Riesling
2007 ($30 Vintages)
A
fabulous Riesling and
a benchmark for this
varietal in Niagara.
It's just now starting
to open up with notes
of honeysuckle, citrus,
stony mineral and white
peach on the nose. It
really shows its pedigree
on the palate. A core
of summer peach followed
by grapefruit and a
touch of sweetness that
is balanced by moderate
acidity.
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Thirty
Bench Wine Makers Small
Lot Riesling The Wood
Post 2008 ($30 Vintages)
This
single-vineyard Riesling
from Thirty Bench is
a blockbuster. It's
all about the minerality,
the quince, white peach
and white flowers all
neatly stitched together.
It's a layered, complex
wine that combines citrus,
wet stone and grapefruit.
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Inniskillin
Reserve Series Cabernet
Franc 2007 ($19 Vintages)
Generous
aromas of fresh raspberry,
currants and mocha spices.
Delicious on the palate
with lush red fruits,
wild spices, cocoa and
a nice finish.
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Some
last-minute party wines:
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Woodbridge
Sauvignon Blanc 2008
($12 LCBO)
Woodbridge
is made by California's
Robert Mondavi winery.
These entry-level wines
always over-deliver
for the price. Lime,
grapefruit and lemon
grass aromas turn to
juicy tropical fruits
in the mouth.
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Woodbridge
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
($13 LCBO)
Blackberry,
some cherry and nice
spices in this cab.
Don't let the price
fool you, it's quite
rich and packed with
flavour. A party pleaser.
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Santa
Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc
2009 ($10 LCBO)
A
whole mess of lime,
grapefruit and lemon
zest from the nose to
the palate. Just a fruit-packed
little wine.
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Willm
Riesling Reserve 2008
($17 Vintages)
I
just love this riesling
from Alsace. Floral,
citrus and mineral notes
on the nose. It gushes
on the palate with lemon-lime,
quince and zesty apple
notes. It's loaded with
acidity in a dry style.
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Manoir
Grignon Viognier 2008
($15 Vintages)
Another
crowd pleaser with peach,
apricot and tropical
fruits that are lightly
spiced from some oak
aging. Rounds out nicely
on the palate.
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Fonseca
Bin 27 Fine Reserve
Port ($17 Vintages)
A
nice fortified drink
for the end of the night.
It's a "baby"
Port but an attractive
alternative to the real
thing. Thick berries,
sweet vanilla, raisins,
plums and exotic spice
aromas. The palate reveals
jammy black fruits with
plenty of heft and alcohol
that doesn't burn.
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