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Vineland Estates Winery 2006 Dry Riesling - $12.95

In France, the bell-weather for the most recent vintage is Beaujolais-Nouveau, the very first wine made from the new crop. It comes out in November, just in time for American Thanksgiving. It’s light, fruity, has no oak age what-so-ever and little manipulation is done to the grape; it’s literally pressed, fermented and bottled … voila, a ready to drink wine for immediate consumption (by Christmas or so). The bell-weather here in Ontario seems to be Riesling. It’s usually the first wine to come out, showing up in early Spring, it has little manipulation done to it and is light and fruity (though has much more ageability than the Beaujolais). 2006 seems like a pretty good vintage if this Riesling is any indication; but then again, Vineland is known for making superb Rieslings, so using them as the bell-weather, is cheating a little. This dry (1) has got some real biting acidity to it, but that should settle down with a few more months in bottle. I first tasted it in the spring upon release, the focus was on citrus and grapefruit, with some mouthpuckering tartness. But, over the summer it should mellow and what you sniff: peach and melon, will match with the flavours you’ll be getting in the mouth right alongside that citrus zing. I see this wine ageing quite well over the next several years.

Summer Selection for Sept. 27, 2007

Thirty Bench Winemakers 2006 Riesling - $17.95

The 2005 Thirty Bench Riesling became a model for all to follow – a blend of Riesling grapes from 3 of their vineyards. Then Thirty Bench made more expensive and more expressive single vineyard Rieslings using the best grapes plucked from those vineyards. I’m not surprised to see them do the same thing this year, because it proved to be wildly popular, not just with Riesling drinkers, but with all wine drinkers because it gave them a something-for-everybody selection. This ’06 is another tasty gem – clean, crisp with a delicate touch of peach and apple on the nose. The palate has green apple and some peach with good acidity balancing it all off. The wine needs more time to integrate and could age beautifully if given the chance … buy two (or more) give it that chance; you won’t be disappointed.

Summer Selection for Sept. 27, 2007

Peninsula Ridge 2006 Viognier - $13.95

Something tells me I’m a little late coming to this party … my fellow wine writers have been jumping all over this wine all summer long, and now I feel like I am the last one hopping onto the bandwagon to sing its praises. This is a case of better late than never as I put my two cents worth in. This wine has finally caught the eye of those in the LCBO’s Vintages department too, as it hit the shelves in mid-September and it should sell out quickly. If you’re lucky enough to see this wine and put your hands on a bottle here are the reasons to buy it. A floral, peachy and pear laden nose; white peach, floral, apple and tropical fruit on the palate; a great refreshing and tasty finish – and it’s not $49 (believe it or not, some yahoo out Niagara way, has his Viognier priced that high, making this an even better bargain). Summer still exists if you have a bottle if this kickin’ around, no matter how close to Christmas it is.

Summer Selection for Sept. 27, 2007

Palatine Hills Estate Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer - $20

There seems to be some debate in the Niagara region about the “G-wine” – should it be renamed? Should we be growing it? Do people actually like it? Will consumers buy something they can’t pronounce? Well allow me to pass a little judgment of my own. Keep the name as it is. Keep growing and making it. Yes people like it. And who cares if people mispronounce it – as long as they like it and buy it they can call it “swamp water” if they want. At Palatine, they have been making gewurzt for some time and each year, they garner more and more praise for the wines they make. The 2006 version is quite a complex wine with multiple layers of both flavours and aromas. The nose is sweet with layer upon layer of fruit: pineapple, apricot, mango, apple and pear – hints of lychee and floral play in the background. The flavours aren’t as prevalent in the mouth but they are there none-the-less. A dry citrus finish with tropical fruit rind through the mouth … an enjoyable wine now, but another year in bottle and those flavours should match that luxurious nose.

Summer Selection for Sept. 27, 2007

Mastronardi Estate Winery 2005 Gewurztraminer - $13.00

I once heard a rumour that we drink gewurzt too young … it’s not a wine meant for long term aging but one or two years in bottle, allows the wine to really develop some great flavours and aromas. Two years removed from vintage date, this wine has smells of orange blossom and floral notes … while the taste is infinitely more complex with rose water, lemon and a hint of sweetness that cuts the acidity and makes this a fine drinking wine with a long-lasting and smooth finish.

Summer Selection for Sept. 27, 2007

Legends Estates 2006 Grey Ghost White - $17.95

Legends received high marks from me during the Niagara New Vintage Festival for their 2006 Semillon – which was a wonderously summer-type wine, and the first straight Semillon in Ontario. Now it’s time to try a blend using that same Semillon and some Chardonnay. The nose is all citrus, mainly lemon, with hints of floral and melon, which must come from the Chardonnay side of things, leading me to believe there may be some Musque in here as well. The citrus-ness seems to back out on the tastebuds, letting the Chardonnay take over with its melon and floral notes … its smooth with a lingering sweet-like finish. If you tried the straight Semillon and found it a little too crisp and tangy for your liking, this is a great alternative.

Summer Selection for Sept. 27, 2007