Alc./Vol.: 12.5% Wine Review: Made from Xinomavro, a beautiful Greek grape variety that is not well known here in Canada and is hard to find in Ontario stores. This Red comes from Naoussa, in the Macedonia area of Greece which produces fantastic Xinomavro. Aged 2 years in oak barrels and then 2 years in the… Read More Boutari Grande Reserve Xinomavro 2013, Naoussa Greece
Alc./Vol.: 14% REVIEW: On the nose, there’s black cherry and plum aromas with potpourri, the sweet aroma of decomposing autumn leaves, cinnamon and smoke. On the palate, it is wonderfully tart with structured tannins and flavours of plum and ripe blackberry. There isn’t by any means any sweetness but there is honey notes and the… Read More San Marzano Talò 2016 Primitivo Di Manduria, Italy
By: Melanie Lloyd A little over a week ago, I attended Taste Ontario, an event reserved for the media and hospitality industry. It featured over 30 different VQA wineries. All of my reviews including the ones below can be found on nataliemaclean.com. I’m focussing this blog on wine from the Niagara region as I plan… Read More My Top Niagara Wines at Taste Ontario
Alcohol/Volume: 14.5% REVIEW: This Italian Red made from Sangiovese and Colorino is complex on the nose with aromas of strawberry jam, smoke, cedar, sweet spice, autumn leaves, chocolate, leather, and black pepper. This is a food friendly wine with moderate but well integrated tannins. It is full bodied with strawberry and plum flavours, as well… Read More Lungarotti Rubesco Sangiovese Colorino 2015 Rosso di Torgiano, Umbria Italy
13% Alcohol/Volume REVIEW: Made from a blend of Xinomavro, Krassato, and Stavroto and aged a minimum of twelve months in oak barrels, this Greek wine has aromas of black cherry and plum with cinnamon, leather, sweet tobacco, cedar, floral notes, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and black pepper. Tart cherry and plum flavours follow through on… Read More Tsantali Reserve Rapsani 2014, Thessalia Greece
Alcohol/Volume 13.8% REVIEW: A dark and ruby hued Cab Sauv that is complex and seductive on the nose with juicy blackcurrant and blueberry aromas and notes of violet, dark chocolate, cedar, leather, sweet tobacco, black pepper, mushroom, and hints of vanilla. It is full-bodied on the palate with tart blackberry and plum flavours and a… Read More Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Maipo Valley, Chile
Alcohol/Volume: 14% REVIEW: This elegant ruby coloured Malbec has a beautiful nose with juicy plum and vanilla aromas along with violet, leather, oak, cloves, black pepper and herbal notes. Luscious tart plum flavours come through on the palate and ends with cloves, cinnamon, and cedar notes. It is moderately full bodied with tannins that are… Read More Graffigna Vesparo Malbec 2017, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina
Alcohol/Volume: 14.5% REVIEW: Made from Grenache, this full-bodied Red has aromas of plum and cassis spread with notes of cedar and a mix of fresh and dried flowers. The fresh flower aromas are leaning towards lilac and violet. There’s also notes of chocolate, black pepper, and mint. The dark fruit, chocolate, and black pepper follow… Read More Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2015, Alghero, Italy
Alcohol/Volume: 13.5% REVIEW: A wild fermented Red that is unfiltered, made by the fantastic winemaker Derek Barnett. Fragrant and complex on the nose with aromas of plum, blackberry, violet, dried eucalyptus, lavender, anise, as well as hints of leather and smoke. It is full-bodied with flavours of black cherry and tart plum, with coffee notes… Read More Karlo Estates The 5th, Petit Verdot 2016, Wellington Ontario
Alcohol/Volume 14.5% REVIEW: A purple-hued Chilean Red that is meaty and has aromas of cassis jam, blueberry pie, violet, sweet tobacco, cedar, vanilla, and sweet spice. It is full-bodied on the palate with smooth tannins and an acidity that is perfectly balanced with the flavours and structure of the wine. It has tart blackberry, dark… Read More Marques de Casa Concha Carmenère 2010, Peumo Chile