Alcohol/Volume: 13.5% REVIEW: This ruby coloured Red made from the Italian native grape Nero di Troia is very fragrant on the nose. It has juicy aromas of sour cherry and plum as well as floral notes of violet and rose. In addition, there is chocolate, cedar, leather, cloves, and cinnamon. The tart fruit follows through… Read More Il Falcone Riserva Castel Del Monte 2012, Puglia Italy
By: Melanie Lloyd 13% alc./vol. REVIEW: A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cab Sauvignon, this easy drinking and slightly smoky Italian Red has aromas of plum, blackberry, and beets, with floral and chocolate notes, as well as hints of cinnamon. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with juicy dark berry and plum flavours as well… Read More Monte Antico 2014, Toscana Italy
By: Melanie Lloyd 13.5% alc./vol. WINE REVIEW: A ruby coloured Red with aromas of plum, blackberry, menthol, eucalyptus, anise, fennel, sweet spice, cedar, black olive, and hints of milk chocolate. On the palate, it has tart plum and blackberry flavours with a touch of sweet spice and cedar and a slightly bitter finish. It is… Read More Fontanafredda Ebbio Nebbiolo 2014, Langhe Italy
By: Melanie Lloyd 13.0% Alcohol./Vol. REVIEW: A medium-bodied Cab Franc with aromas of ripe srawberry, lilac, earthy beets, sweet spice, and herbal notes. It is also nicely rustic with a subtle hay barn quality. In terms of flavour, there’s tart plum and chocolate, with faint floral notes seeping through. It has wonderful acidity and the… Read More Karlo Estates Cabernet Franc 2016
By: Melanie Lloyd 14.1% alcohol/vol. WINE REVIEW: On the nose, this full-bodied Red has aromas of ripe blueberry and jammy cassis spread, with notes of menthol, cinnamon, violet, potpourri, cocoa, and hints of black pepper and vanilla. With flavours of cassis, plum, cinnamon, floral notes and cocoa, it has fresh acidity and velvety tannins that… Read More Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
*Update regarding the following post: Aug 12, 2019: The Minister of Government and Consumer Services has approved the addition of Marquette to the list of VQA eligible grape varieties. Original post below dated November 8, 2018: By: Melanie Lloyd Never heard of Marquette? You are not the only one. This young grape variety may not… Read More Marquette 101: Discovering this Cold-Hardy Grape
By: Melanie Lloyd REVIEW I am surprised that this wine has 13% alcohol as it doesn’t feel like it has that much, and it certainly doesn’t taste like it. This light bodied Red made from Gamay is juicy on the palate, fresh, and the tannins are silky smooth. On the nose, we have aromas of… Read More Chateau Grange Cochard Morgon Vielles Vignes 2014
REVIEW When I first tried this wine, I ran back to the LCBO to get more bottles. I enjoyed it very much. This full-bodied Corsica Syrah has dark fruit aromas with violet, subtle wood, vanilla, and just a hint of sharp cheese but not in a negative way. On the palate, it has velvety tannins… Read More M XX270 Syrah 2015
By Melanie Lloyd Over the past few months, I had the opportunity to sample wine from the Ottawa-Gatineau area through a couple of tastings and a wine expo. This blog will focus on red wine and is simply a starting point to the many wines from the area. A special shout out goes to Donna… Read More Red Wine from Ottawa-Gatineau: Embracing the Uniqueness