Monday, November 26th: Invited by winemaker Rob Power for a portfolio tasting at Queenston Mile Vineyard along with wines from Creekside.
Winemaker Rob Power
Rob greeted me with a glass of Queenston Mile Vineyard Mile High 2017 (a sparkler made from Chardonnay Musqué and Chardonnay: very pale straw in colour; green plum and apple bouquet; light-bodied, crisply dry, lemony, green apple flavours with a light mineral note. 88.5).
Then he toured me around the new winery – industrial chic design – before going upstairs to the tasting room:
- Queenston Mile Vineyard White 2017 (a blend of 56% Chardonnay, 17% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Pinot Gris, 7% Viognier, 4% Semillon – $25): Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, lightly floral, green peach bouquet; medium-bodied, soft mouth-feel, dry, peach and apple flavours. (89)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Chardonnay 2016 (12 months barrel fermentation in French oak – $35): Pale straw in colour; apple nose with a light forest floor note; Mâcon style; medium-bodied, dry, caramel and toast flavours – rich and full on the palate with evident new oak with an engaging touch of bitterness on the finish to add interest. (89)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Blanc de Noirs 2015 (100% Pinot Noir – $50): Pale pink gold in colour; minerally, yellow cherry nose; light-bodied, crisply dry, good texture with a sour cherry flavour and a tannic lift on the finish. (90)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 ($30): Salmon pink colour; cherry and cherry pit nose; light to medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry with mouth-freshening acidity and a light herbal note on the finish. (89)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Pét-Nat Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 ($40): cloudy pink colour; woodsy, strawberry bouquet; frothy, slightly earthy, cherry flavour with evident skin tannins. (88)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 ($40): Bright ruby in colour; lifted raspberry nose with notes of violets and well-integrated oak; medium-bodied, dry, somewhat austere and tannic but will be better with a couple of years’ cellaring. (88.5)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 ($40): Ruby colour; smoky, toasty, spicy, cherry nose; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured, violet and raspberry flavours with ripe tannins. (90)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Mile Red 2016 (52% Syrah, 32% Merlot, 14% Merlot, 4% Gamay Noir, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon – $25): Deep ruby colour; cedary, spicy, blackberry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, blackcurrant and blackberry flavours; firmly structured with evident but ripe tannins. (91)
- Queenston Mile Vineyard Sweet Victory 2017 (100% Viognier – $35): Very pale, almost water white; minerally, peachy nose; medium-bodied, sweetish peach flavour; medium to full-bodied, off-dry, peach and golden raisin flavours. (89)
The reds
Then we started on the Creekside wines.
- Creekside Sauvignon Blanc Backyard Bubbly (Charmat method – $25): Almost water white in colour; minerally, lemon peel nose; light to medium-bodied, crisply dry, grassy, green plum with lively lemony acidity. (89)
- Creekside Backyard Block Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($22): Water white in colour; grassy, slightly sweaty, grapefruit and green plum nose; medium-bodied, dry, grapefruit and green plum flavours with a touch of bitterness on the finish. (88.5)
- Creekside Sauvignon Blanc 2017 ($15.95): Water white in colour; minerally, grassy, green plum nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry, leafy, green pepper and green plum flavours. (88.5)
- Creekside Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017 (65% Sauvignon, 35%Semillon – $23): Bright, pale straw in colour; lightly floral, grassy, grapefruit nose with a hint of oak; elegant, medium-bodied, fresh and dry with a lovely mouthfeel and a note of lanolin; great length. White Bordeaux in style. (90)
- Creekside Syrah 2017 ($15.95): Deep ruby colour; cedary, spicy, plum bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, savoury, peppery, black plum flavour carried on lively acidity. Great value. (89)
- Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2016 ($25): Deep ruby colour; spicy, floral, blackberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured with a savoury black fruit flavour. A well-balanced wine. (89.5)
- Creekside Broken Press Shiraz 2016 ($55): Deep ruby colour; spicy, lightly cedary nose of ripe blackberries; medium-bodied, dry, savoury, herbal flavor of black fruits ending on a note of bitter chocolate. (91)
- Creekside Laura’s Blend 2016 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec – $22): Deep ruby colour; cedary, pencil lead and plum bouquet with vanilla oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, savoury black fruit flavours with a floral top note and a firm tannic finish. (89)
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