Rosewood
Tasted wines from Rosewood Estates Winery and Meadery in Beamsville:
Rosewood Sauvignon Blanc Sans Heir 2016 (Niagara Lakeshore)
Golden straw colour; minerally, slightly reductive nose of green plum, cut grass and lanolin with a touch of oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, passionfruit and muscat flavours; tasty and lingering. Drink now. (90)
Rosewood Chardonnay Renaceau Vineyard 2016 (Beamsville Bench)
Straw colour; lightly toasty, apple nose with forest floor notes; medium-bodied, dry, ripe apple and peach flavours; rich and mouth-filling, with fresh acidity ending on a note of pineapple. Drink now through 2020. (89)
Rosewood Mead Blanc 2018
A blend of Gewurztraminer juice and honey co-fermented. Light straw colour; spicy, waxy nose of lychee and rosewater; light to medium-bodied, off-dry, honeyed Asian pear flavour. Drink now. Chill lightly. (88)
Rosewood Gamay Noir Night Moves 2017 (Creek Shores)
Deep ruby colour; leafy, cherry pit bouquet; medium-bodied, well-structured, sour cherry and cranberry flavours carried on lively acidity. Drink now. Chill lightly. (88)
Rosewood Pinot Noir Unfiltered 2017 (Niagara Peninsula)
Slightly hazy, ruby colour; raspberry and oak spice on the nose; medium-bodied, elegant, beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak and great length; Burgundy-style, reminiscent of a Volnay. Lovely mouth-feel. Drink now or hold 1–2 years. (91)
Rosewood Pinot Noir Blackjack Vineyard 2016 (Twenty Mile Bench)
Ruby colour; cedary, spicy, raspberry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted raspberry and red plum flavours with lively acidity ending on ripe tannins. A beautifully balanced wine. (92)
Other wines tasted:
Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico 2015 (Tuscany – $22.95, Vintages #994608)
Deep ruby colour; cedary, cherry nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry flavour with ripe tannins; beautifully balanced. (89)
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Napa Valley – $39.95, Vintages #232371)
Cedary, blackcurrant bouquet; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted, chocolate and blackcurrant flavours with velvety tannins. An opulent wine. (90)
Henry of Pelham Bin 106 Baco Noir 2019 (Ontario – $29.95)
30th vintage, limited edition. Dense purple colour; minerally, earthy plum nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry; winemaker Lawrence Buehler manages to coax from this hybrid grape flavours of Pinot Noir and Syrah. A harmonious wine with lively acidity and a creamy mouth-feel. (90)
