Sue-Ann Staff white wines
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Riesling 2011 (Niagara Peninsula)
Old gold in colour; citrus bouquet with that petrol note of aged Riesling; light-bodied, mature, just off-dry lime and grapefruit flavours with a honeyed note; well-balanced, with a long finish. Drinking well now but will age another 5+ years. (90)
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Lenny Pinot Grigio 2021 (Vinemount Ridge)
Almost water white; minerally, peach pit nose; light-bodied, crisply dry; green plum flavour. (88)
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Louie Pinot Gris 2019 (Vinemount Ridge)
Deep golden colour; toasty, peachy nose with oak spice; medium-to-full-bodied, dry, peach and lemon flavours; lovely mouthfeel, well-balanced, with a long, lingering finish. (90)
Sue-Ann Staff red wines
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Bank Barn Baco Noir 2021 (Ontario)
Deep purple in colour; intense, floral, blackberry nose with an ink note; medium-bodied, dry, juicy, herbal, blackberry flavour carried on lively acidity, (89)
Sue-Ann Staff Fancy Farm Girl Flamboyant Red 2021 (Niagara Peninsula))
100% Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby-purple in colour; cedary, toasty, black plum nose with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, firmly structured, plum and blackcurrant flavours.(89)
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery The Gritstone Cabernet 2020 (Vinemount Ridge)
Ruby-purple colour; cedary, blackcurrant bouquet with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, earthy, red and blackcurrant flavours with evident but ripe cocoa powder tannins. Firmly structured. (88 – 90)
The following Niagara College Teaching Winery wines I tasted have not been bottled yet.
Niagara College Dean’s List Viognier 2023
Bright straw in colour; honeysuckle and peach bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, peach and lemon flavours; beautifully balanced, with a long floral finish. (91)
Niagara College Dean’s List Merlot 2022
Dense purple in colour; lightly cedary, black plum bouquet with a floral top note and a lift of vanilla; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted plum and black fruit flavours; well-integrated oak, and firmly structured with ripe tannins. (90)
Niagara College Dean’s List Cabernet Franc 2022
Dense purple in colour; cedary, toasty, mulberry nose with oak spice and a licorice note; full-bodied, dry, savoury blackberry flavour carried on lively acidity. Great length. (91)
Niagara College Dean’s List Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Dense purple in colour; toasty, blackcurrant nose with vanilla oak spice; full-bodied, dry, blackcurrant and blackberry flavours; beautifully balanced, well-integrated oak and a lovely mouthfeel. (92)
Niagara College Dean’s List Cabernet Sauvignon Appassimento 2022 (grapes dried for six weeks)
Opaque purple colour; spicy, raisiny nose with vanilla oak and a floral top note; full-bodied, mouth-filling, blackberry and mulberry flavours; rich and complex, Port-like; well-balanced with evident but ripe tannins. (92)
Also tasted this week: Wending Home Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Malivoire Moira Rosé 2023.