Magnetic Hill white wines

Monday, April 6^th: Tasted the following wines from Magnetic Hill Winery in Moncton, New Brunswick. They have a second label, Loose Wire.

Magnetic Hill Terroir Generator Osceola Brut Sparkling 2022
(Osceola Muscat, also known as Muscat de Swenson, is a versatile and hardy grape variety bred by renowned grape breeder Elmer Swenson. Developed from a mix of French and North American grape species, this variety thrives in cooler climates. Named after Osceola, Wisconsin, where it was bred.)
Golden colour, light mousse; aromatic, lavender bouquet; light-bodied, dry, peachy-apricot flavour with a touch of bitterness on the finish; lively acidity masks the touch of sweetness in the wine. (89)

Loose Wire St. Pepin 2024 Cellar Experiment
(This a hybrid crossing by Elmer Swenson of Seyval Blanc with Rosette)
Pale straw in colour; lightly floral, grapefruit best bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, unctuously soft mouth feel; nicely balanced, good length, with grapefruit and lime flavours, finishing with a touch of bitterness (over-pressing?). (88)

Loose Wire Triptych (Cellar Experiment)
Medium straw colour; lightly floral nose reminiscent of starfruit; medium-bodied, dry, soft mouth feel; grapefruit and lime flavours. (88)

Magnetic Hill red wines

Loose Wire Expressimento (appassimento style – dried berries)
A blend of the following hybrids: Marquette, Petite Pearl and Sabrevois. Dense purple in colour; black cherry nose; full-bodied, just off-dry, blackcurrant and black plum flavours carried on lively acidity. (88)

Magnetic Hill Terroir Generator Veritage 2024
(Minnesota hybrid – “the largest single vineyard of this hybrid in the world”)
Dense purple in colour; spicy, mulberry nose with a vanilla oak note; medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively, blackberry and blueberry flavours with a firm finish of ripe tannins. (88)

Magnetic Hill Reserve Red 2020
A blend of Marquette, Petite Pearl, Sabrevois and St. Croix. Dense purple in colour; black plum and blackberry nose with a floral top note and oak spice; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted plum and blackberry flavours; well balanced and firmly structured. (88)

Dinner: Beef risotto with a bottle of Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere/Syrah 2023 from Chile.

Tuesday, April 7^th: Tasted eight wines from Holland Marsh Wineries.

Holland Marsh Wineries La Lumiere Sparkling Riesling 2023 (Charmat method)
Pale straw in colour with a lime tint, gentle mousse; minerally, grapefruit nose; light-bodied, crisply dry, lime and lemon flavours. (88)

Holland Marsh Wineries Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Pale straw; grassy, green plum bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, salty, green pepper flavour. (86)

Holland Marsh Wineries Chardonnay 2020
White gold in colour; toasty, apple with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, spicy apple flavour with a thread of minerality. Apple and green pineapple flavours.Well-integrated oak. (89)

Holland Marsh Wineries Fleurs des Marais 2020
A unique blend of Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. Light straw colour; aromatic, floral, white peach bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, peach and melon flavours carried on lively acidity. Good length. (89)

Holland Marsh Wineries Ephemere Rose 2022
Tawny pink in colour; cranberry and sour cherry nose, aromas replicated on the palate; fresh and lively mouth-feel. Good length. (89)

Holland Marsh Wineries Melange Red
A blend of 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016 Merlot and 2012 Baco Noir. Ambering ruby colour; toasty, peppery, black plum bouquet with oak notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, plum and prune flavours finishing firmly on ripe tannins and a note of leather. (87)

Holland Marsh Wineries Cabernet Merlot 2019
Mature ruby in colour; with a tawny rim; cedary, tobacco nose of dried fruits with a vanilla oak note; medium-bodied, dry, savoury plum and dried blackcurrant flavours; finishing firmly with ripe tannins. (88)

Holland Marsh Wineries Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
20 months in American and Hungarian oak. Deep ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, tasty, dried blackcurrant and dried blueberry flavours; firmly structured, well-integrated oak and a firm finish on ripe tannins. (90)

Wednesday, April 8^th: Dinner at Bolete restaurant in St. Catharines. Deborah had pasta and I had fish. The wine: MW Cellars Pinot Blanc 2023.

Thursday, April 9^th: Lunch with John Nadeau at Twisted Pig. Ordered pizza. John ordered a bottle of Southbrook Triomphe Merlot 2021.

Friday, April 10^th: Tasted through the Cuvee from the Heart wines produced in a collaborative effort by Niagara Winemakers. These wines will be auctioned on line, April 16^th–22^nd. Sign up at www.grapesforhumanity.com/fine-wine-auction.

Cuvee from the Heart – 2026 Winemakers whose faces grace the labels:

Cabernet Sauvignon 2024: Casey Hogan, Southbrook; Dean Stoyka, Stratus; Mark Williamson, Icellars.

Syrah 2024: Rob Power, Creekside; Richie Roberts, Fielding Estate Winery; Chris Robinson, Kacaba Vineyards.

Prince Edward County Chardonnay 2024: Andre Gagne, Last House; Tim Kuepfer, Broken Stone Winery; Mackenzie Brisbois, Trail Estate Winery.

Skin Fermented White 2024: Allison Findlay, Niagara College Niagara College Winery and Viticulture, Class of 2026.

Riesling 2025: Emma Garner, 30 Bench; Charles Baker, Charles Baker Wines; Gabriel Demarco, Cave Spring.

Cabernet Franc 2024: Adam Pearce, Two Sisters; Brian Schmidt, Vineland Estates; Nicholas Gizuk, Inniskillin.

Gamay Noir 2024: Elissa Mazzi, Malivoire; Jessica Solanki, Liebling; Jeff Moote, Divergence.

Niagara Chardonnay 2024: Marlize Beyers, The Long Way Home; Phillip Brown, Domaine Le Clos Jordanne; Thomas Bachelder, Bachelder.

Sparkling Riesling 2025: Marc Pistor Brock U CCOVI Students Frederik Rivard, Reid Ball, Holly Eaton and Brayden Lafleur; Mitchell McCurdy, Marynissen.

Red Blend NV: Jessica Otting, Tawse; Ann Sperling, Lailey; Sue-Anne Staff, Sue-Ann Staff Winery.

Niagara Pinot Noir 2024: Ilya Senchuk, Leaning Post; Thomas Bachelder, Bachelder; Matt Smith, Cloudsley.

Prince Edward County Pinot Noir 2024: Frederic Picard, Huff Estates; Chris Thompson, Volta; Keith Tyers, Closson Chase.

Saturday, April 11^th: Our friends Steven and Dale, who have recently moved from Etobicoke to Niagara-on-theLake , came to the house before dinner at Twisted Pig. I opened a bottle of Hans Baer Sauvignon Blanc Trocken 2024 from Rheinhessen. I had deep-fried calamari and pizza with MW Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2024.