27
Oct
2017
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
I had no idea that Anthony von Mandl now has four properties in British Columbia; in fact at the time of this tasting (mid-August, 2017) the Mission Hill owner was the largest landowner in Canada and cornering the market on terroir and high priced wines in B.C. … but saying that is not meant to belittle the fact that he has also amassed a very impressive team of winemakers who are making some very impressive wines on some very interesting site (33 in total). Is price a factor? Only the consumer can decide that, but there is no denying the pedigree of these wines or the passion behind their making.
Two Guys Talking Wine spoke with the foursome, so I won’t bore you with repetition (you can instead listen here).
Let’s look at some of those wines that impressed:
Martin’s Lane
winemaker: Shane Munn (born: New Zealand)
2014 Nararmata Ranch Riesling (****)
2014 Naramata Ranch Pinot Noir (*** ½+)
Mission Hill
winemaker: Darryl Brooker (born: Australia)
2015 Perpetua Chardonnay (*** ½+)
CedarCreek
winemaker: Taylor Whelan (born: British Columbia, Canada)
2013 “The Last Word” (****+)
2016 Haynes Creek Platinum Viognier (****)
CheckMate
winemaker: Philip McGahan (born: Australia)
2013 Black Rook Merlot (****+)
2014 Attack Chardonnay (****+)
2014 Little Pawn Chardonnay (****)
2014 Knight’s Challenge Chardonnay (*** ½+)
Click on the name of the wine to link to the full review.
22
Sep
2017
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Not all reviews make the newsletter, there's just so many good wines and not enough space ... so every three to six months (or so) I clear out the backlog of wines ... here are the reviews that were written but until this time have never seen the light of day. (click on the wine name to link to the full review)
Big Head NV Big Bang Sparkling, Blanc de Noirs 
Big Head 2015 Chardonnay, Old Vines
Big Head 2015 Riesling, Dry
Cattail Creek 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Small Lot Series
Creekside 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Backyard Block
Creekside 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Backyard Bubbly
Fielding NV Brut, Traditional Method
Fielding 2013 Chardonnay, Estate Bottled
Fielding 2015 Gamay
Henry of Pelham NV Cuvee Catharine Rosé Brut
Huff Estate 2016 Rosé
Inniskillin 2014 Sparkling Vidal Icewine
Inniskillin 2015 Merlot / Petit Verdot, “Discovery Series”
Inniskillin 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé
Kacaba 2016 Effervescence 
KEW Vineyard 2014 Riesling, Old Vines
Malivoire 2016 Musque Spritz
Malivorie 2016 Rosé, Moira
Niagara College 2015 Cabernet-Merlot, Balance
Niagara College 2015 Gamay Noir, Balance
Niagara College 2015 Rosé
Niagara College 2016 Gewurztraminer
Pelee Island 2016 Lola Blush
Peninsula Ridge 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Wismer Vineyard 
Pondview 2016 Rosé
Pondview 2016 Vidal, Lot 74 Sparkling Brut
Redstone 2015 Viognier
Rockway Vineyards 2013 Vidal Icewine
Rockway Vineyards 2013 Vidal, Late Harvest
Rockway Vineyards 2014 Rosé Spritz, “Patio 9”
Rockway Vineyards 2015 White
Southbrook 2014 Connect White
Stratus 2016 Rosé
Sue-Ann Staff 2015 Vidal, Lavelle’s 
Two Sisters 2016 Sauvignon Blanc