Wine Appreciation Through Education

Magnotta Wines of Vaughan Ontario has adopted the slogan "Affordable Excellence." With all Magnotta wines, the goal of excellence always seems to come first. It's their marketing program that helps them achieve the affordable moniker. Magnotta wines are not available at Government liquor outlets, (with the exception of some icewines) and, as a result, Magnotta can set their own prices without LCBO mark-ups.

I've visited several of the Ontario outlets and each is worth a visit. The flagship store and head office in Vaughan is well worth a trip. The showroom is magnificent. The vast array of wines is interspersed with interesting wine knick-knacks and art -- a passion of winery owners Gabe and Rossana Magnotta.

The wines listed below were tried on a number of occasions so this summery only loosely fits the "winery visit" model. But you certainly should visit any of the winery outlets where you'll be invited to sample before buying.

Pinot Gris-Chardonnay VQA 2000 - $10.95

A delicate almond, yellow-gold colour, this distinctive wine exhibits subtle aromas of pine nuts, toast, dried pineapple, and vanilla. The palate is vibrant, with a slight spritz, showing a racy acidity, with gentle oak and citrus on the back palate. Medium to full bodied with medium length, it's a "light and lively" summer weight wine that will work well with lighter foods or on its own while relaxing on the deck.

Baco Noir VQA 2000 - $8.95

A novel deep garnet colour with an almost grape-juice purple highlight. Luscious aromas of oak, black berries, black cherries and vanilla with nuances of tar, perfume and pepper, Quite smooth with subdued berry flavours and oak, and classic Baco bite. Medium-full bodied, quite firm on the palate, long with refreshing acidity throughout. Though Baco doesn't age that well, another year in the cellar would be worth considering. A very nice, full-flavoured "vin du porch."

Gewürztraminer Limited Edition Icewine VQA 1999 - $44.95

Deep coppery honey-gold colour. Savoury honey, baked apple, poached pear aromas. Full but at the same time delicate. Luscious syrupy palate with intense, classic Icewine flavours and just the right amount of sugar perfectly balanced by a comfortable acidity. Quite full bodied, with very good length. Mouthfilling but delicately flavoured and not at all cloying. Nicely balanced throughout. Very classy.

Pinot Gris VQA 2000 - $8.85

Lively pale honey-gold colour. Luscious nose with floral, nutty nuances and a touch of grapefruit peel and clementine oranges. Nose suggests sweetness that doesn't appear on the palate. Very lively on the tongue with tree fruits, a slight smokiness and nice acidic tang. Very good body and length with a slight tartness on the close. Nicely balanced, almost chewy with lots of character. My sample had a lot of gravel clinging to the cork, but this wine was well worth the effort of decanting, especially at this price.