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Wine Appreciation Through Education |
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Wine Appreciation Through Education |
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1242 Irvine Rd. RR # 5, Niagara on the Lake. ONTARIO, Canada. L0S 1J0 |
| Stonechurch is a bit off the main wine route, but well worth seeking out. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and their tasting room/boutique is large and welcoming. There are some very good bargains on the shelves. |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Cabernet Franc 1998 - $18.95 Full garnet colour. Pepper and spice, nutmeg, dried fruits, smoke, and leather on the nose. Juicy palate though a tad watery. Almost imperceptible tannin. Medium bodied and a bit short. The tannins finally make themselves known at the end. |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve 1999 - $22.00 Light lemon-lime in colour. Cedar, baked lemon, slight vanilla, and a hint of oak. Quite tart, with oak on the back palate. Racy, almost searing. Almost full bodied, long and nippy. A bit closed so a little more ageing might be appropriate |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Merlot 2000 - $9.95 Medium garnet colour, quite brilliant. Rich spices, green peppers, vanilla, and molasses. Fairly light on the palate, it dances on the tongue. Fruity with a touch of sweetness. Good body and length, quite even. Un-serious, almost a rosé in personality, we dubbed it "Merlot Nouveau." Could do with a light chill. Fun, but don't expect it to please the merlot lovers in the crowd. (This was released for a local jazz festival.) |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Morio Muscat 1999 - $11.95 Soft lemon-gold colour. Mainly grape aromas and perfume with nuances of dried fruits, vanilla, incense, and juniper berries. A bit light on flavour but with nice lemony tartness. Fairly long. |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 - $27.95 Inky black cherry colour. Aromas of raw dough, saddle leather, oil, fresh grapes, and cedar. Soft tannins with some fruit on the palate. Medium body, long but acidic. Tannins emerge on the close. OK, but essentially bland and bit watery. |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Riesling VQA 1998 - $9.45 Greeny-straw colour, very bright. Aromas include honey, baked apples, slight petrol, spices, and cider. Forward acidity, fairly fruity with a touch of sugar. Medium bodied and very long. A tad awkward right now but good for the price. |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Rosé Megan NV - $8.95 Deep candy-apple red. A mix of riesling and merlot, you can smell the merlot, along with apples, berries, and a touch of cherry. Palate shows spicy acidity and fruit flavours, dominated by raspberry. Good body and length, with a nice even finish. A good time wine that will serve the drinker well on the back deck. |
| Stonechurch
Vineyards Vidal 1999 - $7.95 Brilliant pale lemon-gold. An oak-like impression on top, with aromas of talc, light citrus fruits, and over-ripe apples. Very spicy with firm acidity on the palate. Very dry, medium bodied and fairly long, with a lively tartness all the way through. Reminds of soave or verdicchio, but with more character. Really develops on the nose. Good for cream sauces or barbecue. An excellent bargain. |
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Tasting Date: March 4, 2002 |