A Canadian Red I say can beat a first growth Bordeaux

I've talked about the need for Canadian wineries to be innovative so that they can compete in niche markets with value added products. On a recent trip to Niagara we stopped by Creekside winery to do some tastings. I picked up 2 bottles of 2004 Lost Barrel Red.
In 2000 two winemakers, had an anomalous idea. What kind of wine could be made from saving the "tippings" ( left over solids from grapes and yeast) left in the best barrels of red wine. They got a barrel and made it happen. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the barrel got neglected for eight months. When they found it, the resulting wine proved to be rich and complex. The experiment was repeated the following year under tight control and the result was the same. Thus was born Lost Barrel Red.
I found a slight iodine like trace on the nose for a moment but then notes of dark fruit on damp earth come to bear.
The palate explodes with dark fruit and some oak. There is some fine tannin rising on the mid palate but it decends towards the back. The dark fruit stays right through right to the end with a silky smooth finish.
The intensity of the fruit gives a power to the wine. It reminded me of my Magnotta Millenium which has matured and you can taste the result of the abated tannins.
The wine is made from six different varietals Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec
I've never tasted a first growth Bordeaux red but I have tasted a red that beat it in a blind tasting (Magnotta Millenium).
It's this that came to mind after having a bottle of Lost Barrel. I would give this the edge over Millenium especially since I am a sensitive taster. This is the best Canadian Red I've ever had.
Click the title of this entry if you want to check it out
Rating 93

Del-Gatto Estates Bella Vigne Prince Edward County

A new video for Del-Gatto Estates Bella Vigne in Prince Edward County is now available for viewing on either Wine Dining Channel or Wine Dining Vlog. The limks are across from this entry. (you may have to scroll down a bit)

Creekside Estate Winery Niagara Peninsula

A new video for Creekside Estate winery is available for viewing on the Wine Dining Vlog or Wine Dining Channel. The links are available on the other side of this entry.

Whats the problem

I have been reading about the controversy of the Shake off the City campaign by the Niagara Parks Commission. A lot of people in Toronto are offended by how the city is being portrayed. All I can say is so what. Toronto has had campaigns of its own extolling the virtues of the city and all the things that were portrayed in the Niagara commercials still existed. Any area of urban concentration has imperfections.
People still visit Toronto. The ads were engaged in a term called puffery. The wikipedia defines it "as a legal term to promotional statements and claims that express subjective rather than objective views, such that no reasonable person would take them literally.[1] Puffery serves to "puff up" an exaggerated image of what is being described."
The ads were portraying things that conjure up an image of wanting to get away and of where you can get away to. This is done all the time in advertising. They are trying to attract tourist to their region. People aren't going to boycott Toronto because of these ads. If anyone makes a judgment of Toronto strictly based on these ads you would not want them to visit any ways.
Having been to Niagara many times I could say that the ads are false, for example the two people sipping wine at a picnic table in the vineyard in the wine 101 ad. The reality is that you would have a very tough time finding a winery that would let you do that if you were just visiting off the street. I know however that this is just an exageration to emphasize a feeling romanticism that is associated with this kind of activity. It is shown to entice someone that is into that kind of thing to visit the wineries of the region. People aren't going to be disappointed when they find they can't do this in most vineyards. Reasonable people would know this.
Click the title of this entry to view the ads. Lighten up, enjoy them and if you are so inclined visit the Niagara wineries.

Terroir La Cachette Restaurant Strewn Winery Niagara on the Lake

Another video that focuses on the restaurant. We came back a second time and had the same great experience. A great place to have lunch.
Click the title of this entry for more info.

Some thoughts on the County

On a recent trip to Prince Edward County I picked up a winery route map and found that there are now a little over 30 winerties open. The first thing that struck me was that, is there going to be enough demand for all this wine that is going to be produced? When I first read about the County in 1998 I wanted to visit to get a feel for the area. There were no wineries open at that time but after visiting thought that this would be a good area for maybe 10 to 15 wineries with a lot of vineyards growing grapes only to supply them.
In 2005 I thought this was coming to fruition. It seems like if you own a vineyard then you must also have a winery from which you can vinfy the terroir of your location. Looking around in the County I also get this impression (irrational as it is inspite of the facts to the opposite) that there doesn't appear to be enough vineyards planted to supply them. The winery route map indicates there could be around 37 wineries when the dust settles. In my opinion this will end the rapid growth phase of the County and a period of maturation will begin with time passing and grape crops from the area getting higher in quality from plants that have been in the ground for a while. Some wineries will entrench their position and become  staples of the area while others will  fall by the wayside for reason's varying from circumstances beyond their control like weather or as simple as because they didn't make a good enough product.
In any account, I can't have anything but respect for anyone who has the guts to open a winery because of the high risk involved.

We took the Glenora ferry and then the Loyalist Parkway to Kingston. The first half of the drive was rather scenic but once you come up to the power plant the scenic description ends. There is a maximum security prison enroute (Millhaven) which did not make it conducive to a leisurly drive for me. I am not saying don't drive this route, just be aware whats on it.

We had another good lunch at the County Cider Company open air patio and I made a flip cam video of the surroundings. The menu is limited to stone oven pizza and other similar items but they make it well and goes with the great cider they produce along with the best view in the County.  Click the title of this entry for more info

New Winery videos

New videos are up for Rosewood Estates Winery & Meadery and Jackson-Triggs Winery in the Niagara Peninsula. Thney can be found on Wine Dining Channel or the Wine Dining Vlog. The links are on the other side of this entry. Just scroll down slightly.