Tawse Winery 2009 Sketches of Niagara Riesling - 90pts

Tawse Winery 2009 Sketches of Niagara Riesling (Niagara Peninsula) Ontario

Availability: Limited. Look for 2010 release
Cost: $17.95
Alcohol: 10%
Date Tasted: February 29th, 2012

Tasting Notes: A beautifully simplistic and exquisitely well balanced Riesling that shows like a fine, off-dry German export with a nice bite of acid to off-set the opulent lemon/lime and asian pear sweetness. Has great appeal for spicy food pairing. Drink now-2014.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Tawse Winery 2008 Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc - 91+pts

Tawse Winery 2008 Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc (Lincoln Lakeshore) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: Direct from winery
Cost: $30
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 325 cases
Date Tasted: August 8th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Coffee grounds, tobacco, caramel, juicy plum, barnyard funk and earthy mineral aromas greet you on the nose of this exquisite wine. A prime example of austere and sophisticated Niagara Cabernet Franc with an ultra-smooth, dry palate full of concentrated dark berry fruit flavours and structured, round tannins.

Balanced and complex with a long finish, this dark ruby coloured wine is drinking beautifully now and has the potential for further development in the bottle. A fine pairing for grilled and roasted meats. Drink 2010-2017.
 - Liam Carrier and Hugh Carter

Tawse Winery 2009 Sketches of Niagara Rosé - 86pts

Tawse Winery 2009 Sketches of Niagara Rosé (Niagara Peninsula) Ontario

Availability: Direct from winery. LCBO stores
Cost: $14.95
Alcohol: 12%
Date Tasted: August 7th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Light salmon in colour with a subtle nose of  juicy strawberry, ripe raspberry, tart cranberry and mineral aromas. The light bodied, dry palate offers berry and spice notes with refreshing tartness from cranberry and rhubarb flavours and acidity. The tartness lingers on past the moderate finish making this wine perfect as sunny-deck companion or as a palate cleanser between BBQ courses (or seconds).

A blend of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, each produced separately and then blended, this Rosé should be enjoyed young to retain its youthful zing. Drink now.
 - Liam Carrier

Tawse Winery 2007 Pinot Noir - 89pts

Tawse Winery 2007 Pinot Noir (Beamsville Bench) Niagara Peninsula - Ontario

Availability: LCBO vintages stores
Cost: $25-30
Alcohol: 13%
Production: 890 cases
Date Tasted: August 1st, 2010

Tasting Notes: Tawse Winery makes a number of excellent vineyard specific Pinot Noirs (and other varieties) each telling a story of where they come from. This offering is a more subdued blend using fruit from multiple locations. The result is a Pinot that may lack identify of place but has no shortage of character.

The nose offers ripe fruit aromas of cherry, raspberry and plum with vanilla and earthy notes. An echo of sweetness on the otherwise dry palate from the concentrated fruit flavours of dark cheery, raspberry and oak spice. Supportive but never overbearing tannins add structure while the dusty texture lingers with a very well balanced, moderate-plus finish. Drink now through 2014.
 - Liam Carrier

Tawse 2008 Chardonnay Musque - 87pts

Tawse 2008 Chardonnay Musque (Twenty Mile Bench) Ontario.

Decanted: 0 hrs

Cost: $22.00 (Direct from winery)

Tasting Notes: I beleive this vinatge may be sold out as I wasn't able to find it on the Tawse website. This was a lovely unoaked Chardonnay from an area of Canada that is built to grow the grape. The Nose had hints of green apple and grapefruit. the palate was citrus and honey with some minerality that continued into the finish. This Chard was crisp clean and fresh.

This went down very nice while reading Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers on the beach after shopping in Huntsville and a canoe ride around the lake. How much more Ontario can you get!! HC