Taste it Again / Lost & Found

Taste it Again : CREW Aged

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Category: Lost & Found / Taste it Again

(August 21, 2018) ... Time to look at some aged Ontario wines from a single producer: Colchester Ridge Estate Winery from the Lake Erie North Shore area.

2007 Cabernet Franc ... The Franc was somewhat of a let down, it's thin with dried cherry, some raspberry,  and a little peppery goodness; but it's the acidity that takes over a bit and then there is this sour component that ends up taking over the wine maybe a little more than it should. This is not a wine I would want to come back to.

2010 Meritage ... This red blend on the other hand seems to over-deliver, and I somehow remember winemaker / owner Bernie Gorski saying it might just be the best wine he has ever made, and I don't think he's far off with that assessment: smoked blackberry, dried cassis, and dusty black fruit throughout; the finish has a smoky linger and the acidity is still there to clean it all up with tannins that are still in existence and persistent, but don't get in the way.

Another easy win for one wine over another, here it's the Meritage by a good four lengths.

see original reviews: 

2007 Franc - none  /  2010 Meritage - right here

Taste it Again : Pondview 2012 Bella Terra Cabernet Franc - unfiltered

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Category: Lost & Found / Taste it Again

(August 17, 2018) ... This is a check-in to see just how well this wine is holding up ... 2012 was a great red vintage in Ontario and Cabernet Franc would have fair wonderfully well. The original review of this wine was glowing and now, six years later, was I justified in that review? Time to take a look:

The nose is loaded with  blackberry, black cherry, smoky tobacco and some alcohol heat, maybe to be expected based on the vintage, but it's not a deal breaker ... the palate has spicy tobacco with good acidity, nice black cherry, blackberry, and cassis fruit and hints of white pepper kicking around giving it a long finish ... there is still plenty of life left in this bottle, so if you have any you can safely let it lie or pull one out now and give it a try.

see original review here