What I've Been Tasting - Ontario Jan 2026 - part 3
19 Jan 2026- Details
- Category: What I'm Tasting
Scoring is out of 5 stars
The "+" sign represents a wine that has something extra about it,
but not enough to send it to the next level
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Here are some wines I found on my database from 2025; all wines can be purchased at the venue as indicated, some wines are unfortunately sold out but I included them anyway, in case you can find, or can put your hands on, a bottle somewhere. All wines below are from Ontario.
Creekside 2020 Shiraz ($15.95 - #66654)
Light, quaffable and easy with notes of sour cherry, raspberry and white pepper - this is a nice version of Shiraz that shows that in certain places it does well in Ontario. (*** ½+)
Flat Rock Cellars 2020 Hexa - Pinot Noir ($69.95 - #47949) 
Flat Rock's highest end Pinot only from those best of years ... it's ballsy and bruising with a big plush and rich mouthfeel, but still retains Pinot character like earthiness, sour cherry, wild strawberry with also drifts occasionally into the dark fruit and spicy realm. Time is required on this one, but it will not disappoint. (****+)
Henry of Pelham 2023 Cabernet-Merlot ($16.95 - #504241)
Smooth and easy drinking, it's fruity core proves to be somewhat basic with black cherry and blackberry dominating. (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2023 Smith and Smith - Gamay ($21.95 - #19903)
Love me some silky smooth Gamay and this one delivers with notes of cherry, earthy and even a touch of smoke; it proves to be a little lean on the finish, but that takes little away from the overall enjoyment. (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2023 Chardonnay - Speck Family Reserve ($34.95 - #616466)
Lighter than expected with touches of vanilla and green apple plus nice acidity for balance. (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2023 The Lost Boys Baco Noir - Bin 106 ($39.95 - #13421)
Henry pulls Baco off once again: spicy and black fruited, but this one shows a leaner side to the grape - although it is still mighty tasty, silky even. (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2024 Family Tree Sauvignon Blanc - The Soldier's Wife ($17.95 - #25649)
Tropical fruit rules the roost here - and that makes this wine really a pleasant endeavour for the palate. (*** ½)
Henry of Pelham 2024 The Shadow Rock - Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #38154)
There is a nice bit of lemon peel and pith in the middle of this wine; it is even layered with grapefruit on the finish. (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2025 Family Tree Sauvignon Blanc - The Soldier's Wife ($17.95 - #25649)
Lots of citrus notes from the pith to the pulp. Nice long finish. (*** ½+)
Henry of Pelham 2025 Pinot Grigio ($16.95 - #250217)
Basic citrus and sour apple notes - pleasant. (*** ½)
Henry of Pelham 2023 The Painted Wagon - Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #268391)
Cherry, strawberry and earthy; this is a basic but tasty version of Pinot Noir with good acidity. (*** ½+)
Niagara College 2020 Malbec ($22.95 - winery)
Nice earthy, mocha, and spice with hints of blueberry fruit dipping in and out on the palate; nice length on the finish. (*** ½+)
Niagara College 2019 Fortified Cabernet Sauvignon ($44.95 - winery)
Good acidity, black cherry, chocolate/mocha, blackberry and has a really lovely length. Too bad this style seems to be disappearing in Ontario. (****+)
Pillitteri 2020 Caretto Cabernet Franc ($30.00 - winery)
Drinkable and approachable, the fruit is really good plus notes of tobacco sit well on a black cherry finish. (****+)
Pillitteri 2020 Exclamation Reserve Merlot ($68.00 - winery)
The fruit on this Merlot is quite good, primarily raspberry. Adding in rhubarb, chocolate and spice. But where this wine misses the mark is the finish. Worth looking at again in a few years. (*** ½)
Ravine Vineyard 2021 Cabernet Franc ($46.00 - winery)
"This super balanced Cab Franc comes from a super crummy vintage, and yet it shows that when handled well, good wines could be made, starting with the acidity - which is what brings this wine into balance. There is also the ripe dark fruit, plus the hints of tobacco and spice. In speaking with winemaker, Lydia Tomek, lots of work went into the making of this wine. both in the vineyard and in the winery. It is vintages like this that winemakers tricks can help augment what even good vineyard work can not offset. (****+)
Rockway 2022 Riesling ($22.00 - winery)
With notes of green apple, nectarine and peach on the mid-palate and some nice minerality and subtle sweet notes on the finish. (*** ½)
Rosewood 2021 Chardonnay (40.00 - winery)
2021 is one of those vintages Ontario wineries would like to forget, this Chardonnay, from said vintage is one to remember. Nice creamy notes with a touch of smoky-vanilla, apple cobbler and peach. Now a wine for the cellar and a bit over-priced, but a nice wine none-the-less. (*** ½+)
Sprucewood Shores 2020 Hawk's Flight Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #38162)
There's a good fruit forward nature to this wine; and some smoky and coffee notes on the back end. Simple but tasty. (*** ½)
Stanners Vineyard 2021 Pinot Noir ($39.80 - winery)
A nice and easy drinking Pinot that will not tax the senses, but you're gonna love it for its purity. Cran-cherry leads the charge and it stays in the mouth and linger on the finish long after the last swallow. (*** ½)
Stratus 2020 Chardonnay (sold out)
Honeycomb, peach and apricot with layers of tropical fruit, gentle butterscotch and spice. Nice mouthfeel and richness all coming together with a medium length finish. (****)
Stratus 2019 Red ($49.00 - winery)
Kitchen sink / Dog's Dinner, call it what you will but Startus uses a lot of different grapes to make this blend: Cabernet Franc (31), Merlot (21), Cabernet Sauvignon (20), Petit Verdot (19), Tannat (4), Syrah (3), Malbec (2). There's a nice concentration of fruit and spice with hints of tobacco and herbal notes, peppered red berries and good tannins with acid bite. From a rather weak vintage, this shows what the art of blending can truly do. Nice balance. (****+)
The Grange of Prince Edward 2023 Estate Vineyard Series Pinot Gris ($25.00 - winery)
Juicy with pineapple sweetness up front, then some peach and apple swing in, layering in on the juicy-sweetness; but then like Spiderman, the acidity appears to save the day - really pretty and enjoyable. (*** ½+)
Trius 2020 Distinction Gamay (sold out)
Cherry, cranberry, raspberry - lots of red fruit with hints of white pepper. (*** ½+)
Two Sisters Vineyards 2022 Sauvignon Blanc ($37.80 - winery)
Bright, clean, fresh with a nice acidity leaving the palate refreshed: grapefruit, lemon with a little gooseberry - just lovely. (*** ½+)
Villa Romana Estate Winery 2023 Pinotino - Pinot Gris ($24.95 - winery)
Crisp and clean with a nice fruit core. This is a gentle version of Gris, showing subtle fruitiness; not a showstopper but with definite fruity notes it's certainly enjoyable. (*** ½)
Volta Estate 2023 Pinot Noir ($46.95 - winery) 
Very impressive for an inaugural release. This one shows earthy, sour cherry and cranberry notes with a pleasant minerality and even a bit of juiciness. It's pleasant and easy-drinking with a good tannin structure to carry the whole thing to a medium length finish. Solid Pinot. (****)
Wending Home 2020 Chardonnay ($34.95 - sold out)
Here we see the definite influence of oak: smoky, spicy and oaky with fruit residing in the background: a peach and apple cobbler mix. (*** ½)
Wending Home 2020 Cabernet Franc ($44.95 - winery)
Nailed the acidity on this wine, making it something worth having a meal with. There is also a simplicity factor here: tobacco, black cherry and tannin grit. (*** ½)
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