Reviews

Calamus Estate 2005 Calamus Red
Here’s another great red from the now award winning Calamus Estate (they picked up two Golds at the recent Ontario Wine Awards); not as bold and powerful as their Meritage, but this is one packs enough stuffing to be considered a fabulous wine indeed. 62% Cabernet Franc and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon (all the Merlot when into the Meritage blend), this red has dark fruit written all over it: cassis, black raspberry, sour cherry along with some cinnamon and oak notes. The palate seems smooth at first with blackberry, black cherry and sweet oak; with vanilla and cherry rounding off the finish. After two hours of being open, chocolate joins the vanilla and cherry on the back nine (so to speak) making sure you go home happy – it’s there and it’s tasty. There’s also enough tannin and acidity to consider lying this one down in the cellar a few years. Good for pizza and pasta nights, as well as burgers and steak … this is truly a multi-purpose red that’s delicious and wonderfully cork-free so you can crack it anywhere. Act now because as of June 1st, 2007 this wine goes up to $15.00 … don’t miss out on this steal of a deal.
2005
Red
Red Blend
0
$15
Canada
Ontario
Niagara Peninsula
at the winery
http://www.calamuswines.com
2012-02-09
(Re-Tasted January 2011) ... It's nice to see that Ontario wines can stand the test of time, granted it is only 5 years for this particular wine but it has come through quite nicely, with little to no degradation in quality. If you look back at my original review you'll see this wine went for the relatively inexpensive (read: cheap as chips) price of $13.00 a bottle. Thirteen dollars a bottle for a wine of this quality? Seems almost surreal. Reminds me of the old joke about the worm looking out the flying bird's rear end and him saying, "you wouldn't shit me now would you?" But seriously, this was some delicious wine for the price, and now just a hair over 6 years from vintage date it proves itself again. The nose is white pepper, red berries (mainly strawberries) with spiced blueberries and also some wood spice. The palate is also intriguing with dark fruit, spice, good acidity and dusty tannins, lively but dry ... this bottle still has a few years left in it, say another 3 or 4 just to be on the safe side. That price tag is looking more and more like a steal the older, and finer, this wine gets.

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