Canada Tasting

Canada Tasting
Vivat Bacchus
7 Nov 2009
Led by Sonia Khurana

Although Canada has been making wine for over 200 years, production of modern Canadian wine from vitis vinifera varieties only dates back to 1974 when the first vines were planted at what would become Inniskillin, which is now one of the most famous wineries in Canada. Prior to this Canadian wines were in a terrible state. Whilst prohibition in the US is well known, it was news to me that similar laws were introduced in Canada. The last of these laws was not repealed until 1927 although. having said this, there were plenty of individual exemptions from the rule. Inniskillin's winery licence, granted in 1975, was the first issued since 1929 and the first granted in the region since the repeal of prohibition.

From this unpromising start, Canadian wines have come on apace. However, production is still tiny by the standards of the rest of the world at less than 0.5% of the world's wine production.

The Wines
1. Mission Hill 2006 Reserve Chardonnay
19.95 CAD
Medium-intensity ripe banana on the nose with clear American oak influence. Full bodied on the palate with no noticeable oak tannin. Good acid. Has aging potential. Good length. I like this. A good start.

2. Stratus White 2006
From Niagara. 44.20 CAD.
This wine is an unholy alliance of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Semillon and Viognier. The viognier and gewurtz are noticeable on the nose. Full bodied, oily and mouthfilling. Massive intensity of flavour. Great length. Good acid. Fabulous but weird. Must have been made by an evil genius.

3.Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2008
Another one from Niagara. 16.95 CAD
This is one of the best new world rieslings I've had. It has the petrol nose which I normally don't find on New World rieslings. A little residual sugar. Medium light body, high acid and strong mineralic notes. Lime on the palate. Well balanced.

4. Jackson Triggs Gewurtztraminer 2007
18.75 CAD
Rose petal, but no lychee on the nose. Rosewater on the palate. Mouthfilling, soft and silky. Good length.

5. Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2006
70 CAD
Very pale. Oak, jammy red fruit and savoury notes. Light bodied and acidic. Low tannin. On the palate the red fruit is the most noticeable element. Rather insubstantial for a £40 bottle of wine but not bad.

6. Sandhill Merlot 2006
Okanagan Valley, BC. 20 CAD
Leafy, herbaceous and with red fruit. An aroma that reminds me of grilled padron peppers. American Oak? Banana, ripe jammy fruit and vanilla. Smooth, round, medium-low tannin. Intense and concentrated palate. Very good, and a total bargain.

7. Henry of Pelham Reserve Baco Noir 2005
24.95 CAD. Baco Noir is a hybrid grape variety.
Strawberry and black pepper. Full bodied, medium high tannin. Jammy red fruit, acidic finish. Good length. Opens up nicely.

8. Hildebrand Trius Red
21.95 CAD. A Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot blend from Niagara
Deep purple. Brambly. Medium-high tannin. Quite intense black fruit on the palate. Good length, good acidity, well balanced. Very good.

9. Burrowing Owl Syrah 2005
48.95 CAD. Okanagan Valley, BC.
This wine smells like a New World wine but tastes like an Old World wine. Well structured. Concentrated flavour, violets and black fruit. Well balanced. Excellent.

10. Henry of Pelham 2007 Riesling Icewine
49.95 CAD.
Many people believe that Icewine is the only good wine which Canada makes, something which was definitely proved wrong tonight. However, we did finish with an icewine. Cooked apple and apricot. The aromas have come from passerillage, not noble rot. Unctuous, High Acid. Well balanced. Sweet but not cloying.