your favorite Canadian wine and ice wine?

[photomontage]

Hi everyone,

After several years of stay in Canada, I am finally going back home.
(I will miss Montreal!)
My friends at home asked me to bring some good Canadian wine and ice wine.
But since I know nothing about wine, I need your help.

What is your favorite Canadian wine or ice wine?
Anything you want to recommend?
(The price doesn't matter, but I'd like something not too expensive.)

Thank you.

[Wineman]

Inniskillin Cab Franc Ice Wine is one of the best desert wines I have ever had, Canadian or otherwise.

[The Chemist]

Listen:

If you want to bring back an ice wine, you don't have to go for the generic Ontario stuff... the best ice wines in Canada are produced in our backyard (Cantons-de-l'Est). The Chapel Ste. Agnès Vineyard produces ice wine that is vastly superior to anything that I have had before. You can buy it at Jean Talon market and some SAQs. It's not cheap, but ice wine never is. Incidentally, I visited the vineyard and it's lovely. http://www.vindeglace.com/

The wines they produce are infinatly more complex than the efforts of Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs. They have won best in catagory at the international wine and spirits competitions for thier ice wines, as well.

As for red wines, my best suggestion is the Mike Weir 2006 Cab-Merlot... But be SURE to decant it for a long time. It's sure to improve a ton with some time in a cellar, but it's great to drink now (if you like tannins that is).

Sorry you have to leave Montreal,crazy city, isn't it?

[hungry_pangolin]

I truly hope that Inniskillin and J-T are not the extent of your icewine experience. J-T, especially, is not the bench mark of Ontario quality. With only slight exaggeration, it would be like passing judgement on California on the basis E&J Gallo's "hearty burgundy".

[The Chemist]

Nope, just two examples that people can relate to.

Althugh when you consider the price differance between these and the Chapel Ste. Agnès (not much) the comparison takes on more weight.

Seek it out and lemme know if you agree.

[ryan13]

I would not discredit all of Ontario ice wines. If you've ever had the chance to try anything from Royal De Maria or Reif Estates (much more affordable). Jackson-Triggs is one thing, but to put Inniskillin in the same category is a mistake. Its true they are both Vincor brands, but the Inniskillin icewine program is quite excellent. Their work with Gewurz and Cab Franc has garned them numerous awards (if that sort of thing gives credibility). But by simple comparison, I find the structure of these wines much more suiting to a dessert wine. The fruit character, the strong sweet backbone, and most importantly, a noticeable electric acidity that allows these wines to stand up to a dish.

[whiner]

Easily my favorite Canadian winery is Blue Mountain from BC but I haven't had one fo their wines in YEARS so I don't know if they are still good. But they did used to make a fine Pinot Noir as well as other varietals.

http://www.bluemountainwinery.com/ind...

[hungry_pangolin]

I haven't seen it recently, but the Cave Spring Barrel Fermented Reserve Chardonnay was outstanding. CS is one of the most reliable Ontario wineries across the the board. They also make an excellent Riesling icewine. I don't know why, but Vidal seems to be a more consistant varietal for icewine. (Perhaps someone here could explain the chemistry behind that.)

I haven't had it, but a friend of mine whose judgement I trust has raved about La Jordanne Pinot Noir.

[brendastarlet]

You definitely want to get Inniskillin for ice wine. It is the closest thing to an Austrian ice wine that I've had in North America. It's made in the wine region around Niagara on the Lake. http://www.inniskillin.com/en/

[ryan13]

Vidal is a consistantly dependent varietal for icewine due to its genetic background. As a French hybrid, its thick skin and loose cluster makes it fairly resistant to fungal diseases that plague the tight bunched vinifera (Riesling) which hang late into the season. Its the most popular choice for an icewine varietal for these reasons and also imparts naturally favourable stone-fruit and honey-like flavours that would complement a dessert wine. That being said, wineries like Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs count numerous vinifera into their icewine portfolio (Riesling, Gewurz, Cab Franc). There's also a Niagara winery that deals exclusively with Icewine production called Royal De Maria. I believe they're up to 27 different varietals, including a 2000 Chardonnay, which retails for a cool $250,000 per 375mL bottle...

Oh, and Le Clos Jordanne makes unbelievable Pinot Noir. They release three different labels: villages, single vineyard, and "Le Grand Clos". 2005 was a great vintage for Niagara, and all of the single vineyards shone through with, in my opinion, the first distinct characterization of true Niagara terroir. Its difficult to source Le Clos Pinot these days, but if you wait a while... 2007 was one of the best vintages in Ontario history. I've barrel sampled the '07 Le Clos pinots and we're in for a treat... They run a little pricey (the villages goes for $25, single vineyards run about $35 and "Le Grand Clos" carries a hefty $65 tag [CA]). Dollar for dollar, the single vineyard series is the best buy with my personal favourite coming from the "Claystone Terrace" vineyard

[zin1953]

The very best Canadian wine I ever had, sadly, no longer exists. It was the "Old Vines" Marechal Foch by Malivoire Winery in Ontario. Seriously.

Yes. Seriously.

The best wine I've had from Canada produced from V. vinifera was the Pinot Noir Reserve from Blue Mountain Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.

As far as ice wine is concerned, just about anything from Inniskillin (though my favorite is their Vidal, followed by the Riesling) or from Jackson-Triggs (ditto) should be wonderful.

Cheers,
Jason

[dinwiddie]

Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs are good, (excellent in fact) but easy to get here in the states. I have a fondness for Cave Springs and have also found Stratus and Thirty Bench to be very enjoyable.

[zin1953]

Haven't had the first two, but Thirty Bench is/can be wonderful . . .

[dinwiddie]

We had a 1998 Thirty Bench Riesling Icewine last week that was heavenly. Made me wish I had more than just one left in the cellar.

[reiflame]

Cave Springs is my personal favorite after living in WNY for most of my life. Their Rieslings are great, and they used to be a wonderful bargain at around $12 USD a bottle.

I can finally get them now in the DC area at a few places but they're up around $18.

[Brad Ballinger]

Inniskillin Vidal Ice Wine for me, too. Not that I come across a lot of Canadian table wine or dessert wine. And I live in Minnesota. Perhaps on that next trip to Winnipeg...

[anewton]

I live in BC, and I am not certain how easy it is to buy BC wines in Quebec. I do not drink ice wine; it is amazing how much of Canada's ice wine is destined for export.
My favourite BC wines are as follows:

Black Hills winery--Nota Bene (bordeaux-style blend)

Golden Mile Cellars--Black Arts Syrah; Black Arts Chardonnay

Jackson Triggs (BC)--Sunrock Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (2004 is a great vintage).

Tantalus Riesling

Cedar Creek-Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir and Meritage

Quail's Gate--Family Reserve Pinot Noir

Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve wines (Okanagan)

I'm not familiar with Ontario wines as their distribution is so poor in BC. Hopefully BC wines are available in Quebec.

I did enjoy a riesling from Cave Springs in Ontario, though. Inniskillin apparently makes good riesling in Ontario, although I have not been impressed with Inniskillin's efforts in BC (not at all, actually).

[PaulV]

I live in Ottawa and the SAQ stores across the river in Gatineau have a pretty poor selection of BC and Ontario wines. I don't expect it would be much better in Montreal (similarly, in Ontario we have a poor selection of BC wines). You should be ok finding ice wine, and I'd definitely recommend the Quebec ice cider for a more local product. Quebec also produces some great Creme de Cassis (if you're into it). For wine it will be hit and miss but you might luck into something good; I believe the SAQ carries Clos Jordanne but availability is spotty, like it is here in Ontario at the LCBO.

[Mr F]

SAQ.com has all the answers if you're ever wondering if a particular wine is available in Quebec and, if so, where.

And yes, the selection of Canadian wine is pretty miserable, but there is some.

[Maximilien]

The best canadian wine I had in recent years is the

Osoyoos Larose (joint venture with the Vincor group) from BC

and the

Clos Jordanne "Claystone Terrace" Chardonnay.

I'm not into ice wines, so I cannot help you on that front.

[Dan G]

I don't know where you are from, but being in Montreal, it would seem odd to take back a BC wine just because it is Canadian; given the size of Canada, it would be like giving someone an Italian wine because you were in Britain and they are both Europe. Even Ontario...

So, my recommendation would be to get some Pinnacle ice cider, http://www.domainepinnacle.com/en/pro.... The best booze made in Quebec.

[Maximilien]

I'm from Montreal, and I don't understand why it would be an issue recomending a wine from BC if it is good (or that I like) ?!?!?

The original poster did not ask for particular regions for our selection.

[Dan G]

Go ahead and recommend anything you want to. I was only making a comment to the original poster that I thought they might be better off doing something a little bit different. Or am I not allowed to make suggestions?

I don't have a clue what Canadian wines are even available in Montreal -probably not a lot. Most of the better ones from BC (La Frenz, Blasted Church, NkMip, Township 7, Dirty Laundry...) only send a small portion out of the province, with most of it selling right at the winery.

[zin1953]

>>> The best canadian wine I had in recent years is the Osoyoos Larose (joint venture with the Vincor group) from BC <<<

Hmmm . . . I found it very disappointing. Not bad at all, but certainly nowhere near what one would expect given the hype . . . or the price!

C'est la vie.

[Mr F]

The Osoyoos is sold out in Montreal now, but the 2005 Claystone chard is still pretty widely available.

With so little decent Canadian wine available here, it's likely to be just about the best bet in wine. (Cider might be a different story, but that wasn't the question, was it?) I haven't had this one yet, though.