Wine Thoughts Blog

• Blind tasting at the Somm Factory
• David Gleave on modern Italian Winemaking
• Just another ordinary great day in Niagara!
• 2013 Cuvée Gala and Eperts Tasting
• Some good value wines from California
• Wines of BC Tasting
• Rosewood Portfolio Tasting
• Argento Wines and a new Bonarda
• Taste Ontario 2012
• Osoyoos Larose Mini Vertical
• Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Vertical
• Passion Jura 2012
• Argentinian Wines and Malbec Day
• Austria Uncorked 2012
• California Wine Fair 2012
• Cuvée 2012 Gala and Tasting
• Thoughts on the 2012 Experts' Tasting: Pinot Noir (and its siblings)
• Rhône Valley Wines
• Archives 2011
• Archives 2010

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Shorter Reviews and Notes

• What I learned today: some Muscadets can age, at least a little!
• Norman Hardie County Chardonnay Unfiltered 2011
• Le Clos Jordanne, Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2009
• Three fortified wines and wine styles from the Wines of Portugal Grand Tasting
• Gaia Thalassitis Assyrtiko 2011, Santorini PDO
• Run, don't walk, to buy the Loan Unwooded Special Reserve Semillon 2004 from Barossa
• My last 2009 Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir Unfiltered — so sad to see it go!
• A delicious Portuguese red: 2008 Quinta de Foz de Arouce
• Three randomly chosen Italian wines --- sometimes you win, sometimes you lose!
• A pretty Garnacha (and why more screwcaps should be used)

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Cuvée 2012 Award Winners

Announced March 2, 2012 at the Cuvée Awards Ceremony

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The 24th annual Cuvée awards were presented at the evening Gala on Friday March 2 at the Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, Ontario. 64 wineries entered 264 wines in the various categories, and the judges were the chief winemakers of 51 participating wineries.

The nine major award winners were:

• Red Wine: Palatine Hills Estate Winery Proprietor's Reserve Merlot 2007
• Limited Edition Red Wine: Angels Gate Winery Mountainview Pinot Noir 2009
• White Wine: GreenLane Estate Winery Riesling 2010
• Limited Edition White Wine: 2027 Cellars 19th Street Chardonnay 2010
• LCBO Red Wine: Creekside Estate Winery Shiraz 2009
• LCBO White Wine: Hillebrand Winery Trius Sauvignon Blanc 2010
• Dessert Wine: G. Marquis Vineyards Riesling Icewine 2009
• Limited Edition Dessert Wine: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Riesling Icewine 2007
• Sparkling Wine: Tawse Winery Spark Rosé 2009

The individual category winners were:

• Chardonnay: Stoney Ridge Cellars Excellence Chardonnay 2009
• Riesling: GreenLane Estate Winery Riesling 2010
• Gewürztraminer: Konzelmann Estate Winery Gewürztraminer Late Harvest 2010
• Sauvignon Blanc: Peller Estates Winery Private Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010
• White Blend: Stonechurch Vineyards Riesling Gewürztraminer 2009
• Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris: Fielding Estate Winery Estate Bottled Pinot Gris 2010
• Viognier: Fielding Estate Winery Viognier 2010
• Cabernet Sauvignon: Peller Estates Winery Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
• Kevin Panagapka of 2027 Cellars holding his 2010 Chardonnay
  Cabernet Franc: Fielding Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2010
• Meritage: Kacaba Vineyards Reserve Meritage 2007
• Pinot Noir: Angels Gate Winery Mountainview Pinot Noir 2009
• Merlot: Palatine Hills Estate Winery Proprietor's Reserve Merlot 2007
• Gamay Noir: 13th Street Winery Gamay Noir Sandstone Old Vines 2010
• Red Blend: Colaneri Estate Winery Insieme 2009
• Syrah / Shiraz: Creekside Estate Winery Broken Press Syrah 2008

Other awards:

• Tony Aspler Cuvée Award of Excellence: Ron Giesbrecht, Winemaker, Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery: For consistently producing fi ne wines across Henry of Pelham's portfolio for 22 years.
• Cuvée Award of Excellence in Viticulture: Duarte Oliveira Sr., Oliveira Vineyards