The tasting was held at the Chateau des Charmes winery in St. Davids and the
wines were chosen expressly for the occasion by past Niagara Grape Kings or
Queens.

2002 Inniskillin Riesling - Seeger Vineyard - C$18.95
The wine was cool fermented from grapes exclusively from the Seeger vineyard
which plantings are 25 years old. I found the wine to have a light citrus
nose and taste coupled with a medium mouth feel and quite a long finish.
Pleasant wine but, nothing to write home about.

2002 Featherstone Gewürztraminer - C$14.00
This is a very young winery having opened it's doors only in the last couple
of years. The winemaker was shooting for an Alsacian style wine and in this
has succeeded. The wine presented a simple nose with light acidic
overtones. This carried over into the mouth as a light, somewhat acidic and
thin wine with little of the G-wine characteristics and complexity that I
look for. A medium and somewhat acidic finish.

2002 Daniel Lenko Chardonnay - French Oak - C$29.95
Year after year, this particular wine has been my very favorite white wine
from the day this winery opened its doors and I bought my first case. Made
from grapes of some 40 year old vines, they are possibly the oldest
Chardonnay vines in the Niagara Peninsula, if not Canada,. From nose to
palate, this wine seduces us with intense fruit, soft ML butteriness and the
medium toast edginess of new French Oak. The round medium mouth-feel is
followed up with a long pleasant finish. Tannins on the end ensure that
this wine will continue to improve for some years. I'll certainly be buying
when the winery opens next week!

2002 Crown Bench Livia's Gold BA Chardonnay - C$29.90
The accompanying notes perfectly reflect my opinion after tasting so why
re-invent the wheel; Herewith....
"A Crown Bench innovation in the style of Sauterne. An early harvest
Botrytis Affected Chardonnay. This wine captures the ultimate richness of a
berry-by-berry selected harvest. Clean and floral, with a hint of dry
honey. Lots of flavour at work, from orange to kumquat, peach and citrus
marmalade. The natural acidity carries the weight of this wine." Numerous
international prize winner and worth more than every cent of its
comparatively modest price.

2002 Chateau des Charmes Gamay Noir - "Droit" - C$15.95
The "Droit" varietal on GN is officially recognized as a uniquely Canadian
development. Named "Droit" for its upright growing vine, it ripens about
ten days later than GN, delivering higher sugar levels at harvest, bolder
colour and more body and flavour concentrations. This wine has a definite
Burgundian flavour as though it had been mixed with a nice PN. A fruity and
complex nose translate into the same in the mouth with a soft, roundish feel
and a long supple finish.. Gamay is one of my personal favourites and pity,
the 2002 is sold out but count on seeing me in the line for the 2003 to be
released soon. Gamay on Viagra! ;>))

2001 Pilliterri Petite Syrah/Baco - C$8.00
The nose on this wine is quite strongly berried. The palate is quite soft
with leather and tobacco tones with a well balanced quite long finish.

2002 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir - C$24.95
This is a very popular seller for HoP and well loved in some circles. It is
very fruity, dense and communicates it's American Oak ageing environment.
Pairs well with strongly flavoured foods.

2001 Lailey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - C$35.00
Lailey wines are exquisitely crafted and have earned a very well deserved
reputation. The tasting notes express this very well....... "Prior to
fermentation the grapes were cold soaked for 7 days. Selected yeast was
added. Fermentation took place in small fermenters and caps were punched
down 3-4 times daily. The wine was pressed and put into barrels in late
November. It was aged in 60% French and 40% American Oak - 20% new oak for
both with the rest being 2 and 3 year old barrels. ML culture was added in
the barrel and the wine was aged for 12 months and bottled unfiltered.
Should age 5 - 7 years.

This wine has aromas of Cassis, plum, mint and vanilla. The palate is well
balanced with rich, sweet fruits along with liquorice and cedar....... This
wine is at my personal price limit so I'll have to limit my purchasing to
3 - 4 bottles or so.
--
Regards
Chuck
So much wine; So little time!

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