Our actual purpose for visiting
Tawse during the icewine festival was to taste, buy, and lay down its 2009 pinot noir after reading some very favourable reviews. I must admit I know very little about this grape; my experience with reds centres on cabernet sauvignon. Unfortunately after drinking a bottle of 2006 Liberty School not too long ago, all I can taste in these anymore is tobacco. So, after hearing that Ontario's 2009 pinot noir harvest was exceptional, I've been stocking up to learn about a new red. (Currently we're sitting on 2 bottles of Angels Gate, 2 from Flat Rock and 1 from Tawse.)
My initial impressions of pinot noir included a flowery smell and some berry flavours, but not overly sweet berries. (I know that's not very descriptive but I already told you I'm new at this)! Chris and I both laughed when we realized how well this wine would have paired with last night's dinner; under the mistaken impression that all rieslings go with all salads, I served a less-than-perfect combination that you can read about on our guest's blog,
Zippy Sauce. Because the salad had peppery flavours like arugula and radicchio, it needed a red to stand up to them, but a lighter red so as not to overpower the goat's cheese. Being used to bigger, heavier reds, I noticed what at first I thought was a watery or thin body, but then realized that's what makes this wine much more drinkable on its own as opposed to with a meal. I asked the server if it would get fuller with age and she said no, but that I could expect the flavours to blend more, bringing out the earthy undertones.
Based on my comments, we were also offered a taste of the winery's not-yet-released 2009 Grower's Blend Cabernet Franc. Right away the difference in colour was apparent, the pinot noir being a ruby red but the cab franc more of a purple. (I foolishly thought this explained the label colours!) Although the flavours were similar to the pinot, the flavour was both fuller and smokier. My wine encyclopedia tells me that cab francs are "slightly softer and less rich in tannin" than their cousin, the cab sauvignon. I loved this wine right away, bought 2 bottles and now have a different "new red" to get to know. Apparently it goes well with chocolate because this months
Days of Wine and Chocolate tour in Niagara features 4 different wineries offering this pair. We'll be visiting them next weekend and are looking forward to seeing the variety of tastes this grape has to offer.
My initial impressions of pinot noir included a flowery smell and some berry flavours, but not overly sweet berries. (I know that's not very descriptive but I already told you I'm new at this)! Chris and I both laughed when we realized how well this wine would have paired with last night's dinner; under the mistaken impression that all rieslings go with all salads, I served a less-than-perfect combination that you can read about on our guest's blog, Zippy Sauce. Because the salad had peppery flavours like arugula and radicchio, it needed a red to stand up to them, but a lighter red so as not to overpower the goat's cheese. Being used to bigger, heavier reds, I noticed what at first I thought was a watery or thin body, but then realized that's what makes this wine much more drinkable on its own as opposed to with a meal. I asked the server if it would get fuller with age and she said no, but that I could expect the flavours to blend more, bringing out the earthy undertones.
Based on my comments, we were also offered a taste of the winery's not-yet-released 2009 Grower's Blend Cabernet Franc. Right away the difference in colour was apparent, the pinot noir being a ruby red but the cab franc more of a purple. (I foolishly thought this explained the label colours!) Although the flavours were similar to the pinot, the flavour was both fuller and smokier. My wine encyclopedia tells me that cab francs are "slightly softer and less rich in tannin" than their cousin, the cab sauvignon. I loved this wine right away, bought 2 bottles and now have a different "new red" to get to know. Apparently it goes well with chocolate because this months Days of Wine and Chocolate tour in Niagara features 4 different wineries offering this pair. We'll be visiting them next weekend and are looking forward to seeing the variety of tastes this grape has to offer.
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