Fast Facts:
Bottled 2009
Origin: Canada, Ontario, VQA Niagara Peninsula VQA
Bottle size: 750
12.5% Alc/Vol.


Rose Hill Chardonnay, what could be said about this wine? It's an under-toned, subtle creatures with little in the line of panache and almost no flamboyance. It's not to say that this wine is without character, but it's as outstanding as pasta; sauceless, spiceless, cheeseless, pasta (on a white plate, served in a white room, clad in white drapes and inhabited by an albino guy who was tragically born without a personality... and whose name is Ross.)


So I'm not really doing this wine justice, maybe I'm just a little biased. I am a fan of reds that tackle you soon as the cork is pulled. I believe a good Riesling should grab your tongue and perforate it vigourously with pins and needles... and I trust a Chardonnay to hit me with a buttered branch from an ancient oak! It would seem that times have changed a lot since the days of a Char that could stand up to the rest of the whites and brag about it's times on the inside. All those months stuck behind slabs of oak; casked away to return one day, thicker and with more character... unlike this wine which presents itself with all the character of a bottle of Evian...


Todays Chardonnays sport labels of "UnOaked", "Clean", and my personal favorite: "Inox" (This is short for Inoxidable which is French for "Stainless"...might as well call it Chardonnay flavourless, part from that hint of Pinot Gris but less flavourful. It's not to say that these Inox Chars don't hold a place in the world of wine, but they don't exactly stand out much. I'm going to attempt to be unbiased and treat this wine with respect and admiration. Let's start with the nose:


Smell of dried lemon peel and wet limestone come through initially. The smell is entirely a local smell, and if you've ever taken a hike through the trails of the Niagara Escarpment on a rainy summer day you know the smell I'm thinking of. This wine envelops itself in its terroire. Picking up the scent of it's surrounding and its calcium rich soils in the Markham region. The scent is a distinct Chardonnay aroma and easily classifiable as a benchmark for what a basic Char should smell like. If I were teaching someone what a Chardonnay was, I would start here.

Fast Facts:
Bottled 1989
Origin: Canada, Walkerton, Ontario
Bottle size: 750
40% Alc/Vol.

The site is called WhiskyGuyD for a reason! Wines are fantastic and wonderful, but make way! Because whisky takes center stage.


Here's a whisky that you'd be put on probation for mixing with. This isn't you're bottom shelf C.C. Unlike the usual 10 and 12 year old whiskies from this distillery, this small batch amber gem is a full two decades old.


The aroma of oak in this whisky is easily twice that of it's milder cousin the C.C. Premium. The colour is considerably darker too. With a hue of red and gold this delicious whisky is notably one of the best this blogger has ever tasted.


On the palate, this whisky is slightly softer than most. The extended period of oak aging has imparted a honey and butterscotch essence to this young adult.


On the nose, hints of fresh green rye and light smoky aroma dominate. The artificial and nearly medicinal scent that plagues the younger Canadian Club 12 year old are almost completely absent. After a couple sips, returning to the glass for another sniff yields a citrus aroma characteristic of ageing in younger, mildly charred barrels.


The mouth-feel is mild and soothing though not as soft as a malted scotch. The character of Canadian Rye is still clearly displayed making this whisky a quintessential exemplar of Canadian Whiskies. From its spicy entrance, to its long and warm finish, this whisky is to be enjoyed neat. 


It's a popular delicacy in the far-east, particularly in Japan, and it's a prime export from a country that knows its stuff! I definitely recommend this whisky as a special treat to those who are worth it. These bottles don't come cheap and they should be savoured with the best of company.


Cheers to bottles that have seen as many sunrises as I have,


-D-

Fast Facts:
Bottled 2008
Origin: Canada, VQA Ontario VQA (Beamsville, Niagara Region)
Bottle size: 750
11.5% Alc/Vol.


The area from which this wine originates is a very special part of the Niagara Bench in Ontario. The awkwardly north-facing slope of the Niagara Escarpment is home to many wineries, such as East Dell. Located on rolling hills are home to many unique species of flora and fauna and the East Dell winery is proud to call it home.

This particular wine, the Summer Rosé, is an iconic wine in the ED line-up. An easy sipping rosé wine with very little tannin-educed pucker and a good amount of sweetness. This wine suffers slightly from a lack of acidity that can make the taste build up on the palate leaving a sweet lingering note in very cull of your gullet. Drink this one young and it will keep its dry and fruity character, otherwise it's sweetness may become tart if cellared. 

For this reason it is recommended to drink this wine at the lowest possible temperature and with light snacks. This wine, by the way, pairs very nicely with mildly spiced dishes of fish or chicken, particularly with use of honey BBQ sauces. 

The most appealing aspect of this sipper must be said to be its aroma. A subtle, yet invigorating scent of strawberry with a hint of rose petal makes this wine a great summer-time, back-patio drink. At 11.5% alcohol per volume this wine packs a bit more of a punch than your Bacardi Breezers so remember, sip slowly.

I very much recommend this wine to anyone with an intolerance for heavy red wines. An outstanding example of what a Rosé wine should be, this one makes the buy-again and again list. Best of all, this bottle is sold in Canada for about 11 bucks, what a steal!

Cheers to chilled wines with chill people, 
-D-

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