2009 Warren Classic Chardonnay  

Niagara- $16.95  This was my favourite, impressive and harmonious, with a lovely nose of apple, sandalwood and butterscotch, and great good balance between ripe apple fruit and acidity.

-Vin Greco, Wine Writer

2009 Warren Classic Chardonnay              Rating: 90+

A smoky overlay, then aromas of coconut, golden apple and sandlewood incense. The flavours are round and delicious, with smoky applewood, butterscotch and lime, all dished up in a very silky textured way.

- Gord Stimmell, Wine Writer    

Excellence Pinot Gris 2010                          Rating: 91   

Stoney Ridge has gone through some recent changes and has trimmed its portfolio considerably.

The Excellence series, made by winemaker Gordon Robert, is the top tier at the winery. The 2009 reds and 2010 whites are just being released now. This Gris is delicious. It has gorgeous nose of melon, Bosc pear, grapefruit and soft spices. It’s made slightly off-dry in a ripe style that showcases apple crisp, citrus and stone fruits that are vibrant through the finish.

Drinking beautifully right now.

-Rick Vansickle, Wine Writer

Unoaked Chardonnay 2009, Niagara          Rating: 87

This Chardonnay is made for those who like refreshing and unwooded wines. A fruit driven nose of grapefruit, pear, peach, pineapple and citrus are built on a light to medium bodied frame. Although dry, there is very good length, and for the price, it represents great value. Pick up a couple of bottles for summer sipping. 

                                                                        -  Evan Saviolidis

Warren Classic 2009 Chardonnay              Rating: 90+

March 2012

A smoky overlay, then aromas of coconut, golden apple and sandalwood incense. The flavours are round and delicious, with smoky applewood, butterscotch and lime, all dished up in a very silky textured way. Lovely stuff.

                                                                                 -Gord Stimmel

LCBO #224113 

2009 Kasper Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc    Rating: **

Light straw colour. Intense, refreshing, gently grassy, ripe, lemon-melon-apple nose. Dry, medium to medium-light bodied, refreshing, bright, gently grassy, ripe, lemon-melon-apple flavours with a lingering, crisp, unoaked finish. Nice effort! Ready-to-drink. Gold Medal winner at the All Canadian Wine Championships 2010.

2009 Excellence Chardonnay                     Rating:  **+

Medium straw colour. Spicy, intense, tropical fruit coctail nose with lots of vanilla notes. Solid, dry, medium to medium-full bodied, well structured, harmonious, fairly juicy, pineapple and ripelemon-melon flavours with lingering, crisp, refreshing, gently cedary finish. Very tasty and ready-to-drink. Would work well with grilled chicken. Only 265 cases produced.

2007 Vidal Icewine                                       Score: 94

March 30, 2010

A glorious icewine that's rich yet refined. Shows deep bright gold colour. Opulent nose of sponge toffee, apricot jam, cedar and mild herbs. It's full bodied, creamy, very sweet, yet sewn with lovely acidity. Pristine and delicious. Excellent liength. Vidal rearely reaches these hieghts.

                                                                               - David Lawrason

2009 Excellence Chardonnay                      Score: 91+ 

February 24, 2012                                                                       

Media Tasting for the Top Scoring Wines for 2012 Cuvee Awards

2009 Excellence Pinot Noir                          Score: 88

Here is a smooth-drinking Pinot Noir with a flattering bouquet of black cherries, dark fruits, flowers, mushrooms and smoke.  The finish is built on graceful tannins and fresh acidity. Pair it with prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin in a mushroom thyme sauce.  

2009 Simply White                                      Score: 87

An unusual blend for Ontario - 2% Chardonnay and 8% Sauvignon Blanc.  Pale straw in colour with a green tint, it has a leafy, green plum and apple nose.  On the palate it's crisply dry with green apple, green plum and grapefruit rind flavours; it's well balanced and lingering on the palate.  

2009 Excellence Chardonnay                    Score: 90

Stoney Ridge continues to churn out excellent white wines from their 2009 "Excellence" line.  First up was the Pinot Gris (91 pts), then the Sauvignon Blanc (90 pts), and now, this oaked Chardonnay.  Full bodied, it serves up tropical fruit, cream, vanilla, hazelnut, spice and green apple.  Rounding everything out is the refreshing acidity and great length.  Drink over the next four years.  Pair with a butternut squash risotto topped with butter-poached lobster.

2008 Reserve Gewurztraminer                   Score: 90+

This avoids the overtly floral character of many gewurzes. Lifted lemon drop, mint and lychee nut notes in the nose. Lovely ripe tangerine, jasmine and lychee flavours with an almost Alsatian lushness.

Food suggestion: Coconut crusted shrimp

                                                                 -Gord Stimmell, Wine Critic

Excellence Pinot Gris 2010                           Score: 92

January 2012

Winemaker, Gord Robert, has stepped out of the shadow of his predecessor, the famed Jim Warren, and is producing compelling wines at Stoney Ridge. This Pinot Gris is a dead ringer for a top Alsatian version. Full bodied and dry, there are mega amounts of peach, flower, smoke, vanilla, cream, spice and honey. Rounding out the experience is a creamy texture and superb aftertaste. (ES)

Barrel Fermented Excellence Gewurztraminer Icewine Score: 92

January 2012

What a wowser of an Icewine! The bright yellow/golden colour heralds the huge nose of guava, peach compote, buckwheat honey, dried apricots, dried roses, apple sauce and spice. Full bodied with considerable richness, this wine is ready to drink now, preferably with blue cheeses or foie gras. (ES)

2010 Excellence Sauvignon Blanc                  Score:91

January 2012

A quarter of this wine was barrel fermented and barrel aged, giving a vanilla and spice slant to the floral, honey, lime, mint, gooseberry and fruit salad qualities of the grape. Full bodied, the great depth and long finish are supported by crisp acidity. It is a worthy successor to the great 2009 rendering. (ES)

2010 Sauvignon Blanc                                     Score:88

January 2012

Strong aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, gooseberries, grass, minerals and honey just keep on coming. In the mouth, minerals, citrus and grapefruit dance with the medium body and sound acid. There is very good length and it is ready to drink. (ES)

2009 Excellence Cabernet Franc                    Score:90

January 2012

The grapes for the wine were sourced from the Fox Croft Vineyard; one of the top three for Cabernet Franc in the Niagara Peninsula. The dark cherry colour heralds a bouquet of cassis, smoke, violets, graphite, herbs and vanilla. Medium to full body, there is pronounced acidity and tannins, ensuring a long life ahead. Hold it until 2013 and then enjoy it until 2020.(ES)

2009 Simply Red                                             Score:87

January 2012

Stoney Ridge’s lifestyle red is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. The medium cherry colour leads into a nose of spice, herbs, cassis, raspberries and flowers. Soft, smooth and easy drinking is its mantra. (ES)

2009 Excellence Pinot Noir      

Dec 14, 2011

The Excellence chardonnay won a Lieutenant Governor’s award – but the pinot’s pretty fine too, Darker nose with meaty and herbal notes over robust fresh cherry fruit. Acidity and tannins both high, and it’s quite fresh on the palate, with lighter cherry fruit notes, a bit of smoke and a nice finish.

2009 Excellence Chardonnay       Rating: 88-90 Points

Dec 2011

2009 Excellence Pinot Noir           Rating: 88-90 Points

Dec 2011

2009 Excellence Chardonnay

Nov 27, 2011

 I am very excited to recommend this wine as I feel this is THE BEST Ontario Chardonnay I have tried this year. I am not the only one who has recognized the greatness in this wine as it has been recognized with the Lieutenant Governors Award for Excellence in Ontario Wine Making. The best way to describe this wine is balance. Like many of the great Unoaked Chardonnay there is a pressence of Tropical Fruit on the nose and initial taste of this wine (Pineapple), turning immediately to a creamy and buttery flavour and texture courtesy of aging in Oak Barrels. The finish is a bit acidic which washes most of the bright flavours off the tongue but leaves you with just a bit of everything that you've just tasted.

2009 Excellence Pinot Noir                      Rating: 88 Points

Nov 17, 2011

Here is a smooth drinking Pinot Noir with a flattering bouquet of black cherries, dark fruits, flowers, mushrooms and smoke. The finish is built on graceful tannins and fresh acidity. Pair it with prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin in a mushroom/thyme sauce.

                                                                                 -Evan Saviolidis

2009 Excellence Chardonnay                   Rating: 90 Points

Nov 17, 2011

Stoney Ridge continues to churn out excellent white wines from their 2009 'Excellence' line. First up was the Pinot Gris  (91pts), then the Sauvignon Blanc (90 pts), and now, this oaked Chardonnay. Full bodied, it sererves up tropical fruit, cream, vanilla, hazelnut, spice and green apple. Rounding everything out is the refreshing acidity and great length. Drink over the next four years. Pair with a butternut squah risotto topped with butter poached lobster.  

                                                                                   - Evan Saviolidis

Wines and Spirits: Possibilities for Thanksgiving Dinner

Oct 7, 2011

A newcomer to the LCBO is Stoney Ridge Simply White. A marriage of Niagara Chardonnay with a splash of Sauvignon Blanc, the wine is clean and fresh, dry yet fruity, tasting of quince, yellow plums and oranges with a smooth veneer of toasty oak and vanilla.

           Michael Pinkus  

Stoney Ridge Excellence Pinot Noir                           Rating:

Oct 4, 2011

"They", the all knowing folks amongst us, say that 2009 was a great year for Pinot Noir in Ontario, and after sipping on quite a few examples over the past few months I would have to say I agree - some of the best Ontario Pinots are emerging from this vintage. Another one of those wines is this "Excellence" offering from Stoney Ridge: plenty of nice fruit and other Pinot characteristics on both the nose and palate - earthy, sour cherry, cranberry, cinnamon spice and good tannins along with really good balanced acidity helps take this one firmly into the home stretch. I would suggest a good five years of ageing for this one ... but at least 2 before drinking.                                                                                                                     

Top Value White Wines Under $20 or so.            Rating: 90 Points

Sept. 24, 2011

Stoney Ridge Kasper Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Niagara: with only 11.6% ABV, this is a sensible MVC savvy with good value attached. Full of orchard fruit, critric tones, and that tart finish for food. LCBO # 513705.

Exceptional Bargains: InterVin Announces its Top-Scoring Value Wines

Sept 22, 2011

InterVin Best Value

2010 Warren Classic Pinot Noir

2010 Charlotte's Chardonnay

2009 Simply White                                                            Rating: 89

Sept 14, 2011

" Vinified by Stoney Ridge Cellars, this chardonnay and sauvignon blanc blend shows the pristine hand of master winemaker [Gordon Robert]. Clean lime tart, lemon and apple aromas preceding very fruity crisp and dry lemon peel and grapefruit flavours with a bit of new mown grass in the finish." 

-Gordon Stimmell

2009 Simply White                                                      $13.95 LCBO                                                            

Sept 2011

Paired with Pan-Seared Chicken, with eggplant crisps & chipolte mayo 

Stoney Ridge's winemaker Gordon Robert debuts a new wine with a dramatic white-on-white lable, called, appropriately enough, Simply White. But it's not that simple. Stoney Ridge's 2009 Sauvignon Blanc was particularly delicious, with the sort of aromatic intensity you find in New Zealand. Robert adds a splash (8 percent) to this lightly oaked Chardonnay (92 percent) and it's as if he had stirred ripe melon and gooseberry into a Granny Smith apple pie. Unlike many Ontario blended whites, this doesn't rely on sweetness to woo the crowd. The wine had a full, voluptuous body, but a firm acidic structure keeps it dancing nimbly on the tongue. The combination lets it cope beautifully with the rich textures of the chicken sandwhich while still providing refreshment.