| Founder's
Signature Collection Charlotte's Chardonnay
2002 |
Evan
Saviolidis; Wine Tidings: Rating 90
After a couple years in limbo,
SR has returned to form and what a form
it is! This unoaked Chardonnay displays
ripe flavours of banana, melon, pineapple
and mango undertones. There is good
acid and a hint of residual sugar on
the long finish. Drink over the next
3 to 4 years. Try with Asian grilled
salmon |
Chris
Waters: ***+
Jim Warren's tropical fruit-washed
Chardonnay is as much of a mouthful
as his wine's wordy title. The debut
release from Stoney Ridge's newly-created
Founder's Signature Collection sets
an impressive tone for the limited edition
series, which will include a Meritage
from the 2002 Vintage. True to established
winemaking style, this wine comes right
at you with generous fruit, especially
peach, apricot and pineapple flavours.
It is a lush sipping wine tailor-made
for the patio or deck. |
David
Lawrason: Rating 90
"…A big, exotic, fruit bomb
with much lifted pineapple-banana, lavender,
anise aromas and flavours. Quite full
bodied with considerable sweetness,
alcohol and fruit richness underpinned
by decent acidity. A huge wine; excellent
length. Not your average chardonnay!
Try it with Asian cuisine, or rich lobster
or crab dishes."
(DL X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
Tony
Aspler:
Nose: pear with citrus notes
Taste: richly extracted, pear and pineapple
flavours, bold, spicy, full-bodied;
great length, good acidity.
Drink ability: now - 2005
(TA X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
| |
| Reserve
Founder's Signature Collection Meritage
2002 |
Beppi
Crosariol; The Globe and Mail - January
2004
"the winery's flagship red, Stoney
Ridge Founder's Signature Collection
Meritage 2002 ($34.95), a big, fruity,
Bordeaux-style blend of merlot, cabernet
franc and cabernet sauvignon. Full-bodied
and brimming with sweet plum, black
currant and vanilla, it's remarkably
supple and velvety, with lots of well-integrated
oak and fine tannins for aging. It would
pair particularly well with a big slab
of Alberta beef. |
Gordon
Stimmell; The Toronto Star - November
2003 Rating 91
Warren's 2003 Meritage …
with cassis, smoky black plum, saddle,
leather, vanilla bean and black cherry
flavours - a very plush, silky red -
rivals my rave for the Unoaked Charlotte's.
|
Christopher
Waters; Vines Magazine and The St.Catharines
Standard - November 2003 3 _ Stars -
One of the Years Top 10
The flagship red from Stoney
Ridge's new Founder's Collection is
a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend with
a small ratio of Cabernet Sauvignon
added for structure and to enhance the
colour. This approachable now yet age-worthy
red, which is produced with low-yield
fruit from three key Beamsville Bench
vineyards, offers supple character and
good fruit concentration. The palate
is packed with ripe berry fruit and
a touch of vanilla custard. Drink now
to 2012. |
| |
| Reserve
Cabernet Franc, Fox Vineyard 2002 |
David
Lawrason; Wine Access - November 2003
Rating 89
The just bottled 2002 reserves
are a notch up, particularly the 2002
Wismer Vineyard Cabernet Franc |
Gordon
Stimmell; The Toronto Star - November
2003 Rating 90
Also topnotch are two other Stoney
Ridge winners, from resident chief winemaker
Liubomir Popovici. The 2002 Reserve
Cabernet Franc displays rich cedar,
plum, dried cherry and vanilla notes.
|
Evan
Saviolidis; Wine Tidings Rating 90
Medium to full bodied with aromas
of bell pepper, raspberry, tobacco leaf
and vanilla. On the palate are spicy
cigar and chocolate tones, with supple
tannins and fresh acidity. Drink over
the next 4 to 6 years. |
| |
| Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, Wismer Vineyard
|
Gordon
Stimmell and Dan Kislenko for the TorStar
Wine Connection: 90/100
… powerful, brooding red
for special occasions… pair it
with prime rib or peppersteak.
Appearance and Aroma: "…
big vanilla bean, lilacs, sweet blackberry
jam, some complexity' GS. "…lovely
nose, sweet blackberry, vanilla, blackberry
jam, very attractive" DK.
Palate: "… Full-bodied,
thick black currant fruit, nice ripeness,
lots of vanilla bean, silky, elegant
appeal" GS. "… sweet blackberry,
dense fruit, ripe forward black cherry,
cassis" DK.
Overall Impression:
"….some elegance and power, nice
concentration" GS. "… good texture,
smooth elegant, great balance good power"
DK. |
| |
| 2002
Bench Chardonnay |
David
Lawrason:
"…Shows fairly generous
green melon fruit with nutty, anise
back notes. A hint of sweetness, fairly
simple with good acid balance and drinkability.
Chill well. Best late 2003 to 2005."
(DL X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
Tony
Aspler:
Colour: pale straw
Nose: pear with a touch of spice
Taste: round, soft, and fleshy, off-dry
pear and peach flavours, good length
Drink ability: now - 2004 Good value
(TA X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
| |
| Bench
Sauvignon Blanc 2002 |
Tony
Aspler:
Colour: very pale straw
Nose: herbaceous, resinous
Taste: sweetish, white peach, good acidity,
medium-bodied; green apple finish
Drink ability: now - 2004
(TA X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
Christopher
Waters:
"…A nice, fresh expression
of Sauvignon Blanc that balances pink
grapefruit, green apple and sweet hay
aromas. The palate is nicely rounded,
with soft fig and passion fruit flavours."
(CW) |
Gordon
Stimmell and Dan Kislenko for The Wine
Connection:
"… Loaded with tropical fruit and
gooseberry characteristics, with tangy
acidity that leaves you craving your
next sip…" |
| |
| Pinot
Grigio 2002
|
Evan
Saviolidis; Wine Tidings: Rating 87
A delectable little Grigio with
moderate aromas of peach, flowers, candied
white fruit and citrus. Light to medium
body with very good length and citrus
finish. |
David
Lawrason:
"…Needs until autumn 2003
to settle and accentuate the ripe honeydew
melon and green fig fruit. Quite bright
and fresh with a vague sweetness on
the finish. Good length. Well balanced.
Germanic in style. A sipping style."
(DL X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
Tony
Aspler:
Colour: pale straw
Nose: peachy, apple
Taste: rich, mouth filling peach, clean
fruit flavours, touch of residual sweetness;
fresh acidity on the finish. Good value
Drink ability: now - through 2004
(TA X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
| |
| Bench
Pinot Noir 2002 |
Evan
Saviolidis; Wine Tidings: Rating 85
Thirteen dollars for this bottle
or $20 for an over-cropped, thin generic
red burgundy- the choice is yours. Pale
to medium garnet with a nose of earth,
cherry, vanilla, plum and some black
fruits. Medium length and ready to please.
Try with mushroom risotto. |
| |
| 2000
Cranberry |
David
Lawrason:
"…If you're riding the wave
of cranberry's new-found popularity,
you'll love this fruit wine. The cranberry
fruit focus and purity is exemplary.
Very bright, deep pink-rose colour.
Huge, vibrant cranberry, mint and clove
aroma. Lean on the palate with very
tart acidity, yet focused cranberry
fruit and typical bitterness. Needs
food, or blending with other sweeter
beverages. Excellent length." ON $12.95
(DL X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
Tony
Aspler:
Colour: cherry
Nose: minty, red berry
Taste: rich, fresh, dry cranberry flavour;
medium-bodied with a tart, long finish
Drink ability: now - year end
(TA X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
| |
| Select
Late Harvest Vidal 1999 |
David
Lawrason:
"…Shows a very ripe, maturing
nose of honey, cooked pineapple and
yellow squash. Quite sweet and warm
with firm pineapple-like acidity on
the finish, and a hint of bitterness.
Very good length. Best now to 2005.
(DL X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
Tony
Aspler:
Colour: old gold
Nose: intense honeyed peach
Taste: rich, mouth-filling but not heavy;
sweet peach with lively acidity, clean
fruit flavours
Drink ability: now - 2006 (TA X/03 -
for Winerytohome) |
| |
| 1999
Vidal Icewine |
David
Lawrason:
"…A huge, impressive icewine
now in prime time. Colour is deep gold
heading toward amber. Very ripe sweet
peaches in brown sugar and honey on
the nose. Full bodied, very thick and
very sweet with a bolt of strong acidity
carrying the finish. Excellent to outstanding
length, resonating with peach pie and
pineapple. Now to 2006"
(DL X/03 - for Winerytohome) |
Tony
Aspler:
Colour: coppery-gold
Nose: concentrated honey and apricot
Taste: spicy, honey, dried apricot,
intense, mouth filling with a burnt
sugar finish and tangerine; good balancing
acidity, great length.
Drink ability: now - 2008
(TA X/03 - for Winerytohome)
|
