This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving. I looked back at the past few months this year to see what current BC and Ontario wines might be a good match for a roast turkey or ham dinner. Below are wines from both provinces that I think would be good pairings.
BC Wines
High Note Estate Winery Soubrette Pinot Grigio 2022 – this is a wine with nice ripe tropical fruit, pears and some citrus pith. Dry with a thicker, round smooth mouthfeel. Citrus and pears, with touches of minerality and some grape stem bitterness. Medium-plus length.
Solvero Wines Pinot Gris 2022 – Rich aromas of pineapples and pears predominate. Slightly off-dry, this wine has a nice round mouthfeel and texture. Pears and tropical fruit flavours on the palate with some pepperiness on the finish. Medium-plus length.
Bench 1775 Viognier 2021 – Medium-plus intensity lemon colour. Pronounced nose with aromas of sweet spices, ripe pears, toast, tropical fruit, and stoniness. Medium-minus body, soft and round. Bright acidity. Tart stone fruit flavours. Very concentrated flavours. Some grape stem flavour as well. A crisp and fresh wine. Light pepperiness on the finish.
Haywire Chardonnay 2021 – Medium-plus bright lemon colour. Medium-intensity aromas of toast and pineapple with lesser amounts of peach and grape stem. Dry, medium body, with a thicker mouthfeel. Pineapple and pears along with some toastiness, grape stem, and stoniness on the palate. Medium-plus length.
Meyer Family Vineyards Rosé 2022 – An interesting Rosé wine with a wider variety of aromas and flavours. Red cherries, candied red cherries, rhubarb, and mint, plus more. Fuller bodied, round with a medium-plus length.
TIME Family of Wines Chronos Syrah 2020 – An elegant light-bodied wine, but full of juicy dark fruit flavours. Smooth mouthfeel with light tannins and acidity. No need to decant. Worth every penny.
Seaside Pearl Lover’s Lane Merlot 2020 – A wine with a light touch full of delicious juicy berries, plums and sweet spices aromas and flavours. Medium length.
Hester Creek Syrah 2020 – Lovely aromas of spearmint, blueberries, plums and black pepper. Dry and very smooth. Black fruit, blueberries, plums and oak flavours, plus a touch of floral toward the finish. Medium-plus length.
Ex Nihilo Vineyards Pinot Noir 2020 – Medium-minus translucent to the core garnet colour. Quite aromatic; lots of red fruits, dill, oak, and sweet spices. Pretty aromas. Medium body, smooth and round mouthfeel. Dill, red fruits, sweet spices, light oak and a touch of bitterness. An interesting blending of aromas and flavours. An elegant wine.
Corcelettes Estate Winery Syrah 2020 – A deep, dull garnet colour. Light-intensity aromas of red fruit, citrus and touches of nutmeg and cedar. Medium body, soft and round mouthfeel. Medium acidity and fine-grained light tannins. Red fruit, floral, vanilla plus some candied cherries. Medium-plus length with lingering flavours. Red cherries and candied red cherries on the finish along with medium-intensity drying oak.
Ontario Wines
Thirty Bench Wine Makers Small Lot Riesling Wood Post 2019 – A light bright lemon colour. Light aromas of petrol, lemon and peach. This wine is off-dry with a smooth, round, thicker mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Light flavours of citrus and orange. Medium-plus length with a mix of tart and sweet flavours.
Creekside Estate Winery Iconoclast Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2020 – a barrel-aged wine with both grapes separately fermented before being blended. This wine has a medium plus lemon colour. A medium-intensity herbaceous and stone fruit aroma. Off-dry, medium-plus body, higher acidity but still smooth mouthfeel. Citrus and green fruit flavours plus a hint of stonefruit and honey Some tart fruit on the finish.
Big Head Wines Chardonnay Select 2020 – This wine has a medium plus intensity bright lemon colour. Medium plus aroma of cedar. Medium plus body with a thicker, smooth and round mouthfeel. Tropical fruit, along with medium-intensity oak and a touch of sweet spices. Medium-plus length. Fresh flavours.
Kew Vineyards Tradition 2017 – sparkling wine made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. It has a medium clear pear skin colour. Small bubbles. Medium-intensity aromas of brioche, toast, and apples. Elegant aromas. Medium body with a mix of tiny creamy and biting bubbles. Dry with crisp apple flavour. Medium plus acidity. Light pepperiness and toast. A quality wine.
Creekside Estate Winery Broken Press Syrah 2018 – This wine is co-fermented with Viognier skins. This wine has a medium-minus translucent garnet. Lighter aromas of berries, toast and a touch of black pepper. Medium plus body, soft and round with lower acidity and light tannins. Some minerality. Red fruits and red cherries flavours, plus a touch of floral. An elegant wine.
Thirty Bench Wine Makers Small Lot Pinot Noir 2020 – A medium-intensity clear garnet colour. Expressive aromas of berry fruits, cherries and light oak. Plus cinnamon with air. Medium-minus body, smooth and round mouthfeel. Ripe and candied red cherries, sweet spices and medium-intensity oak and tannins. A touch of plums on the palate. Medium length with ripe cherry flavours. Some bitterness on the finish.
Big Head Wines Bigger Red Select 2019 – A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon (appassimento) and 49% Merlot (appassimento). This wine has a medium-intensity dull garnet colour. Light aromas of cedar, red and black fruits. Fuller body, dry and round mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Black fruits with light cedar and sweet spices on the palate. Medium length with red fruit and cedar on the finish.
Two Sisters Vineyards Eleventh Post 2018 – A Merlot 48%, Cabernet Franc 24% and Cabernet Sauvignon 28% blend. This wine has a translucent medium-intensity garnet colour. Medium-plus intensity aromas of juicy berries, capsicum, and oak. Medium-plus body, smooth and soft mouthfeel, but not quite mouth-filling. Rich ripe flavours of plums, black fruit and black pepper. Medium-minus acidity with soft supple tannins. A bit off-dry or fruity. Touches of wood char or dark chocolate. Black cherries and black fruit on the finish. An off-dry finish.
