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Tournée de vins du millésime 2009 de Prince Edward County

2009 Prince Edward County Wine Tour

2009 Prince Edward County Wine Tour

There is no secret here if I say that I like Prince Edward County and its wines and it has been that way for a few years already. With time I did gathered a bunch of these bottles and I was ready to open a few of them in an horizontal tasting, or all wines coming from a single vintage. This would be a great way to virtually do a tour of this region I like so much!

My choice? All wines were to be from the 2009 vintages. All I needed was good friends to open all these bottles. My intent was to do that “tasting” on December 31, but the cold and sick kids made me push away this evening from a few days. Since we were more thirsty than ever, I had to add some extra bubbles to the lineup to help us wait to get to these 2009 wines.

Starting with the extra bubbles:

Grange of Prince Edward Brut Rosé 2012 Wine Club Edition

Grange of Prince Edward Brut Rosé 2012 Wine Club Edition

Grange of Prince Edward Brut Rosé 2012 Wine Club Edition

Light pink to orange color. Fines and subtle bubbles. Nose and palate are on the finesse side with fresh red fruit notes (mostly strawberries), some bread and salty notes. Also have the “standard” release of that wine and I am quite curious to try it to see if there’s any difference. Anyway, like it and it was a great way to begin the evening! Very good (90)

This is the Wine Club label edition of that wine, release Fall 2016. Made of Pinot Noir, Traditional Method and was aged on lees for 40 months (for the standard release)

Grange of Prince Edward wines are represented in Québec by Bambara Sélection

The sparkling wine I’ve been waiting so long for :

Hinterland Les Étoiles Brut VQA Prince Edward County 2009

Hinterland Les Étoiles Brut VQA Prince Edward County 2009

Hinterland Les Étoiles Brut VQA Prince Edward County 2009

Light gold color. Aromas of freshly baked bread, spices, some yeast notes, salty water. This is pure refinement and we can only be amazed by that perfume. Fine bubbles that takes more amplitude on the palate to end up in a salty and crushed rocks like finish. Taste like blood orange, some red berries, lemon, rocks, bread and butter. Long, very long finish. Superb+ (94)

Traditional Method. Made of  60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, aged on lees for 5 years, no dosage. The 750ml bottles of this are not available anymore, but you can get some magnums on Hinterland’s website! Got mine, of course!

Hinterland wines are now being represented in Québec by Agence Trinque

The “Grand Vin” from Norman Hardie:

Norman Hardie Pinot Noir Cuvée L VQA Ontario 2009

Norman Hardie Pinot Noir Cuvée L VQA Ontario 2009

Norman Hardie Pinot Noir Cuvée L VQA Ontario 2009

Light garnet color. Nose of spicy red berries with some oak and smoke bringing in some elegance. Just perfect mouthfeel with loads of crushed red berries, spices, earth and salty rocks. This wine feels so alive! Very long and lively finish that makes the moment last longer. Superb (93)

This is a blend of 60% Niagara fruit and 40% County fruit. The wine was initially aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. It was then blended and put back to oak for 6 months. Only made when all the right conditions are united (this was the first time of the 3 made for now – 2009, 2012, 2014)

Norman Hardie’s are represented in Québec by Vin Dame Jeanne.

A Gamay from the winery that opened my eyes on this grape based wines from PEC:

Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Noir VQA Prince Edward County 2009

Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Noir VQA Prince Edward County 2009

Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Noir VQA Prince Edward County 2009

Still quite dark ruby color. Nose of earth, mushrooms, but also of homemade red berry jam with a touch of green and flower notes. More vibrant on the palate with this tart and sour finish (reminds me of sweet tarts). Flavors of sweet red berries, of spices, automn leaves and old wood that leads to a finish of good lenght. The evolution notes are there, but this wine is still offering satisfaction and drinkability. Still have one in the cellar that I’ll open soon. Excellent (91)

Made of estate grown Gamay. Aged 24 months in French oak barrels.

Grange of Prince Edward wines are represented in Québec by Bambara Sélection

 

Jump on the occasion to by and cellar these wines from this amazing area!

Malivoire Gamay Niagara Peninsula 2015

Malivoire Gamay Niagara Peninsula 2015 

Malivoire Gamay Niagara Peninsula 2015 

Medium dark ruby color. Fine but shy nose of flowers, cherries and earth. Way more expressive on the palate with an explosion of red fruits, ground cherries, dried flowers and a bold and present spiciness. Just long and concentrated enough, it stays fresh and refreshing due to its good acidity level. Again a bottle that went empty the minute it was open! Very good+ (90)

Made of Gamay.  71% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation and was aged in 75% French and 25% American oak barrels for 10 months. Alcohol level of 12,%5

Available in SAQ stores for 19,50$ (Code SAQ :  11140498) 

Malivoire’s website: malivoire.com 

Sample proposed by Le Maître de Chai: maitredechai.ca

Malivoire Gamay Niagara Peninsula 2015

Malivoire Gamay Niagara Peninsula 2015

Dominique Piron Domaine de la Chanaise Morgon 2015

Dominique Piron Domaine de la Chanaise Morgon 2015

Dominique Piron Domaine de la Chanaise Morgon 2015

Semi-dark purple colorNose of baked berries, super present warm spices notes and some earthChewycharmingjuicy with a more powerful finish than this type of wine usually offersit is still drinking quite nicely and easilyFlavors of ripe berries and spiceseverything to please the guests! If you still have some bottles arounddare to put some down in the cellar as this wine has all the structure needed to aged over a few years. Good+ (88)

Made of Gamay. No information available on ageing / winemaking. Alcohol level of 13,5% 

Was available in SAQ stores for 22,05$ (Code SAQ :  10272966)

Domaine Dominique Piron’s website: domaines-piron.fr

Represented in Québec by LCC Vins et Spiritueux / Clos des Vignes: lccvins.com

Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Pinot VQA Prince Edward County 2014 

Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Pinot VQA Prince Edward County 2014 

Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Pinot VQA Prince Edward County 2014 

Light, bright and shiny ruby color. Nose of red berries, wet eart, spices and a light flowery breeze. Bringht and explosive red fruit flavors on the palate. A little lower acidity level that what I am used to from the region, but still have enough freshness. Spices burst on the finish that last for a good moment. This is one very enjoyable wine! Very good (89)

Made of  Gamay and Pinot Noir of equal share. Co-fermented. Aged in neutral French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 12,8% 

Available at the winery for 25,00$

Grange of Prince Edward’s website: grangeofprinceedward.com

Bambara Sélection represents them in Québec: bambaraselection.com

Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Pinot VQA Prince Edward County 2014 

Having a lunch with a view on the vineyard!

Trail Estate Gamay Noir VQA Ontario 2014

Trail Estate Gamay Noir VQA Ontario 2014 

Trail Estate Gamay Noir VQA Ontario 2014 

Light but young garnet color. Nose of sweet red berries, earth and spices. Flavors of sour and slightly sweet red fruit like sour cherries, cranberries, rhubarb and spices. Felt different from other Gamay I had from Ontario, it was vibrant, a little on the charming side, but I gladly enjoyed it! Very good+ (90)

Made from Gamay of fruits coming from the County (65%) and Niagara (35%). Aged 8 months in neutral French oak barrels. Total production of 98 cases. Alcohol level of 13%

Has been sold at the winery for 26,00$

Trail Estate Winery’s website: trailestate.com

Norman Hardie County Gamay VQA Prince Edward County 2014

Norman Hardie County Gamay VQA Prince Edward County 2014 

Norman Hardie County Gamay VQA Prince Edward County 2014 

Light ruby color. To me, this smells typicaly like a County wine with red berries, clay, spices with herbacious and salty notes. Flavors of sour berries with a lively acidity, strawberries, rhubarb, sweet spices and a tart finish that shows an amazing fresh and salty finish. This is a real treat to me. About the same quality of a 2016 Morgon from Marcel Lapierre we had at the same time, even if my heart goes to this wine. Excellent (91)

Made of Gamay. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 10,5% 

Available at the winery for 29,00$

Norman Hardie Winery website: http://www.normanhardie.com

They are represented in Québec by Vin Dame Jeanne: vindamejeanne.com

Duo de gamay

Two Gamay wines – 2016 Marcel Lapierre Morgon and the featured 2014 Norman Hardie County Gamay

Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2016

Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2016 

Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2016 

Medium dark purple-ruby color. Nose where flowers, fresh red berries, earth and spices brings in freshness and balance as fruit ripeness is there. Follows on the palate crunchy and sour-bitter red fruit and a good acidity level. This wine is really fruit forward and with its lenght, everything is there to make this highly enjoyable! There is also, desides immediate satisfaction, depth and structure that makes this cellarable, but only if one have enough self-control not to drank them all quickly! Excellent (91)

Made of Gamay. Natural winemaking. Aged 8 months in 216 liters oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 32,25$ (Code SAQ : 11305344)

Domaine Marcel Lapierre wines are represented in Québec by Rézin: rezin.com

 

Duo de gamay

Duo de gamay – Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2016 et Norman Hardie County Gamay 2014

Domaine J. Chamonard Fleurie La Madone 2015

Domaine J. Chamonard Fleurie La Madone 2015

Domaine J. Chamonard Fleurie La Madone 2015

Relatively dark and foggy purple color. Nose of blueberrie pastries on which one would’ve thrown on wet earth and a bunch of spices. Rich mouth feel without falling into heaviness, but doesn’t feel much complex either at this young stage of its life. To its defense, it gets much better with air and changes quickly so, if opened now, it should be followed over an entire evening of even opened one day to let it breathe then drank on the following day. That way the wine really gets more definition and even if it stayed a little shy, it was really drinking nicely and it’s not a hard task to go through the bottle! Very good+ (90)

Made of Gamay. Vines are planted on pink Granite soil on steep slopes. Natural winemaking. Ageing unkown. Jean-Claude Chanudet is behind the wine. Alcohol level of 13,5% 

Disponible à la SAQ pour 34,75$ (Code SAQ : 13108096)

Oenopole est l’agence qui représente le Domaine J. Chamonard au Québec: oenopole.ca

Domaine J. Chamonard Fleurie La Madone 2015

Domaine J. Chamonard Fleurie La Madone 2015

Georges Descombes Brouilly 2015

Georges Descombes Brouilly 2015

Georges Descombes Brouilly 2015 

Ruby almost purple color. Nose of red and dark berries, there is some Concord grapes notes, but also spices and earth. This have everything the vintage calls for with ripeness and chewyness, but also the typical acidity you get from Gamay, then a light bitterness on the finish. Highly chuggable wine like I appreciate so much! Very good+ (90)

Made of  Gamay. Natural winemaking. Aged in cement tanks. Alcohol level of 13,5% 

Available in SAQ stores for 25,90$ (Code SAQ : 12494028)

Georges Descombes is represented in Québec by réZin Sélection: rezin.com

Georges Descombes Brouilly 2015

Georges Descombes Brouilly 2015

Maison Louis Jadot Brouilly Sous les Balloquets 2015

Maison Louis Jadot Brouilly Sous les Balloquets 2015

Maison Louis Jadot Brouilly Sous les Balloquets 2015 

Medium dark purple color. Nose of dark berries, spices, earth then some flower notes. Round on the palate with ripe fruit flavors, the wine is tasty and seductive, true to the vintage it’s coming from. There is also a hint of acidity that brings some freshness on the finish. This is a good example of why we should not  forget about bigger houses when looking for wines of good value. Good+ (88)

Made of Gamay grapes. Alcohol of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 21,25$ (Code SAQ : 00515841)

Maison Louis Jadot’s website: ouisjadot.com

Sample proposed by les Sélections Fréchette: selectionsfrechette.com

Maison Louis Jadot Brouilly Sous les Balloquets 2015