13th Street Winery | 2020
Niagara, Ontario
Founded in 1998 and acquired by John and June Mann and Doug and Karen Whitty in 2008, 13th Street Winery has deep roots in the Niagara community. Known for small-lot wines, it excels in chardonnay, riesling, gamay noir, pinot noir, and superior traditional method sparkling wines.
Winemaker Jean Pierre Colas, a French-trained expert, adheres to a simple philosophy: great wines stem from the best grapes from top vineyards, with winemaking techniques enhancing grape quality. J.P. specializes in crafting high-quality red wines like gamay noir, cabernet franc, syrah, and pinot noir, and guides the production of exceptional whites such as chardonnay, riesling, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, and gewurztraminer.
Wines included this month
September 2020
CHARDONNAY, 2018
SANDSTONE GAMAY NOIR, 2018
BLANC DE BLANC, 2018
RESERVE PINOT NOIR, 2018
VIN GRIS GAMAY, 2019
WHITTY VINEYARD GAMAY, 2018
CHARDONNAY, 2018
Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Select Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 400
Appearance: Bright golden straw.
Nose: Toasty, spicy, peach, and apple bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, apple flavour with well-integrated oak. Good length with a touch of lemon peel bitterness on the finish for added interest.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 88.5 points - Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Halibut with roasted pine nut crust, pumpkin and ricotta bruschetta, creamy tagliatelle pasta with prawns, stuffed acorn squash with ground turkey and apples, and caramelized onion, apple & brie flatbread.
SANDSTONE GAMAY NOIR, 2018
Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard & Willms Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 220
Appearance: Medium ruby colour.
Nose: Minerally, lightly floral, cherry nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry flavour with fresh acidity. Lovely mouthfeel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 90 points - Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Cajun shrimp and grits, pork dumplings with peanut sauce, spicy tuna crunch roll, baked chicken with sundried tomato cream sauce, and spinach salad with beets and walnuts.
BLANC DE BLANC, 2018
Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: L. Viscek Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 355
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Yeasty, bready, apple bouquet.
Palate: Light to medium-bodied, crisply dry, green apple and lemon flavours. Crunchy on the palate. Well-balanced and lingering.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or will hold 4-5 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points - Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Salmon bagel with cream cheese and capers, grilled asparagus with blood orange and toasted hazelnuts, lemon pepper chicken wings, braised leeks with red snapper, and lobster rolls with citrus and dill slaw.
RESERVE PINOT NOIR, 2018
Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 280
Appearance: Light ruby colour.
Nose: Strawberry bouquet with oak spice and a note of violets.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted red berry flavours; beautifully balanced with a lingering raspberry flavour. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points - Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Butter-poached lobster, portobello mushroom and green pea stir-fry, duck confit poutine with gouda, beef tenderloin with caramelized mushrooms, and spinach and artichoke ravioli.
VIN GRIS GAMAY, 2019
Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 802
Appearance: Palest pink in colour.
Nose: Minerally, cherry pit bouquet.
Palate: Light to medium-bodied, fresh and lively on the palate with cherry and yellow plum flavours and a long mouth-freshening finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points - Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Chicken and hummus naan wraps, panko-crusted grilled salmon, spinach and brie stuffed chicken breast, spice rubbed turkey with mole sauce, and grilled vegetable and quinoa tacos with chimichurri yogurt sauce.
WHITTY VINEYARD GAMAY, 2018
Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 294
Appearance: Medium ruby colour.
Nose: Earthy beetroot nose with a light floral note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, red cherry flavour carried on zesty acidity with a light tannic finish to give the wine structure.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 89 points - Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Hanger steak with shallots and steamed broccoli, pork spare ribs with orange marmalade, lentil and rice stuffed bell peppers, lamb tagine with prunes and dates, and white bean and asparagus salad.
L. VISCEK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY, 2018
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: L. Viscek Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 183
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale gold core.
Nose: Toasted oak spice, butterscotch, green apple, lemon.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Baking spice, vanilla, citrus, green apple. Buttery, smooth finish. Well-balanced.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Drink now or hold 1-2 years for added complexity.
Food Pairing: Grilled pork chops with blueberry and peach salsa, corn and crab bisque, pierogies stuffed with cabbage and bacon, eggplant gratin with feta cheese, and Hawaiian fish tacos with pickled jalapenos.
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