13th Street Winery
We were proud to feature 13th Street Winery in August 2022.
Celebrating over 20 years of winemaking in Niagara, 13th Street Winery crafts exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Niagara. Their goal is to deliver a pure expression of varietal and vineyard character, while respecting the influences of each vintage. Winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas is the mastermind behind 13th Street’s award-winning lineup and each vintage is made from fruit sourced exclusively in the Niagara Peninsula — from their estate vineyards and from excellent growers in the area.
Wines included in your package:
Enthusiast Red & White: 2020 Reserve Viognier, 2019 Pinot Noir
Enthusiast Red Only: 2020 Whitty Vineyard Gamay, 2019 Pinot Noir
Enthusiast White Only: 2020 Reserve Viognier, 2019 Reserve Pinot Gris
Expert Red & White: 2020 June’s Vineyard Riesling, 2020 Sandstone Gamay, 2019 Pinot Noir
Expert Red Only: 2020 Sandstone Gamay, 2019 Pinot noir, 2020 Cabernet Merlot
Expert White Only: 2019 Blanc de Blanc, 2019 Reserve Pinot Gris, 2020 Reserve Viognier
Master Red & White: 2019 Blanc de Blanc, 2019 Reserve Pinot Gris, 2020 Reserve Viognier, 2020 Sandstone Gamay, 2020 Whitty Vineyard Gamay, 2019 Pinot Noir
Master Red Only: 2020 Sandstone Gamay, 2020 Whitty Vineyard Gamay, 2019 Pinot noir, 2020 Cabernet Merlot, 2019 Merlot, 2019 Meritage
Read tasting notes and reviews for all of the wines below.
Tasting Notes
RESERVE VIOGNIER, 2020
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Select Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3.9 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 300
Appearance: Straw colour.
Nose: Floral, lightly spicy, ripe peach nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, peach and melon flavours. Harmonious and lingering. A beautifully balanced wine.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2023.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Grilled cheese with sautéed mushrooms and onions, veal scallopini, brie and bacon bread pudding, grilled lobster tails with spicy garlic butter, and maple glazed duck breast with vegetable gratin.
PINOT NOIR, 2019
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 550
Appearance: Bright, ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, raspberry nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant, well-balanced flavours of raspberry and red plum with well-integrated oak. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold through 2023-2024.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Cedar plank salmon, butternut squash curry with chickpeas, homemade pepperoni pizza, lamb chops with balsamic reduction, and steak frites.
RESERVE PINOT GRIS, 2019
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Home Farm Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 240
Appearance: Golden straw in colour.
Nose: Peach pit bouquet with pear notes and a light floral tone.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, peach and pear flavours carried on lively acidity.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink Now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Roasted pork tenderloin with caramelized pear, fish and chips, grilled teriyaki chicken with root vegetables, creamy Cajun chicken pasta, and seafood risotto.
WHITTY VINEYARD GAMAY, 2020
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 290
Appearance: Ruby colour.
Nose: Spicy, cherry nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied dry, cherry flavour with a floral note. Well-balanced and fruity but well-structured.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now, chilled or at room temperature.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Cream cheese-stuffed mushroom caps, prosciutto penne with spinach, southern barbecue-infused duck sliders, grilled salmon with lime and garlic butter, and fried calamari with garlic aioli.
JUNE'S VINEYARD RIESLING, 2020
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: June’s Vineyard
Alcohol: 11.5%
Residual Sugar: 6.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 450
Appearance: Pale straw colour.
Nose: Minerally, grapefruit and lime bouquet.
Palate: Light-bodied, just off-dry with grapefruit, lime flavours and a touch of honey. Elegant, beautifully balanced with a long finish. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 2 – 3 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Thai green curry, bacon-wrapped mini potatoes, spicy mussels with chorizo, sweet potato quinoa and black bean salad, and seared scallops with papaya coulis.
SANDSTONE GAMAY, 2020
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Whitty Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 349
Appearance: More intense ruby colour than the Whitty Vineyard Gamay.
Nose: Spicy, cherry, and red plum nose with oak spice.
Palate: Richly extracted flavours of black cherry and plum. Medium-bodied, dry, well-balanced. Delicious!
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Smoked and spicy BBQ ribs, ginger chicken salad, fresh sourdough bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, walnut and rosemary-crusted salmon with asparagus, and Cajun-flavoured shrimp and sausage skewers.
BLANC DE BLANC, 2019
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Select Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,115 cases of six
Appearance: Clear. Bright. Light gold colour. Tiny effervescent bubbles.
Nose: Baked bread, lemon, green apple, lime zest, minerality.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Dry. Green apple, lemon, baked bread, minerality. Creamy mousse. Well balanced.
Quality: 91 points. Outstanding.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Fried chicken and waffles with spicy walnut maple syrup, oysters with lemon wedges, clam chowder with bacon and potatoes, summer melon and stone fruit salad with crispy prosciutto, and cannoli.
CABERNET MERLOT, 2020
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietals: Cabernet Franc (40%), Merlot (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%)
Vineyard: Lakeshore Farm Vineyard, June’s Vineyard, and select Creek Shores vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 830
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark purple-ruby colour.
Nose: Black cherry, blackberry, plum, violets, leather, vanilla, baking spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, plum, vanilla, smoke, and a hint of black pepper.
Quality: 90 – 91 points. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Spice-rubbed rib eye steak, Southwestern-style rotisserie pork tenderloin, sticky ginger soy-glazed chicken, wood-smoked leg of lamb with mint sauce, and grilled veggie burgers with cheddar cheese.
MERLOT, 2019
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Lakeshore Farm Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 4.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,000
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Ruby red colour.
Nose: Violets, red cherry, black raspberry, licorice, savoury green herbs, leather.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Red cherry, raspberry, baking spice, hints of vanilla and dark chocolate. Savoury green herbal note on the finish.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Smoked sausage hash, creamy tomato and spinach pasta, grilled huli-huli chicken, garlic mushroom pork chops, and caramelized roast vegetables.
MERITAGE, 2019
13th Street Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietals: Merlot (36%), Cabernet Franc (35%), Cabernet Sauvignon (29%)
Vineyard: Lakeshore Farm Vineyard and June’s Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 315
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark purple colour.
Nose: Dark cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, licorice, cedar, a hint of vanilla and dark chocolate.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Plum, dark cherry, blackcurrant, green pepper, black tea, vanilla, baking spice, hints of smoke and black pepper.
Quality: 90 – 92 points. Drinking well now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Venison loin with red wine jus, fried tofu with spicy ginger-sesame sauce, classic hearty lasagna, pot roast with lemon, rosemary, and pepper, and roasted duck with honey and rosemary.