Marynissen Estates Winery
We were proud to feature Marynissen Estates Winery in March 2023.
Marynissen Estates has its roots deeply embedded in the soil of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Located in the Four Mile Creek sub appellation, the estate is home to the oldest commercial planting of Cabernet Sauvignon in Canada. Marynissen focuses on small-lot winemaking showcasing their wines in a rustic yet modern style. They focus on gentle handling at each stage of the winemaking process to ensure wine of the highest quality and value. The team at Marynissen pays respect to their deep history while continuing to learn, grow and move their winemaking forward.
Wines included in your package:
Enthusiast Red & White: 2019 Platinum Series Chardonnay, 2020 Heritage Collection Nanny’s Blend
Enthusiast Red Only: 2019 Platinum Series Cabernet Franc, 2020 Heritage Collection Nanny’s Blend
Enthusiast White Only: 2019 Platinum Series Chardonnay, 2020 Heritage Collection Gewürztraminer
Expert Red & White: 2021 Heritage Collection Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 Heritage Collection Nanny’s Blend, 2019 Platinum Series Merlot
Expert Red Only: 2021 Cabernet Merlot, 2020 Heritage Collection Nanny’s Blend, 2020 Platinum Series Syrah
Expert White Only: 2021 Heritage Collection Charmed, 2021 Heritage Collection Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Platinum Series Chardonnay
Master Red & White: 2020 Heritage Collection Riesling, 2019 Platinum Series Chardonnay, 2021 Heritage Collection Pinot Noir Rosé, 2020 Heritage Collection Cabernet Syrah, 2020 Heritage Collection Nanny’s Blend, 2020 Platinum Series Syrah
Master Red Only: 2021 Cabernet Merlot, 2020 Heritage Collection Nanny’s Blend, 2020 Heritage Collection Cabernet Syrah, 2019 Platinum Series Pinot Noir, 2019 Platinum Series Cabernet Franc, 2020 Platinum Series Syrah
Tasting Notes
PLATINUM SERIES CHARDONNAY, 2019
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Hughes Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 150
Appearance: Bright, golden colour.
Nose: Toasty, spicy, apple with a suggestion of oak.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, apple, lemon with a velvety touch of caramel. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Food Pairing: Brie and bacon bread pudding, spicy miso ramen with chili-glazed salmon, mussels in a sweet curry sauce with spring onion pancakes, butternut squash hummus with baked pita, and cream cheese and crab wontons.
HERITAGE COLLECTION NANNY'S BLEND, 2020
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Merlot (64%), Cabernet Franc (22%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 350
Appearance: Deep purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, plum and cherry bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, well-extracted flavours of plum, cherry and currants with well-integrated oak.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Tannins are ripe, but a year’s cellaring should polish them.
Food Pairing: Pan-seared duck with blueberry sauce, grilled mushroom and Swiss cheese veggie burger, creamy chicken marsala, grilled flank steak with burrata and pesto, and spicy Cajun jambalaya.
HERITAGE COLLECTION GEWÜRZTRAMINER, 2020
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Varietal: Gewürztraminer
Vineyard: Hanck Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 150
Appearance: Light straw colour.
Nose: Aromatic, ginger, grapefruit nose with a touch of oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, lychee and grapefruit flavours, well-structured and lingering.
Quality: 89 – 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Worth cellaring for a year or two to develop the bouquet.
Food Pairing: Mahi-mahi fish tacos, Indian chicken curry, three-cheese baked oysters, spicy vegan Sichuan noodles, and bacon fried rice with shallots.
PLATINUM SERIES CABERNET FRANC, 2019
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Fedorko Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 100
Appearance: Bright ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, tobacco, blueberry nose with a white pepper and a light floral note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, blueberry and redcurrant flavours carried on lively acidity. Well-balanced and nicely integrated oak.
Quality: 89 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+. Can be tasted now but will reward cellaring 1–2 years.
Food Pairing: Grilled pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes, lamb burgers with onion aioli, chicken shawarma, eggplant parmigiana, and fresh tomato-and-herb bruschetta.
HERITAGE COLLECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2021
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Hanck Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250
Appearance: Clear, bright. Very pale straw colour.
Nose: A beautiful bouquet of white flowers intermingle with tropical fruit, peach, grapefruit, lime, and fresh cut grass with an undercurrent of minerality.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Crisp, fruit-forward flavours of peach, green apple, grapefruit, and lime with sweet basil and a flinty note on the finish. Well balanced with a round mouthfeel.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Prawn and salmon burgers with spicy mayo, Greek chicken pasta with olives and feta, strawberry basil avocado toast, buttery lemon grilled fish and asparagus, and arugula and melon salad with crisp prosciutto.
PLATINUM SERIES MERLOT, 2019
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Stouck Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 100
Appearance: Bright ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, spicy black plum bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, plum and cherry flavours. Well-structured with evident but ripe tannins.
Quality: 89 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+. Hold one year.
Food Pairing: Sirloin steak with gorgonzola sauce, glazed and smoked pork chops with caramelized pears, roasted mushroom and fennel pizza, garlic-and-thyme-crusted tuna, and Italian polpettes in marinara sauce.
HERITAGE COLLECTION CHARMED, 2021
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Ontario
Varietals: Riesling (33%), Gewurztraminer (32%), Muscat (20%), Vidal (15%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5%
Residual Sugar: 18 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw colour. Tiny effervescent bubbles.
Nose: White floral notes are accompanied by tropical fruit, lychee, peach, and red apple.
Palate: Medium acid, light- to medium-bodied. Slightly off-dry. Tropical fruit, peach, nectarine, red apple, citrus fruit (grapefruit, mandarin), and a hint of lime zest on the finish. Well balanced with light effervescence.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Spicy pineapple chicken, sweet potato gnocchi with browned butter sauce, shrimp fried rice, roasted fennel pasta with ricotta, and Hawaiian pizza.
PLATINUM SERIES SYRAH, 2020
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Wiens Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 150
Appearance: Deep purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, peppery, blackberry nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, dry, succulent blackberry, red licorice and herbal flavours. Lovely mouth-feel, beautifully balanced with fresh acidity and a firm finish of ripe tannins.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Lamb gyros with tzatziki, sticky hoisin duck bites with cucumber and spring onion salad, herb-crusted New York strip steak, panzanella with onions and bell peppers, and cheesy beef fajitas with lots of cracked pepper.
HERITAGE COLLECTION RIESLING, 2020
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 9.5%
Residual Sugar: 48 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 150
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw colour.
Nose: Bright aromatics of peach, red apple, lemon, lime, and minerality with hints of petrol and a honeyed note.
Palate: Medium acid, light body. Semi-sweet. Tantalizing peach, candied apple, pineapple, and lemon-lime flavours. Well balanced with a round mouthfeel.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Spicy pineapple prosciutto tarts, Buffalo chicken-stuffed sweet potatoes, smoked duck breast with apple-brandy caramel, lobster scampini over zucchini noodles, and spring vegetable and goat cheese quiche.
CABERNET MERLOT, 2021
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Cabernet Franc (53%), Merlot (47%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 400
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Ruby red core.
Nose: A bouquet of cherry, blackberry, plum, licorice, tomato leaf, basil, baking spice, and a green vegetal note.
Palate: Medium- acid, medium tannin, medium body. Bold flavours of plum, cherry, blackberry, green pepper, and savoury green herbs (basil and thyme) with a touch of baking spice and black pepper. Well balanced with firm tannins.
Quality: 89 – 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Decant and drink now or hold 2 – 3 years.
Food Pairing: Grilled sausage with polenta and tapenade, Moroccan beef stew, venison wellington, fig and goat cheese tarts, and mushroom-stuffed roast chicken.
HERITAGE COLLECTION PINOT NOIR ROSÉ, 2021
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Four Mile Creek
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Marynissen Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 150
Appearance: Bright. Pale salmon colour.
Nose: Lovely rose petal aromas are followed by vibrant notes of strawberry, red cherry, cranberry, raspberry, and citrus zest with a hint of green herbs.
Palate: Medium acid, light tannin, medium body. Bright red berry fruit (strawberry, raspberry), cherry, blood orange, lime zest, lemongrass, and hints of baking spice. Well balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. A great patio sipper.
Food Pairing: Chicken and gouda grilled cheese, salmon and potato skillet, creamy caprese-stuffed portobello mushrooms, flatbread with steak, egg, and arugula, and lobster Rangoon.
HERITAGE COLLECTION CABERNET SYRAH, 2020
Marynissen Estates Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Cabernet Franc (67%), Syrah (33%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby-garnet core.
Nose: Fruit-forward aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant are accompanied by green pepper, cedar, baking spice, and hints of pepper spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Plum, black cherry, cassis, green pepper, black tea, dark chocolate, allspice, and black pepper with hints of licorice on the finish. Well balanced with a smooth mouthfeel.
Quality: 89 – 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Decant and drink now or hold 1–2 years.
Food Pairing: Lentil and tomato pan-roasted chicken, maple-BBQ-cauliflower wraps with herbed butter bean spread, smoked brisket tacos, charcuterie board with tomato jam and salted nuts, and potatoes au gratin with gruyere.