Rosewood wine bottles set up for a tasting event

Rosewood Estates Winery | 2020

Niagara, Ontario

Rosewood Estates Winery: Meadery is an award winning boutique winery located on the Beamsville Bench. Family owned and operated, Rosewood is proud to produce 100% VQA Ontario wines and the first honey wines in Niagara.

Our focus is simple. Craft honest low-intervention wine, innovative mead, and local honey that reflect their individuality as artifacts of the Niagara Region. By capturing the expression of each vintage, we allow the wine to tell its own story. Welcome to the journey.

Wines included this month

January 2020

RENACEAU CHARDONNAY, 2016
NIGHT MOVES GAMAY, 2017
MEAD BLANC, 2018
UNFILTERED PINOT NOIR, 2017
SANS HEIR SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2016
BLACKJACK PINOT NOIR, 2016

RENACEAU CHARDONNAY, 2016

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Beamsville Bench
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Renaceau Vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 313

Appearance: Straw colour.
Nose: Lightly toasty, apple nose with forest floor notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, ripe apple and peach flavours; rich and mouth-filling, with fresh acidity ending on a note of pineapple.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now through 2020.
Critic Rating: 89 points - Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Seared scallops with eggplant caponata, salmon cakes with jalapeño mayonnaise, butternut squash risotto, smoked trout salad with mustard dressing, and asparagus and bok choy frittata.

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NIGHT MOVES GAMAY, 2017

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Creek Shores
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Emerald Shores Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 940

Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Leafy, cherry pit bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, well-structured, sour cherry and cranberry flavours carried on lively acidity.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now. Chill lightly.
Critic Rating: 88 points - Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Cranberry glazed turkey meatloaf, baked gnocchi with ham and leek, roasted duck with plum sauce, roasted beet and steak salad, pan fried halibut with walnut crust, and pork sausage-stuffed mushrooms.

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MEAD BLANC, 2018

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Gewürztraminer & Riesling
Vineyard: Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.8%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 255

Appearance: Bright, clear. Light straw colour.
Nose: Spicy, waxy nose of lychee and rosewater.
Palate: Light to medium-bodied, off-dry, honeyed Asian pear flavour.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now. A blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling juice and honey co-fermented. Drink now. Chill lightly.
Critic Rating: 88 points - Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Baja fish tacos with a cilantro-lime drizzle, chickpea and squash coconut curry, spicy peanut Thai noodles, chocolate-dipped watermelon, and roasted rhubarb salad with goat cheese.

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UNFILTERED PINOT NOIR, 2017

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Renaceau & Blackjack Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 626

Appearance: Slightly hazy, ruby colour.
Nose: Raspberry and oak spice on the nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, elegant, beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak and great length; Burgundy-style, reminiscent of a Volnay. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 91 points - Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Beef carpaccio, butterflied lamb with pomegranate salsa, beef wellington with gorgonzola, mushroom and truffle risotto, brie-stuffed artichokes, and grilled quail with cauliflower purée.

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SANS HEIR SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2016

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Lakeshore
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Glenlake Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.6%
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 208

Appearance: Golden straw colour.
Nose: Minerally, slightly reductive nose of green plum, cut grass and lanolin with a touch of oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, passionfruit and muscat flavours.
Quality: Outstanding. Tasty and lingering. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 90 points - Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Pork tenderloin with pineapple salsa, chicken tagine with apricots, zucchini and goat cheese quiche, sole fillets with creamy pesto, and grilled shrimp with garlic butter.

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BLACKJACK PINOT NOIR, 2016

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Blackjack Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 151

Appearance: Ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, spicy, raspberry bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted raspberry and red plum flavours with lively acidity ending on ripe tannins. A beautifully balanced wine.
Quality: Outstanding.
Critic Rating: 92 points - Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Balsamic chicken with figs and red onion, Asian pork lettuce wraps, green lentil dahl, crispy-skinned roasted goose with red wine jus, and wild mushroom and burrata bruschetta.

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RIESLING AF, 2017

Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Escarpment
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Renaceau & Blackjack Vineyards
Alcohol: 11.5%
Residual Sugar: 6.8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 850

Appearance: Bright, clear. Light hay coloured core. Slight bubbles upon pouring.
Nose: Green apple, lanolin, wet wool, limestone, apricot.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Grapefruit, early peach, green apple.
Quality: Very Good+. 88 points.

Food Pairing: Cajun chicken with coriander and lime fried rice, roasted pork loin with apple chutney, lobster fettuccine, chicken avocado quesadillas, and roasted cauliflower steaks with chimichurri sauce.

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