Tawse Winery
We were proud to feature Tawse Winery in June 2022.
Tawse is a family-owned estate winery situated on the lower slopes of the Niagara Escarpment. At Tawse, they unite traditional winemaking techniques with state-of-the-art technology to create wines of exceptional elegance, depth and character.
Their fruit is harvested from old-growth, low-yield vines and gently handled using natural gravity flow and geothermic energy. They apply rigorous organic and biodynamic methods to every aspect of their wine production and Ecocert and Demeter seals now appear on all Tawse vintages made from our biodynamic vineyards.
Today, having acquired over 200 acres (5 vineyards) and being named Canadian Winery of the year in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016, Tawse Winery now produces 30,000 cases of wine and has one of the largest portfolios of organic wines in the Niagara region.
Tasting Notes
QUARRY ROAD RIESLING, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Vinemount Ridge
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Quarry Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 23.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,558
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Minerally, grapefruit nose with a light floral note. Developing petrol aromas.
Palate: Just off-dry, honeyed grapefruit and lime flavours with zesty acidity. Long, crisp finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Can be opened now, but will age well for several years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Fresh mango salad with lemon juice and cayenne pepper, peach cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream, prosciutto pasta carbonara, Singapore chilli crab, and cinnamon-roasted butternut squash.
QUARRY ROAD PINOT NOIR, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Vinemount Ridge
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Quarry Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 266
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Raspberry bouquet with tea leaf notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury raspberry and cranberry flavours. Firmly structured with evident tannins.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinkable now, but will reward cellaring a year or two.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Cedar plank salmon, grilled pork tenderloin with cherry compote, grilled risotto-stuffed bell peppers, beet salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinegar dressing, and roasted leg of lamb with rosemary and mint sauce.
GROWER'S BLEND SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Pale straw colour.
Nose: Cut grass, lemon zest nose with a thread of minerality.
Palate: Medium-bodied, tart lemony flavour, guava, and green pineapple flavours.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now, through 2023.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Goat cheese tart, fish and chips, tuna tartare in sesame garlic sauce, seafood pasta with mushroom cream sauce, and baked Tuscan chicken.
CHERRY AVENUE GAMAY NOIR, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Cherry Avenue Vineyard
Alcohol: 11.5%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 275
Appearance: Ruby colour.
Nose: Cherry nose with toasty oak and vanilla notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, juicy, sour cherry flavour with fresh acidity.
Quality: Outstanding. A chillable wine. Drinkable now.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Gourmet sausage pizza, garlic parmesan-stuffed mushroom caps, bacon-wrapped potato bites, quinoa black bean salad, and crisp roasted duck with a citrus pan sauce.
QUARRY ROAD CHARDONNAY, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Vinemount Ridge
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Quarry Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,166
Appearance: Light gold in colour.
Nose: Toasty, apple bouquet with oak spice and vanilla notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, yellow apple flavour, with well-integrated oak and lively acidity. Good mouth-feel and long on the palate. A beautifully balanced wine.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2023.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Salmon in a lemon dill cream sauce, korma chicken balls in lettuce cups, cannelloni with pumpkin, spinach, and ricotta, sautéed vegetable quesadillas with sour cream, and shrimp dynamite sushi rolls.
GROWER'S BLEND CABERNET FRANC, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,333
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, lightly floral, vanilla, oak spice, plum bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury red plum flavour, elegant, firmly structured, perfumed, with a note of orange peel in the finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinkable now, but cellar for 1-2 years to ameliorate the tannins.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Grilled bacon-cheddar cheeseburger, charcuterie board with Dijon mustard, creamy cilantro chipotle chicken, venison bourguignon, and marinated tomato salad with herbs.
TAWSE CABERNET MERLOT, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Merlot (44%), Cabernet Franc (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,000
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark purple-ruby colour.
Nose: Dark cherry, plum, violets, savoury green herbs, cedar.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Black cherry, blackcurrant, plum, green pepper, hint of earth and pepper spice.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Food Pairing: Barbecued black pepper steak with creamy mashed potatoes, spaghetti Bolognese, garlic and ginger-glazed pork over rice, prosciutto and spinach grilled cheese, and fried eggplant.
LAUNDRY MERLOT, 2015
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Laundry Vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark garnet colour.
Nose: Plum, blackcurrant, violets, licorice, hint of smoke and sweet baking spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Black cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, green savoury herbs, dark chocolate, black tea, smoke, and black pepper.
Quality: 91 points. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Slow-roasted brisket with caramelized onions, smoked duck with chestnut gnocchi and kale, cheese frittata with potato and salami, tomato and plum salad with tarragon, and grilled beef tenderloin with mushroom sauce.
GROWER'S BLEND PINOT NOIR, 2020
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,700
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Ruby red colour.
Nose: Red cherry, raspberry, hint of menthol, cedar.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Red cherry, red berries, blueberry, redcurrant, hints of vanilla and pepper spice.
Quality: 89 – 90 points. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Decant well and enjoy now or hold 2 – 3 years.
Food Pairing: Lemon linguini with roasted tomatoes, teriyaki chicken casserole, smoked salmon and asparagus puff pastry bites, fried goat cheese arepitas, and portobello burger with Swiss cheese.
TAWSE GAMAY NOIR, 2019
Tawse Winery, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietal: Gamay Noir
Vineyard: Various Niagara Peninsula vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 833
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Pale garnet colour.
Nose: Cherry, raspberry, white pepper, savoury green herbs, earth.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, savoury green herbs, hints of earth and black pepper.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Pork rillette with balsamic mustard, roasted chicken with lemon and garlic, tuna salad with Greek yogurt, roasted vegetables with rosemary and sage, and falafel bowls with rice and tahini.