WTN: 2008 Wayne Gretzky Estates Riesling

2008 Wayne Gretzky Estates Riesling (Niagara Peninsula VQA):

11.3% alc./vol. $14.95 in the VQA section at the LCBO, general list. Screwcap closure.

Pale bright straw with a light green glint. A rather subdued nose of pineapple and petrol; typical Granny Smith apple aromas in the background. Some pleasant wet cement happening in there as well... Very crisp and dry on the entry; much drier than I had expected (thought this was going to be distinctly off-dry based on the shelf talker, which turned out to be incorrect). Laser-like crispness; very tangy. Light-bodied on the mid-palate; cleansing and brisk, but with a very short finish.

I'm assuming this is the hockey player Wayne Gretsky? Is he a big wine person or just looking for marketing. Sounds like the wine was not bad, but I assume he was not very involved?

It is the hockey great. A web search shows that the wines are made by Creekside Estate Winery in the Niagara Peninsula (although it appears he also has a Napa C.S. label.) Most of the wines are inexpensive except for a Vidal Ice Wine. How much involvement Gretzky has in the style of the wines is a question.

Yessir, it's No. 99 himself.

I highly doubt he's the winemaker himself - I just guess he wanted a brand of local wine. Good thing at least that it's VQA!