WTN: 2008 Pelee Island Late Harvest Vidal (Ontario VQA)

Since about 1998, this wine has been one of a small number of sweet wines that I truly enjoy. Pelee Island produces two versions of varietal Vidal in 750 ml format: the regular "Monarch Vidal" bottling, which is near dry, to this sweeter bottling (about '3' on the LCBO sugar scale).

11.0% alc./vol. Natural particle-cork closure. $11.95 in the VQA section at the LCBO.

Beautiful, pale straw colour with a light green glint. Some tiny CO2 bubbles inside the glass after pouring. Aromas of ripe pineapple, peaches and apricot nectar. Excellent sweet-tart balance, with noticeable residual sugar - but a good bright streak of acidity keeping it all completely in check. Hints of icewine on the mid-palate, albeit with less viscosity and concentration. This definitely still works as a table wine: despite the "late harvest" moniker, it is not so heavy that it can't be served with an appropriate main course. Opulent peach and apricot-nectar flavours, with a pleasant dash of nutmeg on the mid- to aft-palate. Finishes clean and crisp.

One of the best Vidals in Ontario, year in, year out.

Paul,

I agree. I have had the Monarch version of this wine from Pelee Island and it is a simple but very enjoyable vidal.

Tom,

You know, the funny thing is that in this case, the late harvest version has more complexity than the Monarch version. There's all kinds of nectar (apricot, peach, pineapple, nectarine...) going on on the nose.

The so-called Late Harvest Riesling is made in the same style: sweet, but not too sweet or viscous that it couldn't work at the dinner table.