WTN: Reif Silver Meritage 2007

Reif Estate
VQA Niagara River

A blend of Sauvignon Blanc (56 per cent) and Semillon.

Rich yellow in the glass.

Nothing happening on the nose.

Very light bodied, orange, tangerine, lemon, apple, melon, lime, crisp, clean, tangy acidity, a little candied, honeyed. Could use more body and intensity and it came across as watery and thin at times.

Nothing much on the finish.

This wine got several fairly positve reviews in the local wine press so I was greatly disappointed with my experience.

Purchased at $24.95 (Canadian) and a real mistake at that.

[David M. Bueker]

Unfortunate. But thanks for taking one for the team so to speak.

Reif has never impressed me, I have always thought of them as low-end in quality and prices for the most part. In recent vintages, I have noticed them jump on the bandwagon in producing wines in the higher price brackets. Too many wineries in Niagara are doing that these days but without the quality to justify the higher prices. Reflects badly on the region, IMO.

Norm

Reif seems to exist mainly becuase of the tourists that arrive by the busload at the winery. They have a great location, but I think their quality of table wines has suffered over the years. They can make an occasional nice ice wine (and who can't in Niagara?), but that's about it.

Reif has never produced a wine that I can say wow! The price of this blend is obscene imo.

Bruce,

Ouch - that is a nasty surprise, to pay that much and get a very mediocre nothing of a wine. Sorry to hear of your experience.

I will corroborate what several others have said: Reif's wines aren't among the best in Niagara, IMO. Though they did use to make a decent Baco Noir, but that's going back ages, and I haven't been there in about as long.