My friend, Don DeMaison, will finally open his winery this weekend, a dream he's been pursuing since the early 1980s. Some of you may have met him at NiagaraCOOL picnics. I stopped by to visit him yesterday (I owed him money for grapes) and tasted the wine wines he will be offering. He will be selling 4 whites, all 2010 vintage. Reds (Pinot Noir and Lemberger) will be released in the near future.
2010 Sauvignon Blanc - As some of you may know, I'm not a big fan of SB, but I liked this. Light straw color, grapey-fruity nose, bone dry and medium finish. $18
2010 Pinot Gris - This is almost stunning - light gold, generous, clean nose, bone dry and a finish that just goes on and on. Lovely wine. $20
2010 Dry Riesling - 1% RS A bit of SO2 on the nose, soft, with medium finish.
2010 Riesling - 3% RS - This seemed unbalanced for me - not enough acidity, but certainly quaffable.
Among his 2011 wines will be a whole cluster pressed Pinot Noir that will become a Blanc des Noir bubbly - probably about 18 months before release.