Canadian Wines From Pelee Island In The Middle Of Lake Erie

Canadian Wines From Pelee Island In The Middle Of Lake Erie – Episode #429

March 24, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk still thinks that Canada is one of the hot up and coming areas in the world and puts a few wines to the test from a pretty cool area!

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Comments on this episode(264) Leave a comment ›

“Pelee makes some incredible wines – their Merlot and Pinot Noir are bo…” by Robert
“Funny enough, my wife just started a wine blog about Canadian Wines an…” by Ray Slakinski
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Pelee Island Gewurztraminer Reserve
2005 Pelee Island Shiraz
2006 Pelee Island Cabernet Franc

Links mentioned in todays episode.

264 Responses

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March 24, 2008

Paul McGarry
QOTD: Quail’s Gate Vineyard Chardonnay (unoaked). Big ups to the Okanagan Valley in BC. Vineyard know for its Burgundian style Pinot and Chard.
March 24, 2008

Andy & Edie
Hey Gary… remember the part when you dumped all the wines in the bucket. That was freakin’ AWESOME! Anyway, great episode even though the wines weren’t so great this time. I should be trying more Canadian wines since they are our neighbor here in Montana. QOTD: I recently had a $3 Chardonay from Spain that changed how I felt about Chardonay, Spain, and $3 wines. It was really pretty good, but I can’t remember the name of it. I totally agree that wine varietals or regions shouldn’t be judged by just a few samples. I used to judge wines too before I actually drank more than 2 or 3 of them.
March 24, 2008

John Farrin
QOTD: 2004 Lynmar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Quail Hill Vineyard. A beautiful Jekyl & Hyde wine that when sipped at first opening tasted thin and somewhat sour but, after six hours of air, blossomed into the best California pinot I have ever had. Full and round with outrageous mouthfeel and pure fruit, if it gets any better than this, I WANT it! Had this about two weeks ago.
March 24, 2008

IPv6Freely
Good call JonE, poutine is amazing, and Canadian beer is the best in the world!
March 24, 2008

IPv6Freely
Ah what a bummer to see three Canadian wines be not so good… I’ve had some pretty awesome Canadian wines, I’ll have to send you a couple!

For those of you who may be swayed by seeing Gary pour out all three Canadian wines, please keep in mind all three were from the same producer.

Gary, you need to come to Canada. There is no better place in the world to be!
March 24, 2008

L
QOTD: I just drank another cote rotie alongside an australian shiraz-viognier. This is my second cote rotie in a year and they are really letting me down. As far as i remember, 2001 was supposed to be an excellent vintage for cote rotie and yet, i found it somewhat watery and thin. I’m begining to think that most of them are overpriced and over rated.

Anyway, Gary, don’t you think the theatrical dumping of their wine was a little silly? Being objective and fair is one thing, but there is no reason to be a dick about it.
March 24, 2008

JonE
Just rate some poutin’s and you’ll have alot better results, much more tasty. And hell what about Canadian beers?!!! It’s time G-Man!

QOTD: This weekend I had a 2004 Elena Walch Chardonnay. Not only did it hold up well, but it had all kinds of nuances and second and third tier flavors. I have always had respect for good Alto Aldige producers, but never really saw Chard as a force in that area. It was great wine and it really changed my mind.
March 24, 2008

BILL R
these wines are SHIT!

I have spent summers here! i am from here!

this is why i buy wines from winelibrary!

you can’t put lip stick on a pig!
March 24, 2008

jseeds
QOTD: Clos Pepe Chardonnay 2006: The Antithesis of the fat, buttery California chardonnay. Lean-mean-razorblade-tongued beastie. Still very Chardonnay, but no make-up. Awesome.
March 24, 2008

Eastportorican
GV, Add some grain alcohol and Hawiian punch to the bucket and have the CKC’s over for a party ! QOTD: Albarino
March 24, 2008

Taylor
Great to have a new episode, too bad it wasnt a knock out…
QOTD Vi De Nulles Blanc 2006, I loved this wine and to see that it was 8 bones changed my mind because i thought to have a good wine from that region i would have to spend a fortune.
March 24, 2008

DrT in NC
None for the area. However, wines change and palates do even more so. 7-10 years, I tried a number of Rieslings and didn’t like them. These days, I find that I really enjoy most of the ones I’ve tried recently. Even if you only drink a few wines a months, you should keep trying new ones.
March 24, 2008

JC
QOTD: The last dozen or so Pinot Noirs from California and Washington I tried I didn’t like.
March 24, 2008

Kev and Ams
QOTD: I really liked the Bordeaux Rose from the last secret pack.
March 24, 2008

Anthony L.
Wow,that’s gotta be a first. 3 full bottles poured out!!
March 24, 2008

Jaybird
QOTD: The first that came to mind was a CDF and then felt that was not fair because blends can consist of 13 different grapes. I would say for me then has to be my first Grenache from Australia which was by De Lisio. Just being so content on drinking just Shiraz or Shiraz/Cabernet that it was a wine that really broke the ice for me. Although I am a hugh fan of Shiraz, Australia can produce other grape varieties that can sit at the same table as top Shiraz producers.
March 24, 2008

Neil
QOTD: Albarino
March 24, 2008

Jacob S
QOTD: Chateau Roquetaillade le Bernet 06 Graves. 5euro white Bordeaux that I loved.

Gary, you should seek out wines from the Okanagan Valley as I think they are superior to the Canadian wines from Ontario….albeit more difficult to get a hold of. Some of my favorite producers are Joie, Fairview Cellars, Sandhill, and Laughing Stock. I think you’ll appreciate these a lot more.
March 24, 2008

Freddy Fred
Oopsie… Typo… LCBO stands for Liquor Control Board of Ontario
March 24, 2008

David McWherter
I recently went to Toronto, and picked up about 4 assorted (red) VQA wines there — The weird thing that even though they were all different grapes and manufacturers (Cab Franc, Black Cab, etc), they all had this distinctive “sour” note to them. I’ve never tasted it in wines from other locations, and I wonder if it dominates the Canadian wine world or not…but the fact that each of my bottles had it freaked me out.

-david
March 24, 2008

Rachel
QOTD: Marquis Phillips Shiraz (I do not remember the vintage.)
I had just come off a rather bad experience/tasting of wines, the last one being a Shiraz, and this wine totally changed my outlook on red wines, especially Shiraz. It makes me much more open and ready to try Shiraz again.
March 24, 2008

Freddy Fred
All I can say is “It’s about time”… I’ve been waiting for a Canadian wine episode forever (Ice Wine doesn’t count). I live in London, Ontario, not far from Pelee Island (pronounced PEE-LEE here). I’ve had many of their wines, the Gewurzt a few times and all of the wine that I’ve tasted are pretty bad, awkward and hollow. Most Ontario wine I’ve had (which has to be over 50 different wines) are pretty hollow and boring like the Gewurzt Garry tried. However, I’ve had just as many lame wines from California and France.

The main problem with wine here is the LCBO (Liquor License Board of Ontario) and their insane prices for domestic wine. I can get a BETTER quality wine from France CHEAPER than I can get local wine. There has been some local wine privatization but all imported wine is still sold though ONE RETAILER, LCBO and it’s damn frustrating. The most annoying thing is that the same Ontario wine can be bought cheaper in the states. I can get a $60 bottle of Ice Wine in Michigan that costs $100 here and yet I live 140 miles from the winery…. WHAT GIVES? I go to The States to buy wine because it saves me 20% off the LCBO price even after the insane duty fees. I wish we could get privatized liquor stores here so our wine and spirits industry can grow.

That said… there’s one good producer of wine in Ontario that I could recomment and that’s Inniskillin. Good… not great… just good, as far as the world stage goes anyway.
March 24, 2008

jaredlevy
cool show gary…went to canada last year, went to inniskillin and chateau des charmes, great late harvest rieslings and sauv blancs!

QOTD: Cakebread Chardonnay 2005….I was really taken aback by the balance and zing of this wine as I have been an avid ABC (anything but chardonnay) person.
March 24, 2008

crank
QOTD: I had a Pinot Nero from Italy that was really good. I didn’t think Italy could grow a good Pinot Noir grape.
March 24, 2008

Dom
Mischief and mayhem pinot 05. I did’t think I would enjoy wines towards the medium body, especially from Burgundy. But, i though it was and excellent drink!