Niagara vs Bordeaux

On January 27, 2007 at Lakeview Cellars, the Niagara Chapter of the Ontario Wine Society held a Niagara vs. Bordeaux taste off.

The blind tasting was lead by Lakeview founder Eddie Gurinskas.

Eddie began by instructing the sell-out gathering on the facts regarding the winemaking industry in Ontario and which grape varieties are used in the production of four of the Ontario "Meritage" (pronounced like Heritage) wines, three French Bordeaux and one "Ringer" (similar style wine from a different region). All wines were priced in the $16 - 35 range, were selected from vintages between 1999 and 2003, and had received good reviews in the past. The wines were poured blind (bottles were concealed from the participants) and placed in random order, so not to influence tasters' assessments. After tasting and note writing, guests were asked to rate each wine on a 20 point scale, then to rank and denote each wine as either French Bordeaux or Ontario Meritage.

Six out of the eight wines were correctly identified by the majority of tasters as either Bordeaux or Meritage. Every wine got at least one "favourite" vote and the winner got 14. There were 45 tasters voting.

Niagara wines took the top 3 places:

1. 02 Creekside Reserve Meritage -$34 -sold out
2. 02 Jackson Triggs "Delaine" Cab Merlot - $30 - 04 is available
3. 02 Lakeview Meritage - $16 - in the LCBO

The Ringer wine, a 2002 Bedell Meritage, Long Island, NY ($25 US) placed 5th.

This was another clear victory for Ontario reds in their quest to be held in the same esteem as their European counterparts, which was facilitated on a level playing field with no bias to any one product.

For all of us who support and enjoy VQA wines, please tell your friends about this tasting, especially those who say that Ontario wines are overpriced and of inferior value to the French Bordeaux.

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