Rick Van Sickle recounts his first visit at the newly open Redstone Winery
Natalie’s Score: 92/100. A spectacular Riesling founded by one of Niagara’s best producers Tawse. This is the first Redstone Riesling release from the south block of the Limestone Vineyard, a 14-year-old sustainably farmed block on Twenty Mile Bench. The 2012 vintage was warm and it shows in the pure fruit intensity and laser focus of this wine: white peach, lime zest and a deep core of minerality. I am thrilled with this first effort from Redstone, and anxiously look forward to future vintages. Cheers!
Moray Tawse, the owner of Tawse winery in Vineland, made the cover of Britain’s prestigious Decanter Magazine with his Tawse Estate Chardonnay 2011. Moray purchased the old Thomas & Vaughan winery in Beamsville in 2009 and renamed it Redstone. The 2011 Chardonnay from the Redstone property has just been released at Vintages at $18.95. Light straw in colour, it has a spicy pear bouquet with vanilla oak. Medium-bodied, dry and elegant, it’s beautifully balanced with great length. Perfect for chicken or fish dishes. That’s Redstone Chardonnay 2011 from Ontario at Vintages. ($18.95, Vintages #398966)
Natalie’s Score: 89/100. Soft, pretty and floral with a good acidic backbone. Well-made and balanced Niagara Chardonnay.
2011 Redstone Chardonnay – Vintages 398966 – $18.95 – **** – I don’t often like to dwell on the price of the wines I talk about … the main thing I am looking for with all my reviews is value. That being said I think we can officially put to bed the statement that there are no good Ontario Chardonnay’s under the twenty dollar mark. This is an excellent showing from Redstone. There is a great balance of pear, peach and citrus that is perfectly intertwined with nice vanilla and subtle gingerbread spice on the finish. This will make a great match to creamy pasta dishes and roasted chicken.