TN: Two More CaveSpring Ontario Wines...(short/boring)

TomHill · March 30, 2021, 8:09pm

Tried these two additional CaveSpring wines last week:

CaveSpring CabFranc VQA: NiagaraPenninsula (13.5%; www.CaveSpring.com) Jordan/Ontario 2017: Very dark color; very strong quite earthy/loamy/compost pile/very dusty some herbal/CabFranc/thyme/rosemary/pungent very slight blackcurranty light toasty/oak very Loire-like quite interesting nose; fairly tart/tangy strong earthy/loamy/very dusty fairly herbal/CabFranc slight floral/blackcurranty somewhat angular/raspy light toasty/oak flavor w/ modest tangy tannins; very long/lingering quite tart/tangy very dusty/earthy/loamy rather herbal/CabFranc/thyme/pungent bit complex finish w/ ample tangy tannins; a pretty classic cold-climate CabFranc w/ lots of loamy/dusty character; a dead-ringer for a structured/hard Loire CabFranc; badly needs some age; very fairly priced at $21.00 (KK)

CaveSpring Riesling Icewine VQA: LincolnLakeshore EG (SaH: 36 Brix; RS: 10.2 gm/100 ml; 11.0%) 2017: Med.dark gold color; very intense grapey/passito/very pineapple/mango/honeyed/R light earthy very clean bit complex beautiful nose; very tart/tangy quite sweet very intense R/floral/mango/pineapple balanced & not sweet/sour beautiful flavor; very long/lingering very intense R/floral/mango/pineapple/passito very sweet beautiful finish; very much an Essence of R; a terrific Icewine. $63.00/hlf (KK)

And a wee BloodyPulpit:

I tried their Riesling several weeks ago & was blown away by it:

Tom:

Cave Spring Riesling VQA: NiagaraPeninsula (11.0%; www.CaveSpring.Ca) Cave Spring Vnyd/Jordan/Ontario 2018: Med.gold color; very fragrant R/mango/floral/pineapple some Mosel valve oil/petrol quite mineral/flinty/steely very Mosel-like rather complex beautiful nose; quite tart/tangy fairly dry very strong R/floral/mango quite mineral/steely/flinty very Mosel-like beautiful flavor; very long/lingering strong floral/R/mango quite mineral/steely/flinty/metallic fairly dry balanced beautiful finish; a dead ringer for a Mosel trocken or a Wien R but w/ more minerality; a terrific R at a great price; going back for more. $20.00 (AV)

A wee BloodyPulpit:

CaveSpring: Found this at ArroyoVino on Sat & since w/ almost never see any Ontario wines way down here, thought I’d give it a try. I was mightly impressed. Founded by Len Pennachetti in 1973. Harvested at a meagre 18.6 Brix, it is not at all lean & eviscerated, but packed w/ loads of minerality & flavor. TA is a screaming .87 gm/100ml and a pH of 2.88, but it is balanced & not at all overly acidic. The RS is indicated at 1.4 gm/100ml but it seemed perfectly dry to me on the palate & I could not taste any r.s.
They make a pretty complete lineup & I’d dearly love to try their other…but the likelihood of them showing up here in NM is pretty near zilch.

I’m up to almost a case of this Riesling by now.
I was also quite impressed by the IceWine. These IceWines are the most common Ontario wines we see in NM. And they’re usually made from Seyval or Vidal or other hybrids and typically quite expensive. This CaveSpring is probably the best Ontario IceWine I’ve had, as good as anything from Germany and not at all overpriced.
Tom

Adam_G · March 30, 2021, 8:50pm

Cave Spring is a favourite. If you can get your hands on some, try Harbour Estate Winery, just down the street in Jordan Harbour.

S_teve_R_edenbaugh · March 30, 2021, 9:26pm

Met winemaker several years ago at Binny’s in Chicago and have never been disappointed in anything they make…impressive and consistent. Nice note Tom.

bob_parsons_alberta · April 11, 2021, 4:31pm

Just opened a 2013 Platinum Riesling so stay tuned.