Reviewing the 2008 Vintage Pelee Island Pinot Noir Reserve.

This is a wonderful premimum wine at a not so premimum price. If I owned a restaurant, this is one of the wines I would have on my wine list. It’s affordable and will pair well with most meals.

Keep in mind that Pelee has three Pinot Noir labels. There is this one, the Reserve, a VQA Ontario red label bottle and a NON VQA Cellered in Canada blend. Buy the reserve!

Nose is not overwelming, but most Ontario Pinot Noir’s arn’t anyway. Some hints of earth, soil, and oak.

Great balance, making this a nice smooth wine. Mild tannins on the finish. Noted flavours of strawberries, earth and oak in the taste.

This one is currently available at Pelee Island’s retail store in Kingsville. Now also available at the LCBO, would make an excellent LCBO Vintages selection.

Plums and dark fruit on the nose with spiciness on the palate. A nice touch of earthiness after it opened up. A fairly long finish.

This Ontario selection is a good example of Pinot Noir from outside of the Côte d'Or and can easily hold its own against many of the new-world producers. Tasted at North of 9's Red Burgundy session and when compared directly against the mighty Pinot of Burgundy, unfortunately it lacks the same complexity and finesse. A good new world Pinot and certainly worth a try. (northof9finewine, Feb 2010)

Nice light red color. Earthy and a little harsh, but it grows on you. Just okay for my tastes.