WTN: Cave Spring "Off Dry" Riesling 2005

Ontario, well, kind of-sort of.

Used to drink Cave Spring quite a bit. Both its regular and off dry styles were very good quality for the money.

Had assumed this was from the Niagara Penninsula, but I noticed this on the front label: "Cellared in Canada from domestic and imported wines." What's this!!??

Back label states: "Due to diminished yields in 2005 we have made this wine in a style consistent with previous vintages through careful selection of international and local wines."

Tangy, green apple fruit, lime, lightly sweet, spicy, rather delicate structure but good intensity with the fruit, very light petrol notes.

An "okay" wine, but not up to the level I have come to expect from this winery. Worked very well with a lunch of spicy Cambodian food.

Bruce, interesting notes. I had a similar thing happen to me last week while shopping for wine. I thought I had bought a 2005 Inniskillin Pinot Gris entirely from Niagara but when I got it home I noticed that it, too, was non-VQA - yet it was placed among the VQA wines. I thought about returning it on principle, but will probably just use it in my cooking where a bit of dry white wine is sometimes necessary. I'll probably drink the rest assuming it's good, but will have to have an ever sharper eye next time so as not to be deceived again.

In fairness to Cave Spring, they did put it on the front label- it does not sound like they wee trying to hide anything. Ironicly enough, here in the US we have VQA Cave Spring Riesling '05 made from Ontario grapes.

Ed, you are correct - I fault the LCBO and not Cave Spring, mainly for choosing expediency over truth in how they arrange Ontario-cellared vs. Ontario-grown wines.

In fairness to Cave Spring, they did put it on the front label- it does not sound like they wee trying to hide anything. Ironicly enough, here in the US we have VQA Cave Spring Riesling '05 made from Ontario grapes.

Certainly, I give full marks to Cave Springs for being "up front" about it (no pun intended). Not only did it clearly state on the front where the grapes had come from, but the back label told us why they used some imported grapes.

The Reserve Riesling is a great wine from these guys.

Bruce and Paul,
Are you guys coming to NiagaraCool? If you are, I can bring a bottle of the VQA to the picnic and you can try it.

Bruce and Paul,
Are you guys coming to NiagaraCool? If you are, I can bring a bottle of the VQA to the picnic and you can try it.

Thanks for the offer Ed. Not sure. My wife and I have said a couple of times that we should get to an event, either NiagaraCool or the granddadday, McCool.

Hi Ed,

I love NiagaraCOOL and will certainly do my best to be there again this time. I'm also planning to have some of my '06 dry Cayuga on hand!