Truffle Pig Wine

I got the list of the winners from the 2008 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Wine Competition. Here they are with some of my own personal notes (from what I can remember!).

You can also read my notes from the event itself.

Best in Show Red:
2007 Black Prince Winery Cabernet Franc
Not really as complex or interesting as some of the better Cab Franc's I've had from Ontario, but it was undeniably VERY drinkable, probably due to the heavy oaking which gave an almost California-like mouth feel and vanilla sweetness.

Best in Show White:
2007 John Howard Megalomaniac Riesling
This one was truly fantastic -- great minerality and peachiness and perfectly balanced. It was second on my list of best whites, after the Fume Blanc from Creekside, which won Gold for best Sauv Blanc > $20.

Sparkling wine (1st place – red ribbon):
2006 Colio Estate Winery

Sparkling wine (2nd place – blue ribbon):
NV Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Cuvee Catharine Brut Rose

Chardonnay – un-oaked < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Black Prince Winery un-oaked Chardonnay

Chardonnay – un-oaked < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Pelee Island Winery un-oaked Chardonnay

Chardonnay – oaked < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2006 Niagara College Teaching Winery

Chardonnay – oaked < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2006 East Dell Barrel Fermented

Chardonnay – oaked < $20 (3rd place – white ribbon):
2007 Strewn Barrel Aged

Chardonnay – oaked > $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2006 Lakeview Cellars Reserve
I loved this chard -- really well balanced and lovely subtle oak. Not heavy-handed at all.

Chardonnay – oaked > $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2006 Huff Estates Winery Lighthall

Chardonnay – oaked > $20 (3rd place – white ribbon):
2006 Huff Estates Winery Southbay

Sauvignon Blanc < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Dan Ackroyd

Sauvignon Blanc < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Niagara College Teaching Winery

Sauvignon Blanc > $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Creekside Estate Winery Reserve
This was my pick for "Best in Show" white -- just a perfect example of good Ontario Fume Blanc.

Riesling < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Huff Estates Winery off-dry

Riesling < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Creekside Estate Winery Butler's Grant

Riesling < $20 (3rd place – white ribbon):
2007 Konzelmann Estate Winery

Riesling > $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 John Howard Megalomaniac Riesling
This one was truly fantastic -- great minerality and peachiness and perfectly balanced.

Riesling > $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2006 Huff Estates Winery off-dry Reserve
This was a pretty close second and was universally really enjoyed. The only problem was that it was a bit too acidic, but '06 was a very acidic year for Riesling, so that kinda makes sense.

Pinot Gris/Grigio <$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Pelee Island Winery Pinot Grigio

Pinot Gris/Grigio <$20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Pillitteri Estates Winery Pinot Grigio

Pinot Gris/Grigio >$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Huff Estates Winery Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris/Grigio <$20 (3rd place – white ribbon):
2007 Creekside Estate Winery Pinot Grigio

Gewürztraminer <$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Calamus Estate Winery

Gewürztraminer <$20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Caroline Cellars

Other white varietal (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Oak Heights Winery Vidal Blanc

Other white varietal (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Konzelmann Estate Winery Pinot Blanc

Other white varietal (3rd place – white ribbon):
2006 Willow Springs Winery Vidal

Other multi-varietal < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Strewn Riesling/Gewürztraminer semi-dry

Other multi-varietal < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Pillitteri Estates Winery Fusion Gewürztraminer/Riesling

Sweet (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Konzelmann Estate Winery Vidal Icewine

Sweet (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2006 Caroline Cellars Vidal Icewine

Sweet (3rd place – white ribbon):
2007 Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Riesling Icewine

Rosé (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Willow Springs Winery Pinot Grigio/Baco Noir Rosé

Rosé (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 John Howard Megalomaniac Pinot Noir Rosé

Pinot Noir <$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Pelee Island Winery Reserve

Pinot Noir >$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Norm Hardie Wines Ltd.
I didn't taste this category, but this is a pretty fantastic Pinot. It's drinking really well know, and should only get better in the next couple years. Lots of bright red fruit...

Pinot Noir >$20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2006 John Howard Meglomaniac

Cabernet Franc <$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Black Prince Winery

Cabernet Franc <$20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2005 Pillitteri Estates Winery

Cabernet Franc <$20 (3rd place – white ribbon):
2005 Niagara College Teaching Winery

Cabernet Franc >$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2005 Colio Estate Winery Reserve

Merlot <$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2006 Willow Springs Winery

Merlot >$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2006 John Howard Meglomaniac

Merlot >$20 ((2nd place – blue ribbon):
2005 Lakeview Cellars Reserve

Baco Noir < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2006 Caroline Cellars

Baco Noir >$20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2005 Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery Reserve
Everyone on my panel was pretty shocked that Baco could be this good. Really lovely and worth the $10 premium over their non-reserve Baco.

Other red varietal < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2005 Pelee Island Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Other red varietal < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Black Prince Winery Harwood St. Laurent

Other red varietal > $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2005 John Howard Megalomaniac Cabernet Sauvignon

Other red varietal > $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2005 Dan Ackroyd Signature Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Meritage < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2006 Willow Springs Winery Meritage

Meritage < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2006 Strewn Cabernet Merlot

Meritage > $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2005 Niagara College Teaching Winery Meritage

Meritage > $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2006 John Howard Megalomaniac Cabernet Merlot

Meritage > $20 (3rd place – white ribbon):
2004 John Howard Megalomaniac Melot/Cabernet

Other multi-varietal < $20 (1st place – red ribbon):
2007 Niagara College Teaching Winery Cab Franc/Baco Noir

Other multi-varietal < $20 (2nd place – blue ribbon):
2007 Pelee Island Winery Cab Sauv/Petit Verdot