708 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 80 PART 5 SEPTEMBER 2022
I have said little about the red wines. Most are from hybrid grapes, the
most popular being Baco Noir, Maréchal Foch, Luci Kuhlmann and Leon
Millot. However, there is some Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Gamay production.
In fact, other neighbouring provinces are getting into the game, as
we sampled a light but peppery and flavourful Gamay from Matos Winery
& Distillery, a producer on Prince Edward Island (which has only about
three wineries). Even the hybrid blends, carefully made and lightly oaked,
have their pleasures, especially with food. Luckett’s Phone Box Red, the
Gaspereau Vineyards Lucie Kuhlmann and the wines reviewed below are
good examples.
This time, I have reviewed a mix of Nova Scotia wines that you can order
to British Columbia and, given how well Nova Scotia did at the Canadian
Wine Awards, added some B.C. wines that won platinum (the top tier) at
those awards.
Domaine de Grand Pré Gaspereau Vineyards
BEAR RIVER PILEATED PINOT GRIS N/V (500 ML)
Bear River, Nova Scotia $28.00
From vines first planted in 1998 and named for the local woodpecker that
loves to eat them, this lighter tank-fermented version has citrus, peach and
pear aromas with some steely notes and flavours dominated by lemon-lime,
green apple and pear. It has a slightly honeyed finish. Given the small production,
it is a blend of more than one vintage. Overall, it is light and bright
and is made for seafood or a chicken breast infused with lemon and garlic.
DOMAINE DE GRAND PRÉ TIDAL BAY 2021
Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia $19.83
As noted in the article, Grand Pré is one of the province’s oldest producers