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2007 Lailey Vineyard Riesling VQA Michael Pinkus - reviewed April 2008, Ontario Wine Review Derek Barnett is at it again. I have been a fan of his Rieslings since his days at Southbrook and all these years later, he’s still producing great Riesling. This 2007 is truly outstanding everything you drink Riesling for and a whole lot more. When you first get it to your nose, you’ll smell anise and fennel that floats around in and amongst the usual peach, floral and a bit of orangyness. Then you put it to your lips and into the mouth it goes: apples pop, lime zings, white peach coats and it finishes with a crisp, clean acidity that gets the mouth watering in anticipation for another sip. There’s also a faint hint of sweetness … beautiful; and with a lifespan of about 10 years, you’ll be able to enjoy this one for a good long time. |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Merlot, Niagara River VQA David Lawrason - reviewed April 2008, Winery to Home The 2006 vintage delivered good summer sun but buckets of autumn rain, resulting in fairly ripe but lighter, often dilute reds. This has managed better colour, concentration and depth than most; sporting a lifted boquet of violets, blueberry/blackberry, charry barrel notes and merlot’s signature tea and , dried herbs. Mid-weight, dry and firm without being austere. Very good length. Best 2009 to 2013. Tony Aspler - reviewed April 2008, Winery to Home Colour: deep ruby Nose: smoky, cedar, obvious toasty oak, plum Taste: dry, firmly structured, green note in the fruit Drinkability: now -2010 |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Chardonnay Unoaked VQA Christopher Waters - reviewed December 2007 What's not to like? This is a serious, structured Chardonnay that makes the most of its flinty minerality, yellow fruit flavours and fresh acidity. It was one of the hits at Lailey's recent Open House. Some spicy/earthy character rounds out the tropical fruit on the plalate, making this an elegant, balanced wine. |
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2006 Lailey Vineyard Chardonnay, Niagara River VQA Michael Pinkus - reviewed May 2008, Ontario Wine Review Derek Barnett, winemaker for Lailey, made a name for himself making Chardonnay for a little known winery (at the time) called Southbrook. Today, after about 17 years experience and plenty of creative, diverse and excellent Chards under his belt he still relishes making his oaked Chardonnays. They offer up such pleasure for the palate and, for those with some patience, cellar-worthiness. This ’06 version made from 100% of the estates “older vines” has an amazing buttery-vanilla-nutty nose at first sniff then subsequent whiffs will have you sensing toffee / butterscotch and then the piece-de-resistence: caramel apple (oh goodie!). In the mouth, there’s plenty to be thrilled about: buttery butterscotch, vanilla, good acidity and a repeating yum-factor: at first I perceived a medium length finish and the moment I made mention of it in my notes the flavours came roaring back again and again and again … it truly is a giving wine, it’s like Christmas for your mouth. Zoltan Szabo - reviewed March 2008, Winery to Home "This is harvested from our vineyard also- these vines were planted in 1973. We have lost alot of these old vines from the poor winters of 2003/5 but we are picking the older vines from within this block now and fermenting separately, This wine was just bottled in early December- only 80 cases produced" as winemaker Derek Barnett explains. Light golden and bright with mustard green tinge. Tropical fruit, cedar, fresh fennel, vanilla cream and fresh jarred raw honeycomb beeswax aroma combo. Medium to full bodied, viscous and flavoursome with a buttery texture and oak spice finish. Best to drink it 5-6 months from now when all elements will integrate and the wine will round out nicely. It will also age short to med term. 4 stars out of 5. David Lawrason - reviewed February 2008, Winery to Home This is the estate-grown chardonnay of two released by Lailey. Bright pale silver yellow colour. The nose was a bit closed at this point but nicely complex and harmonious with cashew, butter, mineral, apple and mint complexity. Mid-weight with firm acid structure and dry finish echoing, lemon, butter and light toast. Excellent length, with a lean, mineral edge. Best 2009 to 2012. Tony Aspler - reviewed February 2008, Winery to Home Colour: straw Nose: Burgundian nose touch of barnyard, apple Taste: dry, apple and lemon rind; sinewy, clean and carrying well to the finish Drinkability: now - 2009 |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Vidal Late Harvest VQA David Lawrason - reviewed November 2007, Winery to Home This is a very pleasant mild, clean, simple fresh and appealing vidal with typical pear, lemon and a touch of greenness that reminded me of cucumber. It’s mid weight, semi-sweet and balanced by fresh lemony acidity. Good to very good length. Tony Aspler - reviewed November 2007, Winery to Home Colour: straw Nose: honey, peach Taste: medium sweet, well-balanced, good mouth feel Drinkability: now - 2010 |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Vidal Select Late Harvest VQA David Lawrason - reviewed November 2007, Winery to Home The extra ripeness from later picking really transform the vidal fruit in comparison to the Late Harvest. Shows lifted, quite concentrated aromas of pear, orange-lemon citrus, herbs and honey. It’s medium weight, sweet and quite intense with bold acidity and excellent length. This should age very well. Best 2008 to 2013. Tony Aspler - reviewed November 2007, Winery to Home Colour: straw Nose: honey, peach with a lifted sweetness on the nose Taste: rich, spicy peach and honey; good intensity and balance Drinkability: now - 2010 |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Syrah VQA David Lawrason - reviewed November 2007, Winery to Home This is a rather snazzy, very spicy syrah. Fairly deep ruby colour. Very lifted, peppery, charcoal, caper/dill, chocolate, lead pencil nose with some blackcurrant fruit (wouldn’t mind a touch more). It’s mid-weight, slender, grippy and dry. Very focused, spicy, peppery, toasty finish, with excellent length. Needs a few months of calming perhaps. Best 2008 to 2012. Tony Aspler - reviewed November 2007, Winery to Home Colour: deep ruby-purple Nose: peppery blackberry, struck flint note Taste: dry, northern Rhone style, iodine, blackberry; firm structure, sinewy Drinkability: now - 2009 |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Syrah Canadian Oak VQA Zoltan Szabo - Gremolata Spicy nose of white pepper, blueberry, red currant with underlying and provocative floral, sundried tomato and horse stable nuances. Medium bodied with intense spicy berry flavours and grippy tannins. A very well made and pure expression of Syrah! 4 + stars out of 5. |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc VQA Little Fat Wino - reviewed March 23, 2007 Appearance: Pale lemon. Nose: Elegant nose for Sauvignon Blanc with light grassiness, butter and pear/apple/citrus fruit. Palate: Dry with good acidity, midweight. Richer on the palate than the nose suggests, buttery (light oak?) and citrus character midpalate and on the good clean finish. Conclusions: Softer style of Sauvignon Blanc rather than the over-the-top New Zealand style (more old-world than new). This is a very food-friendly wine that should be consumed by 2009. Tony Aspler - reviewed April 2007, Winery to Home Colour: pale straw Nose: suggestion of oak, smoky, green plum Taste: dry, medium-bodied, crisp and lively, green plum and gooseberry flavour with a vanilla note Drinkability: now -2008 David Lawrason - reviewed April 2007, Winery to Home By ageing a portion of this wine three months oak winemaker Derek Barnett has created a richer, more complex and softer sauvignon than you might expect. Soft nose shows ripe yellow apple, fennel, mineral and spice elements a bit closed now but likely to open by late summer. Mid-weight, compact and fleshy with a touch of wood spice on the finish. Nicely built, very good to excellent length. Best 2008 to 2010. Zoltan Szabo - reviewed April 2007 Pale, water white. Discreet Sauvignon Blanc nose hinting at grapefruit and carica. Attractive in its simplicity with a clean finish. Try with Bay Scallops and a tomato coriander salsa. 3.5 stars. |
2006 Lailey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Fumé VQA Jeff Davis - reviewed August 2007 Lots of toasty and creamy oak scents with some apple, pear and melon lurking below the surface. Creamy and toasty oak flavours with some underlying fruit layers. Good weight, concentration and length. A bit heavy on the oak but there is evident fruit and this style will appeal to many consumers. |
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2006 Lailey Vineyard Riesling Dry, Niagara Peninsula VQA Gord Stimmell - reviewed Wednesday April 18, 2007, Toronto Star 89 points. The Lailey Vineyard Riesling is a winner, with Anjou pear, lime, tangerine and peach freshness. Jeff Davis - reviewed August 2007 An attractive fruit-centred riesling that has more of ripe than crisp character. Fresh nose of apple, pear and melon coming in at good intensity. Bright fruit tones with good acidity and lingering melon and pear components. Clean and dry finish. Drink 2007-2009. Tony Aspler - reviewed August 2007, Winery to Home Colour: pale straw Nose: minerally, lime, grapefruit rind Taste: dry, crisp, lemony-grapefruit, fresh and lively; good length Drinkability: now - 2009 |
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2006 Lailey Vineyard Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula VQA Tony Aspler - reviewed February 2008, Winery to Home Colour: medium ruby Nose: sweet raspberry, earthy, high toned note Taste: dry, sweet raspberry, sinewy and firm; soft tannins Drinkability: now - 2009 |
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2006 Lailey Vineyard Pinot Noir, Niagara River VQA David Lawrason - reviewed February 2008, Winery to Home From home vineyards on the Niagara Parkway, this light pinot shows considerably complexity and charm, in a tough pinot vintage. Quite pale, garnet orange colour. Very generous lift on the nose with sour cherry fruit, wood smoke and spice. Light to mid-weight, well balanced with fine, dry but not too hard tannin. Very good to excellent length. Zoltan Szabo - reviewed March 2008 , Winery to Home Hightoned red cherry, raspberry, potpourri, fresh ginger, earth, truffles and barnyard. Light to medium bodied with a fairly soft and juicy mouthfeel and light, chalky tannins. The finish has fresh, sour cranberry and loose tea leaf tones. 3 1/2 + stars out of 5. Tony Aspler - reviewed February 2008, Winery to Home Colour: light ruby Nose: barnyard, raspberry, minerally Taste: leaner than the Niagara Peninsula Pinot; more Burgundian in style; elegant, firmly structured Drinkability: now - 2010 |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard 2005 Cabernet, Niagara Peninsula VQA Jeff Davis - reviewed August 2007 A pretty firm yet elegant red that has some ageing potential. Aromas of blackberry, plum, herbal tea, cedar and wood spice. Ripe dark fruit flavours with creamy and slightly toasty oak. Drying tannin with good acidity. Approachable now. But will drink nicely through 2014. Tony Aspler - reviewed August 2007, Winery to Home Colour: deep ruby Nose: cedar, currants, licorice note Taste: well extracted, sweet currant fruit; firm structure, quite elegant with good follow through Drinkability: now - 2009 |
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2006 Lailey Vineyard Impromptu, Niagara Peninsula VQA Zoltan Szabo - Gremolata Red currant, cilantro, pink grapefruit, musk and leather. Light to medium bodied with thyme, savoury flavours. It has bright, but balanced acidity. Highly food friendly. Great with stew of white beans and tomato puree, Michael Stadtlander's smoked bacon, leek and salsify. 3 1/2 + stars out of 5. |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard Zweigelt VQA Gord Stimmell - reviewed Wednesday April 18, 2007, Toronto Star 88 points. If you are looking for red patio sippers, the Lailey 2005 Zweigelt is in my opinion, the best Zweigelt produced in North America. This easygoing red shows bing cherry, plums and violets notes and should be served slightly chilled, like a rose, to beat the heat of summer. |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard Vidal VQA Little Fat Wino - reviewed March 23, 2007 Appearance: Straw. Nose: Light vidal character, honey/peaches with some citrus and floral character as well. Palate: Just off-dry with soft acidity, midweight plus. Big flavours on the palate are more than the nose suggests, and more tropical in character showing pineapple as well as the promised fruit. Quite soft midpalate, and a rich finish. Conclusions: Excellent drink-alone vidal would be a revelation to those used to purchasing German wines with English names at the LCBO. Best food uses would be to pair it with lightly spicy/hot dishes such as Chicken Fried Rice. |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard Pinot Noir VQA Little Fat Wino - reviewed March 23, 2007 Appearance: Light ruby/cherry. Nose: Strawberry/raspberry/cherry with light spiciness. Palate: Dry with good acidity, midweight. Fruit-driven despite the oak-derived dusty tannins, somewhat peppery midpalate, long clean dry finish. Conclusions: Elegant pinot is drinking nicely now, but will likely go into a "flavour hole" in another year,coming back better than ever in 2009-2012. Drink now with rare red meat dishes, or wait for better times. Really nicely done pinot in a European rather than a new-world style. |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA Christopher Waters 3 and a half out of 5 The hot summer of 2005 produced riper than usual fruit for Lailey's Chardonnay. This richer, riper white boasts deep vanilla and caramel notes on the aroma and palate. Nicely balanced and food-friendly, this medium bodied Chardonnay The hot summer of 2005 produced riper than usual fruit for Lailey’s Chardonnay. This richer, riper white boasts deep vanilla and caramel notes on the aroma and palate. Nicely balanced and food-friendly, this medium bodied Chardonnay would work nicely with cream based pastas or popcorn. Vines May / June 2007 4 out 5 stars This stylish Chardonnay is one of three produced in 2005 by winemaker Derek Barnett. Out of the three, this is likely the most emblematic of Barnett's classic winemaking style, which applies time-honored Burgundian methods to the carefully farmed fruit sourced from Lailey's own estate vineyard and select local growers. There's an interesting nutty element to this wine, which marries nicely with the citrus, honeycomb and oak spice notes. The flavours are refreshed by the wine's bright acidity. Fans will also want to check out the smaller production Canadian Oak Chardonnay, which hits many of the same notes. |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard Chardonnay, Niagara River VQA David Lawrason - reviewed April / May 2007, Wine Access 90 points. The first wine I’ve seen bearing the Niagara River appellation, one of the new warmer sub-appellations that runs in a narrow band of river bank from Niagara-on-the-lake to Queenston Heights. It’s a fine boned, crisp, balanced, less oaked Chardonnay mindful of Chablis. Good apple pie, white cheese, lightly spiced oak aromas with a touch of minerality. Best now to 2010 good value. Little Fat Wino - reviewed March 23, 2007 Appearance: Straw. Nose: Apple, pear, butter, vanilla and spicy oak. Elegant rather than forceful. Palate: Dry with good acidity, midweight. Richer on the palate than the nose would suggest, tropical fruit adding to the promises on the nose. Rich and soft midpalate and through a long clean finish. Nice alcohol/fruit/acid balance suggesting ageability. Conclusions: An elegant chard capable of another 4-5 years in a good cellar, will develop funkier/richer and put on some fat in time. Really good now for a vast array of food and social situations, rarely out of place. |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard Pinot Noir Canadian Oak VQA Gord Stimmell - reviewed Wednesday April 18, 2007, Toronto Star 90 points. 2005 Canadian Oak Pinot Noir with chocolate licorice and wild strawberry elements, but only 23 cases were produced (one barrel) in the tough 2005 year. |
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2005 Lailey Vineyard Vidal Icewine, Niagara Peninsula VQA Vines May / June 2007 4 out 5 stars The new vintage of Vidal Icewine from Lailey Vineyard reveals baked apple, clover honey, cinnamon and tea leaf aromas that suggest real depth and richness. This honeyed wine manages to be both luscious and lip-smacking on the palate, with terrific balance and extended finish. Try with Fourme d'Ambert Strudel and apple / fig compote. David Lawrason - Wine Access This '05 Vidal is surprisingly deep golden in colour, due to ageing in oak barrels that adds an extrea level of viscosity, creaminess and aromatics. Very ripe apricot, mandarin, and honeyed fruit on the nose, with sponge toffee and candle wax. Soft, smooth and rich...Outstanding length. Zoltan Szabo - reviewed January 2007 Baked apple, clover honey, cinnamon and tea-leaf notes. Sweet, luscious, and lip-smacking on the palate with a balanced, and extended finish. Try with Fourme d'Ambert Strudel and apple/fig compote. 4.5 stars. |
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2004 Lailey Vineyard Old Vines Chardonnay VQA Little Fat Wino - reviewed April 1, 2006 Appearance: Straw. Nose: Moderately rich, spicy oak, inviting apple and tropical fruit. Palate: Dry with moderate acidity. Midweight plus. Clean fruit, nicely balanced, long clean finish. Conclusions: A clean and refreshing wine, elegant rather than forceful. Should age well for two to five years. This wine is about balance and harmony, not weight. Vines May / June 2007 4 out 5 stars Talk about going out on a high note. This wine might spell the end of the line for Lailey Vineyard's Old Vine Chardonnay. Winter injury has zapped the life out of the vineyard block that was planted in 1970 and 1971. This is a wine that conjures up descriptions like class and breeding, the sort of pedigree that private schools and posh university aspire to. It is complex and elegant. There's green apple and lemony fruit shot through with streaks of mineral and subtle spice notes. It's seamless, rich and profound. 73 cases made. |
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2004 Lailey Vineyard Merlot VQA (375ml) Vines September 2006 Winter damage seriously affected the quantity of fruit available from the 2004 vintage for winemaker Derek Barnett. A one grape Merlot bottling wasn't in the cards, but the quality of two stunning barrels refused to be anything but a stand-alone wine. Look for a surprising fruit component as well as well-integrated oak spice and savoury character. |
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2004 Lailey Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula VQA David Lawrason - reviewed April / May 2007, Wine Access 88 points. Expect a lifted, vibrant savoury red perfect for herbed poultry, veal and pork tenderloin. Nose shows fresh dill / bay leaf herbs typical of Cabernet Franc with smoky oak and cranberry-currant fruit. Mid-weight, tender on the palate with well integrated acidity and tannin. A touch green but generous fruit as well, with excellent length. Best now to 2011. Little Fat Wino - reviewed April 31, 2007 Appearance: Ruby. Nose: Red peppers, raspberry, cherry and spicy oak. Palate: Dry with good acidity, midweight plus. Quite ripe fruit, modern in style, some chocolate midpalate, long clean finish. Conclusions: Big cab franc is not yet knit despite the age. This long-lived cab franc should come together in a couple of years, and last for another five or so. Really high quality, it is taking time coming together. |
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2004 Lailey Vineyard Cabernet VQA Little Fat Wino - reviewed March 23, 2007 Appearance: Ruby. Nose: Plum, cherry, cassis, sweet/spicy oak, some blueberry notes as well. Palate: Dry with good acidity, midweight. Nice palate followthrough from the nose. Long clean finish. Conclusions: Cab Merlot has probably five more years in front of it, and would be quite useful with red meats. |
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2004 Lailey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon VQA Little Fat Wino - reviewed March 23, 2007 Appearance: Purple. Nose: Interesting nose shows cassis, raspberry, pencil lead, cranberry, spice, chocolate and hints of leather. Palate: Dry with good acidity, midweight plus. Clean fruit, nice oak, tannins are still slightly aggressive. Clean long dusty dry finish. Conclusions: High quality cab with a great future, just starting to come together. Made in a more modern style capable of doing well past its tenth birthday. David Lawrason - reviewed June, 2007, Winery to Home It was a light year for Ontario cabernet sauvignon, resulting predictably in some green flavours. Still, Derek Barnett has managed to impart lifted, nicely integrated new oak, cream and tobacco around the currant fruit. Midweight, a bit tart and green and fairly tannic, yet shows good textural balance and very good length. Best now to 2009. Tony Aspler - reviewed June, 2007, Winery to Home Colour: ruby Nose: cedar, blackcurrant; Bordeaux style Taste: dry, lean and sinewy, redcurrant; nicely balanced for a cool year. Clean fruit, elegant Drinkability: now - 2009 |
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2002 Lailey Vineyard Canadian Oak Cabernet Franc VQA, Niagara Peninsula In January 2007 Jancis Robinson wrote of her recent Canadian tasting experience, "it did seem to me as though the best wines were made by quite a small number of superior producers, I tasted about 70 wines in all, 17 of which I felt were world class wines from any point of view." She placed Lailey Vineyard squarely in the top ten with her review of the Canadian Oak Cabernet Franc. Jancis Robinson - reviewed January 2007 Very impressive, dense nose. Confident and dry, spreads across the palate. No concessions to sweetness and modernism. 16+ (out of 20) Drink 2006-11 unfortunately we are sold out of this vintage, however, the 2004 vintage is available in French or Canadian oak...both are lovely |