A weekend tasting gave the inadvertent opportunity to compare a top Niagara meritage blend with a Bordeaux Grand Cru... both were from the same year, and both were excellent.

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The issue of Cellared in Canada wines continues to fester, even attracting UK attention. Both The Economist and Jancis Robinson have weighed in - but how much does it really bug Jancis?

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Wine Australia hosted a late-summer tasting at Sassafraz in Yorkville, with a good range of quality wines including a wine listed as one thing in the press kit, but something else on the label.

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Malivoire Winery on the Beamsville Bench has been pretty reliable at higher price points, but they're introducing new labels and wines and they're about to launch red and white blends for the General List. 

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905 Niagara is not a hot spot for late night action, so perhaps they're referring to frisky donkeys. Actually, donkeys aren't common there either. Nevertheless, Wildass Rose is mighty fine.

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Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery is an Okanagan venture with a couple of great mid-priced wines out now. The label and name make it seem very real, but in fact it's a virtual winery.

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It's always nice to get a care package of big red wine from British Columbia and I'm pleased to report that Mission Hill delivered...

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My Blackberry - a year and a half old - is too antiquated for apps. But I have seen their usefulness on iPhones... Prolific Ottawa critic Natalie Mclean has just launched a Drinks Matcher app.

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