vintage |
Vidal vinification / notes at bottling |
reviews / awards | aging notes |
| 2000 | tasting notes
at bottling This is the perfect sipping wine...showing big tropical fruit flavours of mango, pineapple and ripe melon on the nose and palate, with some sweet floral notes. This wine is off-dry with fresh acidity and very good length. |
This wine wowed
all assembled for the Cuvée Experts tasting conducted March 2,
2002. Presented with a glass, many of the wine writers, wine makers and
other distinguished tasters guessed this was made from noble vinifera
grapes, not a lowly French hybrid variety. While most Niagara winemakers
will dote on the Vidal grapes they use to produce luscious Icewines, the
same care and attention is seldom given to grapes for drier table wines.
A tag-team product from growers David and Donna Lailey and winemaker Derek
Barnett, this vibrant white benefits from tender love and care in the
vineyard and winery. The result is an off-dry wine with an unique taste
profile, in a style that is perfect for patio-sipping or as an accompaniment
to light summer salads of fresh greens or marinated seafood. Chris Waters, The St. Catharines Standard. Mar. 16, 2002 …with floral clover blossom delicacy, certainly the best dry white Vidal I have tasted, from a grape that usually goes into icewine. Gordon Stimmell, The Toronto Star. Jun.12, 2002 Made in a dry style, this Vidal had one panelist reminiscing about his love of freshly cut rhubarb. Notes of lemon and pineapple round out the aromas. The rhubarb profile continues on the palate with subtle flavours of peach blossom and pineapple. It's clean, crisp white great for those with a low threshold for acidity. Vines Buyer's Guide to Canadian Wine Second Edition 2002 |
| 2001 | grapes were hand
harvested in good condition from October 28th to 30th / fermented in stainless
steel tanks using two yeast strains to enhance varietal characterestics
/ the fermentation was cool and long / the wine was bottled in early spring
tasting notes at bottling very floral nose with sweet red clover scents and tropical fruit salad / the palate is rich and tropical with flavours of ripe melon, pineapple and mango / the finish is off-dry but fresh due to good acidity |
| 2002 |
tasting
notes at bottling a very aromatic wine with ripe tropical fruit on the nose and sweet floral notes. The palate is rich and mouth-filling. The wine is slightly off-dry featuring well-integrated flavours of pineapple and white peaches with hints of red grapefruit on the finish, which is long and refreshing. |
A delectable wine with
lush notes of ripe pineapple, melon and lemon. Winemaker Derek Barnett has
added a twist of sweetness that accents the tropical fruit flavours. Coupled
with a great nucleus of acidity, this has all the zest and depth of a well-made
Vidal. VINES Buyer's Guide to Canadian Wine. Third Edition. 2003. |
| 2003 | tasting notes
at bottling Lively, sweet tropical fruits on the nose with delicate floral notes. The palate is fresh and zesty with a slight sweetness on the finish that emphasizes the delicious fruit character for which Vidal is known. |
Certainly among the most intense table wine styles of vidal ever produced in Niagara, perhaps due to the acidity of the 2003 vintage. Vidal is a higher acid variety to begin with which makes it ideal for dessert wine styles. Intense green pear, lime and spice on the nose. Initially smooth and a bit sweet on the palate, with peach-like fruit, then taut, sour lime-like acidity grips and runs long on the finish. David Lawrason, Winery to Home. July 2004 Colour: medium straw Nose: vanilla, pineapple notes Taste: ripe, rich, peach and pear flavours, full on the palate, fresh and zingy with a Pinot Gris-like flavour. Good value Drinkability: Hold (Short Term) Tony Aspler, Winery to Home. July 2004 Lailey Vineyard offers the Vidal grape used to produce table wines the same care and attention as those set aside for its succulent Icewine. The result is an off-dry wine with a unique taste profile, in a style that is perfect for patio-sipping or as an accompaniment to light summer salads of fresh greens or marinated seafood. Chris Waters, VINES. Sept./Oct. 2004 |
| 2004 | tasting notes
at bottling Grapefruit, pineapple and green melon with delicate floral notes on the nose and palate. There is a fresh and zesty acidity that delivers the delicious fruit character to a long finish. |
If Vidal Icewine is indeed the King of Niagara's Vinyards, I assume that makes Lailey Vineyard's stunning off- dry Vidal is the fresh Prince. It would take a lot of search and effort to find a Canadian wine that delivers as much character and appeal as this floral-scented white does for the price. There's a striking mineral note to this well made wine that adds complexity and focus to the pleasing array of honeydew, citrus and pineapple aromas and flavours. The wine's residual sweetness is beautifully balanced by a zesty acidity and surprisingly long finish. Chris Waters. The Standard. May 14, 2005. |