From the VQA next to Niagara.  This is very good.  Light silvery/gold in color.  The nose has lemons, melons and slightly woody note which is presumably from the stems (whole clusters were added).  The winemaker described the woodiness as nutty, but that was probably because he was trying to impress that this wine saw no oak.  In any event, the nose is very nice.  On the palate, the melons (mostly Honey Dew, but also some cantaloupe-ish notes) come to the foreground.  Also some lemons and minerals.  Good acidity.  This is clean and full bodied but has an energetic edge to it.  Some of that

Green/gold in color.  The nose is dusty with vanilla and slight lumber and slight grapefruit.  A nice oily texture.  On the palate there is lemon and grapefruit notes.  It could use a bit more acidity to make it more food friendly.  A nice slight red apple note on the reasonably long finish.  There is a bit of a sweet note at the very end that is a bit sticky.  Probably should be drink in the next few years.  All said, though, this is really an excellent value for a $13 Chardonnay.  It is interesting and easy to drink at the same time.  You could certainly pay a lot more for a Chardonnay th

A 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  Light golden in color.  A nice mousse with lots of smallish bubbles.  The nose is nice with seltzer and slight ginger.  On the palate, this could use a bit more acidity which is surprising as the label indicates it was harvested at 18.5 Brix.  Still, there is some nice slightly sour apple notes.  It is tasty.  Shorter on the finish.  $30

Bright, deep salmon/orange in color.  Frothy mousse with smallish bubbles.  On the nose, this is very interesting.  Peppery (black) with light cherries and slight strawberries.  Almost a touch of cloves.  On the palate, there is certainly a clove note which is interesting.  Also cranberries and some cherries.  Very refreshing yet also has some depth to it.  There is a tasty sour candy note on the finish.  Good acidity, this would work with a wider variety of foods.  A very unique wine.  Although designated non-vintage, it is mostly the 2013 vintage grapes.  $30

Light ruby in color.  There is a good head with smallish bubbles but frothy.  The nose is tight but with swirling, slight strawberries.  On the palate, the Pinot seems to be more pronounced with rhubarb and slight strawberries.  Slightly drying on the finish, however, there is a nice depth here.  Also slightly tart on the finish.  This would work well with a wide variety of foods.  Compared to their basic Brut this hits higher highs and lower lows but is a more interesting wine overall. $29

Light golden in color.  Not much in the way of bubbles.  Just a slight mousse.  The nose is nice with vanilla and light seltzer.  It opens a bit to show a hint of lemon cream.  On the palate there is a light seltzer note.  Slightly sour apple-ish flavors especially on the long finish. This is very food friendly and a fun alternative for a sparkling wine.  $23 

Outpost wines are made by Thomas Rivers Brown, a sensational winemaker.  They are made up on Howell Mountain from mountain fruit and are very intense yet also generous.  This one is of course young, but delicious.  Consumed over two days, it was just as good on either day if different.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, graphite, blueberries and slight spice.  On the palate, this is concentrated and intense.  Firm tannins.  Cassis and blueberry fruit with some spice.  Really delicious.  On Day 2, some leather notes emerge.  It will take some hearty meat dishes to stand up to it at this

This is really in a nice place right now.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black cherries, spice and a bit of char.  On the palate, this has a really nice texture.  Despite the vintage, a lot of Sonoma Zins did just fine in 2011 and this is one.  Black cherries and black raspberries with some char.  Good finish.  Not a monster Zin but plenty of fruit too.  Works well with food.  

This is a good wine, but given its $96 price tag, it was disappointing.  A slight amount of trapped CO2.  Medium gold in color.  Slight sulfur to the nose but otherwise pretty tight.  Some asparagus and limes.  On the palate, this is soft.  It has a dusty taste with slight limes.  No obvious faults here.  Given the pedigree, it may be shut down hard right now though that's not something usually associated with GV.  Good acidity.  Worked well with food.  It did not seem to change in any respect for the two and a half hours in the glass.  

This has some trapped CO2 in it which blew off quickly.  The nose has tart citrus notes.  Also some green apples.  On the palate, this seemed ever so slightly sweet.  Green apples with some orange peel.  Nice depth and complexity.  It was older than the other GV's tasted with but did not stand out (other than a bit more complexity).  Good finish.  Food friendly.  Certainly seems like it has at least a decade left.  $60