"We only need one full-time staffer, otherwise, we’d be playing a lot of euchre." - Daniel Lenko

DANIEL LENKO ESTATE WINERY
TASTING NOTES
By George Heritier

Daniel Lenko Estate Winery

1999 Daniel Lenko Cabernet Rosé, $12.95 Can.: Made from Cabernet Franc in a dry style; strawberry pink, with strawberry flavors and aromas shaded with hints of cedar and mint. Nice summer quaffer.

1999 Daniel Lenko Gewurztraminer, $15.95 Can.: Pale to medium straw, with good varietal character; "tons of litchi; honeycomb." – Alan

1999 Daniel Lenko Riesling Reserve, $12.95 Can.: Pale to medium straw, with more good varietal character; dry, slightly spicy apple, with notes of lime and petrol.

1999 Daniel Lenko Off-Dry Riesling, $12.95 Can.: Pale to medium straw, with a bit more apple flavors and aromas than the Reserve.

1999 Daniel Lenko Viognier, $15.95 Can.: Pale to medium straw; not much honeysuckle, but nice notes of peaches and tangerine, and a hint of French oak.

1999 Daniel Lenko Chardonnay (Un-oaked), $12.95 Can.: Pale to medium straw, with nice round apple/pear flavors and aromas.

1999 Daniel Lenko Old Vines Chardonnay (American Oak), $19.95 Can.: Pale to medium straw, with nice touches of toasty oak/butterscotch/coconut over apple/pear flavors and aromas.

1999 Daniel Lenko Old Vines Chardonnay (French Oak), $24.95 Can.: Pale to medium straw, harvested at the same time as the previous selection; crisper than the American Oak bottling, yet with smooth, buttery vanilla nuances, and a long finish.

1999 Daniel Lenko Pinot Noir, $24.95 Can.: Ruby garnet, with good concentration, and sour cherry fruit.

1999 Daniel Lenko Old Vines Merlot, $24.95 Can.: Dark garnet, with huge, intense blackberry/plum/chocolate fruit; the American oak is obvious, but not overpowering. I was surprised at the power of this wine, but not at the fact that Lenko described it as "our biggest selling wine, hands down." We couldn’t resist, and bought some as well.

1999 Daniel Lenko Old Vines Meritage, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, $29.95 Can.: Dark garnet; not as bumptious as the Merlot, but nice plum/blackberry flavors and aromas, with good intensity.

1999 Daniel Lenko Cabernet Franc, $24.95 Can.: "This is the monster," Lenko described this dark garnet; good tannic structure, and "toffee, tobacco, like a black currant candy." – Alan

1999 Daniel Lenko Vidal Icewine, $39.95 Can.: Pale gold, honey/apricot, rich and delicious.

1999 Daniel Lenko Raspberry Reserve, $14.95 Can.: Raspberry red; tastes like sweet raspberries; go figure!

While there were some obvious standouts, there wasn’t a bad wine in the bunch, and all showed good value. Kudos to the Lenko family, and winemaker Jim Warren.

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© George Heritier, May 2001

Index

Beamsville Bench 
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Daniel Lenko 
Estate Winery

Daniel Lenko 
Estate Winery
Tasting Notes

Malivoire Wine Co.

Malivoire Wine Co.
Tasting Notes

Cave Spring Cellars

Cave Spring Cellars
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Burgundy Side Trip
Rochester N.Y.

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