Remembering Scotch Block Winery in Halton Hills

Recently, I came across two early tasting notes on a couple of 2002 vintage wines from Scotch Block Winery in Halton Hills, which I am reposting below. After a change of ownership of Andrews Scenic Acres, the winery continues to exist, but these days it is called Andrews Winery. These vintage tasting notes recall the original Scotch Block wines. At the time of this writing, the original Toccalino vineyard no longer exists.

Scotch Block 2002 Halton White

The 2002 Scotch Block Halton White was a unique blend of Cayuga White, Seyval Blanc, Vidal and Auxerrois. It was a truly regional wine, being made with grapes grown on Scotch Block's local vineyard nestled against the backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment. Halton White was clear-straw in colour with a pale greenish glint. It was fresh and citric on the nose, with aromas of ripe pineapple and a touch of white grape jelly. On the palate, the wine was full and textured and had impeccable balance. The acidity was lively and fresh, and there was just a touch of residual sweetness that was not intrusive at all. It was pleasant both as a food wine and as a sipping wine. The warmth of the 13.7% alc./vol. demonstrated the high ripeness of the 2002 vintage. 

Scotch Block 2002 Halton Red

Scotch Block's Halton Red complemented their Halton White. Halton Red was an exciting, truly regional red wine made from Baco Noir, Lucy Kuhlmann and De Chaunac—all planted locally and sourced from the Toccalino vineyard. 12.1% alc. Deep and saturated black-ruby/vermilion. Aromas of tulips and linden flowers gave way to tart red berries, hints of brown sugar and an earthy undertone, all framed by a subtle oak aroma. Tangy acidity was balanced by a substantial, almost glycerolic palate feel and a dusting of tannin. Just a bit of residual sugar was noted. Tasty and full-textured; well-balanced. Long, earthy finish.

2012 Scotch Block Winery Halton Hills Blanc

The Scotch Block Halton Hills Blanc is a relatively new wine. It pours with a very clear, pale straw colour and some minor effervescence along the bottom of the glass. It has a very pretty hue in the glass.

Upon swirling the glass, aromas of pineapple, cantaloupe and honeydew emerge; some citrus-rind notes and pine needle can be picked up as well. It's a fresh, crisp, inviting nose.

There's excellent balance right on the entry, with crisp acidity and just a slight residual sweetness. The wine is crisp and balanced, with good flavour replay. It's a well structured and substantive white wine that goes with just about anything calling for a white dinner wine. The wine comes in at 11% alc./vol.

The citrus/lemon-rind notes continue along the palate and right into the finish. There is some slight warmth, and the finish is clean and cleansing.

Based on the Cayuga White grape variety, this is one of the best white wines I've had from Scotch Block to-date. Available at the winery only, and highly recommended.

2010 Scotch Block Winery Halton White

Just in time for summer, the 2010 vintage of Scotch Block's legendary Halton White is yet another example of the kind of flavourful regional wines that await you at Halton Region's first winery.  The 2010 Halton White pours with a bright, clear straw colour and a pale yellow glint.  Some youthful carbonation clings to the inside of the glass.  The bouquet is clean and fruity, featuring pineapple, green apple, honeysuckle and cantaloupe aromas.  The wine is brisk and crisply tart on the entry, but is immediately balanced by some residual sweetness.  It features a bracing, clean, balanced texture, with a zesty, just barely off-dry, yet crisp, finish.  It's fruity and lively, and will go wonderfully as a chilled sipping wine, or indeed, as a dinner wine.

2006 Scotch Block Winery Marechal Foch

12% alc./vol. Beautiful, saturated black-cherry/garnet colour; transparent but very dark. Lots of youthful carbonation along the sides of the glass. Intriguing, complex nose of oak and peppercorns and an undercurrent of wild cherry fruit - very true-to-type. Lots of pencil-shavings oak around the discreet dark fruit. Extremely well structured with a lot of oak on the entry and all across the palate; this actually adds to the structure of the wine. Lithe, with fine acid/tannin balance and moderate acidity; a pleasant astringency wraps up the finish and appears to be largely oak tannin that is already partly integrated at this young age.

Very much a food wine, this should integrate well over a day or two in the open bottle. In every way this is a successful and well-crafted red from what was a challenging ripening season - showing once more that Marechal Foch is able to produce exceptional table wines in our climate even in the weaker years. Scotch Block winery, in addition to producing a wide array of fruit wines, also sources hybrid grapes from its neighbouring Toccalino vineyard. The winery and vineyard are in Halton Hills just north of Milton, along the Niagara Escarpment, but completely outside the Niagara Peninsula wine growing region.

2006 Scotch Block Winery Halton White

The 2006 Halton White from Scotch Block is my second-favourite release of this wine (the inaugural 2002 vintage was undoubtedly the most memorable). I am very impressed with the quality of Halton's very own regional wine from what was certainly a challenging ripening season.

A blend of several white grape varieties (mainly Vidal, Cayuga and Seyval), the wine is a very pale, almost watery-clear colour with a tinge of youthful green and some carbonation along the inside of the glass. Fresh, lemony/citric nose with light tropical-fruit nuances. Briskly tart on the entry with lively acidity and a crisp, balanced texture. Crisp and minerally all across the palate - a most enjoyable white. Chill a bottle of Halton White on a hot summer's day and enjoy it while grilling outdoors. The wine is invigorating and cleansing.

Ever since Halton White first came out, I have been an ardent supporter of this wine. May we continue to enjoy wines of regional identity - true products of the Ontarian countryside!