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Viewpointe Estate Winery
Lake Erie North Shore

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We recently visited Viewpointe with Zoltan Szabo. The winery is one of the most significant facilities in North America and is beautiful to look at. Proprietor John Fancsy has crafted a location, winery facility and wines that are second to none.
... WB.

Zoltan's account:

Winemaking from a different Pointe of View
by zoltan (at) zoltanszabo.org

John Fancsy and I look at the equipment.
Click photo to enlarge.

I have spent a relaxing weekend down in Lake Erie North Shore of Essex County and visited Viewpointe Estate Winery in Harrow, where I met John Fancsy, an engineer and self-taught winemaker.

John is also the proprietor of this impressive, granite fieldstone-built winery. The show-building winery is positioned right on the turquoise shallow water shores of the lake with its terraces looking South, with a very proper “working” barrel cellar underneath it, (connected to the white wine facility) and the red winemaking facility located just across the road.

The estate owns about 50 acres of vineyards, planted in clay and sand, mostly under classic varieties and more, for example: Auxerrois that makes a very appealing and just off dry wine, the “work horse” of house , and new hybrids belonging to a visionary research and development program with the aim of creating unique and hardy grapes totally original to this area. The winery is a perfect spot for hosting weddings and private functions, it has a fully equipped and state-of-art kitchen and hospitality amenities.

Niagara College’s satellite campus is located at this very same property with academic wine educational lectures held on weekly basis. Mr. Fancsy, a Hungarian, what else, is also a perfectionist and no small details are missed here. And the wines prove the same.

In the red winemaking facility just North of the main winery.
Click photo to enlarge.

With no shortage of cash flow, some of the wines are released at five or six years. Some of my favourites are summed up below:

2006 Ideal Pointe Barrel Fermented Chardonnay..
is a full and rich white, Burgundian – style, with quince, yellow plums, lemon mousse, vanilla, oak spice bouquet and palate; with spicy cedar, pineapple finish; and it’s just great already, although I am sensing that it’s not even fully integrated yet, and can just benefit from further aging.
4 + stars out of 5.

Zoltan and The Wine Baron in the tasting room.
Click photo to enlarge.

2005 Balance Pointe Cabernet Merlot ... has a small amount of Petit Verdot blended in it to add more acidity and colour. Aromas of raspberries, cranberries, blueberries, deep spice, fermented tobacco and orange rind. Medium to full bodied, still very youthful and fresh, with lots of ripe fruit and smooth, sweet tannins. The long finish sports interesting herbal flavour notes. And it’s just getting released, so hurry up and call the winery, you won’t regret. Perfect with beef stroganoff.
4 + stars out of 5.

The Wine Baroness, Zoltan, Johanna, John Fancsy in the events room. It was hopping that night!.
Click photo to enlarge.

2005 Focal Pointe Cabernet Franc ... is just lightly high-toned with black cherry, plums and some leafy, herbaceous accents on its nose, with underlying floral nuances also. Fresh and juicy with a pretty soft texture and spicy finish.
3 ½ + stars out of 5.

2001 Cabernet Merlot ... has a bouquet of cherries and plums, cardamom, potpourri and sweet hummus, fresh - turned earth. Medium bodied and dried berry-flavoured with a pleasant bite of tannins, and the lengthy aftertaste comes with some curious tomato leaf – paste taint.
3 ½ stars out of 5.

The sun sets on Lake Erie and the winery. .
Click photo to enlarge .

2002 Focal Pointe Cabernet Franc ... comes from a “reserve year” as the lady behind the tasting bar explains. Dehydrated black fruit, tar and dried flower petals, little leather and some nutmeg aromatics here. Medium plus bodied and dry with soft, chalky tannins. I like it despite the very low amounts of delicious bret. Drink now.
– 4 stars out of 5.

2005 Fine Pointe Pinot Noir ... is showcasing bright cherry – berry aromas with red licorice, spicy – floral nuances. Light and fresh with strawberry and red currant, dried sage and chanterelle flavours, and it has a warm finish. Ready to go, so drink it now.
3 ½ + stars out of 5.

Next morning we mailed a card to Santa in Kingsville.
Click photo to enlarge.

Links (Browser "Back" button to return here)

Viewpointe Website

Google Map the Winery

Order Form for Licensees

About Lake Erie North Shore

ZoltanSzabo.org

Viewpointe Estate Winery
151 County Road. 50 East
Harrow, ON N0R 1G0
519-738-0690
info (at) viewpointewinery.com