Order the following two wines, as well as those in the previous newsletter, by the case for daily home or office delivery directly from 2027 Cellars.  


2027 Cellars ‘Cherry Avenue Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2012 

VQA ‘Twenty Mile Bench’ $30.00 12.5% alcohol  
Spice, forest floor, red cherry and wisps of oak and toast appear on the fairly quiet nose. This bathes the palate with a structured, stylish array of flavour—beetroot, dried currant and bramble berry interlaced with fennel, and tobacco. It’s all framed with tangy Montmorency cherry and underpinned with still-resolving, fine-grained tannin. The finish lingers with deft balance, full of nerve and verve and the promise of even greater things to come—pop corks 2017-2022. An absolutely splendid Pinot and worth every penny. (Vic Harradine) 


2027 Cellars ‘Queenston Road’ Pinot Noir 2012 

VQA St. David’s Bench $35.00 13.0% alcohol  
Here’s a fabulous Pinot with great purity of fruit, complexity, balance and delectable flavour. Funky aromas of earthiness, savory bits, spice and dark toast are pried from the subdued nose. Palate-coating flavours of juicy, tangy sour cherry and spice-infused black berry interweave with notions of anise and cocoa. It finishes with a balanced, complex replay of palate flavours garnished with ripe, supple tannin and charm—it was tough to spit. Good to go now and on to the early 2020s. (Vic Harradine) 

Order the following wine, as well as those in the previous newsletter, by the case for daily home or office delivery from Kacaba. 


Kacaba ‘Reserve’ Riesling 2013 

VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 11.2% alcohol  
Delicate aromas of white flowers, peach and gooseberry introduce a tang-laden, slightly off-dry rush of flavour coating the palate with lemon-lime and white grapefruit to the fore. It’s nicely balanced with medium weight and a lengthy, dry, mouth-watering aftertaste of minerality and grapefruit pith. This has the oomph and charm to pair well with grilled garlic prawns or mussels Provençal steamed in white wine. (Vic Harradine) 

Order the following three wines by the case for daily home or office delivery via email atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Owned and advised by Tawse Winery, they’ve arrived on the scene with quite a splash - pun intended. 


Redstone Winery ‘Limestone Vineyard’ Riesling 2012 
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $18.95 9.5% alcohol 
Aromas of honeyed pit fruit, Key lime and herbs abound in this fully flavoured gem. It coats the palate with an outstanding, off-dry gusher of creamy-smooth, tang-infused, grilled pineapple, ripe mango and lemon chiffon pie. It’s mid-full weight, balanced on a pin and beautifully structured with depth and a monumental, lip-smacking finish and aftertaste garnished by wisps of mineral and lime cordial. Try spicy Asian cuisine. Kudos to newly minted Redstone winemaker, Rene Van Ede. (Vic Harradine) 


Redstone Winery ‘Limestone Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc 2013 
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $22.95 12.5% alcohol 
The 15-year old, single-vineyard fruit in this was sustainably farmed. Intense aromas of gooseberry, piquant herbs and notions of nettles herald a light-on-its-feet wash of lemon citrus tang and key lime mingling with wisps of green apple and guava. It dishes up a crisp, mouth-watering, refreshing finish and aftertaste. Pour with Greek salad, mussels steamed in white wine or smelly cheese like Crottin de Chavignol. (Vic Harradine) 


Redstone Winery ‘Redstone Vineyard’ Syrah 2010 
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $39.95 12.5% alcohol 
Alluring aromas of rich, dark berry fruit aromas mingle with spice, espresso roast and earthy tones before bathing the palate with ripe, black bramble berry and sweet ripe mulberry. It’s structured, balanced and absolutely delectable. Mid-full bodied with good mouth feel and great purity of fruit, the long finish replays palate flavours and is lip-smacking delicious. (Vic Harradine) 

Order the following three wines, as well as those in the previous newsletter, by the case for daily home or office delivery from Thirty Bench. 


Thirty Bench ‘Small Lot’ Cabernet Franc 2011 

VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula $40.00 13.9% alcohol 
Mixed field berry fruit, pipe tobacco and exotic spice aromas herald a well-balanced, nicely structured river of sweet, ripe mulberry, black currant and baking spice. There’s purity of fruit, good concentration and soft tannin in the well-knit frame. The finish replays palate flavours garnished with mocha, cassis and piquant spice. Good to go now; pour with a generous slab of seasoned, grilled beef tenderloin. (Vic Harradine) 


Thirty Bench ‘Small Lot’ Merlot 2011 

VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula $40.00 14.2% alcohol 
Black currant and sweet vanilla mingle with aromas of fennel and charred toast on the nose of this densely packed, rich and savory gem. It’s medium-full bodied with good mouth feel and a solid underpinning of ripe, fine-grained tannin. Tangy sour cherry and red currant garnished with black tea and sprigs of green herbs bathe the palate, replaying on the lively and fresh, lip-smacking aftertaste. Aerate/decant three-hours pouring with grilled pork bellies. (Vic Harradine) 


Thirty Bench ‘Wood Post Vineyard’ Small Lot Riesling 2012 

VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula $40.00 10.7% alcohol 
Enchanting aromas of lemon-lime, ripe quince and wisps of diesel fill the room. A gusher of ripe apple and pear interlace with tangy lime cordial on the palate, medium weight and creamy in texture. The lip-smacking finish is complex and monumental in length—crisp and refreshing with highlights of mandarin orange and flinty minerality. Pour on its own or alongside sushi, sashimi or grilled sea-food under a squirt of freshly squeezed lemon. (Vic Harradine)