November 9, 2020 Newsletter
Special Feature
The pandemic has affected everyone; mostly in negative ways. Institutions that rely on public gatherings to raise money have also been hit hard as health guidelines prohibit large public gatherings, especially indoors. Wine auctions, have mainly been silent. However, one company—Iron Gate Wine—has devised a solution and will run the first virtual wine auction.
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s (TSO) 30th Annual Fine Wine Auction will be the first to run a virtual auction platform. The week-long online event begins on Nov. 17 and will feature 500 wine lots valued at almost $1 million CAD with all proceeds benefitting TSO’s vital music and educational activities in the community. Additionally, purchases made at charity auctions are not subject to buyer premiums or sales tax applied to commercial auctions, equivalent to a 35 per cent savings for buyers.
You can read about the wines that will be auctioned. There is no cost to register or to place bids.
Read all the interesting details here
Newsletter Highlights:
- 95 points and over – only one wine rang the 95-point bell. The 2015 Rocca Delle Macìe ‘Single Vineyard – Reserva Di Fizzano – Gran Selezione’ earned 95 points @ $34.95 found under ‘New in Vintages’.
- Vic Picks – 2018 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay earned 92 points @ 29.95 found under Ontario: White Wines; 2017 Viña Laura Hartwig ‘Edición Familia’ earned 94 points @ $27.95 found under Chile: Red Wine; 2019 Malivoire Wine Company ‘Estate Grown’ Chardonnay earned 92 points @ $19.95 found under ‘New in Vintages’ with a $2.00 discount from this price from November 9 to 29, 2020; 2018 Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Merlot earned 92 points @ $19.95 found under New in Vintages; 2018 Tawse Winery ‘Sketches’ Chardonnay earned 93 points @ 19.95 and 2018 Tawse ‘Limestone Vineyard - North Block’ Riesling with both found under New in Ontario Wineries; 2019 Redstone Winery Gamay Noir earned 92 points @ $18.95 found under New in Ontario Wineries: 2019 Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine earned 94 points @ $30.00 found under New in Ontario Wineries; and, of course, all his exceptional-value wines.
- Exceptional-value wine – Many wines earned the coveted icon. They’re found throughout the newsletter and easily spotted by the icon checkmark in the November 14, 2020 Vintages Release and in categories following the release… Happy hunting!
Vintages Release: November 14, 2020
Fortified Wine: Port
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Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny Port Non-Vintage
DOC Douro $29.95 (223958) 20.0% alcohol
Aromatic and extremely versatile, this is also food friendly with a long, delicious, sweet aftertaste. Spice cake, iodine and orange marmalade on the nose, it bathes the palate with round fleshy flavours—toffee apple, crème caramel and toasted almonds. Tawny Port gains its name from the tawny colour from many years aged in barrel—resolving tannin and imparting a silky-smooth, lip-smacking experience. Lovely on its own, serve slightly chilled with consommé, fruit cake or Amarelo cheese. (Vic Harradine)
Specialty: Fruit Wine
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Southbrook Framboise Non-Vintage
Product of Ontario $19.95 (341024) 375 ml 14% alcohol
This 100% raspberry, fortified, sweet dessert wine is simply stunning. If they allowed such designations, it would be amongst the Premiers Crus. The lifted nose is a bowl of freshly-picked raspberries while the full-bodied and flavour-packed taste profile is more of the same. This is well balanced and tang laden. It’s an amazing accompaniment to rich, dark Belgian chocolate desserts. (Vic Harradine)
Icewine
• The following Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO stores.
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Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine
VQA Niagara Peninsula $49.95 (430561) 9.5% alcohol
This is a perennial favourite showcasing excellent acidity and ripe, sweet, fruit flavours that are perfect partners in this delicious offering. Aromas of peach, pear and wisps of minerality unleash a flow of palate-enveloping flavours—baked apple and poached pear interlace with crisp green apple, sharp ginger and lemony tang in a crescendo of balanced and beautiful ambrosia. It all replays on the lengthy finish and aftertaste. Gorgeous now, will develop depth and complexity with bottle age. Pour on its own or with premium blue-veined cheese, fruit flan or pan-seared foie gras. (Vic Harradine)
Champagne
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Georges Gardet ‘Cuvée Saint Flavy’ Brut Non-Vintage
AOC Champagne $45.95 (924654) 12.0% alcohol
This has an attractive nose of minerality, floral and heady citrus notes. There’s a lovely attack on the palate with a rush of white grapefruit and green apple flavours infused with spice and mineral nuances. It’s medium in weight and texture and offers a lingering finish that’s zesty and clean. There’s enough oomph for it to be paired with light appetizers and the more than fair price, as Champagne goes, allow it to be served as the welcoming wine at any upscale gathering—including a special evening for two. (Vic Harradine)
Sparkling Wine
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Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée Rosé Non-Vintage
New Zealand $22.95 (280172) 12.0% alcohol
This attractive pink-hued sparkler is fashioned from 20% hand-harvested pinot noir and 80% low-yielding chardonnay, fermented in the Charmat, a.k.a. Cuve Close, method. It hustles from the bottle with an energetic mousse and aromas of red berry fruit and spice with hints of brioche. It delivers spirited and lively flavours of citrus and red currant interwoven with sweeter and riper cherry on the lip-smacking aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)
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Graham Beck Sparkling Wine Brut Non-Vintage
WO Western Cape $18.95 (593483) 12.0% alcohol
A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, 30% of the wine for this sparkler was fermented in barrel, the blended wine undergoing 24 months of secondary fermentation in bottle. A charming pale-peach hue, the aromas of brioche, citrus, orchard fruit and spice drift from the glass. Dry, medium bodied, the mousse is mouth filling and creamy, the texture vibrant and the citrus and green apple flavours crisp. Finely crafted and lively, it sports good value. (Susan Desjardins)
Ontario: White Wine
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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Short Hills Bench $29.95 (616466) 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of toasty oak and exotic incense abound on the nose. This is a balanced and beautiful mouthful of pure ambrosia that will improve with time. It bathes the palate with elegant and creamy-textured mouthfuls of ripe apple, piquant spice, caramel and racy lemon curd. It’s medium-plus bodied showcasing persistent purity of fruit, excellent oak integration and a monumentally lengthy aftertaste making this a deliriously delightful experience from cork pop to last drop. It’s an inspired pairing with festive turkey and all the fixings or steamed lobster dipped in a bowl of clarified butter. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Riesling was sourced from estate, sustainably grown vines of the iconic Weiss 21b clone that were thirty-six years old when fruit for this wine was picked. Grapes were hand harvested yielding 3.5 tonnes per acre then gently destemmed and whole-berry pressed followed by fermentation in stainless steel tank with a portion in large, 3000 L, neutral-oak foudres.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Riesling 2018
VQA Short Hills Bench $27.95 (643361) 10.5% alcohol
This is a beautiful Mosel-inspired, off-dry riesling displaying aromas of pear, jasmine tea, wet stone and a subtle whiff of petroleum. It flows easily on the palate with delicious honeyed pear flavour, yellow apple and ginger, joined with the perfect kick of pink grapefruit acidity balancing the dry and mineral finish. This medium-bodied gem calls for gourmet sushi platter or Vietnamese caramelised pork. (Louise Boutin)
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Redstone Chardonnay 2016
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (398966) 13.0% alcohol
This wine is light gold in appearance with a reserved nose containing floral notes and hints of minerality. It’s medium bodied on the palate with a dry and tart acidity delivering flavours of lime and mineral. This is well paired with poached sole drizzled with lemon juice. (Dave Isaacs)
Ontario: Red Wine
• Fruit for the following 2017 Tawse ‘Quarry Road Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was hand-picked and biodynamically farmed. The wine matured 12 months in French oak, 20% new.
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Tawse ‘Quarry Road Vineyard – Estate Grown’ Pinot Noir 2017
VQA Vinemount Ridge $35.95 (307686) 12.5% alcohol
This bright medium-garnet-shaded pinot opens the door with profound aromas—dry cherry, ginger snap cookies, dry wild mushroom and herbal notes— leaping from the glass with vigorous swirling. A silky-textured flow of juicy red fruit softly touches the tongue before showing loads of tartness and piquant peppery flavours, along with fine-grained ripe tannin. This is an unexpected sensory experience keeping you coming back for more. This lovely medium-bodied pinot is perfect for duck confit. (Louise Boutin)
British Columbia: Red Wine
• The following 2018 Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir was hand harvested over several days in October 2018. Fruit was pre-soaked on skins for five days then fermented on ambient and cultivated yeasts for two to three weeks with gentle maceration before pressing. It was then matured in French oak barrels for 10 months before racking and blending the 93% pinot noir and 7% gamay.
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Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir 2018
Okanagan Valley, BC $34.95 (585760) 13.5% alcohol
Wood-smoke and dark cherry/berry aromas mingle with mixed spice and savoury herbs. Palate flavours of bramble berry and black plum interwoven with piquant spice are framed by good tang and pizzazz and underpinned by ripe tannin. The oak regimen is well integrated and the palate flavours replay through the balanced and bountiful finish and aftertaste. It’s deftly balanced with good purity of fruit, ripe tannin and lively acidity. Give this a go now to 2026 with cassoulet or roast chicken. (Vic Harradine)
California: White Wine
• Fruit for the following 2018 Fess Parker Chardonnay was sourced from 100% chardonnay vines from these select Santa Barbara County vineyards—37% Santa Maria Valley/29% Los Alamos/24% Santa Ynez Valley/10% Sta. Rita Hills. The wine was 100% barrel fermented and matured for seven months in French and Hungarian oak, 28% new.
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Fess Parker Chardonnay 2018
Santa Barbara County, California $21.95 (167501) 14.1% alcohol
Floral, sweet vanilla, orchard fruit and toasty aromas waft easily from the glass preceding a mouth-watering, smooth and balanced mouthful of mixed spice, pear, apple and lemony tang flavour enveloping the palate. The oak is well integrated and the flavours and acidity balanced on a pin. The texture is pleasantly oily while the finish is lengthy, clean and refreshing and the aftertaste replays palate flavours. (Vic Harradine)
Washington State: White Wine
• The following 2018 Bookwalter Winery ‘Readers’ Chardonnay was sourced from a blend of old vines 80% chardonnay/20% viognier in their Conner Lee Vineyard harvested in the cool of night and pressed cool in early morning then co-fermented cold at 10 °C. It then spent four months on its lees in stainless steel vats with bâtonnage.
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Bookwalter Winery ‘Readers’ Chardonnay 2018
Columbia Valley, Washington State $19.95 (634162) 13.8% alcohol
Aromas of orchard fruit—pear and apple—mingle with wisps of lemon on the nose of this medium-bodied, nicely textured chardonnay. It blankets the palate with a lively fresh flavours of crisp green apple, Meyer lemon and key lime. Palate replays persist through the mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. Pour this value-laden gem with pan-seared fish, roast chicken or three-cheese white pizza—stilton, chèvre and brie. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 La Posta ‘Estela Armando’ Bonarda was sourced from the vineyards of Estela Armando of 100% Bonarda—Argentina’s 2nd most-planted red varietal—at 700 meters above sea level with an average vine age of 53 years. 40% of the wine was matured for 10 months in 2nd and 3rd use French oak barrels.
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La Posta ‘Estela Armando’ Bonarda 2018
Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina $15.95 (261586) 13.5% alcohol
Deep purple shaded like its label, this single varietal red opens the door with intense aromas of blue and black fruit, ripe raspberry and a discrete smoky note. Tangy cherry and black cassis take the lead on the flavour trail, quickly joined by a sweeter cherry pie filling note, dark chocolate and a spicy cinnamon hint persisting in the dry finish and aftertaste. This is medium-plus bodied with astringent tannin and it pairs well with lamb burgers garnished with feta cheese, fresh mint and pickled red onions. Aerate/decant one hour. (Louise Boutin)
Chile: Red Wine
• The following 2017 Laura Hartwig ‘Edición Familia’ was hand harvested from some of the oldest estate vineyards. Wine was aged in 100% French oak—new and second-use barrels—for 20 months then bottled February 2019. The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour… pick up a few.
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Viña Laura Hartwig ‘Edición Familia’ 2017
DO Colchagua $27.95 (14147) 14.0% alcohol
A stunning blend of 44% cabernet sauvignon/38% malbec/12% petit verdot/6% cabernet franc that offers up aromas of ripe mulberry, black currant and mixed spice. It dazzles the palate with a full-bodied and fully textured river of palate flavours—ripe red and black currant intertwined with racy, lip-smacking tang and a firm underpinning of ripe fine-grained tannin. It struts its stuff with more of the same on the lengthy finish and aftertaste. It pours well now and into the early 2030s. Aerate/decant for two hours before pouring. (Vic Harradine)
France: Red Wine
• The following 2018 Chombart + Speck ‘Cave Mystère’ Merlot is a collaboration between the Chombart family of Bordeaux, France with the Speck brothers of Henry of Pelham winery here in Ontario. The prehistoric caves below the Chambort’s vineyards at their winery, Château Lamothe-Haux, are carved out of limestone and go for kilometers as the limestone is used for the buildings in the area. This wine matured for 10 months in French oak barriques in these limestone caves with 80% pre-loved medium-toast barriques, half were one-year used and the balance two-year used with 20% new oak. The raisin d’être for the collaboration is to fashion a red wine in ‘old world’ Bordeaux to please ‘new world’ palates’.
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Chombart + Speck ‘Cave Mystère’ Merlot 2018
AOC Bordeaux, France $18.95 (17232) 14.5% alcohol
Delicate aromas of floral notes and cherry/berry fruit make way for a tang-infused flow of palate flavours with pie cherry and passion fruit to the fore. It’s medium-bodied with plenty of tangy pizzazz and flavours of red plum and red cherry making an appearance on the aftertaste along with wisps of tannin. Give this a go now to 2024 poured with meat and tomato lasagna, chicken pot pie or tomato beef stew. Aerate/decant for two hours before serving. (Vic Harradine)
Upstream in winecurrent
Vintages Release: August 21, 2021
• The following 2017 Sidewood ‘Stablemate’ Shiraz was meticulously chosen from estate vines with fruit deemed to be organoleptically ripe. A portion was fermented as whole berries by carbonic maceration. It was then pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation, then racked off its lees and back to French oak barrels for 16 months maturation with approximately 25% being new French oak.
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Sidewood ‘Stablemate’ Shiraz 2017
Adelaide Hills, South Australia $16.95 (12846) 14.5% alcohol
Fresh, lively aromas abound with red cherry, red berry and sprigs of savoury herbs among them. Sweet, ripe berry fruit—cherry clafoutie and Ribena © flavours dominate the palate and persist through the finish and aftertaste. This is light on its feet with no rough edges and just enough tang to balance it off. It’s a match made in heaven when served with grilled and smoked back ribs mopped with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: TBD
• The following 2019 Domaine Du Bicheron ‘Mâcon-Péron’ is 100% Chardonnay, It was harvested by machine early morning and taken directly to the winery for gentle pressing by pneumatic press before undergoing alcoholic fermentation then malolactic fermentation. After racking, the wine was matured 12 months in stainless steel vats before bottling in spring, 2020.
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Domaine Du Bicheron ‘Mâcon-Péron’ 2019
AOP Mâcon-Péron, Burgundy, France $19.95 (14960) 13.8% alcohol
Alluring aromas of lemon-lime, floral notes and green apple abound. It blankets the palate creamy- smooth and chockful of delicious flavours with lemon-meringue pie, tangy Granny Smith apple and notions of minerality to the fore. This showcases deft balance, persistent purity of fruit and a crisp refreshing finish and aftertaste. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour—don’t hesitate to pick up a few, if and when the opportunity presents. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 California Republic Cabernet Sauvignon was selected from various wine regions throughout California and was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months with 33% new.
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California Republic Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
California, U.S.A. $19.95 13.9% alcohol
There are aromas of cooked berry fruit compote and hints of vanilla and licorice on the nose. It streams over the palate with a gusher of ripe black fruit—currant, cherry and plum—decorated with vanilla bean and hints of blueberry. It’s medium-full bodied with good mouthfeel and plenty of sweet fruit flavours throughout. Give this a go with pulled-pork sandwiches laced with spicy barbeque sauce. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Carson Scott Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from cabernet sauvignon vines selected from various wine region in California and was aged in French oak barrels.
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Carson Scott Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
California, U.S.A. $19.95 13.7% alcohol
Aromas of dark berry fruit and mocha precede a wash of sweet, ripe flavours with blueberry pie, dark corn syrup and black cherry among them. There’s good balance on the finish with plenty of tang and pizzazz to the rescue. It’s medium-bodied with good texture and a lingering finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside fried chicken wings brushed with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)
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Terroirs Du Soleil ‘Cru des Côtes du Rhône - Cairanne - Patrick Gallant’ 2019
AOP Cairanne, France $16.95 14.5% alcohol
Delicate aromas of floral and berry fruit make way for a medium-bodied, perfectly balanced river of delectable palate flavours with chewy red cherry and ripe passionfruit riding a wave of ripe fruit flavours intertwined with excellent tang and pizzazz. This is a crowd-friendly red blend of grenache/syrah/mourvèdre showcasing good depth, purity of fruit, balance and plenty of flavour on the palate, finish and aftertaste. Pour now and on to 2027 with barbecued burgers or steak, or pasta in Bolognese sauce. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Cave de Pazac ‘Grand Vins – Le Pigeonnier’ is a red blend—60% syrah/15% carignan/15% marsalan/10% grenache—with three of the grapes being mainstream and one being somewhat obscure. The obscure marselan grape is a recent, 1961, crossing of cabernet sauvignon and grenache and is now planted in France, California and China along with small experimental plantings in other wine regions and countries.
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Cave de Pazac ‘Grand Vins – Le Pigeonnier’ 2018
AOP Costières de Nîmes, Rhone, France $16.95 14.5% alcohol
Sandalwood, exotic spice and dark cherry/berry fruit aromas dominate the nose. A medium-plus bodied, nicely textured wash of palate flavours capture the palate with black Bing cherry, bramble berry and tangy red currant making their way through mid and back palate and replaying through the lingering, lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. This is mellow and smooth throughout with plenty of delicious fruit flavour, good depth, balanced on a pin and with no rough edges. The price suggests a multiple purchase. What’s not to like. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2017 André Brunel ‘Cuvée Sabrine’ is a red blend of the holy trinity of the top-notch Rhône red grape blend with all of the following grapes hand harvested from vines with an average age of 60 years old—70% grenache/20% syrah/ 10% mourvèdre—a.k.a. ‘GSM’.
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André Brunel ‘Cuvée Sabrine’ 2017
AOC Côtes Du Rhône Villages - Sabrine, France $17.95 (538496) 14.5% alcohol
Shy aromas of dark berry fruit, black plum and notes of vanilla bean can be coaxed from the glass. A gorgeous mouthful of palate flavours follow with black juicy plum and cherry melding with tangy red fruit—cranberry and passionfruit—providing a perfectly balanced experience with plenty of pizzazz and versatility at the table. Pour with lamb tagine, grilled-rare skirt steak, grilled gourmet sausage or meat-laden pizza. (Vic Harradine)
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Domaine Courtois ‘La Source’ Côtes-du-Rhône 2019
AOC Côtes-du-Rhône $16.95 (526640) 14.5% alcohol
This is another very good vintage for this stainless-steel fermented, purple-shaded blend of 85% grenache/15% syrah. A few months of bottle maturation has developed black tea and forest floor aromas on top of ripe black fruit. It’s a delicious, silky textured cocktail treating the palate to mixed berry and plum compote flavours, switching to a nice chewy mouthfeel with briny notes and graphite minerality. Medium-full bodied with excellent alcohol integration and a very dry finish, it’s good to go now with braised beef and carrot roast or rare-grilled steak. It will continue to evolve with careful cellaring. Aerate/decant two hours before meal time. (Louise Boutin)
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Domaine Jaume Côtes-du-Rhône 2019
AOC Côtes-du-Rhône $15.95 (14.0% alcohol)
There was no oak contact in this 70% grenache/20% syrah/10% mourvèdre blend. It fills the air with aromas of black plum, dark cherry and a hint of clove and cinnamon. Soft and cool on the palate, it flows easily with delicious flavours consistent with the aromas profile, followed with a nice grip of fine-grained tannin, a note of candied orange zest and a comforting warm, fruit-forward dry finish. This medium-full bodied red is nicely balanced and offers exceptional value. Aerate/decant an hour or two then enjoy with tourtière or ratatouille. (Louise Boutin)
• The following 2015 Il Faggeto ‘Pietra del Diavolo’ is a blend of manually picked 90% prugnolo gentile aka sangiovese/5% canaiolo/5% mammolo sourced at 400 m asl. It matured for 24 months in 3000 L barrels then rested an additional six in bottle before release.
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Il Faggeto ‘Pietra del Diavolo’ 2015
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $24.95 14.0% alcohol
Expect a delectable complex nose—milk chocolate-covered black cherry, star anise, clove, leather and truffle—with this noble red irresistible to taste. This is full-bodied with evolved harmonious flavours of dry cherry, prune, roasted hazelnut and cocoa powder, all framed in noticeable yet ripe tannin. This is expertly balanced with a nice lingering finish pointing to dry fruit and savoury herb, the perfect combination to pair with aged cheese or grilled rack of lamb. (Louise Boutin)
New in Vintages
(available now in LCBO stores – by clicking on the number in brackets in the three wines below you can find the store nearest you with stock.
• The following 2019 Malivoire ‘Estate Grown’ Chardonnay was hand harvested and hand sorted from three vineyards—70% Moira/20% Estate/10% Mottiar—with vines averaging 22 years old. 15% was destemmed with the 85% balance left in whole clusters. 55% of the juice was fermented in neutral French oak barrels also undergoing partial malo lactic conversion while 45% was transferred to stainless steel. After nine months they were combined and bottled in August 2020. All Malivoire wines are certified as sustainably farmed and fashioned.
• The following Malivoire wine is also a Vintages Essential product always available in a number of select LCBO stores. From November 9 to November 29, 2020 you will receive a $2 discount off the price shown below for each bottle of Malivoire ‘Estate Grown’ Chardonnay that you purchase, regardless of vintage shown on bottle. That two-dollar discount will earn it an exceptional-value icon 
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Malivoire Wine Company ‘Estate Grown’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Beamsville Bench $19.95 (573147) 12.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of baked apple, cinnamon and notions of caramel abound. It gently washes over the palate with a touch of sweetness accompanied by tangy flavours of lemon-lime and flinty minerality. This is medium-bodied with good balance and textured mouthfeel. It finishes lengthy, crisp and refreshing with hints of grapefruit pith on the aftertaste. Pour alongside skillet-seared Atlantic salmon. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2015 Rocca Delle Macìe ‘ Single Vineyard – Reserva Di Fizzano – Gran Selezione’ has been granted the privilege to use the ‘Gran Selezione’ endorsement on this particular wine by meeting all the requirements, here’s a link to a page that explains the requirements – Gran Selezione. Only about 4% of Chianti Classico red wines qualify; this is special.
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Rocca Delle Macìe ‘Single Vineyard – Reserva Di Fizzano – Gran Selezione’ 2015
DOCG Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy $34.95 (699454) 14.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of dark cherry and black plum interlaced with grilled savoury herbs billow from the glass after a vigorous swirl. It blankets the palate with balanced and bountiful surge of elegant palate flavours with black bramble berry and juicy black cherry to the fore. This showcases purity of fruit, deft balance, good depth and delightful tang and acidity. It finishes with palate-flavour replays and a notion of black plum compote on the aftertaste. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Merlot was entirely sourced from the Taylor family estate. Fruit was de-stemmed, transferred to stainless steel vessels for a quick, yet gentle, warm fermentation using a yeast to enhance fruit expression. After primary fermentation, the wine was pressed and transferred back to stainless steel for secondary, malo lactic fermentation. The wine was racked off to a mixture of American and French oak barrels—10% new/30% one-year old/60% two years and older then left to mature before being blended and bottled after minimal filtration.
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Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Merlot 2018
Clare Valley, South Australia $19.95 (683201) 14.0% alcohol
Rich ripe fruit aromas—mulberry, bramble berry and juicy black cherry—leap from the glass decorated with sprigs of savoury herbs. It captures the palate with a surge of dark cherry/berry flavours adorned with black licorice, mocha, vanilla bean and plenty of tang-infused pizzazz. It’s medium-full bodied with creamy-smooth texture, deft balance, terrific value and a delicious dry finish and aftertaste with hints of mineral notes. Give this a go with grilled rack of lamb. This is good to go now and on to 2025. (Vic Harradine)
New in Flagship Stores Only (usually larger LCBO stores in major centres)
• The following vintage-dated, méthode traditionelle sparkling wine from California-based Domaine Carneros—owned and managed by the French Champagne house of Taittinger—is fashioned from 51% chardonnay, 47% pinot noir, and, for this vintage, 4% pinot gris.
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Domaine Carneros ‘by Taittinger – Brut Cuvée – Sparkling Wine 2016
Napa Valley $49.95 (301655) 12.0% alcohol
A frothy mousse forms quickly when pouring then calms down to myriad streams of fine-bead bubbles winding their way to the top of the glass. Aromas of nutty nuances and toast mingle with notions of caramel, lime and buckwheat honey on the nose. It spreads over the palate with a medium-bodied creamy-smooth wash of Granny Smith apple and lemon pie filling decorated with mineral notes. It’s clean and refreshing on the finish and long and delicious on the aftertaste. Bravo. (Vic Harradine)
New in the LCBO Portfolio – available now in LCBO stores
• The following 2019 Bodega Argento ‘Selección’ Chardonnay was sourced from five different vineyards from East Mendoza to Uco Valley. It’s organic and Sustainable certified and all their wines are Vegan certified, as well. There’s barely a whisper of oak as it was stainless steel fermented with only 4% of wine touched by French oak staves of medium toast for only two months.
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Bodega Argento ‘Selección’ Chardonnay 2019
Argentina $11.50 (591701) 13.0% alcohol
Aromas of tropical fruit and yellow peach drizzled with honey abound. It flows over the palate showcasing a creamy mouthfeel and a surge of flavours with piquant spice, racy citrus, and bracing minerality; it’s clean, crisp and refreshing. This is medium-full bodied with a lingering finish and aftertaste. It pours and sips beautifully on its own and also matches up well with grilled, pan-seared, smoked or oven-baked fish. The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour. (Vic Harradine)
New in Ontario Wineries
• Order the following 2027 Cellars wines online from this family-owned and managed winery by clicking on this link… 2027 Cellars. You can have your purchase delivered to your office, home or restaurant with FREE delivery on orders of six or more bottles.
Sparkling Wine
• The Fox Croft block of the Wismer Vineyard is located on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Moyer Road in Vineland, within the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment. The Fox Croft Block microclimate tends to be slightly warmer due to lower elevation on the Escarpment. This was sourced from 100% Chardonnay and was made in the Méthode Traditionnelle method. It was aged 36 months on its lees giving the wine a lovely yeasty characteristic. There was no sugar added during the dosage, making it a true ‘Brut’ sparkling wine.
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2027 Cellars ‘Wismer Vineyard-Fox Croft Block - Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine 2016
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $40.00 12.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of baking brioche and apple pie spice precede frothy mousse when poured in the glass. It’s dry on the palate with stony minerality, and good nerve and verve throughout expressed as Meyer lemon, green apple and oodles of tangy pizzazz. It finishes dry and zesty, crisp and clean. It’s svelte on the palate and very pleasant to sip. It’s a match made in heaven for freshly shucked oysters or scallop ceviche. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2019 2027 Cellars ‘Falls Vineyard’ Pinot Gris is the first Pinot Gris to be released—and it‘s a beauty—under the highly respected 2027 Cellars label. It was sourced from hand-picked fruit from the VQA Vinemount Ridge sub appellation located just south of Balls Falls conservation area and demonstrates the unique terroir of Falls Vineyard. This was cold fermented in stainless steel tank and bottled early February 2020 to protect the aromatic fruit component.
White Wine
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2027 Cellars ‘Falls Vineyard’ Pinot Gris 2019
VQA Vinemount Ridge $25.00 12.0% alcohol
Slightly yellow-hued in the glass, pleasing aromas of yellow peach, apricot and hints of tropical fruit open this balanced-on-a-pin, excellent value, medium-bodied, generously textured beauty. It blankets the palate with a crisp, juicy wash of delightful flavours—ripe peach, tangy lemon and notions of peel marmalade. It finishes clean, refreshing and lip-smacking delicious with an additional hint of lime. Pour on its own as a delightful aperitif or alongside roast chicken or pan-seared or grilled fish or seafood. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2019 2027 Cellars ‘Falls Vineyard’ Chardonnay was sourced from the Falls Vineyard, located on the Vinemount Ridge sub-appellation. The grapes were hand-harvested and whole bunch pressed to 500L/tonne. This wine was fermented and aged sur lie in Burgundian oak barrels, 20% new, for 14 months before being bottled.
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2027 Cellars ‘Falls Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Vinemount Ridge $30.00 13.0% alcohol
Ripe apple, floral notes and hints of caramel waft easily from the glass. It blankets the palate with a laser-like streak of racy citrus with lemon zest and white grapefruit predominant along with softer flavours of Granny Smith apple, pear and minerality. It’s medium-bodied with good mouthfeel and a lingering finish and aftertaste that’s crisp, refreshing and lip-smacking good. Pour with a platter of mussels steamed in a cup of white wine. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2019 King Street Vineyard Pinot Noir, was sourced from fruit located in the ‘Twenty Mile Bench’ sub appellation. It was cropped at just 2 tonnes per acre with fruit hand harvested and hand sorted then destemmed, with 30% crushed prior to a two-week cold-soak and maceration, followed by a wild (spontaneous) three-week fermentation. The wine was pressed into tank and then racked to Burgundian oak barrel, 40% new, and matured on primary lees for 14 months before being bottled. The moderate slope of the vineyard ensures a harmonious combination of excellent sun exposure and air flow, producing wines capable of wonderful finesse and structure.
Red Wine
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2027 Cellars ‘King Street Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2019
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $35.00 12.5% alcohol
Translucent ruby in the glass, it dishes up enticing aromas of spice box, ripe black cherry and black plum. It dazzles the palate with nerve, verve and plenty of pizzazz expressed as crunchy red fruit—pie cherry, pomegranate and hints of passionfruit—persisting through the palate to the mouth-watering finish and aftertaste decorated with vanilla bean, tangy acidity and wet-stone mineral notes. Give this a go with boeuf Bourguignon or smoked duck breasts. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2019 2027 Cellars Cabernet Franc was harvested from the 'Falls Vineyard' and is the first Cabernet Franc made by 2027 Cellars.
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2027 Cellars ‘Falls Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc 2019
VQA Vinemount Ridge $35.00 12.5% alcohol
Dark berry fruit—currant and raspberry—mingle with smoky and earthy aromas from this delightful cabernet franc. It captures the palate with a wash of red cherry and cranberry and a linear line of tang, acidity and an underpinning of tannin. It’s medium-weight with good texture and a mouth-watering, tang-infused finish. Pour with cassoulet or a hearty beef stew after a two-hour aeration/decant or wait a couple of years with careful cellaring. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following wine by the bottle(s) or case(s) for daily delivery to home, office or restaurant online from Henry of Pelham or, on your next visit, pick up bottle(s) or case(s) from the winery at 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines ON. Here’s a map.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Special Select Late Harvest’ Vidal 2019
VQA Ontario $19.95 (395228) 10.0% alcohol
Aromas of honey-drizzled mango and caramel abound on the nose of this nicely balanced vidal blanc, Special Select Late Harvest gem. A succulent river of pure ambrosia blankets the palate on entry with sweet honey and ripe fruit flavours of apricot and peaches in syrup that is balanced by lemon citrussy notes on the back palate, finish and aftertaste. Pour with fruit flan dessert or on its own, as dessert. (Vic Harradine)
• For daily home, office or restaurant delivery for the following two wines order online from this link Malivoire Wine Company with FREE shipping on orders of $100., or more, or $20 credited next business day towards delivery outside Ontario and Québec. Phone 905-563-9253 Monday to Saturday 10 am - 4 pm for locals to access curbside pickup instructions. Their retail shop is now open - 10 am - 5 pm, 7 days a week.
• The following 2019 Malivoire ‘Small Lot’ Gamay is, like all Malivoire wines, farmed and fashioned sustainably under the accreditation of ‘Sustainable Winemaking Ontario’. Grapes were sorted by hand soon after harvest with the larger portion (65%) gently destemmed and the balance layered in by whole clusters. Wine was fermented in concrete tank, stainless steel tank and oak barrel. Then 70% of the wine went to neutral barrels while 30% remained in tank. The wine was blended seven months later then bottled May, 2020. Drink now to 2024.
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Malivoire ‘Small Lot’ Gamay 2019
VQA Niagara Escarpment $21.95 12.0% alcohol
Aromas of piquant/peppery spice mingles with red cherry/berry fruit and earthy notes on the nose. This is balanced on a pin with delightful, tang-infused flavours underpinned by ripe tannin racing over the palate with wild abandon. It’s medium weight with good mouthfeel and a river of flavour landing on the front palate with ripe juicy cherry and strawberry while Montmorency cherry and red currant show up on the crunchy, tang-laden back palate and aftertaste—crisp, clean, refreshing. While sipping beautifully on its own, the winery also suggests ‘chilling to 14 °C and pouring with ribs, sausage and other barbecued foods.’ (Vic Harradine)
• The following Non-Vintage Bisous Brut is a sparkling wine that was fashioned Méthode Traditionnelle from hand-harvested estate fruit from the Beamsville Bench—59% chardonnay/41% pinot noir. Grapes were whole-cluster pressed with the two grape varieties fermented separately in older, neutral French oak barrels. Tirage followed almost a year in barrel. The wine was bottled and brought to their original cellar under the Moira Vineyard for its 2nd fermentation in the bottle(s) you purchase and for maturing on its lees for 36 months before disgorgement.
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Malivoire ‘Bisous’ Brut Non-Vintage
VQA Beamsville Bench $34.95 12.0% alcohol
Green apple and leesy aromas leap from the glass. It races over the palate with a laser-like line of lemon zest, Key lime notes and piquant minerality then finishes in a blaze of balanced and bountiful flavours with passionfruit, strawberry and lime cordial to the fore. This has excellent tension and fine-bead bubbles throughout and a particularly delicious finish and aftertaste. Pour with freshly shucked oysters, sushi or grilled calamari under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)
• The following wines from Tawse Winery and Redstone can be purchased by the bottle(s) case (s) for home, office or restaurant delivery online at Tawse Winery, by Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by phone +1 905 562 9500 or for pick up by bottle(s) or case(s) directly at the winery 3955 Cherry Ave, Vineland ON. Here’s a map.
White Wine
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Tawse Winery ‘Estate’ Chardonnay 2017
VQA Niagara Peninsula $38.95 13.0% alcohol
This classic cool-climate chardonnay is the result of careful blending of fruits from three different estate vineyards and aged 12 months in French oak. Expect a delicate nose of white flower, pear and peach, wrapped in a whiff of freshly cut fennel bulb. It flows elegantly on the palate offering flavours of peach, citrus peel and spice in a very harmonious way. This is medium-bodied with perfect acidity and a persistent finish showing a nice touch of nutmeg in the end. This will shine beside lemon-baked cod loin or seafood risotto. (Louise Boutin)
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Tawse Winery ‘Quarry Road Vineyard’ Gewürztraminer 2018
VQA Vinemount Ridge $25.15 11.5% alcohol
If you think that “gewürz” isn’t your thing, give this one a chance. Not as perfumed as many traditional Alsace-styled ones, you’ll find the staple aromas—lychee, rose, pineapple, pink grapefruit—but in a toned down version. It coats the palate with exquisite flavours of yellow apple, pink grapefruit, piquant ginger and a beautiful mineral note in the finish and long aftertaste. Vegetarian curry, Vietnamese caramelized pork or pad Thai are all excellent pairing options for this medium-full bodied beauty produced in limited quantity—only 1300 bottles. (Louise Boutin)
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Redstone Winery ‘Limestone Ridge Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Twenty Miles Bench $29.95 12.5% alcohol
This certified-organic and biodynamic pretty white offers clean aromas of pomelo, peach and a gentle butterscotch note. A round yet crisp textured wash fills the palate with delicious orchard fruit flavours adding along the way zesty notes, a mild balancing bitterness and a bright mineral touch sketching the lengthy savoury finish. This is good to go now with fish and chips under a squeeze of lemon juice. (Louise Boutin)
• The following 2018 Tawse Winery ‘Sketches’ Chardonnay is a Vintages Essential wine always available in many LCBO stores. Search the LCBO site to find a store nearest you with product. It’s a blend of estate and purchased fruit and was aged 12 months in French oak barrel, 20% new. The price-quality ratio skews wildly in your favour; pick up a few.
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Tawse Winery ‘Sketches’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (89037) 12.5% alcohol
Ripe pear, Granny Smith apple and baking spice aromas provide segue for complex, delightful mouthfuls of flavours with apple pie spice, caramel, citrus and mineral nuances on the palate and persisting through the balanced and bountiful finish and aftertaste. This showcases terrific value, gorgeous flavours and oodles of pizzazz and pleasurable sipping. It’s medium-plus weight and smooth as silk. Pour with pan-seared Atlantic salmon or breaded pork cutlets or vegetable terrine. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2017 Tawse Winery ‘Quarry Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay is also available via the LCBO Vintages Direct Delivery Program. It was aged 12 months in French oak barrels. This wine has developed an avid following over the years; if you’re one of those wine-lovers, you might want to act quickly as there was barely 100 cases of 12 produced.
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Tawse Winery ‘Quarry Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2017
VQA Vinemount Ridge $36.95 (111989) 12.5% alcohol
Baked apple spice mingles with aromas of vanillin and caramel along with poached pear. It captures the palate with a dazzling river of tang-infused lemon citrus, yellow peach and vanilla bean decorated with white grapefruit pith and mineral tones. This is medium bodied with excellent mouthfeel, good balance and a lengthy finish and aftertaste. Pour with mussels steamed in a cup of white wine with cream and leeks or pan-seared scallops. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Tawse ‘Limestone Vineyard - North Block’ Riesling was sourced exclusively from eight-year-old vines from the North Block of the estate Limestone Vineyard. The finished wine boasts 24.3 grams of residual sugar with plenty of acidity to handle it with grace and aplomb.
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Tawse ‘Limestone Vineyard - North Block’ Riesling 2018
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $21.95 10.5% alcohol
Flinty minerality and whiffs of petrol aromas leap from the glass decorated with notions of ginger. It rolls over the palate with medium bodied, fully textured waves of lip-smacking, off-dry, charm and pizzazz delivered by flavours of green apple, passionfruit and pineapple. Pour on its own for an aperitif or alongside tandoori chicken or prawn ceviche or freshly shucked oysters. (Vic Harradine)
Sparkling Wine
• The following vintage-dated, Méthode Traditionnelle, 2013 Tawse Winery ‘Laundry Vineyard’ Blanc de Noirs - Sparkling Wine – Brut was sourced from 100% sustainably grown Pinot Noir from Laundry Vineyard. It was matured in the bottle(s) or case(s) you purchase for 72 months on its secondary fermentation lees.
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Tawse Winery ‘Laundry Vineyard’ Blanc de Noirs - Sparkling Wine - Brut 2013
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $34.95 12.0% alcohol
Pleasing aromas of apple, minerality and leesy notes provide segue for a tangy, delightful surge of prickly fine-bead bubbles riding a wave of delectable palate flavours with excellent tang sporting notes of lemon citrus, caramel and passionfruit with all persisting through the lengthy, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. Clean and crisp, tasty and refreshing. Pour on its own or alongside your favourite cheeses or charcuterie board. (Vic Harradine)
Red Wine
90
Tawse Winery Gamay Noir 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $18.95 13.0% alcohol
This hand-harvested gamay sourced from selected vineyards pours with a beautiful pale-ruby shade. The nose is invigorating with fresh aromas of cranberry juice, crunchy red cherry, raspberry and an earthy note in the background. Nose and palate are totally aligned here with exquisite acidity and the addition of a delicious white pepper savoury character trailing in the finish. This medium-light bodied red with soft tannin offers excellence pairing options such as red tuna tartare or salmon carpaccio. (Louise Boutin)
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Redstone Winery Meritage 2017
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $45.95 13.0% alcohol
This 100% estate-grown fruit blend—60% merlot /20% cabernet sauvignon/ 20% cabernet franc—has a gorgeous nose of dark cherry, balsamic reduction, tobacco, cedar and a fresh hint of anise. A silky blanket of dark fruit flavours fills the palate along with tart red plum, dried savoury herb and a layer of great chewy tannin showing up mid-palate with a peppery note adding robustness to this red. The finish is long with a combination of piquant spice and savouriness. Pour now alongside stuffed Portobello mushroom or Hungarian goulash or cellar for an extra five to seven years. (Louise Boutin)
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Redstone Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2019
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $35.95 9.5% alcohol
Strawberry jam, red bell pepper jelly and a slight earthy note come to mind when nosing this pale ruby-shaded treat with a copper tinge. It touches the tip of the tongue with delectable sweet and tangy flavours—slowly cooked strawberry preserves, tart red cherry-- and that red bell pepper savoury note persisting in the endless mouth-watering finish. This is quite a treat with baked Brie or a chocolate lava cake. (Louise Boutin)
• The following 2019 Redstone Winery Gamay Noir was sourced from select vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula and matured a brief six months in French oak.
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Redstone Winery Gamay Noir 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $18.95 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of grilled savoury herbs, mixed spice and dark berry fruit beguile the olfactory senses. The palate’s treated to a balanced stream of delicious flavours with exotic spice and pomegranate riding a tang-laden laser-like stream of crunchy pie cherry that finishes mouth-watering good; crisp and refreshing. Versatile at the table, pour with tacos, burgers or wings. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2017 Redstone Winery ‘Redstone Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the estate Redstone Vineyard and its heavy red clay and stony soil which is ideal for late-ripening cabernet sauvignon fruit. It spent 18 months maturing in French oak.
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Redstone Winery ‘Redstone Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $45.95 13.5% alcohol
Dark purple/black in the glass, aromas of cassis, bramble berry fruit and dark cherry fill the air. It blankets the palate with depth, complexity and richly flavoured palate flavours—black currant, black plum and juicy black Bing cherry framed with excellent tangy acidity and underpinned by soft, ripe tannin. This is medium bodied with deft balance and silky mouthfeel and a lengthy, full flavoured finish and aftertaste. Pour this beauty alongside a grilled, premium cut of steak or grilled rack of lamb. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following wine online for home, office or restaurant: delivery in Ontario is FREE on orders of six bottles or more from this link Vineland Estates Winery. The wine shop is open 7 days a week 11 am to 5 pm, you can also place your order by phone 1.888.846.3526 ext. 124. The restaurant is open 7 days a week for lunch or dinner, make a reservation online or phone 1.888.846.3526 ext. 133.
• The following 2019 Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine is made from 100% pinot meunier grapes one of the more popular red grapes of Champagne and was fashioned in the Charmat method of producing sparkling wine, and it’s a beauty!
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Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine 2019
VQA Ontario $30.00 10.5% alcohol
A profusion of mousse—aka frothy bubbles—gathers on top of the pale-rosé coloured liquid when pouring then followed by seemingly endless streams of fine-bead bubbles winding their way toward the top of your glass. Aromas of strawberry and mineral notes provide segue for a dazzling mouthful of palate flavours full of ripe fruit—sugared and grilled pink grapefruit, freshly sliced strawberry, and oodles of tang and pizzazz. It also showcases off-dry flavours and a lip-smacking delicious finish and aftertaste. The price-quality balance is tipped wildly in your favour. Purchase six or more online from the winery and have delivered, free of charge, to your home, office or restaurant. (Vic Harradine)
LCBO ‘Limited Time Offers’ – November 9 to November 29, 2020
• Regardless of the vintage you purchase from the LCBO, you’ll receive the discount shown for each bottle of wine reviewed below that’s purchased November 9 to November 29, 2020.
White Wine
• The following five wines receive a $2.00 discount on each bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
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Bollino Pinot Grigio
DOC Trentino, Italy $18.95 (951319) 14.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of straw and floral notes open the door to a medium-bodied, nicely textured wash of crisp refreshing white grapefruit intertwining with Granny Smith apple and mineral notes bathing the palate infusing the clean, zippy-dry finish and aftertaste. Pour this clean, mouth-watering pinot grigio with grilled fish or seafood under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)
85
Anselmi ‘San Vincenzo’
IGT Veneto, Italy $17.95 (948158) 12.5% alcohol
An über-savory nose of grassy notes and sprigs of savory herbs dressed in piquant spice provide segue to this garganega blend. The mid-weight, lightly textured stream of palate-pleasing flavour skips over the palate with flavours of lemongrass, pear and wisps of apple persisting through the mid-length finish and aftertaste. Pour on its own as a pleasant pre-dinner sipper. (Vic Harradine)
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Hidden Bench Estate Winery Chardonnay
VQA Beamsville Bench $29.95 (68817) 13.0% alcohol
This is an outstanding expression of certified-organic Niagara chardonnay. Pronounced aromas of red apple, white grapefruit, butterscotch and vanilla segue to a creamy-textured wash of apple, tangy citrus and spice notes on the palate. Dry, medium bodied, it’s well-balanced with a long, mouth-watering, mineral-laden finish. Delicious on its own or enjoy with almond-crusted halibut fillets. (Lisa Isabel)
88
Kendall-Jackson ‘Vintner's Reserve’ Chardonnay
California $21.95 (369686) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of butter cream and toasted oak meld with hints of tropical fruit. It is medium-to-full bodied on the palate, with a refreshing acidity. Flavours of oak and pineapple are carried through the finish, where they are joined with a hint of grapefruit. This is a nice match for baked cod. (Dave Isaacs)
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Malivoire ‘Estate Grown’ Chardonnay
VQA Beamsville Bench $19.95 (573147) 12.5% alcohol
A shy nose of Granny Smith apple and hints of baking spice aromas provide segue to a delightful array of deftly balanced palate flavours with honey-drizzled apple interwoven with lemon curd and sweet Bosc pear that persists throughout. This is medium weight, nicely textured and well balanced with a good seam of tang, persistent purity of fruit, plenty of charm and a delightfully lingering finish. It also offers a price-quality ratio tipped well in your favour. (Vic Harradine)
• The following two wines receive a $3.00 discount on each bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
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Mission Hill ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay
VQA Okanagan Valley $23.95 (545004) 13.5% alcohol
Displaying aromas of tropical and tree fruit, custard and spice, this is beautifully crafted showing exemplary balance. Dry, on the full side of medium-bodied, there’s intensity to the flavours of grilled pear and pineapple. The warmth of spiced nuances, nutty toasty notes of well-integrated oak and the subtle yet refreshing acidity bringing poise to the wine and length to the finish. (Susan Desjardins)
• The following Sonoma Cutrer ‘Russian River Ranches’ Chardonnay is a Vintages Essentials wine—always available in select LCBO stores.
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Sonoma Cutrer ‘Russian River Ranches’ Chardonnay 2015
Sonoma Coast, California (608653) $27.95 14.2% alcohol
Baking spice, oak, pear and apple aromas abound. A medium-full bodied, generously textured surge of tangy lemon curd and Key lime interweave with baked apple and spice along with hints of grapefruit pith on finish and aftertaste. It’ll all come together with another 12 months in bottle, rewarding patience handsomely. Pour with fall squash soup. (Vic Harradine)
• The following wine receives a $4.00 discount on each bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
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Palliser Estate Wines ‘Pencarrow’ Chardonnay
Martinborough, North Island, New Zealand $21.95 (16028) 13.0% alcohol
Alluring, delicate aromas of tropical fruit, toasty notes and pit fruit provide segue for a medium-weight, nicely textured river of palate flavours with buttered toast, crisp apple and wisps of minerality to the fore. This is deftly balanced with good purity of fruit and a lengthy, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. The price-quality ratio skews in your favour. What’s not to like. Pour with mussels steamed in leeks, cream and white wine or scallops pan-seared in butter. (Vic Harradine)
• The following wine receives a $6.00 discount on each bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
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Artesa Los Carneros Chardonnay
Los Carneros $30.00 (657585) 14.3% alcohol
The grapes for this gorgeously balanced chardonnay were hand-harvested, with 70% of the juice fermented in French oak barrels—30% new—and the remainder fermented in stainless steel. Only half the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. The result is a wine that is brilliant brass in appearance, with aromas of whipped cream, oak, and a medley of summer meadow flowers. It’s full-bodied on the palate, with lively mouth-watering acidity. The flavours of apple and clementine linger so delightfully in the finish that you’ll want it to last forever. This can lay in your cellar for another year or two, but it is a joy just to sit and sip now, along with a plate of soft cheeses. (Dave Isaacs)
Red Wine and Specialty Wine
• The following wine receives a $1.00 discount on each bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
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Featherstone Estate Winery Cabernet Franc
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (64618) 12.9% alcohol
The price-quality balance tips well in your favour here. Floral notes, graphite and hints of incense mingle with bramble berry on the nose of this medium-bodied, silky-smooth textured, delightful cab franc. It caresses the palate with a deftly balanced and immensely flavourful stream showcasing balance of tang and acidity, soft ripe tannin and delectable flavour with ripe red plum and cherry playing off good tang and a lengthy crisp and mouth-watering finish. Give this a go with comfort food off the grill—gourmet sausage, beer-can chicken. (Vic Harradine)
• The following five wines receive a $2.00 discount on each bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
90
Borsao ‘Tres Picos’ Garnacha
DO Campo de Borja, Spain $19.95 (273748) 15.0% alcohol
This gem has developed quite the following. Aromas of black plum, fig and savory herbs set the tone for a rich, hedonistic river of bramble berry and black currant robed in lip-smacking acidity adorned with peppery notes and fennel. There are ripe fine-grained tannin adding structure and interest. It’s nicely balanced with a fruit and tang-filled finish. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Catena Cabernet Sauvignon is a Vintages Essential wine always available in select LCBO stores. This 100% cabernet sauvignon is sourced across Catena’s high-mountain vines located in Primera Zona, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco.
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Catena Cabernet Sauvignon
Mendoza, Argentina $19.95 (985002) 13.5% alcohol
The price-quality ratio swings wildly in your favour here. Tobacco, dark cherry/berry fruit and grilled savoury herb aromas abound. This gorgeous cab envelops the palate with a plush, full-bodied swath of ripe black plum, juicy black cherry and hints of cassis and mocha. It’s complex, deftly balanced and dense with a lengthy finish enhanced by lip-smacking tang and acidity. Give this a go with grilled gourmet sausage, steak or backyard burgers. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 Vicente Faria ‘Gloria’ is a blend of über-premium Port grapes—40% tinta roriz/30% touriga franca/30% touriga nacional—with both this table wine and all Port wine sourced from the historic, friendly and picturesque Douro wine region. The winemaker opines that the fruit was hand-harvested at or near the apex of its organoleptic perfection. It matured 12 months in oak barrels before bottling. It shouldn’t be around LCBO shelves long at this quality-price ratio, pick up a few; if you’re flush, pick up a case.
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Vicente Faria ‘Gloria - Reserva’
DOC Douro, Portugal $16.95 (146522) 13.5% alcohol
Piquant spice, cherry/berry fruit and wisps of earthy and gamy note aromas abound. It blankets the palate with a full-bodied, full-flavoured, full-Monty surge of palate flavours—rich, ripe black raspberry and cassis robed in spice, herbs and lip-smacking tang persisting through the lengthy finish and aftertaste. There’s deft balance, depth, concentration of flavours and careful cellaring potential—drink now to 2030 with a thick, prime cut of beef, grilled to (your) perfection. (Vic Harradine)
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The Foreign Affair ‘The Conspiracy’
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (149237) 13.8% alcohol
This cabernet, Ripasso-inspired red—the wine was ‘passed over’ cab sauv and cab franc skins from dried wines—highlights aromas of raisin, fig and red cherry. It flows over the palate with tannin-infused waves of dark berry fruit and red cherry that are spice laden and framed with good moderating acidity. It’s full bodied and fully textured with a long finish laced with still-evolving tannin. Pop corks now-2025 after a two-hour aeration/decant. (Vic Harradine)
88
Pelee Island ‘Lola’ Cabernet Franc Rosé
VQA South Island, Lake Erie North Shore $15.95 (552497) 12.5% alcohol
Aromas and flavours of freshly picked strawberry, tangy cranberry and ruby red grapefruit dominate the nose and palate intertwined with notions of mixed spice and excellent acidity prevailing through the palate and infusing the finish then aftertaste. Pour well chilled on its own or with a mixed deli board. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour. (Vic Harradine)
• The following six wines receive a $3.00 discount on each bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
91
Wits End ‘Luna’ Shiraz
McLaren Vale, South Australia $17.95 (311258) 14.0% alcohol
This is developing a following as each vintage cements its reputation as delivering value and great taste. Savory herbs and dark ripe fruit aromas—plum, bramble berry and cherry—herald smooth and mellow mouthfuls of juicy tang and oodles of flavour with pie cherry and ripe black currant melding with an underpinning of soft, ripe tannin. This is mid-full weight and nicely textured with good balance and charm. It’s good to go now served with well-seasoned, grilled medium-rare striploin. (Vic Harradine)
90
First Press Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Napa Valley $29.95 (188110) 14.5% alcohol
Expect dark cherry, strawberry, black peppercorn and baking spice on the nose of this excellent Napa red, aged sixteen months in a combination of French and American oak. A velvety textured wash of concentrated flavours—ripe black cherry, raspberry, blackberry and red pepper—treats the palate while lively acidity and fine-grained tannin provide structure and enhance the lengthy fruit forward, spicy finish. Aerate/decant one hour and enjoy with braised beef short-ribs. (Louise Boutin)
88
Concha y Toro ‘Winemaker’s Lot 148’ Carmenère
Rapel Valley, Chile $18.95 (30957) 14.0% alcohol
This is good value and it’s rich, ripe and rarin’ to go now. A beautifully balanced river of juicy black Bing cherry and black plum interweave with racy pomegranate and herbal notes on the creamy smooth palate along with mixed spice and mocha. It’s a bit funky on the nose with some bell pepper and strong herbal notes, but that melts away and you’re left with a creamy-smooth, hedonistic offering. It pours and pairs well with burgers, red pizza or lasagna. (Vic Harradine)
91
Hidden Bench Estate ‘Organic’ Pinot Noir
VQA Beamsville Bench $34.95 (274753) 12.7% alcohol
A subdued nose of red berry fruit and spice provide segue for a gorgeous mouthful of deftly balanced racy tang—pie cherry and red currant—and ripe juicy fruit—black plum and dark Bing cherry. It’s medium weight with good mouthfeel and a delectable lingering finish of mixed spice with wisps of toasty oak and soft tannin. Pour this organic gem with rack of lamb, roast turkey or crown roast of pork. (Vic Harradine)
92
Domaine Louis Bouillot ‘Perle d’Aurore’ Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
AOC Crémant de Bourgogne $22.95 (48793) 12.0% alcohol
Pale-salmon hued, this is absolutely delightful—a medium-bodied sparkler that’s fruity and dry. From subtle aromas of summer berries, spice and brioche through to the delicate creamy mousse that refreshes the palate, it offers light, red berry flavours and a lengthy mouth-watering finish. Great value, enjoy it whiling away an afternoon or with smoked salmon. (Susan Desjardins)
89
Peller ‘Private Reserve’ Vidal Icewine
VQA Ontario $27.30 (18564) 200 mL 11.5% alcohol
Deep golden-yellow in the glass, the nose offers up whispers of buckwheat honey, spice and orange peel marmalade aromas. It bursts onto the palate with an intense surge of sweet flavour—honey-soaked, baked apple, treacle, sweet ripe mango and poached pear. This is full bodied and creamy smooth on the palate with lengthy, reasonably balanced aftertaste. Pour with foie gras, soft white cheese or spiced honey cake. (Vic Harradine)
• The following wine receives a six dollar discount for every bottle purchased from the regular price shown below.
88
Jackson-Triggs ‘Reserve’ Vidal Icewine
VQA Ontario $39.95 (389411) 375 mL 9.5% alcohol
Mango and ripe yellow peach aromas unleash a gusher of sweet, honeyed flavour on the palate with honey-drizzled peach pie and candied apricot coating the palate and persisting through the finish. It’s full bodied and generously textured delivering a sticky, sweet aftertaste. Pour with quality blue cheese or fruit flan. (Vic Harradine)
• The following wine will be discounted $10.00 per bottle purchased from the price shown below.
94
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut Champagne Non-Vintage
AOC Champagne $102.95 (158550) 12.0% alcohol
Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this was vinified saignée—using only red grapes, not red wine mixed with white as is often done in Champagne—capturing tantalizing spice, red licorice and berry fruit aromas and an alluring salmon-pink colour. It attacks the palate with mid weight, generous texture and a groundswell of flavour with black currant, strawberry and spiced Damson plum to the fore. This is lovely sipped on its own with the oomph to pair well with pan-seared salmon or festive bird. (Vic Harradine)
Cheers, Lisa, Louise, Dave, Vic