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April 26, 2021 Newsletter

Salut! at Home 2021 Event Information for Ottawa winecurrent readers

Salut! at Home Event – On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, the Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa is hosting an evening of good food, good wine, and good company. Each set of two guests will receive two three-course meals created and prepared by Thyme & Again, as well as a bespoke collection of three bottles of Ontario VQA wines paired by renowned Chef Michael Moffatt and Vic Harradine, with wine and food delivered to your home.

Proceeds from this event will go to supporting children and youth at the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa. Some of their initiatives include providing post-secondary bursaries for former youth in foster care and providing essential items like beds and clothing for families in need.

The final day for purchasing tickets for this wonderful evening is
this Friday, April 30 at 12 noon

Registration is now open! Visit www.HelpOttawaKids.ca now to purchase tickets. You can order a dinner for two, or make a group booking for a virtual table of four sets of two (8 people) at a considerable discount – friends, business acquaintances, clients, neighbours. You will be connected much of the evening with just your virtual table of eight via Zoom.

Newsletter Highlights:

95 points and over – No wine rang the 95 points and over bell.
It’s time for Rosé – there are nine Rosé wines to choose from with two from Champagne, one from New Zealand, one from Argentina and the balance from Niagara.
Exceptional-value wine – Twenty wines earned the coveted icon. They’re found throughout the newsletter and easily spotted by the icon checkmark in the May1, 2021 Vintages Release and in categories following the release. Happy hunting!
Limited Time Offers –There are 16 wines that are being discounted at the LCBO for up to $10.00 rebate for each bottle purchased from April 26, to May 23, 2021, waiting to be found at the end of the newsletter.

Vintages Release: May 1, 2021

Fortified Wine: Port

• Fonseca was established in 1815 and now stands proudly as one of the most respected Vintage Port Houses. It has been earned by five generations of the Guimaraens family since its inception. Late Bottled Vintage Port at Fonseca is bottled when ready to drink. There is no need to cellar this Port. You may want to decant this before serving as it has not been filtered or fined. Providing it has been properly stoppered each time it has been opened, you can drink this over two months after being opened for the first time.

93
Fonseca Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015
 Product of Portugal $23.95 (87551) 20.0% alcohol
 This un-fined and un-filtered gem leaps from the glass with delightful aromas of raisins, currants, black licorice, figs and black plum compote. It envelops the palate with a surge of kirsch liqueur, crème de cassis and espresso roast intertwined with black berry jam, ripe figs and sweet cherry clafoutie. It’s full-bodied and fully textured with good complexity, balance and a lingering luscious finish and aftertaste. This punches well above the price. Pour with stilton blue-veined cheese or chards of Parmesan reggiano. For an incredible treat, pour with dark berry fruit and chards of dark chocolate. Drink in moderation – 20.0% alcohol. (Vic Harradine)

Champagne

89
 Taittinger ‘Prestige’ Rosé Brut Champagne Non-Vintage
 AOC Champagne $88.95 (993113) 12.5% alcohol
 This offers a profusion of mousse, flavours of red fruit, candied palate notes and crisp, clean finish. Aromas of red berry fruit, baking brioche and wisps of minerality precede an explosion of bubbles, first in the glass, second on the palate. Red currant and cherry cordial flavours intertwine with tangy acidity and plenty of pizzazz on the palate, finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. Pour with freshly shucked briny oysters or prawn ceviche. (Vic Harradine)

Ontario: White Wine

• The following 2016 Château des Charmes ‘St. David’s Bench Vineyard’ Chardonnay was sourced from a single vineyard on the east side of the Château enhancing the underground artesian water flow. Fruit was barrel fermented and aged ‘sur lie’ with regular bâtonnage in French oak barrels for up to 12 months. This has aged nicely since last tasted in 2018.

92
Château des Charmes ‘St. David’s Bench Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2016
VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake $24.95 (430991) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of toasty notes, baking spice and nuances of wet-stone minerality peek through on the nose. This dishes up palate flavours of caramel, honeydew melon and lemon pie filling, smooth, mellow, balanced and delicious. It’s medium-plus bodied with a good buttery mouthfeel and plenty of palate-flavour replays along with mouth-watering tang on the finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside roast chicken done with roasted root veggies or a pork roast. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay was sourced from the oldest, estate vines that were shovel planted and were 35 years old when grapes for this wine were harvested. Fruit was sustainably grown and certified by SWO. The wine was barrel fermented in French oak with a portion in 3000L foudres then barrel-matured for eight to ten months with a portion being new.
92
 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay 2019
 VQA Short Hills Bench $29.95 (616466) 12.8% alcohol
 Nuances of toasted oak, green apple and notions of gunflint and pineapple aromas grace the nose of this lighter-styled, delightful chardonnay. It’s crisp and clean on the palate with flavours of Granny Smith apple, lemon acidity and hints of white grapefruit. This is light-medium bodied with good mouthfeel and a balanced, abbreviated finish and aftertaste. This is drinking well now, showcasing both structure and grace. It should improve with a bit more cellaring, possibly one to two years. Pour with roast chicken, turkey or crown roast of pork. (Vic Harradine)

Ontario: Red Wine

• The following 2018 Tawse ‘Sketches’ Cabernet-Merlot is a blend of 43% cabernet sauvignon/36% cabernet franc/23% merlot that was sourced from a variety of select Niagara vineyards that matured for 14 months in French oak.
91
 Tawse ‘Sketches’ Cabernet - Merlot 2018
 VQA Niagara Peninsula $21.95 (130252) 12.5% alcohol
 Red cherry, bell pepper, mixed berry and black peppercorn aromas mingle together harmoniously in this pretty red blend. It flows easily on the palate with fresh crunchy red fruit flavours coupled with dark cherry and a hint of jalapeno. This is medium-bodied with medium tannin structure and the perfect partner to juicy flank steak with grilled bell peppers or gourmet red sauce pizza. (Louise Boutin)

Ontario: Rosé Wine

• The following 2020 Featherstone Estate Winery Rosé is an inspired blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon/30% gamay noir/13% chardonnay/7% merlot. Fruit was harvested then optically sorted, crushed and destemmed. It was cold soaked on skins for 24 hours then pressed. Juice yield was 660 liters per tonne; transferred into stainless steel fermentation tanks with eight hours of juice floatation settling then racked off gross lees. It was fermented with commercial yeast strain Actiflore Rosé. Fermentation temperature was set for 15°C while fermented between Oct 20th and Nov 20th, 2020. The ferment was kept on its lees for four weeks, until mid-Dec 2020. This wine showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

92
Featherstone Estate Winery Rosé 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (117861) 13.5% alcohol
It’s a psychedelic pink in the glass and releases myriad aromas with the slightest swirl. There are aromas of floral notes and berry fruit decorated with citrus and pizzazz galore. It blankets the palate with a full-Monty surge of delicious fruit—strawberry and cherry cordial adorned with piquant spice and passionfruit pizzazz. It lingers on the lip-smacking mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. This has deft balance and oodles of flavour. It’s divine sipped on its own and pours quite well with pan-seared or grilled seafood, chicken salad or chèvre crumbled over arugula dressed with olive oil. This is an exceptional-value wine. (Vic Harradine)

Argentina: Red Wine

93
Finca La Escuela ‘Colección Los Suelos - La Grava’ Malbec 2017
Mendoza, Argentina $24.95 (547851) 14.0% alcohol
Once poured in the glass you’ll understand why this wine is labelled as Tinto Negro—Black wine. Sexy aromas of exotic spice, floral notes and rich ripe cherry/berry aromas float easily from the slightest of swirls. It envelops the palate with a full-bodied, full-Monty river of pure ambrosia with rich luscious flavours of black juicy cherry, ripe mulberry and cassis mingling with black licorice and espresso roast. This punches well above the price, pick up a few if you get your hands on it. (Vic Harradine)

New in the LCBO

• The following 2020 Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé is a fabulous blend of 47% cabernet franc/46% gamay/7% pinot noir sourced from grapes grown specifically for this wine. The fruit was destemmed crushed and sent to tank. The mixture of crushed grapes and free-run juice was cold soaked between two and twelve hours before pressing. Cold fermentation and stabilization was completed in stainless steel tank before bottling. All wines from Malivoire are certified sustainable. This wine showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

93
Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (559088) 12.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of watermelon, strawberry and raspberry can be coaxed on the nose. It’s graceful, even elegant on the palate with a perfectly balanced river of pure ambrosia on the palate showcasing ripe black cherry, racy pomegranate and sweet-tinged watermelon adorned with notions of apple and pear. This is value packed, medium-bodied with good mouthfeel and plenty to like on the crisp, refreshing finish an aftertaste. Pour on its own or pair with a charcuterie board or pan-seared Atlantic salmon or potato salad adorned with chunks of smoked salmon. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Argento Rosé is sourced from a blend of 70% syrah/20% malbec/10% pinot grigio with 90% (syrah and malbec) sourced from one of Argento’s five estate vineyards in Alto Agrelo, a small district within Lujan de Cuyo in central Mendoza. This particular vineyard is large with a generous slope with the highest point being 1079 metres a.s.l and the lowest 980 metres a.s.l.. It had brief contact with the skins of about three hours—hence the alluring light-salmon colour—before fermentation was carried out at cooler 14-16 ºC temperatures.

90
Bodega Argento Rosé 2020
Mendoza, Argentina $10.95 (13245) 12.5% alcohol
This is light-salmon hued in the glass. Aromas of floral notes and red fruit—strawberry and cherry to the fore—compete for your attention. It bathes the palate mellow and smooth with well-balanced flavours of sweet strawberry and racy red pie cherry robed in pleasing minerality and wisps of sugared and grilled pink grapefruit. This is gorgeous when sipped on its own and pours well with prawns pan-seared in butter and garlic or your favourite way to cook fresh Atlantic salmon. The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour—stock up for spring and summer. (Vic Harradine)

• Fruit for the following 2019 Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Black Sheep’ Riesling was sourced from 100% hand-picked riesling placed into small 25kg picking bins allowing the fruit to arrive at the winery’s sorting table intact. Fruit was hand sorted and whole-bunch pressed. The juice yield was 600 liters per tonne and was transferred into stainless steel fermentation tanks. After eight hours of juice fining and settling it was then racked off gross lees. The fermentation temperature was set for 13°C then stopped with 20 g/L natural residual sugar. Wine was kept on lees until end of November, 2019. This is a much sought-after Vintages Essentials wine stocked in 225 LCBO retail stores.

94
Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Black Sheep’ Riesling 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $18.95 (80234) 10.5% alcohol
Cascading aromas of floral notes, piquant minerality and notions of petrol roll easily from the glass. It blankets the palate with off-dry flavours of sweetened Meyer lemon, and lime cordial that replay on the finish and aftertaste with lip-smacking and mouth-watering variations that add mineral and green apple to the mix. You won’t find many better matches than spicy Asian cuisine like moo choo pork or General Tso’s chicken. (Vic Harradine)

Upstream in winecurrent

Vintages Release: May 15, 2021

• Fruit for the following 2019 Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Red Tail Merlot’ was harvested and optically sorted before being cold soaked for 5 days on skins. It was then fermented with commercial yeast in the winery climate-controlled cellar and underwent 100% malo-lactic conversion before being matured for ten months in French oak barrels—Tonnellerie Sirugue – Nuits Saint Georges. All Featherstone wines are sustainably grown and fashioned.

91
Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Red Tail Merlot’ 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (131540) 12.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of dark cherry/berry fruit, dark bittersweet chocolate and charred wood smoke abound. It blankets the palate with piquant spice, ripe dark cherry and sweet black plum interwoven with perceptible, yet acceptable, ripe tannin dryness on the tongue and cheeks—easily ameliorated with a two-hour aeration decant. This is medium-plus bodied with good mouthfeel and plenty of ripe fruit flavour to balance the tang. It finishes lengthy and mouth-watering. Pour with your favourite grilled meat—gourmet sausage, burgers, steak or roast beef. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: May 15, 2021

• The following 2020 Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Phoenix’ Gewürztraminer was sourced from 100%, 17-year-old gewürztraminer vines, clone 17 on S04 rootstock. Fruit was picked, crushed/destemmed, cold soaked and pressed then fermented with commercial yeast strain X5 under controlled fermentation temperature set for 15 °C then racked off gross lees immediately following fermentation. This wine showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

92
Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Phoenix’ Gewürztraminer 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $18.95 (519025) 13.5% alcohol
This has a pink-bronze hue in the glass while aromas of rosewater jump from the glass interwoven with tinned lychee fruit—they are preserved in a liquid that contains rosewater. Palate flavours of blood orange and peel marmalade are joined by apricot jelly and hints of Turkish delight confectionary. This is a match made in heaven when served with a baked, bone-in ham glazed with a mixture of brown sugar and maple syrup with powdered ginger root and a few lines of cloves pierced into the ham. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: May 15, 2021

91
Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Clare Valley Riesling 2019
Clare Valley, South Australia $16.95 (301523) 12.0% alcohol
Lifted aromas of mint and mineral provide segue to a tang-infused surge that tingles the tongue and palate with bracing acidity carried along on lemon juice and lime cordial that achieve balance and lip-smacking enjoyment. It’s medium weight with good texture and flavours of honey dew melon and citrus on the back palate and aftertaste. Pour with pan-seared freshwater fish or grilled and breaded calamari rings. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: June 12, 2021

• The following Fess Parker ‘Marcella’s White Wine 2017 was sourced from three vineyards in Santa Ynez Valley—44% Camp Four Vineyard/31% Rodney’s Vineyard/ 25% Vogelzang Vineyard. The grape blend is 47% viognier/38% grenache blanc/12% roussanne/3% marsanne. Fruit was 73% barrel fermented then aged nine months in one-year and older French oak, pre-loved barrels.

91
Fess Parker ‘Marcella’s’ White Wine 2017
Santa Barbara, California $21.95 (17580) 14.1% alcohol
Piquant, lifted aromas of honeydew melon, white flowers and ginger root abound. It surges over the palate with a resounding river of rollicking flavours with orange and lemon peel marmalade, apricot, nutty notes and sweet vanilla bean to the fore. It finishes with replays of palate flavours that become crisp and refreshing on the finish and aftertaste. Pour with green curry chicken.

Vintages Release: June 12, 2021

• Quino is a native word meaning ‘between two rivers’. The following 2019 Viña William Févre ‘little Quino’ Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from Chile’s southernmost vineyards and a relatively new growing area. The juice was fermented when still a bit cloudy to capture more mouthfeel and texture and was kept at a slightly higher fermentation temperature to capture and preserve more primary aromas. It was fermented with selected yeasts.

87
Viña William Févre ‘little Quino’ Sauvignon Blanc 2019
D.O. Malleco Valley, Chile $15.95 (17609) 11.8% alcohol
Aromas of flinty minerality, musk melon and sprigs of herbs dominate the nose of this 100% sauvignon blanc. It rolls over the palate with a line of bracing acidity expressed as flavours of lemon, mineral notes and white grapefruit from first to last drop and is persistent through the finish and aftertaste. This is medium weight with good texture and pours well with pan-seared freshwater fish under a squeeze of fresh lemon or sushi. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: June 12, 2021

• The following 2020 Flat Rock Cellars ‘Pink-Twisted’ is an inspired blend of 33% Gamay/33% Riesling/33% Gewürztraminer that showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage of Ontario VQA wines. It was picked at a fairly low Brix level—the amount of sugar in the unfermented grapes that when fermented made up this wine—that retained the natural tangy acidity that eventually matched up with the natural residual sugar to deftly balance this delightful wine-imbibing experience. This is an Ontario-certified sustainable winemaking product. This wine showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

92
Flat Rock Cellars ‘Pink-Twisted’ Rosé 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (39974) 11.5% alcohol
Watermelon, rose petals and strawberry aromas lure you in. It’s pure ambrosia on the palate with racy, refreshing flavours of pie cherry and red berries interlaced with balancing ripe red plum and mulberry and hints of cherry cordial. This is crisp and refreshing on entry delectable on the palate and balanced, crisp and refreshing on the finish and aftertaste. Pick up six or twelve when they become available. Divine when sipped on its own, it also pours well with summer salads, charcuterie board or deli platter. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: June 12, 2021

• The following 2020 Featherstone Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc on clone 317, 17-year-old vines with SO4 rootstock. Once picked, fruit was crushed/destemmed and allowed to cold soak for eight hours. Juice yield was 600 liters per tonne that was transferred into stainless steel fermentation tanks. After eight hours of juice fining and settling, it was racked off gross lees then 20% barrel fermented using neutral Canadian oak barrels with temperature uncontrolled. The other 80 % was stainless steel fermented at 15 °C with commercial yeast strain X5. Ferments were racked off lees several times before final fining.

89
Featherstone Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (89011) 13.5% alcohol
Herbaceous aromas of mint, basil and rosemary leap from the nose of this savory sauvignon blanc. It envelops the palate with herb-infused, tang-laden flavours of minerality and hints of flinty bits along with sprigs of mixed herbs. It’s quite dry on the palate, finish and aftertaste. This would pour well with cooked and creamed spinach or grilled calamari under a squeeze of fresh lemon and a side of grilled greens. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: July 10, 2021

• The following 2019 Moillard ‘Coquillage’ Chablis was sourced from 100% chardonnay and vinified traditionally with fruit pressed when it arrives at the winery in pneumatic presses then settled and cold stored for 48 hours. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 16 to 20 °C. It then rests on its full lies from eight to ten months with regular bâtonnage.

92
Moillard ‘Coquillage’ Chablis 2019
AOP Chablis, Burgundy, France $24.95 (10380) 12.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of wet-stone minerality intertwine with apple and ripe pear. It’s light-medium bodied with excellent mouthfeel and texture along with palate-bathing flavours of lemon zest and wisps of lime along with plenty of racy pizzazz. It’s nicely balanced on the back palate, finish and aftertaste. Give this a go with chicken a la king or olive-oil dressed arugula under crumbled chèvre. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: August 7, 2021

• The following 2020 Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Four Feathers’ is an alluring blend of 62% riesling/20% sauvignon blanc/15% gewürztraminer/ 3% chardonnay. It was hand and machine harvested then juice yield was pressed and transferred into 100% stainless steel fermentation tanks. After eight hours of juice fining and settling it was then racked off gross lees. This was fermented with commercial yeast strain X5 with fermentation temperature set for 15 °C that took place through October 2020 before being bottled on February 10, 2021. This wine showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

91
Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Four Feathers’ 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (341586) 12.5% alcohol
This is a perennial favourite for white-wine lovers. Aromas of apple, pear and apricot mingle with orange blossoms. It surges over the palate with a bracing line of excellent acidity intertwined with mixed spicy flavours of yellow peach, rosewater and hints of herbs. This is medium-weight with good texture and replays of the palate flavours on the finish and aftertaste. Pour on its own or with lighter-styled appetizers of fish, seafood, chicken or pork. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: August 21, 2021

• Fruit for the following 2020 Featherstone Estate Winery Pinot Grigio was single-vineyard sourced from 100% pinot gris (also called pinot grigio) in Jordan Valley Vineyards. It was harvested then divided into two batches—one half of the grapes were left on the skins to soak, and then pressed. The other half was pressed immediately with juice yield at 600L/tonne then transferred into stainless steel fermentation tanks and fermented with commercial yeast strain X5. The fermentation temperature was set for 15°C. Ferment was kept on lees for 10 days. This is winemaker David Johnson’s first attempt at this wine and it showcases his winemaking talent—recently awarded Winemaker of the Year—as well as showcasing the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

92
Featherstone Estate Winery Pinot Grigio 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (20599) 12.5% alcohol
Slightly pink-tinged, this reflects the lineage of pinot gris—it is thought to be a mutant clone of pinot noir and still produces grey and dark-hued grapes within a bunch. Aromas of floral notes, mixed spice and berry fruit abound. It bathes the palate with a spirited stream of spice-laden strawberry and racy pie cherry that intertwine with a linear line of excellent acidity throughout the finish and aftertaste. Not your garden-variety, watery pinot grigio, this has plenty of flavour, great texture and mouthfeel with a lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. Sip on its own as an aperitif or pour with hot or cold appetizers of all stripes. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Vineland Estates Winery Rosé was sourced from 70% cabernet franc and 30% riesling grapes from selected vineyards. It was fermented and settled in stainless steel tanks. This wine showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

92
Vineland Estates Winery Rosé 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 12.5% alcohol
Light-pink hued in the glass, this offers up lifted aromas of rhubarb, strawberry and red cherry. It blankets the palate with a surge of pomegranate and cherry cordial that’s deftly balanced with a persistent purity of fruit through the back palate, finish and aftertaste. It’s crisp, refreshing and mouth-watering good from first to last drop. Pour on its own or with lightly spiced Asian food, summer salads, seafood or roast chicken. The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour, pick up a few for your family and when your bubble-friends drop by. (Vic Harradine)

New in Ontario Wineries

• The following two Flat Rock wines will be available only at the winery, either online to be delivered to your home, business or restaurant or drive to the winery to pick up a curbside order made previously by phone or online with the release date set for Saturday, June 1st, 2021. Follow the winery link to online guidelines for ordering wine online and to the ever-changing provincial COVID-19 guidelines for visiting Niagara wineries including Flat Rock Cellars.

• The following 2019 Flat Rock Cellars ‘Gravity’ Pinot Noir was a result of barrel selection of 100% hand-harvested estate-grown pinot noir lots chosen on their superior organoleptic—includes sight, aromas, texture and taste—properties. Once in the winery the fruit underwent sorting and destemming before being cold-soaked then warmed to encourage fermentation by ambient cellar yeasts where the cap is gently soaked. Total maceration extends close to 35 days then only free run juice is selected for this wine, Once final barrel selection is made for ‘Gravity’ Pinot Noir, wine is racked settled and bottled without being filtered. It then spends 10 months maturing in a mixture of French oak barrels with only 15% new. This is an Ontario-certified, sustainable-winemaking product.

93
Flat Rock Cellars ‘Gravity’ Pinot Noir 2019
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $39.95 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of freshly crushed cherries and berries and piquant spice with peppery bits leap from the glass. It captures the palate with a tang-infused surge of palate fruit flavours with ripe black Bing cherry, pomegranate and passionfruit to the fore. It finishes with mouth-watering replays of palate flavours and showcases persistent purity of fruit, a lip-smacking aftertaste, a firm underpinning of ripe tannin and plenty more life after careful cellaring. Aerate/decant for two hours before service. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Flat Rock Cellars ‘The Rusty Shed’ Chardonnay showcases a premium barrel selection of estate-grown chardonnay that were chosen for their full-flavoured richness and textured subtlety of oak and their longevity in providing fresh and vibrant wine. This is an Ontario-certified, sustainable-winemaking product.

94
Flat Rock Cellars ‘The Rusty Shed’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $32.95 13.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of almond, buttered toast and citrus can be coaxed from the glass. It envelops the palate with a gusher of flavour—baked brioche, sweet vanilla, racy lemon curd and plenty of bracing acidity that gathers on the dry, lengthy finish and aftertaste. It’s medium-plus bodied with plenty of texture. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour. Pour with a fillet of sushi-grade tuna, grilled medium-rare with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)

• For daily home, office or restaurant delivery for the following wine 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 Friday 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays and noon to 5 pm for information and for locals to access curbside pickup instructions. Their retail shop is now open - 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays, and noon to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There are guidelines due to COVID-19 that change often, best to phone or email first (the website has a space to type and is linked to their email).

• The following 2020 Malivoire Wine ‘Musqué Spritz’ is available only at the winery, either by ordering online and have delivered to your home, office or restaurant or by ordering from the winery and picking it up curbside. Fruit for this wine was sourced from hand-harvested 21-year-old vines of chardonnay musqué from the Malivoire Estate Vineyard. After whole-cluster pressing the juice was sealed in a pressurized stainless steel tank. CO2 from fermentation was trapped and introduces a delightful effervescence to the wine. It’s somewhat like the Italian summer favourite Moscato d’Asti, but on steroids. This wine showcases the dazzling 2020 vintage in Ontario.

93
Malivoire Wine ‘Chardonnay Musqué Spritz’ 2020
VQA Beamsville Bench $24.95 11.0% alcohol
While pouring, a foamy mousse gathers briefly on the top of the light-yellow liquid in the glass before settling. Aromas of carnival-toffee and midway-candy floss abound intertwining with peel marmalade and ripe apricot and apple on the nose of this unique gem. It envelops the palate with a spritzy stream of ripe honeydew melon, honey-drizzled ripe pear and a balancing wash of orange peel and refreshing lime cordial. Sip on its own or pour alongside spicy Asian dishes like pad Thai or green curry chicken or your favourite fruit flan. (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 for Curbside Pickup 7 days a week, 11am-5pm. Purchase online or place your order at 905.562.7088 ext 124. Restaurant is open for Takeout Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm. Please order directly with the Kitchen at 905.562.7088 ext 165. Best to check with the winery first as COVID-19 rules often change regulations.

92
Vineland Estates Winery Rosé 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 12.5% alcohol
Light-pink hued in the glass, this offers up lifted aromas of rhubarb, strawberry and red cherry. It blankets the palate with a surge of pomegranate and cherry cordial that’s deftly balanced with a persistent purity of fruit through the back palate, finish and aftertaste. It’s crisp, refreshing and mouth-watering good from first to last drop. Pour on its own or with lightly spiced Asian food, deli board, summer salads, seafood or roast chicken. The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour, pick up a few for your family and when friends drop by. (Vic Harradine)

LCBO ‘Limited Time Offers’ – April 26 to May 23, 2021

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 April 26 to May 23, 2021.

White Wine

• The following two white wines receive a $2.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

90
 Paco & Lola Albariño
 DO Rias Baixas, Spain $20.95 (350041) 13.0% alcohol
 Lively aromas of slate and mineral blend with floral and pit fruit before unleashing a sweet and tang surge of lime cordial, soon joined by lemon curd, blood orange and saline minerality on the long, crisp, clean and lip-smacking aftertaste. Pour alongside ceviche, freshly shucked oysters under a dot of hot sauce and generous lemon squeeze or sushi. This offers very good value and opportunity for a multiple purchase. (Vic Harradine)

89
Willm ‘Réserve’ Riesling
 AOC Alsace $19.95 (11452) 12.5% alcohol
 A perennial favourite for many years, this dishes up lifted aromas of peach, pear and apple interlaced with white flowers and lemon zest. The palate’s treated to mouthfuls of tang-infused flavours with Key lime, white grapefruit and hints of flinty minerality. This is medium bodied with persistent purity of tang and fruit. It finishes lip-smacking good. (Vic Harradine)

• The following two white wines receive a $3.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

89
 Oyster Bay Chardonnay
 Marlborough, New Zealand $19.95 (326728) 13.5% alcohol
 Tropical fruit, citrus and sweet vanilla aromas abound on this tangy, generously textured, value-packed beauty. Rivers of nicely balanced flavour pour from the bottle with lemon chiffon pie, crisp grapefruit and spiced yellow plum to the fore. It’s mid weight sporting a mid-length finish that’s crisp and refreshing. Pour alongside grilled white fish, roast chicken or roast pork. (Vic Harradine)

92
 Thirty Bench ‘Winemaker’s Blend’ Riesling
 VQA Beamsville Bench $22.95 (24133) 10.8% alcohol
 The lifted nose of lime and piquant spice aromas is also decorated with sharp mineral notes and notions of petrol. An off-dry surge of citrus-infused flavours explode on the palate with lemon curd and lime cordial providing pizzazz along with delicious accoutrements of melon, minerality and under-ripe orchard fruit. It’s medium-weight with a bountiful, lip-smacking finish. Divine sipped on its own, it pours well with grilled or pan-seared fish, steamed mussels or breaded and skillet-fried calamari. (Vic Harradine)

Red Wine

• The following five red wines receive a $2.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

89
 Bodega Catena ‘High Mountain Vines’ Malbec
 Mendoza, Argentina $19.95 (478727) 13.5% alcohol
 Plum, blackberry, mocha and sweet pipe tobacco aromas open this nicely-balanced malbec. Dry, medium-full bodied with defined tannin and fresh acidity, cherry, plum, vanilla and spice flavours linger on the tasty palate and into the medium-long finish. This would complement grilled steak or lamb chops. (Lisa Isabelle)

90
 Francis Coppola ‘Diamond Collection Ivory Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon
 California $19.95 (521021) 13.5% alcohol
Wood smoke and toasty oak mingle with ripe dark fruit—mulberry, bramble berry and juicy cherry on the nose of this meaty, delectable California Cab. It’s full bodied and fully flavoured flaunting rich, concentrated and luscious flavours of spice-laden black Bing cherry and briary berry garnished with dark chocolate and cassis. The finish lingers with gorgeous replays, lip-smacking tang and a supple tannin base. (Vic Harradine)

86
 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon
 Paso Robles, California $22.95 (738823) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of savory herbs and peppery spice mingle with red and black cherry/berry fruit on the nose of this nicely textured, mid-plus weight cabernet. It rolls over the palate with a hedonistic personality showcasing black raspberry jam, sweet vanilla and toasty/oaky notes along with nicely integrated tannin for structure. Pour with grilled steak, barbequed ribs or burgers. (Vic Harradine)

87
 Trius Red
 VQA Niagara Peninsula $24.95 (303800) 13.6% alcohol
 Aromas of ripe cherry/berry fruit, herbs and spice abound. A medium-full bodied, nicely textured flow of red cherry, bramble berry and savory herbs blanket the palate tightly robed in the still-evolving grip of perceptible tannin. Aerate/decant for three hours pouring with rare-grilled, well-seasoned striploin. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Shiraz is a Vintages Essentials wine, always available in many LCBO stores.

• Clare Valley is a relatively cool-climate region in South Australia, a couple hours from the Barossa Valley. It’s also the spiritual and physical home of the Taylor family who own and manage this fabulous winery. The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour; it punches well above its price.

93
 Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Shiraz 2018
 Clare Valley, South Australia $19.95 (943787) 14.5% alcohol
 Aromas of black cherry, berry and plum intertwine with baking spice and cocoa on the nose of this value-packed shiraz. It spreads over the palate creamy smooth and medium-plus bodied while unleashing a gusher of fruit-forward flavour of ripe mulberry, black plum and ripe Bing cherry adorned with balancing tang and a boatload of pizzazz. It showcases persistent purity of fruit, is balanced on a pin and sports a dry, delectable finish with palate replays plus a hint of cassis and dark, bittersweet chocolate. Pour with friends and slow-cooked lamb shoulder or grilled rack of lamb. Pick up a few and drink over the next seven or eight years. (Vic Harradine)

• The following red wine receives a $3.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

• The following Concha y Toro is a Vintages Essentials wine, always available in select stores.

91
Concha y Toro ‘Marques de Casa Concha’ Cabernet Sauvignon
DO Puento Alto $19.95 (337238) 14.5% alcohol
This is a glorious wine to sip, pair with food or stick in the cellar for enjoyable drinking over the next few years. Dark toast and spiced field berry on the nose, the palate-coating succulent flavours—cassis, ripe boysenberry and Bing cherry—are underpinned by a firm chalky tannin structure and excellent moderating acidity. It’s mid weight, generously textured and finishes lengthy and luxurious, chockfull of warm ripe fruit flavour. (Vic Harradine)

• The following wine receives a $5.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

90
 Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
 Napa Valley, California $59.95 (996405) 14.1% alcohol
 This offers good balance on the palate, flavourful fruit and a drying, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. Aromas of dark berry fruit, tarry notes and grilled savory herbs provide segue for a full-bodied, generously textured flow of black berry, sweet vanilla and racy red currant washing over the palate infusing the dry finish and aftertaste along with reverberating tang. (Vic Harradine)

Other Wines & Spirits

• The following three wines receive a $2.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

• The following Kim Crawford Rosé is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO stores.

90
 Kim Crawford Rosé
 Hawke’s Bay $18.95 (650325) 13.0% alcohol
 A wonderful rosé to raise in a toast to spring, this is a blend of 93% merlot with the balance malbec. It has a salmon-pink and peach-hue colour, with a nose of strawberry and clover aromas. This is medium-full bodied with a slightly off-dry sensation and nice crisp level of acidity. There are flavours of strawberry throughout, and a slight touch of gentle tannins on the finish. Enjoy with a baby spinach and strawberry salad drizzled with balsamic vinegar. (Dave Isaacs)

• The following iconic Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé is the 22nd vintage produced by Malivoire with the first in 1998. It’s now a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select stores. This vintage it’s a 65% cabernet franc/27% gamay/8% pinot noir blend with all grapes being grown to make this specific wine. When measured, the sugar content in all varieties when unfermented averaged 20.4 Brix. Fruit was destemmed, crushed and placed in stainless steel tank then cold-soaked for 24 hours before pressing. Cold fermented and stabilized in stainless steel tank, it was bottled in March.

90
Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (559088) 12.0% alcohol
Myriad red fruit aromas—strawberry, watermelon and ruby red grapefruit among them—precede a light-medium bodied, racy wash of palate flavours with passion fruit and red currant to the fore. It finishes with a blaze of lip-smacking tang reminiscent of the red grapefruit aromas on the nose. It’s clean, crisp and refreshing from twist top to last drop. It pairs well with skinless Atlantic salmon pan-seared in butter or ham and cheese crust-less quiche. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Tawse Winery ‘Spark – Limestone Ridge’ Riesling - Sparkling Wine - Non-Vintage is a Vintages Essentials wine that is certified organic and was sourced from riesling vines on the estate Limestone Ridge Vineyard. The price-quality balance tips in your favour.

90
 Tawse Winery ‘Spark – Limestone Ridge’ Riesling Organic Sparkling Wine – Non Vintage
 VQA Twenty Mile Bench $20.95 (370361) 11.5% alcohol
 Frothy mousse when poured, seemingly endless winding streams of fine-bead bubbles make their way from the bottom of the glass to the top of the liquid carrying with it autolytic aromas and hints of pit fruit—yellow plum and feint notions of ripe apricot. Bubbles explode on the palate bringing out flavours of lemon-lime and white grapefruit extending through the finish and aftertaste. It’s crisp, refreshing and lip-smacking good. Pour on its own as a welcoming or aperitif wine to get the gastric juices flowing or alongside freshly shucked briny oysters. (Vic Harradine)

• The following wine receives a $3.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

88
 Bottega Gold Prosecco Non-Vintage
DOC Treviso, Veneto, Italy $27.95 (621458) 11.0% alcohol
The golden-coloured bottle isn’t merely bling, it preserves freshness in the wine longer than clear glass. Hand-harvested glera grapes produced this Charmat-method sparkler. It’s dry, crisp and refreshing throughout with aromas and flavours of lip-smacking, lemon zest, green apple and pear—pour with lighter appetizers or seafood. This also glitters in a variety of winery-suggested cocktails. (Vic Harradine)

• The following wine receives a $10.00 discount on the price shown below on each bottle purchased April 26 to May 23, 2021.

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 usually 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 and stay safe, Louise, Lisa, Dave, Vic