Vintages Release: October 3, 2020
• The following taste-good, feel-good chardonnay from Flat Rock Cellars donates a portion of sales to ‘Feed Ontario’ (formerly, Ontario Association of Food Banks) from all sales of this wine via the LCBO and the winery door—both in person and on-line. The goal of Feed Ontario and of Flat Rock Cellars is to assist in ending poverty and hunger in Ontario.
90
Flat Rock Cellars ‘Good Kharma’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (356873) 12.0% alcohol
Apricot, tropical fruit and citrus aromas on the nose provide segue to a medium-plus bodied, generously textured wash of palate-pleasing flavours featuring green apple, sweet ripe pear decorated with mouth-watering lemon and grapefruit citrussy tang. This has good balance and a lengthy dry finish and aftertaste. Pour with all manner of fish and seafood, grilled, pan-seared or poached along with roast chicken and roast pork. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: October 31, 2020
• 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 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.
90
Bookwalter Winery ‘Readers’ Chardonnay 2018
Columbia Valley, Washington State $19.95 (634162) 13.8% alcohol
There’s good value here. 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 with pan-seared fish, roast chicken or three-cheese white pizza—stilton, chèvre and brie. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: October 31, 2020
• The following 2018 Sacred Hill Pinot Noir was sourced from Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand. A well-known wine region for their sauvignon blanc, they’re now making an international splash with their tasty, value-laden pinot noir. A portion of this saw six months of maturation in pre-loved French oak barrels.
92
Sacred Hill Pinot Noir 2018
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand $19.95 (277665) 13.5% alcohol
Lightly red-hued in the glass, lifted aromas of spice-infused red plum and medicinal notes abound. It streaks over the palate with tension, nerve and verve expressed as flavours of passionfruit and pie cherry decorated with piquant spice and ripe black plum adding balance and a pleasing finish. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour. Give this a go with smoked duck breasts over oiled arugula and mango chutney or cedar-planked grilled Atlantic salmon. (Vic Harradine)