Vintages Release: February/March, 2021

• The following ‘2018 Flat Rock Cellars ‘Twisted’ is the #1 selling white wine in LCBO’s ‘Vintages Essentials’ category. This vintage, the grape blend is 69% riesling/17% gewürztraminer/14% chardonnay.

91drink now Exceptional Value! Oh Canada!      

Flat Rock Cellars ‘Twisted - White’ 2018

VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (1578) 11.0% alcohol
There are aromas of green apple, ripe pear with wisps of lychee fruit and minerality on the nose of this lovely white blend. On the palate it’s medium bodied and generously textured with flavours galore—lime cordial, ripe pineapple, apple and scads of tangy pizzazz. It’s a tad off-dry and quite nicely balanced with complexity and persistent purity of fruit. The finish is crisp and refreshing with each sip bringing you back for more. There’s enough interest here to drink on its own, but a pairing with spicy chicken masala or General Tso’s chicken are inspired choices. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay was hand harvested and hand sorted from single-vineyard chardonnay that was gravity fed at the winery then fermented and matured ten months in French oak barrels. From February 1 to February 28, 2021, you will receive a discount of $2.00 off the price shown below for every bottle you purchase—you will pay only $17.95 per bottle Exceptional Value! . The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour. Back up the car, load up the trunk and drink over the next 12 or so months, it will get better with short-term, careful—cool and dark—cellaring.

90drink or cellar Oh Canada!
Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay 2019
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $19.95 (286278) 13.0% alcohol
Medium yellow-gold hued, this leaps from the glass with lifted aromas of baking spice, toasty notes, pineapple and caramel. It envelops the palate with a medium-plus bodied, well-textured river of ripe apple and tingling citrus acidity with oodles of nerve, verve and pizzazz expressed as white grapefruit on the back palate and aftertaste. This will be divine paired with freshly shucked Malpec oysters, prawn ceviche or pan-seared white fish under a generous squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: TBD 2021

• The following 2020 Garciarévalo ‘Finca Tresolmos’ is 100% sourced from 25-year-old vines of organically grown Verdejo harvested late September. This was fermented in stainless steel tank and underwent daily batonnage for three months.

88drink now

Garciarévalo ‘Finca Tresolmos’ 2020
DO Rueda, Spain $14.95 (218354) 12.5% alcohol
Lifted alluring aromas of honey-drizzled tropical fruit and floral notes abound. This is medium-bodied, well textured and brimming with tang-laden flavours of pineapple and lemon zest that persists from the palate through the finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside prawn ceviche, freshly shucked oysters or pan-seared fish under a generous squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: June 10. 2021

• This was harvested from 100% shiraz vines with a low-medium yield of 4 tonnes per acre in a vintage that was a textbook season with fruit allowed a long hang time allowing grapes to ripen organoleptically as well as optimum sugar levels. It was then fermented in the traditional method in open-top fermenters with maximum skin contact.

91drink or cellar Exceptional Value!
3 – Rings ‘It’s Magic’ Shiraz 2018
Barossa Valley, South Australia $17.95 (15495) 14.9% alcohol
Purple-black and opaque in the glass, it offers up aromas of black bramble berry and black plum intertwined with mixed spice. It’s medium-plus bodied with creamy-smooth mouthfeel as flavours surge over the palate with dark cherry/berry fruit adorned with dark bittersweet chocolate and coupled with excellent tang and acidity. There’s deft balance, persistent purity of fruit and more palate replays on the delectable finish and aftertaste. 3 - Rings winery suggests braised Kangaroo tail as a food match, but if you’ve run out, give grilled rack of lamb a go. (Vic Harradine)