Vintages Release June 12th, 2021

• Crafted like a Blanc de Blancs champagne with 100% chardonnay, this Méthode Traditionnelle bubbly from Château des Charmes is aged in bottle for at least two years while resting on its lees from its 2nd fermentation in the bottle(s) you purchase. The bottles are disgorged just before being released from the winery, a sign of extra special care for a premium quality wine.

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Château des Charmes ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine 2016
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $34.95 (423111) 12.5% alcohol
This is a crystalline pale-yellow shaded sparkling gem with vivid tiny beads rising to the top of the glass and lifting delicate aromas of pear, lemon rind, brioche and slate minerality. A dense and soft-like-meringue froth fills the palate with yellow apple and pear flavours adorned with a layer of lemon curd, a touch of vanilla and finishing on a beautiful crisp and airy mineral note. This can further evolve with additional cellaring but why wait, it is so gorgeous right now. Enjoy on its own or with seafood salad or grilled halibut under a squeeze of lemon. (Louise Boutin)

Vintages Release June 12th, 2021

• The following gamay noir droit is sourced from Château des Charmes very own mutant clone, discovered in their vineyard in the early 1980s. This was the first vinifera vine born in Canada and that granted them International Breeder’s Rights making them the only producer in the world allowed to grow this vine and produce a wine called Gamay Noir Droit. In order to highlight the uniqueness of the varietal, no oak is used in the winemaking process.

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Château des Charmes Gamay Noir Droit 2018
VQA St. David’s Bench $19.95 (346742) 12.5% alcohol
Expect aromas of sour cherry, dry cranberry, forest floor and a smoked note in the background. This is a medium-light bodied flow of ripe red fruit flavours travelling easily on the palate, grabbing along the way tangy raspberry and earthy notes and revealing a soft chalky tannin structure in the dry pleasant finish. Chill for about 15 minutes and pair with charcuterie or chicken brochettes on the grill. (Louise Boutin)

Vintages Release: June 26, 2021

• The following Maison Saint Aix Rosé 2020 was sourced in “… one of the best Aix vintages ever". The blend in this wine is classic—60% grenache/20% syrah/20% cinsault—and was harvested in the coolest part of the day—between 4 and 10 am. This wine is served in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world.

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Maison Saint Aix ‘Aix’ Rosé 2020
AOP Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France $24.95 (451906) 13.0% alcohol
Watermelon rind aromas meet citrus and pretty freesia flower notes in this popular rosé. A little tingle on the tip of the tongue introduces delicious flavours of nectarine, ruby grapefruit and a piquant ginger note delivered in a medium-bodied fashion and a nice chalky minerality emerging in the dry satisfying finish. An excellent sipper to share with friends or pair with fresh watermelon and feta salad. (Louise Boutin)

Vintages Release: July 10, 2021

• The following 2016 Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Cabernet-Merlot is certified by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario. Low-yielding, 3 tonnes per acre, hand-harvested fruit was sourced from estate vineyards on the Short Hills Bench, destemmed, sorted and partially fermented in oak tank with extended maceration. It matured in European and American oak, 30% new, then blended in an oak tank with total time in wood reaching ten months.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Cabernet-Merlot 2016
VQA Short Hills Bench $24.95 (395855) 13.5% alcohol


Lots of peppery character on the nose but also ripe dark fruit, cedar and graphite with this Bordeaux-styled red blend. Über silky-textured at first, it morphs into a robust juice of ripe blackberry and cassis flavours joined with savoury dry herbs, bright acidity and black peppercorn notes persisting in the very dry finish. This has cellaring potential with its grippy tannin but will be delicious with rare, grilled flank steak, seasoned with ‘Montreal steak’ spice mix. Aerate/decant two hours. (Louise Boutin)

Vintages Release: July 10, 2021

• The following 2020 Quail’s Gate Rosé was sourced from gamay and pinot noir fruit that was on skins for one hour for colour before each varietal was cool-fermented separately in stainless steel then blended before bottling. This family-owned winery is now managed by 3rd generation Okanagan family winemakers.

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Quail’s Gate Rosé 2020
VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C. $19.95 (275842) 12.0% alcohol
Pale pink in colour, this charming rosé gently releases aromas of red currant, strawberry and nectarine backed by a pleasant floral note. It’s dry, medium-light bodied with flavours of wild strawberry, savoury herbs and bright citrus on the refreshing palate lifted by a spritz of pink grapefruit on the lengthy finish. Enjoy this summer sipper with a green salad adorned with chilled shrimp. (Lisa Isabelle)

Vintages Release: July 10, 2021

• The following 2019 Gérard Bertrand ‘cote des roses’ Pinot Noir is a work of art. The base of the bottle has a rose carved out of the glass by a young designer from Ecole Boulle and the winery suggests you handle it as you would a bouquet of roses, especially when presenting to someone before pouring. The fruit was sourced from various soil types, but mainly hard limestone and schist and also gravel from rivers in the Languedoc region. Perfectly ripe fruit was harvested in late September. Grapes were then destemmed before macerating in vats for 10 to 15 days. The cap was punched down and pumped over frequently. The wine then matured for several months in 225-litre barrels.

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Gérard Bertrand ‘cote des roses’ Pinot Noir 2019
IGP Pays d’Oc, France $19.95 (20751) 13.0% alcohol
Ripe cherry, plum and blackberry aromas are garnished with hints of lavender, rose petals and a dusty mineral note on the nose before finding their way effortlessly to the palate. This dry, medium bodied, easy-drinking red delivers gentle tannins, a silky mouthfeel and a juicy, cherry-berry finish. Hints of dark chocolate and baking spice appear on the aftertaste. Pair with a selection of cheese and charcuterie. (Lisa Isabelle)

Vintages Release: July 24, 2021

• The following 2020 Bonny Doon Vineyard ‘Vin Gris de Cigare’ is also labelled, ‘Pink Wine of the Earth’. It’s a blend of 71% grenache/11% cinsault/5% clairette blanche/5% grenache blanc/4% mourvèdre/4% vermentino from multiple AVAs in California’s Central Coast. After fermentation, this wine was left on its lees to capture creamy texture on the palate.

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Bonny Doon Vineyard ‘Vin Gris de Cigare’ 2020
Central Coast, California $19.95 (880501) 13.5% alcohol
This pale-salmon coloured rosé opens with an intriguing nose of ripe orchard fruit, orange blossom, rose hips and fennel with a suggestion of brioche. Dry, medium bodied and nicely textured, flavours of ripe peach, melon and rhubarb wash over the tasty palate and are carried by mouth-watering acidity through the persistent finish. Serve this versatile, well-priced rosé with a seared tuna appetizer. (Lisa Isabelle)