Vintages Release: August 5, 2021
• The following Alvear ‘Solera – 1927’ Pedro Ximénez is a fascinating wine, making it one of the world’s true wine treasures. Have ten or fifteen minutes to spare? You’ll be pleased you clicked here. It may open up a whole new world of wine for you. If nothing else, you’ll learn what a ‘solera’ is. Hint… it comes from the Spanish word ‘suelo’ meaning ‘the floor’, ‘the bottom’ and ‘the base’. The oldest wine in the bottle of wine you purchase will be a small amount from 1927 and from many, many other years between then and now—it’s a ‘multi-vintage’, wood-aged wine.
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Alvear ‘Solera – 1927’ Pedro Ximénez
DOP Montilla-Moriles, Spain $28.95 500 mL (463034) 16.0% alcohol
This is akin to sweet nectar of the gods. It’s a rich caramel colour in the glass and offers up alluring aromas of raisins, figs and mixed spice. It blankest the palate with gorgeous sweet flavours of caramel toffee, raisin pie and ripe figs along with enough acidity to keep it far from cloying. . It could be served ‘as the dessert’ or paired with dark Christmas fruit cake or crème caramel. This would be a fabulous gift to novices or connoisseurs of wine. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: August 21, 2021
• The following Drappier Non-Vintage Nature-Zero Dosage - Pinot Noir was sourced from 100% estate-grown pinot noir from organic and sustainable viticulture vines in the limestone-rich soils of the Kimmeridgian limestone soil in Champagne. Alcoholic fermentation for approximately two weeks at low temperature then total and natural malo-lactic fermentation took place. After bottling, the cuvée is aged for at least 30 months ‘sur lattes’ - on laths. The date of disgorgement is etched on each bottle, this was disgorged in May, 2021. It was bottled unfiltered.
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Drappier Brut Nature-Zero Dosage Pinot Noir Non-Vintage
AOC Champagne, France $65.95 (179275) 12.0% alcohol
It’s light-yellow with copper highlights and pours with a fine-bead mousse and alluring aromas of yeasty notes, lemon zest and white grapefruit. It blankets the palate with a tang-infused wash of Meyer lemon and Mirabelle plum that persist through finish and aftertaste with added notes of spice and minerality. This is quite consistent throughout with persistent purity of tang, acidity and fresh, fruit flavour being well balanced. In the grand scheme of Champagne, this offers up a price-quality balance tipped well in your favour. Pour with sashimi, pan-seared scallops or lemon sole. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: August 21, 2021
• The following 2018 Bonny Doon Vineyard ‘Le Cigare Volant’ is a blend of 52% grenache/35% cinsault/13% syrah sourced from multiple sites—48% Alta Loma/35% Loma del Rio/6% Mesa Verde/6% Zayante/4% Rancho Solo/1% Lief in the Central Coast, American Viticultural Area, or AVA. AVA is the U.S. equivalent to our VQA in Canada.
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Bonny Doon Vineyard ‘Le Cigare Volant’ 2018
Central Coast, California $24.95 (857157) 13.5% alcohol
A lightly hued crimson-red in the glass, aromas of savoury herbs, baking spice and red cherry/berry notes abound. It’s medium-bodied with good structure and plenty of tang and acidity. The palate’s flooded with flavours of dark cherry, black currant and hints of savoury herbs. The lengthy finish and aftertaste replay palate flavours with a good lick of still-evolving tannin that’s easily ameliorated with a two-hour aeration/decant. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: September 4, 2021
• The following 2018 Jim Barry ‘Single Vineyard – The Farm’ Cabernet Malbec is a blend of 91% cabernet sauvignon planted in 1997 and 9% malbec planted in 1998 both sourced from plots on the Eastern Ranges from their Lodge Hill estate vineyard. This wine is to pay homage to the foresight of the iconic, late, great Jim Barry. The Jim Barry team of today is still basking in the limelight of being named ‘2020 Winery of The Year’ by James Halliday’s Wine Companion. They are also one of the founding members of the über-exclusive Australia’s First Families of Wine; click on their name to learn why they gained an invitation and see the other nine members and use Jim Barry Wine plus those nine other names as a compass for family-owned and managed wineries making fine wines from Australia.
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Jim Barry ‘Single Vineyard – The Farm’ Cabernet Malbec 2018
Clare Valley, Australia $29.95 (20881) 13.9% alcohol
Aromas of violets, earthy notes and ripe mulberry precede a structured mouthful of deep black cherry/berry flavours intertwined with mocha and wisps of earthy notes and sprigs of savoury herbs. It’s medium-full bodied with lots of mouthfeel and plenty of tang and acidity making for a dry finish and aftertaste. This is good to go now with at least another15 years of careful cellaring. Pour with grilled rack of lamb or a thick, premium cut of beef steak grilled medium-rare. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: TBD, 2021
• The following 2020 Società Agricola Valpenera ‘Valpenera’ Pinot Grigio is 100% pinot grigio fruit sourced in the first week of September from vineyards of Fiumicelo Ville Vicentina an ancient town in north-east Italy. After being harvested, grapes were pressed gently then fermented at a controlled temperature of 18 °C.
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Società Agricola Valpenera ‘Valpenera’ Pinot Grigio 2020
DOC Friuli, Italy $16.95 12.5% alcohol
Floral notes, a mélange of tropical fruit and hints of citrus aromas waft easily from the nose of this light-on-its-feet, clean, crisp and refreshing 100% pinot grigio. It bathes the palate with lemon curd and white grapefruit decorated with saline minerality and notions of Key lime. It finishes with mouth-watering and lip-smacking tang and acidity, making it the perfect summer sipper and accompaniment to seafood or chicken at any time of year. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: TBD, 2021
• The following 2019 3 Rings Barossa Valley Shiraz was sourced from 100% shiraz from one of Australia’s warmer wine areas, the Barossa Valley, hence the hi-octane 14.9% alcohol. However, no cause for alarm as it is also high in titratable acidity, as well as now being very low in sugar – 0.6 grams per litre. The end result is a shiraz with good balance on the palate and brimming with flavour.
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3 Rings Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019
Barossa Valley, Australia $17.95 (15495) 14.9% alcohol
Camphor, black licorice, black currant and dark plum aromas soar from the nose with even a slight swirl. It envelops the palate with a swashbuckling surge of ripe mulberry, juicy black Bing cherry and dark bittersweet chocolate. This is deftly balanced with persistent purity of fruit, good structure and concentrated fruit flavours that are ripe and delicious without being cloying. There’s perceptible and very acceptable tang-laden and mouth-watering acidity pizzazz on the finish and aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)