• The following trio of Vintages Essentials’ wines are all from Malivoire Wine Company, a premium VQA producer with a portfolio of sustainably farmed fine wines.

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Malivoire ‘Estate Grown’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Beamsville Bench $19.95 (573147) 12.5% alcohol
A shy nose of Granny Smith apple and hints of baking spice aromas provide segue to a delightful array of deftly balanced palate flavours with honey-drizzled apple interwoven with lemon curd and sweet Bosc pear that persists throughout. This is medium weight, nicely textured and well balanced with a good seam of tang, persistent purity of fruit, plenty of charm and a delightfully lingering finish. It also offers a price-quality ratio tipped well in your favour. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé will be discounted $2.00 per bottle that is purchased in the LCBO from now to October 13, 2019. It is also a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select stores.

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Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (559088) 12.0% alcohol
This 35% cabernet franc / 25% gamay / 20% pinot noir blend showers alluring aromas of freshly picked strawberry and red raspberry with wisps of citrus notes. It coats the palate medium-plus bodied with generous mouthfeel and flavours of blood orange and sweet red cherry adorned with notions of minerality and mixed herbs. It’s dry, crisp and refreshing with good acidity throughout. Versatile at the table, pour alongside pan-seared Atlantic salmon under a squeeze of fresh lemon, roast fowl with all the fixings or a deli platter and baguette. (Vic Harradine)

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Malivoire Gamay 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (591313) 12.0% alcohol
Although lightly-hued to the eye, aromas leap from the glass of this well-priced gamay with the slightest swirl—red cherry/berry notes, peppery/savoury bits and piquant spice abound. It’s light on its feet with fruit flavours of pie cherry and crunchy red berry fruit—currant and cranberry—framed by tangy acidity and joined by a dry, crisp and clean finish and aftertaste. Pour with a three-cheese white pizza or arugula salad dressed with verjus and topped with crumbled chèvre. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Vineland Estates St. Urban Vineyard ‘Elevation’ Riesling earns an exceptional-value checkmark   during a limited time offer of $2.00 off per bottle October 13 to November 9 and is a relatively new Vintages Essentials wine; it’s always available in select LCBO stores.

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Vineland Estates ‘Elevation’ St. Urban Vineyard Riesling 2018
VQA Niagara Escarpment $19.95 (38117) 10.0% alcohol Aromas of mandarin orange, honey-drizzled pit fruit and whiffs of fresh ginger abound on the nose of this flavourful, value-packed, iconic riesling that was sourced from some of the oldest riesling vines in Ontario. A bracing wash of tangy lime cordial and lemon curd bathe the palate persisting through the very lengthy, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. It’s medium-bodied with good texture and pours well with baked ham dotted with cloves, or spaetzle with grilled or pan-fried bratwurst. (Vic Harradine)