• The following 2020 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Baco Noir is their flagship baco noir and a Vintages Essentials wine always found in select LCBO stores. This is also a wine in high demand in other countries, especially Great Britain where the agent just can’t get enough to satisfy consumer demand. If you haven’t tried it, this price is a $3 discount for a limited time only. Pick up a few or more. I know I will.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve – Family Estate’ Baco Noir 2020
VQA Ontario $24.95 (461699) 13.5% alcohol
Dark and brooding in the glass, it’s dark-purple and opaque. Aromas of pipe tobacco and gamy bits mingle with black cherry/berry fruit on the nose of this expressive French-American hybrid grape. It dazzles the palate with a surge of racy acidity and oodles of pizzazz expressed as racy pie cherry and hints of pomegranate adorned with © Ribena flavours of ripe, juicy black currant and wisps of black plum compote that both persist to and through the lip-smacking finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. Pick up an armful as the price-quality balance tips well in your favour. Pour alongside a meaty rack of lamb. (Vic Harradine)
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Henry of Pelham Riesling 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (268375) 11.0% alcohol
Sharp aromas of grassy notes and minerality meld well with crisp, refreshing Granny Smith apple preceding a surge of racy tangy palate flavours consisting of nerve, verve and acidity expressed as lemon pie filling, passionfruit and oodles of green apple along with hints of peach and pear. This punches well above the price; pick up a few and pour with freshly shucked briny oysters or your favourite sushi fish platter. (Vic Harradine)
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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Riesling 2020
VQA Short Hills Bench $19.95 (557165) 11.5% alcohol
Lifted aromas of apple, ripe apricot, honeydew melon and floral notes waft easily from the glass after the gentlest of swirls. It envelops the palate with a lovely stream of barely off-dry flavours with lemon pastilles, tarte tatin and ripe pineapple to the fore. Pick up an armful and pour with spicy Thai and Vietnamese food, tandoori chicken or beef vindaloo. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2021 Henry of Pelham Rosé is a Vintages Essentials Wine and is in select LCBO stores now. This wine is accredited by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario as being sustainably grown. It was sourced from a blend of red grapes that were gently moved by gravity then saw only three hours of skin contact before being fermented at cool and controlled temperatures of 14 to 16 ° C in stainless steel tank preserving delicacy and freshness. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; pick up a few while this price discount of $2 per bottle lasts. I did… and I’m going back for more.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Classic’ Rosé 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (613471) 11.5% alcohol
This is a luminous pink-hued rosé with plenty of aromas that waft easily from the gentlest of swirls. It’s also bursting with myriad fruit flavours on the palate—ripe strawberry and racy pie cherry meld beautifully on the front and mid-palate while underpinned by tang infused-citrus with blood orange and ruby red grapefruit providing a delectably dry finish and mouth-watering aftertaste from twist top to last drop. Pour on its own or alongside freshwater rainbow trout fillets that are pan-seared along with a side of garlic and butter-braised asparagus and another side of steamed Jasmine rice. (Vic Harradine)