• The following 2017 Gérard Bertrand ‘Gris Blanc’ Rosé was sourced from 100% grenache gris grapes, hand-picked and left to rest on its lees for several weeks before bottling.
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Gérard Bertrand ‘Gris Blanc’ Rosé 2017
IGP Pays d’Oc $16.95 (409870) + 1500 mL $32.95 (451138) 13.0% alcohol
Mineral/yeasty note aromas mingle with hints of strawberry on the nose of this lighter-styled Rosé. It bathes the palate with delicate flavours of cherry and strawberry adorned with herbs and spice. Pour with goat cheese salad or an assortment of mild cheese. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2015 Château des Charmes ‘Estate Bottled – Old Vines’ Riesling was not showing on the LCBO.com website at time of publishing. However, you should be able to find if a store near you has stock by phoning 1-800 668-5226 or in the GTA at 416 365-5900.
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Château des Charmes ‘Estate Bottled – Old Vines’ Riesling 2015
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $18.95 (277228) 12.0% alcohol
Riesling lovers take note; sourced from vines approximately 20 years old, this is delicious and quite special. It offers cool-climate, dry-riesling aromas of sharp citrus notes, gun-flint minerality and notions of petrol. There’s a bracing line of laser-like flavour streaking over the palate with tangy lime, passionfruit and saline mineral notes to the fore. This has time on its side to evolve, although you can easily drink now; try with pan-seared fish or mussels steamed in white wine and leeks. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2016 Pencarrow Pinot Noir was wild-yeast fermented with 5% whole clusters then matured 10 months in small oak barrel, 24% new.
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Pencarrow Pinot Noir 2016
Martinborough, North Island $24.95 (692301) 14.0% alcohol
This is quite special and value pack; stock up. It’s lightly hued and heavily perfumed with aromas of piquant spice, sprigs of savoury herbs and floral notes. It spreads over the palate with excellent sweet fruit and balancing tangy acidity as fresh red cherry and lively ripe raspberry intertwine with racy passionfruit persisting through the balanced and beautiful finish and aftertaste. It’s medium weight with good mouthfeel, soft tannin, purity of fruit and a boatload of allure. Pour on its own or with duck confit. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2015 Gérard Bertrand ‘Terroir Minervois’ Syrah/Carignan was hand-harvested, de-stemmed, underwent alcoholic fermentation and malolactic conversion separately before being blended and maturing in French oak barrique for approximately eight months.
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Gérard Bertrand ‘Terroir Minervois’ Syrah/Carignan 2015
AOC Minervois $16.95 (952804) 14.0% alcohol
Two staple grape varieties from this warm region of France, syrah and carignan, come together in this red after individual fermentation and malolactic conversion. Agitation is required to get chemical and fermentation notes out of the way and discover a fruity nose—dark cherry, purple plum, blackberry plus dry savoury herb and a distant oaky note. The ripe plum and blackberry replay on the palate along with piquant peppercorn enrobed in mellow tannin closing in a warm fruity and spicy finish. Crostini with olive tapenade is perfectly suited for this medium-full bodied, crowd pleaser. (Louise Boutin)