• The following 2018 Quails’ Gate Chardonnay was sourced from a blend of notable French chardonnay clones 95, 96, 277, 809 planted in estate vineyards that are approximately thirty years old. It was then fermented and matured in both stainless steel tank and older oak barrels.
• This is also a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO stores.
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Quails’ Gate Chardonnay 2018
Okanagan Valley, B.C. $24.95 (377770) 13.0% alcohol
Alluring, lifted aromas of butterscotch, piquant spice and green apple leap from the glass. It blankets the palate and fills the senses with a medium-plus bodied, generously textured flow of tang-infused, balanced and beautiful palate flavours with lemon curd, apple compote and tropical notes interwoven with mineral notes and baking spice all persisting through the lingering finish. Pour on its own or with lemon chicken or with pan-seared trout under a squeeze of fresh lemon. In a word or two… delightful, delicious. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2016 Bodegas Lan Crianza is a Vintages Essentials wine always found in select LCBO stores. It’s also an inexpensive way to taste what will be a $30 or $40 wine when released from the winery some five or more years from now as a ‘Reserva’ or a ‘Gran Reserva’ wine.
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Bodegas Lan Crianza 2016
DOCa Rioja, Spain $16.95 (166538) 13.5% alcohol
Sexy aromas of exotic spice and incense interweave with soft, ripe, dark berry fruit and flecks of mocha. It bathes the palate with a rich and balanced wash of black raspberry and dark cherry flavours underpinned by ripe chalky tannin and framed by excellent acidity and purity of fruit. It’s medium-plus bodied with deft balance and a lengthy finish. Pour on its own, after a two-hour aeration/decant or alongside prawn and chorizo paella. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2018 J. Lohr ‘Riverstone Chardonnay and the one following that, the 2017 J. Lohr ‘Seven Oaks’ Cabernet Sauvignon are both Vintages Essentials wines always available in select LCBO stores.
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J. Lohr ‘Riverstone Chardonnay 2018
Arroyo Seco, Montery, California $19.95 (258699) 14.0% alcohol
There’s excellent value here. It opens with baking spice, ripe red apple and vanilla aromas. A medium-full bodied, well-textured stream of piquant spice and lemon zest captures the palate persisting through the finish and aftertaste along with notions of grilled pineapple and tang laden white grapefruit persisting through the finish and aftertaste. Pour with lemon chicken or pan-seared fish under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)
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J. Lohr ‘Seven Oaks’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Paso Robles, California $23.95 (656561) 14.0% alcohol
This is delicious, very good value, deftly balanced and smooth and mellow from cork pop to last drop. This opens with alluring aromas of black cherry, cassis and notions of sandalwood. It continues to tempt with palate flavours of black currant and black plum, ripe, but not jammy, that are adorned with excellent tang and hints of piquant spice. This is lengthy, balanced and beautiful on the finish and aftertaste. Pour with a prime cut of beef, grilled medium rare. (Vic Harradine)