Vintages Release March 30, 2013

Château des Charmes ‘Estate-bottled Old Vines’ Riesling 2010
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $16.95 (277228) 12.5% alcohol (March 30 Vintages)
Harvested from 20-30 year-old vines from the Paul Bosc estate vineyard, the fruit for this wine shines through with notes of citrus, apricot and pear, a decided note of mineral tantalizing the nose. Brilliant straw, dry and mid weight, this is an elegantly balanced wine. Crisp acidity braces a lively, tangy rush of citrusy fruit, the lovely fresh finish offering a mineral flourish. Good wine, good value, and a fine match to broiled steelhead trout. (Susan Desjardins)


Rosewood Estates ‘Natalie’s Süssreserve’ Riesling 2010
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.00 11.0% alcohol
Süssreserve - a small portion of unfermented juice is kept aside then added in slowly just before bottling, increasing sweetness, texture and natural acidity. Grapey, lime, and orchard fruit aromas herald an expressive, concentrated wash of ripe, apricot, honeyed pear and candied lychee melding with racy citrus flavours on the palate. It’s mid weight and fully textured with a long, sweet and tang finish that’s on the hunt for Pad Thai or tandoori chicken. Good value and worth a punt. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release May 11, 2013

Château Puech-Haut ‘Prestige – Saint-Drézéry’ 2010
AOP Coteaux-du-Languedoc, France $24.95 (237289) 14.5% alcohol
Dark berry fruit—bramble and currant—mingle with spice, cola, black licorice and espresso roast on the expressive nose. It’s mid-full weight with good texture and palate-coating flavours—cassis, dark juicy cherry and black plum—washing in complex, structured waves. The balanced and beautiful aftertaste embroiders moderating acidity and fine-grained tannin on the delectable, lip-smacking fruit-forward flavour. Don’t hesitate to pick up a few—drinking well now to 2018. (Vic Harradine)