Look for these new wines, or new vintages of continuing wines, in the General List of the LCBO.

I recently tasted the latest vintages of Caliterra’s General List wines with the Chief Winemaker, Sergio Cuadra. I was especially impressed by the whites, and the reds are very solid, too.


Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2006
Curicó Valley $11.35 (275909)
For this price, it’s a stunning Sauvignon Blanc, with rich fruit flavour and vibrant acidity in excellent harmony with each other. Look for core flavours of tropical fruit, with notes of gooseberry and passion fruit. It’s excellent with calamari. (RP)


Caliterra Chardonnay Reserva 2005
Curicó Valley $11.35 (257147)
A luscious Chardonnay that features pure and concentrated flavours of peach and tropical fruit. (It’s 30% aged in stainless steel, the rest in a mix of new and used barrels.) The texture is smooth and creamy—a marvelous mouthfeel. Well-balanced, it’s food friendly and goes well with chicken, turkey and pork. (RP)


Caliterra Merlot Reserva 2005
Colchagua Valley $12.35 (466482)
Look for bold flavours of plum and crushed berries, with notes of pepper and spice. (A little Carmenère adds to the density and spiciness.) It’s medium-plus in weight and has a smooth and tangy texture. Pair it up with grilled lamb. (RP)


Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2005
Colchagua Valley $12.35 (257329)
A nicely-structured, medium-bodied Cab that delivers flavours of red cherry, plum and mulberries, with attractive spicy notes. It has a good tangy texture with just enough bite to make you hungry. Pair it, as I did, with a steak grilled medium-rare. (RP)

“Cellared in Canada” wines are the bane of many Canadian wineries. They’re blends of Canadian and non-Canadian wines (usually a very small percentage of Canadian) but poor labeling and erroneous shelving in many LCBO stores lead many consumers to think they are Canadian wine. Wild Horse Canyon is a new brand to the LCBO and it takes a new tack by announcing more boldly “West Coast Appellation. British Columbia. Washington California” on the front label. So we know it’s a multi-regional (and international) blend, and where the components are from, which is a big improvement on most blended wines. These wines are already available in western Canada.


Wild Horse Canyon Sauvignon Blanc 2006
British Columbia/Washington/California $13.95 (54445)
This is surprisingly acidic—not too acidic at all, but assertive—for a wine aimed at a broad consumer group. I like it. It’s got good fruit character (lots of white grapefruit, lemon and lime), zesty texture, a rounded mouthfeel, and it’s a natural for white fish served with lemon. (RP)


Wild Horse Canyon Chardonnay 2006
British Columbia/Washington/California $13.95 (54437)
This is packed with rich, full-flavoured fruit: ripe peach, sweet pear and pineapple, and tropical. It’s got a lively texture and a full, smooth mouthfeel. The finish is sweet and crisp, and this goes well with chicken breast served with a sweet salsa. (RP)


Wild Horse Canyon Merlot 2005
British Columbia/Washington/California $13.95 (54411)
Rich and quite intensely fruity, but it has a good seam of acidity that makes it versatile with food. The dominant flavours are spicy plum, cherry and red berries and the texture is quite tangy. It’s dry with light tannins. There’s a little warmth from the 14% alcohol, but this will pair well with red meat dishes, burgers or with a meat-heavy pizza. (RP)


Wild Horse Canyon Shiraz 2005
British Columbia/Washington/California $13.95 (54429)
The flavours are concentrated and dominated by sweet black berries and cherries, with some appealing peppery, spicy notes. It’s fruit-forward with good balance, dry, and tangy-textured. With soft tannins, this is a natural for barbecued sausages, burgers or ribs. (RP)

Gosset ‘Excellence Brut’ Non-Vintage Champagne
AOC Champagne $54.10 (669143)
Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne, dating back to 1584. This blend—45% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay and 13% Pinot Meunier—exhibits some of its black grape predominance in the deep rich gold colour. It’s a blend of the 2004/2005 vintages. The only wine from Gosset to undergo malolactic fermentation, look for a medium to full body, with a plush mouthfeel. The aromas are involved and quite intense—sweet spice, nutty and floral notes, plus lovely leesy undertones. It delivers a huge attack of mouth-filling flavours—citrus, honey and white peach—with more of the same on the glorious finish, plus a hit of yellow plum. This is dry, refreshing and perfect when served to guests as an elegant aperitif. It also pairs well with poultry and simply-prepared white fish. Also available via Halpern Wine 1-416-593-2662 is a 375 ml at $29.35. (VH)

Relax Cool Red 2004
QbA Rheinhessen $5.65/375ml (32698)
In its shiny red metal bottle, this looks more like an energy drink—except that the “Relax” brand implies anything but energy. It’s a blend of Pinot Noir and Dornfelder that’s quite intensely flavored; look for dark plum, cherry, and a little spiciness. I expected a bit more acidity, but it’s still a decent choice for barbecued red meats and aged cheddar. And it’s light and portable, making it a good wine to take on trips. (RP)