• Order the following wines by the case for daily home or office directly online from Kacaba Vineyards with FREE shipping in Ontario by using the code SHOPWINECURRENT for orders of six bottles or more, by phone at 1 866 522-2228 or 1 905 562-5625, or pick up a bottle or case from the winery (curbside pick-up or shop in the boutique it’s open 10 am to 6 pm seven days a week) at 3550 King Street in Vineland ON. For various wine shopping options during COVID, click here.

• The following 2019 Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable - Unoaked’ Chardonnay was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks thereby allowing and encouraging the true character of the chardonnay grape aromas and palate flavours to be showcased in the wine without the influence of even a splinter of oak. The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour—pick up a few for now and over the spring and summer and into the fall and winter, 2021.

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Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable - Unoaked’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (326975) 12.8% alcohol
Light-yellowed hued in the glass; alluring aromas of honeydew melon, soft Meyer lemon and peach yoghurt abound. It bathes the palate with a surge of crisp refreshing Granny Smith apple, ripe juicy mango and smooth, mellow lemon pie filling. This is light-medium bodied with good mouthfeel and purity of fruit from twist top to last drop. The finish lingers, balanced, bountiful and beautiful. Pour on its own or with all manner of seafood or roast chicken or pork. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable’ Cabernet is a vegan-friendly blend of 51% cabernet sauvignon/49% cabernet franc. It was fermented in open-top fermenter bins for 11 days with maximum temperature reaching 32.2 °C then pressed off the skins and racked to French and American oak where it matured for 10 months then cold stabilised and bottled in September 2020.

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Kacaba Vineyards ‘Sustainable’ Cabernet 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (499384) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of grilled savory herbs, red and black berry fruit and mixed spice precede a medium-bodied, soft tannin and tang-laced river of passionfruit, Montmorency cherry with hints of espresso roast. These tangy flavours persist from the palate through the finish and aftertaste. Pour this with pasta puttanesca or prawn and chorizo paella. There’s excellent drinking and exceptional value here. (Vic Harradine)

• For daily home, office or restaurant delivery for the following two wines order online from this link Malivoire Wine Company with FREE shipping on orders of $100. or more, or $20 credited next business day towards delivery outside Ontario and Québec. Phone 905-563-9253 Monday to Saturday 10 am - 4 pm for information and for locals to access curbside pickup instructions. Their retail shop is now open - 10 am - 5 pm, 7 days a week. There are guidelines due to COVID-19, best to phone or email first (the website has a space to type and is linked to their email).

• The following 2020 Malivoire ‘Melon’ is 100% Melon de Bourgogne hand-harvested mid-September from the Malivoire estate and Mottiar Vineyards. Fruit was whole-cluster pressed while settling and ageing was carried out in stainless steel tank with extended lees contact then bottled in December 2020. Urban legend has it this particular wine is winery-owner Martin Malivoire’s ‘oyster wine’.

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Malivoire ‘Melon’ 2020
VQA Beamsville Bench $21.95 12.0% alcohol
Almost translucent in the glass, aromas of good intensity easily billow up given a swirl, with nuances of dried Kaffir lime leaves, floral and flinty/mineral notes. It dazzles the palate with lemon and grapefruit zest interlaced with notions of citrus peel marmalade. It’s clean, tangy and refreshing with good mouthfeel from twist top to last drop. Give it a go with freshly shucked briny oysters topped with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a dot or two of hot sauce and/or a smidgeon of horse radish. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Malivoire ‘Stouck Farmstead Red’ is an outstanding red blend that’s an even split between merlot and cabernet sauvignon fruit. It was picked near the end of October at the Stouck Family Vineyard at an average Brix reading of 23.1 °. Fruit was crushed and divided for alcoholic fermentation with some going to a 1000 L oak cask and the balance to 228 L barriques. American oak made up 60% of the barrels and French oak made up the balance with 30% of the total being new oak. It matured in oak for 17 months being blended and bottled April 2020. This is recommended drinking now to 2028.

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Malivoire ‘Stouck Farmstead Red’ 2018
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $26.95 12.5% alcohol
Sexy aromas of exotic incense and spice interwoven with ripe dark, juicy cherry/berry fruit and hints of cassis and earthy bits get this off to a robust start for the olfactory system. A glorious mouthful of flavours blanket the palate with a balanced and bountiful river of ripe dark cherry and black bramble berry supported by mocha and excellent balancing tang and acidity. This is medium bodied with good texture and persistent purity of fruit. It finishes with palate replays, smooth and mellow, with grace and elegance. Let it breathe for an hour or two in a wide-bottomed ship’s decanter before pouring with a premium well-seasoned cut of grilled medium-rare beef tenderloin. (Vic Harradine)