Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Select Late Harvest’ Cabernet Franc 2008
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $19.95 375 mL 11.5% alcohol
The quality-price ratio is tipped crazily in your favour. Coloured a brilliant pink-hued copper, this delivers a lip-smacking mouthful of racy spicy flavour. Tangy spiced pie cherry and red raspberry mingle with sweet cherry clafoutie on the palate and lingering luxurious finish. The natural sweetness has been deftly balanced with the crisp and refreshing flavours. For a match made in heaven, serve chilled alongside dark chocolate desserts like molten chocolate cake. Available only at the winery and only 200 cases made—order a case for daily home or office delivery from Featherstone. (Vic Harradine)
Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Icewine’ Gewürztraminer 2008
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $34.95 200 mL 11.5% alcohol
Glorious aromas of ginger-infused musk melon, spice and apricot abound. Palate-coating flavours of honeyed apple compote and spice mingle with a quintessential Gewürzt bite on the lingering delectable finish. This is unctuous, delicious and just the right size for an after-dinner treat for four, serve chilled either as dessert or alongside a fruit flan. You could also start the meal with this and foie gras. Available only at the winery, you can order a case for daily home or office delivery from Featherstone. (Vic Harradine)
Malivoire Chardonnay 2008
VQA Niagara Escarpment $19.95 12.5% alcohol
Subtle on the nose, there are wispy aromas of vanilla, toast and pit fruit. A delightful mélange of flavour washes over the palate with crisp Granny Smith apple, and ripe Bosc pear to the fore. It’s medium bodied with a nice mouth feel and a perfectly balanced mid-length aftertaste that’s clean, crisp and refreshing. This is well paced, well priced and the perfect dance partner with roast chicken and grilled root veggies. Order by the case for daily office or home delivery from Malivoire. (Vic Harradine)
Malivoire ‘Musqué Spritz’ 2009
VQA Beamsville Bench $19.95 9.0% alcohol
Exotic fanciful aromas of ginger-laden rose petal and delicate white peach float from this delightful aperitif-styled Chardonnay Musqué. Flavours of tangy lemon sherbet and key lime pie are carried along on the spritz—tiny bubbles—and creamy mouth feel of this summer-in-a-glass gem. The sweet and tang finish lingers with mouth-watering satisfaction. Serve chilled to friends with freshly picked, lightly sugared strawberries—breakfast, lunch or dinner. Order by the case for daily office or home delivery from Malivoire. (Vic Harradine)
Malivoire Pinot Gris 2009
VQA Niagara Escarpment $19.95 12.5% alcohol
Crisp and refreshing, delicate aromas of citrus, floral notes and nuances of mineral segue racy red currant, ripe sweet pineapple and grapefruit tang on the palate and lingering well-balanced finish. This is light bodied and nicely textured with a solid stream of zingy acidity throughout setting it up as a clean crisp sipper or lovely match with lighter fare like mussels steamed in dry white wine. Each sip, each glass, is better than the previous. Order by the case for daily office or home delivery from Malivoire. (Vic Harradine)
Marynissen Estates Cabernet Merlot 2007
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $18.80 13.5% alcohol
This is a Gold medal winner and served in the Ontario Legislative Assembly as their red ‘house wine’. Earthy with high notes of cassis and spice on the nose, it opens up on the palate with a lovely spray of juicy red fruit—cherry, currant and strawberry. It’s mid weight, nicely textured providing good value and a gorgeous flavour-packed, dry balanced finish. There’s a solid underpinning of ripe tannin and a lip-smacking surge of pie cherry on the aftertaste. Order by the case for daily office or home delivery directly from Marynissen Estates. (Vic Harradine)
Marynissen Estates ‘Solstice’ 2007
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $21.80 13.0% alcohol
This interesting blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is approachable now and punches well above the price. The alluring aromas of rich dark berry fruit, licorice and spice segue flavours of red berry fruit, spiced black plum and savoury notes. They’re carried along on a lovely bed of generous texture framed by good moderating acidity and a firm tannin underpinning. Mid weight and nicely textured, the lingering finish delivers a deftly balanced surge of cranberry and pie cherry. Order by the case for daily office or home delivery directly from Marynissen Estates. (Vic Harradine)
Marynissen Estates ‘Bottoms Up’ 2007
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $28.80 14.0% alcohol
This rich and complex unplanned gem (broken press) was developed using lees sediment from 7 red varietals and extracting wine in the traditional method, allowing 5 months gravity to do the work, rather than pressing. A further 8 months in new American oak and voila! Aromas of dark berry, leather and lilac introduce a palate-coating wash of flavour with sweet cassis, raisin, mocha and ripe cherry to the fore. It’s medium-full bodied, generously textured with a warm lengthy finish sporting good balance and perceptible tannin. Decant two hours or cellar and drink until 2017. Order by the case for daily office or home delivery directly from Marynissen Estates. (Vic Harradine)