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May 24, 2020 Newsletter

One of the safest, most convenient and cost-effective ways for you to purchase wine is by ordering online from the relative safety of your own home from one of your favourite Ontario wineries and/or wine agents with most of them offering free shipping to your door with a minimum 6 or 12 bottle purchase. You can find many Ontario wineries by clicking on and scrolling through the ‘New in Ontario Wineries’ on left of the opening page of www.winecurrent.com.
You will find seven wines that are presently, or soon will be available to you that earned an excellent-value checkmark and they are easily identified throughout the reviews by this checkmark. All seven are priced between $13.95 and $17.95 and are worthy of your consideration.

Upstream in winecurrent

Vintages Release: June 13, 2020

• The following 2016 Gérard Bertrand ‘La Clape – Grand Terroir’ is a lovely blend of syrah, carignan and mourvèdre. Fruit was sourced from vineyards at 200m sitting on a limestone bench overlooking the Mediterranean where winemaking took hold thousands of years ago.

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Gérard Bertrand ‘Grand Terroir’ 2016
AOP La Clape, France $19.95 (370262) 13.5% alcohol
A fresh and lively nose of red and black cherry/berry fruit and local herb aromas precede a delightful medium-plus bodied well-textured surge of palate-drenching flavour—ripe red cherry and dark bramble berry interlaced with piquant spice and espresso roast. It’s good value, nicely balanced and sports a lengthy lip-smacking finish. Pour alongside grilled gourmet sausage or beer-can, crispy-skin chicken after a two-hour aeration/decant. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: June 27, 2020

• The following 2018 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay was hand-harvested from a field mix of sustainably grown chardonnay clones then whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented in French oak with a portion in 3000L foudres then barrel matured eight to ten months with a portion in new oak. Daniel Speck, one of the three brothers who own this winery, points to this as his favourite wine, once you try it, there’s a very good chance you will, too.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Short Hills Bench $29.95 (616466) 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of toasty oak and exotic incense abound on the nose. This is a balanced and beautiful mouthful of pure ambrosia that will improve with time. It bathes the palate with elegant and creamy-textured mouthfuls of ripe apple, piquant spice, caramel and racy lemon curd. It’s medium-plus bodied showcasing persistent purity of fruit, excellent oak integration and a monumentally lengthy aftertaste making this a deliriously delightful experience from cork pop to last drop. It’s an inspired pairing with festive turkey and all the fixings or steamed lobster dipped in clarified butter. (Vic Harradine)

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Quail’s Gate Rosé 2019
Okanagan Valley, B.C. $19.95 (170316) 12.0% alcohol
Strawberry, mandarin orange and floral notes provide segue to a light-on-its-feet delectable wash of palate flavours with sweet ripe strawberry and racy red currant intertwined with sweet watermelon. This is light-medium bodied with no shortage of flavour and a clean and refreshing finish and aftertaste. Pour on its own or alongside a deli platter or charcuterie. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: July 11, 2020

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Baron de Hoen ‘Reserve’ Gewürztraminer 2018
AOC Alsace, France $19.95 (377721) 13.5% alcohol
This aromatic grape is presented in a very elegant version, less pungent than anticipated—lychee, pear, rose water and ginger aromas. It is round and ample on the palate with delicious sweet lychee flavours leading the way followed with spicy ginger and a touch of pithy pink grapefruit peel balancing the finish. This classic medium-full bodied gewürztraminer is perfect with pad Thai. (Louise Boutin)

• The following 2019 Gérard Bertrand ‘Hampton Water’ Rosé was sourced primarily from grenache along with cinsault and mourvèdre grape varieties.

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Gérard Bertrand ‘Hampton Water’ Rosé 2019
AOP Languedoc, France $29.95 (667337) 14.0% alcohol
This pale-salmon shaded rosé displays subtle aromas of mandarin, red berries and floral notes emerging with vigorous swirling. Expect refreshing flavours of watermelon, strawberry and orange peel offered in a round and palate-coating texture, courtesy short oak aging and alcohol level, leading to a fruit-forward finish with a white pepper note showing up in the aftertaste. Enjoy on its own or alongside grilled seafood platter. (Louise Boutin)

• The following 2018 Troupis Winery ‘Fteri’ Agiorgitiko – Moschofilero Rosé was sourced from moschofilero grapes from the Mantineia plateau and the agiorgitiko from the Corinthian hills of the Peloponnese. ‘Fteri’ translates to ‘fern’ as seen on the artistic wine label.

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Troupis Winery ‘Fteri’ Agiorgitiko – Moschofilero Rosé 2018
PGI Peloponnese, Greece $15.95 (15139) 12.5% alcohol
This less familiar rosé blend opens the door with captivating sea breeze and crab apple aromas plus a tomato leaf note. This is a mouth-watering briny and mineral delight characteristic of many Greek white and rosé wines. It offers a long and delicious finish on tart apple and saline notes. Make this a regional pairing with chicken souvlaki or Greek salad. (Louise Boutin)

Vintages Release: July 25, 2020

• The following 2019 Gérard Bertrand ‘Terroir’ Picpoul de Pinet was sourced from a region inhabited in ancient times and a wine growing region in the south of France for over 2000 years. The vines for this wine grow on rocky hillsides near the bassin de Thau. After a cool fermentation—16 to 18 C—the wine ages on its fine lees in stainless steel vats before being bottled in the early spring of 2020.

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Gérard Bertrand ‘Terroir’ Picpoul de Pinet 2019
AOP Picpoul de Pinet, France $17.95 (13000) 13.0% alcohol
This is a classic Picpoul with its characteristic fresh aromas of citrus, pear and peach but also a vegetal note of celery leaf and lots of minerality. The lees aging brings excellent weight and texture on the palate along with citron confit and peach flavours joined with a savoury touch and saline mouth-watering effect in the excellent dry and refreshing finish. This is a go to bottle for freshly shucked oysters under a squeeze of lemon juice. (Louise Boutin)

Vintages Release: TBD, 2020

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Podere Casanova Rosso 2017
DOC Rosso di Montepulciano, Italy $17.95 13.0% alcohol
This is an interesting blend of 87% sangiovese (prugnolo gentile)/7% cabernet sauvignon/6 % merlot, It’s light-ruby hued in the glass and dishes up a lifted nose of mixed field berry fruit, tarry notes and exotic incense. It’s light on its feet with a gentle wash of cherry clafoutie and a balancing line of lip-smacking tang. It finishes with fruit flavour and plenty of pizzazz. This is wonderful sipped on its own or with these—mac and cheese, stuffed mushroom caps or chicken pot pie. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2016 Podere Casanova Rosso is 97% sangiovese (prugnolo gentile), 2% cabernet sauvignon, 1% Merlot,

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Podere Casanova Rosso 2016
DOCG Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, Italy $24.95 14.0% alcohol
Red and dark cherry/berry aromas intertwine with tarry bits on the nose. It flows over the palate creamy-smooth and balanced on a pin. This is elegant, smooth, mellow and absolutely delicious. There’s plenty of everything without being big or brash. It’s medium-plus bodied and fully textured and oozing with class, complexity, depth and stature. Pour on its own or alongside grilled rack of lamb or grilled striploin. This is a great value; it’s good to go now and on to 2028. (Vic Harradine)

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Fattoria Querciarossa ‘Maremma OSA’ 2016
DOC Maremma Toscana, Italy $18.95 13.5% alcohol
Lively red cherry aromas mingle with herbal and floral notes on the nose of this unique red blend—sangiovese/merlot/cabernet/ciliegiolo. A medium-full bodied, gorgeously textured surge of flavour coats the palate with cassis, bramble berry and sprigs of savory herbs to the fore. It’s well balanced with plenty of fruit flavour, excellent acidity and just enough tannin to add structure and depth. Give this a go with hearty heavyweights—osso buco, cassoulet, lamb tagine. (Vic Harradine)

New in Vintages

• The following 2018 Flat Rock Cellars Riesling is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select stores.

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Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2018
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $17.95 (43281) 11.0% alcohol
Aromas of yellow peach and green apple drizzled with lime mingle with piquant spice and mineral notes on the nose of this lovely off-dry riesling. It envelops the palate with a tang-laden surge of lime cordial and lemon curd persisting through the finish and aftertaste decorated with wisps of saline minerality. It’s quite food friendly; pour alongside spicy Asian fare like tandoori chicken or moo shu pork or Moroccan-style lamb tagine. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO retail stores. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks then matured in French oak barrel for 10 months before being blended and bottled.

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Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (286278) 13.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of buttered toast, peach jam with subtle caramel and nutmeg notes introduce a medium-bodied wash of juicy orchard fruit flavours mingling with lemon curd, roasted almond skin and mineral notes. The mouthfeel is slightly creamy, without heaviness providing excellent length in the beautiful dry and balanced finish. This will shine alongside chicken cordon-bleu or quiche Lorraine. (Louise Boutin)

New in Ontario Wineries

All the following Flat Rock Cellars wines can be ordered online for home, office or restaurant delivery or visit the winery, their tasting room is open Sunday to Friday 10am to 5pm. Here are driving directions.

• A portion of the proceeds from the following 2018 Flat Rock Cellars ‘Good Kharma’ Chardonnay goes to ‘Feed Ontario’ (formerly, Ontario Association of Food Banks). You can feel good about drinking this wine knowing it supports a worthy and needy cause. It also tastes very good.

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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Good Kharma’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (356873) 12.5% alcohol
Floral notes, ripe pear and apple aromas waft from this balanced and bountiful chardonnay. A racy surge of lemon-lime and white grapefruit blankets the palate joined by notions of Key lime pie and wisps of toast on the finish and aftertaste. This is medium bodied with good mouthfeel and plenty of pizazz. Lovely sipped on its own, it also pours well with salted nuts, Manchego cheese on crackers or grilled prawn kebabs under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Flat Rock Cellars ‘Unplugged’ Chardonnay has not seen a splinter of oak. This is a great example of ‘naked’ cool-climate chardonnay without the adornment, or interference, depending upon your point of view, of an oak barrel.

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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Unplugged’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 12.0% alcohol
Don’t worry about the residual fermentation bubbles sticking to the side of the glass, they will dissipate with swirling and won’t interfere with the fresh aromas—orchard fruit, citrus peel and flint. Nose and palate are totally aligned here with peach flavours leading the way, quickly joined with freshly squeezed lemon juice and mineral notes trailing in this medium-bodied, young white finish. Enjoy as a patio sipper with sea salt dusted almonds or with fish and chips. (Louise Boutin)

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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Twisted’ Sparkling 2018
VQA Ontario $24.95 11.5% alcohol
Aromas of citrus and caramelised sugar precede a frothy mousse when poured in the glass and a seemingly endless winding stream of fine-bead bubbles making their way to the top of your glass. On the palate, a river of tang expressed as lemon zest and Key lime captures the palate persisting through the crisp, clean and refreshing aftertaste where wisps of nectarine, leesy and mineral notes lurk in the background. Pour on its own or alongside smoked duck or potato chips or trout almondine, it’s that food-friendly. (Vic Harradine)

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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Pink - Twisted’ Sparkling Rosé 2019
VQA Ontario $17.95 (39974) 11.0% alcohol
Aromas of floral notes and red berry fruit need coaxing from this pinot noir, gamay, riesling, with a spoonful of gewürztraminer, blend. A rush of sweet strawberry and cherry capture the front palate’s attention while the back palate’s treated to a tang-filled line of racy red grapefruit with hints of red currant as it finishes crisp, clean and refreshing. This is a perfect starter wine sipped on its own or paired with appetizers, especially seafood. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Marynissen Estates Wines are available for purchase and delivery to your home, office or restaurant online only with free shipping in Ontario with a minimum order of six bottles or for curbside pick up at the winery order ahead online, here’s a map.

• The following 2016 Marynissen Estates ‘Platinum Series’ Sauvignon Blanc is presently available in Vintages as well as from the winery.

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Marynissen Estates ‘Platinum Series’ Sauvignon Blanc 2016
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (472506) 12.5% alcohol
The price-quality balance swings well in your favour here. An attractive light-gold hue in the glass, aromas of ripe pear and peach adorned with herbal/grassy notes waft easily from the glass. A silky-smooth, well-textured river of flavour envelops the palate with tang-infused Granny Smith apple and Key lime pie taking centre stage. This is balanced on a pin, clean, crisp and refreshing from cork pop to last drop. Pour on its own or pair with olive-oiled arugula decorated with crumbled chèvre and smoked salmon. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Marynissen Estates ‘Heritage Collection’ Gewürztraminer fermented in stainless steel, aged in French and Hungarian large oak—from 320 to 540 L—puncheons for 6 months.

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Marynissen Estates ‘Heritage Collection’ Gewürztraminer 2019
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $25.95 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of rosewater, exotic incense and hints of ginger root leap from the glass. This is creamy smooth, fully textured and a delight to sip. Delicate flavours of mandarin orange, lychee fruit, piquant spice and wisps of lime bathe the palate and move easily to persist through the finish and aftertaste. It’s light on its feet with good balance, persistent purity of fruit and provides plenty of charm. Pour alongside baked crust-less quiche dotted with cubes of baked ham and a few fine-diced sweet onion. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Marynissen Estates ‘Heritage Collection – Charmed’ Sparkling Wine is Marynissen’s first release of a Sparkling Wine and it’s a dandy! It’s an inspired blend of 60% riesling/ 30% gewürztraminer/10% muscat fashioned in the Charmat method and vintage dated. There’s a lot to like here.

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Marynissen Estates ‘Heritage Collection – Charmed’ Sparkling Wine 2019
VQA Ontario $22.95 11.5% alcohol
Pear, peach and citrus aromas make way for a gorgeous mouthful of flavour-packed, small-bead bubbles that race over the palate with off-dry flavours of—ripe pear and lemon curd interwoven with yellow plum and ripe white peach persisting through the lengthy, lip-smacking finish. This showcases excellent value, deft balance, persistent purity of fruit and plenty of charm and pizzazz throughout. Bravo! (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Marynissen Estates Rosé is an eclectic blend of 50% riesling/17.5% merlot/17.5% pinot noir/10% chardonnay/5% muscat.

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Marynissen Estates Rosé 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 11.5% alcohol
This highly aromatic Rosé dishes up a smorgasbord of aromas with watermelon, strawberry and red raspberry to the fore. It delights the senses with a surge of flavours swirling over the palate and persisting through the lingering finish and aftertaste—red grapefruit, blood orange, ripe strawberry and red cherry among them. This is slightly off-dry on the palate while cleaning up crisp and dry on the aftertaste. A delight to sip, it pairs with myriad dishes—charcuterie, deli platter, roast chicken, grilled seafood, chèvre. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Marynissen Estates ‘Bottoms Up’ Red is a blend of 50% merlot/35% cabernet franc/15% cabernet sauvignon matured in 100% stainless steel, no oak treatment.

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Marynissen Estates ‘Bottoms Up’ Red 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 13.0% alcohol
Lively, fresh aromas of dark juicy fruit—cherry, plum and currants—waft easily from the glass. It envelops the palate with a fruit-forward wash of black currant and black Bing cherry infused with excellent tang and still-evolving tannin. It’s medium-plus bodied with good mouthfeel and a generous lick of tannin on the lingering finish. To ameliorate the tannin, aerate/decant for three hours and pour with grilled burgers or your favourite steak smeared with blue-veined cheese. (Vic Harradine)

Cheers, Louise, Lisa, Dave, Vic