September 25, 2020 Newsletter
Newsletter Highlights:
- Louise Loves – 2019 AIX ‘Saint Aix’ Rosé earned 90 points @ $24.95 found under France Rosé; Gérard Bertrand Languedoc Syrah/Grenache earned 89 points @ $16.95 (less discount) found under Limited Time Offers.
- Lisa Likes – Beringer Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay earned 89 points @ $25.95 (less discount) found under Limited Time Offers.
- Vic Picks – Featherstone Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc earned 92 points @ $17.95 found under Ontario: White Wines; 2019 Flat Rock Cellars ‘Good Kharma’ Chardonnay earned 90 points at $16.95 found under Ontario White Wine; 2017 Jim Barry Wines ‘The Cover Drive’ Cabernet Sauvignon earned 93 points @ $19.95 and 2017 Sidewood Estate Shiraz earned 93 points @ $18.95 with both found under Australia: Red Wine; Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Chardonnay earned 91 points @ $21.95 (less discount) and Vineland Estates ‘Elevation - St. Urban Vineyard’ Riesling earned 92 points @ $19.95 (less discount) and Wakefield ‘Jaraman’ Shiraz earned 96 points @ $24.95 (less discount) and Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Clare Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon earned 91 points @ $19.95 (less discount) with all four wines found under Limited Time Offers.
- Exceptional-value wine
– Many wines earned the coveted icon. They’re found throughout the newsletter and easily spotted by the icon checkmark in the October 3, 2020 Vintages Release (4 wines) and following the release in the Limited Time Offers at the very end of the newsletter (9 wines)… Happy hunting!
Vintages Release: October 3, 2020
Ontario: Icewine
• The following Lakeview Cellars Vidal Icewine is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO stores. It’s also advertised as an LCBO Limited Time Offer with $5.00 off the price shown below from now to October 14, 2020.
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Lakeview Cellars Vidal Icewine
VQA Ontario $22.95 (522672) 200 mL 12.0% alcohol
This lighter-styled beauty keeps the final sip as fresh and lively as the first—it’s not cloying or over the top and that’s not a common occurrence for vidal icewine. A nicely balanced flow of palate-bathing apricot jam and white nectarine meet nirvana with a healthy dollop of lemon zest and racy blood orange on the palate and persists through the lingering finish and aftertaste. This pairs particularly well with Stilton on water crackers or pan-seared foie gras. (Vic Harradine)
Ontario: White Wine
• Wine from the following 2018 Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Canadian Oak’ Chardonnay was pressed into and ambient-yeast fermented in, Canadian oak barrel with 90% pre-loved from one to five years and 10% new. It matured for 10 months in the same barrels and underwent partial—50%—malolactic conversion.
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Featherstone Estate Winery ‘Canadian Oak’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $21.95 (149302) 13.0% alcohol
Light-gold hued in the glass, lifted aromas of exotic spice, pungent oaky notes and orchard fruit—red apple, ripe pear, apricot—and hi-toned spirits abound. It captures the palate with an energetic surge of baking spice, caramel apple and citrussy notes. This is medium weight with good mouthfeel, deft balance and a lengthy lip-smacking finish. It’s good to go now alongside roast pork with a tangy applesauce side or chicken pot pie. (Vic Harradine)
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Featherstone Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (89011) 12.5% alcohol
Gooseberry aromas waft easily from the glass with a supporting cast of grassy notes and ripe pit fruit—peach, yellow plum and hints of mango. It envelops the palate with a balanced-on-a-pin, creamy-smooth mouthful of delectable flavour with quince jelly, tangy lemon curd and wisps of saline minerality to the fore. This is medium bodied with persistent purity of fruit and deft balance extending through the crisp and refreshing finish. Pour on its own or alongside fish, seafood, sushi or crumbled chèvre over a bed of olive-oiled arugula. (Vic Harradine)
• The following taste-good, feel-good chardonnay from Flat Rock Cellars donates a portion of sales to ‘Feed Ontario’ (formerly, Ontario Association of Food Banks) from all sales of this wine via the LCBO and the winery door—both in person and on-line. The goal of Feed Ontario and of Flat Rock Cellars is to assist in ending poverty and hunger in Ontario.
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Good Kharma’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (356873) 12.0% alcohol
Apricot, tropical fruit and citrus aromas on the nose provide segue to a medium-plus bodied, generously textured wash of palate-pleasing flavours featuring green apple, sweet ripe pear decorated with mouth-watering lemon and grapefruit citrussy tang. This has good balance and a lengthy dry finish and aftertaste. Pour with all manner of fish and seafood, grilled, pan-seared or poached along with roast chicken and roast pork. (Vic Harradine)
Ontario: Rosé Wine
• The following iconic Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé is the 22nd vintage produced by Malivoire with the first in 1998. It’s now a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select stores. This vintage it’s a 65% cabernet franc/27% gamay/8% pinot noir blend with all grapes being grown to make this specific wine. When measured, the sugar content in all varieties when unfermented averaged 20.4 Brix. Fruit was destemmed, crushed and placed in stainless steel tank then cold-soaked for 24 hours before pressing. Cold fermented and stabilized in stainless steel tank, it was bottled March, 2020.
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Malivoire ‘Ladybug’ Rosé
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (559088) 12.0% alcohol
Myriad red fruit aromas—strawberry, watermelon and ruby red grapefruit among them—precede a light-medium bodied, racy wash of palate flavours with passion fruit and red currant to the fore. It finishes with a blaze of lip-smacking tang reminiscent of the red grapefruit aromas on the nose. It’s clean, crisp and refreshing from twist top to last drop. It pairs well with skinless Atlantic salmon pan-seared in butter or ham and cheese crust-less quiche. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Three of Hearts ‘Trois Coeurs’ Rosé is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select stores.
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Three of Hearts ‘Trois Coeurs’ Rosé
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (552562) 11.5% alcohol
This racy rosé is a blend of 53% pinot noir, 41% pinot gris (itself a mutation of pinot noir) and 6% gamay. It dishes up aromas of red raspberry, rhubarb and watermelon before unleashing a tang-laden explosion of passionfruit, lemon zest and ruby red grapefruit that blankets the palate persisting through the finish and aftertaste. This is tang-driven from cork pop to last drop. Seek out a pasta with rich zesty sauce; try pasta puttanesca or spaghetti in Bolognese sauce. (Vic Harradine)
Australia: Red Wine
• The following 2017 Jim Barry Wines ‘The Cover Drive’ Cabernet Sauvignon matured 12 months in 50% American and 50% French oak barrels. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; stock up.
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Jim Barry Wines ‘The Cover Drive’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Clare Valley, South Australia $19.95 (677476) 14.0% alcohol
Aromas of dark berry fruit mingle with mixed spice and sprigs of savoury herbs. It blankets the palate with juicy flavours of black plum compote and cassis mingling with black cherry, licorice and a balancing dollop of red currant tang and acidity. It’s value-laden and creamy smooth with good mouthfeel and good structure from ripe tannin. This showcases persistent purity of fruit and a lengthy, luxurious finish and aftertaste. It’s good to go now and on to 2025. Pour alongside grilled backyard burgers, steak or gourmet sausage. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2017 Sidewood Estate Shiraz was sourced from premium, cool-climate estate fruit at approximately 380 meters a.s.l., yielding approximately 3.2 tonnes per acre and almost immediately chilled in the winery cool room with partial whole bunch and whole berry extended maceration of two to three weeks. It was wild yeast and barrel fermented in 100% French oak, 25% new, then matured 18 months before meticulous barrel tastings and selection before bottling and release. Pick up an armful.
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Sidewood Estate Shiraz 2017
Adelaide Hills, Australia $18.95 (446146) 14.5% alcohol
Aromas of dark cherry/berry fruit, mocha, vanilla and wisps of gamy notes waft easily from this medium-plus bodied, divinely flavoured gem. It coats the palate with full-Monty flavours of black cherry and bramble berry interwoven with white pepper, sweet vanilla and nuances of dark, bittersweet chocolate. It’s medium-full bodied with deft balance of sweet, ripe fruit and excellent tang and acidity, especially apparent mid palate, along with another surge of ripe dark cherry/berry fruit persisting through the lingering, luscious, balanced and creamy-smooth finish. In a word… delicious. Sip now to 2027 or pour with grilled rack of lamb or medium-rare grilled New York striploin. (Vic Harradine)
France: Rosé Wine
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AIX ‘Saint Aix’ Rosé 2019
AOP Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France $24.95 (451906) 13.0% alcohol
This is a pretty, pastel-salmon hued blend of grenache, syrah and cinsault with a splash of carignan, offering fresh aromas of nectarine, watermelon and strawberry complemented with white flower notes. It’s crisp on the palate with peach flavours, zesty pink grapefruit, a hint of ginger and a touch of balancing almond bitterness trailing in the clean finish and aftertaste. This is a delicious versatile rosé with enough body to pair with sushi or grilled salmon but also enjoyable with mixed salted nuts or simply on its own. (Louise Boutin)
Flagship Stores Exclusive
• The following wine is from Château Rauzan-Ségla, a 2nd growth wine. In 1855, the great red wine estates of the Gironde in Bordeaux, France were judged to be in five categories (referred to as ‘Crus’ or ‘Growths’ with originally only four wineries (now five, but that’s another story) in the first category, 12 in the second category (there have been alterations/splits and one wine jumping from this category to the one above). The following, Ségla 2010—along with others of similar status—is often referred to as a ‘second label’ or ‘second wine’ of one of these great premium wineries that made it into one of the exclusive groups—after the winemaker selects, in his opinion, the ideal barrels for the famed ‘Growth’ label—in this case, 2nd Growth, Château Rauzan-Ségla—the best of the rest was chosen for this particular wine – hence, ‘second label’. Some have a third and fourth label. This estate is owned by Chanel, who have gone to great lengths and invested scads of Euros to improve quality and the Ségla below has oodles of quality.
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Ségla 2010
AOC Margaux $69.95 (359810) 13.5% alcohol
Perfumed aromas of sweet ripe fruit and floral notes provide segue to a dense, intense red blend—approximately 2/3rds cabernet sauvignon, 1/3rd merlot with a dash of petit verdot and a dot of cabernet franc. A stunning wash of sweet, ripe black currant, crème de cassis and vanilla with hints of mint and mocha coat the palate along with moderating tang. This full-bodied beauty has great sense of purpose, stunning purity, is deftly balanced and bursting with promise. The rich fruit flavour, balancing acidity and profound tannin underpinning all portend long life—pop corks 2025 to 2035 after careful cellaring. (Vic Harradine)
LCBO ‘Limited Time Offers’ – September 14 to October 11, 2020
• Regardless of the vintage you purchase from the LCBO, you’ll receive the discount shown for each bottle of wine reviewed below that’s purchased September 14 to October 11, 2020
White Wine:
You will receive a $3.00 discount for the following three wines off of the price shown below in each of the reviews.
• There’s very good value in the following Beringer Napa chardonnay. Grapes sourced from multiple vineyard parcels were fermented in 25% stainless steel and 75% French oak followed by eight months barrel aging before bottling.
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Beringer Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley (84988) $25.95 14.1% alcohol
The nose leads with lemon, lime zest, red apple adorned with a pleasant floral note, hints of spice and toast. Dry and medium bodied with balancing acidity, the generous mouthfeel transports flavours of Meyer lemon, pear and Gala apple through the medium-long finish before a mineral note appears on the aftertaste. Sip on its own or alongside simply-prepared roast chicken. (Lisa Isabelle)
• The following 2018 Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a Vintages Essentials product always available in select LCBO stores.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Chardonnay
VQA Short Hills Bench $21.95 (268342) 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of baking spice, apple, pear and wisps of citrus capture the essence of this fabulous chardonnay. It bathes the palate with flavours of green apple, ripe pear and lemon curd adorned with racy tang. This is medium bodied with good mouthfeel and a lingering, juicy finish and aftertaste. It showcases mixed spice, deft balance, persistent purity of fruit and a boatload of charm. Pour with roast chicken or crown roast of pork. (Vic Harradine)
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Rodney Strong 'Charlotte's Home' Sauvignon Blanc
Northern Sonoma, California $19.95 (449207) 13.5% alcohol
Fruit from the Alexander Valley vineyard originally planted by Rod Strong in 1971 is the basis for this wine, which also includes fruit from the Russian River and Dry Creek valleys. A small percentage of the wine was fermented in French oak, adding a whiff of spice to the lifted aromas of white flowers, ripe tropical and stone fruits, citrus and lemon balm. Silky and clean on the palate, the layered flavours of passion fruit, ripe melon, peach and bright citrus shine through, a nuance of pithy grapefruit and mineral undertones adding zest to the long lasting, vibrant finish. Lovely well chilled on its own, it’s ideal paired with seafood salad. (Susan Desjardins)
• You will receive a $2.00 discount for the following three wines off of the price shown below in each of the reviews.
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Louis Jadot Chardonnay Bourgogne
AOC Bourgogne, France $24.95 (933077)
Ripe pear, red apple and a salad bowl of tropical fruit aromas precede a nicely textured wash of crisp, green apple, white peach and lemon yoghurt. It’s medium weight with a delicious, mouth-watering finish. Very refreshing on its own, it has plenty of oomph to pair with steamed seafood—lobster or mussels, or roasted fowl—chicken or turkey. (Vic Harradine)
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Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand $19.95 (326090) 12.0% alcohol
This is a cool-climate styled pinot grigio that was stainless steel fermented with a similar profile both on the nose and palate—ripe pear, green apple, a touch of ginger and a grassy/herbal note in the background. It’s medium-light bodied with a good balance of sweetness and acidity. It pairs well with friends and a sushi platter. (Louise Boutin)
• The following 2019 Vineland Estates ‘Elevation - St. Urban Vineyard’ Riesling was sourced from some of the oldest riesling vines in Canada. They were approximately 40-years old when fruit for this wine was sourced. They were first planted in Ontario by Hermann Weis of Weingut St. Urbans-hof winery in Mosel, Germany and are now known generally as the ‘Weis clone’. An iconic viticulturist, Mr. Weis sadly passed away earlier this year. We all owe him a doff of the cap and a sincere thank you as it’s now the most planted riesling vine in Canada having delivered myriad wine trophies and awards here and abroad.
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Vineland Estates ‘Elevation - St. Urban Vineyard’ Riesling
VQA Niagara Escarpment $19.95 (38117) 7.5% alcohol
Delicate aromas of citrus, floral and pear transition to a balanced-on-a-pin river of gorgeous flavour that on entry to the palate showcases lime, green apple and wisps of honey infused ripe pear. It persists through the lingering finish and aftertaste enhanced by herbal notes, tart tang and lip-smacking acidity. It showcases nerve and verve with pizzazz and plenty of charm. You shouldn’t go wrong in drinking this over the next 8 or so years. Try with white pizza on spice-oiled dough lightly adorned with cheese—brie, chèvre and extra-old cheddar—decorated with basil and sliced mushrooms and sprinkled with grated parmigiana reggiano. (Vic Harradine)
• You will receive a $1.00 discount for the following wine off of the price shown below in the review.
• The following ‘Twisted’ wine from Flat Rock Cellars is the #1 selling white wine in Vintages Essentials. It’s a blend of riesling, gewürztraminer and chardonnay.
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Twisted - White’
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (1578) 11.0% alcohol
The price-quality balance tips wildly in your favour. Rosewater, mixed spice, green apple and lime aromas abound on the nose of this gorgeously balanced riesling/gewürztraminer/chardonnay blend. It bathes the palate medium bodied, creamy textured and off-dry with a flavour-packed mouthful of grilled pineapple, Key lime pie and lemon curd. Palate replays dominate the lingering dry and crisp, lip-smacking finish. Sip on its own or pour with an array of dishes—roast chicken, spicy Asian or white pizza and more. (Vic Harradine)
Red Wine
You will receive a $2.00 discount for the following seven wines off of the price shown below in each of the reviews.
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13th Street Gamay Noir
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (177824) 13.0% alcohol
Smoke, spice and gamy notes roll from this juicy, lively, rustic gamay. The palate’s treated to a medium-bodied, nicely textured mouthful of red and dark berry fruit robed in excellent racy acidity along with mixed spice and bacon notes persisting through the dry finish. For full enjoyment, aerate/decant a couple of hours before pouring. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Gérard Bertrand Languedoc Syrah/Grenache was hand harvested separately with the syrah undergoing whole-bunch carbonic maceration for 15 days and grenache destemmed and macerated approximately three weeks after which wine is transferred to 225 L barriques for about 10 months, lightly fined and bottled then bottle aged for several months before being released.
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Gérard Bertrand Languedoc Syrah/Grenache
AOP Languedoc, France $16.95 (413237) 14.0% alcohol
Gerard Bertrand continues to impress with his extremely giving, yet affordable wine. This blend, 100% hand-picked, is mostly syrah and about one-third grenache with a lovely nose—ripe black fruit, mild oak, gingerbread, violet and rose aromas abound. A generous wash of juicy blackberry, ripe cassis and cinnamon flavours treats the palate followed with a piquant peppery note defining the fruity-spicy, medium-long finish. This medium-full bodied red has good structure and plenty of tang; it’s a good companion to grilled-rare lamb chops. (Louise Boutin)
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Joel Gott ‘815’ Cabernet Sauvignon
California $24.95 (444059) 13.9% alcohol
Savory herbs, gamy notes and charred toast aromas herald a medium-bodied nicely textured stream of rich dark fruit—cherry and black currant—intertwined with racy tang, sweet vanilla and dark bittersweet chocolate underpinned by still-evolving tannin. Aerate/decant for an hour or two hours before pouring with well-seasoned, grilled striploin. (Vic Harradine)
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Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011
AOC Bourgogne, France $26.95 (162073) 12.5% alcohol
An attractive light-ruby hue in the glass, the quiet nose offers spice, floral and red berry fruit aromas. This is über-tangy throughout with a racy line of red currant and sour cherry mingling with beetroot and spice. It’s light on its feet with good texture. Pour alongside pasta in tomato sauce or meat-laden pizza. (Vic Harradine)
• The following ring.bolt Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO stores.
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ring.bolt Cabernet Sauvignon
Margaret River $21.95 (606624) 14.5% alcohol
Floral, savory and dark berry fruit aromas set the table for a smorgasbord of flavours led by a palate-coating, gusher of ripe juicy fruit—ripe juicy black Bing cherry, black bramble berry and red currant—interlaced with black licorice, espresso roast and hints of cassis. Showcasing good purity of fruit and with depth and complexity, this is medium-full bodied with creamy-smooth mouthfeel and a lingering aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Trius red blend—cabernet franc/cabernet sauvignon/merlot—was matured 12 months in French and American oak.
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Trius Red
VQA Niagara Peninsula $24.95 (303800) 13.6% alcohol
Aromas of ripe cherry/berry fruit, herbs and spice abound. A medium-full bodied, nicely textured flow of red cherry, bramble berry and savory herbs blanket the palate tightly robed in the still-evolving grip of perceptible tannin. Aerate/decant for three hours pouring with rare-grilled, well-seasoned striploin. (Vic Harradine)
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Wakefield ‘Jaraman’ Shiraz
Clare Valley/McLaren Vale $24.95 (377036) 14.5% alcohol
Highly perfumed aromas of roses and violets introduce this fabulous shiraz. An oxymoron that it’s both delicate and powerful, but it is. It’s also medium-full bodied and silky smooth on the palate with fruit-forward flavours of sweet ripe bramble berry melding perfectly with crunchy pie cherry adorned with dark chocolate, grilled savory herbs and espresso roast gliding easily over the palate infusing the finish and aftertaste. It’s all underpinned with a dollop of ripe tannin adding structure and interest. Drink now after a two-hour aeration/decant on its own or alongside this fabulous recipe from the late, great James Beard for marinated filet of beef. (Vic Harradine)
• You will receive a $3.00 discount for the following six wines off of the price shown below in each of the reviews.
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Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
DO Colchagua, Chile $19.95 (322586) 14.0% alcohol
There’s great value here. Ripe, juicy, red cherry/berry fruit, exotic spice and grilled savory herb aromas abound. It cuts a broad, complex swath across the palate with a nicely textured, medium-plus bodied flow of bramble berry and juicy black cherry mingling with sweet vanilla, baking spice, cracked black pepper and a wisps of soft, ripe tannin. The balanced finish and aftertaste is robust, lengthy and mouth-watering good. (Vic Harradine)
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Seven Falls Cabernet Sauvignon
Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley $21.95 (360222) 14.5% alcohol
This matured 15 to 18 months in seasoned and new oak barrel, mostly American with the balance French. There are aromas of dark berry fruit, mixed spice and espresso roast galore. This is ready to drink and oozing flavour with palate-coating flavours of dried currant and black, juicy Bing cherry interwoven with mint leaf, spice and vanilla. It finishes as it started—deftly balanced, fruit-forward, good depth and plenty of charm from cork pop to last drop. (Vic Harradine)
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Tenuta Sette Ponti ‘Crognolo’
IGT Toscana $34.95 (727636) 14.0% alcohol
Aromas of red and dark berry fruit swirl from the glass with notions of spice and herbs before the palate’s treated to a rich, fruit-driven flow of briary berry, juicy black Bing cherry and piquant/peppery spice blanketing the palate. This is medium-full bodied with firm texture and a finish and aftertaste displaying a sharp herbal bite along with drying tannins. Aerate/decant for three hours or pop corks 2021-2023. (Vic Harradine)
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The Foreign Affair ‘The Conspiracy’
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (149237) 13.8% alcohol
This cabernet, Ripasso-inspired red—the wine was ‘passed over’ cab sauv and cab franc skins from dried wines—highlights aromas of raisin, fig and red cherry. It flows over the palate with tannin-infused waves of dark berry fruit and red cherry that are spice laden and framed with good moderating acidity. It’s full bodied and fully textured with a long finish laced with still-evolving tannin. Pop corks now-2025 after a two-hour aeration/decant. (Vic Harradine)
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Marchesi de' Frescobaldi ‘Tenuta di Castiglioni’
IGT Toscana, Italy $21.95 (145920) 13.0% alcohol
This red blend—cabernet sauvignon/merlot/cabernet franc/sangiovese—matured 12 months in French oak barriques and a further two months in bottle before release. Alluring aromas of red and black berry fruit mingle with mocha on the nose of this medium-bodied, nicely textured gem. It bathes the palate with a round, smooth stream of red currant and pie cherry interlaced with mixed spice and grilled savory herbs. It finishes dry, lip-smacking good. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Clare Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in original winery fermenters allowing for careful control of skin maceration plus colour and tannin extraction with some parcels left an additional two weeks to ensure good structure. Wine was gently pressed into French oak barrels for malolactic conversion then matured a further 12 months in primarily one- to four-year-old French oak barrels with only 10% new.
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Wakefield ‘Estate Label’ Clare Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon
Clare Valley, South Australia $19.95 (744235) 14.0% alcohol
Rich, lively aromas of red and black cherry/berry fruit interweave with piquant spice and wisps of white pepper. It spreads over the palate medium-plus bodied, deftly balanced and generously textured. Palate flavours of ripe black bramble berry and crunchy pie cherry mingle with delightful tangy acidity and fine, soft tannin. Good to go now and the next five or so years; give it a go with grilled rack of lamb or medium-rare steak. (Vic Harradine)
Icewine
• You will receive a $5.00 discount for the following two wines off of the price shown below in each of the reviews.
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Inniskillin Vidal Icewine
VQA Ontario $49.95 (388306) 375 mL 9.5% alcohol
This vidal icewine from Niagara expresses itself without reservation starting with lifted aromas of apricot, lemon and earthy notes. It blankets the palate with a textured wash of apricot tart, lime-soaked guava and orange marmalade. Lemon zest and grilled pineapple provide semblance balance on the finish and aftertaste. Serve well chilled on its own or paired with fruit flan or blue cheese. (Vic Harradine)
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Jackson-Triggs ‘Reserve’ Vidal Icewine
VQA Ontario $39.95 (389411) 375 mL 9.5% alcohol
Mango and ripe yellow peach aromas unleash a gusher of sweet, honeyed flavour on the palate with honey-drizzled peach pie and candied apricot coating the palate and persisting through the finish. It’s full bodied and generously textured delivering a sticky, sweet aftertaste. Pour with quality blue cheese or fruit flan. (Vic Harradine)
• You will receive a $2.00 discount for the following wine off of the price shown below in the review.
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Lakeview Cellars Vidal Icewine 2015
VQA Ontario $22.95 (522672) 200 mL 12.0% alcohol
This lighter-styled beauty keeps the final sip as fresh and lively as the first—it’s not cloying or over the top and that’s not a common occurrence for vidal icewine. A nicely balanced flow of palate-bathing apricot jam and white nectarine meet nirvana with a healthy dollop of lemon zest and racy blood orange on the palate and persists through the lingering finish and aftertaste. This pairs particularly well with Stilton on water crackers or pan-seared foie gras. (Vic Harradine)
Cheers, Lisa, Louise, Dave, Vic