January 17, 2021 Newsletter

Special Announcement – The following two Vineland Estates Winery wines have had their LCBO price lowered one dollar and two dollars, respectively, from what was already an exceptional price for these two highly regarded gems. You can purchase the flavourful, tang-packed cabernet franc for $13.95 now to January 30th 2021 and the lively, fresh ‘Unoaked Chardonnay’ for $12.95, also now to January 30th 2021.

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Vineland Estates Winery Cabernet Franc 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (594127) 12.5% alcohol
Lifted aromas of dark berry fruit, grilled savoury herbs, graphite and kirsch liqueur abound. The palate’s treated to a gusher of flavour with tang-laden black currant and racy passionfruit decorated with red licorice, soft ripe tannin and a laser-like line of nervy tang. It’s medium-bodied and creamy smooth with a balanced, lengthy and lively finish and aftertaste. Give this a go with burgers, gourmet sausage, meat-laden pizza or pasta puttanesca. (Vic Harradine)

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Vineland Estates Winery ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay
2018 VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (669374) 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of musk melon and crème Brule waft easily from the glass. A gusher of medium-plus bodied, well-textured flavours capture the palate—honey-drizzled pear and lemon pie filling—then replay through the lengthy finish with an additional dollop of white grapefruit on the aftertaste. Give this a go with sushi, seafood or vegetable terrine. (Vic Harradine)

Newsletter Highlights:

• 95 points and over – no wine in this newsletter rang the 95 points and over bell.
• Exceptional-value wine  – A number of wines earned the coveted icon. They’re found throughout the newsletter and easily spotted by the icon checkmark in the January 23, 2021 Vintages Release and in categories following the release. Happy hunting!
• Three premium wineries are featured in the New in Ontario Wineries section. They deliver to your home, office or restaurant. They—Closson Chase, Henry of Pelham and Malivoire Wine—have some of their bespoke wines featured.
• Limited Time Offers –There are a number of wines that are being discounted at the LCBO for up to $3.00 a bottle from now to January 31 found at the end of the newsletter.

January 23, 2021 Vintages Release

Ontario: Icewine

• The following Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO stores. Many wine lovers think of Riesling as the premium white grape for making icewine.

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Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine
VQA Niagara Peninsula $49.95 (430561) 9.5% alcohol
This is a perennial favourite showcasing excellent acidity and ripe, sweet, fruit flavours that are perfect partners in this delicious offering. Aromas of peach, pear and wisps of minerality unleash a flow of palate-enveloping flavours—baked apple and poached pear interlace with crisp green apple, sharp ginger and lemony tang in a crescendo of balanced and beautiful ambrosia. It all replays on the lengthy finish and aftertaste. Gorgeous now, this will develop depth and complexity with bottle age. Pour on its own or with premium blue-veined cheese, fruit flan or pan-seared foie gras. (Vic Harradine)

Sparkling Wine

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Blue Mountain Sparkling ‘Gold Label’ Brut Non-Vintage
Okanagan Valley $34.95 (206326) 12.5% alcohol
Blue Mountain is well known for its quality, both in sparkling wines and pinot noir. Produced in the ‘traditional method’ and aged 24 months on the lees, this dry, pale-gold blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot gris displays alluring aromas of butter biscuit, pear, ripe apple and citrus. The refreshing mousse has a fine, creamy texture while the palate offers vivid citrus and light, tree-fruit flavours. Light-medium bodied, the wine is in fine balance with a crisp, lengthy aftertaste. With so few wines from the Okanagan finding their way here, you won’t want to miss this one. (Susan Desjardins)

Ontario: White Wine

• The following Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a Vintages Essentials product always available in select LCBO stores. Using the numbered link in brackets provided below, search the LCBO website to find the store(s) closest to you that carry this wine. Hand-harvested, estate, low-yielding fruit (3 tonnes per acre) were whole-cluster pressed then barrel fermented in 225L French oak barriques with a portion in 3000L foudres with all maturing for eight months.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Chardonnay
VQA Short Hills Bench $21.95 (268342) 12.8% alcohol
Aromas of exotic spice, green apple and toasty/oaky bits waft from the glass after a vigorous swirl. It dazzles the palate with a medium-weight, generously textured gusher of tangy lemon curd, blood orange and minerality interlaced with sweet apple compote and ripe pear and peach. It’s juicy and crisp on the mid-palate and delivers excellent value along with replays of palate flavours on the nicely balanced, lengthy and lip-smacking finish. Pour with steamed lobster dipped in clarified butter or a festive turkey dinner with all the fixings… this coming Christmas or the next. (Vic Harradine)

British Columbia: White Wine

• The following Mission Hill ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay is a Vintages Essentials wine always found in select LCBO retail stores.

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Mission Hill ‘Reserve’ Chardonnay
VQA Okanagan Valley $23.95 (545004) 13.5% alcohol

Displaying aromas of tropical and tree fruit, custard and spice, this is beautifully crafted showing exemplary balance. Dry, on the full side of medium-bodied, there’s intensity to the flavours of grilled pear and pineapple. The warmth of spiced nuances, nutty toasty notes of well-integrated oak and the subtle yet refreshing acidity bringing poise to the wine and length to the finish. (Susan Desjardins)

• The following 2018 Quails’ Gate Chardonnay was sourced from a blend of notable French chardonnay clones 95, 96, 277, 809 planted in estate vineyards that are approximately thirty years old. It was then fermented and matured in both stainless steel tank and older oak barrels.


• This is also a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select LCBO stores.


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Quails’ Gate Chardonnay
Okanagan Valley, B.C. $24.95 (377770) 13.0% alcohol
Alluring, lifted aromas of butterscotch, piquant spice and green apple leap from the glass. It blankets the palate and fills the senses with a medium-plus bodied, generously textured flow of tang-infused, balanced and beautiful palate flavours with lemon curd, apple compote and tropical notes interwoven with mineral notes and baking spice all persisting through the lingering finish. Pour on its own or with lemon chicken or with pan-seared trout under a squeeze of fresh lemon. In a word or two… delightful, delicious. (Vic Harradine)

Ontario: Red Wine

• The following Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Baco Noir is their flagship baco noir and a Vintages Essentials wine always found in select LCBO stores.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Baco Noir
VQA Ontario $24.95 (461699) 13.0% alcohol
An opaque purple-black in the glass, this Reserve baco offers aromas of charred toast, rich dark berry fruit and gamy bits. It rolls over the palate in delicious waves of sweet-tinged, rich ripe flavours of cassis, black plum and ripe mulberry interlaced with savoury herbs and great pizzazz. It’s medium-full bodied with good mouthfeel and a long, balanced and delectable finish. The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour… pick up an armful. (Vic Harradine)

Ontario: Rosé Wine

• The following Three of Hearts ‘Trois Coeurs’ Rosé is a Vintages Essentials wine always available in select stores.

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Henry of Pelham ‘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)

Argentina: Red Wine

• The following 2018 La Posta ‘Pizzella Family’ Malbec was sourced from 100% hand-harvested Malbec 19-year-old vineyards at 1100 meters above sea level in Uco Valley: La Consulta. Ten percent matured in new French oak barrels and 30% in second-use barrels.

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La Posta ‘Pizzella Family’ Malbec 2018
Uco Valley: La Consulta, Argentina $16.95 (166298) 13.5% alcohol

Plum compote and blackberry plus a hint of baking spice and wood aromas introduce an über juicy and softly-textured flow of ripe blackberry and blueberry, a suggestion of dry coco powder and kirsch liqueur. Intense acidity emerges towards the end along with chewy tannin providing for a long fruit forward dry finish. Aerate/decant one hour and enjoy alongside traditional lasagna. (Louise Boutin)

Upstream in winecurrent.com

Vintages Release: February 20, 2021

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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $24.95 (268391) 13.0% alcohol
Gamy notes mingle with aromas of barnyard and savoury herbs on the nose. A stream of red cherry and black currant flavours envelop the palate adorned with plenty of tang-infused passionfruit and hints of soft, ripe manageable tannin. It’s medium bodied with good mouthfeel, balance and plenty to like. Give this a try with smoked duck breasts or wild turkey. It’s very enjoyable drinking now and will be over the next three or four years. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: March 6, 2021

• The following 2017 Buena Vista ‘The Sheriff’ pays homage to one of California’s first sheriffs, Agoston Haraszthy, who also established Buena Vista Winery in 1857. It’s also a wine included in the much-vaunted category of the ‘Boisset Collection’ headed by wine icon, Jean-Charles Boisset, who is one-half of the wine world’s power couple as the husband of Gina Gallo. This is an eclectic blend of nine red grapes—29% petite sirah/22% petit verdot/16% cabernet sauvignon/9% carignan/9% grenache/7% syrah/4% malbec/2% cabernet franc/2% mission.

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Buena Vista ‘The Sheriff’ 2017
Sonoma County, California $49.95 (539114) 15.0% alcohol
Dark, brooding and opaque in the glass, aromas of black currant, dark plum and black raspberry leap from the glass adorned with tobacco leaf and grilled savoury herbs. A brawny wash of flavours blanket the palate with bramble berry jam, kirsch liqueur and black, juicy Bing cherry framed by good tang and acidity and underpinned by perceptible, still evolving tannin. This is full bodied and fully textured with oodles of pizzazz. Aerate/decant for three hours before serving or pop corks three years from now with a prime cut of beef tenderloin. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Perdeberg Cellar ‘The Vineyard Collection’ Cinsault was sourced from 30-year-old, dry-grown bush vines in the Paarl wine region without an irrigation system, only watered by natural rain in winter. Cinsault is a drought-resistant grape variety known locally as Hermitage and was a key component in the creation of pinotage. Now you know where the ‘age’ came from, you’d be correct if you guessed the other grape in this crossing to create pinotage was… pinot noir.

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Perdeberg Cellar ‘The Vineyard Collection’ Cinsault 2018
WO Paarl, South Africa $17.95 (18618) 14.0% alcohol
Notes of floral, strawberry and cherry waft easily from this 100% cinsault, itself an oddity as this grape is usually used in a blend with other grapes. It’s lightly ruby-hued in the glass and medium-bodied with sweet-tinged palate flavours of strawberry and raspberry framed by good tang and underpinned by perceptible and acceptable wisps of tannin underpinning. Aerate/decant for an hour or so before pouring with spiced and crispy-grilled chicken wings or thighs. (Vic Harradine)

The following 2019 Gustave Lorentz ‘Réserve’ Sylvaner is an easy-going, easy-drinking white wine that’s easily paired with shellfish, fish, charcuterie or enjoyed on its own.

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Gustave Lorentz ‘Réserve’ Sylvaner 2019
AOC Alsace $16.95 (18160) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of yellow pit fruit—peach and plum—intertwine with savoury notes and notions of ginger root. A well-paced and well-priced stream of medium-bodied and nicely textured palate flavour dishes up green apple and ripe pear interlaced with soft Meyer lemon and hints of pineapple persisting through the tasty finish and aftertaste. It’s nicely balanced with oodles of flavour and pizzazz. Pour with all manner of seafood—fish and shellfish—as an appetizer or a main. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: March 20, 2021

• The following sustainably grown Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Riesling was sourced from vines +20 years old with the largest portion being 35 years old at harvest for this wine that were shovel planted by the Speck Brothers in 1984. 3.5 tons/acre was taken from the well-known Weiss 21B clone vines. It was fermented in stainless steel tank at a controlled cool temperature of 15 – 17 ° C and a portion in large, neutral-oak foudres.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Riesling 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $19.95 (557165) 9.8% alcohol
The price-quality balance in this perennial favourite tips wildly in your favour. Floral, petrol and mineral notes intertwine with lime zest and piquant spice aromas on the nose of this fabulous off-dry riesling. It races over the palate with nerve, verve and delicious tang-infused flavours—lime cordial and sharp minerality with notions of Granny Smith apple. This is medium bodied with creamy-smooth texture and a lingering, lip-smacking finish. Give it a go with scallop ceviche, prawn bisque or steamed mussels in a shallow bath of white wine and garlic. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Troupis Winery ‘Fteri’ Moschofiloro is 100% Moschofiloro sourced from vineyards at 640 m. Grapes were fermented at cool temperatures to preserve the floral notes and fresh, lively acidity.

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Troupis Winery ‘Fteri’ Moschofiloro 2019
PGI Acadia, Peloponnese, Greece $14.95 (647388) 12.0% alcohol
Hints of rosewater and plenty of floral notes and exotic incense aromas are on the nose of this lighter-styled Greek gem. It delivers a tangy line of palate flavours with lime cordial, honeydew melon and lime zest to the fore. It’s clean, crisp and refreshing from twist top to last drop, making it a great dance partner with sushi, pan-seared scallops or mussels steamed in white wine and sliced leeks. (Vic Harradine)

New in Ontario Wineries

• Order the following wines by the case for daily office, home or restaurant delivery direct from the winery either by using this link Closson Chase, phone toll-free 1-888-201-2300 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or pick them up from the winery 629 Closson Road, Hillier, Ontario K0K 2J0 – it’s an easy 2 or so hour drive, or less, from the GTA or Ottawa and environs - Here’s a map and GPS: N43° 59’56.36″ W77° 23’40.97″ Phone ahead 343-261-6465 for complimentary curbside pick-up or local delivery. They are now open 7 days a week from 11am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm.

• The following 2018 Closson Chase ‘Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from low-yielding (1.7 tonnes per acre) 100% estate-grown pinot noir fruit. It was de-stemmed without crushing and cold soaked 3-5 days. It was fermented in large oak fermenters then underwent malolactic fermentation in pre-loved barrels then bottled without filtration at the end of August 2020. It’s certified ‘vegan friendly’ by VegeCert.

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Closson Chase ‘Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2018
VQA Prince Edward County $36.00 12.2% alcohol
An almost translucent ruby in the glass, it offers up aromas of fruit—red cherry, dried currant and dark plum decorated with savoury herbs. It rolls over the palate with balance, nerve and verve expressed as ripe juicy plum and ripe strawberry. Its medium weight with good mouthfeel and balance. It’s easy drinking and drinking well now; it will pair nicely with freshly baked tourtière. There’s good value here. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Closson Chase ‘South Clos’ Pinot Noir 2018 was sourced from low-yielding (1.7 tonnes per acre) 100% estate-grown pinot noir fruit. It was de-stemmed without crushing and cold soaked 3-5 days then was fermented in oak fermenters before malolactic fermentation in barrels, matured in 20% new French oak then bottled without filtration and the end of August 2020. It’s certified ‘vegan friendly’ by VegeCert.

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Closson Chase ‘South Clos’ Pinot Noir 2018
VQA Prince Edward County $50.00 12.2% alcohol
Aromas of red berry, cherry and savoury bits precede a flow of palate flavours with pie cherry and cherry cordial and ripe raspberry to the fore decorated with savoury herbs, earthy notes and wisps of a soft tannin underpinning. This flirts with elegance and grace, is medium bodied with good texture and mouthfeel, and deft-balance throughout. The lengthy finish and aftertaste deliver palate replays, mouth-watering and lip-smacking good. Pour with Coq au vin or paella with prawns and chorizo, now to 2026. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Closson Chase ‘Churchside’ Pinot Noir 2018 was sourced from low-yielding (1.7 tonnes per acre) 100% estate-grown pinot noir fruit. It was de-stemmed without crushing and cold soaked 3-5 days It was de-stemmed without crushing and cold soaked 3-5 days then was fermented in oak fermenters before malolactic fermentation in barrels, matured in 20% new French oak then bottled without filtration and the end of August 2020. It’s certified ‘vegan friendly’ by VegeCert.

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Closson Chase ‘Churchside’ Pinot Noir 2018
VQA Prince Edward County $42.00 12.2% alcohol
Light-ruby hued, shy aromas of sprigs of herbs and cherry/berry fruit can be coaxed with a vigorous swirl or two. This surges over the palate with a powerful wave and delicious mouthful of cherry clafoutie, wisps of kirsch liqueur and juicy berry fruit. It’s nicely structured with persistent purity of ripe fruit, excellent tang and acidity and plenty of things to like, including the price-quality ratio skewed well in your favour. This is lovely now and will improve in the short term. Pour with boeuf Bourguignon or osso buco. (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).

• Fruit for the following 2019 Malivoire ‘Small Lot’ Chardonnay was hand harvested from the original ‘Moira’ site. Following whole-cluster pressing the juice finished alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel with the majority settled in and aged on lees in a horizontal steel tank and a small portion to steel barrels. After nine months a small lot of 389 cases were bottled in July 2020.

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Malivoire Wine ‘Small Lot’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Beamsville Bench $21.95
A lifted nose of caramel, lemon citrus and apple aromas abound. It captures the palate with tang-laden flavours of lime cordial, crisp green apple and ripe pear persisting through the long, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. This is medium bodied with deft balance, good texture and mouthfeel. The quality-price balance tips well in your favour; give this a go with white, three-cheese (chèvre, Gouda, mozzarella) and sliced-mushroom pizza. Drink now to 2023. (Vic Harradine)

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Malivoire Wine ‘Stouck’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $44.95 13.0% alcohol
An eclectic bevy of aromas leap from the glass—pipe tobacco, mocha, and black bramble berry interlaced with hints of grilled savoury herbs and exotic incense. A surge of flavours blanket the palate with black raspberry and black plum intertwined with pie cherry and oodles of tangy pizzazz. It’s medium-plus bodied with generous mouthfeel and soft, ripe tannin for underpinning. This showcases persistent purity of fruit, is balanced on a pin and delivers a luxurious finish and aftertaste decorated with palate replays of fruit and flavour. Drink now to 2025. (Vic Harradine)

• Order the following two wines by the bottle(s) or case(s) for daily delivery to home, office or restaurant online from this link to Henry of Pelham – There is free delivery on 12 or more bottles in Ontario. Select ‘12 Bottles+’ at check out and allow up to 10 days for delivery or, order online then pick up bottle(s) or case(s) from the winery at 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines ON. Here’s a map.

• The following 2019 Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir was hand harvested, and sustainably grown and certified by SWO. After being gently de-stemmed and mechanically sorted, grapes were then carefully moved by gravity. Grapes are de-seeded then seeds added back judiciously to control the tannin structure of the wine. Fruit was fermented in stainless steel using pulse-air with hand punch downs to gently manage the cap.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $24.95 (268391) 13.0% alcohol
Gamy notes mingle with aromas of barnyard, piquant spice and savoury herbs on the nose. A stream of red cherry and black currant flavours envelop the palate adorned with plenty of tang-infused passionfruit and hints of soft, ripe manageable tannin. It’s medium bodied with pleasant mouthfeel, good balance and plenty to like. Give this a try with smoked duck breasts or roast turkey. It’s good value and very enjoyable drinking now; and it will continue to be over the next three or four years. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay was sourced from the oldest, estate vines that were shovel planted and were 35 years old when grapes for this wine were harvested. Fruit was sustainably grown and certified by SWO. The wine was barrel fermented in French oak with a portion in 3000L foudres then barrel-matured for eight to ten months with a portion being new.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $29.95 (616466) 12.8% alcohol
Nuances of toasted oak, green apple and notions of gunflint and pineapple aromas grace the nose of this lighter-styled, delightful chardonnay. It’s crisp and clean on the palate with flavours of Granny Smith apple, lemon acidity and hints of white grapefruit. This is light-medium bodied with good mouthfeel and a balanced, abbreviated finish and aftertaste. This is drinking well now, showcasing both structure and grace. It should improve with a bit more cellaring, possibly one to two years. Pour with roast chicken, turkey or crown roast of pork. (Vic Harradine)

LCBO ‘Limited Time Offers’ – Now to January 31, 2021

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 now to January 31, 2021.

• The following wines receive a $2.00 discount on each bottle purchased now to January 31, 2021.

White Wine

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Cave Spring Cellars ‘Estate’ Riesling
VQA Beamsville Bench $19.75 (286377) 12.0 % alcohol
This value-packed, single-vineyard riesling, produced with fruit from vines averaging 20 years of age, opens with expressive notes of apple, pear, peach and lemon-lime, underscored by hints of petrol and a mineral note. Dry, medium bodied, crisp yet weighty in texture, citrus flavours lead the charge across the palate followed by yellow apple and a wet mineral note which lasts into the long, flavourful finish. Enjoy with apple stuffed roast pork. (Lisa Isabelle)

Red Wine

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Cathedral Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
WO Paarl, South Africa $17.95 (328567) 13.0% alcohol
Smoky, earthy and dried cherry aromatics waft from the glass of this medium-bodied red. There are a good deal of sweet, black, ripe cherry and plum flavours with hints of chocolate and tar in the involved flavour profile. All this is wrapped around perceptible tannins and oaky notes that may need some time to quiet down. Drink now with rare or medium-rare pepper steak. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Rocca delle Macie ‘Riserva Chianti is a Vintages Essentials wine always found in select LCBO retail stores.

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Rocca delle Macie ‘Riserva’ Chianti 2016

DOCG Chianti, Italy $15.95 (111641) 13.5% alcohol

Aromas of cherry/berry fruit and floral notes introduce a medium-bodied, nicely textured stream of lively, tang-laden palate flavour with red currant, ripe black cherry and passionfruit. This is primarily sangiovese with a cup or two of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. It’s medium weight, nicely textured with good red fruit flavour framed with tang and underpinned by wisps of soft tannin. A wash of pie cherry and red currant jelly races over the palate persisting through the finish and adorned with wisps of tannin on the aftertaste. Best poured with pasta in a tomato-based sauce; try spaghetti Bolognese or pasta puttanesca. (Vic Harradine)

• The following wine receives a $3.00 discount on each bottle purchased now to January 31, 2021.

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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)

Sparkling Wine

• The following wine receives a $1.00 discount on each bottle purchased now to January 31, 2021.

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Featherstone ‘Cuvée Joy’ Sparkling Wine
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $34.95 (310334) 12.5% alcohol
The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; keep a few on hand. Lively aromas of baking brioche, nutty notes and citrus are harbingers of a glorious explosion of fine-bead mousse when pouring followed by endless streams of tiny bubbles wending their way to top of the glass. Flavours of lemon curd, mineral notes and ripe apple and pear dominate the palate. It finishes in a blaze of delightful tang; crisp, clean and refreshing. A great way to welcome guests and you can continue serving with appetizers and lighter mains. (Vic Harradine)

Cheers, Lisa, Louise, Dave, Vic