November 23, 2022 Newsletter
Highlights:
- New in Ontario Wineries
- Upstream in winecurrent.com
- Vintages Limited Time Offers
New in Ontario Wineries
34 Wines and 8 Wineries from which to choose. Happy choosings!
• This non-vintage sparkling blend of chardonnay and pinot noir is bottled and matured on its lees for at least 12 months before being disgorged just before leaving the winery and is available at the LCBO, the winery and online.
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Château des Charmes Brut Méthode Traditionnelle Non Vintage
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $25.95 (224766) 12.0% alcohol
This is your classic white sparkling that doesn’t need a special occasion to enjoy. Bright and crisp on the nose with aromas of lemon rind, peach and leesy notes, it teases the tongue with nice tight bubbles and tangy flavours of Meyer lemon, green apple but also yellow pear softening the profile. It is crisp, refreshing with beautiful mineral notes and perfect for the apéro alongside sea salt potato chips, salted nuts etc. (Louise Boutin)
• All the following Château des Charmes wines are available at the winery or online only. Visit www.chateaudescharmes.com and enjoy free delivery in Ontario on orders of $99 and more.
• Just like a rosé champagne is produced, this méthode traditionnelle sparkling is a blend of mostly chardonnay with pinot noir used in the dosage. It is aged on the lees for at least 18 months before disgorgement and release.
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Château des Charmes ‘Rosé - Sparkling - Méthode Traditionnelle 2017
VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake $34.95 (078055) 12.5% alcohol
This attractive salmon-tinged bubbly with charming aromas of strawberry, rhubarb and brioche notes fills the palate with a creamy froth of tangy red berry flavours--strawberry, cranberry, raspberry—and then the mild earthy pinot noir touch adding beautiful complexity and body as well as versatility for pairing. Try with a well-seasoned salmon tartare or feta cheese-stuffed marinated red bell pepper bites. (Louise Boutin)
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Château des Charmes Gewürztraminer ‘St. David’s Bench’ 2021
VQA St. David’s Bench $21.95 (453472) 12.5% alcohol
Hand-harvested from 15-year-old estate vines, this aromatic white opens the door with elegant aromas of lychee, roses and ginger. It’s got a nice weight and coats the palate with piquant ginger flavours combined with pink grapefruit acidity and beautiful tropical fruit notes. This medium-bodied beauty offers the perfect balance of aromatic character and freshness and is the perfect partner to Pad Thai or caramelized Vietnamese pork bowl. (Louise Boutin)
• Riesling was one of the first grape varietals planted at Château des Charmes back in 1978. While there are no rules to use ‘old vines’ on a label, this riesling below is produced from those original vines and shows a lot of depth and character reminiscent of the European style. Either way you look at it, the vines for this wine were 18-years-old when harvested for this wine
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Château des Charmes ‘Old Vines’ Riesling 2016
VQA Niagara-on-the—Lake $18.95 (277228) 12.5% alcohol
Flint and ginger aromas show off beautifully in this dry riesling along with beeswax and fennel seed notes. It coats the palate with an impression of sweet ripe pear and candied lemon rind before the citrus acidity intensifies and along with the chalky minerality reveals a dry crisp delightful finish. Pair this medium-bodied gem with gourmet sushi and sashimi or vegetable curry. (Louise Boutin)
• The following gamay noir droit is sourced from Château des Charmes very own mutant clone, discovered in their vineyard in the early 1980s. This was the first vinifera vine born in Canada and that granted them International Breeder’s Rights making them the only producer in the world allowed to grow this vine and produce a wine called Gamay Noir Droit. In order to highlight the uniqueness of the varietal, no oak is used in the winemaking process.
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Château des Charmes Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ 2020
VQA St. David’s Bench $21.95 (346742) 13.0% alcohol
Very discreet on the nose at first, it opens up with a vigorous swirl to aromas of sour cherry, forest floor and crushed gravel notes. Juicy sour cherry flavours take the lead on the palate followed with earthy character but also a bright raspberry note and peppery flair in the finish and aftertaste. This easy drinking medium-bodied red with soft tannins is very versatile at the table. Try with a charcuterie board of salmon burgers. (Louise Boutin)
• Produced from the Estate’s oldest vines and only in best vintages when all the winemaking fruit elements are optimal, this pinot matures 16 months in first use French oak barrels.
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Château des Charmes ‘Paul Bosc Estate’ Pinot Noir 2017
VQA St. David’s Bench $44.95 (332858) 13.5% alcohol
A medium garnet robe and profound aromas of sour cherry, potpourri, cinnamon and forest floor escape from the glass. Velvety textured and ample on the palate with flavours of dried cherry, bay leaf, oyster mushroom and a peppery note emerging mid-way through and trailing in the lengthy and enveloping dry finish, this medium-bodied pinot is a real treat for the senses. Pair with boeuf Bourguignon or duck confit. (Louise Boutin)
• The following four wines may be purchased online from this link - Casa-Dea Estates Winery. For a limited-time only; buy 6 bottles or more of any wine and receive FREE shipping in Ontario to your home, office or licensed restaurant.
• The following 2021 Dea’s Cuvée Sparkling Wine was made 100% with chardonnay and pinot noir grown and harvested from their estate-owned ‘Cold Creek’ vineyard. It’s deftly balanced and fruit-forward and was made in the Charmat method.
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Casa Dea ‘Dea’s Cuvée - Charmat Method – Sparkling Wine
VQA Prince Edward County $20.95 12.5% alcohol
Delightful aromas appear as it is poured and continues through the tasting experience with a gusher of ripe citrus fruit—Meyer lemon, Key lime and notions of white grapefruit—that provide wonderful balanced palate flavours that blossom out leaving a lip-smacking crisp and refreshing taste sensation on the palate and the lingering finish and aftertaste. Kudos to the Casa Dea team. Pour alongside cold-smoked salmon on a bagel slathered with cream cheese that’s dotted with dill weed and capers. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Casa Dea ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc was sourced from 100% Casa Dea estate vineyards of cabernet franc in Prince Edward County.
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Casa Dea Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Franc 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $26.95 14.0% alcohol
This opens with an exotic Asian incense aroma joined by red and black cherry/berry fruit and notions of earthy and floral notes on the nose. It envelopes the palate with flavours of red pie cherry and black currant underpinned by still-evolving tannin and a balanced smattering of ripe black cherry and notions of blueberry and sweet vanilla intertwined with grilled savoury herbs and a replay of palate flavours on the finish and aftertaste. Give this a go with red, meat-lovers pizza or pasta puttanesca. (Vic Harradine)
Top of Form
• The following 2021 Casa-dea Estates Winery Pinot Grigio was sourced from 50% machine-harvested, estate Pinot Grigio fruit and 50% from Niagara Escarpment with both lots fermented separately in stainless steel then blended together before bottling.
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Casa-dea Estates Winery Pinot Grigio 2021
VQA Ontario $19.95 (237883) 11.8% alcohol
Ethereal aromas of ripe apricot, almonds and exotic spice precede a spell-binding gusher of palate flavours with Meyer lemon, Key lime pie and hints of green apple and pineapple adorned with nerve, verve and plenty of tang and pizzazz to and through the finish and aftertaste. It’s medium-plus textured with creamy smooth mouthfeel and leaves the palate clean crisp and refreshing. Pour alongside spicy prawns cooked in a pan in butter with a side of Jasmine rice steamed in a rice cooker and infused with finely cut red and green bell pepper. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2021 Casa-dea Estates Winery ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay was sourced from machine-harvested, estate vineyards with vines of 100% chardonnay from that were plus-20 years old that saw not a chip of oak. It was fermented and settled in stainless steel tank before being bottled.
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Casa-dea Estates Winery ‘Unoaked’ Chardonnay 2021
VQA Prince Edward County $18.95 12.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas, bordering on elegant, are easily sourced with gentle swirls—floral notes, exotic spice and delightful incense abound on the nose followed by lovely aromas of citrus—lemon and lime and ripe apricot and pear. It’s medium-bodied and nicely textured on the palate with flavours of Granny Smith apple, lemongrass and ripe peach, pear and Mirabelle plum.
• The following 2021 Casa-dea Estates Winery Melon de Bourgogne was sourced from machine-harvested estate vines in a vineyard planted some twenty years ago. It was then fermented in stainless steel and saw no oak.
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Casa-dea Estates Winery Melon de Bourgogne 2021
VQA Prince Edward County $24.95 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of green apple, minerality and floral notes precede a smooth and mellow, nicely textured stream of honeydew melon and Mirabelle plum juxtaposed to lemon curd and notions of Key lime pie. The persistent purity of fruit extends to and through the crisp and refreshing finish and mouth-watering aftertaste—in a word, yummy! Pour alongside oven-roasted chicken, freshly shucked Malpeque oysters or crab cakes. Pick up a half-dozen or so and drink now to 2025 after careful cellaring. (Vic Harradine)
• Closson Chase was an early entry into the nascent Prince Edward County winery scene in the late 1990s and recently made an almost seamless transition from a former doyen of Ontario winemakers, Deborah Paskus, to the present winemaker, Keith Tyers, highly capable with focused vision on making fine wine—especially chardonnay and pinot noir—from what nature provides.
• 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 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. Phone ahead 343-261-6465 for complimentary curbside pick-up or local delivery. They are now open 7 days a week from 11am to 5 pm.
• The following 2021 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘The Loyalist’ Chardonnay was sourced from 100% locally grown fruit and is accredited and certified as vegan by VegeCert.
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Closson Chase Vineyards ‘The Loyalist’ Chardonnay 2021
VQA Ontario $28.00 12.5% alcohol
Lifted and alluring aromas waft easily from this gem of a delicious and affordable smooth and mellow chardonnay—floral and tropical fruit aromas followed by delicious palate flavours of pineapple, mango and ripe apricot along with citrus and mineral notes persist to and through the lingering finish and mouth-watering aftertaste that’s crisp, clean and refreshing. Pick up a few and pour alongside a Thanksgiving roast turkey with all the fixings. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard’ Chardonnay was sourced from 100% Prince Edward County fruit and is accredited and certified as vegan-friendly by VegeCert. The grapes were whole cluster pressed then 100% barrel fermented. Less than 10% new oak, the rest in seasoned French oak barrels.
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Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $34.00 13.3% alcohol
Delicate, elegant aromas of vanillin, floral and notes of baking brioche and buckwheat honey can be coaxed with a number of swirls. It blankets the palate with pit fruit—Mirabelle plum and ripe apricot along with notions of ripe nectarine, It’s medium bodied with good texture and mouthfeel and dishes up both a lengthy finish and aftertaste of lemon-lime citrus and saline minerality. Pour this alongside roast fowl—chicken, turkey or duck. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard - Unfiltered’ Pinot Noir was sourced from 100% Prince Edward County fruit and is accredited and certified as vegan-friendly by VegeCert.
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Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Vineyard - Unfiltered’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $36.00 (145888) 12.5% alcohol
A layered and complex nose sports aromas of piquant spice, wood smoke, gamey notes and notions of exotic incense. In spite of its light purple hue it blankets the palate with ripe dark fruit flavour—pie cherry, black raspberry tang and pizzazz and is underpinned by still evolving tannin. A two-hour aeration/decant will produce a more positive imbibing experience and this will play nicely with chicken pot pie, bobotie or cassoulet. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘South Clos Vineyard’ Chardonnay was sourced entirely from the South Clos estate vineyard. The fruit was whole-cluster pressed then 100% barrel fermented in 20% new oak, 80% seasoned then underwent 100% malolactic fermentation in barrel before bottling. It is accredited and certified as vegan-friendly by VegeCert.
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Closson Chase Vineyards ‘South Clos Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $44.00 13.3% alcohol
Saline and flinty mineral aromas are adorned with floral and sweet vanilla on the nose of this gorgeous top-line chardonnay. It surges over the palate with flavours of caramel, nutty notes and notions of poached pear and yellow pit fruit—Mirabelle plum and nectarine—wrapped in the tang and pizzazz of crisp green apple and notions of lemon curd. This is medium-plus weight and texture with creamy-smooth mouthfeel and deft balance achieved through the finish and aftertaste. Give this a go with roast turkey and roast turkey leftovers. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Closson Chase ‘Churchside-Unfiltered’ Pinot Noir 2020 was destemmed with no crushing, then cold soaked for 3-5 days. Fermented in large tonneaux. Aged in 100% French oak (20% new, 80% seasoned). It underwent full malolactic fermentation in barrel and was bottled unfiltered. It is accredited and certified as vegan-friendly by VegeCert.
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Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Churchside Vineyard-Unfiltered’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $44.00 12.5% alcohol
Piquant spice and crunchy red fruit show on the nose along with wood smoke. It comes up in spades with palate flavours of Montmorency cherry, pomegranate, cranberry and cassis galore along with still evolving tannin and plenty of tang and pizzazz. There’s persistent purity of fruit and balance throughout. Pour alongside Portobello mushroom burgers. (Vic Harradine)
• The following vintage-dated 2021 Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Mosiac – Charmat Method’ Sparkling wine was sourced from 100% Chardonnay 50% cool fermented in stainless steel at 16 degrees C for 10 days, 60 days on lees, with the other 50% in pre-loved, neutral oak barrels. This vintage-dated Charmat Method, sparkling wine, is aptly named ‘Mosiac’ with a number of techniques carefully folded in together with great skill so that the finished wine is more than the sum of its parts. Bravo to winemaker Keith Tyers and his winemaking team.
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Closson Chase Vineyards ‘Mosaic - Charmat Method’ Sparkling Wine 2021
VQA Ontario $32.00 12.5% alcohol
This opens with plenty of mousse, aka bubbles on the top of the wine when poured in the wine glass. Aromas of citrus—lime, lemon and blood orange—are joined by mineral notes and notions of baking brioche, nutty notes and spent yeast cells. There’s refreshing palate flavours of lime cordial, a green Granny Smith apple and plenty of tang and pizzazz. It finishes with an addition of minerality and the aftertaste adds on a lingering crisp and clean flavour of citrus and tang. Keep a few around for yourself and a few for both expected and unexpected guests. Great sipped as a welcoming wine it will also pour well with salted nuts or potato chips or if you’re ambitious, what about hot, salted and buttered popcorn? (Vic Harradine)
• The following three Flat Rock Cellars wines are available from the winery in Ontario and select locations in Alberta and, for their now ‘iconic’ ‘Gravity’ Pinot Noir, also in Quebec. Here is a link for you to contact the winery in Niagara and see if you can source one or more of these wines for delivery to your home, office or licensed premise.—Flat Rock Cellars.
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Nadja’s Vineyard – Capstone Series’ Riesling 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $32.95 11.5% alcohol
Aromatic ambrosia leaps from the wine glass with the gentlest of swirls. Aromas of honeydew melon, mineral notes and notions of Granny Smith apple. It’s plush and creamy smooth on the palate with deft balance, plenty of tang and pizzazz and no lack of lip-smacking Key lime on the finish and a mouth-watering lemon curd on the aftertaste. After winning Decanters Best in Show award it is now both highly sought after and spread across the world in top-line restaurants. If you can pick up a few for your home and cellar; give it a go with moules et frites or tandoori chicken and Naan. In a word, this wine is delectable with plenty of charm and plenty to offer all the fortunate imbibers. (Vic Harradine)
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘The Rusty Shed – Capstone Series’ Chardonnay 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $34.95 13.5% alcohol
Light-medium yellow hued when poured in the glass, it dishes up a roomful of pleasing and alluring aromas with green apple, lemon pie filling and minerality expressed as flinty limestone.. It’s plush and creamy smooth on the palate with oodles of tang and plenty of pizzazz along with yellow nectarine, ripe pear, and juicy yellow Mirabelle plum. It finishes with good balance and showcases elegance and plenty to give for a further three or four years of careful cellaring in bottle. If you’re impatient give it a go now with a festive fowl with all the fixings or a prime cut of roast beef and root veggies done in the oven with Yorkshire pudding and make mushroom gravy and pour as a side. (Vic Harradine)
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Flat Rock Cellars ‘Gravity – Capstone Series’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $39.95 13.5% alcohol
An appealing ruby red in the glass, it also shows its youth with a thin clear robe. It releases alluring aromas with the gentlest of swirls—a collage of red and black cherry/berry fruit aromas including Montmorency red cherry along with black juicy Bing cherry and nuances of wild strawberry and black bramble berry, The palate flavours replay the aromas with red and black cherry fruit and black bramble berry all delivered with creamy smooth texture and perceptible, and acceptable, tannin underpinning. There are no rough edges after a two hour aeration/decant before serving. Pour with beet borscht or a Montreal smoked meat sandwich with a side of coleslaw. (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 2021 Henry of Pelham ‘Classic’ Pinot Noir was sourced from an excellent vintage that’s almost as dazzling as the 2020 vintage. Imagine, two in a row! This particular wine was sourced from four numbered pinot noir clones—115, 667, 777 & 375—that are sustainably-grown and accredited by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario. This wine was fermented in stainless steel tank then matured for +6 months in European oak.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Classic’ Pinot Noir 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (13904) 12.8% alcohol
An abundance of interesting aromas appear on the nose of this excellent pinot noir—with tobacco leaf, dark cherry/berry fruit juxtaposed with rosewood and exotic incense. The palate’s treated to a gusher of fruit flavours with red Montmorency pie cherry and hints of passionfruit with both contributing to the wonderful tang and racy pizzazz. It’s medium-bodied with good texture, loads of fruit flavours and good mouthfeel throughout. Give this a go with pan-seared, East coast salmon fillets adorned with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour, pick up six or more. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Gamay was sourced from Estate grown Gamay from the VQA sub-appellation of Short Hills Bench in the dazzling vintage of 2020. The grapes for this wine were harvested from 27-year-old-vines.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ Gamay 2020
VQA Short Hills Bench $21.95 (19903) 13.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of violets, crunchy red cherry and passionfruit precede a river of ripe black bramble berry and juicy Bing cherry on the palate and to and through the racy finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. It’s quite smooth and mellow on entry and marries well to just about anything you do on your barbecue e.g. pork back rib slathered with spicy barbecue sauce, grilled tandoori chicken, grilled skirt steak, or simple backyard burgers. (Vic Harradine)
• For daily home, office or restaurant delivery for the following two wines are sold at the winery only, order online from this link Malivoire Wine Company with Free shipping on orders of $99 or more, or $20 credited next business day towards delivery outside Ontario and Québec. Phone 905-563-9253 Monday to Friday 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays and noon to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday for information and for locals to access curbside pickup instructions. Their retail shop is now open - 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays, and noon to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There are guidelines due to COVID-19 that change often, best to phone or email first (the website has a space to type and is linked to their email)
• The following 2021 Malivoire Wine Company Ladybug Rosé is a Vintages Essentials wine always in stock in a large number of LCBO retail stores. It’s a blend of 56% cabernet franc/36% gamay/8% pinot noir and was sourced from select vineyards and grapes grown specifically for this popular wine. Berries were destemmed crushed and sent to tank. The mixture of crushed grapes and free-run juice cold-soaked for between two and twelve hours before pressing. Cold fermentation and stabilization were completed in stainless steel before bottling in January 2022. It’s also available from the Malivoire winery. This wine is accredited by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario.
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Malivoire Wine Company Ladybug Rosé 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (559088) 12.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of watermelon, wild strawberry and orange peel marmalade provide segue to a barrage of palate flavours with pie cherry and red currant juxtaposed with taffy apple and a notion of spun sugar. It finishes tangy and with oodles of pizzazz to and through the lip-smacking finish and delightfully sharp with Montmorency grapes on the aftertaste. Pour on its own or with or serve with roast chicken, a deli board or pan-seared Atlantic salmon. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Malivoire Wine Company ‘Che Bello - Charmat Method - Non-Vintage Sparkling Wine was sourced from seyval from Huebel Estate Vineyards and from riesling from Geneva Frost Road. Following primary fermentation the wine was transferred to a pressurized steel tank for secondary fermentation in the Charmat method. It underwent no malolactic fermentation. This wine is accredited by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario. It’s available at the winery and in the LCBO General List section. This is tipped well in your favour on the quality-price balance at 91 points for only $17.95. Pick up a case or more.
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Malivoire Wine Company ‘Che Bello - Charmat Method’ Non-Vintage Sparkling Wine
VQA Ontario $17.95 (16858) 11.0% alcohol
Aromas of apricot, musky Casaba melon and yellow nectarine coalesce on the nose of this sparkling wine. It gathers itself on the palate with the yin and yang—aka, sweetness and tang—of sweet, ripe yellow Mirabelle plum and honeydew melon along with the yang and the tang of crab apple and notions of rhubarb. The balanced finish and mouth-watering aftertaste support these palate flavours as they pour well with poached oysters with a dash of Pernod, crab cakes or fish tacos. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following wines by the case for daily office, home or restaurant delivery direct by toll-free phone 1-888-399-1183, from the Rosehall Run Vineyards winery using this link - Rosehall Run - or pick it up from the cellar door on your next visit to the winery 1243 Greer Rd, Wellington, Ontario K0K 3L0 in Prince Edward County—it’s best to call first and make an appointment—it’s an easy approximately two-hour drive, or less, from the GTA or Ottawa via the 401 - Here’s a map. All orders of $85.00 and over receive FREE SHIPPING in Ontario.
• The following 2021 Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘Indigo - Method Charmat’ Sparkling Wine was sourced somewhat sparingly from Rosehall Run estate vineyards in Prince Edward County with a blend of 6.7% chardonnay musqué and 3% chardonnay plus 19.1% muscat ottonel equalling 26.3.% along with fruit sourced from their ‘vineyard away from home’ on the VQA Twenty Mile Bench in Niagara consisting of 48.6% gewürztraminer and for the first time access to the riesling with 22.5% of the overall blend and is closed by the easily removed, crown cap. The artwork on the label was done by Alex Simon, a Tasting Room Associate at the winery and former Guelph U. Visual Arts student.
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Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘Indigo’ Method Charmat - Sparkling Wine 2021
VQA Ontario $25.00 11.5% alcohol
This opens with alluring aromas of orange marmalade, honeydew melon and floral notes preceding a nicely balanced stream of palate flavours and a wonderful mousse with musk melon, lemon curd and hints of honey on the mid-palate and extending to the off-dry lip-smacking finish and crisp, mouth-watering aftertaste. It is creamy-smooth on the palate with good balance and purpose with persistent purity of fruit throughout. Pour with your favourite platter of mixed sushi or a deli-platter of sliced tomatoes, rye bread and charcouterie. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘St. Cindy – unfiltered – Estate grown and bottled Pinot Noir 2020 pays homage to Cindy Zwicker Reston, the sister of Lynn Sullivan and sister-in-law to winemaker Dan Sullivan. Cindy is one of the winery’s most ardent and faithful supporters and this fabulous vintage for pinot noir gave Lynn and Dan Sullivan a wonderful opportunity to make their feelings known to all that value family, supporters and excellent wine. All the fruit—100% Pinot Noir—is from estate vineyards.
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Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘St. Cindy – unfiltered – Estate grown and bottled – Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $79.00 13.0% alcohol
Light-ruby-red hued in the glass, it surprises with a flurry of aromas once given a couple of meaningful swirls that include beet root and earthy notes along with red and black cherry and plenty of tangy acidity that gets to and through the mouth-watering finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. It opens up more quickly with a one or two hour aeration/decant. Pour alongside a Montreal smoked meat sandwich or grilled Atlantic salmon on a cedar plank along with dill weed and dotted with butter. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘St. Cindy – unfiltered – Estate grown and bottled Chardonnay 2020 pays homage to Cindy Zwicker Reston, the sister of Lynn Sullivan and sister-in-law to winemaker Dan Sullivan. Cindy is one of the winery’s most ardent and faithful supporters and this excellent vintage for pinot noir gave Lynn and Dan Sullivan a wonderful opportunity to make their feelings known to all that value family, supporters and excellent wine. All the fruit—100% Chardonnay—is from estate vineyards.
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Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘St. Cindy – unfiltered – Estate grown and bottled – Chardonnay 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $74.00 13.0% alcohol
This is clean, crisp and refreshing from twist top to final drop as it showcases aromas of lemon curd, white grapefruit, passionfruit, pomegranate and notions of tropical fruit—mango and pineapple—along with replays on the palate with many of the aromas. It’s textured and creamy smooth on the palate with plenty of charm and aplomb and gives way on the finish and aftertaste by showcasing persistent purity of fruit. Pour alongside crab cakes or fish tacos or moules et frites. (Vic Harradine)
• The following vintage-dated 2017 Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘Ceremony ‘Blanc de Blancs’ 100% Chardonnay was Estate grown and bottled and produced ‘Méthode Traditionnelle’—Aka, handled by the Rosehall Run winemaking team here in Prince Edward County, as wine makers would in Champagne, France with the major difference the 2nd fermentation made in the bottles that you will purchase and pour from, as you would in Champagne.
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Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘Ceremony ‘Blanc de Blancs’ 100% Chardonnay Sparkling Wine 2017
VQA Prince Edward County $39.00 12.0% alcohol
A profusion of bubbles appears on the first pour into the wine glass and also continues to stream with fine-bead bubbles winding their way from the bottom of the glass to the top of the liquid in your glass. Aromas of baking brioche and nutty notes are quickly joined by oodles of tang and pizzazz in the palate presenting as lemon pie filling, Key lime cordial and flinty minerality. It’s a wonderful wine to start a wonderful evening as you can sip this on its own for as long as you wish or you can use it as a welcoming wine for close friends or family. You can also pour at the dinner table with myriad of dishes. Given the quality and the price, the price-quality balance tips well in your favour. Pick up a few. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘JCR’ Pinot Noir sources some of the oldest estate-grown pinot noir fruit. This is a flagship wine for Rosehall Run Vineyards and never fails to shine and I wouldn’t think it would fail to shine in such a dazzling VQA Ontario vintage in virtually every VQA appellation.
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Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘JCR’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $45.00 13.0% alcohol
A lively fresh wine with light-ruby hues in the glass. On the palate it’s mostly red fruit with cherry, pomegranate and notions of earthy notes and minerality. The mid-palate begins to add interest with texture, persistent purity of fruit and creamy smooth mouthfuls of nicely balanced pinot noir. Give it a go with a sushi platter, a deli board or a cassoulet or smoked duck breasts. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2021 Rosehall Run Vineyards Chardonnay Musqué is a ‘Small Lots’ venture from a single-vineyard plot of estate-grown fruit in a particularly dazzling vintage.
Winemaker notes - Sourced from our small ‘Vina de Casa’, a one-acre plot of Chardonnay Musqué clone 809, which are the first vines you see when you arrive at the estate. Prince Edward County is benefitted annually by not getting as many rain episodes as the rest of Ontario. One of the most fruitful benefits includes being one of the driest areas for grape growing in Ontario, and our Chardonnay Musqué welcomes the partial aridity.
• The wine was cold fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the perfumed orchard fruit aromas of our Chardonnay Musqué. To further preserve freshness, the Chardonnay Musqué was aged for a short period of about 4 ½ months and put into bottle in early May.
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Rosehall Run Vineyards Chardonnay Musqué 2020
VQA Prince Edward County $26.00 12.0%
There are aromas of nutty nuances, exotic spices and floral notes on the nose. It dazzles the palate with a wash of balanced and bountiful flavours with blood orange, lemon pie filling and plenty of tang and pizzazz. It’s balanced with smooth flavours. It finishes lengthy with a lip-smacking finish and crisp, refreshing aftertaste. Pour with pan-seared salmon fillets, grilled calamari rings or a sushi platter. (Vic Harradine)
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Rosehall Run Vineyards ‘Silver Fox Block – Nedelko Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $39.00 13.0% alcohol
Sporting an alluring nose of exotic incense, red berry fruit and tobacco leaf aromas—it envelops the palate with a stunning array of complex flavours—tangy, ripe, bramble berry fruit robed in piquant spices and black currant with racy pie cherry appearing on the back palate. It’s medium-bodied with good mouthfeel and showcases dazzling fruit flavour, excellent acidity and deft balance. It’s stylish and charming while the long, balanced and bountiful finish adds to its allure. (Vic Harradine)
• Order the following wines online for home, office or licensed restaurant: delivery in Ontario is FREE on orders of $100 or more from this link - Vineland Estates Winery. The wine shop is open for Curbside Pickup 7 days a week, 11am-5pm. Purchase online from the above link or place your order at 905.562.7088 ext. 124. Restaurant is open for Takeout Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm. Please order directly with the Kitchen at 905.562.7088 ext. 165. Best to check with the winery first as COVID-19 rules and regulations often change, and recently it hasn’t been the greatest news.
• The following 2021 Vineland Estates Winery Cabernet Franc has not yet been released at the winery at time of publishing.
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Vineland Estates Winery Cabernet Franc 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (594127) 12.0% alcohol
The gentlest of swirls will fill your olfactory system with elegant and charming aromas with exotic spice, bramble berry and cassis to the fore. The palate is treated to a deftly balanced, medium-full bodied, gusher of fruit flavours that exude creamy smooth mouthfeel, plenty of tang and pizzazz that blankets the lip-smacking finish and the delightful lingering and balanced aftertaste. It’s wonderful on its own and pure ambrosia when poured with your favourite grilled beef, pork or lamb. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Sparkling Charmat Method Chardonnay was sourced from 100% Chardonnay old-vines from their prime estate vineyards in the best vintages only, and 2020 was one of the recent best, with 2021 a close runner-up.
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Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Sparkling - Charmat Method – Chardonnay 2020
VQA Ontario $30.00 12.0% alcohol
This pours with a frothy mousse of fine-bead bubbles along with aromas of saline minerality and notions of grapefruit and green apple. Palate flavours of honeydew melon, lemon curd and plenty of tang and pizzazz along with persistent purity of fruit from the palate to the lengthy finish and aftertaste. Pour when guests arrive and on to lighter-styled appetizers. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ – Sparkling – Charmat Method - Pinot Meuniere sourced from old vines on one of their best and most picturesque estate vineyards. Pinot Meunier is a red grape, and there are only two über-popular red grapes in sparkling Champagne. The other red grape? Pinot Noir!
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Vineland Estates Winery ‘Reserve’ Sparkling - Charmat Method – Pinot Meunier 2020
VQA Ontario $30.00 13.0% alcohol
Nutty notes and baking brioche aromas precede palate flavours of peel marmalade and traces of blood orange and lemon-lime. This has good texture and creamy smooth mouthfeel with excellent balance of flavours, tang and a lip-smacking finish and aftertaste and always attractive in the bottle and wine glass with its light pink hue. A lovely way to greet guests and a perfect way to begin a romantic evening for two. Pour with cocktail sandwiches and salted almonds. (Vic Harradine)
Upstream in winecurrent.com
Vintages Release: November 5, 2022
• The following 2020 Paolo Leo ‘Passo del Cardinale - Primitivo di Manduria’ was sourced from 100% primitivo fruit—a.k.a. zinfandel. After harvesting fruit in the cool early morning, it is then crushed, destemmed and cool fermented in steel vats at a controlled cool-temperature of 25 °C, before maturing for 3 months in American oak and 6 months in stainless steel. Often a 2nd harvest can be held approximately three weeks after the first was completed. After fermentation, this 2nd harvest can be added to already fermented wine adding body and freshness to the finished and soon-to-be bottled wine.
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Paolo Leo ‘Passo del Cardinale - Primitivo di Manduria’ 2020
DOP Primitivo di Manduria, Italy $19.95 (496463) 14.0% alcohol
This is dark and brooding in the glass and close to being opaque. The gentlest of swirls will provide you a glorious gusher of fruit-forward aromas with red and black cherry/berry to the fore. The palate’s then treated to a deftly balanced gusher of delightful flavours of juicy black Bing cherry, ripe delectable black currant along with notions of blueberry and oodles of tang and pizzazz in the form of passionfruit, red pie cherry and red currant jelly. It’s creamy smooth on the palate with plenty of fruit flavours coming and going in the juicy finish and the mouth-watering aftertaste. Pour this gem with mushroom risotto and meat-lovers red pizza. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: November 19, 2022
• The following méthode traditionelle, vintage-dated, 2016 Henry of Pelham ‘Cuvée Catharine – Carte Blanche - Estate - Blanc de Blancs ’ is named for family matriarch Catherine Smith—Henry of Pelham’s wife. It was hand-harvested, bunch-selected from 100% chardonnay, whole-cluster pressed, partially barrel- fermented, maturing on its lees more than four years in the bottle(s) you purchase before disgorgement—aka, expelling spent yeast cells from the 2nd fermentation in this bottle.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Cuvée Catharine – Carte Blanche - Estate - Blanc de Blanc’ 2016
VQA Short Hills Bench $49.95 (315200) 12.5% alcohol
This top-notch, vintage-dated sparkling wine is one of the top traditional-method, vintage-dated sparkling wines on the market, regardless of country of origin. Aromas of yeasty notes, baking brioche and flinty minerality make way for a profusion of fine-bead bubbles that endlessly wind their way to the top of your glass. This has complexity, purity of fruit, good tension, is well balanced with a painter’s palette of lively flavour—a surge of racy lemon and lime tang adorned with white nectarine, nutty and mineral notes dazzle the palate infusing the lingering finish and aftertaste. This is classy, elegant and wired for sipping on its own for two or with festive food when entertaining, e.g. roast turkey or bone-in baked ham with all the fixings. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: December 3, 2022
• The following 2016 Jim Barry Wines ‘Single Vineyard – Eastern Ranges’ cabernet sauvignon was sourced from 100% estate vineyards at 480m above sea level in the iconic Geographical Indication of Clare Valley with the average age of vines at 19 years when harvested for this wine. Drinking well now and on to 2027 with careful cellaring. Jim Barry Wines is a member of the tightly knit group of wineries that continue to be owned and operated by descendants of the original family, Click on this link to learn more about Jim Barry Wines and this incredible group, the Australian First Families of Wine
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Jim Barry Wines ‘Single Vineyard – Eastern Ranges’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
G.I. Clare Valley, South Australia $29.95 (26925) 14.1% alcohol
Fruit-forward aromas of ripe mulberry, black cherry and overripe damson plum jam adorned with hints of black licorice precede palate flavours that are fruit forward and replay the aromas along with excellent tang and plenty of pizzazz throughout. It showcases deft balance, delectable—pure ambrosia—flavours and persistent purity of fruit to and through the lip-smacking finish and lingering, mouth-watering aftertaste. This also has structure and a creamy-smooth mouthfeel underpinned by fine-grain, soft, ripe tannin. Give this a go with rack of lamb slathered with spicy barbecue sauce. It would also be welcomed as a gift to the host of a festive-dinner. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: December 17, 2022
• The following 2019 Yalumba Family Winemakers ‘Organic’ Shiraz saw no chemical fertilizers or pesticides in making this wine. It was fermented by wild yeasts appearing naturally from six vineyards that are family-owned and accredited organic—along with one vineyard that’s accredited bio-dynamic—and also on the skins of the grapes harvested for this wine. This wine is also accredited Vegan-friendly. Yalumba Family Winemakers is a member of the tightly knit group of wineries that continue to be owned and operated by descendants of the original family, Click on this link to learn more about Yalumba and this incredible group in the Australian First Families of Wine.
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Yalumba Family Winemakers ‘Organic – Vegan-friendly’ Shiraz 2019
G.I. South Australia, Australia $17.95 (280883) 14.0% alcohol
A bright magenta in the glass, it offers up delightful aromas of grilled savoury herbs, piquant spice and cracked black peppercorns intertwined with black plum, ripe mulberry and juicy black Bing cherries. The palate’s treated to a medium-plus bodied, well-balanced stream of s creamy smooth mouthfeel, soft, ripe tannin underpinning, persistent purity of fruit-forward flavours with mulberry, black currant and juicy dark Bing cherry to the fore, with plenty of tang and pizzazz persisting to and through the lengthy, lip-smacking finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. A lovely drop on its own; it also plays well with grilled rack of lamb, roast chicken or pan-grilled pork cutlets with a panko crust. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: December 17, 2022
• The following Non-Vintage Boizel ‘Réserve’ Brut was sourced from the following grape varieties—30% chardonnay/55% pinot noir/15% pinot meunier. The Boizel family began their lengthy and incredibly successful journey as a Champagne producer in 1834 and they still own the winery and manage the brand and the wine with Florent Roques-Boizel as their present winemaker.
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Boizel ‘Réserve’ Brut - Non-Vintage
Épernay, Champagne, France $64.95 (25514) 12.0% alcohol
A gorgeous mousse of tiny, fine-bead bubbles make their way to the top of the light yellow-gold liquid in the glass eventually forcing delightful aromas of floral notes, baking brioche and notions of minerality filling the air above the glass and the bubbles. On the palate it’s quite fruit-forward with lemon curd and hints of salinity adorned with green apple, poached pear and black plum all making their way to the mid-palate, finish and aftertaste. Give this a place at the table to pour with French onion soup, cassoulet or with a baked, bone-in ham with cloves decorating the outside of the ham then basted with maple syrup. (Vic Harradine)
New in the LCBO
• The following Non-Vintage Speck Brothers ‘Lazzara’ Bianco Secco Sparkling Wine was fashioned in the ‘Charmat method’ with the 2nd fermentation occurring in a stainless steel closed tank without malolactic conversion. It was also certified by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario as sustainable wine. Julia Lazzara was the Speck brothers’ great grandmother, with her ancestors and her husband immigrating to New York. The name of the wine and the label—her husband did fine marble work—pays homage to their Italian ancestors. This wine is available from the Winery as well as being available in LCBO retail stores.
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Speck Brothers ‘Lazzara’ Bianco Secco Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
VQA Ontario $17.95 (16789) 11.5% alcohol
This is as close as it gets to a refreshing, fruity and floral Prosecco, with peach, pear, melon and white flower aromas pushed out of the glass with a nice white froth. It is light and fruity on the palate with flavours of yellow apple and pear as well as yeasty and mineral notes completing the profile. This is a versatile sparkling to enjoy on its own, with potato chips or to pour for a festive brunch. (Louise Boutin)
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Val d’Oca ‘Prosecco Superiore’ Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
DOCG Veneto, Valdobbiadene, Italy $19.95 (340570) 11.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of yellow peach, apricot and Mirabelle plum abound on the nose of this top-notch Prosecco Superiore with 85% of the grapes used to make this wine from the highest-quality glera grapes that there are, along with the other 15% made up of chardonnay and pinot noir. The palate’s treated to a profusion of bubbles when first poured in the glass and once settled down the palate flavours of citrus fruit—blood orange, lemon chiffon pie and a dollop of peel marmalade coalesce on the mid-palate before proceeding to the dry and lip-smacking good finish and aftertaste. Give this a go when it’s chilled and poured with a good friend and some tasty hors d’oeuvres. (Vic Harradine)
New in Ontario Wineries
• The following 2017 Henry of Pelham ‘Cuvée Catharine – Carte Blanche - Estate - Blanc de Blanc’ Sparkling Wine was sourced from the oldest and best hand-harvested chardonnay of all of the estate chardonnay. The best juice is isolated, partially barrel-fermented then aged for 54 months on its lees – aka, spent yeast cells. This wine from Niagara was, and is, lockstep with Champagne in its winemaking procedures. The price is considerably less than Champagne on this top calibre gem earning 95 points and following the steps of Méthode Traditionnelle. Kudos to the entire winemaking team!
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Henry of Pelham ‘Cuvée Catharine – Carte Blanche - Estate - Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine 2017
VQA Short Hills Bench $49.95 (315200) 12.5% alcohol
Initial aromas and mousse go hand in hand with fine-bead bubbles winding their way to the top of the pure ambrosia in your glass as it sports aromas of baking brioche, nutty notes and notions of spent yeasty notes. There’s a gusher of palate flavours led by lemon chiffon pie and hints of vanilla. It’s quite elegant with good balance, texture and plenty of yin and yang expressed as sweet and tang, first on the palate, then on the lingering finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. Pour as a welcoming glass to friends and neighbours and continue on with it when the snacks and/or dinner is served. You don’t necessarily need a special occasion to serve this outstanding bottle. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Limited Time Offers
26 wines in total with differing discounts per bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022 – Happy Discounts!
White Wines
• The following 3 white wines provide a $3.00 discount from the price shown for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022.
• The following Flat Rock Cellars Riesling is a Vintages Essential wine found in most LCBO stores. It provides you an opportunity to taste premium riesling at an incredibly attractive price point. Pick up a few and drink over the next three to five years.
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Flat Rock Cellars Riesling
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $19.95 (43281) 10.5% alcohol
Piquant aromas of machine oil, mineral notes and citrus abound on the nose of this well paced, well-priced riesling. It envelops the palate with a tsunami wave of flavours with sharp lemon-lime acidity and tang and notions of off-dry sweet cantaloupe glazed with chalky minerality through the lengthy, balanced finish and aftertaste. Give this a go with a multitude of table partners—Thai fish cakes, a spicy Asian dish like Mou Shoo pork, a charcuterie board or an assortment of sushi. (Vic Harradine)
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Stoneleigh ‘Latitude’ Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (324228) $21.95 13.0% alcohol
The fruit for this gem was sourced from the ‘Golden Mile’ in Marlborough, it’s blessed with extra warmth relayed by the stones covering the soil that allow the grapes to fully mature. Partially hand-harvested and aged six months in French oak, this delicious white offers citrus aromas along with lactic, cedar, grassy and mineral notes. Deliciously tart and crisp on the palate, this is medium bodied with flavours of grapefruit, honeydew melon and lime zest finished with beautiful minerality. Try alongside scallop ceviche for a mouth-watering pairing. (Louise Boutin)
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Thirty Bench ‘Winemaker’s Blend’ Riesling
VQA Beamsville Bench $19.95 (24133) 10.8% alcohol
The lifted nose of lime and piquant spice aromas is also decorated with sharp mineral notes and notions of petrol. An off-dry surge of citrus-infused flavours explode on the palate with lemon curd and lime cordial providing pizzazz along with delicious accoutrements of melon, minerality and under-ripe orchard fruit. It’s medium-weight with a bountiful, lip-smacking finish. Divine sipped on its own, it pours well with grilled or pan-seared fish, steamed mussels or breaded and skillet-fried calamari. (Vic Harradine)
• The following four white wines provide a $2.00 discount from the price shown for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022.
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Ghost Pines ‘Winemaker’s Blend’ Chardonnay
Monterey/Napa/Sonoma Counties $21.95 (308122) 13.8% alcohol
Multi-County fruit was whole-bunch pressed and fermented in stainless steel before settling and aged sur lie in French and American oak. A gorgeous array of baking spice, vanilla and orchard fruit aromas set the table for a smorgasbord of flavours—tropical fruit, sweet, ripe pear and hints of citrus and spice. It’s mid-weight and good value with generous texture, depth and complexity. It finishes balanced and mouth-watering. Pour with roast chicken, pork or veal. Pick up a few. (Vic Harradine)
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Hidden Bench Estate Winery Chardonnay
VQA Beamsville Bench $31.95 (68817) 13.0% alcohol
This is an outstanding expression of certified-organic Niagara chardonnay. Pronounced aromas of red apple, white grapefruit, butterscotch and vanilla segue to a creamy-textured wash of apple, tangy citrus and spice notes on the palate. Dry, medium bodied, it’s well-balanced with a long, mouth-watering, mineral-laden finish. Delicious on its own or enjoy with almond-crusted halibut fillets. (Lisa Isabel)
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Kendall-Jackson ‘Vintner's Reserve’ Chardonnay
California $21.95 (369686) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of butter cream and toasted oak meld with hints of tropical fruit. It is medium-to-full bodied on the palate, with a refreshing acidity. Flavours of oak and pineapple are carried through the finish, where they are joined with a hint of grapefruit. This will be a nice match for baked cod. (Dave Isaacs)
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Malivoire Wine Company ‘Estate Grown’ Chardonnay
VQA Beamsville Bench $21.95 (573147) 12.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of baked apple, cinnamon and notions of caramel abound. It gently washes over the palate with a touch of sweetness accompanied by tangy flavours of lemon-lime and flinty minerality. This is medium-bodied with good balance and textured mouthfeel. It finishes lengthy, crisp and refreshing with hints of grapefruit pith on the aftertaste. Pour alongside skillet-seared Atlantic salmon. (Vic Harradine)
Red Wines
• The following 5 red wines provide a $3.00 discount from the price shown for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022.
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Concha y Toro ‘Winemaker’s Lot 148’ Carmenère
Rapel Valley, Chile $19.95 (30957) 14.0% alcohol
This is good value and it’s rich, ripe and rarin’ to go now. A beautifully balanced river of juicy black Bing cherry and black plum interweave with racy pomegranate and herbal notes on the creamy- smooth palate along with mixed spice and mocha. It’s a bit funky on the nose with some bell pepper and strong herbal notes, but that melts away and you’re left with a creamy-smooth, hedonistic offering. It pours and pairs well with burgers, red pizza or lasagna. (Vic Harradine)
• 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. This is also a wine in high demand in other countries, especially Great Britain where the agent just can’t get enough to satisfy consumer demand. If you haven’t tried it, this price is a $3 discount for a limited time only. Pick up a few or more. I know I will.
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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve – Family Estate’ Baco Noir
VQA Ontario $27.95 (461699) 13.5% alcohol
Dark and brooding in the glass, it’s dark-purple and opaque. Aromas of pipe tobacco and gamy bits mingle with black cherry/berry fruit on the nose of this expressive French-American hybrid grape. It dazzles the palate with a surge of racy acidity and oodles of pizzazz expressed as racy pie cherry and hints of pomegranate adorned with © Ribena flavours of ripe, juicy black currant and wisps of black plum compote that both persist to and through the lip-smacking finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. Pick up an armful as the price-quality balance tips well in your favour. Pour alongside a meaty rack of lamb. (Vic Harradine)
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La Crema Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast $35.00 (719435) 13.5% alcohol
Sweet, ripe fruit is front and centre in this rich, luscious Pinot showcasing good depth and plenty of charm. Aromas of sweet vanilla, baking spice, mint and ripe black cherry unleash a medium-weight, well-textured flow of bramble berry jam and cherry clafoutie coating the palate garnished with toasty/oaky notes, a hint of milk chocolate and vanilla. Look for more ripe fruit and piquant spice on the lingering finish. (Vic Harradine)
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Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon
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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Zenato ‘Ripassa – Superiore’
DOC Superiore Ripasso, Italy $27.95 (479766) 14.0% alcohol
Leftover grape skins and seeds (pomace) from Amarone and Recioto wine are added to the crushed and fermenting grapes of this wine, with the potential of adding colour, tannin, alcohol, texture, flavour and complexity. This is medium-full bodied, overflowing with rich flavour—sweet dried currant, spiced pie cherry, fig and mocha—sporting a well-balanced long succulent aftertaste. This has the oomph and structure to pair well with grilled steak or the heartiest of stews, like osso buco. It’s a step up in price and quality; you might give it a try. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 7 red wines provide a $2.00 discount from the price shown for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022
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M. Chapoutier ‘Les Vignes de Bila-Haut’ Côtes du Roussillon-Village
AOC Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, France $16.95 (168716) 14.0% alcohol
Consistently great value, this southern Rhône blend of grenache, syrah and carignan opens with fresh red fruit and strawberry jam aromas with hints of vanilla, spice and an earthy note adding interest. Dry, medium bodied and well-structured with silky tannins and balancing acidity, spiced cherry and plum flavours generously coat the palate. The warming, lengthy finish delivers a wine well suited for braised beef short ribs. (Lisa Isabelle)
• The folks from Caymus—the iconic Charles F. Wagner is winemaker—only reveal two of the grapes that make up the following multi-blend 2014 Conundrum Red—zinfandel and petite sirah—with no mention of time in oak or the size or origin of the barrel’s oak or winemaking regimen, other than that it is oaked.
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Conundrum Red
California $24.95 (294298) 15.2% alcohol
Dark cherry/berry aromas, charred toast and spice box leap from the almost-opaque liquid in the glass. Ripe, sweet fruit envelops the palate—black plum compote, cherry cordial and rich, blackberry jam to the fore, decorated with milk chocolate. This is full bodied, fully textured and certainly fully flavoured with a lengthy sweet-tinged, fruit-forward finish and aftertaste. Pour with grilled back ribs mopped with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Bodega Y Viñedos Catena ‘High Mountain Vines’ Malbec is Catena Zapata’s flagship malbec wine sourced from high mountain vines planted in four estate vineyards throughout Mendoza’s premium sub-regions. It spent 12 months in French oak barrels from new to second-year and third-year use. Catena Zapata was named, ‘The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand’ in 2020 by Drinks International. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour. Pick up a case and drink over the next ten or more years.
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Bodega Y Viñedos Catena ‘High Mountain Vines’ Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina $19.95 (478727) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of sweet vanilla, oaky notes and leather precede a lively gusher of spice-laden dark cherry/berry fruit with black currant, red cherry and blueberry to the fore. This showcases its high altitude vineyards, deft balance, good weight and texture and plenty of tangy acidity throughout. It also delivers in spades through the delicious and lengthy finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside grilled rare to medium-rare beefsteak. (Vic Harradine)
• The following Featherstone Estate Winery Cabernet Franc reflects a dazzling VQA Ontario vintage. It was harvested and optically sorted then underwent a five-day cold soak before being fermented in the winery’s controlled temperature cellar. It matured in a combination of new and used American oak barrels and completed 100% malolactic conversion. Drink now and on to 2028 with careful cellaring.
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Featherstone Estate Winery Cabernet Franc
VQA Niagara Peninsula $21.95 (64618) 12.5% alcohol
This is a blend of cabernet franc with just a splash of merlot. It displays a beautiful nose of red cherry, bell pepper, tobacco and a touch of pepper. This is medium-bodied with delicious flavours of red cherry, pomegranate and cola notes developing on the back palate before closing on a bright, fresh red fruit and savoury note. Pour alongside stuffed red bell peppers or gourmet red-sauce pizza. (Louise Boutin)
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Bodegas Julian Chivite ‘Gran Fuedo - Reserva’
DO Navarra, Spain $18.95 (479014) 13% alcohol
Here’s a red blend—tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, merlot—delivering a delicious mouthful of flavour-packed value. Black currant, spice, minty cherry and cassis on the nose and palate, it washes over the palate in waves with a good underpinning of dusty tannin. Mid weight with a generous mouth feel, the lingering well-balanced finish is fruit-forward and refreshing. Great with grilled t-bone, ribs or burgers. (Vic Harradine)
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San Felice Chianti Classico
DOCG Chianti Classico $17.95 (282996) 13.0% alcohol
This is a smooth-drinking blend—80% sangiovese, 10% colorino, 10% pugnitello—that underwent malolactic conversion. Aromas of savory herbs, pipe tobacco and piquant spice provide segue for a racy, tang-laden streak of sour cherry, cranberry and flecks of herbs and spices. Flavours replay on the dry, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. Pour with pasta in tomato sauce, lasagna or meat-laden red pizza. (Vic Harradine)
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The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier
McLaren Vale/Padthaway, South Australia $18.95 (66738) 14.5% alcohol
This opens with aromas of dark berry fruit with hints of black plum, black licorice and floral notes before a deluge of stewed, bramble berry fruit and black plum compote blanket the palate mingling with dark chocolate, kirsch liqueur and sweet vanilla flavour. This is full bodied and creamy smooth on the palate and fully fruited on the extended finish. Pour with grilled back ribs mopped with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)
• The following icewine provides a $2.00 discount from the price shown for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022
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Kittling Ridge Vidal Icewine
VQA Ontario $29.95 (563247) 375 mL 10.3% alcohol
Mango, melon, honey and apricot aromas dominate the nose of this über sweet, luscious icewine. A full-Monty tsunami wave of texture and flavour blankets the palate with baked apple, peach marmalade, ripe mango and wisps of lemon chiffon pie enveloping the palate with gusto. It finishes with replays, sweet and unctuous. This is dessert in a glass; serve on its own as the only course for dessert or pair with chunks of Stilton and water biscuits. (Vic Harradine)
• The following wine provides a $2.50 discount from the price shown for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022
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Château Argadens
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur $19.95 (681643) 13.5% alcohol
This property was bought in 2002 and named Château Argadens to recognize the name of the family that founded the estate in the 16th century. It’s 63% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc woven together displaying aromas of black fruit, dark cocoa and sweet vanilla. Ripe red cherry and plum merge with earthy, savoury notes of cedar and dry leaves on the palate. This wine is full bodied and deftly balanced with well-integrated tannins and a lengthy finish. (Lisa Isabelle)
• The following 3 wines provide a $5.00 discount from the price shown for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022
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The Prisoner ‘Red Blend’
Napa Valley $54.95 (104299) 15.2% alcohol
Aromas of spice box and berry fruit precede this high-alcohol bruiser of a fruit bomb dishing up sweet, ripe jammy flavours of black currant, boysenberry and dark plum adorned with kirsch liqueur and hints of ripe tannin. It’s full bodied and fully textured with a lengthy finish and aftertaste. It’s a hedonist’s delight from start to finish and pairs well with tandoori chicken and garlic naan. (Vic Harradine)
93
Tommasi ‘Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico’
DOCG Valpolicella Classico $49.95 (356220) 15.0% alcohol
Dried raisins and wisps of figs on the nose, this shifts into high gear with a gorgeous river of deep, rich fruit flavour—black plum compote and black cherry—and hints of Ribena coating the palate infusing the lingering finish. It was crafted from hand-harvested Corvina/Corvinone/ Rondinella/Oseleta and aged in Slovenian oak barrel. It’s full bodied and well balanced with firm structure and good bones. Drink now, after a two-hour aeration/decant, and on to 2026. (Vic Harradine)
89
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 of balance on the finish and aftertaste. Serve well chilled on its own or paired with fruit flan or blue cheese. (Vic Harradine)
• The following two wines provide a $4 discount from the price shown below for each bottle purchased now to November 27, 2022
91
Faustino I Gran Reserva
DOCa Rioja $32.95 (976662) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of green leaf, mineral, and raspberry dominate the nose. This Gran Reserva shows its age with the red colour fading slightly towards orange. It’s medium bodied with tannins that reveal themselves early, but then gently withdraw letting flavours of red berry show through a lingering, dry, fruit-laden finish. (Dave Isaacs)
90
Bodegas Muga ‘Reserva’
DOCa Rioja $27.95 (177345) 14.0% alcohol
This is a gargantuan effort that will reward careful cellaring (cool and dark) by delivering a richly concentrated wine that will drink well now to 2027. It’s a blend—70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and a 10% mix of Mazuelo and Graciano—that offers a lifted nose of smoky oak and dark berries. It’s richly textured and full of flavour with gobs of ripe briary berry and sweet warm (14% alcohol) cherry fruit. There’s excellent balance from moderating acidity and a grippy tannin structure. It offers good value for those with patience. (Vic Harradine)
Cheers: Louise, Lisa, Dave, Vic