January 8, 2024 Newsletter

Recent Vintages Releases

January 6, 2024 Vintages Release

• Yalumba has been making wine by their family winemakers since 1849. This particular wine has been accredited as Vegan, Wild Fermented and Sustainable Winemaking.

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Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Riesling 2021
South Australia, $15.95 [32555] 11.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of Key lime pie, white grapefruit and notions of passionfruit abound on the nose. Palate flavours of tang and pizzazz show to and through the lingering finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. Pour alongside duck confit or pan-seared cod. (Vic Harradine)

Upstream in winecurrent

January 20, 2024 Vintages Release

• This wine will last another 5 or 6 years with careful cellaring. The price-quality balance of ‘92 points for $14.75 a bottle tips well in your ‘favour’. Pick up a few.

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Könnigschaffhauser Steingrübel Qualitatswein Pinot Noir - Trocken 2019
Baden, Germany $14.75 [460410] 13.0% alcohol
A gentle swirl or two of this lighter-styled red hypes the aromas to black juicy cherry and juicy black berry along with a lovely mouthfeel and delightful fruity palate flavours from twist top to final drop on the finish and aftertaste with pure ambrosia. This wine pours well with a variety of cheese and red meats. (Vic Harradine)

February 3, 2024 Vintages Release

• The following wine is a Brut Rosé sourced from Garnacha and Trepat then rendered in the méthode traditionnellé that was first fermented in tank for 6 months and then the 2nd fermentation took place in the bottle or bottles that you purchase; very much similar to French Champagne except that this bottle price is extremely attractive at only $21.95 per bottle. This has been accredited as Sustainably farmed in a controlled harvest.

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Castel de Sant Pau ‘Cava – ‘Brut’ - ‘Rosé’ - ‘Méthode Traditionnelle’
Penedes, Spain, $21.95 (36065) 11.5% alcohol
Aromas of intense red fruit include passion fruit and juicy red cherry along with black currant and bramble berry galore. Once poured, it shows many winding streams of fine-bead bubbles from the bottom of the glass to the top of the mousse in the glass. It tingles in the mouth from the excellent tang and pizzazz that fills the senses from first sip to the finish and aftertaste. It’s nicely balanced with acidity, tannin, fresh fruit flavours and plenty of delectable nuances. Pour with just arrived friends and family or with light seafood and passed around hors d'oeuvres. (Vic Harradine)

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Bodega Luigi Bosca ‘DE SANGRE’ ‘100% Malbec’ 2021
DOC Luján de Cuyo, Argentina $27.95 (74922) 14.5% alcohol
Rich, lifted aromas of dark cherry/berry fruit, baking spice and savoury herbs waft easily from the glass. It dishes up a flow of pure palate-pleasing ambrosia with dark juicy Bing cherry, bramble berry and blueberry adorned with red licorice, espresso roast and notions of dark bittersweet chocolate. This is value-laden, medium-plus bodied, mellowed and creamy smooth, with deft balance, persistent purity of fruit and a lingering, lip-smacking finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)

February 17, 2024 Vintages Release

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Cusumano ‘Benuara’ – 2021
DOC Sicilia, Italy $18.95 (597138) 14.0% alcohol
This red wine is sourced from Nero d’Avola and Syrah. The vineyards of Tenuta Presti E Pegni are cultivated at 300M asl and are harvested manually into small boxes for the Syrah in the last ten days of August and the first ten days of September for Nero d’Avola. Alluring aromas of baking spice and indigenous herbs are also found on the palate flavours from the first cork popped to the last delectable drop. Pour beside game, rack of lamb or Osso Bucco. (Vic Harradine)

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Quinta S. SEBASTIAO
Vinho Regional Lisbon, Portugal, $14.95 (632869) 13.5% alcohol
The primary grapes are Syrah and Tempranillo that were sourced from hillside vineyards with a clay – limestone soil. The wine is best paired with premium beef and gourmet sausages or cassoulet. The price-value balance tips well in your favour. Give it a try, (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release TBD

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Domaine du Bicheron Mâcon-Péronne 2022
AOC Mâcon-Péronne, France $22.95 13.0% alcohol
This fine Burgundy has a striking golden hue in the glass, and offers aromas of apples, mineral, and hints of cream. It is medium-bodied with a dry, mouthwatering acidity that carries rich flavours of apple, lemon, and custard all the way through to the finish. Enjoy this wine alongside a serving of sauteed shrimp or scallops. (Dave Isaacs)

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Ohau Woven Stone Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Ohau, New Zealand $19.95 13.0% alcohol
This gorgeous wine has a nose with predominant aromas of cut grass, along with hints of peach, pear, honeysuckle, and clover. The medium body and crisp acidity feels delightful in the mouth, with flavours of pear and green apple. The finish is long and fruity, and leaves you wanting to immediately take another sip. Serve this alongside some pork chops baked with apple. (Dave Isaacs)

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Coelho Atração Pinot Noir 2022
Willamette Valley, Oregon $29.95 13.4% alcohol
This wine is made from grapes harvested from three different vineyards sourced in the Willamette Valley, and is aged in 20% new French oak for ten months. The result is a wine sporting a lively nose of raspberry jam, leather, and fresh herbs. It has a medium body, with noticeable but very approachable tannins, and offers flavours of sour cherry. The finish is long and pleasantly tart. Well matched with a week-night roast chicken. (Dave Isaacs)

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Salvaterra Ripasso Classico Superiore 2022
DOC Ripasso Classico Superiore, Italy $25.95 14.5% alcohol
This wine is a varied blend of 60% corvina, 25% rondinella, 10% corvinone, and 5% other regional varietals. It has a wonderful complex nose of cherry jam, mushrooms, damp moss, tobacco, and coffee. Medium-to-full bodied in the mouth, it has a great balance of acidity and well integrated tannins. You will find flavours of cherry, coffee, smoked meat, and a long smokey blackberry finish. This will pair nicely with some coffee-rubbed beef brisket. (Dave Isaacs)

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Tinazzi Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2019
DOC Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, Italy $20.95 13.0% alcohol
This spectacular Ripasso is a beautiful deep garnet colour, and has a delicate nose of jammy cherry and strawberry, vanilla, with hints of ground cloves. It is medium bodied, with juicy acidity and easygoing tannins. Flavours of vanilla, cherry, and coffee mingle through to the finish. This is a pleasure just to sip on its own, but will also pair well with roasted lamb chops. (Dave Isaacs)

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Courtois ‘La Source’ Côte-du-Rhône 2022
AOC Côte-du-Rhône $15.95 (556640) 13.5% alcohol
This lovely blend of mostly grenache with a touch of syrah and carignan, vinified in stainless steel tanks, has a beautiful fresh nose of red berry aromas—raspberry, strawberry, candied cherry—repeated on the palate with an addition of savoury dry herbs and briny notes. Tannins are supple and the finish is slightly spiced and mouth-watering. This will be perfect with putanesca pasta or eggplant parmigiana. (Louise Boutin)

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Courtois ‘La Grange’ Vinsobres 2022
AOP Vinsobres $19.95 (526632) 14.0% alcohol
Pretty ruby color with purple reflection on the rim, this unoaked blend of grenache and syrah presents with beautiful red plum, strawberry, toasted bread and leather aromas. Lively on the palate with fresh acidity and more savoury character than anticipated, it showcases dry bay leaf and black olives flavours with a fruity note in the backdrop. Pleasant to drink on its own with its polished tannins and well-integrated alcohol, it’s got a nice medium-full body to enjoy beside grilled meats on the barbecue or a hearty lentil and mushroom stew. (Louise Boutin)

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The Vice ‘Elise 3.0’ Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Russian River Valley, California $39.95 13.9% alcohol
This organic, hand-harvested, single vineyard and unfiltered chardonnay presents with a shiny, clear, golden-yellow inviting complexion and mix of aromas—ripe pear, camomile tea, baked apple, exotic spices. The partial malolactic conversion and nine months of ageing in combination of new and neutral French oak translates into a medium-full bodied, creamy palate of orchard fruit flavours mingling with toasted nuts and lemon custard notes, followed with a delicious comforting layer of butter and delicate vanilla bean character trailing in the finish. This medium-full-bodied, gorgeous, small batch, chardonnay with bright acidity, calls for Coquille St-Jacques or lasagna with cashew bechamel. (Louise Boutin)

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Fratelli Ponte Barbera D’Asti 2022
DOCG Barbera D’Asti, Italy $17.95 13.5% alcohol
This is 100% barbera grape with no oak influence, offering a vivid nose of crushed berries, plum and graphite plus a distant note of violet. It flows with ease and delight on the palate revealing bright red fruit flavours, tart dry strawberry and blackberry enrobed in soft tannin and leading to a delicious bright, dry, fruit forward finish. This medium-bodied red is an excellent value and it will shine beside a selection of charcuterie or red sauce gourmet pizza. (Louise Boutin)

• This beautiful non-vintage champagne from Montaudon house, founded in 1891 is crafted with 75% red grapes—pinot noir and pinot meunier—and the rest chardonnay sourced from carefully selected grape growers in the Champagne region. It is aged a minimum of 18 months in the family cellars before release.

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Montaudon Réserve Première Brut NV
AOC Champagne, France $69.95 (37575) 12.0%alcohol
Leesy notes and inviting crunchy, tart, red apples take the aroma lead with this gorgeous pale rose gold shaded bubbly, showing lots of extra fine rosery beads escaping from the glass . It is round and generous on the palate with very focused orchard fruit flavours draped in a nice balanced froth, offering brioche notes and just enough tartness and sweet fruit to make you want coming back for more. This is a lovely champagne that can be poured not only before dinner as an aperitif but also with a fresh green salad with strawberry and feta cheese or shrimp cocktail. (Louise Boutin)

• The next three wines are from the fourth generation Castelo Branco family who runs one of the oldest agricultural companies in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, along the Guadiana river. They grow mostly indigenous grapes but also some international varietals.

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Monte Do Paço Tinto 2021
Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal $15.95 14.0% alcohol
This is a blend of aragonez aka tempranillo, syrah, Alicante Bouschet and touriga nacional mingling quite well together—blackberry, plum, cherry, cedar aromas. Medium-full bodied with red cherry tart flavour, red plum and a pleasant green peppercorn note trailing in the finish and aftertaste. Tannins are nicely softened after a two-hour aeration/decant. Pair with meatloaf in a rich tomato sauce or hard cheeses. (Louise Boutin)

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Monte Do Paço Touriga Nacional Syrah 2021
Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal $16.95 14.5% alcohol
Touriga nacional and syrah are partnering in this expressive opaque red, showing beautiful notes of ripe dark fruit, kirsch liqueur and black olive. Aged 12 months in French oak, it glides nicely on the palate, confirming the ripe dark fruit delicious palette of flavours with an earthy layer and sandy tannin showing up in the savoury, full-bodied finish. This will benefit from an hour of decant/aeration and be perfect alongside braised beef shanks with root vegetables of lentil stew. (Louise Boutin)

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Monte Do Paço Alicante Bouschet 2021
Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal $16.95 15.0% alcohol
This is 100% Alicante Bouschet aka garnacha tintorera in Spain, a red flesh grape widely used in blends for its darkening abilities. Herbal and gamey aromas show-up first on the nose, followed with bright purple plum and raw tobacco notes. The palate is awakened to a rustic flow of dark fruit, herbal tones and a black peppercorn note in the chewy finish. Pour with juicy flank steak on the grill or rich sausage- stuffed bell peppers after a two-hour decant/aeration or be patient and cellar for two years to allow the tannins to get more integrated. (Louise Boutin)

The wine logo found on this Black Lava wine label below, identifies an established brand referring to a group of grape varietals naturally resistant to fungal diseases. Certified producers seeking a more environmentally friendly approach to viticulture, including a significant reduced use of pesticides, have adopted this farming model. They are mostly in Germany, Italy and Austria but the approach is spreading beyond Europe, so be prepared to see this logo on more labels in the near future.

This Black Lava IGT Veneto Rosso, is crafted from the merlot grape crossed with a PIWI varietal (Kozma 20-3) called Khorus and is cultivated in volcanic origin dark basaltic rocks.

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Clivus Black Lava 2022
IGT Veneto Rosso, Italy $19.95 13.5% alcohol
No oak treatment for this beautiful red with a pretty nose of sweet cherry, fresh berry compote, bay leaf and mineral notes. It flows easily on the palate with a delicious red fruit and berry profile, excellent acidity and a slight gamey note developing midway through along with soft, powdery tannins. This is medium-bodied and perfect for cherry-glazed pork loin or veal scallopini. (Louise Boutin)

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Clivus Valpolicella Ripasso 2021
DOC Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy $21.95 13.5% alcohol
This blend of corvina and rondinella is fully vinified before going through a second fermentation using the skins of its Amarone counterpart. The resulting medium-full-bodied wine is deliciously round with aromas and flavours of red and dried cherry, strawberry and a hint of spice. Tannins are mellow but noticeable and the finish is dry and fruity offering many pairing options. Try with gnocchi with mild Italian sausages or roasted garlic and sun-dried tomato pasta. (Louise Boutin)

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Clivus Amarone della Valpolicella 2020
DOCG Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy $47.95 14.5% alcohol
This is a bright and fresh version of a corvina-corvinone-rondinella blend aged in Slovenian oak and barriques for two years, then matured in bottle for six months. It shows aromas of red plum, cherry and mild spice, along with a floral layer that is quite attractive. The palate is treated to a soft and elegant flow of ripe red cherry and dry strawberry flavours, embellished with a sweet raisin layer and uber fine tannins supporting the fruit forward slightly spiced delicious finish. Alcohol integration is impressive, leaving space for the fruit to fully express itself. Since you can’t get too much Amarone, pair with risotto all’Amarone or rich polenta with sauteed wild mushroom. (Louise Boutin)

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Roncolato Amarone della Valpolicella 2017
DOCG Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy $47.95 (22997) 15.0% alcohol
Inviting aromas of chocolate along with Christmas cake and star anise introduce this gorgeous classic corvina-corvinone-rondinella blend with a splash of oseleta, aged a minimum of 12 months in French oak plus two years in bottles. This is round and opulent on the palate offering dry cherry flavour along with prune and baking spice character enveloped in fine, polished tannins and a comforting warm persistent finish of baked prune and dark caramel. This is outstanding with aged cheese—cheddar, Parmigiano Reggiano, smoked Gouda. (Louise Boutin)

• The three wines from Cave de Cleebourg below are crafted with grapes mostly hand-harvested in six villages surrounding the Cleebourg commune in Alsace.

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Cave de Cleebourg Riesling 2021
AOC Alsace, France $19.95 13.0% alcohol
If the petroleum aroma often noticeable in Riesling isn’t your thing, give this one a go. Aromas of melon, lemon rind and stone fruit introduce a vivid medium-bodied flow of delicious tropical flavours--pineapple, passion fruit, grapefruit—plus a nice layer of mineral notes. Lots of value in this is a beautiful dry riesling that will pair perfectly with choucroute garnie or onion tart. (Louise Boutin)

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Cave de Cleebourg Gewurztraminer 2022
AOC Alsace, France $17.95 13.5% alcohol
This is a classic yet beautiful gewurz showing attractive jasmine flower, ginger and lychee aromas on the nose. This is medium-full bodied with an opulent palate texture, carrying flavours of ripe yellow apple, pineapple, candied orange rind and a good balancing dose of pink grapefruit acidity. This is your go to off-dry white for Pad thaï or gourmet sushi. (Louise Boutin)

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Cave de Cleebourg Pinot Gris 2022
AOC Alsace, France $17.95 13.5% alcohol
There’s a gorgeous sweet ripe pear aroma along with honey and white fresia escaping from the glass in this medium-full bodied, off-dry pinot gris. It offers a rich palate coating texture with pink grapefruit, yellow pear and a hint of apricot all mingling nicely together with a touch of almond in the persistent bright finish. Pour alongside red lentil curry over steamed sushi rice or chanterelle mushroom omelet. (Louise Boutin)

New from Ontario Wineries

Henry of Pelham

These wines can be ordered now from the Henry of Pelham website for your home or office delivery in Ontario.

• The core of this next wine is found in the grapes that were primarily planted with the Weiss 21B clone some 39 years ago. The wine was fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures between 15 to 17 ° C with a portion in neutral oak foudres of 3000L. Yes, there is a river in this vineyard that does go dry most vintages.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate Grown’ ‘The Dry River’ ‘Riesling’ 2022
VQA Short Hills Bench, $19.95 (557165) 10.5% alcohol
Aromas of citrus, tang and pizzazz take hold on the palate flavours of white grapefruit, lemon and Key lime with notions of blood orange and passionfruit. This is a delightful experience from twist top to last drop as all three Henry of Pelham wines are accredited as sustainable winemaking under Sustainable Winemaking Ontario. Pour alongside spicy Asian food like General Tso’s Chicken or Chicken Tikka Massala. (Vic Harradine)

• The next Henry of Pelham wine is also accredited as a Sustainable Winemaking Ontario. Chardonnay clones range from 95, 96, 76 & 548. Yields are approximately 4.5 - 5.0 tonnes per acre. This wine is modern in style with old world character.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Family Estate’ ‘Chardonnay’ 2022
VQA Niagara Peninsula, $15.95 (291211) 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of vanillin and mineral notes adorned with crisp tang and pizzazz that make their way to the lip-smacking finish and the pure ambrosia in the aftertaste on the palate. You won’t go far wrong if pouring with pan-seared Atlantic salmon or moules et frites. (Vic Harradine)

• This Sauvignon Blanc is Estate grown and was matured for six months in European oak barriques. There is a rocky outcropping that causes a late afternoon shadow across the Sauvignon Blanc vineyard. This shows little resemblance to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, but it surely holds itself to a delicious wine that is the near perfect dance partner to a plate of freshly shucked oysters.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Estate’ ‘The Shadow Rock’ Sauvignon Blanc 2022
VQA Niagara Peninsula, $21.95 12.5% alcohol
A couple of gentle swirls revealed the aromas of lemon pie filling and grapefruit mingling with honeydew melon, that make their way to the finish and aftertaste. A gorgeous Sauvignon Blanc. (Vic Harradine)