• Order the following wine by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery in Ontario along with those published in the previous newsletters from Nokhrin Wines or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if in the GTA phone 416 704-8617.

   
Barramundi Chardonnay 2015
Australia $11.95 13.5% alcohol
This is bottled summer—carefree days with party-time evenings; it’s smooth as silk, no worries, mate. Ripe fruit aromas of pineapple, pear and floral notes abound in this nicely textured Chardonnay. It bathes the palate from twist top to last drop with a seamless, lengthy stream of ripe nectarine and spiced green apple. (Vic Harradine)

   
Barramundi Chardonnay/Viognier 2015
Australia $11.95 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of honeycomb and exotic incense open this nicely balanced Aussie gem. It glides over the palate with complexity and flavours of grapefruit, peach and yellow plum along with wisps of spice and peach skin. It’s medium weight with good mouth feel and punches well above the price. It finishes crisp, clean, lip-smacking good. (Vic Harradine)

   
Barramundi Shiraz 2014
Australia $11.95 14.5% alcohol
This crowd-pleasing red is nicely balanced, full of fruit and bursting with spice—it’s liquid Australia, fire up the barbecue. Aromas of mixed spice and ripe black berry leap from the glass. The spirited wash of ripe dark cherry and dark berry fruit flow over the palate infusing the lengthy, balanced, dry finish. (Vic Harradine)

   
Barramundi Shiraz/Petit Verdot 2014
Australia $11.95 14.0% alcohol
Pour this with burgers, steak, ribs or lamb that’s grilled on the barbie. It’s medium bodied and creamy smooth with excellent tang on the finish and aftertaste. The ripe luscious fruit showcases this warm-climate red blend. Dark cherry/berry fruit, earthy notes and spice aromas introduce a luscious river of black currant and Bing cherry joined by red berry tang. What’s not to like? (Vic Harradine)

• Order the following wines—plus those in previous newsletters—by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery in Ontario from VinoLuna wine agency. Contact via website, VinoLuna, by Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or in the GTA phone 416 587-6691.

• The following Vintage Champagne from the House of Gruet is unusual in that it has ‘Chardonnay’ on the front label rather than the more common, ‘Blanc de Blancs’, taken literally as ‘white of whites’. The three major grapes of Champagne are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay with only the latter a white grape. However, there are two other minor white grapes allowed, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. This wine is 100% Chardonnay, hence ‘Chardonnay’ makes great sense on the label.

  
Gruet Champagne Chardonnay Brut 2009
AOC Champagne, France $46.50 12.0% alcohol
A lifted bouquet of crisp green apple, yeasty notes and citrus leads to sleek and tang-laden stream of lemon-lime zest and tart green apple riding a profusion of fine-bead bubbles of frothy mousse. It’s persistent throughout with purity of fruit and lip-smacking acidity. Serve as an aperitif with freshly shucked oysters or pan-seared scallops. (Vic Harradine)

  
Gruet ‘Selection’ Champagne Brut Non-Vintage
AOC Champagne, France $39.75 12.0% alcohol
A Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier/Chardonnay blend this delivers energetic mousse with crisp, refreshing flavour and a delightfully lively aftertaste. Floral and orchard fruit aromas herald a tangy river of lemon curd and orange zest tingling the palate persisting through the clean, racy finish and lengthy, lip-smacking aftertaste. Pour with fish, seafood or lemon chicken. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Chateau Puyanché is from Francs Côtes de Bordeaux, located a bit east of St. Émilion and similarly Merlot predominant. It holds the distinction of being the smallest appellation in Bordeaux with only a few dozen active wineries. This particular wine is a bit of an anomaly as it saw no oak allowing the freshness of the pure fruit flavour to be showcased.

   
Chateau Puyanché 2012 
AOC Francs Côtes de Bordeaux, France $15.60 13.5% alcohol
You won’t taste many four-year-old Bordeaux smoother than this and it’s über-creamy on the palate, balanced and fruity. This is an 80% Merlot/20% Cabernet Franc red blend fermented and aged in stainless tank rather than oak barrel. Aromas of spice, red and dark berry fruit seamlessly replay as palate flavours persisting through the dry, sweet-and-tang balanced finish. (Vic Harradine)

  
Chateau Godard Bellevue ‘Le Cerf’ 2012 
AOC Francs Côtes de Bordeaux, France $40.90 13.5% alcohol
This 65% Merlot/20% Cabernet Franc/15% Cabernet Franc red blend was aged 12 months in French oak barrique. Mixed spice, herbs and tobacco aromas lead the way to a fruity wash of red cherry joined by an underpinning of still-evolving tannin and savory herbs on the lengthy finish. (Vic Harradine)

   
Case Bianche ‘Vigna del Cuc’ Prosecco Superiore Brut 2015
DOCG Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Italy $17.15 11.5% alcohol
This is dry, medium bodied sparkling wine with good mouth feel and plenty of charm and grace. Lovely honey and floral notes introduce a flavoured mouthful of pear, peach and apple with a crisp finish that’s nicely balanced with lemony tang. It certainly punches well above the price making it a wonderful welcoming wine to serve friends or guests. (Vic Harradine)

   
Bodegas Garciarévalo ‘tres olmos – Verdejo Classic’ 2015
DO Rueda, Spain $14.25 13.0% alcohol
Lifted aromas of honey and pit fruit—peach and yellow plum—leap from the glass. It coats the palate with gusto, an incredibly viscous texture—spent winter on its lees—and a fountain of flavour—ripe pear, mixed spice, apple pie and mineral notes. Medium weight with depth and structure, this was cold soaked before fermentation—unique and sublime, certainly worthy of praise. (Vic Harradine)

  
Bodegas Garciarévalo ‘tres olmos – Verdejo Lias’ 2015
DO Rueda, Spain $14.25 13.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of floral and honey notes reveal a lively wash of lemon curd, minerality and lime cordial wending its way over the palate replaying on the balanced, crisp and refreshing finish. This is light-medium bodied with creamy mouth feel—it was aged on its lees and stirred over winter—with racy tang throughout. (Vic Harradine)