• 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 416 587-669.
• The following Rosé is a Bordeaux red blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon was left on its lies for 6 month after fermentation with weekly stirring developing wonderful texture and mouthfeel. This has more oomph and pizzazz than most Rosés and is balanced on a pin allowing it to pair with more substantial cuisine like firm fish, most seafood, roast bird or pork roast. 

  
Château Sainte-Marie ‘Vieilles Vignes’ Entre-Deux-Mers 2015
AOC Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France $14.30 12.5% alcohol
Crafted from 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Sémillion, 5% Muscadelle, this white Bordeaux offers lifted aromas of lemon zest, green apple, fresh cut grass and a floral note. It’s dry, medium bodied with flavours of lemon pie filling, white grapefruit and a salty minerality. The lengthy citrus finish encourages another sip. Serve this extremely well-priced white on its own or with grilled seafood. (Lisa Isabelle)

   
Chateau Sainte-Marie Rosé 2015
AOC Bordeaux, France $15.85 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of strawberry, red berry fruit and floral notes leap from the glass of this delectable, complex, structured Rosé. A balanced, well-textured river of watermelon, red currant and pie cherry coat the palate with oodles of fresh, crisp acidity all replaying on the lengthy mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. This is a consummate food wine, pour with soft cheese, appetizers or mains, seafood, roast/grilled chicken or pork. (Vic Harradine)

  
Château Sainte-Marie Alios 2014
AOC Côtes de Bordeaux, France $25.40 13.0% alcohol
The grapes in this carefully crafted blend of 74% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot were handpicked, hand sorted then aged 14 months in French oak barrel, 1/3 new. Intense aromas of black currant and cassis are complemented with cedar, grilled herbs and pleasant barnyard earthiness. It’s dry, full bodied with well-integrated tannins and flavours of red plum, fig and smoke persisting through the long finish. (Lisa Isabelle)

  
Château Sainte-Marie ‘Vieilles Vignes’ Bordeaux Supériore 2015
AOC Bordeaux Supériore, France $18.30 13.0% alcohol
Dark berry fruit, baking spice and campfire smoke on the nose, this full fruited, nicely textured red blend—72% Merlot-28% Cabernet Sauvignon—delivers a well-structured, medium-bodied flow of cassis and black juicy cherry on the palate. It spent 12 months in French oak barrels, 20% new, before bottling. There’s still-evolving tannin and bits of toasty oak on the lengthy aftertaste—aerate/decant for three hours. (Vic Harradine)

  
Château Peyredon ‘Lagravette’ 2014
AOC Haut Médoc $33.45 13.0% alcohol 
Intense aromas of blackberry, cassis, cigar box, campfire smoke and fresh mint rise from this Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend. Concentrated dark fruit, cedar and spice flavours bathe the palate. Displaying structure and complexity, it’s dry, full bodied with ripe, fine-grained tannins which persist through its lingering finish. Serve after a 2-3 hour aeration/decant. (Lisa Isabelle)

  
La Torre ‘Macchione’ Rosso 2011
IGT Rosso Toscano, Italy $36.40 14.0% alcohol
Concentrated aromas of ripe black plum and red currant are supported by pipe tobacco and smoke in this certified organic blend of equal parts Sangiovese and Merlot from Arezzo, Tuscany. It’s dry, medium-full bodied with flavours of pie cherry, baking spices and woody, herbal notes. Pleasant fine-grained tannins linger on the medium-length finish. Serve with stewed game or beef. (Lisa Isabelle)

  
La Torre ‘Macchione’ Rosso 2012
IGT Rosso Toscana, Italy $44.60 13.5% alcohol
This certified-organic, hand-harvested 50% Sangiovese/50% Merlot blend spent 15 months in small French tonneaux before bottling. Black plum and cigar box aromas on the nose herald a balanced, complex and structured stream of black currant and red cherry interwoven with mocha and mixed spice. This full bodied with good mouthfeel and lingering aftertaste replaying fruit and tang with a firm tannin structure. Aerate/decant three hours pouring with grilled striploin or smoked, grilled chicken. (Vic Harradine)

  
Geografico ‘Contessa di Radda’ Chianti Classico 2012
DOCG Chianti Classico, Italy $19.50 13.0% alcohol
This opens with a lifted nose of piquant spice, sandalwood and cherry aromas. A luscious surge of red and black cherry and cassis blanket the palate interlaced with black licorice, tar and earthy notes. It’s medium-plus bodied with good texture and long aftertaste that’s brimming with fruit and glorious tang. Pour with pasta puttanesca or pastitsio (Vic Harradine)

  
Geografico Montegiachi Chianti Classico Riserva 2012
DOCG Chianti Classico, Italy $23.05 13.5 % alcohol
This blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino grapes from vineyards north of Sienna, Tuscany aged 27 months in 35% new oak barrels. There are abundant fruit and oak notes: aromas of red cherry and plum meld with blackberry, violet and sweet baking spices transform to flavours of sour cherry, fig, oregano and an earthy minerality on the palate. Medium-full bodied and dry with enough tangy acidity to balance, it finishes medium-long with firm tannins. Pair with a classic bistecca Fiorentina or a mixed grill. (Lisa Isabelle)

  
Geografico ‘Ferraiolo’ 2012
IGT Toscana, Italy $19.50 13.0% alcohol
Cedar, savory herbs and red berry fruit aromas give way to a flavourful wash of chocolate-covered cherries garnished with savory herbs and a solid underpinning of still-evolving tannin. This is medium-full bodied with good mouth feel and a lingering aftertaste of an Amarone bite and drying tannin. Aerate/decant three hours pouring with grilled steak, burgers or gourmet sausage. (Vic Harradine)