Vintages Release: June 25, 2016

• In the following Alamos flagship, 2013 Malbec, high-altitude sourced fruit—three to five thousand feet—was hand harvested, destemmed and cold soaked three or four days. After fermentation fruit remained in contact with skins for 25 days extracting additional flavour and colour. After malolactic conversion it was aged in French and American oak for nine to twelve months.

  
Alamos ‘Selección’ Malbec 2013
Mendoza, Argentina $16.95 (322800) 13.9% alcohol
This dishes up heady aromas of campfire smoke, grilled herbs and gamy notes. It bathes the palate with a generous, nicely textured stream of tang-laden pie cherry and passionfruit infusing the lip-smacking finish and aftertaste garnished with wisps of kirsch liqueur. Fresh and lively throughout with each sip as good or better than the previous. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: July 9, 2106

  
Ca’ Momi ‘Ca’ Secco’ Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
California $17.95 (453662) 11.5% alcohol

This is a delightful blend of white grapes—Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet, Riesling, Gewürztraminer—that leaps from the glass with exotic spice, floral notes and rosewater. It pours with gentle bubbles and a clean, crisp stream of Key lime and Meyer lemon adorned with grilled pineapple and peach, balanced and beautiful, mouth-watering delicious. It’s a drink-me-now gem that pours well as a welcoming wine or paired with lighter-styled appetizers. (Vic Harradine)

  
Château des Charmes ‘St. David’s Bench Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2012
VQA St David’s Bench $19.95 (430991) 13.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of baking spice, green apple and caramel abound on this delicious, mid-weight, nicely balanced Chardonnay. A tasty flow of tang-infused, lemon citrus and pit fruit—peach and yellow plum—entwine with toasty oak and wisps of grapefruit pith and minerality on the long, mouth-watering finish. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: August 6, 2016

  
Babich ‘Black Label’ Pinot Gris 2014 
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand $19.95 (447417) 14.0$ alcohol
This is full fruited and nicely textured, balanced on a pin on the palate and with great élan on the mouth-watering finish. Swirling aromas of honeysuckle and pit fruit precede a delightful swath of yellow peach, ripe pear, lemon curd and grapefruit coating the palate infusing the lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. There’s good value here. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: September 17, 2016

• ‘Canadian music icon Jim Cuddy has teamed up with Tawse Winery to develop the winery’s newest brand, ‘Cuddy by Tawse’. This new label was born from a longstanding partnership between Jim Cuddy and the winery, and a desire to fuse his two passions: music and wine. Cuddy has been a frequent visitor to Tawse, performing concerts at the winery over the past several years and becoming friends with owners Moray and Joanne Tawse.
  
• The recent collaborative effort between Cuddy and the award-winning winemaking team of Paul Pender and Rene Van Ede has given birth to two new VQA labels that are now available at the winery, and will be in the Vintages section of LCBO outlets in September.’ Quoted from Tawse Media Release
• The following ‘Cuddy by Tawse’ Chardonnay blend sources great fruit in the region, it was first barrel fermented then aged 12 months in French oak barrel.

  
Cuddy by Tawse Chardonnay 2013
VQA Niagara Peninsula $24.95 (469023) 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of baking spice, toasty notes, honeydew melon and wisps of caramel abound. A surge of green apple, passion fruit and ripe pineapple flavour coat the palate, medium bodied and nicely textured. The aftertaste replays palate flavours and layers on notions of grapefruit pith and minerality. Quite good now, a few months in bottle will also pay dividends. (Vic Harradine)

• This ‘Cuddy by Tawse’ Cab Franc/Merlot/Cab Sauv red blend was aged 18 months in French oak barrel before resting in bottle before release.

  
Cuddy by Tawse Cabernet-Merlot 2013
VQA Niagara Peninsula $24.95 (469031) 13.0% alcohol
Piquant spice, black plum, tobacco and dark, juicy briary berry waft from the nose of this medium-plus bodied nicely textured red blend. It’s lively and tangy on the palate with grilled savory herbs interwoven with pomegranate, red currant and racy red cherry. It finishes with replays along with hints of tomato leaf and fresh herbs on the aftertaste. Pour with pasta puttanesca or spaghetti Bolognese. (Vic Harradine)