Vintages Release: October 16, 2021

• The following 2016 Dievole ‘Novocento – Riserva’ was sourced from 95% Sangiovese/3% Canaiolo/2% Colorino grapes by a winery and vineyard that has a documented history back to the year 1090. Fruit was fermented for 14-15 days in 75 hL unrefined cement vats at maximum controlled temperature of 26 °C to 28 °C. It matured for approximately 17 months in 41 hL untoasted French barrels then settled for six months in bottle before release.

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Dievole ‘Novocento – Riserva’ 2016
DOCG Chianti Classico, Italy $34.95 (213926) 14.0% alcohol
Aromas waft easily and boast of red fruit, piquant spice and flinty mineral notes. It blankets the palate with a bountiful gusher of pie cherry and passionfruit robed in plenty of bracing acidity and balancing fruit flavours with black currant and black Bing cherry to the fore. This showcases structure, balance, hints of tannin and elegance, and ageability along with being versatile at the table. Pour after a two-hour aeration/decant with a premium cut of beef grilled medium-rare and well-seasoned with salt. (Vic Harradine)

• Grapes—merlot/cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc—for the following 2019 Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Cabernet-Merlot were sourced from older vines that averaged over twenty years of age. This was hand-harvested gently destemmed and mechanically sorted. All juice was separated from the skins with no press wine added back. It is accredited as sustainably farmed and fashioned.

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Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Cabernet-Merlot 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $39.95 (616433) 13.2% alcohol
Lifted aromas of black plum, dark cherry and bramble berry abound. It captures the palate on entry with red fruit—currants and passion fruit—mingling with generous acidity and plenty of pizzazz. This showcases a supple underpinning of tannin and plenty of fruit that is, for now, slightly overshadowed by the still-evolving tannin. Give this another four to five years of careful cellaring or pour now after a four-hour aeration/decant with a premium cut of well-seasoned beef (© Hy’s of Canada - Seasoning Salt) grilled medium-rare. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: October 30, 2021

• The following 2019 Familia Arizu ‘Luigi Bosca’ Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced and hand-harvested from 100% cabernet sauvignon from estate vineyards in two of the premium sub-appellations of Mendoza—Luján de Cuyo and Maipú—and from vines averaging over 40 years of age at an altitude between 800 and 1000 meters a.s.l. The wine was aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels before being lightly filtered and bottled.

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Familia Arizu ‘Luigi Bosca’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Mendoza, Argentina $18.95 (128629) 14.2% alcohol
Sharp aromas of red fruit, mineral notes and charred wood dominate the nose. It glides over the palate with creamy smoothness and plenty of texture along with deft balance and a fruit bowl of flavour with ripe mulberry, black currant and cherry to the fore mingling with savoury herbs and dark bittersweet chocolate. There’s good structure, deft balance and plenty of lip-smacking tang and pizzazz. This punches well over the price, don’t dally, pick up a few and pour with what you like to pull off the barbecue… rack of lamb, pork back ribs mopped with spicy barbecue sauce or a thick cut of premium beef. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Curvos ‘Loureiro’ was sourced from 100% Loureiro grapes, widely acknowledged as the premium grape for Vinho Verde in the Minho region of northern Portugal.

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Curvos ‘Loureiro’ 2020
DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal $13.95 (471284) 12.0% alcohol
Lifted aromas of floral notes tropical fruit and citrus notes abound on the nose. It caresses the palate with lemon zest, pineapple and white grapefruit leaving a crisp, clean and refreshing taste that remains racy and tangy throughout the finish and aftertaste. This is looking for the perfect dance partner with fish and chips or mussels steamed in white wine garlic and cream. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; pick up an armful. (Vic Harradine)

Classics Catalogue Release: November 4, 2021

• The following 2018 Bodega Luigi Bosca ‘Finca Los Nobles - Field Blend’ Malbec – Petit Verdot showcases its provenance in a vineyard with vines averaging over 90 years of age at a height above sea level of 1050 meters in the Finca Los Nobles vineyard in Las Compuertas in the sub-appellation of Lucán de Cuyo.

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Bodega Luigi Bosca ‘Finca Los Nobles - Field Blend’ Malbec – Petit Verdot 2018
Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina $59.95 (20328) 15.0% alcohol
Aromas of blueberry, sandalwood and dark cherry precede a medium-full bodied surge of palate flavours—juicy dark cherry and ripe black bramble berry decorated with balancing tang and acidity with all persisting through the lengthy finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. This is near perfect to sip on its own, but certainly deserves a great piece of meat if you decide to pour with dinner. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: November 13, 2021

• The following 2020 Gérard Bertrand ‘Réserve – Spéciale’ Viognier was sourced from low-yielding estate vines that were pressed on arrival at the winery then placed in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Fermentation is under cool and controlled temperature while malo-lactic fermentation was halted.

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Gérard Bertrand ‘Réserve – Spéciale’ Viognier 2020
IGP Pays d’Oc, France 14.95 (147975) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of honey-drizzled Bartlett pear, fragrant, sweet melon and notions of ripe apricot dominate the nose. It blankets the palate with sharp minerality, tangy blood orange, peach marmalade and hints of lemon curd delivering more of the same on the finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. Refreshing on its own, it shines with lemon chicken, seafood and line-caught freshwater fish… pickerel anyone? (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Chombart + Speck ‘Cave Mystère’ Merlot is a collaboration between the Chombart family of Bordeaux, France with the Speck brothers of Henry of Pelham winery here in Ontario. The prehistoric caves below the Chambort’s vineyards at their winery, Château Lamothe-Haux, are carved out of limestone and go for kilometers as the limestone is used for the buildings in the area. This wine matured for 10 months in French oak barriques in these limestone caves with 80% pre-loved medium-toast barriques, half were one-year used and the balance two-year used with 20% new oak. The raisin d’être for the collaboration is to fashion a red wine in ‘old world’ Bordeaux to please ‘new world’ palates’.

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Chombart + Speck ‘Cave Mystère’ Merlot 2018

AOC Bordeaux, France $18.95 (17232) 14.5% alcohol

Delicate aromas of floral notes and cherry/berry fruit make way for a tang-infused flow of palate flavours with pie cherry and passion fruit to the fore. It’s medium-bodied with plenty of tangy pizzazz and flavours of red plum and red cherry making an appearance on the aftertaste along with wisps of tannin. Give this a go now to 2024 poured with meat and tomato lasagna, chicken pot pie or tomato beef stew. Aerate/decant for two hours before serving. (Vic Harradine)

• The Pommier family are now 6th generation vignerons with 1920 the year they went into full-time vignerons starting with 51 acres of vines that has expanded now into 90 acres of vines. Most of the soil composition is clay and limestone. After destemming the harvested grapes—55% merlot/20% cabernet sauvignon/25% cabernet franc—are gently pressed by pneumatic press and with vinification through thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks. Several punchdowns of the cap are made before ageing for at least 12 months in both tanks and barrels.

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Cháteau Vrai Caillou 2017
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur $15.95 (348292) 12.5% alcohol
Deep, rich aromas of black cherry/berry fruit, licorice and wisps of tar on the nose. It envelops the palate with a racy streak of tang and acidity expressed as passionfruit, red currant and pie cherry interlaced with dark cherry and notions of cassis. It persists through the mouth-watering finish and lip-smacking aftertaste. It’s medium-bodied with oodles of tang from first to last sip. Give this a go with spaghetti Bolognese, red pizza or pasta puttanesca. (Vic Harradine)

• The following three wines are available now at the winery and at the LCBO.

• The following 2020 Speck Bros. ‘Sibling Rivalry- White’ was sourced from a trio of grapes—riesling, chardonnay, gewürztraminer—that were fermented at cool, controlled temperatures from 15 °C to 17 °C.

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Speck Bros. ‘Sibling Rivalry- White’ 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (126144) 12.0% alcohol
Aromas of rosewater, yellow peach and pear leap from the glass after a gentle swirl. A racy, tang-laden river of lemon pie filling, ripe pineapple and Granny Smith apple capture the palate persisting through the lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. This is flavourful throughout the tasting experience. Give it a go with sushi, crab cakes or fish tacos. The price-quality proposition skews well in your favour; pick up a few. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Speck Bros. ‘Sibling Rivalry- Red’ was sourced from merlot, cabernet franc and gamay that was fermented in stainless steel with full maceration then matured in American oak for eight months. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; pick up an armful.

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Speck Bros. ‘Sibling Rivalry- Red’ 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (126151) 12.8% alcohol
Fresh, lively aromas of red cherry/berry fruit and wisps of grilled savoury herbs dominate the nose. It blankets the palate with a racy, tang-infused wash of red berry fruit—currant, strawberry and raspberry—mingling with mocha and savoury notes. This is medium-bodied and quite nicely balanced with persistent fruit flavours that are full of pizzazz. Serve with red pizza with toppings of pepperoni, mushroom and bacon. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Speck Bros. ‘Revel’ Cabernet-Baco Noir Dark Red was sourced from the ripest grapes grown in some of the warmest vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula. The grapes were fermented in stainless steel then matured for six months in oak. The price-quality proposition skews well in your favour; stock up.

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Speck Bros. ‘Revel’ Cabernet-Baco Noir Dark Red 2020
VQA Ontario $15.95 (575662)
A rich, aromatic nose of gamy notes, exotic spice and a flourish of savoury notes intertwine with expressive ripe cherry notes. It bathes the palate with tangy pizzazz and fresh fruit flavours of black plum, bramble berry and black Bing cherry. This is medium weight with creamy mouthfeel and plenty to like. There’s deft balance, persistent purity of fruit and a lingering lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. Pour with barbecued meats—gourmet sausage, backyard burgers or steak. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: TBD, 2021

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Caves de Rauzan ‘Château Haut-Maziéres’ 2019
AOC Bordeaux, France $17.95 (487546) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of red berry fruit abound on the nose robed in sharp spice. The fruit is overpowered with green tannin and a dry feeling on the palate. The drying finish delivers more of the same. Red fruit dominates the aftertaste with pie cherry, currants and pomegranate to the fore. Some of this is ameliorated in a three-hour aeration/decant while another three years of careful cellaring in bottle should be handsomely rewarded. There’s good value here. (Vic Harradine)

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Caves de Rauzan ‘Villotte’ 2020
AOC Bordeaux, France $15.95 13.0% alcohol
Earthy note aromas mingle with red cherry/berry fruit and piquant spicy notes. A dry surge of still-evolving tannin dominates the palate persisting through the drying finish and aftertaste. There are notes of coffee, racy passion-fruit, red currant and sour cherry throughout. This is a cellar dweller in need of four more years of bottle age. Give it a try in 2025. (Vic Harradine)

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Caves de Rauzan ‘Château Le Mayne – Cabanot’ 2019
AOC Bordeaux, France $16.95 13.0% alcohol
Aromas of exotic spice and mocha dominate on the nose. It blankets the palate with juicy black cherry and black currant robed in excellent acidity and plenty of pizzazz and underpinned by perceptible drying tannin. A three-hour aeration/decant ameliorates some of this and a well-seasoned (© Hy’s of Canada - Seasoning Salt) grilled medium-rare steak should take care of the balance. (Vic Harradine)