• Available in LCBO stores April 24th to May 21st, 2022 at a Limited Time Only discount of $2.00 from the regular price of $17.95 and will be available for the aforementioned time for $15.95 per bottle.

• The following Non-Vintage Malivoire Wine Company ‘Che Bello’ Sparkling Wine was made in the Charmat method with the 2nd fermentation happening in a sealed tank. This wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation. It was sourced from two vineyards – with riesling from Geneva Frost Road and seyval and vidal from Huebel Estate Vineyards.

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Malivoire Wine Company ‘Che Bello’ Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
VQA Ontario $17.95 LTO $15.95 (16858) 11.5% alcohol
Lifted aromas of citrus and pineapple adorned by pit fruit—apricot and nectarine—abound on the nose and are carried along by the energetic ‘mousse’—aka bubbles on the top of the wine when poured in the glass. A real treat awaits on the palate with a delightful yin and yang delivered by the yin of sweet ripe fruit—cantaloupe and peach—and the delightful yang and tang delivered by lip-smacking lemon curd and crisp Granny Smith apple.

Classics Collection Release online only: May 5, 2022

• Hand-harvested pinot noir is accredited by Terra Vitas as being sustainably grown and is monitored by independent inspectors. This wine is also certified by Demeter as being an organic and bio-dynamic produced wine. Grapes are destemmed and sorted by hand removing all stems leaves etc. Australia has a wonderful name for this debris – mog (rhymes with log) – ‘material other than grapes’. The fruit underwent cold maceration for 5 to 8 days then underwent gentle punch-downs of the cap and gentle stirring with the entire procedure taking approximately three weeks before being gently pressed by pneumatic press separating free-run juice from pressed-juice with the free-run juice being cooled for 24 hours then transferred to French oak barrels for nine months of first malolactic fermentation and for then for maturation. Select barrels are then blended together and not filtered before being bottled then released.

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Gérard Bertrand ‘Domaine de L’Aigle’ Pinot Noir 2019
IGP Haute vallée de L’Aude, Languedoc, France $35.00 (23918) 14.5% alcohol
Lifted aromas of red cherry/berry fruit adorned with mineral bits, toasty oak, piquant, peppery spice and earthy notes. It captures the palate with a stream of tang-laden fruit with pie cherry, red currant and passionfruit to the fore. There are ripe tannin for an underpinning along with medium-bodied weight and texture and plenty of tang and pizzazz. There’s also persistence of palate flavours through the lingering lip-smacking finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. Give this a go with boeuf Bourguignon or lamb tagine. (Vic Harradine)

New in Vintages online only: starting May 12, 2022

• The following 2020 Gérard Bertrand ‘Domaine de L’Aigle’ Chardonnay was sourced from densely planted estate chardonnay vineyards of 5000 to 6000 vines per hectare and at 250 M and 500 M above sea level making them amongst the highest in the Languedoc region. The wine is accredited organic and biodynamic by Demeter. The fruit is all hand-harvested and is pressed gently with the must then cooled and left to settle and mature on its lees before alcoholic fermentation begins then a percentage of the wine is transferred to oak barrels for full malolactic conversion.

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Gérard Bertrand ‘Domaine de L’Aigle’ Chardonnay 2020
AOP Limoux, Languedoc, France $35.00 (377671) 14.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of baking brioche, fresh pear and ripe peach dominate the nose of this well-paced gem. Palate flavours of lemon curd and lime cordial are joined by baked apple and poached pear that persist to and through the medium-length, lip-smacking finish and mouth-watering aftertaste. This is light on its feet with good balance, persistent purity of fruit, good texture and mouthfeel. It’s good to pour now and on to 2027. Pour alongside crown roast of pork or pan-seared-in-butter salmon or rainbow trout under a generous squeeze of fresh lemon when plated. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: May 22, 2022

• The following 2021 Speck Brothers ‘Family Tree – The Soldier’s Wife’ Sauvignon Blanc is a new branch in the Family Tree banner. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour; pick up a few.

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Speck Brothers ‘Family Tree – The Soldier’s Wife’ Sauvignon Blanc 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $16.95 (25649) 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of grassy and herbal notes waft easily from the glass with gentlest swirl. It blankets the palate with a lip-smacking lemon curd and mouth-watering tang and pizzazz. It’s medium-plus bodied with a laser-like streak of aforementioned citrus tang that persists to and through the lengthy, tang-laden finish and aftertaste. This pours well with arugula salad adorned with olive oil and crumbled chèvre or with Atlantic salmon pan-seared in butter and under a generous squeeze of fresh lemon, once it has been plated. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: July 16, 2022

The following 2020 Speck Brothers ‘Three of Hearts – Trois Coeurs’ Pinot Grigio is grown under sustainable conditions and is accredited by SWO. It was hand-harvested and whole-cluster pressed obtaining pure fruit flavours that persist through the entire tasting experience. This was cool-fermented in stainless steel vat and following fermentation the wine was blended with 5% hand-harvested, barrel-fermented chardonnay to add texture and roundness to the palate.

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Speck Brothers ‘Three of Hearts – Trois Coeurs’ Pinot Grigio 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $19.95 (20374) 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of muskmelon and ripe apricot mingle with notions of baking spice on the nose. It dazzles the palate with fruit-driven flavours of tang-infused passionfruit, yellow peach and ripe pear. This is medium weight and fully textured with good mouthfeel and no lack of tang or pizzazz. Pour alongside chicken pot pie. (Vic Harradine)

New LCBO Release: Fall 2020

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Speck Brothers ‘Three of Hearts – Trois Coeurs’ Pinot Noir 2020
VQA Niagara Peninsula $21.95 (26109) 13.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of floral notes, red cherry/berry fruit and hints of earthy notes can be coaxed from the glass with a rigorous swirl. The palate reveals still-evolving tannin, sweet raspberry and racy pie cherry adorned with mixed spice and plenty of tangy acidity. Aerate/decant for three hours, or cellar for 12 months, pouring alongside roast chicken thighs generously dotted with © Hy’s seasoned salt. (Vic Harradine)