Vintages Release: September 10, 2022
92
Bodegas Atalaya ‘Laya’ 70% Garnacha Tintorera/30% Monastrell 2020
DOP Almansa, Spain $16.95 (132605) 14.5% alcohol
Black-purple ink and almost opaque in the glass from the Garnacha Tintorera, aromas of red cherry/berry fruit and grilled savoury herbs waft easily after giving the glass a swirl or two. It’s bold and brash on the palate sporting a gusher of pie cherry and passionfruit and plenty of tang and pizzazz that is soon followed up with ripe black plum and juicy black currant that rides a medium-plus bodied delightfully balanced stream of replays to and through the mouth-watering finish and delectable aftertaste. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour pick up an armful and enjoy with red meat-laden pizza or backyard burgers or cheese burgers. (Vic Harradine)
LCBO Release: September 11, 2022
92
Speck Brothers Wine ‘Free Bird - Naturally Lively’ Riesling 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (28672) 11.0% alcohol
Aromas of floral notes, hints of honey and flinty minerality form the nose of this excellent riesling—it’s well balanced on the palate with a steady stream and persistence in purity of fruit from twist top to final drop. The finish is crisp and refreshing while the aftertaste delivers more of the same with palate replays galore. The price-quality balance is well in your favour; pick up a few and drink over the next few months alongside lighter-styled fish and seafood or a mixed sushi platter. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: October 22, 2022
• 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.
93 
Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Cabernet-Merlot 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $44.95 (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 not bothered by soft, ripe tannin. Give this another four to five years of careful cellaring or pour now after a two-hour aeration/decant with a premium cut of well-seasoned beef (try © Hy’s of Canada - Seasoning Salt) grilled medium-rare. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: October 22, 2022
• The following 2020 SKYFALL cabernet sauvignon was sourced from 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% syrah with all fruit gently destemmed and crushed, then inoculated with commercial yeast for alcoholic fermentation. Each variety was fermented separately and pumped over twice daily with temperatures peaking at 90 ° F or 32.2 ° C with a shortened maceration for the cabernet sauvignon for tannin management while the syrah matured for 12 months in barrel with 30% in 1-2 year old French oak and 70% in neutral oak.
92
SKYFALL WINES Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
AVA Washington State, USA $18.95 (26508) 13.9% alcohol
Aromas of black raspberry and juicy Bing cherry are adorned with minty notes, piquant peppery spice and hints of Saskatoon berries. It caresses the palate on entry with oodles of fruit flavours with black plum compote and kirsch liqueur juxtaposed to racy tang and crunchy acidity that persists through the delightful finish and lengthy aftertaste. A pizza wine looking for a home-baked or a commercial pizza delivered with lots of toppings—mushrooms, green pepper, bacon and plenty of spicy tomato sauce and cheese. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: November 5, 2022
• The following 2019 Henry of Pelham (Speck Family Reserve) Pinot Noir is barely a teenager, though strutting its stuff now and certainly flashing signs of an enhanced future after even short-term cellaring. Sourced from older vines—some shovel planted 35 years before this fruit was harvested—that are sustainably grown under, and accredited by, SWM. Fruit was hand- harvested, gently destemmed and mechanically sorted. It was then stainless steel vat fermented with the cap punched down by hand. It was then aged in European oak, 30% new then married together with the balance in pre-loved oak with total oak maturation being ten months.
94
Henry of Pelham ‘Speck Family Reserve’ Pinot Noir 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $39.95 (657874) 13.0% alcohol
Grilled savoury herbs and mixed spice aromas mingle with red berry fruit on the nose of this fresh and lively pinot noir. A lively flow of flavours race over the palate with tangy red cherry and passionfruit intertwined with sweet black plum and hints of black cherry along with savoury herbs and a soft tannin underpinning. There are replays of palate flavours and mouth-watering tang on the lengthy finish. Time in the cellar should pay off handsomely, pick up a few and pour starting in late 2022 or early 2023. Drinking nicely now; aerate/decant two or three hours and pour alongside roast fowl with all the fixings—stuff bird with savoury dressing or, if you’re invited for dinner, bring this along for a superb host/hostess gift. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: November 5, 2022
93
FERRATON PÊRE & FILS ‘LE PARVIS’ 2020
AOP Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France $59.95 (638551) 14.5% alcohol
Smooth and mellow from cork pop to last drop, alluring aromas of vanilla, floral notes and dark cherry/berry fruit adorned with piquant spice and earthy notes are soon joined by deftly balanced waves of palate flavours with black currant and ripe juicy Bing cherry melding with a tang-laden finish and a wonderful aftertaste that replays the palate flavours with nerve, verve and plenty of pizzazz. The tannins are soft, ripe and a gentle underpinning. Pour with Osso buco or cassoulet or cape malay bobotie. (Vic Harradine)