July 5, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Mediterranean Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the July 5, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here), which highlights Mediterranean Wines for Summer Sipping as the feature story of the release. The mini-thematic features three wines from Austria's historic Winzer Krems, while in Local Talent there is a stellar lineup of Cool Chardonnays. In all, there are 90 wines included in this release, with almost an equal number of red- and white-coloured wines, and everything should be available for purchase by this Saturday, if not already in many stores.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release, which lists twelve Mediterranean wines for Summer Sipping - five of which are included among my top wine picks. Up first are a couple of white wines from Sicily - an Etna Bianco crafted with 100% Carricante, as well as a Grillo. The other three wines are all rosés, including a couple of blends from Provence in France, with the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. The other rosé is from Greece and a blend of 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Moscofilero.

The red wines in this release felt a bit like slim pickings, with only nine recommendations coming from just four countries. We'll start in France with the Gigondas, which is majority Grenache, with Syrah completing the cuvée, while the Bordeaux red is 100% Merlot. From Italy, the Vino Nobile is Sangiovese, while the Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Malvasia Nera, and 5% Colorino. From Argentina there is a straight Malbec, while the other wine is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Spain has three recommendations in this release, with both Riojas crafted with 100% Tempranillo, while the Navarra red is 100% Graciano.

Among my top white wine picks, Cool Chardonnay is the place to start with a quartet of lovely 2022 vintage Chardonnays from Ontario - three from the Benchlands in Niagara and one from Prince Edward County. Tasting the four of these side-by-side would be a lovely exercise for the studious types (or a Saturday evening!). There are two blends among my white wine recommendations - the Côtes du Rhône Blanc is composed of 50% Grenache Blanc, 40% Viognier, and 10% Marsanne, while the South African white is mainly Chenin Blanc blended with Roussanne, Viognier, and Sémillon. Among the mono-varietal wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River in Australia, the Torrontés from the high-altitudes of Salta in Argentina, as well as the slightly off-dry Riesling from Austria. Lastly, the Orange Wine from Chile is crafted with Torontel.

My lone rosé pick (that wasn't part of the Mediterranean feature) is from New Zealand, and it is a somewhat quirky blend of 48% Pinot Gris, 48% Chenin Blanc, and 4% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• AGRAMONT GRACIANO 2022 - DO Navarra, Spain (#37262) (XD) - $15.95
• NIETO SENETINER DON NICANOR MALBEC 2022 - Mendoza, Argentina (#178657) (XD) - $17.95
• MONTEBUENA CUVÉE KPF 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#211029) (XD) - $18.95  88+ pts  wine review
• PALACIO DE PRIMAVERA VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#13632) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2022 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $19.95
• MAZZEI FONTERUTOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#977629) (XD) - $24.95
• PIEDRA NEGRA GRAN LURTON SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - IG Los Chacayes, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#980334) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• VECCHIA CANTINA RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2017 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36523) (XD) - $27.95
• DOMAINE DU GRAPILLON D'OR 1806 GIGONDAS 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#981787) (XD) - $39.95

White Wine:

• LES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, AC, France (#18600) (XD) - $14.95  review coming soon...
• GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO 2023 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#11670) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• AVONDALE JONTY'S DUCKS PEKIN WHITE CHENIN BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, WO Paarl, South Africa (#439554) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#41435) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• BODEGA EL PORVENIR DE CAFAYATE LABORUM FINCA EL RETIRO TORRONTÉS 2023 - Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#489179) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• MATURANA NARANJO TORONTEL ORANGE WINE 2023 - Sustainable, Loncomilla, Valle del Maule, Chile (#556217) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...

• TORNATORE ETNA BIANCO 2024 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#577676) (XD) - $24.95
• WINZER KREMS KREMSER KREUZBERG RESERVE RIESLING 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, DAC Kremstal, Austria (#44857) (D) - $29.95
• CAVE SPRING CSV CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#529941) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• ROSEHALL RUN JCR CHARDONNAY 2022 - Estate Grown and Bottled, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#45615) (XD) - $36.00  91+ pts  wine review
• CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16093) (XD) - $36.95  91+ pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE CLAYSTONE TERRACE CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#36806) (XD) - $42.00  92+ pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• SKOURAS CUVÉE PRESTIGE AGIORGITIKO/ MOSCOFILERO ROSÉ 2024 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#25745) (XD) - $16.95  review coming soon...
• ERADUS SADIE ROSÉ 2024 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#43353) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
• CHÂTEAU LA TOUR DE L'ÉVÊQUE ROSÉ 2024 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#319392) (XD) - $20.95
• SAINT AIX ROSÉ 2024 - AP Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, France (#451906) (XD) - $25.95

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The Quarterly Pour with Arterra Wines Canada (Apr. 2025)

At the end of April, Arterra Wines Canada held their quarterly tasting for the media at their head office in Mississauga, Ontario. This was my first "The Quarterly Pour" tasting, and it featured a curated lineup of estate-driven and milestone wines, along with a few lifestyle-led selections from their Better for You portfolio. All the wines were crafted using grapes from Ontario. The tasting was broken down into 4 categories:

• Better for You Selection - zero-sugar, low- and no-alcohol wines
• LCBO VINTAGES Release Wines
• Surprise Pours - A special preview of wines that were just recently released or will be available in the near future
• Inniskillin 50th Anniversary Spotlight

While I didn't taste everything in the Better for You Selection, there were a couple of wines that stood out, and they are in the last group in the list below.

I expected the quality of the LCBO VINTAGES Release Wines (the first three wines in the list below) to be very good, and was really impressed with the Chardonnay as it had improved somewhat significantly since I first tasted the wine last year. The Jackson-Triggs wines were all delicious, high-quality, and premium wines with a price to match.

The surprise of the tasting were the three Inniskillin Reserve wines, especially the Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay, as they offered a great quality-to-price ratio and just arrived at the LCBO last month as widely-available General List wines with special pricing to celebrate Inniskillin's 50th Anniversary.

Pretty much all the wines listed below (except the previews) are readily available through one or more of their retail sales channels - LCBO, Great Estates Niagara, or Wine Rack.

• LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00  91+ pts
• KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95  91+ pts
• KEW ROSALIE ROSÉ SPARKLING 2019 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#43594) (XD) - $32.95  90+ pts

• JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#25368) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts
• JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE RED MERITAGE 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $29.22  91 pts
• JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2024 (exclusive preview)  91 pts
• DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE CRÉMANT (2nd blend preview)  91+ pts

• INNISKILLIN RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#17290) (XD) -$19.95  91 pts
• INNISKILLIN RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#105379) (XD) - $19.95  91 pts
• INNISKILLIN RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $22.79  90+ pts
• INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#149963, 200 mL) (S) - $59.95  92+ pts

• SAINTLY THE GOOD SAUVIGNON BLANC - VQA Ontario, Canada (#32183) (XD) - $19.95
• BASK CHARDONNAY - Canada (#39912) (XD) - $13.95

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Wakefield Estate Label Wines - Degrees Matter

Last month I had the pleasure of attending a media event titled "The Temperature Experience". I had the opportunity to Chill Out with Justin Taylor, a third generation family member of renowned and well-respected Wakefield Wines (also known as Taylors Wines in their home country of Australia). The purpose of this event was to taste Wakefield's latest Estate Series of wines that are now available in Ontario, and, more importantly, to stimulate our senses and find out why degrees matter.

Wakefield Wines was established in 1969 by Bill Taylor Sr. in South Australia's Clare Valley. Bill found a perfect plot of land by the Wakefield River to establish the family estate and planted his first Cabernet Sauvignon vines that would eventually find its way into the family's first wine in 1973 - the Estate Label Cabernet Sauvignon. During the excavation of the land to find a water source for the vines, they discovered tiny seahorses in the limestone bedrock that date back more than 600 million years - seahorses that became the winery's symbol and emblem for over 50 years.

Today, Wakefield Wines is led by the third generation of the family - brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton. Their focus is on continuing the family tradition by crafting delicious wines that not only stand the test of time, but are also crafted in a sustainable and responsible manner that respects the fruit and where it comes from.

With a strong innovative spirit, the Taylor family launched an industry-first on-the-bottle temperature sensor in 2016 that helps ensure that wine drinkers enjoy Wakefield wines at the optimum temperature. I covered the Optimum Drinking Temperature Sensor a few years ago when the wines with these innovative labels first made their way into Canada in 2020.

At this event, we had the opportunity to taste four Estate Label wines that are available in Ontario and compare the difference when experiencing the wine that was served either too warm or too cold and the optimum temperature. First up was a refreshing Chardonnay. However, the aromas and flavours were a bit muted when served too cold. There was much more intensity, depth, flavours, and texture when the Chardonnay was served at the ideal suggested temperature of 10–12°C.

The Sauvignon Blanc was terribly imbalanced and dull when served too warm. The suggested temperature for the Wakefield Sauvignon Blanc is 6–8°C, and at this cooler temperature the wine comes alive with refreshing acidity and bright fruit flavours. It is important to note that the wine shouldn't be served too cold either, because this will mute the wine and you won't get to experience all that it offers.

Both red wines were absolutely gross when served too warm. To illustrate this, the warm wines were poured out of a thermos and one sip had me spit and dump the wine into a spittoon. The suggested temperature for each of their reds is between 16–18°C and each wine was lovely at this temperature, showcasing both the fruit and oak in their aromas and flavours, along with a fine texture, with everything in balance.

The key takeaway is that temperature plays a very important role in how you experience a wine and how it impacts your enjoyment. Serving wine at the correct temperature enhances aromas and flavours, affects the wine's structure, alters perception of sweetness & alcohol, and preserves the wine's integrity. The suggested serving temperature for white wines is between 6–12°C, and I would personally lean a little warmer for richer white wines such as Chardonnay. For red wines, the suggested serving temperature is between 12–18°C. The old adage of serving red wines at "room temp" is from a bygone era when central heating didn't exist and rooms were generally cold. There are various methods you can use to cool down (ice bath, freezer, refrigerator, etc...) or warm up your wine (rest at room temperature, hold glass in your hands, etc...). Personally, all my wines are placed in the refrigerator, at the back of the top shelf for cooling, with the white wines resting there for 50 to 60 minutes prior to opening, and the red wines for 45 minutes.

All Estate Label wines, including the four listed below, have the innovative temperature sensor on the back label. The Chardonnay and the Shiraz are available year-round at the LCBO as they are VINTAGES Essentials products, while the Sauvignon Blanc (which hasn't been in Ontario in many years) and Cabernet Sauvignon arrived in Ontario a week ago in the April 12th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. All four are worthy buys, and with a convenient temperature sensor on the back label, you can actively taste the difference that temperature makes!

To use the sensor, simply wipe away any moisture from the circular Temperature Sensor to reveal its true colour, then match its colour to the chart on the left to see if you are serving the wine at the correct temperature.

Tasting Notes:

WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Adelaide Hills / Margaret River, Australia (#166942) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. Fresh, medium-high intensity nose offers a lovely mix of gooseberry, lime citrus, grapefruit, lemongrass, and green herb aromas with leesy undertones. It's medium-full bodied with good weight, concentration, and richness, along with delicious ripe lime citrus, gooseberry, and grapefruit, herbs, and leesy flavours on the palate. Mostly dry with a vague impression of sweetness and a richly textured mouthfeel. Acids are clean and well-balanced. Lime citrus, gooseberry, and grapefruit notes taper to leesy flavours on the long, crisp, and juicy finish. Best enjoyed at the temperature suggested on the back label. Score: 89 pts

WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL CHARDONNAY 2022 - Clare Valley / Limestone Coast, South Australia (#711556) (XD) - $16.95 $15.95 until Apr. 27
Served at 8C, this has fresh, citrusy, lemon, and ripe tropical fruit nose. It's nicely textured and a touch grippy on the medium+ bodied and dry palate with delicious aroma replays on the flavour profile It has fresh and lively acidity, and is nicely balanced throughout. Very good length on the crisp finish. At the ideal temperature of between 10-12C, it allowed the wine to breathe and release more complex aromas and flavours, while also offering a more richer, rounder, and creamier mouthfeel. It was definitely much better at the slightly warmer temperatures and continued to improve as it warmed up in my glass. Score: 89 pts

WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL SHIRAZ 2022 - Clare Valley / Limestone Coast, South Australia (#943787) (XD) - $19.95 $17.95 until Apr. 27

Generously intense with ripe plum, black cherry, blackberry aromas nuanced with some savoury cocoa, milk chocolate, and vanilla notes. The salty, medium-full bodied palate is well-structured with delicious aroma replays and notable spicy, cocoa chocolate, blackberry, and black plum flavours. It has very good, crisp acidity and supple, well-structured tannins. Nicely textured with earthy, cocoa, and savoury notes on the finish, with very good length. Score: 88+ pts

WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Limestone Coast / Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95
52% Limestone Coast and 48% Clare Valley fruit and enclosed by screw cap. The rich, medium-high intensity nose offers lovely dark fruited, black currant, cassis, cedar oak spice, cocoa, and earthy aromas accented with leafy herbs and mint. It's full-bodied and ripe on the dry palate with black & red fruits, currant, cassis, gentle oak spice, and savoury earth flavours accented with plummy and minty herb notes. Acids are crisp and fresh, while the ripe, refined, and mildly grippy tannins are well-structured. Clean and well-balanced with savoury black fruit and cocoa notes lingering on the lengthy finish. Score: 89 pts

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March 29, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Top Old World and New World Grapes

Here are my top wine picks from the March 29, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is headlined by "Top Old World and New World Grapes". It is a small-ish release with just 84 wines, surely reduced because U.S. wines are no longer available. On the whole, it is getting more difficult to find quality wines under $20, but there are a few in this release, while there are many options for those able & willing to spend more. All the wines should be available for purchase already, if not by Saturday.

We'll begin with the feature story titled "Double Exposure: Top Old World and New World Grapes", which looks at wines crafted using grapes from the old world and compares and contrasts them with wines crafted in the new world using these same grapes. There are eight grapes (or grape blends), and two wines from each category, for a total of sixteen wines included in the thematic, of which four wines are among my top wine picks. On the local front, from the new world in Niagara, there is a lovely off-dry Riesling, as well as a fine Chardonnay. The other two recommendations are both Cabernet Sauvignon wines, with one version from Venezie in Italy, while the other is from South Africa, which is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec.

There are several blends among my top red wine recommendations. We'll begin with the oldest wine in the release, a 2012 Rioja that is crafted with 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and 10% Graciano / Mazuelo. There are also two red blends from Italy, with the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico crafted using a minimum of 90% Sangiovese, while the red from Sicily is composed of 85% Nero d’Avola and 15% Merlot. From France, the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, and 2% other varieties, while the Meritage from a great vintage in Niagara is a Cab-Merlot crafted with 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 22% Merlot.

Among my top white wine picks, there are two blends - the Greek wine is composed of 60% Moschofilero, 25% Assyrtiko, and 15% Malagousia, while the Australian white is a blend of 55% Viognier and 45% Marsanne. Also among my picks are a pair of lovely Chardonnays, one each from New Zealand and Niagara, followed by a premium Sauvignon Blanc from NZ. The lone bubbly is a Prosecco crafted with 100% Glera.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CA' DI RAJO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - DOC Venezia, Italy (#39484) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE SHIRAZ 2021 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#433060) (XD) - $18.95
• MATILDA NIEVES MENCÍA 2020 - DO Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, Spain (#26322) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• BENMARCO SIN LÍMITES PEDERNAL MALBEC 2021 - Valle de Pedernal, San Juan, Argentina (#42700) (XD) - $21.95
• NEIL ELLIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#41448) (XD) - $22.95
• PLANETA CONTRODANZA 2020 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia Noto, Italy (#477190) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review

 

• LA NERTHE LES CASSAGNES CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2021 - AP, France (#494674) (XD) - $27.95
• SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE GAMAY 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#26503) (XD) - $28.95  90 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES NIAGARA PINOT NOIR 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#11582) (XD) - $34.95
• TENUTA FIZZANO IL CROCINO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#699454) (XD) - $37.95
• REDSTONE MERITAGE 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#44167) (XD) - $46.95  91 pts  wine review
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2012 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $73.95

White Wine:

• NOVUS ALTITUDE ASSYRTIKO/MOSCHOFILERO/MALAGOUSIA 2023 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#40537) (XD) - $15.95
• D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER/MARSANNE 2023 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#662775) (XD) - $17.95
• MACULAN PINOT GRIGIO 2023 - DOC Breganze, Veneto, Italy (#734921) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $21.95
• TWR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#411603) (XD) - $26.95
• WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#424507) (XD) - $29.95
• AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#12623) (XD) - $31.95
• THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT WILD CASK RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#44145) (M) - $32.00

Sparkling Wine:

• TENUTA CIVRANETTA BRUT PROSECCO - Vegan, DOC, Italy (#41259) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review

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Deux Roches Tradition Mâcon-Villages 2022 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is the latest Chardonnay in a line of recent excellent wines by Deux Roches, the Burgundy estate of Collovray & Terrier, that has come through the LCBO. This Mâcon-Villages arrived at the LCBO this weekend in the February 1 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is featured in the theme of the release which explores France's top wine regions.

The origins of Deux Roches begins in 1928, when Joanny Collovray settled in the small village of Davayé, in the south of Burgundy, a few kilometres west of Mâcon. On this land, Joanny made goat cheeses and farmed the land by growing crops, including grapevines. By 1940, Joanny was noted for the quality of his work. In 1956, he was succeeded by his son, Henri, who maintained the family's polyculture, but also expanded the family's vine holdings by purchasing a few parcels of land in the Mâcon-Davayé appellation. Henri's son, Christian Collovray, began working the vines at the age of 16 and devoted himself entirely to vine growing.

The Terrier family had no history of cultivating vines, but Léon Terrier was the village blacksmith and worked alongside local winegrowers. Jean-Luc Terrier, Léon's son, specialized in viticulture at an agricultural college and crossed paths along the way with his neighbour and childhood friend, Christian Collovray.

The two friends - Christian Collovray and Jean-Luc Terrier - shared a love and passion for vines and wine, and married two sisters - Brigitte and Florence - who came from a family of winegrowers. Bringing together two families, the two couples had a dream to create an estate and make wine together using Christian's and his father's vines. The dream became reality in 1986 with the formation of Deux Roches, which translates to "Two Rocks", and is named after the two limestone rocks of Vergisson and Solutré that are situated in the area of Davayé.

Today, there are six members of the Collovray & Terrier involved in the family business, including Julien Collovray, son of Christian and Brigitte, and his wife Caroline, and Pierre-Alexis Terrier, son of Florence and Jean-Luc. Situated in the heart of the Mâconnais wine region in Burgundy, with its soils rich in limestone, Deux Roches is renowned for producing high-quality Chardonnay wines. The philosophy at Deux Roches is to work the soil and respect the vegetation to produce good quality fruit. They aim for perfection by mastering each and every step with each passing vintage, while also adapting to the year's weather conditions. In 2017, with a commitment to the environment, Deux Roches earned their High Environmental Certification - the French certificate for environmental sustainability.

While the excellent 2021 Deux Roches Les Pommards Saint-Véran (and still available for purchase) is from their top-tier Parcel Selections range, this Tradition Mâcon-Villages is from their lower-tiered Timeless Collection - exemplary wines that are crafted for immediate pleasure, sharing, and enjoyment.

This 100% Chardonnay was grown in the Mâcon-Villages appellation of southern Burgundy. The cuvee is a blend of several plots which were selected for their limestone soil and drainage quality, as well as their early, southeast-facing exposure to the sun. This combination of soil and sun exposure characteristics allows Deux Roches to develop straightforward, fruity, lively, and fresh wines in the pure spirit of Mâconnais. After harvest, the grapes are gently loaded by gravity into pneumatic presses, where the grapes undergo slow and long presses in order to delicately extract the juices and preserve aromatic finesse. The musts are cooled and decanted, followed by a temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation depending on the vintage. The wine remains in tanks for aging on its fine lees until spring. Inputs such as SO₂ are limited as much as possible throughout the entire process from picking to bottling.

The 2022 growing season in Mâconnais was marked by ample rain in June, including a big rainstorm at the end of the month, which helped slow down the physiological ripening of the grapes during the heat and dry weather of the summer months. The resilience of the vines, along with two weeks of dry and windy conditions that preceded harvest resulted in healthy grapes of good quality. Overall, it is a classic, juicy vintage with quantity. From an excellent vintage, let's see how this 2022 Chardonnay from Mâcon-Villages is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DEUX ROCHES TRADITION MÂCON-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, Burgundy, France (#38077) (XD) - $27.95
100% Chardonnay. Lovely, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers elegant ripe apple, pear, lemon citrus, and orchard fruit aromas, plus touches of doughy and leesy characters and hints of white peach, with an underlying stony minerality adding further complexity. The medium-full bodied palate is dry, concentrated, ripe, and honeyed with lovely apple-pear, orchard fruit, lemon citrus flavours accented with mild spice, vanilla, and white peach notes. It has clean, juicy acidity, somewhat creamy, and a fine, mineral texture on the mid-palate. Shows finesse, elegance, and balance throughout with spice and mineral notes lingering on the long, succulent finish. Best enjoyed over the next 3-5 years on its own, with goat cheese, fish, or poultry. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

A couple of wines by Deux Roches are available at LCBO, while the full line-up can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Palmer Brut Réserve Champagne (France) - Wine Review

Just in time for year-end celebrations, tonight's sparkling wine review is a beautiful, non-vintage Champagne that is brand-new to the LCBO, arriving as part of the recent December 14th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection as an Online & Flagship Exclusive.

It is produced by Palmer & Co., a prestigious Champagne house that was established in 1947 by seven families who were also growers that owned prized Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne. These seven families shared a desire for perfection and had a vision to create a Champagne house known for its passion and pursuit of excellence, and wines with harmony and balance, qualities that still define the Champagne Palmer style today.

Palmer & Co represents a true search for harmony and balance that was initiated by the 7 founding winegrowers. Today, Champagne Palmer has become a house of reference and is well-prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Palmer & Co is able to distinguish itself through its grands terroirs of Montagne de Reims, where all of its vineyards are classified as Premier Cru or Grand Cru. Additionally, Palmer & Co also has vineyards in the areas of Côte de Sézanne, Côte des Bar, and Marne Valley, and during the blending process these areas add elegance and balance that are iconic to the Palmer & Co style.

For Palmer & Co, the Cellar Master plays a role that is just as important as the work of nature. To create each cuvée, Xavier Berdin, the Cellar Master at Palmer & Co, and his four oenologists blend the different varieties, crus, and reserve wines until the perfect balance is achieved. A significant percentage of reserve wines constitute the backbone of Palmer & Co's non-vintage cuvées, which are selected for their structure and aptitude for ageing, while also lending richness and depth to the blend. One other important distinguishing factor is that Palmer & Co is one of the few Champagne houses that has adapted the famous Solera system of Jerez to the wines of Champagne with a perpetual reserve system that is refreshed every year with the wines from the latest harvest. For over 35 years, Palmer & Co has been working with three Soleras in two stages - the first in oak casks for the new vintage, and then added to the perpetual reserve in stainless steel vats. Xavier and his team passionately watch over the wines of yesterday, today, and tomorrow with unrelenting vigilance.

The Palmer & Co style is made up of several inspired collections which are an expression of a very special art that combines technical precision with harmony to produce champagnes characterized by their elegance and balance. Palmer & Co Champagnes are expressed fully after a long maturation period in their chalk cellars, which are located 18 metres below ground. The traditional method sparkling wines of Palmer & Co are dominated by the freshness and purity of its Chardonnays, leading to a style that is seductive through its precision and clarity. Pinot Noir adds grace and power, while Pinot Meunier adds generosity, and the significant contribution of reserve wines adds rich fullness and rare maturity.

Palmer & Co is also committed to the environment. They produce wines while respecting the environment and preserving the integrity of the grapes. Palmer & Co is heavily committed to sustainable winegrowing, with an action plan that involves soil and vine nutrition, soil maintenance, treatment of the vines, sustainable protection of the vineyards, and waste management. The technicians of Palmer & Co are actively involved with winegrowers to ensure maximum respect for everyone and the environment in the vineyard and the winegrowing process.

This non-vintage Champagne by Palmer & Co. is the flagship wine of the house. It is made from a selection of the most prestigious terroirs of Champagne, with Premier Cru and Grand Cru grapes of the Montagne de Reims dominating the blend and leaving their mark. It is typically a blend of 50-55% Chardonnay, 35-40% Pinot Noir, and 10-15% Pinot Meunier. This Champagne is also typically composed of a significant amount of reserve wine (30-35%), which brings a rare fullness and maturity to this class of traditional method sparkling wine. This 750 mL bottling is aged on its lees for 4 years, while the Magnum is aged on its lees for 6 years. Crafted in the timeless Palmer-style, this Brut Réserve Champagne exudes excellence and is distinguished above all by its remarkable finesse and elegance. Let's see how this Champagne tastes tonight...

Tasting Note:

PALMER BRUT RÉSERVE CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#39865) (XD) - $85.95 $74.80
Blend of 51% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 19% Pinot Meunier, with 22% reserve wine that was bottled Jan. 22, 2019, aged on its lees for 4 years, and disgorged on Feb. 20, 2023. Lot L23131C. Rich and elegantly fragrant, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose has a lovely, complex mix of biscuit, toasty, brioche, autolytic, lemon citrus, and pear/apple aromas, plus leesy mineral accents. The mid-weighted palate is crisp and refreshing with lovely autolytic, lemon citrus, brioche, toasty, pear, and apple replays on the flavour profile. It has an elegant mouthfeel with crisp acidity and a fine bead of bubbles. Harmonious and well-balanced throughout with fine citrus, toasty, and leesy mineral notes joined by white florals on the long, crisp, and elegant finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Limited quantities of other fine Champagnes by Palmer can be found at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Arterra Wines Canada.

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Kew Blanc de Blancs 2017 and Blanc de Noirs 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Kew Vineyards Marsanne a few months ago (and still widely available in stores today), tonight's sparkling wine reviews a pair of wonderful bubblies from the same producer in Niagara that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature story on Bubbles in the December 14 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Both of these fantastic bubblies are produced by Kew Vineyards, a boutique estate winery situated on the limestone-rich soils of the Beamsville Bench, in the heart of Niagara wine country. Kew Vineyards is situated on a 160-year-old estate, in a homestead built by William Kew that was used by the family to successfully produce carriages.

Once the Kew family's chapter ended, a new chapter began in 1975, when Mr. Hermann Weis brought his own clones from the Mosel Valley in Germany and planted some of Niagara's first Riesling vines on the estate at Kew Vineyards. Unknowingly, Mr. Weis became a true pioneer of Ontario's wine region, even while he was relentlessly met with skepticism as the community said he could never do it. Most of Niagara's Rieslings today are based on the Weis Clone.

Today, Kew Vineyards is a hidden gem of Niagara's wine country history. It is owned by Arterra Wines Canada, who acquired the historical property and its 80+ acres of vineyards in 2023. The vineyards are situated on sloping land and well-drained soils, with ideal growing temperatures.

The focus at Kew Vineyards is on small-batch winemaking, with the belief that wine is the ultimate expression of passion - passion for the art of wine making, passion for the land, and passion for the way in which it celebrates daily life. The winemaking team is led by veteran Australian winemaker Philip Dowell, who has focused his life's work on cool-climate wines. The philosophy at Kew is to allow the vineyard to tell its story of each harvest, while also expressing the terroir in order to produce world-class wines that are uniquely Niagara.

The sparkling wines reviewed below are both mono-varietal and vintage sparkling wines. The 2017 Blanc de Blancs is crafted using 100% Chardonnay, while the 2020 Blanc de Noirs was produced using 100% Pinot Noir. The 2017 growing season in Ontario was generally cool with wet weather. At the beginning of September, extended heat and sunshine resulted in one of the nicest autumn seasons on record, as well as a later harvest. Grape quantities were high with a record harvest, while the quality was excellent for white wine varieties. The growing season in 2020 provided near perfect conditions that coaxed the best out of a wide spectrum of grapes from whites to big red Bordeaux varieties, and everything in between, including Pinot Noir. The 2020 vintage produced grapes which reached phenolic ripeness, while also maintaining acidity to allow for balanced wines. Let's see how these two vintage sparkling wines from Niagara are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

KEW BLANC DE BLANCS 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#438994) (D) - $32.95 $28.70
100% Chardonnay that was barrel aged for 5 months prior to bottling for secondary fermentation, and then aged on its lees for 5 years. Fresh, elegant, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers lovely toasty, brioche, and autolytic characters mingling with lemon citrus, stone fruit, and white peach aromas, plus whiffs of pastry and honey adding further complexity and intrigue. It's light-to-mid weighted and essentially dry on the palate with delicious citrusy, ripe apple, toasty, and brioche flavours with touches of autolytic notes and a twist of honey. It has crisp acidity and lively bubbles that freshen the juicy and slightly creamy palate. Subtly spicy with apple, toasty, and brioche flavours that are joined by leesy minerals on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

KEW BLANC DE NOIRS 2020 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#380030) (D) - $32.95 $28.70
100% Pinot Noir that was gently whole-berry pressed and fermented in stainless steel, followed by ageing on its lees for 2 years. The medium+ intensity nose offers apple, pear, red cherry, and lemon citrus aromas with touches of biscuit and toast. Some autolytic and honeyed aromas develop with time in the glass. The vibrant, medium-bodied palate is dry with delicious toasty, apple, pear, and lemon citrus flavours with hints of honey, biscuit, and mineral. It has fresh, vibrant acidity and crisp, refreshing mousse, along with a textured and slightly grippy mid-palate. Apple, lemon citrus, and mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, and dry finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines by Kew Vineyards can be found at the LCBO, while the full range can be purchased directly from the winery in Beamsville (Niagara), or through their Agent - Arterra Wines Canada.

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Artemivske Victory White Brut Sparkling and Red Semi-Sweet Sparkling (Ukraine) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's sparkling wine reviews are a pair of brand-new arrivals that landed at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the November 30 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Both of these wines are produced by Artwinery, a sparkling wine producer in Ukraine that was established in 1950, but whose history goes back to the 19th century.

Ukranian history in the production of traditional method sparkling wines begins with Prince Lev Golitsyn, who bought an estate in Novyi Svit, on the southern shores of Crimea, that was completely destroyed during the Crimean War. By 1882, the Prince's factory was able to revive Crimean winemaking by producing traditional method sparkling wines. During this period, in the town of Bakhmut, in the eastern part of the country, engineer Edmund Farke signed a contract with the government for the construction of alabaster factories, which became a thriving enterprise. The extraction of gypsum for the factories resulted in a large underground mine, 70 metres below ground, which had a micro-climate that allowed for fermentation to take place, and was the beginning of unique wine production in Ukraine.

The celebration of victory following World War II required a special drink, and in the 1940s they started working on creating "Soviet sparkling wine", which had to be of at least equal quality to Champagne. They used the underground galleries of Bakhmut, which was known as Artemivsk back then, for the production of classical sparkling wines, and by 1950, the wine factory was officially established. These wines were tasty, high-quality, and the most hard-to-find in the U.S.S.R., as they were distributed mostly in stores for those that worked for the party, while off-limits to ordinary citizens.

As Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, the wine factory began creating sparkling wines under its own brands - Artemivske and Krim. In 2007, the winery began upgrading the plant with more modern and powerful units, while the laboratory was completely renovated. Furthermore, some processes that were manually performed are also now automated. These upgrades allowed the winery to produce 25 million bottles per year. In 2016, the company got its new name - Artwinery. By 2020, Artwinery's sparkling wines were gaining global recognition and winning prizes at international industry competitions and exhibitions.

Today, Artwinery is the largest in Eastern Europe and the only one in Ukraine to produce sparkling wines in the classic Champenoise method where re-fermentation of the wine and its saturation with bubbles is carried out naturally in bottle. As we know - place matters, and as such, Bakhmut is situated at the same latitude and climatic zone as Champagne. The grapes used to create Artwinery's sparkling wines are grown in the fertile soils of southern Ukraine, in the sunny climates of Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. With the war in Ukraine ongoing, the workers continue producing wine in secret locations to not let the Russians stop their work.

These particular sparkling wines are from Artwinery's Artemivske range. The Artemivske brand is only 10 years old, but has become the #1 sparkling wine in Ukraine and is a favourite among several generations as it evokes the warmth of your family memories and the brightest everyday emotions. Today, the Artemivske brand retains its impeccable quality and enjoys constant popularity. Each bottle in the Artemivske range is fermented using their special in-house yeast and aged in bottle for at least 9 months and offers a delicate bouquet and taste. Let's see how these sparkling wines from Ukraine are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

ARTEMIVSKE VICTORY RED SEMI-SWEET SPARKLING - Ukraine (#40768) (MS) - $18.95
Crafted in the Charmat method, this blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Saperavi has a medium intensity nose that is gently spicy, followed by macerated black cherry, dark berry, milk chocolate, cocoa, dark plum, cassis, and currant aromas. It's mid-weighted and gently sweet with black cherry, plummy, dark berry, savoury spices, and chocolate flavours supported by gently frothy mousse and bright acidity that tempers the sweetness. Quite harmonious and balanced throughout, even some sense of elegance, while savoury cocoa and milk chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

ARTEMIVSKE VICTORY WHITE BRUT SPARKLING - Ukraine (#40769) (D) - $18.95
Blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, and Aligoté crafted in the Charmat method. The fresh, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers ripe peach, nectarine, honeysuckle, and freshly sliced apple aromas accented with orange and citrus notes. There's a touch of sweetness alongside bitterness on the crisp, refreshing, and slightly frothy light-to-mid-weighted palate with lively acidity and bubbles. Gently sweet flavours of apple, pear, orchard fruit, and white floral, plus notes of peach and citrus. Juicy and succulent on the mid-palate, while leesy notes linger on the essentially dry finish, with very good length. Appealing crowd-pleaser. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious sparkling wines by Artwinery can be purchased through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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