Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
The main theme from the VINTAGES Release is on wines from Bordeaux, while mini-themes feature premium-priced wines from Spain, and wines for celebrations. All of these wines will be on LCBO shelves across Ontario this coming .
Generally speaking, the wines from the Bordeaux feature were all quite good, however, it was difficult to find really good values. Having said that, the Château Guiraud Sauternes (65% Sémillon / 35% Sauvignon Blanc) dessert wine is an excellent buy. The other Bordeaux wine is a fruit-forward red blend consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Franc and a very good value from the excellent 2010 vintage.
The Spanish feature with 7 wines revealed an exemplary white wine blend from Rías Baixas DO that consists of 70% Albariño, 18% Loureiro and 12% Caíño Blanco. This was the only white wine among the featured Spanish wines. While many of the red wines were also good, they were priced a little bit too high in my opinion.
For Thanksgiving, the Alsatian Riesling is a food-friendly, off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) that will surely delight with your turkey or served with appetizers. Having said that, many of the white wines recommended below will pair nicely with turkey, such as the wine from Gorgo that is new to our market and consists of Cortese, Tocai, Trebbiano Toscano, and Garganega, and the 100% Fiano; both of these wines are from Italy.
Among red wines, from Greece is a 100% Agiorgitiko, while the red wine from Argentina is a Malbec-led blend. There is also a trifecta of Chianti Classico's available: the Fonterutoli is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Malvasia Nera / Colorino / Merlot, the Riserva (aged 2 years in oak) is 100% Sangiovese, and the Gran Selezione is a blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot. Another wine from Italy is made with 100% Grignolino, a single varietal wine from a grape we don't see too often.
Enjoy my wine picks from this VINTAGES Release and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Red Wine:
CHÂTEAU LES TOURELLES 2010 - AC Bordeaux, France (#426247) (XD) - $14.95
Tonight's wine is an organic wine that will be in stores as part of the October 17th LCBO VINTAGES release.
Monte Tabor has been cultivating vines organically since 1970. In 2006, Monte Tabor began managing another 50 hectares of Soave vineyards in Illasi. Today, viticulturalists and oenologists collaborate on the production of organic wines from these vineyards with the Fasoli family - a family that has been organic producers in the area for over 25 years.
SAN RAFFAELE MONTE TABOR PINOT GRIGIO 2014 - IGT Veronese, Veneto, Italy (#204768) (XD) - $13.95
Tasting Note:
Organic Pinot Grigio. Lemon peel and citrus scents from the cork. Subtle nose of lemon, citrus, white grapefruit with a slightly oxidized character. The palate is medium-bodied and dry with lime peel and grapefruit flavours. It has crisp, balanced acidity and some bitterness on the lingering finish. Score: 86 pts
The VINTAGES Release will be on LCBO shelves this coming . This release coincides with the Ontario wine harvest season and, as such, the major theme of this release is Ontario wine.
There is a mini-theme in this release, but it is a rather poor collection of wines from "The Oher Side of Europe". Countries featured include Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Republic of Macedonia, and Romania and are historically significant in the wine world, but are not widely known wine regions.
Back to the main theme of Ontario wines, there are 21 wines featured and 8 are included in my wine picks below. Ontario makes very nice Pinot Noir. Included among my wine picks are two Pinots - one from Niagara and one from Prince Edward County (PEC); both are lovely, but the version from PEC is a world-class wine. Ontario is also making a name for itself with the Gamay Noir grape and one of the versions from 13th Street will be available this Saturday. The other Gamay I have selected is from one of the pioneers of Gamay in Ontario - Château des Charmes. However, this is made using a clone of Gamay that was born in their vineyard in the early 1980's on St. David's Bench and is known as Gamay Noir Droit.
Among Ontario white wines, there are a pair of Rieslings that have a just a kiss of sweetness to them. And of course, no talk about Ontario wine would be complete without a mention of Icewine. Included in this release is a delicious Vidal Icewine from Reif, and a Late Harvest Riesling from Cave Spring.
It's interesting to note that none of the 21 Ontario wines selected was a pure Cabernet Franc. I was also disappointed with the Ontario Chardonnay selection in this release. It seems like a missed opportunity to showcase these two wonderful grapes. Do you enjoy Ontario Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay? Post a comment and let me know.
From the rest of the release, the La Rosa is a blend of Touriga Nacional (30%), Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz (a.k.a. Tempranillo), while the Rompesedas is a mature Tempranillo that is also one of the Wines of the Month in this release. Lastly, the Taurasi from Italy is made with 100% Aglianico.
In white wines, there are three Viogniers from three different continents to choose from - two at the lower end of the price spectrum, while the third is a Flagship Store Exclusive (FSE) and will be available in small quantities at VINTAGES Flagship Stores. The Atlantis Dry White is a blend of local varietals Assyrtiko (90%), Aidani (5%), and Athiri (5%) from Greece.
For sweet wine lovers, there are the two aforementioned dessert wines from Ontario, and also a German Riesling Spätlese that is an FSE.
Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!
Red Wine:
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ST. DAVID’S BENCH VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR DROIT 2012 - VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#346742) (XD) - $16.95 reviewed here
On a fine day in , I had the pleasure of tasting the wines of La Ferme Du Mont with the talented Stéphane Vedeau. This was my second tasting with Mr. Vedeau, as I had previously tasted his wines at a similar event in 2013. I was curious to learn about and taste his latest wines and see how they differed (if at all) compared to the wines tasted a couple of years ago.
Many of the wines available at this tasting were newer vintages of the same wines tasted in 2013. However, there were also some new, previously-untasted wines such the Rosé and a pair of surprise wines from his other estate - Clos Bellane, one of which was excellent!
Stéphane has an endless passion for Grenache grapes, as evidenced by the 50 hectares of old vines that are cultivated on the estate in a completely natural environment, using only organic fertilisers. He continues the traditions passed down from his mother's side of the family as a 3rd generation winemaker to create beautiful handcrafted wines.
Some of these wines are available in the VINTAGES section at the LCBO, while others can be ordered privately via the agent Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.
Tasting Notes:
LA FERME DU MONT ROSÉ 2014 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (XD) - $16.95
100% Grenache using intentionally under-ripe grapes. Low-to-medium intensity nose of white peach, strawberry and grapefruit. The palate is medium-bodied with dry flavours of strawberry, floral and is herbaceous. It has fresh acidity and a crisp, lengthy finish with some chalky minerality. Score: 87-88 pts
LA FERME DU MONT LA TRUFFIÈRE 2014 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#234716) (XD) - $16.95
Blend of 50% Grenache white, 40% Viognier (3% of which is botrytis-affected), 10% Clairette and a small amount of Marsanne (yes, that is more than 100%). Medium+ intensity nose with herbaceous, floral and some saline aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, fresh acidity and floral. herbal, and mineral flavours. It's nicely balanced with hints of tropical fruit on the long finish. Score: 88+ pts
CLOS BELLANE LES ECHALAS 2012 - AC Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas, France (XD) - $35
This white wine is made from 3 clones of Roussanne, 1 of which is harvested in November. Elegant, fragrant aromas of beeswax, flowers, lime and citrus. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, balanced acids with a kiss of sweetness and white truffle notes. It has a very nice texture and a long, clean finish. Very nice! One of my favourites of this tasting. Score: 91 pts
LA FERME DU MONT PREMIÈRE CÔTE 2012 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#251645) (XD) - $14.95
Blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Medium+ intensity aromas of plum, bretty, ripe black cherry herbs and a hint of mushroom. It's medium-bodied on the palate with sweet vanillan oak, spice, black cherry, and hints of strawberry. It has fresh acids, light tannins and finishes long. Score: 88 pts
LA FERME DU MONT LE PONNANT CÔTES DU RHÔNE VILLAGES 2012 - Unfiltered, AC, Rhône, France (#171371) (XD) - $18.95
60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. Complex aromas of crème de cassis, licorice, blueberry, oak spice, blackberry, and acacia flowers of medium intensity which replay very nicely on the peppery palate. It's medium-bodied with bright acids and a spicy mid-palate. Medium level tannins. The finish length is medium-to-long with oak, dark berry, and spice notes. Score: 89 pts
LA FERME DU MONT GIGONDAS CÔTES JUGUNDA 2013 - AC, Rhône, France (#354118) (XD) - $29.95
This red wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, showing medium+ intensity aromas of purple fruit, pepper, plum and hint of meatiness. On the palate, it's medium-to-full bodied with balanced acids and pepper, spice and licorice notes. It has medium-to-firm chalky tannins that would benefit from 2-3 years bottle ageing, but drinking well now. Good structure. Finishes long with violet notes. Score: 90 pts
LA FERME DU MONT CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CÔTES CAPELAN 2011 - AC, Rhône, France (#078857) (XD) - $80.00
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Aromas of medium-to-high intensity featuring meaty, smoky, black cherry, raspberry and hints of graphite. The palate is medium+ bodied with very nice aroma replays and spicebox notes. It's well-balanced with mouth-watering acids and tannins that are somewhat chalky, and integrating very nicely. Excellent length on the finish. Will age gracefully up to 2026. Score: 92 pts
After spending the whole day outdoors under a beaming sun at The Ex, it was nice to come home in the evening and open this chilled bubbly. wine is a nice sparkling wine that you will enjoy if you prefer your bubbly with some sweetness.
This wine has been continuously produced by Colio Estate Wines since 1996, with the initial bottling having a Calla Lily printed directly on the bottle using a ceramic technique. It has since undergone a few label updates and was recently refreshed to feature an intertwined white Calla Lily in an art nouveau style.
When first introduced nearly 20 years ago, this sparkler was a blend consisting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Today, it is 100% Riesling. It has continued to be made using the Charmat Method, where secondary fermentation is done in stainless steel tanks/vessels.
The story of Colio Estate Wines is of patience, determination and perseverance. Located along Lake Erie North Shore, this is the southernmost and warmest wine appellation in Ontario. Colio was started by three Italian bricklayers named Alfredo, Enzo and Tiberio who had a dream of building a world-class winery, and opened its doors in 1980.
Non-vintage 100% Riesling using the Charmat Method. Medium intensity nose consisting of green apple, lily flower, and mineral, along with hints of citrus and brioche. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh, balanced acids and citrus, lemon, and green apple flavours. Fine bubbles, subtly sweet, and hints of apricot and stone fruit on the lingering finish. Will delight as an apertif. Readily available at the LCBO. Score: 87 pts
This amazing red wine was opened night and will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves this coming Saturday, September 5th. It ranks as one of the best wines I've tasted this year and is highly recommended. Save this for a special occasion.
Patrick Lesec works with some of the most important villages in Southern Rhône and bottles wines under his own label, Patrick Lesec Selections. Including this Châteauneuf-du-Pape, all wines are estate-bottled on the properties Patrick has contracted to work with. Often, Patrick works with growers who own parcels of some of the best terroirs, soils and oldest vineyards but do not wish to bottle wine under their own label.
Once Patrick has located and made agreements with these growers, he works closely with growers to produce the highest quality grapes using non-interventionist winemaking techniques. He will taste through barrels and tanks to determine which grapes will make it into the final cuvée. Different variables include grape varieties, vineyard sites, and even different lots of the same wines (since each tank/barrel has its own unique character).
After the lots have been selected, Patrick will specify élevage - some will be kept in tank to preserve fruit freshness, while others will be aged in barrels to add richness, texture and complexity. Cuvées are usually treated with as little sulphur as possible.
PATRICK LESEC GALETS BLONDS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012 - AC, Rhône, France (#078089) (XD) - $56.95
Tasting Note:
Mostly Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. Plum and garrigue aromas from the cork. Inviting aromas of blackcherry, blackberry, garrigue, licorice, and forest floor of high intensity. The palate is full-bodied with mulberry, raspberry, sweet red berries, incense, and lavender flavours. Subtle wood notes. Very good, balanced acids. Graceful with lots of finesse, velvety tannins and good structure. Exquisitely balanced. Should develop further over the next 4 years. Drink up to 2025. Highly recommended. Score: 93 pts
The newest batch of wines from the LCBO VINTAGES Release will be on shelves this coming . Once again, it is a mono-thematic release with this one titled "Uncork something great!" and attempts to tell the VINTAGES story.
Of the 20 wines featured as part of the VINTAGES story, 6 wines made my list of wine picks. First up is a 2005 vintage Dom Perignon Champagne that is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Also included is a Syrah from Chile, a Malbec from Argentina, and an old vines GSM blend (40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre) that was all aged in concrete tank from Midi. The dry white wine from d'Arenberg is a blend of 55% Viognier and 45% Marsanne. For fans of sweeter wines, there is Flat Rock's Riesling.
Other sweet wines in this release include an off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) Chenin Blanc from South Africa and a medium sweet Grand Cru Pinot Gris from Alsace. Also available are a pair of very sweet Rieslings from Germany - one is a Riesling Kabinett (available as Flagship Store Exclusive), while the other is a Riesling Spätlese.
In red wine, the Olarra is mostly Tempranillo with Grenache and Mazuelo (a.k.a. Carignan) in support, while the Hacienda Valvarés is 100% Tempranillo. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of mostly Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre added, while the Tenuta Degli Dei is a blend of (60%) Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Lastly, the Ridge Monte Bello comes in 2 bottle sizes, each of which is composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot.
wine is a sneak preview of a white wine that will be in VINTAGES on .
Domaine la Haute Févrie is situated in the western part of France, within Loire, and 18 km southeast of Nantes, and located in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation. Family-owned and operated while producing 4 generations of winemakers that carefully tended to the vines over the years to produce the very best grapes possible.
Today, Domaine la Haute Févrie covers 30 hectares of vineyards, all within Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation. Several plots make up the 30 hecatres, each with different soils such as either siliceous clay or gravelly and shallow, all on metamorphic rock. Furthermore, this winery subscribes to the Terra Vitis methods of sustainable wine growing approach including no use of chemical fertilizers, and yield control by hand. They are also moving towards natural management of the vines.
This white wine comes from Clos de la Févrie, the earliest maturing plots of the entire estate, located in the hills overlooking the Maine river to the south in Saint-Fiacre.
DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE & MAINE 2014 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $13.95
Tasting Note:
From 35 year old vines, hand-harvested and on the lees for 7 months. 100% Melon de Bourgogne. Refreshing lemon/lime aromas from the cork. Very good aromas of sweet lemons, citrus, wet earth, and a perfumed flowery note on the back end. The palate is medium-bodied with finely cut acids. It's dry with citrus, Asian pear, floral and honeyed-fruit flavours on the palate. Mineral, citrus and honeysuckle notes on the lingering finish. Some saline notes as it warms up in the glass. This is a wine that changes quite a bit depending on temperature. Over chill it and see how it changes as it warms up. Score: 88+ pts
The latest batch of wines from the LCBO VINTAGES Release will be in stores across Ontario this coming . It appears to a thinner-than-normal release with only one theme titled "Top-Scoring Wines".
In all, there are 19 wines featured in the "Top-Scoring Wines" thematic, and nearly half made my list of wine picks. All three Ontario wines that were featured come recommended - a Charles Baker single vineyard Riesling, the organic oaked Chardonnay from Southbrook, and the Featherstone 60/40 Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend from the great 2010 vintage. From Chile, there's an uncommon Carménère/Syrah blend that is mostly Carménère. A pair of white wines from South Africa are also included among my wine recommendations - a Chenin Blanc and an unoaked Chardonnay. For sweet wine lovers, you'll want to check out the Riesling Kabinett from Germany. Lastly, the red wine from Portugal is a blend of many grape varieties including the country's signature Touriga Nacional.
From the rest of the release, there is a nice 2010 Bordeaux red wine (100% Merlot) that comes in at a very affordable price point. The Rhône red from La Ferme Du Mont is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, while the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 85% 90-year-old Grenache, 10% 60-year-old Mourvèdre, and 5% Syrah. A pair of red wines from Tuscany include a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano that is a blend of 90% Prugnolo Gentile (clone of Sangiovese) and 10% Canaiolo, while the IGT Tuscan wine is 75% Sangiovese and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Finally, the Rioja from Spain is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano.
In white wines, the Lugana from Lombardy, Italy is 100% Trebbiano di Lugana. If you like your wines really sweet, then you'll want to pick up the Riesling Auslese from Germany.
Lastly, the Rhône rosé is made in a dry style (i.e. not sweet) using the grapes Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah.
Enjoy my LCBO wine picks for this week. Cheers!
Red Wine:
CHÂTEAU DES MOINES MENODIN 2010 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#424259) (XD) - $14.95
HERDADE DO ROCIM RED 2011 - Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (#423574) (D) - $17.95
VIÑA MAIPO GRAN DEVOCIÓN CARMÉNÈRE/SYRAH 2012 - Maule Valley, Chile (#274100) (XD) - $17.95
wine hails from Casale of Montefalco, within central Umbria in central Italy.
A trip to this region in the early 90's by Perticaia's owner Guido Guardigli convinced him of the extraordinary potential of the region and its princely vine Sagrantino. In the year 2000, Perticaia - whose name means "plow" in Umbrian dialect - was founded by Mr. Guardigli. The vines at Perticaia are cultivated using sustainable farming methods. Today, 7 of the 15 hectares on the property are dedicated to Sagrantino de Montefalco (100% Sagrantino grapes).
This red wine goes through an interesting ageing process. It is aged for a total of 36 months, however, it spends 12 months in small oak barrels, 12 months in steel vats, and 12 months in bottle prior to release.
If you're a fan of big Italian red wines like Brunello and Barolo, you'll definitely want to check this one out. It is available by Private Order via their agent in Ontario - Mondo Vino.
100% Sagrantino. Naturally fermented. Interesting sage, herbs and cinnamon spice aromas from the cork. Medium+ aromatics featuring nuances of blackberry, cinnamon, herbs, spice, olive and wild flower surrounded by earthy notes. The palate is medium bodied with firm tannic structure and drying tannins. Balanced flavours of blackberry, cinnamon, wild herbs, and cedar oak. Has mouth-watering acids and mocha notes on the very long finish. Decant 1-2 hours and serve now or drink up to 2022. Deserves to be paired with red meats. Excellent wine on par with Brunello and Barolo. Score: 91 pts
On , Day 2 of our tour (read all about Day 1 here) began in the morning in Niagara-on-the-Lake at Reif Estate Winery. We started in the tasting room with a platter of 4 cheeses, each paired with a different wine. The first pairing I really enjoyed was their 2012 Reif Chardonnay Reserve ($21.95, 88+ pts) with Gunn's Hill Farms Five Brothers cow's milk cheese - a type of Gouda and Swiss cheese that's very creamy and cuts through the wine's acidity to provide a very nice, balanced mouthfeel. The second pairing I really enjoyed was the luscious 2013 Reif Vidal Icewine with Glengarry Celtic Blue Reserve - a sweet and salty pairing with a mild blue cheese that worked extremely well together.
The Discovery Pass Experience at Reif was back outside in the Wine Sensory Garden, where we enjoyed the 2012 Reif Sauvignon Blanc ($15.15, 87 pts) with Ruth Anne's Grilled Asparagus and Goat Cheese Pizza. The generously sized pizza was made fresh on the outdoor grill and paired beautifully with the wine as fresh, herbally flavours came to the fore, while the goat cheese helped cut the acidity in the wine. Overall, a delicious and well-balanced pairing.
The second stop of the day was at Pillitteri Estates Winery for a Strawberry and Brie Grilled Cheese Slider that was paired with their newly released 2013 Pillitteri Pinot Grigio ($14.95, #146787, 86 pts). I've never had strawberries on grilled cheese before, so I was quite excited to try this combo as I love both strawberries and grilled cheese. The slider was freshly prepared while we waited and sipped on the Pinot Grigio. Subtly sweet strawberries combined with the brie provided a very rich, mouth-watering experience and overall quite delicious. The pairing with the wine was nice and elegant.
For lunch, we visited Southbrook Vineyards to check out their new Farmers' Table @Southbrook bistro that opened in June and will be open for service during lunch hours all summer long and through to Thanksgiving long weekend. By now, we were quite full thanks to a big, delicious lunch courtesy of Chef Shawn Murphy and Southbrook and were left pondering how we would be able to enjoy the final two Discovery Pass Experiences remaining on the trip.
Still in Niagara-on-the-Lake, our third stop was at Château des Charmes for what I expected to be a light pairing of their 2013 St. David's Bench Sauvignon Blanc and 2013 Paul Bosc Estate Sauvignon Blanc with a Candy Onion Glazed Goat's Cheese and Chive Muffin with Crème Fraiche. The two wines were quite drastically (and surprisingly) different considering that they were the same grape grown basically across the street from each other. Each is a very nice expression showcasing the effects of terroir on grape growing. Full tasting notes of these wines, along with a few others I tasted are provided below. The pairings with the muffin were also intriguing. The St. David's Bench Savvy was a more fruit forward example and lent itself more as a sipper than pairing with food, while the Paul Bosc Estate Savvy was the opposite - a mineral-driven wine with texture and great acidity perfect for food pairing. The muffin itself was on the small side, but very dense and quite rich and fulfilling. The onion flavours from the muffin were also brought out by the Paul Bosc Estate Savvy. Quite the experience!
Our final stop of the day was back in Twenty Valley at Featherstone Estate Winery. Here, we enjoyed a generously sized portion of thin-crust Strawberry and Mozzarella Pizza made fresh by hand in their outdoor wood burning oven. It was beautifully paired with their 2014 Featherstone Rosé (#14.95, #117861, 86 pts) with strawberry flavours from the wine matching the flavours coming off the pizza.
After all this heavy food on Sunday, we were quite full and actually skipped dinner. I want to thank everyone at each of 9 wineries for your excellent hospitality and helping make this visit a very successful and enriching experience. I hope to see all of you again in September for the Annual Grape & Wine Festival.
Tasting Notes:
REIF WHITE MERITAGE 2012 - VQA Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $19.95
Blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc and 37% Semillon. Medium+ intensity aromas showing pear, herb, green apple and nettle notes which replay nicely on the medium-bodied, dry palate. It has bright acids, spicy mid-palate and a lingering finish. Score: 88 pts
REIF VIDAL ICEWINE 2013 - VQA Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#544791) (S) (200 mL / 375 mL) - $24.95 / $46.95
Lovely honey, yellow plum, peach, and apricot aromas which replay beautifully on the balanced palate. Notes of pineapple and toffee also add complexity to the flavour profile. It's very sweet, but not cloying due to the very good, crisp acids. Excellent length on the finish. Score: 91 pts
PILLITTERI EXCLAMATION RESERVE MERLOT 2012 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $50
Medium-to-high aromatics with chocolate, oak and vanilla notes. It's medium-to-full bodied with complex flavours of leather, oak spice, cocoa, earth and blackcurrant. Bright acids and very long finishing. Score: 90 pts
PILLITTERI GEWÜRZTRAMINER RESERVE ICEWINE 2012 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#409417) (S) (200 mL) - $34.95
Highly aromatic nose featuring lovely peach, apricot, honey, ginger and citrus notes that replay very nicely on the medium-to-full bodied, sweet palate. It has good acids, chalky mineral texture and a very long, spiced finish. Score: 90+ pts
PILLITTERI VIDAL RESERVE ICEWINE 2012 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (S) (200 mL) - $28
Medium-to-high aromatics with tart lemon, honey, and apricot. It's medium+ bodied with very good acids and notes of citrus, honey and spices on the palate. Finishes long. Score: 89 pts
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES SAUVIGNON BLANC ST. DAVID'S BENCH VINEYARD 2013 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#391300) (D) - $14.95
Medium intensity, fruity citrus aromas joined by grassy, nettle, and herbally notes. The palate is medium-bodied with nice aroma replays and some lemony flavours. It's quite dry with bright acids and a touch warm on the long finish. Easy drinking, summer patio sipper with substance. Score: 88 pts
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES SAUVIGNON BLANC PAUL BOSC ESTATE VINEYARD 2013 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $17.95
Elegant lemon/lime, peach and citrus aromas from the glass. It's light-to-medium-bodied with crisp acids and a lemon/lime, herbaceous, and mineral flavour profile. Slight chalky textured and finishing long. Deserves to be paired with light fare. Score: 88+ pts
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES CHARDONNAY MUSQUE 2013 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#640516) (XD) - $16.95
Medium intensity nose that comes off sweet with honeyed fruits, honeysuckle, earth and lime peel. On the palate, it's medium+ bodied and creamy with herbaceous and lime zest notes. It's dry with crisp acidity and a lengthy finish. Score: 88 pts
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES GAMAY NOIR 'DROIT' ST. DAVID'S BENCH VINEYARD 2012 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#346742) (XD) - $16.95
Medium+ intensity nose with earthy, sour cherry and black currant aromas. The palate is medium+ bodied and complex with toasty oak spice, black cherry, blackberry, hint of mint, and undertones of herbs and white pepper. It has very good, balanced acids and a long finish. Score: 89 pts
FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#080234) (M) - $16.95
Aromas of medium+ intensity featuring apple, citrus, slate and ginger notes, plus some maturing hints of mineral and petrol. It's mid-weight with bright acids and medium sweet flavours of citrus zest, slate and wet rocks. Lingering, chalky finish. Score: 88+ pts
FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089011) (D) - $17.95
Harmonious and elegant medium+ intensity aromas of tropical fruit, kiwi and grass. It's mid-weight with grassy, kiwi and guava flavours on the palate. Bright acidity with some herbally and spice notes on the long finish. Score: 89 pts
Monday, September 28, 2015
