Cap Royal Rouge Bordeaux Supérieur 2022 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a vegan-friendly and terrific Merlot-based red wine from Bordeaux that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the February 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Cap Royal, a wine brand that is owned by wine merchant Compagnie Médocaine des Grands Crus. Over the last 35 years, the wine merchant has established itself as a key player in the Bordeaux wine trade, both in France and abroad. Médocaine des Grands Crus is a subsidiary of AXA Millésimes, which is the wine business unit of AXA Group. As a company that includes some of the world's finest Châteaux, they listen to their customers and does its utmost to assure their clients of top-quality wines.

Cap Royal owes its name to Cordouan lighthouse, which is the oldest lighthouse in Europe. The lighthouse is situated at the mouth of the Gironde estuary and has always had a bleak reputation due to the perilous nature of the area. Originally built in 1360, the lighthouse has evolved over the centuries to become "The Versailles of the Sea" and was classified as a historic monument in 1862. In 2021, it was officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is nicknamed "King of Lighthouses" or "Lighthouse of Kings."

The team at Cap Royal is led by Pierre Montégut, a highly respected winemaker who began his career in winemaking in 1988. Pierre has worked for various prized Château across France and became Technical Director of Château Suduiraut in 2004, a position he still holds today. There are only two wines in this brand, and for Pierre, Cap Royal is a new philosophy and a new challenge: to select the best and create wines of pleasure wine that can be enjoyed by wine lovers all over the world.

When compared with the excellent 2018 Cap Royal Rouge I enjoyed over four years ago, this particular vintage is a blend of the same two grape varieties, but with a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon (up 5%) this time around and composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from lots predominantly in the Médoc which were selected for their quality and complexity by Pierre Montégut with winemaker partners. The grapes were fermented in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats, and carefully aged in oak barrels under the regular supervision of Pierre.

The growing season in 2022 produced a legendary vintage in Bordeaux. It began with a cool and dry winter, with conditions persisting throughout spring, which allowed for both an early and successful budburst and flowering. April delivered the usual frosts, while June had significant hailstorms which cut yields. Temperatures continued to rise, with drought conditions settling in, and July was the driest in decades. Prominent heatwaves with virtually no rain from July onward meant the grapes reached phenolic ripeness very easily. Cool nights provided some relief from the heat. Most vineyards managed to escape the wrath of the July and August wildfires as the grapes already had thick skins at that point. Harvest began for the ripest Merlot at the beginning of September. From a vintage that produced exceptionally fine fruit, let's see how this 2022 Bordeaux red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CAP ROYAL ROUGE BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR 2022 - Vegan, AOC, France (#486761) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon has a fresh, lifted, and medium-high intensity nose of ripe black & red berry fruit, currant, cassis, black cherry, blackberry, and grilled herb aromas nuanced with gentle cedar oak and touches of smoky mineral and savoury earth. On the dry, medium-full to full-bodied palate it has lovely, well-balanced, currant, cassis, blackberry, and black cherry flavours leyered over savoury earth and smoky minerals, plus grilled herb accents. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the structured and approachable tannins have good bones for ageing. It's gently grippy on the back palate, while berry notes give way to savoury earth and smoky minerals on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Very few of the bottles of the Cap Royal White are currently available at the LCBO, but may be readily available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Atrevida Chardonnay 2023 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, unoaked Chardonnay from Argentina that landed at the LCBO as a brand-new arrival in last month's January 24 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Atrevida, which translates to "daring" in English, is a range of wines from Argentina produced by Manos Negras for the export market. Manos Negras is one of a number of winery projects owned by Mil Suelos, a project that began as a collaboration in the early 2010s between three Argentine wine professionals - Alejandro Sejanovich, Jeff Mausbach, and Jorge Crotta.

Today, the founders of Mil Suelos remain with the company as they make wine, experiment, taste, share, and above all, express places. Their philosophy is based on the belief that every wine should reflect the site where it is born, because it is the soil that gives it identity. They strive to capture the essence of each place through its land, while also exploring how each soil type imparts its character to the vine and, ultimately, to the wine. Moreover, it is the connection between soil, vine, and wine where the true expression of place is found, thus allowing each bottle to tell its own story of origin. At Mil Suelos, every wine is born from a unique terroir using grapes from their own vineyards or those from winegrowers who they have worked with for many years.

Born and raised in Mendoza, Alejandro is a viticulturalist and winemaker with experience working in some of Argentina's finest vineyards. He explores the relationship between the soil and vine to enhance the identity of each terroir and transform it into fine wine. Jeff arrived in Mendoza from the American Midwest in the 1990s and has a deep passion for the world of winemaking. As commercial director at Mil Suelos, Jeff has worked tirelessly to develop international markets and share his love for Argentine wine across the globe. As an educator and marketer born in Mendoza, Jorge has dedicated his career to promoting Argentine wine worldwide with passion and professionalism.

While there isn't very much info published about the brand, the range of Atrevida wines are daring, bold, adventurous, and represent the passionate spirit of Argentina. The brand has existed for about 15 years and offers a unique combination of Old World European elegance with a spicy Latin twist as Argentine culture is animated and passionate.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay that was grown in high altitude vineyards at 3,500 feet in the Uco Valley of Mendoza. The vineyards are nestled in the foothills of the mighty Andes and planted on well-drained alluvial soils, with a combination of stones rich with limestone, sand, gravel, and silt. The cool, sunny days produce fruit with bright green apple and pear flavours, while the cold mountain nights result in a fresh and crisp texture. The grapes underwent a temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation for 12 days in stainless steel tanks, and without malolactic fermentation. It was aged for 6 months in stainless steel tanks and did not see any time in oak.

With recent years in Argentina influenced by La Niña, which left the country in a state of drought, including the winter months which were unnaturally dry but with some polar influences, the 2023 growing season turned out to be a roller coaster of a vintage. It began with spring frosts that attacked nascent buds during budburst, which massively cut yields in parts of the country. Once the icy frosts receded, the season settled into warm and dry days, followed by a summer that was among the hottest and driest in years, which resulted in the grapes ripening very quickly. Vineyards situated at high-altitudes - such as those where this Chardonnay is from - benefitted from great diurnal temperature variation between hot days and cool nights, which allowed the grapes to retain acidity and aromatics. Due to the heat, the harvest was relatively early. From a good vintage with reduced quantity, let's see how this 2023 unoaked Chardonnay from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ATREVIDA CHARDONNAY 2023 - Vegan, Mendoza, Argentina (#46402) (XD) - $17.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this unoaked Chardonnay has a medium+ intensity nose of ripe apple and pear aromas joined by lemon citrus, plus whiffs of tropical fruit and flinty-leesy minerals, earthy, and a hint of dough adding a savoury component. On the dry, mid-weighted palate it offers delicious more ripe apple, pear, lemon citrus, plus some peach and spice notes. It has crisp and bracing acidity, while lemon citrus notes taper to flinty-leesy minerals on the savoury finish, with very good length. Chill well and enjoy this recommended buy tonight with seafood or poultry. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from the Atrevida portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Kacaba Reserve Riesling 2023 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Ahead of International Riesling Day, which is now less than a month away on March 13th, tonight's white wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly, and off-dry Riesling from Niagara-on-the-Lake that arrived at the LCBO in last month's January 24th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

From the same producer as the excellent 2021 Kacaba Terraced Vineyard Syrah I enjoyed late last year, this white wine is produced by Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, a small-batch, premium wine producer situated in the community of Vineland, within the Town of Lincoln in the Niagara Region of Ontario. It was established in 1997 by Michael Kacaba, a Bay St. lawyer in Toronto of Ukrainian descent and a Saskatchewan background, on land that was slated to be a subdivision. However, Mr. Kacaba had another vision for this land and began the work to establish a vineyard and winery, and in 1999 Kacaba had their first vintage, with consistent success following soon thereafter.

While Mr. Kacaba is no longer the owner of the winery, his philosophy remains the same - focus on smaller batch sizes to produce wines of merit. Kacaba wines are produced using only the finest grapes grown on the estate or from partnered grape growers from surrounding vineyards. Their philosophy is dependent upon small quantities because their production is limited by their ability to handle and manage quantities that can be produced mainly by hand. Pumping is kept to a minimum and gravity is used for bottling and racking. Interestingly, their simple methodology is implemented by lifting their tanks and barrels with a forklift. While their goal is to produce ultra-premium wines, it is also a necessity for them to produce moderately priced wines to ensure the business is economically sustainable. Kacaba also strives to encourage sustainable agriculture, which involves not only good husbandry of their lands, but also the proposition that agriculture is a valuable resource and ought to be maintained for future generations.

I enjoyed the 2017 Kacaba Reserve Riesling a couple of years ago, and while that wine was sourced from grapes grown on the Niagara Escarpment, for this particular vintage the grapes are from the Niagara Lakeshore sub-appellation in the warmer Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The grapes for this Riesling were carefully tended to along the lakeshore in Niagara-on-the-Lake and left to hang into November in order to concentrate the flavours and allow the acidity to come down on the vine. After picking the grapes overnight on November 2nd, while temperatures were low, the grapes were brought to the winery and immediately pressed upon arrival in the morning. The juice was settled at a very low temperature for 48 hours prior to racking, then allowed to warm up for a long, cool fermentation at approximately 13°C to allow tropical fruit and mineral notes to emerge. After 18 days, fermentation was arrested, leaving some remaining residual grape sugars to add further complexity and balance to the wine. The wine then rested in stainless steel tanks for 7 months, until it was bottled in June 2024.

The growing season in 2023 in Niagara was saved by a dry and warm fall that provided relief from the wet, dreary, and smoke-filled summer. While harvest was behind by up to almost three weeks, most varieties came out the other side in good shape and produced a bountiful crop. For Riesling, the warm days and cool nights prior to harvest were the perfect conditions to develop vibrant fruit and juicy acidity, which should allow Riesling wines to age gracefully for many years. From a superb vintage for this noble grape, let's see how this 2023 Riesling from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KACABA RESERVE RIESLING 2023 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#404087) (D) - $24.15
Enclosed by screw cap, the lovely, fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose delivers an attractive mix of petrol, wet stone, white peach, and floral aromas nuanced with lemon oil, stone fruit, apple, and bees wax complexity. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate has very good structure and a gently off-dry flavour profile of lemon oil, citrus, wet stone, leesy mineral, grapefruit, white peach, and apple flavours, plus a mild spice note. It has crisp, structured, and juicy acidity, while peach and lemon notes taper to leesy and wet stone flavours on the long, dry, and juicy finish. An elevated experience that will continue to provide pleasure into the early 2030s. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

A few wines by Kacaba are readily available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered direct from the winery online and in Niagara.

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Le Garenne Chenin Blanc 2024 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, dry Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley that landed at the LCBO as a brand-new arrival in last month's January 10 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Le Garenne, a modern and relatively new wine brand that was established around the beginning of the decade. The brand focuses on wines from the Loire Valley, which is often called the "Garden of France" because of its noble landscapes.

The Loire Valley is defined by the Loire River, which is France's longest river that stretches nearly 1,000 km from east to west, crossing five different regions from the Ardèche in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The Loire region has always been recognized for its perfect climate and diversified soils for quality viticulture going back to the times of the Roman Empire. Given its northerly location and the substance and vitality of the river, the well-adjusted climate and soil composition in the Loire Valley is conducive to producing beautifully refined, and concentrated wines made with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, and Pinot Noir.

At Le Garenne, the focus is to create sustainable wines that are both good for your taste buds and nature. Sustainable winegrowing is very important value for Le Garenne as it carries a comprehensive set of practices that are environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically viable. With 25% of the vineyards in the Loire farmed using sustainable agriculture, Le Garenne carefully selects the winegrowers and vintners they choose to work with, ensuring that the grapes come from sustainable family farms and of high-quality. Sustainable vineyard and winery practices involve conservation of water and energy, maintaining healthy soils while protecting air and water quality, enhancing relations with employees and communities, preserving local ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and improving the economic vitality of vineyards and wineries. The goal of Le Garenne is to give consumers a Super Premium, healthy, and authentic experience at an affordable price.

This white wine is from La Garenne's Premium range of entry-level wines. It is crafted using 100% Chenin Blanc from vineyards located mostly surrounding the villages of Le Puy Notre Dame and Le Vaudelnay, on the left bank of the Loire River in Saumur. The vines are planted on calcareous and clay soils, with south-southwest exposure to the sun. The average age of the vines is 45 years old, which naturally limits yields and provides great concentration and depth in the wine. The grape must was slowly pressed and selected during the pressing phase. It underwent a temperature-controlled, alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks for nearly 8 weeks in order to develop the aromas.

The growing season in 2024 in the Loire Valley was a uniformly difficult vintage that began very mild and very wet. May was a constant struggle against mildew, along with cool and wet weather during flowering meant poor flower set and grape development, which cut yields further. Weather conditions in the Loire only modestly improved in August. If there is a bright spot in this difficult vintage, it's that white wine varietals in the zones of Anjou and Saumur suffered less than other regions in the Loire, and produced wines that retained their aromatic freshness. From a difficult vintage, let's see how this 2024 Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LE GARENNE CHENIN BLANC 2024 - Loire Valley, France (#47327) (XD) - $18.95
Fresh and elegant, the lifted, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers attractive, ripe lemon citrus, apple, stony mineral, and yellow floral aromas, plus hints of honeysuckle and orange peel adding further interest. The dry, mid-weighted palate has lemon citrus, apple, orange peel, and yellow floral flavours in a slightly tart profile. It's supported by juicy acidity, while the lemon citrus and apple notes taper to stony-leesy minerals on the juicy finish, with very good length. Only 10.5% abv. Recommended buy to enjoy with seafood or poultry. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines by La Garenne can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Marqués de la Concordia Lagunilla Reserva 2018 (Rioja) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely blend of mainly Tempranillo with Garnacha in support from Rioja, Spain, that landed at the LCBO as a brand-new arrival in last month's January 10 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Marqués de la Concordia Family of Wines, a fairly influential Spanish wine group that was founded in 1985 by Clemente del Rio Gomez. As a member of a historic Rioja wine family that was involved in viticulture, wine trading, and export, Mr. Gomez had roots in La Rioja, and applied his family's accumulated generational knowledge to establish Marqués de la Concordia Family of Wines.

Today, the group owns and manages estates in many of Spain's top wine regions. With a focus on quality and consistency, their wines represent the harmony between the old and new world, as well as Spanish heritage with modern oenological technology.

The flagship winery of the group is Bodega Marqués de la Concordia Rioja-Santiagio, which is located in Haro, in the heart of La Rioja. Founded in 1870, Rioja-Santiago is the second-oldest winery in La Rioja and, due to its age, it is also one of the few wineries in La Rioja that has "Rioja" in its name. They seek excellence in Rioja wines by maintaining a winemaking philosophy that has been in place for over 100 years. Centered around the art of oenology and the concept that a territory only has value if the group's oenologists are capable of expressing its full potential, they seek excellence in each one of their wines and cavas by contributing their oenological wisdom and knowledge of the terroir and vocation for innovation. With a deep commitment, the team at Marqués de la Concordia has a passion for wine and respect for the environment.

Several brands make up the Family of Wines, with this particular red from their Lagunilla line of wines. The historic brand of Lagunilla wines was founded in 1885 by Felipe Lagunilla, a man who worked the hardest to rescue the vineyards of Rioja from the phylloxera crisis. Felipe was made a comendador by the King and known for leading Spanish winegrowers to replant vines grafted with phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks. The Lagunilla brand was eventually bought by multinational alcoholic beverage company Diageo, and during the early 1990s joined the Marqués de la Concordia Family of Wines group. Today, the group preserves the legacy of Felipe Lagunilla and the winemaking tradition of one of the most traditional wineries in the Rioja Alta.

This red wine is a blend of mainly Tempranillo, with Garnacha in a supporting role. The grapes underwent careful alcoholic fermentation at temperatures not exceeding 28ºC. The wine was aged for a minimum of 24 months in oak casks and a minimum of 6 months in bottle, and aged for a combined period of 36 months prior to release to meet the Reserva classification.

In 2018, the growing season in Rioja was cooler than normal, with lots of rain. Rioja experienced damp conditions that caused significant problems with humidity, rot, and mildew. However, winegrowers who were vigilant in the vineyard were rewarded with one of the largest harvests in years. This allowed producers to craft elegant, less-structured wines that were fresh and fruity with slightly lower alcohol levels. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2019 Reserva from Rioja is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MARQUÉS DE LA CONCORDIA LAGUNILLA RESERVA 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#44774) (XD) - $18.95
This blend of Tempranillo with Garnacha in support has a medium+ intensity nose that seems a bit shy initially with gently tangy red berry, bretty, barnyard, and savoury notes, which give way to enticing dried red cherry, rose floral, forest berries, coconut, forest floor, and vanilla aromas. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has delicious forest berry, red cherry, vanilla, forest floor, and fine wood spice flavours, plus hints of tomato leaf with a slight tang. It has juicy, succulent acidity, alongside suave, elegant, and refined tannins. Savoury earth with touches of minerals linger on the long finish. Really quite nice in the traditional Rioja idiom and a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Marqués de la Concordia can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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February 7, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Romantic Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the February 7, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here). Titled "Our Most Romantic Wines", this is the annual Valentine's Day release and also includes a new batch of Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines. A good-sized release with just over 90 products offered, all of which should be readily available for purchase by Saturday, if not earlier.

We'll begin with the feature on "Romantic Wines", which specifically restricts the offerings to Europe's most romantic (and wine-producing) regions - Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, and Germany. In all, there are sixteen wines included as part of the feature story, five of which are included among my top wine picks. From Italy, there is a fine Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany that is crafted with 100% Sangiovese Grosso, while the French red wine is from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is composed of 70% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. The last red wine is from the Douro in Portugal, and it is a blend of equal parts Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, plus 20% Tinta Roriz. Among the white wines, there is a Grüner Veltliner from Austria, and a medium-sweet Riesling from Mosel, Germany.

Among my top red wine picks from the main release, we'll start in Tuscany with the iconic Cepparello that is made with 100% Sangiovese. Also from Tuscany is the Chianti Classico that is crafted using 96% Sangiovese and 4% Merlot, as well as the Bolgheri that is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Both wines from Bordeaux are blends, with the Médoc a blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon plus Merlot, while the Bordeaux Supérieur is composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. From Rioja, Spain, the Gran Reserva is made with Tempranillo, while the Crianza is a blend of mainly Tempranillo with small amounts of Garnacha and Graciano. The Priorat from Spain is composed of Garnacha and Mazuelo, while the Portuguese red from Alentejano is a blend of Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, and Syrah. The last blend is from South Africa, and it is composed of 92% Syrah and 8% Grenache.

It was somewhat slim pickings among the white wines from the main release. However, what is recommended is very good. Chardonnay leads the pack, and first up is an excellent Chablis Premier Cru from Burgundy, followed by a pair of lovely premium offerings from Niagara. There's also a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, as well as a blend of Alvarinho and Loureiro from Vinho Verde in Portugal.

Other wines include a pair of lovely, locally crafted sparkling wines from Niagara. The 2021 Rosé Brut Sparkling is made with 100% Pinot Noir, while the 2019 Brut Sparkling is made with 100% Pinot Meunier. The only rosé table wine in this release is also from Niagara, and it is crafted using 100% Cabernet Franc. And lastly, the Moscatel de Setúbal from Portugal is made with 100% Muscat.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• GLORIA RESERVA 2022 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#146522) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
• GUARDA RIOS SIGNATURE RED 2022 - Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (#11151) (XD) - $14.95  90 pts  wine review
• LÓPEZ DE HARO CRIANZA 2021 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#377481) (XD) - $17.95
• CAP ROYAL ROUGE BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR 2022 - Vegan, AOC, France (#486761) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CASAS DEL TOQUI LIMITED EDITION GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Sustainable, Alto Totihue, DO Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#37751) (XD) - $19.95  91 pts  wine review

• CHÂTEAU FONTAINE DE L'AUBIER 2019 - Sustainable, AOC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#35619) (XD) - $25.95
• BON MAS 2020 - DOQ Priorat, Spain (#44773) (XD) - $27.95
• VAN LOGGERENBERG HIGH HOPES SYRAH/GRENACHE 2023 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#48106) (XD) - $31.95  OFE
• ALTANZA GRAN RESERVA 2016 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#453548) (XD) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
• BELL'AJA BOLGHERI 2022 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#16890) (XD) - $39.95  review coming soon...

• CASTELLO DI AMA AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2023 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#515759) (XD) - $45.95
• DAMILANO LECINQUEVIGNE BAROLO 2020 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#454488) (XD) - $56.95
• DOMAINE ALBIN JACUMIN LA BÉGUDE DES PAPES CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2022 - Sustainable, AOC, Rhône, France (#47574) (XD) - $57.95
• COL D'ORCIA OLMAIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#16668) (XD) - $77.95  OFE  92+ pts  wine review
• CAMIGLIANO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#25970) (XD) - $86.95
• ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#28768) (XD) - $199.95

White Wine:

• VICHUQUÉN SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - DO Valle de Curicó, Chile (#47112) (XD) - $15.95
• MARIA PAPOILA ALVARINHO/ LOUREIRO 2024 - DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#408146) (XD) - $18.95
• RABL LANGENLOIS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2023 - Sustainable, DAC Kamptal, Austria (#377457) (XD) - $19.95
• GOLDSCHILD ÜRZIGER WÜRZGARTEN RIESLING KABINETT 2023 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#45015) (MS) - $21.95
• DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00  review coming soon...
• DOMAINE QUEYLUS RÉSERVE DU DOMAINE CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#417832) (XD) - $48.70
• DOMAINE YVON & LAURENT VOCORET FOURCHAUME CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2023 - AOC, Burgundy, France (#22776) (XD) - $58.95  review coming soon...

Rosé Wine:

• PENINSULA RIDGE BEAL VINEYARD CABERNET ROSÉ 2024 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#177840) (XD) - $16.95

Sparkling Wine:

• KEW PINOT MEUNIER NATURAL BRUT SPARKLING 2019 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#49602) (XD) - $32.95  review coming soon...
• DIVERGENCE HUGHES VINEYARD BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING 2021 - Traditional Method, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#49617) (XD) - $39.95  91+ pts  wine review

Fortified Wine:

• BACALHÔA MOSCATEL DE SETÚBAL 2022 - Vegan, DOP, Portugal (#996181) (S) - $18.95

Dessert Wine:

• LAKEVIEW CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON ICEWINE 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471813, 200 mL) (S) - $29.95  92 pts  wine review

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Spy Valley E Block Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, certified sustainable, and vegan Sauvignon Blanc from Waihopai Valley in Marlborough. It arrived at the LCBO as the Wine of the Month in the January 10 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Spy Valley Wines, a family-owned winery located deep in the Waihopai Valley, within the Southern Valleys of Marlborough, New Zealand. It was established by Bryan and Jan Johnson in 1993, during a time of discovery and courage in Marlborough when it was thought that the area was too hard, too dry, and too unfertile for winegrowing. The Johnson couple had the audacity and passion for the land to establish 180 hectares of estate vineyards, and with a pioneering spirit, Spy Valley would go on to become one of New Zealand's most successful family-run wineries.

The name "Spy Valley" is inspired by the winery's proximity to a government communications facility that is often referred to as a spy base. As Bryan and Jan stepped away from the winery, it was their daughter, Amanda Johnson, who took over and became Managing Director of Spy Valley. As the daughter of the founding family, Amanda has Spy Valley in her blood. She is passionate about looking after the land and for future generations, and knows how crucial sustainability is to both Spy Valley and the wine industry.

Sustainability has been a core value at Spy Valley since the winery's founding. They know that when you work on land as exceptional as this, you protect it. Spy Valley also knows that their environment is one of the many secrets to their success, as it has sustained generations, and it is their job to nurture it for many more. Since 1999, Spy Valley has been proudly accredited under the New Zealand Sustainable Winegrowing scheme, which promotes economically and environmentally sustainable vineyard management. Spy Valley proudly was one of Marlborough's first wineries to be certified under this program.

Spy Valley has several ranges of wines in their portfolio, and this white wine is from their Block Range. The Block Range is a refined and complex range of wines that are crafted using grapes from unique single blocks on their estate, which were selected for their flavour and structure. One can expect wines from the Block Range to deliver terroir, typicity, and an element of craft.

This particular white wine is from Spy Valley's Block Range and is crafted using 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown on the estate in Waihopai Valley, where the geology is stony, seismic, and on an ancient glacial riverbed, and the soil is composed of alluvial stony silt loams. The viticulturalist was Adam McCone, and winemakers were Wendy Stuckey and Emily Gaspard-Clark. The grapes were harvested at peak flavour maturity from their E Block Vineyard Block in the Waihopai Valley. It underwent gentle juice extraction, and was cold settled and fermented in a combination of 80% in stainless steel tanks and 20% in French oak barrels, with a range of aromatic yeasts. The wine remained on its fine yeast lees for 6 months before blending and bottling.

The growing season in Waihopai Valley experienced an excellent flowering period and consistent rainfall, which resulted in even crops and healthy canopies. The weather leading up to harvest was slightly cooler than recent years, which meant that the start of harvest was a bit later and allowed the fruit to get extra "hang time" and develop more flavours across all varieties. While the crop was slightly smaller than the previous bumper crop season, the fruit was perfectly ripened during the steady, low-stress harvest. At Spy Valley, the 2023 growing season was a great success with a year of collaboration, innovation, and exceptional quality. Let's see how this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from Waihopai Valley in Marlborough, New Zealand, is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SPY VALLEY E BLOCK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#36874) (XD) - $21.95
The fragrant, highly aromatic nose wafts of limey citrus, gooseberry, white peach, and leesy mineral aromas nuanced with grapefruit, lemon citrus, guava, passion fruit, green herb, and spice notes. The medium+ bodied palate is dry with good density and concentration and delivers ripe, lime/lemon citrus, grapefruit, floral, gooseberry, white peach, and guava flavours, plus notions leesy mineral, spice, and green herb, all supported by fresh and creamy acidity. It's well-balanced throughout with citrus and tropical fruit notes tapering to leesy minerals on the long, fresh, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

A few wines by Spy Valley are available (some in small quantities) at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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