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!
BLASON DE BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2023 - AC Bourgogne Aligoté, France (#648436) (XD) - $19.95 The generous, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is ripe with stone fruits, peach, pear, lemon citrus, and apple aromas mingling with flinty minerals. It is impressively weighted on the dry palate with delicious, gently honeyed and spice flavours joining the ripe apple, pear, lemon citrus, and peach notes. It has crisp, well-balanced acidity, along with a slightly textured mouthfeel. Stone and orchard fruits give way to flinty minerals on the juicy and gently spicy finish, with very good length. Ideal with seafood and salads, and a highly recommended buy. Score: 89 pts
Other delicious wines by Blason de Bourgogne can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.
It is produced by the renowned Greek winery, Kir-Yianni. The winery was established in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris (1942-2024) of the renowned Boutaris wine family. Yiannis was one of the leading figures in the Greek wine industry right up until his passing last year.
Even though John Boutaris, Yiannis' grandfather, established the family's successful wine business, Boutari Wine Group, in 1879, Yiannis wanted to set his own path and established a vineyard in 1970 in the eastern foothills of Mt. Vermion, near the town of Naoussa. This vineyard would go on to become Ktima Kir-Yianni. In 1986, Yiannis planted 20 hectares of white wine varieties in the highlands to the west of Mt. Vermion, in the area of Amyndeon. In 1996, Yiannis purchased an old winery in the village of Agios Panteleimon, within the area of Amyndeon. A year later this site would go on to become the newly-built Kir-Yianni winery in Amyndeon, and the first vintage was vinified at the new winery that same year.
Today, Kir-Yianni is led by Stellios Boutaris, son of Yiannis, and the fifth generation of the Boutaris family of winemakers. In 1999, Stellios became the managing director of Kir-Yianni, and he was joined soon thereafter by his brother, Mihalis, who returned from his studies at UC Davis. The Boutaris brothers re-planted their 28 hectares of vineyards, focusing on both Greek and international varieties, but most importantly, ensuring that each varietal was planted on the most appropriate vineyard parcel.
Kir-Yianni's philosophy is based on ensuring a fine balance between the family's hundred-year-long tradition and the use of new and innovative winemaking techniques. Their goal is to produce appealing wines that reflect the potential of the Greek vineyard and its indigenous varieties, while also protecting the environment by using integrated farming principles. Moreover, Kir-Yianni takes proper care in the vineyard with strict selection on the vine, while in the cellar they micro-vinify and meticulously blend to ensure typicity, ageing potential, and consistent wine quality from vintage to vintage.
This white wine is crafted with 100% Assyrtiko that was grown in the PGI Florina appellation in "The North" of Greece, hence the name. More specifically, only selected vine parcels within the village of Agios Panteleimonas in Florina, at the unique plateau of Amyndeon, were chosen to craft this wine. This unique plateau of Amyndeon is the cooler wine region of Greece and consists of an exceptional mixture of elements, or terroir. This area is situated at high-altitude, between 600–700 metres above sea level, and has poor sandy soils on a stunning terrain of raw mountainous beauty. The four neighbouring lakes moderate the temperatures all year round, and contribute to the continental-ish climate with cold, often snowy winters, and mild summers. The area also experiences notable diurnal temperature variation, and the beneficial trademark to the area, wind blowing from the north.
For this wine, Kir-Yianni selected mostly young vines averaging 10 years in order to express Assyrtiko's mountainous expression. To craft this Assyrtiko, the grapes were hand-harvested over a couple of weeks in the middle of September and rigorously selected on a conveyor belt. It was completely vinified in stainless steel tanks and stayed in contact with its fine lees for 4 months.
The 2024 vintage was the warmest year ever recorded in the region. This meant that consistent, systematic work in the vineyard, and vigilance in monitoring weather data helped determine the best time to harvest each variety. Weather conditions were closer to normal after summer, which was beneficial for Assyrtiko as it ripened in more ideal conditions, while maintaining its aromas and acidity. Let's see how this 2024 Assyrtiko from northern Greece is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
KIR-YIANNI THE NORTH ASSYRTIKO 2024 - Vegan, IGP Florina, Greece (#25707) (XD) - $19.95 Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap. Fresh and fragrant, the lovely, medium-high intensity nose has leesy, ripe lemon citrus, and white floral aromas accented with herbals, mineral, pear, and grapefruit with hints of spice. The dry, medium+ bodied palate is ripe and gently honeyed with spice, lemon citrus, grapefruit, pear, herbals, and leesy mineral flavours. It has crisp, fresh, and vibrant acidity, along with a slightly chalky mineral texture and spice notes on the mid-palate. Juicy and fresh with savoury, leesy minerals, and lemon citrus notes lingering on the very long, well-balanced finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts
Other fine wines by Kir-Yianni are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.
white wine review is a sustainable, vegan, off-dry, and delicious Pinot Grigio that was crafted with some skin contact to give the wine its pretty copper-orange-pinkish colour. This white wine arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection as part of the feature on Outdoor Dining and is widely available across the province.
It is produced by Featherstone Estate Winery, a winery that was established in 1999 by Dave Johnson and Louise Engel in Vineland, Ontario, within the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment winegrowing region. With a dedication to excellence in food and a passion for wine, Featherstone crafts distinctive, small-batch Niagara wines that are cultivated in soils that reflect the biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment.
After 25 years, Featherstone began a new chapter in 2024 as Rayla and George Myhal acquired the winery from Dave and Louise. While Dave and Louise look forward to their life in retirement, Rayla and George are looking to build on the success of the past.
Since the beginning, Featherstone has taken great pride in their eco-friendly practices to winegrowing. The philosophy at Featherstone is based on respect for the land, which is at the heart of making wine that is true to its soil and its site. Nutrients and minerals are exchanged and transformed in the give-and-take relationship between living soil organisms and plants, in a mutually beneficial circle where the soil nourishes the vine and Featherstone's farming practices nurture the soil. Proudly farming naturally, without the use of insecticides, and growing wine in a sustainable manner, Featherstone received their Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification in 2023.
This white wine is composed of 100% Pinot Grigio, using grapes grown in the single vineyard of Jordan Valley Vineyards. The grapes were machine harvested on September 11, 2024, and showed exceptional ripeness with good colour of the grape skins, which ensured a pinkish hue to the finished wine. The Pinot Grapes were then split into two groups, with half left on the skins to soak, while the other half was pressed immediately. Each group was transferred into stainless steel tanks to undergo a temperature-controlled fermentation with commercial yeast strain X5, with fermentation beginning four days after harvest. The finished wine was bottled in early February and released soon thereafter.
Like the lovely 2024 Featherstone Phoenix Gewürztraminer and 2024 Featherstone Sauvignon Blanc wines I enjoyed back in April, this white wine is also from the exceptional 2024 Niagara vintage, which had perfect conditions from the early bud break to the warm and late fall that allowed for a long hang time. There was a slight hiccup in early fall due to moisture and disease pressure from rain, which affected early-ripening and thin-skinned grapes such as Pinot Grigio. However, this mild concern would be mitigated based on picking decisions. The white varieties from this vintage displayed plenty of ripeness and acidity to keep the wines fresh. Let's see how this 2024 Pinot Grigio from Niagara is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
FEATHERSTONE PINOT GRIGIO 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20599) (D) - $17.95 Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap. Fragrant, pretty, and attractive aromas of ripe red berry, watermelon, strawberry, grapefruit, red cherry, zesty citrus, and herbs of medium-high intensity rise out of the glass. It has very good weight on the medium+ to medium-full bodied palate with delicious, touch off-dry and spicy flavours of red berry, strawberry, watermelon, grapefruit, and zesty citrus. It has juicy and refreshing acidity, along with a finely textured back palate. Juicy and slightly spicy with red berry, strawberry, watermelon, and zesty citrus notes are joined by leesy characters on the long-lasting, savoury, and dry finish. More of a rosé than a white wine, this is perfect for the patio and has crowd appeal. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts
Other lovely wines by Featherstone are available at the LCBO, and can also be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.
Here are my top wine picks from the June 7, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here). Like the first release last June, this release focuses on Rosé wines. It is not a big release with only 78 products offered. However, just over one-third of the wines are on the recommended list, and all should already be available for purchase today, if not by Saturday's official release date.
We'll begin with the feature story of the release: food-friendly rosé wines. Of the sixteen wines included as part of the thematic, four are included among my top rosé wine picks. A couple of major points within the feature are the various methods of crafting rosé wines, as well as wine serving temperatures for rosés. At the top of the list is a rosé from Provence that is crafted primarily with Grenache and Rolle (Vermentino). Next up are a pair of local rosés - the rosé from Hidden Bench is a blend of 87% Pinot Noir, 7% Viognier, and 6% Chardonnay, while the touch-off-dry rosé from Featherstone is composed of 46.7% Gamay, 42.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11.1% Cabernet Franc. The last rosé is definitely off the beaten path with a rosé from Sicily that is crafted with the Frappato grape varietal. Not part of theme, but also a fantastic rosé is Xinomavro Rosé from Greece.
Local talent is particularly notable in this release, where a selection of four wines by Thomas Bachelder showcases a small portion of his meticulous exploration of Niagara and its complex terroirs. The four single-vineyard wines are all from the 2022 vintage and focus on Chardonnay and Gamay Noir, with wines from both the Niagara Escarpment and Niagara-on-the Lake wine regions represented. All four Bachelder wines are highly recommended buys!
Nearly all of my red wine picks are mono-varietal wines. The exceptions are the Super Tuscan, which is a blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, while the Bordeaux red is 75/25 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. There's also the Rioja, which is mainly Tempranillo, plus Graciano. Among the mono-varietal wines, both Chianti Classico wines are 100% Sangiovese, while the rest should be recognizable and straightforward.
There are two white wine blends among my top white wine recommendations, and both are from Italy. The first is the Soave, which is composed of Garganega (85-90%) and the rest Trebbiano di Soave, while the white wine from Umbria consists of Vermentino, Grechetto and Trebbiano. Other dry white wines include the unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara, the Grüner Veltliner from Austria, the Viognier from France, and the Pecorino from Abruzzo. There's also a fine Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, as well as an Aligoté from Burgundy. If you enjoy some sweetness in your wines, look for the off-dry Riesling from Niagara, or the fairly sweet Gewürztraminer from Pfalz.
Among my top sparkling wine picks, the sparkling wine from Prince Edward Country is 100% Chardonnay, while the Prosecco DOCG is a minimum 95% Glera, with Bianchetta and Perera completing the blend.
Enjoy my top wine picks from this release! Cheers!
Red Wine:
MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2023 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#37937) (XD) - $16.95
SANTA CAROLINA EL PACTO AGREEMENT NO. 1 LIMITED PRODUCTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Sustainable, Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#35673) (XD) - $18.95
CHÂTEAU MAISON NOBLE CUVÉE PRESTIGE 2020 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#633198) (XD) - $20.95
VITE COLTE SOGNI AL CAMPO NEBBIOLO 2022 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#17572) (XD) - $24.95
TIKI SINGLE VINEYARD NORTH CANTERBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, North Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand (#19767) (XD) - $23.95 review coming soon...
red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly Tempranillo from Rioja that arrived at the LCBO a few weeks ago in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - with plenty of bottles still available for purchase across Ontario.
It is produced by Bodegas Izadi, a relatively new winery that was established in 1987 by Gonzalo Antón and a group of friends and business people from nearby Vitoria. The groundbreaking project was developed deep in the Rioja Alavesa wine region, on the northern bank of the River Ebro, known for its poor soils.
Gonzalo chose the village of Villabuena de Alava, at the western end of Rioja Alavesa, where his family was already growing grapes, as the location of Bodegas Izadi, where the focus would be on making fine wine. Gonzalo's knowledge of hotels and restaurants soon made Izadi one of the most highly-regarded wines in gastronomic circles. Furthermore, Izadi introduced new winemaking techniques and made continuous improvements in quality over time, which helped develop their house style of wines.
In 2000, Lalo Antón, Gonzalo's son, joined the company and quickly helped it expand and grow, while also increasing its exports. Under Lalo's leadership, the Antón family acquired several other notable bodegas across Spain. Today, all four wineries are under the family's umbrella company - Artevino Group.
The family's commitment to quality, bond with gastronomy, and love of the land are the cornerstones of Bodegas Izadi. Their core values are encapsulated in the words: Sensitivity, Hospitality, Respect, and Curiosity. Sensitivity refers to their attention to detail in all areas of the business, from the vineyard to the point where the bottle is opened by the consumer. Hospitality is the starting point and the driving force behind their growth as they are restaurateurs at heart. The name "Izadi" means "Nature" in Basque, and reflects the family's commitment to sustainability and nature. They take care of their natural surroundings and ask their customers to do the same. Izadi practices integrated and sustainable farming, as well as being socially and environmentally responsible. Curiosity drives Izadi to new horizons, encourages them to grow, constantly improve, and do things differently.
This red wine is crafted with 100% Tempranillo that was grown in vineyards spanning 178 hectares, 70 hectares of which it owns, from vines planted before 1970 and averaging 45 years of age. Trained using the Goblet system, these vineyards are located within a triangle formed by three villages - Villabuena, Samaniego, and Abalo. The soil in these sloped vineyards is composed of clay-chalk, with a northeast-to-south aspect, and situated between 450–550 metres above sea level. Situated in northern Spain, the climate is influenced by both the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. The vineyards are managed using integrated viticulture practices, while the soil is cultivated using traditional techniques. After manually harvesting the grapes, they were destemmed, gently pressed, and underwent alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 16 months in 73% American oak and 27% French oak, with only 20% new oak and the rest no more than 4 years old. It was filtered and clarified prior to bottling.
In 2020, the growing season in Rioja featured rainfall and early budding, which resulted in an early and uneven harvest. Some areas were also severely hit with hail and mildew, which contributed to a drop in yields. It was a mixed bag of a vintage with some producers devastated by losses. However, those that were lucky enough to avoid the inclement weather conditions and harvested after the rain benefited from the subsequent northern winds; these producers were enthusiastic about the results and produced balanced wines with moderate alcohol, good acidity, and deep colour. With strict selections on the sorting table, it is considered a "Very Good" vintage. Let's see how this 2020 Tempranillo from Rioja is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
IZADI RESERVA 2020 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#461269) (XD) - $23.95 100% Tempranillo. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose has rich sandalwood, oak spice, nut, and savoury earth aromas surrounding a core of ripe red cherry, florals, currant, and red plum mingling with dried cherry and rose petals. The medium-full bodied palate is dry and spicy with oak spice, sandalwood, nut, red cherry, currant, red plum, and savoury earth flavours, plus touches of rose floral. Hints of orange on the mid-palate adds further complexity and interest. It has fresh acidity, along with somewhat grippy and chalky textured tannins, with good structure. The finish is long, savoury, and earthy. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Izadi's rose is coming to the LCBO this weekend, while the full range of their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.
red wine review is a delicious, premium Australian Shiraz. It is a relatively frequent visitor to the LCBO, with a new batch of this 2022 vintage arriving most recently in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
Wakefield Wines was established in 1969 by Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons. Known locally in their homelands of Australia as Taylors Wines, the family's goal was to establish an estate winery, and eventually settled on a site by the Wakefield River in South Australia's Clare Valley.
As a founding member of Australia's First Families of Wine, Wakefield continues to be led by the third generation of the Taylor family - brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton, the sons of Bill Taylor and grandchildren of Bill Taylor Sr. Together, the brothers continue their family tradition of crafting delicious wines that stand the test of time, while also firmly fixed upon the future and the next generation. The family's philosophy is to craft wines sustainably and responsibly, while respecting the fruit and where it comes from. The goal at Wakefield is to be Australia's best wine company at applying best practices and principles in environmental management to enhance sustainable business activities and products. They favour the most innovative techniques to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and packaging, while also preventing or eliminating waste and pollution.
This Shiraz is from the Taylor family's Jaraman range of wines, which celebrates Australia's iconic wine regions and provides great diversity. With the Jaraman range, the Taylor family searches for parcels of extraordinary fruit to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style. Each vintage, the fruit for wines in the Jaraman range are sourced from celebrated Australian wine regions that are renowned for the particular variety. There are several wines in the Jaraman range - Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay - in addition to this Shiraz. At the winery, the winemakers ensure that the distinct regional characteristics of each grape are preserved and enhanced, with the fruit as the star and any winemaking influencing the supporting act. With the Jaraman range, the wines showcase the skill and dedication of their winemakers and their philosophy of respecting the fruit.
The 2022 vintage of this Shiraz is crafted with fruit from both Clare Valley (72%) and McLaren Vale (28%), in South Australia. It was vinified using traditional methods, with parcels from the two regions kept separate until blending, prior to oak ageing. The wine was matured for an average of 12 to 15 months in a selection of new and used American oak hogsheads before being bottled.
In Clare Valley, the 2022 growing season was a year of both high quality and quantity as the crops basked in the mild, sunny days without any rain or humidity. With stunningly beautiful and uninterrupted weather in the Clare Valley, the grapes blossomed under idyllic conditions. In McLaren Vale, the growing season featured mild conditions of warm days and cool nights, with minimal rain and no heat spikes. However, inconsistent fruit set in McLaren Vale reduced yields by about 15%. The story of the vintage between these two renowned wine regions helps explain the final blend.
I last enjoyed this 2022 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz back in December and am curious to see how it has evolved over the last 6 months...
Tasting Note:
WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2022 - Clare Valley / McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95 Screw cap enclosure. The medium-high intensity nose is fresh and open with lovely dark fruit, blackberry, peppery spice, and cool minty herb aromas balanced with savoury oak, earth, plum, and a touch of woodspice. The ripe, medium+ bodied palate is dry with blackberry, dark berry, and savoury oak flavours alongside minty herbs, wood spice, plum, and black pepper notes. It has fresh and juicy acidity, alongside smooth and refined tannins, with good structure. Blackberry, plum, savoury oak, chocolate, black pepper, mocha chocolate, and earth notes linger on the crisp, long-lasting finish. This recommended buy should drink nicely over the next 5-7 years. Score: 89 pts
A wide selection of Wakefield Wines are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered from their Agent - Profile Wine Group.
Here are my top wine picks from this weekend's May 24, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flip book), where the feature story is titled "Outdoor Dining", while the mini-feature highlights French red wines meant to be served chilled. Also included in this release are a fine selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives. In all, there are 102 products offered, with 27 recommended buys, and possibly a few more added next week. All the wines should be readily available for purchase either in-store or online.
We'll begin with the feature on wines for Outdoor Dining, and of the twenty wines included as part of the thematic, six are among my top wine picks. I would very much recommend browsing through the catalogue (PDF and flipbook are linked above) as this feature highlights wine serving temperatures - a very important aspect to enjoying wine. Of the crisp, refreshing whites, try the 2024 Assyrtiko from Greece, the Pinot Grigio from Niagara, the Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, or the unoaked 2023 Chardonnay from Niagara. The lone rosé wine pick is from Spain, and it is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Tempranillo. Easy-going wines to lightly chill are both Gamay - one from Niagara, and the other is Beaujolais-Villages. The last wine is a red from Alentejo that's meant for the grill, and it is a blend of primarily Alicante Bouschet with Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional in support.
My top red wine recommendations begin in Tuscany, with the iconic Cepparello crafted with 100% Sangiovese. Also from Tuscany is the Brunello di Montalcino, which is crafted with 100% Sangiovese Grosso, while the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a blend of 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) and the rest Canaiolo. From the Rhône, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is composed of 75% Grenache Noir, 12% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and 3% Vaccarèse / Counoise / Cinsault, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is mainly Grenache with Syrah in support. The other two blends are the Purple Angel, which is crafted with 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia, which is actually a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec.
Among my top white wine picks, only two are blends. The first is a white wine from Croatia that is composed of 70% Pošip, 20% Chardonnay, and 10% Vugava, while the Soave is a blend of 70% Garganega and 30% Trebbiano di Soave. Among the single varietal whites, you are likely familiar with most of the varieties, except for the Timorasso grape from Piedmont. The Santorini Assyrtiko is crafted with some really old vines, while the Riesling from New Zealand is your best bet if you want a wine with a little bit of sweetness.
Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!
Red Wine:
LOUIS BERNARD LOUIS CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, France (#561290) (XD) - $16.95
Since rosé season is upon us, and it's the long weekend, rosé wine review is a lovely, certified sustainable rosé crafted locally in Niagara with 100% Pinot Noir. It arrived at the LCBO in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
It is produced by Malivoire Wine Company, a pioneering wine producer that was established in 1996 by Martin Malivoire and his wife, Moira Saganski. Driven by a passion for viticulture and crafting distinctive wines, Martin transitioned from a successful career as Director of motion picture special effects and purchased a vineyard in 1995 in the Beamsville Bench area of the Niagara wine region and named it the Moira Vineyard. A couple of years later, the Malivoire acquired land at 4260 King Street East (Beamsville), which would go on to become their Estate Vineyard and the site of the winery. This site is located on a glacial moraine, 30 metres above the lakeshore plain and provides superior airflow and water drainage, which contribute to the quality of the grapes grown at the estate.
What started as a personal project, Malivoire Wine Company is now a showcase for innovation, creativity, and sustainability for the Ontario wine industry. The team at Malivoire is led by Martin Malivoire (Proprietor), Shiraz Mottiar (Team Principal and General Manager), and Elisa Mazzi (Winemaker). Shiraz joined Malivoire in 2000 after graduating from the first class at Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) and was promoted to Winemaker in 2005. Garnering numerous accolades and respect over the years, Shiraz continues to guide the winery and industry towards a more sustainable future. Elisa was hired and mentored by Shiraz, and in 2023 Elisa took over as Winemaker. The team at Malivoire isn't just a collection of employees - they're passionate professionals who have found their work-home with us. Malivoire firmly believes in providing opportunities for the team to evolve while staying true to its core values and objectives.
Since its founding, Malivoire has long been at the forefront of the Ontario wine industry, blazing a trail as a pioneer and leader in sustainable viticulture, defined by a steadfast commitment to innovation and stewardship of the land. Malivoire was one of the first to implement gravity flow methods and among the first to achieve certification under Ontario's Sustainable Winemaking Program. At Malivoire, sustainability is based on their "Three P" principles - Planet, People, Prosperity - and all three must be equally in balance to ensure success. Sustainability initiatives include Environmental Stewardship, Community Engagement, Education and Empowerment, Transparency and Accountability, and the Workplace.
Winemaking at Malivoire is a blend of innovative thinking with respect for tradition. They have a long-term view of the vineyard farms that recognizes the winery and vineyard as a wholistic system, and take responsibility for the health of the entire ecosystem, including the health and well-being of their staff working in the vineyard, winery, and their neighbours and community at large. Some of Malivoire's practices include Reduction & Elimination of Synthetic Inputs, Water Conservation, Hand Harvesting and Sorting, Energy Conservation, and Eco-Conscious Packaging.
The 2024 vintage of this wine comes to us in a somewhat refreshed, yet familiar package. The clear label appears dark salmon coloured in most lighting situations, and allows the white letters and beach chair to stand out. I like the new look! Like previous vintages, it is composed of 100% Pinot Noir. The grapes were grown on the estate within the Beamsville Bench appellation. The Pinot Noir clusters were hand-picked at cool, day-break temperatures on September 21st, and pressed immediately for optimum freshness. The resulting juice was chilled in a horizontal "dairy tank" prior to undergoing a cool fermentation in stainless steel, and finally bottled in January 2025.
The excellent growing season in 2024 had near-perfect growing conditions throughout, from early bud break to a warm and late fall that allowed for long hang time. It all began with a mild winter and no spring frost events. A warmer-than-usual spring was followed up by above-average temperatures in summer, with warm days and warmer-than-usual nights, which results in a reduced diurnal temperature range and produced grapes with intense flavours and colour development. Early fall had some moisture and disease pressure, leading to mild concerns about early-ripening, thin-skinned grapes such as Pinot Noir. During the harvest season, September had warm temperatures, while some humidity was linked to extreme weather events. From a very good-to-excellent vintage, let's see how this 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé from Niagara is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#498535) (XD) - $21.95 Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap. 100% Pinot Noir with a pretty shade of pale salmon-copper. Medium+ to medium-high intensity aromatics of red berry, strawberry-rhubarb, cherry, melon, grapefruit, blood orange, zesty citrus, and raspberry aromas. It's medium+ bodied with very good weight and concentration on the dry palate with lovely red berry, strawberry-rhubarb, raspberry, melon, and citrus replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by clean, fresh, and lively acidity. Nicely textured and slightly tangy on the mid-palate. Touch spicy on the long, crisp, and savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Other lovely wines by Malivoire Wine Company can be found at the LCBO, ordered direct from the winery in Niagara, or through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.
white wine review is a lovely white made with the Jacquère varietal that was grown in the Savoie Cru of Chignin. It is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO, landing on shelves across Ontario in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
It is produced by Jean Perrier & Fils, an historic, winegrowing family that has been cultivating vines and making wine in Savoie and the French Alps since 1853. The Perrier family is linked to the history of wines in Savoie. Famous around the world, the wines of Savoie represent a quaint and wild way of life, and is a unique tradition in French winegrowing.
The Perrier family's story begins in 1853, when Catherin Perrier, who was born in 1820 in the commune of Barberaz (Savoie), bought a cellar in St André les Marches and started growing vines next to the mountain Mont Granier. In 1911, Catherin's son, Claude Emile Perrier, acquired a second cellar, but had to start from the beginning due to phylloxéra. As a winegrower and trader, Claude Emile delivered products to café owners on the backs of donkeys. In 1920, Jean Perrier, son of Claude Emile, extended both the vineyard and cellar.
In 1947, Jean Victor Perrier, son of Jean, extended the lands further and was the first in Savoie to bottle the wine. By 1953, Jean Perrier had purchased a wine trading licence, sold 150,000 litres/year, and farmed over 2 hectares of vines with two employees.
Today, Vins Perrier is led by President Gilbert Perrier, son of Jean Victor, who joined the family business in 1964. In 1973, under the direction of Gilbert, the family wine company established their first bottling line, extended their cellars further, while also building a new winery. Further expansion took place in the 1980s, while Gilbert's two elder sons also joined the family business. In 1993, Gilbert's third son joined the company. The three brothers - Philippe, Christophe, and Gilles - share the tasks of vinification, trade, administration and marketing.
The company continues to grow, expand, and modernize throughout the years, including expanding their farming areas into other towns of Savoie. With the 2023 vintage of this wine, the family wine company celebrates 70 years of Perrier wines.
This white wine is crafted using the Jacquère grape, a varietal grown primarily in the Savoie wine region of eastern France. The grapes themselves are mid-sized with very tight bunches, have thick skins and juicy pulp. The grapes for this wine were grown on clay-limestone soil in one of the more important Crus of the Vin de Savoie appellation - Chignin. The village and commune of Chignin is situated in the French Alps on the southeastern edge of France, near the Swiss border and Lake Geneva. More specifically, Chignin lies on the southwestern side of the Bauges mountains in the Combe de Savoie - a deep valley that runs for 40km between the winter resort town of Albertville in the northeast and Montmélian in the southwest - while the Cru of Chignin is essentially one steeply-sloped vineyard that sits atop soils rich in clay and limestone.
The Savoie wine region is primarily known for its white wines, and almost all of it is enjoyed locally as only 5% is exported, so having a high-quality wine from this region, especially the tiny Cru of Chignin, is a real treat! To craft this wine, the grapes were manually harvested, then pressed using a pneumatic press. It was fermented over three weeks at 20°C in temperature-controlled tanks.
In 2023, the growing season in Savoie featured a late frost, hail, and a heatwave. However, plenty of sunshine in August and re-hydrating rains in September resulted in a healthy harvest and helped save the vintage. From a providential growing season, let's see how this 2023 Jacquère from Chignin in Savoie is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
JEAN PERRIER & FILS CUVÉE GASTRONOMIE CHIGNIN 2023 - AP, Savoie, France (#41428) (XD) - $19.95 100% Jacquère. The fresh, medium-high intensity nose has attractive aromas of pear, quince, yellow stone fruit, and lemon citrus nuanced with white floral and honeysuckle. The light-to-mid-weighted palate is dry, ripe and lightly honeyed with delicious pear, lemon citrus, honeysuckle, and floral flavours accented with touches of peppery spice. It's got clean, vibrant, and well-balanced acidity, while citrus, pear, and spice notes are joined by leesy minerals on the long, succulent, juicy, and well-balanced finish. For summer sipping, or at the table with salad or seafood. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts
Other lovely wines by Jean Perrier & Fils can be ordered through their Agent - Buyers+Cellars.
There is no better time than now to celebrate and support the Ontario wine and food scene as the 2025 edition of the Cuvée Grand Tasting returns to the Holiday Inn & Suites Conference Centre in St. Catharines on .
The Grand Tasting is the largest celebration of its kind, featuring over 100 wine selections from Ontario's top winemakers. Like last year's splendid up-scale event, each winery will showcase their Winemakers' Favourite Wines, along with several selections from their range. While enjoying the wines, you will also have the opportunity to savour gourmet delicacies prepared by celebrated local chefs at 10 live cooking stations.
Cuvée is organized by Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). As Manager of Cuvée, Barb Tatarnic has been a champion of Ontario wines for decades, and this year she is feeling extra patriotic. Cuvée is the largest celebration of VQA products and “Ontario wines are among the best in the world, and we are going all in to prove it,” said Tatarnic.
All tastings and food are included in the Grand Tasting ticket price. The Grand Tasting is from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., while Après Cuvée begins at 9:30 p.m. with a live band where guests can dance the night away until midnight while enjoying selections from microbreweries, cideries, and VQA wineries. Also included with your Grand Tasting ticket is Cuvée en Route - a passport program that allows you to taste 4 wines at each participating winery. The Cuvée en Route Passport program runs the entire weekend of Cuvée from Friday to Sunday.
While Cuvée en Route Passports can be purchased separately for $50 (+ HST and fees), the passport is included when you buy your Grand Tasting ticket. A Cuvée Grand Tasting ticket is currently $225 (+ HST and fees) per person, when you use the promo code "Canada".
Get your tickets at cuvee.ca today and I'll see you there!
white wine review is a lovely, slightly off-dry, single vineyard, sustainably crafted, and vegan-friendly Pinot Gris from New Zealand. It is a brand-new arrival that landed on LCBO shelves across Ontario as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
It is produced by Spy Valley Wines, a renowned, family-owned winery situated deep in the Waihopai Valley, within the Southern Valleys of Marlborough. It was established in 1993 by Bryan and Jan Johnson, during a period of discovery and courage in Marlborough. Considered too hard, too dry, and too unfertile for wine, the Johnson couple had the audacity and passion for the land to establish 180 hectares of estate vineyards. With a pioneering spirit, Spy Valley Wines 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.
Today, Spy Valley Wines is run by Bryan and Jan's daughter, Amanda Johnson. After being involved in the family business for many years, Amanda officially took over from her parents in 2016. Under the leadership of Amanda, Spy Valley remains committed to the land and the people who tend it - they are simply farmers at heart, nurturing the soil and vines in order to cultivate complexities in their wine. Sustainability has been a focus and source of pride at Spy Valley for many years, as they were one of the first (since 1999!) wineries to be accredited under the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand program. Moreover, their focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility runs deeply throughout all of their decisions and actions. Their mission is to conserve, preserve, and protect as custodians of their land and legacy.
Spy Valley is always searching for the best of the best in order to produce exceptional wines. They manage just over a handful of varieties on the estate and have experience of knowing the land, environment, and climate, and over the years they have classified the viticultural and winemaking traditions. Among their many core beliefs are well-being and safety first, collaborating, growing people, leading innovation, bringing your 'A' game, and happy customers.
This white wine is 100% Pinot Gris and was sustainably crafted. The grapes were grown at their Johnson Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley, a sub-region within Marlborough, a well-drained vineyard with alluvial stony silt loam soil. To craft this wine, the grapes were gently pressed and fermented in a mix of stainless steel and older oak barrels. The wine remained on its lees post-fermentation before final blending and bottling.
The 2022 growing season in the Waihopai Valley featured near-perfect weather patterns during the flowering period, resulting in even crops and healthy canopies. In February, the weather took a turn with above-average rainfall, which was quickly followed by favourable ripening conditions. Daily monitoring of the vines during the harvest period was the key to ensuring quality grapes, and in turn, quality wine. From an excellent vintage for white wines from Marlborough, let's see this 2022 Pinot Gris from New Zealand is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
SPY VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41807) (M) - $19.95 Screw cap. Ripe and fragrant aromas of honeysuckle, white peach, yellow pear, and lemon citrus, and apple notes rise out of the glass. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is just off-dry, fleshy, and ripe with delicious honeysuckle, peach, pear, apple, and lemon citrus replays joined by some honeyed spice and floral notes. It's nicely textured with good structure and clean and vibrant acidity. Well-balanced throughout honeyed citrus, pear, apple, and honeysuckle notes tapering to leesy minerals on the long-lasting finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts
Sunday, June 15, 2025
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