DAME Beverage Co. Hard Seltzer and Italian Spritzers (Ontario) - Reviews

Tonight's reviews are a trio of lovely ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages crafted in Ontario, Canada, by DAME Beverage Co.

Founded by Melissa Pulvermacher in 2023, DAME Beverage is based on a simple philosophy of crafting ridiculously delicious beverages while committing to keeping them clean and pure. The focus is on sourcing good quality ingredients, balance, quality, and flavour, while avoiding unnecessary additives.

DAME Beverage currently consists of three ready-to-drink ("RTD" for short) beverages that are crafted using all-natural and plant-based recipes, while also being mindful of sugar. All three products are 100% Canadian-crafted and canned in Toronto, Ontario, using all-natural ingredients, and are vegan & gluten-free. DAME's masterfully crafted hard seltzers and Italian Spritz cocktails provide a refreshing and delicious drinking experience straight from the can, poured over ice, or into your favourite fancy glass with a fresh fruit garnish.

In addition to elevating the canned beverage experience, as a female-founded company, DAME is also working on fuelling education, mentorship, and bursary programs for women to build sustainable careers in the hospitality and drinks business. Later in 2025, DAME Beverage will be launching "The Dame Dialogue" - a mentorship program pairing 'Dames' who have well-established careers and leadership positions in food and beverage with women looking to navigate personal and professional growth in the industry.

The Blood Orange Italian Spritz was just recently launched at LCBO outlets across Ontario, while the full range of ready-to-drink beverages can be ordered (and shipped across Canada) through damebeverage.com. Restaurants and licensees can order these beverages through Cru Wine Merchants.

After enjoying all three of these RTDs, I can tell you that Melissa and her team make really DAME good beverages, while also allowing you to drink better.

Tasting Notes:

DAME BLACK CHERRY VANILLA HARD SELTZER - Ontario, Canada - $3.45
Fragrant and very attractive aromas of black cherry and blueberry with hints of vanilla rise out of the glass. It honestly reminds me of a blue raspberry freezie. Delicately carbonated in a frizzante sparkling style, it has gentle flavours of black cherry, blue raspberry, and vanilla, with a kiss of sweetness on the mid-palate, while the refreshing finish is clean and dry. Crafted with a pure neutral grain spirit. Enjoy straight from the can, or over ice in a glass with a splash of your favourite cola and garnish with a fresh lime wedge.

DONNA SICILIAN LEMON WITH SEA SALT - Ontario, Canada - $3.55
Fresh, attractive aromas of Meyer lemon rise out of the glass. It's light-to-mid-weighted on the zesty palate with Meyer lemon and lemon peel aromas that give way to hints of bitters, herbs, and thyme with a pinch of salt at the tail end. Crafted in a frizzante style with light effervescence that balances the gently sweet flavours. Crafted with pure neutral grain spirit, Canadian bitters, Meyer lemon concentrate, Italian sea salt, organic cane sugar, and Sicilian lemon natural flavour extract. Enjoy straight from the can, or over ice in your favourite glass and garnish with a slice of fresh lemon and sprig of thyme.

DONNA BLOOD ORANGE ITALIAN SPRITZ - Ontario, Canada (#42798) - $3.95
Fresh, lifted aromas of blood orange, citrus, grapefruit, and floral accented with bitters. It's gently sweet on the medium+ bodied palate with more blood orange, citrus, and floral flavours, plus some bitters and rosemary undertones adding savoury characters. It has palate refreshing acidity and is crafted in a frizzante style with light bubbles. The gently sweet mid-palate gives way to a citrus peel, lemony, and rosemary finish. Crafted with a pure neutral grain spirit and Canadian bitters. Enjoy straight from the can, or over ice in a glass with a fresh orange slice and sprig of rosemary.

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Featherstone Phoenix Gewürztraminer 2024 and Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's white wine reviews are a pair of lovely, vegan-friendly, sustainable, and locally crafted wines from Niagara. Both of these wines were bottled at the beginning of February and arrived at the LCBO in the April 12th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

These wines are grown and produced locally by Niagara's own Featherstone Estate Winery. Established in 1999 by Dave Johnson and Louise Engel in the celebrated sub-appellation of Twenty Mile Bench in the Niagara Peninsula, Featherstone has a dedication to excellence in food and a passion for wine.

First planted in the 1970s, the grape crop from the Featherstone vineyard was sold to a large wine conglomerate until 1999, after which the first Featherstone wines were produced. The Riesling planted on the site in 1978 are some of the oldest Riesling vines in Niagara, while the Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc that were planted in 1986 continue to thrive. Today, the entire crop is bottled to produce Featherstone wines.

Featherstone has distinguished itself with pride in being insecticide-free since 1999 and are the practitioners of eco-friendly farming. Featherstone Winery farms naturally and cultivates wine sustainably, encouraging an environment that is healthy and completely unique, with a belief that this individuality translates into their wines. Beginning with the 2023 vintage, Featherstone has been certified sustainable by Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO), assuring wine drinkers that the complete grape-to-glass cycle is sustainable. Moreover, the SWO certification ensures that the grapes are grown and the Ontario VQA wine is crafted with sustainability at the forefront of each winery and vineyard's business philosophy.

In February 2024, Featherstone began a new chapter as Rayla and George Myhal acquired the winery from Dave and Louise. A transformative purchase in the year celebrating Featherstone's 25th anniversary, Rayla and George look to build on the successes of the past, while Dave and Louise look forward to their retirement.

The philosophy at Featherstone remains unchanged. As grape growing and winemaking are both scientific and intuitive processes, the wines are crafted to reflect the special character of the grapes, as well as the artistry of the winemaker, along with a focus on creating food-oriented, rich, clean, and brisk wines. Featherstone works throughout the growing season to enhance each grape's natural attributes, to ensure at harvest that the grapes will produce exceptional wines with minimal winemaking embellishments. They continue to use a small-lot, hands-on, artisanal approach to wine production. More than 20 years ago, Featherstone was one of the first wineries to use Canadian oak barrels, and Canadian oak continues to play an expanding role in many wines, including the Sauvignon Blanc.

Both grapes were completely harvested by the middle of October. The Sauvignon Blanc was crushed, destemmed and allowed to cold soak for 8 hours. 80% of the Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in stainless steel with a selected yeast strain, while the remainder underwent uncontrolled fermentation in neutral Canadian oak barrels. The Sauvignon Blanc was racked off lees several times before final fining. To craft the Gewürztraminer, the grapes were cold-soaked and fermented with a selected yeast strain. It was fermented at 15°C, then racked off gross lees immediately after fermentation was completed.

From an excellent 2024 growing season that produced grapes with plenty of ripeness and acidity that would yield wines with both concentration and freshness, let's see how these two white wines from Niagara are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95
The fresh, fragrant, and fairly intense nose delivers grassy, grapefruit, lemon citrus, apple, and white peach aromas accented with ripe tropical fruit and green herbs. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it shows impressive concentration and weight supporting the lovely grassy, grapefruit, lemon citrus, and ripe tropical fruit flavours. It has a finely textured mouthfeel and juicy, food-friendly acidity. Clean and well-balanced, it has ripe tropical fruit, grapefruit, and lemon citrus notes on the long, fruity, crisp, and textured finish. Score: 90 pts

FEATHERSTONE PHOENIX GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#519025) (D) - $18.95
Seems a bit shy at the moment, offering a medium+ intensity nose of honeydew melon, lychee, and rose petal aromas layered over ripe lemon citrus and apple. Rosewater aromas emerge with time in the glass and gain prominence. On the gently sweet, medium-full bodied palate it has delicious, honeyed flavours of ginger spice, rosewater, honeydew melon, lemon zest flavours accented with apricot and grapefruit notes. Framed by fresh and lively acidity, it also has a fairly richly textured mouthfeel. Some spice notes give way to honeyed, lemon zest, and lychee on the long, savoury, and leesy mineral finish. Bottled only a couple of months ago, this has room to improve and grow and will be even better after a few years in the cellar. Should drink nicely into the early 2030s and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

There are many lovely wines by Featherstone available at the LCBO, while the full portfolio can be ordered direct from the winery online, or by visiting them in Niagara.

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April 26, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Warm-Weather Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the April 26, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here). Normally, this would've been the release where the focus was on wines from California, but with the current tariff situation, we get a release titled "Warm-Weather Wines" instead, while the mini-theme has a miniscule three wines from Victoria, Australia. Having said that, it is a very good release with 95 wines offered, Ontario wines shining brightly, and also includes nearly two dozen Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines. Many wines are already available at LCBO outlets across Ontario, and all should be available by Saturday.

We'll begin with the feature story of "Warm-Weather Wines", which includes fourteen wines, nearly half from Ontario, and has a fine mix of white, (lighter) red, rosé, and sparkling wines. Seven wines from the feature story are among my top recommended buys, including all six wines from Ontario. First up are a pair of lovely vintage sparkling wines, with the Blanc de Blancs crafted with 100% Chardonnay, while the rosé sparkling is made with 100% Pinot Noir. Among the white wines from Ontario, the Fumé Blanc is a lovely barrel fermented and aged Sauvignon Blanc, while the Leaning Post Chardonnay was fermented and aged in concrete. The Marsanne includes a splash of (2.4%) Viognier and (2.4%) Pinot Gris. The last white wine from Ontario is a mildly sweet Riesling from Niagara. The lone red comes from Beaujolais, and it is crafted with Gamay.

Red wine blends from the main release begin with the Wine of the Month - a fabulous Bordeaux red that is composed of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Staying in France, there are a trio of wines from the Southern Rhône Valley - the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is 70% Grenache and the rest mainly Syrah, the Cairanne is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan, and the Luberon is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. For Pinot Noir wine lovers, look to the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits from Burgundy, or the fine local Pinot from the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. And lastly, from Italy, the Brunello di Montalcino is crafted with 100% Sangiovese Grosso, while the Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of 90/10 Sangiovese and Merlot.

From my top white wine recommendations, the Bachelder Chardonnay grown in the Twenty Mile Bench has to be among the best from Niagara. There's also an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, as well as a blend of Rabigato, Viosinho, and Códega do Larinho from Portugal. Other blends include the white from Roussillon that is 80/20 Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, and the white wine from Crete in Greece is a blend of 60% Muscat of Spina and 40% Vidiano.

Among my rosé wine picks, the dry rosé from Provence is crafted with 60% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre, while the rosé from Niagara is a co-fermented blend of 94% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon that has a hint of sweetness.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• M. CHAPOUTIER LA CIBOISE LUBERON 2022 - AP, Rhône, France (#43441) (XD) - $14.95  88+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE DURETTE LES BRUYÈRES RÉGNIÉ 2023 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#42731) (XD) - $19.95
• ARBOLEDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#606764) (XD) $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• BROTTE GROSSET CRÉATION CAIRANNE 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#33852) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU TANESSE 2020 - Sustainable, AC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#666628) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• MAZZEI SER LAPO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#288530) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• H.J. FABRE GGG GRAN GRANDE GUALTALLARY MALBEC 2021 - Sustainable, Vegan, Gualtallary, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#35429) (XD) - $27.95
• PROSPER MAUFOUX DOMAINE VIGNE AU ROY BOURGOGNE HAUTES-CÔTES DE NUITS 2023 - AP, Burgundy, France (#43436) (XD) - $31.95  91+ pts  wine review
• BACHELDER BEAM CITY PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#39621) (XD) - $39.95  OFE  92+ pts  wine review
• LA TORRE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#17626) (XD) - $69.95  OFE
• SAINTES PIERRES DE NALYS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#29517) (XD) - $71.95  OFE

White Wine:

• SAINT-ROCH CORBAROL CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON 2024 - AP, France (#175232) (XD) - $14.95
• KLADOS THE GREAT HAWK MUSCAT OF SPINA/VIDIANO 2023 - Isle of Crete, Greece (#40459) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMAINE HATZIMICHALIS ALEPOTRYPA VINEYARD ASSYRTIKO 2023 - PGI Atalanti Valley, Greece (#27182) (XD) - $18.95
• SPY VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41807) (M) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• KEW MARSANNE 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95  91+ pts  wine review
• TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE-NORTH RIESLING 2021 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#431593) (M) - $21.95
• QUADRUS WHITE 2023 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#667162) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
• LEANING POST THE FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2022 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578864) (XD) - $25.95
• HIDDEN BENCH ROSOMEL VINEYARD FUMÉ BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#68825) (XD) - $29.95
• PASCAL JOLIVET SANCERRE 2023 - AC, Loire, France (#264945) (XD) - $49.95  92 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER PARCELLE NORD WISMER-FOXCROFT SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#547299) (XD) - $54.95  OFE

Rosé Wine:

• BLACK BANK HILL RUNWAY ROSÉ 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#43599) (D) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• OTT BY.OTT ROSÉ 2023 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#490896) (XD) - $34.95

Sparkling Wine:

• KEW ROSALIE ROSÉ SPARKLING 2019 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#43594) (XD) - $32.95  90+ pts  wine review
• HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANCS 2017 - Sustainable, Traditional Method, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#315200) (XD) - $49.95  92 pts  wine review

Dessert Wine:

• LAKEVIEW GEWÜRZTRAMINER ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#547703, 200 mL) (S) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review

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Wakefield Estate Label Wines - Degrees Matter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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Château Plantey 2018 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Cru Bourgeois Cab-Merlot from the Pauillac appellation on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. It made its debut at the LCBO and was featured as part of the theme exploring France's top wine regions in the February 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Château Plantey is situated in the winegrowing commune and appellation of Pauillac, within Haut-Médoc in Bordeaux. The small village of Pauillac is located on the west bank of the Gironde, while Château Plantey is only a couple of kilometres west of the village centre. Château Plantey is an old property which used to be owned by the De Gerès family from Loupes, Seigneurs of Camarsac.

In 1958, the vineyard was purchased by Gabriel Meffre. A former print media journalist for twelve years, Claude Meffre, son of Gabriel, now owns Château Plantey. Claude decided to join the family business in 1996 and first managed Château La Commanderie in Saint-Estèphe. From 2000, Claude has managed Château Plantey.

With most red wines from the Left Bank being Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends, this red wine from Pauillac is also a blend that consists of 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that was grown on the exceptional terroir around the château, which is located in the commune of Pauillac, just north of the hamlet of Artigues, about 2 km inland from the shores of the Gironde. The 27 hectares of vines, which sit about 30 metres higher than the area surrounding them, average 30 years old and are planted on chalky clay and gravel soil. The grapes were harvested by hand and mechanically, then traditionally vinified with thermoregulation in vats for three weeks. The wine was aged for 12 months in a combination of both vats and barrels, with 25% of the barrels new. In the 2018 vintage, Château Plantey was the only Cru Bourgeois listed from Pauillac.

The 2018 vintage in Pauillac began with a relatively mild winter, followed by very complex weather at the beginning of the season, with a deluge of rain and permanently high humidity until mid-July. From the rest of July through September, conditions were incredible, including searing heat, and perfect for achieving great maturity. While the 2018 vintage in Pauillac is considered to be excellent, some of the wines showed a slightly overcooked character, as well as some inconsistencies across the region in quality. Let's see how this 2018 Bordeaux red wine from Pauillac is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU PLANTEY 2018 - AC Pauillac, Bordeaux, France (#38192) (XD) - $44.95
This Cru Bourgeois is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot and has a lovely, elegant, and medium-high to highly aromatic nose of ripe red & black fruits, currant, and cassis aromas layered over earthy-smoky minerality, graphite, and accents of red cherry notes. The weighty, medium-full to full-bodied is dry with medium-firm, well-structured, ripe and slightly chewy tannins that are smooth and fine grained. Ripe flavours of red & black fruits, currant, cassis, black cherry surround a savoury core of earthy minerality and graphite. Touch chalky and grippy textured on the mid-palate, along with some warmth, but still well-balanced. Quite elegant throughout with savoury, graphite mineral notes lingering on the exceptionally long finish. Lovely! Enjoy this highly recommended buy into the early 2030s. Score: 92+ pts

While this wine appears to be sold out at the LCBO, you may be able to get your hands on it through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.

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April 12, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Perfect Pairings

This release marks the return of the official digital version of the release catalogue, which for the first time includes a flipbook, as well as a pdf of the April 12, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. There are 85 wines included in this release, while the feature story is titled "Perfect Pairings for Easter and Passover". This release should've included some Online & Flagship Exclusives, but was omitted for some reason. Overall, it is a fine release with some very good buys at all price points, and all wines should be available for purchase by Saturday, if not earlier.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release that looks at Perfect Pairings for Easter and Passover celebrations. There are eighteen wines included in the theme, and six are included among my top wine picks. Sparkling wines are very versatile and perfect for the beginning of your celebration. There are two fine options for you in this release - the Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore, which is made with Glera, or the Champagne that is crafted with 75% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Noir. If you're serving chicken or turkey, try the Chenin Blanc from South Africa, or the Chardonnay from Niagara. For pairing with vegetarian fare, try the Albariño from Uruguay. The last wine from the theme is a perennially fine rosé from Tavel that is composed of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Bourboulenc, and will be ideal with seafood.

The blends among my top red wine recommendations from the main release begin in Tuscany with a Bolgheri that is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, followed by an Australian red from Langhorne Creek that is composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot. For Rhône wine lovers, the Côtes du Rhône is a GSM blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is 50/50 Grenache and Syrah. The last blend is from Rioja, and it consists of 97% Tempranillo, 2% Graciano, and 1% Mazuelo. Some of the mono-varietal reds include the Brunello di Montalcino, which is crafted with Sangiovese, and the Carignan, which is from 60-year-old vines. There's also a Tannat from Uruguay, a Pinot Noir from Martinborough in New Zealand, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia.

Among my top white wine picks from the main release, all are mono-varietal white wines. Leading the way are a quartet of Sauvignon Blanc wines - one each from Südtirol Alto Adige in northern Italy, Australia, Chile, and one crafted locally in Niagara. You can also go off the beaten path and try the indigenous Insolia from Sicily, or if you want something with a little bit of sweetness, try the Gewürztraminer from Niagara.

My other rosé wine pick (which was not part of the feature story) is a dry rosé from Uruguay that consists of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Merlot, and 20% Marselan.

Enjoy my top recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• LAVAU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2020 - AC, France (#421024) (XD) - $16.95
• WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Clare Valley / Limestone Coast, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA MALBEC 2023 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#261867) (XD) - $19.95
• LA FERME DU MONT PREMIÈRE CÔTE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - Unfiltered, AP, France (#251645) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE LAFAGE CAYROL VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2022 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Languedoc-Roussillon, France (#494039) (XD) - $19.95
• BODEGA GARZÓN RESERVA TANNAT 2022 - Maldonado, Uruguay (#558916) (XD) - $23.95
• BERONIA 198 BARRICAS RESERVA 2019 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#42287) (XD) - $25.95
• LUNA ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sustainable, Martinborough, North Island, New Zealand (#17544) (XD) - $26.95
• BLEASDALE FRANK POTTS 2022 - Langhorne Creek, South Australia (#619999) (XD) - $29.95
• POGGIOTONDO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#276576) (XD) - $55.95
• LE SERRE NUOVE DELL'ORNELLAIA 2022 - DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#606194) (XD) - $78.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Australia (#166942) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE PHOENIX GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#519025) (D) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• LEYDA GARUMA COASTAL VINEYARDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $18.95
• ASSULI CARINDA INSOLIA 2023 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#39393) (XD) - $19.95
• RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2023 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13338) (XD) - $19.95
• BODEGA GARZÓN RESERVA ALBARIÑO 2024 - Maldonado, Uruguay (#646802) (XD) - $23.95
• NALS MARGREID STEIN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - DOC Südtirol Alto Adige, Italy (#39394) (XD) - $24.95
• BACHELDER L'ARDOISE NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#302083) (XD) - $25.95

Rosé Wine:

• BODEGA GARZÓN ESTATE PINOT ROSÉ DE CORTE 2024 - Garzón, Uruguay (#15265) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2024 - AP, Cru des Côtes du Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

• CA' DI RAJO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE 2023 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#369447) (D) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
• HENRI DAVID-HEUCQ EXTRA BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AP, France (#39868) (XD) - $63.95

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Ca' di Rajo Extra Dry Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore 2023 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Veneto) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely wines from northeastern Italy that are featured in LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collections. The Cabernet Sauvignon from Venezia made its debut at the end of March, while the Prosecco DOCG is featured in this weekend's Release. Both wines are available for purchase today!

Like the lovely 2023 Aganis Di Flabe Ribolla Gialla I enjoyed last month, these wines are produced by the Cecchetto brothers at their family winery of Ca' di Rajo in San Polo di Piave, Treviso, in Italy's Veneto wine region. Founded in 1931, Simone, Alessio, and Fabio Cecchetto are now the third generation of the family to run the business. Ca' di Rajo is situated at the pinnacle of the Prosecco area, in a special place where the Venice Lagoon meets the Dolomites.

Ca' di Rajo means 'House of Rai', and is named after the nearby and historic remains of the Rai Tower, which stands at the top of a small hill, a short distance from a historic village church, and surrounded by centuries-old trees. Along with Rai Tower, there is also Chiesetta del Carmine and neighbouring Casa Convento, three symbols of great historical and artistic interest, as well as importance to the history of Rai and the Treviso countryside that stretches from Conegliano to Oderzo, in the territory where Ca' di Rajo stands. The church and the convent were built in the 14th century, and were part of the courtyard of a large castle. The Rai tower was built for strategic-military reasons in the 10th century on Roman foundations. All of these structures are part of Ca' di Rajo and can be visited through guided tours and wine tastings.

The family combines tradition and innovation, enhances native training systems, and produces native grapes with an international vision. In order to preserve the best quality grapes to craft their wines, they use the most innovative technologies during the winemaking process. In the last few years, Ca' di Rajo has invested in and modernized their facility such that they have meticulous control of all production processes, while also being able to guarantee safety with ISO 22000 certified production standards.

Today, Ca' di Rajo has fifteen hectares of vineyards that are being trained using the ancient Bellussera (a.k.a. ray) system, a highly sustainable cultivation method which preserves the history of their roots. They have planted local varieties such as Raboso and Marzemina Bianca, as well as international varieties. Additionally, they also have Manzoni Bianco 6.0.13 - a native variety that was born around 1930 out of a crossing of Pinot Bianco and Riesling Renano by Professor Manzoni. This variety has found the Piave basin a suitable terrain for development and is more resistant to illnesses and has unique characteristics.

From the relatively cool-climate regions of northeastern Italy, let's see how these wines from the 2023 vintage are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

CA' DI RAJO EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE 2023 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#369447) (D) - $20.95
100% Glera that was grown in the Guia di Valdobbiadene area between 300–400 metrea above sea level on clayey soil. After hand-harvesting the grapes in mid-September, they were very softly pressed and underwent a long Charmat method fermentation of 70–90 days. The intense nose is fragrant and attractive with aromas of Acacia flowers, white pear, apple, and white peach, along with accents of ripe lemon, and whiffs of violet. The mid-weighted palate is gently sweet with delicious citrus, ripe pear, lemon, orange, Flintstones vitamins, apple, Acacia flowers, and melon flavours. It has fairly crisp bubbles and juicy acidity, alongside a textured mouthfeel. It's nicely balanced throughout with leesy and floral notes lingering on the long, dry finish. Featured in the April 12 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

CA' DI RAJO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - DOC Venezia, Italy (#39484) (XD) - $17.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was grown in the provinces of Treviso and Venice, at 30 metres above sea level on soil that is clayey, sandy, and rich in organic substance. It was harvested at the end of September and vinified with a maceration of 20–25 days in thermo-controlled steel tanks. Mostly aged in steel, a portion of this wine was aged for at least 4 months in tonneaux. The cool, medium+ intensity nose seems a bit shy as it reveals earthy, raspberry, strawberry, red & black fruit, and savoury spice aromas flecked with currant and cassis notes. The medium+ bodied palate is dry and ripe with delicious raspberry, strawberry, red plum, and dried spice flavours in a fruit forward style. Savoury graphite and earth notes add complexity and interest on the slightly chewy mid-palate. Crisp acids are fresh and lively, while the fairly grippy and grainy tannins are quite firm at the moment, with good structure. Gently tangy with raspberry, strawberry, savoury spice, and graphite notes lingering on the well-balanced, crisp, and long-lasting finish. New arrival in LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on March 29th and a recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Ca' di Rajo can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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