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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Featherstone Rosé 2024 (Niagara) - Wine Review

For tonight's rosé wine review, I sip local with this delicious, just-off-dry Cabernet-Gamay blend from Niagara that was featured as part of the theme on food-friendly rosé wines in the June 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Niagara's own Featherstone Estate Winery. This eco-friendly winery was established in the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment in 1999 by Louise Engel and her winemaker husband Dave Johnson. Together, they built Featherstone with a dedication to excellence in food and a passion for wine. In 2024, amidst its 25th anniversary since its inception, Featherstone underwent a transformative purchase and is now owned by philanthropist Rayla Myhal and businessman George Myhal.

While Featherstone may be under new ownership, Rayla and George look to build on the successes of the past. Featherstone continues to craft distinctive, small-batch Niagara wines that are cultivated in soils that reflect the biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment. Featherstone prides itself as being insecticide-free since the beginning and are practitioners of eco-friendly farming. 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, while farming practices nurture the soil. In 2023, Featherstone received their Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification.

This rosé is crafted in a just off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) style using 46.7% Gamay, 42.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11.1% Cabernet Franc. The grapes were machine harvested over 16 days in the middle of October, then optically sorted, crushed, and de-stemmed. The grapes underwent a cold soak maceration on skins for 24 hours and were then pressed and transferred into stainless steel fermentation tanks. After 8 hours of juice flotation settling, it was then racked off gross lees. It was fermented with the commercial yeast strain Actiflore Rosé at a controlled temperature of 15°C and bottled in early February.

The growing season in 2024 in Niagara had perfect conditions from early budbreak to the warm and late fall that allowed for long hang time of the grape bunches, especially for the Bordeaux red varieties. Summer was marked by above-average temperatures, with warm days and warmer-than-usual evenings, which meant a reduced diurnal temperature range and resulted in grapes with intense flavours and colour development. It was a drama-free growing season for the thick-skinned grapes such as the Bordeaux varieties, which weathered the rain and allowed picking to occur at a leisurely pace in the fall. There were also no issues with Gamay. From an excellent vintage, let's see how this 2024 Rosé from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117861) (D) - $16.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap, this blend of 46.7% Gamay, 42.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11.1% Cabernet Franc pours a fairly deep pink colour with orange accents. The ripe, fragrant, medium-high intensity nose delivers candied red berry, strawberry-rhubarb, red apple, red cherry, watermelon, and honey aromas, plus touches of stony minerals. It's fairly light-weighted on the palate with spice notes joining the candied red berry, cherry, strawberry-rhubarb, and watermelon flavours. It has clean, fresh, and vibrant acidity, along with a slightly chalky textured mouthfeel. While a touch sweet on the mid-palate, this tapers to tangy red berry, savoury, leesy minerals, and spice notes on the dry, juicy, and lengthy finish. A crowd-pleasing, recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Many other delicious wines by Featherstone can be found at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered direct from the winery.

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June 21, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Summery White Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the June 21, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here), where the feature story of the release focuses on Summery White Wines. Also included in this release is a mini-feature of three wines from Campania, as well as a new batch of Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE). Overall, this release is on the bigger side with 106 offerings, with red and white wines having nearly equal representation. It is also worth mentioning, perhaps due to U.S. wines still off the shelves, that the LCBO seems to have done away with the reduced release schedule during the summer months - where in a given month there was only one in-store release and one small OFE release. We shall see if it returns later this summer, or next year.

We'll begin with the feature story of this release, where the seemingly timely "Summery White Wines" arrive just in time as the summer heat has finally arrived upon us. Of the eighteen wines included as part of the theme, five white wines are included among my top wine recommendations. First up is a lovely white Bordeaux that is crafted with 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Sémillon, and 20% Muscadelle, while the Côtes du Rhône Blanc is composed of 38% Viognier, 33% Grenache Blanc, 12% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne, and 7% Clairette. There's also a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, and a Pinot Grigio from Niagara. The last white wine is definitely going off the beaten path with a white wine from Portugal that is crafted with the indigenous Siria varietal.

Among my top red wine picks in this release, we'll start in Italy with a Bolgheri Rosso that is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. Moving westerly across Europe, the Côtes du Rhône is primarily Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support, while the Rioja is 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha Tinta / Graciano / Mazuelo. The rest of my red wine recommendations are all mono-varietal wines, including the Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia, the Cabernet Franc from Niagara, the Grenache from Australia, and the Gamay from the Cru of Régnié in Beaujolais.

White wine recommendations from the main release are centred around Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Both Chardonnays are locally crafted, with one from Prince Edward County, and the other from the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. For Sauvignon Blanc, one is from South Africa, while the other Sauv Blanc is a barrel fermented and aged style from New Zealand. Mono-varietal white wines include a fine Pecorino from Prince Edward County, as well as a barely off-dry Riesling from the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of Niagara.

Among my rosé wine picks, both are single varietal wines, with the rose from Niagara crafted with 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir, while the rose from Australia is 100% Grenache.

Enjoy my top wine picks from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• IL POGGIO SANNIO AGLIANICO 2020 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#575225) (XD) - $19.95
• AGAMY RÉGNIÉ 2022 - AP, Cru du Beaujolais, France (#42227) (XD) - $22.95
• SEPPELTSFIELD GRENACHE 2023 - Barossa, South Australia (#41439) (XD) - $24.95  review coming soon...
• CUNE RESERVA 2019 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#417659) (XD) - $26.95
• SANTA RITA FLORESTA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Alto Jahuel, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#41878) (XD) - $29.95  OFE  90 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE RESERVE CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#38301) (XD) - $29.95  91+ pts  wine review
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - 67th vintage, Coonawarra, South Australia (#84996) (XD) - $44.95  93 pts  wine review
• LE MACCHIOLE BOLGHERI ROSSO 2022 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#483412) (XD) - $46.95  OFE

White Wine:

• QUINTA DO CARDO 2023 - DOC Beira Interior, Portugal (#42071) (XD) - $16.95
• SANTA RITA MEDALLA REAL GRAN RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Valle de Leyda, Chile (#42097) (XD) - $18.95
• PAUL JABOULET AÎNÉ PARALLÈLE 45 CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - AC, France (#42031) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• 13TH STREET EXPRESSION SERIES PINOT GRIGIO 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20311) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• WESTCOTT BUTLERS' GRANT OLD VINES RIESLING 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#22460) (D) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU DE FONTENILLE BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, AC Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France (#140046) (XD) - $23.95  review coming soon...
• ORGANIZED CRIME LIMESTONE BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11951) (XD) - $24.95
• TE PA OKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#30159) (XD) - $24.95
• SOUTHERN RIGHT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, WO Cape Coast, South Africa (#512277) (XD) - $24.95  OFE  review coming soon...
• CASA-DEA PECORINO 2023 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#45183) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2021 - Vegan, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#148866) (XD) - $35.00  91 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• DANDELION FAIRYTALE OF THE BAROSSA ROSÉ 2024 - South Australia (#43354) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• WESTCOTT PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#38227) (D) - $21.95  90 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• CANTINE POVERO CAMPO DEL PALIO MOSCATO D'ASTI 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#477869) (S) - $16.95  review coming soon...

Dessert Wine:

• INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#149963, 200 mL) (S) - $59.95  OFE  92+ pts  wine review
• INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE GOLD VIDAL ICEWINE 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#19083, 375 mL) (S) - $99.95  OFE

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Kir-Yianni Xinomavro Rosé 2024 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is an excellent, vegan-certified, dry rosé from Macedonia in northern Greece that made its debut at the LCBO earlier this month in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on June 7th.

It is produced by Kir-Yianni, the renowned Greek winery based in Amyndeon in northern Greece. Kir-Yianni 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.

Today, Kir-Yianni is led by Stellios Boutaris, son of Yiannis. Stellios is the fifth generation of the Boutaris family of winemakers and became Managing Director of Kir-Yianni in 1999. Mihalis Boutaris, brother of Stellios, joined Kir-Yianni a few years later upon completing his studies at UC Davis. The brothers undertook a project to take Kir-Yianni to the next level by re-planting 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.

The philosophy at Kir-Yianni is based on ensuring a fine balance between the family's hundred-year-long tradition and the use of new and innovative winemaking techniques. To ensure typicity, ageing potential, and consistent wine quality from vintage to vintage, Kir-Yianni takes proper care in the vineyard with strict selection on the vine, while in the cellar they micro-vinify and blend meticulously. The 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.

At Kir-Yianni, sustainability is both a philosophy and a vital business decision, entailing dedication, realism, and systematic investment. They have a holistic commitment to responsible winemaking from vine to glass. Among their many initiatives, they protect biodiversity, flora, and fauna, invest in the eco-friendly operation of the winery, support local communities, and ensure their employees' feeling of safety, growth, and economic security. In 2022, Kir-Yianni started their journey to carbon neutrality, and within 18 months they had achieved their first two major goals. Kir-Yianni has also started their efforts towards joining the United Nations "Race to Zero" campaign.

This dry rosé from Greece is crafted with 100% Xinomavro that was grown in the viticultural zone of Macedonia in northern Greece, from 40–60 year-old vines. The grapes were carefully selected from chosen vineyards based on the soil, vine health, and capacity of the grapes to reach full maturity. The climate in the winegrowing region of Macedonia has excellent conditions for viticulture due to, among other things, the significant diurnal temperature ranges (the temperature difference between day and night), as well as diversity in morphology.

To craft this rosé, Kir-Yianni undertook a rigorous grape selection on the conveyor belt. After direct pressing the grapes, they were fermented in stainless steel tanks at temperatures between 17–19°C. After fermentation, the wine stayed in contact with its fine lees for 3 months, with occasional mild stirring (bâtonnage).

The growing season in Macedonia was one of the warmest years in recent memory. There was a slightly earlier bud break, along with drought conditions starting in April. There were a couple of incidents of hail in May, which, fortunately, did not cause serious harm. A windstorm was followed by three heatwaves from June to August. Cooler nights arrived in September, while harvest for Xinomavro started to take place at the beginning of the month - the earliest ever recorded for this variety. Overall, the vintage produced healthy grapes with good aromas and colour. Moreover, the conditions of the season favoured Xinomavro, which achieved great phenolic ripeness. From a very good vintage for Xinomavro, let's see how this 2024 rosé from northern Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KIR-YIANNI XINOMAVRO ROSÉ 2024 - Vegan, PGI Macedonia, Greece (#39595) (XD) - $19.95
Stelvin screw cap. Pours a pale copper colour. Fresh and fragrant, this has a lovely, attractive nose of medium-high intensity with aromas of red berry, strawberry, cherry, orange citrus, grapefruit, and floral, with touches of spice and mineral undertones. It has good weight on the medium+ to medium-full bodied, dry, and slightly spicy palate with delicious ripe grapefruit, citrusy, red berry, strawberry, and red cherry flavours flecked with minerality. It has fresh, crisp, and vibrant acidity, while the spicy citrus tones give way to leesy minerals on the long, savoury, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Quite a few wines by Kir-Yianni are available at the LCBO, and can also be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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Domäne Wachau Terrassen Federspiel Grüner Veltliner 2023 (Austria) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of a perennial personal favourite - a certified sustainable and vegan Grüner Veltliner from the Wachau Valley in Austria that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the June 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Domäne Wachau, one of Austria's most prestigious and renowned wine producers. Situated in the heart of the Wachau Valley of Austria, the estate has a long history, with the earliest documentation of the estate's name going back to the year 1137. The Wachau is a gorge of only 33 km in length and features steep slopes terraced with dry stone walls, fortressed mountains, vineyards, orchards, rare flora and fauna. The estate has changed hands several times over the years, and by 1930 it had become Freie Weingärtner Wachau, the regional wine cooperative of Wachau.

Based in the small town of Dürnstein, near the Danube river in the Krems-Land district, this co-operative is no ordinary cooperative as they are quality-oriented and considered experts among Austria's leading winegrowing businesses. In 2008, the independent wine company was renamed to Domäne Wachau.

Today, under the leadership of Roman Horvath, MW, and Heinz Frischengruber, the wine company's key values are craftsmanship, terroir, and precision. They work in close partnership with their vignerons, while respecting nature and the soil which dominate the hard work on the steeply-sloped vineyards. Domäne Wachau is Austria’s leading organic wine estate with over 160 hectares of organically cultivated vines. The vineyards are organized into small parcels and worked mainly by hand, with each vigneron cultivating less than two hectares on average, and thus allowing the vignernon to focus on the needs of the individual plot. Furthermore, Domäne Wachau produces grand single vineyard (ried) wines that reflect their unique origins and deliver a distinctive and puristic style, with both depth and freshness. Domäne Wachau is a next generation Wine Cooperative like no other on Earth.

The winemaking philosophy at Domäne Wachau is based on working closely with nature, barely intervening during vinification, and accompanying the wines through absolutely minimal activity. Their goal is to nurture and bring out the origin, vintage, and varietal characteristics of every single wine as precisely as possible. With no vintage being the same, time helps shape the wine and gives it balance to produce a natural equilibrium that allows for the aromas to develop slowly and calmly. Domäne Wachau is continuously learning and developing, while the interplay between tradition and innovation comes together in their work in the cellar.

Domäne Wachau has several ranges of wines within their portfolio, and this white wine is from their Terrassen, or Terraces, range. Because grapes from primary rock sites are too tiny for a single vineyard wines, Wachau blends the grapes from these sites to create a series of wines that represent the classic expression of the Wachau and the vintage.

Crafted with 100% Grüner Veltliner, the grapes were grown on steeply terraced vineyards throughout the Wachau Valley. The vineyards are worked on in a sustainable manner, and increasingly, using organic principles, without the use of insecticides or herbicides. After carefully hand-picking the grapes, they are brought to the winery and carefully selected and then processed in a pneumatic tank press. The must is then fermented under a controlled temperature and aged on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks. Grüner Veltliner from these terraced vineyards typically exhibit fresh fruit characters and pronounced minerality.

The 2023 growing season in Austria was a challenging one. It began with an exceptionally mild and dry winter followed by a cool spring, which provided the soil with plenty of moisture. The moisture build-up in the soil was often beneficial to the vines during the hot summer days. It was turning out to be a very good year until several hailstorms came through the region in Autumn. High September temperatures and the resulting ripeness were compensated for by cool October nights, and in the end the grapes were ripe and healthy during harvest. The resulting wines were balanced and harmonious, with complex and juicy aromas, along with a rounder texture and acidity. Let's see how this 2023 Grüner Veltliner from Wachau in Austria is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, DAC Wachau, Qualitätswein, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. Lovely, clean, and fresh medium-high to highly aromatic nose of ripe and zesty lemon citrus, yellow apple, hay, and pear aromas flecked with stony minerals and touches of peppery spice. The light to mid-weighted palate is dry, zesty, and fresh, with crunchy yellow apple, lemon citrus, and pear flavours nuanced with peppery spice and stony minerality. Clean and well-balanced throughout with fresh and vibrant acidity. Delicious yellow apple and lemon citrus notes taper to leesy-stony minerals on the long, crisp, and juicy finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Domäne Wachau can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Blason de Bourgogne Aligoté 2023 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

For Father's Day, tonight's white wine review is a lovely Aligoté from Burgundy that arrives in Ontario about every three years, with the most recent vintage landing on shelves last weekend in the June 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Blason de Bourgogne, a collective of more than 200 families of winegrowers who are deeply rooted in the vineyards of Burgundy that stretch from Côte d’Or to Mâconnais. It was established in the 1980s by several co-operatives with the aim of promoting accessible, high-quality wines from Burgundy under a single label. The diversity of terroirs that each family brings gives richness and aromatic complexity to the wines. Furthermore, the fruit of traditions and viticultural know-how has been passed down from one generation to the next. As winegrowers for several generations in Burgundy, the producer families of Blason de Bourgogne are proud to unveil their values of solidarity and unique know-how to produce wines of authenticity and quality.

Driven by the love of their profession and respect for nature, the winegrowing families of Blason de Bourgogne do not cease to ensure the preservation of their territories. Committed to a unique continuous improvement process, they practice sustainable winegrowing, which covers the entire production cycle from vineyard to bottle, while also taking into account the environmental, economic, and social impacts of each action. Among their many initiatives include producing their own energy, protecting their soil and terroirs, reducing their carbon footprint, encouraging biodiversity in the vineyard, and sponsoring young growers.

This white wine is crafted by Blason de Bourgogne's Cellar Master with 100% Aligoté that was grown on clay-limestone soils, typical of Burgundy, between the plains of the Saône and the hills of the Mâconnais, with West-to-East exposure to the sun, allowing the vines to flourish beautifully. After harvesting the grapes, they underwent direct pressing, followed by alcoholic fermentation at a temperature-controlled 18°C in stainless steel tanks.

The 2023 vintage in Burgundy had generous yields and ripeness. It was an engaging vintage for white varieties in Burgundy and highly determined by the heatwave in early September that escalated ripeness levels into the aromatics and flavours. This heatwave also affected alcohol levels, body, richness, and acidity. I tasted the 2017 vintage of this Aligoté, and some say the 2023 vintage in Burgundy is comparable to 2017, but with more alcohol and body, but less acidity. Let's see how this 2023 Aligoté from Burgundy is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

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.

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Kir-Yianni The North Assyrtiko 2024 (Greece) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2023 Kir-Yianni Le Nord Assyrtiko last year, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific, vegan wine that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature story on Outdoor Dining in the May 24th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

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.

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Featherstone Pinot Grigio 2024 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's 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 May 24 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.

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June 7, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Rosé

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
• BACHELDER KIRBY VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45139) (XD) - $27.95  91 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER WISMER-FOXCROFT VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#33994) (XD) - $32.00  92+ pts  wine review
• BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2017 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $32.95  review coming soon...
• FONTODI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#933317) (XD) - $49.95
• ANTINORI BADIA A PASSIGNANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#384552) (XD) - $78.95
• ORENO 2022 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#735597) (XD) - $99.95

White Wine:

• LAURENT MIQUEL NORD SUD VIOGNIER 2023 - IGP Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France (#673236) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• UMANI RONCHI VELLODORO PECORINO 2024 - IGT Terre d'Abruzzo, Italy (#289553) (XD) - $17.95
• LUNGAROTTI TORRE DI GIANO VERMENTINO/ GRECHETTO/ TREBBIANO 2023 - DOC Bianco di Torgiano, Umbria, Italy (#268110) (XD) - $17.95  90+ pts  wine review
• ANSELMANN GEWÜRZTRAMINER KABINETT 2022 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#630004) (S) - $18.95
• BLASON DE BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2023 - AC Bourgogne Aligoté, France (#648436) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, DAC Wachau, Qualitätswein, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review

• PIEROPAN SOAVE CLASSICO 2023 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#946848) (XD) - $20.95  90+ pts  wine review
• TIKI SINGLE VINEYARD NORTH CANTERBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, North Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand (#19767) (XD) - $23.95  review coming soon...
• CHARLES BAKER B-SIDE RIESLING 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#523845) (D) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• BLACK BANK HILL RUNWAY CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#45092) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER WERNER-YORK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#45136) (XD) - $39.95
• BACHELDER PARCELLE IVY & WARREN SAUNDERS VINEYARD HAUT CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#45135) (XD) - $45.00  94 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• FEATHERSTONE ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117861) (D) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• CARUSO & MININI FRAPPO FRAPPATO ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, IGP Terre Siciliane, Italy (#43979) (D) - $18.95
• KIR-YIANNI XINOMAVRO ROSÉ 2024 - Vegan, PGI Macedonia, Greece (#39595) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2024 - Sustainable, VQA West Niagara, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CAVES D'ESCLANS ROCK ANGEL ROSÉ 2024 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#491027) (XD) - $39.95

Sparkling Wine:

• SORELLE BRONCA L'EST BRUT PROSECCO VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE - DOCG, Italy (#42677) (D) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• HUFF CUVÉE PETER F. SPARKLING 2021 - Traditional method, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#198754) (XD) - $39.00  92 pts  wine review
  

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