Skouras Wild Ferment Assyrtiko 2024 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of a consistently excellent, and now vegan-certified, Assyrtiko that landed at the LCBO in the August 16th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It is featured as a wine to 'Arrive in Style', as well as part of the fantastic mini-feature on wines from Greece.

It is produced by Domaine Skouras, a well-respected and highly-regarded winery situated in the highlands of Argolida, within the village of Malandreni in Nemea, in northeastern Peloponnese, just a few kilometres from Argos. Founder George Skouras was born and raised in Argos, studied oenology in Dijon (Burgundy), and had a long-standing vision to create a winery in his homeland. The original Skouras winery was founded in 1986 within the small village of Pyrgela, on the outskirts of Argos, and the goal from the beginning was clear - to produce high-quality wines.

The ultra-modern winery of Domaine Skouras was built in 2004 and resides in the Nemea winegrowing zone, Greece's largest and possibly the most exciting Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for red wines in Greece. The winery is situated among vineyards in an area that is blessed with ideal conditions for viticulture, especially for the indigenous Agiorgitiko. George and his wife, Ourania, energetically continue their passion and vision for the Domaine, and are now also joined at the winery by their two children. Dimitris, their son, studied Viticulture and Oenology in France, while Stella, their daughter, is a graduate of Economics and Marketing studies in Scotland.

The Skouras team uses technology as a tool only for precision and control, as their belief is that true winemaking happens with minimal intervention by always respecting the grape, the land, and the passage of time. At Skouras, every wine is expressed with a clear and consistent philosophy that is based on purity, varietal clarity, expression of the mesoclimate, and true reflection of the terroir. With this philosophy in mind, the vineyard team at Skouras works with an unwavering dedication and constant observation that is driven by a single, uncompromising goal: to produce exceptional grapes. It is the belief, truthfully, that only from outstanding fruit can a truly great wine be made. Each bottle of Skouras wine carries the signature of its creator — wines that are intense, energetic, and complex, and always expressed with elegance, grace, and finesse.

Like the 2023 Skouras Wild Ferment Assyrtiko I enjoyed last year, this is also 100% Assyrtiko. The grapes were grown in Nemea, in northeastern Peloponnese, at 620 metres above sea level, on mainly red clay soil, with vines averaging 11 years old. After harvesting the grapes in September, they were whole-bunch pressed, then underwent wild yeast fermentation in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 15°C. The wine was aged sur lie for 4 months, and did not undergo malolactic fermentation.

The 2024 growing season in the Peloponnese peninsula was warm with reduced yields. However, grape quality is high. Let's see how this 2024 Assyrtiko from the Peloponnese is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SKOURAS WILD FERMENT ASSYRTIKO 2024 - Vegan, PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#32387) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. Lovely, ripe, medium-high intensity nose has impressive depth and complexity with a fine mix of flinty minerality, lemon citrus, ripe apple, quince, pear, leesy, and yellow fruits, plus accents of white melon and floral blossom. The dry, medium-full bodied palate has very good structure and ripe flavours of lemon peel, citrus, apple, pear, flinty mineral, white melon, and blossom flavours in a slightly honeyed profile. It has fresh, well-balanced acidity, along with impressive structure on the mid-palate. Flinty minerals, lemon citrus, and apple notes with a touch of spice on the long, savoury, and slightly textured finish. Must buy! Score: 91 pts

Quite a few wines my Domaine Skouras are available the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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Tedeschi Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2024 (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious Pinot Grigio from the Delle Venezie DOC in northeastern Italy. It arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the July 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Tedeschi Wines, a winemaking family with a long history and deep bond in the Valpolicella territory of Veneto in northeastern Italy. Since 1630, the Tedeschi family has always sought the path of quality in their terroir wines, which are produced exclusively from grapes grown on hillsides. The family has always believed in the extraordinary potential of local wine production, while enhancing its value with modern and innovative production techniques, as well as practicing environmental management methods.

The modern history of Tedeschi Wines arrived in the 1960s when Lorenzo Tedeschi, the fourth generation of the family, recognized the diverse potential of the grapes grown in the iconic Monte Olmi vineyard, which was acquired by the family in 1918. Lorenzo decided to vinify each varietal separately, and the result was the creation of Amarone Capitel Monte Olmi, a wine that symbolized Tedeschi and became emblematic of the region.

Today, the winery is led by Lorenzo's children - Antonietta, Sabrina, and Riccardo Tedeschi - as they carry forward their father's vision for the winery. They continue to focus on growing grapes on hillside vineyards with poor soils, which results in wines with greater complexity and structure. By combining their extensive experience with scientific vigour, the family has adopted an approach that guarantees the future of the territory. Quality is the priority, while also using a sustainable approach in order to preserve the beauty of their unique lands for future generations.

From a region known for its Pinot Grigio, let's see how this 2024 Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio from Italy is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TEDESCHI PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE 2024 - DOC, Italy (#562058) (XD) - $19.95
Vinified in stainless steel and enclosed by screw cap, this has a clean, medium+ intensity nose that is fresh with zesty lemon citrus, garden herbs, and savoury earth aromas. The medium+ weighted palate has good concentration in a dry and slightly honeyed flavour profile of lemon peel, citrus, herbs, apple, and savoury earthy mineral notes. It has clean, refreshing acidity, plus a dusty textured mouthfeel. Leesy and earthy mineral notes linger on the savoury finish, with good length. Score: 87+ pts

Several other wines by Tedeschi are available at the LCBO, and can also be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Eradus Sadie Rosé 2024 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is a lovely Pinot-based dry rosé from New Zealand that made its debut at the LCBO earlier this month in the July 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Eradus Wines, a family-owned winery that was established in the early 1980s by Har and Sophie Eradus. The Eradus family had emigrated from Holland and initially grew flowers in Auckland before moving to winegrowing in Marlborough, and then to Awatere Valley, which was mostly dryland sheep country with only a handful of pioneering winegrowers.

The Eradus family settled on a sliver of land that captured their imagination. The land was nestled between a higher terrace and the glacial river below, along with a guarding boundary of gnarled old macrocarpa trees. As fate would have it, their connection to the land was formed when Sophie cleared a shed on the property and found an old potbelly door with an embossed logo that entwined their initials - "H", "S" AND "E" - which inspired the Eradus wine label.

From the beginning, Har and Sophie desired to have the unique and wild terroir of the Awatere Valley to speak through their vines. Their first vintage, a 2002 Sauvignon Blanc from the Breloft Vineyard, has heralded a future of extraordinary wines that reflect the essence of the Awatere Valley.

In 2004, their son, Michiel, and his Kiwi wife, Hanna, took over the family business and to this day, remain committed to celebrating the unique terroir of this place. Their philosophy is to bend to nature and let the Awatere Valley imprint itself upon every Eradus wine. Knowing that good fortune led the family to this remarkable piece of land in a valley that is now globally acclaimed for its wines, the Eradus family's role has been to take this good luck and build it into vines and wines that pay homage to the Awatere Valley.

Dedicated to their super lady, Sadie, this dry rosé is crafted with 48% Pinot Gris, 48% Chenin Blanc, and 4% Pinot Noir from vines averaging 18-years-old that were grown on a slender terrace at the edge of the Awatere River that features a unique micro-climate and soil structure that consists of alluvial and river stone. This parcel of land is stony, dry, windy, and cool due to the influences of a fault line, a river, and the power of the nearby Pacific Ocean, and features the elements to create lively wines with elegance, minerality, and long finishing. In this wine, Eradus lets the untameable terroir of the Awatere Valley express itself through their vines and grapes. Completely vinified in stainless steel, this rosé brings together new world fruit and old world elegance and minerality.

While the 2024 growing season in New Zealand had uncertain weather at times, with yields down across the board, the quality of the fruit is said to be brilliant. The growing season began with some unpredictable weather during budburst and flowering, then settled down for a warm and dry (but not hot) summer, which led to drought conditions for most of the country. Cooler weather arrived in autumn, which helped cool the grapes and retain essential acidity and aromatics. From a vintage that produced clean and fresh fruit, let's see how this 2024 rosé from New Zealand is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERADUS SADIE ROSÉ 2024 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#43353) (XD) - $19.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 48% Pinot Gris, 48% Chenin Blanc, and 4% Pinot Noir pours a pale copper-orange colour. The fragrant, medium-high intensity nose has enticing and ripe aromas of grapefruit and orange citrus aromas nuanced with yellow fruit, red apple, strawberry, and raspberry, with touches of spice. It shows good weight and concentration on the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate with flavours grapefruit, orange citrus, red apple, and red berry, plus touches of savoury spice and minerality. It has fresh, well-balanced, and juicy acidity, alongside a slightly textured mouthfeel. Citrusy, apple, red berry, and spice notes taper to savoury minerals on the long, succulent finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Their Sauvignon Blanc is available at the LCBO, while other lovely wines by Eradus can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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Skouras Cuvée Prestige Agiorgitiko / Moscofilero Rosé 2024 (Greece) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2023 Skouras Cuvée Prestige Agiorgitiko / Moscofilero Rosé last year, tonight's rosé wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific wine that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the feature story on Mediterranean wines in the July 5th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the well-respected Domaine Skouras, a winery that was founded in 1986 by George Skouras. George was born in the Peloponnese town of Argos, one of Europe's oldest towns and one with a rich, 3,000-year-old tradition of wine and culture. After completing his studies that began in agriculture and finished with a degree in Oenology in Burgundy, George gained his experience in the classic wine-producing regions of France before returning home to realize the dream of having his own winery.

Initially, he set up his winery in the small village of Pyrgela, on the outskirts of Argos, then eventually moved to Nemea in the northeastern Peloponnese. It was in Nemea where he gained invaluable lessons about Agiorgitiko and the Nemea appellation. Today, Domaine Skouras is situated in the highlands of Argolida, an area that is blessed with ideal winegrowing conditions, particularly for Agiorgitiko.

The ultra-modern winery of Domaine Skouras helps fulfill their winemaking philosophy that focuses on purity, varietal clarity, tracing of the region's mesoclimate, and imprint of the terroir. The viticultural team at Skouras has only one aim: to achieve optimum ripeness and obtain the best possible grape. With a belief that the better the fruit, the better the wine, the wines of Domaine Skouras consistently show the hallmarks of their creator with intensity, vibrancy, and complexity, and all is expressed with elegance, grace, and nobility. Domaine Skouras' wines are engraved with the character of their terroir.

Like the previous vintage, the 2024 vintage is also composed of 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Moscofilero and grown in the Peloponnese wine region of Greece. The Agiorgitiko was grown in Corinthia at an elevation of 850 metres above sea level on calcareous soil, while the Moscofilero was grown in Mantinia at an elevation of 750 metres above sea level on sandy soil. The average age of the Agiorgitiko vines is 29 years, while the average age of the Moscofilero vines is 31 years. After harvesting the grapes from the end of September to the beginning of October, the Moscofilero underwent skin contact for 6 hours at 16°C, and was then blended and co-fermented with the Agiorgitiko in stainless steel vats at the same controlled temperature of 16°C. The wine was aged on its fine lees for a short period of time and then bottled and enclosed by screw cap.

From a warm vintage with reduced volumes, let's see how this 2024 rosé from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SKOURAS CUVÉE PRESTIGE AGIORGITIKO / MOSCOFILERO ROSÉ 2024 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#25745) (XD) - $16.95
Blend of 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Moscofilero and enclosed by screw cap. Enticing with an attractive, complex, and medium-high to highly aromatic nose of citrus, grapefruit, blood orange, floral, red berry, currant, raspberry, and cherry notes. Quite full and weighty on the dry palate with delicious citrus, grapefruit, red berry, raspberry, currant, and blood orange flavours nuanced with gentle spice. It has very good, crisp, juicy, and slightly tangy acidity. Citrus and red berry flavours are joined by touches of leesy minerals on the finish, with very good length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Domaine Skouras can be found at the LCBO and through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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Tiki Single Vineyard North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

In keeping with the recent trend of sipping only whites and rosés, tonight's white wine review is a lovely, sustainably crafted Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from the Waipara Valley in North Canterbury, New Zealand. This white wine arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the June 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Tiki Wine & Vineyards, a winery that was established in the early 2000s by Royce and Sue McKean. Their dream was to earn a grubstake to create something of their own in their homeland of New Zealand. In order to achieve this, they packed up their bags, with two young daughters in tow, and headed to Europe for the next 5 years as they worked and saved up their hard-earned dollars. By the time the girls had started school in the U.K., there was a strong pull to give them the same amazing upbringing that they experienced while growing up in NZ. Thus, they packed up their bags again and returned to New Zealand, settling in the seaside village of Sumner, Christchurch, not far from some of Royce's family.

A year later, they found an old 325-hectare sheep farm in Waipara, North Canterbury, that they fell in love with and thought was perfectly suited to growing grapes. With limited funds and no track record to speak of in grapes or wine, the McKeans had to employ amazing people to help them out - the team they now call the Tiki whānau (family). At the beginning, they planted 60 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. They learned a lot that first year, and began preparing the soil to plant the remaining hectares of land. By the end of 2006, they had fully planted their first vineyard - Waiata Vineyard in Waipara, while also expanding their plantings into Marlborough. In 2009, they finally got to taste the fruits of their labour as they released their first vintage of the Tiki Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. This wine received numerous accolades and confirmed their earlier thinking that this area in Waipara had great potential for vine cultivation.

The name 'Tiki' was chosen in honour of Royce's great-great-great grandfather, Ngāti Uenuku Chieftain, Tiki Tere Mihi. Tiki Wine & Winevyards is an indigenous NZ Māori wine producer that is committed to sustainable winegrowing with an uncompromising commitment to quality. They care for their vines under the guiding Māori principles of Kaitiakitanga: guardianship, protection, and preservation of the earth. In addition to honouring Royce's great-great-great grandfather, the name 'Tiki' also represents a hand-carved Māori treasure which, when gifted, bestows good fortune and love on others. Tiki crafts their wines with this same spirit in mind. Starting from very humble beginnings, there is a sense of adventure and feeling of freedom that the McKeans get from living in New Zealand and is at the very heart of Tiki and the bespoke wines that they produce.

Tiki has several ranges of wines within their portfolio, with this wine coming from their flagship Single Vineyard range. Each wine in the Single Vineyard range is crafted by the winemaking team using selected parcels of fruit grown on the doorstep of the winery in the North Canterbury wine region of New Zealand. The individual parcels are selected in order to offer the best expression of time, the people, and place in each wine.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury, on the South Island of New Zealand, just south of Marlborough. After allowing the grapes to reach optimum levels of ripeness, each block of Sauvignon Blanc was harvested individually in the early morning to preserve freshness and varietal characteristics. The free-run juice was kept separate from the pressing portion to provide the wine with greater finesse. The juice was cold-settled, then inoculated with an aromatic yeast and fermented at a relatively low temperature of 13–15°C to enhance the aroma and flavour profile. To add complexity, 5% of the juice was fermented in old French oak barrels. After completing fermentation, the wine was left on its lees to enhance mouthfeel and texture, then racked and stored in steel tanks until final blending in June.

The growing season in 2023/2024 brought the return of El Niño and a hot and dry season that was dominated in the first half by strong winds. Mixed weather patterns saw large swings in day-to-day temperatures, along with rainfall at critical times, which resulted in fewer and smaller bunches than normal during flowering. As the warm weather settled in, the team at Tiki were able to use water from their own reservoirs to ensure healthy canopies and keep the fruit ripening through to harvest. The end of the season was dry with minimal disease pressure, while harvest was earlier than normal, with warm temperatures and low yields. From a brilliant vintage that delivered well-developed flavours, let's see how this 2024 Sauvignon Blanc from Waipara Valley in New Zealand is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TIKI SINGLE VINEYARD NORTH CANTERBURY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, South Island, New Zealand (#19767) (XD) - $23.95
Screw cap. Open, fragrant, and highly aromatic, this has lovely zesty lemon/lime citrus, guava, kiwi, pyrazine (jalapeño pepper), and passion fruit aromas nuanced further with green herbs, gooseberry, and faint leesy mineral notes. The mid-weighted palate is dry and ripe with zesty lemon/lemon citrus, passion fruit, guava, gooseberry flavours. Touch spicy on the mid-palate, along with leesy mineral tones. Acids are crisp and well-balanced. Delicious lemon/lime citrus, passion fruit, guava, and leesy mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, well-balanced, and dry finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Tiki Wine & Vineyards can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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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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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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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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Malivoire Vivant Rosé 2024 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Since rosé season is upon us, and it's the long weekend, tonight's 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 May 10th 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.

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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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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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