February 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Southern Hemisphere

Here's my top wine picks from the February 21, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where wines from the Southern Hemisphere are the feature story of the release. There are 86 products included in this release, with a relatively high number of recommended buys, all the while the number of sub-$20 wines continues to dwindle. All the wines should be readily available for purchase both online and in-store at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story that focuses on wines from the Southern Hemisphere, which are the major wine-producing nations of Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Of the twenty-two wines included as part of the thematic, nine are among my top wine picks from this release. Going country-by-country, we'll start in Chile with three recommended buys - a 100% Syrah, a 100% Carmenère, and a Cabernet Sauvignon that likely includes a small amount of Petit Verdot. The lone Argentine recommendation is a Torrontés from the high-altitude Calchaquí Valleys in Salta, while the lone wine from Australia is a Semillon from Hunter Valley. From New Zealand, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, as well as an off-dry Pinot Gris from the Awatere Valley. And lastly, from South Africa there are two wines - a Pinotage, and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Red wine picks from the main release begin with a trio of Sangiovese-based blends from Tuscany. The Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is composed of 80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot, and 7% Malvasia Nera, while the Chianti Classico Annata is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, and 5% Colorino. The last wine from Tuscany is a Super Tuscan that is a blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Other blends include the Lirac, which is mainly Grenache with Syrah and Cinsault in support, while the wine from Lebanon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault. The last blend is from Niagara, and it is made with 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The remaining reds are mono-varietal wines, including a Pinot Noir from Niagara, a Gamay from Beaujolais, a Frappato from Sicily, and a pair of Nebbiolos from Piedmont.

Nearly all of my white wine recommendations from the main release are locally crafted wines from Niagara, with half a dozen recommended buys. First up are a pair of lovely Chardonnays from the Benchlands area on the Niagara Escarpment. Next up are a trio of terrific off-dry to medium-dry (i.e. somewhat sweet) Rieslings from Niagara. The last wine from Niagara is an interesting and noteworthy blend of 52% Marsanne and 48% Viognier, while the only wine crafted abroad is the Grüner Veltliner from Austria.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• ALVI'S DRIFT 221 PINOTAGE 2022 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#48109) (XD) - $17.95
• CHÂTEAU FAKRA CUVÉE DU TEMPLE 2022 - Kfardebian Valley, Lebanon (#33850) (XD) - $17.95
• ORESTIADI MAZAL FRAPPATO 2022 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#36529) (XD) - $18.95
• VENTISQUERO GREY GLACIER SINGLE BLOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Trinidad Vineyard, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#485474) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CELLIER DES SAINT-ETIENNE CÔTE DE BROUILLY 2024 - AOP, Beaujolais, France (#48326) (XD) - $20.95

 

• MATURANA PUENTE AUSTRAL GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#47474) (XD) - $21.95  review coming soon...
• FALERNIA TITÓN SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVA SYRAH 2022 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Elqui, Chile (#27198) (XD) - $22.95
• KANONKOP KADETTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#30186) (XD) - $23.95
• ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO 2022 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#22793) (XD) - $23.95
• ROCCA DI CASTAGNOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#222810) (XD) - $24.95

 

• JACKSON-TRIGGS NIAGARA ESTATE GRAND RESERVE RED MERITAGE 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#594002) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2020 - AOP, Rhône, France (#13438) (XD) - $35.95
• WENDING HOME ESTATE VINEYARD UP ABOVE WISMER-CUESTA PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#46464) (XD) - $42.95  91 pts  wine review
• TENUTA SAN GUIDO LE DIFESE 2023 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#147876) (XD) - $52.95
• CASTELLO DI AMA SAN LORENZO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#12751) (XD) - $76.95
• RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#713479) (XD) - $79.95

White Wine:

• COLOMÉ ESTATE TORRONTÉS 2024 - Vegan, Sustainable, Valles Calchaquí, Salta, Argentina (#357913) (XD) - $15.95  89 pts  wine review
• ECKER-ECKHOF GRÜNER VON ECKHOF 2024 - Qualitätswein, Niederösterreich, Austria (#37419) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• TAWSE GROWER'S BLEND RIESLING 2023 - VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (M) - $21.95
• ERADUS PINOT GRIS 2024 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#439000) (D) - $21.95  review coming soon...
• KEW MARSANNE / VIOGNIER 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $22.95

 

• TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2025 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#632034) (XD) - $23.95
• ORGANIZED CRIME LIMESTONE BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11951) (XD) - $24.95
• STAETE LANDT ANNABEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#648691) (XD) - $24.95
• THIRTY BENCH TRIANGLE RIESLING 2021 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#25031) (D) - $28.95
• CHARLES BAKER PICONE VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#241182) (M) - $39.95  93 pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $55.00

Dessert Wine:

• REIF GRAND RESERVE VIDAL ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#49821, 375 mL) (S) - $69.95

Sake:

• SHUNKA SHUSETSU ECHIZEN JUNMAI GINJO SAKE - Japan (#572644, 720 mL) (M) - $28.95  91 pts  review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Note:

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

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

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Escarpment Noir Pinot Noir 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Pinot Noir from Martinborough in New Zealand. It made its debut at the LCBO in last month's November 22 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Escarpment Winery, a wine producer that was founded in 1999 as a joint venture between Larry and Sue McKenna of Martinborough, and Robert and Mem Kirby of Australia. However, the driving force of Escarpment was Larry, who grew up near South Australia's McLaren Vale and had been a pioneer winemaker in Martinborough since 1986.

Escarpment is located on Te Muna Road, in Martinborough's famed alluvial gravel soils that were formed by the Huangarua River over 20,000 years ago. The winery is named after the long, steep slope that lies at the end of a plateau, which is their unique place within Martinborough. Their site also has ancient alluvial soils that run deep beneath the land, while big, open skies stretch across the Wairarapa. Escarpment Winery's purpose is to translate the natural balance that exists here into wines that reflect these special attributes, this special part of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Today, Escarpment Winery is one of New Zealand's most respected cool-climate wine producers. In 2019, Escarpment was acquired by Torbreck Vintners of Barossa Valley, South Australia. In 2022, Larry retired and left his legacy in the capable hands of Viticulturist, Rowan Hoskins and Winemaker, Tim Bourne.

The vision at Escarpment is to continue to produce wines that capture a unique sense of place. Situated in their unique place on Te Muna Road, their home vineyard has 24 hectares of distinctive alluvial gravel and terraced land that stretches out along the banks of the Huangarua River. The alluvial loam soil in this vineyard has very deep alluvial gravels layered over loam, a composition which ensures exceptional drainage and is one of the key prerequisites for nurturing and producing premium quality, healthy grape vines. Escarpment sources fruit for their wines from one of their four vineyards, as well as from growers around the Martinborough township with whom they have long-term relationships with.

Escarpment Winery has several lines of wines in its portfolio and is particularly known for its single vineyard expressions of Pinot Noir. This particular Pinot Noir is from their "Varietal Pinot" line, which is their commitment to the future expansion of their key varieties. Furthermore, the Varietal Pinot line is about exploring boundaries, a key philosophy that is exhibited in their winemaking approach.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir that was grown in the North Island district of Martinborough. Part of Escarpment Winery's ethos is to explore boundaries to create wines of interest and complexity. This wine brings together over three decades of winemaking experience to craft a Pinot Noir using traditional techniques from fruit grown on the Martinborough terrace. Upon arriving at the winery, the harvested grapes were destemmed into open-top vessels and fermented using indigenous yeast. The average time in vat was 23 days, after which the wine was pressed off and aged in predominately older French barriques for about 10 months, with 16% new French oak. Each parcel was vinified and matured separately, with the resulting wine a blend of 36 individual parcels, and was bottled without fining.

The 2023 vintage in Martinborough was a difficult one due to sustained wet weather and cyclone activity. The wet and cool conditions began in autumn 2022 and persisted right through to autumn 2023, which made all vineyard activities extremely difficult and expensive as more passes through the vineyard were required because growth continued throughout the season and disease pressure was immense. Crops were constantly thinned, and low temperatures and high soil moisture levels meant ripening was slow and protracted. Pinot Noir was in good condition because the varietal is later to budburst and ripen, and was thus less advanced when Cyclone Gabrielle hit. From a trying vintage, let's see how this 2023 Pinot Noir from Martinborough is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ESCARPMENT NOIR PINOT NOIR 2023 - Martinborough, North Island, New Zealand (#41810) (XD) - $29.95
Enclosed by screw cap. The highly engaging nose has medium-high intensity aromas with an intriguing mix of rose floral, earthy beet root, black spices, dark cherry, cranberry, and savoury minerals, plus strawberry accents. On the dry, light-to-medium bodied palate it shows impressive structure and textured tannins. Lovely, complex, and ripe flavours of black cherry, cranberry, strawberry, beet root, spices, and savoury minerals. Touch creamy on the mid-palate, which gives way to a mildly grippy back palate. Acids are crisp and juicy. It's well-balanced throughout with dark red berry notes tapering to savoury spice, and earthy minerals on the crisp finish, with excellent length. Should improve further with a few years in the cellar and drink well for at least 5+ years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other fine wines by Escarpment can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Tiraki Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, sustainable, and vegan Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. It is brand-new to the LCBO and landed on shelves (and online) in last month's November 8 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Tiraki Wines, a family-owned winery situated at Longfield Farm in the Southern Valleys of Marlborough, New Zealand. The farm was established in 1870 and has been family-owned and farmed for 5 generations. However, their journey into winegrowing only began after they planted their first grapes on the site in 1999.

The Hammond family didn't plan to start a wine company, but perhaps it was inevitable. Tiraki is run by three siblings - Josh, Tyler, and Ellarose Hammond - who grew up on the Marlborough farm, and a long-time friend - Chris. Together, they built forts out of bay hales, worked the vineyard by day, and by night they skied down the Wairau River - the same river that is depicted on the labels of Tiraki wines. Each sibling followed their own career path, which turned out to be complementary to each other as Josh became a winemaker, Tyler an MBA grad, and Ellarose a marketing grad, while Chris was a brilliant salesperson. The company was quietly growing before it even had a name.

As each child was growing up, one by one, they left Marlborough to pursue their own dreams in new cities and countries. However, in 2020, they all came home as Covid hit - much to the delight of their parents, and it was in 2020 that Tiraki was born, around the kitchen table, during vineyard walks, and over a few family dinners with Chris at the table.

Tiraki means 'the clearing of the sky' and is exactly what the brand has been for the family - a return to what matters the most - the land, their roots, and each other. Tiraki was created to reflect the life they've lived and the values they were raised with: to care for the land, support your community, and stay connected to what's real. Their values are rooted in Tikanga Māori and shape everything they do: Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship of the Land), Whanaungatanga (The Value of Connection and Kinship), Kotahitanga (Unity and Collective Action), and Manaakitanga (The Spirit of Hospitality, Kindness, and Generosity). Tiraki is proud to be New Zealand's first B Corp Certified wine company. Today, the Longfield farm spans 650 acres, with the majority planted to Sauvignon Blanc that is farmed with care and a commitment to best practices.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in their Oddstone Vineyard nestled in the Southern Valleys. The vines are 12 to 30 years old and planted on free-draining alluvial soils, and delivers concentrated fruit and lively acidity. The grapes to craft this wine were harvested in the cool, early morning, which allows for retaining aromatic flavour precursors, then gently pressed into tank to cold settle. The clear juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures with selected yeast strains designed to enhance aromatic intensity. Additionally, 18% of the wine was wild fermented in a mix of oak puncheons and stainless steel tanks. The two portions were then blended and aged on light lees for 5 months in tank.

During the 2023 growing season on the South Island of New Zealand, the vintage felt wet because it rained quite evenly from January to April, although total rainfall was slightly lower than average. Furthermore, variable and protracted flowering of early ripening varieties resulted in average yields for Sauvignon Blanc due to poor fruit set. Critical to the success of the vintage were the resulting loose bunches, which meant less disease vulnerability, particularly in Sauvignon Blanc, which is one of the most disease-prone varieties due to its naturally tight bunches. Cold nights held botrytis at bay and maintained acidity. From a La Niña year with disease pressure, the 2023 vintage is considered to be a resounding success, ranking among the top five vintages of all time. Moreover, it is possible to hypothesize that Sauvignon Blanc's optimal potential is realized in these benign La Niña conditions. Let's see how this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TIRAKI SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41802) (XD) - $24.95
Enclosed by screw cap, the restrained, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers a lovely mix of ripe tropical fruits, guava, kiwi, passion fruit, lime citrus, leesy mineral, and grapefruit aromas, plus whiffs of white floral. The dry, medium-full bodied palate is impressively concentrated with lovely lime citrus, passion fruit, guava, and grapefruit flavours. It seems a bit tightly wound with its crisp and juicy acidity, and slightly grippy textured mouthfeel. Nicely balanced flavours throughout with lime and passion fruit notes tapering to leesy minerals on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Tiraki Wines can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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Eradus Pinot Noir 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough that arrived at the LCBO in last month's October 25 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

This wine is produced by Eradus Wines, a family-owned winery that was established by Har and Sophie Eradus in the 1990s on an extraordinary footprint of land at the edge of the Awatere river. The couple had emigrated from Holland in 1982 and grew flowers in Auckland before embarking on this semi-retirement project to grow grapes in the Awatere Valley - a dryland that was sheep country at the time with only a few pioneering winegrowers.

The Eradus couple's imagination was captured by this sliver of land that was nestled between a higher terrace and the glacial river below, with its guarding boundary of gnarled old macrocarpa cypress trees. Their connection to this land seemed fated 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 speak through their vines. This journey began with their first vintage - a 2002 Sauvignon Blanc - and heralded a future of extraordinary wines that reflect the essence of the Awatere Valley.

Today, Eradus Wines is run by their son, Michiel, and his Kiwi wife, Hanna, as they took over the family business in 2004. Together, the second generation of the Eradus family is committed to celebrating the unique terroir of this place, with a philosophy based upon bending to nature and letting 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.

Crafted with 100% Pinot Noir from 23-year-old vines, the grapes for this wine were grown on a slender terrace with alluvial (river stone) soil at the edge of the Awatere River. This area has a unique microclimate and soil structure that is influenced by a fault line, river, and the power of the nearby Pacific Ocean. The land is stony, dry, windy and cool - elements that create lively wines of elegance and minerality. At Eradus, they let the untameable terroir of the Awatere Valley express itself through their vines, grapes, and ultimately - the wines. Bringing together "new world" fruit and "old world" elegance and minerality, this Pinot was aged for 10 months in barrel and released in June 2024.

The growing season on the South Island of New Zealand in 2023 felt wet because it rained quite evenly from January to April, although total rainfall was slightly lower than average. Furthermore, variable and protracted flowering of early ripening varieties such as Pinot Noir resulted in below average yields due to poor fruit set. This also led to loose bunches, which meant less disease vulnerability, and was an important factor in the success of the vintage. Cold nights held botrytis at bay and maintained acidity. From a La Niña year, the 2023 vintage is considered to be a resounding success, ranking among the top five vintages of all time. Let's see how this 2023 Pinot Noir from Awatere Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERADUS PINOT NOIR 2023 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41809) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Lifted and open, this has an appealing, medium-high intensity nose featuring aromas of sour cherry, strawberry, savoury mushroom, and earthy beetroot accented with spices and bramble, plus reductive whiffs of oak and dried herbs. The light-to-mid-weighted palate is dry with raspberry, cran-cherry, sour cherry, dried herbs, earthy beetroot, and mushroom flavours, plus touches of stony minerals. Acids are juicy, fresh, and succulent, while the light tannins are gently grainy textured, with gentle grip and good structure on the back palate. Juicy and mouthwatering on the long finish with savoury, dried herb, sour cherry, and earthy beetroot notes. Recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

A couple of other wines by Eradus are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine 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 1990s 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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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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Spy Valley Pinot Gris 2022 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, slightly off-dry, single vineyard, sustainably crafted, and vegan-friendly Pinot Gris from New Zealand. It is a brand-new arrival that landed on LCBO shelves across Ontario as part of the recent April 26 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Spy Valley Wines, a renowned, family-owned winery situated deep in the Waihopai Valley, within the Southern Valleys of Marlborough. It was established in 1993 by Bryan and Jan Johnson, during a period of discovery and courage in Marlborough. Considered too hard, too dry, and too unfertile for wine, the Johnson couple had the audacity and passion for the land to establish 180 hectares of estate vineyards. With a pioneering spirit, Spy Valley Wines would go on to become one of New Zealand's most successful family-run wineries. The name "Spy Valley" is inspired by the winery's proximity to a government communications facility that is often referred to as a spy base.

Today, Spy Valley Wines is run by Bryan and Jan's daughter, Amanda Johnson. After being involved in the family business for many years, Amanda officially took over from her parents in 2016. Under the leadership of Amanda, Spy Valley remains committed to the land and the people who tend it - they are simply farmers at heart, nurturing the soil and vines in order to cultivate complexities in their wine. Sustainability has been a focus and source of pride at Spy Valley for many years, as they were one of the first (since 1999!) wineries to be accredited under the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand program. Moreover, their focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility runs deeply throughout all of their decisions and actions. Their mission is to conserve, preserve, and protect as custodians of their land and legacy.

Spy Valley is always searching for the best of the best in order to produce exceptional wines. They manage just over a handful of varieties on the estate and have experience of knowing the land, environment, and climate, and over the years they have classified the viticultural and winemaking traditions. Among their many core beliefs are well-being and safety first, collaborating, growing people, leading innovation, bringing your 'A' game, and happy customers.

This white wine is 100% Pinot Gris and was sustainably crafted. The grapes were grown at their Johnson Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley, a sub-region within Marlborough, a well-drained vineyard with alluvial stony silt loam soil. To craft this wine, the grapes were gently pressed and fermented in a mix of stainless steel and older oak barrels. The wine remained on its lees post-fermentation before final blending and bottling.

The 2022 growing season in the Waihopai Valley featured near-perfect weather patterns during the flowering period, resulting in even crops and healthy canopies. In February, the weather took a turn with above-average rainfall, which was quickly followed by favourable ripening conditions. Daily monitoring of the vines during the harvest period was the key to ensuring quality grapes, and in turn, quality wine. From an excellent vintage for white wines from Marlborough, let's see this 2022 Pinot Gris from New Zealand is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SPY VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#41807) (M) - $19.95
Screw cap. Ripe and fragrant aromas of honeysuckle, white peach, yellow pear, and lemon citrus, and apple notes rise out of the glass. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is just off-dry, fleshy, and ripe with delicious honeysuckle, peach, pear, apple, and lemon citrus replays joined by some honeyed spice and floral notes. It's nicely textured with good structure and clean and vibrant acidity. Well-balanced throughout honeyed citrus, pear, apple, and honeysuckle notes tapering to leesy minerals on the long-lasting finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

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

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Babich Black Label Pinot Noir 2021 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from Marlborough in New Zealand. While this particular wine is long sold out because it arrived in limited quantities as an Online & Flagship Exclusive in the March 30, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, you can go up a notch and get your hands on Babich's Organic Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, which arrived in LCBO VINTAGES over the weekend.

One of New Zealand's most prominent wine producers, Babich Wines is also one of the country's oldest family-owned wineries. It was founded in 1916 by Josip Babich, a Dalmatian immigrant (now part of modern day Croatia) after he immigrated to New Zealand at 14 years old to join his brothers in the far north of the country. People thought he was crazy planting vines in remote New Zealand.

Today, Babich Wines has over 100 years of experience across three generations of innovation, achievement, and winemaking excellence, making them New Zealand's most experienced family-owned winery. Their aim is to have vineyards on superior sites in the right regions, and ensure that the right varieties are planted on those superior sites. Furthermore, they aim to sustainably grow and craft wines that are stylish, refined, and have an easy drinking appeal. With a long history of looking ahead, the Babich family loves their craft, doing things by hand, and caring for their land. Babich has been patiently making wine the difficult way with vision, thoughtfulness, ingenuity, and true craft, along with a hard-working spirit that still runs deep in the family's veins today.

Babich Wines is led today by cousins David and André Babich, the third generation of the Babich family. David is the son of Peter, while André is the son of Joe. Brothers Peter and Joe are sons of founder Josip Babich. The main winery and cellar door is still based in northern New Zealand, in the Henderson Valley, West Auckland, just a short drive from the city of Auckland. In addition to the vineyard surrounding the winery in Henderson Valley, Babich also has a winery and 7 estate-owned vineyards in Marlborough, as well as an additional 5 vineyards in Hawke's Bay. Babich Wines has garnered numerous accolades over the years for its wines and continues to innovate and evolve, ensuring that it continues to be a leader in New Zealand wine.

Like the excellent 2023 Babich Black Label Marlborough Pinot Gris that landed in LCBO VINTAGES on the weekend, this Pinot Noir is also from Babich's Black Label range. Each wine in the Black Label range is crafted using fruit from their own estate vineyards and sustainably crafted to be enjoyed with food in a rich, complex, and textural style that is suitable for any dining occasion. First crafted in the 2012 vintage, this Pinot Noir was grown in the Waihopai and Wairau Valleys, and after machine harvesting the grapes, they were de-stemmed, but not crushed, with a small percentage undergoing carbonic maceration. It was fermented in open-top vats using both wild and inoculated yeasts, followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured for 6 months in oak, fined using egg whites, and then bottled.

The 2021 growing season in Marlborough began with a chilly spring and some nasty frosts. The weather was mostly dry. However, intermittent rains during flowering disrupted some of the vine growth, which reduced yields. Late spring featured unusually hot and dry weather, conditions which continued into summer. Drought conditions reduced yields, which also meant that both disease and rot were kept at bay. Even though 2021 is a lower-yield vintage, the quality is superb across the board, with Marlborough wines exhibiting characteristics described as fresh, fruit-forward, aromatic, and complex with sophisticated structure. The lower yields also led to more concentrated fruit. Let's see how this 2021 Pinot Noir from Marlborough is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BABICH BLACK LABEL PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#465963) (XD) - $26.95
Screw cap. Complex, medium-high intensity aromas of dark fruited, savoury wood spice, black cherry, black raspberry, and mushroom accented with savoury earth and clove notes, plus touches of dried herbs. Some lovely black tea notes emerge with time in the glass. It's medium+ to medium-full bodied, impressively concentrated, and dry, with delicious ripe dark fruit, dark sour cherry, and black raspberry flavours weaving through savoury earth, mushroom, and oak spice notes. It has crisp, juicy acidity, along with a relatively firm mouthfeel with slightly chalky textured and mildly grippy tannins. Savoury, earthy, and smoky notes with hints of tea leaf linger on the long, well-structured, and youthful finish. Should drink nicely over at least the next 4-5 years and is a highly recommended buy, if you can find it! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Babich can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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Babich Black Label Marlborough Pinot Gris 2022 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent, sustainably crafted, and dry Pinot Gris from New Zealand. While this is the previous vintage of this wine, the latest vintage is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO that is landing on shelves across Ontario as part of the upcoming February 1st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the excellent 2017 Babich Winemakers' Reserve Syrah I enjoyed last spring, this wine is produced by Babich Wines, one of New Zealand's most prominent and oldest family-owned wineries. Founded in 1916 by Josip Babich, a Dalmatian immigrant (now part of modern day Croatia) after he immigrated to New Zealand at 14 years old to join his brothers in the far north of the country. Josip's son, Peter, joined the family wine business in 1949, and was followed by his other son, Joe, in 1958. Today, Babich Wines is now led by cousins David and André Babich, sons of Peter and Joe, respectively. Babich Wines is based in Henderson Valley, West Auckland, just a short drive from the city of Auckland, and has estate vineyards located in both Marlborough and Hawke's Bay.

With over 100 years of innovation, achievement and winemaking excellence, the aim of Babich Wines today is to passionately craft sustainable wines that are stylish, refined, and have an easy drinking appeal. For three generations, the Babich family has gently worked in harmony with the land, ecosystem, and seasons to produce wines of outstanding quality, while also making sure that their vineyards and processes get better with each passing vintage. At Babich, there are four important areas of focus to ensure a sustainable future - being careful with water, organic farming and processes, wild fermentation, and waste reduction and elimination.

From Babich's Black Label range, this 100% Pinot Gris was first crafted in the 2009 vintage. The Black Label range consists of three wines using fruit from their estate-owned vineyards and are sustainably crafted to be enjoyed with food in a rich, complex, and textural style suitable for any dining occasion. The grapes were grown in their Echelon (Waihopai), Selmes Road (Wairau) and Cowslip Valley (Waihopai) vineyards. The Echelon Vineyard is an elevated site with deep silt loam "Jordan" soils over underlying clay, while the Selmes Road Vineyard has a slightly heavier soil and is perfect for blending with fruit grown on lighter, gravelly soils. The Cowslip Valley Vineyard has a glacial outwash with free-draining clay loam soils perfect for aromatic varieties. After machine-harvesting the grapes over 6 days at the beginning of April, the grapes were crushed, pressed, and underwent an inoculated fermentation using selected yeasts, mostly in tanks with 40% barrel fermented in older oak barrels. The wine was matured on its lees for 5 months, fined using pea protein, filtered, and then bottled.

The 2022 winegrowing season in Marlborough was marked by a cold and wet February, which resulted in big bunches and berries, and an ensuing large harvest which meant that crop-thinning was especially important. However, finer weather during the autumn months delivered optimal fruit ripeness levels. While there were challenges during the growing season, many producers successfully managed the vintage to produce some beautifully elegant wines. Let's see how this 2022 Marlborough Pinot Gris is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BABICH BLACK LABEL MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2022 - Sustainable, Estate grown, South Island, New Zealand (#36906) (XD) - $20.95
Screw cap. Pours a fairly deep gold colour. The concentrated, medium-high intensity nose offers lovely, rich, and honeyed aromas of ripe orchard and stone fruit, apple, nectarine, lemon zest, citrus, peach, honeysuckle, candied ginger, and spice. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is richly concentrated and dry with honeyed, ripe stone and orchard fruit, apple-pear, nectarine, peach, ginger spice, and honeysuckle flavours underpinned by leesy minerality. It has a fine, zesty, acidic backbone, along with a fine, richly textured mouthfeel. Nicely balanced throughout with leesy mineral notes lingering on the savoury, textured, and exceptionally long finish. Enjoy with seafood or vegetarian fare, or even on its own. Highly recommended buy if you can find it! Score: 91 pts

In addition to their 2020 Organic Single Vineyard Pinot Noir that is also arriving in this release, there are a number of fine wines by Babich that are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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Heaphy Pinot Gris 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly Pinot Gris from New Zealand that made its debut at the LCBO as a brand new arrival in last month's October 5 LCBO New Release Collection.

It is produced by Heaphy Vineyard, a wine brand that was only established in 2019, but has long roots deep into the soil of the cooler Nelson winegrowing region on the South Island of New Zealand. The brand was established, mainly for international markets, by one of Nelson's wine pioneers, Greg Day, and his wife, Amanda.

Heaphy Vineyard is situated in the northwest corner of New Zealand's South Island, in a region named Nelson Tasman. The small winery is located high above Tasman Bay, in the Moutere Hills, where they have 10 hectares of long-established vineyards planted on Moutere's signature clay soils. Some of the vines in these vineyards were first planted in 1973, and are among the oldest productive vineyards in New Zealand.

In 2022, Heaphy Vineyard was acquired by Boutinot Wines, an international producer and distributor based in Manchester, UK. Greg had a long-standing relationship with Boutinot and offered them the opportunity to buy the brand as Greg and Amanda were planning on retiring. With the acquisition, Boutinot planned to make Heaphy the largest Nelson wine brand and one of the largest New Zealand wine brands in the UK. To help achieve this goal, Boutinot purchased new equipment in order to handle the additional capacity.

Today, Heaphy Vineyard is committed to sustainability and quality winemaking, with a particular focus on crafting wines that express the unique Nelson landscape. Heaphy Vineyard has two ranges of wines - the entry-level, which is the line this Pinot Gris is from, and the premium Moutere Range. Heaphy Vineyard is certified by Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand (SWNZ), which means that their wines are crafted using grapes grown in 100% SWNZ-certified vineyards and produced in 100% SWNZ-certified winemaking facilities. Some of the SWNZ certification commitments include completing annual submissions, as well as undergoing regular on-site audits, which are conducted by an independent verification company.

This white wine is crafted using 100% Pinot Gris that was grown in a single vineyard on Moutere's clay loam soils. The grapes were hand-picked at full ripeness, then gently pressed and cold settled in stainless steel tanks. The pressing juices were separated into free run and (direct) pressings, which allows for better integration for when they eventually come together again. The two juices were then racked together for fermentation at 14°C (on average) in stainless steel tanks, which delivered a natural residual sugar (RS) level of 4.5 g/L.

From an excellent vintage, albeit with slightly lower yields, let's see how this 2023 Pinot Gris from Nelson is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HEAPHY PINOT GRIS 2023 - Sustainable, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#36901) (D) - $19.95
Screw cap. This single vineyard Pinot Gris has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose that is attractive with freshly squeezed lemon citrus and lemon peel aromas joined by grapefruit, pear, and touches of floral, pithy and mineral notes adding complexity and interest. It has good weight on the dry, fleshy, medium-full bodied palate with delicious, honeyed flavours of pear, apple, lemon citrus, and grapefruit flavours. There's a kiss of sweetness, along with spice notes on the mid-palate. Clean acids are well-balanced and juicy. It's gently spicy with flor and leesy mineral notes lingering on the long, dry, and finely textured finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 2 years. Score: 90 pts

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

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Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the newest addition to the General List family at the LCBO, arriving last month and widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Squealing Pig, a winery whose tale is about a big who wants more from life than just his pig pen. The founders of Squealing Pig were keen on wine, but not a fan of the bore that you get with it, and set out on an adventure in 2010 to the Squealing Pig Vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand. They wanted to make a Sauvignon Blanc with personality, while also being eager to experiment with fresh varieties and styles. While originating in Marlborough, the little squealing pig also trotted around the globe to make cracking wines that are approachable, flavour-packed, and pair brilliantly with no-fuss foods, while having more fun than anyone else!

The Squealing Pig brand was named after the pigs occupying the grounds of the historic homestead, which overlooked the original Squealing Pig vineyard on the South Island of New Zealand, in Marlborough. At each mealtime, the pigs would squeal with delight, producing a noise that travelled down to the vineyard and beyond.

Today, Squealing Pig is known for its playful name and distinctive labelling, while also producing wines that are characterized by their vibrant, fruit-forward flavours. Squealing Pig has gained a reputation for producing quality wines at affordable prices, and is a popular choice for those looking for value without compromising on taste.

From an excellent vintage, let's see how this 2023 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SQUEALING PIG SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Marlborough, New Zealand (#35623) (XD) - $18.95
Grown in the Awatere Valley, this white wine was cool-fermented and vinified with minimal handling. Enclosed by screw cap, this is fragrant, highly aromatic, and ripe with classic aromas of passion fruit, guava, and kiwi layered over lemon/lime citrus, leesy minerality, and grassy herbal notes. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is dry and ripe with lightly honeyed and floral flavours of lemon/lime citrus, passion fruit, and guava. It is finely textured with fresh acidity, while lime citrus with touches of leesy minerals linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Squealing Pig can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Babich Winemakers' Reserve Syrah 2017 (Hawke's Bay) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Hawke's Bay Syrah that arrived at the LCBO last month as an Online & Flagship Exclusive in the March 2nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - with bottles now available at quite a few stores across Ontario.

It is produced by Babich Wines, one of New Zealand's most prominent and oldest family-owned wineries. It was founded in 1916 by Josip Babich, an immigrant from Dalmatia (which is now part of modern day Croatia), who immigrated to NZ at 14 years old in 1910 to join his three brothers and sell Kauri gum in New Zealand's far north. In 1911, the Babich brothers put a deposit on a plot of land in Henderson Valley (West Auckland), which later became the family homestead, winery, and company headquarters. In 1912, Josip planted his first vineyard on a terrace above the Kaikino Swamp gum field, and in 1916 he made his first New Zealand wine and sold it in casks and bottles under the Babich Brothers label.

In 1929, Josip married Mara Grgic, and together they had 5 children over the following years. In 1949, Josip's son, Peter, joins him in the family vineyard. The 1950s brought further expansion of the property in West Auckland, while in 1958, Josip's son, Joseph, joined Babich Wines. Further expansion ensued during the 1960s, with a growing emphasis on table wine production. In 1980, the first Babich wines were exported to Europe, an achievement that is the highlight of Josip's winemaking career.

By 1984, Babich Wines began producing their first wines from the Gimblett Gravels region in Hawke's Bay, and by the end of the decade, they increased their presence in the region by establishing a second 36 hectare vineyard on Gimblett Rd. The family company's success led to more growth and expansion, including several acquisitions and partnerships, and in 2001, David Babich, son of Peter Babich, became the third generation of the family to join the business. In 2013, Babich completed construction of their new winery in Marlborough, while acquiring the 9.7 hectare St. John Vineyard in the Bridge Pa Triangle - where this wine is from. In 2016, Babich Wines celebrated 100 years of innovation, achievement and winemaking excellence, while in 2018, André Babich, son of Joe Babich, joined the family business.

Today, the aim of Babich Wines is to craft sustainable wines that are stylish, refined, and have an easy drinking appeal. To support this, their goal is to have vineyards in the right regions on superior sites, and getting the right varieties on those superior sites. With more than 100 years of winemaking experience across three generations and three outstanding wine regions, wine is the family's life. The Babich family has a long history of looking ahead as they love their craft, love doing things by hand, and caring for the land. Their hard-working spirit still runs deep within their veins, while their vision is to simply share their passion through patience, experience, and good old-fashioned wisdom, as well as leading the style and evolution of sustainably grown and crafted New Zealand wine.

I had the pleasure of first tasting this exact same vintage at their winery in Auckland back in March 2020 when I was visiting New Zealand. It is crafted with 100% Syrah using grapes that were grown in the St. Johns Vineyard, which is located in the Bridge Pa sub-region of Hawke's Bay. This is also a single clone Syrah - using only the 470 clone, a late-ripening clonal variety with open clusters that discourages fungal disease, while producing aromatic, full-bodied wines with high acidity, deep colour, and good tannins structure. The 470 Syrah clone is extremely popular in France and is the most widely-planted in Hermitage. The grapes were machine harvested and de-stemmed in the field from April 2nd to 3rd. The berries were lightly crushed, fermented in stainless steel vats, and also underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured for 8 months in French oak barrels (25% new), and was fined using egg whites, with minimal filtration.

The 2017 growing season in New Zealand was generally cooler than average and dry. However, in Hawke's Bay it was searingly hot at times. In Autumn, there were some heavy rains right before harvest, which disturbed picking and reduced yields. Despite some difficulties, the quality of what was picked is high. After tasting this same, exact wine 4 years ago, let's see how this 2017 Hawke's Bay Syrah is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BABICH WINEMAKERS' RESERVE SYRAH 2017 - Single Vineyard, Estate Grown & Bottled, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#32412) (XD) - $36.95
Screw cap. From Bridge Pa Triangle, the highly aromatic nose is fragrant and open, offering complex aromas of wet earth, black pepper spice, dark fruit, blackberry, and stony mineral, with hints of mushroom, floral, and meaty notes. The elegant, medium+ bodied palate has lovely dark berry, blackberry, black pepper spice, meaty, savoury wet earth, plum, and cocoa flavours that are supported by fresh, succulent acidity. It's nicely balanced throughout with smooth, fine-grained tannins and good structure. Savoury mineral, earth, and cocoa notes linger on the long finish. A Syrah lover's Syrah to enjoy over the next 5-6 years and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Tasting Note from March 2020:

From a single vineyard in Bridge Pa Triangle and a cool year, this offers a medium-high to highly aromatic nose of black plum, black pepper, and spice aromas, along with touches of floral, earthy, and meaty tones that add complexity. It has a nice, medium+ bodied palate with lovely, complex aroma replays on the flavour profile. It’s supported by fresh acidity and structured tannins on the back palate. More earthy and savoury on the long, satisfying finish. Will age gracefully over the next 6-8 years. Score: 91+ pts

A few lovely Babich Wines can be found at the LCBO, while the entire portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. A perennial winner and a personal favourite of mine, this white wine arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the Fine Wines for Festive Entertaining theme in the December 2 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

This white wine is produced by Greywacke, a renowned winery that was established in 2009 by legendary winemaker Kevin Judd. The name "Greywacke" refers to the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones found in the vineyard soils in Rapaura, within the Marlborough wine region. Kevin registered the name many years ago while successfully working for a notable New Zealand winery and sought one day to fulfill a dream of having his own wines - a dream that became a reality. Together with his wife, Kimberley, Greywacke remains a family affair that is now located in the Omaka Valley, one of Marlborough's Southern Valleys.

As a pioneer in Marlborough winemaking, Kevin's philosophy is to "keep it simple" while using a hands-on approach with minimal interventionist winemaking techniques. The fruit for all Greywacke wines is sourced from mature vineyards in prime viticultural sites that are sustainably managed, with an ever-increasing portion coming from organically farmed sites.

Each variety is grown and vinified using specific techniques aimed at achieving very specific wine styles, with a common objective of delivering concentration of flavour and a harmonious balance of texture and acidity. For example, to enhance flavour concentration in the grapes, crop levels are restricted, while meticulous canopy management allows for sufficient sun exposure which delivers ripeness of flavour, textural richness, and optimum acid balance. Wild yeast fermentations are used extensively in order to add a savoury character to the flavour profile, while also building structure and a textured mouthfeel. The range of Greywacke wines is primarily focused on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, plus a number of limited production wines using other varieties. Greywacke is accredited with Appellation Marlborough Wine to ensure provenance, authenticity, and integrity. Kevin is also a renowned photographer with a couple of published photography books, while the label of each Greywacke wine is adorned with his photo.

These days, the Judd family is joined by Richelle Tyney, who joined the team in 2021 and manages the winemaking programme, while also travelling abroad to spread the word about Greywacke wines. In 2019, one of the Judd family's two sons, Alex, plunged himself into the production side of the winemaking team at Greywacke. And in news that is just a couple of weeks old, Greywacke announced that Ben Leonard joined the team to manage the sales and commercial side of their global distribution network.

Like the 2021 Greywacke Savuginon Blanc that I enjoyed last year, this fruit for this vintage was sourced from prime vineyard sites in Marlborough's Southern Valleys and the central Wairau Plains - specifically in Woodbourne, Renwick, and Rapaura. The vines were planted on various soil types, varying from young alluvial soils in Rapaura and Renwick, which contain high proportions of New Zealand's ubiquitous greywacke river stones, to older and denser clay-loams of the Southern Valleys. The majority of the vineyards were trained using the divided Scott Henry canopy management system, with the balance on a two- or three-cane Vertical Shoot Positioning trellis. The grapes were largely machine-harvested during the cool (and often cold) nighttime conditions. Upon arrival at the winery in the Omaka Valley, the grapes were lightly pressed to yield a modest volume of high-quality juice. The juice was then cold-settled and racked prior to fermentation. It was fermented primarily in stainless steel tanks with cultured yeast, while a portion of the juice was allowed to undergo spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation in old oak barrels. All individual vineyard batches were left on lees and kept separate until late June, when the blend of Sauvignon Blanc was assembled, and then bottled in mid-August.

The 2022 winegrowing season in Marlborough was marked by a cold and wet February, which resulted in big bunches and berries, and an ensuing large harvest which meant that crop-thinning was especially important. However, finer weather during the autumn months delivered optimal fruit ripeness levels. While there were challenges during the growing season, many producers successfully managed the vintage to produce some beautifully elegant wines. Let's see how this 2022 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $26.95
Screw cap. Elegantly ripe with a medium-high intensity nose offers lovely and complex aromas of passion fruit, lime-lemon citrus, and leesy minerals with touches of grapefruit, guava, spice, kiwi, and melon adding nuance. It has a lovely, structured and textured mouthfeel, with equally impressive weight on the medium+ to medium-full bodied palate. It's dry with lovely ripe lime-lemon citrus, passion fruit, guava, and leesy mineral flavours. It's juicy and succulent with fresh, balanced, and saliva-inducing acidity. A touch spicy, plus intriguing notes of mango and melon add further complexity on the mid-palate, while leesy mineral notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy the next 4-5 years. Score: 92 pts

Other fine wines from the Greywacke portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia / Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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