Inniskillin 50th Anniversary Single Vineyard Wines (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a trio of exceptional wines that were launched this past summer by Inniskillin Wines to celebrate their 50th anniversary. As they celebrated their first 50 years of excellence with great pride, they are also looking forward to the next 50 years, which promises to be even more exciting. This excitement is fuelled by Canadian innovation and the launch of a series of new, premium wines to elevate your table.

The first 50 years at Inniskillin began when it was granted the first winery licence since prohibition in 1975 to become Canada's first estate winery. It was established by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, two friends and business partners who became instant pioneers in Canadian winemaking after taking big risks and earning many firsts in the Canadian wine history. Karl was the Head Winemaker and helped develop Inniskillin's reputation for over 30 years before eventually stepping away from the project in 2006.

In 2007, Bruce Nicholson assumed the role of senior winemaker at Inniskillin in Niagara. Bruce had previously spent approximately 20 years working in the Okanagan Valley before returning to Niagara to provide leadership and ensuring that Inniskillin continued to excel.

In 2013, Nicholas Gizuk joined Inniskillin and rose up through the ranks within the company to become Head Winemaker at Inniskillin's Niagara Estate in 2001. Nicholas is part of a new generation of winemakers that stand on the shoulders of Donald and Karl. This new generation of winemakers are using the success of the last 50 years as the foundation for what’s next and believe that the next chapter will be even more exciting.

Nicholas Gizuk says that "With a renewed focus on single vineyard expressions, we're showcasing the incredible diversity of Canadian terroir through wines that are unmistakably Inniskillin, Our intimate history and experience with this land and these grapes puts us in a position to develop one-of-a-kind wines that simply can't be re-created anywhere else."

Today, as Canada's oldest winery, Inniskillin Wines is synonymous with Canadiana and part of a family of wineries owned by Arterra Wines Canada. Inniskillin is looking to the future and is ready to redefine what premium Canadian wine can be once again with innovative techniques and over 50 years of experience that focus on every aspect of from terroir to winemaking, to deliver high-quality wines that can only be made in Canada.

In addition to this Single Vineyard Riesling and a pair of Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc wines, the other two wines in the series are the 2022 Inniskillin Illuvia Cabernet Franc, which I enjoyed a couple of months ago, and the 2024 Inniskillin Zabek Single Vineyard Riesling Icewine. All five wines in the series are available at Inniskillin and online at Great Estates Niagara, while the Icewine is also available in very limited quantities at the LCBO. Inniskillin's 50th Anniversary Series wines are ideal companions to elevate your next hosting engagement or gifting needs.

Tasting Notes:

INNISKILLIN SINGLE VINEYARD MONTAGUE RIESLING 2024 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $29.22
Stelvin screw cap enclosure. The medium-high intensity nose has lovely, focused aromas of orange zest, white peach, honeyed melon, and lemon/lime citrus, plus whiffs of petrol and limestone minerality adding savoury complexity. It's medium+ bodied with impressive concentration and structure on the dry palate with delicious beeswax, honey, white peach, orange, and melon replays, plus white grapefruit, spice and leesy mineral flavours. It has crisp, succulent, and structured acidity, along with a finely textured mouthfeel. Nicely balanced throughout, and tapering to leesy minerals and limestone on the savoury finish, with excellent length. Score: 92 pts

Pairs with: Light, textured fish, poached and fried white meats, shellfish, sushi, mild Asian cuisine, and citrus-based sauces.

INNISKILLIN SINGLE VINEYARD HERON POND CABERNET FRANC 2023 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $37.18
The medium-high intensity nose is clean and fresh, with herbaceous aromas mingling with ripe red & black fruits, currant, black cherry, and tobacco, plus touches of cedary oak spice and reductive notes. It's medium+ to medium-full bodied on the dry, elegant, and complex palate with ripe red fruits, red currant, black cherry, red licorice, and red plum nuanced with dried herbs, gentle oak spice, tobacco flavours. It is well-balanced throughout with refreshing acidity, and smooth, elegant, and fine-grained tannins. Tobacco, spice, and savoury earth notes linger on long, well-structured, and balanced finish. Score: 91+ pts

Pairs with: Rare red meats, roasted red meats, game meats, cured and salted meats, tomato-based sauces, vegetable dishes, full-flavoured sauces, tart red fruit sauces and firm cheeses.

INNISKILLIN SINGLE VINEYARD LAMENT FARMS CABERNET FRANC 2023 - VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $37.18
The medium-high intensity nose has savoury dark fruited aromas rising out of the glass, with layers of black currant, dark cherry, cedar, savoury oak spice, and earthy mineral, plus flecks of white pepper and Damson plum adding further interest and complexity. The medium-full bodied palate is dry and well-structured with more dark fruited replays of currant, cassis, black cherry, oak spice, pipe tobacco, savoury earth, and dried herb flavours. Acids are crisp and juicy, while the firm, somewhat youthful tannins are well-structured. Touch grippy and slightly tangy with dark berry, savoury earth, and dried herbal notes on the long-lasting finish. Enjoyable now, but should improve with time in the cellar and drink well over the next 6-8 years. Score: 92 pts

Pairs with: Rare red meats, roasted red meats, game meats, cured and salted meats, tomato-based sauces, vegetable dishes, full-flavoured sauces, bitter chocolate, tart red fruit sauces, and firm cheeses.

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Kacaba Terraced Vineyard Syrah 2021 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, vegan-friendly Syrah from one of Niagara's premier Syrah wine producers. It marks the first time that the LCBO has featured a Kacaba single-vineyard Syrah in a VINTAGES Release feature story as it was categorized as perfect for festive cocktail parties (and is also suitable for the table) in the November 8 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, a premium, small-batch wine producer situated on prime, winegrowing land on the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland, Ontario. It was established in 1997 by Michael Kacaba, a Bay St. lawyer in Toronto of Ukrainian descent and a Saskatchewan background. The land where the Kacaba winery resides was slated to be a subdivision, but Mr. Kacaba had other visions and began the work to establish a vineyard and winery, and only two years later, Kacaba had their first vintage in 1999 and consistent success followed soon thereafter.

While Mr. Kacaba is no longer the owner of the winery, his vision remains - to produce wines using only the finest grapes grown on the estate or from partner growers in surrounding vineyards. The philosophy at Kacaba is dependent upon on producing small quantities of wines by limiting the quantities they can handle such that they are able to manage by hand all aspects of the winemaking process. With a focus on small-batch winemaking, Kacaba is able to produce wines of merit, while also encouraging sustainable agriculture on their land and from partner growers. Kacaba has also greatly benefited from its location on the Niagara Escarpment - a slope leading to the lake bed of the prehistoric lake that covered southern Ontario - a unique geographical microclimate whereby cold air naturally flows down the Escarpment and over Lake Ontario, where it warms, rises, and returns to heat the Escarpment. This process provides for a frost-free and extended growing season, which results in longer maturing varieties such as Syrah to naturally reach phenolic maturity and thrive in this area.

This Terraced Vineyard Syrah is one of several single-vineyard Syrahs in the Kacaba lineup. The Terraced Vineyard is one of the two original blocks of Syrah that were planted in the Kacaba Vineyard in 1997. Today, this vineyard includes some younger vines that were planted in 2007, when the neighbouring property was acquired and planted along with the Proprietor's Block. The vineyard was planted in the ravine on the property, and had to be terraced in order to plant the rows and accommodate the vineyard equipment that would help maintain the property. The ravine (and the rows of vines) run almost directly north-to-south, allowing the vines to have optimum sun exposure. With its unique microclimate, this block of vines in the terraced slope vineyard has shown much promise over the years, while producing exceptional wines. The vineyard is the most prominent part of the property as it can be seen in its entirety from the Bailey Bridge.

This red wine is actually a co-fermented blend of 90.7% Syrah and 9.3% Viognier. After careful hand-harvesting of the grapes, they were gently destemmed and left as whole berries for open-top fermentation. Both the Syrah and Viognier were cold-soaked and fermented together to extract colour, flavours, and aromatics from the skins prior to introducing yeast to initiate fermentation. During fermentation, the tanks were hand-plunged twice a day to further extract colour and flavour, while post-fermentation the wine was pressed from the skins and moved to a mixture of both French and American oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation. The wine remained in barrels for 14 months for maturation, then combined in tank, filtered, and then bottled in August 2023.

In 2021, the growing season in Niagara was a challenging vintage. Spring and summer were mostly hot and dry, while autumn saw a shift to cool and mild temperatures, which is generally favourable for grape maturation. However, autumn also brought more rainfall, cloud cover, and fog than desired, conditions which pose a risk for fungal diseases. However, because the team at Kacaba was proactive with disease management, the timing of harvest was adjusted in order to ensure optimal grape ripeness. From a vintage that tested the skill of winemakers, as well as picking decisions, let's see how this 2021 Syrah from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KACABA TERRACED VINEYARD SYRAH 2021 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#394171) (XD) - $35.15
This co-fermented blend of 90.7% Syrah and 9.3% Viognier has a deep, medium-high intensity that seems a bit shy, offering lovely savoury meaty, dark berry, black cherry, black peppercorn spice, and floral aromas. The dry, medium+ weighted palate is ripe with tangy dark berry and sour cherry flavours joining the black peppercorn, meaty, floral, and savoury earth replays. Acids are crisp and juicy, while the ripe, fine-grained tannins are supple and textured, with good structure. Black peppercorn and meaty notes linger on the long, slightly tangy finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5-6 years. Score: 91+ pts

A couple of other wines by Kacaba are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.

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Featherstone Canadian Oak Chardonnay 2023 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, sustainable, and vegan-friendly Chardonnay that screams local as it was barrel-fermented and aged in Canadian oak barrels. This white wine returned to the LCBO as part of last month's October 11th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available across Ontario, including at the winery in Niagara.

It is produced by Featherstone Estate Winery, an eco-friendly winery situated on 23 acres of rolling hills in the prestigious Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment. The winery was founded in 1999 by Louise Engel and her winemaker husband, Dave Johnson, and prides itself on their use of eco-friendly practices in the vineyard and cellar since the beginning. In 2024, after 25 successful years, Featherstone changed hands and began a new chapter under the ownership of philanthropist Rayla Myhal and businessman George Myhal.

The vision at Featherstone is to build on the successes of the past and continue to produce distinctive, small-batch Niagara wines that are cultivated in soils that reflect the biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment. The philosophy at Featherstone has always been based on respect for the land which is at the heart of making wine that is true to its soil and site. Through biodiversity and reduced chemical intervention, Featherstone encourages an environment that is healthy and unique, as they believe that this individuality translates into their wines. As nutrients and minerals are exchanged and transformed in a give-and-take relationship between living soil organisms and plants, there is a mutually beneficial circle where the soil nourishes the vine, while farming practices nurture the soil. Since its founding, Featherstone has always prided itself on farming without the use of insecticides, and in 2023 they achieved their Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay that was harvested on October 26, 2023. The grapes were machine harvested, crushed, de-stemmed, and then pressed into barrels made from Canadian oak that was grown nearby. It underwent alcoholic fermentation in barrels using wild, indigenous yeast, followed by 100% complete malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 10 months in 100% Canadian oak barrels, with lees stirring taking place on a monthly basis.

In 2023, rhe growing season was wet, dreary, and featured a smoke-filled summer, but was remarkably saved by a dry and warm fall. While the harvest was pushed back by as much as three weeks, most varieties that were harvested were in good shape, with a bountiful crop. Chardonnay was one of the star varieties of the vintage as it benefited from warm days and cool nights prior to harvest and developed vibrant fruit and juicy acidity. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2023 Chardonnay from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FEATHERSTONE CANADIAN OAK CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#149302) (XD) - $24.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap, the fragrant, medium-high intensity nose offers caramel, banana, and vanilla aromas surrounding a core of ripe tropical fruits, yellow apples, and creamed peaches. On the dry, full-ish bodied palate it has caramel, vanilla, buttery, yellow apple, and peach flavours joined by some toasty oak spice notes. It's well-structured with crisp and juicy acidity, while the spice notes give way to leesy minerals on the long, juicy finish. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Many other delicious wines by Featherstone are available at the LCBO, while the entire portfolio can be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.

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Inniskillin Illuvia Cabernet Franc 2022 (Niagara-on-the-Lake) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, cool-climate, and single vineyard Cabernet Franc from Niagara that was launched in July to celebrate Inniskillin's 50th Anniversary and is available for purchase direct from the winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as online at Great Estates Niagara.

On July 31st, Inniskillin Wines celebrated its 50th Anniversary as Canada's oldest winery. While Inniskillin was granted the first winery license since prohibition in 1975, thus making it Canada's first estate winery, Inniskillin's roots go back much further. The winery is named after the Inniskilling Fusiliers of Ireland, who travelled overseas to help protect the Canadian land that the estate resides on from American troops in the War of 1812.

Inniskillin Wines was founded by Donald Ziraldo and Karl Kaiser, who became instant pioneers in Canadian winemaking after taking big risks and earning many firsts in the Canadian wine history. Some of these firsts include planting Canada's original Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling grapes. Their greatest innovation was harvesting the Vidal grape to serve as the foundation for Canada's first Icewine, which was followed by shocking the world when their 1989 Vidal Blanc Icewine won the Grand Prix d’Honneur at Vin Expo France in 1991.

Inniskillin’s Head Winemaker at the Niagara Estate, Nicholas Gizuk, says that "If you asked anyone in France in the 80s if they knew Canadians made wine, they would have said ‘No.' Donald and Karl were six years into building the estate, with no idea of what would happen. It was a huge risk that helped set the stage for the Canadian wine industry to compete with vineyards around the globe."

Today, Inniskillin is synonymous with Canadiana and part of a family of wineries owned by Arterra Wines Canada. As they look to the future, Inniskillin is ready to redefine what premium Canadian wine can be once again with innovative techniques and over 50 years of experience that focus on every aspect of from terroir to winemaking, to deliver high-quality wines that can only be made in Canada.

Nicholas Gizuk is part of a new generation of winemakers that stand on the shoulders of Donald and Karl. This new generation of winemakers are using the success of the last 50 years as the foundation for what’s next and believe that the next chapter will be even more exciting. There is a renewed focus on single vineyard expressions, and they're showcasing the incredible diversity of Canadian terroir through wines that are unmistakably Inniskillin.

To celebrate their anniversary, Inniskillin launched a new, premium range of wines called the "50th Anniversary Series". The range is made up of five single vineyard wines — this Illuvia, three other wines that will be covered in a separate post, and a Riesling Icewine. Each wine is available exclusively at Inniskillin and online at Great Estates Niagara.

This red wine is named Illuvia, from the Latin term 'alluvio' and means "the sediment deposited by flowing water" — silt, sand, clay, and gravel, a natural process that shaped the fertile terroir of Niagara-on-the-Lake and created the ideal conditions for exceptional winegrowing. It is crafted using 100% Cabernet Franc, from 30-year-old vines that were grown at Seeger Farms Vineyard, just across the road, north of Inniskillin, within the VQA Four Mile Creek appellation in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This vineyard site benefits from increased sunlight hours, wider spaced rows, and cool nights from the airflow by the river. After undergoing a 2-day cold soak to build colour and tannin structure, it was fermented at 28C for 12 days until dry, with co-inoculation for MLF (malolactic fermentation) completed alongside primary fermentation. The wine was racked to French oak barrels (25% new) and aged for 22 months to build structure and complexity. The final blend was composed of only the best barrels to showcase the beautiful terroir of this vineyard site. Only 300 cases were produced.

The growing season in 2022 began with a colder-than-normal January, which resulted in bud death and a lighter-than-normal crop during harvest. Summer was relatively warm and dry, while early precipitation in the fall helped maintain the vines without any stress going into harvest. In Niagara, it is notably the harvest season that tends to make or break the vintage. September began with typical conditions, without high humidity, while late September brought moderate precipitation in short bursts, which allowed maturity and ripening to happen with no stress to the vines. As conditions were ideal, the later-ripening varietals were allowed to hang to reach their full ripening potential. Harvest was relatively quick due to the lighter than normal crop. From a vintage that produced excellent quality overall, let's see how this 2022 Cabernet Franc from Niagara-on-the-Lake is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

INNISKILLIN ILLUVIA CABERNET FRANC 2022 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $48.89
This 100% Cabernet Franc has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose that delivers clean red & black fruits, currant, and raspberry aromas nuanced with herbs, perfumed oak spices, plus touches of smoke and savoury earth adding further complexity. The medium-full to full-bodied palate is ripe with red & black fruits, currant, raspberry, oak spice, and herbal flavours in a slightly brambly profile. More savoury and smoky on the mid-palate, alongside crisp, well-balanced acidity, and ripe, well-structured, and very fine tannins. Gently grippy on the back palate. Tangy berry with savoury earth, and oak spice notes linger on the long, well-balanced finish. Highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next 8-9 years. Score: 92+ pts

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September 13, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

Here are my top wine picks from the September 13, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (link to digital edition). The fantastic wines from Ontario are the feature story of the release. Also included in this release are a new selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE). This is the first of what should be a steady stream of large releases as we head into the holiday and gift-giving season. As such, there are 125 products offered in this release, and all are readily available for purchase.

We'll begin with the feature story that focuses on the fantastic wines from Ontario. Of the nineteen wines included as part of the thematic, twelve are among my top wine picks, although quite a few of these showed up in VINTAGES previously. We'll start with the fine traditional method sparkling wine that is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir. Among the white wines, Ontario is well-known for its fine Chardonnay and Riesling wines. In this release, there are 4 lovely Chardonnays - one from the 2021 vintage, one from the 2022 vintage, and a pair of Chardonnays from the 2023 vintage. In Riesling, the Thirty Bench version has only a touch of sweetness, while the version by Tawse will be notably sweet. Among the reds from Ontario, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc are the shining varieties, although I would include Gamay and (while not as widely planted) Syrah as well. In this release, there are Pinot Noirs by Bachelder and Le Clos Jordanne, as well as a Cabernet Franc from the excellent 2020 vintage. Lastly, you can end your evening with a pair of lovely dessert wines - a Late Harvest Riesling or the Cabernet Franc Icewine.

Among my top red wine picks from the main release, only two are blends. The Ruffino Super Tuscan is composed of 39% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 26% Merlot, while the Roussillon is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 20% Syrah. The only other wines whose composition may not be obvious is the Maremma Toscana, which is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, which is Sangiovese, and the wine from Bierzo, which is crafted with Mencia. And if you want to sip local, there is another fine Pinot Noir from Niagara by Westcott.

All the white wines from the main release are mono-varietal wines. At the top of the list is an excellent Verdicchio from 50-year-old vines. There's also a fine Carricante from Sicily, as well as a pair of Chardonnays from Burgundy. There's also a Chardonnay from the Limari Valley in Chile, and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The last wine is a Grand Cru Champagne that is crafted with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• ABAD DOM BUENO LADERAS DEL NORTE MENCIA 2021 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#244699) (XD) - $16.95
• TORRE ZAMBRA MADIA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2021 - Sustainable, Vegan, DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#17403) (D) - $17.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND HERITAGE 560 TAUTAVEL 2022 - AOP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#272575) (XD) - $18.95
• KNAPPSTEIN CLARE VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - South Australia (#23905) (XD) - $19.95
• SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CARMENÈRE 2022 - Las Lagunas, DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#249201) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE THE SIDING CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#333229) (XD) - $24.95  91+ pts  wine review
• EL ENEMIGO EL BARRANCO SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2021 - Mendoza, Argentina (#42760) (XD) - $26.95

• TAWSE GROWERS BLEND CABERNET FRANC 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#284570) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
• RUFFINO MODUS 2021 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#912956) (XD) - $30.95  91 pts  wine review
• WESTCOTT ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#427500) (XD) - $31.95  91+ pts  wine review
• BRANCAIA N°2 2022 - DOC Maremma Toscana, Italy (#28451) (XD) - $33.95  92 pts  wine review
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES BENCH PINOT NOIR 2023 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#11582) (XD) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184564) (XD) - $55.00  92+ pts  wine review
• CASTELLO DI GABBIANO BELLEZZA GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#652438) (XD) - $59.95  OFE  92+ pts  wine review

White Wine:

• SANTA RITA MEDALLA REAL GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2023 - Valle del Limarí, Chile (#303628) (XD) - $17.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES RIESLING 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (M) - $19.95
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#256552) (XD) - $21.95
• TWO RIVERS CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $22.95
• CASAL DI SERRA VECCHIE VIGNE VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2022 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#98111) (XD) - $27.95  93 pts  wine review
• ALTA MORA ETNA BIANCO 2022 - Sustainable, DOC Etna, Sicily, Italy (#545103) (XD) - $28.95  OFE  90+ pts  wine review

• THIRTY BENCH STEEL POST VINEYARD SMALL LOT RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#319640) (D) - $28.95  93 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00  91+ pts  wine review
• HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#616466) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• DOMAINE VOARICK GIVRY BLANC 2020 - AOC, Burgundy, France (#43747) (XD) - $52.95  OFE
• LE CLOS JORDANNE LE GRAND CLOS CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#184549) (XD) - $55.00
• MAISON LOUIS LATOUR MARSANNAY BLANC 2022 - AOC, Burgundy, France (#24903) (XD) - $55.95  92 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• KEW BLANC DE NOIRS 2020 - Traditional Method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#380030) (XD) - $32.95  90+ pts  wine review
• DELAVENNE DOM BASLE BRUT RÉSERVE GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE - AOC, France (#45449) (XD) - $69.95

Dessert Wine:

• CAVE SPRING SELECT LATE HARVEST RIESLING 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#415901, 375 mL) (S) - $29.95
• INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#149963, 200 mL) (S) - $59.95  92+ pts  wine review

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Featherstone Gemstone 2023 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious, certified sustainable, and vegan-friendly blend of Cab Franc and Merlot from Niagara that made its debut at the LCBO last month in the July 19th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the eco-friendly Featherstone Estate Winery that is situated in the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Escarpment. It was founded in 1999 by Louise Engel and her winemaker husband, Dave Johnson.

In 2024, amidst their 25th anniversary, Featherstone changed hands and is now under the ownership of philanthropist Rayla Myhal and businessman George Myhal. Even though Featherstone is under new ownership, Rayla and George aim to build on the successes of the past and continue to produce distinctive, small-batch Niagara wines that are cultivated in soils that reflect the biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment.

Since the beginning, Featherstone has prided itself on its eco-friendly practices in the vineyard and cellar. In addition to farming insecticide-free since its founding, the philosophy at Featherstone has always been based on respect for the land, which is at the heart of making wine that is true to its soil and site. Furthermore, as nutrients and minerals are exchanged and transformed in a give-and-take relationship between living soil organisms and plants, there is a mutually beneficial circle where the soil nourishes the vine, while farming practices nurture the soil. In 2023, Featherstone Estate Winery received their Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification.

This red wine is a blend of 57.1% Cabernet Franc and 42.9% Merlot. The various parcels of grapes were harvested over a couple of weeks from Oct. 26 to Nov 10, 2023. Each component of the blend was individually vinified in their climate-controlled cellar. After undergoing alcoholic fermentation, the wine underwent 100% complete malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks to ensure freshness and bright fruit flavours. It was minimally oaked by spending only 2 months in oak barrels.

The growing season in 2023 featured a wet, dreary, and smoke-filled summer, which delayed harvest. It also featured an extended growing season that allowed for the development of ripe, concentrated primary fruit flavours and complexity, alongside firm tannins and finesse. Furthermore, the vintage produced bountiful fruit with a dry and warm fall that resulted in very good to excellent fruit quality, with impressive results for structured reds such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot - the two grapes comprising this red wine. Let's see how this 2023 Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FEATHERSTONE GEMSTONE 2023 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#46055) (XD) - $17.95
This vegan-friendly blend of 57.1% Cabernet Franc and 42.9% Merlot is enclosed by Stelvin screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose is ripe and plummy with dark berry, currant, and peppery spice aromas, plus accents of cassis, black cherry, and subtle oak spice. The mid-weighted palate is dry and ripe with some jammy notes joining the plummy, black fruit, dark cherry, currant, cassis, and subtle oak spice characters. It has fresh and juicy acidity, along with ripe, lightly structured, and grainy tannins. Earthy and subtle oak spice notes with touches of dark cherry and herbs on the dry and savoury finish, with good length. Enjoy this recommended buy over next 2-3 years. Score: 88 pts

Many other delicious wines by Featherstone are available at the LCBO, while the entire portfolio can be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.

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July 5, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Mediterranean Wines

Here are my top wine picks from the July 5, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (flipbook here), which highlights Mediterranean Wines for Summer Sipping as the feature story of the release. The mini-thematic features three wines from Austria's historic Winzer Krems, while in Local Talent there is a stellar lineup of Cool Chardonnays. In all, there are 90 wines included in this release, with almost an equal number of red- and white-coloured wines, and everything should be available for purchase by this Saturday, if not already in many stores.

We'll begin with the feature story of the release, which lists twelve Mediterranean wines for Summer Sipping - five of which are included among my top wine picks. Up first are a couple of white wines from Sicily - an Etna Bianco crafted with 100% Carricante, as well as a Grillo. The other three wines are all rosés, including a couple of blends from Provence in France, with the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. The other rosé is from Greece and a blend of 70% Agiorgitiko and 30% Moscofilero.

The red wines in this release felt a bit like slim pickings, with only nine recommendations coming from just four countries. We'll start in France with the Gigondas, which is majority Grenache, with Syrah completing the cuvée, while the Bordeaux red is 100% Merlot. From Italy, the Vino Nobile is Sangiovese, while the Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Malvasia Nera, and 5% Colorino. From Argentina there is a straight Malbec, while the other wine is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Spain has three recommendations in this release, with both Riojas crafted with 100% Tempranillo, while the Navarra red is 100% Graciano.

Among my top white wine picks, Cool Chardonnay is the place to start with a quartet of lovely 2022 vintage Chardonnays from Ontario - three from the Benchlands in Niagara and one from Prince Edward County. Tasting the four of these side-by-side would be a lovely exercise for the studious types (or a Saturday evening!). There are two blends among my white wine recommendations - the Côtes du Rhône Blanc is composed of 50% Grenache Blanc, 40% Viognier, and 10% Marsanne, while the South African white is mainly Chenin Blanc blended with Roussanne, Viognier, and Sémillon. Among the mono-varietal wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River in Australia, the Torrontés from the high-altitudes of Salta in Argentina, as well as the slightly off-dry Riesling from Austria. Lastly, the Orange Wine from Chile is crafted with Torontel.

My lone rosé pick (that wasn't part of the Mediterranean feature) is from New Zealand, and it is a somewhat quirky blend of 48% Pinot Gris, 48% Chenin Blanc, and 4% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• AGRAMONT GRACIANO 2022 - DO Navarra, Spain (#37262) (XD) - $15.95
• NIETO SENETINER DON NICANOR MALBEC 2022 - Mendoza, Argentina (#178657) (XD) - $17.95
• MONTEBUENA CUVÉE KPF 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#211029) (XD) - $18.95  88+ pts  wine review
• PALACIO DE PRIMAVERA VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA RESERVA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#13632) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2022 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $19.95
• MAZZEI FONTERUTOLI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2022 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#977629) (XD) - $24.95
• PIEDRA NEGRA GRAN LURTON SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - IG Los Chacayes, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#980334) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• VECCHIA CANTINA RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2017 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36523) (XD) - $27.95
• DOMAINE DU GRAPILLON D'OR 1806 GIGONDAS 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#981787) (XD) - $39.95

White Wine:

• LES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Vegan, AC, France (#18600) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
• GORGHI TONDI COSTE A PREOLA GRILLO 2023 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#11670) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• AVONDALE JONTY'S DUCKS PEKIN WHITE CHENIN BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, WO Paarl, South Africa (#439554) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#41435) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• BODEGA EL PORVENIR DE CAFAYATE LABORUM FINCA EL RETIRO TORRONTÉS 2023 - Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#489179) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• MATURANA NARANJO TORONTEL ORANGE WINE 2023 - Sustainable, Loncomilla, Valle del Maule, Chile (#556217) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review

• TORNATORE ETNA BIANCO 2024 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#577676) (XD) - $24.95
• WINZER KREMS KREMSER KREUZBERG RESERVE RIESLING 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, DAC Kremstal, Austria (#44857) (D) - $29.95
• CAVE SPRING CSV CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#529941) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• ROSEHALL RUN JCR CHARDONNAY 2022 - Estate Grown and Bottled, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#45615) (XD) - $36.00  91+ pts  wine review
• CLOUDSLEY TWENTY MILE BENCH CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16093) (XD) - $36.95  91+ pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE CLAYSTONE TERRACE CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#36806) (XD) - $42.00  92+ pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• SKOURAS CUVÉE PRESTIGE AGIORGITIKO / MOSCOFILERO ROSÉ 2024 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#25745) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• ERADUS SADIE ROSÉ 2024 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#43353) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU LA TOUR DE L'ÉVÊQUE ROSÉ 2024 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#319392) (XD) - $20.95
• SAINT AIX ROSÉ 2024 - AP Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, France (#451906) (XD) - $25.95

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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