Evans & Tate Wild Cape Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (Margaret River) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a refreshingly delicious Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River. It made its debut at the LCBO earlier this month in the July 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the 2018 Evans & Tate Hullabaloo Cabernet Sauvignon I enjoyed earlier this year, this white wine is produced by Evans & Tate, a winery whose roots were established in 1971 by two friends - John Evans & John Tate. In 1974, the friends and business partners purchased land and planted a vineyard in Wilyabrup, the heart of Margaret River, Western Australia, and named the vineyard Redbrook. Evans & Tate played pioneering roles in establishing Margaret River as a world-class wine region.

In 2012, Evans & Tate joined the Fogarty Wine Group portfolio of wine brands. The winemaking philosophy at Evans & Tate begins with accessing high-quality fruit and oak, as well as using state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. Senior Winemaker Matt Byrne, who has been at the helm of winemaking at Evans & Tate since 2001, continues to lead the team at Fogarty as they continuously strive to craft elegant wines which exhibit distinct regional characteristics and intense purity of fruit.

The Margaret River wine region is situated adjacent to the Indian Ocean and boasts optimal conditions for viticulture due to its proximity to the ocean, soil consistency, and generally perfect seasonal temperatures. Situated at an elevation of 295 feet above sea level, the Margaret River wine region features a high mean January (peak summer) temperature of 20.2°C, and a low mean annual temperature of 7.6°C, which translates to a pleasant year-around Mediterranean climate that is warm and dry during summer with cooling afternoon breezes, and a mild winter. The soil in the area is loamy sand and gravel, which was formed directly from underlying granite and gneissic rock.

Evans & Tate has been crafting Margaret River wines for over 50 years. Today, they have eight lines of wines ranging from fun-and-friendly to award-winning and sophisticated. This particular white wine is from their mid-range Wild Cape line. The Wild Cape range of three wines is a celebration of the raw beauty of Western Australia's southwest region and is inspired by the spectacular coastline and distinct regional characteristics of Margaret River wine. Adorning each label of Wild Cape wine is a dramatic photo by Andrew Semark that embodies the essence of the region where dramatic waves crash into the cape and world-class wines are produced in this remote, pristine part of the world. The photo that represents the Wild Cape Sauvignon Blanc is called ‘Void’ and captures the wave succinctly as "force, rare and relentless", terms which can also describe Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc as it offers a relentless wave of flavour with purity and energy, while showcasing the unique varietal characteristics of the region.

Crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the grapes for this white wine were picked at various times from small parcels in two vineyards in order to capture the myriad of aromas and flavours that Sauvignon Blanc vines produce at various ripeness levels. The grapes from the Karridale Vineyard were pressed upon arriving at the winery to soften acidity and to impart aromatic and textural complexity. The grapes from the Wilyabrup Vineyard were allowed to cold-soak on the skins for 24 hours before pressing and fermenting the clear juice. A small portion (13%) was allowed to undergo wild fermentation in used 500 L French oak puncheons to impart texture.

The growing season of the 2022 vintage began with a very wet winter, which led to good and healthy vine growth. The dry summer featured intense heat, which resulted in decreased yields. However, the dry, sunny days also provided a natural barrier to disease, while the extensive marri blossom kept bird pressure at bay. While some bunches suffered from sunburn, there were minimal challenges in the vineyard. Yields were lower than average, but the quality was the fruit resulted in outstanding wines. From a cracker of a vintage, let's see how this 2022 Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EVANS & TATE WILD CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#41435) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. Fresh and fragrant, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose delivers tropical fruit (passion fruit, guava), lime/lemon zest, citrus, and green herbal aromas with underlying savoury mineral and a touch of white floral. The medium+ weighted palate is dry and ripe with lime/lemon zest, passion fruit, guava, and herbs joined by mild spice notes. It has fresh and vibrant acidity, alongside a textured mouthfeel with good structure on the mid-palate. Lime zest, herbs, spice, and touches of mineral linger on the long, crisp finish. Chill well and enjoy this recommended buy on a hot summer day! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Evans & Tate are available at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent, certified sustainable Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa that arrived at the LCBO as an Online & Flagship Exclusive in the June 21 LCBO VINTAGES Release Collection - with bottles still available for purchase.

It is produced by Southern Right, a winery that was founded by Anthony Hamilton Russell in 1994 as a sibling winery to the renowned and highly-acclaimed Hamilton Russell Vineyards. In 2005, Southern Right established its home on a strikingly beautiful 448-hectare property in the cool, maritime, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. In 2009, their "Overberg" style cellar was built on the property and tailor-made for their Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc.

The winery is named after the rare Southern Right whales that frequent the cool, South Atlantic Walker Bay, which is located a mere 3 kilometres from the vineyards at its closest point. With each bottle of Southern Right sold, the Russell family makes a contribution to the whales' conservation, as well as the conservation of indigenous and endangered vegetation in the area. Their motto 'Naturam Esse Omne', which means 'Nature is Everything', is carried on the neck label of each Southern Right bottle and is their commitment to the conservation and improvement of the environment.

As a boutique winery, Southern Right is a small specialist in Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc wines. With Pinotage, the aim of Southern Right is to produce serious, age-worthy wines that combine distinct South African fruit and flavour expression with classic styling and refinement. Southern Right's vineyards have stony, very high iron and clay content, and shale-derived soils which are best suited to crafting refined and classically-styled wines. As is their philosophy at Hamilton Russell Vineyards, they practice rigorous yield management and take extreme care to ensure harvesting the grapes at optimal physiological ripeness. With Sauvignon Blanc, a wine that is a local and international bestseller, it undergoes a slower fermentation using both natural and endemic yeasts, and is crafted with the aim of avoiding excessively dramatic varietal characters that obscure the expression of the site and soil.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in the Cape Coast area. More specifically, 53% of the fruit comes from Walker Bay, while 47% is from Hemel-en-Aarde. The vineyards are planted on diverse soils consisting of 40% clay-rich shale, 32% Table Mountain sandstone, and 28% decomposed granite. The wine was crafted to ensure the personality of the sites and soils is not overridden by the forceful character of Sauvignon Blanc, and aims to balance the tight Old World minerality and length with New World texture and body. With a significant percentage of the fruit coming from iron and clay-rich soil, this adds a fine textural and structural component to the wine, as well as additional overall complexity. To further impart texture and mouthfeel, 8% of this wine was matured in neutral barrels. Meanwhile, the sandstone soils contribute their typically bright, tensile character and a marked, saline minerality.

The 2023 growing season along the Cape Coastal areas was one of the coolest years on record, averaging a maximum of 24.18°C from December to March. Budbreak was slightly later than normal for Sauvignon Blanc, while ripening was just over one week earlier. The later-ripening sites were at risk from significant rainfall during harvest in late-February and March, however, careful selection in the vineyard enabled the team at Southern Right to bring only the best grapes to the cellar. Considered a somewhat challenging vintage of good quality with cool-climate characteristics, this vintage produced vibrant and energetic wines with wonderful natural acidity. Let's see how this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SOUTHERN RIGHT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, WO Cape Coast, South Africa (#512277) (XD) - $24.95
Cool and fresh, the medium-high intensity nose has complex aromas of lemon/lime citrus, grapefruit, sea spray, asparagus, snow pea, tarragon, grassy, and green herb aromas accented with guava and ripe tropical fruits. The dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate has very good concentration supporting the spicy flavours of lemon/lime citrus, grapefruit, saline mineral, tarragon, herbal, and grassy notes. It's nicely textured, and a touch viscous on the mid-palate, alongside clean, tangy, fresh, and vibrant acidity. Complex throughout with tangy citrus and herbs tapering to saline and earthy minerals on the long, savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

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

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Château de Fontenille Blanc 2023 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, sustainable Sauvignon Blanc-based blend from Bordeaux that was included as part of the feature story on "Summery White Wines" in the recent June 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection a couple of weeks ago.

It is produced by the historic Château de Fontenille, a winery whose roots can be traced back to the 4th century, when the poet Ausone praised the wines of the area within the Entre-deux-Mers wine region of Bordeaux. In the 4th century, this site was a Roman villa, of which there are only scattered remains today, and featured grape vines. The history of the property is traced back to the 15th century, when it was mentioned in the archives of the neighbouring Benedictine monastery - Abbey of La Sauve Majeure. This monks of the monastery tended to the vines on this site for hundreds of years. In 1923, the property was known for its use of high-quality wine barrels.

A property as old as Château de Fontenille has changed hands many times over the years, and in 1989 the property marked its rebirth as its 16 hectares of vineyards were acquired by a young Belgian, Stéphane Defraine. Château de Fontenille has since grown to 63 hectares of vines, and in 2020, Stéphane was joined by his daughter Macha. Together, with a dream and ambition, they imagine, probe, prepare, wait, adjust, and improve as they seek to improve their wines with each passing vintage. As part of this process, they master each row of plots, micro-vinify, and delicately mature their wines with meticulous precision.

With the proper choice of varietal origin, reproduction of the vines, caring for their longevity, the intra-parcel selections, micro-vinifications, and ageing techniques, including the selection of wood, the family aims to take Château de Fontenille one step further to produce high-quality wines. They have divided their 63 hectares of vineyards across the appellations of Entre-deux-Mers and Cadillac, which are spread over 5 islets, into 67 plots, and have great diversity in soil, grape varieties, and vineyard management techniques. Among their vine plantings are century-old Sémillon, as well as the re-discovery of Sauvignon Gris from the Loire, and young plantings of Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Since 2005, Château de Fontenille began working their soils without the use of chemical weedkillers, and are actively trying to limit their interventions to control pests and disease. After receiving their HVE environmental approach certification, they began their conversion to organic in 2020. Their approach to sustainability includes social and economic improvements. Among their sustainability initiatives include reducing energy consumption, preserving water resources, the maintenance of a singular plant heritage, the sorting and recycling of waste, and protecting the health and well-being of their employees, local residents, and consumers.

This white wine is from the Entre-deux-Mers appellation of the Bodeaux. Entre-deux-Mers, whose name originates from the Latin term "Inter duo maria”, which means between two tides, is situated between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Indeed, the name is related to the two tides that go up the course of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers via the Gironde estuary. While it is often referred to as "Bordeaux Tuscany", the Entre-deux-Mers appellation is renowned for its exemplary white wines.

This white wine is crafted with 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Muscadelle, and 10% Sémillon that was grown on soil composed of siliceous clay and gravel, at an elevation of 380 feet above sea level. The wine was vinified completely in stainless steel tanks, with skin maceration for 10 to 24 hours, and was aged on its fine lees for 4 months.

The 2023 growing season in Bordeaux began as a dry and warm vintage, with flowering and fruit set looking textbook perfect from late-May to the first week of June. However, the weather turned tropical with three weeks of heat and relentless rain, which led to downy mildew outbreaks. July was also hotter and drier than average, however, it was also unusually cloudy. There were also a couple of pre-harvest heatwaves in August and September. From a great vintage that delivered freshness for white wines, let's see how this 2023 Bordeaux Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE FONTENILLE BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, AC Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France (#140046) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Gris, 20% Muscadelle, and 10% Sémillon. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose seems a bit reserved, offering attractive and ripe aromas of lemon citrus and white peach nuanced with leesy mineral, spice, and grapefruit with touches of earthiness and guava adding further complexity and interest. On the dry, medium-full to full-bodied palate it is richly structured and faintly honeyed with delicious yellow citrus, grapefruit, lemon, spice, and green fruit flavours. Nicely textured with succulent and juicy acidity. More savoury with leesy mineral, spice, earthy, and grapefruit citrus notes on the long, well-structured, and juicy finish. Should continue to drink well over the next 2-3 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines by Château de Fontenille 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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The Quarterly Pour with Arterra Wines Canada (Apr. 2025)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Notes:

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

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

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

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Wakefield Estate Label Wines - Degrees Matter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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Alvi's Drift Signature Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa that made its debut at the LCBO last month in the February 15 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is readily available for purchase across Ontario.

It is produced by Alvi's Drift Winery, a family-owned and award-winning winery that was founded in South Africa's Western Cape by Alvi van der Merwe and his wife, Hester, in the early 2000s. The family's patriarch, Albertus Viljoen "Oupa Alvi" van der Merwe, is known for scoring the first try against the All Blacks on African soil in 1928. In 1930, Oupi Alvi commissioned a low-water bridge to be built across the Breede River on their family farm. This bridge was locally christened, and is still known today as "Alvi's Drift", after Oupa Alvi, as he was instrumental in building it. A few years before retiring from rugby, Oupa Alvi acquired a piece of fertile farmland nestled on the banks of the Breede River in the Western Cape's majestic Breede River Valley.

Today, the family farm is in the hands of Alvi van der Merwe, grandson of Oupa. Alvi and Hester turned both the farm and the family legacy of crafting exceptional wines into a vision that surpassed all expectations. Alvi is widely known for being a perfectionist, while also being dedicated and passionate about the winemaking craft. Although he initially studied medicine, his passion for creating world-class wines from this family's vineyards persisted, and in 2003 he returned home from practicing abroad to assist his father, Bertie, with managing the family's orchards, vineyards, and winery.

While Bertie was focused mostly on bulk wine production, Alvi began exploring his passion for winemaking. After one harvest, once Bertie had picked all of his grapes, Alvi was allowed to pick and use any remaining grapes. He put in a lot of effort to create a bit of Chardonnay and Muscat de Frontignan and bought his own barrels and bottles, and actually won quite a few awards with his first wine and Alvi's Drift Winery was born.

Like the delicious 2021 Alvi's Drift Signature Chardonnay I enjoyed about a year and a half ago, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc is also from their Signature Range that offers unpretentious, fruit-driven flavours of exceptional quality at an incredible price point. The grapes were grown in the ideal Mediterranean microclimate of the Western Cape, near the life-giving Breede River, where the vineyards are ideally positioned for producing remarkable wines of unique character and complexity. Alvi’s Drift vineyards are sustainably fertilised with natural compost produced on their own farm, and meticulously managed to ensure optimal quality and flavour. The grapes were selectively hand-harvested in the cool, early morning hours to ensure only the healthiest, perfectly ripe bunches are used for production. To vinify this wine, the winemaking team strongly focuses on preserving the fruit-driven expression of the grapes, and uses only premium free-run juice of the highest quality to create this unwooded wine. To ensure maximum flavour retention, the clarified juice was cold-fermented in stainless steel tanks, and spent a few months on its lees before fining and stabilisation.

The 2023 growing season in South Africa was beset with various challenges, beginning with a relatively mild and dry winter, followed by early budburst and flowering. Summer was cold and wet, which slowed ripening. However, harvest took place at a relatively normal pace. From a good vintage that features wines exhibiting elegant and cool-climate characters, let's see how this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ALVI'S DRIFT SIGNATURE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#41453) (XD) - $14.95
Screw cap. The reserved, medium intensity nose delivers lemon/lime citrus aromas nuanced with stone fruits, green fruit, and touches of ripe tropical fruit, herbs, gooseberry, and leesy characters. It's medium-full bodied, fairly concentrated, dry, and ripe with slightly honeyed and tangy flavours of lemon/lime citrus, green fruits, stone fruit, and gooseberry joined by some savoury leesy and spice notes. It has fresh, zesty, and tangy acidity, while the tangy mid-palate leads to lemony and savoury earthy mineral notes on the long and juicy finish. This recommended buy will be a fine match with salad. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Alvi's Drift Winery can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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Xanadu Vinework Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2023 and Circa 77 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Margaret River) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of delightful wines from Margaret River in Western Australia. Both of these wines arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent February 15 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which featured wines from Australia.

These wines are produced by Xanadu Wines, a winery that was founded in 1977 by Dr. John Lagan, an Irish immigrant who arrived in Australia in 1969, who was drawn to the emerging wine region of Margaret River. Dr. Lagan recognized the viticultural potential of Margaret River because the cool, maritime climate was similar to Bordeaux. Situated in an idyllic setting, only a few kilometres from the coast, in a place radiating with promise and potential, Xanadu was named for an ancient, otherworldly paradise described in the poem "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and symbolizes a winemaking utopia.

Dr. Lagan and his wife, Eithne, were the first to establish vineyards on the property, and one of the first in Margaret River, and focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Over the next couple of decades, they developed Xanadu Wines into one of Australia's highly-acclaimed wineries.

In 2005, Xanadu Wines was acquired by Rathbone Wine Group. The Rathbone family invested its resources to continue to enhance vineyard management and winemaking techniques, while also focusing on sustainable viticulture and modernizing the winery. Margaret River is a place filled with life and energy, and the philosophy is to bottle the vibrancy of this place. At Xanadu, there's harmony between the place and the people, and features a dynamic balance that brings out the best of both, and helps create wines filled with energy.

The process at Xanadu is driven by a deep respect for the land, while also ensuring that they protect the integrity and potential of the region. With sustainable practices and nurturing the land, they ensure that the land will continue to thrive for future generations. Xanadu Wines have been certified sustainable since 2011 by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. They have over 65 hectares of vines on the estate, which flourish on the rich, free-draining soils of the Margaret River region. Xanadu uses a minimalist approach to winemaking, which allows the region's richness and vibrancy to shine through. With a goal to make sure that the spirit of the region is unmistakable in every bottle, an energy that you can feel, and genuine characters that you can taste, Xanadu Wines is considered today to be one of Margaret River's top wineries.

Both the 2022 and 2023 vintages in Margaret River were excellent, with the 2022 wines exhibiting vibrant, fine, and elegant characteristics, while the wines from 2023 have a little more density. Let's see how the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon and 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

XANADU VINEWORK SAUVIGNON BLANC / SEMILLON 2023 - Sustainable, Margaret River, Western Australia (#41315) (XD) - $22.95
This 75/25 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon was fermented in both stainless steel and (wild fermented) in French barriques, while also aged on its lees for 3 months. A touch nose tingling, the fragrant, medium-high intensity nose offers enticing aromas of kiwi, guava, and passion fruit wrapped around a core of lemon/lime citrus accented with grapefruit, leesy minerals, and whiffs of jalapeño. The medium+ to medium-full bodied palate is concentrated, ripe, and slightly honeyed with delicious kiwi, guava, passion fruit, lemon/lime citrus, and grapefruit flavours supported by crisp and zesty acidity. Lemon/lime citrus, grapefruit, and leesy mineral notes linger on the long, crisp finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

XANADU CIRCA 77 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#18344) (XD) - $18.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc has a medium+ to medium-high intensity that nose offers fresh evergreen and minty herb aromas wrapped around a core of mocha chocolate, savoury earth, black currant, blackberry, and cassis, plus oak spice. The mid-weighted palate is dry and ripe with a delicious mix of minty herb, evergreen, oak spice, blackcurrant, cassis, and savoury earth flavours. Acids are crisp and juicy, while the smooth, ripe, and fairly round tannins have good structure. Savoury earth, oak, minty herb, and blackcurrant notes linger on the long, well-balanced finish. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

There's a high-end Chardonnay that is available at one LCBO outlet, while the full range of Xanadu Wines can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Thalia Wines (Greece) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a trio of wines from Greece that I've had in my possession for nearly a couple of years now. While these particular vintages are long sold out, the latest vintage of each wine is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario at a about $1+ more than the price noted below.

All three wines are produced by Thalia Wines, a wine brand from Greece that was established by Steve Kriaris of Kolonaki Group of Companies. In addition to importing many boutique Greek wines into Canada, he also began producing and importing Thalia Wines - a range of three, diverse wines that are rooted in the rich tradition and craftsmanship of Greek winemaking.

The brand is inspired by Thalia, the eighth of nine Greek muses which inspired artists to create. She was born to Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, the personification of thought, intellect, and memory, and the Mother of the arts. Thalia is the goddess of comedy, poetry, and festivity, and the one who inspired laughter to emanate from Greek theatres. To the ancient Greek philosophers, Thalia was the inspiration for their symposiums where they drank wine, listened and danced to music, debated, recited poetry, and revelled the night away.

Thalia is this wine brand's muse as she embodies their wines borne of ancient Greek lands and carries the fermentations of inspired generations in its genes. Thalia wines are best enjoyed amongst friends and loved ones, where we subconsciously desire to recreate the ancient Greek gatherings and enjoy each other's company, thoughts, and laughter.

The entire range of Thalia wines consists of 3 wines - a red, white, and rosé. All three wines are two-varietal blends that combine a native variety with an international variety. The 2021 vintage wines reviewed below are all from a good vintage, so let's see how these Greek wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

THALIA ROSÉ (2021) - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#27148) (XD) - $10.95
A blend of 80% Agiorgitiko, Greece's noblest red grape variety, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. After hand-harvesting the grapes, each variety spent 2 to 3 hours on its skins. The free-run wine must was then blended and fermented together at low temperatures using selected yeast. Enclosed by screw cap and pours a medium orange-pink salmon hue. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose delivers dried herb, white pepper spice, grapefruit, citrus, and blood orange aromas with hints of stony minerality. It's nicely textured on the medium+ to medium-full bodied and dry palate with delicious dried herb, peppery spice, grapefruit, citrus, and red apple flavours supported by very good, crisp acidity. It has a nicely textured mouthfeel, while red currant and berry notes join the herbal and grapefruit characters on the juicy, dry finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

THALIA WHITE (2021) - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#273490) (XD) - $11.50
This blend of 70% Assyrtiko, one of Greece's highest quality grapes and comes from the high altitudes of the Achaia region, and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, each variety was hand-harvested and fermented separately at low temperatures using selected yeast, followed by ageing on its fine lees for 2 months. Fresh and fragrant with ripe aromas of lemon citrus, hay, orange, and grapefruit, plus some intriguing yeasty, doughy, autolytic characters adding complexity. The medium+ bodied palate is dry and ripe with slightly honeyed notes of lemon citrus, grapefruit, apple, and wild herbs, with touches of leesy minerality. Acids are juicy and well-balanced. Subtle spice on the mid-palate, while citrus and leesy mineral notes linger on the lengthy, crisp finish. Well-made and a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

THALIA RED (2021) - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#15285) (XD) - $11.60
This blend of 80% Agiorgitiko and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-harvested and had gentle skin contact for one week. After undergoing alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, the two varieties were blended and aged. It has a fragrant, medium+ intensity nose of ripe black cherry, red plum, vanilla oak spice, and sweet cinnamon aromas with savoury earth accents. On the medium+ bodied palate it is dry with good structure that supports the black cherry, currant, plum, cassis, savoury earth, coffee, and gently oak spice flavours. It has very good, juicy acidity and smooth, supple tannins with a lightly grippy texture. There's some pleasant bitterness on the mid-palate, while earthy, dark cherry, coffee, and spice notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Should continue to age gracefully over the next 2-3 years. Score: 88+ pts

The latest edition of all three wines are widely available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine 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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Fortes Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa. It is a brand-new wine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on March 16th.

It is produced by Fortes Family Wines, a boutique winery that was established and is led by Neil Fortes. Having known Neil for many years, he is also the owner of Wine Guru Selections Inc., a wine agency and distributor based in Ontario who specializes in representing and merchandising wines in Canada and has over 40 years of experience in the wine trade. The Fortes family originated in Spain and can be traced back to the time of Queen Isabella in the 15th century. During their history, they migrated to Russia, where they were grain merchants in Melitopol, in southeastern Ukraine. At the beginning of the 19th century, the family migrated to the U.S., followed by a migration to South Africa during the last century.

Today, Neil Fortes spends his time between Canada and South Africa. Fortes Family Wines is situated in the pristine Napier valley, close to Cape Agulhas, at the southernmost tip of the African continent. The name "fortes" means "strong" in Spanish, which also describes the strength and intensity of the wines they are crafting. Located in this region, the temperate climate allows Fortes to produce groundbreaking, cool-climate wines of enormous extract and quality. Furthermore, the soils are of great complexity and structure. Fortes Family wines is also a proud member of the Agulhas Wine Triangle, a non-profit company that was established in 2019 to showcase the wines, tourism, and natural beauty of the Agulhas area.

In general, the 2022 growing season in South Africa was cooler and produced a slightly smaller harvest, with promising wine quality. Let's see how this 2022 Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FORTES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - WO Napier, South Africa (#33297) (XD) - $23.95
Lightly matured in small oak casks, this Sauvignon Blanc is fresh, fragrant, and highly aromatic with pretty aromas of passion fruit, kiwi, and guava layered over citrus, flowers, and touches of mineral. It's medium+ bodied and gently spicy on the palate with delicious passion fruit, kiwi, guava, and lemon citrus replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by fresh, bracing acidity and a gently chalky textured mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Succulent and juicy with passion fruit, citrus, and guava notes tapering to a long, leesy mineral finish. Enjoy this fantastic, highly recommended buy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Fortes Family Wines can be ordered through their Agent - Wine Guru Selections Inc.

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Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc 2022 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, organic and vegan white wine blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon from Bordeaux that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on March 2nd.

It is produced by Maison Raymond, a vigneron and negociant that is located in the southeastern end of Bordeaux's largest appellation, the Entre-Deux-Mers region, southeast of the city of Bordeaux. It was founded by the Raymond family in 1850 and, as such, they have a long history of winegrowing since the medieval times in the villages of Saint-Laurent-du-Bois, Saint-Martial, and Saint-Felix de Conclude.

Today, Maison Raymond is led by the 8th generation of the family. They reside on the family property of Domaine du Château de Lagarde, which had been built over the years by successive generations. The winery honours its heritage by using a special combination of ancestral tradition and the most efficient modern technologies to craft its wines. Organic farming at Maison Raymond was introduced after Lionel Raymond acquired an organic vineyard in 2000 and, because he had a strong respect for the environment and terroir, he was convinced that organic was the way to move forward and proceeded to convert all 130 hectares of vines at Maison Raymond to organic viticulture. Most winemakers in the area thought he was crazy as it was twice the work of a conventional vineyard. Today, Maison Raymond is one of Bordeaux's largest organic wineries and one of the few in the region that has made a commitment to organic viticulture. Maison Raymond is passionately relentless in its commitment to crating wines using natural, chemical-free methods, and without compromising on quality.

Like the 2019 Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc that I enjoyed a few years ago, this vintage is also a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon. The grapes were sourced from hillside sites in Saint Laurent du Bois. The climate at these sites is mild, with cooling breezes off the Atlantic Ocean, with lots of sunshine and regular rain. The vineyards are planted in soil composed of clay and limestone. The grapes were vinified completely in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats, without the use of any oak.

The 2022 growing season was surprisingly good, despite the perilous conditions. Winter started cool and dry, with dry conditions remaining in place even as temperatures started to rise in spring, and allowed for both an early and successful budburst and flowering. The aforementioned perilous conditions arrived with frosts in April and significant hailstorms in June. Yields were cut, but temperatures continued to rise, leading to drought conditions. July was the driest in decades, and from that month onward there was virtually no rain, and it featured prominent heatwaves. Serious wildfires sparked concerns of smoke taint, but most of the vineyards managed to escape unscathed. Cool nights helped bring some relief, which in turn helped preserve aromatic freshness and acidity in the fruit. Harvest was a little early, with much of the resulting fruit exceptionally fine. Let's see how this 2022 Bordeaux Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BLANC 2022 - Vegan, AC Bordeaux, France (#387787) (XD) - $19.95
This organic white wine is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon. The medium to medium-high intensity nose offers an attractive bouquet of citrus, apple, grapefruit, orange, and honeysuckle aromas layered over guava, passion fruit, and tropical fruit notes. It has good concentration on the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied with lovely citrus, grapefruit, white floral, herbal, and spice flavours. It's supported by fresh, lemony acidity, while citrusy, spice, and mineral notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Enjoyable now, but will be even better with a further 6-12 months in the cellar. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Maison Raymond can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

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