Kew Blanc de Blancs 2017 and Blanc de Noirs 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Kew Vineyards Marsanne a few months ago (and still widely available in stores today), tonight's sparkling wine reviews a pair of wonderful bubblies from the same producer in Niagara that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature story on Bubbles in the December 14 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Both of these fantastic bubblies are produced by Kew Vineyards, a boutique estate winery situated on the limestone-rich soils of the Beamsville Bench, in the heart of Niagara wine country. Kew Vineyards is situated on a 160-year-old estate, in a homestead built by William Kew that was used by the family to successfully produce carriages.

Once the Kew family's chapter ended, a new chapter began in 1975, when Mr. Hermann Weis brought his own clones from the Mosel Valley in Germany and planted some of Niagara's first Riesling vines on the estate at Kew Vineyards. Unknowingly, Mr. Weis became a true pioneer of Ontario's wine region, even while he was relentlessly met with skepticism as the community said he could never do it. Most of Niagara's Rieslings today are based on the Weis Clone.

Today, Kew Vineyards is a hidden gem of Niagara's wine country history. It is owned by Arterra Wines Canada, who acquired the historical property and its 80+ acres of vineyards in 2023. The vineyards are situated on sloping land and well-drained soils, with ideal growing temperatures.

The focus at Kew Vineyards is on small-batch winemaking, with the belief that wine is the ultimate expression of passion - passion for the art of wine making, passion for the land, and passion for the way in which it celebrates daily life. The winemaking team is led by veteran Australian winemaker Philip Dowell, who has focused his life's work on cool-climate wines. The philosophy at Kew is to allow the vineyard to tell its story of each harvest, while also expressing the terroir in order to produce world-class wines that are uniquely Niagara.

The sparkling wines reviewed below are both mono-varietal and vintage sparkling wines. The 2017 Blanc de Blancs is crafted using 100% Chardonnay, while the 2020 Blanc de Noirs was produced using 100% Pinot Noir. The 2017 growing season in Ontario was generally cool with wet weather. At the beginning of September, extended heat and sunshine resulted in one of the nicest autumn seasons on record, as well as a later harvest. Grape quantities were high with a record harvest, while the quality was excellent for white wine varieties. The growing season in 2020 provided near perfect conditions that coaxed the best out of a wide spectrum of grapes from whites to big red Bordeaux varieties, and everything in between, including Pinot Noir. The 2020 vintage produced grapes which reached phenolic ripeness, while also maintaining acidity to allow for balanced wines. Let's see how these two vintage sparkling wines from Niagara are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

KEW BLANC DE BLANCS 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#438994) (D) - $32.95 $28.70
100% Chardonnay that was barrel aged for 5 months prior to bottling for secondary fermentation, and then aged on its lees for 5 years. Fresh, elegant, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers lovely toasty, brioche, and autolytic characters mingling with lemon citrus, stone fruit, and white peach aromas, plus whiffs of pastry and honey adding further complexity and intrigue. It's light-to-mid weighted and essentially dry on the palate with delicious citrusy, ripe apple, toasty, and brioche flavours with touches of autolytic notes and a twist of honey. It has crisp acidity and lively bubbles that freshen the juicy and slightly creamy palate. Subtly spicy with apple, toasty, and brioche flavours that are joined by leesy minerals on the long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

KEW BLANC DE NOIRS 2020 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#380030) (D) - $32.95 $28.70
100% Pinot Noir that was gently whole-berry pressed and fermented in stainless steel, followed by ageing on its lees for 2 years. The medium+ intensity nose offers apple, pear, red cherry, and lemon citrus aromas with touches of biscuit and toast. Some autolytic and honeyed aromas develop with time in the glass. The vibrant, medium-bodied palate is dry with delicious toasty, apple, pear, and lemon citrus flavours with hints of honey, biscuit, and mineral. It has fresh, vibrant acidity and crisp, refreshing mousse, along with a textured and slightly grippy mid-palate. Apple, lemon citrus, and mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, and dry finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines by Kew Vineyards can be found at the LCBO, while the full range can be purchased directly from the winery in Beamsville (Niagara), or through their Agent - Arterra Wines Canada.

Read More

Artemivske Victory White Brut Sparkling and Red Semi-Sweet Sparkling (Ukraine) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's sparkling wine reviews are a pair of brand-new arrivals that landed at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the November 30 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Both of these wines are produced by Artwinery, a sparkling wine producer in Ukraine that was established in 1950, but whose history goes back to the 19th century.

Ukranian history in the production of traditional method sparkling wines begins with Prince Lev Golitsyn, who bought an estate in Novyi Svit, on the southern shores of Crimea, that was completely destroyed during the Crimean War. By 1882, the Prince's factory was able to revive Crimean winemaking by producing traditional method sparkling wines. During this period, in the town of Bakhmut, in the eastern part of the country, engineer Edmund Farke signed a contract with the government for the construction of alabaster factories, which became a thriving enterprise. The extraction of gypsum for the factories resulted in a large underground mine, 70 metres below ground, which had a micro-climate that allowed for fermentation to take place, and was the beginning of unique wine production in Ukraine.

The celebration of victory following World War II required a special drink, and in the 1940s they started working on creating "Soviet sparkling wine", which had to be of at least equal quality to Champagne. They used the underground galleries of Bakhmut, which was known as Artemivsk back then, for the production of classical sparkling wines, and by 1950, the wine factory was officially established. These wines were tasty, high-quality, and the most hard-to-find in the U.S.S.R., as they were distributed mostly in stores for those that worked for the party, while off-limits to ordinary citizens.

As Ukraine gained its independence in 1991, the wine factory began creating sparkling wines under its own brands - Artemivske and Krim. In 2007, the winery began upgrading the plant with more modern and powerful units, while the laboratory was completely renovated. Furthermore, some processes that were manually performed are also now automated. These upgrades allowed the winery to produce 25 million bottles per year. In 2016, the company got its new name - Artwinery. By 2020, Artwinery's sparkling wines were gaining global recognition and winning prizes at international industry competitions and exhibitions.

Today, Artwinery is the largest in Eastern Europe and the only one in Ukraine to produce sparkling wines in the classic Champenoise method where re-fermentation of the wine and its saturation with bubbles is carried out naturally in bottle. As we know - place matters, and as such, Bakhmut is situated at the same latitude and climatic zone as Champagne. The grapes used to create Artwinery's sparkling wines are grown in the fertile soils of southern Ukraine, in the sunny climates of Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. With the war in Ukraine ongoing, the workers continue producing wine in secret locations to not let the Russians stop their work.

These particular sparkling wines are from Artwinery's Artemivske range. The Artemivske brand is only 10 years old, but has become the #1 sparkling wine in Ukraine and is a favourite among several generations as it evokes the warmth of your family memories and the brightest everyday emotions. Today, the Artemivske brand retains its impeccable quality and enjoys constant popularity. Each bottle in the Artemivske range is fermented using their special in-house yeast and aged in bottle for at least 9 months and offers a delicate bouquet and taste. Let's see how these sparkling wines from Ukraine are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

ARTEMIVSKE VICTORY RED SEMI-SWEET SPARKLING - Ukraine (#40768) (MS) - $18.95
Crafted in the Charmat method, this blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Saperavi has a medium intensity nose that is gently spicy, followed by macerated black cherry, dark berry, milk chocolate, cocoa, dark plum, cassis, and currant aromas. It's mid-weighted and gently sweet with black cherry, plummy, dark berry, savoury spices, and chocolate flavours supported by gently frothy mousse and bright acidity that tempers the sweetness. Quite harmonious and balanced throughout, even some sense of elegance, while savoury cocoa and milk chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

ARTEMIVSKE VICTORY WHITE BRUT SPARKLING - Ukraine (#40769) (D) - $18.95
Blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, and Aligoté crafted in the Charmat method. The fresh, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers ripe peach, nectarine, honeysuckle, and freshly sliced apple aromas accented with orange and citrus notes. There's a touch of sweetness alongside bitterness on the crisp, refreshing, and slightly frothy light-to-mid-weighted palate with lively acidity and bubbles. Gently sweet flavours of apple, pear, orchard fruit, and white floral, plus notes of peach and citrus. Juicy and succulent on the mid-palate, while leesy notes linger on the essentially dry finish, with very good length. Appealing crowd-pleaser. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious sparkling wines by Artwinery can be purchased through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

Read More

December 14, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Bubbles

Happy holidays! Here are my top wine picks from the December 14, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is the last release of the year. The feature story in this release focuses on - what else? - Sparkling Wines for holiday and end-of-year celebrations. There are 135 wines on offer in this release, and it includes a selection of Online & Flagship Exclusive (OFE) wines. All the wines should be available for purchase by Saturday. The prices noted below include HST, which will be removed when purchasing.

We'll begin with the feature story that focuses on sparkling wines from around the world. Of the seventeen bubblies included as part of the theme, six are included among my top sparkling wine picks. Most of my sparkling wine picks from the theme are relatively wallet-friendly at under $33, with the exception being the 2017 vintage Champagne ($136) that is crafted with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. On the local front, there are a couple of fine vintage sparkling wines from Niagara's Kew Vineyards - the Blanc de Blancs, which is crafted with Chardonnay, and the Blanc de Noirs, which is made with Pinot Noir. The sparkling wine from Loire is a blend of 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Chardonnay, while the bubbles from Provence is composed of Syrah and Grenache. And lastly, the vintage Cava is a blend of 50% Xarel·lo, 35% Macabeu, and 15% Perallada.

There are two other sparkling wines not part of the feature story but also worth a look. From Champagne, the Bollinger Brut Rosé is crafted with 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, and 14% Meunier, while the Palmer Brut Réserve is approximately 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 20% Meunier. Lastly, the Hidden Bench sparkling wine from Niagara is made using 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay.

My top red wine picks begin in Napa Valley, with the iconic Silver Oak Cab Sauv that is actually a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. Tuscany has five wine recommendations among my picks, with Brunello di Montalcino made with 100% Sangiovese, while the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is 70% Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) with Canaiolo making up most of the remaining blend. The Riserva Chianti Classico is composed of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo + other varieties, while the Isole e Olena Chianti Classico is of a similar blend, and the Vallepicciola Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese. Also from Italy, the red wine from Sicily is crafted with Nero d'Avola, while the Barolo is made with, of course, Nebbiolo. The Côtes du Rhône red is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, and 5% Mourvèdre, while the Australian GSM red is an unspecified blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro. From Chile, the Cabernet Franc includes 5% Petit Verdot, while the Argentine red is an 80/20 blend of Malbec and Touriga Nacional. Lastly, the red wine from Spain is composed of 40% Grenache, 40% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cariñena.

Among my white wine picks, the only blend is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, which is crafted with nearly half Grenache Blanc, plus Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Piquepoul, and Picardin rounding out the blend. Other white wines include a Chardonnay from South Africa, and a couple of Sauvignon Blancs - one each from New Zealand and Friuli, and a pair of dry Rieslings - one each from Alsace and Austria. The sweet wine among the lot is the lovely Gewürztraminer from Alsace.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release and have a safe and happy holiday season! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2022 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#37937) (XD) - $15.95  90 pts  wine review
• MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS RESERVA 2019 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#166579) (XD) - $16.95
• HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2022 - AC, France (#276956) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• KABILE RESERVE SYRAH 2016 - PGI Thracian Valley, Bulgaria (#41369) (XD) - $19.95
• VIÑALBA RESERVA MALBEC / TOURIGA NACIONAL 2022 - Vegan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#442459) (XD) - $19.95
• VALLEPICCIOLA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#39690) (XD) - $19.95  review coming soon...
  

• PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CABERNET FRANC 2022 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#10591) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• TASCA D'ALMERITA REGALEALI LAMÙRI 2020 - DOC Sicily, Italy (#36750) (XD) - $23.95
• TORBRECK OLD VINES GRENACHE / MOURVÈDRE / SHIRAZ 2022 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#10223) (XD) - $24.95
• CARPINETO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#47118) (XD) - $31.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review

• ISOLE E OLENA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#704346) (XD) - $45.95  93 pts  wine review
• FLOWERS PINOT NOIR 2022 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215202) (XD) - $69.95
• RENATO RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO 2020 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#713479) (XD) - $78.95  93 pts  wine review
• LA FIORITA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#998195) (XD) - $103.95  OFE  93 pts  wine review
• SILVER OAK NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#936039) (XD) - $325.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• PITARS BRAIDA SANTA CECILIA SAUVIGNON 2022 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#30119) (XD) - $16.95
• BABICH SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Vegan, Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#36903) (XD) - $23.95
• DE WETSHOF BON VALLON CHARDONNAY 2023 - WO Robertson, South Africa (#403675) (XD) - $24.95
• TRIMBACH RIESLING 2022 - AC Alsace, France (#734517) (XD) - $29.95
• BRÜNDLMAYER TERRASSEN RIESLING 2023 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#40885) (XD) - $34.95  OFE
• DOMAINES SCHLUMBERGER KESSLER GEWURZTRAMINER 2021 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#307694) (MS) - $37.95  OFE
• E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#28618) (XD) - $71.95  OFE  93 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• RIVAROSE BRUT PRESTIGE ROSÉ SPARKLING - IGP Méditerranée, Salon de Provence, France (#515288) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• BOUVET LADUBAY BOUVET BRUT DE LOIRE SAUMUR BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, AC, Loire, France (#40866) (XD) - $19.95
• JUVE & CAMPS BRUT NATURE GRAN RESERVA RESERVA DE FAMILIA CAVA 2019 - Traditional method, Spain (#39815) (XD) - $27.95
• KEW BLANC DE NOIRS 2020 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#380030) (D) - $32.95  90+ pts  wine review
• KEW BLANC DE BLANCS 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#438994) (D) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH NATUR ZÉRO DOSAGE SPARKLING 2017 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#42220) (XD) - $47.20
• PALMER BRUT RÉSERVE CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#39865) (XD) - $85.95  review coming soon...
  
• LOUIS ROEDERER ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2017 - AC, France (#368415) (XD) - $135.95
• BOLLINGER BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#100503) (XD) - $149.95  OFE

Fortified Wine:

• HIDALGO LA GITANA TRIANA PEDRO XIMENEZ SHERRY - DO, Spain (#39467, 500 mL) (S) - $25.95

Read More

Josh Cellars Prosecco (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a delicious and relatively new Prosecco from Italy that is available not only at the LCBO, but also should be available at grocery stores across Ontario. Although I haven't checked the latest pricing at grocery stores, it is on clearance at the LCBO right now with a savings of $4.50.

It is produced by Josh Cellars, a wine brand that was established in California by Joseph Carr in 2007 as a tribute to his dad, Josh, and to honour all that his father had done for him. Josh was a lumberjack by trade who also served in the U.S. Army and volunteered as a local firefighter. Josh worked hard and instilled the values of dedication and perseverance in his twin children, Joseph and Lisa. These values drove Joseph to create Josh Cellars, and with hard work and commitment to ensure that the wines are well-balanced, delicious, and crafted to exacting standards, while also representing the best of California.

Today, Josh Cellars is one of a number of brands owned by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. The wines of Josh Cellars are made up of 11 varietals, including a Reserve collection of wines that come from some of California's most prestigious appellations, the North Coast, and Paso Robles, as well as a pair of Prosecco wines from Italy. Every vintage is a labour of love, a commitment to quality, and a very personal promise to make great wine in honour of Joseph's father, Josh. The winemaker at Josh Cellars is Wayne Donaldson. Wayne took over winemaking at Josh Cellars in 2009 and has been a leader in the international wine industry for over three decades. Josh Cellars is also committed to giving back to the community and supports various causes that reflect their values.

When Joseph Carr worked at a winery in Italy many years ago, he fell in love with the country and Italian wines. In 2019, Josh Cellars launched their first sparkling wine, this Prosecco, when they partnered with Villa Pozzi, a small, family-owned producer that are 5th generation winemakers. It is made with the same care and uncompromising commitment to quality that was instilled into Joseph by his father, Josh. This Prosecco is crafted with 100% Glera that was sourced from vineyards between Conegliano Veneto and Valdobbiadene, in northeastern Italy. Let's see how this Prosecco is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JOSH CELLARS PROSECCO - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#16947) (D) - $21.95 $17.45
100% Glera, the medium+ intensity aromatics are clean, fresh, and attractive, delivering fresh pear, white floral, and yellow citrus aromas with hints of orange and melon adding further interest. The crisp palate is off-dry with delicious pear, floral, citrus, melon, and orange replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by fresh, zesty acidity, and lovely, effervescent bubbles. The pear, floral, and citrus tones linger through to the finish, with very good length. Chill and enjoy this widely appealing, recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Josh Cellars are available at the LCBO (and likely grocery stores), as well as through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

Read More

Pommery Pink POP Rosé Champagne (France) - Wine Review

Since it is the season for bubbly, tonight's sparkling wine review is a delicious Champagne that is packaged in a convenient, wallet-friendly, and individually-sized Piccolo bottle of 200 mL. It was a brand-new arrival in the October 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - and still widely available - and makes a fine option for when you don't want to open a full 750 mL bottle.

It is produced by Champagne Pommery, a prestigious Champagne house with a rich history that was founded in 1836 by Alexandre Louis Pommery. However, it was only after his death in 1958, that his young widow, Madame Pommery, took over with a drive to conquer national and international markets by inventing the luxurious image of the Pommery brand and steering the Maison to success and glory.

One of the lasting legacies of Madame Pommery was the creation of the first vintage brut Champagne in 1874, a dry style of traditional method sparkling wine that was a revolution in Champagne during a time when the prevailing taste was sweet-toothed. The success of this wine led to a new dynasty in Champagne, while also establishing the fame and style of Maison Pommery.

Pommery has always challenged generally accepted ideas by imposing its innovative and avant-garde approach. During the 1930s, Maison Pommery launched a quartet of Veuve Pommery (VP) Champagne in a 200 mL format, an idea that was initially conceived by Marquis Melchior de Polignac, son of Madame Pommery, and contributed to the expansion of the Pommery brand to international markets.

Following the success of VP, Pommery was the first to launch the POP Champagne range of wines in 1999, which revolutionized the market for Champagne. Today, the Pommery POP range consists of POP (in a blue bottle), Pink POP (this bottle), and the Gold POP Vintage Champagne which is crafted from only classified Grand Cru vineyards. All three wines are packaged in Piccolo bottles and was the first Champagne especially blended to be consumed directly from the bottle or with a straw.

In keeping with the spirit of POP, Pink POP remains resolutely young and fresh, with a delicious flavour that is almost sensual. It was produced according to the same principals that Pommery holds so dearly in the production of its rosé wines - a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot wines, with a dash of red wine. Let's see how this Pink POP Rosé Champagne is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

POMMERY PINK POP ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#16944) (D) (200 mL) - $19.95
Crafted with Chardonnay and Pinot, this has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose of fine autolytic, toasty, and brioche characters accented with strawberry and cherry. There's an appealing kiss of sweetness on the cherry, strawberry, toasty, and brioche flavoured palate that is a touch spicy. It has crisp and lively acidity and bubbles, as well as some delicious autolytic notes on the mid-palate. The finish is long, dry, and crisp, with leesy mineral and very good length. A solid, recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious sparkling wines by Champagne Pommery are available at the LCBO, and through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

Read More

December 16, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Bubbles

Happy Holidays! Here's my top wine picks from the last release of the year! The theme surrounding the December 16 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection is titled "Bubbles" and focuses on sparkling wines for the holidays. There are 92 wines in the release, a bit on the small side compared to recent releases, with southern Rhône wines showing well among my picks. All the wines in this release should be available in stores across Ontario by this Saturday!

We'll begin with the theme on sparkling wines, and of the fourteen bubblies included as part of the theme, just three are among my top sparkling wine picks. At the top of the heap are a pair of Vintage Champagnes, both 2015, with the Nicolas Feuillatte composed of 100% Pinot Noir, while the Veuve Clicquot is an Essentials product, and it is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Meunier. On the more wallet-friendly side, we have a lovely Cava from Spain that is crafted with 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay.

Southern Rhone blends lead the way among my red wine recommendations, and at the top of the list is a lovely, organic Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is made with 13 varieties - 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Cinsault, Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Counoise, Terret, Roussanne, Picpoul, and Picardan. The Lirac red is composed of 50% Grenache Noir, 15% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Carignan, and 10% Mourvèdre, while the Costières de Nîmes red is a blend of 85% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre. Lastly, the Côtes du Rhône is crafted with 85% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, and 5% Mourvèdre. Other blends include the Chilean red from Maipo Valley that is composed with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Carmenere, while the Argentine Malbec includes 6% Petit Verdot. The last blend is the Super Tuscan that is crafted with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot. Some of the mono-varietal wines include the Morgon, which is made with Gamay, while the Barolo is crafted with Nebbiolo.

Among my white wine picks, there are only two wines that are blends - the wine from Greece is a blend of 90% Assyrtiko, 5% Athiri, and 5% Aidani, while the Rhône white was aged in barrels and is composed of 60% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, and 15% Grenache Blanc. Mono-varietal wines include a pair of Chardonnays - a Chablis 1er Cru from Burgundy and one from South Africa, as well as a pair of Sauvignon Blancs - one from Loire and the other is from New Zealand, while the last dry white wine is a Pecorino from Abruzzo in Italy. If you fancy something a little on the sweet side, look at the Riesling from Niagara.

Again, this is the last release of the year, so you'll want to stock up from this release or some other recent release for any holiday gatherings. Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release and have a safe & happy holiday!

Red Wine:

• SANTA EMA 60/40 BARREL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON / CARMENÈRE 2021 - Sustainable, DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#34606) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• HALOS DE JUPITER CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2021 - AC, France (#276956) (XD) - $18.95
• ARBOLEDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Vegan, DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#606764) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC 2021 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#79798) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
• LOUIS AÎNÉ & FILS MORGON 2022 - AP, Beaujolais, France (#35464) (XD) - $22.95
• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2021 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT 2020 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#736876) (XD) - $29.95
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2018 - AP, Rhône, France (#13438) (XD) - $32.95
• TENUTA SETTE PONTI CROGNOLO 2020 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#727636) (XD) - $34.95
• CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#16210) (XD) - $62.95  94 pts  wine review
• RENATO RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#713479) (XD) - $75.95

White Wine:

• LE BONHEUR CHARDONNAY 2022 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#20970) (XD) - $17.95
• FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2022 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $17.95
• MEGALOMANIAC NARCISSIST RIESLING 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#67587) (D) - $19.95
• TWO RIVERS CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $22.95
• ATLANTIS DRY WHITE 2022 - Greece (#371658) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT WHITE 2021 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#485854) (XD) - $29.95
• JEAN PABIOT ET FILS DOMAINE DES FINES CAILLOTTES POUILLY-FUMÉ 2022 - Sustainable, AP, Loire, France (#695908) (XD) - $34.95
• LA CHABLISIENNE GRANDE CUVÉE CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#685222) (XD) - $54.95

Sparkling Wine:

• SEGURA VIUDAS HEREDAD RESERVA BRUT CAVA - Traditional method, DO, Penedès, Spain (#558825) (D) - $39.95  92 pts  wine review
• NICOLAS FEUILLATTE BLANC DE NOIRS GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE 2015 - AC, Chouilly, France (#18130) (D) - $92.95
• VEUVE CLICQUOT PONSARDIN BRUT VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE 2015 - AC, France (#508614) (XD) - $120.95

Fortified Wine:

• HIDALGO FARAON OLOROSO SHERRY - DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, Spain (#471078) (XD) (500 mL) - $23.95  91+ pts  wine review

Read More

Henkell Brut Crémant de Loire 2016 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a delicious vintage Crémant from Loire that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on September 9th.

It is produced by Henkell, a leading, family-owned sparkling wine producer that is based in Wiesbaden, Germany. Henkell is an international star and best seller when it comes to exporting the German sparkling wine culture as their wines are found globally in more than 100 countries.

It all began when wine lover, Adam Henkell, opened a store as a wine merchant in 1832. He later discovered the fine art of crafting traditional method sparkling wine in France and brought this knowledge back home to Germany, marrying the French art of the cuvée with the German art of cellar-mastery. Following the French example, Henkell made his first outstanding sparkling wines in 1856, marking the beginning of a unique German success story. The Henkell brand of sparkling wines was famous all over the world before the end of the 19th century thanks to Otto Henkell, Adam's grandson. Henkell was also an export pioneer and market leader before the turn of the century, and in the 1950's, after Otto Henkell II took the helm, the company played an important role in the German economic miracle. Since its inception, Henkell has used the best base wines and the perfect technical skills of both German and French cellarmasters to guarantee its inimitable flavour and consistently high quality.

This sparkling wine was launched by Henkell in the fast-growing product segment of Crémant de Loire as a tribute to its French roots. Founder Adam Henkell learned the fine art of sparkling wine production in France and also had his own winery in the French town of Reims, the home of Champagne.

It is not often we see vintage-dated Crémant, but the grapes for this bubbly were hand-harvested at the end of the 2016 growing season, and only the best juices were selected for this wine. It is crafted in the traditional method using 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The first fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. It was aged on its lees for a short period of time, then underwent a second fermentation in bottle for about 3 years in natural cellars, where the temperature remains a constant 12-13°C and provides the optimal environment for secondary fermentation. Let's see how this 2016 Crémant de Loire sparkling wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HENKELL BRUT CRÉMANT DE LOIRE 2016 - Traditional method, AP, Loire, France (#29893) (D) - $21.95
A blend of 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The attractive, medium+ intensity nose has lemon citrus, pear, and peach aromas nuanced with brioche, autolytic, and toasty characters. It's medium-full bodied with some sweetness on the palate with honeyed flavours of ripe pear, peach, lemon citrus, plus some toasty, brioche, and hazelnut notes adding a savoury component. It has a crisp mouthfeel with a fine mousse and fresh acidity. More savoury with leesy mineral notes and hints citrus lingering on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious sparkling wines by Henkell are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

Read More

Ken Forrester Sparklehorse Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2019 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is this excellent traditional method bubbly made with Chenin Blanc from South Africa. It arrived at the LCBO today in the June 10 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is available for purchase exclusively on lcbo.com and Flagship Exclusive locations.

It is produced by Ken Forrester Vineyards, a winery that was established in 1993 by Ken Forrester and his wife Teresa after they acquired this vacant and derelict farm and homestead at a public auction. Although Ken and Teresa were new to this piece of land, the farm had a long history that can be traced back to the year 1689 and is one of the oldest farms in the Cape. The farm changed hands over the years and a German family took residence in 1833, happily growing vines for nearly 100 years. The property fell on hard times in the early 1990s and eventually found itself at the auction where Ken and Teresa were able to purchase it.

Ken Forrester Vineyards is situated on the slopes of of the Helderberg Mountain in the heart of South Africa's most famous wine region - Stellenbosch. They undertook a massive renovation both in the vineyard and the house, and produced the first wines under their own label a year later. The grapes for his wines were grown on the property, with some vines planted as far back as 1970. Soon after creating his wines, Ken Forrester was at the forefront leading the Chenin Blanc revival and his vineyards today are commonly referred to as the Home of Chenin Blanc.

Like the excellent 2019 Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc that I enjoyed last July, with the 2019 vintage Ken Forrester celebrated 25 years of winegrowing and winemaking in Stellenbosch. Sustainable farming is a core value at Ken Forrester Vineyards. They farm the vineyards without the use of herbicides or pesticides. While labour intensive, they also till, prune, and thin bunches and leaves, and harvest by hand, thereby providing job opportunities and improving the quality of life of the locals and community. As such, each bottle represents change for the better in someone's life.

This dry, vintage sparkling wine is crafted in the traditional method, which is known as Methode Cap Classique in South Africa, with 100% Chenin Blanc from vines that were planted in 1975 in Helderberg, in the south of Stellenbosch. The mature, cool vineyard is irrigated and managed to control yields. As one of the top producers of Chenin Blanc with intimate knowledge of winegrowing, the vineyard is farmed in blocks for a specific wine purpose. Due to the age of the vines and old plant material, there are leafroll viruses present in the block which has an effect on the ripening phase of a vineyard. Thus, by harvesting the fruit early, specifically to create sparkling wines, the pressure on the vineyard is reduced. The grapes were handpicked and sorted to optimize quality prior to crushing. It was aged for 8 months on its lees and a further 28 months sur lattes to develop creaminess and delicate mousse while maintaining the bright fruit notes. Let's see how this 2019 vintage traditional method sparkling wine from South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KEN FORRESTER SPARKLEHORSE SPARKLING CHENIN BLANC 2019 - Traditional method, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#32030) (XD) - $32.95
Lovely fragrant, autolytic, and biscuit aromas with a twist of honey and citrus surround a core of apple, pear, quince, and leesy notes. It's medium-full bodied on the crisp, dry, and tangy palate with lovely citrusy, apple, pear, toasty, biscuit, leesy, and autolytic flavours. Nicely balanced with crisp, lively acidity and a fine, elegant mousse. Leesy mineral and floral notes linger on the long, crisp, lip-smacking finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

The latest vintage of the Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc is available at the LCBO, while other wines from Ken Forrester Vineyards are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Read More

Louis Pommery Brut Rosé Sparkling (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is this excellent brut rosé sparkling wine from California. It's brand new to the LCBO, arrived in stores across Ontario this weekend as part of the feature on rosé wines in the May 27 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

With a rich legacy in France, the historic Champagne Pommery wanted to grow further and launched Louis Pommery California in 2017. Louis Pommery wines are rooted in tradition and symbolizes the best of sophisticated French winemaking combined with California style and innovation.

The tradition and story of Pommery begins in 1836 when Alexandre Louis Pommery, a retired wool merchant, co-founded his champagne house. Following his death in 1958, the former Jeanne Alexandrine Louise Melin, his widow, took over the operations. Known as Madame Pommery, she had a very clear idea and vision and wanted to produce a different wine while also relocating to different place which combined the optimal conditions for the production of these wines. She began construction of the new site in 1868 in Reims, the unofficial capital of the Champagne winegrowing region, and in 1874 she developed the dry brut Champagne style. Madame Pommery is widely credited for creating the dry champagne style and steering the world's taste in sparkling wine from sweet to dry.

With the great success and popularity of this new, dry style of Champagne across Europe and England, Pommery's focus shifted to the USA. An excellent marketing strategy led to the creation of gigantic 75,000 Litre vat in 1904 at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to being both a technical device and an art object, the vat was also a formidable PR tool.

The heirs of the Alexandre Louis and Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery continued the family tradition and acquired land in the legendary Napa Valley and embarked on a journey to produce sparkling wine in the New World. In 2004, after acquiring the famed Champagne Pommery house, Paul-François Vranken resurrected the quest to produce sparkling wines with a distinct identity from the very best quality grapes. Napa Valley offers a myriad of micro-climates, including vines for cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the ideal grapes to produce fine sparkling wine. The region also offers an exceptionally large diversity of soils with perfectly drained gravel, silt, poor rocks, volcanic ashes, and quartz, ideal for the creation of sparkling wines.

Louis Pommery traditional method sparkling wines are crafted using a revolutionary method by Thierry Gasco, the ninth Pommery cellar master. With a modern and different vision, Thierry spent many years working on developing and implementing a revolutionary new way of encapsulating yeast. This new method results in very clear and pure wines because it is completely free of sediment, while also giving off an exceptional range of aromas and taste. Let's see how this brut rosé sparkling wine from California is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LOUIS POMMERY BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING - Traditional method, California, USA (#31540) (XD) - $44.95
Crafted in the traditional method with 76% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Noir, and aged on its lees for 18 months. The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers elegant and pretty aromas of red berry, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and citrus with a touch of autolytic character. The mid-weighted palate is crisp, dry, and very clean with finesse, delivering lovely, delicate citrusy, red berry, raspberry, grapefruit, strawberry, and white cherry flavours with touches of toast and brioche. It is well-balanced throughout with crisp acidity and fine mousse, leading to a long, crisp, dry, minerally, and toasty finish, with excellent length. Very impressive and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other lovely wines by Louis Pommery are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

Read More

Blu Giovello Prosecco (Italy) - Wine Review

For Mother's Day, I uncorked this delicious Prosecco sparkling wine from Italy that is widely available at the LCBO and currently on promotion - offering 30 bonus Aeroplan points.

Tasting Note:

BLU GIOVELLO PROSECCO - DOC, Italy (#85316) (D) - $18
This extra dry spumante is crafted with 100% Glera that was grown on Morainic soils 400 metres above the level. The medium intensity nose offers pleasing aromas of white floral and lemon citrus which are echoed on the off-dry palate and joined by grapefruit and orange citrus flavours. It has fresh acidity and crisp mousse that livens the flavourful palate. Some leesy mineral notes arrive on the back palate and linger through to the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Read More

Alpamanta Breva Pét-Nat Sparkling Criolla 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely unique and organic pét-nat sparkling wine crafted with the Criolla varietal from Argentina that was a new arrival at the LCBO in the August 27th LCBO VINTAGES Online Exclusives Release last summer.

It is produced by Bodega Alpamanta, a boutique winery that was established in Mendoza, Argentina, in 2005 by three close friends - Andrej Razumovsky from Austria and his cousin André Hoffmann from Switzerland, and Jeremie Delecourt from France. Andrej and André are from the noble Sayn Wittgenstain family who owned vineyards in Moldavia, while Jeremie's family are winegrowers and producers of rosé wines in Côtes de Provence. Together, this combination of rich heritage and passion for wine brought the Alpamanta project to life.

The name "Alpamanta" means "Love for the Earth" in the local indigenous culture. In the native culture, a key aspect is working and co-existing in harmony with nature and the environment. At Bodega Alpamanta, loving the earth is their motto and method of caring for the terroir.

They chose to establish their project in Mendoza because it offers the ideal conditions to produce organic wines. Since this region is a desert, it enjoys almost 330 days of sun and averages little rainfall of 220 mL per year. To ensure the vines receive water, they use drip irrigation which helps preserve water and reduce unnecessary waste. The climate in Mendoza is characterized by warm summers and cool nights, with thermal amplitudes that can reach around 20°C. Their vineyard was carefully chosen at 950 metres above sea level and the soils feature a combination of sand, clay, lime, and calcareous layers on the subsurface

Their vineyards are farmed certified organically and biodynamically, while focusing on respecting the soil and its biodiversity to help balance the ecosystem. They maintain a healthy and balanced vineyard, and avoid the spread of diseases by avoiding any chemical or synthetic products such as herbicides or fungicides.

Bodega Alpamanta has several ranges of wines, and this particular bubbly is from their Breva range. Breva means "fruit of the first harvest" and this sparkling wine is crafted with Criolla, one of the first native grape varieties in Argentina. This sparkling wine is made in the "Pét-Nat" style. Pét-Nat is short for "pétillant naturel", a French term that roughly translates to "naturally sparkling", and these types of sparkling wines undergo their primary fermentation in bottle with the sugars from the grapes providing the bubbles. This Breva Pét-Nat was fermented using native yeasts and no added sulfites, a truly natural wine. Let's see how this Criolla Pét-Nat from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ALPAMANTA BREVA PÉT-NAT SPARKLING CRIOLLA 2021 - Vegan, ancestral method, Mendoza, Argentina (#24889) (XD) - $32.95 $27.25
Crafted with the Criolla grape, this pét-nat sparkling wine is enclosed by crown cap has enticing, fragrant aromas of wild berries, cherry, currant, and blackberry joined by funky earthy, barnyard notes that blow off with time in the glass, leaving only wild berry tones. It's fresh and lively on the dry, light-to-mid-weighted palate with deliciously complex wild berry, cherry, currant, and blackberry replays, plus dried spices, thyme and mint adding intrigue. Gently tangy on the mid-palate, it's also nicely textured with a supple grip and succulent, juicy acids. Crisp bubbles and dry with some leesy mineral notes lingering on the long finish. Chill and enjoy this unique, highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

This and one other Pét-Nat Sparkling are available on clearance in limited quantities at the LCBO, while wines from the entire Alpamanta portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - The Living Vine.

Read More

Segura Viudas Heredad Reserva Brut Cava (Spain) - Wine Review (Feb. 2023)

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely bubbly that I've had the pleasure of tasting on several occasions in the past and recently returned to the LCBO as part of the January 21 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Segura Viudas, an iconic boutique winery located just outside of Barcelona, Spain, in the sunny, ancient wine region of Penedès. They are situated in a beautiful stone manor house whose origins can be traced back to the 11th century, the time of the Iberian Crusades. This stone manor house has assumed many identities over the years such as embattled fortress, farmhouse, flour mill, family residence, and most recently, a boutique winery.

The land initially belonged to the Monastery of Sant Cugat, the most important monastery in the county of Barcelona, until the abbey ceded the land to one, Gerard Alemany. He constructed the first building on the land, originally as a defensive tower and having been through battles, the scars and bullet holes can be seen on the walls today.

New buildings were added in the 12th century to convert the fortress to a working farmhouse with grains and cereals grown on the estate. Grapes were also cultivated on the estate with native vines criss-crossing its steep hills and swampy riverbanks. In 1156, the building itself was referred to as Domus de Reÿm - The House of Grapes.

Fast forwarding to modern history into the mid-20th century, Cava became recognized as a revolution in the world of "Champagne" and grew to become an international reference of sparkling wine in its own right as it was recognized for its quality and diversity. At this time, the farmhouse and estate of Can Esbert de Raïm were bought by the Segura brothers in the 1950s. The Segura brothers invested in new caves and built new wineries with the latest machinery installed. They began producing their own Cava and in 1969 they proudly launched the iconic Segura Viudas Heredad premium Cava.

Today, their philosophy begins with sensitive farming. They study, understand, and promote biodiversity of the ecosystem around the Heredad. They also respect and preserve the environment, while also remaining in harmony with it. Segura Viudas is certified sustainable under the Wineries for Climate Protection (WFCP) certification.

This Brut Reserva Heredad Cava is the brand's icon wine and impressively packaged as such with its distinctive pewter badge and base. It is crafted with 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay grapes which were handpicked from old vine vineyards and transported to the winery in self-draining plastic boxes to prevent grape damage which could lead to oxidized juice and loss of freshness. The first fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled low temperature to retain the primary aromas of the grapes. The final blend is composed of nine different wines, each one vinified separately, and the magic of this blend is in ensuring that each wine lends its own touch of character to the whole. As Macabeo is the dominant grape in this wine, it contributes acidity, freshness, and allows the wine to age well during the 24 months (or more) that it will be in contact with the lees. Both the first and the second fermentations were carried out using their own selected yeast strains. Before disgorgement, each bottle is given a last sharp shake, or twist of the wrist, known as a "poignettage", which lifts the yeast cells from the side of the bottle and mixes them once more with the wine, thus intensifying the element of autolysis. Riddling (or turning) of all the bottles are done by hand and in pupitres, and a dosage of 9 g/L sugar is added to optimize the wine's versatility.

Having enjoying this sparkling wine previously, let's see how the latest edition of this Cava from Spain is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SEGURA VIUDAS HEREDAD RESERVA BRUT CAVA - Traditional method, DO, Spain (#558825) (D) - $39.95
Crafted with 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay, the medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers pretty biscuit, lemon, white floral, pear, and leesy aromas. It has good weight on the crisp, medium-full bodied palate with flavours of lemon citrus, pear, biscuit, floral, and leesy replays with just a pinch of pleasant sweetness. It has crisp, refreshing acidity and fine, persistent bubbles. Long and succulent on the crisp finish with leesy mineral, floral, and lemony notes. Delicious and will keep you coming back for another sip. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely Cava sparkling wines by Segura Viudas are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

Read More