Southbrook Organic Triomphe Pinot Noir 2015 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is something we haven't seen in many, many years - a Triomphe Pinot Noir from Southbrook Vineyards. Since moving to Niagara and starting their own organic production, only organically grown grapes are chosen for Southbrook's Triomphe line of wines. And since they didn't plant any Pinot Noir (or Riesling) at their site in Four Mile Creek (in Niagara-on-the-Lake),...

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VINTAGES Release January 21: Argentina + Portugal

The upcoming VINTAGES Release on January 21 brings with it the return of duo-thematic releases. However, the wines in the second theme (Portugal) aren't very interesting, so we'll stick with the main theme that is Argentina. As per the usual, wines will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves on Saturday - or a few days earlier depending on the store. Wines from 6 top producers in...

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée C.M. Sancerre Blanc 2014 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a lovely white wine made with Sauvignon Blanc that will be released into LCBO VINTAGES on January 21. It is produced by Jean-Max Roger and his family that come from a long line of winegrowers dating back to at least the 17th century. He took over the four hectares of vines left to him by his parents in the early 1970s and expanded the estate to its current...

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Durbanville Hills Atlantic View Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (South Africa) - Wine Review

On this wintry day filled with snow, tonight's wine is this bright white wine from the warmer climes of South Africa. This wine is produced by Durbanville Hills, a winery located in Durbanville, just 20 minutes outside Cape Town. The winery has a spectacular view overlooking Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, whose cool crisp air and rolling mists embrace the vineyards....

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Lavau Vacqueyras 2014 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a lovely offering that will be released into LCBO VINTAGES on January 21. Back in 2015, I reviewed the 2012 Lavau Vacqueyras, and that was the last time this wine showed up at the LCBO - until now. The Lavau family has been making wine for several generations in the area ranging from Bordeaux to the hills of Tunisia. In 1964, the family settled in the southern...

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Niagara Wine Festival Review 2016 - Day 2 of 2

My tour through Niagara during the annual Grape & Wine Festival was split over two weekends in September. You can read all about the first day's activities here. Our food & wine adventure on the second weekend began at GreenLane Estate Winery for a Balinese Chicken Satay that was paired with their 2012 GreenLane Riesling ($15.95, 88 pts). I was expecting a sweet...

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VINTAGES Release January 7: Smart Buys

Happy New Year and welcome to 2017! After large (and expensive) VINTAGES Releases in the Fall leading up to the holidays, we arrive in 2017 with the annual "Smart Buys" release. The first release of 2017 is a thin release, with most of the wines listed under $20 and quite contrasted compared to what we saw over the past 3 months. The wines from the January 7 LCBO VINTAGES...

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