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Tastings: November 2025
07 November 2025
88PTS
Therianthropy The Negotiant Cabernet Franc 2021
Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaTherianthropy is the mythical process of shapeshifting, which is another way to view turning nature into wine. This small collaborative project launched in late 2019, with an aim to source cool vineyard sites with organically farmed grapes (realized with the 2024 vintage). This came off Lincoln Lakeshore's Redfoot vineyard, and was native fermented with 75% whole clusters before resting 7 months in Bourgogne concrete eggs. Gravels, graphite, herbal plum, dark earth is tightened with a branchy, tart acidity. Tannins are downy and tacky, sticking to a brief finish. Drinking now.Prices:| ON | $31.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Château Penin Cabernet Franc Massale 2019
Pomerol, Libourne, Bordeaux, FranceThis family business was founded in 1855 by Louis Carteyron and his son Jacques. In 2022, Antoine and his brother Etienne became the sixth generation to run the estate, which has grown to 50 sustainably farmed hectares. This red comes from two parcels on deep gravels and clay limestone soils, with vines from a massale selection collected from a century-old vineyard in Pomerol. These old vines carry the authentic genetics and perfumed aromas of Cabernet Franc that clones cannot. The wine was fermented at low temperature in stainless tanks over 15 days, and aged in concrete with limited racking to preserve fruitiness. Perfumed violets, wild blueberries, juicy boysenberry is threaded with crushed stones and pink peppercorn, housed with fine, long, lightly grippy tannins. Light on its feet, but with structure to partner to roast pork or duck. A charmer.Prices:| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
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06 November 2025
89PTS
Therianthropy Avabelle 2021
Therianthropy is the mythical process of shapeshifting, which is another way to view turning nature into wine. This small collaborative project launched in late 2019, with an aim to work with interesting sites, and organic fruit when possible (2024 was entirely organic). From St. David's Bench's Bock Vineyard, this cabernet sauvignon was 30% whole cluster and native ferment before resting 8 months in Bourgogne concrete egg. Dark earth, tar, wild blackberry, and prunes are seasoned with peppery spice, tobacco, and dark cocoa in this medium bodied red. Tannins are fine and sticky, and the finish lingers with violet perfume. While not an old wine, this is certainly drinking now, ideally with autumnal stews.Prices:| ON | $29.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, ChileForty-five minutes north of Santiago, Aconcagua is home to a warm, generous style of cabernet sauvignon. At Arboleda, the wine wafts out of the glass with deep cassis and black cherry, accompanied by a savoury undercurrent including vanilla and toast, after spending 14 months in French barriques (30% new). A solid, well made hamburger red that is on sale until November 22.Prices:| BC | $23.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $22.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, ChileDe Martino Winery was founded in 1934, and now has 4th generation brothers Marco and Sebastián at the helm. Refreshed with a new label, this organic cabernet sauvignon is still estate grown and bottled, as ever. From the family's alluvial terraced vineyards, this was destemmed and lightly crushed before moving to stainless for a cold maceration and native fermentation. After 10 days, half was racked off to older French barriques, while the remainder stayed in stainless for 6 months. Herbal cassis, thorny wild blackberry and resinous baldo seasoning are woven throughout the juicy palate, wrapped with fine grained tannins, and buoyed by stony acidity. The warming finish is kissed with dark cocoa, tobacco, and lingering bay leaf. An approachable, yet serious Maipo cab.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Jim Barry Barry & Sons Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Clare, Clare Valley, South Australia, AustraliaDeep purple in hue, this 2022 Clare Valley cabernet offers a surprisingly youthful nose of violet, dark plum, and blueberry layered with savoury bay leaf and herbal notes. Bright acidity gives the palate tension and focus, while moderate, ripe tannins accentuate the sweetness of the fruit. At 14% abv, it feels lighter and fresher than expected. A pure, fruity expression of the variety.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $27.55 | 750ml |
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05 November 2025
88PTS
Divergence Red 2022
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaJeff Moote is the founder and winemaker at Divergence Wines, a small winery sourcing grapes from great sites around Niagara. The 2022 Red blends syrah (46%), cabernet franc (36%), and merlot (18%), and the wine spends 20 months in new and used French barrels. Ripe raspberry, cherry, and sappy tree branch work their way through this juicy, tart red, with finely sticky tannins pinning in the sides, and a red current twist on the finish. A lighter wine to crack into with mushroom burgers.Prices:| ON | $33.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Foreign Affair Temptress 2022
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaTemptress blends the best barrels of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and petit verdot with the apassimento technique, packaged in a heavyweight bottle. Baked blackberries, stewed plums, dark earth, and bitter cassis is framed with rustic, powdery tannins, and cut with a tart acidity to a clipped finish. Certainly needs an equally rustic stew to match.Prices:| ON | $50.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Foreign Affair Dream 2022
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaDream blends cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and petit verdot, with 15% of the grapes dried and concentrated, apassimento style. The wine rests 18 months in French and American oak (25% new), and the hefty weight of the bottle previews the wine inside. Tart black currant, thorny blackberry, and baked plum work through the compact palate, with powdery tannins sharpened with tangy acidity to a shortened finish. Quite disjointed at this stage.Prices:| ON | $29.95 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Riverview Cellars Rosso 2021
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaRosso is Riverview's house blend of 40% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Pinot Noir. Each was aged separately in a combination of American and French Oak barrels for 12 months of aging. Pouring a browning / bricking hue, this tart red is in the deep autumn of its life, with some tired cherry, rhubarb, and forest floor notes. Tannins are negligible, and the palate is smooth. Drink now.Prices:| ON | $16.95 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Sprucewood Shores Cabernet Merlot NV
Pelee Island, Ontario, CanadaSprucewood Shores is located along the shores of Lake Erie, in the Lake Erie North Shore appellation. They were selling their fruit to neighbouring wineries up until 2004, when they decided to start bottling their own label. This is a NV blend of 49% cabernet franc, 37% merlot, and 15% cabernet sauvignon, with a sizeable bump of RS. Ripe and juicy, albeit short with the RS snipping off the finish, you can expect a simple red of baked cherry, raspberry jam, and light baking spice, with finely sticky tannins, and a lick of mint on the finish.Prices:| ON | $15.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Divergence Cabernet 2023
St David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaJeff Moote is the founder and winemaker at Divergence Wines, a small winery sourcing grapes from great sites around Niagara. His Cabernet 2023 blends 75% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, and 10% petit verdot, from St. David's Bench's Bock Vineyard, and loam over clay soils. The PV was co-fermented with a portion of the cab sauv, and all components spent 18 months in new and used French oak before bottling. Perfumed cassis, fragrant plum, and black cherry are woven through this medium bodied red, with a hint of leather, and baking spices on the warming finish. Tannins are well integrated, and acidity is stony fresh, both welcoming pairing with autumnal pork / mushroom dishes. Quite smart.Prices:| ON | $38.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Ailm Connemara 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIf you know your Ogham or Early Medieval alphabet, used mainly to write in early Irish, you will have deciphered the word Neart that appears on the front of the Ailm Connemara label. It means strength in the Celtic language. It aptly describes the latest Connemara, which I can vouch for, having previously enjoyed earlier rich, full bodied versions sold under Quails' Gate. The newest rendition, now under the Ailm label, is a blend of 61% merlot and 39% cabernet sauvignon, aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Again, retasting this wine a year down the road, it is pleasant to take in its enticing red and black fruit fragrance, and subtle but focused blackcurrant, black cherry and cedar, all supported by subtle savoury Okanagan desert notes that highlight the finish of fine-grained tannins. Whether you drink or hold this wine, you can't go wrong here. It is an ode to the Stewart family's immigrant grandfather, Richard Stewart Sr., who often said that Connemara, Ireland, was the most beautiful part of his home country.Prices:| BC | $80.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Château Penin Clairet 2024
Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FranceThis family business was founded in 1855 by Louis Carteyron and his son Jacques. In 2022, Antoine and his brother Etienne became the sixth generation to run the estate, which has grown to 50 sustainably farmed hectares. This lighter red blends 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc from grapes grown on a limestone plateau at the top of the village. After a short maceration over 24-48 hours, this was lightly pressed and slowly fermented at low temperature over 20 days, with MLF done on roughly 50% of the vats. It was then matured 4 months on fine lees before bottling. This used to be the wine for the family and was not commercialized until Jacques started to sell it in the 80s. Pouring a light crimson hue, this is a slight, light red, with crushed wildflowers, wild raspberry, and finely lifted acidity framed with barely there tannins from the short maceration. The finish lingers with pink peppercorn. A charmer.Prices:| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
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04 November 2025
87PTS
Riverview Cellars Salvatore's Reserve Malbec 2021
Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaPart of their elevated Reserve Series, this malbec is grown by a neighbour, with only 1 row planted. The grapes were macerated over 1 week before being pressed off into a new 500L French foudre, where it rested for 2 years. Perfumed cassis, inky blackberry, and blueberries are sharpened with a tart blackcurrant acidity, and hugged with powdery tannins to a shorter, baking spice finish. A rarity to try with winter stews.Prices:| ON | $34.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Finca La Linda Old Vines Malbec 2024
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, ArgentinaMade with grapes from vineyards located in Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, the La Linda vines average 50 to 60 years old, situated at an altitude of 800 meters. It is aged in second and third use French oak barrels. Expect pronounced floral and fresh red fruits with a pleasant level of spice. At this price point, it is a polished young malbec that's ready to drink now. Enjoy its juicy blackberry, cherry, and baking spice, along with moderate tannins. Serve it with barbecued meats, burgers, beef tacos, or Portobello mushroom burgers. Still decent value in an ever-pricy marketplace.Prices:| BC | $22.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $18.95 | 750ml |
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03 November 2025
80PTS
Dark Horse Estate Winery Unapologetically Sinful 2021
Ontario, CanadaConfusingly, the name of the winery is no where to be found on the wine label itself. From Lake Huron's Grand Bend region, this blends baco noir, marquette, and cabernet franc into a sweet red (11 g/L RS). Candied raspberry, red apple on the spritzy, juicy core has powdery tannins, and a tangy sour acidity. A curious wine.Prices:| ON | $14.95 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Thistle and Weed Nastergal 2020
Western Cape, South AfricaThistle and Weed is a collaboration between the Terblanche and Wiid families established in 2015, led by Etienne Terblanche (Viticulturist) and Stephanie Wiid (Winemaker). They seek out interesting vineyards of older vines around the Western Cape. This blend of Tempranillo 36%, Alicante Bouschet 24%, Touriga Nacional 18%, Pontac 8%, Souzao 7%, Touriga Franca 7% comes from Wellington's shale soils (Tempranillo), and Stellenbosh foothills' shale and sandstone (the others). Each were fermented separately with 10 days on skins before pressing off into primarily older French barrels for 1 year, prior to blending. Wild herbs, scrubby fynbos, balsam, mint, and thorns teem throughout this fuller red, based on juicy blackberry and fleshy black plum, and with sticky tannins framing through the warming, pink peppercorn studded finish. Nastergal is the Afrikaans word for the black nightshade plant. Lots to like here.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Casa Relvas Segredos de São Miguel 2022
Alentejo, Central and Southern Portugal, PortugalThis blend of Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, and Trincadeira come from Alentejo's granite, clay, and schist soils. Primarily fermented and rested in stainless, 10% saw time in older 400L oak. Ripe and sun sweet with fleshy plum, black raspberry, and baking spice, held with sticky / pasty tannins to a warming finish. A lot of wine here for not a lot of money, and one to crack into with hearty fall / winter stews.Prices:| BC | $15.99 | 750ml |
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