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Tastings: September 2022
30 September 2022
81PTS
Crowsnest Sunset Sparkling Rosé 2020
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNow in the second generation's hands, Sacha and Ann Heinecke are shifting the compass on this Similkameen stalwart, 22 years in. Aptly named Sunset Sparkling, this deeper salmon pink hued frizzante blends pinot noir and pinot auxerrois into a sweeter fizz, with smoked stone, milk chocolate, cherry jam on a shorter, barely effervescent palate. Needs some work.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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83PTS
Crowsnest The Nest Prosecco 2019
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNow in the second generation's hands, Sacha and Ann Heinecke are shifting the compass on this Similkameen stalwart, 22 years in. This is worryingly labelled "Prosecco", a term which should be used only for the Italian region in which it is grown and made. This frizzante wine is a sweet, lightly fizzy example with smoked and sweet flavours of peach, pear, and orange, though a short finish. Even without the name gaff, this wine needs some work to be a modern and relevant example.Prices:| BC | $24.75 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Crowsnest Gewürztraminer Frizzante 2020
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNow in the second generation's hands, Sacha and Ann Heinecke are shifting the compass on this Similkameen stalwart, 22 years in. This is a light, sweeter frizzante of Gew, with ample soap bubbles, lime pulp, candied ginger on a lightly effervescent, shorter palate, finishing with an odd smoked note. Chill well and think about for fruity wine punches.Prices:| BC | $0.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Fitz Blanc de Blancs 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom this sparkling-centric winery's Greata Ranch estate vineyard in central Okanagan, this chardonnay was fermented in neutral French oak, and spent 36 months on the lees, disgorged with 2.35 g/L. Layers of green apple, pastry, lemon stream through this focused wine, with orchard crisp acidity, and a lovely gentle generosity to counter. This serious sparkler, though on the stricter / severe side, is imprinted Okanagan, and that's a fantastic thing. Beauty now, and with time ahead.Prices:| BC | $44.50 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Fitz Brut Sparkling Wine 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom this sparkling-centric central-Okanagan winery, Fitz Brut 2018 is predominantly chardonnay (73%), aided by 25% pinot noir, and 2% pinot meunier, all off their Greata Ranch Vineyard. After a stainless ferment, this aged 36 months on lees (12 months more than previous editions), with a dosage of 6.6 g/L. Orchard fresh, with crunchy Asian pear, green apple, Rainier cherry, subtle pear blossoms atop a bed of lightly toasted brioche, finishing with a lingering trail of salinity. Brisk and bright throughout, this is a very smart choice for enjoying now, or over the next few years.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Church & State Wines Gris de Noirs Brut 2019
Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaThis new release from C&S features pinot noir from their Brentwood Bay vineyard, with at least 1 year on lees. Pouring a blush hue, this starts off sweet and sour, with candied apple, perfumed apple blossoms, salami up against a tart, pointed acidity, finishing short and brief. Work in progress.Prices:| BC | $25.29 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Church & State Wines Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is the first Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature release from C&S, with chardonnay coming off their Détente vineyard on the Black Sage Bench, and the elevage taking place over 30 months at their Brentwood Bay, Vancouver Island facility. It was fermented in stainless, and left with 5 g/L RS. Pouring a pale yellow hue, this is amply saline, laced with roasted peanuts, anise, lemon peel, pith, and crisp red apple. There's an ample lees cushion offset by some pithy acidity, making this a food-friendly choice for enjoying now.Prices:| BC | $33.75 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut NV
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWhat does one say about the Gold Label Brut other than it is nothing but net? The current bottling is based on 2018 fruit, and it's delicious. A 62/38 blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, there is no pinot gris this year, and it is better without it. It spends two years on its lees before dégorgement, followed by another nine months n the cellar. Classy fizz at an affordable price.Prices:| BC | $31.90 | 750ml |
| AB | $36.85 | 750ml |
| ON | $28.95 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Cuvée De L'ile Méthode Traditionelle 2017
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaUnsworth says Cuvée de l'île is the pinnacle of their sparkling wine program. This 2017 is a 50/50 blend of pinot gris and pinot noir sourced from three island sites: Saison Vineyard, Sunnydale Vineyard, and Zanatta Vineyard. Winemaking is traditional, beginning with the best free run juice, of which a small amount is barrel-fermented in a neutral French barrel, while the majority is tank fermented. All the juice spends 18 months in bottle before hand riddling and disgorgement. After that, a minimal dosage is applied at disgorgement before it rests another year in the bottle. As charming as the Charme de l'île bubble is, this wine checks in at a much higher level, led by complexity and flavour. Look for an inviting toasted hazelnut with brioche notes that support a citrus-soaked green apple palate with creamy textures wrapping up the finish. It is bone dry and worth purchasing and cellaring if you can for three to five more years. Another benchmark for serious BC sparkling wine. If you drink it now, the match is oysters on the half shell.Prices:| BC | $94.90 | 1500ml |
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87PTS
Sperling Vineyards Speritz Pet Nat NV
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSperitz, a modestly effervescent wine, is a blend of perle of csaba, chardonnay, and bacchus, all grown biodynamically on the newly minted sub-G.I. East Kelowna Slopes. The grapes are harvested separately before coming together in the bottle to finish the ferment to dryness, leaving an innocuous sediment layer in the bottom of the bottle. This Pét-Nat style is rife with grapefruit pith streaked with a mineral, dusty stone note in the back. A different take on sparkling wine but definitely slanted towards aficionados.Prices:| BC | $22.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Seven Stars Equinox Brut Rosé 2018
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe latest Equinox, a name inspired by the date when day and night are of equal length, is a single vineyard Brut Rosé. The colour is perfect pale salmon. The fruit comes off Okanagan Falls Stoneridge Vineyard, now 25 years old. The goal is low-yielding fruit from pinot noir clone 115, which comes in at just under two 2 tonnes per acre. Large boulder size gravel, clay and sandy loam provide the perfect drainage while adding the critical ingredient — minerality. The nose is alive with strawberries and rhubarb sitting over creamy citrus, with a biscuit underside snapping in the finish. The same fruit and acid tension spill onto the palate with lovely depth and delicate complexity. The wine spends nearly three years on its lees, adding depth and complexity along the way. Could it be better than last year? I think so.Prices:| BC | $51.97 | 750ml |
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29 September 2022
89PTS
Domaine de la Sarazinière Mâcon-Bussières Claude Seigneuret Vieilles Vignes 2020
Mâconnais, Burgundy, FranceCreated by Claude Seigneuret in 1926, the Domaine de la Sarazinière estate name stems from the small lieu-dit surrounding the original family home in the village of Bussières. Today it is run by a father-son team of Phillippe and Guillaume Trebignaud, with organic/biodynamic farming and low intervention winemaking. This chardonnay, named for the founder, comes from 4 parcels planted 1926-1940 on calcareous, rocky, south-facing soils. The wine is vinified and aged in French oak barrels (10% new) over 11 months. Creamy and round, with baked apple, toasted hazelnuts, light toasty spice and pear blossom across the medium-bodied palate, finishing with subtle stony spice and lemon verbena. Accessible, gentle, classic Mâcon.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
La Soeur Cadette Bourgogne Blanc 2020
Mâconnais, Burgundy, FranceValentin Montenay is based in western Bourgogne’s Vézelay, where he is caretaker of his parents’ 22ha of organically farmed vineyards. In 2016, Valentin began a négociant business, creating the La Soeur Cadette range. All the wines are native ferment, with full MLF, no chaptalization, fermentation in stainless, light filtration at bottling, and minimal sulphur throughout. In the winery, he works with the lunar calendar. This Bourgogne Blanc comes from 30-50 year old vines in limestone laced northern Maçonnais. After a native ferment, this spent 7 months in stainless prior to bottling. Bright and fresh, this is light on its feet, with lemon pith and peel, green apple, apple blossom, and river stones through the snappy, pithy finish. Smart and versatile.Prices:| ON | $32.95 | 750ml |
| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Pascal Clément Savigny-les-Beaunes Dessus Les Vermots 2017
Burgundy, FrancePascal Clément, well known for his exceptional white wines, loves using older foudre for his whites, as he feels it brings out the saltiness in the wine. Pascal also never uses bâtonnage on his wines, leaving them on full lees in barrels after pressing. From the cooler, wind-swept top of Savigny's hills, this aging white streams kernels, flax, hazelnuts along a lees-decked base, with a buzzy limestone base to lift through a lingering salty lemon finish. It's lovely to taste this again now with a little age on it.Prices:| ON | $42.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
BK Wines One Ball Chardonnay 2017
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, AustraliaNamed in honour of the fellow that owns this Adelaide Hills vineyard (yup), this striking upper altitude, organically farmed chardonnay will cement Adelaide Hills' cool climate for you. From Kenton Valley, this chardy was whole bunch pressed, native fermented, with regular bâtonnage and 10 months in French oak (10% new). Light swipes of flinty reduction lead into a creamy palate with baked pear, lemon blossoms, green apple, meadow grass, and earthy lees. Acidity is starting to fade, making me happy I cracked into this bottle in my cellar now. Was a hit with summer corn and grilled chicken wings.Prices:Read Full Note
89PTS
Alois Lageder Chardonnay 2020
Sudtirol - Alto-Adige, Trentino- Alto-Adige, ItalyThey make several chardonnays at Lageder, and this is the introductory label. This chardonnay is grown between 230 and 420 metres above sea level on rocky, sandy, Alto Adige limestone soils. At a modest 12 percent alcohol, it comes with a lightness and mountain freshness that gives it immediate appeal. Oats and minerals preview a bright green apple core mixed with melons and lemons and a silky, creamy long finish. The acidity is perfect, and the time on lees has added texture and complexity to this simple but perfectly executed chardonnay that sees no wood. Shellfish, fish tacos, or creamy pasta dishes will get the job done here. A chardonnay for aficionados.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Gnarly Head Chardonnay 2020
California, United StatesSurprisingly fresh, this Central California chardonnay opens with a citrus and peachy nose that spills onto a tropical palate of peach, candied lime and citrus rind, the latter two balancing each other out. A ready to drink effortless sipping style you can enjoy solo.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $15.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $17.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $15.88 | 750ml |
| NFL | $19.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Jean Loron Les Belmonts Beaujolais Blanc 2020
Beaujolais, Burgundy, FranceBeaujolais Blanc is on the rise. This chardonnay is still within Burgundy, yet costs next to nothing in comparison. Les Belmonts is an interesting example because it sees no oak, unlike almost all the other regional expressions. The story here is freshness and minerality. The favours are a mix of peach, citrus, green apple, with an enticing soft texture. Fun to drink and highly affordable given the quality in the glass.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Jean Loron Rift 71 Sans Soufre 2018
Mâcon-Villages, Mâconnais, Burgundy, FranceThe Loron family has been making wine in Beaujolais since 1711, and the 8th generation is overseeing the current production. Jean-Pierre Rodet made wine under Jules Chauvet, widely recognized as a father of the natural wine movements. From the Mâconnais, this chardonnay was fermented and briefly rested in stainless, with no added sulphur throughout the process. I like the taut structure, bright citrus drenched pear mixed with green apples. There is a hint of lees on the nose and palate. Fresh, bright, and crisp, this is a beautiful wine for the dinner table. I love it with dim sum.Prices:| ON | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
CrossBarn Paul Hobbs Chardonnay 2019
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United StatesCrossbarn is made with hand picked fruit from select vineyards across the Sonoma Coast appellation. Sonoma Coast is the perfect home for Paul Hobbs because it provides the intensity he likes, but remains relatively fresh and cool in the glass. Look for slate notes with honey and spice in the background, while on the palate, it is all about pears and peaches with a mineral underside. Living in a fog-washed world gives the fruit a crunchy and flavourful finish. It is fermented in 92 percent stainless steel, eight percent barrel fermented, and it all goes through malolactic fermentation, with five months on lees, stirred weekly. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $48.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $42.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $40.00 | 750ml |
| US | $37.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Paul Hobbs Chardonnay 2018
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThis is classic Russian River chardonnay based on the richness of the nose and palate, but in recent years Hobbs has been able to lean it out a bit, making it far more interesting to drink the whole bottle. Peaches and honeysuckle give it a very inviting entry, but there is a citrus undercurrent (remember the morning fog), and spicy, savoury notes bringing balance to the finish. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $52.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $65.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $47.95 | 750ml |
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26 September 2022
89PTS
La Bonhomme Disfruta Rosado 2020
Valencia, Valencia and Murcia, SpainDisfruta opens with fifteen year old indigenous monastrell vines that come at 12 percent alcohol and are essentially bone dry. It is all you could want in a simple, well made rosé: dry, fresh, quietly floral with cherry/plum, and a clean finish. Only free run juice from a light maceration makes the final cut. Sophisticated fun. Back up the truck.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $17.99 | 750ml |
| MB | $16.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Les Quatre Tours Classique Rosé 2021
Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Provence, Sud de France, FranceLes Quatre Tours is made by a group of producers farming 270 hectares in the rolling hills just north of Aix-en-Provence. It began in 1924 as a co-op for bulk wine, but in the 1990s, the growers changed the direction model after a small boutique winery. It's labelled Classique because it contains all traditional grape varieties of Provence. The pale pink colour and pink grapefruit nose precede a strawberry, raspberry pink with supple textures that slide down easily with a touch of spice.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $22.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Phantom Creek Estates Rosé 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPC Rosé comes form dedicated blocks grown for rosé at Becker and Everdon vineyards, mixing organic fruit from the Okanagan and the Similkameen valleys. The ’21 blend is merlot 35%, syrah 33%, malbec 24%, cabernet sauvignon 5%, and cabernet franc 5%. Like last year, it is a touch flat. Add the savoury, spicy notes, and you get more of a Tavel style than Provence. The textures are soft, and it's eminently drinkable. It will also do well with richer fall fare. A jump in acidity might ignite this wine in the glass.Prices:| BC | $31.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Amulet Rosé 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Amulet pink is a blend of 50 percent grenache, 41 syrah, and nine viognier grown on the Penticton and Naramata benches in the mid-Okanagan Valley, and fermented in neutral French oak barrels. Post ferment, it rested on its gross lees for 2 1/2 months with periodic bâtonnage. Finally, in early 2022 it was racked from the barrel and blended with a small amount of viognier. This wine has an onion skin tint with an aromatic nose reminiscent of watermelons and blood oranges that spill onto a similar plate mixed with pears, pineapples, and a peppery finish. Food friendly, it was a good match for prosciutto and melons.Prices:| BC | $26.09 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Gold Hill Cabernet Franc Rosé 2021
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLike last year, the colour is a medium peach, orange tint from partial skin contact. The nose is full of ripe strawberries and a savoury sage dusting. The attack is warm and round, with caramel undertones pushing through the tangerine and red fruit. Soft and creamy, with a bump of residual sugar sweetness. Chill down and serve with spicy dishes. Two separate cabernet franc juice lots go into this wine: the first is direct pressed immediately after harvest, and the second is juice with 18 hours of skin contact. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Les Vignerons du Castelas Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2021
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, FranceThe winegrowers of Castelas created their cooperative cellar in 1952, the same year the AOC Côtes du Rhône was developed. Today, 45 families make up the cooperative. This rosé was made from a mix of 70/20/10 grenache, syrah, and cinsault. The fruit is directly pressed and fermented slowly for three weeks. The colour is a pale orange/pink, and the nose is a quiet but enticing floral affair. It is all business, dry and refreshing on the palate, with crisp red fruit and citrus. Think Mediterranean cuisine from olives to grilled fish, Asian spicy tuna rolls, or a Thai noodle salad. Good value.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Rose Rosé NV
FranceThe cooperative cellar of the winegrowers of Castelas was created in 1952, covering 450 hectares mainly in Côtes du Rhône. Rose Rosé is a grenache that represents with bright pink colour and a rush of red fruit aromas. The palate is similar, with a new edge, some stony minerality, and a light, crisp finish. A fun pink at a fair price. Sushi, anyone?Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Painted Rock Rosé 2021
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAlways on the more affluent side, the latest rosé is a blend of 45% Merlot, 22% Malbec, 18% Petit Verdot, 14% Syrah, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon signalling a slight move away from the most robust grapes in the portfolio. The wine is dry with ripe strawberry, a dusting of desert scrub, and rhubarb. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Unsworth Vineyards Sunnydale Vineyard Rosé 2021
Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaSunnydale Vineyard sits on southeast facing slopes in Saanichton, an area slowly emerging as an essential source of island fruit. Like last year, this is an impressive pink that leads with minerality and salinity led by a super pale Provençal pink that finishes bone dry. Crancherry, pears, and fresh oyster liquor waft from this pinot noir pink. Classy, upscale rosé for late afternoon sippers.Prices:| BC | $28.90 | 750ml |
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23 September 2022
90PTS
Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2018
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThis Alexander Valley cabernet opens with lavish dark fruits ranging from cassis to plum to fig, framed by forward, chocolatey oak, which works harmoniously with the dense fruit. A rich, polished style, it's oozing with ripeness, giving this wine its sweet attack and generosity, along with impressive fruit weight that carries through the finish, balanced by suave tannins and lingering flavours of dark berries and spices. A modern, smooth cabernet.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $28.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $28.00 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Culmina Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2018 wasn’t all that kind to cabernet sauvignon, hanging until November 13. Following a home run in 2017, the ’18 takes me back to early efforts in the valley. Herby and packed with tobacco, the cherry cassis is more red than black this year, and the acidity is front and centre. On the palate, find the same with peppery, tobacco, cedar that could use a dash of riper fruit. It will need some time to reach its full measure, but it looks like it will be challenging this year. Roast pork might be the route to go at the moment. It was aged for 16 months in French oak (25 percent was new).Prices:| BC | $45.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Township 7 Provenance Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNot quite 2018, the latest cab is wrapped in cedar and menthol with red fruit aromas. 2019 was a mix of temperatures, a cool start, a hot early summer, a cool fall, and an early heavy frost. All that was preceded by vine damage resulting from a deep freeze in the winter, which led to staggering bud break and ripening. The wine is juicy and bright, with the alcohol moderate, but it has a bit of warmth and richness. If you are patient, this wine should come out the other seven years in the bottle just fine. For now, it's a wait and see proposition.Prices:| BC | $33.97 | 750ml |
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91PTS
CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley, California, United StatesCrossBarn is as grown up as its label today, bringing a delightful sense of balance to its California cabernet sauvignon. Drinkable almost the day it is bottled, it still has the chops to go the distance if you are willing to wait. Red, black, and blueberry aromas float from the glass, and on the palate, more blueberry with a savoury graphite finish. Plush and silky, it slips down easily. CrossBarn is night harvested from select vineyards across Napa Valley. It gets a five day cold soak before fermentation and spends 18 months in French oak, of which 16 percent was new. 2018 is a highly regarded vintage. The perfect steak wine you can drink now or through 2028.Prices:| BC | $58.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $65.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $63.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $51.50 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Paul Hobbs Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley, California, United StatesThe 2018 cabernet sauvignon marks a pivot for the regular Hobbs cab that moves from Napa Valley proper to Hobb's Nathan Coombs Estate vineyard in Coombsville, a cooler Napa site to the south and east of the historic valley. The colour is opaque, and the fruit is a slightly cooler red-black mix with a stony mineral underscore and some refined spicing. It is nowhere near ready to drink, but it seldom stops Hobbs fans who love the style, even if it's backed off the Napa power in recent years looking for more complexity and finesse.Prices:| BC | $150.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Corcelettes Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Corcelettes Estate Vineyard is on the Upper Bench in Keremeos and is a mix of alluvial Stemwinder soils and gravelly sandy loam Similkameen soils. The cabernet sauvignon, notoriously hard to ripen, had no problems on 2020, as evidenced by its almost silky character, definitely rounder than the cabernet franc. Look for cassis, black plums and a subtle savour olive undercurrent. You can drink this now or wait five years; it is your choice — expected to be released in the fall of 2022.Prices:| BC | $36.90 | 750ml |
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22 September 2022
91PTS
Mayhem Anarchy Reserve Merlot 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom the silty sands of their Osoyoos estate Anarchist Mountain Vineyard, this merlot (tipped with 3% cabernet franc) was destemmed with a 5 day cold soak before native ferment and 35 days on skins. The free run juice was aged in French oak (45% new) over 17 months, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Ripe and sultry black plums, wild blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate fill the juicy, compact palate, with chalky tannins, and kisses of downy violet perfume. Though full bodied, this textural wine is very well handled, with a lingering dark cocoa dust, and easy mountain freshness. The Diam10 cork suggests the winery thinks this one is for aging, and while very tasty now, I think it can certainly rest comfortably in your cellar over the next few years.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Crowsnest Family Reserve Merlot 2016
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNow in the second generation's hands, Sacha and Ann Heinecke are shifting the compass on this Similkameen stalwart, 22 years in. These 32 year old vines spent 18 months in French oak. Dusky old wood scents this full bodied merlot, with dried cassis, black cherry, light smoke on a dense and compact palate. Tannins are worn some but still very present, somewhat overriding the browning fruit on the palate, and noticeable on the warming finish. One for roast beef and gravy now.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Crowsnest Family Merlot 2019
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNow in the second generation's hands, Sacha and Ann Heinecke are shifting the compass on this Similkameen stalwart, 22 years in. These 18 year old estate vines spent 1 year in American oak, resulting in the vanillin sweetness imbuing this soft, silken, full bodied merlot. Blueberry jam, violets, ripe dark plums and cracked pepper are wrapped with plush, softly tuggy tannins to the warming finish. A friendly merlot to crack into now with fall / winter braises.Prices:| BC | $35.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Stag's Hollow Merlot Parsons Vineyard 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTypically bright and spicy, this is a fruit-forward juicy style of merlot. It opens with black cherries, sagebrush and medium-weight tannins with prominent mid-palate spice. The oak is just fine and should quickly dissipate by the time this wine is ready to be drunk in, say, 2024 or 2025. For the moment, beef tacos would be the simple match.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Burrowing Owl Merlot 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2020 Merlot comes off estate vineyards in Oliver and Osoyoos, and finished fermentation in barrels, where it remained for 14 months' rest in a mix of French, Hungarian, American, and Caucus (21% new). It was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Potent and dense, this is a powerhouse merlot, compact with black cherry, thick blackberry, anise, toasty spice and a thread of mint. Tannins are ample and grippy / gritty, uncommon in plushy, huggy merlot. You can partner this bold red with equally powerful grilled beef, or better yet, wait a couple of years for things to merge and mellow a bit.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $34.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $29.95 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Pentâge Winery Merlot Dirty Dozen Vineyard 2018
Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPentâge Winery is a family-owned operation on 14.1 hectares overlooking Skaha Lake in Penticton. Mid-valley merlot has a lovey red character led by red currants/red plum aromas that spill across the palate and a strong undercurrent of spice with hints of expresso and cocoa dust. The 25 percent new oak is prevalent but not dominant. It is more severe than charming at this point and suggests it would be perfect with another three to five years in the bottle.Prices:| BC | $25.22 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Mayhem Anarchy Reserve Merlot 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAnarchist Mountain Vineyard is a mix of sparse silty sands on the east side of Osoyoos. There is a touch of cabernet franc in the mix at three percent, but it's barely perceptible. The fermentation and skin contact spanned 35 days, leaving a rich, meaty, earthy, spicy nose. New oak pervades the blackberry black plum fruit streaked with a touch of bitter dark chocolate on the palate. It's bone dry, leaving a space for some mineral notes in the finish. There is no rush to drink this wine; I would guess it will improve in the bottle over the next five to seven years. Well done.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Burrowing Owl Merlot 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe BOV merlot comes from estate sites at the Oliver winery and further south in Osoyoos. The wine is aged in a mix of French, Hungarian, American and Caucus oak, of which 20 percent is new. The style is rich, the colour dark and brooding. In the glass, it opens with blackcurrants and black cherry laced with licorice, mint and spice dusted in a veneer of desert scrub. There are tannins to disperse, but they are dense enough and sweet enough to allow for drinking now or down the road in a decade. It should appeal broadly to those who prefer a big red wine with their meal. If you must open this wine now, serve it with a favourite beef dish.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $34.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $29.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Gold Hill Merlot 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Gold Hill style is overt and showy, and this 2018 merlot does not disappoint, so plush and full of that savoury desert garrigue. It is dark and jammy on the palate, with just a wisp of sweetness that disappears into a savoury undertow. Merlot is a grape you build a reputation on, and wine like this can take us there. I want to say it is more Bolgheri than Bordeaux, but it is mostly Okanagan. Pick your cheese most any will do or serve it now with a grilled steak. Not for the timid.Prices:| BC | $42.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
McManis Family Vineyards Merlot 2020
Lodi, Central Valley, California, United StatesLodi merlot often presents with some sweetness or confection that gets a generous hit of oak to smooth the way. It is a soft and easy sipping style on the palate with chocolate, creamy black current notes and a dusting of brown spices. Ready to drink and best served outside at barbecues with ribs or burgers.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $19.90 | 750ml |
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21 September 2022
88PTS
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards The Mischief Pinot Blanc 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFrom their Greata Ranch estate, this pinot garland was fermented long and cool in stainless before 5 months' aging in stainless and 40% neutral oak with bâtonnage. Crisp and bright with lime pith / peel, Asian pear, crunchy Anjou and apple blossoms on a snappy palate. There's a slight lees pad to the core, but this finishes with a pithy bite, welcoming food. Spring vegetarian and lighter soups would be welcome partners.Prices:| BC | $19.50 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Niepoort Diálogo Douro Branco 2021
Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalThis youthful white may show a Canadian-themed comic on the label, but make no mistake, this is a serious wine, from one of the world's top winemakers, Dirk Niepoort. From schistous, mica-flecked vineyards on the right bank of the Douro, between 550-700m, this blend of indigenous Portuguese white grapes is native fermented in a split between stainless and older French barriques (30 percent), with no MLF, and remains there for eight months. The blend is 20-50 year old rabigato, códega do larinho, gouveio, dona branca, viosinho, bical and others. This year's edition is quite reductive at present, with an earthy, leesy, stony underlay bedding green apple, lemon, green fig, finishing with a lingering salinity.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Azores Wine Co. Branco Vulcânico 2021
PortugalFrom the marine, volcanic Azores, this blend of 85% arinto de azores (unrelated to mainland Portugal's arinto) and 15% verdejo was whole bunch pressed and fermented in stainless with bâtonnage. Flinty struck stone permeates the bright palate, with snappy green apple, melon, subtle tangerine atop a stony base. Brisk and inviting, this has a myriad of food pairing possibilities, seafood centric.Prices:| ON | $42.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e Villões Caracol dos Profetas 2021
Madeira, PortugalThis latest project of Antonio Maçanita was created with his friend of 15 years, Nuno Faria, a Madeiran and restaurateur. The adventuresome duo have joined forces to explore the potential of these magical islands off Madeira. These 40-80 year old Caracol grapes on Porto Santo grow close to the ground on sandy clay limestone soils, protected by small walls. They were transported by boat to the island of Madeira since it is not legal to make wine in Porto Santo. It was fermented in stainless, on lees, where it remained for 3 months prior to blending and bottling. This is basically rock juice: light, lean, saline and stony, with a subtle sour citrus character, quiet melon, banana peel, and crab apple ruling the slight, streamline, yeasty lees palate, through the amply saline finish. A striking, mysterious, Atlantic wine, and one to enjoy with shellfish.Prices:| ON | $45.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Maçanita Letra F As Olgas Branco 2019
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalLetra F is a play on words for the categorization system for port grapes in the Douro, finishing at letter F. Most of the F ranked vineyards are neglected, since the prices they would receive for the grapes were much lower than the prized ABCs. Thus, they're now a treasure trove of old vines, often at altitude, and mixed field blends of white and red grapes. The Maçanita siblings have been searching out these old vineyards and revitalizing them for super interesting wines like this. This field blend comes from a single vineyard (an As Olgas, in old Portuguese) in Carlão, Cima Corgo, with vines 90-110 years old at 480m altitude, rooted in schist and granite. Nimble and tight up front, with an ample salty schistous lick, this is padded with lees, and flooded with meadow grass, elderflower, apricot fuzz, crushed stones across an expansive, dense palate, with a fine buzzy granitic grip holding the bottom taut, and drawing this to a very saline finish. This tastes mountainous. Serious wine. 813 bottles.Prices:| ON | $52.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Las Moradas de San Martín Albillo Real 2020
Vinos de Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, SpainEstablished in 1999, Las Moradas de San Martín was established to recover the centuries-old vineyards of Garnacha that had been cultivated there since the 12th century. Located in the hilltops of Pago de los Castillejos, they benefit from its altitude and granitic / volcanic soils, imbuing a natural freshness and minerality. Winemaker Isabel Galindo farms organically / biodynamically. This is entirely Albillo Real, destemmed and native fermented, with 1/4 MLF, aged 6 months in 300 and 500 L French barrels. The creamy, waxen base is laden with hazelnut, marcona almond, flax, crushed stone, and meadow grass, finely textured along the medium palate, finishing with a raft of mineral salts and ample almond. Lovely energy and verve here.Prices:| BC | $41.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Accadia Evelyn 2020
Marche, ItalyAngelo Accadia started his organic Marche winery in Serra San Quirico in 1983, working solely with native grapes of the area. He is recognized as one of the top producers of Verdicchio, and his artistic background is evident in the winery's striking labels. His daughter Evelyn now works with him at the winery. This skin contact wine is her creation. This verdicchio spends 30-40 days on skins in stainless, and remains there on lees for 1 year prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered. Musk melon, meadow grass, lemon pith, tangerine streaks through this lightly grippy, medium bodied wine, finishing with an astringent bitter lemon twist. Nice new adventuresome view of verdicchio.Prices:| ON | $39.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Accadia Cantorì 2018
Marche, ItalyAngelo Accadia started his organic Marche winery in Serra San Quirico in 1983, working solely with native grapes of the area. He is recognized as one of the top producers of Verdicchio, and his artistic background is evident in the winery's striking labels. His daughter Evelyn now works with him at the winery. This Riserva Classico comes off the highest parts of the vineyard (350-370m) on predominantly sandy soil. These grapes are picked later, at end of September, native fermented in stainless where it remains for two years on lees. Pours a deep yellow hue, with concentrated apple, pear, almond along a waxy palate through the lightly warming finish. Certainly more concentration here, this is a structural wine that can take on weightier fish / risotto dishes.Prices:| ON | $38.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Accadia Conscio 2020
Marche, ItalyAngelo Accadia started his organic Marche winery in Serra San Quirico in 1983, working solely with native grapes of the area. He is recognized as one of the top producers of Verdicchio, and his artistic background is evident in the winery's striking labels. His daughter Evelyn now works with him at the winery. This comes off the estate's calcareous clays, and is fermented in stainless where it rests 10 months. Green apple, pear is slicked with white honey, crystalline lemon stretching long across a stony, lightly buzzing palate. Lovely fine complexity in this serious wine.Prices:| ON | $27.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Accadia Consono 2021
Marche, ItalyAngelo Accadia started his organic Marche winery in Serra San Quirico in 1983, working solely with native grapes of the area. He is recognized as one of the top producers of Verdicchio, and his artistic background is evident in the winery's striking labels. His daughter Evelyn now works with him at the winery. This verdicchio was fermented and aged in stainless. Tight and buzzy thanks to the calcareous clays, this clean white sings with crystalline lemon peel, lime blossom, green apple, and white melon. A fresh, youthful Italian white for enjoying now, ideally with spring veg / risotto.Prices:| ON | $21.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Luberri Zuri Blanco 2021
Rioja Alavesa, Rioja, SpainFlorentino Martinez Monje started off life as a grape supplier before deciding to set up his own winery in Rioja Alavesa. Few know as much about the region as he does, nor how to get the best out of the local vineyards. With an intimate understanding of the 32 hectares he farms, he remains a farmer first and foremost. This is a blend of Viura and Malvasia, from 30 to 50 year old vineyards located in Elciego and adjacent villages, fermented and rested in stainless where it remained for two months with daily bâtonnage. Creamy and stony, with green apple, pear custard, white florals and lemon along the medium palate, with a slight waxy / leesy sheen to pad through the stony finish.Prices:| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Aphros Loureiro 2021
Vinho Verde, Northern Portugal, PortugalVasco Croft is one of the pioneering biodynamic vintners in Portugal, and Aphros is his personal project. From Vinho Verde's Lima subregion, this loureiro spent time on skins before pressing into inox for fermentation and two months ageing on lees before filtration and bottling. Tight and zippy with lime, lemon verbena, mandarin, melon on a slight (11%), skippy, stony palate, with a subtle granite buzz on the finish. Not your typical floral loureiro.Prices:| ON | $26.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Bonnet Huteau Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie Les Bonnets Blancs 2021
Muscadet, Pays Nantais, Loire, FranceDomaine Bonnet-Huteau, nestled in La Chapelle-Heulin, in the heart of Muscadet’s Sèvre et Maine appellation, has been producing Muscadet for over 150 years. Today it is run by the Bonnet brothers, Jean-Jacques and Rémi. This 42 hectare vineyard has been certified organic since 2005, and uses biodynamic philosophies. This youthful, fresh Muscadet is off 15-30 year old vines from La Tarcière’s limestone over gneiss. Crisp and spritely with lime peel, green apple, lemon and river stones strung across a lees-slicked base, lingering with a humming stony buzz. A friendly, smart Muscadet for enjoying now, liberally.Prices:| ON | $21.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Le Ragnaie Civitella 2020
Tuscany, ItalyRiccardo and Jennifer Campinoti purchased this Montalcino property with a mix of old vines and younger plantings, and established Le Ragnaie in 2003. The organically farmed estate is divided into three distinct parcels across 42 acres in Montalcino. These vines are the highest of any in Montalcino, some reaching above the DOCG mandated 1,960 feet above sea level. This Fiano di Avelino comes from Vigna Civitella, and was native fermented with 5 days on skins in stainless prior to 9 months in 660 L French Barrels. It was bottled without fining, and with minimal filtration. Pouring a shining gold hue, this skips along the palate with wild lemon, kumquat, lime blossoms, mandarin pith, and apricot skin texturing the slight, saline frame. Taut, stencilled, bone dry, and interesting, this is not your typical Tuscan white / orange, and one for adventuresome drinkers to seek out.Prices:| ON | $49.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Nicolas Mariotti Bindi Mursaglia Blanc 2020
Corsica, Sud de France, FranceAfter studying law in Paris, Nicolas decided to make a U-turn and return to his roots in Corsica to live the dream of winemaking. Nicolas set up his winery in Oletta where he organically grows 7 ha of vines on his domaine. These organic Vermentinu (Vermentino) vines are from the 1ha Mursaglia vineyard’s clay limestone soils, facing east. This was native fermented in stainless, where it remained for 1 year prior to bottling, without fining or filtration, and with minimal SO2 throughout. Pouring a deeper yellow hue, this fuller white is rich and concentrated with white honey, ripe pear and pear blossom across an expansive palate. The concentration is easily countered by a buzzing limestone acidity, holding things fresh and aloft. Striking white, drinking smartly now, and with time ahead.Prices:| ON | $55.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Nicolas Mariotti Bindi Hors-Série Blanc 2019
Corsica, Sud de France, FranceAfter studying law in Paris, Nicolas decided to make a U-turn and return to his roots in Corsica to live the dream of winemaking. Nicolas set up his winery in Oletta where he organically grows 7 ha of vines on his domaine. These organic Vermentinu (Vermentino) vines are a split between two limestone clay sites: Lumiu, South exposure; and 50% Mursaglia, East exposure. This was native fermented in stainless, where it remained for 1 year prior to bottling, without fining. Pear, white blossoms, pear skin, lemon pith stream along the medium palate, lightly textural, and effortlessly buoyant along a stony base. No boring vermentino here.Prices:| ON | $41.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Filipa Pato Nossa Calcário Bical 2020
Bairrada, Northern Portugal, PortugalThese biodynamic Bical grapes come from the chalky clays of Óis do Bairro vineyard, and 40 year old vines. It was whole bunch, native ferment into 500-600L pipas, where it remains on lees, without bâtonnage, for 8 months. Pouring a deeper lemon hue, this streams wild herbs, lemon verbena, white blossoms, lemongrass, green apple along a taut, saline palate, laced with lemon pith and peel. Beautiful energy in this slender wine.Prices:| ON | $41.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Zárate Albariño El Palomar 2020
Val do Salnés, Rías Baixas, Galicia, SpainFounded in 1707, the family owned Zárate estate is located in Rias Baixas' Vale do Salinas subregion. Their sloping, weathered granite vineyards are translated via Albariño, a grape intrinsically associated with the estate. Seventh-generation Eulogio Pomares runs this historic bodega today, farming almost fully biodynamically. This special cuvée is from 150 year old vines, amongst the oldest documented in Rías Baixas. It was fermented in a 2200L French foudre where it rests on lees until bottling. Pouring a deeper yellow hue, via the time in wood, this fills the mouth with creamy lemon curd, pear, lemon thistle, all bristling with a firm, salty, granitic grip. Incredibly complete, mouth-filling, with wonderful freshness to counter and draw this through a lingering finish.Prices:| ON | $70.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Zarate Albariño Val do Salnés 2021
Val do Salnés, Rías Baixas, Galicia, SpainFounded in 1707, the family owned Zarate estate is located in Rias Baixas' Val do Salinas subregion. Their sloping, weathered granite vineyards are translated via albariño, a grape intrinsically associated with the estate. Seventh-generation Eulogio Pomares runs this historic bodega today, farming almost fully biodynamically. This is from 30 year old vines, fermented native, and with three months on the lees in stainless. White peach, apricot fuzz, pear skin, white honey is held taut and electric across a buzzy granitic base. So much vibrancy and life here, propelling this through a lengthy finish. Benchmark producer, and albariño.Prices:| ON | $27.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Domaine Ostertag Sylvaner Vieilles Vignes 2020
Alsace, FranceDomaine Ostertag is Alsace legend, biodynamic since 1997, and known for non-interventionist wines of depth, and place. André Ostertag owns 14.4 hectares of vineyards in over 80 separate plots spread over the villages of Epfig, Nothalten, Itterswiller, Ribeauvillé, and Albé. His Sylvaner is always a highlight, with 50+ year old vines from several plots across clay, gravel and sands. The grape used to be 25% of production in Alsace, but has dropped to around 7% today. Low yields keep this focused and pure. It was native fermented and aged 8 months on lees in stainless. Dry, tight, and light, with elderflower, apricot skin, pear blossoms, and fine stony spice that beds this wine and lingers on the finish. Subtle, yet concentrated, and elegant, this smart wine would be a lovely pour alongside spring veg / white fish dishes.Prices:Read Full Note
89PTS
Moon Curser Roussanne Marsanne 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA classic Rhône blend from about as far from the Rhône as it gets. Moon Curser has reintroduced this blend with a fresher demeanour in the last two years, and this 82/18 mix of roussanne/marsanne sourced from the home vineyard on the Osoyoos East Bench is another winner. It is whole cluster pressed and co-fermented in mostly stainless steel with a small amount that spends four months in oak with regular lees stirring before resting. Surprisingly elegant, it has a texture that suggests otherwise, but the acidity and the electricity of the roussanne take the lead for the moment. You can expect the marsanne to eventually kick in, adding some honey and marzipan notes down the road. Be patient.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Terravista Fandango 2021
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFandango is an unusual 51/49 split of albariño/verdejo grown on the Naramata Bench estate Lone Hand Ranch vineyard. The grapes are fermented separately in stainless steel before blending. The first impression is tart. The attack is awash in lime rind without a stitch of sugar. The palate is sauvignon gooseberry-like with more citrus rind than anything else. Technically clean, fresh, and skinny, this wine would be best served with rich, creamy cheeses or a luxurious fish dish to counter the acidity.Prices:| BC | $29.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Terravista Albariño 2021
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTraditionally, this wine is brisk with what I would describe as electric yellow fruits. It is entirely estate fruit off Lone Hand Ranch Vineyard in year eight. The Naramata version has more lime and less nectarine with more floral, stony, mineral, and citrus on the mid-palate. Clean and tight, the finish calls for food, and the choice is almost limitless. The citrus salinity means you could serve it as a squeeze of lemon on your fish dish or pair it up with a creamy risotto. Impressive and ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $27.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Sperling Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAmazing 40 year old vines are the source of this wine from two sites off the Sperling family estate vineyard. Rising to 420 metres above sea level, the pinot blanc vines are traditionally the last to be picked on the site, leaving them to develop intense flavour. They get minimum skin contact before a stainless steel ferment, yielding one cool, taut, lean white that cries out for food. Reminiscent of crunchy orchard fruits led by green apples and Asian pears, sprinkled in citrus. So clean, fresh, and bright, a creamy pasta or chicken fajitas would work here. Good value.Prices:| BC | $21.00 | 750ml |
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17 September 2022
89PTS
Bartier Bros. Chardonnay Cerqueira Vineyard 2021
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGrown at Cerqueira Vineyard, on the middle or gravel bench below the Black Sage Bench, the fruit seems to thrive over glacial till flecked with calcium carbonate-covered stones. Winemaker Michael Bartier practices very little intervention; thus, it was whole-cluster-pressed, fermented in stainless steel where it stays in contact with its lees for six months. Citrus, green apples and saline/stony notes combine to give this chardonnay a jolt of electricity to keep it fresh through its savoury sagebrush-dusted finish. Chardonnay for wine lovers and most foods.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaAt BOV, the chardonnay is more classic than groundbreaking, relying on ripe, soft, round buttery fruit. In 2020 there is plenty of both, thanks to a warm year and 75% barrel fermentation. Almost 90% was further barrel aged for nine months. The palate is a mix of candied lemons, ripe melon, hazelnuts, and citrus. More California than Burgundy, but all in all, well made and ready to drink. Try this with buttered clams or halibut in brown butter sauce.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $31.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $33.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $35.75 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Blue Grouse Quill Chardonnay 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is the first chardonnay I have tasted in the bottle from Blue Grouse, released under the Quill Series label. The style is skinny, fresh, and bright, a trademark of Vancouver Island, and undoubtedly welcome on the BC chardonnay scene. The attack is green apple and citrus with a hint of orange blossom for interest and complexity. The saline, flinty, mineral finish is another nice touch in a wine that will be well suited to coastal shellfish and deftly prepared seafood. Did I mention this flavourful white comes in at 11.5 percent alcohol? I look forward to more of this from Blue Grouse. It's an impressive start. The fruit is all Cowichan Valley grown in Hillbank soils that are silty to sandy silty and loamy in the structure located in the Glenora area. It was fermented and aged in eight French barriques that were fourth fill, and one 500L French puncheon that was second fill. The barrels were periodically stirred over eight months.Prices:| BC | $25.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Culmina Family Estate Dilemma 2018
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt would appear there are no significant changes from this chardonnay, sourced high up on Golden Mile Bench, clipped from the Margaret's Bench Vineyard. It is a mix of Dijon clones 95 and 76 that goes through partial malolactic fermentation before ageing eight months in a blend of French oak (30% new, 40 % one-year-old barrels, and the remainder in stainless steel). The style is creamy but fresher than the previous edition, with a mix of orange, honey, and lemon curd filling the palate. The finish offers a touch of hazelnuts and sweet pear. Quietly New World and well worth investigating if you like the more decadent style of chardonnay. Lobster or halibut make suitable matches, as does a creamy mushroom risotto, or sumac seasoned roasted cauliflower tossed with pinenuts, currants, and pecorino.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Spearhead Chardonnay Clone 95 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaSpearhead Clone 95 is rare single clone chardonnay bottling from a single site, Duncan Vineyard, on the Naramata Bench. As good as it was last year, it's better in 2020. It is barrel fermented in a combination of French barrels and puncheons (25 percent new) and spends ten months on lees building complexity and mouthfeel. It pops with freshness and intensity of flavour, led by tropical fruit, citrus, and toasted almonds. Baked apple pervades the finish with a leesy hazelnut underscore. Impressive and a whole lot of fun to drink. Like last year, drink or hold. There is no rush here. Good value.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Bachelder Les Villages NOTL Chardonnay 2020
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaThomas Bachelder released two Les Villages Chardonnays in 2020, both made identically. One was from Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), and the other from the Bench. This cuvée is mixes grapes from The Willms, Bator, Bai Xu, and Patte Rouge parcels. After a native ferment in primarily neutral French oak, it spent 16 months on lees with no stirring. It's uncharacteristically ripe, which will have broad appeal for the California chardonnay crowd, although I must say the leesy underscore and spice tones down the New World leanings, offsetting its rich, creamy palate. As I say, it's an appealing style although not particularly representative of the Bachelder style.Prices:| ON | $34.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay Micro Cuvée Old Main Rd Vineyard 2020
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe 2020 vintage was the best in recent years, comparable to the excellent 2016 season in Okanagan Falls. Although there were forest fires in the area and across the border in Washington and Oregon, the smoke was not a significant factor during the warm July and August months leading up to harvest. The Micro Cuvée is all McLean Creek Road Vineyard fruit, and the vines are now 28 years old. It is individually tasted and selected from stand-out barrels: one new French oak puncheon; two new French oak barrels; and two one-year-old puncheons. The winemaking is hands off, and the wine unfined and coarsely filtered at bottling. The style is lightly reductive, and the nose is fragrant, feeding off ripe fruit, mineral, wet stone, toast, and tropical fruit that runs deep and long throughout. The finish has a bit of ginger and creamy vanilla notes. Impressive, as always.Prices:| BC | $58.35 | 750ml |
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86PTS
Desert Hills Chardonnay 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is an everyday chardonnay with 25 percent barrel fermented fruit and 75 percent fermented in stainless steel. Pear and butter mix with a spicy oaked finish. There is some mid-palate sweetness countered by a slightly sour finish. The fruit is sourced from the estate Sage Brush Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. Ready to drink.Prices:| BC | $17.90 | 750ml |
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16 September 2022
91PTS
Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Micro Cuvée McLean Creek Vineyards 2020
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaMicro Cuvée bottlings are barrel selections from their organically farmed estate McLean Creek Vineyard, and its steep gravel and sandy loams. This year's blend is predominatnly Pommard clone 91, with 25% clone 115. This was fermented and aged in two new French oak 500L puncheons, along with 4 x 1 year old French puncheons for 11 months. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Very perfumed, with black raspberries, fragrant bumbleberry, wild blackberry on a long, smoothed palate, with fine spices texturing, and softly furry tannins framing the silken palate. Very elegant, and ideal with BC salmon / sablefish / wild mushrooms now, and with time in your cellar.Prices:| BC | $58.35 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir McLean Creek Road Vineyard 2020
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of Canada's pinot noir and chardonnay specialists, this is from Meyer's home estate McLaren Creek Road Vineyard, and its steep gravelly / sandy loams. Pommard (91) and Dijon (114, 115, 667, 777) clones from 3 blocks go into this wine, meant to capture the organically farmed home estate. This was destemmed, cold soaked, and native fermented before aging 11 months in French oak (25% new). The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Sultry and mouth filling, with perfumed plum, wild blackberry, thorns on a textural, expansive palate. The soft tannins shape this through a gentle floral finish. Easy and welcoming, this smart pinot can be an easy go-to throughout fall / winter (think salmon / wild mushrooms) or over the short term in your cellar.Prices:| BC | $34.87 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Meyer Pinot Noir 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's Meyer Pinot Noir comes from three Okanagan Vineyards: Teasdale Road Vineyard in Southeast Kelowna, Fat Coyote Vineyard on the Naramata Bench, and Lakehill Road Vineyard in Kaleden. The destemmed fruit was partially native fermented over four weeks before eight months in older French barrels and puncheons. Smoked stone, fleshy black cherry, blackcurrant is heavily scented with nutmeg and cloves on a plumped palate, with tart, blackcurrant acidity sharpening. The finish lingers with cinnamon warmth. Certainly a different shade of pinot noir; this is one to crack into with heartier dishes / autumnal stews.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Blue Grouse Quill Pinot Noir 2020
British Columbia, CanadaAs in previous years, the Quill Pinot Noir is split between Vancouver Island and Okanagan fruit. This year the mix includes 34% from the Okanagan, and the remainder from the island (including 12% gamay for the first time). Each lot was left on skins for 4 days and native fermented separately. After pressing, the wine was moved into French oak barrels for MLF, followed by 1 year in French and American oak. Soft and plush in the mouth, with crushed plum, cherry jam, and a healthy shake of brown spices. Tannins are equally soft, hugging this medium bodied red to the briefer finish. The wine is already tasting a bit tired, so best to crack now with a slight chill and a mushroom pasta dish.Prices:| BC | $25.00 | 750ml |
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87PTS
Corcelettes Reserve Pinot Noir Micro Lot Series 2020
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe fruit comes off the higher section of the winery’s old vine pinot noir block closest to the heat-radiating cliffs cradling the estate vineyard. The nose is a mix of dried herbs and soya that spills onto the palate. Spicy and warm with a strong, savoury, warm undercurrent, the alcohol tends to dominate the palate. Best served with rich dishes like duck breast or mushroom pasta.Prices:| BC | $39.90 | 750ml |
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13 September 2022
89PTS
Code Wines Chardonnay 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis new Okanagan winery is the vision of Shay and Harlee Code, the farmers and owners of this organic 5 acre Okanagan Falls east bench estate. They began planting in 2017 with chardonnay and syrah. Over the past 3 years they've made their wines at Naramata's Roche Winery, but have recently launched their own operation. This single clone chardy (clipped from nearby Meyer's Family McLean Creek Road Vineyard) was fermented in stainless where it rested for 9 months prior to bottling after a light filtration. Tight and sleek, with green apple, greengage, lemon pith, and lime leaf on a narrow frame, lined with some earthy lees. The bone dry finish returns to bitter citrus oils along with river stones. Very smart direction and intent, though a bit clinical now in youth, with more complexities to come with time and experience. One to watch. 53 cases.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis year's chardonnay is classic BOV: rich, ripe, luxuriant. Whole cluster estate fruit was 75% fermented in oak barrels with the remainder in stainless, with partial MLF, and 89% of the lot remaining in oak for 9 months prior to the final blend. Sweet cream, lemon curd, ripe melon, toasted buttered brioche, hazelnut fill the generous palate, with a lemon peel acidity to cut through the heft, taking this to a bitter citrus finish. If you like your chardy Cali styled, but want to #supportlocal, here you go.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $31.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $33.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $35.75 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Quails' Gate Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Quails' Gate flagship chardonnay, the Stewart Family Reserve, is mostly clone 95, with vines approaching a quarter century in the ground under the ancient Mount Boucherie volcano. The style is showy, with ripe pears and hazelnuts leading to a creamy palate lashed with honey and tropical fruit, light spices, and a long, leesy, mineral finish. It has a long history of ageing effortlessly, and 2020 will not be an exception. Complex and inviting, and as ripe as it presents, there is less than 1 gram of residual sugar in the mix. Food pairings should include pan-fried halibut cooked in a buttercream sauce, or a burrata salad with roasted peaches, pistachios and cider vinaigrette.Prices:| BC | $49.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Blue Mountain Estate Cuvée Chardonnay 2020
Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis continues the stylistic shift of the 2019 vintage, with forward oak that provides perfumed layers of nutmeg, cinnamon, and toast to complement the rounded citrus, spiced apple, and peach. It still needs some time for the oak to fully integrate, but there's a lot of bang for your buck here. It's beautifully balanced, with a slight tannic grip from the wood, with complexity that is well above the norm thanks to 14-31 year old vines and impeccable, high quality oak.Prices:| BC | $28.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $27.95 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.95 | 750ml |
| NB | $26.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $26.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Bachelder Les Villages Bench Chardonnay 2020
Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaThomas Bachelder’s Les Villages blends parts fruit from four single vineyards of older vines grown in Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland, and 4 Mile Creek. Bachelder native ferments his chardonnays in primarily neutral French barrels to intervene as little as possible with fruit. This wine spends 16 months in the barrel undisturbed before it goes to bottle. There is plenty to like here but be warned: it is richer and more full-flavoured than the Bachelder norm. Expect a creamy slurry of yeasty textures packed with citrus pith, fresh green apples, and a lengthy spicy stony mineral finish. An excellent example of the difference between Niagara and Okanagan chardonnay for the moment.Prices:| ON | $34.95 | 750ml |
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12 September 2022
93PTS
Rivetto Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba 2018
Serralunga, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyYouthful, energetic, travelled Enrico Rivetto farms his family's estate with a philosophy beyond biodynamics (they are the first Demeter certified winery in Barolo), and towards complete biodiversity. From three vineyards in Serra, Manocino, and San Bernardo, all in the eastern corner of Barolo, and at 340-420m, this was harvested in three stages over 45 days. This nebbiolo was destemmed and deseeded before native fermentation and 25 days maceration. The deseeding technique is one devised by Enrico to remove the bitter pips from the wine, providing a silkier, smoother wine. Silken cherries, fragrant raspberries are woven with ferrous notes, and glide along the finessed palate, with an easy lofty acidity, and fine, long tannins framing through the saline finish. This finessed wine is well knit and harmonious now, yet with time ahead.Prices:| ON | $79.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Rivetto Nebbiolo d'Alba Vigna Lirano 2020
Alba, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyYouthful, energetic, travelled Enrico Rivetto farms his family's estate with a philosophy beyond biodynamics (they were the first Demeter certified winery in Barolo), and towards complete biodiversity. Entirely singular, this nebbiolo comes from a west facing vineyard planted 400m on clay and limestone at the top of Lirano Hill, between Sinio and Serralunga d’Alba. It was native fermented for 2 weeks on skins, racked from gross lees, then back on skins until June, for a total of 8 months in Italian amphora (terracotta). It's not legal under DOC rules to keep the wine on skins that long, so shhhh. Pouring a lightly hazy hue, this textural nebbiolo is layered with wild cherries, raspberries, leather, fragrant dried roses, and hints of candle wax. The fine tannins are ample and firmly grippy, and acidity is lofted, making for a very harmonious whole now, but with a few years ahead.Prices:| ON | $58.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Rivetto Langhe Nebbiolo 2020
Langhe, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyYouthful, energetic, travelled Enrico Rivetto farms his family's estate with a philosophy beyond biodynamics (they're the first Demeter certified winery in ), and towards complete biodiversity. This nebbiolo, tipped with 5 percent barbera, comes from a west facing vineyard planted 340-400m on clay and limestone at the top of Lirano Hill, between Sinio and Serralunga d’Alba. This was native fermented in stainless. Fragrant roses, candle wax, wild raspberry, wild strawberry floods the medium palate, hugged with fuzzy tannins and tight with rhubarb acidity. A friendly, easy choice for enjoying now.Prices:| ON | $41.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Rivetto Barbera d'Alba Zio Nando 2019
Alba, Cuneo, Piedmont, ItalyYouthful, energetic, travelled Enrico Rivetto farms his family's estate with a philosophy beyond biodynamics (they are the first Demeter certified winery in Barolo), and towards complete biodiversity. Zio translates to uncle in Italian, and the vineyard that forms an important part of this wine was planted by Uncle Nando in 1944. This youthful red uses one third of 1944 vines from a vineyard planted at 365m, on sandy, western-facing slopes. It was native fermented in stainless. Fleshy dark cherry and plum is laced with black pepper on a vibrant palate, with fine, firm, lengthy tannins housing this to a lingering saline finish. Bright acidity keeps this buoyant and joyous in the mouth, while the structure makes it made for food (think pork / mushrooms).Prices:| ON | $46.00 | 750ml |
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98PTS
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva Red Label 2007
Piedmont, ItalyFrom the cellar. Bruno Giacosa has been producing some of the most sought after wines out of Piedmont since 1961. The Red Label Reserva isn't produced every year, only when the winery deems a vineyard and wine worthy. All the other wines of the vintage are released under the white label. Thus, when you are lucky enough to find a Giacosa Red Label, scoop. In 2007, it was decided that the Barbaresco Asili was red label worthy. Sultry and intoxicating from first whiff, this stuns with its perfumed dried roses, dried cherry, dried tea leaves, old tobacco leaves woven throughout the textural, medium palate, now showing evident signs of age, but still vibrancy and life within and throughout the lingering, haunting finish. All nebbs' tannins are fully resolved, and in harmony. An incredible bottle to enjoy over an evening. 10,548 bottles were produced. Current vintage (2016) is $750 / bottle in Ontario.Prices:| ON | $750.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Hic et Nunc Monumento Barbera del Monferrato Superiore 2018
Piedmont, ItalyHic et Nunc is from from the Latin 'Here and Now', and devoted to making wines from their home in Monferrato, in northwestern Italy's Piemonte. Of their 100 hectares of arable lands, woods and poplar groves, 20 hectares are dedicated to local vines, and the are entirely estate, organically managed, on clay limestone soils. Monumento is the name of their Barbera Superiore, coming off their oldest vineyards (Bossola and Vasco) on the Mongetto hill around 250m, on marl clay soils. This was fermented / macerated one month in stainless before 12 months in steel followed by 15 months in French barrels. The dusky, sultry nose is thick with perfumed black florals, thorny wild blackberry, pipe tobacco, smoked stone, toasted wood filling out a full, plumped, 15% palate. Acidity is buzzy bright, easily lofting this bigger red to a baking spiced finish. This is ready to handle your richer braised beef / lamb dishes now, or after a couple more years in the cellar.Prices:| BC | $48.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Hic et Nunc Femminile Singolare Barbera del Monferrato 2018
Piedmont, ItalyHic et Nunc is from from the Latin 'Here and Now', and devoted to making wines from their home in Monferrato, in northwestern Italy's Piemonte. Of their 100 hectares of arable lands, woods and poplar groves, 20 hectares are dedicated to local vines, and the are entirely estate, organically managed, on clay limestone soils. The grapes in this, their classic 'feminine' barbera come off their Ca' Milano, Diego, and Mongetto vineyards, located near the winery at an average altitude of 240m and on a mix of red clays, white marls, and limestone. After 15 days maceration this spent one year in stainless. Fragrant purple florals lead into this plush, fuller, suave red, with dusky black cherry, black raspberry threaded with a cool steeliness, and surrounded with soft, fine, downy tannins. There's a beauty salted wild herbaceousness that runs the course of this wine, lingering on the finish. Lovely alluring freshness in this bigger red, making me think of herbed pork tenderloin or wild mushroom fricassee over polenta.Prices:| BC | $37.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Hic et Nunc Altromondo Grignolino 2020
Piedmont, ItalyHic et Nunc is from from the Latin 'Here and Now', and devoted to making wines from their home in Monferrato, in northwestern Italy's Piemonte. Of their 100 hectares of arable lands, woods and poplar groves, 20 hectares are dedicated to local vines, and the are entirely estate, organically managed, on clay limestone soils. This grignolino, a native Monferrato grape cultivated since the 12th century, is rooted in white marl at 300m. It was fermented in stainless, with 12 days on skins, before resting there over 8 months. Scrubby wild herbs, tayberry, boysenberry is scented with iris florals and white peppercorn on the medium/full palate. Acidity is brisk, and tannins are long, fine, and firm, finishing with a lingering stony buzz. Very charming and characterful; take with a slight chill.Prices:| BC | $35.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Hic et Nunc Mondano Dolcetto 2019
Piedmont, ItalyHic et Nunc is from from the Latin 'Here and Now', and devoted to making wines from their home in Monferrato, in northwestern Italy's Piemonte. Of their 100 hectares of arable lands, woods and poplar groves, 20 hectares are dedicated to local vines, and the are entirely estate, organically managed, on clay limestone soils. This dolcetto comes from their high altitude Bricco vineyard, in Mongetto, rooted in white tuffaceous marl and with southern exposure. It was fermented in stainless, where it remained for 8 months. Perfumed plums, blueberries flood a densely fruited, yet lofted palate, housed with well-integrated, ample tannins and seasoned with scrubby wild rosemary and ample flake salts. Quite smart and characterful, and ready for enjoying now, ideally with roasted pork / wild mushrooms / chestnuts.Prices:| BC | $36.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Cascina Galarin Crocevia Monferrato Rosso 2018
Piedmont, ItalyCastagnole delle Lanze is south of Piemonte, between Lange and Monferrato, on calcareous clay hills between 300-380m. This organic nebbiolo was vinified over two weeks in wood vats, with 30 days maceration. The wine remains in wood for two years before being bottled unfiltered, based on the lunar cycle. Tight and nimble with high strung acidity streaming crushed cherry, dried roses, dried rosemary, and ample flake salts. Tannins are long and finely firm, framing this graceful wine through a lingering saline finish. Drinking well now, and over the short term, ideally with wild mushroom / truffle dishes.Prices:| BC | $44.99 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco 1998
Piedmont, ItalyFrom the cellar. Orange brick hued, this carries a bloody, ferrous note that streaks through the medium body, drawing wild plum, dried cherry, fallen leaves, bergamot, dried wildflowers, with ample mineral salts through the finish. Tannins are fine and lightly sueded, while acidity is astoundingly bright, holding this textural wine through a lingering ferrous finish. Decant or allow this to open and stretch its legs. Current vintage (2017) is $335 / bottle in Ontario.Prices:| ON | $335.00 | 750ml |
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09 September 2022
91PTS
Cantine Madonna Delle Grazie Drogone d'Altavilla 2013
Basilicata, ItalyCantine Madonna della Grazie is a small organic / biodynamic winery in Venosa, in the heart of Vulture. Drogone d'Altavilla is made in only the best years when the Liscone vineyard's oldest vines produce something unique. The only vintages so far were 2003, 2007 and 2013. This aglianico comes off a parcel of the Liscone vineyard planted in 1968 on black volcanic clay and tuff at 420m. The ancient masale selection here has a notably higher natural acidity than all of their other parcels, making it the last to be harvested, usually in the first week of November. The wine is native fermented in stainless, where it remains for 2 years, prior to moving to 500L French barrels (80% new) for 3-4 years, and then back for a tightening stint in stainless for 6 months. It is bottled with a light filtration. Crushed rose petals, worked leather, dried raspberry is scented with scrubby rosemary and wild mint, and pinned with firm, long, lightly grippy tannins. Very structural and serious, this is drinking now, but designed for time ahead.Prices:| ON | $49.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Cantine Madonna Delle Grazie Bauccio 2016
Basilicata, ItalyCantine Madonna della Grazie is a small organic / biodynamic winery in Venosa, in the heart of Vulture. Bauccio is the flagship of the Latoracca family's efforts, sourced from 55 year old Aglianico off a parcel of the Liscone vineyard on exclusively black volcanic clay and tuff at 430m. The natural ferment lasts a month in stainless where it remains for 2 years, after which the wine is racked into 500L French oak barrels (80% new) for 3-4 years. It is racked back into stainless for at least six months before bottling with light filtration. Complexed layers of dusky wild flowers, black plum, thorns, wild blackberry, black cherry are woven throughout buzzy broken stones, lashed with salt. Tannins are long, fine and firm, and acidity is effortlessly lofty. So finessed, this fuller red has an easy grace, drinking beautifully now and with time ahead.Prices:| ON | $39.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Cantine Madonna Delle Grazie Liscone 2017
Basilicata, ItalyCantine Madonna della Grazie is a small organic/biodynamic winery in Venosa, in the heart of Vulture. Liscone comes off 5.5 hectares of 30+ year old vines at 430m on volcanic clays. The plants are a massale selection with larger berries due to the stronger water retentive ability of the soils located next to a creek. The native ferment lasts around three weeks in stainless, where it remains for 18 months. It is then racked into old neutral 500L French barrels for a year, then back into stainless for a six-month stint. Finally, it is lightly filtered before bottling. Dark cherry, perfumed dark plum open the sultry palate, livened with ample tight, buzzy stony acidity. Perfumed florals, throws, and pink peppercorn are woven throughout, bound by finely grippy, long tannins that draw this to a saline finish.Prices:| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Cantine Madonna Delle Grazie Messer Oto 2018
Basilicata, ItalyCantine Madonna della Grazie is a small organic / biodynamic winery in Venosa, in the heart of Vulture. Messer Oto is their entry-level agliancio from this producer, meant to be enjoyed in youth as it sees only stainless. From their Contrada Piano di Camera vineyard, this 2 hectare parcel is from their youngest vineyards (15 years), at 420m on limestone / volcanic soils. The grapes are a masale selection of small berries with more polyphenols in the skin, resulting in a deeper hued red. After a native ferment in stainless, it remains there 2-3 years, and is lightly filtered, with low sulphur. Crushed flowers, black raspberry, cherry is tightly woven with buzzy stony minerality brightening the medium palate. Tannins are fine and tight, framing this lively wine to a saline finish. Energy abounds.Prices:| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Cantine Madonna Delle Grazie Sagaris 2021
Basilicata, ItalyCantine Madonna della Grazie is a small organic / biodynamic winery in Venosa, in the heart of Vulture. This Aglianico rosé is sourced from the volcanic / calcareous clays of Montalbo vineyard and Piano di Camera vineyards, was native fermented with an overnight maceration, and aged in stainless. Pouring a spring salmon hue, this juicy rosato floods the mouth with raspberries, strawberries, mandarin pith and peel, filtered with stony spice. A beauty, fresh, fun food wine.Prices:| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Cantine Madonna Delle Grazie Leuconoe 2021
Basilicata, ItalyBet you haven't had a white Aglianico before. Cantine Madonna della Grazie is a small organic / biodynamic winery in Venosa, in the heart of Vulture. This is whole cluster Aglianico, separated quickly from its thick red skins. The fruit comes from a 1.5 hectare parcel of 30 year old vines in the Montalbo district on volcanic limestone clays, at 500m. This masale selection yields grapes with bigger berries which brings more juice and less skin = ideal for this type of wine. This was native fermented in stainless, with no MLF, remaining on lees until the following spring when it is lightly filtered and bottled. The creamy, medium bodied white is lit with a brilliant, bright acidity, streaking Asian pear, wild lemon along a lightly flinty palate, licked with lemon verbena. Structural, yet smashable, and certainly unique.Prices:| ON | $18.00 | 750ml |
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08 September 2022
90PTS
Le Ragnaie Rosso di Montalcino 2019
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyUnlike many Rosso di Montalcino that often is composed of the inferior barrels for Brunello, this is a site-specific bottling treated every step along the way like Riccardo's Brunello offerings. The Castelnuovo vineyard is situated in Castelnuovo dell'Abate on a steep hillside with Mastrojanni's Vigna Schiena d'Asino on one side and Poggio di Sotto on the other. After a long, cool natural fermentation in concrete, this is racked to 25-50L Slavonian vats where it rests quietly on lees for 24 months prior to bottling with no fining. Reductive at first, this opens up into black raspberry, cherry, lightly smoked stones and nubuck leather, with firm tannins holding the medium+ body intact. As this opens, layers of salt and dried herbs emerge on the finish. A smart example for enjoying now, ideally with roast pork / fall veg dishes.Prices:| ON | $49.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Le Ragnaie Troncone 2020
Tuscany, ItalyMontalcino has an altitude limit in Brunello; it's not allowed to grow above 600m. This organically farmed sangiovese is grown from 620-655m altitude, hence it fell into the declassification of IGT Chianti Colli Senesi. In the 2014, the wine was too pale and wasn't even approved for that, so Riccardo Campinoti said BASTA and labelled the wines IGT Toscana Rosso. Troncone means stump, and was the nickname of Riccardo's grandfather. There is also a large stump in the sandstone, limestone and clay vineyard, giving this wine's name a double meaning. Ragnaie is the name of the vineyard, Etruscan for spiderweb, and reflecting the label and the netting that Etruscans would use to catch small birds. This 14 year old organically farmed sangiovese was native fermented and on skins for 2 weeks in concrete, before one year in older Slavonian oak casks. Alluring from first whiff, with salted cherry, fragrant raspberry, worked leather and dried scrubby herbs stretching across a lifted palate, framed with firm, fine tannins, and buoyed by effortless lofty acidity, finishing with a flush of peppery spice. There's such a lovely ease and grace to this medium bodied youthful wine. Enjoy liberally.Prices:| ON | $26.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino 2017
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyRiccardo and Jennifer Campinoti purchased this Montalcino property with a mix of old vines and younger plantings and established Le Ragnaie in 2003. The organically-farmed estate is divided into three distinct parcels across 42 acres in Montalcino. These vines are the highest in Montalcino, some reaching above the DOCG mandated 1,960 feet above sea level. As one of the highest points in the region, it became famous for bird catchers, hence the traditional birdcatchers' net that graces the label (Ragnaie is Etruscan for spiderweb, reminiscent of the netting). This Sangiovese comes from vines up to 80 years in Ragnaie, Petroso, Loreto, Fornace, Cava vineyards, and was native fermented in concrete prior to spending 3 years in 25/32/37 hl Slavonian oak vats. An alluring nose of crushed cherry, black raspberry leads to an equally intoxicating palate of perfumed red fruits, crunchy plums, roasted carrots, dried red florals, savoury herbs, and sea salts, with firm, grippy tannins pinning, and lofted acidity carrying through the saline finish. Beautifully finely textured throughout, this medium+ bodied wine is imperially graceful, drinking smartly now and with time to come.Prices:| ON | $109.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Carpineto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015
Tuscany, ItalyMade from estate sangiovese from a meagre two hectare cru, this Chianti Classico Gran Selezione shows a ripe, luscious nose of dark cherries layered with perfumed florals, fresh herbs, and licorice, with a hint of vanillin and oak spices coming from 18 months of ageing in French oak. Finely built yet firm tannins are balanced by vibrant acidity, resulting in a wine that's densely concentrated yet beautifully balanced with excellent length and power.Prices:| BC | $69.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017
Tuscany, ItalySince its first vintage in 1947, dating before the introduction of the Gran Selezione classification, the Riserva Ducale Oro has only been produced in select vintages. The 2017 vintage blends sangiovese (83 percent), merlot (12 percent), and colorino (5 percent), going from 12 months in concrete vats, to 12 months in large Slavonian casks, to 12 months in used barriques, easily exceeding the minimum 30 months of aging required by Gran Selezione. The aromatic, woodsy nose shows cedar, herbs, forest floor, graphite, macerated cherries, subtle florals, and delicate spices. It’s an impressive, firmly structured wine with concentration and complexity that is well above the norm. However, at this point, its appeal is more about savoury, tertiary complexity over fresh fruit. Drinking well now, but with the potential to enjoy over the next 4-5 years.Prices:| BC | $48.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $47.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $45.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $50.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
Tuscany, ItalyA 90/10 blend of sangiovese and merlot from Cornia and Caggiolo, this complex, seamless Chianti Classico Riserva shows a lifted nose of dark berries, sundried tomato, and cedar, with just a hint of oak spices from the judicial use of French barriques and puncheons. The concentrated fruit effortlessly carries the 50 percent new wood, benefiting from vines ranging from 15 to 30 years old. Rich and supple, this is just beginning to enter its prime drinking window, with a woody grip to the finish. A beautiful expression of Chianti Classico.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Famiglia Zingarelli Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico 2019
Tuscany, ItalyA simple, juicy nose of spiced cherry, with a hint of herbs adding complexity, leads to a soft, refined palate with fresh acidity. Serve with a light chill alongside tomato-based pasta dishes.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $27.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.95 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2017
Tuscany, ItalyA traditional blend of sangiovese, canaiolo, and other unnamed red varieties, this Chianti Classico Riserva was aged 12 months in Slavonian and French oak before marrying in stainless steel ahead of bottling. At five years of age, it shows a developed, savoury nose of dried red cherry, leather, and dried herbs with a distinctive dusty earthiness. Medium-bodied and juicy, it delivers mouthwatering acidity balanced by resolved, fine grained tannins. Complex and refined, with good length.Prices:| BC | $30.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Le Ragnaie Troncone 2019
Tuscany, ItalyMontalcino has an altitude limit in Brunello; it's not allowed to grow above 600m. This organically farmed sangiovese is grown from 620-655m altitude, hence it fell into the declassification of IGT Chianti Colli Senesi. In the 2014, the wine was too pale and wasn't even approved for that, so Riccardo Campinoti said BASTA and labelled the wines IGT Toscana Rosso. Troncone means stump, and was the nickname of Riccardo's grandfather. There is also a large stump in the sandstone, limestone and clay vineyard, giving this wine's name a double meaning. Ragnaie is the name of the vineyard, Etruscan for spiderweb, and reflecting the label and the netting that Etruscans would use to catch small birds. This 14 year old organically farmed sangiovese was native fermented and on skins for 2 weeks in concrete, before one year in older Slavonian oak casks. Fragrant black cherry, black raspberry, fragrant scrubby wild herbs flood the slight, textural palate, lofted by altitude and authentic farming. Tannins are firm, fine, and long, drawing this through a very saline finish. Sangiovese + altitude = heart.Prices:| ON | $26.00 | 750ml |
| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tenuta Fanti Poggio Torto Rosso 2020
Tuscany, ItalyThe Tenuta Fanti estate has belonged to the Fanti family since the beginning of the eighteenth century. It extends across 300 hectares in Toscana, 52ha of which are specialized certified sustainable vineyards. The name Poggio Torto (leaning hill) comes from the irregular shape of the hill Poggio d’Arna, that is in front of the winery. This blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah comes from young vines rooted in schist and clay. It was fermented in stainless before 4 months in oak barrels, 50% in barriques of 3hl, and 50% in big oak barrels of 50 hl. Fragrant black raspberries, cherries flood the palate, structured with long, fine, sticky tannins, and brightened with an easy stony acidity. This fresh, fuller red is a smart use of international grapes in Toscana.Prices:| ON | $23.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Tenuta Fanti Rosso di Montalcino 2020
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyThe Tenuta Fanti estate has belonged to the Fanti family since the beginning of the eighteenth century. It extends across 300 hectares in Toscana, 52ha of which are specialized certified sustainable vineyards. Made from 15-20-year-old vines, the wine was fermented for 20-25 days in stainless before ageing for one year in oak barrels, 300L French oak barriques, and 3,000L oak barrels. The wine then aged in a bottle for 7 months before release. Fragrant cherry, wild raspberry, flake salts work across a leathery palate, with tuggy tannins framing the sides through the raspy spiced finish. Ready to crack now with grilled veg / pork dishes.Prices:| ON | $31.00 | 750ml |
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94PTS
Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia 2017
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyFrancesco Ripaccioli is the third generation, along with his brother and sister, taking care of these lands. Francesco took over the winemaking from his father, overseeing the 19 vineyards across 2 cru, including their estate vineyards on the famed Montosoli Hill. La Casaccia is laden with clay soils, lending the power and density to this striking Brunello. Wild dark cherry, black raspberry mixes with an alluring salted ferrous character threaded throughout the structured palate. Acidity is bright and lofted, and tannins are firm and fine, perfectly situated to carry this through the lingering finish. Drinking beautifully now, and with time ahead.Prices:| ON | $225.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 2017
Tuscany, ItalyFrancesco Ripaccioli is the third generation, along with his brother and sister, taking care of these lands. Francesco took over the winemaking from his father, overseeing the 19 vineyards across 2 cru, including their estate vineyards on the famed Montosoli Hill. Candle wax, ripe cherries, worked leather, cedar shavings lead this full, fleshy Brunello, braced with ample firm tannins, tightened with cranberry acidity, and studded with mineral salts through a smouldering, smoky finish. Stately as ever, even in the challenging 2017 vintage.Prices:| ON | $92.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Podere 414 Flower Power Rosato 2021
Maremma, Tuscany, ItalyPodere 414 is a certified organic estate with 13ha of vines, situated in western Tuscany, straddling a river near the town of Scansano. This charming, dry rosato of early-harvested Sangiovese was fermented cool in stainless, where it remained until bottling in spring 2022. Pale salmon hue, this streams wild strawberries, crunchy cherry, and stony notes along a sleek, bright frame, with savoury swings of earthy lees keeping this interesting.Prices:| ON | $19.00 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Mazzei Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2018
Tuscany, ItalyThis cru of sangiovese comes off 11 parcels surrounding the Fonterutoli hamlet, in the heart of Castellina in Chianti. It is a mix of 6 clones plus 8 massale selections, rooted in albarese and limestone. After a stainless ferment, this spent 18 months in 500L French oak (50% new) before 4 months in concrete tank. Still quite knit and reserved, this structural wine shows black cherry, dark perfumed raspberry across a fine leather and broken stone base. Acidity is limestone lofted, and tannins are long and finely sticky, guiding this finessed wine to a lingering finish. Very elegant; this will certainly be enjoyed now with a decant, and over the years to come.Prices:| BC | $74.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
Tuscany, ItalyThe Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva celebrates the Mazzei ancestor who penned the first official document mentioning Chianti in 1398. The label is quite unique, held together with a wax seal, inviting you to open and view illustrations by young Florentine artists hidden within. This sangiovese is splashed with 10% merlot, coming off the Cornia and Caggiolo vineyards' clay, limestone, and albarese. This aged 1 year in small French barrels, 50% new. Ripe and plush black cherry, raspberry is layered with flake salts, dried florals, and dried thyme, all lit with a lifted stony acidity, and housed with long, finely sticky tannins. There's a lovely balance to this finessed wine, drinking smartly in youth, but will reward with cellaring.Prices:| BC | $32.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017
Tuscany, ItalyRiserva Ducale Oro, first released in 1947, is produced only in the best years. This year's blend of 83% sangiovese, 12% merlot, and 5% colorino comes from the Ruffino estates of Gretole and Santedame, in the heart of Castellina in Chianti. After a stainless primary ferment, with MLF in concrete, this remained in concrete for 1 year, followed by 1 year in large Slavonian oak casks, and 1 year in older barriques prior to bottling. Expressive and layered, with dried herbs, fresh and dried cherry, kirsch, wild plum, old paper on a savoury, salted, textural palate. Stony bright acidity holds this aloft, while long, fine knit tannins frame through the lingering mineral driven finish. Very elegant and refined, this is drinking beautifully now, and with time ahead.Prices:| BC | $48.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $47.95 | 750ml |
| QC | $45.00 | 750ml |
| NS | $50.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Famiglia Zingarelli Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico 2019
Tuscany, ItalyRocca delle Macìe was founded in 1973 by legendary film producer Italo Zingarelli. His impressive film career allowed him to fulfill his dream to produce wine. His son, Sergio, oversees the operations today. This sangiovese is tipped with 5% merlot sourced from their 4 estates in Castellina in Chianti. After primary fermentation in stainless, and MLF in concrete, this rested in large Slavonian oak for 6-10 months. Sun-ripened cherry, leather, ripe raspberry, wet forest stretches along the medium+ palate, with furry tannins framing the sides, and tart stony acidity to meet. A fleshy, friendly Chianti Classico for your meat / tomato sauced pastas.Prices:| BC | $20.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $21.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $27.00 | 750ml |
| ON | $18.95 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2016
Florence, Tuscany, ItalyBaron Francesco Ricasoli is the 32nd generation family member to live on these Tuscan lands and caretake the ancient Brolio castle. Francesco is carrying on the dream with the vision that his ancestor first began 875 years ago. A selection of plots surrounding the castle, this Sangiovese is tipped with 3% Abrusco, rooted in sandstone, galestro, and albarese. After fermentation in stainless, this rested for 18 months in tonneaux (30% new). Structural and stately, with sultry and luring salted dark plum, savoury black cherry, perfumed crushed cassis across a worked leather palate, stony, limestone lofted acidity, and firm, well-integrated and finely grippy tannins framing through the lingering saline, and dried thyme kissed finish—striking wine now (with mushrooms and wild boar), with ample time ahead in your cellar.Prices:| BC | $74.99 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva 2019
Siena, Tuscany, ItalyBaron Francesco Ricasoli is the 32nd generation family member to live on these Tuscan lands and care for the ancient Brolio castle. Francesco is carrying on the dream and on with the vision that his ancestor first began 875 years ago. This Riserva is entirely sangiovese off predominantly stony soils on the estate, between 300-400m. After a stainless ferment, this rested 18 months in new and 2nd use tonneaux. Sultry and stony dark espresso, black plum, wild blackberry move through this textural, savoury, bigger red, with ample limestone acidity to loft any heft, and carefully managed, dusky and structural tannins holding all intact. Lots of layers and interest here, drinking smartly now (think grilled beef / lamb) but will hold in your cellar.Prices:| BC | $38.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca Guicciarda 2018
Tuscany, ItalyBaron Francesco Ricasoli is the 32nd generation family member to live on these Tuscan lands, and caretake the ancient Brolio castle. Francesco is carrying on the dream and on with the vision that his ancestor first began 875 years ago. Previously, Rocca Guicciarda was one of Ricasoli's most important estates. Today, interestingly, this modern-styled wine it is the name of this Chianti Classico Riserva, drawn from various parts of the estate. Predominantly sangiovese, with five percent each of merlot and canaiolo, this was fermented in stainless, aged 18 months in large tonneaux and cask, before six months in bottle. The added grapes lend a dark fleshiness to this polished wine, with wild plum woven through black cherry, worked leather, autumnal forest, cinnamon bark spicing. Acidity is lofted via soils and altitude, while tannins are lightly furry, hugging this to a spiced finish. One to enjoy now with richer autumn stews / braises.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $25.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $29.95 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2019
Tuscany, ItalyBaron Francesco Ricasoli is the 32nd generation family member to live on these Tuscan lands, and caretake the ancient Brolio castle. Francesco is carrying on the dream and on with the vision that his ancestor first began 875 years ago. This Chianti Classico is off various parts of the estate's sandstone, galestro, alberese, clay and silt soils. It was fermented in stainless before 9 months in tonneaux. Tight and tart black cherry, early raspberries, worn wood run the silken, medium bodied palate, with bright, almost crunchy acidity met with long, lightly textural tannins through a snappy, warming finish. A lighter, friendlier style for your tomato sauced pastas now.Prices:| BC | $27.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $24.00 | 750ml |
| QC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Talenti Rosso di Montalcino 2020
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyRosso di Montalcino is supposed to be soft, round, and ready to drink, so this wine gets full points from the first taste. The floral violet nose leads to a medium coloured sangiovese with licorice, cherries, plums and an apparent mineral undertow. A light baking spice is an inset in the dense, soft grained tannins that keep it all together. You can age this five to seven years or drink it now with a mushroom, beef, and pasta dish. It is made from sangiovese from different vineyards located on Montalcino's southeast/west side, at altitudes varying from 250 to 400 m, and aged for a few months in French/Slavonian oak barrels and bottles before release. Delicous.Prices:| BC | $39.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $38.99 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Talenti Brunello di Montalcino 2017
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyTalenti is situated in the Orcia river valley, south of the legendary hilltop town of Montalcino. It was established by Pierluigi Talenti in 1981, making it new by most Tuscan wine standards. Today, his grandson Riccardo Talenti oversees operations. The estate is spread across 40 hectares of land, and half is planted with vines. The rest of the property is home to olives, cereal crops, and indigenous forests, as is the Tuscan way. This Brunello di Montalcino 100% sangiovese grosso planted in ‘81, grown on clay and marly soils at an elevation of 200 to 400 metres. Only the oldest vines make it to the Brunello bottling. Late picked and hand harvested, the grapes are fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel and aged in a combination of Slavonian oak barriques and 500 litre botti for two and a half years, followed by a year of bottle age before release. Expect a rich, complex red crafted to be approachable now, but it can go the distance in the bottle (think ten or fifteen years minimum). I love the plums, baked earth, and savoury herbal notes. Throw in some smoke, leather, and rich, dense, sweet tannins, and you have a good bottle of wine. But, of course, decanting a Brunello is always necessary.Prices:| BC | $96.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $97.50 | 750ml |
| MB | $99.99 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Malerba Ronzamoro 2018
Tuscany, ItalyThis natural, organically farmed sangiovese was native ferment with extended maceration, and raised in fiberglass, with no sulphur. Perfumed plums, wild black cherries, black raspberries and ferrous notes stretch along the tight palate, with long, taut, lightly furry tannins pinning in the fruit to a forest scented finish. Acidity is brisk, carrying this easily through the spiced finish. Best with a slight chill. Very stable; I enjoyed this natural wine over a couple of weeks, held in the fridge.Prices:Read Full Note
89PTS
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2016
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, ItalyFrom Trequanda’s Fattoria del Colle, at 400m on hills of predominantly limestone and sandstone comes this Supertuscan blend of Sangiovese (60%), and equal parts Merlot, and Sagrantino. This was vinified in stainless before 18 months in large barrels and in 5-7 hl French oak tonneaux. The last vintage I tasted was 2018, so this is a back-release now on our market, affording the opportunity to try these muscular wines with some age. Leather rules this fuller, wine, worn now with some time, and housing dried leaves, dried cherry, black plum, iodine on a bricked palate. Tannins are soft and slightly sticky, taking this through the saline finish. Certainly a different version of Il Drago, though drinking now, ideally with roast beef. The 8 doves on the label represent this groundbreaking female-led winery, while the dragon represents Donatella's ever-present husband and confidant, Carlo.Prices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $35.95 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Spadefoot Toad Sangiovese Organic 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Spadefoot Toad vineyard is located in Oliver, and the sangiovese is organic. The wine is fermented in insulated bins with daily hand cap management. Post ferment, it is aged 26 months in a combination of 14 percent new and 86 percent neutral French oak barrels. 2017 was a terrific bottle, given how hard it is to make sangiovese outside of Italy, but 2018 may be as good. The nose is oaky even at 14 percent new wood, which gives you an idea of how complicated winemaking can be, but behind that oak is plenty of ripe fruit, baking spice, vanilla, and earthy sangiovese notes that keep it on track. Organic grower Ron Firman, who tends his small acreage like a garden, used a mild growing season to turn out a balanced and fresh red wine. I like the sound of spaghetti and meatballs.Prices:| BC | $75.00 | 750ml |
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07 September 2022
90PTS
CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir 2018
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United States2018 is made with 70 percent estate fruit and what appears to be a fraction of oak, something Paul Hobbs has been pursuing for some time now. The freshness is apparent, as is the bright, juicy strawberry, rhubarb, and bramble fruit that is an authentic reflection of the true Sonoma Coast. A small bunch of stems is added to the ferment, after which it is all aged nine months on lees in French oak. A delicate undercurrent of citrus acidity and flecks of minerality round out an enjoyable pinot noir. Salmon, anyone?Prices:| BC | $37.24 | 750ml |
| QC | $42.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $50.00 | 750ml |
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92PTS
Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir 2019
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesSeveral estates, nine clones, various exposures, and a mix of soil types go into Hobbs Russian River Pinot. Extravagant by Old World pinot standards, this wine has come a long way in the last decade. It is all hand-harvested at night, by shears only, and hand sorted at the winery, where 9% of the whole clusters are included in the small, open-top stainless steel tanks. After a 5-day cold soak, an indigenous fermentation is started. It is aged in 44 percent new French oak barrels for ten months. The pinot vintage of the decade has yielded a fragrant violet nose with sage and red berry. The plate is ultra suede with Bing cherry and savoury blood orange. The tannins are low and soft, allowing a fresh mineral finish. Impressive.Prices:| BC | $67.00 | 750ml |
| AB | $60.00 | 750ml |
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06 September 2022
89PTS
Rigour and Whimsy Edge of Chaos 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRigour & Whimsy are a tiny garagiste, family-owned winery based in Okanagan Falls, sourcing vineyards across the Okanagan for their creative and adventuresome (and artfully labelled) portfolio, one that changes annually. This coferment blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petit Verdot comes off Osoyoos' Sekhon Family Vineyard and young vines. It was whole berry fermented over 3 weeks, then aged 5 months in used French oak puncheons and barriques. The WB ferment gives this an easy, herbaceous lift and brightness, while the sunned southern Okanagan fruit lends it amplitude on the palate. Wild cassis, perfumed brambleberry lead, with anise, downy violets / iris lingering on the finish. Tannins and plush and soft, while acidity is tight and leafy. Most definitely not your average Southern Okanagan cab blend (yay!), enjoy this youthful wine with a slight chill. 11.8%.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Culmina Family Estate Hypothesis 2017
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPrices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Township 7 NBO Blue Terrace Vineyard 2019
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaNBO (North Bench Oliver) is a 66/34 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot, barrique aged for two years in 225L French oak. The fruit comes off the Blue Terrace Vineyard in Oliver and delivers a robust red blend of savoury, spicy black fruit. The palate is awash in dried fruit, dark chocolate, and a touch of balsamic with a blast of desert scrub seasoning. The textures are smooth, the tannins dense but round, but there is no rush to drink this wine. Ribs, T-Bone steaks, and anything with mushrooms or a rich mature cheese would be suitable matches.Prices:| BC | $43.97 | 750ml |
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89PTS
The Hermit by Ingo Grady 2020
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2020 marks the third release of The Hermit by Ingo Grady. It is a wine that emulates an old French manœuvrer that saw Bordeaux reds stiffened or “hermitaged” by the addition of syrah from the warmer regions to the south, if not North Africa. Choosing from the vast selection of grapes from winegrower Suki Daliwhal, and aided by the Kismet Estate winery team, Grady has issued a 32/31/25/11 mix of cabernet sauvignon, syrah, malbec, and petit verdot. The evolution has seen the cabernet sauvignon drop 50 percent over three years, and in the excellent 2020 vintage, you can see why given the richness of flavours from the other components. It was made to be drunk young, and its mantra is to be delicious, which never hurts. The Hermit is a soft, savoury, spicy raspberry and blueberry red dusted in Okanagan garrigue that slides down with little effort. As young as it appears in the glass, it should age five to seven years with no problems. It was the perfect compliment to grilled steak with fresh corn on the cob.Prices:| BC | $30.00 | 750ml |
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85PTS
Play Cabernet Merlot 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis is a simple but effective blend of Okanagan cabernet sauvignon and merlot. It is a youthful version with spicy black fruit, tobacco, young tannins, and intense desert sagebrush. A classic hamburger, ribs, beef taco red. It would also benefit from a 45 minute+ decanting before you serve it.Prices:| BC | $20.00 | 750ml |
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02 September 2022
88PTS
Bartier Bros. Cabernet Franc 2020
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOff the Black Sage Bench, this cab franc is tipped with 10% merlot, affording a added plushness to the plump blueberry, ripe black plum, herbal blackberry palate. This spent 14 months in neutral 225L French wood and was bottled unfined and unfiltered, and that texture is welcome on the fleshy palate. Tannins are plush, though acidity is sharp, helping sharpen this to a peppery warming finish. Best taken alongside bigger grilled meats.Prices:| BC | $29.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $26.99 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Rigour and Whimsy Licorice Daddy 2021
Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaRigour & Whimsy are a tiny garagiste, family-owned winery based in Okanagan Falls, sourcing vineyards across the Okanagan for their creative and adventuresome (and artfully labelled) portfolio, one that changes annually. This cab franc comes off the Sekhon Family vineyard in Osoyoos, and was inspired by the Loire Valley. This was destemmed and fermented whole berry over 3 weeks maceration, and was then pressed and racked into older puncheons and barriques, where it remained for 5 months until bottling, without fining or filtration. Pouring a lightly hazy, crimson hue, this charms with wild herbs, salted scrubby rosemary, and white pepper scenting the wild raspberry, plum, and cherry palate. Tannins are soft and malleable, shaping the slight body to a lingering, salt studded and tobacco scented finish. Really charming, and lovely to see this style in the southern Okanagan.Prices:| BC | $38.00 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Corcelettes Cabernet Franc 2020
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Similkameen is a great place to grow cabernet franc, and the folks at Corcelettes are in tune with the notion. Despite a heavy lashing of oak, this wine has the stamina to overcome the wood and spice by exhibiting a modicum of elegance. Look for sweet black fruit, including black cherries, black raspberries, licorice, olives, and dark chocolate in the background. Big, robust, and not near ready to drink, this is one for 2025-2030. Expected to be released in the fall of 2022.Prices:| BC | $34.90 | 750ml |
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01 September 2022
89PTS
Peak Cellars Terraces Dry Riesling 2021
Lake Country, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt is year two for the dry riesling made with estate grapes that grow on low lying heavier clay soils known as Block 20. Two superstar clones, 21 and 49, bring vestiges of Germany and France (Alsace) to the mix. A long cool fermentation has issued a delicious drinking, bone dry riesling full of citrus, pomelo, green apples, and a touch of softness to entice. On the palate, honeysuckle spiced apricots, fresh-cut herbs, and a saline finish make it hard to put your glass down. Juicy, thirst-quenching and a dynamite food partner. The winery says it "screams for salt, fat and crunch! Raclette, fondue, pork belly, creamy cheeses, Pasta Carbonara, shrimp scampi, sushi, Caesar salad with fried capers or salad rolls." Impressive.Prices:| BC | $24.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Domaine Ostertag Riesling les Jardins 2020
Alsace, FranceDomaine Ostertag is Alsace legend, biodynamic since 1997, and known for non-interventionist wines of depth, and place. André Ostertag owns 14.4 hectares of vineyards in over 80 separate plots spread over the villages of Epfig, Nothalten, Itterswiller, Ribeauvillé, and Albé. Les Jardins comes from a 2.5 ha parcel of 30 year old vines grown on loess, quartz, granite and volcanic soils. It was native fermented and aged in stainless, where it remained 1 year on lees. Dry and light on its feet, with pear skin, lime pith, dried orange, subtle gooseberry, lemon balm, and fine but palatable energy that streams this through the perfumed finish. This shows the impact a quiet, graceful wine can have. Striking in its subtlety.Prices:Read Full Note
88PTS
Wild Goose Riesling 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBurrowing Owl is Wild Goose's new owner, famous for its delicious riesling offerings. The regular riesling bottling is a juicy affair packed with lime juice, fragrant flower blossoms, and perfect acidity. The attack is fresh but round and easy to sip. An ideal happy hour style with just enough sweetness to take on spice in an appetizer. Ready to drink and good value too.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Culmina Family Estate Susser Riesling No. 018 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada2021 marks the eighteenth release in the Number Series and the second Susser Riesling I have seen. The nose is open and fragrant with sweet fruit notes of peach and apricot. Again, there is a delicacy here but plenty of residual sugar tagged at 54.88 grams /litre, which puts it in the range of a German spatlese. The fruit comes off Block X2, a cool corner of vines on Arise Bench planted to clone 21. The Susser tag is a direct translation of the German for sweeter, and it more than adequately reflects the overall final impression of the wine. Think light desserts or spicy dishes. Serve chilled.Prices:| BC | $32.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Culmina Family Estate Decora Riesling 2020
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaDecora comes off the high-altitude Margaret's Bench (595 metres), about as high as it gets in the south Okanagan. 2020 is a little flat on the entry but easy to sip. Look for yellow fruits with a touch of citrus zest in a dry 4 grams per litre residual sugar riesling. The flavours are concentrated by dried apricots, toasted nuts, starfruit, and creamy, yeasty, mineral-scented textures to envelop them all. Ready to drink with slow-roasted pork belly.Prices:| BC | $23.00 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Township 7 Riesling Benchmark Series Fool's Gold Vineyard 2019
Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaFool's Gold Vineyard is located in North Oliver. It may surprise many, but it yields some fresh, crisp, and dry riesling vaguely reminiscent of the Clare Valley. The fruit is pressed and cold settled before fermenting at very cool temperatures, with a small portion fermented wild in neutral oak. It's not as fragrant as Clare, but the crunchy fruit is biting with big green apple, lime, and grapefruit pith throughout the palate. Tart, crisp, and mineral, it's ready for almost any food that needs a squeeze of citrus.Prices:| BC | $29.97 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Tantalus Riesling 2021
East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaPurity is the watchword at Tantalus when it comes to riesling, thanks to their impeccably managed old vineyard. Interestingly the flagship label is the regular riesling, although there is nothing regular about this wine. The nose is an exceptional mix of aromatics mixing fresh orchard fruits and floral notes. The palate is all Tantalus with stunning concentration and balance. Look for lime, tangerine zest, and juicy fruit throughout with minerality, salt, and wet stones. You can drink this now or hold it for a decade. It will only get better in the bottle. The fruit is hand picked between September 24th and October 11th at optimal ripeness from various blocks. The wine was aged cold on gross lees in separate batches before blending and bottling in the last week of February 2022.Prices:| BC | $27.85 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Tantalus Riesling Lab Hard Pressings Experiment 11 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne of the best things about getting old in the wine business is that it means you can start to experiment with confidence, and that’s what the Riesling Lab is all about at Tantalus, now among the best riesling producers on the continent. This is year 11 of the Riesling Lab experiment, a chance for the cellar crew to use the hard pressings of all the riesling blocks not used in the top wines. The 21 was wild fermented in old oak puncheons and barriques and got a five percent addition of gewürztraminer to the finished wine for spice and lift. It is one of the best experimental labels I have tasted, loaded with lime pulp, floral orchard fruit blossoms with an off-dry palate (16 g/L), with notes of honeysuckle, guava and pear flooding the finish. The well-managed sweetness gives it another dimension to take on ribs, spicy tuna rolls, or a favourite spicy vegetarian dish. It is up to you to experiment now.Prices:| BC | $21.75 | 750ml |
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93PTS
Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2019
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Tantalus Old Vine Riesling is a BC treasure, although I’m guessing many wine drinkers haven’t heard of the wine because they don’t drink riesling. It was first planted in 1978, north of 49 degrees, and if that wasn't a cool enough site, all the vines are facing north to seal the deal. Winemaker David Patterson doesn’t do much with the grapes. It is whole bunch pressed and fermented cold for three+ weeks before resting 120 days on its lees and 24 months in bottle. What can I say about this wine that hasn’t already been said? In 2019 it pitched a rich lime and salty palate with lively, mineral, dusty stone notes from front to back. The acid and residual sugar cancel each other out at 11.4 g/L sugar, 10.7 total acidity, setting the stage for a decade and more of ageing. But, of course, you can drink it now with almost any dish in the world. Iconic.Prices:| BC | $39.00 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Quails' Gate Clone 49 Riesling 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Collection Clone 49 Riesling showcases an emerging South Kelowna microclimate that is very welcoming to the grape. As good as 2020 is, 2021 comes from a cooler year and brings another level of electricity to this wine. The 95 Alsace clone grows in a cool, quartz-laced site awash in millions of years old alluvial melt and sandy loam tilted gently to the west. The mineral, stony nose previews a juicy lime palate pricked with green apples, flint, oyster liqueur, and a perfectly balanced dry finish. So get the vegetarian sushi rolls, a favourite Thai green curry, or fresh BC shellfish. It was fermented and aged in a mixture of puncheons and French Oak barriques with moderate lees stirring, but you wouldn’t notice. More, please.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Lunessence Estate Single Vineyard Riesling 2021
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaIt is year three for this riesling, and it's shaping up well. It's fresh and racy, but the acidity is not overly aggressive. The palate is bone dry with green apple and lime throughout. It is all Summerland estate grapes, demonstrating how ideally suited this area is to growing crunchy fruit. Best of all, it will be a great accompaniment to all foods. Next up, I would love just a bit more intensity of flavour.Prices:| BC | $24.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Sperling Vineyards Old Vines Riesling 2016
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaA redo after two years is always special, especially if the subject is riesling. The Sperling Old Vines is the winery flagship grown in limestone-laced clay and planted in 1978. It has 10.4 g/L of residual sugar, but you won’t notice it, given the acidity and the overwhelming robust flavours that run through the wine. It is genuine riesling without makeup, made for riesling geeks who appreciate the nuance of lemon-lime, white pepper, pear blossoms, and oatmeal. Aged and impressive, you need to give it a chance at this price.Prices:| BC | $27.89 | 750ml |
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October 2022