New Wine On The Horizon

SPARKLING

Cave Poulet et Fils Clairette de Die: Tradition  Vercheny, France  $19.95  93/100 points

Colour: white sparkling, fine bubbles, light yellow 

Nose: floral, honeysuckle, mineral, yeast

Palate: Lychee, touch of sweetness, light body, lovely mouth feel, refreshing light acidity.

Comments: Great as an aperitif but excellent with fried chicken, cold cuts. The wine is cold fermented very slowly with a second fermentation in the bottle via residual sugar. No added dosage after wine has sediment removed! Also good with sweet tarts. Made from Muscat Blanc and Clairette Blanche!

LCBO # 460758

WHITE

Bodegas Alceno Romeo Verdejo 2021  Jumilla S/E Spain   $13.45   94/100 points

Colour:  pale straw with greenish tinge

Nose: fresh, citrus lemon, orange peel, floral blossom, herbal

Palate: light to medium, nice balance, pleasant bitter finish with some herbal

Comments: From a winery that started in 1870, now owned by the Bastida Family. The Verdejo grape produced entirely in Spain is not familiar to many tasters. It makes a great aperitif due to its acidity and bitterness. Try it with salads, light meats, oily fish, Definitely can be used with many spices and fatty vegetables such as avocados and potatoes as well as variety of cheeses. 

LCBO:# 32105    

Naturalis Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2022  South Australia   $16.95   93/100 points 

Colour: white, clear with a slight greenish hue

Nose: gooseberry, lychee, herbal grass, passion fruit, citrus

Palate: light, refreshing, with a white berry, crisp finish

Comments: From a serious wine company. Wine comes from a Certified Organic Vineyard. Absolutely no synthetic pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers are used. Grapes picked at dawn to maintain coolness. 

Excellent wine with seafood, salads, light dishes or as an aperitif. (From Angove)

LCBO #32833  

Rapaura Springs Sauvignon Blanc 2022  Marlborough, NZ     $19.95       95/100 points

Colour: White with greenish hue

Nose: powerful citrus, mandarin, passion fruit, herbal nose

Palate: dry, light to medium body, nice acidity with a superb and long lasting citrus peel finish

Comments: One great taste experience from the "get go"! The wine just keeps on giving and giving on the palate even after several minutes. While I would drink this wine alone, why cheat myself by omitting a food match. Definitely made for a nice meal such as:  seafood or clam chowder, chicken with cream sauce, shell fish, salmon based salads. At the above price, get a case and enjoy!

LCBO # 465880

RED

Cave des Vignerons de Buxy, Bourgogne "Buissonier" Pinot Noir  2020  $22.95  93/100 points

Colour: Red

Nose: cherry, red fruit, earth, smoke and burning leaves, some herbal spice

Palate: medium to full body. dry, well balanced, soft tannin, anise on the finish

Comments: Good price/quality ration and inexpensive for a Burgundy. From a co-operative in the Cote Chalonnaise just south of the Cote d'Or. The wine is well made and a good buy for Burgundy lovers. Would pair nicely with the following: Veal, duck, beef stew, Beef Bourgogne, Grilled Salmon!

LCBO #11901

The Larrikin Cabernet Shiraz   McLaren Vale 2020          $22.95   94/100 points

Colour: Inky red

Nose: black fruit, earth, smoke, dried forest leaves, coffee, cocoa and floral notes

Palate: pepper and herbal spice, full body, well balanced, soft tannin, long anise finish

Comments: for the above price, one could not do any better. A wine that will develop more complexity as time goes on. The wine comes from the Black Sheep Vineyard in McLaren Vale which has a high reputation of producing top, long lived wine. This is no exception and for that price, I would suggest buying at least six bottles and watching them develop over the next several years. 

LCBO: TBA (for more information contact the "Case for Wine Agency" Pickering --416-482-0241)

Caves du Chateau des Loges     Beaujolais-Villages  (Perreon) 2022  92/100 points

Colour: Cherry red

Nose: Some plum but lots of red fruit such as raspberry and strawberry, earth, 

Palate: Medium bodied, lovely mouth feel, smooth with nice acid touch. Long finish

Purchased in 1960 by A group of winemakers that transformed the property into a very high standard of biodiversity and sustainability. The present vintage is highly regarded for this wine.

Pairs well with a variety of pasta dishes, veal cutlets, pork and grilled meat.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this wine made from 100% Gamay since it tasted more like a Burgundy. Excellent value in the United States. 

LCBO: TBA (for more information contact the "Case for Wine Agency" Pickering ----416-482-0241)