Cost: $19.95 (Clearance Price: 16.00) Grape: Chenin Blanc Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: South Africa Region: Stellenbosch Format: 750 ml Producer: Radford Dale Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A nice substitute for a subtle oaked Chard, featuring nice, crisp fruit, along with a creamy finish. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, pear, white peach, honeydew melon, honeycomb & Jasmine on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Sustainable & Vegan
Winemaker’s Note: “Grapes were picked by hand as well as manually sorted to ensure that we maintain the purity of varietal expression for which this wine has become known. Gentle pressing in a pneumatic bag press, with the extracted juice moved to a combination of 2500L Foudre, 500L, 300L, and 228L barrels for alcoholic fermentation. The barrels used are predominantly 2nd to 5th fill French oak, of Burgundian cooperages. Whilst the Foudre is of tight-grain, Austrian origin. The usage of unintrusive oaking promotes optimal varietal expression.” (A foudre is a large wooden vat, typically holding 20 to 120+ hectoliters (2,000 to 12,000+ liters), used for aging wine with minimal oak influence.)
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with roasted turkey.
Cost: $14.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: Chile Region: Chile Format: 750 ml Producer: Cono Sur Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
For a relatively inexpensive oaked Chard, which has more neutral oak, this Chard has good zesty fruit. Score: 89/100.
Tasting Note: Light gold in colour with high acidity, medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon zest, pear, golden apple, yellow cranberry, Kumquat, honeydew melon &vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Vegan and Organic
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with scallop ceviche.
An elegant, juicy Pinot that pairs well with food or on its own. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Light garnet in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose, fine tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Sour cherry, rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry & red currants.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Organic & vegan
Winemaker’s Note: “Hand-harvested clusters were destemmed prior to undergoing a wild ferment in open-top oak fermenter. After pressing, the wine was transferred to second-fill and neutral French oak barrels to preserve freshness and then aged eight months before bottling.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 4 years on its own or pair it with duck breast.
Cost: $11.95 (On sale until Nov 9/25: $10.95) Grape: Tempranillo Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: Spain Region: Castilla – La Mancha Format: 750 ml Producer: Hammeken Cellars Alcohol: 14.00% Alcohol/Vol.
A great alternative to U.S. Cabs that are around $20 mark, but this one is half the price & has better structure. Score: 87/100.
Tasting Note: Dark ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, mild tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Blueberry jam, dark cherry, raspberry, mocha, cherry cola, cloves, milk chocolate, cooked spinach & vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Vegan Friendly
Winemaker’s Note:
Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Hungarian Goulash.
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