What We’re Drinking Now!

Malivoire “M2” Small Lot Gamay, VQA Niagara Escarpment, 2011
$19.95 available to order 
Malivoire is a leading producer of Ontario Gamay, and it’s a varietal we pick again and again for its food friendliness and crowd pleasing ability. Juicy and complex with a nose of ripe strawberries and raspberries, crushed black pepper and spice. On the palate vibrant acidity keeps things lively with flavours of red cherry and raspberry and black pepper spice.  A very enjoyable wine that’s well suited to mixed cheese plates, charcuterie or coq au vin.

Château des Charmes Mèthod Traditionnelle Rosé, VQA Niagara on the Lake, 2009
$28.95 available to order
Made in the Champagne Method and kept on its lees for at least two years, this is light and spritzy with a nose of bright red berries, tangerine and  yellow apple.  The palate is creamy but delicate, with flavours of red berries light floral notes. A great party wine this would go very nicely with crab and pink grapefruit salad, goats’ cheese or scallops wrapped in bacon.

Gaja Sito Moresco, DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy 2010
$54.95 Vintages 976043
A blend of Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot this is one of Gaja’s more affordable offerings.  Aromas of bright cherry, baking spice and milk chocolate fill the nose, and echoed in the palate with baking spice, leather and maraschino cherry.  Smooth with fine grain tannin and firm acidity, this will age nicely for the next decade.

Gaja Ca’ Marcanda “Promis,” IGT Tuscany, Italy, 2009 
$44.95 Vintages 745638
A blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese, this is smooth and velvety with tamarind, spice, sour cherry and brulée topping on the nose, with rich and ripe flavours of red cherry, spice, black olive and leather.  Try this with braised short ribs, meat lasagna with tomato sauce or eggplant parmesan.

Maquis Lien Colchagua Valley, Chile 2006
$19.95 Vintages 292250
We were first introduced to this wine at the Chilean wine show & seminar where we tried the 2008, priced at $27.95.  So imagine our pleasant surprise when we discovered the LCBO has the 2006 on shelves for only $20.  Anyway, it’s a powerful and masculine wine made from a blend of five red varietals: Syrah, Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec; it needs a bit of time in the cellar – or at least a decanter – to calm down.  Aromas of cassis, ripe black cherry, black marker, and chocolate.  The palate is chewy and dense with fairly firm tannins, with dark ripe fruit and spice flavours. Try this with red meat, grilled rare.

Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 2008
$74.95 Vintages 71407
One of the iconic wines of California, Grgich practises organic and biodynamic farming.  2008 was a cool, dry year in Napa, allowing for wines with great class, elegance and aging potential. With a nose of cassis, earth, pencil led, this wine is smooth and elegant on the palate, with firm tannins and rich flavours of blackberry, coffee, tobacco leaf and graphite. A very nice addition to the cellar as this can likely go to 2020 and beyond, but just as enjoyable tonight with rack of lamb or grilled tenderloin.

Reif Estate Winery “First Growth” Cabernet Merlot, VQA Niagara River, 2007
$37.70 available to order
We’ve had the good fortune over the last few weeks to try some iconic, powerful and thoroughly enjoyable wines – that also come a very powerful price tag.  So, when we tried Reif’s stellar First Growth Cab Merlot – that had the top notch quality & power of wines from other  regions, but at a fraction of the price – we were blown away.  Reif’s “First Growth” tier is only made in the best years, and sourced from 18 year old vines.  The wines are aged separately for 12 months in wood, the best are blended together and aged for another 17 months in French & Hungarian barrels.  Rich, round and ripe on the palate, this has a mix of dark and red berry fruit, mocha and earthy complexity. It’s showing well now, just in time for lavish celebration dinners filled with roast beef, seared duck breast or filet mignon.

Chateau de Maligny “Carre de Cesar” Chablis, Burgundy, France 2011
$26.50 available to order 
A rich Chablis that’s weighty on the palate and surprisingly aromatic on the nose with white peach and floral notes.  Refreshing and zippy on the palate with bright acidity backing up flavours of ripe peach, white flowers, golden delicious apple and mineral.  Try with raw oysters, tempura shrimp or even scallop risotto.

Rosehall Run “SZ” Sullyzwicker White, VQA Ontario, 2011
$14.95 LCBO 214478
A blend of aromatic white varietals led by Riesling & Ehrenfelser, this is a pretty wine at a pretty price thats ideal for pre-dinner sipping.  Round and delicate on the palate with zippy acidity, the white peach, apple and floral aromas and flavours could also make this a nice pairing with roast pork loin, fresh oysters, or ham quiche.

Closson Chase Rosé, Ontario, 2011
$19.95 available to order
A rosé made from 100% Pinot grapes this orangey-pink wine is absolutely delicious, with flavours of raspberry, tangerine, strawberry, soft baking spice and minerality. This is a perfect example of how rosés are not just for summer sipping: paired with turkey, ham or rare tuna, this is dynamite with the cold-weather fare that usually comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas. World on the street is they won’t be making any more in an effort to concentrate on their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay efforts. Bummer.