Melanie scored this wine: 95/100

Yummy brioche, strawberry, raspberry, lemon and floral qualities. Everything you hear about Veuve Clicquot is true. Definitely worth splurging on for your next special occasion!

Melanie scored this wine: 92/100

Beautifully rich ruby red that is practically opaque. Fruit explosion on the nose, thanks to a large bulbous glass, with dark fruit like cherry and berries, plum, fig, sweet spices, cassis and eucalyptus. On the palate, much of the same, plus prune, raisin, leather and smoke. Glad we cellared it for so long - 2016 is the perfect year to take this one out. It is gorgeous!

Melanie scored this wine: 92/100

This 2012 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon still could have sat for another couple of years, but after decanting, it was a beaut! Lots of black fruit flavours like blackberry and cassis, plus vanilla, leather and smokiness. A perfect pairing for duck magret off the grill. Good till the last drop, this bottle didn’t make it through the night. Keep an eye out for it in Vintages and pick up a bottle for your next special occasion. (Tasted February 2017) Get the whole story: https://winingwithmel.com/2017/03/09/resurfacing-with-big-news/

Melanie scored this wine: 92/100

This was one of my favourite wines at the California Wine Show. Fume blanc is 100% sauvignon blanc grapes, but unlike regular sauvignon blanc wines whose grapes are generally fermented in stainless steel tanks, these were fermented in French oak barrels called foudres. The grapes are grown naturally, without articifical pesticides or herbicides, in the cooler regions of Napa. Despite being oaked, this wine is incredibly refreshing with high acidity. Lots of juicy tropical fruits and minerality, as well as a hint of pink grapfruit. I'll definitely be looking out for this one at the LCBO.

Melanie scored this wine: 92/100

This was the perfect wine to start off the California Wine Show with. The bubbles are fantastic and the brioche and strawberry flavours typical of traditional method sparklers (while Chandon is one of the big players in Champagne, this technically can't be called champagne since it is grown in California). This is your standard blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, which only macerates for 2-3 hours using a technique known in French as "flash détente". This bubbly is so easy to drink on its own. No food required.