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Wine Picks June 9, 2020

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Reviewed Wines | All Wines | Group by Wine Type | Group by Country/Region

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Note: This batch of wine reviews is not part of the bi-weekly Vintages Releases. Instead, it's a collection of wines outside the Vintages section in store (general list) or wines sent to me directly from wineries that may not yet be available in liquor stores. Click on the Winery or Wine Agency link to get more info.

Dessert Wine

Lailey Winery Chardonnay Icewine 2015, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, V.Q.A., Canada: A rich, unctuous, luscious dessert wine with aromas of golden apple, pear and baking spice. This icewine is made from the Chardonnay grape, giving it a voluptuous roundness. Perfect for creme brulee or caramel popcorn. Drink: 2018 - 2028 12.5% S 375 mL $76.00 Score: 92/100. June 2020. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Konzelmann Estate Winery Peachwine, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: A lovely dessert wine made from Ontario peaches. This Konzelmann wine offers aromas of peaches and ripe apricot. Fourth-generation winemaker, Herbert Konzelmann, came from Germany to Canada in the 1980s and created the Konzelmann winery in the Niagara Peninsula wine growing region, a wine region that reminded him of Alsace. Peachwine food pairings: Asian dishes, pork tenderloin, curried rice, peach cobbler. Drink: 2020 - 2021 13% S 750 mL $17.95 Score: 90/100. June 2020. Best Value Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Red Wine

Niagara College Teaching Winery Dean's List President's Red 2018, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Food pairings: hanger steak, rosemary lamb, herbed button mushroom salad. Drink: 2020 - 2025 40741 13% D 750 mL $32.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Niagara College Teaching Winery Les Marmitons Gastronomy Pinot Noir 2017, Niagara, Canada Drink: 2020 - 2024 13% XD 750 mL $24.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Niagara College Teaching Winery Balance Cabernet Franc 2018, Niagara Peninsula, Canada Drink: 2019 - 2023 13% Dry 750 mL $18.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Inniskillin Niagara Estate Discovery Series Merlot Petit Verdot 2016, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Merlot Petit Verdot food pairings: Lamb roast, beef medallions, pork loin. Drink: 2020 - 2024 13% D 750 mL $39.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Château des Charmes Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ 2017, St. David's Bench, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ food pairings: prime rib, beef brisket, gourmet burgers. Drink: 2020 - 2023 346742 13% D 750 mL $19.95 June 2020. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Riverview Cellars Rosso Cabernet Merlot 2017, Niagara River, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2019 - 2023 12713 12.5% D 750 mL $20.15 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Rosés

Creekside Rosé 2019, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: From the Niagara wine region this is a racy rosé made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with a fresh nose of ripe cherries, strawberries and soft orange aromas, dry on the palate with vibrant pink grapefruit, savoury herbs and savoury spice flavours. Rosé food pairings: salmon steaks, sausages, lightly savoury cheeses like white cheddar or smoked provolone. Drink: 2020 - 2022 48819 12.5% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 90/100. June 2020. Best Value Rosé Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Cabernet Rosé 2017, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Cabernet Rosé food pairings: lox and capers, grilled salmon steak, shellfish, fresh fruit, veggies, pasta primavera. Drink: 2020 - 2021 11.9% D 750 mL $25.00 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Cabernet Rosé 2018, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Cabernet Rosé food pairings: lox and capers, grilled salmon steak, shellfish, fresh fruit, veggies, pasta primavera. Drink: 2020 - 2021 11.9% D 750 mL $25.00 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sparkling Wine

Queenston Mile Vineyard Sparkling Brut 2016, St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: This vibrant Niagara sparkling wine was aged for three years on the lees for extra richness and mouth-filling texture. It's a blend of Chardonnay (58%) and Pinot Noir (42%) grapes grown on the St. David’s Bench Vineyard. Aromas of green apple and freshly baked bread. Enjoy as an aperitif or with shellfish. Sparkling Brut food pairings: devilled eggs, basil vinaigrette salad. Drink: 2020 - 2024 12.5% D 750 mL $50.00 Score: 91/100. June 2020. Top Rated Sparkling Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

Creekside Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: cedar plank grilled salmon, goat cheese and beet salad, mussels steamed in white wine sauce. Drink: 2020 - 2022 620724 11.5% XD 750 mL $15.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Niagara College Teaching Winery Underground Series Skin Fermented White Pinot Gris 2018, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2019 - 2024 11.3% Dry 750 mL $17.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wairau River Wines Sauvingnon Blanc 2019, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand Sauvingnon Blanc food pairings: arugula salad topped with grilled shrimp, clam vongole, steamed clam and mussel hotpot. Drink: 2021 - 2024 14340 12.5% XD 750 mL $19.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Queenston Mile Vineyard Mile White 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A lovely, floral Niagara white wine blend of aromatic grapes including Viognier, Pinot Gris, Semillon, Chardonnay and Riesling. Medium-bodied and vibrant. Pair with seafood and poultry. Drink: 2020 - 2022 24753 12.5% D 750 mL $25.00 Score: 91/100. June 2020. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Palatine Hills Estate Winery Riesling 2016, Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: From the Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-On-The-Lake wine region, Palatine Hills 2016 Riesling has that lovely complexity of petrol, citrus and mineral aromas on the nose, off-dry, fruity and lemon zesty with a lingering citrus finish. Nicely down and nice value under. Riesling food pairings: schnitzels, smoked fish, mild vegetarian curries. Drink: 2020 - 2022 520395 10% M 750 mL $17.95 Score: 92/100. June 2020. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Palatine Hills Estate Winery Wild & Free Pinot Grigio 2017, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Lovely, vibrant Niagara white wine. Juicy, mouth-watering acidity. Wild And Free 2017 Pinot Grigio is a small batch PG from the Palatine Hills in Ontario wine region. Off-dry with bright green apple, pear, melon, white pepper and citrusy flavours on the palate. Chill and enjoy with grilled fish, calamari or fish tacos. Pinot Grigio food pairings: grilled pork tenderloin, Caesar salad topped with grilled chicken, pan-fried halibut steaks. Drink: 2020 - 2021 11955 12% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 89/100. June 2020. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Greek Wine Cellars Kourtakis Apelia Moschofilero 2018, Peloponnese Igp, Greece: A lovely pale straw hue. Aromas of smoke, light white florals and toasted almond. Light-bodied with good acidity for seafood. Great value for this magnum sized format. Drink: 2020 - 2022 239863 12% D 1000 mL $12.55 Score: 87/100. June 2020. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Lakeview Cellars Fumé Blanc 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Fumé Blanc food pairings: smoked salmon, cream cheese, garlic shrimp. Drink: 2020 - 2022 12% D 750 mL $22.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Creekside Backyard Block Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: chicken and sage skewers, fresh tomato and basil salad, oysters on the half shell, pan-fried freshwater fish. Drink: 2020 - 2022 341792 12.5% XD 750 mL $22.00 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Joseph's Estate Wines Arancia Skin Fermented White 2019, Four Mile Creek, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2021 13% D 750 mL $23.15 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Joseph's Estate Wines Vidal Skin Fermented White 2018, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2021 12% D 750 mL $26.15 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Joseph's Estate Wines Muscat Skin Fermented White 2018, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2022 12% D 750 mL $26.15 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Creekside Unoaked Chardonnay 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2019 - 2021 819761002433 12.7% XD 750 mL $15.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Creekside Unoaked Chardonnay 2018, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Unoaked Chardonnay food pairings: shell fish, grilled pickerel, summer salads. Drink: 2019 - 2021 819761002433 12.7% XD 750 mL $15.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Creekside Unoaked Chardonnay 2019, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Unoaked Chardonnay food pairings: shell fish, grilled pickerel, summer salads. Drink: 2022 - 2024 819761002433 12.7% XD 750 mL $15.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Niagara College Teaching Winery Underground Series Skin Fermented White Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2019 - 2022 12.2% Dry 750 mL $17.95 June 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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