Natalie MacLean - delicious wine picks and pairings
www.nataliemaclean.com

Vintages Release April 28, 2026

Paid Members of my site can access all 93 wines that I've reviewed for April 28, 2026, with my scores, food matches and the stock for each wine in their closest stores.

They can click on any wine to add it to their Shopping List to print or access on their smartphone with my mobile apps. Become a Paid Member today and get the inside line on good wine.

Login to see Natalie's scores and notes

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

Increase Font Size | Decrease Font Size

Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.

Red Wine

El Enemigo El Mirador Single Vineyard Bonarda 2022, Mendoza, Argentina: El Enemigo El Mirador Single Vineyard Bonarda from Rivadavia, Mendoza is a dry, medium-bodied red of elegant restraint and quiet complexity, drawn from a precious five-hectare plot of century-old vines on sandy soils at 650 metres elevation, offering a delicate nose of fresh sour cherry, warm mulberry, dried rosemary, crushed violet and a thread of iron-laced earth that carries through to a fluid, silky palate with exceptionally fine, polished tannins and a long, sapid finish. The wine is whole-bunch fermented with wild yeasts, then aged for twelve months in 100-year-old foudres, a deeply traditional approach that preserves the Bonarda grape's natural freshness and fine-boned elegance without imposing unnecessary structure. El Enemigo was founded in 2008 by Adrianna Catena, youngest daughter of Argentine wine icon Nicolas Catena, and Alejandro Vigil, Chief Winemaker at Bodega Catena Zapata, and the name "the enemy" reflects their shared belief that the greatest obstacle any person faces is their own self, a philosophy that drives their relentless pursuit of precision and terroir expression. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil has called 2022 the best vintage he has ever lived through, citing its exceptional acidity, concentration and perfectly calibrated alcohol levels across Mendoza. Serve it slightly below room temperature alongside roast duck with a cherry and thyme glaze, where the wine's bright acidity and red fruit lift echo beautifully through the dish; it is equally delightful with a slow-roasted pork tenderloin with roasted garlic and herbs, the wine's silky texture and mineral depth weaving through every bite with ease. Cellar through 2035. Bonarda food pairings: roast chicken, roast duck, pork tenderloin. Drink: 2025 - 2035 15120 13.5% XD 750 mL $29.95 Score: 92/100. April 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sparkling Wine

Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Carte Blanche Estate Blanc De Blancs 2018, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Carte Blanche Estate Blanc de Blancs from the Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment V.Q.A. is a dry, medium-bodied traditional method sparkling wine of remarkable elegance and persistence, made from 100% hand-picked estate Chardonnay with the best juice barrel-fermented (20%) before the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in bottle and rests on its lees for a full 54 months, producing a wine of creamy, toasty depth with a nose of warm brioche, poached quince, preserved lemon curd, roasted hazelnut and a wisp of chalk minerality that leads to a silky, mouthwatering palate and an extraordinarily long, vibrant finish. This is a Blanc de Blancs, made from 100% Chardonnay, thus the moniker blanc de blancs, meaning white wine from white grapes. The Cuvée Catharine name honours Catharine Smith, wife of the original Henry of Pelham himself, and the Carte Blanche is the prestige vintage expression of that legacy, conceived by brothers Paul, Daniel and Matthew Speck to celebrate the estate's 25th anniversary of winemaking and since become one of Ontario's most acclaimed sparkling wines, earning gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Henry of Pelham's Short Hills Bench vineyard, with its clay and limestone soils on the Niagara Escarpment, produces Chardonnay of naturally high acidity that is ideally suited to this Champagne-method style. Serve it well chilled alongside freshly steamed shrimp and ripe avocado with a squeeze of lemon, where the wine's toasty depth and bracing acidity cut through the richness beautifully; it is equally impressive alongside a platter of fried oysters with aioli, the wine's minerality and effervescence refreshing the palate with each sip. Cellar through 2032. Blanc De Blancs food pairings: shellfish, fried foods, Asian fusion dishes, salad. Drink: 2025 - 2032 315200 11.9% XD 750 mL $49.95 Score: 96/100. April 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


© 2026 Natalie MacLean