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Natalie MacLean

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Flat Rock Riesling 2014, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: The winery sent me the 2014 vintage of this lovely riesling to taste and evaluate, which is fortunate since it was the 2013 vintage at the LCBO tasting. Green apple and white pear. Love it. Building an inukskuk is now a ritual at the end of harvest for this winery: lifting the heavy stones requires a team effort. Pair with roast turkey and fun. The winery does whole cluster pressing to extract pure flavour, and only of the first 600 litres per tonne of fruit. Ed allows the juice to settle during a long, slow fermentation. The 2014 vintage is a blend of two distinct blocks of 21B clone vines nowin their early teens as the winery describes them. Finishes with fresh pink grapefruit notes. Drink: 2014-2019. 43281 11% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 91/100. September 17, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Featherstone Winery Black Sheep Riesling 2014, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Featherstone's Black Sheep Riesling stands shoulder to shoulder (ear to ear) with the best of Niagara Rieslings. This is one of my favourite Niagara Rieslings: delightful every vintage. The 2014 vintage is no exceptional with lovely bright notes of lime blossom, lemon zest and flint. Pair with fresh seafood and vegetarian dishes. This Ontario white wine offers great refreshment in the glass. Featherstone's Black Sheep Riesling stands shoulder to shoulder (ear to ear) with the best of Niagara Rieslings. Mouth-watering juiciness with vibrant notes of tropical tree fruit. Off-dry and ready from a range of dishes from glazed ham to chutney. Drink: 2014-2019. 80234 10% M 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 92/100. January 11, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Plush Pork Wine Full Review
Thirty Bench Riesling 2013, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario VQA, Canada: Soft with white florals, lovely aperitif. Spring mountain wet stone on the finish. Pair with fresh water fish. Drink: 2014-2018. 24133 11% D 750 mL  $22.95 Score: 90/100. February 20, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Remarkable Roast Chicken Wine Full Review
Malivoire Wine Company Guilty Men White 2013, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario VQA, Canada: An intriguing and rich white wine with layers of flavour and complexity, especially for this price. This is a Niagara white wine blend of Riesling and Savignon Blanc. It's aromatic offering notes of white florals and fresh pear with smoke. Made by a much respected producer operating in a gravity-flow winery and farming sustainably. Drink: 2013-2017. 192666 12% XD 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 88/100. September 15, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Full Review
Vineland Estates Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Grassy, herbal, nettle and gooseberry: very much in the style of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Good acidic attack on entry. Needs food like spinach quiche. Drink: 2013-2016. 12827 12% XD 750 mL  $12.75 Score: 88/100. August 22, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Southbrook Vineyards Connect White 2014, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A pretty, floral white wine blend from Niagara that offers tremendous value and pleasure for the price. Notes of fresh apple blossom and honeydew. This is a blend of aromatic grapes including Vidal, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The bonus? It's an organic wine. Pair with free range chickens and natural sunlight. Drink: 2014-2017. 249078 9.90% MD 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 88/100. September 15, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Outstanding Organic Wine Full Review
Cave Spring Cellars Dry Riesling 2013, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario VQA, Canada: A superb Niagara white wine or the money. Cave Spring is the Riesling master and it shows in this value-priced edition. Aromas of wet stone, dry peach and lime zest. Clean and crisp with no oak. Pair with fresh seafood. Drink: 2015-2020. 233635 11.50% D 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 90/100. September 18, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
La Vieille Ferme Syrah 2007, Cotes Du Ventoux, Rhone, France: Rustic, robust and tasty! Black cherries, wild garrigue and cedar spice. Full-bodied and wonderfully Old World. 263640 13.50%  750 mL  $13.20 Score: 87/100. September 2, 2009 Full Review
Dr. L Loosen Bros. Riesling 2014, Mosel Qualitätswein, Germany: A consistently great value year after year: this vibrant, off-dry German white wine offers lovely aromas of ripe peach, pear and apple blossom. Perfect for Asian dishes and medium curries and spices. Drink: 2014-2018. 423566 12% D 750 mL  $13.95 Score: 89/100. September 5, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Maculan Pinot Grigio 2013, Veneto I.G.T., Italy: Fresh and dry with white peach and lime aromas. Great aperitif. Perfect companion to vegetarian dishes. Zesty, vibrant Pinot Grigio from an Italian producer that's consistent year after year. Medium-bodied. Good aperitif. Drink: 2015-2017. 734921 12.50% XD 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 89/100. September 5, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Riverlore Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand: A zesty, crisp Sauvignon Blanc with classic aromas of grass, lime and lemongrass. Some gooseberry and nettle on the dry finish. The grapes are hand picked in small batches. Good minerality. Pair with salads and seafood. Drink: 2015-2017. 417600 13% XD 750 mL  $16.20 Score: 90/100. September 18, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Full Review
ARA Wines Pathway Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand: Zesty and fresh New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that has more lime citrus brightness than herbal grassy notes. Great price. Pair with fresh seafood and salads or spinach quiche. Drink: 2014-2016. 416222 13.50% XD 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 88/100. September 18, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Enchanting Feta Cheese Wine Full Review
Sutherland Thelema Mountain Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Stellenbosch Elgin W.O., South Africa: Incredibly vibrant with herbal, lime and freshly cut grass aromas. Very refreshing. Wonderful quaffer. The wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness and purity of the fruit flavour. Great value. Pair with fresh seafood and salads. Drink: 2015-2016. 446384 13% XD 750 mL  $14.95 Score: 90/100. September 5, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review

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