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Wine Picks October 23, 2020

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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

Tzafona Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2016, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A gorgeously rich Cabernet icewine from Niagara! Aromas of ripe berries and cherries. Pair with raspberry crumble. Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine food pairings: raspberry and dark chocolate torte, roasted nuts, berry desserts with sweetened whipping cream. Drink: 2020 - 2026 635086 11.5% S 375 mL $79.95 Score: 91/100. October 2020. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Tzafona Cellars Vidal Icewine 2016, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A lovely Niagara icewine with aromas of peach and pear preserves. Match with fruit cobbler. Vidal Icewine food pairings: fruit flan, custard desserts, chocolate-covered almonds. Drink: 2019 - 2026 443820 12% S 375 mL $36.95 Score: 90/100. October 2020. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Ferox Winery Dornfelder Icewine 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Beautiful nose! Port-like black cherry richness. Lovely. Unique grape used here, Dornfelder. A real treat. Pair with berry cobbler. Dornfelder Icewine food pairings: apple cheesecake, vanilla wafers, maple walnut ice cream. Drink: 2020 - 2025 10% S 750 mL $85.00 Score: 92/100. October 2020. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Red Wine

Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Villages 2017, Bordeaux A.C., France: Produced from 100% Gamay from old vines Gamay that are between 70 and 100 years old. Grapes undergo semi-carbonic maceration for 10-12 days and the wine is aged in large oak foudres for three to four months. The wine is unfiltered. Ruby red in the glass with dark cherry, blackberry and pepper spice aromas on the nose. Generous on the palate with bright cherry, dark berry and pepper spice on the palate. Finishes long and elegant. Domaine Manoir du Carra is located in the small town of Denice, and the estate dates back to 1850. The property is now run by Jean-Noël Sambardier, the fifth generation of his family to oversee winemaking here. Food pairings: roast pork, grilled chicken breasts, gourmet burgers. Drink: 2020 - 2022 14735 13% D 750 mL $15.95 Score: 89/100. October 2020. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Tzafona Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A robust, fairly smooth Niagara Cabernet that's kosher. Aromas of dark plums and smoke. Pair with a rare steak. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: rare roast beef, lamburgers, beef Bourguignon. Drink: 2019 - 2023 493981 14% XD 750 mL $29.95 Score: 88/100. October 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Ferox Winery Red 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Juicy, dark aromas with black cherry on the nose. Full-bodied and plush, smooth. Well-made. Pair with grilled meats. Red food pairings: grilled rib steak, charcuterie, pork sausages, creamy cheeses. Drink: 2020 - 2024 13.5% XD 750 mL $30.00 Score: 88/100. October 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Plantagenet Lions' Circle Shiraz 2017, Great Southern, Western Australia, Victoria, Australia: A generous, full-bodied, supple Australia Shiraz with aromas of fleshy ripe black plums and spice. Perfect for grilled meats. Shiraz food pairings: grilled lamb chops, roast quail stuffed with wild mushrooms, veal Porterhouse. Drink: 2020 - 2022 15977 14.5% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 88/100. October 2020. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Vina Luis Felipe Edwards Terra Vega Carmenere 2019, Central Valley, Chile: This medium-bodied Carmenere from Chile is Kosher Mevushal. Aromas of dark fruit and smoke. Pair with grilled meats. Drink: 2019 - 2021 354761 13% D 750 mL $13.95 Score: 87/100. October 2020. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Royal Wines Don Alfonso Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Central Valley, Chile: A full-bodied Chilean red wine that's kosher. Notes of dark fruit. Pair with grilled meats. Drink: 2019 - 2021 78071 12.5% D 750 mL $12.95 Score: 87/100. October 2020. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wakefield Winery Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Coonawarra Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia: Made by one of Australia's wine families and typical of what the Coonawarra and Clare Valley can show in a Cabernet Sauvignon. Fragrant with dark berries, eucalyptus, mocha and tobacco. Dried herbs, ripe dark berries, savoury notes, mint, spice and fresh acidity on the palate. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: beef enchiladas, barbecued ribs in sauce, hamburger, hard cheese. Drink: 2019 - 2026 142398 14.5% XD 750 mL $24.95 Score: 93/100. October 2020. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Tzafona Cellars Nava Ruby 2017, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: This is a full-bodied Niagara red wine blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot grapes. Aromas of fleshy ripe dark berries. This wine is Kosher. Pair with grilled meats. Drink: 2020 - 2023 12.8% M 750 mL $19.95 Score: 87/100. October 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Bookwalter Winery Readers Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States: A robust, savoury Washington Cabernet with aromas of black currant, wild blackberry and smoke. Pair with grilled meats. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: roast beef, venison stews, grilled game sausages, roast duck. Drink: 2020 - 2026 13238 15.2% D 750 mL $35.95 Score: 91/100. October 2020. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sperling Vineyards Old Vines Foch Reserve 2017, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, BC V.Q.A., Canada: A gorgeous Old Vine Foch from superstar winemaker Ann Sperling. Aromas of dark plums and spice. Pair with grilled meats. Foch Reserve food pairings: hamburgers, pork ribs, grilled portobellos. Drink: 2019 - 2023 14.2% D 750 mL $39.10 Score: 91/100. October 2020. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Flat Rock Nature Pinot Noir 2017, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A stunning Niagara Pinot Noir made from an indigenous, natural yeast during fermentation. Aromas of wild cherry and feral underbrush. Medium-bodied and smooth. Luxury for your tongue. Pair with truffle-accented dishes. Drink: 2020 - 2026 13% D 750 mL $50.00 Score: 93/100. October 2020. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Trius Distinction Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Trius Distinction 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich and smooth Cabernet from the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region, lush with dark fruit, dark spices, vanilla and smoky with a long finish. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for up to six months. Drink or hold. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: meat-lover's pizza, slow-cooked beef brisket, bison burgers. Drink: 2022 - 2026 25366 13% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 89/100. October 2020. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

Ferox Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Four Mile Creek, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Crisp, with melon and lime citrus on the nose. Mouth-watering and juicy, not grassy. Perfect for seafood or shellfish. Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: summer salads, ceviche, shrimp scampi, sashimi, grilled octopus. Drink: 2020 - 2022 12% XD 750 mL $35.00 Score: 89/100. October 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Ferox Winery Phantom Riesling 2017, Four Mile Creek, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A lovely, floral, zesty Niagara Riesling with aromas of lime blossom and pear. Medium-bodied with mouth-watering acidity. Match with fresh seafood. Riesling food pairings: pork schnitzels and apple sauce, veal cutlets, quiches. Drink: 2019 - 2023 644716 11.5% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. October 2020. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Joseph Drouhin Les Clos Mâcon-Bussières 2018, Burgundy A.C., France: Love this Burgundian Pinot Noir with bright cherry, toasty spice and smoky aromas on the nose. This is a medium-bodied PN, savoury and leesy on the palate with vibrant food-friendly acidity for roast chicken or turkey. Tannins are chewy. Joseph Drouhin Mâcon-Bussières Les Clos represents 75% of the lieu-dit, a lieu-dit is a small piece of land which has a traditional vineyard name attached to it. In most cases a lieu-dit is small and is "literally said/designated". Food pairings: steamed mussels, lemon-herbed chicken, pan-fried trout. Drink: 2020 - 2023 470401 13% XD 750 mL $24.95 Score: 91/100. October 2020. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Bricklayer's Reward Riesling 2018, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: An easy-to-love, off-dry, low-alcohol (10.5%) Riesling from the Niagara Peninsula wine region. Fragrant with fresh pear, ripe stone fruit, savoury and vibrant with a crisp citrus finish. Pair with lemon chicken. Riesling food pairings: roast chicken, sautéed pork tenderloin, mildly spiced dishes. Drink: 2020 - 2023 644765 10.5% M 750 mL $18.95 Score: 91/100. October 2020. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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