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Wine Picks March 19, 2026

Paid Members of my site can access all 85 wines that I've reviewed for March 19, 2026, with my scores, food matches and the stock for each wine in their closest stores.

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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.

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

Wending Home Estate Vineyard Up Above Wismer-Cuesta Pinot Noir 2021, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Wending Home Estate Vineyard Up Above Wismer-Cuesta Pinot Noir from Twenty Mile Bench reveals fragrant wild strawberry, tart red currant, iris and a touch of forest floor. It's dry and medium-bodied with silky tannins and energetic acidity that gives the wine remarkable lift and elegance through the finish. Serve it slightly below room temperature alongside roast duck with cherry reduction where the wine's bright fruit and structure complement the rich meat and sweet-tart sauce, or pair it with herb-roasted pork tenderloin where the wine's savory notes and lively acidity balance the tender, aromatic meat. Winemaker Ron Giesbrecht, affectionately nicknamed "Papa Baco" during his 23-year tenure at Henry of Pelham for championing the often-overlooked Baco Noir grape, crafts this wine from Clone 777 Pinot Noir grapes sourced from the Wismer-Cuesta Vineyard located just up the road from his childhood home on the south side of Old Highway 8 between Vineland and Jordan, then uses partial wild fermentation before aging half in French oak puncheons and half in barriques with 16% new oak for eight to nine months. Founded in partnership with business partner Huaying Feng, Wending Home's name comes from two Cantonese characters meaning "to aspire to be the best," and their 2020 Up Above Wismer-Cuesta Pinot Noir earned Bronze at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards. Enjoy this expressive Pinot Noir through 2032. Pinot Noir food pairings: roast leg of lamb, pheasant, roast duck. Drink: 2026 - 2032 46464 13% XD 750 mL $42.95 Score: 92/100. March 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

Bestheim Des Chasseurs De Lune Gewürztraminer 2021, Alsace A.O.C., France: Bestheim Des Chasseurs de Lune Gewürztraminer from Alsace is an opulent, medium-bodied white offering aromas of ripe tropical fruit, white blossom, and hints of warm ginger. It's off-dry with a silky texture and refreshing acidity. Serve it well chilled with Thai green curry as the wine's gentle sweetness and floral character will complement the aromatic spices and coconut beautifully, or pair it with aged Munster cheese where the wine's luxurious mouthfeel and exotic fruit notes will enhance the cheese's pungent, creamy richness perfectly. Cellar master Christophe Adam and oenologist Sylvain Kamm craft this wine for Bestheim, the largest cooperative in Alsace representing nearly 450 families of dedicated growers who cultivate 1,350 hectares across 71 villages. Founded in 1946 as Cave de Bennwihr in the aftermath of World War II, the cooperative takes its name from the villagers nicknamed "Chasseurs de Lune" or Moon Hunters, who earned this moniker during the 19th-century reconstruction after townspeople scaled church towers at night with torches, creating the illusion they were chasing the moon. Enjoy now through 2028. Gewürztraminer food pairings: Thai green curry with shrimp, aged Munster cheese, spicy duck stir-fry. Drink: 2026 - 2028 28742 12% M 750 mL $20.95 Score: 89/100. March 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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