My tasting week…
Joie Farm En Famille Reserve Chardonnay 2017 (Okanagan – $30.35): Bright, pale straw colour; apple, toasty oak nose with barnyard notes; medium-bodied, richly extracted, green pineapple and melon flavours, Beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak and a long, satisfying finish. (91)
Joie Quotidien Brut 2018 (Okanagan – $25): 70% Riesling, 30% Chardonnay, Charmat process. Bright, pale straw colour; tiny bubbles; minerally, apple and grapefruit bouquet; light-to-medium-bodied, dry, lightly floral flavours of lemon, green apple and lime; fresh and lively on the palate. Well balanced and lingering. (89)
Aveleda Vinho Verde 2017 (Portugal, $11.45): Very pale lime in colour; stony, citrus nose; light-bodied with a slight spritz, round on the palate with a fresh lemon flavour and vibrant acidity. Good value. (88)
Casal Garcia Vinho Verde (Portugal, $9.95): Palest lime colour; earthy-minerally, citrus nose with a light floral note; light-bodied, green plum flavour with fresh acidity. (87)
Covela Edição Nacional Avesso 2016 (Vinho Verde, $18.95): Bright, straw colour; lightly floral, peach nose; medium-bodied, dry, peach and lemon flavours, nicely balanced with a lovely mouth-feel, good fruit expression and a touch of bitterness on the brisk finish for added interest. (90)
Aromas4U Edição Limitada Alvarinho 2017 (Minho, Portugal – $28.55): Pale straw in colour; lightly spicy, earthy, green pear aromas with a woodsy note; medium-bodied, mouth-filling quince and lemon flavour finishing on a minerally, orange note. (90)
La Chablisienne Chablis Les Vénerables 2015 (Burgundy, $26.95): Pale straw with a greenish tint; minerally nose of green apple and a suggestion of white blossoms; medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted, yellow apple flavour which speaks to a warm vintage. Well-balanced with fine texture and mouth-feel. (90)
Maison Chevallier Chablis 2017 (Burgundy, $26.95): Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, apple nose with a hint of apple blossom; medium-bodied, dry with a honeyed note in mid palate; lovely mouth-feel and great length. (91)
Maison Olivier Tricon Chablis Montmains 2014 (Burgundy, $40.95): Pale straw colour; mature nose of apple, leather and honey; medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted green apple and lemon flavours, a touch reductive. (89)
Domaine Laroche St. Martin Chablis 2018 (Burgundy, $26.05): Bright, golden straw colour; minerally, green apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively on the palate with flinty, lemony, green apple flavours carried on lively acidity. (89)
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Merlot 2015 (Sonoma County – $29.95, LCBO #962217): Deep ruby-purple in colour; cedary, spicy plum and tobacco bouquet with evident oak; medium to full-bodied, dry, plum and blueberry flavours. (88.5)
Baron de Hoen Gewurztraminer Réserve 2017 (Alsace, $19.95, Vintages #377721): Bright, pale straw colour; aromatic, rose petal, lychee and grapefruit nose; medium-bodied, dry, spicy, lychee and rosewater flavours. (89)
Lakeview Cellars Serenity Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (Niagara Peninsula – $16.95, LCBO #688549): Bright, pale straw colour; grassy, guava and grapefruit on the nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry, green fig and lemon flavour. (89)
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