Township 7 Reserve Chardonnay Benchmark Series 2019 (Okanagan Valley)
Bright, pale straw colour; lightly toasty, earthy, apple bouquet with oak spice. Medium-bodied, dry, elegant, apple, tangerine and lemon flavours; well-balance and lingering. (90)
Township 7 Pinot Noir Remuda Vineyard 2019
Medium ruby colour with a tawny rim: cherry and tealeaf nose with a suggestion of vanilla oak; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured raspberry flavour with fresh acidity. Evident ripe tannins on the finish. Should age well. (89 – 90)
Township 7 Cabernet Franc 2018
Deep ruby colour; cedary, spicy nose of blueberry with well-integrated oak; medium-bodied, dry, blueberry and black raspberry flavours; well-balanced and lingering. Lovely mouth-feel. (91)
Château Pesquié Terrasses 2019 (Ventoux)
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah. Deep ruby in colour; blackberry and bay leaf nose with evident oak; medium to full-bodied, spicy, blackberry flavour with a floral note, firmly structured with fresh acidity and a warm alcoholic finish. (89)
Domaine Gassier Nostre Païs 2018 (Ventoux, $23.95, Vintages #295410)
50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 5% Cinsault. Purple-ruby in colour; cedary, green herbs, bitter chocolate, plum and oak spice on the nose, with a light floral note; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted, firmly structured and well-balanced with velvety tannins, lively acidity and a warm alcoholic finish, ending on a licorice note. (89)
Rizzi Barbera d’Alba 2019 (Piemonte, $24.95, Vintages #18360)
Deep purple in colour; cherry and citrus peel nose with notes of cedar; medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry flavour; well-balanced and fresh on the palate with lively acidity. (89)
Pelješac 2019 (Croatia, $13.95, Vintages #429746)
Plavac Mali, a local Dalmatian variety. Deep ruby-purple colour; spicy, lightly cedary, black licorice, bitter chocolate, plum nose; medium-bodied, dry, earthy, plum flavour; well-balanced, evident but ripe tannins. (89)
Kew Vineyards Soldier’s Grant 2018 (Niagara Peninsula, $19.95, Vintages #367318)
Deep ruby in colour; cedary, plum and blueberry bouquet with a floral note; medium-bodied, dry, with savoury, plum, blueberry and blackcurrant flavours; a well-balanced wine with well-integrated oak. (90)
Jeeper La Grande Cuvée Millésime Brut 2005 (Champagne, $97.95, Vintages #20006)
Yellow gold in colour; toasty, leesy Macadamia nut bouquet with a touch of honey; medium-bodied, crisply dry, nutty, apple flavour with lemony acidity; great depth of flavour and great length. A noble and refined champagne. (96)