CVNE Imperial Reserva 2016 (Rioja, $39.95, Vintages #424390)
Dense purple in colour; spicy, coconut, strawberry nose with a cedary, lead pencil note; medium-bodied, dry, strawberry and plum flavours with lively acidity and well-integrated oak. (90)
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (South Australia, $19.95, Vintages #285544)
Deep purple-ruby in color; spicy, cedary nose of blackberries with a note of pepper; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, herb-tinged, blackberry flavour carried on lively acidity. (89)
Gérard Bertrand Aigle Royal Chardonnay 2020 (Limoux, $75.95; LCBO Classics catalogue #23919, to be released April 7th)
Straw colour; light cedary, spicy, citrus and pear bouquet with a floral top note; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted, toasty, lemon-lime and Chinese pear flavours with well-integrated oak. (91)
Malivoire Moira Pinot Noir 2020 (Beamsville Bench, Niagara; $34.95)
Deep purple in colour; black raspberry nose with an earthy-floral note: medium-bodied, dry, plum and raspberry flavours; firmly structured with ripe tannins. (89)
Malivoire Melon 2021 (Beamsville Bench, Niagara; $21.95)
The same grape as Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne). Pale straw with a lime tint; citrus nose of green apple; medium-bodied, crisply dry, green apple and quince flavours with a light floral note on the finish. An elegant wine for oysters. (90)
Veramonte Primus The Blend 2019 (Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile; $19.95; CSPC #712463)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Dense purple colour; cedary, savoury, blackcurrant and dark chocolate nose; full-bodied, richly extracted fruity flavours of blackcurrant and black plum; firmly structured, well-balanced with lively acidity. (88)
