Malivoire Bisous Brut (Beamsville Bench, Niagara)
A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, fermented separately in older French oak barrels and aged on the lees for 36 months. Pale straw in colour with an active mousse of tiny bubbles; lightly toasty brioche nose of yellow apple and lemon; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, creamy, lemony flavour. A delicious sparkling wine in Champagne style and a more affordable price. Drink now or can be held for several years (or the next family wedding!). (90)
Malivoire Mottiar Chardonnay 2019
Fruit from winemaker Shiraz Mottiar’s own vineyard on the Beamsville Bench. White gold in colour; spicy nose of green pineapple, Granny Smith apple and a hint of oak; medium-bodied, dry, beautifully balanced flavours of green apple and lemon with well-integrated oak. Lovely mouth-feel with a long, fresh finish. Drinking beautifully now but can be kept for four to five years. (91)
Malivoire Small Lot Gamay 2020
Malivoire is a Gamay specialist. Consistently year after year the winery sweeps the medals in the Ontario Wine Awards in the Gamay category. Deep purple-ruby colour; spicy, lightly peppery, cherry bouquet with the merest suggestion of oak; light to medium-bodied, dry, fruity, red plum and cranberry flavours carried on lively acidity and ending floral flourish of violets. Drink now and through 2024. (89)
Malivoire Courtney Gamay 2019
A single-vineyard Gamay for Malivoire’s Courtney Block. A more sophisticated version of the Small Lot Gamay. Toasty, lightly peppery, black cheery nose with a floral note and cedary nuances from the large format oak fermentation cuves. Medium-bodied, dry, beautifully balanced and fresh on the palate with cherry and raspberry flavours. Drink now but will hold for five years. (90)
Malivoire Old Vines Foch 2019 (Ontario)
Deep purple in colour; spicy, cedary, blackberry bouquet; medium-bodied dry, vanilla, blackberry, blueberry and coconut flavours balanced with fresh acidity – and just a hint of tannin on the finish to give the wine structure. Drink now or will hold for 5–6 years. (89)
Malivoire Stouck Farmstead Red 2019 (Lincoln Lakeshore)
A blend of 57% Merlot and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple ruby in colour; cedary, spicy nose of black fruits and berries; medium-bodied, firmly structured, savoury black fruit flavours with a caress of tannin on the finish. Well-balanced with nicely integrated oak and gripping tannic finish. Can be enjoyed now but will improve with a year or two of bottle age. (90–91)
Niepoort Vertentre 2017 (Douro Valley, $28.95, Vintages #695023)
Deep ruby colour; creamy, vanilla, mulberry nose with notes of oak spice and crushed stones; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, savoury, plum and blackberry flavours carried on lively acidity. Beautifully balanced, well-integrated oak and a long finish. (91)
Claymore Wines Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz 2019 (Clare Valley and Limestone Coast fruit. $24.95, Vintages #726521, to be released April 2nd)
Deep purple-ruby in colour; spicy, blackberry nose with toasty oak notes; full-bodied, dry, herbal, intense black fruit flavours with a licorice finish. Great mouth-feel. (91)
La Maldita Garnacha 2020 (Rioja, $14.50, LCBO #22617)
Deep purple-ruby colour; a nose of black raspberries and rose petals with a hint of oak; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, spicy, fruity, raspberry flavour; well-structured with a firm tannic finish. Good value. (89)
