Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Rebecca Rosé 2021 (Niagara Peninsula, LCBO #227025, $20.15)
Gamay grapes. Pink with a bluish tint; strawberry nose with a thread of minerality; medium-bodied, dry, strawberry flavour with a cranberry note; crisp on the palate; well-balanced and easy drinking. (88.5)

Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Reserve Riesling 2021 (Niagara Peninsula, $21.15)
Pale straw in colour; minerally, honeyed grapefruit zest bouquet with a light petrol note; light-bodied, floral, lime and grapefruit flavour; elegant, fresh and lively with a lingering lemony finish. (90)

Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Summer Series Susan’s Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ($20.15)
Palest straw colour with a hint of lime; grassy, green plum nose with a mineral note; light-bodied, crisply dry, gooseberry and lemon flavours. (89)

Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Irresistible Joanne’s Blend 2019 (Ontario, $29.95, Vintages #227025, to be released July 16^th)
60% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 14% Pinot Meunier. Palest pink in colour; active mousse of tiny bubbles; a nose of raspberries and cranberries; light to medium-bodied, dry, elegant, strawberry and raspberry flavours finishing cleanly on a note of tangerine. (89)

On Seven The Allure Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 (Niagara-on-the-Lake, $40 to club members before June 27^th, then $45)
Pale amber-pink in colour; lifted bouquet of wild strawberries with a light oak note; medium-bodied, crisply dry, strawberry and cranberry flavours lively acidity; lovely mouth-feel, elegant – a very sophisticated rosé. (91)

On Seven Pursuit Chardonnay 2019 ($48 to club members before June 27^th, then $53)
Golden colour with a green tint; toasty, lemony, white peach nose with oak spice and a mineral note; medium to full-bodied; richly extracted, creamy, nutty, peach flavour. Beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak. Rich and elegant. (93)

Backyard Vineyards Simply Social Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Pale straw in colour; grassy, green plum bouquet; medium-bodied, crisply dry, grapefruit, green plum and passionfruit flavours. Elegant and lingering on the palate. Drink now. (90)

Backyard Vineyards Simply Social Pinot Gris 2020
Pale straw colour; peach pit nose; medium-bodied, dry, well-balanced flavours of peach and lemon; well balanced and fresh on the palate. Drink now and through 2023. (90)

Backyard Vineyards Simply Social Gewürztraminer 2021
Pale straw in colour; aromatic, orange blossom, lychee nose with a hint of ginger; medium-bodied, just off-dry with flavours of grapefruit and lychee. Classic Gewurz. Drink now or through 2023. (91)

Backyard Vineyards Simply Social Cabernet Franc 2019
Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary nose of blueberries and blackcurrants; full-bodied, dry, elegant, richly extracted flavours of blueberry and black plum; firmly structured with powdery tannins carried on fresh acidity. Cab be opened now but hold for a year or two to develop the bouquet. (89–91)

Backyard Vineyards Simply Social Cabernet Merlot 2018
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple colour; cedar, blackcurrant and black plum nose with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, savoury blackcurrant and plum flavours; nicely oaked, finishing on ripe tannins. Hold 1–2 years. (89–91)

Backyard Vineyards Simply Social Syrah 2019
Dense purple in colour; smoky, crushed pepper and blackberry bouquet; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted flavours of black fruits with well-integrated oak and mellow tannins. Drinking well now but will reward holding for a couple of years. (91–93)

Other wines tasted:

Malivoire Vivant Rosé 2021 (Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula; $19.95)
Palest pink in colour; minerally, redcurrant and cranberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, crisp, yellow cherry flavour. (89)

Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Chardonnay (Pays d’Oc, $18.95, Vintages #10621, to be released July 16^th)
Gold colour; toasty, minerally, peach and pineapple nose; medium to full-bodied, richly extracted flavours of peach and pineapple with a lemony finish. (89)

Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Sauvignon Blanc  (Pays d’Oc, $15.95, Vintages #23906, to be released in July 30^th)
Bright straw in colour with a green tint; green plum bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, crisp, minerally, guava and grapefruit flavours. (88.5)

Gérard Bertrand Héritage 1650 La Clape (South of France, $19.95, Vintages #3702621, to be released on July 2^nd)
A blend of Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre. Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, blackberry and blackcurrant with a peppery note; medium to full-bodied, dry, fruity blackberry flavour with cocoa tannins; well-balanced, nicely integrated oak. (90)

Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Pinot Noir 2020 (Pays d’Oc, $19.95, Vintages #20751, to be released July 16^th)
Deep purple in colour; cedary, lightly floral nose of black raspberries; medium-bodied, dry, black cherry flavour with good acidity and a tannic finish. (88)

Gérard Bertrand Hampton Water Rosé 2021 (Languedoc; $29.95, Vintages #667337, to be released August 13^th)
Pale pink in colour with an orange tint; cherry pit nose; medium-bodied, dry, redcurrant and cranberry flavours; a very sophisticated rosé, elegant and delicious. (90)

Good Natured Cabernet Merlot 2020 (Niagara Peninsula, $13.95, LCBO #1223407)
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zweigelt and Dornfelder. Deep purple in colour; ripe plum nose with notes of clove and oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, earthy, lifted black fruit flavours with enough tannin to give the wine structure. (88)

Château des Charmes Cuvée d’Andrée Rosé 2021 (Niagara-on-the-Lake, $18.95)
Deep pink in colour; cherry pit nose; medium-bodied, with just a touch of sweetness in the candied raspberry flavour. (88.5)

Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir 2020 (Ontario, $27.95, CSPC #461699)
Opaque purple colour; spicy, blackberry nose with a toasty oak note; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackberry and black plum flavours carried on lively acidity. (91)