Ruff Pinot Noir 2019 (St. David’s Bench, Niagara)
Made by Andre Proulx at Rockway Vineyards. Light ruby in colour with a tawny hue; raspberry and tea leaf nose with a light fragrance of violets. Medium-bodied, sinewy, red plum and cranberry flavours with a fresh finish. (88)
Speck Bros. Lazzara Bianco Seco ($17.95, CSPC #16789)
Pale straw colour; a nose of apples with toasty notes; medium-bodied, just off-dry, sweet apple flavour. (89)
Malivoire Estate Grown Chardonnay 2021 (Beamsville Bench; $21.95, Vintages Essential #573147)
Bright straw in colour; toasty, spicy apple bouquet with a thread of minerality; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, apple flavour with a saline note on the finish. Well-integrated oak. (90)
Malivoire Le Coeur Gamay 2021 (Beamsville Bench, $29.95 – sold out!)
Ruby colour; floral, cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, fruity and spicy with lively acidity; well-extracted cherry flavours and well-integrated oak. Best Gamay I’ve tasted from Malivoire. (92)
Pelee Island Vinedressers Chardonnay 2017 (South Island, $17.95, CSPC #492462)
Pale straw in colour; lightly floral, high toned, apple nose with vanilla oak notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, toasty, apple and lemon flavours with a minty note on the finish. (88)
Hester Creek Old Vine Merlot 2020 (Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, $27.99 (BC + Tax))
Opaque purple in colour; spicy, cedary, blueberry nose with a herbal note; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured, plum flavour with lively acidity and soft tannins. (89)