Kacaba red wines

Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Reserve Cabernet Franc 2020 (Niagara Escarpment, $60.15)
Dense purple-black in colour; cedary, spicy nose of blueberries, blackberries, toast, and white pepper with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied (14.9% alc.); dry, richly extracted black cherry and blueberry flavours with an inflection of dried herbs; beautifully balanced with a caressing mouth-feel. (93)

Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Reserve Meritage 2020 (Niagara Escarpment, $60.15)
40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot. Dense purple in colour; cedary, blackcurrant, black plum with oak spice on the nose; full-bodied (14.8% alc.), dry, firmly structured; with well-extracted blackcurrant, blackberry and black plum flavours carried on lively acidity. A beautifully balanced wine. (90)

Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Proprietor’s Block Syrah 2019 (Niagara Escarpment, $35.15)
Dense purple-black in colour; cedary, blackberry nose with white pepper notes; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, blackberry flavour; elegant, firmly structured, beautifully balanced, Northern Rhône style. (A gold medal winner in the 2022 Ontario Wine Awards) (92)

Kacaba Vineyards & Winery Silver Bridge Syrah 2019 (Niagara Escarpment, $35.15)
Deep ruby in colour; lightly floral nose of vanilla, blackberry, and oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury black plum, blackberry, and white pepper flavour with an herb-tinged finish; well-integrated oak and finishing freshly with lively acidity. (91)

Leaning Post reds

Leaning Post Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Niagara Lakeshore)
Palest straw in colour; grassy, minerally, green plum nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, crisply dry, green plum and lemon flavours; mouth-freshening acidity and good length. Drink now and through 2023. (91)

Leaning Post Chardonnay – The Fifty 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
Light straw colour; toasty, apple bouquet with light citrus notes: medium-bodied, dry, peachy, melon flavour; beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak. Drink now and through 2024. (92)

Leaning Post Gamay 2019 (Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara)
Bright ruby in colour; lifted cherry nose with oak spice; light to medium-bodied, dry; cherry and cranberry flavours carried on lively acidity. Chillable or room temperature. Drink now through 2023. (89)

Leaning Post Pinot Noir – The Fifty 2021 (Niagara Peninsula)
Crimson-ruby in colour; raspberry, dried tea-leaf nose with a suggestion of oak; medium-bodied, dry; raspberry and strawberry flavours; nicely balanced and easy drinking. Drink now or hold till 2024. (89–91)

Leaning Post Pinot Noir 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
(The back label reads: “Founders Ilya and Nadia Senchuk are proud of their Ukrainian heritage. This wine supports humanitarian aid to Ukraine.”)
Bright ruby colour; toasty, black raspberry nose with a top note of violets and a touch of vanilla and pencil shavings; medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry and raspberry flavours; beautifully balanced, lovely mouth-feel, firmly structured with ripe tannins. A wine of great charm. Can be opened now but will reward cellaring for 1–2 years. (92)

Leaning Post Cuvée Winona 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
61% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby in colour with a purple rim. Cedary, tobacco, blueberry and blackcurrant bouquet with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, elegant, firmly structured, blueberry and currant flavours with well-integrated oak. Hold 1–2 years. (90–92)

Other wines tasted:

Speck Bros. Revel Cabernet Baco Noir 2019 (Ontario, $15.95, CSPC #575662)
Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, toasty nose of blackberries with a smoky note; full-bodied, dry, jammy but firmly structured; blackberry and black plum flavours. Good value. (89)

Gérard Bertrand Orange Gold 2021 (Product of France, $24.95, Vintages #23729, to be released April 15^th)
I am not a fan of orange wine but this product could change my mind. It’s a blend of Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Mauzac and Muscat fermented whole-cluster on the skins. Coppery-gold in colour; spicy, nutty, dried apricot bouquet with citrus notes; medium-bodied, dry, apricot and dried apple flavours; nicely balanced. (89)

Gérard Bertrand Côtes des Roses Chardonnay 2022 (Pays d’Oc, $18.95, Vintages #10621, to be released April 1^st)
Bright, light straw in colour; lightly floral apple and Meyer lemon bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, green pineapple and pear flavours. (89)

Gérard Bertrand Domaine de L’Aigle Pinot Noir 2021 (Haut Vallée de l’Aude, $35, Vintages #10015, to be released April 15^th)
Bright ruby in colour; minerally, raspberry nose with toasty, tea-leaf notes; medium-bodied, dry, raspberry and cranberry flavours with oak spice. Lovely mouth-feel. (90)

Henry of Pelham Cabernet-Merlot Speck Family Reserve 2019 (Short Hills Bench; $44.95, Vintages #616433, to be released March 4^th)
Deep purple in colour with a violet rim; cedary, blackcurrant bouquet with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, cassis and black raspberry flavours carried on fresh acidity well-integrated oak and firmly structured with ripe tannins. (91)

Cune Reserva 2018 (Rioja, $22.95, Vintages, to be released March 18^th)
Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, toasty nose of cherries and plums with oak spice and a touch of coconut; medium-bodied, dry, elegant and beautifully balanced flavours of cherries and tobacco. (91)

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (Marlborough)
This is the quintessential New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc! Very pale, almost water white in colour; grassy, gooseberry and green pepper nose; medium-bodied, crisply dry, elegant, green gooseberry and grapefruit flavours with racy acidity, finishing on a note of rhubarb. Lovely mouth-feel. Great length. (94)

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