AMAZING - Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2022 Lacoste Borie (France)

 

 

If somebody tells you the 2022 Bordeauxs are great, believe them - even the 2nd wines are spectacular, like this one ... today it's the Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2022 Lacoste Borie

ENTICING - Orma Winery 2021 Orma (Italy)

Here's something exciting from Bolgheri (not Bulgari or Bulgaria) what is that excitement you might ask? Well let me tell you about it ... Today it's the Orma Winery 2021 Orma

INVITING- Le Clos Jordanne 2021 Jordan Village Chardonnay (Ontario)

 

Le Clos Jordanne is back baby, yes it has been for a bit now; but it has a new home, a real brick and mortar building, with a cellar and everything. It's not exactly the winery they conceived all those years ago, but it does give the wine a new home. Today I'm looking at the Le Clos Jordanne 2021 Jordan Village Chardonnay

FRESH Mario Rivetti 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo (Italy)

 

This past year I have recommended some eye-opening wines. Wines I tasted because I happened to be at the right place at the right time. This is one of those wines. I was at a wine fair in Bologna with an Italian friend, Fabrizio Timpanaro, a director of a restaurant, QuartoPiano. He pulled me aside and said that I must try a wine. Not only did I try the wine, I went and visited the winery a month later ... Today, it's the Mario Rivetti 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo

 

STUNNING Tenuta Sette Ponti 2022 Oreno (Italy)

 

Super Tuscan wines have a great reputation. It's a name everyone seems to know. People are always excited to try them. And it's got Tuscany in the name - somewhere everybody wants to go - even if it is just for a few minutes at a time, in a glass. Today, it's the Tenuta Sette Ponti 2022 Oreno

DELIGHTFUL Le Clos Jordanne 2021 Claystone Pinot Noir (Canada)

 

Time after time, again and again, this winery delivers for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir lovers. Today, I'm lookingnat a Le Clos Jordanne 2021 Claystone Pinot Noir - and once again it's a wine that's going to put smiles on faces

CELEBRATORY Castell D'Or NV Cava Brut (Spain)

 

Looking for something worthy of a celebration, but won't break the bank? 

Today, it's the Castell D'Or NV Cava Brut

WOW Thirty Bench 2020 Winemaker's Blend Cabernet Franc (Canada)

 

Time to look at another of those big 2020 reds from that great vintage in Ontario, Canada. Today, it's the Thirty Bench 2020 Winemaker's Blend Cabernet Franc

If the wine above does not link - find the video here:  https://youtu.be/ZB_JA6X5HjQ

 

ASTONISHING Leaning Post 2020 Chardonnay, Clone 96 (Canada)

 

Coming off the i4C (International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration) this past weekend, reminded me of how good the Chardonnays in Ontario are; none has rattled my cage most in the last year than this Leaning Post 2020 Chardonnay, Clone 96

STARTLING : Bordertown Winery 2023 Viognier (British Columbia)

 

Maybe you have noticed, I'm on a Canadian Viognier kick here. So far I have pointed you in the direction of three other Canadian Viogniers, with more on the way; like this one today ... Let me tell you about the Bordertown Winery 2023 Viognier ... available at the winery (and fine wine stores). Thank you to the All Canadian Wine Championships for putting me on this panel during the judging. Judging is happening soon, so get your Canadian wines in for the MAY 16, 2025 deadline - maybe I'll find more great wines like this.

SURPRISING Wending Home 2020 Up Above Pinot Noir (Ontario)

 

New wineries don't always make a splash, but this winery made two: one with its winemaker of choice, and two with this amazing Pinot Noir that won awards right out of the gate. Tasted this at the All Canadian Wine Championships, was blown away by it ... Let me tell you about it in the video. today it's the 

Wending Home 2020 Up Above Pinot Noir

 

GOBSMACKED - Tsiakkas Winery 2021 Vamvakada

 

 

Recently I posted about my trip to Cyprus in February 2024; I'll link it below at the bottom of the first half. This is one of the wines I tasted while there and it totally blew me away ... if you have access to Cyprus wines, or can find a way to get to Cyprus and take a wine tour - do it; you will not be disappointed. Grape varieties are unique, not all, but many and today we look at one of those indigenous varieties: 

 

it's the Tsiakkas Winery 2021 Vamvakada

 

HAPPY-MAKER - Kir-Yianni 2022 Akakies Sparkling (Greece)

 

Sometimes you taste a wine with absolutely no preconceptions and sip after sip you find you are blown away by what it has to offer. This was the case when I tried today's wine:

Kitma Kir-Yianni 2022 Akakies Sparkling

NEAR PERFECT - Hidden Bench 2020 Terroir Cache (Ontario)

 

Back to Ontario we go. And this time I'm showcasing a red blend from a vintage that will be remembered for decades to come from a relatively young winery known for taking their time, creating buzz, and making iconic wines - but in their own camouflaged? No. Disguised? No, again. Masked kinda way? Anyway, today, it's the Hidden Bench 2020 Terroir Cache

WONDERFUL - Bleasdale 2021 Bremerview Shiraz (Australia)

 

They've been here before and if the past is prologue, they'll be here again ... so it shall be written, so it shall be done. I look again at another wine from this winery in Australia : 

Bleasdale 2021 Bremerview Shiraz

 

IMPRESSIVE Domaine Depeyrie 2020 Tradition (France)

A husband and wife with a love of wine and vines in the Roussillon - 

what could be more French than this

Domaine Depeyrie 2020 Tradition

HEARTFELT Malivoire 2022 Le Coeur Gamay (Canada)

Malivoire is the undisputed KING of Gamay in Ontario, Canada 

I dare you to argue with me after tasting this

Malivoire 2022 Le Coeur Gamay

SIDEREAL San Pedro 2021 Sideral (Chile)

This wine makes its second appearance (three years apart) 

and it's another beauty from Chile: 

San Pedro 2021 Sideral

FLAVOURFUL Redstone 2020 Meritage (Ontario, Canada)

From the folks at Redstone, in Ontario, Canada, comes a 2020 wine that should come as no surprise to us living in the province, but might to those new to Canadian wine : 

Redstone Winery 2020 Meritage

TASTY Tarapaca 2020 Etiqueta Azul, Gran Reserva

The numbers 4 and 3 play a part in this wine, 

which is more than the sum of its parts: 

 

Tarapaca 2020 Etiqueta Azul, Gran Reserva