WONDERFUL Malivoire 2020 Courtney Gamay

Gamay is Malivoire's thing, and this thing is one of Malivoire's best (ever) : 

Malivoire 2020 Courtney Gamay

 

 

The pinnacle of Malivoire Gamays is this single block/ single vineyard that lies just outside the wineries front door. It sees oak for 14 months mixing older, newer and larger barrels. It's named for the lady who owned the land on which the vineyard sits: Selma Courtney. She was Malivoire’s neighbour up until she sold the land and Martin - and it is in her honoured he named the wine. This is possibly the winery’s annual best. The first vintage was in 2002; and 18 years later, and this is a big statement: this might be their best to date, but certainly the best since 2015. Firm and full yet fresh with lots of fresh black cherry, blackberry, black raspberry and delicate spices: vanilla, clove, and even some smoky notes show up on the lingering finish. An absolute beauty that needs time to fully evolve.

CLASSIC - Tenuta San Guido 2020 Guidalberto (Italy)

An iconic producer creates a second tier wine 

to honuor a founder of the area, from a great vintage 

Tenuta San Guido 2020 Guidalberto

 

Tenuta San Guido 2020 Guidalberto

(60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 40% Merlot)

First vintage 2000 … dry and round in the mouth, fruit is dried and dipped in balsamic. It’s young, so the wood dominates now, but there is also plenty of plush dark fruit, subtle balsamic & spice notes with the tannins nipping playfully. The acidity is on-point and the finish is long – this should turn opulent with time.

YUMMY Leaning Post 2020 Cuvee Winona (Ontario Wine)

This blend from Leaning Post is their 2020 Cuvee Winona,

 it combines the beauty of the vintage with great wine making skills

DELICIOUS - Duckhorn 2019 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

As a fan of this juicy Cabernet from Duckhorn it's time to talk about it; 

it's a second wine that drinks like top-shelf product

Duckhorn 2019 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon

 

This is Duckhorn Vineyards’ second wine, and it’s a real treat. Powerful fruit offering red plum and plush chocolate along with hints of spice and smoke. It’s dangerously drinkable, on its own or with … whatever you want.  (****+)

AWESOME - Matias Riccitelli 2020 Hey Malbec!

If Malbec is your thing, this HEY MALBEC is a wine you need; it's not just a fun label 

Matias Riccitelli 2020 Hey Malbec!

AMAZING Cave Spring Cellars 2019 Estate Chardonnay (Ontario Wine)

This ABCer finds another Chardonnay that floats his boat 

Cave Spring Cellars 2019 Estate Chardonnay

 

This is a stunning wine that delivers a bit of spice along with some richness that pairs nicely with its acidity to keep it light on the palate. Thanks to a cool growing season, 2019 was a challenging vintage, but the folks at Cave Spring clearly didn’t get the memo. This may be the best Chardonnay in the LCBO at this price point from anywhere. 

STUNNING Stags' Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah (California, USA)

This is not a grape you seen on its own very often, 

but after tasting this my only question is - Why Not?

Stags' Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah

 

Stags’ Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah 

Now this is the bee's knees. Really good. Smile inducing – add your platitude here. Dark fruit and spice, subtle pepper, white smoke, cassis and black cherry; I love that spice on the end, the great length, I have much more to say about it, but I want to get back to the glass. You need this wine in your life.  (**** ½)

 

Niagara College 2020 Gastronomy Shiraz (Ontario Wine)

Shiraz? In Ontario? Is this a bottle of misnamed wine? I'll let you know talking about this 

Niagara College 2020 Gastronomy Shiraz

 

 

How I hate to see the word Shiraz on a label of Ontario Syrah - it's confusing - and I thought we had passed that; then again, maybe not. The wine itself was aged 20 months in French and American oak, bottled unfiltered and from the toasty 2020 vintage, which should also tell you how the wine is. But there's still no excuse for the name, especially from the Teaching College, of all places. The actual wine in the bottle has notes of raspberry and pepper - both red and black - on the nose; palate is full of spicy-black fruit and that peppery goodness comes through as well. If only it was named properly, then I could relax and be a bigger fan than I already am.  (****+)

Erath 2020 Oregon Pinot Noir - Wine Review

Ya gotta love a bottle of wine that delivers for not a lot of dough

Erath 2020 Oregon Pinot Noir

Westcott 2020 Estate Chardonnay - A Second Look

Just over a year ago, I looked at this very same wine 

Westcott Vineyards 2020 Estate Chardonnay

time to take a second look; here are my thoughts again

EYE-OPENING Domaine de la Paleine 2019 Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame (Loire, Fra...

A tiny sub-appellation in the Loire Valley is making outstanding Cabernet Franc

Domaine de la Paleine 2019 Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame

BEAUTY - Luca di Tomaso 2019 Montefalco Rosso (Italy)

A beautiful wine by an up-and-coming young winemaker from Umbria

Luca di Tomaso 2019 Montefalco Rosso

NAILED IT Cono Sur 2019 Carmenere La Rinconada (Chile)

Carmenere is a tough grape to get right; but I think Cono Sur nails it in this bottle of 

2019 Carmenere "La Rinconada"

 

Nice to see someone who knows their way around the finicky Carmenere grape. There's some earthy nuances here, plus some smoky and herbal characteristics. The fruit hits in the cassis realm and there's also coffee bean and spice all wrapped in a medium length finish. It's a lovely Carmenere from a grape that doesn’t see enough love and get enough respect.  (****)

TOTALLY TASTY Flat Rock 2020 Gravity Pinot Noir (Ontario wine)

Gravity Pinot from a hot vintage? Yes, please. 

Today it's the Flat Rock 2020 Gravity Pinot Noir.

 

 

This is what top-tier Pinot Noir tastes like, but without the top tier pricing. Black raspberry, black cherry, spiced cranberry, subtle earthy notes and ballsy tannins... It's a testament to good wine making and the amazing 2020 vintage – I’d also wax poetic about the great acid backbone, but this is Ontario, it's a given here.

SYRAH ON STEROIDS - Montes Wines 2020 Folly (Chile)

Folly is Montes' Ultra Premium Syrah and in 2020 it goes next level

Montes Wines 2020 Folly

 

 

This 100% Syrah has a meatiness about it; layered with mocha, blackberry, cassis, and black cherry with smoky, spicy and peppery nuances backing it all up.