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Wine Picks January 20, 2021

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Note: This batch of wine reviews is not part of the bi-weekly Vintages Releases. Instead, it's a collection of wines outside the Vintages section in store (general list) or wines sent to me directly from wineries that may not yet be available in liquor stores. Click on the Winery or Wine Agency link to get more info.

Dessert Wine

Peller Estates Private Reserve Late Harvest Vidal 2019, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2030 11.5% S 375 mL $29.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Tawse Chardonnay Icewine 2013, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Gloriously apple pie beautiful: freshly baked, waiting for you to dig in. Notes of cinnamon spice and peach preserve. So lovely. Chardonnay Icewine food pairings: pecan pie, fig tarte, fruit and custard flan. Drink: 2013 - 2022 443739 10.5% S 200 mL $35.95 Score: 93/100. January 2021. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Quails' Gate Estate Winery Late Harvest Botrytis Affected Optima 2018, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, BC V.Q.A., Canada: A voluptuous BC dessert wine made from botrytized grapes that have concentrated spectacular aromas of peach preserves, honey and cinnamon. Enjoy on its own or with cheese. Drink: 2019 - 2030 390328 11% S 375 mL $40.00 Score: 93/100. January 2021. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Tawse Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A berry-rich Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine and a perfect pairing to a dark chocolate paté or a rich dark chocolate and raspberry mousse Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine food pairings: dark chocolate, fruit cake, pate and blue cheeses. Drink: 2019 - 2027 359133 10% S 200 mL $35.95 Score: 92/100. January 2021. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Pillitteri Estates Winery Team Canada Vidal Icewine 2017, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A gorgeous Niagara Icewine with aromas of apricot and peach. Perfect on it's own or with fruit cobbler. Vidal Icewine food pairings: exotic fruit salad, crème caramel, Roquefort cheese, blue cheese, foie gras. Drink: 2019 - 2026 13418 11% S 200 mL $29.95 Score: 92/100. January 2021. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Reif Estate Winery Vidal Icewine 2018, Niagara River, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A beautifully rich and concentrated Niagara icewine from Reif. Luscious aromas of peach preserves and apricot jam. Pair with fruit flans and cobblers, or enjoy on its own. Vidal Icewine food pairings: spice cake, crème brûlée, fruit-based desserts, pastries, fresh field berries in cream. Drink: 2020 - 2025 544791 10% S 200 mL $24.95 Score: 94/100. January 2021. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Peller Estates Signature Series Vidal Icewine 2018, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, V.Q.A., Canada Vidal Icewine food pairings: lemon custard tart, fresh fruit cup, apple cobbler. Drink: 2021 - 2028 11% S 200 mL $47.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wayne Gretzky Estates No.99 Cabernet Franc Icewine 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Aromas of fresh strawberry and raspberry wrap themselves around your senses in this dazzling icewine. A superb effort. Drink: 2020 - 2035 12% S 200 mL $64.85 Score: 92/100. January 2021. Top Rated Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wayne Gretzky Estates No. 99 Vidal Icewine 2018, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Vidal Icewine food pairings: lemon tarte, peach cobbler, apple pie. Drink: 2021 - 2035 578807 11% S 375 mL $72.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

13th Street Reserve Riesling Icewine 2019, Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2030 10.5% S 200 mL $39.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

13th Street Reserve Riesling Icewine 2019, Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2030 10.5% S 375 mL $59.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Pillitteri Estates Winery Market Collection Select Late Harvest Vidal 2016, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q,A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2026 10% S 375 mL $15.00 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

PondView Estate Winery Cabernet Franc Icewine 2019, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Cabernet Franc Icewine food pairings: fruit and custard tart, fresh berries with sweetened whipped cream.. Drink: 2021 - 2029 558452 11% S 200 mL $44.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine 2019, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine food pairings: chocolate covered strawberries, red velvet cake. Drink: 2020 - 2030 11% S 750 mL $35.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Thirty Bench Special Select Late Harvest Vidal 2017, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2020 - 2028 11% S 375 mL $34.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Other Wines/Drinks

Graham's 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro D.O.P., Portugal: This tawny is lush on the nose with stewed plum, fig and baking spice aromas. Powerful and savoury with nutty, fruitcake and baking spice flavours on the palate. One for creamy blue cheeses and dark chocolate... or fruitcake. 10-Year-Old Tawny Port food pairings: creamy blue cheeses, roasted nuts, dark chocolate. Drink: 2020 - 2023 17506 20% S 200 mL $11.95 Score: 93/100. January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Dow's Vintage Port 1970, Douro D.O.P., Portugal Vintage Port food pairings: creamy blue cheeses, roasted nuts, dark chocolate. Drink: 1980 - 2040 20% S 750 mL $300.00 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Red Wine

Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Côtes du Rhône 2018, Côtes Du Rhône, Rhône A.C., France: A lip-smacking, delicious medium-bodied 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah red wine blend with elevage in concrete tanks. Look for bright and ripe red and dark berry fruit with dried herbs, dark cherry, smoked meat, cedar spice and pepper spice flavours on the palate. Enjoy with a grilled pork tenderloin. Food pairings: roast beef, meat-lover's pizza, bison burgers. Drink: 2020 - 2024 168708 14.5% XD 750 mL $16.95 Score: 89/100. January 2021. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Cusumano Terre Siciliane Nero D'avola 2019, Sicily, Italy Drink: 2022 - 2024 143164 14% XD 750 mL $13.00 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Lafage Côté Sud 2012, Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon I.G.P., France: Seductive fleshy blackberry and black on the nose and palate of this full-bodied, supple French red wine that's a blend of syrah and grenache grapes. The vines are planted on south-facing terraces at the foot of the Pyrenees, Cote Sud translates to South Side. The white sister wine of this red is called Cote Est or East Side... sounds like a Broadway musical. Eastside Story ;) Food pairings: breaded veal cutlets, duck breast with celeriac purée, pomegranate gastrique and Brussel sprout ragout, tagliatelle alla Bolognese, chicken herb-rubbed roast. Drink: 2014 - 2021 395236 14% XD 750 mL $18.95 Score: 90/100. January 2021. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Young & Wyse Collection Merlot 2012, Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada Drink: 2015 - 2022 13.5% D 750 mL $27.00 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sparkling Wine

Malivoire Wine Company Che Bello Sparkling, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Che Bello Sparkling food pairings: prosciutto, parmagiana, olives, regular potato chips and other salty foods. 16858 11% MD 750 mL $17.95 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

Château Doisy-Daëne Sauternes 2015, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France Drink: 2017 - 2030 18660 13% S 375 mL $52.00 January 2021. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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