New in LCBO—December 23, 2022
93 
Val d’Oca ‘Prosecco Superiore’ Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
DOCG Veneto, Valdobbiadene, Italy $19.95 (340570) 11.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of yellow peach, apricot and Mirabelle plum abound on the nose of this top-notch Prosecco Superiore with 85% of the grapes used to make this wine from the highest-quality glera grapes that there are, along with the other 15% made up of chardonnay and pinot noir. The palate’s treated to a profusion of bubbles when first poured in the glass and once settled down the palate flavours of citrus fruit—blood orange, lemon chiffon pie and a dollop of peel marmalade coalesce on the mid-palate before proceeding to the dry and lip-smacking good finish and aftertaste. Give this a go when it’s chilled and poured with a good friend and some tasty hors d’oeuvres. (Vic Harradine)
New in LCBO—November 23, 2022
• The following Non-Vintage Speck Brothers ‘Lazzara’ Bianco Secco Sparkling Wine was fashioned in the ‘Charmat method’ with the 2nd fermentation occurring in a stainless steel closed tank without malolactic conversion. It was also certified by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario as sustainable wine. Julia Lazzara was the Speck brothers’ great grandmother, with her ancestors and her husband immigrating to New York. The name of the wine and the label—her husband did fine marble work—pays homage to their Italian ancestors. This wine is available from the Winery as well as being available in LCBO retail stores.
91 🇨🇦
Speck Brothers ‘Lazzara’ Bianco Secco Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
VQA Ontario $17.95 (16789) 11.5% alcohol
This is as close as it gets to a refreshing, fruity and floral Prosecco, with peach, pear, melon and white flower aromas pushed out of the glass with a nice white froth. It is light and fruity on the palate with flavours of yellow apple and pear as well as yeasty and mineral notes completing the profile. This is a versatile sparkling to enjoy on its own, with potato chips or to pour for a festive brunch. (Louise Boutin)
93
Val d’Oca ‘Prosecco Superiore’ Sparkling Wine Non-Vintage
DOCG Veneto, Valdobbiadene, Italy $19.95 (340570) 11.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of yellow peach, apricot and Mirabelle plum abound on the nose of this top-notch Prosecco Superiore with 85% of the grapes used to make this wine from the highest-quality glera grapes that there are, along with the other 15% made up of chardonnay and pinot noir. The palate’s treated to a profusion of bubbles when first poured in the glass and once settled down the palate flavours of citrus fruit—blood orange, lemon chiffon pie and a dollop of peel marmalade coalesce on the mid-palate before proceeding to the dry and lip-smacking good finish and aftertaste. Give this a go when it’s chilled and poured with a good friend and some tasty hors d’oeuvres. (Vic Harradine)
New in LCBO—August 15, 2022
90 
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Henry of Pelham Family Estate Cabernet-Merlot 2021
VQA Niagara Peninsula $15.95 (504241) 13.0% alcohol
Ruby-hued when poured and easily swirled to showcase elegant aromas of black currant, dark cherry and charred toast adorned with exotic spice and hints of sandalwood. A surge of red cherry/berry fruit blankets the palate with tang-infused flavours of pie cherry and red currant jelly, followed by sweet cherry clafoutie. There are hints of still-evolving tannin on the finish and aftertaste; pour with pasta puttanesca or osso buco. The price-quality ratio skews well in your favour; 90 points @$15.95. Pick up a few, especially now to August 13th to pay $13.95 per bottle on an LCBO $2.00 per bottle Limited Time Offer. (Vic Harradine)
• The mind boggles as Yalumba has been a family-owned and family-managed winery since 1849. At present, 5th generation Chairman, Robert Hill-Smith and his family manage Yalumba. The price-quality balance of the following 2019 Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon tips well in your favour—90 points @ $14.95.
90
Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
GI South Australia $14.95 (17759) 14.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of black currant, crème de cassis and black plum compote abound on the nose of this delectable gem. Palate flavours of persistent purity of fruit—ripe mulberry, black bramble berry and notions of dark, juicy Bing cherry—begin on entry and persist to and through the mouth-watering finish and tang-infused aftertaste. It’s good to open now—give it a two-hour aeration/decant—and pour alongside a grilled rack of Aussie lamb check out the link, it’s a recipe.
• Yalumba is the oldest family-owned and family-managed winery in Australia and is a member of Australia’s First Families of Wine - Examine this über-exclusive group by clicking on the blue-coloured link. The price-quality balance in the following wine, the 2021 Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Viognier tips wildly in your favour—91 points @ $14.95
91
Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Viognier 2021
GI South Australia $14.95 (470062) 13.5% alcohol
The straw-coloured liquid with predominant green hues gives off lifted aromas of honeydew melon, floral and citrus notes along with ripe nectarine and peel marmalade mingling with licorice and spent yeast cells abound on the nose of this dry white wine—1.2 g/L residual sugar, that’s medium-full bodied and lip-smacking good. It surges over the palate with lemon acidity and plenty of tang and pizzazz. Purity of fruit flavours persist from twist top to last drop with a mélange of orchard and pit fruit with ripe juicy Mirabelle plum, ripe Bartlett pear and tang-infused blood orange to the fore. Pour with pan-seared in butter Atlantic salmon or steamed mussels in a broth of white wine, cream and chopped leeks. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2020 Joliesse Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced primarily from premium fruit in vineyards in AVA Lodi, California. It was sourced from 88.0 % cabernet sauvignon and 12.0% petit verdot with the finished wine sporting 5.5 g/L of residual sugar.
92
Joliesse Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
AVA California $17.95 (16564) 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of charred toast, © Ribena and medicinal notes give way to a mélange of palate flavours of red crunchy pie cherry juxtaposed nicely with dark plum compote and ripe sweet bramble berry. This is medium-plus bodied with good balance and plenty of nerve, verve and oodles of pizzazz. The finish and aftertaste pick up on palate replays with a lingering and lip-smacking wrap up. Pour with burgers, grilled gourmet sausage or a meat-laden red pizza. (Vic Harradine)
• The following 2021 Joliesse Vineyards Chardonnay purports to have harnessed the power of the California sun in this Chardonnay. It saw mostly stainless steel vats with a small number of French oak barrels to impart an elegant structure.
90
Joliesse Vineyards Chardonnay 2021
AVA California $16.95 (25947) 14.0% alcohol
Aromas of subdued citrus fruit—grapefruit and lemon—mingle with honeydew melon and hints of sweet vanilla while preceding a gusher of palate flavours that bedazzle the senses—lemon chiffon pie, nectarine and pecans. This is pure ambrosia that is bountiful and balanced with persistent purity of fruit from cork pop to last drop. The finish and aftertaste are crisp, clean and refreshing. Pour this on its own as a happy hour starter or pour alongside Sunday dinner roast chicken and root veggies. (Vic Harradine)