Upstream on February 20, 2023
Upstream in Winecurrent
Vintages Release: March 4, 2023
- The following 2019 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot was hand-harvested from cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc and merlot that were kept to below 2 tonnes per acre and aged in French oak barrels. It is also accredited as being a sustainable winemaking winery by Sustainable Winemaking Ontario.
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Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot 2019
VQA Short Hills Bench $44.95 (237883) 13.2% alcohol
There is plenty of time for this blooming red blend to settle down and make its way to the top of the ladder—careful cellaring for another two years should take of that. It has intriguing aromas of rose petals, dark cherry/berry fruit and on the palate there’s plenty of tang and juicy red fruit flavour and a pleasing share of ripe, juicy black raspberry and an underpinning of firm, but ripe tannin on the palate and aftertaste. Patience should be rewarded, especially if carefully cellared. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: March 18, 2023
The following 2018 C.V.N.E. ‘CUNE – Reserva’ was sourced from their own estate vineyards known as Caballeros, Santo Tomás and Sarnamoros and they are found in the villages of Rodezno, Villalba and Haro at an altitude between 500 to 600 meters above sea level. The grape varieties are 85% tempranillo and the other 15% are shared between these three varieties—garnacha tinta/graciano/mazuelo. This wine is vegan-friendly.
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C.V.N.E. ‘CUNE – Reserva’ 2018
DOCa Rioja, Spain $22.95 (237883) 14.0% alcohol
There are easily coaxed aromas with the gentlest of swirls and they are worth the effort. The red fruits and liquorice are well integrated with barrel-affected aromas of piquant spice and cigarette tobacco leaf. A long slow ripening was provided and it enabled the production of great, intense wines. This is quite elegant on the palate providing a wine of great balance and fruit-flavour that linger on the finish and aftertaste. You may want to pick up a few and serve with calamari rings breaded lightly and pan-seared in butter. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: April 1, 2023
- The following 2021 Gérard Bertrand ‘Cote des Roses’ Chardonnay is sourced from 100% chardonnay in vineyards along the Mediterranean coast. The bottle with the rose petals etched into the base of the wine bottle was a work of art from a student attending Ecole Boulle in France.
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Gérard Bertrand ‘Cote des Roses’ Chardonnay 2021
IGP Pays D’Oc, France $18.95 (237883) 13.0% alcohol
The wine is also a work of art. It has just about all you would expect or want. Dazzling aromas of citrus—lemon pastille, clementine orange and sweet ripe pineapple abound on the nose and the palate along with excellent balancing tang from glass pop (that is how it is sealed with a glass stopper) to last drop and a juicy finish and aftertaste. Pick up a few and you will be surprised at how interesting this wine’s aromas attracts and how delightful you’ll find it in the glass and on the palate, how wonderful it tastes. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: April 15, 2023
The following 2021 Gérard Bertrand ‘Domaine L’Aigle – Pinot Noir is sourced from estate vineyards in Limoux in the foothills of the Pyrenees with Pinot Noir being planted between 250 and 500 meters. Fruit is hand-harvested and transported to the winery in small boxes. The wine is not filtered before bottling. It is Demeter-certified as a biodynamique wine.
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Gérard Bertrand ‘Domaine L’Aigle – Pinot Noir 2021
IGP Haut Vallée de L’Aude, France $35.00 (237883) 14.0% alcohol
Very intensive aromas of small berries fill the room after a swirl or three. The palate is treated to a gusher of tender fruit that’s finely spiced on the finish and aftertaste. There are silky tannins and exceptional structure on the lip-smacking finish and the tangy aftertaste. This wine is best served between 12-14 ° C alongside grilled red meat or roasted poultry. Give it a try when it’s released. (Vic Harradine)
- The following 2021 Gérard Bertrand ‘Orange Gold – Organic Wine’ pays homage to the very first ‘orange wines’ from Georgia some 4,500 years ago. The ‘Georgia’ is from Eastern Europe, not one of the U.S southern states. The grape varieties in this wine are the following—chardonnay/grenache blanc/viognier/marsanne/mauzac/muscat.
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Gérard Bertrand ‘Orange - Gold – Organic Wine’ 2021
Product of France, $24.95 (237883) 13.0% alcohol
Aromas of piquant spice, sharp citrus of blood orange, lemon curd and pomegranate are easily found after three or four swirls. Replays on the palate include blood orange and lemon curd with plenty of tang and pizzazz. There are also notions of flinty minerality and grapefruit pith on the finish and aftertaste. A wine to be savoured on its own or with cheese or aperitifs. (Vic Harradine)