This Month’s Wine Pack

IN THIS MONTH’S THREE-PACK:

This wine collection was curated to pair perfectly with holiday fare from turkey to latkes! You’ll receive a bubbly rosé, crisp sauvignon blanc, and rich meritage red blend from Niagara’s Ravine Vineyard.

NV Charmat Rosé
VQA Ontario

This joyful sparkler is composed largely of gamay noir (90%) with a touch of cabernet franc, riesling, and sauvignon blanc. Strawberries and juicy Christmas clementines delight the nose while fine bubbles dance on the palate. Fermented in high pressure tanks under cold temperatures, the Charmat Method delivers effervescence while retaining all the brightness and vibrancy of the fruit.

It’s nearly impossible to set this alluring sipper down, but if you manage to do so in the name of pairing, creamy ham croquettes, salmon and watercress quiche, or fried calamari will be a spectacular reward.

2022 Sauvignon Blanc
VQA Four Mile Creek

Honeyed notes of pear, apricot, passion fruit, and mango leap out of the glass with this single vineyard sauvignon blanc. Five months of barrel aging adds a layer of complexity. The wine is crisp and refreshing while also being expressive and sumptuous.

Pair this generous white with Greek salad with feta and briny olives, seafood ceviche, and dill and cheddar pierogies with sour cream and bacon.

2020 Ravine Meritage
VQA Niagara Peninsula

Aged long and slow, this Bordeaux-style red blend saw 18 months in French oak. It’s merlot-dominant (61%) with cabernet franc (28%) and cabernet sauvignon adding savouriness and depth to the flavour profile. Aromas of forest floor, earth, and leather coincide with cassis, coffee, and chocolate on the palate. Rich and supple with a silky mouthfeel, this is an elegant red with a lovely finish.

This full-bodied wine will go toe-to-toe with the holiday roast beast (whether it’s beef, turkey, or mock duck), strong cheeses like Stilton, and Christmas cake with brandied cherries.

IN NOVEMBER’S THREE-PACK:

Prince Edward County’s Redtail Vineyards is giving you a taste of both the County and Niagara in this month’s club box. A sultry pinot noir and chardonnay from Hubbs Creek fruit, and a smooth pinot noir and chardonnay from Niagara grapes. That’s right, you’ll receive a bonus fourth bottle of wine in your pack.

Enjoy this head-to-head tasting and let us know which region was your favourite!

2020 Hubbs Creek Vineyard Chardonnay
VQA Prince Edward County

Smooth and seductive, this County chardonnay is a great ambassador for the region. It has resplendent yellow fruit on the nose and palate — think ripe pear and golden delicious apple — with a pleasing salinity and a hint of smoke. In keeping with a growing tradition in the region, it was fermented using wild yeast.

Pair it with walnut kale pesto over fettuccini, Dungeness crab cakes with a smoky aioli, and herb-roasted chicken with cannelloni beans.

2020 Hubbs Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir
VQA Prince Edward County

This sophisticated pinot conjures notes of black cherry, blackcurrant jam, and strawberry shortcake with a tiny edge of black pepper. The wine was cold soaked and wild fermented in oak cuvées, and then aged in Burgundian oak for 18 months. Nicely concentrated and with an ample mouthfeel, there is a pleasant hint of smokiness reminiscent of the Hubbs Creek Chardonnay.

A delectable pairing with roast duck with plum sauce, salmon wellington, and pear and gorgonzola pizza.

2017 Pinot Noir
VQA Niagara Peninsula

This pinot noir was also crafted by winemaker, Renan Theilloux, at Redtail Vineyards and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels — but 100% of the fruit came from Niagara which makes it a different tasting sensation from the Hubbs Creek pinot. Rich blackberry and cassis reign supreme in this pinot. It’s lean yet delicate with beautiful acidity; a nod to excellent structure.

Partner alongside baked camembert with blackcurrant sauce, Shanghai fried noodles with shiitake mushrooms, and herbed lamb chops.

2017 Chardonnay (bonus bottle)
VQA Niagara Peninsula

The amazing folks at Redtail Vineyards are offering CityNews Wine Club members a true County vs. Niagara wine tasting, so the bonus bottle is a chardonnay made with Niagara grapes. This wine was fermented in French oak but aged in stainless steel, preserving gorgeous aromatics of ripe orchard fruit like pear, peach, and orange citrus. It has a lovely balance; it’s crisp and focused but also fruit-driven and generous.

A real treat matched with raw oysters on the half shell, Chinese orange chicken, and creamy broccoli soup with Gruyere cheese.

FEATURED IN OCTOBER’S THREE-PACK:

Swing into autumn in high class with a sumptuous white blend, a Bordeaux-style red, and an exquisite cabernet sauvignon from Niagara’s Ferox Estate.

2020 White
VQA Ontario

Aromas of orange blossom, honeydew melon, and citrus sail out of the glass while juicy stone fruits, like peach and nectarine, delight the palate with this pinot gris-dominant (44%) blend. Also at the table are chardonnay (20%), sauvignon blanc (20%), gewürztraminer (9%), and riesling (7%), each varietal beautifully rounding out the blend and contributing structure, crispness, lushness, and acidity to the wine.

Pair this versatile white with pasta al limone with parmesan, chicken enchiladas with spicy peach salsa, and tempura-battered halibut and chips.

2019 Red
VQA Niagara Peninsula

What distinguishes this Bordeaux-style red from others crafted in Niagara is the emphasis on merlot (86%) with just enough petit verdot (8%) and cabernet sauvignon (6%) to conjure comparisons to a Right Bank expression.  Ample red and black berry fruit hits the palate first with notes of earth and black pepper following. Lovely balance with a roundness that comes from 12 months of aging in French oak barrels.

Very food-friendly, this red is a jovial partner to a wide range of cuisines from black olive tapenade bruschetta to grilled salmon with herbs to hamburgers topped with cheddar cheese and sautéed mushrooms.

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
VQA Niagara Lakeshore

Often cited as Niagara’s most favourable wine year in recent history, the 2020 vintage brought idyllic weather conditions and, as a result, near perfect fruit. This impressive and complex cabernet sauvignon proudly showcases its vintage. Aged for two years in neutral oak, notes of cassis, cocoa, licorice, coffee, and clove ripple gracefully across the palate. Structured and textured, this wine is intriguing with a richness that goes beyond flavour; its $65 price tag is not a surprise.

Savour this cabernet by sipping it on its own or pair it alongside Szechuan beef with black beans, red wine-braised aubergine over polenta, and sous vide lamb chops with mint mustard sauce. The wine will also cellar well for up to 15 years.

FEATURED IN SEPTEMBER’S THREE-PACK:

A small-batch, and hand-crafted, riesling, pinot noir, and their impressive red Cuvée Winona that showcases the best of boutique Niagara winery, Leaning Post Wines.

Plus, enjoy a complimentary VIP wine tasting experience for two that includes cheese and charcuterie at Leaning Post ($100 value). Vouchers included in each box.

* Not to mention, one lucky CityNews Wine Club member will be selected to receive a Super VIP tasting experience for 4 people at Leaning Post which includes an in-depth and guided wine tasting with cheese and charcuterie along with one-on-one time with Ilya Senchuk, the winemaker, who will chat about the winemaking process and show you the facilities. The lucky winner will also go home with a magnum bottle (1.5L) of Senchuk Vineyard Chardonnay, the winery’s best chardonnay in a large format bottle valued at $110. The total value of this once in a lifetime experience is $400. See details below!

2019 Riesling
VQA Twenty Mile Bench

The Wismer Foxcroft vineyard has a long established reputation for yielding the highest quality grapes in the region. 100% of Leaning Post’s 2019 riesling came from the Foxcroft block of Wismer Vineyards, so you’re getting a single-vineyard treat with this wine. Fragrant floral aromas of honeysuckle and orange blossom mingle with lemon peel and stone fruit. On the palate, you’re greeted with nectarine, green apple, and classic Niagara minerality with zippy acidity. Fuller-bodied than most riesling expressions, the mouthfeel is textured and generous.

Pair this delight with chicken korma over basmati rice, roasted pork shoulder with applesauce, and Thai drunken noodles with crispy tofu.

2020 Cuvée Winona
VQA Niagara Peninsula

A blend of merlot (61%) and cabernet franc, this smooth and deliciously heavy-hitting red was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Expect notes of cedar, tobacco, licorice, and white pepper on the nose and a palate of wild blueberry, cassis, dark chocolate, sage, and black pepper. The 2020 vintage provided optimal growing conditions; this is expressed in the wine’s richness, and graceful integration, of flavour.

Merlot-dominant blends love food; pair this cuvée with mushroom risotto with shaved parmesan, Cajun-smoked shrimp over grits, and steak with French bordelaise red wine sauce.

2020 Pinot Noir

This pinot was a labour of love: four different vineyards were sourced for their top fruit and the grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, and fermented separately by vineyard. The wine was then blended and aged for 15 months in French oak which explains its mellow mouthfeel and subtle spice notes. A bouquet of violets, earth, and pencil shavings leads into tart cherry and raspberry on the palate. Charming, and with surprising depth, this wine is drinking beautifully now, but can also be cellared for up to five years.

A lovely match with roasted beet salad with goat cheese, quattro stagioni pizza, and miso chicken with shiitake mushrooms.

* No purchase necessary. Sign up for a free account at citynewswineclub.com and you’ll automatically be entered into the draw. You can also mail your entry, (inclusive of your name, phone number and the contest you want to enter), to CityNews Wine Club at 215 Spadina Ave., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M5T 2C7. Contest closes September 21, 2023 at 11:59pm (ET.) 1 prize to be won consisting of 1 Super VIP tasting experience for 4 people at Leaning Post Winery valued at $400 total that includes a magnum bottle of Senchuk Vineyard Chardonnay. VIP tasting experience is based on availability and valid until August 31, 2024. Black-out dates apply. Open to residents of Ontario over the age of 19. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question to win.

FEATURED IN AUGUST’S THREE-PACK:

An elegant pinot noir, a smooth chardonnay, and the perfect summery rosé from terroir-focused winery, Westcott Vineyards.

Plus, enjoy a complimentary tasting flight for two at Westcott winery ($40 value). Start the car!

2021 Pinot Noir Rosé
VQA Vinemount Ridge

Bright and audacious with racy acidity, this pretty pink-hued pinot presents notes of red cherry, strawberry, a hint of watermelon, and a dash of tarragon. A delightful summer sipper, the wine is crisp, flavourful, and refreshing.

Dry through and through, it’s a perfect partner with summer foods like leafy green salads, goat cheese crostini,  and hot dogs with all the fixings.

2021 Estate Chardonnay
VQA Niagara Escarpment

A perfume of orange blossom, caramel, and tropical fruit lands on the palate as butterscotch, golden apple, pineapple, and a touch of wildflower honey. A creamy, opulent mouthfeel nods to excellent balance and structure. This wine is sumptuous and elegant with a lingering finish.

Pair this superb white with creamy alfredo linguini, fresh lobster roll, or grilled corn-on-the-cob with butter and salt.

2019 Estate Pinot Noir
VQA Niagara Escarpment

Notes of violet, cherry, earth, and spice on the palate. Acid and tannins are noticeable but wonderfully measured such that this light-bodied pinot remains floral and delicate. The mouthfeel is mellow and round as a result of the wine aging for 22 months in French oak barrels.

Pair with salmon in phyllo with mustard, mushroom risotto, or char siu pork.