Ken Wright Chardonnay
$54.99
After 47 years of wine making experience Ken Wright Cellars believes in a simple truth: source is everything. Their approach to the craft of wine growing is one of stewardship rather than manipulation. They use organic certified practices as a base and expand upon that with advanced nutrition-based farming. By analyzing both their soil profile and vines, maintaining proper crop levels, personally sampling each vineyard, and hand-sorting each cluster, they ensure that the inherent character in their fruit is revealed in the finished wine. Minimal handling of wine is essential to preserve what it is; a gift of nature. While Ken Wright is deservedly famous for his excpetional Pinot Noirs the Chardonnay is a revelation; full, rich, minerlally.
Le Vieux Donjon CNDP White
$94.99
The Michel family presides over just 1 hectare of white grapes - Roussanne & Clairette. The Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc they produce has delicate white flower aromas and a generous weight of ripe orchard fruit and a persistent dry finish. This fine white Châteauneuf' is made from roughly equal volumes of Clairette and Roussanne, vinified in stainless steel and bottled the winter following the harvest. It is savoury and sapid with alluring fleurs blanches aromas, a well-delineated palate of white orchard fruit and a long, elegant finish. It would make an excellent foil for a Mediterranean tapenade.
94 Points Wine Advocate: A 50-50 blend of Clairette and Roussanne, all made and matured in stainless steel, the 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is a classic example of Vieux Donjon's white. Scents of tangerine, pineapple and white peach are tinged with just a hint of honeyed richness that somehow enhances rather than compromises the overall sense of freshness. It's medium to full-bodied in the mouth, with a silky texture and ample length.
Valfaccenda Roero Arneis
$51.99
Luca Faccenda grew up in the hills of Roero, and his family has been growing grapes in the Valle Faccenda, a small valley between Canale and Cisterna for generations. Today Luca farms five hectares of Arneis and Nebbiolo spread out across several parcels, including a small holding in one of Roero’s great crus, Valmaggiore. Stylistically, he has no desire to emulate the blockbuster wines of his more famous neighbours in the nearby Langhe, well aware that the steep, sandy slopes here have little in common with the rolling hills found south of the Tanaro. Roero produces wines of a different kind which are pretty, perfumed and full of charm. The grape Arneis nearly went extinct and was brought back by a handful of dedicated winemakers in Piedmont who recognized it's potential for making great white wine.
Pinson Chablis 2023
$61.99
In a region so steeped in history (and prehistory) as Chablis, Domaine Pinson stands out, having farmed in this famous village since 1640, making them one of the oldest families in the entire appellation. Today, the domaine is run by the dynamic Charlène Pinson and her father Laurent. They own 14 hectares of the crème de la crème of Chablis terroir, with prime holdings in six premier crus and the grandest cru of them all, Les Clos. This father-daughter team are great stewards of their famed parcels, never using any herbicides or pesticides in the vineyards, and working with organic methods to express these limestone-laden sites. In the cellar, their philosophy is defined by an informed flexibility. Some vineyards are barrel fermented, while others are fermented in tank. Aging sees a variety of vessels, including older barrels and stainless steel; Charlène and Laurent follow no dogma, only using experience to determine the best approach to express their terroir. It is an intuitive process, one which results in a stunning display of intense purity across the Domaine Pinson range, seamlessly marrying the historical grandeur found in Kimmeridgian marl and the noble Chardonnay of Burgundy.
Charles Baker Picone Riesling
$48.44
First Canadian wine chosen for the Masters of Wine Blind Examination, Runner-up Canadian Wine of the Year at Gold Medal Plates, and part of Ontario's Stratus winery. Located in the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Stratus Vineyards (Charles Baker is part of the Stratus winery) is a gravity-flow winery, distinguished by its LEED-certified facility, its commitment to sustainability and wines of outstanding quality. Bob Nedelko's beautiful vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench was a result of enthusiastic yields. The vines did not hold back despite their best efforts. The result? Nervy, electric, complex, fruity, steely, seamless, delicious Riesling.
Soufrandiere Macon Vinzelles
$74.99
There is no better producer in the Mâconnais than La Soufrandière, a family domaine owned by the Bret Brothers. The brothers also buy grapes from neighbors and other growers who have the same meticulous philosophy as they and bottle them as a négociant under the label, Bret Brothers. Those wines are also a safe bet a well, delivering more than you would expect from the price. This Pouilly-Vinzelles could be considered their flagship. Planted by their grandparents, it is a 10-acre limestone rich plot with perfect exposure in mid-slope facing east. Jean-Philippe explains that most of the vines are 70 years old, but there are some young vines — only 40 years old! The spectacular 2022 Pouilly-Vinzelles Les Quarts delivers a dazzling array of subtle fruitiness, firm minerality in a tightly wound body. You realize its stature and power when it explodes in the finish. La Soufrandière’s wines develop magnificently — if you can keep the corkscrew away from them.
Poplar Grove Cascadia Pinot Gris
$24.64
Canadian wine, with a caveat: This is made from Washington-grown fruit to compensate for the disastrous 2024 deep freeze. You're going to see more of this, for many, it was the only alternative to having virtually zero wine in 2024. The palate displays bright acidity with flavours of ripe nectarine, apricot, and citrus. A smooth and refreshing mouthfeel and long, delicate finish balance this classic style of Pinot Gris.
Fielding Estate Riesling
$20.39
Ken and Marg Fielding, along with their son Curtis and his wife Heidi, opened the winery doors in 2005. Fielding Estate Winery quickly established its place alongside Niagara wineries as a warm, inviting place to relax and enjoy award-winning, small lot VQA wines.
The architecture of the winery is influenced by the Fielding’s northern Ontario roots in the Haliburton Highlands. Designed by renowned architect Andre D’Elia of Superkül, the contemporary Canadian design is inspired by elements only be found in nature – wood, stone and sunlight. With the natural finishes and earthy tones, the design allows all the facets of nature to become one.
Rougeot Meursault Sous La Velle
$207.99
Marc Rougeot, now supported by his son Pierre-Henri, is farming 13 hectares with his family in the traditional domaine of Meursault. The wines are produced on the villages of Meursault, Monthélie, Saint-Romain, Pommard and Volnay. The vineyards were certified organic from the 2020 vintage and then biodynamic in 2021. They arev highly expressive wines crafted with the utmost care and miniaml intervention.