Whether you are mourning the passing of this (very short) summer or happily embracing the “back to school” vibe, the Labour Day weekend is a perfect time to sip some wine on the patio and enjoy the BBQ. If you are stopping by the LCBO, keep an eye out for these interesting and reasonably priced sippers and BBQ pairings. All are in Vintages, and if particular bottles appeal, I recommend checking store availability online.
Bubbly
Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Sparkling 2010, $29.95
Why not go local this weekend and enjoy an Ontario bubbly? Our producers are making a number of very nice ones in and around Niagara and Prince Edward County. Flat Rock’s 100% chardonnay traditional method (Champagne method) sparkling is delicious and great value at under $30. It is bone dry with lively notes of lemon, golden apple, butter and toasted biscuit. A terrific patio sipper.
Why not go local this weekend and enjoy an Ontario bubbly? Our producers are making a number of very nice ones in and around Niagara and Prince Edward County. Flat Rock’s 100% chardonnay traditional method (Champagne method) sparkling is delicious and great value at under $30. It is bone dry with lively notes of lemon, golden apple, butter and toasted biscuit. A terrific patio sipper.
Whites
Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $19.95
This Marlborough, New Zealand, sauvignon blanc is a lovely patio sipper. With less of the famous and sometimes cloying “cat pee” note of many Marlborough sauvignon blancs, it is nicely balanced and a real crowd pleaser. It is a crisp white with fruity notes of green apple, gooseberry, grapefruit and lime complemented by green notes of fresh cut grass and dill.
St. Paul’s Pinot Grigio 2015 $19.95
If you like pinot grigio but have not yet tried one from Alto Adige, you should. Some of the best pinot grigio in the world comes from this region in Northern Italy, right on the border with Austria. This pinot grigio is highly aromatic with lively fruity and floral notes of peach, orange zest, honeydew melon, fresh pineapple and white flowers. It has a beautiful backbone of minerality and is a great patio sipper.
Terre Stregate Svelato Falanghina Del Sannio 2015 $17.95
Hailing from the beautiful region of Campania, Italy (around Naples and the Amalfi Coast), Falanghina is one of my favourite underappreciated whites. If you want to try something a little different, give this one a shot. It is a complex wine with fruit, floral, mineral, herbaceous and nutty tones. Lemon, orange flowers and sweet herbs on the nose with roasted hazelnut, toasted biscuit and slate on the palate. There is a lot going on in this one. Delicious with cedar-planked shrimp or scallops.
Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2014 $24.95
If you are a fan of oaky chardonnays, this one is a beautiful example at this price point. If you are not generally a fan of oaky chardonnays, you might just like this one anyway. The oak is very present but nicely integrated. The producer, Thomas Bachelder, makes wine in Burgundy, Niagara and Oregon and has brought a Burgundian terroir-driven style of wine-making to this Niagara Chardonnay. (This style is to be contrasted against most of the big oaky Californian chardonnays and is, in my opinion, much nicer.) This wine is creamy with green apple and lemon notes and lots of toasty biscuit on the palate. It benefits from some air as it is still a little young – I recommend decanting or opening early. Try it with grilled fish – perhaps a nice piece of halibut - or seafood.
This Marlborough, New Zealand, sauvignon blanc is a lovely patio sipper. With less of the famous and sometimes cloying “cat pee” note of many Marlborough sauvignon blancs, it is nicely balanced and a real crowd pleaser. It is a crisp white with fruity notes of green apple, gooseberry, grapefruit and lime complemented by green notes of fresh cut grass and dill.
St. Paul’s Pinot Grigio 2015 $19.95
If you like pinot grigio but have not yet tried one from Alto Adige, you should. Some of the best pinot grigio in the world comes from this region in Northern Italy, right on the border with Austria. This pinot grigio is highly aromatic with lively fruity and floral notes of peach, orange zest, honeydew melon, fresh pineapple and white flowers. It has a beautiful backbone of minerality and is a great patio sipper.
Terre Stregate Svelato Falanghina Del Sannio 2015 $17.95
Hailing from the beautiful region of Campania, Italy (around Naples and the Amalfi Coast), Falanghina is one of my favourite underappreciated whites. If you want to try something a little different, give this one a shot. It is a complex wine with fruit, floral, mineral, herbaceous and nutty tones. Lemon, orange flowers and sweet herbs on the nose with roasted hazelnut, toasted biscuit and slate on the palate. There is a lot going on in this one. Delicious with cedar-planked shrimp or scallops.
Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2014 $24.95
If you are a fan of oaky chardonnays, this one is a beautiful example at this price point. If you are not generally a fan of oaky chardonnays, you might just like this one anyway. The oak is very present but nicely integrated. The producer, Thomas Bachelder, makes wine in Burgundy, Niagara and Oregon and has brought a Burgundian terroir-driven style of wine-making to this Niagara Chardonnay. (This style is to be contrasted against most of the big oaky Californian chardonnays and is, in my opinion, much nicer.) This wine is creamy with green apple and lemon notes and lots of toasty biscuit on the palate. It benefits from some air as it is still a little young – I recommend decanting or opening early. Try it with grilled fish – perhaps a nice piece of halibut - or seafood.
Reds
Wildewood Guadalupe Pinot Noir 2013 $32.95
This lovely pinot is a great find at this price point. It has a beautiful fresh nose with fruity and floral notes of tart and ripe cherry, plum, strawberry and purple flowers. It is juicy but not jammy and is a real cross between new and old world style pinot noir. Try it with grilled pork, chicken or salmon…or just as a patio sipper at by itself.
Wildass Red 2013 $19.95
Vintage to vintage, this wine is consistently an excellent value crowd pleaser. The entry label of Stratus Vineyards, it is a cabernet sauvignon blend that varies in composition year-to-year. With notes of ripe blackberry, raspberry and strawberry complemented by sweet tarragon, leather and coffee, this wine is a perfect BBQ wine. Decant if possible and try it will your best grilled burgers. It is also a lovely post-dinner sipper.
Quinta da Rede Reserva 2013 $17.95
Wines from the Douro, Portugal, are often great value and are terrific with a variety of meat dishes. This one is no exception. It is delicious with notes of ripe blackberry, raspberry, mocha, licorice and baking spices. It is a full-bodied wine with smooth tannins that pairs beautifully with grilled ribs or spicy sausages.
Gérard Bertrand Grand Terroir La Clape 2014 $18.95
A blend of syrah, mourvedre and carignan, this wine from La Clape on the Southwest coast of France is delightful and great value at this price point. With notes of ripe blackberry, white pepper, graphite and a hint of smoke, it is a classic BBQ pairing. A well-balanced wine with nice acidity and well-integrated ripe tannins. Decant if possible and try it with your grilled steak or burgers.
This lovely pinot is a great find at this price point. It has a beautiful fresh nose with fruity and floral notes of tart and ripe cherry, plum, strawberry and purple flowers. It is juicy but not jammy and is a real cross between new and old world style pinot noir. Try it with grilled pork, chicken or salmon…or just as a patio sipper at by itself.
Wildass Red 2013 $19.95
Vintage to vintage, this wine is consistently an excellent value crowd pleaser. The entry label of Stratus Vineyards, it is a cabernet sauvignon blend that varies in composition year-to-year. With notes of ripe blackberry, raspberry and strawberry complemented by sweet tarragon, leather and coffee, this wine is a perfect BBQ wine. Decant if possible and try it will your best grilled burgers. It is also a lovely post-dinner sipper.
Quinta da Rede Reserva 2013 $17.95
Wines from the Douro, Portugal, are often great value and are terrific with a variety of meat dishes. This one is no exception. It is delicious with notes of ripe blackberry, raspberry, mocha, licorice and baking spices. It is a full-bodied wine with smooth tannins that pairs beautifully with grilled ribs or spicy sausages.
Gérard Bertrand Grand Terroir La Clape 2014 $18.95
A blend of syrah, mourvedre and carignan, this wine from La Clape on the Southwest coast of France is delightful and great value at this price point. With notes of ripe blackberry, white pepper, graphite and a hint of smoke, it is a classic BBQ pairing. A well-balanced wine with nice acidity and well-integrated ripe tannins. Decant if possible and try it with your grilled steak or burgers.