Blue Mountain Block 32 Chardonnay
$66.99
Blue Mountain is the wild and respected territory of which the Mavety family are blessed to be the guardians. As a family business with a strong connection to the South Okanagan site, the goal of Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars is to realize the potential of the individual sites of the land in which the grapes are grown. Overlooking and tending, the Mavety’s life work is an ongoing process of creating something simple yet powerful, to be expressed in the glass and enjoyed. The philosophy of Blue Mountain is to focus on the potential of each variety, continually improving its range across Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, and Traditionnelle Methode sparkling wine. Blue Mountain’s strong focus on viticulture across the site allows for an increased representation of individual terroir when the grapes reach the winery.
Salvo Foti Aurora
$68.99
When discussing the wines of Mount Etna, it is almost impossible not to mention the name Salvo Foti. A native of the city of Catania, Salvo studied oenology and began his career in 1981 as a technical and agrarian advisor to some noted estates in eastern Sicily. He continues that work today for estates such as Gulfi, Benanti and Vini Biondi, all of whose wines are universally recognized as among the best in Sicily.
Several years ago, Salvo’s love of Etna inspired him to begin a consortium called I Vigneri. Today I Vigneri is an association between Salvo Foti, other vine experts and local grape growers who bring their mutual experience working with the particular vines of Etna. It is also the name of his winery, which he now runs with his sons Simone and Andrea.
Fielding Estate Riesling
$23.99
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.
Luneau Pierres Blanches
$53.99
Domaine Luneau Papin is the leading producer of single-vineyard, terroir-driven, long-ageing Muscadet. Their bottles have graced the wine lists of the world’s best restaurants vintage after vintage (Paul Bocuse anyone?). Pierre-Marie Luneau is the 9th generation in his family to grow that mystical Nantais grape: Melon de Bourgogne. In 2008 he was joined by his wife Marie Chartier. Together they farm 35 hectares in the heart of Muscadet Sèvre et Maine.
Luneau Papin, formerly known as Domaine Pierre de la Grange before Pierre Luneau married Monique Papin of Domaine Papin and combinedthe two estates, has been in existence since the early 18th century, growing Melon since day one. They remain one of the most revered names in the Loire Valley. Who else in Muscadet can boast of a 99 point wine?
Baron Micaela Amontillado
$54.99
Bodegas Baron Micaela has a range of four Amontillados; this is the youngest (around 4-5 years of age), together with the Pino Viejo (same age). There’s also an older Amontillado Xixarito (15 years) and Amontillado Soluqua (30+ years).
As an Amontillado, it ages under floe during the first few years. After that, it is fortified again, eliminating the flor and provoking a period of oxidative ageing. It should be great with jamón ibérico, grilled asparagus or anything with mushrooms.
Buisson-Charles Meursault
$199.99
The biggest secret to the domaine's success is their choices at harvest and vinification. Winemaker Patrick Essa prefers to harvest much later than his peers, believing that many producers harvest far too early and end up with one dimensional wines that lack the complexity. He strongly believes that extra hang time is needed for full complexity and flavor development and that Meursault's terroir keeps the acid high despite fuller ripeness. After harvest, the whole bunch white grapes go through a long gentle pressing followed by vinification in wood and maturation in barrel for around 18 months, ranging from all neutral to up to 30% new oak depending on the cuvée. Additionally, the wines rest in tanks for a few months before bottling to increase precision, a practice becoming more and more common with the most talented white winemakers in Burgundy, such as Jean-Marc Roulot. The resulting white wines are floral and pure fruited Chardonnays that capture the full expression of Meursault's underlying character
Domaine Wachau Gruner Veltliner
$47.99
Craftsmanship, terroir, and precision are the key values of Domäne Wachau under the leadership of Roman Horvath MW and Heinz Frischengruber. Respect for nature and the soil dominates the vignerons’ hard work in the steep vineyards. Domäne Wachau is Austria’s leading estate with organically farmed vineyards. Organized into small parcels and worked mainly by hand, each vigneron cultivates less than two hectares on average — allowing them to focus on the needs of the individual plot. The wines from grand single vineyards (ried) such as Achleiten, Brandstatt, and Kellerberg reflect their unique origins and deliver a distinctive puristic style, with both depth and freshness. This is a next generation wine cooperative, as found nowhere else on earth.
Giant Steps Yarra Chard
$39.99
Giant Steps was founded by wine industry pioneer Phil Sexton, who ventured from Margaret River to Yarra Valley to find the ideal site to cultivate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of purity and finesse. Phil found his holy grail near Gruyere in the Sexton vineyard, which he planted in 1997 on the steep slopes of the Warramate Ranges. A mad jazz fan, Phil named the winery after John Coltrane’s album and fitting metaphor, “Giant Steps.” In 2003, Winemaker Steve Flamsteed came aboard, and the two set about producing a range of iconic Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that express a profound sense of place from six finite sites in Yarra Valley.
Flores Picpoul Soleil
$25.99
In the middle of Languedoc’s broad landscape of rich, savory reds and lush, oily whites, there is an island of salty white wine around the town of Pinet, not too far from Montpellier. Picpoul is grape of choice there, favored for its acidity, freshness, and ability to capture a teaspoon of Mediterranean salt in every glass. Les Vignerons de Florensac make this charming Picpoul in the classic style of the region, with a touch of extra lees contact to add some extra heft to the wine. The nose is of salted lemon, orange blossom and peach with granite minerality. The palate offers notes of apple and pear and seabreeze with a strong creamy, leesy note to balance the exuberant acidity. Picpoul is commonly thought of as the Muscadet of the Mediterranean, and it works alongside much of the same menu. Seafood with fins or shells, lighter savory salads, or spicy chicken laab would all be appropriate.