I recently got an email from a publicist talking about Bonterra wines and Earth Day. I last had a chance to taste through the Bonterra wines in 2015, but I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about them since then. Entry level for California is a tricky place if you’re a wine lover – and I mean someone who really loves wine. The entry level is a minefield of mass produced, sweet red wines – they cost around twenty dollars – and I would consider them a poor example of what is really being done in California. Bonterra on the other hand should be holding their heads high as entry level wines. I have always found these wines to offer great value, and great quality for their price. What is remarkable is that this winery has been farming organically since 1987 well before “Organic” has become a consumer buzz word. According to Bonterra they work with “animal” partners to help protect the health of the soil and to avoid using sprays. Bees, chickens, and sheep all help to keep the vines free of pests and keep the soils happy. Using effective cover crops between the rows of vines is very interesting – you choose plants that help prevent weeds that could affect the health of your vines from growing, and you also choose plants to attract beneficial insects. Which is just a fancy way of saying insects that eat other insects. So with Earth day coming up on the 22nd you can feel good about these wines not only because they kick-ass – but because Bonterra is working to make sure that they can keep making their high quality wines for generations to come.
2017 Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon – LCBO 342428 – $19.95 (until Apr 28, 2019) – **** – This is a juicy bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon with very nice cassis, and cherry on the nose. This is uncomplicated and not fussy – so you don’t need to let it breathe or decant. A perfect match for spring barbeque or pizza if you feel like keeping it simple.
2017 Bonterra Chardonnay – LCBO 342436 – $19.95 – **** – This is one of my favorite Californian wines at the LCBO – because it’s affordable for one, but mainly because of its structure. There is a very nice acidity to this wine that keeps it light on the palate. So, while this has nice notes of pineapple, peach, spice, and vanilla it’s not an invasion of flavour in your mouth – it’s a polite houseguest.
2017 Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc – Vintages 86249 – $19.95 – ****+ – I love Sauvignon Blanc from California – it really feels like bottled sunshine. It really is a polar opposite to New Zealand in style – gone are the notes of bell pepper and instead you get tangerine, passion fruit, pineapple, guava, and a note of dried straw. This is my go-to when I’m doing seafood of any kind in my house – but a bottle of this on a patio and a hot day is my perfect summer day.
