Currently the LCBO are running radio ads where someone is deciding to pair their wines with whichever occasion fits depending on the shape of the bottle. While the idea of pairing a green curvy bottle with a “night out with the girls” might seem laughable to a hardened wine “snob” the truth is wineries work hard to make their bottles stand out on the shelf. It can be overwhelming when you’re looking for something new, or something to impress at a party. To be honest when I’m looking for new wines to taste I will walk down the Ontario VQA section of my local LCBO and look for something that jumps off the shelf. I have been known to say that a wine that is the complete package is well priced, looks great and the product inside the bottle has to taste great. The following four wines will be a welcome addition to everyone’s summer entertaining.
2013 Colio Bricklayer’s Predicament Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio – LCBO 371567 – $13.95 – Bright, light and crisp flavours of apple and peach will have you yearning for orchard fruit we will be seeing in the fall. This wine is very dry and would be perfect as a patio sipper or serve with Chicken or Fish from the grill.
2012 Colio Bricklayer’s Predicatment Cabernet-Merlot – LCBO 371575 – $14.95 – STEAK! BURGERS! LAMB KEBABS! time to fire up the grill with this very well priced Cab-Merlot from the Lake Erie North Shore. Flavours of Black Currant, Raspberry with Vanilla and Cocoa on the finish. This wine is fantastic right after opening, no need to decant!
Southbrook has re-designed their Connect wines and you will find these new bottles on the shelves of the LCBO shortly and currently at St Lawrence Market on Saturdays.
2013 Southbrook Connect Organic Red – LCBO 249565 – $15.95 – This beautiful fruit forward red wine is a blend Cabernet Franc, Zweigelt and Gamay… (at this point you can cue Julie Andrews singing My Favorite Things). Big ripe fruit flavours of Plum, Raspberry, Dark Cherry and just a hint of pepper on the finish. This is a great wine for camping… should you have the means I highly recommend serving this with steak cooked over a campfire.
2013 Southbrook Connect Organic White – LCBO 249078 – $14.95 – I love that this bottle is only labelled as “White” because many people may turn their nose up to the fact that this wine is almost 85% Vidal! Vidal is the grape that is usually relegated to Icewine. However it is becoming apparent that in the right hands it makes great table wine especially to pair with food. I had a chance to catch up with Southbrook at St Lawrence market this past weekend and this wine was flying off the table.
