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The LCBO has been working over the past couple years to tweak the campaign that was once known as “Go Local”. Last year the promotion was called “Shine On”, and let’s face it the name just didn’t quite pop even though the wine selection was very good. This year the campaign definitely hits closer to the mark as it’s called “Taste Local”. You will notice over thirty new Ontario wines hit LCBO shelves between September 14 and October 11. Here are the highlights:
Sauvignon Blanc from Ontario is crisp, bright and loaded with citrus flavours. It can sometimes have a savory edge on the finish as opposed to the sweet flavours of riesling. It pairs well with oysters, and white fish… but with it’s high acidity it will pair with just about anything.
Sandbanks Sauvignon Blanc – LCBO 355974 – $16.95
Peller Family Series Sauvignon Blanc – LCBO 371864 – $11.95 (Fantastic Value)
Riesling from Ontario is also crisp and citrus but you will also find flavours of honey and sweetness in the bottles. Sometimes Riesling is bone dry but there is no savory on the finish. Riesling pairs well with just about everything because it also has palate cleansing acidity. The great thing about these three rieslings are that they are all under fourteen dollars… so why not try all three?
Wayne Gretzky Estates Riesling – LCBO 144865 – $13.95 – Off-dry
Peninsula Ridge RIesling – LCBO 387043 – $12.95 – Off-dry
Angel’s Gate Riesling – LCBO 160523 – $13.95 – Dry
Chardonnay from Ontario seems to come in three flavours lately. Unoaked, Lightly Oaked and Fully Oaked. Unoaked Chardonnay can be a swiss army knife for you fall entertaining as it will pair well with Chicken or Pork from either the barbeque or oven. It is also great to enjoy on its own on the patio. Lightly Oaked strikes a great balance between citrus flavours and toasted oak flavours from the barrels in which they are aged. Fully oaked will have a stong nose and aroma of smoke, vanilla and spice from the barrels. LIghtly and Fully Oaked Chardonnay is a great match for Poultry of any sort, creamy pasta dishes or on it’s own. Chardonnay is one grape that is great every year. Stock up on these wines for fall to pair with roast chicken or enjoy the final few patio days with the unoaked variety.
Pilliteri Canadian Gothic Chardonnay – LCBO TBD – $12.95 – Unoaked, Fantastic Label.
Vintage Ink Rite of Passage Chardonnay – LCBO 245712 – $16.95 – Lightly Oaked
Rosehall Run Cuvée County Chardonnay – Vintages 132928 – $21.95 – Light to Medium Oaked
Sparkling wine makes it’s way into the release. It’s bright, light, crisp with palate cleansing acidity and bubbles. Sparkling will literally pair with anything foodwise … or enjoy it on it’s own. At twenty five dollars you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to open this wine.
Handsome Brut – LCBO TBD – $24.95
The best thing about the reds in this release is that they are all very well priced and drinking fantastic now. If you love Ontario Red you can spend upwards of thirty or forty dollars to get killer wines that you can enjoy for years to come. Red wines can have firm tannin and need time to settle down either by opening for sometimes two or three hours before serving… or letting them age in a wine cellar or on a wine rack for a few years. These wines will have flavours of raspberry, black currant, leather and smoke on the finish. These are your red meat wines … pair with lamb or beef.
2012 Featherstone Cabernet Franc – Vintages 64618 – $17.95
2012 13th Street Cabernet Merlot – Vintages 56598 – $19.95
2012 The Foreign Affair the Conspiracy – Vintages 149237 – $19.95 – this wine is drinking great now, but will age for at least another three years.
Pinot Noir is referred to as the heartbreak grape because it is difficult to turn into fantastic wine. All three wineries listed below have a fantastic record in turning Pinot into beautiful wines even in vintages that many winemakers would refer to as challenging. Pinot is lighter than Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and will be loaded with Cherry flavours and sometimes earth on the finish. The price point on these wines are a little higher than anything else in the “Taste Local” campaign. That being said the Tawse Pinot Noir is fantastic value even north of twenty dollars. The Hidden Bench and Norman Hardie wines are worth picking up for your special occasions in the fall or if you feel like being selfish to treat yourself.
2010 Tawse Grower’s Blend Pinot Noir – Vintages 130989 – $24.95 – (Fantastic Value)
2011 Hidden Bench Pinot Noir – Vintages 274753 – $32.95
2012 Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir – Vintages 125310 – $39.00
