The Zimmerman family has been involved in winemaking in Germany's Nahe region for seven generations. As icewine specialists, they were interested in Ontario. In 1990, the youngest descendant moved to Niagara and founded King's Court. Producing their first vintage in 2001, the Zimmerman's have quickly developed a reputation for making top-notch icewines. This lively, strawberry-scented Cab Franc is a fine example of the quality of wines they are capable of creating.

This Riesling Icewine is dedicated to Matthias Konzelmann, Herbert and Gudrun's son, whose life was cut short after a courageous battle with leukemia. Matthias is fondly remembered by all who knew him for his dedication to his family, the winery and the wine industry. The proceeds from the sale of this wine will be donated to the McMaster University Bone Marrow Transplant & Leukemia Research fund. This beautifully made Riesling Icewine is hugely aromatic and intensely flavoured, but finely balanced by a streak of acidity. Match it to rich desserts, or have it as dessert.

Konzelmann's late harvest Riesling shows the diversity of the grape. Without the intense sweetness of a dessert wine, it is light enough to serve on its own as an aperitif or with grilled meat in a fruit sauce, but has enough residual sugar to pair well with lighter desserts or a selection of fine cheeses.

Made in an elegant style, this Gewurztraminer is filled with aromas of lychee, turkish delight, orange marmalade and citrus. Dry and fruity, the wine shows excellent an balance of fruit and acidity. Match it to Indian dishes such as vindaloo chicken.

At the peer-judged 2007 Cuvée Awards, this wine won the Gold Medal for Best Sweet Wine.

TASTING NOTE: Historically Niagara's biggest, chunkiest and powerful vidal icewine and it repeats this vintage. Expect intense, complex aromas of ripe peach-mango with bready notes, honey and a touch of caramel. Full bodied, unctuous, thick and sweet on the palate, with excellent length. (David Lawrason, www.winerytohome.com, July 2006) 
544791    (S)            200 mL    $24.95     

VQA ON Tour
REIF ESTATE MERITAGE 2004
VQA Niagara River, Estate Btld.  

This is Reif's first vintage designated under the new sub-region VQA Niagara River.

This richly textured Merlot achieves the perfect balance of fruit, velvety tannins and softening acids. The plum, cherry aromas and flavours here are pleasingly upfront with the tannins coming gently in on the mid-palate. Match it with grilled lamb and a vegetable ratatouille.

Portions of this Sauvignon Blanc are fermented and aged in 3-5 year-old French barrels, adding richness on the palate without interfering with the natural flavours of the grape. The resulting wine is typically Californian with soft aromas of melon and tropical fruit with a round supple mouthfeel. Pair this with a seafood appetizer at a backyard dinner party.

Most of the fruit comes from cool vineyards in Santa Barbara, the rest (12%) come from the winery's own Vista Montone Vineyard in Napa Valley. Seventy-four percent of the wines were aged in stainless steel, while the remainder spent two and a half months in new French, American and Hungarian oak. Ripe tropical fruit character dominates this superb Chard. It is a great partner for grilled fish topped with a zesty fruit salsa.

With Le Pousseur, Bonny Doon looks to express Syrah's more "feminine" side. This medium-bodied wine offers delicate aromas of blueberry, plum, fresh cut flowers and light spice. The tannins are soft, making this a terrific match for various chicken dishes.

This Pinot Noir won a Silver Medal at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in a category that included wines that were significantly more expensive. It offers concentrated aromas of cherry preserve, earthy forest fruit, and hints of rose petals and roasted almonds. Velvety tannins complement the fresh fruit flavors and offer a full-bodied mouthfeel and delightful finish. It's a terrific choice to match with salmon or tuna.

This Napa Valley Bordeaux blend is made with 56% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Made in a style that is more elegant than muscular, it offers classic Napa flavours of blackberries, plums and chocolate, with soft acids and ripe, round tannins. It would make a good companion to an array of beef or lamb dishes. This is an excellent quality Napa Cabernet at an affordable price.

A Silver-Medal winner at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2007. This premium Torrontés is full-bodied, yet crisp, with delicious citrus aromas and characteristic floral and muscat-like scents. It offers a complexity uncommon at this price. Try it with spicy seafood dishes.

37127    (D)            750 mL    $12.95   

Malbec is the unrivalled star of Argentina. Trivento's well-priced reserve is a great introduction to this hot varietal. Its rich tannins and flavours make it an ideal partner for red meats or spicy fare.

Beautiful weather, a gentle summer breeze, grilled trout on the barbecue ... serve this lovely white and you have a complete picture. This fresh, zesty Sauvignon Blanc offers classic tropical-fruit characters and a clean, crisp finish.

Created for those who enjoy a full-bodied style of white wine, this Chardonnay offers subtle tropical fruit aromas and hints of oak. If you're ordering in Thai food tonight, here's your ideal match.

If you want to impress, but don't want to break the bank doing it, then here's your wine. Powerful, full-bodied with plentiful rich black fruits and hints of smoke and earth, this luscious red is great with steak or gourmet pizza.

From its bouquet of bramble fruit, white pepper, vanilla and chocolate to its palate of blackberries and spice, this Shiraz will seduce you. Enjoy with pasta arrabiata, steak au poivre or spicy gourmet pizza.

Named for William Buckley, a giant at 'six foot six', who escaped a prison ship just as it laid anchor at Geelong, Australia in 1803. 32 years later when his whereabouts was discovered, he had been 'adopted' by the local aboriginal tribe. His stature is matched in the ripe, masculine, vibrancy of this big, bold Shiraz. Try it with expansively flavoured meat dishes.

Here's a full-bodied Merlot that delivers lots of succulent plum and black cherry flavours. This versatile red will pair nicely with your favourite aged, creamy cheeses, a Sunday roast, or even truffles.

This style of unoaked style of Chardonnay is starting to make major headway into international markets, as people look for brighter, more fruit-forward alternatives, especially in the summertime. Kim Crawford proposes serving this with the "fusion style Pacific Rim foods" Asian and Anti-podean (New Zealand and Australia) cuisine.

The 2007 John Platter South African Wines Guide awarded this wine *** (out of 5). Rich in berry, chocolate and cigar box flavours, this Cab is a fine match for pot-roasted venison, lamb or spicy foods. A great value.

Named for the larger-than-life golfer John Daly (nicknamed, The Lion), this winery creates three levels of wine, including this fine mid-range one. Made and bottled by the award-winning Spier Estate, the Lion's Shiraz hits a long drive with its vibrant aromas of ripe plums with touches of white pepper and ginger. Enjoy with sizzling steaks.

Nestled in the Franschhoek Valley, Môreson is a family winery with a state-of-the-art cellar. Their philosophy and focus centres on scientific vineyard location and meticulous winemaking. This Pinotage is loaded with plum and blackberry flavours with hints of cocoa, toasty oak, and smoked meat. It displays terrific structure and balance. Enjoy with a pork roast or medium-aged cheeses.

Saint-Véran is very close stylistically to its neighbour Pouilly-Fuissé, with its golden green hue, its intense fruity, flowery nose and its refreshing flavours. They typically show their best 2-4 years after harvest. This delicately flavoured wine will pair well with lighter fare such as fresh seafood salad.

Hands down, the Midi is the best place to find quality, value-priced Viogniers and this is a fine example. The aromas recall honeysuckle and a summer meadow. Enjoy this round, full, velvety, mouth-filling wine with herbed chicken, pasta in a cream sauce or crab cakes.

This 100% Roussanne is fermented in French oak barrels. The nose offers a honeyed character with acacia flowers and tropical fruits while the palate is full-bodied with an opulent texture and a long, dry finish. This is a wine that requires rich foods; try it with a grilled tuna steak topped with a mango salsa.

Château Chambeau was an abandoned ruin when the Tricot family acquired it in 1964. The patriarch set about resurrecting it, a task that was completed by his children, Michel and Catherine. Their efforts have paid off handsomely. They now have 12 hectares planted to 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. The wines are known for their deep colour and rich texture. Cellar it 2-4 years or enjoy it tonight with roast leg of lamb and grilled potatoes.

Beatrice Lurton, the sister of the flying winemakers, Jacques and François, acquired this winery in 1990. Tom Stevenson, in The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia, called her red wines "... one of Bordeaux's greatest bargains".

This wine displays rich plum and prune flavours with hints of mocha and a rich generous texture. With 2-4 years in a cellar this red will continue to improve but the tannins are ripe and easy-going making it approachable now. An excellent partner to pan-seared chicken breast with a red-berry compote.

Mûres refers to the wild mulberry bushes that surround this 18 ha property. The wine is made from 83% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, ranging from 24 to 45 years of age. The resulting wine offers flavours of cherries, blackberries and spice, with an opulent mouthfeel and soft tannins. It would be an excellent choice to accompany a grilled leg of lamb coated with an aromatic spice rub or hearty stew with root vegetables.

Mistral refers to a strong wind that blows down the Rhône River valley from the Alps, bringing cool air to this Mediterranean wine region. When these winds are mild, such as in 2004, the growing season is extended and the wines become more complex. This fabulous Gigondas is packed full with ripe and spicy berry fruit. It's dense and deep and possesses soft tannins. Superb with red meats, casseroles and game.

This classic Côtes du Rhône blend is made with Grenache and Syrah. It possesses a rich texture with flavours of red berries, white pepper and roasted herbs. Try chilling it down for 20 minutes in the refrigerator and serving it outdoors with rotisserie chicken stuffed with thyme and rosemary.

Our Quality Assurance laboratory has determined that this organic wine contains 23 mg/l of free sulphur. You might call this 38 hectares of land 'Eden' as it has never been treated with chemicals and has been certified organic since 1968. This Bergerac is an elegantly structured wine with lovely pure red berry fruit flavours on the palate. Enjoy with grilled meats, leg of lamb or eggplant parmigiana.

This Southern Rhône Rosé combines power with elegance, offering intense aromas of raspberry and strawberry with a vein of racy acidity and impeccable balance. This wine is full-flavoured enough to pair with grilled meats, but delicate enough to match with seafood.

To retain the bright fruit freshness and crisp acidity, Tramin's Pinot Grigio is fermented and matured in 100% stainless steel. The aromas suggest pear and a hint of spice. Match it to lighter fish dishes or enjoy it as an aperitif.

Greco Bianco produces a delicately scented wine that is often compared to Viognier. This floral, gently peachy wine is an excellent sipper or serve it with fettuccine alfredo or poached white fish.

The Collio DOC in northeastern Italy is known for producing racy, refreshing white wines. The Attems Sauvignon has good purity of fruit, with lively citrus and green-apple flavours backed by delicate aromas of fresh herbs. A great wine to enjoy on its own, it would also pair well with a selection of cold poached seafood served with an herb aioli.

The perfect all-purpose Chardonnay! Once the grapes are soft-pressed, 40% of the juice is drawn off (hence, the name Barricato 40) and aged in oak barriques for 4-5 months. The wines are reunited with the stainless steel-fermented portion. The intriguing touch of oak is ideally integrated with the fresh citrus fruit flavours. Versatile, food-friendly and an exceptional value.

Since this light to medium-bodied Merlot matches well with much of the gentler cuisine we enjoy in these hot weather months it is a superb summertime red. A terrific complement to pasta with tomato sauce, chicken salads or vegetarian meals.

Made from 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet, this wine may be from Emilia-Romagna, but it is without question Umberto Cesari's interpretation of a Super Tuscan. This distinctively Italian wine is a perfect match for traditional roasted wild boar. If you don't feel like putting on the gum boots and taking your rifle into the heart of Italy, then a roast leg of lamb will do.

Valtellina is located in north-central Italy along its border with Switzerland. The region is broken up into four sub-zones, of which Sassella is best suited for ripening the temperamental grape Nebbiolo. Nera adds 10% Cabernet to the wine to add some depth of fruit to its well-structured frame. The palate offers red cherry and plum, with hints of earth and dried herbs. Though beginning to show evolution, it should continue to improve for another 2-5 years. It would pair well with grilled pork tenderloin with a fresh herb rub.

La Nuova Cappelletta has been certified as biodynamic since 1984. Besides growing grapes and making their own wines, they also raise cattle and grow biodynamic corn. The vines are fertilized strictly with their own cattle manure, and pests and parasites are fought using stringent non-chemical procedures. This medium-bodied wine has aromas of leather, cherry and smoked meat. Made in a slightly rustic style, try pairing it with some artisanal Italian cheeses. Our Quality Assurance has determined that this organic wine contains 30 mg/l of free sulphur.

The vineyard used for this wine was planted in 1980 and the vines are now at their peak for quality wine production. This easy-going red has aromas and flavours of forest berries, earth and a slight nutty character. Though it is designed for early consumption, decanting it for an hour before serving would be beneficial. Try serving it with a tomato-based pasta with wild mushrooms.

This blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo is certified organic by Associazione Suolo e Salute. Our Quality Assurance laboratory has determined that this wine contains 17 mg/l of free sulphur. Match this fruity and delicious wine with organic beef hamburgers or grilled portobello mushrooms.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, this wine has intense aromas of cherry and raspberry. In the mouth, it is dry and round with velvety tannins offering support. The finish is long and impressive. Match it to braised beef dishes.

The 2003 vintage of this wine was called one of the 100 Great Wines for less than $25US in the Wine Spectator. Expect more of the same in this classic Tuscan 2004 vintage. The 2004 is a blend of 65% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot that were aged separately for 12 months in both French and American barriques (30% new). The aromas and flavours suggest blackberry, cassis and licorice in a ripe tannin frame. Match it to filet mignon wrapped in bacon.

Stefano Cesari, owner of Brigaldara, instead of following the recent trend of making several cuvées, chooses to make only one Amarone. This modern-style wine offers intense flavours of fresh figs, cherries, chocolate with hints of dried fruit. Though the tannins are ripe, the wine would benefit from an hour or two in a decanter. Then take your time and watch the wine evolve over the course of the evening. Try serving this Amarone with a braised beef dish. Or, as the perfect finale after a big meal, enjoy it with dried figs, stuffed with gorgonzola and almonds.

This fabulous Ripasso has been a major hit in Ontario since its first release two years ago. It has the structure to match with flavourful dishes, such as gourmet hamburgers or roast leg of lamb, but its upfront fruit-forward style also makes it a pleasant sipping wine.

Chiaretto (kia-RE-to), an Italian term for rosé, literally means 'neither red nor white'. Made with the local Corvina and Rondinella grapes, the wines are allowed only a few hours on their skins to extract the pleasant pink colour. They are then matured for four months in stainless steel tanks before blending and bottling. Serve this light and fruity wine with appetizers, cold cuts or pan-fried freshwater fish.

Pro Corde is a dry red loaded with cherry, plum, elderberry and earth aromas and flavours. There is also a nice mid-palate firmness that gives the wine structure. Cellar 1-3 years or enjoy it tonight with game bird, braised roasts or barbecued meats.

A great choice for bacalhau (salted cod) or barbecued pork chops, this blend of classic Portuguese grapes Boal, Gouveio and Moscatel is dominated by a lovely citrus with hints of minerality. Dry, crisp and balanced, it is medium-bodied with a lingering crisp/fruit finish.

Esporão's Monte Velho line is made exclusively with indigenous grapes. The intention is to show the versatility and strength of the 'local talent'. This red is a blend of the Periquita, Trincadeira, Bastardo and Moreto grapes. Aromas of ripe blackberry, raspberry and oak spice dominate this fine, fruity, flavourful wine. Match it to roast leg of lamb.

Touriga Nacional is one of the classic grapes in Douro for Port production. Producers, such as Quinta de Ventozelo, have begun to produce deeply delicious, very flavourful dry wines with this same grape. Enjoy with braised beef dishes, or, if you are up for the challenge, roast suckling pig.

Slovenian wine is rarely seen in our market as 95% of it is consumed locally. Since the break up of Yugoslavia, Slovenia has revamped its wine laws and winemakers are now focusing on premium quality production. In aromatic whites like this Gewürztraminer, they emphasize the floral and light spice characteristics rather than the fruity elements. These wines make great matches for aromatic dishes such as risotto with mixed herbs.