CAVE SPRING INDIAN SUMMER RIESLING (V) Select Late Harvest, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Founded in 1986, Cave Spring celebrates its 21st and 22nd vintages of innovation this year - their 2006 and 2007 vintages will be on shelves in 2008. This late-harvested Riesling displays concentrated natural sugars, resulting in a rich wine with aromas of mango, pear, caramel apples and cinnamon. Serve this medium-in-sweetness, balanced dessert wine over mango sorbet or reduce it and use as a sauce for pork tenderloin.
415901 (M) 375 mL $24.95
CAVE SPRING CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ (V) VQA Beamsville Bench
This aromatic clone of the Chardonnay grape is a refreshing alternative. Never oak aged, it retains pure and lively aromas and flavours. Look for flowers, pear drops, limeade, jasmine and sweet apples. Medium-bodied, richly flavoured but balanced with a gentle crispness and a lengthy finish. Serve it with pan-roasted grouper or a wild mushroom stir-fry.
246579 (D) 750 mL $16.05
CAVE SPRING CHARDONNAY ESTATE (V) VQA Beamsville Bench
Cave Spring uses fruit from their 25+ year-old vineyard for this elegant Chardonnay. The nose displays aromas of French toast, green apple and smoke while the rich, full palate has concentrated flavours of apple, pear and the trademark Beamsville Bench mineralilty. Serve this homegrown hero with fettuccine in a creamy smoked-salmon sauce.
256552 (D) 750 mL $19.95
CAVE SPRING RIESLING ESTATE (V) VQA Beamsville Bench
Evocative of the limestone clay soil its 20-year-old vines are grown in, this estate Riesling commands global respect. Lovely peach, pink grapefruit, floral, and mineral aromas dominate with a hint of pretty petrol. It's dry, medium-bodied and juicily fruity with a very long, crisp finish. Great with spiced shrimp dishes, sautéed white fish or mild cheeses.
286377 (D) 750 mL $18.00
HENRY OF PELHAM SAUVIGNON BLANC (V) VQA Ontario
This youthful Savvy is bursting with aromas and flavours of binned apples, lime, nut shells, fresh grass and flinty mineral notes. Crisp and refreshing, it has a lively streak of acidity and a lingering finish. Enjoy it as an aperitif or serve it up with steamed clams and mussels, grilled squid or a three-bean salad.
430546 (XD) 750 mL $14.95
MALIVOIRE CHARDONNAY (V) VQA Beamsville Bench
This soft and creamy Chardonnay is sourced from Malivoire's Estate and Moira vineyards. Martin Malivoire and his team do not use chemical insecticides, herbicides or fertilizers in their vineyards. This wine possesses complex aromas of spiced apple, citrus, butter, spice and elegant toast. It's dry and well-balanced, displaying juicy apple flavours with mineral notes and a toasty finish. It matches beautifully with pork tenderloin or pan-fried freshwater fish.
573147 (D) 750 mL $21.95
MIKE WEIR ESTATE CHARDONNAY (V) VQA Niagara Peninsula
The winemaking team from Creekside Estates works in partnership with Canadian golf legend, Mike Weir, to craft this harmonious Chardonnay with its layers of pineapple, green apple, tropical fruit and toasty vanilla notes. All net profits from his wines go to the Mike Weir Foundation, a charity Weir founded to help children in need. Enjoy this full-bodied and long-finishing Chard with herbed chicken breast.
000026 (D) 750 mL $15.95
MISSION HILL CHARDONNAY RESERVE (V) VQA Okanagan Valley
From one of BC's most beautiful wineries, comes this elegant, flavourful wine. Winemaker John Simes, working with the blessings of visionary owner Anthony von Mandl, has created a wine loaded with peach, tropical fruit (pineapple and banana), floral, butterscotch and toasty oak aromas. It's medium full-bodied with a creamy texture leading to a long finish. An inspired match for pan-seared chicken breast with rosemary and garlic.
545004 (XD) 750 mL $21.95
U.S.A.
BONTERRA CHARDONNAY (V) Mendocino County
Bonterra uses only organically grown grapes in all of their wines. The nose shows attractive aromas of banana, melon and peaches along with hints of caramel, vanilla and oak. It's dry, vibrant and packed with fruit and is a 'natural' selection for grilled red pepper or eggplant dishes.
342436 (D) 750 mL $18.95
CONUNDRUM (V) California
This fascinating off-dry wonder brilliantly blends together Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Viognier and Muscat Canelli. The amazing thing about this wine is that on the nose you can get a sense of every grape used. Aromas and flavours of peach, jasmine, melons, pears, vanilla, grass and more intertwine in this multi-layered and well-balanced white. This wine is a delightful match for butter chicken or chana masala.
694653 (M) 750 mL $26.95
ROBERT MONDAVI FUMÉ BLANC (V) Napa Valley
In 1966, in tribute to the Loire Valley's Pouilly-Fumé, the great California innovator Robert Mondavi dubbed his lightly-oaked Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Fumé Blanc. Its aromas include Granny Smith apple, citrus, mineral and light toast notes. It has a crisp, refreshing, fruity core and a vibrant, spicy, subtly toasty finish, making it a perfect partner for barbecued salmon.
221887 (D) 750 mL $24.95
TOASTED HEAD CHARDONNAY (V) California
(Prod. & Btld. R.H. Phillips)
The name Toasted Head refers to the barrels used to age the wine. Usually, only the barrel walls are charred but in this case the heads are toasted too. The resulting wine is filled with aromas of smoky apple-cinnamon, pear, vanilla and toasty oak. Full-bodied with a medium-long finish, it's a perfect companion to roast pork with apples or poached salmon.
594341 (D) 750 mL $17.95
New Zealand
COOPERS CREEK SAUVIGNON BLANC (V) Marlborough, South Island
With its lively aromas of citrus, fresh herbs, gooseberry and lime, this is a fine example of how New Zealand winemakers have become masters of Sauvignon Blanc. It is racy, refreshing and perfectly balanced. Lovely with Thai green mango salad or lemony roast quail.
957407 (XD) 750 mL $16.95
KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC (V) Marlborough, South Island
Vintage after vintage, the world-renowned Kim Crawford displays his winemaking prowess with Sauvignon Blanc. This version exhibits aromas such as gooseberry, asparagus, nettle, tomato leaf and citrus. Tantalizing with monkfish with tomato and fresh herbs, or steamed mussels.
035386 (XD) 750 mL $19.95
OYSTER BAY CHARDONNAY (V) Marlborough, South Island
This elegant Chardonnay shows varietal intensity and the distinct qualities of the Marlborough region with aromas and flavours of green apple, ripe peach, vanilla, light toasty oak and a note of tropical fruit. A dry, soft and creamy crowd-pleaser with charming balance brought by a touch of acidity and toast. An ideal partner for planked salmon.
326728 (XD) 750 mL $18.95
OYSTER BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC (V) Marlborough, South Island
This perennial classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has exuberant aromas of gooseberry, grass, cream of asparagus, jalapeño peppers and melon. It's intense and lively with crisp acidity and a lingering, slightly minerally finish. Try with shellfish like steamed clams, pan-fried scallops, mussels and, oh yeah, oysters.
316570 (XD) 750 mL $18.95
France
WILLM RIESLING RÉSERVE (V) AC Alsace
This is a classic dry Alsatian Riesling that offers fresh fruit aromas of lime juice with peach and mineral notes. It's medium-bodied with a racy and crisp/fruity palate and a very long finish. It would be an excellent match for grilled tuna steaks, Alsatian onion tart or mild pork sausage.
011452 (XD) 750 mL $16.95
HENRI BOURGEOIS SANCERRE LES BARONNES (V) AC, Loire
One of the top domaines in the Loire, Henri Bourgeois has been perfecting Sauvignon Blanc for 10 generations. Fresh thyme and sage, kiwi, green apple, gooseberry and grapefruit aromas are quite evident. Suggesting the New Zealand style yet with European refinement, it is dry, fruit driven and well structured with an excellent finish. Enjoy with goat cheese and crackers, cucumber salad or ceviche.
542548 (XD) 750 mL $24.95
LA CHABLISIENNE CHABLIS VIEILLES VIGNES (V) AC, Les Vénérables, Burgundy
Vieilles Vignes, or Old Vines, yield less fruit but the quality is much higher than that of younger vines. This intense Chardonnay is consistently excellent with aromas of sweet apple, chalk and citrus. This classic Chablis is dry and steely with a long, crisp finish. It would pair equally well with oysters on the half shell or double cream brie.
942243 (XD) 750 mL $24.95
LOUIS JADOT BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY (V) AC, Burgundy
Long-time Jadot winemaker Jacques Lardière is not one to rest on his laurels. From the geographical headquarters of the Chardonnay grape, he creates this wonderfully versatile wine. Aromas of tropical fruit, french vanilla, toffee apple, lemon and toasty oak are prominently on display. It is a textbook example of how well oak and wine mingle. A fine partner for grilled freshwater fish or a vegetable stir-fry.
933077 (D) 750 mL $20.95
Italy
ANSELMI SAN VINCENZO (V) IGT Veneto
Robert Anselmi stepped away from the Soave DOC to create wines he felt better reflected the region; this light and fresh San Vincenzo, which grabs your attention with its ripe citrus, tropical fruit, melon, pear and peach aromas and flavours, is a prime example. A concentrated blend of Garganega, Chardonnay and a little Trebbiano, enjoy it with grilled white fish or pasta with pesto sauce.
948158 (XD) 750 mL $16.95
SANTA MARGHERITA PINOT GRIGIO (V) DOC Valdadige
Santa Margherita was the first to make Pinot Grigio as a purely white wine by ensuring that no pigment from the grape's light-pink skin coloured the juice. This, our #1 selling wine, sports aromas of fresh green apple, lime and peach that replay on the cleansing finish. Excellent as an aperitif, or serve it with antipasto or gnocchi.
