LCBO Food & Drink Spring 2020

Raising the organic flag Two more organic growing regions:

CANADA A complex and elegant organic wine from the Beamsville Bench in Niagara, Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir VQA ( VINTAGES 274753, $34.95) layers herbal and mineral notes over juicy cherry fruit.

Old-school organic Spain, France and Italy are the organic leaders of the Old World wine regions, where EU rules defining organic wine have existed since 2012. Here are some stars well worth sampling.

Italy A burst of citrus and wildflowers from the hills of Palermo is a sig- nature of Sicily’s signature white grape, Grillo, featured in Rapitala Grillo ( LCBO 634345, $13.95). Vegan Lupi Reali Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ( LCBO 486647, $11.95) from southern Italy has earthy whiffs of spice and chocolate. Era wines makes a Merlot ( LCBO 255869, $10.75); a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ( LCBO 255844, $10.75); and a Sauvignon Blanc ( LCBO 632307, $10.90) which are all dry, lively and pair beautifully with pasta and pizza.

FRANCE Beefy reds from southern France, like J.P. Chenet Cabernet Syrah ( LCBO 90472, $11.95) and Domaine de Serame Cabernet Sauvignon ( LCBO 617225, $13.95), are ideal matches with meat. Each Chavin Boeuf Bourguignon Cabernet ( LCBO 554139, $12.85) bottle even features a detachable recipe. The herb-licked Terra Vitae Côtes du Rhône Village ( LCBO 545988, $15.90) blend is superb with lamb.

SPAIN Hot and dry Spain has the largest area of organic vineyards in the world. From Almansa in the southeast, El Abuelo (“grand­ father”) makes spicy, ripe-berry Tempranillo-Monastrell ( LCBO 524520, $9.95) and lime-tinged, tropical fruity Sauvignon‑Verdejo ( LCBO 11586, $9.95) blends.

AUSTRALIA Grown in warm, dry McLaren Vale by one of the largest certified organic winemakers in the country, Angove Cabernet Sauvignon ( LCBO 464743, $15.95) matches its vibrant red-berry flavours with soft spice, oak and a long, warm finish.

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FOOD & DRINK SPRING 2020