Vintages New Release Collection – May 24, 2025

SHOP IN-STORE AND ON LCBO.COM | SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2025

WENDING HOME ESTATE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2020 6 VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula Aged in a combination of 228 L French oak barrique and 500 L puncheons, 20% of which is new oak, for 8-9 months. It has a rich and creamy nose of ripe pear, yellow apple, lemon tart, a floral note, flint, and elegant spices. It has a lovely creamy texture on the palate with ripe stone fruits, flinty minerality, spice and a long, lifted finish. Score: 92 (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, May 24, 2022) Full-bodied & Rich 44853 (XD) 750 mL $34.95 2

EASTDELL GAMAY NOIR 2019 6 VQA Niagara Peninsula

Gamay Noir has become Niagara’s best-kept secret. It’s often overshadowed by its Burgundian counter- part, Pinot Noir. But this wine, with its crunchy red fruit flavours and crisp acidity, makes a compelling bid for the spotlight. Lightly chill this flexible wine and it will be perfect for all occasions. Pour along- side grilled tuna steaks and an arugula salad. Light-bodied & Fruity 214890 (XD) 750 mL $18.95 1

CANADA – RED WINE ONTARIO

FEROX VANTAGE RED 6 VQA Ontario, sustainable, vegan

CREEKSIDE RED TRACTOR CABERNET FRANC 2020 6 VQA Niagara Peninsula Alluring nose with ripe red and black cherry, leafy, bell pepper, and a touch of summer fruit jam. Smooth, with chewy tannins lending a good grip and a fresh finish. Drinking window: 2023-2026. Score: 88 (decanter.com, June 5, 2023) Medium-bodied & Fruity 14424 (XD) 750 mL $19.95 2 Featured in Dining Out Is In

The Vantage wines are a new collection from Ferox. The red is a multi-vintage blend of Zweigelt, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec and Cabernet Franc from the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 vintages. It’s complex and rich, with blueberry, plum, blackberry, cranberry, black pepper, and garden herbs. This fruity, food- friendly, exciting, dynamic wine will pair with a wide range of foods from chicken wings to grilled lamb. Medium-bodied & Fruity 44919 (XD) 750 mL $16.95 1 HIDDEN BENCH GAMAY 2022 6 VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, sustainable, unfiltered What a lovely gamay – certainly among the ripest and best yet from Hidden Bench as it gears up its gamay program with the use of new concrete fermenters. It has more colour depth than expected and generous aromas of strawberry/cherry fruit, soft florals and subtle oak. It is light to medium bodied, nicely composed and effortlessly balanced with fine acidity and tannin. The length is excellent. A class act. Tasted October 2024. Score: 92 (David Lawrason, winealign.com) Light-bodied & Fruity 20422 (XD) 750 mL $29.95 2 Featured in Dining Out Is In 4 Organic product

DREA’S SMALL BATCH CABERNET FRANC 2022 6 VQA Niagara Peninsula, sustainable

This Cabernet Franc is made by Andrea (“Drea”) Kaiser to honour her father, Karl J. Kaiser, who co-founded Inniskillin Wines. In 2017, the Karl J. Kaiser Memorial Fund at Brock University was established, with a portion of proceeds from this wine’s sales donated to it each year. This single- vineyard Cabernet Franc offers generous notes of blackcurrant, savoury herbs, vanilla and earth. Medium-bodied & Fruity 44947 (XD) 750 mL $39.50 2

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2025 VINTAGES 37