winingwithmel

Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2014, Marlborough, South Island

What a great wine! Perfect for those looking for an easy initiation into oaked chardonnay. Half of this chardonnay was oaked for six months, lending it some really nice and subtle oak characteristics like buttered toast and smoke, in addition to citrus, tropical fruit, and stone fruit (peach/apricot).

Domaine Houchart Red 2013, Ac Côtes De Provence

This incredibly versatile red goes well from anything from beef stew to salty asian-inspired dishes. It is easy to drink on its own as well. Medium-bodied, good acidity, cherry, blackberry, black currant, plum and a hint of cedar and licorice. Smooth and soft.

Get the whole story at winingwithmel.com/2016/04/17/back-to-basics/

Kim Crawford Rosé 2016, Hawkes Bay, North Island

A summer favourite! This rosey blend of malbec and merlot is unmistakably New Zealand, with aromas of grapefruit and grassiness, but on the palate it's a different beast than the Marlborough sauvignon blancs that the country is known for. The palate is floral, with notes of watermelon, rose water, green apple, minerality, and stawberry. This wine is dry but is so fruity one might think there is a hint of sweetness. The texture is rich and mouthwatering. Delicious and refreshing. Perfect for seafood, as an apéritif or just on its own. A constant winner.

Fetzer Shaly Loam Gewürztraminer 2012, Mendocino County

It's always good to have a tasty gewürztraminer on-hand for spontaneous Asian feast nights. This totally fits the bill. On the nose, you get white peach, lychee and lemon, then it fills the palate with lychee, grapefruit, peach, lemon, honeysuckle and elderflower. A word to the wise: this wine is medium-dry, so the residual sugar may take some by surprise (and completely delight others). But it will do great things with medium-spicy dishes. Quite enjoyable just on its own as well, and at that price point I am totally sold!

The Foreign Affair The Conspiracy 2013, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Using the apassimiento technique perfected in the Veneto region of Italy, this Niagara blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot presents black cherry, delicious plum, black pepper, the telltale green apple mentos flavour of cab franc, and blackberry. Now is the time to try it: it’s $2 off at the LCBO until April 24 ($17.95). Pairs perfectly with Italian fare (pizzas/pastas) or red meats off the grill.

Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Horse Heaven Hills

Oh how I do like this wine. Beautiful medium-dark ruby red. Dark fruit on the nose, with chocolate and a hint of mint. On the palate, more of that dark fruit, with tobacco, mint, leather and cocoa. Medium-full bodied, with medium tannins. A delicious pairing with something sweet and salty, like teriyaki pork tenderloin with a side of sweet butternut squash. Also great for steak on the barbecue.

Kacaba Unoaked Chardonnay 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula

This pale yellow wine offers citrus, minerality, orange pith, stone fruits and white flower on the nose, with much the same on the palate. It is light-to-medium bodied with high acidity, making it the perfect Easter wine to cut through the saltiness of a ham, or even a good pairing for seafood

Chateau Des Charmes Estate Cabernet Franc 2013, VQA Niagara On The Lake

Excellent food wine alert! This Niagara cab franc is a deep ruby red colour and has delicious warm aromas: black cherry, sweet spices, a hint of green apple mentos or green pepper, vanilla, violet, earthiness and smoke. It is medium-bodied with great acidity, making it perfect for pairing with most foods. A steal for $13.95!

Ignacio Marin Old Vine Garnacha 2010, Do Cariñena

Gorgeous ruby red hue. Let it sit for a half hour before it will show you its aromas of dark berry, cedar, licorice, and spicy black pepper. Slightly chewy at first but opens up nicely. Could cellar for a few more years. In the meantime, pair this with grilled meats or something fatty to offset those tannins and bring out the wine’s fruity qualities. Get the whole story at winingwithmel.com/2016/09/08/nostalgia-de-espana/

Kim Crawford Pansy! Rosé 2015, Hawkes Bay, North Island

I first fell in love with Pansy! (yes, the exclamation mark is important in its pronunciation) years ago, and while the wine has changed over the vintages, it remains a solid rosé for summer sipping. The malbec and merlot grapes have imparted a dark pink colour to the wine, and it smells of the candy of my youth, Starburst to be exact, somewhere between strawberry and watermelon. Also a hint of bubble gum. Despite the sweet aroma, this wine is very dry (4 g/l). It tastes of ripe strawberries and is a bit floral. The aftertaste has a hint of citrus. Look for this seasonal offering each May.