saturday april 7, 2010 | the globe & mail

The paring red 2007
Vintages No. 218909; $33.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wine & Spirits

The Paring is the entry-level brand from Jonata, the acclaimed central-California estate owned by two wealthy businessmen who also control cult-wine superstar Screaming Eagle. Talented winemaker Matt Dees has crafted a lusty Bordeaux- style blend, brimming with dark fruits, smooth oak and espresso notes along with a juicy-spicy lift on the finish. Pair this Paring with rack of lamb. Available in Ontario and Alberta.

Rating: 90/100

 saturday march 10, 2012 | the globe & Mail

sartori marani 2009
Vintages no. 265405; $16.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wine & Spirits

The nose suggests orange, flowers and honey, clues that this is not your ordinary Soave-style wine based on the lean garganega grape. Made from semi-dried grapes and partly barrel fermented for extra body, it’s light-medium-bodied and slightly fleshy, with flavours of apple, orange and honey. Great for sautéed shellfish, chicken risotto or pasta/ pizza with sun-dried tomatoes. Available in Ontario.

Rating: 88/100

saturday march 10, 2012 | the national post

writers tears irish whiskey
vintages No. 271106

Margaret Swaine
Spirits Picks

This whisky evokes the type enjoyed at the time of Yeats and Joyce a century ago in Dublin. A blend of pot still malted and unmalted barley, triple distilled and matured in American bourbon casks, it’s smooth with bourbon notes on a bed of malt. It slips down with ease; a honeyed vanilla-tinged fruit and kick of ginger linger hauntingly.

wednesday february 29, 2012 | the grid toronto

sartori marani 2009
Vintages no. 265405; $16.95


food & drink

 
Run for cover, Chardonnay—these three wily whites from the LCBO’s Vintages are sure to make an impression.

This vino bianco is made from Garganega grapes that have been partially dried—a popular Venetian winemaking technique called passimento. It can stand up to a mildly spiced chicken curry. Ponce notes: “The bouquet is like sniffing a summer peach perched next to a vase of freshly cut flowers. It’s an intensely fruity, full-bodied, one-of-a-kind white.”

saturday december 24, 2011 | the globe and mail

vina zaco tempranillo
LCBO No. 243097; $14.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wine & Spirits

Smooth and fresh, this modern-style Rioja from Bodegas Bilbainas offers up plum, berry and vanilla notes and an undercurrent of sweet spices on a polished texture and medium-bodied frame. New to Ontario.

Rating: 87/100

thursday december 8, 2011 | the grid to

bouchard pere & Fils 2-bottle gift pack
LCBO No. 253682; $32.95 on sale for $29.95 until January 1^st

Food & Drink

Bouchard Père et Fils gift pack (2 x 750 ml), $29.95 This Burgundy twin pack offers white (Mâcon-Lugny Saint-Pierre 2009) and red (Pinot Noir Bourgogne 2009). As they both pair well with the Yuletide bird, it’s perfect for Christmas dinner. Ponce notes: “The barely-oaked Mâcon provides a yin-yang of juicy fruit and crisp acidity, and the Bourgogne delivers ripe summer berries sprinkled with cracked pepper. Now that the inferior 2010s are hitting the shelves, it’s time to camp out under the mistletoe with these fine 2009 Burgundies.”

friday december 2, 2011 | the hamilton spectator

old sam demerara rum
LCBO No. 256180; $25.95

Dan Kislenko

What a delight. Although the component rums are from Guyana, home of the original Demerara, this was aged, blended and bottled in Newfoundland. The youngest elements spend a full two years in barrel and some parts are as much as 12 years old. Old Sam is a very dark, rich and mellow rum that has a definite buttery edge to it and offers flavours of fruitcake, tangerine, molasses, figs and chocolate.

december 1 – 8, 2011 | vol 31 no 14 | now magazine

bouchard pere & Fils 2-bottle gift pack
LCBO No. 253682; $32.95 on sale for $29.95 until January 1^st

Graham Duncan
Drink Up

WHAT: Bouchard Père & Fils 2 bottle Gift Pack (red and white)
WHERE: Burgundy, France
WHY: Unless you’re a home-crafting maniac, when you wrap up a bottle of wine, it always looks like a bottle of wine. So give them a box. They’ll never guess. A Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay from Burgundy, one of the world’s definitive fine wine regions, both are balanced, restrained, enjoyable renditions of their respective styles, and both pair well with a large festive bird. Convenient that.

Find Stores

 holiday 2011 | food & Drink Magazine

El Dorado 15 year old special reserve rum
LCBO No. 705418; $59.25

 wednesday, november 2, 2011 | The grid TO

Bouchard père & Fils ‘la vignée’ pinot noir
LCBO No. 605667; $16.95

Food & Drink

Take advantage of affordable, entry-level Burgundies from the heralded 2009 vintage while you can. Pair with the Burgundian staple coq au vin. Ponce notes: “An aroma of ripe berries, earthy terroir and firm acidity, this red gives off more polish than Winston Churchill’s dome. But while it’s approachable now, grippy mouth-coating tannins suggest this bulldog needs a few years in the cellar.”

wednesday, october 26, 2011 | The toronto star

beronia tempranillo 2007
LCBO no. 243055; $11.95

Gord Stimmell
Gord on Grapes
 

“Fabulous hidden values sleeping on shelves”

This new general listing is a superb red. It’s not a heavyweight, but elegant and poised. Minty black cherry, smoke, sandalwood, cola, coconut and mahogany aromas. The mellow minty flavours show vanilla, coconut, cola, red currants and plum with a sandalwood finish. Food suggestion: Lamb kebabs.

Rating: 90

saturday, october 15, 2011 | the globe and mail

La tierra de jonata 2007
Vintages no. 221150; $84.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wine & Spirits

Sangiovese from California tends to be more miss than hit and is usually more expensive than a better Chianti or Vino Nobile. That’s why sangiovese acreage in the state has declined. But what a hit this is from the star producer Jonata, owned by the same two wealthy partners who control Napa Valley’s Screaming Eagle. Rich and packed with sweet cherry, it keeps serving up layers of exciting flavour, from spice to cedar to a note reminiscent of roast pork. There’s also a light dusting of tannins that suggest it could cellar well for up to a decade.

Rating: 93/100

november 2011 | toronto life

monte antico 2007
vintages no. 69377; $15.95

David Lawrason
Food & Drink

“Under the Tuscan Sun”

With a rare (for Italy) screw-cap, plus merlot and cab blended in, this red is modern in design but old-school Chianti at heart. It’s light-to medium bodied, fresh and savoury, with flavours of blackcurrant, spicy clove, vanilla and mocha. Some sinew and greenness on the finish.

Rating: 87 points

August 18-25, 2011 | VOL 30 NO 51 | NOW magazine

El Dorado 5 year old rum
LCBO No. 894014; $24.80

Graham Duncan
Drink Up

WHAT: El Dorado 5 Years Old Rum
WHERE: Demerara, Guyana
WHY: When the Drink Up South Pacific Cultural Studies Group embarks upon some field research, that can only mean one thing – tiki party! And that, in turn, means rum. You want something with a little age for depth of flavour, but no need to blow the bank on the top-shelfers. El Dorado’s notes of banana, toffee and a tropical fruit tinge (passion fruit? guava?) make this a solid pick at the price. Even works as a straight-up sipper.

Rating: 4 N’s (out of 5)

saturday august 6, 2011 | The national post

William fevre Chablis 1er Cru 2008
Vintages No. 169805; $29.95

Margaret Swaine
Wine Picks

There’s nothing like the classic, minerally, dry chardonnay of France’s Chablis region to salve thirst during a heat wave. This version from the well-respected William Fèvre has it all. It has a lovely mineral bouquet with a dry green apple, citrus flavour. Vibrant acidity and length refreshes and stimulates the palate. Enjoy with fish, chicken or oysters.

july 2011 | toronto life

Alvaro Palacios 2008 Camins del Priorat
vintages no. 216291; $21.95

David Lawrason
Food & Drink

This classy, affordable blend of garnacha and cariñena crafted by Alvaro Palacios, Spain’s leading winemaker, is a complex, elegant compote of black raspberry with subtle wood spice, vanilla, leather and granitic minerality on the finish. Try it with pork tenderloin or chicken thighs.

Rating: 90 points

saturday, may 14, 2011 | the globe and mail

Old pulteney 12 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
LCBO No. 515346; $79.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

During my university years, cash flow was tighter than the waist of my Calvin Klein jeans. Remember those Brooke Shields ads where she boasts that nothing comes between her and her Calvins? I fell for it because I had fallen for her. But like most poor souls, I would regularly manage to scrape up enough to indulge in small luxuries. Back then it was blended Scotch rather than the premium single malts I favour today. My go-to brand was Catto’s, not because it was great but because it was smooth and cheap. I can’t recall what I was forking out then but today it sells for about $35. Not bad. Inver House Distillers, the company behind Catto’s, also makes a single malt, Old Pulteney. While not cheap, it’s in the good-value range for a premium, robust Scotch. Malty and spicy, it shows a nicely rounded profile, with hints of chocolate, coffee, vanilla and fresh sea air. The finish is smooth yet spicy, not unlike the young Brooke Shields in those Calvin ads.

Rating: 91/100

saturday, march 26, 2011 | the globe and mail

The paring pinot noir 2008
Vintages No. 218958; $32.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

Big for a pinot, this red from the Santa Rita hills is decidedly New World in style, with forward fruit hinting at plum jam, chocolate and raspberry. A creamy texture gets lift from crisp acidity and subtle astringency in the fine-grained tannins. My pairing for this Pairing: seared duck breast.

Rating: 90/100

saturday, march 19, 2011 | the globe and mail

Villa ponciago beaujolais villages 2009
Vintages No. 207449; $15.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

From the near-perfect 2009 growing season in Beaujolais, it delivers the essence of the gamay grape. Light, chewy, cherry-like and floral, it’s exceedingly fresh and almost too young. A year in the cellar could add to the charm. Incidentally, the Ponciago estate was taken over in 2008 by the Henriot family, which owns the respected Burgundy labels Bouchard Père et Fils and William Fèvre. This is a red that would pair well with fish, pork and lots of vegetarian fare.

Rating: 89/100

saturday, march 19, 2011 | the globe and mail

Jonata Todos 2006
Vintages No. 218941; $59.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

A blend of syrah, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, petit verdot, cabernet franc and viognier, this is an impressive mouthful. Weighing in at 15.2-per-cent alcohol, not uncommon with big reds from Santa Ynez, it’s lavish but well structured. There’s concentrated fruit here, but it unfolds with savoury layers. For me, it brought to mind roast beef with chocolate sauce, with good acid and spice on the back end and integrated tannins. It should cellar well for a decade. Serve it with beef, duck or game.

Rating: 94/100

saturday, march 19, 2011 | the globe and mail

jonata el corazon 2005
Vintages No. 218917; $59.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

Essentially the same wine as above (Jonata Todos), which changed its name with the 2006 vintage, this offering contains merlot and sauvignon blanc instead of cabernet franc and viognier. More tannic and angular than the Todos, it shows a charred, espresso quality along with spice on the finish. Serve it with beef or lamb.

Rating: 93/100

saturday march 19, 2011 | The national post

the paring pinot noir 2008
Vintages No. 218958; $32.95

Margaret Swaine
Wine Picks

The owners of Napa’s Screaming Eagle vineyard launched 101 Wine Company (Jonata) in the Santa Ynez Valley -The Paring wines are made from vines not yet ready for the Jonata label. This mediumfull bodied red is pure California pinot. Ripe with cherry-berry fruit and rounded on the palate, it’s fairly intense but balanced by nice acidity.

 saturday, march 19, 2011 | the globe and mail

Ojai Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah 2005
Vintages No. 104315; $47.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

From Santa Barbara County, specifically Santa Maria Valley, it walks like a classic syrah from France’s northern Rhône Valley. Dark fruit and a hint of licorice are delivered on a seamless frame, with a subtle whiff of bacon. Chunky and satisfying. Serve it with hearty stews.

Rating: 92/100

Saturday, february 19, 2011 | the globe and mail

codorniu pinot noir rose brut cava
vintages no. 665372; $16.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

Saturday, january 29, 2011 | The Globe and Mail

Sartori l’appassito rosso 2008
vintages No. 193607; $18.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

Unusually herbal for a “baby Amarone,” showing a seamless, silky texture, juicy berries, chocolate and pleasantly bitter finish. Serve it with cheese or roast pork.

Rating: 87/100

saturday, january 22, 2011 | The national post

sartori l’appassito rosso 2008
vintages No. 193607; $18.95

Margaret Swaine
Spirits Picks

This Veneto red is made in the appassimento style of partially drying the grapes prior to fermentation, thus concentrating flavours. A blend of corvina and molinara grapes with cabernet sauvignon and merlot, it’s medium-full bodied with supple tannins. Full of tangy berry flavours with hints of raisin and spice, it’s a delicious red to have with quail, duck or fried liver.

sunday, january 16, 2011 | the sunday sun

Monte Antico 2007
Vintages No. 69377; $14.95

Christopher Waters
Waters & Wine

“In praise of appetizing Italian reds”

A blend of Sangiovese with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this has a high-toned fragrance that calls to mind potpourri. Good concentrated fruit, plenty of complexity and nicely balanced structure makes this a winning match for a wide range of dishes.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

friday, december 31, 2010 | The national post

Hine rare vsop
LCBO No. 356857; $83.25

Margaret Swaine
Spirits Picks

“Celebrate another year under your belt with a congratulatory dram of these ultra-smooth soulful winter sippers”

Hine cognac style is all about delicacy and elegance. The reasonably priced VSOP, a blend of over 25 cognacs from the revered Petite and Grande Champagne districts, delivers all that and more. Deep amber in hue, it’s fruity at first, tropical even; then spiced and perfumed with sophisticated elegance. Subtle and refined.

saturday, december 18, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

El dorado 25 year old rum
LCBO No. 185256; $359

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

Just 75 six-bottle cases of this glorious nectar were allocated to Ontario. It’s the top dark rum from Demerara Distillers and may impress even those with an aversion to lesser rums. Dark amber, almost mahogany in colour, it has a syrupy, velvety texture and tastes like chocolate and caramel studded with raisins and doused in oloroso sherry. Sip it like great cognac.

Rating: 97/100

saturday, november 20, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

raimat abadia crianza 2007
Vintages No. 935460; $14.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

“There’s fun to be had in hunting for wine bargains”

Did they squeeze this from maraschino cherries? Almost tastes like it. It’s delectably juicy, with secondary notes of vanilla, herbs and gentle spice. A great value you should drink now.

Rating: 89/100

saturday, november 6, 2010 | The national post

herencia remondo la montesa 2007
Vintages No. 674572; $18.95

Margaret Swaine
Wine Picks

“The wines of Alvaro Palacios are consistent winners in my books. He revived the family winery Herencia Remondo by reducing yields and polishing production techniques. This largely garnacha and tempranillo blend is a classic. Medium-full bodied, with smooth well-knit tannins, it has harmonious flavours of vanilla, cloves and ripe blackberry”.

saturday, november 6, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

herencia remondo la montesa 2007
Vintages No. 674572; $18.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

“This is a good-value red Rioja from esteemed winemaker Alvaro Palacios, who is famous for one of Spain’s iconic reds, l’Ermita. The wine is full-bodied and liqueur-like in depth, with prune character reminiscent of Tawny Port backed up by clove and herbs. Good for herb-flavoured roasts.”

Rating: 89/100

saturday october  9, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

white owl whisky
lcbo No. 194878; $39.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

“From Highwood Distillers in High River, Alta., this is one very unusual whisky. It’s perfectly clear, like vodka or gin. All whiskies get their typically amber hue from wood aging. The difference here is in the carbon filtration process, which intentionally strips the wheat-based spirit of its colour. Designed to tap consumer thirst for clear booze, it’s relatively light and deliciously mellow, showing notes of butterscotch and anise, with less of the spice associated with many whiskies. Think of it as whisky-flavoured vodka, only more affordable than many superpremium flavoured vodkas.”

Rating: 91/100

saturday september 25, 2010 | Toronto star

beronia reserva 2006
vintages no. 50203; $17.95

Gord Stimmell
Gord on Grapes

“All the finer classical traits of a refined Rioja red show up here. Minty sandalwood, coconut and black cherry aromas lead into rich coconut, cherry stone and vanillabean flavours with an undercurrent of mocha. Very silky texture as well.”

Food suggestion: Beef pot roast

Rating: 90+

saturday september 25, 2010 | Toronto star

bollini pinot grigio 2009
Vintages No. 951319; $16.95

Gord Stimmell
Gord on Grapes

“Italian producers are churning out tons of wishy-washy pinot grigios to fuel the global fad. But here’s an impeccable one, with pure pear, lime, melon and apple aromas and lovely floral lime blossom and apple spice flavours. Simply delicious.”

Food suggestion: Baby bay scallops

Rating: 90

saturday september 4, 2010 | Toronto star

beronia elaboraciÓn especial tempranillo 2008
Vintages No. 723643; $15.95

Gord Stimmell
Gord on Grapes

“A Rioja red custom built for smokin’ barbecue cuisine. Aromas dominated by smoky black cherry and mocha and black plum. The coffeebeans resurface in the flavours, with tantalizing cedar box, coconut and black cherry layers.”

Food suggestion: Coffee-crusted steaks
Rating: 90+

September 2010 | post magazine

monte antico 2006
vintages No. 69377; $15.00

Tony Aspler
Wine

“Mission possible: five great wines for taste and value”

“Monte Antico Toscana 2006 is a Chianti (Sangiovese) with 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 percent Merlot blended in. The colour is dense purple with a nose of black cherries and currants. The fruit is very expressive and well structured; the tannins are soft and supple; and the finish savoury. A wine for tomato-based pastas or beef dishes.”

saturday july 17, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

william fevre chablis champs royaux 2008
lcbo No. 276436; $22.10

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

“Chablis, the northernmost district of Burgundy, is the spiritual home of crisp chardonnay. Many new fans of the grape are discovering that the variety, so often grown in hot climates to mouth-coating ripeness and then oaked till the wine tastes like vanilla extract, can in fact be crisp… look for the more widely available William Fèvre Champs Royaux 2008. It’s medium-bodied, and its flavour reminds me of sucking on a peach pit. It’s also got a slightly brittle, chalky texture and lively acidity. This is impressive chardonnay elegance for the money. Try it with salmon, pork chops or veal”.

saturday june 19, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

El dorado deluxe silver 6 Year old rum
LCBO No. 147892; $34.95

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

And if you’re a fan of the mojito cocktail, made with rum, sugar, mint, lime and soda water, I can’t think of a much finer base than El Dorado 6 Year Old Silver white rum from Demerara Distillers of Guyana ($34.95, No. 147892). Ontario was chosen as the global launch site for this unusual product. Though it gets its mellowness and complexity from maturation in oak casks, which tends to imparts a golden hue (that’s how you get amber rums), the colour here is perfectly clear. It’s charcoal filtered to remove the colour, leaving much of the complexity behind. Exceptionally creamy and smooth, the spirit displays subtle sweetness and a notes of toffee and vanilla. It’s not grappa, but I have a feeling my dad would enjoy a shot in his coffee on Father’s Day.

saturday june 5, 2010 | The national post

broker’s premium london dry gin
LCBO No. 605162; $24.90

Margaret Swaine
Spirits Picks

Broker’s Gin won the Ultimate Beverage Challenge’s first place Chairman’s Trophy in New York in March. Its distinctive juniper depth is perfect for an ultimate gin and tonic, but the bright forward bouqet of 10 botanicals and its flavoursome yet mellow palate make it a great martini base.

saturday june 5, 2010 | The national post

el dorado deluxe silver 6 year old rum
LCBO No. 147892; $34.95

Margaret Swaine
Spirits Picks

This blend of six-year-old dark rum distilled in the world’s last remaining wooden Coffey still is married with six-year-old rum from a French Savalle still – all from Guyana. The dark colour from the wood is double filtered out after blending, leaving pure, clear-coloured rum that’s ultra-creamy smooth, like vanilla ice cream. It’s so delicious you’ll be licking your glass.

saturday may 8, 2010 | The national post

bouchard pere & fils macon gamay 2008
LCBO No. 164582; $13.95

Margaret Swaine
Wine Picks

“Bouchard Pere, a venerable burgundy firm, is a good source for reliable wines from the region. Treat this light gamay red like a rose and serve slightly chilled. Vibrant and lively with fresh red currant and rhubarb flavours and whiffs of spice, earthiness and peppercorn, it’s cheerful, dry and crisp. Good with grilled or pan-fried pork or veal”.

saturday april 24, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

Suavia soave classico 2008

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

“The soave renaissance is evident in another wine released this week through Vintages, Suavia Soave Classico 2008 ($19.95, No. 165654). It’s lean and crisp like the old soaves you may recall from the 1970s, but with a silky, more opulent texture and a nuance of mineral carried through on the relatively long finish. Perfect for warm-weather sipping”.

March 13, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

Viña Zaco Tempranillo Rioja 2006

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

“The bold red, white and black modernist label of Viña Zaco Tempranillo Rioja 2006 ($14.95 in Ontario, No. 146209) might cause one to mistake it for a squeaky-clean Rioja that tastes more like California merlot. Not the case. Medium full-bodied, it’s ripe and succulent, with notes of dark-skinned fruit and tobacco and a fistfull of dry dirt, plus firm acidity, fine tannins and a hint of classic Rioja prune-like oxidation from more than three and a half years of age”. Pick of the Week – “The Deal”.

January 16, 2010 | The Globe and Mail

Bouchard Père & Fils Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus 2006

Beppi Crosariol
Wines & Spirits

“One sleeper in the expensive bunch is Bouchard Père & Fils Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus 2006 ($129.95, No. 43257). The 2005 vintage in Burgundy was generally better than 2006 for reds, but this well-known premier cru from one of the region’s best large producers shows impressive balance, with pure, perfectly ripe berry flavor and an undertone of beet root and tobacco. Very polished”. Pick of the Week – “The Splurge”.