vintages no. 723643; $17.95 (in stores August 20)

A personal favourite this always sells out quickly, it is a unique wine that is simply full of flavour. What makes it unique is that it is barrel-fermented in new barrels of American oak with a high degree of toasting where it remains for nine months. While barrel fermentation is common for white wines it is unusual for reds and it gives the wine expressive and exuberant aromas of cocoa and mocha with hints of vanilla and dark fruit nuances.

“A spicy rich nose packed with expansive oak. This is a very attractive wine, and a real joy to find in this class. The palate is dominated by mouthfilling red and black fruits, and the finish is balanced, long and stylish. Score – Silver“. (International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2010)

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vintages no. 216291; $22.95 (in stores may 28)

Alvaro Palacios is one of the great personalities in the wine world. To quote Decanter Magazine Alvaro “is Spain’s most talked about winemaker… one of the defining personalities in Spanish wine today. In just 20 years, he has established a formidable reputation as a dynamic pioneer, generating global praise for his wines – in particular, those from the forgotten regions of Spain he has been so active in promoting”.

We are extremely pleased to have his Camins del Priorat making its debut in Vintages this Saturday. It is from one of Spain’s best regarded wine regions where the prices can be notoriously high, and the quality is fantastic. It’s a blend of 50% Garnacha. 40% Samsó (aka Cinsault). 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. For one of the most poetic descriptions of the wine, as only Alvaro can do, please click here. To read the full Decanter article please click here.

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Vintages No. 658534; $24.95(in stores saturday may 14)

Californian wines are on a roll in Ontario. They are now in the top sales position in Vintages, the premium wine section in Ontario’s Liquor Control Board stores, and with wines like our Artesa Reserve Merlot it is easy to see why. This is an exceptionally good wine at a terrific price.

2006 was a challenging vintage, a cool rainy spring delayed things a bit but by mid-June good weather returned and a heat spike in July helped the vines catch up. Seasonal weather returned in August through September allowing for moderately paced ripening. Challenges from the weather made Artesa’s careful vineyard management all the more important; careful leaf thinning to allow even ripening while maintaining enough of the canopy to prevent sunburn from the mid-summer heat. Their labour-intensive work paid off with beautifully ripened clusters at harvest with intense colour and flavour.

The healthy grapes were handpicked at night to preserve their colour and flavour. A long 15-day maceration to extract the right amount of colour, flavour and tannin was followed by fermentation and then ageing in small French oak barrels for 24 months.

The result is a wine with a velvety mouthfeel and lush, ripe fruit profile, this wine warms the palate with rich, saturated flavours of black cherry, crushed cranberry, dark plum and mocha. Notes of white pepper and baking spices persist in the glass, while the long, smooth finish beckons the taster to another sip of this elegant and delectably drinkable wine.

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LCBO No. 194878; $39.95

A new, clear, Canadian whisky. White Owl has all the flavour, body and kick you would expect in a premium whisky but is absolutely clear making it ideal for cocktails and mixed drinks.

Q & A with Highwood Distillers, makers of White Owl Whisky
How old is the whisky aged?
We use mostly 10 year old wheat grain and less mature rye grain for more of a bite and taste.

Why is it clear?
We triple filter it to remove the color, like high end vodkas and remove all impurities, and indigestible alcohols. We can’t give exact production information as the process and recipe is priority.

What are the benefits of clear whisky?
It is more mixable! As well as your favorite whisky mix you can now be creative and make Martinis (Apple White Whisky), Screwdrivers, Caesars, or cranberry juice are some of the many mixes you can enjoy. The taste is also cleaner, crisp, & a smoother taste with filtering.

It doesn’t smell like whisky?
What you smell in all whiskies is the flavoring that is allowed to be added to make whiskies palatable. By law you can add up to 9.09% additives & flavorings. Some of the most common additives are caramel coloring/flavoring, artificial flavors, sherry, and/or brandy. To White Owl we add none of these. The taste therefore is a softer rye flavor and smoother than premium vodka thanks to the 10 years of aging and filtering.

Is it moonshine?
No, moonshine is not aged or filtered and contains many impurities.

I am/know people who can’t drink rye?
They can drink ours as with triple filtering – “we clean the evil out”. This also helps in reducing the occurrence of hangovers.

What can I mix it with it?
Enjoy it as you normally like your rye cocktails, but now with White Whisky the drinks options are limitless.

consignment $23.95 (available by the 12-bottle case only)

“Finesse, elegance and above all a silky texture that cannot be found elsewhere.” Such are the historical qualities that long ago made Fleurie’s reputation for excellence. These qualities are sought by Villa Ponciago for Fleurie la Réserve.

An historic domain dating to 949AD the ambition at Villa Ponciago is to bring to life the great wines of the Fleurie Cru’s terroir: authentic wines that are both delicious and subtle. From old vines, an average of 30 years old, and small yields the grapes are given a cold maceration followed by a long fermentation (8-12 days) to allow the terroir aromas to emerge. 20 % to 30 % of the wine is aged in mature oak barrels (1 to 4-year-old barrel), to enrich the silky, velvety texture without sacrificing finesse. The remainder is matured for 5 months in small tanks to preserve freshness.

vintages no. 169797; $49.95

“Sexy aromas of red berries, licorice and leather lifted by a floral topnote. Silky-sweet, dense and sappy, with lovely definition and an intriguing earthy complexity. Finishes with late, building tannins.” Score – 90. (Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, March/April 2009)

vintages no. 675207; $21.95

This is one of our favourite wines; a little known grape (Mencia) from an emerging wine region (Bierzo) made by a passionate winemaker, Ricardo Perez Palacios, nephew of one of Spain’s best winemakers Alvaro Palacios.

“The entry-level 2008 Petalos del Bierzo is sourced from rented vineyards ranging in age from 40-90 years. It spends a few weeks in new French barriques followed by 6-10 months in seasoned oak. Purple in color with an alluring nose of lavender, incense, spice box, black cherry, and blueberry, on the palate it has excellent volume, intensity, and layered fruit. It has the structure to evolve for 1-2 years but can be approached now. It is an outstanding value and introduction to the Mencia grape.” Score – 90. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, April, 2010)

LCBO No. 147892; $34.95

White Rum has just been revolutionized! Demerara Distillers chose Ontario for the global debut of this new super premium white rum.

From the rich sugar plantations of Guyana comes this Deluxe 6 Year Old Silver White Rum. Aged in oak casks for 6 years and specially blended to achieve a smooth crisp taste the rum is carefully double charcoal filtered to gently remove its golden colour while leaving its flavour and complexity. This unique process results in a rum that is absolutely the smoothest most complex white rum made today.

El Dorado Deluxe 6 Year Old Silver is faintly sweet with traces of creaminess and butter toffee. It truly is revolutionary and will absolutely change the way you think of white rum. Whether used independently as a superb spirit, or as part of making that perfect cocktail, El Dorado Deluxe 6 Year Old Silveris distinguished by its mellow notes of vanilla and citrus. Distincly smooth with a long rich, complex finish.