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Top Values at the LCBO (September 2020)
by Steve Thurlow There is a bumper batch of $8 and $9 whites and reds this month to tell you about. I have been tasting new vintages of my favourites; some of which are better then the last vintage and so have joined the Top50 Best Values List. There are lots of interesting discounts this […] More
If I Could Buy Only One – September 5th VINTAGES Release
Back by popular demand: We asked the writers, “If you could buy only one wine from this release, which one would it be and why?”. David Lawrason – Ferraton Père & Fils La Matinière Crozes Hermitage 2017, Rhône Valley, France $26.95, Family Wine Merchants There were a handful of wines in the Sept 5 release […] More
Buyers’ Guide to VINTAGES September 5th, 2020
A Bushel of Good Buys for The First Real Fall Weekend By David Lawrason with Picks from Sara, Michael and John The week after Labour Day week is always one of the most intense and stressful of the year, all amplified here in 2020 of course. So, I want to keep this newsletter almost completely […] More
National Wine Awards of Canada
Discover Canada's best wines! In 2016, 22 judges tasted 1,535 wines from 230 wineries across the country to identify Canada's top wines.
View Award-Winning Wines
World Wine Awards of Canada
Seventeen judges tasted 1,000 wines in 21 categories in 2015 to find the world's best wines sold in Canada under $50.
View Award-Winning Wines
Meritage is pronounced Meh-rih-TIJ, rhyming with Heritage. This is a made-up word, registered as a US trademark, that wineries must pay to use on their wines. Back in 1989, wineries were all choosing names for their various blended wines, and it was getting hard to keep track of them all. An association was formed to try to define a "Bordeaux Blend" of grapes that was done on non-French soil. They had over 6,000 people submit choices for the name of this blend, and "Meritage" won. Just like Bordeaux, since they're made with the same grapes, Meritage wines tend to have a rich, full aroma. Depending on the particular blend, it can be blackberry, black cherry, spices, chocolate, and vanilla. Most Meritages have the Bordeaux signature flavours - cigar box, rich fruits, with a hefty feel. They're great with a steak, or with game meats - venison, pheasant etc.
