- 2021 Hillick & Hobbs Dry Riesling Estate Vineyard - USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake (2026-04-05)
Had this a couple of weeks ago. Don’t remember too much, except yellow flowers and fruits were dominant in this excellent, dry Riesling. It was a tough vintage, but this wine really displayed excellent intensity and balance. I really enjoyed this. (A-) - 2021 Tornatore Etna Rosso - Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC (2026-04-04)
I have had a few bottles of this, as I grabbed several on sale. It’s always a classic Etna Rosso, with cherry and raspberry on the nose and light to medium bodied palate, slight tannins and the tar/mineral note from Etna wines. Solid entry wine and good QPR. (A-) - 2022 Tornatore Etna Rosso - Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC (2026-03-28)
Had a couple of these over the last couple,of months and they both showed the same. A very good entry level Etna Rosso, with an elegant nose of cherries and petrichor and a medium bodied palate with the same flavours and slight tannins to give it structure. Well made and classic Etna Rossi here. (B+/A-) - 2021 Bachelder Chardonnay Foxcroft Nord Wismer Foxcroft Vineyard - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench VQA (2026-03-22)
From a very difficult vintage, this wine is light gold in colour. The nose has a mix of stonefruit notes and a hint of oak. The medium bodied palate doesn't have the intensity or concentration of better vintages, but this wine still delivers a fairly rich but honed mix of fruit and acid; there are more stonefruit flavours, butterscotch and cashews on the balanced, slightly oily palate. Drinking well now, I would drink this wine in the relatively short term (3-5 years). (A-) - 2021 Thirty Bench Riesling Small Lot Wood Post Vineyard - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA (2026-03-12)
Another very nice riesling from Hidden Bench from the very tricky 2021 vintage. They obviously worked hard to create these 2021 rieslings. This wine follows the other two single vineyard rieslings, in that they tend to be around 10-11% alcohol, high acidity, minerality, and an overall just slightly dry to slightly off dry finish. This wine also has a slightly oily texture to wine - in a good way, and perhaps partly a reflection of the old vines - and provides a range of mainly stone fruit type flavours (pears, apple, peaches) with a bit of citrus fruits too. Great intensity and balance; its a lovely young riesling. (A-) - 2016 Undurraga Cabernet Sauvignon T.H. [Terroir Hunter] - Chile, Maule Valley, Cauquenes (2026-03-07)
This has really improved in the last three years. The harsh tannins have subsided. This was a concentrated, fruit forward, delicious cabernet, with lots of black fruits and a hint of herbs as well. More balanced now, and should have a long life, but this was my last bottle. Impressive cab. (A-) - 2019 Blue Mountain Brut (Gold Label) - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley (2026-03-05)
I left this wine (2019 vintage, disgorged in 2022) in the cellar for about 3-4 years, and it has improved. It's a bit more rich now, a little less acidic and has a hint of brioche/toast flavours. It is drinking well now, but should last a few years easy. A solid entry level sparkling from one of the Okanagan's best producers. (A-) - 2019 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Moonlight Race - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (2026-02-22)
I tried this over a week ago, so only very hazy notes. Lovely cherry cordial nose. Medium bodied, and the first taste I thought it was ‘sappy’. I guess it was the concentrated cherry notes - almost liqueur like - with good acidity that gave it a sappy flavour. Medium to full bodied, fruit forward but a very interesting and unique Pinot from Central Otago. Youthful but ready to drink too, but I’d hold it for a few years if I had more. (A-) - 2020 Thirty Bench Riesling Small Lot Steel Post Vineyard - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA (2026-02-17)
Light gold in colour, and the very nice nose has minerality and citrus notes.. Very dry on the medium bodied palate, with great intensity from the acidity and minerality. A mix of lime, tangerine, pear and apple are there, but its the lovely minerality, acidity and balance which make an impression. An impressive dry riesling from a great vintage that is drinking well now but will last quite a while. (A-) - 2010 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (2026-01-29)
I tried this a couple of days ago and thought it was a solid cabernet. The oak was dialed back compared to earlier bottles, and the acid levels were still low, but a blast of black fruits (and not much else) were tasty. A nice silky texture as well. (B+/A-) - 2018 Bodegas Peique Bierzo Ramón Valle - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo (2026-01-21)
Hazy notes from a few days ago. Medium in colour and palate. Rather gamay-like, with red fruits at the fore, and the tannins I had in an earlier bottle have dissapated. Nice but not too memorable. (B+) - 2019 Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling - USA, New York, Finger Lakes (2026-01-16)
This was an outstanding dry riesling. One of my favorite Finger Lakes producers. Intense lime, lemon and yellow fruit (apple, pear and pineapple), a slight herbal note, and considerable minerality. Nice ripe acidity too. Drinking well now but no rush. Good intensity and balance, great QPR. (A-) - 2018 Yannick Amirault Bourgueil Le Grand Clos - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil (2026-01-13)
Hazy notes. Lots of red fruits on the light to medium bodied palate - cherries, raspberries. Probably a bit early to open still but it was a solid Cabernet franc. Probably better with food now. (B+/A-)