L'Acadie Vineyards, Nova Scotia

Hey Fellow Winos

I was fortunate enough to head to Nova Scotia wine country with a fellow new CAPS certified Sommelier, Billy. We spent 3 days, 2 nights exploring what N.S. wine country had to offer and trust me, we were both impressed. 

We flew to Halifax from Toronto, rented a car and drove one-hour north-west to Wolfville. This was in the heart of the Gaspereau Valley which is a subregion of the much larger Annapolis Valley. 

It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy. What makes the Annapolis valley special is its ability to warm up and grow fruit, specifically grapes. Most of the wineries are located at the north-east tip of the valley on the Minas Basin, a part of the Bay of Fundy. This basin helps to bring in moderating air which helps to keep things cool on hot days and warm on cool nights. 

Did you know Nova Scotia has a long and rich tradition for growing grapes for wine dating back to the 1600s and was one of the first areas to cultivate grapes in North America? 

That being said, let's focus in on L'Acadie Vineyards. 

Bruce Ewert and his Nova Scotian-born wife Pauline Scott moved their young family to Nova Scotia in 2004 and founded L’Acadie Vineyards. Bruce has over 25 years of experience in winemaking; managerial and hands-on roles at a variety of small and large wineries in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, California and Australia, and it shows. The fun thing about L'Acadie Vineyards is they were the first to produce a sparkling wine, the first fully certified organic vineyard in N.S. and the winery is geothermal. 

Anything else I'm missing? 

We tasted their L'Acadie which is a hybrid grape that can withstand the cool growing season that Nova Scotia provides. This white wine was rather fresh, crisp and balanced with decent minerality and citrus notes which would pair well with local dishes like mussels, scallops or lobster. 

Next the rose, a blend of two hybrids Marechal Foch and L'Acaie which was fresh, vibrant and a tad crunchy. Perfect for a spring salad of arugula and fresh grilled prawns served on a patio. 

The 2016 Vintage Cuvee sparkling wine made from three grapes, L'cadie, Seyval and Chardonnay. This was really well balanced with 7 G/L dosage. It was dry enough to satisfy the extra brut crowd and yet approachable for the inexperienced sparkling wine drinker, well done. Classic brioche notes good stone fruit, good minerality and even some of that slight ocean salinity, excellent. I've had the Brut Reserve before which is one step up from their vintage Cuvee and trust me, you should try it! 

The 2016 Rose Brut made from 100% Marechal Foch and much like their still Rose, crisp, fresh, a tad crunchy but perfect for a spring salad. Personally, I'm not dying for Marechal Foch but that's just me as many do love it. I guess I'm just a stickler for those Vitis Vinifera grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and not these hybrids. 

The last we tried was their 2015 Passito made from Marechal Foch and Leon Millot which was interesting, to say the least. The appassimento method is a style from Veneto Italy of drying grapes on racks after you have picked them to improve concentration. The grapes slowly start to shrivel as water leaves the grape but the sugar remains the same so when you ferment you have a much more concentrated liquid which can really help enrich a wine. This is how they make their powerful "Alchemy" brand wine. 

They then pour the juice from the two hybrids for their Passito wine over the skins left over from their Alchemy production to help concentrate this wine. The Passito wine was aged in American oak to pack an extra little punch.

We were very lucky to check out their facility where they hand riddle sparkling wine done in a boutique, low quantity style. I'd certainly recommend their Vintage Cuvee and Brut Prestige which at about 7G/L and 2G/L respectively, they offer some tremendous quality.  

This is what is so beautiful about Nova Scotia wine county and yet slightly tragic. Its current tragedy is its very cool climate which prevents them from growing warmer climate varietals well. The beautiful part, however, is that their same cool climate is what will help place itself on the international map in the future. With alcohol levels and ripeness surging higher and higher due to a warming climate these pockets of cool climate viticulture will surely shine brightly into the future. 

For now, Bubbles remain king but I think you'll start to see single varietal Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and even bigger reds like Cabernet Franc in the future as winemakers slowly fade out these hyrdbrids. 

We also had a chance to make it to Blomidon Provincial Park at low tide, simply stunning. I highly recommend you check it out! 

Where else can you drink world-class locally grown sparkling wine, walk on Mars and then eat some of the freshest seafood you've ever had? 

Why Nova Scotia Wine Country of course! 

Happy Sipping,

Ryan Sullivan 

Top Picks - Vintages Release June 23rd

Hey Fellow Winos 

I've got a few new picks I think you'll love. 

You may be wondering how I choose my wine? Well, it starts with quality producers using quality grapes from a quality region creating a quality product. Then, I try and find value by picking Louis Vuitton quality for the price of Coach. Check out these premium wines at pretty reasonable prices, all things considered. 

2015 Charles Baker, Piccone Vineyard Riesling, Vinmount Ridge, Niagara Escarpment, Canada at $37.20 
Niagara has a cool growing climate, perfect for varietals like Riesling. Is there more affordable Riesling, of course, is there better in this price point, hardly! I’ve had the pleasure of sipping Charles Baker before and it’s like the Louvre in Paris or the Guggenheim in NYC, impressive in an artistic and structural perspective. Lime zest, white peach fuzz, granny smith apple, chamomile wafting out of the glass but with acid that can cut through anything from Pork Belly to even some fried chicken. Chill, swirl, sip. Repeat.

2015 Fabre Montmayou Reserva Cabernet Franc, Mendoza, Argentina at $19.95 

Cabernet Franc, known for its black fruit notes such as blackberry and black cherry with a green bell pepper/jalapeño/sage green note. Traditionally used in Bordeaux blends, specifically from the right bank, as well as in Chinon, Loire Valley. Grown here in Ontario, I’m intrigued by this Cabernet Franc from Mendoza. It’s fun because unlike France and Ontario, this will be warm climate Cabernet Franc. Rich juicy black fruit, soft and plush with that typical green note which should match well with burgers topped with salsa, cilantro being key. Deluxe beef filled Nachos? Wine not.  

2013 Undurraga T.H. Syrah, DO Leyda Valley, Chile at $24.95

If you were to ask what I would drink, simply put, stuff like this! Syrah, matured in 500L large old French barrels for 12 months (10% new oak) offering a more subtle and oxidized style of oak influence rather than a vanilla bomb and baking spice overdose that small new oak can sometimes punch into a wine. This wine will seem more natural, more terroir focused, almost as if you can see the rocks, the dirt, the faint salty air from the southern Pacific gently caressing the grapes just from tasting it. Dark fruit, black pepper, olive brine umami richness, superb. I would pair this with two nice lightly peppered steaks on the grill, salsa verde and some early summer grilled greens. Decant 30 minutes or more, serve 18C. 

2015 Chateau Du Chatelard Cuvee Les Vieux Granits, Fleurie, Beaujolais, France at $23.95 

If you’ve ever read my blog you know I’m quite passionate about my Cru Level Beaujolais. Not the entry Beaujolais Nouveau stuff that tastes like cotton candy, bubble-gum and strawberry juice at $9 a bottle, but a big boy and big girl Beaujolais. Fleurie, one of the ten crus’ in Beaujolais is considered close to the top in quality. This wine should float on your palate and sting like a bee especially from the warm 2015 vintage. Not exactly, but sounds fun to say. This wine should be both floral and elegant yet with some modest depth below that. It’s a little warm outside for classic Burgundy dishes like Coq Au Vin or Beef Bourgogne so go with grilled burgers, excellent! Decant 30 minutes, serve 16C. 

2013 Elvio Cogno Cascina Nuova, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy at $49.95

If you want to be my friend, pour me some Cru level Beaujolais from Moulin a Vent. If you want to sleep with me, pour me some Barolo. Now that we have established my standards, let's discuss the wine. 100% Nebbiolo from Barolo, in Piedmont Northern Italy, this wine really does punch and caress at the same time. I love the decaying rose petals, dry red cherry and earthy, smokey tar notes all meshing together in harmony. I find a well-made Barolo enters your palate smoothly until the seductive tannin and acid let you know this wine means business. If burgundy grew a backbone, would it be Barolo? Bordeaux light? Burgundy with a knife? Pair with a special night in, charcuterie and simple Insalata to start with a fabulous gnocchi or ragu with freshly shaved truffle on top. If that doesn’t get your mojo going then I suggest couples counselling. Just think of this as ½ priced therapy. Decant at least 30 minutes into 1 hour, serve 18C. 

I only recommend wine I would personally drink and honestly, I'd gladly sip each of these bottles and that's what makes these Ryans Wine Picks. 

Happy Sipping,

Ryan....the guy behind Ryan's Wine Picks. 

Top 4 - LCBO Vintages Release Saturday, April 28th

Hey, fellow wino’s I’ve chosen 4 terrific wines that you can pick up in store or order online today, and I suggest you give at least one of these a try. 

• 2016 Hidden Bench Estate Riesling, Niagara Escarpment, Canada at $23.95 “Hidden Bench places the purity of the fruit and the clarity of the expression of place first and foremost. To this end, they employ a non-interventionist approach to their winemaking, which includes the use of geothermal cooling and heating and natural yeasts. Since 2015/2016, the majority of the wines crafted at Hidden Bench, including this Riesling, are vegan-friendly and certified organic by Pro-Cert. Look for a zesty, mineral-rich wine with bright citrus, peach, and apple fruit.” Pair with Choucroute Garnie. 

• 2012 Château-Thébaud,Melon de Bourgogne,“Muscadet” Loire Valley, France at $24.95 “A smoky character on the nose, magnified by notes of white peach and salty minerals with intriguing hints of almond paste and white flowers. It has a richly textured, beautifully integrated palate with a rewarding zip of lychee and stone fruit. There is a lifted acid freshness with a satisfying, lingering finish; a very precise wine.” Pair with freshly shucked oysters or other shellfish. 

• 2014 Xanadu Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia at $39.95 “Predominantly estate-grown on the Stevens Road and Lagan Vineyards, Gingin clone, hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed, and wild yeast-fermented in French oak (21% new), matured and stirred for 9 months. There is an inevitability about the very high quality of the Xanadu wines these days; thus this very intense and powerful, yet perfectly delineated and balanced wine is no surprise, nor is its extreme length.” Perfect for perhaps a Sunday roasted chicken. 

• 2013 Ramirez de la Piscina Crianza,Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain at $16.95 “Fresh and vibrant forest leaves and ripe berry fruits. The palate has a smooth, elegant and plush texture with cassis and black cherry fruit flavours.” Perfect for BBQ meats from hamburgers to steak.  

Happy Sipping, 

Ryan Sullivan 

4 wines under $20 - Vintages Release Saturday April14th

Hey Fellow Wino's

Spring is here...ok who are we kidding, it's rainy, cool and miserable outside with a chance of freezing rain over the next several days.

Miserable weather = Indoor dinner parties, if possible, by the fireplace with lots of wine.

2015 Viognier, I.G.P. Pays d'Oc (South of France) at $14.95 
This pleasantly floral wine will offer a rich smooth honeycomb/waxy texture to its ripe peaches, mango and applesauce flavors. You should chill and pair with taco's, pulled pork sandwiches or if I was pairing this, Hawaiian pizza! Viognier is famous from Condrieu in the Northern Rhone, and while this wine will not be as complex and well structured, it's great Taco/Pizza wine at a great price!

#SommTrick = The ripe tropical fruit notes in the wine will match, wait for it, tropical fruit.

2015 Syrah, South of France at $17.95

Syrah or Shiraz, same thing! Well, Shiraz is the term the Aussie's use down-under for their peppered fruit forward wines and the French use the term Syrah, more earth and harmonized fruit with pepper flavors. Shiraz is a loud motorcycle on a quiet neighborhood street and Syrah is like a Porsche on the old streets of Montreal...somehow it just works better. 97% Syrah, 3% Grenache with half aged in large concrete eggs and the other half in French barrels for 9 months. This is not Cote Rotie or Hermitage from the Northern Rhone (best place for Syrah), but for the price, I say turn up the BBQ, toss on some ribs and slurp up some warmth in a glass.

#SommTrick the pepper nuances of the Syrah grape will match the bold, spicy BBQ sauce. 

2015 Fleurie, Beaujolais at $19.95

Fleurie is one the 10 Cru's of Beaujolais and with this being from the legendary 2015 vintage, surely a great deal. What separates basic Beaujolais from one of the 10 Cru's (10 plots of land) is that these wines are more structured (acid, alcohol, body)  and age-worthy than simple generic level Beaujolais. This wine made from the Gamay grape should be violet colored with notes of violets, ripe red fruit and possibly some dark fruit as well. I would pair this with Coq Au Vin or Boeuf Bourguignon and a fireplace, or at a minimum, the fireplace channel on Netflix. 

#SommTrick - Not all red wines should be served at "room temperature" 15C-18C. This wine could be served closer to 15C i.e. a tinge of cool. Side Rant - never serve any wine at 21C or whatever your home temperature is! #15MinFridge 

2015 Barbera d'Asti, Piedmont at $19.95

Piedmont Italy is home to Barolo and Barbaresco, legendary, amazing, long-lived seductive and tannic beautiful wines that can haunt your soul for days. The problem is that those wines come with a price, which leads most people who live in Piedmont to drink Barbera, this one from the town of Asti.  Is this the finest example, no, but Barbera to me is not a show horse, it's a workhorse, as it is the most widely planted varietal in Piedmont. Perfect for a rich northern Italian stew, roast, pasta or pizza...but not a Bianco pizza, surely! 

#SommTrick - 2015 was a hot vintage, so try and see if you can taste the slightly lowered acid in the wine and riper/overripe fruit notes such as plum, soft blackberry, blueberry. 

Browse some classic recipes like Coq Au Vin and plan a romantic meal with you and a loved one over a nice bottle of wine. 

Happy Sipping 

Ryan