Canadian Sommelier, On-Air (TV, radio) Wine & Spirits Somm, Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Today on CFRA News Talk Radio, CFRA Patricia Boal and Sommelier Matt Steeves showcased some great wines and spirits for gifting this season as well as enjoying with family and friends over the holidays. These options will suit every palate and budget, including white, red, and sparkling wines too.
December 2023 Excellent getting a sneak peek of the 2020 vintage release of one of the most exciting Pinot Noir producers in North America - Martin’s Lane from the Okanagan Valley, BC 🇨🇦🍷👌🏻 2020 vintage was as close to a perfect vintage for a Pinot producer as one could imagine, and given the high degree... Continue Reading →
The most memorable Orange Wine I tasted in 2023 was from an impressive Italian producer located in the renowned Collio DOC - Primosic's Ribolla Gialla Riserva 2019. This Orange Wine (long skin contact white wine) is a beautiful amber colour, thanks to four weeks of maceration extracting all that colour and flavour from the grape skins and seeds. This long skin contact also is responsible for much of the impressive texture complexity in this impressive wine. Super expressive aromatic profile with apricot, candied mandarin, tomato leaf, and balsamic/resin notes. Medium+ body, this super textured wine has beautiful refreshing mineral and stone fruit driven finish that highlights the rich Collio terroir that produces some of Italy's finest wines. This reserve-tier Orange Wine is super versatile making great pairings with Asian cuisine, Mediterranean dishes, or traditional holiday roasts. Enjoy around cellar temperature and drink over the next decade. Tasted May 2023. 94 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
1 Mill Road's newest offering in their small portfolio of premium wines is their 2022 Chardonnay from the East Kelowna Slopes sub-GI (Okanagan's newest sub-GI which became official in 2022). Clean, crisp, and elegant, the nose revels citrus, delicate pear, wet stone, subtle spice, and a hint of melon. The palate is bright and lively with an elegant creamy texture. Exceptionally well balanced, the finish is long and bright with delicate orchard fruit and minerality persisting. Enjoy with pan seared halibut with a lemon butter sauce. Tasted October 2023 92 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
Ottawa, Canada September 2023: Matt’s review: Renato Keber is a renowned winery located in northeastern Italy’s Collio DOC wine region along the Slovenian border. If you’re not familiar with this region or producer, take note as they produce some of the most complex and sought after white wines in Italy making them difficult to source... Continue Reading →
: Seductive and smooth, La Crema's Sonoma Coast Pinot shows ripe raspberry, plum, sweet spices and a hint of cedar on the nose. The palate highlights La Crema's softly textured style with layers of refreshing raspberry, dark cherry , and vanilla persisting on the finish. Enjoy this versatile Pinot with bacon-wrapped California Medjool dates, BBQ'd pork tenderloin with a cherry compote, beet salad with goat cheese, or lamb chops. All great pairings with this smooth and inviting Sonoma Coast Pinot. Tasted February 2023. 91 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
2018 Zymé Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico (barrel sample)– Big and bold, deeply coloured, the nose shows rich dried red and dark fruits, with fragrant balsamic and tobacco notes. Fresh with great intensity of flavours, the palate is loaded with delicious dried fruit, raspberry, Fragrant nose showing dark fruits, roasted beets, sweet spices, herbs. Full bodied, with lively youthful tannis, there’s a remarkable freshness with dried dark fruits and raspberry notes persisting. An great wine from an iconic producer, and a wine you’ll want to enjoy over the next few decades. Drink 2028-2048+. 94-95+ points.
2018 Domini Veneti Jago Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – From the renowned Valpolicella Cru vineyard, Jago, in the Classico region, Domini Veneti’s Jago Amarone shows impressive dried dark fruits, spice, balsamic and tobacco notes on the nose and repeating on the palate. Simply delicious, with a harmonious texture and balance, dried dark fruit, currants, and sweet spices persisting on the long finish. 93 points.
2018 Villa San Carlo Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG (barrel) – When tasted during the Anteprima tasting, it showed wonderfully. Very fresh, impressive complexity with spices, menthol, prunes, herbal, balsamic and dried cherry notes. Youthful fine-grained tannins, the palate shows refreshing bright cherry and dried fruits, some citrus and dark chocolate notes persisting too. An impressive preview of a wine that will be hitting markets in the near future, and one that will be enjoyed in the short, medium, and long term. Enjoy 2024-2035+. 93 points.
2018 San Cassiano Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – Deep colour with a midnight black/completely opaque core. The nose is inviting with dried dark fruits, plum, prunes, tobacco and herbs. Great texture, balance, and length in this youthful Amarone. Enjoy 2025-2035+. 93 points.
Quercus Vino 