4 Great Values to Get the Season Started

Happy spring!

If you're like us, you're beginning to emerge from your winter slumber, (finally) making plans to leave the house and have flung open the cellar/wine fridge/pantry door only to find that you're in need of some serious replenishing.

We're here to help! We've chosen two whites and two reds to kick off the season in style, allwell under $30 and three of the four $25 or less. A zesty New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that both deliver exceptional Californian quality, and a hidden gem from Argentina - great choices that are sure to delight at your next spring gathering.

Please make your requests as soon as possible to secure your favourites, and please allow us up to one business day to process your orders.

To place an order, please either reply to this email, give us a call or click on the "Order Here" button. To share with other like-minded wine lovers, please introduce us with the Refer-a-Friend button. We look forward to receiving your calls. 

For a comprehensive look at our portfolio of wines and wineries, please visit us on the web.

All the best for the season,



Bethann McLaren & Kiko Daudén

Private Client Sales

416-961-2294 x 223/233

STONEBURN

Sauvignon Blanc 2023

$22.99 per 750ml bottle, cases of 12

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is beloved the world over for its mix of vibrant freshness and full-flavoured aromatic profile, perfect for pairing with the lighter fare of the warmer months. Stoneburn traces their roots to 1989, when an old riverbed in Marlborough was planted to Sauvignon Blanc just before worldwide demand for the variety skyrocketed over the next decade.

Since their inception, Stoneburn has kept a commitment to producing high-quality, textbook Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. With a classic profile featuring beautiful tropical fruits, lime zest, and lively acidity, you won't want to be caught outdoors on a warm spring day without a bottle!

"A small family winery in Blenheim from the Wairau Valley with vines planted in 1989. Burn could be from the Old English "bern" or "beorn," a warrior, or man of valour. Here is a Sauvignon Blanc of such ilk. Full of tropical fruit in the guava to passion fruit range, citrus, acids, texture and length. A truly flavourful wine with length and fine bitters. Drink 2024-2026."

91 points, Michael Godel, Wine Align, January 2024

GRAYSON CELLARS

Chardonnay 2022 

$23.99 per 750ml bottle, cases of 12

Amidst the vast world of Californian wine, Grayson Cellars is a rare find. Family owned and operated, Mike O'Connell and his team have always sought out exceptional vineyards across California's most famous winegrowing regions. Made in Napa Valley under the watchful eye of Larry Levin, former winemaker for Robert Mondavi, Quintessa, and other California icons, their mission has always been to deliver exceptional wines at an exceptionally fair price.

In December 2023, for the second year in a row, Grayson Chardonnay was chosen as the holiday wine at the White House(!), served to visitors, dignitaries, and heads of state at events throughout the season.

Grayson Chardonnay is classically ripe, but balanced by bright acidity. Showcasing California wine at a seemingly impossible price point, even Robert Parker himself took notice: "Winemaker Larry Levin is doing some remarkable work here, turning out wines that defy belief given their price points."

We couldn't agree more.

AMASS

Folly of the Beast Central Coast Pinot Noir 2021

$25.99 per 750ml bottle, cases of 12

Beginning with an online wine club in the United States, AMASS has found excellent vineyard sources, applied their whimsical and modern branding and has now taken the direct-to-consumer model (inter)national to pass on the savings to wine lovers everywhere.

The Central Coast is California's premium Pinot Noir-producing region, with a multitude of cooler sites perfectly suited to the variety. Expressive, elegant, and approachable, Folly of the Beast is a lovely companion for those seeking a premium expression of California Pinot at a fraction of the price. The 2021 vintage has just arrived, but here's a review of last year's release:

"Winemaker Ryan Zotovich makes a lot of this wine for national distribution, but does so in boutique ways, and it shows. Black cherry, herb and brown spice aromas kick off the nose, leading into a palate that's sprinkled with chalky tannins and loaded in red plum and orange rind flavors."

90 points (Editor's Choice), Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast, September 2022 (for the 2020 vintage)

VIÑA COBOS

Felino Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

$24.99 per 750ml bottle, cases of 12

California wine icon Paul Hobbs visited Argentina for the first time in 1988 and was struck by the incredible potential of the Mendoza region. After a decade of work revitalizing vineyards and lending his expertise to other winemakers, he launched Viña Cobos in 1998 with acclaim from both critics and aficionados alike following soon after. The Felino label was developed by Paul and Viña Cobos to build on their work and introduce the Mendoza terroir at unparalleled value.

While Malbec is Argentina's - and Viña Cobos' - calling card in the wine world, fewer wine lovers are as familiar with the Cabernet Sauvignon produced there. Paul has worked with some of the finest Cabernet vineyards in California for decades, so it's no surprise that he knows how to make exceptional wine with the variety in both hemispheres.

Food-friendly and a perfect wine for barbecues, we think you'll find the Felino Cabernet delivers drinking pleasure that rivals wines twice the price. James Suckling had this to say about last year's Felino Cabernet:

"Aromas of flowers, stems and currants. Medium-bodied with a soft, velvety texture and a long, beautiful finish. Fantastic value. Pure and focused. Drink now or hold."

94 points, James Suckling, May 2022 (for the 2021 vintage)