Dark, Porter-like colour, with robust malty and dried fruit aromas lead the way for rich malty, lightly sweet plum cake flavours balanced by judicious bitterness on the finish. Heartwarming winter brew.
A good little Chardonnay for everyday drinking from California. The nose shows green apple, pear, citrus, vanilla and spice. It’s spicy in the mouth with a range of pear and citrus fruits and good vibrancy through the finish.
Burning Kiln is a new winery in Lake Erie's North Shore region specializing in appassimento wines (think Amarone), which are dried in old tobacco kilns. This rendition is a touch lighter and leans towards to the bell-pepper nature of the varietal. Fruitwise, there is plum, cassis and cherry. There is solid concentration, and it finishes soft and easy.
Expressive varietal character from grape that’s finding firm footing and budding fame in the Okanagan. Floral notes on nose, ripe sweet fruit on palate, supported by well-structured frame. Dry tannins linger on spicy finish. Serve with seared duck breast.
Sourced from 90-year-old vines from the Don Angelino estate in Medrano, Mendoza, this dense Malbec is threaded with sunbaked red fruits and leather, as well as fine dusty spices, and bound by sticky tannins. Though the word “oak” is on the label, and this indeed spent 10 months in wood, it's barely noticeable in this wine, lending some much-needed boning to the velveteen, ripe and concentrated palate.
Aromas of dark-roasted coffee and Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut Bar mark the nose of this milk stout from Ottawa’s Kichesippi Beer Company. The sip begins with dark chocolate moving to a sweet, creamy centre before finishing dry and roasty. The lush, creamy mouthfeel makes it a perfect pairing with dessert instead of coffee.
Notwithstanding the self-deprecating name, this one could give a few more illustrious Barolos and Barbarescos a run for their money. Opening with good varietal scents of violets, redcurrant, a touch of herb and a pinch of spice, the wine evolves into surprisingly rounded, spice-accented red-fruit flavours, finishing with a touch of dark chocolate and characteristic firm, dry tannic grip.