Welcome to the
first Lifestyler Wine Guide. Over the coming editions we’ll be building this section up to feature all
aspects of wine, from the terrior to the region, from the best buys to food pairing, from advice on wine
cellaring to the latest gadgets.
What is food without wine? Wine is an elixir, a potion, with depth, hidden flavours
waiting to be unravelled as you swill it around your mouth. Wine has a cornucopia of tastes that can pop at
unexpected moments, combine with others and leave an impression that can reside in the memory for years.
Wines are affected by varietal, by country, by winemakers, by terroir, by the climate, by the very earth the
vine first sprouts from.
It is this depth and range of influences in wine that we’ll be discovering in the Lifestyler Wine Guide.
Regional Spotlight:
France
Follow our guide to the finest French wines
The French
have the most diverse wine country in the world. From Alsace in the north, to Bordeaux in the west, to the
Jura in the east and Provence in the south, there is no country in the world that provides a more impressive
array of world-class wines. Whether you like big bold red wines, or the most delicate of Chardonnays, France
provides it all. The most important wine-producing regions are Bordeaux and Burgundy. The red grapes grown in
Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The five first growth
include many of the most famous names in the wine world: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild,
Margaux and Haut-Brion.
The predominant white grape grown is Sauvignon Blanc, with the most famous being Sauternes, a sweet wine
coveted by many a wine collector. Burgundy on the other hand is much more succinct; the grapes grown are
predominantly Pinot Noir for red wines and Chardonnay for white wines.
These wines
tend to be more drinkable without aging for long periods of time in the cellar. Monks in the Middle Ages took
the time to discover the areas in which each grape grew best, resulting in the classifications of Grand Cru,
Premier Cru, Village and Bourgogne. These classifications have largely been left intact today. Perhaps
the most sought-after wines in the world come from Burgundy. Romanée-Conti, for example, continues to be
one of the most expensive wines in the world to attain.
French wine
recommendations, in association with WineOnline
Name: Les Clos
Score: Best Wine Deals
Region: Corbières
Price: $15.95
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Merlot, Grenache, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon
Name: Barbabelle
Region: Costières de Nïmes
Price: $14.95
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Grenache, Syrah,
Carignan
Name: Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes
Score: 90-93 points — Outstanding
Region: Burgundy
Price: $174
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Pinot Noir
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code: LIFESTYLER
for free
delivery on orders over $100
Order before Dec. 20
for delivery by Christmas!
Varietal Focus:
Chardonnay
Why there is a Chardonnay lover in all of us
If red wines
were to be considered masculine and white wines feminine, then Chardonnay would certainly be considered the
queen of grapes.
Chardonnay is by far the most versatile white grape grown around the world, producing wines ranging from
simple unoaked wines, to the most complex and age-worthy of Grand Cru Burgundy whites. This amazing grape is
used to produce at least 50 per cent of the Champagne in the world, Blanc de Blanc being exclusively
Chardonnay and Blanc de Noir being blended with Pinot Noir. Chardonnay is used almost exclusively in the
production of Burgundian Crémant (sparkling wine produced in Burgundy). It is also used to make fantastic
full-bodied wines in California and often blended with Pinot Noir to produce astoundingly delicious sparkling
wines and Champagnes.
There is no
other grape that is used in so many ways to make so many different styles of wine that are as much beloved as
Chardonnay. If there is a wine lover in all of us, then there is certainly a Chardonnay lover in all of us.
It is up to us to discover which style works best for us, or whether we have an appreciation for more than
one — or maybe even most! The choice is up to you, but the most important thing is to make sure you explore
as many wines as you can in order to know just where your tastes lie. Is it that buttery Meursault from
Burgundy? Or the huge oaky Chardonnay from the Napa Valley?
Chardonnay
recommendations, in association with WineOnline
Name: Non-Oaked
Chardonnay, Henry of Pelham
Region: Niagara
Price: $12.95
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Chardonnay
Name: Chablis, Domaine Servin
Region: Chablis, Burgundy, France
Price: $27.95
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Chardonnay
Name: Puligny Montrachet, Louis Carillon
Region: Burgundy, France
Price: Contact for details
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Chardonnay
Use offer code: LIFESTYLER
for free
delivery on orders over $100
Order before Dec. 20
for delivery by Christmas!
Under
$20
Name: Syrah,
Les Jamelles
Score: Silver Medal/Best in Class
Region: Languedoc, France
Price: $14.95
Vintage: 2010
Grape: Syrah
“Opaque with dark, black/purple rim. Nose billows ripe plums with some dark cherry notes. Rich and full
with layers of developing flavours.”
Name: Carato, Erik Banti
Score: Best Buy
Region: Maremma, Italy
Price: $14.95
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah
“This silky smooth blend of Tuscan goodness is mostly Sangiovese with some Merlot and a touch of Syrah to
round things out. It has a bright red fruit flavour, light tannins and a smooth finish...”
Name: El Meson
Rioja Blanco, Bodegas El Meson
Region: Rioja, Spain
Price: $13.95
Vintage: 2010
Grape: Viura
“If you’re in search
of a unique, refreshing and outstanding-value white wine, this is it! On the palate, it’s light- to
medium-bodied, vibrant, and smooth with a rounded texture.”
Under $50
Name: Tawse
Estate Chardonnay, Tawse Winery
Score: 91 points
Region: Jordan, Ontario
Price: $34.95
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Chardonnay
“The nose is expressive, showing ripe apples, citrus fruit and nuances of stone fruit. On the palate, it is
bursting with balanced fruit, acidity and barrel flavours, yet retains a rich, slightly creamy mouth
feel.”
Name: Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Chateau Simard
Region: Saint Emilion, Bordeaux
Price: $37.95
Vintage: 1996
Grape: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
“This venerable orange-tinged garnet wine has reached full maturity. Its bouquet is complex, offering up
wood, black fruit, caramel, tobacco, leather and tar aromas.”
Name: Barbera d’Alba Superiore DOC, Fratelli Serio & Battista Borgogno
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Price: $24.95
Vintage: 2008
Grape: Barbera
“Classed as
‘Superiore’ for having spent 24 months in large botti, this Barbera shows great structure, a lovely medium
weight palate with soft cherry/berry fruit. Complex and fruity with a smooth finish.”
Under $100
Name: Barolo Cannubi
Riserva DOCG, Fratelli Serio & Battista Borgogno
Score: Highly Recommended — Decanter 2011
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Price: $59.95
Vintage: 2008
Grape: Riesling, Pinot Blanc
“Many Italian wine experts hail the Barolo Cannubi DOCG as the ultimate definition of a world-class
Barolo.”
Name: Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Les Lavières, Domaine Henri Boillot
Score: 91 Points
Region: Burgundy, France
Price: $84.00
Vintage: 2009
Grape: Pinot Noir
“Mild reduction doesn’t completely hide the
earthy dark berry fruit nose that is in keeping with the
sombre and firm middle weight flavours.”
Name: Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, Antica, Antinori
Score: 90 Points
Region: Napa Valley, California
Price: $64.00
Vintage: 2008
Grape: Cabernet
Sauvignon
“The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is a European take on Napa fruit with lots of terroir, earth and
spice.”
Wineonline.ca gift program
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great wine and so do your clients. A wonderful way to take care of the people who take care of you is a
gift of fine wine. We handpick best-of-class wines from around the world and Ontario. To see our
comprehensive wine list please visit: wineonline.ca
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