Get great Ontario wine without leaving home
There’s something to be said for selfisolation. And it’s this: It saves lives. But according to social media memes, novinophobia is a thing. It’s the fear of running out of wine. At a time like this, a glass of vino is more than a drink. For many of us, it is a symbol of normalcy. A way to relax. An easy pleasure in a challenging time.
So how do you get wine in your glass without leaving home?
A good option is to order wine from Ontario wineries, many of which now offer free shipping.
So, I reached out to three top-notch Ontario wineries — Big Head Wines, Tawse Winery and Megalomaniac — and asked each to create a mixed, 12bottle case of my favourite cuvees for you.
They kindly obliged and agreed to ship them, waiving delivery fees.
Big Head Wines will ship to homes and waive the delivery fee anywhere in Ontario.
Tawse will do the same and discount the bottles 25 per cent. And Megalomaniac will ship free anywhere in the Golden Horseshoe and Greater Toronto Area, discounting the case 10 per cent.
All quite compelling propositions. So, let’s talk about the wines.
Big Head Wines For $361including HST, Big Head Wines will ship a case that includes five bottles of 2018 Chenin Blanc from Smith Vineyard VQA Niagara Lakeshore ($25), five bottles of 2017 Pinot Noir VQA Creek Shores ($32), and two bottles of 2016 Special Select Late Harvest Riesling from Knotty Vines Vineyard in St. David’s Bench ($38/375mL).
As noted, they’ll ship to homes throughout Ontario and waive the delivery fee.
2018 Big Head Chenin Blanc starts with scents of lemon marmalade. Then, an opulent entry floods in with rich — yet dry — flavours that call to mind lemon oil, wildflower honey, baking spices and toasted meringue shot through with bright, mouthwatering acidity. Very appealing wine that works particularly well with simply seasoned, pan-roasted fish and sautéed greens. Score: 92
2017 Big Head Pinot Noir ripples with pretty aromas and flavours of crushed raspberries laced with violet and pink peppercorn. Here, elegance and delicacy balance juicy, affable fruit for poised pleasure. And each sip resonates on the palate. Pour a glass of this charming red with baked chicken thighs on buttered egg noodles topped with sautéed mushrooms for a brilliant
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pairing. Score: 91
2016 Big Head Special Select Late Harvest Riesling is a sweet-crisp wine that would make a fuss-free yet fabulous finish to a meal. Arresting aromas of orange marmalade and lime sorbet draw you toward an explosive attack of full-on fruit that cascades with marmalade, lime, white flowers, and sweet peach—with a touch of spice and a drizzle of honey somewhere. Lots going on to keep you engaged. And the lime-squirt acidity hems in the huge hit of luscious fruit for optimal balance and satisfaction. Serve it chilled. If you must serve it with anything, consider pound cake. Score: 93
Order this case at: bigheadwines.ca/ product/carolyns-picks Tawse Winery Tawse Winery will ship a case that includes four bottles each of 2017 Spark Limestone Ridge Riesling VQA Twenty Mile Bench (reg. $20.95, now $15.70), 2016 Quarry Road Chardonnay VQA Vinemount Ridge (reg. $36.95, now $27.70), 2016 David’s Block Cabernet Franc VQA Twenty Mile Bench (reg. $49.95, now $37.45). As noted, they’ll ship to homes throughout Ontario and waive the delivery fee. It’s a stellar mix for $323.40 including HST. 2017 Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Riesling is a certified organic, biodynamic bottle of sparkling wine that’s dry, lip-smacking and versatile. It teems with lime and crushed sea salt on the nose and palate with tiny bubbles and shimmering acidity for instant refreshment. This bottle of uncomplicated pleasure works very well as a cocktail-style wine with corn chips and guacamole or salted potato chips. But it’s also an easy choice for dishes that could use a quirt of fresh lime—think curries, fish tacos, Thai dishes, jerk chicken and more. Brilliant bottle for the door of the fridge. Score: 90 2016 Tawse Quarry Road Chardonnay tastes polished and pure. It starts with the shy scent of lemon curd then beams across the palate, broadening with flavours of lemon and cooked apple. Then suggestions emerge of flint, chilled butter, and toasted nut, lingering on the finish and leaving the palate well-seasoned. This wine would elevate even a humble meal of pasta and parmesan. Score: 90
Fans of bold red will appreciate 2016 Tawse David’s Block Cabernet Franc. It’s a thunderclap expression of Ontario terroir with the heady perfume of ripe plum and dark cocoa, which leads to a firm, deep entry that’s brawny, velvety and ripe. Each luxurious sip tastes like experiential art, shifting with flavours of graphite and hazelnut, espresso and dark chocolate, berries and stone fruit. Pour this bottle with pan-seared, broiled or grilled beef or portabello mushroom for a real treat. Score: 93
Order at: tawsewinery.ca/products/25300-the-wine-find-mix-oftwelve
Megalomaniac Megalomaniac will ship three bottles each of NV Bubblehead VQA Niagara Peninsula (reg. $34.95, now $31.45), 2017 Reserve Pinot Noir VQA Twenty Mile Bench (reg. $49.95, now $44.95), 2017 Frank Cabernet VQA Niagara Peninsula (reg. $29.95, now $26.95), and 2017 Reserve Cabernet Franc VQA Twenty Mile Bench (reg. $49.95, now $44.95) for $444.90 including HST. As noted, they’ll ship to homes throughout Ontario and waive the delivery fee for orders in the Golden Horseshoe and the HST. Great deal. NV Megalomaniac Bubblehead is a pure, dry sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir. It exudes scents of lemonraspberry Danish pastry, offers a coolcrisp attack, then unspools on the palate with sheer flavours of the same dappled with suggestions of bitter orange and ruby grapefruit. Such an elegant expression of Ontario bubbly sure to elevate your mood. I’d pour this with baked salmon and fried potatoes any day of the week. Score: 93 2017 Megalomaniac Reserve Pinot Noir is a dark beast of wine. First, muddled blackberries and raspberries show on the nose. Then a silky, saturated sweep of berries and violet rush in underpinned with espresso, tapenade, black raspberry, smoke, and toasted nut. Pour a glass of this Pinot Noir with a plate of cheese and charcuterie. Score: 90
2017 Megalomaniac Frank Cabernet offers a lush, smooth mouthful of black and red fruit edged with cassis, graphite, lavender and coffee. Understated but articulate, this is a suave, sophisticated Cabernet Franc with a lively line of acidity that keeps each sip lifted and quenching. Superb with a sausage supper. Score: 92
My favourite red in this case is the 2017 Megalomaniac Reserve Cabernet Franc. Lush yet linear, powerful but not at all fat, this wine is all about great tension, dignity and understated complexity. Just a magnetic red that keeps you swirling and coming back to it again and again. Try it. You’ll see. It’s a wine to pour and ponder. Roast beef and potatoes or gnocchi with a sage brown butter would work well with this wine. Score: 96
Order this case by emailing retail@megalomaniacwine.com.
With that, I propose a toast: Here’s to health, to safety, and to those souls on the front lines of this COVID-19 pandemic. Now if you’ll excuse me while I go wash my hands.