Morgan Winery is a small production, terroir-driven winery located in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey, California. Santa Lucia Highlands, from which they source most of their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit, is one of the finest areas in California for Burgundian varietals. The combination of cool temperatures, significant winds, and low rainfall stress the vines to the point where the typical growing season is 4-5 weeks longer than most California wine regions. The result is mature and intense flavors which retain freshness. Morgan crafts wines of balance, elegance and distinction thanks to a conscientious, innovative farming regimen coupled with minimal intervention winemaking. If you are looking for a quality wine from California at a great price, the option below are not to be missed. 2015 Cotes Du Crows – Morgan Winery This name is a play on Crozes Hermitage, the Syrah-based wines of the Rhone. Cotes du Crow’s is a blend of the two red varietals of the southern Rhone Valley: Grenache and Syrah. This year they decided to use a small amount of Tempranillo, offering spice and earth tones which beautifully complements Grenache and Syrah. The grapes are sourced primarily from the Arroyo Seco and San Lucas appellations of Monterey County where warmer daytime temperatures are mitigated by ocean breezes and cool nights – fostering acidity and balance. Blackberry, rose petal, and raspberry aromas jump out of the glass. On the palate expect pomegranate, black cherry and cinnamon stick. The softly tannic structure ensures that it is easily enjoyable upon release. Price: Case of 12 at $359.40 ($29.95 per bottle Drink: Now or over the next 5 years Type/Variety: Dry red, 52% Grenache, 44% Shiraz, 4% Tempranillo Food Pairing: Perfect pairing with anything off the grill To your next great glass, Peter Wearing and Alida Di Placido The Small Winemakers Collection www.smallwinemakers.ca 416-463-4677

Vidal-Fleury 2012 Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde $89.95 btl / $539.70 cs (case of  6 x 750ml) Northern Rhône is the benchmark by which the world’s Syrah is measured, and the Côte-Rôtie appellation within Northern Rhône offers some of the most elegant and seductive wines in the world. Due to the appellation’s small size, unique sun-exposed and wind-protected slopes, and strict production rules the prices for these wines are high, but worth every dollar. Today’s offer comes from Vidal-Fleury, the oldest firm in the Rhône Valley. The 2012 Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde offers textbook notes of black raspberries, olives, spiced meats and pepper, this medium-bodied wine offers the sweetness and purity of dark red and black fruit that is good now, and will be better with age. Very limited supply, only 15 cases available. Price: Case of 6 at $539.70 ($89.95 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 20 years Type/Variety: Dry red, 96% Syrah, 4 % Viognier Service: Best served at a temperature of 18°C. Decant 2 hours before tasting Accolades: 90-92 pts eRobertParker.com  Food Pairing: Grilled bison, venison, slow-roasted barbecue pork, braised lamb shoulder To order please call 416-463-4677 or email info@smallwinemakers.ca This historic house was founded in 1781 when Joseph Vidal bought his first vineyard in Ampuis. Since the beginning the house had a reputation for quality, attracting visits from connoisseurs such as the future President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. The house was managed by Vidal family members until 1984, when it was purchased by Guigal. Vidal-Fleury still owns its original vineyard in Cote-Rotie and has long-term contracts with growers in many other appellations of the north and south Rhône to produce this impressive list of wines. Robert Parker, a leading U.S. wine critic with and a highly acclaimed international wine influencer stated: “Look out for Vidal-Fleury starting in 2008! With a brand new, state of the art winemaking facility, tucked beneath the Côte-Rôtie vineyards of the Côte-Blonde, and new management team, this famous estate looks to turn a page in a positive and dramatic fashion. All of these wines were made by the old regime, and I suspect things will change dramatically for the better in upcoming vintages”

Codorniu Cuvee Barcelona 1872 Reserva Brut – LIMITED SUPPLY 6 packs  Thee Cuvée Barcelona is a special selection because it commemorates the year in which Josep Raventós, a descendant of Codorníu family, crafted the first bottle of Cava in 1872. It is further celebrated through the beautiful, eclectic bottle inspired by the stained glass windows of La Sagrada Família created by Gaudí. Truly a perfect addition to gatherings with loved ones or a tasteful gift for a host of a party that will bring elegance to any occasion. On the nose you will experience aromas of apple, pear and citrus along with white flowers, and witness perfectly integrated bubbles that drape each glass with fine elegant mousse. The matching and expressively balanced mouthfeel is creamy and fresh. Please note, only 35 cases available. Excluding Toronto, orders must be received before 9am on Wednesday for same week delivery. Price: Case of 6 at $149.70 ($24.95 per bottle) Drink: Now Type: Sparkling, Brut Accolades: Won bronze in its category at the Decanter World Wine Awards Food Pairing: Cold entrées, brunch, oysters, assorted charcutière and cheeses such as Chorizo and Manchego, bread with tomato, sardines, snails, pasta with seafood, paella Please call 416-463-4677 or email info@smallwinemakers.ca to order The Cuvée Barcelona is made up of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada, local varietals that are carefully picked from the vineyards located in the Penedès region, not far from the coast. For this cava the Codorniu winemakers reproduced the same techniques used five decades ago. The fermentation temperature of the musts was strictly controlled using a system known as “capas” (layers). Fresh must was added to must undergoing fermentation to lower the temperature. The resulting changes in temperature improve the texture of the cava. Historically, the must was fermented in cement tanks covered with ceramic tiles, cairons, and also in wooden kegs. Today these materials coexist with stainless steel vats, adding to the range of aromas and flavours of the base wine and subsequently of the final cava. Oak is used in the fermentation of the musts with the aim of obtaining wines with a more varietal character but without bringing out the toastiness. Once the final blend of the base wines has been defined, the wine is bottled along with the expedition liqueur (wine, sugar, clarifier and yeasts). The bottles are racked in the underground cavas where the second fermentation takes place followed by a period of aging in contact with the lees of the yeasts. The wine spends at least 9 months in the winery. Enough time to attain a balance between its fruity character, coming from the grapes, a richer expression contributed by the lees and the perfect integration of the carbonic gas throughout fermentation during cellaring. To your next great glass, Peter Wearing and Alida Di Placido The Small Winemakers Collection www.smallwinemakers.ca 416-463-4677

2014 Septima Obra Malbec $26.95 btl / $161.70 cs (case of  6 x 750ml) The Septima Obra Malbec 2014 is the perfect representation of the terroir of Mendoza Valley. This Malbec is made using the best grapes and exceptional winemaking practices of the renowned Bodega Septima winery. It is also an exclusive offer that we only get once a year. This wine boasts dark, spicy blackberry and plum along with earthy notes on the nose. On the palate it matches the vibrant notes from the nose along with black pepper, tobacco, good acidity and firm, chewy tannins giving it a rich mouth feel. The long finishes will leave lingering spice, chocolate, cedar and more dark fruit on your palate. This big, serious red wine is a delicious choice to warm your soul this time of the year. Price: Case of 6 at $161.70 ($26.95 per bottle) Drink: 2017 – 2023 Accolades: 92 points and exceptional gold medal, www.tastings.com, May 2016. Food Pairing: Braised Short Ribs, Rack of Lamb, Peppered Sirloin Steak, Meaty Lasagna or call 416-463-4677 Malbec is one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux but is now better known as a varietal from Argentina. Today’s offer comes from Bodega Septima, one of the most renowned wineries in the desired Mendoza region. Opened in 1999 it was the seventh winery founded by the Codorníu Raventós family and symbolically named Septima which means seven in Spanish. The estate’s vineyards are planted in the village of Agrelo in the western foothills of the majestic Andes Mountains. This village within the Lujan de Cuyo sub-region sits at an elevation at over 3,400 feet. This elevation makes for an ideal microclimate, one of the best in Mendoza, which makes this Malbec an exciting wine to drink. Lujan de Cuyo offers not only an ideal microclimate and elevation but rich alluvial soils, natural irrigation from the Andes Mountains, a long growing season with over 250 sunny days a year, little rain and vast temperature differences between day and night. These factors produce complex, high quality, age worthy wines the region is known for. Enjoy the dark, spicy and delicious adventure that this wine has to offer.

2013 iGreco “Masino” Nero di Calabria $38.90 btl / $233.40 cs (case of  6 x 750ml) The iGreco winery was our discovery of the year last year, and we are thrilled to be able to make an offer of this bold and ageworthy wine made from Nero di Calabria. It has an intense nose of ripe blackberry, wild plum, kirsch and hints of vanilla, cinnamon and savoury rosemary. The palate is full-bodied, rich, ripe and flavourful. Plenty of ripe tannins and fresh acidity provide excellent structure and aging potential. Drink: 2017 – 2030 Accolades: Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) Gambero Rosso 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013 or call 416-463-4677 Calabria, the so-called “toe of Italy”, is not usually top of mind for wine lovers. Unlike the rest of Italy where the grapevine is virtually ubiquitous, only 2% of Calabria’s agricultural land is comprised of vineyards, a quantity that has actually decreased over the last fifteen years as poor vineyards have been uprooted. However, change is afoot here. New producers are challenging the old staid winemaking traditions, and significant investment in the vineyards and wineries is paying off. The famous Italian wine publication, Gambero Rosso, has awarded the coveted Tre Bicchieri to the iGreco Masino four times over the last 5 years, placing it among the very top wines from the South. “Masino” is the top wine of the Greco family, olive oil producers who own hundreds of hectares of (now certified organic) olive trees in the heart of the production area for Cirò wine. The estate is run by no fewer than seven siblings, who each give their nickname to one of the wines. They have continued the oil tradition, but have carved out quite a name for themselves as producers of high quality Calabrian wines, as we have seen by their Gambero Rosso success. The farm is situated in the seaside resort town of Cariati on the Ionian coast. The hillside vineyards lie at higher altitudes, and temperatures between day and night vary greatly, allowing the grapes to achieve full ripeness while still retaining freshness. The Greco family has also invested significantly in viticultural research, and the estate now boasts a fully-equipped laboratory for analyzing both wine and oil. Grape varieties cultivated are strictly indigenous, with the main focus being the two red grapes, Gaglioppo and Nero di Calabria, and the local white variety Greco di Bianco. The iGreco “Masino” Nero di Calabria is available for immediate delivery. We spoke up early and were able to secure a good quantity of this wine (45 cases), so we hope to be able to satisfy all your orders.

There was a time when wine was an even greater part of everyday Italian life than it is today. It was consumed with every meal and was often part of it — children, for example, regularly started the day with a slice of bread dipped in red wine. Consumption reached a peak of well over 100 litres per adult (15 years and older) per year during the early Sixties when the country was positively swimming in wine. Around the mid-Seventies, consumption started to decline. People were drinking less, but better. By 2015, annual wine consumption had fallen more than 70% to fewer than 30 litres per person (still double that of an average Canadian). Although Italian consumption shrank dramatically, production barely changed. Italian vintners were still making wines they had to sell, even if it could not all be sopped up by the local market. So they looked to export markets. Wines production underwent a significant transformation in response to the need to export. Native Italian grape varieties are naturally high in tannin and acidity, and these wines often required significant aging to allow the structural components to soften and integrate. But the modern consumer did not have the time or inclination to age wines, so usually-tannic wines like Barolo started to be produced with a much shorter period of fermenting on the skins. Reducing this maceration period from 30 or more days to sometimes under 5 extracted much less tannin. This, and aging in french oak barrels, produced a wine that could be enjoyed upon release. This style of wine also appealed to Robert Parker and his more North American palate. With this success, though, came a backlash. Some producers questioned the extent to which modern processes and techniques made wines that were true to their Italian roots. Fine to sell wine to international consumers, but not at the risk of losing the great Italian wine tradition, they felt. There has, therefore, been a movement back to traditional winemaking techniques to take advantage of modern technology and know how, but to more properly reflect the rich Italian heritage. Wine makers, such as Claudio Fenocchio, in Piemonte, have gone back to a more traditional way of producing Barolo – fermenting wine on the skins for 30 or more days as well as aging in large Slovenian oak boti. He is known as a “radical traditionalist” in a region where producers classify themselves as modernists and traditionalists. Traditionalists have resisted the lure of new oak and French grape varieties and make wines much the way their fathers and grandfathers did. Claudio’s latest masterpiece is a Riserva Barolo made the way his grandfather used to. Grapes are carefully selected from his four Barolo crus (Bussia, Cannubi, Villero and Castellare), macerated for fully 90 days on the skins and aged for 5 years prior to release. We tried this wine last Spring and contrary to what one would expect, the tannins, while present and firm, were not overpowering. Some sort of enzymatic reaction …

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