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Vintages 2025 Buyers Guide
unpaid-for non-advertorial reviews

LINKED 2025 VINTAGES BUYERS GUIDE
includes October 2024 to new January reviews
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LINKED 2024 VINTAGES BUYERS GUIDE
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Robbie Burns Day Perfection

Glenfarclas12-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
LCBO WHISKY SHOP - 464636 - $126.95
Complex, Rich, Smooth ***/***+ (94-points)
This long-time WHISKY SHOP ESSENTIAL is the perfect way to celebrate Robbie Burns Day on Saturday January 25. It has a bright light ambering orange-gold colour with a very attractive, gently honeyed, spicy, warm ripe plummy nose with some caramel notes and a faint hint of smoke. Dry, medium to medium-full bodied, harmonious, well structured, slightly spicy, bright, mellow, ripe plummy-caramel flavours with a lingering, honeyed, faintly nutty, orange citrus tinged finish. Deliciously rounded, it has 43% alcohol and, unfortunately, is only available in 70 stores so check first.

Brand New January 18 Best Buy Burgundy
REFINED & AFFORDABLE

Philippe le Hardi Vieilles Vignes Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2022
VINTAGES - 38096 - NOW $26.55
Solid, Intense, Complex, Bright *** (91-points)
Deep purple-tinged red colour The nose shows an abundance of perfectly ripe Damson plums with some very gently toasty, fresh raspberry notes. Dry, medium bodied, nicely textured, bright, raspberry-tinged, ripe, plum-cherry flavours are followed up by a lingering, harmonious finish. Showing very well now and perfect with a rack of lamb and/or poultry. The historic Philippe le Hardi Domaine consists of 98 hectares of vineyards from Gevrey-Chambertin in the north to Mercurey in the south.
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New January 18 Best Buy Australian White

Tahbilk Marsanne 2023
VINTAGES - 117945 - NOW $15.60
Bright, Fresh, Ripe, Gently Spicy *** (90-points)
Bright medium straw colour. Gently spicy, mineral-tinged, floral, honeysuckle, bright, ripe, orange-lemon-citrus nose. Dry, medium bodied, slightly spicy, fresh, ripe, citrusy-melon-apricot-apple flavours with a mineral-tinged, refreshingly crisp finish. This well-balanced, crowd-pleaser is perfect with oysters/seafood, as well as spicy Asian dishes and sushi.
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Now Every Day
at Bloor West & Royal York

Do not miss #3 - Mt. Riley Sauvignon Blanc 2024
at only $17.40 until February 15.
This recently bottled 2024 has a bright very pale straw colour and an intense, fresh, bright, grassy nose with lots of mineral notes and a touch of passion fruit. Dry, medium bodied, nicely structured, gently savoury, attractive, ripe, yellow grapefruit, kiwi and lemon-lime-citrus flavours with a lingering, refreshingly crisp albeit harmonious, delightful finish. Showing very nicely, it has 13% alcohol and under 5 g/L residual sugar. It still need some time in bottle to improve.