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Globe & Mail - Seven Canadian wines that impress

Christopher Waters rates - Moon Curser Roussanne Marsanne 2022 91 points!

"Moon Curser Roussanne Marsanne 2022 (Canada)

RATING: 91 /100

One of the most exciting wines in the current crop of Moon Curser releases, this white blend features roussanne and marsanne grapes that were co-fermented in a stainless steel tanks and some smaller French oak barrels to build complexity and texture. The style is rich and inviting, with appealing yellow apple, honey and citrus flavours and nice balance between the fruit, acid and alcohol. Vegan friendly. Drink now to 2028. Available at the above price in British Columbia, $26.99 direct"

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The Globe & Mail - A new release from Burgundy winery showcases the vibrancy of pinot noir - Roussanne Marsanne 2020 - 89 points

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The Globe and Mail - Sauvignon blanc can help turn a meal from simple to sublime - Dolcetto 2018 90 points

"....

If zesty whites aren’t your taste, or you’re looking to compare, consider these two comforting reds that deliver real character and charm. The rustic and savoury Castillo de Almansa Reserva has been a long-time staple for meaty dishes, particularly grilled red meat or fish dishes, while the juicy and bright dolcetto from Moon Curser is a terrific match for roast chicken, meat-based or tomato-based pizza or pastas and more.

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Moon Curser Dolcetto 2018 (Canada)

RATING OUT OF 100

90

PRICE: $24.99

The innovative Moon Curser winery believes the southern Okanagan wine region is a great place to grow a much wider variety of grapes than the usual suspects, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and syrah. The wisdom of that logic can be seen in this juicy and fresh red wine made from dolcetto, a black grape seldom seen outside of its native Piedmont in northwestern Italy. Made without any oak barrel influence, this offers ripe blackberry and cherry aromas and flavours, with a significant tug of tannins that dries out the finish. Drink now to 2022. Available direct, mooncurser.com."

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The Globe and Mail - Skip the specialty bottles timed to Halloween in favour of these hauntingly good wines - Dead of Night 91 points

"If you’re planning a spooky soirée or simply looking to get in the Halloween spirit, now’s the time to put some “boo” in your booze. A quick scan of the aisles of your local liquor store should turn up a fair number of ghosts, skeletons, devils, witches and other fantastically ghoulish apparitions lurking on labels that are year-round selections.

Concha y Toro’s popular Casillero del Diablo (The Devil’s Locker) label is a great example. The story goes that in an effort to stop workers from drinking wines from his cellar, winery owner Don Melchor de Concha y Toro spread the rumour that the devil lived there. The affordable premium brand has expanded to include almost every grape grown in Chile, including malbec and syrah as well as the usual suspects cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. It’s long been a go-to for wine lovers across Canada.

For that reason, I’d pass on any specialty Halloween items available as limited releases. Bacardi Superior Halloween or Cuvée Mythique Halloween Edition red blend from the South of France might actually be bloody good, but those companies already make other products that don’t need a gimmick to garner a sale. Why not check those out instead?

It seems to reason the beverages you serve and enjoy on Halloween should be pleasurable any other night as well. That’s the gist for this week’s recommendations. They sport labels that fit in with Halloween’s spooky vibe, but the frights stop there. There’s nothing to fear about the aromas and flavours of these beverages. They’re crowd-pleasing party wines with a sinister aura about them.

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Moon Curser Dead of Night 2017 (Canada)

Score: 91 Price: $39.99

A distinctive blend of syrah and tannat grown in the southern Okanagan, this full-bodied and flavourful red is Moon Curser’s flagship label. It boasts terrific concentration and complexity, which makes for a cellar-worthy red should you be so inclined. Drink now to 2026. Available direct through mooncurser.com.

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Waters & Wine - 2016 Dead of Night and 2016 Border Vines reviews

"MOON CURSER VINEYARDS 2016 DEAD OF NIGHT

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

An unusual blend of equal parts Syrah and Tannat from vineyards on the Osoyoos East Bench ensures Dead of Night always offers a unique profile. I’m a big fan of this wine, consistently putting it forward as part of the Canadian team for the Six Nations Wine Challenge. It's also largely seen as Moon Curser's flagship wine. The two varieties are harvested, fermented and aged separately before the blend is assembled. Thirty percent new oak is used to add complexity and tame the tannins (especially of the Tannat), with a large percentage of neutral barrels also employed. Dry, refreshing and complex, this nicely structured and flavourful red is robust yet refined. 380 cases. (91/100)"

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"MOON CURSER VINEYARDS 2016 BORDER VINES

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

The newly released Border Vines is a blend of 44 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 24 percent Cabernet Franc, 20 percent Malbec, seven percent Petit Verdot and five percent Carménère. (Fun fact: Moon Curser doesn’t grow Merlot.) All of the grapes were grown on the Osoyoos East Bench and blended to taste by co-founder and winemaker Chris Tolley. Last year’s blend contained three varieties; the 2016 version blossomed to include five Bordeaux varieties. Border Vines is always a bigger, bolder red born of the sun-soaked Osoyoos vineyards, but there’s brightness and balance that adds greatly to the appeal. 1,412 cases. (88/100)"

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