Buyer’s Guide to Vintages April 12th Release

John Szabo’s Vintages Review April 12th: From the Heart
By John Szabo MS and David Lawrason, with notes from Sara d’Amato, Megha Jandhyala, and Michael Godel.

We’d like to draw your attention to an online charity auction that runs until April 22, called Grapes for Humanity, founded by philanthropist Arlene Willis and by prolific Canadian wine author Tony Aspler. Proceeds this year go to Tree Canada and Nature Conservancy of Canada. Waddington’s auction house has waived its buyer’s premium and there is no HST on charity wine auctions, so the hammer price is what you pay (whereas, typically, 30%-35% gets tacked on). There are more than 600 lots, including prized wines, travel, dinners with celebrities and also, most heart-warmingly, 12 unique collaborative wines made with fruit and expertise supplied by 29 Ontario winemakers. David Lawrason provides all the details of these “From the Heart” cuvées herein, filed from the wilds of Oregon where he’s travelling this week, while the WineAlign Crü weighs in with favourites from the Ontario dozen.

The theme of the Vintages April 12 release is Food and Wine in anticipation of this weekend’s Easter and Passover celebrations. We suggest the best to pair with food or occasions. There are plenty of versatile wines in the release, including a triple alignment dolcetto, and multiple doubles. Lastly, Michael and I continue our reports from the Tuscany previews. He covers Chianti Classico while I look at the best of the newish, top designation of Chianti Rùfina called Terraelectae.

Cuvée From the Heart – David Lawrason
Twenty-nine Ontario winemakers come together to create 12 unique wines for the Grapes for Humanity Fine Wine Auction. It runs until April 22.

There are so many worthy layers to this annual undertaking. I am most interested in the wines themselves and how they express Ontario’s capabilities. The pooling of the vision and ability of Ontario’s best winemakers — each fitted to a signature grape or style at which they excel in commercial practice — has produced a great snapshot of Ontario’s state of being.

Overall, I found all the wines quite delicate — certainly ripe enough and most very well balanced, which is actually what I expect and admire about Ontario wine. Most are not wines of great power or volume, which I sense is a reflection of the 2023 vintage, with its cool, humid summer saved by a long dry autumn harvest that ripened the grapes on their lighter frame.

Grapes for Humanity is an Ontario-born charity celebrating its 25^th anniversary this spring. It was founded by philanthropist Arlene Willis and by my friend, mentor and prolific wine author Tony Aspler, with whom I have tasted Ontario wines for at least 40 years. Our finest dozen years or so were when we tasted every month together for Doug Tower’s Winery to Home, the province’s first curated direct delivery service.

I will forever see Grapes for Humanity for as a reflection of Tony’s big heart. The organization began as a foundation in 2000 to raise money for landmine removal. It went on to provide essential funds for 17 beneficiaries in Ontario and around the world. Several have helped with children’s health and education in Guatemala, Nepal, Cambodia, Tanzania and Rwanda.

The Fine Wine Auction, however, is supporting two environmental organizations. Tree Canada is a national non-profit that is focused this year on replanting lands in the Northwest Territories razed by recent forest fires. Nature Conservancy Canada is protecting over 150,000 hectares of boreal forests, wetlands and shorelines in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.

There are over 600 lots in the auction, including some of the world’s most sought-after labels. There are special lots that honour Canadian music legend Gord Downie and winemaker Paul Pender (60 magnums of Tawse Sparkling 2016 Cuvee Paul Pender, made by Paul). There are celebrity wine dinner packages with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush, Jim Cuddy and Colin Cripps of Blue Rodeo, and Jays slugger Jose Bautista, plus dream-lot vacation packages to visit Torres in Spain, Catena in Argentina and Taylor Fladgate in Portugal. Waddington’s has waived its buyer’s premium and there is no HST on charity wine auctions, meaning a saving of more than 35% over traditional auctions.

Cuvée From the Heart lineup

The Cuvée for the Heart offerings make up about 20% of the lots. They include 60 mixed cases of one bottle each of the 12 wines and six cases of each individual wine sold as single lots. I would highly recommend the mixed cases for those “studying” Ontario wine, as well as drinking it. Full reviews by WineAlign critics are available to WineAlign subscribers only. Click here to see our recommendations.

Tuscan Previews: Latest Releases from Chianti Classico and Chianti Rùfina

The Castello di Trebbio in Chianti Rùfina

Michael reports from the 2025 Chianti Classico Collection in Florence, Italy: “The reputation of Chianti Classico wines is at an all-time high and the peak is far from reached. Should you either be blind to the obvious or just beginning to realize the importance of the Gallo Nero, fear not because the best is yet to come.” Read here.

John reports from Chianti Rùfina: “In case you missed it, Terraelectae is the relatively recent, top-quality designation of the Chianti Rùffina DOCG, whereby each producer identifies their ‘iconic’ vineyard. This past February, I tasted 13 of them and present my selection of the best, along with some background on the Chianti sub-zone and what exactly is behind the Terraelectae category. Read here.

Buyer’s Guide April 12th: White, Rosé & Fortified

Garciarévalo Finca Tres Olmos Lias Verdejo 2023, Rueda, Spain
$14.95, VinoLuna
Sara d’Amato – From a forest-fringed, high-elevation single vineyard nestled between the Adaja and Eresma rivers, a thriving destination for old-vine verdejo, a grape rarely planted outside of Rueda. Here, the grapes get a reprieve from the arid heat of the lower lying areas. –. A remarkable find for less than $15, crafted from 130-year-old organically farmed bush vines. The result is a fleshy, sapid white, pulsating with inner life, that offers salty tension, layered with ginger, lemon curd, white peach and starfruit.

Gérard Bertrand Réserve Spéciale Viognier 2023, Languedoc, France
$16.95, Family Wine Merchants
John Szabo – Shockingly flavourful and concentrated, this is a remarkable wine for the money. It’s dripping with peach/apricot/orchard fruit with violets and honeysuckle at levels expected in examples at twice the price or more. Get this for your cheese board.

Garzón Pinot Rosé De Corte 2024, Uruguay
$17.95, Mark Anthony Group
Michael Godel – Increased hue over the previous vintage, more fruit come along for the ride and some extra added moments of joy. A quenching of rosé. Drink with Easter.
Sara d’Amato – As rosé season ramps up and bottles of every hue and heritage begin to trickle onto the LCBO shelves, one standout this week pours in from the Uruguay’s chic coastal “Riviera” of Punta del Este. There, Bodega Garzón farms a sweeping 2,000-plus-hectare estate rooted in ancient granite and wrapped in untouched forest. This Provençal-pale, dry rosé from pinot noir, complemented by merlot and marselan (a drought-hardy crossing of cabernet sauvignon and grenache), is a crisp, energetic crowd-pleaser, brimming with summer berries and easy charm.

Viña Leyda Garuma Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Leyda Valley, Chile
$18.95, Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd
John Szabo – A classic sauvignon that represents this cool, coastal region beautifully, born from two parcels with mainly limestone soils, about 12 kilometres from the Pacific and 15% aged in wood. I love the zesty acids, the tight, linear profile, the lean and fresh palate full of vibrancy and energy. This is your aperitif option; or serve with the first of the year’s local asparagus or fiddleheads.
Megha Jandhyala – This elegant and vibrant sauvignon blanc from the cool coastal region of Leyda Valley in Chile is strikingly well-priced. It really tastes like an ocean breeze to me: cool, refreshing and faintly saline, with undertones of lemon grass and fresh citrus fruit and zest. I think it would complement light seafood dishes with an herbal twist; for example, ceviche.

Assuli Carinda Insolia 2023, Sicily, Italy
$19.95, Le Sommelier Inc.
Sara d’Amato – An important indigenous Sicilian variety, insolia is herein made as a single variety, carefully ripened, and offering sweet floral aromas — one may even guess a rosé if tasting blind. Its vinification in neutral stainless steel has preserved a gregarious aromatic profile of rose, elderflower, orange blossom and starfruit, its lushness cut with a salty minerality and punctuated by a dry, upbeat finish.

Hidalgo Fino Seco Sherry, Jerez, Spain
$24.95, All The Right Grapes
John Szabo – Such nutty-yeasty complexity, with remarkable saliva-inducing qualities and excellent sapidity. A trip to Andalucia in a glass. Chill and enjoy for mid-afternoon sipping with salty nuts or with a plate of jamón Ibérico.
Michael Godel – Solo palomino sherry, the lightest and brightest of the lot, destined to be poured ahead of festivities, hopefully with high-quality olives on the table. Top-notch French fries and aioli are not a bad partner, either, for this crisp, nutty and dry fino.

Château d’Aquéria Tavel Rosé 2024, Rhône, France
$24.95, Noble Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.
Sara d’Amato – Not so much a rosé as a delicate red, Château d’Aqueria’s latest is a masterclass in co-fermentation and blending, the result of generations honing the delicate dance of 11 or so red and white grape varieties rooted in all three of the cru’s terroirs. The result is less a wine than a vinous tapestry, vivid, intricate and seriously composed. Each sip unfolds like a mille feuille of flavour: pink peppercorn, pomegranate, grapefruit zest, cherry and a whisper of fennel, all woven together with elegance and intention and with enough aging potential to keep you curious for a few more orbits around the sun.
Megha Jandhyala – This classic Tavel rosé is a dazzlingly radiant blend of half a dozen red and white grape varieties. It is compelling and potent, with colourful flavours of red fruit, black pepper and herbs. This is an especially versatile and food-friendly wine, meaning it will likely complement a wide range of foods served at get-togethers and dinner parties.

Staete Landt Annabel Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand
$24.95, Lifford Wine & Spirits (Select Wine Merchants)
Michael Godel – More quantifiable character than so many swimming the sea occupied by those similarly priced Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Drink with something crunchy like fritto misto, vegetable or from the sea.

Buyer’s Guide April 12th: Red

Lafage Cayrol Vieilles Vignes Carignan 2022, Roussillon, France
$19.95, Glencairn Wine Merchants
Sara d’Amato – Lafage’s Vielles Vignes de Carignan is a lively gem from the schist-rich gentle slopes of the Côtes Catalanes in western Languedoc. Surprisingly light on its feet despite a substantial degree of alcohol, it balances fine, gently drying tannins with a lifted, chalky minerality. Savoury notes of tomato water, red currant, dry underbrush and a hint of licorice weave through its lightly peppery frame. Begging for an accompaniment of duck confit.

Viña Real Crianza 2021, Rioja, Spain
$19.95, Family Wine Merchants
Megha Jandhyala – Viña Real is a consistently well-made, quintessential crianza from the iconic Haro-based producer, CVNE. It is balanced, elegant and fresh, with finely integrated oak flavours joining tender red fruit. Though it is often served with meats, I think this wine has the potential to pair well with vegetarian creations, too, like a mushroom and cheese-based pasta or vegetarian burgers and kababs.

Pecchenino San Luigi Dolcetto Di Dogliani 2022, Piedmont, Italy
$23.95, The Case For Wine
John Szabo – Lovely, appealingly fruity, plump and inviting dolcetto here from specialists Pecchenino, delivering loads of pleasure. Chill slightly; enjoy over the next year or two with just about anything or anyone. A highly versatile wine.
Michael Godel – Definite dolcetto article, fruity, savvy and succulent with devilishly sweet acidity. Food-relatable red, preferably with a confit of morels or porcini on toast.
Sara d’Amato – Undeniably delicious, this expressive dolcetto leans into the grape’s naturally soft acidity, yet holds its ground with fine-grained, gently grippy tannins. A clean, low-intervention red that lets the fruit do the talking. Bold, juicy, lightly ferrous with a scattering of dried rose petals. Salty and savoury but lifted by sweetly ripened red fruit. It doesn’t try to charm, it just is charming — honest, grounded, and unmistakably of its place.
Megha Jandhyala – With its candid nature and guileless charm, this dolcetto is an easy wine to recommend to almost any palate. It features appealing flavours of succulent, sweet red fruit and invitingly supple and juicy acidity. I would serve it lightly chilled, as an aperitif at dinner parties.

Beronia 198 Barricas Reserva 2019, Rioja, Spain
$25.95, Woodman Wines & Spirits
Michael Godel – Quite a specific model for Rioja of wood aging for 2019 to make everything just right in La Rioja world. Hard to fathom a tempranillo as rich as this could also be so delicate. With a smoked competition chicken thigh.

Luna Estate Pinot Noir 2022, Martinborough, New Zealand
$26.95, Noble Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.
John Szabo – A punchy pinot from Martinborough in the regional style, from a cool, windy area that tends to lean into the more mouth-watering, savoury and piquant side of the grape but with hallmark New Zealand purity of fruit underpinning it all. Drink now or hold until the end of the decade.

Leaning Post Cuvée Winona 2020, Ontario, Canada
$28.95, Leaning Post Wines
Sara d’Amato – Named for a spot on the Stoney Creek map, not a movie star, this merlot-cabernet franc blend has a hearty, right-bank feel. With a generous volume that’s more gravitational wave than blunt force. A thoughtful wine with substance, swagger and a quiet sense of precision.

Stratus Gamay 2023, Ontario, Canada
$35.20, Stratus Vineyards
John Szabo – Lovely, fresh red berry perfume leads on the nose very much in the Gamay register, also smooth, silky, fluid palate with enough zest to drive saliva. Enjoy now or hold out for more savoury tones over the next 3-5 years. A great choice with Turkey or roast chicken.
Sara d’Amato – A gamay with intention and gravitas. No suppression of its wild, brambly and joyfully peppered nose. The palate follows with a rush of juicy, concentrated red fruit, just sweet enough to flirt, balanced by violets, graphite and lively acidity. Tannins are firmer than expected and hints at graceful aging. But don’t feel obliged to wait — this serous gamay can’t help but be charmingly approachable.

Leeuwin Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Western Australia
$47.95, Terra Firma Brands
John Szabo – Such lovely aromatics, perfumed and elegant, with beautifully integrated wood and floral fragrance, cassis and blackberry fruit, savoury herbs and more in a complex and satisfying ensemble. I find this seamless and highly pleasing, a sophisticated and elegant wine, drinking quite well now but better in 2–3 years. For the Easter lamb or beef brisket.Michael Godel – A mix of acidity and garrigue that’s perfectly local. Robust backbone including fine-grained tannin for a cabernet that will age slowly, incrementally and handily over a 10-plus-year period of time. A marbled cut of sliced steak like hanger or flat iron would be ideal.

That’s all for this report, see you ’round the next bottle.

John Szabo, MS

Use these quick links for access to all of our April 12th Top Picks in the New Release. Non-premium members can select from all release dates 30 days prior.
John’s Top Picks – April 12th
Megha’s Picks – April 12th
Michael’s Mix – April 12th
Sara’s Selections – April 12th

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for the latest WineAlign recommendations, tips and other interesting wine information.