72 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 80 PART 1 JANUARY 2022
spicy and smoky finish. Again, it will work well with many foods and I rerecommend
the foods suggested for the Lake Breeze Merlot. Or, as a midweek
wine, try it with pizza or a burger.
DOMAINE DE L’R LE CANAL DES GRANDS PIÈCES 2019
AC Chinon, France #11043 $34.99
Historically, Chinon is probably best known as the place where Jeanne
d’Arc at age 17 pledged her allegiance to King Charles VII in the Hundred
Years’ War with England; he remarkably put his army under her leadership
to beat back the English, turning the war, despite her own later capture and
death at age 19 by being burned at the stake. But enough of grisly history
and long sentences. The principal grape of Chinon is Cabernet Franc, which
is also becoming a signature grape in both British Columbia and Ontario.
This version features a bright ruby colour, with aromas of sweet cherry, cassis
(red currant), raspberry, tomato leaf and some spice. Its medium-bodied
palate is dry, with high acidity, but with balanced tannins. The flavours are
again of red fruit, especially raspberry and cassis, with some green tea and
a medium-long finish. It is ready for drinking now but will age for several
more years. It will go with pasta with tomato sauces, meat stews, roasted
chicken with roasted winter vegetables, or a lighter steak like a filet
mignon.
Finally, we are in the winter season and, as Colonel Pickering exclaims to
Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady (which I watched again recently), “Higgins,
at a time like this, it’s positively indecent that you don’t need a glass
of port!” So here is one late bottle vintage at a reasonable price for after-
dinner sipping.
DOW’S LATE-BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT 2013
Douro, Portugal #533364 $25.99
This LBV port was awarded 90 points from Wine Spectator and 91 points
from Wine Enthusiast. Port is a fortified wine made from specific grapes in
Portugal’s Douro region, and a late-bottled vintage is often a grand version
that comes at a cost much less than vintage port. The difference is that
while vintage port is aged two years in wood before bottling and then extensively
aged in bottle, LBV port is aged four to six years in wood and then bottled
ready to drink, and should not be further aged. As it is generally
younger when consumed, it tends to be more fruit-forward than a vintage
port. This version opens with a floral aroma, followed by red plum, raspberry,
cherry and smoke. Dow’s style is generally on the dry side, but on the