Luxury in the Luxury Market

Heitz Trailside Cabernet 2006
$135.00 a bottle in cases of 6
(only 4 cases available) SOLD OUT - Contact Summer re. Private Stock Order

Heitz Wine Cellars are located in a valley in the eastern hills of St. Helena, known to the locals as Spring Valley. Heitz vineyards include 375 acres located throughout Napa, and all of the land is farmed sustainably and organically. In 1964, Joe and Alice Heitz bought this ranch and have since handed it down to their son and daughter, David Heitz and Kathleen Heitz. This year marks their 52nd anniversary; they have built a worldwide reputation for themselves and have become synonymous with luxury in the world of winemaking.

Trailside Vineyard in Rutherford has been cultivated by the Heitz family for over 20 years. It is typified by powerful Cabernet flavours. This wine is rich, yet restrained. It is evolving nicely with splendid varietal aroma that originates from a core of lush, dark fruit. Ripe cherry flavours and an undertone of spice are wonderfully integrated with fine-grained tannins, building to a lovely finish of great length.

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Joseph Phelps Insignia 2005
$229.95 a bottle in cases of 6
(only 6 cases available)

I think the world may have run out of superlatives for this wine. California’s first proprietary blend and still one of the world’s most sought-after and revered reds. Twenty-seven of 37 vintages have been rated ninety or more points by various wine publications. From 1990 to 2007, the average score from Robert Parker’sWine Advocate is 94.5 points, with the lowest score still a fabulous 91.

95 points: Since 2004, 100% of the Bordeaux varietals used in the Insignia proprietary blend have been from estate vineyards. The beautiful, dense ruby/purple-tinged 2005 Insignia (a 12,500-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot) possesses sweet aromas of black cherries, cassis, chocolate, camphor, and a subtle hint of roasted herbs. Medium to full-bodied and elegant, with a European style imposed on the rich, velvety, California fruit, this cuvee will benefit from several years of bottle age, and should easily keep for three decades. (Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, Issue #180)

To place an order, email summerh@liffordwine.com, or call 416-440-4101.

Taken by an Edelzwicker

In 2002 Heidi Noble and Michael Dinn took an extraordinary journey that led to the heart of the Okanagan and a life of food, orchards, hospitality and wine. They not only enjoy drinking these exotic wines, they believe these varieties thrive in B.C., and they are right.

In a place where everyone is convinced they can make a big red, Joie Farm works exclusively with the grape varieties of Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne. These grapes excel in the cool-climate, desert landscape of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.

The limited production of 9500 cases sells out quickly and we only get about 20 cases of each wine here in Ontario. If this is your thing (and it should be), act fast.

Joie Farm A Noble Blend 2011
$33.95 a bottle in cases of 12

This is made in the style of an Edelzwicker (traditional Alsace blend - the word means ‘noble blend’). A blend dominated by Riesling with close to the same percentage of Gewurztraminer, marked with Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrios and has a splash of Schoenberger. The Gewurztraminer leads in lending aromas of lychee and rose petals, cold cream and exotic spice. The Riesling adds vibrant citrus, white blossoms and honey and finally there are the underlying smoky mushroom notes. The palate is sweet and concentrated with rich tropical fruit underscored with tangerine and spice. The finish is lengthy, tangy and mouth-watering. This is begging for Asian flavours on the plate, but will work well with almost anything.

To place an order, email summerh@liffordwine.com, or call 416-440-4101.

Last Friday evening, deep in the bowels of the Lifford HQ, the Lifford R&D Labs played host to an eminent group of academics, scientists and chefs who were gathered in Toronto for a two-day conference entitled Thinking about Dinner.

The conference was jointly presented by the University of Toronto’s Jackman Humanities Institute and a group entitled the Network for Sensory Research, an “international philosophy-led network conducting interdisciplinary research on perception” linking academics from U of T, University of London, University of Glasgow, Harvard and MIT.

Those lucky enough to attend the sold-out conference were treated to workshops including "Molecular Gastronomy as Hacktivism,”  "Kaiseki and Japanese Cuisine,” and a presentation from chef Dan Felder, head of R&D at Momofuku’s famed culinary lab.

While most of the workshops explored the senses through food, a few of the participants conduct research on wine tasting in particular. And what better way to explore the senses than through a glass of wine?

With this in mind, upon the suggestion of conference participant and wine writer Stéphane Beauroy, we invited the participants to the Lifford tasting room on Friday evening for a thought-provoking tasting of some interesting wines from our portfolio.

Professor Barry C. Smith from the University of London led the proceedings, guiding the group through a flight of wines that challenged us to perceive varying levels of sugar, acidity, and tannin.

Also weighing in with particular authority were Ophelia Deroy (London) and Steven Shapin (Harvard), both of whom have done fascinating academic work in the field of wine tasting.

It was an honour to host such a distinguished group and we at Lifford look forward to a continuing involvement with the Network for Sensory Research. Thank you to Professor Mohan Matthen (U of T) for his help in organizing this special tasting.

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If you are interested in finding out more about the research being done by these thinkers, explore the following links:

Perspective: Complexities of Flavor, Barry Smith, Nature, 486.

Classification and Wine Styles, Ophelia Deroy, World of Fine Wine, Issue 21 2008

The Tastes of Wine: Toward a Cultural History (video lecture), Steven Shapin, 2012 May 29.

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Wines tasted:

Donnafugata Lighea 2011
Ironstone Obsession Symphony 2011
Tawse Sketches of Niagara Riesling 2010
Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2010
Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Morgon 2009
Colpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino 2006

It is with great excitement that Lifford Wine & Spirits is announcing a developing partnership with Tawse Winery.

Tawse needs no introduction among those who seek out the very best in Canadian wine. They are widely recognized as one of the country’s elite producers and duly respected for their dedication to organic and biodynamic viticulture and for their work in helping to establish the varied terroirs of the Niagara Peninsula.

Tawse has earned a long and enviable list of accolades. Named Winery of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 at the Canadian Wine Awards, Tawse became the first Ontario winery to win the award and the only winery to receive the honour in three consecutive years. In 2011, winemaker Paul Pender was named Winemaker of the Year, while in 2012, Tawse earned a record-setting 32 medals including 9 golds. These awards serve to emphasize the unwavering commitment to quality at all levels of the Tawse product range.

Lifford will represent Tawse in select areas of Ontario.

We look forward to growing together with such an accomplished, dedicated and exciting partner as Tawse Winery.

Lifford is thrilled to announce the arrival of Donnafugata to our Ontario portfolio and would like to extend a warm Lifford welcome to this superb producer.

Located on the island of Sicily, Donnafugata ("woman in flight") ranks not just as one of the island's best, but as one of the most innovative and highly regarded producers in all of Italy. Founded in 1983 by the Rallo family, who brought with them 150 years of experience at Marsala Rallo, this family company remains in the caring hands of Giacomo Rallo and wife Gabriella, daughter José and son Antonio.

Donnafugata is in esteemed company as one of only twenty-five wineries to have earned more than ten Tre Bicchieri awards from the vaunted Gambero Rosso guide. They also belong to the Istituto Grandi Marchi, a prestigous institute of nineteen of Italy's most important producers.

Not one to rest on such laurels, Donnafugata continues to be a force of innovation. Long committed to sustainability in word and in deed, they were the first Sicilian winery to install solar panels; now 70% of their power is derived from solar at their Contessa Entellina site.

Early adopters of things digital, Donnafugata launched their first website way back in 1995. This past August 10th, Donnafugata broadcast live video of the nighttime Chardonnay harvest across the internet, inviting wine-lovers around the world to participate in the action on Facebook and Twitter. Mention should also be made of the beautiful and distinctive Donnafugata labels, whose design is overseen by Gabriella Rallo.

However, the contents of the bottle are not to be outdone by the labels! Across the range, the Donnafugata white, red and passito wines are all marked by vibrant acidity, charming complexity and a delightful purity of fruit.

We look forward to sharing these beautiful Sicilian gems with you!