Nicholas Pearce Portfolio Tasting October 5 2026
Jefferson Davis
The Vintage Conservatory in downtown Toronto was the site of the annual Nicholas Pearce portfolio tasting. Here are some highlights of the multitude of outstanding wines that were poured. These producers utilize sustainable viticulture with a vision of reducing the carbon footprint while yielding superior wines that express their place. Here is the first selection of stellar bottles.
90 Codero San Giorgio 2024 “Katari” Pinot Grigio DOC Oltrepo Pavese Lombardy Italy
A vibrant and well structured Pinot Grigio with impressive fruit depth. An abundance of pear and apple character accompanied by floral lift. Lively acidity works in concert with the appealing fruit depth that jumps forward and lingers on the finish. ON Consignment $32.95
92 Codero San Giorgio 2024 APSU Chardonnay DOC Oltrepo Pavese Lombardy Italy
Good concentration from chardonnay sourced from specific sites. Plenty of fresh apple and lemon character joined by some peach and pear nuances. Well balanced with a combination of fruit and mineral on the finish. ON Consignment $41.95
93 Cordero San Giorgio 2024 Pinot Nero “Tiamat” Oltrepo Pavese Lombardy Italy
An intricate and expressive Pinot Nero that is sourced from 9 different sites in the vicinity of the winery. The various plots are vinified and aged separately before bottling. The end result is a combination of 50% stainless steel fermentation with the other half fermented in 2-3 year-old barriques. The wine ages for about 9 months, is then bottled, and spends another nine months in bottle before release. Bright red berry, herbal, floral, and toasty aromas fill the nose. Deftly balanced on the palate led by cherry, raspberry, and herbal tea flavours, ripe tannin, and brisk acidity. ON Consignment $39.95
92 Cordero Mario 2024 Timorasso “Derthona” DOC Colli Tortonesi Piemonte Italy
Timorasso is a Piemontese grape that lost favour and nearly disappeared 40 years ago. Fortunately a few passionate producers refused to give up on this intriguing variety that is both characterful and age-worthy. This is quite generous on the noise with peach, apple, and floral components joined by honeyed nuances. These elements combine well on the palate with a strong fruity, honeyed, and slightly spicy persistence on the finish. ON Licensee $54.89
92 Cordero Mario 2023 Bech Langhe Nebbiolo DOC Piemonte Italy
A fragrant nose built on cherry, raspberry, rose, and toasty notes. Significant flavour depth with red fruits, spice, lively acidity, and ripe tannic structure. A complex and harmonious Nebbiolo that will drink well through 2030. ON Consignment $52.95
90 The Farm 2023 “Black Label” Pinot Noir VQA Niagara Peninsula Ontario Canada
The nose brims with cherry, floral and slightly earthy character. Good focus on the palate with expressive berry depth joined by lively acidity and earthy-mineral depth. The various components linger on the finish. ON Consignment $28.04
91 Leaning Post 2025 “The Fifty” Chardonnay VQA Niagara Peninsula Ontario Canada
Stellar value in an unoaked chardonnay that has spent time on its lees. Look for bright lemon, pear, floral and honeyed aromas. Good follow through on the palate with a balance of fruit, acidity and well managed alcohol. ON Vintages $26.95
92 Leaning Post 2025 Chardonnay VQA Niagara Peninsula Ontario Canada
An elegant and flavour-laden chardonnay that will drink beautifully over the next two years. Apple, pear, and lemon notes share the aromatic spotlight. Well proportioned fruit flavours with evident weight and acidity. Significant follow through on the finish. ON Winery $32.95
91 Leaning Post 2023 Cuvee Winona VQA Niagara Peninsula Ontario Canada
An enticing blend based chiefly on Merlot (47%) and Cabernet Franc (39%) with some support from Syrah (14%). The complex nose features blackberry, plum, herbal tea, with some spicy accents. A profusion of fruit on the palate with spicy, herbal and mineral complexity. Lively acidity with well managed tannin. Solid value. ON Vintages $28.95
92 Leaning Post 2021 Cabernet Franc VQA Niagara Peninsula Ontario Canada
A top notch cabernet franc that will drink well through 2032-33. Look for blackberry, raspberry, dried herbs, and hints of mocha and spice on the nose and palate. Plenty of depth and persistence on the palate with an enticing synthesis of fruit, herbs, and minerality. ON Licensee $47.06
93 Domaine Arnaud Baillot 2023 “Les Teurons” AC Beaune 1er Cru Burgundy France
A striking pinot noir with fruit, floral, mineral, and earthy intricacy. Cherry, raspberry, beet, herbal tea, dried fruit, mineral, and earthy notes on the nose. Silky on the plate where the fruit, herbs, and minerally notes replay. Well proportioned with elegance and depth from start to finish. ON Licensee $99.99
90 Domaine Arnaud Baillot 2025 Bourgogne Aligote AC Bourgogne Aligote Burgundy France
A fresh and fruit driven aligote with floral and mineral nuances in support. Expect a bright and alert nose of lemon, apple, and pear with a sweet floral and mineral accent. The palate rides a wave of brisk acidity with all the fruit components well expressed. The various elements linger on the finish. ON Licensee $45.57
91 Reva 2024 Langhe Nebbiolo DOC Lange Piemonte Italy
A youthful nebbiolo meant to be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years. The grapes are left to macerate and ferment without intervention in stainless steel tanks for 17 days. This is followed by a year in Austrian oak barrels. Attractive cherry, plum and raspberry notes are supported by floral and mineral nuances. Red fruit flavours replay on the palate with evident but approachable tannin and plenty of acidity. ON Consignment $39.95
93 Reva 2021 Barolo DOCG Barolo Piemonte Italy
A firm and expressive Barolo with many expected varietal characteristics. Some of the classic rose and tarry notes with black cherry, dried fruit, and pomegranate are evident. The palate is very full and concentrated with berry and dried fruit, evident tannin and noteworthy acidity. This will drink well through 2031. ON Consignment $82.95
92 Domaine Louis Moreau 2025 Domaine de Bieville AC Chablis Burgundy France
Made from old vines on a single vineyard established in the 1970’s, this Chablis is poised, elegant, and brimming with fruit depth. The expressive nose features apple, lemon and slightly toasty aromas. Impressive follow through on the palate with a synthesis of apple, lemon, apricot, mineral, and slightly toasty oak. Well proportioned with a long finish. A great match for poultry. ON Consignment $41.60
93 Domaine Louis Moreau 2024 Val Ligneau Chablis 1er Cru AC Burgundy France
This complex and elegant 1er cru derives much of its character from the chalky/clay subsoil near the Serein river. Classic apple, pear, floral and mineral lift follows through impressively on the palate. The flavour depth is substantial and is enlivened by the acidity and mineral complexity. ON Vintages Special Offer online or at select LCBO locations $63.95
91 Macanita Vinhos Branco Douro DOC Portugal
This is a flavourful and complex Douro crafted from the local Gouveio and Viosinho varieties. Apple, pear, floral and slightly spicy notes lead a well proportioned palate. The acidity and mineral character support the apple and pear fruit from start to finish. ON Consignment $33.95
92 Macanita 2024 Letra F Douro DOC Portugal
A delicious and intricate blend of over 20 red and white varieties, from lesser known sites within classic Port Letra A vineyards. The nose unleashes an abundance of red berry and floral concentration. The cherry and raspberry flavours are met by lively acidity and ripe tannic structure. Well balanced overall with impressive length. ON Consignment $39.95
92 Matthias Hager 2025 Gruner Veltliner Mollands Kamptal Austria
A concentrated and flavourful Gruner Veltliner that exemplifies the concentration that this variety attains in the Kamptal region. Expect yellow apple, pear, and apricot aromas with floral and spicy notes. Plenty of fruit depth on the palate with slightly spicy jump and sufficient acidity. ON Consignment $32.95
91 Bodegas Puiggros 2024 Exedra Blanc DO Catalunya Spain
An aromatic Garnatxa Blanca from a vineyard 500m above sea level near Montserrat. Fruit forward nose combines citrus and peachy notes with floral overtones. The fruit depth jumps out on the palate supported by refreshing acidity. ON Consignment $31.95
91 Oenops 2025 APLA White PGI Drama Greece
The Oenops winery sources a range of indigenous grapes from cool climate sites and sustainable growers. Made from Assyrtiko, Malagousia and Vidiano, this wine is based on specific plots that are vinified separately. The wine is bottled after 2-4 months of ageing on fine lees. The citrus and peach aromas are joined by attractive herbal and floral notes. These components carry over nicely on the palate with evident persistence on the finish. ON Consignment $24.95
90 Chateau de la Chaize 2023 Brouilly Burgundy France
Hailing from the southernmost Beaujolais Crus appellation, this is fashioned from a 50/50 combination of destemmed fruit and whole clusters. The fermenting juice is pumped over and not punched down to help maintain a fruit driven style. According to the producer, 70% of this wine was aged in stainless steel while the remaining 30% spent 12 months in large wooden vats known as foudres. The nose is full of cherry, strawberry, floral and mineral expression. Red berry and slight herbal tea flavours sit on a spine of lively acidity. ON Consignment $34.95
90 Domaine Chante Cigal 2024 Cicada Rouge Cotes-du-Rhone Rhone Valley France
Solid value in a Cotes-du-Rhone made from 30-year-old vines in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape area. The bulk is Grenache (80%) supported by Carignan (20%). An alert nose jumps out with cherry, strawberry berry and floral depth. Well proportioned and balanced on the palate with abundant fruit character, hints of dried fruit, lively acidity and ripe tannins. At its best now through 2028. ON Consignment $19.95
90 Mas Carlot 2023 “Les Enfants Terribles” Costieres de Nimes Rhone Valley France
The Costieres de Nimes appellation is located where the Rhone Valley meets eastern Languedoc. This is a concentrated and firmly structured combination of 80% old-vine Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah. There is plenty to consider here based on the age of the vines, pebbly soil, and stellar winemaking that includes 12 months in oak. An intriguing nose features black cherry, blueberry, herbal and slightly spicy notes. Quite generous on the palate with dark fruit, herbs, spice, acidity and evident tannic structure. A great match for rack of lamb now but will age nicely over the next 4-5 years. ON Consignment $30.95
91 Chateau Lamartine 2022 Cuvee Tradition Malbec Cahors Southwest France
The Cahors AOP sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean sea in southwest France. This is a complex and nicely evolved example built on dark fruit, floral and oak influence. Well balanced overall with appealing fruit depth, lively acidity and evident but ripe tannin. Drinking well now. ON Consignment $25.95
91 Bideona 2024 Las Parcelas Blanco Rioja Alavesa Rioja DOCa Spain
An inviting and complex Viura from the Alavesa sub-region of Rioja, known for its cooler sites compared to other areas in this part of Spain. The average age of these vineyards is approximately 50 years. The style of this producer is to utilize stainless steel to maintain freshness and used barrels and wooden vats that ensure evident but restrained wood influence. The inviting nose features pear, peach, mineral, and floral notes. These elements follow through and persist on the palate. ON Consignment $35.94
91 Bideona 2025 “Mayela” Rioja Alavesa Rioja DOCa Spain
A fruit-laden and easy drinking unoaked Rioja with plenty of depth and charm for the money. A generous nose features cherry, raspberry, floral, and spicy layers. An abundance of fruit flavours with spicy hints and ripe tannin. Enjoy this now in its youth. ON Consignment $21.95
93 Bideona 2021 Villabuena “V1BN4” Vino de Pueblo Vinas Viejas Rioja Alevesa Rioja DOCa Spain
A complex and evolved Tempranillo from small parcels at 500m elevation. Red berries are joined by earthy, floral and toasty notes from the portion of wine aged in French barriques. Silky on the palate with a balance of berry fruit depth, ripe tannin, lively acidity and toasty components. A beautifully crafted Rioja. ON Licensee $63.45