Sandbanks (non-vintage) "Sleeping Giant" Foch - Baco Noir (Ontario VQA)

The Sandbanks blend of Baco and Foch is a unique red that I enjoy trying every now and then. It is typically well made, dry, and elegant.

Unlike in previous years, this one is non-vintage; I wonder what is up with the non-vintage status of Sandbanks wines of late. I recently found it on sale for $16 as opposed to the usual $19.95.

This comes with a composite natural cork closure, unlike the screw top used on the winery's Marquette. Beautiful dark garnet colour. Nose of dark cherries and a leafy, herbal note. Wonderfully dry and cleansing on the palate with good warmth from the 13% alc./vol. Very clean and well defined, from the palate right into the finish. Great with any meal that calls for a dry red—anything from pasta with tomato sauce to steak.

Sandbanks (non-vintage) Marquette Reserve (Ontario VQA)

This wine is not available at the LCBO, but is available at the Wine Rack outlets. $19.95.

Deep, clear garnet colour with a ruby tint. Big nose of candied black cherries upon pouring, framed with a nice amount of clove and vanillin in the background, but also framing the fruit. Dry, refreshingly tart acidity and good texture; gentle warmth from the 13% alc./vol. There is some astringency in the background; Marquette is more tannic than the old-school hybrids like Baco and Foch.

Warm, cleansing finish. Very food-friendly. I am having it with leftover lamb roast and potatoes, but really, this wine would go well with so many things.

I'm glad to see Marquette growing in presence in Ontario, and am also glad that the VQA regs seemed to readily embrace the variety rather than keeping it out of the club.

2016 Sandbanks Foch - Baco Noir "Sleeping Giant" (Ontario VQA)

This blend of Foch and Baco has been one of my go-to reds for well over a year now. Sandbanks Estate Winery is located south of Belleville (eastern Lake Ontario, north shore—basically across the lake from Rochester).

The wine pours with a beautiful, saturated black-cherry/magenta colour. Sweet and herbaceous Vitis riparia aromas are immediately dominant on the nose and are backed up by lively summer raspberry fruit. There's oak here, but it's well integrated and in the background, offering more structural support than overt aromatics—which is fine by me, as the palate benefits from this oak treatment.

Tart but balanced acidity fans out across the palate, offering a refreshing texture and good warmth from the 12.8% alc./vol. The finish is elegant and a touch spicy from the oak, but in a restrained way.

Excellent wine and well worth the price (it varies between $18 and $20 at the LCBO depending on time of year).

One of the best, and a welcome addition to the modern red hybrid winescape.