Malivoire Wine Company
We were proud to feature Malivoire in December 2019.
Since planting its first vineyard in 1996, Malivoire has pioneered an innovative, eco-centric approach to wine growing on the Beamsville Bench in the Niagara Peninsula. Malivoire considers itself more a grower than a maker of wines – our philosophy is that the vineyard is where wine is given its life and soul.
Expert winemaker Shiraz Mottiar personifies Malivoire’s founding philosophy: that excellence as a winery begins with healthy soil and vines, and depends on minimal human manipulation of the fruit and its wine. Shiraz and the Malivoire winemaking team craft a spectacular portfolio of wines that include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Old Vines Foch, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, among many others.
Tasting Notes
MOTTIAR CHARDONNAY, 2016
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Beamsville Bench
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Mottiar Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 59
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Minerally, citrus nose with a forest floor note and a suggestion of well-integrated, spicy oak.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, apple and lemon flavours; lovely mouth-feel with a generous tangerine finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now or over the next couple of years. The grapes for this wine come from Malivoire winemaker Shiraz Mottiar’s own vineyard.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Crab cakes with spicy remoulade, pan-fried trout with a tomato basil saute, creamy vegetable soup, grilled chicken with avocado-cherry salsa, and vegetable terrine.
SMALL LOT PINOT NOIR, 2017
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Beamsville Bench
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Moira and Mottiar Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 434
Appearance: Light ruby colour.
Nose: Red plum, tobacco leaf nose with a note of ripe rhubarb and oak.
Palate: Light to medium-body, dry with lifted flavours of cherry and red plum and an engaging floral finish. A touch of tannin on the finish gives structure to the wine.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink in 2020, through 2021.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Alfredo linguini with salmon, sweet potato casserole, turkey meatballs with cranberry sauce, beef and barley stew, and pesto chicken bake with feta and olives.
BISOUS BRUT, NV
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Beamsville Bench
Varietal: Chardonnay (84%) & Pinot Noir (16%)
Vineyard: Beamsville Bench estate vineyards
Alcohol: 12%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 240
Appearance: Light golden colour with active, tiny bubbles.
Nose: A nose of apples, lemon zest and crusty bread.
Palate: A blend of chardonnay and pinot noir rendered sparkling by the traditional method of fermentation in bottle and left on the lees for forty months before disgorging. Medium-bodied, crisp on the palate, a green apple flavour with a long, lemony finish enhanced by a light floral note. ‘Bisous’ is French for ‘kisses.’
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or over the next two years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Shrimp cocktail, fried calamari with lemon aioli, spaghetti with roasted garlic cream sauce, dill and caviar deviled eggs, and fresh veggies with mascarpone cheese dip.
CABERNET FRANC, 2017
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Wismer Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 242
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, toasty, red currant bouquet with vanilla oak notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, and fresh red currant and sour cherry flavours carried on lively acidity. Well-structured and great tension between ripe fruit and acidity, a touch of nutmeg on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now or hold 2 -3 years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Cornish game hen with wild rice stuffing, lasagna, grilled quail with saffron couscous, baba ganoush with pomegranate molasses, red lentil soup, and roasted duck breast with asparagus.
PINOT GRIS, 2018
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Beamsville Bench
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Malivoire Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,200
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Minerally, peach pit nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, white peach and citrus flavours sustained with a stony note.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now or through 2020.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Grilled halibut with peach and red pepper salsa, seared scallops with sautéed beans, fish tacos with lime-cilantro crema, chicken and black bean nachos, and butternut squash and chicken chili.
SMALL LOT GAMAY, 2018
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Escarpment
Varietal: Gamay
Vineyard: Estate vineyards on Beamsville Bench and Vinemount Ridge
Alcohol: 12%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,400
Appearance: Light ruby in colour.
Nose: Lively bouquet of cherries with a hint of oak spice.
Palate: Light-bodied, dry, juicy, red cherry and cranberry flavours with a hint of white pepper carried on zesty acidity.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and chill lightly.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Blackened cajun shrimp, roasted duck breast with plum sauce, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, apricot glazed hanger steak, pork sausage with sauerkraut, and roast chicken with thyme and honey.
STOUCK VIOGNIER, 2018
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Stouck Family Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 181
Appearance: Clear. Bright. Very pale straw-coloured core.
Nose: Spice, pear, lemon, green apple, white flowers.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Orange, lime, pear, a touch of honey.
Quality: Very Good+. 88 points. A delicate, nuanced viognier. Distinctly different from expressions of the same varietal from BC.
Food Pairing: Spicy stir-fried pork, sesame ginger grilled chicken, lobster tail with chili-lime butter, veal scallopini with capers, and caprese pasta salad.
STOUCK MERLOT, 2015
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Stouck Family Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 124
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Plum, black cherry, black currant, forest floor, fresh green herbs.
Palate: Medium acid, medium+ tannin, medium body. Plum, black currant, earth. Slightly stiff tannins make you sit up and pay attention. Velvety mouthfeel. Well balanced.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Drink now or cellar for 2-3 years.
Food Pairing: Filet mignon with peppercorn sauce, roasted pork loin with red currants, mushroom and garlic chicken thighs, pear and gorgonzola ravioli with walnut balsamic drizzle, and lamb burgers with tzatziki.
FORGOTTEN ROW CHARDONNAY, 2017
Malivoire Wine Company, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Beamsville Bench
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Malivoire Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 146
Appearance: Bright, clear. Straw-coloured core.
Nose: A heavenly bouquet of freshly baked bread and butter. Coconut.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Caramel popcorn, nuts, and oak spice.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Smooth mouthfeel, robust, and complex. A wonderful example of a varietal that Malivoire crafts so expertly. Amazingly, it has 0g of residual sugar. Drink now or hold for 2-3 years.
Food Pairing: Ahi poké bowl with quinoa and heirloom tomatoes, asparagus and prosciutto risotto, baked camembert with chives and garlic, braised leeks with red snapper, and grilled tarragon and mustard chicken.