![December wine club feature - Malivoire Wine](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WCC-12.02.2019.jpg)
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
![Malivoire 2016 Mottiar Chardonnay](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2016MottiarChard-e1573501321422.jpg)
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.
![Malivoire 2017 Small Lot Pinot Noir](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2017-Small-Lot-Pinot-Noir-e1571239830339.png)
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.
![Malivoire Bisous Brut](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bisous-Brut-e1571239866322.png)
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.
![Malivoire 2017 Cabernet Franc](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cabernet_franc_2017-e1571239881142.jpg)
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.
![Malivoire 2018 Pinot Gris](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pinot_gris_3-e1571239913871.jpg)
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.
![Malivoire 2018 Small Lot Gamay](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/gamay_small_lot_q-stone_-e1571239939764.jpg)
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.
![Malivoire 2018 Stouck Viognier](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/viognier_stouck_2018-e1571239960626.jpg)
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.
![Malivoire 2015 Stouck Merlot](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2015-Stouck-Merlot-e1571239992491.png)
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.
![Malivoire 2017 Forgotten Row Chardonnay](https://wineclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2017ForgottenRowChard-e1573489457745.png)
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.