El Esteco Blend de Extremos Malbec 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, high-altitude Malbec from Argentina. This new arrival landed at the LCBO recently as part of the December 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release. (Although the VINTAGES magazine and LCBO website may list 2020, it's actually the 2021 vintage that arrived in stores.)

It is produced by El Esteco, a pioneering institution founded in 1892 that was one of the first in Argentina to master the art of viticulture and winemaking. They are situated in northwestern Argentina in the heart of the Calchaquí Valleys - a hidden treasure in the summit of the world and a gem in the world of winemaking. With nearly 1,000 acres of vineyards, El Esteco condenses all the spirit of the region in their fruit. El Esteco also stands at an ideal elevation of more than 1,700 metres (5,500 feet) above sea level and benefits from ever-present sunshine and a perfect diurnal temperature range, an environment that is perfect for the creation of fine wines. El Esteco is surrounded by vineyards and housed in a 100-year-old, iconic vallisto Spanish colonial-style building, while inside the winery they have the latest wine production technologies such as concrete containers, stainless steel tanks, and French and American oak barrels, all of which allow them to craft wines of diverse styles, aromas, and flavours.

This red wine is from their Blend de Extremos range of wines that aim to perfect the balance between two different expressions of the Calchaquí Valley - the Cafayate with its potent base and characteristics, and Chañar Punco, an exclusive region with highly valued vines that pours its virtues into its wines. Blend de Extremos wines are an adventure that merges the best of two extreme regions.

The Malbec in this wine comes from Finca La Maravilla in Cafayate, which situated at 1,700 metres above sea level, and Finca Chañar Punco which is situated even higher at 2,000 metres above sea level. In Cafayate, the broad temperature range is marked by warm days and cold nights, allowing for the development of ripe berries that condense all the best that the region has to offer. The desert climate and soils, which are poor in organic matter, help define the unique terroir in Cafayate, allowing El Esteco to produce distinct wines with great concentration of colour, deep aromas and well-defined flavours.

Chañar Punco is a a hidden treasure at the top of the world. A unique sub-region surrounded by the Quilmes Mountains, Chañar Punco is located in the southwest of the Calchaquí Valley and has poor, rocky, and calcareous soils combined with the scarce heat load and radiation in the months prior to harvest, thus allowing the grapes to slowly develop its maximum expression. The vineyards in Chañar Punco run north-south, allowing moderate winds from the north to improve the microclimate of the canopy, while distilled water is pumped deep from the soil, along with drip irrigation to hydrate the vines. Let's see how this Malbec from Calchaquí Valleys is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL ESTECO BLEND DE EXTREMOS MALBEC 2021 - Valles Calchaquíes, Argentina (#24863) (XD) - $18.95
Screw cap. This unoaked Malbec from Cafayate and Chañar Punco has a funky, reductive nose off the top, revealing dark berry, plum, black and blueberry and subtle white pepper spice aromas. It's medium+ bodied with spicy flavours of dark berry, blackberry, blueberry, and dried herb, with some mineral notes, all backed by fresh, balanced acidity and smooth, refined tannins that have a subtle chalky grip. Minerally with subtle spice and dried herb notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by El Esteco can be ordered through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine 2021 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, organic white wine from the Loire Velley in France that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the December 3 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Claude Branger at Domaine Haute Févrie in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation in the Loire Valley. The Domaine was founded 18 km southeast of Nantes during the First World War by Claude's grandfather. For many years, Claude worked alongside his father for many years, and in 2007 he was joined by his son Sébastien to become the fourth generation of the family to carefully tend the estate's vines which are situated on hills overlooking the Sèvre River, ‎between the communes of Saint-Fiacre and Monnières. As conscientious winegrowers, the Branger family harvests all of their grapes by hand, and starting in 2016, Sébastien embarked on a vision to convert all of their vineyards to organic farming. By 2019, all of the domain's parcels were fully certified organic.

I've enjoyed this consistently delicious wine many times over the years, including most recently the 2019 Le Fils des Gras Moutons Sur Lie Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine last year in July. Certified organic, this white wine is crafted with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal from 10 hectares of vines averaging 40+ years old that were grown in the earlier maturing plots of the Les Gras Moutons vineyard. The vines are planted on soils that sit on a granite bedrock that is metamorphic gneiss full of mica and quartz. The grapes were hand-picked and after fermentation rested on its lees for 6-7 months prior to bottling.

2021 was a tricky growing season in the Loire with difficult weather and yields down significantly. However, the resulting wines were surprisingly good with the cool growing season naturally favouring aromatic varietals which preserved their elegant structures and clean, crisp acidity. Let's see how this 2021 Muscadet is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LE FILS DES GRAS MOUTONS SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#363150) (XD) - $17.95
This lovely organic wine crafted with 100% Melon de Bourgogne has a crisp, elegant, and focused medium-high intensity nose with appealing aromas of lemon-lime citrus, orchard fruit, apple, and mineral with hints of melon and peach adding further complexity. There's good weight on the dry, medium+ bodied palate that is slightly honeyed with ripe apple, lemon-lime peel citrus, saline mineral, and subtle spice flavours, plus orange and melon notes. There's a subtle chalky mouthfeel on the mid-palate, along with clean, crisp, and juicy acidity. Minerally with citrus and apple notes lingering on the long, juicy, and dry finish. Ideal with oysters. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

You can find other lovely wines by Domaine Haute Févrie through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Wine Art Estate (Greece) - Wine Dinner

At the end of August I had the pleasure of attending a Greek wine dinner at Petros 82 featuring the wines of Wine Art Estate.

With a love for wine and passion to explore the vinification procedure, Yiannis Papadopoulos planted a small family vineyard in 1993 on the outskirts of Drama in the northeastern end of Macedonia in northern Greece and founded Wine Art Estate. Yiannis is actually a civil engineer by profession but wanted to make wine that he loves to drink and share with his friends. He pivoted from wine lover to winemaker by first reviving a family-owned vineyard and then constructing a winemaking facility in his old paternal home in Mikrochori, Drama. He also built a small underground cellar for ageing his wines. His first wines were produced with the contributions of consultant oenologists and showed enormous potential. Several years later, his friend and fellow wine lover, Yiannis Kalaitzidis, architect and engineer, joined the company as a partner.

Following the trends at the time, Wine Art Estate focused on growing French varieties, followed by a selection of Greece's emblematic varietals such as Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro. This was evident during dinner as a couple of the wines we tasted were blends primarily based on Bordeaux varieties.

In 2009, Akis Papadopoulos, Yiannis' son, returned from his studies in Bordeaux and took over as Chief Oenologist. Also joining the team as viticulturalist was Iralklis Topalidis whose was focused on the importance of the vineyard in quality winemaking. Today, Wine Art Estate is dedicated to quality, and to a winemaking philosophy that respects harmony and nature. In addition, the believe that great wines begin in the vineyard and are grown by those who adapt, listen to nature, and are respectful of the land’s energy. They are committed to sustainable winegrowing without compromising wine quality and to preserving nature for generations to come. With three decades of winemaking experience and an intimate block-by-block approach in the vineyard, Wine Art Estate is focused on its core belief that the best wines are the result of the connection between nature and man.

Thank you to Kolonaki Group of Companies for the invitation and opportunity to taste these lovely wines, as well as experience the fine cuisine of Petros 82. Wine reviews of each wine tasted are provided below. The Malagousia and Techni Alipias Red are available at the LCBO, while the other two wines can be ordered through Kolonaki.

Tasting Notes:

PLANO MALAGOUSIA 2021 - PGI Drama, Greece (#27225) (XD) - $21.50
100% Malagousia. The medium-high to highly aromatic nose is elegant and complex with flinty minerality, citrus, herbs, lemongrass, fennel, and anise aromas. It's nicely textured on the ripe, dry, lightly honeyed, medium+ bodied palate with very nice aroma replays. Fresh acids linger through to the finish, with very good length. Score: 90+ pts

WINE ART TECHNI ALIPIAS WHITE BLEND 2021 - PGI Drama, Greece (#27224) (XD) - $24.95
This blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Assyrtiko has a fresh, medium-high to highly aromatic nose with ripe tropical fruit, guava, passion fruit, grassy, and green aromas joined by citrus, white peach, and herbs. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has pleasing aroma replays and subtle minerality on the flavour profile. With balanced acidity it also has a crunchy mid-palate. Very good length on the citrus and herbally finish. Score: 89 pts

PINK BANG 2021 - PGI Drama, Greece (XD) - $28.95
100% Touriga Nacional from vines planted in 2009. Crafted using the saignée method by Akis who is a fan of the "The Big Bang Theory" sitcom. The medium-high intensity nose is fresh and concentrated with aromas of strawberry, red cherry, and hints of lime citrus. It's fresh with vibrant acidity on the dry palate with lovely aroma replays joined by blueberry notes on the flavour profile. Very good length on the dry, crisp finish. Score: 89 pts

WINE ART TECHNI ALIPIAS RED BLEND 2018 - PGI Drama, Greece (#26944) (XD) - $27.95
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Agiorgitiko, this has an open, highly aromatic, and fragrant nose of dried rose florals, sweet spices, sweet cassis, currant, cherry, and vanillin oak. It's medium-full bodied with smooth, rounded tannins and nice aroma replays surrounded by sweet oak in a slightly commercial profile. Acids are fresh and nicely balanced, while the finish length is very good. Score: 89 pts

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Miguel Torres Ándica Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this lovely, organic, and vegan-friendly Sauvignon Blanc from the Curicó Valley in Chile. It's a fairly new wine that made it's debut at the LCBO last weekend as part of the September 24 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Backed by a long history rooted in winemaking in Spain, Miguel Torres Chile arrived in the Curicó Valley in 1979 in the search for a new project. Miguel Torres Chile was the first foreign wine producer to establish themselves in Chile and chose the Curicó Valley for its excellent conditions to further develop the wine industry. As an innovator, Miguel Torres Chile introduced many new technologies and winemaking techniques to Chile, including the first use of fermentation in stainless steel tanks and ageing in French oak barrels in 1979, while also helping grow the Chilean wine industry.

The Torres family acquired their first 100 hectares of land and exported their first wines from Chile in 1981. Over the years, the company acquired more land and currently has approximately 350 hectares of vineyards planted on eight estates, each with different climate characteristics, enabling them to grow a diverse range of varieties to produce wines of intense varietal character. Today, Miguel Torres Chile maintains its cornerstone concepts of innovation, organic vine-growing, and Fair Trade certification, while also becoming more sustainable. With a global presence, Miguel Torres Chile family winery has established itself one of the main producers of high-quality wines through its products' identity, respect for the environment, and social responsibility. In 2010, the fifth generation of the Torres Family took over as Miguel Torres Maczassek became President of the family business in Chile.

Miguel Torres Chile has several ranges of wines and this Sauvignon Blanc is from their newest label - Miguel Torres Ándica. Wines from the Ándica label are made under the vision of honouring the natural expression and biodiversity of the country that welcomed them over 40 years ago. All wines under the Ándica label are 100% certified organic and crafted with the utmost respect for the Chilean ecosystems where the grapes are grown, from the north to Patagonia, with a sustainable approach to agriculture and awareness of climate change. This particular Sauvignon Blanc was organically grown in the Curicó Valley. It was de-stemmed and macerated for 3 hours at low temperatures. After a 16-day fermentation, the wine was aged without the use of any oak. Let's see how this 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MIGUEL TORRES ÁNDICA RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Vegan, Valle de Curicó, Chile (#25641) (XD) - $16.95
Organic and vegan. Screw cap. Fresh, fragrant, and highly aromatic with pungent aromas of gooseberry, grassy, guava, tropical fruit, lemongrass, and herbs with earthy-smoky undertones. It's medium+ bodied and dry with fresh, lively, and juicy acidity lifting the citrusy, grapefruit, gooseberry, grassy, guava, tropical fruit, and lemongrass flavours. Really well-balanced and succulent with a subtle chalky textured mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Leesy minerals join the citrus, gooseberry, grassy, and tropical fruit replays on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Several lovely wines by Miguel Torres are available not only at the LCBO, but also through their Agent - Dandurand.

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M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2021 (Midi) - Wine Review

A perennial favourite of mine that seems to get better every vintage, tonight's white wine review is this lovely wine from Roussillon that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

M. Chapoutier is the legendary producer from Rhône whose origins go back to the year 1808. In 1990, the renowned Michel Chapoutier took over the reins of the family business. In 2000, he forayed into Roussillon when he purchased his first estate in the region. Michel set up Domaine de Bila-Haut in Latour-de-France, Roussillon, an area with an intense, forceful, and sometimes violent past with contoured terraces, stony soils, and a rich geology. Michel's children, Mathilde and Maxime,
have since joined the family business to form the next generation of the Chapoutier family to perpetuate the family's tradition and vision to craft biodynamic wines which express the full potential of its terroir and true character of the soils.

I enjoyed the 2020 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc last November, and while the 2021 growing season was a tough year across France where most regions experienced record rainfall, Roussillon suffered its most severe drought in the last 10 years. However, Chapoutier's use of biodynamic practices helped save the day! A cold winter led to later than normal budburst, while frost only affected a few of Chapoutier's plots on the plains and lower valleys - their Domaine is actually located in the upper reaches of the Agly Valley. Cool weather continued into late spring, and summer was not as hot as recent years, with no scorching hot days. This worked out well given the lack of water.

In Roussillon, the growing season runs counter to the rest of the winegrowing regions where the lack of water, combined with biodynamic growing practices, avoids any cryptogrammic pressure and they were able to bring in a perfectly healthy crop. When there is a lack of water, biodynamic compost, fermented forest litter help to invigorate the soil, and horn dung, allowed Chapoutier to produce an average harvest in terms of quantity, where much of Roussillon is recording the smallest harvest in its history. 2021 produced a later than average harvest due to some rain at the beginning of September. The grapes ripened during the second half of September, without excessive heat, and produced a very fine vintage.

This delicious white wine continues to be a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Macabeu. The grapes come from two places - limestone, clay soils and gneiss in the Agly Valley, and granite soils at higher altitude (500 metre), later ripening sites. The grapes were manually harvested early in the morning to preserve freshness, and hand-selected to protect the aromas. At the winery, after pressing, the must is cold-settled. It underwent fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by ageing for a few months (on its lees) in order to preserve freshness and enhance minerality. Let's see how this 2021 Côtes du Roussillon Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2021 - AP, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $16.95
Composed of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Macabeu. Elegant, yellow floral, herbs, waxy, and lemon pith aromas rise out of the glass with hints of grapefruit and smoke. It's medium-full bodied with a rich mouthfeel and ripe flavours of lemon citrus, grapefruit, yellow floral, orange, white peach, and herbs with melon and mineral undertones. Acids are fresh and lively. Some spiciness and a subtle chalky texture on the mid-palate. Nicely balanced with a satisfyingly long, crisp, minerally finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

You can get other lovely wines by M. Chapoutier at the LCBO and through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé 2021 (Provence) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé in Spring of last year when it made its debut at the LCBO, tonight's dry rosé wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific wine that comes to the LCBO this weekend in the September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Château des Ferrages, a domain cherry-picked by Mathilde Chapoutier Selection in 2016 that is located in the village of Pourcieux, halfway between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximin, in the prime, lowland plots of the Sainte-Victoire appellation. Previously, Château des Ferrages was owned winemaker Jose Garcia. His family had been running the 30 hectare domain for three generations, making primarily rosé wines since 1980. Today, Château des Ferrages is in the hands of legendary Rhône wine estate Maison M. Chapoutier and produces wines using the principles of biodynamic farming.

This dry rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Rolle (aka Vermentino) that was grown on shallow, well-draining, clay-limestone soils with varying amounts of sand. The parcels of grapes come from the villages of Pourcieux and Pourrières, at the feet of Mount Aurélien and Mount Sainte-Victoire, where the climate is Mediterranean. Harvest was carried out at night to preserve freshness and aromas. At the winery, the grapes were direct-pressed and underwent stabulation on fine lees. After temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine was aged for a short period in stainless steel vats.

2021 was a tough vintage in Provence with frost, fire, and hail all coming in to play, and Grenache taking the hardest hit. Yields were down on average of 30% and the quality of wines will vary depending on how hard the winegrower was affected by the weather, along with the competence of the winemaker to handle this difficult vintage. Given the name behind this wine, I fully expect very good results. Let's see how this 2021 rosé from Provence is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2021 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle. The enticing, medium+ intensity nose offers a lovely, complex mix of grapefruit, melon, orange, white peach, citrus, honeysuckle, and herbal aromas with an underlying minerality. It's medium+ bodied on the dry, ripe palate with appealing grapefruit, floral, white peach, melon, and citrus flavours that taper to herbal and mineral on the juicy mid-palate. Nicely balanced throughout with fresh acidity. Leesy mineral notes linger on the long, crisp finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Château des Ferrages can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Ferzo Abruzzo Pecorino Superiore 2021 (Abruzzo) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this lovely Pecorino (not to be confused with the cheese) from Abruzzo that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the feature on summer white wines in the August 13 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Ferzo Wines, an estate that was founded in 1973 in Abruzzo and is now owned by Codice Citra. 'Ferzo' is a patch of fabric that is stitched together with others to create a large sail - and its shape adorns the label of each Ferzo wine. With wine, the union of the finest viticultural "patches" in Abruzzo gives life to Ferzo in a single grand label that embraces the region's indigenous grape varieties.

The wines of Ferzo grow out of a small-scale, highly selected viticultural operation, and in the skilful hands of local vintners. Ferzo aims to promote the local Abruzzo grape varieties and showcase the Abruzzo vocation for winemaking. All of the grapes are grown in the province of Chieti which has a variety of terroirs and microclimates, with each contributing unique characteristics to the grapes aromas and flavours to produce wines of uncompromising quality.

Pecorino is traditionally grown in Central Italy anywhere from the tops of mountains to coastal hillsides and often reflects the complexities of its terroir. From autochthonous vines, this Pecorino was grown on the eastern side of Central Italy within the region of Abruzzo in the hills of the province of Chieti. After harvesting the grapes in September, it was gently pressed after short contact with skins at low temperatures. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled-temperature to enhance the aromatic qualities of Pecorino.

The 2021 growing season had low rain and consequentially led to a long, dry and hot summer. With careful management in the vineyard, the result was fruit of excellent quality. I've tasted several previous vintages of this white wine and it's always delicious. Let's see how this 2021 Pecorino from Abruzzo is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2021 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $17.95
The fresh, medium-high intensity nose offers lovely ripe tropical fruit, citrus, peach, melon, floral, and apple aromas with hints of pineapple and minerals adding further interest. On the medium-full bodied it is ripe, lightly honeyed, yet dry, with ripe pineapple, tropical fruit, melon, citrus, and floral flavours with touches of minerality. It's all supported by fresh, vibrant, and juicy acidity, while leesy minerals flecked with citrus, tropical fruit, and apple notes linger on the long, juicy, and succulent finish. Quite possibly my favourite vintage so far. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Ferzo can be ordered through their Agent - Univins and Spirits.

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Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this always terrific Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. After a one year absence and skipping a couple of vintages, the 2021 vintage of this wine arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the August 13 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Greywacke (pronounced Grey-wacky) was established in 2009 by legendary winemaker Kevin Judd. The name refers to the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones found in the soils of the vineyard in Rapaura. He registered the name while working for another winery in New Zealand for many successful years and sought to fulfill a dream to create his own wines. This dream became a reality for him and his wife, Kimberley, in 2009 and Greywacke remains a family affair located now in the heart of Marlborough's Omaka Valley, one of the Southern Valleys.

Kevin is a pioneer in Marlborough winemaking and uses a 'keep it simple' and hands-on approach with minimal interventionist winemaking techniques. All of the fruit for Greywacke wines are sourced from mature vineyards in prime viticultural sites. The vineyards are sustainably managed with a substantial and increasing portion coming from organically farmed sites. Crop levels are restricted to enhance concentration of flavours, while meticulous canopy management allows for sufficient sun exposure to deliver ripeness of flavour, textural richness, and optimum acid balance. Greywacke is accredited with Appellation Marlborough Wine to ensure provenance, authenticity and integrity. As a renowned photographer, Kevin's photos adorn the labels of all Greywacke wines.

For the 2021 vintage, the fruit was sourced from various prime vineyard sites in Marlborough's Southern Valleys and the central Wairau Plains, specifically in Woodbourne, Renwick, and Rapaura. This Sauvignon Blanc was grown on various soil types ranging from the young alluvial soils of Rapaura and Renwick which contain high proportions of New Zealand's ubiquitous greywacke river stones, to the older and denser clay-loam soils of the Southern Valleys. The grapes were mostly machine-harvested during cool and often cold night time conditions, then trucked to the winery in the Omaka Valley where they were lightly pressed to yield a modest volume of high-quality juice. It was fermented primarily in stainless steel tanks with cultured yeast, while a smaller portion underwent spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation in old oak barrels. All individual vineyard batches were kept on their lees and separate until they were blended in late June, and finally bottled in mid-August of last year.

The 2021 growing season produced a smaller crop due to some very cold nights and light frost in September, followed by drought conditions from December to March. However, quality was not compromised as the vintage is described as exceptional with Sauvignon Blanc showing great intensity and balance. Having tasted several previous vintages of this Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc over the years, I fully expect this latest vintage to be just as delightful. Let's see how this 2021 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $25.95
Screw cap. Fragrant, perfumed, and highly aromatic, it is subtly nose-tingling and quite complex with ripe tropical fruit, passion fruit, guava, kiwi, mango, and citrus aromas with delicate floral tones and touches of rock melon and lemongrass. It's medium-full bodied and fleshy with very good concentration and ripe flavour replays of passion fruit, kiwi, guava, zesty citrus, mango, and lemongrass. Nicely textured on the mid-palate, while acids are fresh, juicy, and well-balanced. Leans more floral and citrusy with a sense of minerality on the very long, zesty finish. Keeps getting better every year. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other excellent wines by Greywacke are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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La Posta Malbec Rosé 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely rosé wine that's new to LCBO and coming to shelves across Ontario this weekend as part of the June 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

La Posta Vineyards wines are the Catena family's entry-level range of wines which were first created at the turn of the century when Dr. Laura Catena discovered a handful of growers who consistently showed impressive results with specific varietals year-after-year. La Posta wines salute these hard-working growers who strive for superior flavours from grapes they grow on their own estate, and produce wines that are often single vineyard bottles. Each La Posta label illustrates a story of these individual families (although this rosé doesn't mention the family) and are inspired by Art Nouveau and Art Déco designs of the 1920s and 1930s.

This rosé is a relatively new edition to the La Posta range and is crafted with 100% Malbec that was grown at high-altitude at 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) elevation in the Tupungato wine region of the Uco Valley in Mendoza. It was vinified using carbonic maceration by press after whole clusters were hand-loaded into 5,000 Litre stainless steel tanks and did not spend any time in contact with oak. From the cooler 2021 vintage, I would expect this rosé to be quite refreshing. Let's see how this Malbec Rosé from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA POSTA MALBEC ROSÉ 2021 - Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#24747) (XD) - $14.95
Screw cap. Lovely deep orange-peach colour. The medium-high intensity, fragrant nose has aromas of grapefruit, stony minerals, pomegranate, and grilled herbs, plus touches of blood orange, citrus, raspberry, and cherry. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has refreshing, vibrant acidity that lifts the grapefruit, stone mineral, citrus, pomegranate, and herbal notes. Nicely textured and slightly tannic on the back palate, with mineral, herbs, and grapefruit notes lingering on the long, dry, crisp, and juicy finish. Quite impressive and a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by La Posta are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Bottega Pinot Grigio Rosé 2021 (Venezie) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this deliciously dry rosé wine made with Pinot Grigio from Italy that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on June 18.

The story of Bottega S.p.A. begins in 1635 when the forefather, Andrea, was cultivating vines in the hills near Molinetto della Croda in Refrontolo, a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Veneto wine region. The Bottega family were originally tenant farmers for the Counts of Collalto, but when they gained their freedom, they started to farm their own lands.

Moving to more recent history, in the 1920s Domingo Bottega was a wine trader and passionate oenologist who was able to easily identify the best grapes in the vineyard. In the 1950s and 1960s, Aldo Bottega, the son of Domingo, expanded his father's passion for the vine and established his own distillery. In 1977, Bottega S.p.A. was founded by Aldo and his wife Rosina in Pianzano di Godega, within the Province of Treviso. In 1983, Sandro Bottega became the company director with the support of his siblings Barbara and Stefano after their father passed away.

Known for their distilled products such as grappa, Bottega added a winery to the distillery in 1992 to produce a Prosecco Spumante, bringing the company into the wine market. In 2007, Distilleria Bottega moved to a big 17th century farmhouse in Bibano di Godega di Sant’Urbano, 50 km from Venice, near Conegliano Veneto, among 10 hectares of vineyards. The farmhouse was renovated according to state-of-the-art environmental standards. Today, Bottega is known for their grappa and sparkling wines, but also makes still wines such as this rosé.

This Pinot Grigio is crafted with grapes from DOC Delle Venezie, a fairly new denomination that was established in 2017 in northeastern Italy to protect and promote Pinot Grigio, the white wine varietal that symbolizes Italianness all over the world. This DOC includes the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia-Giulia, and the province of Trento. It covers an area with a wide variety of climates and soils, specializing in the cultivation of vines historically linked to the production of Pinot Grigio.

The grapes for this Pinot Grigio come from an area near the Piave River that is characterized by alluvial, lighter soils, which give the wine acidity, freshness, and complex aromas. Harvested at the beginning of September, the grapes were de-stemmed and softly pressed, then underwent a 12-hour maceration process with the must in contact with skins at a low temperature to extract colour and aromas. After the must is separated from the skins through a soft pressing, the juice is clarified and fermented, then aged on its lees for 3 months before bottling.

Tasting Note:

BOTTEGA PINOT GRIGIO ROSÉ 2021 - DOC Delle Venezie, Italy (#490938) (XD) - $16.95
The fresh, medium-high intensity nose delivers pretty, perfumed aromas of honeysuckle, grapefruit, floral, and orange citrus. The medium-full bodied palate is dry and honeyed with pleasing honeysuckle, grapefruit, floral, and citrusy replays joined by hints of white peach. Gentle acids are juicy and well-balanced, although I would've liked more acidity for a fresher experience. Leesy mineral notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Score: 87+ pts

Other delicious wines from Bottega are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château d'Aquéria Tavel 2021 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is this refreshingly lovely wine from the Tavel Cru in the southern Rhône Valley that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on May 21 as the Wine of the Month and featured as part of the theme on rosé wines.

The long and fascinating history of Château d'Aquéria began in 1595 when Louis Joseph d'Aqueria purchased this prime vine-growing area of Tavel known as "Puy Sablonneux" from the monks at the Abbey in Villeneuve les Avignon. His son, Robert d'Aqueria, hereditary Count Palatine, built a home which was transformed in the 18th century into the Château as it stands today. Many families have since owned the Château, cherishing the lands as they honed the art of crafting wine with knowledge of their terroir, the vines, and the fruit of those vines. Today, Aquéria is owned and operated by brothers Bruno and Vincent de Bez. Aquéria has been applying environmentally-friendly winegrowing techniques for over 20 years while also preserving and protecting local floral and fauna. Sustainable agriculture and respect for the environment is part of Aquéria's identity.

The 2021 edition of this lovely Tavel Rosé is a blend of mainly Grenache, Clairette, and Syrah, and typically also includes small amounts of other varietals. The grapes were grown around the Château on sandy-clayey soils which are ideal for producing great rosé wines that are both fruity and complex. The grapes were hand-harvested and de-stemmed, then macerated to extract colour and structure. The varieties were then blended two-by-two to enhance aromatic complexity, then underwent temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats. A second blending took place in December before bottling this unoaked rosé.

At Château d'Aquéria, the climate is quintessentially Mediterranean with low rainfall, strong sunshine, and exposure to the Mistral winds. The growing season in 2021 was marked by capricious weather and seasons. Although Château d'Aquéria was spared freeze damage, they did have to be extremely vigilant throughout the season and their efforts were rewarded with a superb vintage in terms of both quality and quantity.

Having enjoyed previous vintages of this rosé, including most recently the 2020 Château d'Aquéria Tavel last May, I would expect this dry rosé to also be quite lovely. Let's see how this 2021 Tavel Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of mainly Grenache, Clairette, and Syrah, the lovely, medium-high intensity aromatics offer fresh, red fruited aromas of raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and fine mineral notes with hints of citrus and peach. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is very nicely balanced with raspberry, cherry, strawberry, currant, mineral, and citrus flavours, plus lightly peppery and herbal notes, all lifted by fresh acidity. Minerally, red fruited, and citrus notes linger on the long, juicy, and crisp finish. I think even better than last year's edition. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Château d'Aquéria are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this lovely Torrontés from the very high-altitude province of Salta in northern Argentina. A frequent visitor here in Ontario. this latest vintage arrived on shelves today as part of the March 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Familia Zuccardi and led today by the third generation of the family, winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi. Founded in 1963 when Sebastian's grandfather planted his first vines in Maipú, Mendoza, the Zuccardi family has kept growing and developing to become a leader in Argentine production. Sebastian inherited his father's determination and desire to strive for excellence and is globally recognized as an ambassador for Argentina's unique terroirs, most notably in the high elevation Uco Valley in southern Mendoza. The family's premium winery - Zuccardi Valle de Uco - has been named Best Vineyard in the World for three consecutive years - 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Zuccardi has several ranges of wines and this white wine is from their entry-level Serie A collection that features single varietal and distinct blends from selected vineyards located in the best parts of Mendoza and across Argentina. The Zuccardi Serie A range highlights the richness and diversity of the different micro-climates and soils of Argentina. The name "Serie A" comes from "Argentina Series" and is a way of expressing the most representative varieties from the best regions for each varietal and from selected vineyards along the Andes Mountains. In the winery, each batch is harvested separately at different times with the goal of achieving elegance and excellence in each wine.

Torrontés is Argentina's most widely planted white variety with more than 24,000 acres planted, representing 27% of all white wine varietals. Although most Torrontés is grown in Mendoza, a significant percentage (and the most interesting examples) are grown in the remote, northern province of Salta. Native to Argentina, DNA analysis shows that Torrontés formed after the spontaneous crossing of varietals Listán Prieto and Moscatel de Alexandria in Mendoza in the middle of the 18th century. Today, Torrontés Riojano is the most cultivated of the three varieties of Torrontés as it expresses the best qualities for fine wine production. Although it's original home is in Mendoza, Torrontés has found its true home to the north in the valleys of Rioja and Salta. Torrontés takes a long time to develop and ripen, thus benefitting from the long, northern summer, while the blazing sun at altitudes between 1,500 and 1,900 metres helps it develop concentration. Grown in rich clay soils, Torrontés tends to take longer to ripen, but preserves its volume and acidity, whereas Torrontés grown in sandier soils ripens faster and achieves good aromatic expression.

According to the tech sheet, the grapes for this Torrontés were grown in Cafayate, within the province of Salta, at the very high altitude of 1,800 metres (5900 feet) above sea level. The grapes were manually harvested and selected, followed by de-stemming and pressing. It was fermented with native yeasts and aged on its lees for 6 months.

Although the print edition of the VINTAGES catalogue specifies the 2020 vintage, it is, in fact, the 2021 vintage that arrived in stores. Let's see how this 2021 Torrontés is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2021 - IP Salta, Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. The perfumed nose offers medium-high intensity aromatics of muscat characters with lychee, ripe lemon citrus, and floral notes joining the fray. The impressively concentrated, medium-full bodied palate is dry with ripe lemon citrus, muscat, floral, and leesy flavours with touches of herbal. Nicely textured mouthfeel with juicy acidity. Leesy mineral with lemon citrus notes linger on the long finish. Chill well and enjoy this recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Zuccardi are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - The Bacchus Group.

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