Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
The upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release on focuses on wines from Europe's Back Roads in its main theme, while the mini-themes highlight wines from South Africa and wines for celebrations. All of these wines will be on shelves across Ontario this coming .
From the European Back Roads theme - which is meant to showcase lesser-known wines from Portugal, Spain, France and Italy - 4 of the 16 wines are included among my wine picks. From Burgundy, there is a Chardonnay from the tiny village of Chitry-le-Fort. Also from France, from the small appellation of Bourgueil in Loire, there is a nice Cabernet Franc. The other 2 wines are both from Italy, with the Monferrato a blend of 60% Barbera and 40% Syrah, and the white wine from Campania is 100% Greco.
The mini-theme on fine wines from South Africa features 7 wines, 2 of which are included in my wine recommendations. The first wine is an organic and biodynamic white wine made with the help of ducks, and is a blend consisting primarily of South Africa's signature white grape - Chenin Blanc. The other wine from South Africa is the Rustenberg - a red wine blend made with 50% Shiraz, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
In red wines from the rest of the release, the Chateau Saint-Roch is a blend of nearly equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Carignan and saw no oak. From Greece, the Domain Mega Spileo Red is a lovely red blend (60% Mavrodaphne and 40% Mavro Kalavritino) from 2 indigenous Greek varietals. The Beaujolais is 100% Gamay, while the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 68% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, and 4% Cinsault. Both Cali Cabs are, in fact, blends, with the Mt. Brave consisting of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6.5% Malbec, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, while the Mount Veeder Cab consists of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Syrah. And last but not least, the Masi Amarone is a traditional blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Molinara grape varietals.
In white wines, the Domaine FL is made with Chenin Blanc. For sweet wine lovers, you'll want to pick up the Riesling Spätlese from Germany.
Enjoy my wine picks from this release. Cheers!
Red Wine:
CHATEAU SAINT-ROCH VIEILLES VIGNES SYRAH/GRENACHE 2014 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#195107) (D) - $15.95
DOMAINE LES PINS CUVÉE LES ROCHETTES BOURGUEIL 2014 - AC, Loire, France (#478263) (XD) - $17.95
The wines from the LCBO VINTAGES Release on will be on shelves this coming and features wines from Chile as its main theme, while the secondary theme is Burgundy. Interestingly, there's no Local Talent feature; instead, there are 4 fine Scottish single malt whisky's from Glenfarclas to commemorate the 150th anniversary of a storied Canadian regiment.
We'll begin with the feature on Chile that focuses on the country's three distinct winemaking zones - Costa (the coast), Entre Cordilleras (area between coast and mountains) and the Andes. In all, there are 14 wines featured and 4 are included among my wine picks. From Costa is a Sauvignon Blanc, while the Entre Cordilleras gives us the De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon and the Junta Syrah/Carménère (65/35 blend). From the Andes is a perennial favourite of mine - the Concha y Toro terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a single block from the Pirque Vineyard, a vineyard located along the Maipo River, near the foothills of the Andes.
Eight wines make up the Burgundy theme and two are included in my wine recommendations. Both the Montagny and the 1er Cru Chablis are unoaked Chardonnays that showcase fruit and terroir. The Bourgogne Chardonnay is found near the back of the magazine as a Flagship Store Exclusive (FSE) and is also an unoaked Chardonnay.
From the rest of the release in red wines, the Rompesedas is a mature wine made with Tinta de Toro (a.k.a. Tempranillo), while the Orben is also a Tempranillo from Rioja. Many of my red wine picks are single varietals, but the Gigondas is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre.
In white wines, there are quite a few options if you enjoy sweeter wines. At the dry-er end (i.e. less sweet) is the Gewürztraminer, followed by the semi-sweet Pinot Gris. Going up the sweet scale a few more notches are a pair of Spätlese (i.e late harvest) wines made using Riesling and a local German varietal called Siegerrebe.
Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Salud!
Red Wine:
WITS END LUNA SHIRAZ 2014 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#311258) (XD) - $17.00
The 2014 vintage in Burgundy was a very good one for Chablis wines,
so one can expect this wine to be very good as well. Let's see how it is...
Tasting Note:
DOMAINE HAMELIN BEAUROY CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2014 - AC, Burgundy, France (#391805) (XD) - $32.95
Hints of lemony stone fruits from the cork. This unoaked Chardonnay has a fragrant nose of golden apples, lemon, pear, yellow flowers and hints of earth. The palate is medium+ bodied with a fine chalky mineral texture and flavours of lemon/lime citrus, coriander, saline and hints of mineral. Refreshing on the mid-palate with finely tuned acids. Clean and crisp with a mineral, saline character on the long finish. Enjoy over the next 5-6 years. Score: 91 pts
Opened up this clean, delicious Chablis (Chardonnay) and it paired well with one of my favourite Indian dishes - large shrimp with onions and tomatoes.
The story of Domaine Millet begins when farmer Philippe Millet settled a piece of land called "la Ferme de Marcault" in the mid-1960's and since some of those lots where he cultivated cereals were eligible for AOC Petit Chablis, the winery was formed in the early 80's. Later on, Philippe acquired vines in AOC Chablis. The grapes for this wine come from these vines which are 30 years old and sit on a geological landscape that is from the Kimmeridgian stage.
Philippe handed the family business to his two sons, Paterne and Baudouin, several years ago. Today, the two sons continue the desire of their father to cultivate the best vines, produce excellent Chardonnay grapes and offer fine wines that are elegant and reflect the terroir that Chablis is known for.
DOMAINE MILLET CHABLIS 2014 - AC, Burgundy, France (#447193) (XD) - $26.95
Aromas of clean lime and citrus with hints of stone from the cork. Vinified in thermal regulated tanks, in the glass this offers aromas of lemon/lime, stone fruits with some herbal and stony minerality adding interest. The palate is light-to-medium bodied with crisp, balanced acids and flavours of lemon, peach, chalk along with hints of minerality and butter. Peach and orange notes really show through as it warms up in the glass. A clean Chablis that's refreshing with good length on the finish. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 89 pts
wine is this yummy unoaked Chardonnay from Burgundy, France.
Domaine Hamelin was started in the 1840's by Gustave Hamelin when he planted 2 hectares of vines alongside his mixed farm. It is located in northwest Burgundy and about 2 hours southeast from Paris. The small, family-owned operation had been passed along from generation to generation. Today, the 6th and 7th generation of the family carry on the family's wine growing tradition that is a mix of old traditions and modern-day techniques from more than 36 hectares of vines from the villages of Poinchy, Beines and Lignorelles.
The vineyards, all Chardonnay, are planted on soil that is 150 million years old, from the Kimméridgien era of the Jurassic period. During this period, Burgundy was under the sea and has now left behind many remains in the rock such as small oysters and ammonites. Thierry and his son Charles strive to produce Chablis wines that are true expressions of place or terroir.
This delicious white wine will be available at the LCBO as part of the upcoming December 12 VINTAGES Release.
Tasting Note:
DOMAINE HAMELIN BEAUROY CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2012 - AC, Burgundy, France (#391805) (XD) - $33.95
Harvested from an area of 3.9 ha, located on south-facing slopes, opposite Lake Beines. Stone fruit, citrus and saline aromas from the cork. Elegant nose of medium+ intensity featuring tropical fruit, lemon peel, cilantro and stony minerality. The palate is medium-bodied with finely cut acids. Lemon citrus, herbs, and mineral flavour profile with some saline notes mid-palate. Shows excellent balance and finishes long and clean with minerally aftertaste. Mouth-watering acids keep you coming back for another sip. Score: 91 pts
Tonight's white wine was purchased nearly 2 years ago from the August 3, 2013 LCBO VINTAGES release. At 5 years old, let's see if this unoaked Chardonnay is still any good...
White grapefruit, lemon and mineral aromas from the cork. Honeyed fruit, baked apple, with whiffs of mineral and nutty aromas of medium intensity from the glass. On the palate, it's medium-to-full bodied and dry with pleasing aroma replays. Very bright acids linger through to the long, minerally finish. Good balance overall. Will be enjoyed with pan-fried Haddock. Recommended. Score: 89 pts
, I attended an exclusive Bourgogne (Burgundy) wine tasting at Victor Restaurant. The tasting was led by John Szabo, Master Sommelier and Principal Critic at WineAlign. Joining him was François Labet, Chairman of the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) Marketing and Communication Commission.
Wine is a way of life for François. His family has been deeply entrenched in winemaking since 1492, and his grandfather was mayor of Beaune. François is the owner of a few renowned wineries and has been practicing organic viticulture since 1992, as well as omitting any additives during winemaking.
Together, we tasted 8 Burgundy Chardonnays and 7 Pinot Noirs one after another, with both John and Francois providing tidbits of information and perspective about the wines and region along the way. For example, a "Maison" wine is typically a négociant wine, whereby the Négociant (i.e. producer or merchant) will buy the grapes or juice from smaller growers to produce wine. Meanwhile, wines where small growers produce wine using only grapes they've grown are considered to be "Domaine" wines.
When one thinks of Burgundian wine, one automatically thinks of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - perhaps not necessarily in that order. This is for good reason, as Chardonnay makes up nearly one-half of all grapes grown in Burgundy, while the second most planted grape in the region is Pinot Noir (35%).
As we you will see in my Burgundy wine reviews below, almost all of the wines fall into the "premium and up" price range. Small harvests throughout the region, especially in recent vintages, have contributed to the rising cost of wines from this part of the world. Having said that, Burgundian wine is considered to be the pinnacle of Chardonnay and Pinot, and nearly all of the 15 wines we tasted on this day were either very good or excellent in quality.
Following the tasting, we had the opportunity to pair these delicious wines with a 4-course lunch prepared by Chef David Chrystian. It was great that they provided a couple of options for most of the courses!
First up, I ordered an organic green salad with beets, cucumber, pepitas and fried shallots with mustard vinaigrette. I paired this delicious salad with the Jaeger Chardonnay and the Bouchard Pinot. The flavours from both of these wines complemented the salad very well.
For the main course, I opted for the crisp heritage buttermilk chicken with sides of hash, sauteed greens and mustard. The wine pairing I chose was the flavourful Girardin Montrachet Chardonnay and the light-weighted, yet slightly tannic Aurélien Verdet Pinot Noir. Once again, both wines complemented the dish well.
Following the cheese course was a dessert that featured an interesting chocolate and chai tea pot de crème with sweet curry twist and chili cashew praline. The infusion of chocolate and curry isn't something that generally comes top of mind when thinking about dessert, but it was interesting and worked well together in my opinion. Pairing this dessert would be difficult with sweeter wines, and as I suspected and confirmed, even more so with dry Burgundian Pinot and Chardonnay.
Reviews of all the wines I tasted are below. Many of these are available at the LCBO, albeit in small quantities. Anything not at the LCBO can be ordered via consignment (if you need more info on this, don't hesitate to ask). Enjoy reading my wine reviews and if you try any of these, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Cheers!
Tasting Notes: DOMAINE GAUTHERON CHABLIS 2012 - AC, Burgundy, France (#207902) (XD) - $24.95
Medium+ aromas featuring elegant tropical fruit and lemon. Medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. Honeydew melon, lemon/lime, along with hints of spice and beeswax on the flavour palate. Lively acids and a long, tart finish that is lightly spiced. Elegant. Small quantities available in Vintages. Score: 89 pts
LA CHABLISIENNE MONTMAINS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#265090) (XD) - $28.95
Highly aromatic with complex notes of melon, tropical fruits, sweet kissed ripe fruit, mineral and nut. It's medium-bodied with a slightly grippy texture. Mineral, almond, tropical fruits on the palate. Balanced acids, lean and a long, clean, smooth finish. Small quantities of this lovely wine available in Vintages. Score: 91 pts
MAISON LOUIS JADOT CHARDONNAY BOURGOGNE 2013 - AC, Burgundy, France (#933077) (D) - $20.95
Medium-high aromas consisting of apple, buttered popcorn and mineral. Restrained oak notes are nicely balanced. Medium+ bodied and slightly creamy mouthfeel. Complex aroma replays joined by nutty and mineral notes. Fresh acidity that is nicely balanced. Slightly warm on the mid-palate and a lengthy finish. Vintages Essential and always available. Score: 89 pts
MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN MÂCON-VILLAGES 2012 - AC, Burgundy, France (#356956) (XD) - $17.95
This unoaked Chardonnay has medium+ aromas with mineral, floral, green and hints of citrus. Medium-full bodied, creamy and slightly astringent. Palate consists of fresh orchard fruits (apple/pear), nutty, mineral and stone fruit. Fresh, balanced acids and long fruit/mineral driven finish. Available in Vintages. Score: 89 pts
DOMAINE JAEGER DEFAIX MONT-PALAIS RULLY 1ER CRU 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#) (XD) - $41.99
Very aromatic Chardonnay. Oak fermentation and ageing influence is evident with elegantly balanced aromas of apple, buttered popcorn, and pineapple. Medium-full bodied and a very creamy mouthfeel. Mineral driven palate, along with ripe fruit and pear flavours. Balanced acids and a long, smooth finish. Nice! Consignment availability. Score: 91 pts
CHÂTEAU VITALLIS VIEILLES VIGNES POUILLY FUISSÉ 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#360495) (XD) - $27.95
From vines 45-70 years old, this oaked Chardonnay has medium+ aromas of ripe tropical fruit, citrus and minerals. Medium-bodied with tropical fruit, spice and lime flavours. Nicely balanced overall with balanced acids and a long, smooth finish. Small quantities available in Vintages. Score: 90 pts
MAISON JOSEPH BURRIER CHÂTEAU DE BEAUREGARD POUILLY-FUISSÉ VERS CRAS 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#) (XD) - $49.95
This Chardonnay is 50% oak fermented. Medium-high aromas that feature nutty, mineral, pineapple and tropical fruit notes. Medium+ bodied with balanced acids, slightly creamy mouthfeel, and nice aroma replays. Long, smooth finish that has an oily texture and some light spice notes. Consignment availability. Score: 91 pts
MAISON VINCENT GIRARDIN VIEILLES VIGNES CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#364141) (XD) - $55.95
From the February 15th Vintages release and still available, this oaked Chardonnay comes from 50-year old vines. Highly aromatic with light smoky buttered popcorn, apple, nutty and mineral aromas. Palate is medium-bodied with tropical fruit, spice and nice interplay between oak and fruit. Balanced with very good acidity. Oak-influenced and nutty finish that's smooth and very lengthy. Gorgeous! Score: 92 pts
MAISON ANDRÉ DELORME BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#366427) (XD) - $20.95
Medium+ aromas that are very red fruit forward, think strawberry and cherry, along with some cooking spice aromas. Medium-full bodied with red fruits on the palate. Bright acidity and dusty/chalky tannins. Long, slightly warm finish. Small quantities available in Vintages. Score: 87 pts
DOMAINE THÉNARD GIVRY 1ER CRU CELLIER AUX MOINES 2008 - AC, Burgundy, France (#) (XD) - $32.50
Medium+ aromas with floral, dried fruit, and lifted sweet fruits, also some greenness. Low-to-medium weighted with dried fruits, wilted floral, cherry and nut flavours on the palate. Firm tannins with good acids, medium-long dried fruit/oak finish. Consignment availability. Score: 88+ pts
DOMAINES BOUCHARD PÈRE & FILS BEAUNE DU CHATEAU PREMIER CRU 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#325142) (XD) - $36.90
Medium+ aromas with beetroot, earthy, bitter forest floor and mushroom nose. Low-to-medium bodied with earthy and cherry flavours on the palate. Has refined tannins, balanced acids, and elegant spice on a long, clean finish. LCBO General List. Score: 90 pts
MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE LES GRÈVES BEAUNE 1ER CRU 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#) (XD) - $46.95
Medium+ aromas showing nicely balanced and elegant nose consisting of barnyard, cherry, and beetroot. Low-to-medium bodied with nice aroma replays along with some floral notes. Mouth-watering acids and a long, smooth finish. Good tannic structure has enough stuffing to age another 2 years. Consignment availability. Score: 90+ pts
MAISON DOMAINE DU PAVILLON CLOS DES URSULINES POMMARD 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#023820) (XD) - $49.95
Medium-high intensity bouquet featuring pomegranate, red & black fruits, elegant spice, and new oak. Medium-bodied with earthy, cherry-cran, and orange citrusy flavours on the palate. Slightly astringent tannins, balanced acids, savoury earthy & fruity finish. Will reward 2-3 years in cellar. Available in Vintages. Score: 90 pts
DOMAINE AURÉLIEN VERDET MOREY-SAINT-DENIS 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#354316) (XD) - $36.25
Aromas are of medium-high intensity and show lovely cherry, strawberry notes, with slight earthy and elegant floral tones. It's light-bodied with very nice aroma replays surrounded by an earthy core on the palate. Taut tannins could use another year or two. Has mouth-watering acids and a long, smooth finish. Very balanced overall. Nearly sold out in Vintages. Score: 91 pts
DOMAINE DANIEL RION & FILS VIEILLES VIGNES NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#356600) (XD) - $53.95
Medium-high intensity bouquet that has earthy/barnyard, sour cherry and hints of strawberry on the nose. Light-bodied with nice aroma replays, along with mushroom and mineral flavours on the palate. Slightly chalky tannins, should reward 2-3 years ageing. Acids are nicely balanced. Lengthy finish. Plenty available in Vintages. Score: 91+ pts
Monday, January 30, 2017
