Napa Valley Tasting - June 2014

On June 16th, I visited Napa Valley for the second time in the last 2 years. After visiting quite a few wineries along the Silverado Trail during my first visit, I decided that I wanted to visit more wineries off the trail this time around.

The first stop on this hot and sunny Monday was The Hess Collection Winery, located within the Mount Veeder sub-appellation within Napa Valley. I had tasted Hess Collection wines last year at the Napa Valley tasting in Toronto and felt the wines they offered that day represented relatively good value and figured I would see more good value at the winery - and I was not disappointed.

The site on which The Hess Collection sits was established as a winery in the 1860's. Fast forward to 1978, where Donald Hess established his first Mount Veeder vineyard. Hess Collection now owns 1,034 acres of prime California vineyards, including 704 acres in Napa Valley. The tasting room and art museum are located on Redwood Road, west of St. Helena Highway and the famous Silverado Trail. It is reachable after driving approximately 10-15 minutes on a narrow, long and winding, uphill road.

Since its inception, The Hess Collection has tried to use sustainable and environmentally-sound practices for growing grapes. In 2008, The Hess Collection was among the first 10 wineries to receive certification for the Napa Green Winery program and one of only six wineries to have both Land and Winery certifications. Two years later, they were among the first wineries to be certified through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance by third-party verification.

Due to arriving a bit later than expected because of late-morning traffic, I didn't have time to do a very in-depth tasting, but did get a chance to taste some wonderful wines nonetheless. My favourite was the 2010 Mount Veeder 19 Block Cuvée. This special wine comes from 19 blocks from their highest altitude estate vineyard (Veeder Summit Vineyard), with altitudes ranging from 1,300 to 2,000 feet above sea level and features steep slopes and volcanic soils. Overall, this red wine is intensely flavoured, complex and ageable for at least 4 years, although you will be tempted to enjoy it now.

Full wine reviews of many of the wines I tasted on this day are available at the bottom of this post.

For our second stop of the afternoon, we ventured back east along the aforementioned Redwood Road, passed St. Helena Hwy and the Silverado Trail, towards the eastern side of Napa Valley

Upon arriving at the front gate at Palmaz Vineyards, I realized that we were going to be in for something special. After being let in through the gate, driving by a former gatehouse, and up 4 levels along a steep and twisty road on Mount George, we arrived at the main entrance and were promptly greeted by Diana Lasso, National Estate Ambassador at Palmaz Vineyards and our guide on this visit.

We began the tour outside the main entrance on level 4, overlooking the vineyards and the said gatehouse, while having an expansive view of the Napa landscape. Diana began by telling us about the rich history surrounding the property that began its story as Cedar Knoll Vineyard and Winery by Henry Hagen in 1881. Henry was one of the Napa Valley's pioneer winemakers, and his wines garnered many awards. Unfortunately, Prohibition forced the winery to close and the site laid dormant for nearly 80 years.

In 1997, soon after Julio and Amalia Palmaz purchased the property, they began to restore it and accomplish a shared dream. Those in the medical profession may recognize the name "Julio Palmaz" - he invented the now widely used coronary heart stent.

We were also informed that the former gatehouse we saw upon entering the estate was restored and is now the home of Christian Gaston Palmaz, Director of Operations, and son of Julio and Amalia. He lives there with his wife Jessica Louise Palmaz.

Dr. Julio Palmaz had great interest in mechanics and engineering and played an integral role in designing Palmaz Vineyards' gravity-flow winery. Inside, we got to see the grape sorter that he helped design - it was quite versatile as it was able to sort different sizes of grapes with relative ease. Being a gravity-fed winery, the grapes arrive at the top to be sorted and de-stemmed and then proceed on an ever downward path and eventually bottled. The height of the cave is equivalent to an 18-storey building. We got a glimpse of this depth in the stairwell, looking down the centre of the staircase.

Once the grapes are sorted, they go down one level and into fermentation tanks. The dome in which these tanks are housed is 72 feet in diameter and 54 feet high and is the world's largest underground reinforced structure. One can truly appreciate the design and beauty of the dome when looking up from Level 3, where the fermentation tanks are held. The cave also houses its own water treatment plant, resulting in reuse of all waste water and in compliance with strict conservation guidelines.

Next, we went down another level to Level 2 and visited the barrel ageing room, as well as the racking area. During the whole tour, I couldn't help but notice that everything was SO clean - the level of cleanliness appeared to be medical-grade and seemed cleaner than some hospitals I've been to.

By now, I think we were all salivating at the thought of finally tasting the wines after being awestruck by the facility. We entered the classically-styled dining room and sat down at a long, very grandiose, dining table. Diane took us through the tasting menu as we paired four wines with bite-sized treats.

The pairings were all very well done, but my favourite was the Muscat Canelli with the Almond and Apricot biscotti. This wine also paired well with the Dark Chocolate Cabernet Truffle, while the two Cabernets also fared very well with the chocolate truffle. My favourite wine was the '09 Cabernet Sauvignon with it's classic aromas and flavours, smooth, velvety tannins, mouth-watering acids all nicely balanced into one cohesive wine. It paired really well with the Piave Vecchio (hard, cow's milk cheese).

If you are ever in Napa, I would highly recommend adding Palmaz Vineyards to your itinerary as it is truly an amazing winery. Note that tours and tastings are available by appointment only.

The third stop of the day was Miner Family Winery, located on the scenic Silverado Trail. Most of our group appeared to arrive at Miner breathless due to the amazing experience at Palmaz. This resulted in only a few of us partaking in the tasting on Miner's lovely upper deck patio with a sweeping view of vineyards located in the Oakville AVA.

The Miner Family Winery brand was born in 1996, three years after Dave Miner got his start in wine as President of Oakville Ranch Vineyards - a winery owned by his late uncle, Robert Miner. In 1999, Dave and his wife Emily purchased the winery building from his family and released the first Miner Family wines. That same year, a 15-month project to build caves concluded, resulting in over 20,000+ square feet of space they could now use for wine ageing. Impressively, since 2008, Miner has been running exclusively on solar power. Next time, I think a tour will be in order to see first-hand some of these impressive accomplishments.

In all, we tasted 5 wines (+1 one more that only I tasted inside at the bar) from what appeared to be a specially crafted menu just for us. All 5 wines were very good to outstanding in quality, with the favourite being aptly named "The Oracle". This Bordeaux-blend is their flagship wine that was first made in 2004. The 2008 version of this fabulous red wine was most recently in Vintages last October, and I expect the 2009 will be available at some point later this year.

Our final stop of the afternoon was a quick and unplanned visit to Priest Ranch Wines. This winery had a rustic, Western charm and was conveniently located just off St. Helena Hwy in the town of Yountville, en route back to home base.

Priest Ranch was originally part of the 8,500-acre Rancho Catacula Mexican land grant that took place in 1844 and remained in the Priest family for over a century until it was sold in 1963. In 2006, Priest Ranch became part of the Somerston Estate.

Tasting through a flight of wines and meeting Jack Edwards, Vice President of Sales, my favourite wines were the Syrah and the Bordeaux-blend Coachgun. Ironically, neither of these wines are currently available at the LCBO, but perhaps may make an appearance in the future, while the others I tasted have made their way onto LCBO shelves. On my next visit, I think I will make a point to visit Somerston Estate to experience their all-terrain vineyard tour and taste some of their limited production wines.

Given the quality of the small sampling of just 2 Syrahs I tasted on this trip, I will definitely be seeking out more Syrah from Napa. Currently the 6th most planted grape in California, I would love to see Syrah move up a couple of places and become more widely planted.

And finally, a big thank you to Megan Basten at Profile Wine Group, who helped arrange the visits to Palmaz Vineyards and Miner Family Winery, while also introducing me to Somerston Estate.

Tasting Notes:
HESS SMALL BLOCK VIOGNIER 2012 - Mount Veeder, Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $28
Aromas are of medium+ intensity and show fresh notes of clean lime, citrus and nectarine. Medium+ bodied with a very oily and slightly chalky texture on the palate. 14.5% alcohol by volume (abv). Good acids and a long finish. Tingly mouth sensation is numbing. Serve well-chilled. Score: 89 pts

HESS MOUNT VEEDER CHARDONNAY 2012 - Mount Veeder, Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $40
Did not undergo malolactic fermentation and was aged in neutral French oak. Medium-intensity aromas which show orchard fruits, pear and white peach notes. Medium-bodied on the palate with nicely balanced aroma replays and mineral notes. Good acids. Elegant spice on the long finish. Score: 90 pts

HESS ALLOMI VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - Napa Valley (#906420) (XD) - $30 USD / $37.95 CAD
Aged in American oak and contains 10% Petite Sirah and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium+ aroma intensity with ripe fruits, plum, cherry notes. Medium+ bodied with integrated tannins on palate with flavours of cassis, plum, pepper, and spice. Good acids and a long, warm finish. Score: 89 pts

HESS MOUNT VEEDER 19 BLOCK CUVÉE 2010 - Mount Veeder, Napa Valley (#018879) (D) - $38 USD / $47.95 CAD
Blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 11% Syrah, 6% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Medium-high intensity aromas that show complex bretty, red fruits, black currant, and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with flavours consisting of blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, green pepper and oak spice. Mouth-watering acids and finishing long with tobacco and slight earthy notes. Dry tannins are nicely integrated. Enjoyable over the next 4 years. Score: 91 pts

PALMAZ CHARDONNAY "AMALIA" 2012 - Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $55
Highly aromatic with elegant apple, pear and butter aromas. Nice and creamy on the medium-bodied palate with very nice aroma replays. Well-balanced overall with a long, long finish that is slightly warm and has some subtle spice notes. Score: 91 pts

PALMAZ ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $145
Contains 1% Petit Verdot. Aromas are very expressive, showing currant, cassis, blackberry and slight brettiness. It's medium-full bodied with nicely balanced aroma replays. Mouth-watering acids to go along with smooth, velvety tannins on the palate. Long, smooth finish. Balanced wine overall. A delight. Score: 93 pts

PALMAZ ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $120
Include 3% Petit Verdot. Highly aromatic with elegant barnyard, cassis and currant aromas. Palate is full-bodied with black currants, earthiness and black cherry flavours. Mouth-watering acids and tannins that are smooth and integrating nicely. Lengthy finish. Nicely balanced. Would give this another in bottle for everything to come together. Score: 92 pts

PALMAZ MUSCAT CANELLI "FLORENCIA" 2012 - Napa Valley (#) (MS) - $55
Medium+ aromas with elegant peach, tropical fruit, and melon aromas. Fresh, clean, orange citrus and peach flavour profile that is medium-dry. Has crisp acids and a long finish that is slightly oily in texture. Score: 90 pts

MINER THE ILIAD 2012 - Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $30
Blend of 54% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne, and 6% Viognier. Medium-high intensity aromas featuring clean herbal, pear, and florals. On the mineral-driven palate, there are aroma replays and crisp acids. Finish is long with herbal notes in play. Score: 89 pts

MINER WILD YEAST CHARDONNAY 2010 - Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $50
Highly aromatic with apple, butter, and pear notes with hints of butterscotch. Medium+ bodied on the palate with crisp acids and nice aroma replays along with hints of crème brûlée. Texture is creamy with a finish that's long and smooth. A little high in alcohol at 14.3%. Score: 90 pts

MINER ROSELLA'S VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2011 - Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey (#) (XD) - $60
Aromas are of medium+ intensity and show strawberry, cherry and citrus on the nose. It's low-to-medium weighted with crisp acids. Warm red berries, hint of earth on the palate. Slightly astringent. Very fruit-driven and finishing long. Score: 89 pts

MINER LA DILIGENCE SYRAH 2009 - Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $40
Medium+ aromas with nose consisting of blueberry preserve, purple fruits, and bacon. Medium-full bodied with warm, black fruits, meaty, peppercorn and subtle smoke on the palate. Mouth-watering acids and finishing long, and smooth. Tannins are nicely integrated. Made in a northern Rhône style, this very nice wine is drinkable now or can be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years. Score: 90+ pts

MINER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $50
Contains 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. Grilled green pepper and currants show on the highly aromatic nose. Full-bodied with finely-grained tannins, aromas replay on the palate joined by herbal notes and some oak. Mouth-watering acids and a very long finish. Score: 89 pts

MINER THE ORACLE 2009 - Napa Valley (#046367) (XD) - $90 USD / $99.95 CAD
Barrel aged in 55% new French Oak blend consisting of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot. Elegant oak, currant, cassis, vanillan and red berry notes make up the medium+ intensity bouquet. It's full-bodied with red currant, leather and sweet tobacco flavours and a spicy mid-palate. Has good acids, drying tannins and a lengthy finish. Drinking well now, could be enjoyed until 2019. Score: 91 pts

PRIEST RANCH SYRAH 2009 - Somerston Vineyard, Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $38
Aromas are of medium intensity with nose consisting of peppercorn, oak and dark fruits. It's full-bodied with very good acids and flavours of peppercorn, blueberry and vanillan oak. Slightly chalky tannins. Long and spicy finish. Very much Old World style. Enjoyable now, but will reward in 2-3 years. Score: 89-90 pts

PRIEST RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Somerston Vineyard, Napa Valley (#361097) (XD) - $48 USD / $52 CAD
Contains 5% Petit Sirah. Highly aromatic with green pepper and red currant nose. Medium-full bodied with aroma replays on the palate joined by cassis and minty complexity. Dry, chalky tannins and long, slightly warm finish. Could use 2-3 years in cellar. Score: 89 pts

PRIEST RANCH PETITE SIRAH 2010 - Somerston Vineyard, Napa Valley (#361105) (XD) - $40 USD / $52 CAD
Medium+ intensity nose with mulberry, currants, dried fruit and mint aromas. Medium-bodied with eucalyptus, spice, blackberry and sweet vanillan flavours on the palate. Tannins are crunchy, big, and smooth. Very good acids and slightly warm finish. Score: 89 pts

PRIEST RANCH COACHGUN 2008 - Somerston Vineyard, Napa Valley (#) (XD) - $75
Blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. This mature red has medium-high intensity aromas that has a nose consisting of dried fruits, mint, and raisined notes. Full-bodied on the palate with nice aroma replays along with dark fruits, sweet cassis, and eucalyptus flavour profile. Finish is long and warm. Score: 90+ pts


Note: All prices are in USD, unless otherwise stated.

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Aug. 2 LCBO Wine Picks: California + Alsace + Loire

The next LCBO Vintages release will be on shelves across Ontario this Saturday, August 2nd. The major theme of this release is on top wines from California, with an emphasis on Cabs, Zins and Chards. There are two minor themes - one which focuses on white wines from Loire and Alsace, while the second focuses on mostly disappointing Greek wines.

Just one of the 18 wines from the California feature made my list of wine picks. This is due to the fact that even though California continues to produce good wine, many of them arrive on our shores with prices beyond the reach of most folks, while failing to deliver on the quality that one would expect in that price range. Also, at the lower-end of the scale, many California wines - especially the reds - tend have a sweet, sugary character that I personally do not enjoy. Thus, my lone wine pick from California is from Cameron Hughes. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a single block of vines from the Rutherford district and can be enjoyed between now and 2022.

Far more interesting are the white wines from Loire and Alsace. Five of the seven wines made my list of wine recommendations, including all three from Alsace. One interesting thing to note about labels is that Loire wines use regional labelling, while Alsace puts the name of the grape on the label. Thus, in order to know what's inside the bottle of wine from Loire, you will have to know the region. The dry wines from Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre are both made using Sauvignon Blanc. Alsace wines tend to be between off-dry and medium in sweetness. The Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris wines from Alsace listed below all fit within this range and will be enjoyed by anyone who prefers sweeter wines.

From the rest of the release, the Whispering Angel Rosé is a dry (i.e. not sweet) blend consisting of Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino), Cinsault, Syrah and Tibouren. In whites, there is an interesting white wine from Lebanon that is a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon and 20% Chardonnay. Also, if you missed the 2004 Loan Semillon that came to Vintages last year, check out the 2005 version - it's just as delicious!

In red wines, the Perrin from Rhône is a fruit-forward blend of 80% tank-aged Grenache and 20% barrel-aged Syrah. The Falcoaria comes from vines that are more than 80 years old and is blend of Castelão, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet. From Italy, the Piccini is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet, and 20% Merlot.

That's all for this week. Enjoy my wine recommendations. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CLOS TROTELIGOTTE K-OR MALBEC 2011 - AC Cahors, Southwest, France (#299982) (XD) - $16.95
• PERRIN PEYRE BLANCHE CAIRANNE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2012 - AC, Rhône, France (#650960) (XD) - $17.95
• PICCINI SASSO AL POGGIO 2008 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#134809) (D) - $19.95
• DANDELION VINEYARDS LIONHEART OF THE BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2012 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#167189) (D) - $19.95
• FALCOARIA CLÁSSICO 2011 - DOC do Tejo, Portugal (#379214) (XD) - $19.95
• LONGVIEW DEVIL’S ELBOW CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#660050) (XD) - $22.95
• MATETIC CORRALILLO SYRAH 2011 - San Antonio Valley, Chile (#146407) (XD) - $23.95
• LE CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#033894) (D) - $30.00  reviewed here
• CAMERON HUGHES LOT 345 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA (#372383) (XD) - $31.95
• FEUDI SAN PIO NERO DI LUPO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2010 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#375527) (XD) - $36.95

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU KSARA BLANC DE BLANCS 2012 - Békaa Valley, Lebanon (#744805) (XD) - $16.95
• LOAN WINES SPECIAL RESERVE SEMILLON 2005 - Unoaked, Barossa Valley, South Australia (#301127) (XD) - $16.95
• PIERRE SPARR GRANIT RIESLING 2010 - AC Alsace, France (#378356) (M) - $16.95
• BARON DE HOEN RÉSERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2012 - AC Alsace, France (#377721) (D) - $17.95
• KUHLMANN PLATZ PINOT GRIS 2012 - AC Alsace, France (#224204) (D) - $17.95
• SPINYBACK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#694737) (XD) - $19.95
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE RIESLING 2013 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (D) - $23.95  reviewed here
• FOURNIER PÈRE & FILS LES DEUX CAILLOUX POUILLY-FUMÉ 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#379750) (XD) - $26.95
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE C.M. SANCERRE BLANC 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $27.95
• HUFF ESTATES SOUTH BAY CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#088955) (XD) - $29.95  reviewed here

Rosé Wine:

• CAVES D’ESCLANS WHISPERING ANGEL ROSÉ 2013 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#325076) (XD) - $23.95

Sparkling Wine:

• PREVEDELLO ASOLO SUPERIORE EXTRA DRY PROSECCO 2013 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#262881) (D) - $17.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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Gallo Family Laguna Vineyard Chardonnay 2009 (Sonoma) - Wine Review

Purchased this gorgeous cool-climate Chardonnay from an LCBO Vintages release last August that highlighted a bunch of wines that were scored 90 pts or higher by some of the more famous wine critics.

It was opened last night due to a closing drinking window. For those that prefer very oakey Chardonnays, this is one not to be missed, as you will see from my wine review below. However, it's unlikely you will be able to find this vintage in Vintages at this point in time, but I could see the 2010 coming into stock in the near future. This white wine paired great with crab curry and will go really well with other rich, seafood dishes.


GALLO FAMILY LAGUNA VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009 - Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#544981) (XD) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Mango, melon and peach aromas from the cork. Heavily oaked with smoky aromas lead the way, followed by butter, and hints of apple. On the palate, it's medium-full bodied, dry, and concentrated with buttery oak, honeysuckle, spice and nutty flavours. Acids are still fresh. Slightly creamy texture, with a finish that is excellent in length and smooth. Enjoyed with Dungeness crab curry. Highly recommended. Score: 90 pts

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Mar. 15 LCBO Wine Picks: Cali Classics + Handcrafted Wines

The next LCBO Vintages release will be on Saturday, March 15th. The major theme of this release is titled "Cali Classics" and highlights some iconic wines from some of the biggest and best names in California, while the secondary theme is titled "Labour of Love" and focuses on artisanal wines from around the globe.

We'll begin with the Cali Classics section, where nearly all of the 12 wines featured are very good and I would be happy to add many of them to my cellar. However, I've selected three in particular that I would cherish the most.

First up is the 2010 Dominus that is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It's not too often we see a Parker-rated 100-point wine on LCBO shelves, and while I doubt many other critics would also score this red wine 100 points, I am certain it's very, very good. It's a big wine that can be decanted and enjoyed now, or cellared for at least 20 years. At $170.95, you may want to go in with one or two close friends and open it on a very special occasion.

Also from Napa is the CADE Cabernet Sauvignon - a relatively new winery at 9 years old and making its debut in Ontario this month. The 2010 is 90% Cab and 10% Merlot from the Howell Mountain AVA (which is a sub-AVA of Napa Valley) and aged in 100% French Oak (80% new).

The Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the best value of the bunch. The 2010 edition is a blend of 80% Cab Sauv, 17% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc and can also be decanted and enjoyed now or cellared for up to 10 years. And yes, even though it says Cabernet Sauvignon in big letters on the label, they are allowed to blend a certain percentage (at most 25% according to U.S. federal law) of other grapes and still be allowed call it by it's primary grape. It's great they included the full blend in smaller letters right on the label!

From the second feature of this release on handcrafted wines, we have the Castello di Ama Chianti (80% Sangiovese, 20% Malvasia Nera and Merlot), Thomas Bachelder's Pinot Noir from Burgundy. And finally, from Loire is a wine on the sweeter side - a Vouvray (Chenin Blanc) from Domaine Bourillon-Dorléans. The winemakers at all three wineries were involved at every stage of making these wines - from picking and pruning the grapes, all the way to the final stages of blending and marketing. Also, both Thomas Bachelder and Frédéric Bourillon focus on terroir-driven wines, with as little intervention as possible.

From the rest of the release, returning to Vintages (and $2 higher) is the 2009 Mas d'Auzierès les Éclats 2009 which I purchased and reviewed 2 years ago, while the Cahors is a blend of Malbec and Merlot. From Spain, the Odipus Old Vines Grenache amazingly comes from 100+-year-old vines, while the Lacrimus Crianza is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha (Grenache). Also from Spain is the Señorío de los Baldíos that is 100% Tempranillo. There's also an interesting Piedmont blend from Tenuta Stefano Farina that consists of 40% Barbera, 40% Nebbiolo and 20% Merlot.

Once again, it was slim pickings among white wines. The Henry of Pelham Chardonnay was barrel fermented, while the Quails' Gate version was 50% barrel fermented and 50% tank fermented. The Saint-Roch is a blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Marsanne from 50-year-old vines.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• ODIPUS OLD VINES GRENACHE 2008 - Unfiltered, DO Navarra, Spain (#366401) (XD) - $15.95
• TENUTA STEFANO FARINA LE BRUME LANGHE 2009 - DOC, Piedmont, Italy (#360073) (XD) - $17.95
• CLOS LA COUTALE CAHORS 2011 - AC, Southwest, France (#286385) (XD) - $17.95
• MAS D’AUZIERÈS LES ÉCLATS 2009 - AC Côteaux du Languedoc, Midi, France (#271742) (XD) - $18.95  reviewed here
• LACRIMUS CRIANZA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#359968) (XD) - $18.95
• YALUMBA SHIRAZ 2012 - South Australia (#280883) (XD) - $19.95
• SEÑORIO DE LOS BALDÍOS 2009 - DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#366393) (XD) - $19.95
• ALJIBES CABERNET FRANC 2007 - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain (#358788) (XD) - $24.95
• CASTELLO DI AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2009 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#039768) (XD) - $35.95
• BACHELDER LA PETITE CHARMOTTE NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#357228) (XD) - $49.95
• RIDGE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA (#089284) (D) - $61.95
• CADE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California (#325027) (XD) - $99.95
• DOMINUS 2010 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#212381) (XD) - $170.95

White Wine:

• SAINT-ROCH VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE BLANC/MARSANNE 2012 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#175232) (XD) - $15.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2012 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#268342) (XD) - $19.95
• QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2012 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, USA (#377770) (XD) - $21.95
• BOURILLON-DORLÉANS LA BOURDONNERIE DEMI-SEC VOUVRAY 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#357244) (M) - $21.95

Sparkling Wine:

• DOMAINE DE VAUGONDY BRUT VOUVRAY - Méthode Traditionnelle, AC, Loire Valley, France (#154567) (D) - $15.95
• BARON-FUENTÉ GRAND MILLÉSIME BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2006 - AC, Champagne, France (#155119) (D) - $53.95

The rest of the wines from this Vintages release can be found here.

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Napa Valley Wine Tasting

The California Wine Institute has been heavily promoting their wines all over Canada throughout March, and will continue to the beginning of May. Included among this promotion were the major features on California wine in the March 2nd and 16th Vintages releases, and the rather large promotion in the General List wine section at the LCBO titled "California Style". The recent iYellow Wine Club California Cruisin', Hope Family Wines tasting, and California Wine Fair in Toronto (review coming soon) were (I'm sure) also timed to coincide with this promotion.

Given all this, it seems only fitting that I finally post a review of my trip to Napa Valley in late-December, where I had the opportunity to visit and taste wines from 6 different wineries. There was also a planned visit to Sonoma-County and Russian River Valley during this trip, however, I unfortunately became quite ill and had to forgo the journey.

We arrived in Napa Valley in the early afternoon, travelling along the famous Silverado Trail. Our first winery visit of the day was Hagafen Cellars. This is a small, family-owned winery that generally does not sell to any of the "big box" operations, including the LCBO, due to their small lot bottlings. Hagafen produces a grand total of only 7,500 cases per year. Definitely visit this winery if you're in the area - because this is probably the only time you will get the chance to taste their wines, unless, of course, you are invited to the White House (Washington, D.C.), where Hagafen has been poured since 1981. The reason for this is simple - all Hagafen wines are certified kosher for Passover and Mevushal. This certification comes in handy when delegates from Israel come to visit the White House. A quick search shows that one Hagafen wine is available at an LCBO in Ottawa too.

HAGAFEN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Napa Valley (XD) - $21
Citrus and floral aromas. Soft and round on the palate with nice aromas replays. Good acidity and well-balanced. Quite nice. Would make a good appertif. Score: 89 pts

HAGAFEN ROUSSANNE 2011 - Ripken Vineyard, Lodi (D) - $18
This white wine has honeysuckle on the nose. Medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. More honeysuckle on the palate with some spicy vanilla notes on the mid-palate. Slightly off-dry. Score: 88-89 pts

HAGAFEN CHARDONNAY 2010 - Oak Knoll, Napa Valley (XD) - $24
Nice floral and mineral aromas. Round lemon and citrus on the palate. Medium-length finish. Crowd pleaser. Score: 89 pts

HAGAFEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $45
Dark berries, sweet vanilla, and light oak aromas from the glass. Medium-bodied with dark fruits, cassis and cocoa on the palate. Integrated tannins, well-balanced with good acidity, but finishes short. Score: 88-89 pts

HAGAFEN PRIX CHARDONNAY 2010 - Hall Vineyard, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley (XD) - $36
Refreshing lime and mineral aromas. Tropical fruits and butter on the palate with a creamy mouthfeel and some spiciness on the mid-palate. Very good acidity and a very long finish. My favourite white. Score: 90-91 pts

HAGAFEN PRIX CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - MJT Block, Napa Valley (XD) - $60
Rich, red fruit aromas on the palate with dark fruits, cassis and mint on the palate. Full bodied red with lots of tannin that is drinking really well right now. Score: 88 pts

HAGAFEN PRIX MÉLANGE RED TABLE WINE 2006 - Napa Valley (XD) - $75
Bordeaux-blend with Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Lovely ripe red fruit aromas with some tartness quality. More fruit on the palate. Nicely integrated tannins and mouth-watering acidity. Very well-balanced with a medium-long finish. Yum! Score: 92 pts

HAGAFEN LATE HARVEST SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008 - Sonoma Coast (S) (375 mL) - $30
Beeswax aromas from the glass. Blast of sweetness (honey) on the palate with vibrant acidity that dies quickly. Medium-length finish. Score: 91 pts

Our second stop of the afternoon was about 30 seconds up the road to neighbouring Signorello Estate. It turns out that nearly all the wineries in the area border each other and are just a quick, short drive from one to the next. Ray Signorello Sr. purchased a 100-acre estate during the mid 1970's with the intention of selling the grapes to other wineries, but the bountiful harvest of 1985 changed everything. In 1986, the Signorello's (both Jr. and Sr.) made plans to start a winery. The Padrone - meaning godfather or father-figure - is their flagship wine and made in tribute to Ray Sr., who passed away in 1998.

SIGNORELLO SETA 2011 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $45
"Seta" means "silk" in Italian. Blend of 62% Semillon and 38% Sauvignon Blanc. Light lemon and peach aromas, while the palate is intense with honeysuckle, floral and spice. Lacking balance. Score: 86-87 pts

SIGNORELLO HOPE'S CUVÉE CHARDONNAY - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $70
This wine is named in tribute to the wife of Ray Signorello Sr. and mother to Ray Jr. Unfined and unfiltered. Lots of butter aromas with nutmeg undertones. Creamy mouthfeel on the palate, full-bodied with mineral and spices notes that kick-in mid-palate and linger on the long finish with vanilla nuances. Score: 89 pts

SIGNORELLO CABERNET FRANC 2009 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $70
Old-world style with mulberry, brambleberry and cheddar cheese aromas with great aroma replays on the palate. Medium-full bodied, very good acidity and well-balanced. Finish is medium-long. Score: 90-91 pts

SIGNORELLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (#060152) (XD) - $100
Mostly Cab Sauv (75%) with Merlot (18%) and Cab Franc (7%) to complete the blend. Fig and jammy plum aromas from the glass. Ageing quite well, this full-bodied red wine has nice aroma replays, plus some mint, cassis and black currant notes on the palate. Very good acidity. Score: 90-91 pts

SIGNORELLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (#060152) (XD) - $90
Cab Sauv (93%) and Cab Franc (7%) has oak, barnyard, woodsmoke and dense blackcurrant aromas with balanced aroma replays on the palate. Smooth, velvety tannins and finishing long. Very nice! Drinking well now, could be cellared another 10 years. Score: 92-93 pts

SIGNORELLO PADRONE 2007 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $165
Consisting of 84% Cab Sauv, 8% Merlot and 8% Cab Franc. Sweet plum drops and incense aromas. Medium-full bodied and very smooth with blackcurrant, cassis, dark fruits on the palate. Very nicely integrated tannins and a long, dark finish that is silky smooth. Score: 93-94 pts

SIGNORELLO PADRONE 2008 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $155
Blend a bit different than the '07 with 89% Cab Sauv and 11% Merlot. Woodsmoke and plum aromas. Full-bodied with dark fruits and leather on the palate. Tannins are very chalky and need 2-3 years to settle down. Score: 93 pts

The third stop of the afternoon was 2 minutes north on the Silverado Trail, the independent winery of Clos Du Val. This winery was founded in 1970 and planted its first vineyards in '72 in what is now known as the Stags Leap District. Clos Du Val's '72 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of 6 wines selected for the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting. At the 10 year anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the same wines were tasted again and Clos Du Val's '72 Cab ranked 1st overall. The "Three Graces" that have "graced" the winery's labels since its inception in 1972 come from the 3 mischievous daughters of Zeus that symbolize the independent mind, body and spirit of Clos Du Val.

CLOS DU VAL BRUT (NV) - (XD) - $???
Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend. Very smooth, creamy mousse on the palate. Extra dry. Quite nice.

CLOS DU VAL ARIADNE 2010 - Napa Valley (XD) - $19
Ariadne gets it's name from the wife of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. Blended with 68% Sémillon and 32% Sauvignon Blanc. Melon, herbal, cilantro and fresh mint aromas. Palate is intense with a creamy mouthfeel and flavours of passion fruit, guava and citrus. Crowd pleaser. Score: 88-89 pts

CLOS DU VAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Napa Valley (#652925) (XD) - $38
84% Cab Sauv, 7% Merlot, 6% Cab Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Ripe black fruit, cedar oak and toast aromas. Smooth mouthfeel with chocolate, blackberry and blackcurrant flavours on the palate. Silky tannins, but a touch spicy on the mid-palate. Finish is long. Score: 89 pts

CLOS DU VAL CABERNET FRANC 2009 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $65
Pleasant violet and oak aromas from the glass. Medium-full bodied with more violet notes on the palate. Slightly chalky tannins will reward ageing 2 years, but drinking excellent now. Good acidity and a smooth, long finish. Score: 92 pts

CLOS DU VAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (#720961) (XD) - $80
94% Cab Sauv and 6% Merlot. Blackfruits, oak, smoke and toast aromas. Black fruits, mocha and coffee notes on the palate with velvety smooth tannins. Very good acidity and long finishing. Very nice! Score: 92 pts

CLOS DU VAL THREE GRACES RED 2009 - Napa Valley (XD) - $65
A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 14% Cab Franc, 3% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Intense aromas of ripe black fruits, dark chocolate, coffee and spice. Medium-full bodied with flavours of brambleberry, mocha and sweet vanilla. Mouth-watering acidity, with tannins that are well-integrated. Lengthy finish. Yum. Score: 91-92 pts

CLOS DU VAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE 2008 - Napa Valley (XD) - $120
With fruit sourced from vineyards in Rutherford, this is mostly Cab Sauv (93%), with 4% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cab Franc to complete the blend. Aromas of black/dark fruits, chocolate tobacco and cigar box. Full-bodied with nice aroma replays plus some leathery notes. Turns spicy at mid-palate. Tannins are very chalky and finish is long. Score: 91 pts

We travelled another 2 minutes north and stopped at Chimney Rock. A relatively young winery, Chimney Rock produced it's first wine in only 1989. The Terlato Family joined founders Hack & Stella Wilson in 2000 and assumed full ownership in 2004. Chimney Rock practices sustainable winemaking techniques and aims to leave the environment in better condition than how they found it. I wish all people would think like this. As for the winery experience - Chimney Rock was the busiest of all the wineries we visited. The crowds seemed too much for the pourers, and was a bit much for me as well. The Elevage is a stellar red wine, but otherwise this visit sort of left a bad taste in my mouth.

CHIMNEY ROCK ELEVAGE BLANC 2008 - Napa Valley (XD) - $39
A unique blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. Herbal, grassy, floral and guava aromas. Medium-full bodied with a crisp mouthfeel and nice aroma replays. Lively acidity and a long, lingering finish. Score: 88 pts

CHIMNEY ROCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON STAG'S LEAP DISTRICT 2008 - Napa Valley (#731810) (XD) - $66
Leather and spice dominate the aroma profile, with undertones of bramble, violet and sweet vanillan. Well-integrated tannins with finish that is spicy with chocolate & mocha notes. Delicious. Score: 90 pts

CHIMNEY ROCK ELEVAGE 2008 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $85
A blend of 56% Merlot, 38% Cab Sauv and 6% Petit Verdot. Ripe red fruit aromas. On the palate, it's very smooth with dark fruits, milk chocolate, and mocha flavours. Lively acidity and a medium-long finish that is very smooth. Score: 91 pts

CHIMNEY ROCK TOMAHAWK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $130
Comprised from a small group of vines planted in 2002, otherwise known as the Tomahawk Vineyard. This wine saw French oak for 18 months. Very nice sweet vanillan oak aromas. Extremely smooth at the beginning, but turns to spicy mid-palate. Flavour profile consists of blackberry, milk chocolate and light oak notes. Needs 2 years for tannins to settle. Score: 90 pts

Heading further north, we arrived in less than one minute at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. According to popular legend, the origin of the "Stags Leap" name comes from a stag (deer) who eluded hungry hunters by leaping to freedom across the District's landmark peaks. This winery (not to be confused with Stags' Leap Winery) was founded in 1970 and is widely-known for it's estate-grown Cab Sauv's - CASK 23, S.L.V. and FAY. Furthermore, this winery also has the distinction of winning the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting with their '73 S.L.V. Cab Sauv. Suffice it to say, I was really excited about this tasting.

We entered the winery and quickly noticed oak barrels that were on-end and scattered throughout the floor, while on the far left was the wine bar. It turns out that the barrels were used as mini-tables to be used by customers for tastings. We were greeted and offered one of these "barrel tables" to taste a flight Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignons. Our server brought over the bottles for our tasting flight, plus a couple of surprises that were not on the list. It was quite the experience being in this setting, and I would highly recommend you visit if you're in the area.

STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS FAY ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Napa Valley (XD) - $95
Named after Nathan Fay, a pioneering grape grower, this wine's grapes come from the FAY vineyard. Sweet blackberry and dark fruits aromas. Medium-bodied with cassis and blackcurrant on the palate. Good acidity and medium-length finish. Fairly light in style for a Cab Sauv. Score: 89-90 pts

STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS ARTEMIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Napa Valley (#708892) (XD) - $55
Blend of 88% Cab Sauv and 12% Merlot. Nicely balanced oak and chocolate aromas. Medium-full bodied with blackcurrant and violet on the palate. Very smooth and round. Tannins are integrated and overall is a well-balanced red. This is currently available in the Vintages section at the LCBO. Score: 89 pts

STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS S.L.V. CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $125
Some of the grapes in this wine are from original vines planted in 1970. Black cherry and smoke aromas. Medium-full bodied and plummy, dark fruit and violet flavours on the palate. Smooth, fine-grained tannins and high acidity. A big wine with a long, smooth finish. Very nice! Score: 93 pts

STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS CASK 23 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Napa Valley (XD) - $210
Originally got it's name "CASK 23" when, in 1974, winemaker André Tchelistcheff tasted a deliciously distinct barrel of S.L.V. labelled "Cask 23", and asked that it be bottled separately. Today, it a blend of distinctive fruits from both the S.L.V. and FAY vineyards. Lovely intense smoke, oak and black cherry and black fruit aromas. Medium-full bodied and balanced aroma replays on the palate. Smooth tannins and bright acidity, while finishing long. Nice! Score: 92 pts

STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS S.L.V. CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Stags Leap Distric, Napa Valley (XD) - ???
Very nice smoke, black fruits, cassis, earth and oak aromas. Full-bodied and nice aromas replays on palate. Great acidity and smooth tannins. Ageing gracefully and still could be enjoyed 5 years from now. Score: 92 pts

STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS MERLOT 1998 - Napa Valley (XD) - $???
Lots of smoke and oak aromas, with undertones of dark fruit. Full-bodied and fruit forward with violets and mocha. Spicy mid-palate. Long finish. Score: 90 pts

Our final stop of the day - before we headed to dinner at Bistro Don Giovanni (lovely place, by the way) - was supposed to be Robert Mondavi Winery, located within the Oakville AVA. However, they were just closing up as we arrived. So, on the suggestion of the folks at Mondavi, and because we had a little bit of time to kill before dinner, we headed a few minutes south on St. Helena Hwy to Napa Cellars. Also poured in this tasting room are wines from Sonoma County-based Folie à Deux, and their other label Ménage à Trois. The tasting room felt dark and rustic, and contained many nicknacks, wine gear and lots of cookbooks for sale.

FOLIE À DEUX CHARDONNAY 2010 - Napa Valley (XD) - $24
Ripe lime and citrus aromas with replays on the palate. A bit spicy on the mid-palate. Bright acidity and medium-length finish. Score: 87 pts

FOLIE À DEUX PINOT NOIR 2011 - Sonoma Coast (XD) - $20
Aromas of cherry, strawberry, raspberry and hints of earth. Aromas carryover onto the light-bodied palate, joined by oak flavours. Score: 87 pts

NAPA CELLARS RESERVE STAGECOACH VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Napa Valley (XD) - $48
Cherries, sweet vanillan, and oak aromas. Red and black fruit flavours on the medium-full bodied palate. Medium acidity and tannins that are integrating nicely. Finish is medium-length and well-balanced. Quite nice. Score: 89 pts

NAPA CELLARS RESERVE DYER VINEYARD SYRAH 2010 - Carneros, Napa Valley (XD) - $28
Intense dark sweet fruit, mint and herbal aromas from the glass. Full-bodied with dark cherry and spice on the palate. Well-balanced overall with good acidity and integrated tannins. Finish is medium-length. Score: 88 pts

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Diamond Estates + 7 Deadly Zins Wine Tasting

Earlier this week I hosted a small wine tasting. Invited were a few of our neighbours to taste some media samples of local Ontario wines from Diamond Estates Winery, and a red Lodi Zinfandel from Michael David Winery out in California.

Paired with these wines were some blueberries, watermelon, the L'Extra Brie, and the Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar. This cheddar from PEI has become one of my favourite cheeses - our guests enjoyed it too!

LAKEVIEW "GMR" SPARKLING RESERVE 2008 - Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $24.95
The letters "GMR" come from the winemaking team of Thomas Green, Scott McGregor & Jason Roller. This sparkling wine was hand-harvested and made from 50.4% Chardonnay and 49.6% Pinot Noir. Medium intensity aromas of apple, pear and yeastiness. Extra dry with apple and pear on the palate, plus some lemon and toast. Mouthfeel is slightly chalky. Fine stream of bubbles and a finish that is medium-long. Pairs well with mild-flavoured cheeses. Only available through the winery. Score: 88 pts

20 BEES PINOT GRIGIO 2011 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#060707) (D) - $11.95
Screw cap. Honeysuckle, orange and tropical aromas from this white wine. Light-bodied with lots of floral and tropical fruits on palate, and hints of honey. Low acidity and finish is medium-length. Refreshing palate cleanser, good as an apertif. Even though classified as extra dry, this is an off-dry P.G. Score: 86 pts

EASTDELL GAMAY NOIR 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#214890) (XD) - $12.95
Screw cap. Red berry and cherry, oak and pungent smoke aromas from the glass. Light-bodied and fruit-forward with red fruits, cherry, raspberry, and red currant flavours on the palate. Medium levels of acidity. Tannins are integrating nicely, will reward in 1-2 years. Score: 86 pts

7 DEADLY ZINS OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2010 - Lodi, California, USA (#059311) (D) - $24.95
The 2010 was just released in Vintages and is part of the Essentials collection. Mostly Zinfandel and blended with Petite Sirah and Petite Verdot. Medium-intensity crushed black fruit and sweet red fruit aromas with cedar undertones. Medium-bodied and very fruit-forward with red fruits, red berries and black cherry on the palate. Medium acidity and integrated tannins. Crowd-pleaser and a good introduction to new red wine drinkers. This was favourite of the evening. Score: 88 pts

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Mar. 16 LCBO Wine Picks: California Icons + Classic Euro Whites

The next LCBO Vintages release continues the recent promotion California wines - a trend that looks like it will last the entire month of March go into the beginnng of April with the California Wine Fair. The last release focused on the latest Trends in California, while this edition features wines from some of California's most iconic names.

You really can't go wrong with any of the 18 wines that are featured, while, of course, some will offer better value than others. For me, the 2009 Calera de Villiers Vineyard Pinot Noir is one worth pursuing. If you'd like, also get the 2009 Calera Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir (#058966, $49.95) and compare with the de Villiers Vineyard - same winery, same grape, same vintage, but different vineyard within the Mount Harlen AVA (American Viticultural Area).

The secondary focus in this release is on Classic Euro white wines - Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewürztraminer are the three classic varietals. From this portion of the release, only the German Gewürztraminer Spätlese made the cut. Also in this release are three Irish Whiskies for St. Patrick's Day, and a maple-syrup-infused whisky from Quebec.

From the rest of the release, we have a 2009 Château de la Dauphine from Bordeaux that is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, and the 2010 Château Hauchat Bordeaux that is 100% Merlot. From the fabulous 2010 southern-Rhone vintage, we have a red wine from Domaine des Amadieu that is made with 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre. The Antinori is one to cellar away for at least few years and consists of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

New wines from this release will be in stores on Saturday, March 16. Enjoy my picks! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2010 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $14.95
• CHÂTEAU LES ARMES DE BRANDEAU CUVÉE DE LA TRILOGIE 2009 - AC Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#308445) (XD) - $16.95
• DOMAINE DES AMADIEU CUVÉE DES GARRIGUES CAIRANNE 2010 - AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#310060) (XD) - $17.95
• FAMILIA MAYOL MALBEC 2009 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#301234) (D) - $18.95
• VICCHIOMAGGIO AGOSTINO PETRI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2008 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#993360) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU DE LA DAUPHINE 2009 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#209742) (XD) - $29.85
• CALERA DE VILLIERS VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009 - Mt. Harlan, Central Coast, California, USA (#227504) (XD) - $44.95
• ANTINORI GUADO AL TASSO 2008 - DOC Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy (#986380) (XD) - $99.95

White Wine:

• RUPPERTSBERGER LINSENBUSCH GEWÜRZTRAMINER SPÄTLESE 2011 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#320473) (MS) - $14.95
• CREEKSIDE LAURA’S WHITE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#121764) (D) - $18.95
• LOIMER GRÜNER VELTLINER 2011 - DAC Kamptal, Austria (#142240) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE CHENEVIÈRES LES GRANDES VIGNES CHABLIS 2011 - AC, La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne, Burgundy, France (#278952) (XD) - $22.95
• F. TINEL-BLONDELET L’ARRÊT BUFFATTE POUILLY-FUMÉ 2010 - AC, Loire, France (#169730) (XD) - $22.95
• DECOY CHARDONNAY 2011 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#311555) (D) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

• MARENCO BRACHETTO D’ACQUI - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#320002) (S) - $16.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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Hope Family Wines - Portfolio Tasting

Last month I had the pleasure of tasting some new wines from the Hope Family Wines portfolio.

The Hope family arrived in Paso Robles (California) in 1978 and current President Austin Hope, at the age of 8 years, began learning in the vineyards alongside his father, Chuck Hope.

In the late 1980's, the Hope Family began selling their grapes to Chuck Wagner of the famous Caymus Vineyards, to produce Wagner's second label - Liberty School. In the mid-90's, the Hope Family acquired the Liberty School label from Chuck Wagner.

Hope Family Wines now encompasses five brands: Liberty School, Treana (est. 1996 and symbolizes the 3 natural elements: the sun, the soil and the ocean), Austin Hope (high-end, hand-crafted wines inspired by northern Rhône), Candor (multi-vintage Zinfandel and Merlot) and Troublemaker (multi-vintage GSM-blends).

The winery continues to be family-owned and operated, while being actively involved within the community. They have their own vineyards, but do source grapes from nearly 50 growers with an eye towards sustainable growing practices. To soften the filtration process of the wine, they recently purchased a made-in-Italy cross-flow filtering machine. Their 2010 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon (wine review below) has gone through this machine and the results look very good as it does appear to have more clarity and refinement.

All of these wines (except for the Troublemaker, unfortunately) can be purchased via Trialto Wine Group. Many of these are (or will be soon) available in the Vintages section at the LCBO.

Tasting Notes:
LIBERTY SCHOOL CHARDONNAY 2011 - Central Coast, California, USA (#960120) (XD) - $18.95
Consisting of 90% Chardonnay, 5% Viognier, and for the first time 5% Marsanne. Crisp orchard fruit, pear and earth aromas. Full bodied and dry with a creamy mouthfeel and oily texture. Very nice flavours of apple, pear, butter and sweet vanillan. Quite well-balanced with lively acidity. Finish is medium-length. Will be in Vintages on March 30th. Score: 88+ pts

LIBERTY SCHOOL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#738823) (XD) - $19.95
Part of the Vintages Essentials collection (i.e. always available). The 2010 just reached the shelves this weekend - if the 2009 is also available, take notice of the new label - it looks much sharper and cleaner! Lovely crushed black fruit, red cherries and cedar oak aromas. Medium-bodied with nice aromas replays on palate, with hints of blueberries and cocoa on the long, smooth finish. Has mouth-watering acidity and velvety tannins. Very nice! Score: 90 pts

LIBERTY SCHOOL SYRAH 2010 - Central Coast, California, USA (#942383) (XD) - $18.95
Was featured as part of the California Trends section of the latest Vintages release and contains small amounts of Viognier. Aromas of dark fruits, mushroom smoked meat, and violet. More dark fruits and violet on the palate, plus blackberry notes. Full-bodied with grippy tannins that are a bit tight. Could use 1-2 years to unwind. Smooth, medium-long finish that's well-balanced. Score: 87 pts

CANDOR LOT 3 ZINFANDEL (NV) - California, USA (#133389) (D) - $21.95
A blend of grapes from Paso Robles and Lodi appellations, from the 2008 (6%), 2009 (78%) and 2010 (16%) vintages. Smells very green with ripe fruits and sour cherry aromas. Medium-bodied, slightly off-dry with notes of raisins, red plums and is slightly jammy. Good acidity with medium-length finish. Will be in Vintages on March 30th. Score: 88

TREANA RED 2009 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#011221) (D) - $39.95
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah and high 15% alc/vol. Dark fruits and sweet vanillan aromas. Full bodied with grippy tannins and very good acidity. More dark fruits, black cherry and oak on the palate with hints of mocha. Has a long finish. Drinking well now, but can be enjoyed over the next 5 years. Score: 90 pts

TROUBLEMAKER (NV) - Paso Robles, California, USA (#) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 4 grapes (67% Syrah, 22% Mourvedre, 8% Grenache, 3% Petite Sirah) from the 2010 and 2011 vintages. 14.5% alc/vol. Intense smoke and fresh wood plank aromas with undertones of sour cherry. Medium-bodied with flavours of black pepper, raspberry, oak and lots of pepper on the mid-palate. Very well-balanced with very good acidity and a smooth, medium-long finish. Score: 89+ pts

TREANA WHITE 2009 - Central Coast, California, USA (#011247) (M) - $29.95
Fresh floral aromas, plus pineapple and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with an oily texture. Palate consists of lemon, orange rind and some evident French oak ageing. Nice, long finish. Score: 89 pts.

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