Apr. 26 Wine Picks: Bordeaux + Sparkling Wine

The next LCBO Vintages release will be in stores this Saturday, April 26th. The main focus of this release is on wines from Bordeaux, with a particular emphasis on "great values" from the famed 2009 and 2010 vintages, as well as the challenging 2011 vintage. The secondary focus is on Sparkling Wines and is definitely the highlight of this release.

Personally, I had a hard time finding great values among the 14 Bordeaux wines as only 2 wines made my wine picks. The 2010 Selve is a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cab Sauv, while the 2009 Chantecaille is 80/20 blend of Merlot and Cab Franc. Both of these wines will reward ageing a couple of years. Perhaps save both of these for a special occasion in the future?

Within my circles, sparkling wines tend to be opened only on special occasions. And unless you can afford to otherwise, I would suggest 3 Champagnes from this release should be reserved for a special occasions. The 2006 vintage Champagnes from Marguet is dry and 100% Chardonnay, while the Moutard is off-dry (slightly sweet) and is equal parts Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The Fleury non-vintage Champagne is made with 100% Pinot Noir. Lastly, it's refreshing to see a Sparkling Wine made from Riesling - I reckon we will see more of this in the future.

From the rest of the release, the Remhoogte Estate Wine returns with the 2007 composed of 32% Merlot, 29% Syrah, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Pinotage, which is slightly different than the 2006 version.

Four premium Spanish reds are worth your attention. We'll begin with the 2006 Ardal that contains 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cab Sauv. The Alvaro Palacios is a blend consisting of 60% Cariñena (Carignan), 30% Garnacha, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah from old vines, some of which are 100 years old. There are also two Riojas to consider, including a 2001 Faustino that is earthy, funky, and bretty and still has some stuffing to age another few years; it's made with 86% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo and may not be for everyone. Lastly, the Maetierra Dominum is a blend of 93% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 3% Garnacha Tinta. Save for the Faustino, these Spanish reds will all reward another 4-5 years in the cellar.

White wine lovers looking for bargains under $20 will want to skip this release, as there isn't anything worth your attention unless you're willing to go up the price bracket.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CHAKANA RESERVE MALBEC 2012 - Mendoza, Argentina (#018671) (XD) - $16.95
• KEINT-HE VOYAGEUR PINOT NOIR 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#373407) (D) - $17.95  reviewed here
• REMHOOGTE ESTATE WINE 2007 - WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa (#694539) (D) - $18.95
• CASARENA RAMANEGRA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#366138) (XD) - $18.95
• VILLA CAFAGGIO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#176776) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU HAUT SELVE 2010 - AC Graves, Bordeaux, France (#738120) (XD) - $21.95
• ARDAL RESERVA 2006 - DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#167700) (XD) - $22.95
• MAETIERRA DOMINUM QP 2006 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#246660) (XD) - $22.95
• CHÂTEAU LA CROIX CHANTECAILLE 2009 - AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France (#349936) (XD) - $29.95
• FAUSTINO I GRAN RESERVA 2001 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#976662) (XD) - $32.95
• ALVARO PALACIOS VELLES VINYES LES TERRASSES 2011 - DOCa Priorat, Spain (#977843) (XD) - $46.95
• BURGESS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Estate Vineyards, Napa Valley, California, USA (#291914) (XD) - $48.95

White Wine:

• YALUMBA VIOGNIER 2012 - Eden Valley, South Australia (#954644) (XD) - $24.95
• DOMAINE DE RIAUX POUILLY-FUMÉ 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#200063) (XD) - $25.95
• FREEMARK ABBEY CHARDONNAY 2012 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#361949) (XD) - $27.95  reviewed here

Sparkling Wine:

• TAWSE SPARK LIMESTONE RIDGE RIESLING SPARKLING WINE 2012 - Limestone Ridge Estate Vineyard, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#370361) (D) - $19.95
• FLEURY BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AC, Champagne, France (#368761) (XD) - $54.95
• MARGUET PÈRE & FILS GRAND CRU BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2006 - AC, Ambonnay, Champagne, France (#068791) (XD) - $65.95
• MOUTARD PÈRE & FILS CUVÉE DES 6 CÉPAGES BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2006 - AC, Champagne, France (#185595) (D) - $87.95

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

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Aug. 31 Wine Picks: 90 Plus Wines + Champagne

The next Vintages wine release will be on shelves at the LCBO on Saturday, August 31st. The main feature in this edition (which is done annually) focuses on wines from around the globe that scored 90+ points.

In all, there are 30 wines that are part of the "90+" wine feature. If you're looking for a big, oaky, Chardonnay, then look no further than Gallo Chardonnay from Russian River Valley. If you prefer the less oak in your Chardonnay, then I invite you to check out Maison Champy's 1er Cru - your wallet may become lighter, but you won't be disappointed. Both can be aged for 3-4 years. In other whites, there is a very ageable Riesling that is slightly off-dry from Alsace that can be enjoyed now or in a decade.

In reds from the 90+ feature, fans of Malbec will find a fruity version from Achaval Ferrer. There's also finally an Australian Shiraz worthy of my recommendation that is relatively easy on your wallet and will provide pleasure. And continuing to reach our shores are the newly-released 2011 (Southern) Rhône wines, with the Perrin Peyre Blanche consisting of a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. From Northern Rhône is the Pierre Amadieu Gigondas that it is also a 2011 and a blend of Grenache and Syrah. Last but not least the 100% Aglianico from Rivera that is already 7 years old, but will age gracefully for almost another decade.

The secondary feature in this release coincides with TIFF and features the big names from the world of Champagne - Dom Perignon, Cristal, Laurent-Perrier, Taittinger and Billecart-Simon.

From the rest of the release, there is a 100% Tempranillo from Spain, and the Mandrarossa from Sicily is 100% Nero d'Avola. Both of these wines can be enjoyed now or over the next 2 years.

That's it for this week. Enjoy my wine picks and I'll see you in September!


Red Wine:

• BARCO DE PIEDRA TINTO 2011 - DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#336289) (XD) - $17.00
• PERRIN PEYRE BLANCHE CAIRANNE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2011 - AC, Rhône, France (#650960) (XD) - $17.95
• RIVERA CAPPELLACCIO RISERVA AGLIANICO 2006 - DOC Castel del Monte, Puglia, Italy (#305276) (XD) - $17.95
• MANDRAROSSA CARTAGHO 2009 - IGT Sicilia, Italy (#346593) (XD) - $19.95
• ACHAVAL FERRER MALBEC 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#024737) (XD) - $24.95
• NUGAN ESTATE MCLAREN PARISH VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2010 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#072603) (D) - $24.95
• PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE MACHOTTE GIGONDAS 2011 - AC, Rhône, France (#017400) (XD) - $24.95

White Wine:

• SANTO ASSYRTIKO 2011 - PDO Santorini, Greece (#627760) (XD) - $16.95  reviewed here
• CALAMUS RIESLING 2011 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#158642) (XD) - $16.95
• LAILEY CHARDONNAY 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#193482) (XD) - $19.95
• GALLO FAMILY LAGUNA VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009 - Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#544981) (XD) - $19.95
• BOLLIG-LEHNERT TRITTENHEIMER APOTHEKE RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2011 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#338186) (M) - $20.95
• ZIND HUMBRECHT TURCKHEIM RIESLING 2010 - AC Alsace, France (#031039) (D) - $26.95
• CHAMPY PERNAND-VERGELESSES EN CARADEUX 1ER CRU 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#344143) (XD) - $49.95

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

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