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!
This red wine was purchased way back in from a Vintages release that focused on Chile. The story of that release was about the previous 10 years in Chile and how Chilean wine had exploded on to the global wine scene. This Carmenère was one of the Wines of the Month.
I am certain there is a story behind why the 2007 vintage bottling was the last year that the grapes for this wine came from the Apalta Vineyard. Beginning in 2008, they began to use grapes from the Marchique Vineyard. Currently not available, I would expect a future vintage of this wine to show up in Vintages again.
MONTES ALPHA CARMENÈRE 2007 - Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#143230) (D) - $19.95
Tasting Note:
Stewed blackberry and black currant aromas from the cork. Medium+ aromas of black currant, black cherry, and earth with hints of stewed black fruits and barnyard. Medium+ bodied with refined tannins that are silky smooth, yet drying. Nice black currant/blackberry sweet ripe fruits, oak spice, and earthy flavours. Good acids, rush of spice and hints of purple fruits on the slightly warm, and lengthy finish. Could be aged another 2 years, but drinking great now. Score: 89 pts
This was my first time visiting Soho House, and I must say that this place is quite discreet with the lack of signs, sitting at the corner of Adelaide and Simcoe. I ended up walking once around the building before realizing it was the venue. I also arrived there a little late due to a prior commitment and came in to Francisco speaking to attendees about Errázuriz's Max Reserva line of wines.
I was able to catch up to the rest of group rather quickly by tasting only two of Errázuriz's entry-level Estate wines (for some reason the Sauvignon Blanc did not show up). Neither of the Estate wines were interesting for my palate, but they were good for what they are - basic, entry level wines that will please many palates. Going up a notch is the Max Reserva line, featuring hand-picked grapes and higher-quality control standards. The results from this extra care can be seen in the Savvy and Syrah, while not so much in the Cab Sauv - you can see my wine reviews below.
Last and definitely not least, Francisco introduced the "Icon Series" wines. Once again the grapes were all hand-picked, but the grapes are now inspected twice on the sorting table, and all were aged in new French oak barrels. I'm sure all of this contributed to the super-premium price. All three Icon Series wines were beautiful, as you will see from my notes.
Viña Errázuriz was founded by Don Maximiano Errázuriz in 1870 in Aconcagua Valley, 100 kms north of the capital city, Santiago. Recognizing that the valley provided ideal weather and soil conditions for grape growing, Don Maximiano sent for the finest clones from France. Today, through much perseverance, we have world-class vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley. The Errázuriz family is quite famous in Chile, producing four Presidents, two Archbishops of Santiago, and countless other men (yes, only men) who were involved with the country's social, cultural and political affairs that helped develop and shape the country we see today. The Founder's Reserve (below) is fittingly named in honour of Don Maximiano.
Francisco has been Chief Winemaker at Errázuriz since 2003 and was awarded 2011 Winemaker of the Year by the Chilean Guild of Food & Wine Writers. Prior to Errazuriz, he was a flying winemaker at various wineries in France and U.S.A.. In Chile, he was the winemaker at Viña Santa Carolina and Casa Lapostolle. Mr. Baettig also helped pioneer the introduction of Syrah to Chile, which is evident in both Syrahs I tasted on this night.
The first 5 wines can be readily found at the LCBO, while the last 3 are Icon Series wines and are quite rare to find at the LCBO. However, you can try your hand at ordering these three premium wines via the agent, Philippe Dandurand Wines.
Medium-high intensity aromas that show grassy, herbal, lime and tropical fruit notes. Medium-full bodied on the creamy palate with spice, orchard fruit and pear flavours. Vibrant acidity on the mid-palate and finishes hot. Score: 86 pts
ERRÁZURIZ MAX RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Aconcagua Valley (#273342) (XD) - $15.95
Effervescent gooseberry, herbal, grass and guava aromas. Crisp mouthfeel with good aroma replays. Has bright acidity for pairing with food and a lengthy, tart finish. Score: 88 pts
Medium intensity aromas of smoke, earth and beetroot. Light-bodied with notes of plum, cran-raspberry, strawberry and oak on the palate. Good, round tannins. Finish is short and very hot. Score: 87 pts
ERRÁZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Aconcagua Valley (#335174) (XD) - $18.95
Also contains 9% Cab Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Low intensity aromas of pepper, cassis and blackcurrants. Simple red and black fruit flavours on a medium-full bodied frame. Soft dusty tannins and a short finish. Was expecting better. Bad bottle/batch? This red wine didn't appeal to anyone I spoke to. I wouldn't mind tasting this again. Score: 85 pts
ERRÁZURIZ MAX RESERVA SYRAH 2011 - Aconcagua Valley (#614750) (XD) - $18.95
Very nice black pepper, herbal, eucalyptus aromas. Full-bodied with nice aroma replays. Well-balanced with integrated tannins and very approachable. Hints of milk chocolate on the medium-length finish. My 2nd favourite wine of the evening. Score: 89 pts
ERRÁZURIZ LA CUMBRE 2008 - Aconcagua Valley (#) (XD) - $89.95
Containing 97% Syrah and 3% Petit Verdot, this red wine features very nice and intense red, black and blue fruit aromas, plus cedar and vanillan. Full-bodied with mouth-watering acidity, aroma replays come through on the palate along with some spice notes. Tannins are like velvet, while the finish is long with notes of eucalyptus. Yum! This was my wine of the night. Score: 92 pts
ERRÁZURIZ DON MAXIMIANO FOUNDER'S RESERVE 2008 - Aconcagua Valley (#) (XD) - $79.95
Blend of 84% Cab Sauv, 8% Carménère, 5% Syrah and 3% Petit Verdot. Intense blackcurrant and cassis aromas from the glass. Full-bodied with firm tannins that are still a bit tight. Cedar and dark fruits on the palate. Cellar 3+ years and has potential to reward up to 10 years later. Score: 92 pts
ERRÁZURIZ KAI 2010 - Aconcagua Valley (#) (XD) - $144.95
Mostly Carménère with 4% Petit Verdot. Medium-high intense aromas of roasted pepper and black pepper. Full-bodied with more roasted pepper notes on the palate, with some nuances of milk chocolate and black currant. Dusty tannins are integrating nicely. Finish is long and smooth. Delicious. Score: 91 pts
The upcoming LCBO Vintages release will be on shelves this . The main feature in this release focuses on premium-quality wines from Tuscany, which range in price from $15.95 to $48.95. In all, there are 16 wines featured, and 3 made my list of wine picks below. It just so happens that all three are north of $20.
The Frassinello is an IGT wine that is made using 50% Sangioveto (essentially a localized clone of Sangiovese), 25% Cab Sauv, and 25% Merlot. The Carpineto is also an IGT wine and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The San Felice is made using the more traditional Tuscan grape - Sangiovese.
Five wines from Chile are in secondary feature, which focuses on premium wines from local pioneers and international influencers. I was fortunate enough to meet the CEO of Lapostolle last June (international influencer) and had the opportunity to taste their Apalta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which is made using organic grapes. I am definitely pleased that this wine is among my top picks from this release. Not part of the Chilean feature, but in my list below is a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. At $13.95, the Matetic Corralillo is a steal and a must buy! I'm a big fan of Chilean Savvy!
This issue also contains the annual Thanksgiving feature which highlights 11 wines suitable for your Thanksgiving get-together. The Tawse Riesling, the Reichsgraf Riesling Kabinett, and the Château des Charmes Vidal Icewine are all worthy buys for your holiday gathering.
From the rest of the release, there are a couple of Australian reds worth your attention. The Sister's Run is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, 5% Mataro, while the D'Arenberg D'Arry's Original is 53% Grenache and 47% Syrah. There are also 2 outstanding reds that I will likely be adding to my collection: The Lacroix-Vanel from Midi is mostly Grenache, and the rest likely Syrah, while the Villacreces from Spain is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cab Sauv.
Normally, I stay away from the Spirits section of the Vintages release, but I had to make an exception for the G.E. Massenez Vieux Calvados (#271726, $64.95), which is an apple brandy that actually contains an apple inside the bottle! It's quite unique and I'm sure a treat to taste.
That's it for this week. Enjoy!
Red Wine:
SISTER’S RUN COW’S CORNER GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2011 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#346510) (XD) - $15.95
This red wine is from the March 16th Vintages release and was gifted to me. It was opened on the weekend, knowing that my afternoon guest would surely enjoy this - and he did! I've had mixed emotions with Pinot in the recent past, and this is the first Chilean Pinot I've tasted in a while (perhaps since last year's Wines of Chile event) and I was pleasantly delighted with this one. I believe the price has come down on this wine since I last checked, and there are a few bottles remaining, if you are inclined.
KINGSTON FAMILY VINEYARDS TOBIANO PINOT NOIR 2009 - Casablanca Valley, Chile (#313148) (D) - $19.75
Tasting Note:
Red berry and oak aromas from the cork. Medium-high intense aromas of earthiness, beetroot, strawberry, and hints of red fruit. Palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Quite easy drinking with nice aroma replays and a medium-length finish that is a touch spicy. In terms of palate, this is what I currently enjoy in Pinot. Chill slightly. This one is a crowd pleaser that has the stuffing to be served with lamb. Score: 87 pts
I attended an exclusive tasting with Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle at the Trialto Wine Group's office in downtown Toronto. Charles represents the 7th generation of the Marnier-Lapostolle winemaking family and was recently named Chief Executive Officer of the company's Chilean arm.
Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Charles' parents Alexandra Marnier and Cyril de Bournet. Alexandra Marnier is the great grand-daughter of the creator of the famous brandy liqueur - Grand Marnier. They chose to expand their wine production to Chile because it was (and still is) free of phylloxera. A major reason why Chile is free of this disease is because its longitudinal borders - the Andes Mountains to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West - help to naturally protect the vines from this grape-killing disease.
Lapostolle's first ever wine was the 1994 Sauvignon Blanc. I tasted their latest iteration (the 2012) on this evening and compared it with a Sauvignon Blanc from Lapostolle's French arm - Château de Sancerre in the Loire Valley. Tasting notes for these two wines, along with the other 4 wines I tasted are below.
My favourite wine of the evening was the Carmenère, for which Chile is famously known for, and I personally love. This varietal's leaves turn red first, before all other grapes. The shade of red is called "Carmin". It is from this interesting fact that the grape gets its name - Carmenère.
The winery is very much devoted to help protecting our environment. 100% of their vineyards certified organic. All of their vineyards are also certified biodynamic, creating self-sustainable eco-systems. One of the ways they help protect the environment is by using the cool-maceration process. Grapes are picked at night when it's cooler (who wants to pick grapes during the hot, Chilean day?) so the freshness of the flavours are captured. This also eliminates the need to machine-cool the grapes.
It was a pleasure to meet Charles, he is very knowledgeable and passionate about wine. I am sure he could talk about wine for hours (in a good way). I look forward to seeing him again and visit Lapostolle's estate when I visit Chile. Perhaps I'll even get the chance to pick some grapes. =)
Tasting Notes: CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#321554) (XD) - $14.95
From the LCBO General List and always available, the 2012 version has herbaceous, citrus, lemon rind, butter aromas of medium intensity. Palate is medium-bodied and extra dry with unexpected pear and butter notes. Nice acidity with a lingering finish that shows hints of spice. Also contains 8% Semillón and 2% Sauvignon Gris. Easy drinking and food friendly. Score: 88 pts
CHÂTEAU DE SANCERRE BLANC 2011 - Loire, France (#340893) (XD) - $25.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc. This version from Loire has aromas of fresh tropical fruits and herbal/green notes. Light-bodied with crisp acidity, flavour profile consists of herbal, mineral, and slate. Zippy acidity goes into high gear mid-palate, but tapers quickly thereafter. Length finish and highly recommended to serve with food. Score: 89 pts
CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CHARDONNAY 2011 - Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile (#947937) (D) - $20.75
Made with organic grapes, quite aromatic with smooth and pleasing butter, apple and pear. Creamy and oily on the medium-full bodied frame, and lovely aroma replays. Balanced, long finish. Good acidity for pairing with food. Very nice! Score: 90 pts
CASA LAPOSTOLLE CASA GRAND SELECTION CARMENÈRE 2011 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#168740) (XD) - $15.95
Blended with 6% Merlot and 5% Syrah. Lovely red & black fruits, meaty, earthy and wood aromatics. Full-bodied with nice aroma replays. Mouth-watering acidity and a long, smooth finish. Shows great balance with nicely integrated tannins. Could be aged 2 years, but is definitely (very) enjoyable now! Amazing that this is part of the LCBO General List. My favourite of the tasting. Highly recommended. Score: 90 pts
CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE MERLOT 2011 - Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#459206) (XD) ~ $35
Made with organic grapes and also contains 15% Syrah. Aromas of black fruits, planked wood and meaty notes. Full-bodied with crushed black fruits and cherry flavours, with hints of mint and cedar. Big tannins are integrating nicely. Well-balanced overall with mouth-watering acidity. Subtle hints of spice on the medium-length finish. Still a bit young, I would give this another year or two in cellar. Expect this red wine to be in Vintages in the Fall. Score: 90 pts
CASA LAPOSTOLLE CUVÉE ALEXANDRE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#947929) (XD) ~ $25
Made with organic grapes and is blended with 7% Cab Franc and 5% Syrah. Low-to-medium intensity aromas of cassis, red fruits and oak aromas. Full-bodied with chalky tannins that are integrating nicely. Cedar, black fruit, cassis and sour cherry on the palate. Mouth-watering acidity and a smooth, lengthy finish. Expected in Vintages this Fall. Score: 90 pts
This very nice Syrah from Chile was purchased from the Vintages Release and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. If you're interested, this red wine is still available in the Vintages section at the LCBO.
Tasting Note:
Intense aromas of blueberry, raspberry, vanilla and hints of coffee. Medium-bodied and fruit forward with peppercorn leading to long, smooth finish. Quite well-balanced with refined tannins. Tasty!
The next Vintages wine release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on . The main feature in this release is on five impressive artisanal wineries from Australia. Four of these wineries have wines among my picks in this release.
Australia is known for its Shiraz. But these four wines show that they are more than capable of producing outstanding wines using other varietals. In white wine, there is a delicious Chardonnay from Yabby Lake in the Mornington Peninsula. In reds, we have a Cabernet Sauvignon from Fraser Gallop in Margaret River, and a Pinot Noir from Oakridge in Yarra Valley. We also have a red blend from Spinifex in Barossa that consists of old vine Grenache, Cinsault and Mataró (a.k.a. Monastrell/Mourvèdre). All four wines will provide pleasure over at least the next 5 years, but I wish none of these start at $29.95.
The secondary feature in this release is on wines from some of Chile's finest vineyards. From Chile's most northern wine region, we have a fabulous Syrah from the Elquí Valley - it's also my top value red from the entire release. There are also two whites worth consideration - a Sauvignon Blanc from the Garuma Vineyard in Leyda Valley, and a Chardonnay from the Atalayas Vineyard in Casablanca Valley.
Among the rest of my wine picks, the Sasso Al Poggio is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet, and 20% Merlot. The Guardian Peak is also a red blend, consisting of 60% Syrah, 31% Mourvèdre, and 9% Grenache. The Barolo from Piedmont is 100% Nebbiolo. One final note - don't miss the gorgeous Reif Vidal Icewine! Enjoy my picks for this week!
CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CARMENÈRE 2010 - Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile (#169862) (XD) - $17.00
Tasting Note:
Plum and cherry cola nose from the cork. Alluring spice box and cherry aromas from the glass. Medium-bodied with savoury black cherry and dark red fruits on the palate. Very light tannins are backed by mouth-watering good acidity. Short finish is a touch hot. Could cellar for 2 years, but definitely enjoyable now. Tip: Serve this straight out of the cellar or even chill for 5-10 minutes prior to serving. Will pair well with the homemade pizza we're having tonight.
Opened tonight is the first of two wines that I have in my cellar from Maycas del Limarí, a brand of wine produced by Concha Y Toro. This white wine was purchased from the June 9 VINTAGES wine release, where Chilean wine was the major theme.
MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL CHARDONNAY 2010 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#162040) (XD) - $19.95
Tasting Note:
Citrus, apple and pear aromas from the cork. Toasty apple, buttered popcorn and pear aromas from the glass. On the palate, the bright acidity jumps at you, followed by layers of apple, pear, and spice. Medium-full bodied with a long finish. Extra dry. Will be enjoying this tonight with chicken biryani.
The next VINTAGES Wine Release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on . The major feature in this release is on food-friendly Chilean wines - and there are some good values to be had.
We've got two wines from Concha y Toro's "Maycas del Limarí" label. Their Reserva Especial Syrah and Chardonnay are both very good. Chile is known for it's Carmenère and is one of my favourite varietals; if you've never tried this grape, the Mayu Reserva is a good place to start.
The 1st of two secondary features in this release focuses on wines from the South of France. In general, I have found that this region in France offers the best value wines in the country. Among these wines, the Syrah/Carignan/Grenache blend from Mont Tauch made my picks. The 2nd minor feature in this release is all about Father's Day. From this section, the Barolo from Marziano Abbona is a heavy-hitter and would make an excellent cellaring candidate.
A couple of wines that struck me, but aren't listed below, are worth a look if you want to try something a bit different. Firstly, the Domaine Boyar Royal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (#259747, $13.95) is a nice introduction to wines from Bulgaria. The second wine is an unusual Italian red that tastes like a Gewürztraminer - the Ramosceto Lacrima di Morro d'Alba 2010 from Marche (#277889, $14.95).
Enjoy my picks for this week! Let me know if you try any of these. Cheers!
Red Wine:
CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#269357) (XD) - $19.95
MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL SYRAH 2008 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#269423) (XD) - $19.95
MAYU RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2009 - Elqui Valley, Chile (#090035) (XD) - $17.95
Tonight's red wine was purchased from the October 29 Vintages release and opened tonight with the idea that it would still evolve and taste pretty good on the second day. Why the second day? Because the food pairing on Sunday night will match better than what's on the menu tonight, coupled with the fact that I haven't had a sip of wine since Tuesday. :)
CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER’S LOT 54 SYRAH 2008 - Los Brujos Vineyard, San Javier Valley, Maule Valley, Chile (#227496) (XD) - $16.95
Tasting Note:
Aromas of mulberry and black pepper from cork. Ripe blackberry, pepper, earth, bacon and touch of mocha aromas in the glass. Mulberry, ripe red fruits on the palate. Full-bodied. Alcohol comes to fore at mid-palate of long finish. Ripe tannins. Will reward ageing another 2-3 years, but definitely enjoyable now.
It's chicken fajita night. To celebrate, I turned to one of my favourite grapes: Carmenère. This little-known varietal is making its trademark in Chile and gaining popularity. Purchased in August, 2009 from the "Chile's Brilliant Showstoppers" release, it needed to be aged to soften the tannins and is now ready for primetime.
CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER'S LOT 148 CARMENÈRE 2007 - Las Pataguas Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile (#030957) (XD) - $16.95
Tasting Note:
Cork smells of plums, dark fruit and hints of raisin. Inky, smoky, chocolate, cassis, pomegranate and hints of mocha aromas from the glass. Cassis, herbal, white pepper, mocha, milk chocolate notes on the palate. Full bodied red with ripe tannins. Could be aged another 1-2 years, but can be savoured today. Recommended.
SOL DE ANDES RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2009 - Casablanca Valley, Chile (#254334) (XD) - $13.95
Tasting Note:
Cork smells of gorgeous guava, pineapple, and tropical fruit aromas. More guava and tropical fruit waft from the glass. Very aromatic. Buttered popcorn, pear on the palate. Nice structure. Full-bodied white. If you like Chardonnays, this is definitely one to try! Will be enjoying this with homemade veggie pizza. Yum!
Tasting Note:
Cork smells of fresh berries. Cassis, raspberry, dark fruit, finishing with earthy/forest aromas. Offers berries, tar, oak and touch of mocha on the palate. Tannins could use more time to develop. Full bodied with a long finish. Overall, this wine that provides good value at $13.95, but could use another 1-3 years in cellar to mature further. An aerator or decanter would also benefit. Will be enjoying this with dal dhokli.
TIERRA ALTA RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2007 - Maule Valley, Chile (#236067) (XD) - $13.95
Tasting Note:
Lovely blackberry, mocha, wet earth, flower aromas. Palate has ripe fruit with raspberry at the fore. Dry with a touch of tannin. Medium-bodied. Will pair nicely with the spicy, creamy chicken dish that I will be enjoying tonight.
I'm a big fan of Chilean wines, so tonight's wine is an Organic version from Nativa. Purchased only last month as part of the April 30th Vintages Release.
NATIVA SINGLE VINEYARD GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Organically Grown, Maipo Valley, Chile (#975359) - $19.95
Tasting Note:
Gorgeous herbs (eucalyptus), pepper/spice, earth aromas. Raspberry, blackberry, herbal, cocoa/coffee flavours. Prevalent tannins would reward some years in cellar. Oak lays in (far) background. Dry. Medium-full bodied. Very nicely made for an organic wine. Recommended. Will be having this with Cajun Chicken Sliders and Fries.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Tasting Note:
