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

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

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

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

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

Tasting Note:

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

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

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June 18, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Southern Hemisphere

The lone in-store release of the month is the June 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release and it focuses on wines from countries in the Southern Hemisphere - namely Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa. Included in the catalogue also is a sneak preview of the next Online Exclusives Release (June 30th). Wines from the in-store release should be on shelves across Ontario today.

We begin with the theme on wines from the Southern Hemisphere. There are twenty-one wines featured as part of the theme and eight are included among my top wine picks, with all five countries represented. We start in Chile with the iconic Purple Angel that is a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, while the rosé is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir. Staying in South America, there is a fine Malbec from Argentina that always pleases. Moving to South Africa, there is a perennially excellent Chenin Blanc, as well as a red blend from Swartland that consists of 73% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 8% Cinsault, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Viognier. Moving to Oceania, there is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and from Australia there is a Shiraz and a white wine that is a blend of 79% Sauvignon Blanc and 21% Semillon.

From the rest of the release, my top red wine picks include a 2010 Rioja that is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo. There are also a pair of wines from neighbouring Portugal - the Dão red is a blend of 40% Alfrocheiro Preto, 40% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and 20% Touriga Nacional, while the Douro red consists of 48% Touriga Nacional, 27% Touriga Francesa, and the rest traditional Douro grape varieties Tinta Roriz, Tinta da Barca, Tinta Barroca, Souzão, Tinta Cão, and Tinta Amarela. From Langhorne Creek in Australia is a blend 80% Shiraz and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Chianti Classico from Tuscany consists of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot.

Among my white wine picks outside of the theme, all are single varietal wines. A trio of Chardonnay wines lead the pack, followed by Albariño from Spain and a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. There is also a fine white wine from Italy made with the relatively unknown Ribolla Gialla. And for those that prefer some sweetness in their wines, there is an off-dry Gewürztraminer from Niagara.

Since it's rosé season, there are quite a few rosé wines among my wine recommendations. The locally crafted organic rosé from Niagara is a blend of 92% Pinot Noir, 5% Viognier, and 3% Chardonnay, while the rosé from Portugal consists of 50% Touriga Nacional and 50% Alfrocheiro. Mono varietal rosé wines include a lovely rosé made with Malbec, while the other is crafted with Pinot Grigio.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

• CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA 2019 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#247973) (D) - $14.95  88 pts  wine review
• NIRO DI CITRA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2017 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#278150) (D) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• RAMOS PINTO DUAS QUINTAS 2018 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#359893) (XD) - $19.95
• KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC 2019 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#50849) (XD) - $19.95
• NATIV RUE DELL'INCHIOSTRO AGLIANICO 2019 - IGT Campania, Italy (#631606) (D) - $19.95
• KILLIBINBIN THE SHADOW SHIRAZ/CABERNET 2016 - Vegan, Langhorne Creek, South Australia (#23785) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review

• MASTROBERARDINO IRPINIA AGLIANICO 2019 - DOC Irpinia, Campania, Italy (#93112) (XD) - $23.95
• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2020 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95  88+ pts  wine review
• CASTELLO DI GABBIANO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#216309) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK 2020 - Vegan, WO Swartland, South Africa (#129353) (XD) - $39.95
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $66.95
• MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2019 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $79.95

White Wine:

• FILARE ITALIA RIBOLLA GIALLA 2020 - IGT Venezia Giulia, Friuli, Italy (#23098) (XD) - $14.95  90+ pts  wine review
• RABL LÖSS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2020 - Langenlois, DAC Kamptal, Austria (#295709) (XD) - $16.95
• KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2021 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $17.95
• SKUTTLEBUTT SAUVIGNON BLANC / SEMILLON 2020 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#47621) (XD) - $18.95
  
• CASTELO DO MAR ALBARIÑO 2020 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#488734) (XD) - $18.95  91 pts  wine review
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2019 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#302059) (D) - $19.95
• LEANING POST THE FIFTY CHARDONNAY 2020 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578864) (XD) - $22.95
• SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE ORGANIC CHARDONNAY 2018 - Vegan, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#172338) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $28.95
• KISTLER LES NOISETIERS CHARDONNAY 2020 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#251223) (XD) - $104.95
  

Rosé Wine:

• CABRIZ ROSÉ 2020 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#30445) (D) - $13.95  88 pts  wine review
• LA POSTA MALBEC ROSÉ 2021 - Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#24747) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
• CASAS DEL BOSQUE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2021 - Sustainable, Coastal, Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#15277) (XD) - $15.95  90 pts  wine review
  
• BOTTEGA PINOT GRIGIO ROSÉ 2021 - DOC delle Venezie, Venezie, Italy (#490938) (XD) - $16.95  87+ pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH LOCUST LANE ROSÉ 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#68833) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
  

Sparkling Wine:

• ARTS DE LUNA ORGANIC BRUT NATURE SPARKLING - Vegan, DOP Cava, Spain (#25073) (XD) - $12.95

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Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this consistently delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as the Wine of the Month in the April 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Viña Errázuriz was founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errázuriz. a visionary who planted the first French grape varieties in Chile's Aconcagua Valley. By 1873, the winery had over 300 hectares of vineyards and launched their first wine. Rafael Errázuriz, the son of Don Maximiano, took over the property by 1890 and established 700 hectares of vines to become the largest vineyard in the world in the hands of a single owner. Today, Viña Errázuriz continues to thrive with global accolades under Eduardo Chadwick Claro, the fifth generation of the family. Francisco Baettig, Viña Errázuriz's Technical Director, is considered to be one of the top 5 trend-setting winemakers of South America.

Errázuriz has quite a large portfolio of wines, and this red wine is from their "Specialties" range that reflects their exploration of the Aconcagua Valley for the best and purest expression of each variety through wines that show their true sense of origin. The Specialties range is divided into wines which are near the Pacific Ocean, or Aconcagua Costa, and Aconcagua Alto (Mount Aconcagua) which is the highest peak in the western hemisphere.

Like the 2018 Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon I enjoyed in August of last year, the 2019 edition of this Cabernet Sauvignon is also sourced primarily from Errazuriz's Max vineyards which are located in the interior of the Aconcagua Valley at 600 metres elevation. The soils in the vineyard are of colluvial origin and predominantly silty textured, but also quite diverse in its unique nutrition and drainage conditions which help control plant vigour and produce balanced fruit loads with small bunches and berries. The grapes were hand-picked early in the morning to retain freshness and inspected on a double selection table, crushed, and finally deposited into stainless steel tanks for fermentation. After maceration and fermentation, the wine was aged in French oak barrels (35% new) for 14 months.

The growing season in 2019 was dry and warm with the absence of rains ensuring splendid conditions for the grapes. Harvest was earlier, while the vineyards' quality once again demonstrated its excellence given the climatic fluctuations, droughts and high temperatures to deliver grapes of superb concentration while preserving the aromas and acidity in the wines. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERRAZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#203364) (XD) - $21.95
The fresh, medium-high intensity nose delivers well-balanced aromas of evergreen, leafy, and herbs mingling with both red black fruits, cassis, and currant, and touches of sandalwood in a cool-climate profile. It's medium+ bodied with ripe, grainy textured tannins and lovely aroma replays on the palate. Acids are fresh and saliva-inducing. Oak, plus touches of woodsmoke and mineral join the currant, cassis, and evergreen notes on the long, satisfying finish. Enjoyable now, but will be even better in 1-2 years. Recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines from Viña Errázuriz are available not only at the LCBO, but also through their Agent - Dandurand. There is also An Evening with Errázuriz reception & dinner Vintages event being held on May 11.

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Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Carmenère 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon back in January, tonight's red wine review is a lovely Carmenère from the same producer and vintage. This red wine arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the March 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The family run winery of Cloz de Luz is situated in the Almahue Valley within the Rapel Valley D.O. in Chile's Central Valley. The Alamhue Valley is 150 km south of Santiago, 65 km west of the Pacific, and 45 km east of the Andes. The winery and vineyards are naturally walled in by the Mancuman Hill, benefiting from the early morning sun and cooler afternoons with the Pacific Ocean breeze. The vineyards were planted in 1945 by the family's Grandmother Luz, have been part of the family for five generations, and are now among the oldest in Chile. Today, the estate is owned by the Edwards Cosmelli branch of the family and with 33 hectares of estate vineyards, the principal focus is on crafting elegant, quality wines in a non-interventionist style with freshness and subtle use of oak to enhance the natural fruity character of the wines.

Like the Cabernet Sauvignon, this Carmenère also includes 5% Syrah and is from Clos de Luz's Massal 1945 range of wines. The Massal range is named because of the old and rigorous technique used in the vineyard to select the best vines in a vineyard and propagating them through cuttings - it is the opposite of clonal propagation. As such, all of their vineyards are ungrafted and non-clonal. The grapes are sustainably grown and ploughed by horses, while also aiming to conserve the natural diversity of the plants to create more complex and unique wines.

The grapes for this wine are from the Amalhue Valley - an area considered the birthplace of Carmenère. From vines planted in 1945 on granitic soils with quartz components of volcanic origin, the grapes were manually harvested. After gentle extraction, the juice was spontaneously fermented using native yeasts. After fermentation, it was aged for 12 months, with 50% aged in 4,000 L Gamba French oak tanks, 44% in 225 and 300 L French oak barrels, and 6% in new 600 L Sylvain French oak barrels. From a brilliant 2018 vintage, let's see how this Chilean Carmenère is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CARMENÈRE 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#11861) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 95% Carmenère and 5% Syrah, the fresh, medium-high intensity nose offers herbaceous, leafy green notes sitting atop currant, cassis, and savoury earth aromas with hints of minerality. On the medium-full bodied palate it has lovely, fresh acidity that lifts the clean red and black fruits, cassis, and currant flavours which interplay nicely with the herbaceous, savoury, and spice tones. Really nicely balanced with supple, lightly textured tannins. Juicy, earthy, and minerally on the long, balanced and fresh finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

The Cabernet is available at the LCBO, while other wines from the Clos de Luz portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Touchstone Brands.

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Laura Hartwig Selección del Viticultor Block Nogales Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Back in June I enjoyed the 2018 Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and for tonight's red wine review I take it up a notch with this Winemaker's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon from the same producer. This red wine from Chile is a new arrival to the LCBO that came to LCBO VINTAGES on February 19th.

Laura Hartwig is a winery located Santa Cruz, in the heart of the Colchagua Valley, Chile. Their story begins when Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. His daughter, Laura Bisquert, inherited the "Santa Laura" farm in 1966 and further expanded the estate. Wine entered the picture in the 1970's after she and her husband, Alejandro Hartwig, developed a passion for wine and returned to Chile from Toronto to focus their attention on viticulture.

Alejandro Hartwig is a dedicated winegrower who personally oversees the entire Estate. He understands that producing excellent wine requires not only blessed soils, careful management of the vineyard, and the finest selection of grapes, but also perseverance, respect, and dedication. With a non-interventionist philosophy and human scale production to craft their wines, Laura Hartwig is able to take detailed care with each step of the winemaking process.

This Winemaker's Selection of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was grown at the Laura Hartwig Estate in Santa Cruz, specifically from a single block that was planted in 1980 over deep soils and a loam clay surface. These old vines which are now over 40 years old have achieved a natural balance between growth and production per season to give balanced fruit for high quality wines. The grapes were hand-selected by cluster and transported to the winery in bins for further detailed selection. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the the wine was aged for 12 months in first and second-use French oak barrels, followed by a further 5 months in cement egg.

With a brilliant 2018 growing season across Chile that started with a warm spring and moderate conditions that allowed the grapes to slowly ripen, the resulting wines achieved good fruit characters, balanced alcohol, and very good acidity. Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG SELECCIÓN DEL VITICULTOR BLOCK NOGALES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Santa Cruz, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#21951) (XD) - $20.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 40-year-old vines, the medium+ intensity nose has cool, fresh, leafy herbals and evergreen aromas followed by red currant, cassis, and subtle spice notes. On the full-bodied palate it has structured, smooth, and polished tannins, along with fresh, balanced acidity. Nice interplays between fruity and herbals on the palate with currant, cassis, leafy herbs, evergreen, and some smoky notes on the back palate. Long and juicy with wood smoke notes lingering on the finish. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

While there are a couple of dozen bottles of one other Laura Hartwig wine available at the LCBO, wines from the rest of their portfolio can be ordered through the Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 22 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Cloz de Luz is a family run business located in the Almahue Valley, which is part of the D.O. Rapel Valley, and naturally walled in by the Mancuman Hill, that has belonged in the family for five generations. The vineyards were planted in 1945 by their grandmother Luz and are among the oldest in Chile. Today, they have 33 hectares of estate vineyards and the estate is owned by the Edwards Cosmelli branch of the family. The principal focus is on producing elegant and quality wines based on a non-interventionist approach with freshness and subtle use of oak to enhance the natural fruity character of the wines.

With several ranges of wines within their portfolio, this particular wine by Clos de Luz is from their Massal 1945 range, signifying the year in which most of the Clos de Luz vineyard was planted by Grandma Luz. The Massal range also evokes the philosophy of planting 100% Massal selection by replanting vineyards with cuttings from old vineyards to promote natural diversity of the plants. Massal selection tends to be produce an interesting collection of fruit, which in turn produces wines of individuality and uniqueness.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is often a blend with one or two other varietals playing a minor role. The 2018 vintage is composed of old 95% Cabernet Sauvignon from Almahue and 5% Syrah. It was hand-harvested with strict selection criteria, fermented with indigenous yeast and stabilized naturally without any chemicals. 50% of the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 44% in 7,000 L Taransaud oak tanks, and 6% in 500 L Sylvain French oak barrels.

A few years ago I tasted (and liked) the 2016 vintage of this wine, which hailed from what was considered a poor vintage across Chile. On the other hand, the 2018 edition of this wine comes from an excellent vintage with slightly cooler-than-average temperatures that delivered structure and concentration. Let's see how this Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $21.95
This blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah has a lovely bouquet offering an intense and complex medley of evergreen, forest floor, ripe dark cherry, blackberry, currant with hints of peppery spice, all surrounding an earthy core. It's full-bodied, concentrated and ripe with lovely, minty herbs, tangy red and black berry, and subtle oak spice flavours. Slightly warming, but still well-balanced with fine acidity and ripe, structured and fine-grained tannins. The juicy, succulent acids take you through to the long finish with lingering minty herb, dark red and black cherry, earth, and subtle oak notes. Highly recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

The companion Carménère to this wine is coming to VINTAGES in March, while other wines from Clos de Luz can be ordered through their Agent - Touchstone Brands.

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Tarapacá Gran Reserva 145th Anniversary Special Edition 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

I've tasted and enjoyed many wines from Viña Tarapacá over the years, including most recently the 2019 Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère back in March. For tonight's wine review, we celebrate 145 years of tradition at Viña Tarapacá with this delicious, new red wine from Chile that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend (should be in stores any day now), as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on October 30th.

Founded in the foothills of the Andes mountain range in 1874, Viña Tarapacá developed a reputation for crafting elegant and quality wines to become one of Chile's most traditional and historical wineries, as well as a benchmark for viticulture in Chile. Originally known as "Viña de Rojas" by founder and renowned winemaker Don Francisco de Rojas y Salamanca, the Tarapaca name enters the picture in 1892 when Doña Mercedes, the ex-wife of Don Antonio Zavala, became owner of the property as part of her alimony and renamed the winery to "Viña Tarapacá Ex Zavala" to express her gratitude to "The Lion of Tarapacá", Mr. Don Arturo Alessandri - one of the most influential Chilean politicians of the 20th century. More recently, in 2008 Tarapacá helped form part of VSPT Wine Group to become the second-largest exporter of Chilean wine.

To celebrate Viña Tarapacá's 145 years of tradition in creating wines of exceptional quality, they created this Special Edition wine from the 2019 vintage that reflects Tarapaca Estate's commitment to biodiversity. In 2016, Viña Tarapacá inaugurated their mini hydroelectric plant - a renewable energy project designed to harness the water flow from the irrigation canal that is present on the estate and supplied by the Maipo River and generates up to 60% of the energy consumption at the winery. Energy not used by Viña Tarapacá is fed back into the country's national grid. VSPT Wine Group is also awarded Green Company of the Year at the 2016 Green Awards and is recognized as a leader in Renewable Energy Implementation thanks to its firm commitment to sustainability.

Tasting Note:

TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA 145TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION 2019 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#21966) (XD) - $20.95
This delicious red wine is composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 16% Syrah, all from vineyards planted in 1990 on the granitic hillsides of their property in Isla de Maipo. The fresh, medium-high to highly aromatic nose delivers notes of ripe blackberry, black cherry, dried herb, olive, and peppery spice with savoury undertones and a touch of meat. It's medium-full bodied with pleasing dark berry and peppery spice replays, if slightly grapey, on the palate. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the youthful, drying tannins need some time to integrate. More ripe dark berry with savoury earthy notes linger on the dry, chalky finish, with very good length. This recommended buy will be even better in a couple of years and continue to drink well over the next 6-7 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Viña Tarapacá are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

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San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the excellent 2018 San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir at the beginning of the year and for tonight's wine review I am delighted to try the next vintage that arrived at the LCBO in the October 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release over the weekend.

The Tayú project celebrates Chile's indigenous roots through an honest collaboration between the Buchahueico community in southern Malleco Valley and San Pedro Winery. The name "Tayú" means "ours" in the Mapudungun language of the local Mapuche peoples in Buchahueico.

Working with San Pedro's winemakers, the Mapuche used their intimate knowledge of the soils to craft a lovely, one-of-a-kind Pinot Noir that truly expresses its origin. The 15 hectares of vineyards are located in the foothills of the Nahuelbuta Mountains in the Purén area of the Malleco Valley in the Araucanía region, approximately 540 km south of Santiago, in south-central Chile. The soils in the vineyard at Buchahueico are very old, red-coloured, and of granitic origin with a clay-loam texture and an abundance quartz and granite. The soils are naturally acidic, which comes through as vibrant acidity in the wine.

The 2018 vintage of this wine was its debut and came from an excellent vintage, while 2019 was a warmer year which produced smaller bunches with concentrated, generous fruit. Although the Malleco Valley is considered a cool-climate winegrowing region, the micro-climate in Buchahueico is considered moderate due to its latitude and because it is protected from coastal influences by the Nahuelbuta Mountains in Traigue, thus allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and later than other regions. The grapes was fermented in a combination of concrete eggs and stainless steel tanks, followed by ageing in French oak foudre, concrete eggs, and used French oak barrels. Let's see how the 2019 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SAN PEDRO 1865 TAYÚ PINOT NOIR 2019 - Buchahueico, DO Valle del Malleco, Chile (#16628) (XD) - $19.95
From a warmer vintage, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers lovely notes of exotic spices, cinnamon, and sweet spice layered over wet earth and dark berry with a hint of minty herb. On the medium to medium-full bodied palate it is richly concentrated and slightly warming with move exotic spice, earthy, and tangy dark berry replays on the flavour profile, support by fresh, juicy acidity. Quite chalky on the mid-palate with grainy textured tannins that seem a bit tight and will reward ageing. Earthy with a slight tang on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines from San Pedro can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of the perennially lovely Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the August 21, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The renowned Viña Errázuriz was founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errázuriz, a man whose family has played an important role in Chile's social and cultural life for over two and a half centuries. His passion for wine led him to plant Chile's first French grape varieties in the Aconcagua Valley. By 1873, the winery had over 300 hectares of vineyards and launched their first wine. By 1890, Rafael Errázuriz, son of Don Maximiano, took over the property and established 700 hectares of vines, becoming the largest vineyard in the world in the hands of a single owner. Today, Viña Errázuriz is led by the fifth generation of the family - Eduardo Chadwick Claro.

Like the 2018 Errázuriz Syrah I enjoyed a couple of months ago, this lovely Cabernet Sauvignon is from Viña Errázuriz's "Specialties" range of wines that reflects the producer's exploration of the Aconcagua Valley for the best and purest expression of each variety through wines that show their true sense of origin. With two geographical landmarks making up this range (Mount Aconcagua and the Pacific Ocean), this particular Cabernet is from Aconcagua Alto, the highest area of the Aconcagua Valley.

This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced primarily from Viña Errázuriz's Max vineyards in the interior of the Aconcagua Valley at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level. These vineyards have a predominantly silty texture and are of colluvial origin, with particular nutrition and drainage conditions of the diverse soils helping control plant vigour to producer balanced fruit loads with small bunches and berries. The grapes were handpicked, double sorted, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and aged in French oak barrels (35% new) for 14 months.

The 2018 vintage experienced much-needed winter rainfall that replenished water levels, which was followed by a dry, slow-ripening season that allowed for good flavour accumulation. Moderate temperatures were slightly cooler-than-average and delivered structure and concentration to the grapes. Overall, the 2018 vintage in Chile is considered one of the best in recent years, and among the best in the last 20 years! Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#203364) (XD) - $21.95
Rich, intense aromas of black and red fruits, currant, cassis, herbs, and sandalwood with hints of evergreen laying underneath. The full-bodied palate is ripe with blackberry, dark currant, cassis, and herbal flavours balanced by savoury, earthy, and oak undertones. It has tangy, juicy acidity, while the smooth, structured tannins are a bit tight. Tangy, savoury, and earthy, even some mineral, on the finish, with very good length. Enjoyable now, this lovely Cabernet Sauvignon will improve in 1-2 years and drink well to 2027. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Other fine wines from Viña Errázuriz can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Following up on the delicious 2018 Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère that I enjoyed back in April, tonight's wine review is another delicious offering from the same producer. This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon arrived at the LCBO last weekend and was featured as part of theme on wines from Chile in the June 12 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Laura Hartwig Premium Wines, a winery whose roots go back to when Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. In 1966, his daughter Laura Bisquert inherited the "Santa Laura" farm and further expanded the estate. While living in Toronto and Montreal in the 1970's, Laura and her husband, Alejandro Hartwig, developed a passion for wine and decided to turn their estate back in Chile into a winery. Together, they planted their first vines in 1978 with the aim of producing wines that reflect their origin in Santa Cruz, the heart of the Colchagua Valley. Laura Hartwig uses a non-interventionist philosophy and human scale production to craft their wines. In this way, they are able to take detailed care with each step of the winemaking process.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot that was crafted from carefully selected 40 year old vines grown in the town of Santa Cruz, in central Chile's Colchagua Valley. The soils here are clay on the surface with sandy deposits in the deeper strata. The grapes were hand-harvested, then gently destemmed and sorted, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and then aged in French oak barrels and staves for 13 months. Let's see how this Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#13428) (XD) - $16.95
This Cabernet Sauvignon, which includes 5% Petit Verdot has a fresh, medium-high intensity nose that delivers aromas of red and black fruit, cassis, currant, herbal and spice with savoury undertones. The fresh and chewy, medium-full bodied palate has ripe red and black fruit, currant, cassis, and herbal aroma replays on the flavour profile that turns savoury on the mid-palate. Acids are fresh, while the finely textured, powdery tannins are a touch drying. Savoury graphite with hints of dark berry linger on the finish, with good length. Score: 88 pts

The aforementioned Carménère can be found at the LCBO, while other delicious wines from Laura Hartwig can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group, who also now offer Air Miles® Reward Miles with purchase.

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June 12, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Chile + Fizz

The main theme from the June 12, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on wines from Chile, while the mini-feature looks at sparkling wines. All of these wines from the themes, as well as those from the main release should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that looks at the wine valleys of Chile. Among the thirteen wines featured, six are included among my top wine picks. Starting in one of Chile's northernmost winegrowing regions, the Limarí Valley, there is a traditional method sparkling wine made with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. From the coastal part of the Aconcagua Valley, just north of Santiago, is a lovely cool-climate Syrah. Moving to the south-side of Santiago, from Cachapoal Valley, which is a sub-region of the Rapel Valley, the Sideral is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenère. Just south of Cachapoal Valley is the Colchagua Valley, and from here there is a fine Sauvignon Gris - a clonal mutation of Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a Cabernet Sauvignon that is blended with 5% Petit Verdot. The fifth and final wine is a little further south, from the Maule Valley, Chile's largest winemaking region, and this red wine is made with 100% Carignan.

In all, there are eight wines featured as part of the mini-theme on sparkling wines and just one bubbly is included among my wine recommendations. Surprisingly, the lone fizz is from New Mexico (!) and is made in the traditional method using 100% Pinot Noir.

From my red wine picks, the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, while the Bordeaux red consists of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The rest are all single varietal wines that offer a fairly wide array of options for just about any palate.

Among my white wine picks, all are single varietal wines with quite a few Chardonnay recommendations, including an unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara. Other wines include a Torrontés from Argentina, a Vermentino from Italy, and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. If you want a wine with a little bit of sweetness, the Niagara Riesling is your choice!

Both of my rosé recommendations are dry rosé wines. The lovely rosé from Provence is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino), while the rosé from Roussillon consists of 45% Grenache Gris, 45% Grenache Noir, and 10% Macabeu.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU LE GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2018 - AC, France (#224592) (XD) - $15.95
• LAURA HARTWIG SINGLE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#13428) (XD) - $16.95  88 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU SAINT-SERNIN MALBEC DE CALCAIRE 2015 - AC Cahors, Southwest, France (#15773) (XD) - $18.95
• PENLEY PHOENIX CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#639575) (XD) - $18.95
• EMILIANA VIGNO VIGNADORES DE CARIGNAN 2017 - Vegan, sustainable, DO Maule Valley, Chile (#19247) (XD) - $19.95
• PAXTON MV SHIRAZ 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#327403) (XD) - $19.95

• ERRÁZURIZ SYRAH 2018 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#387910) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU GUILLOU 2016 - AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#140483) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• ANTHONY JOSEPH VIDAL RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2017 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#538900) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• SAN PEDRO SIDERAL 2018 - DO Cachapoal Valley Andes, Chile (#632927) (XD) - $29.95
• QUINTA DO COVÃO RESERVA TOURIGA NACIONAL 2016 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#18410) (XD) - $33.95
• BRAMASOLE LA BRACCESCA SYRAH 2017 - DOC Cortona, Tuscany, Italy (#12741) (XD) - $66.95  FE

White Wine:

• FLAT ROCK UNPLUGGED UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2019 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#68015) (XD) - $17.95
• KAIKEN TERROIR SERIES TORRONTÉS 2020 - Vegan, Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#330407) (XD) - $18.95
• CASA SILVA 1912 VINES SAUVIGNON GRIS 2020 - Sustainable, DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#19580) (XD) - $19.95
• CANTINE DI DOLIANOVA PRENDAS VERMENTINO DI SARDEGNA 2019 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#17770) (XD) - $21.95
• VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#974527) (XD) - $21.95
• NAUTILUS CHARDONNAY 2019 - Vegan, sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#331652) (XD) - $27.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE RIESLING 2019 - Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#643361) (D) - $27.95
• SOUTHBROOK LAUNDRY VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018 - Vegan, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#16078) (XD) - $35.00  FE
• KISTLER LES NOISETIERS CHARDONNAY 2019 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#251223) (XD) - $96.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2020 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE LAFAGE GALLICA ROSÉ 2020 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, France (#19848) (XD) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

• GEMMA SPARKLING ROSÉ - Traditional method, Limarí Valley, Chile (#18558) (XD) - $18.95
• GRUET BRUT SPARKLING ROSÉ - Traditional method, New Mexico, USA (#15686) (XD) - $25.95

Dessert Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES VIDAL ICEWINE 2018 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#565861) (S) (200 mL) - $28.95

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Errázuriz Syrah 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Following up on the lovely 2019 Errázuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir, tonight's wine review is another fine wine from the Chile's Viña Errázuriz. This cool-climate Syrah arrives at the LCBO next weekend as part of the June 12th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Viña Errázuriz is one of Chile's best and most internationally recognized wineries. It was founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errázuriz, a man whose family played an important role in Chile's social and cultural life for over two and a half centuries. In addition to Don Maximiano's duties as a politician, diplomat, and entrepreneur, he was also passionate about wine and ventured to plant the country's first French grape varieties in the Aconcagua Valley. Viña Errázuriz has since been passed down along familial lines and today it is led by the fifth generation of the family - Eduardo Chadwick Claro.

Like the Pinot Noir, this Syrah is from Errázuriz's "Specialties" range of wines which explores the Aconcagua Valley for the best and purest expression of each variety through wines that show their true sense of origin. Two geographical landmarks make up this line of wines: Mount Aconcagua - the highest peak in the western hemisphere; Pacific Ocean - the coldest waters in the world. Aconcagua Alto (Mount Aconcagua) wines are from the highest area of the Aconcagua Valley, while wines from Aconcagua Costa are located in vineyards just 12 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean.

This cool-climate Syrah was grown in a coastal vineyard in DO Aconcagua Costa, 12 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean, from vines planted by Viña Errázuriz in 2005 and 2009. The soil here is composed of a thin layer of loamy texture and sitting on a base of clay and metamorphic rock (slate/schist) that add mineral characters to the wine. The grapes were hand-picked and fermented using native yeasts. It was matured for 14 months, 85% of the which was aged in mostly used French oak barrels, while the remainder was aged in aged in Stockinger foudres. Although I have tasted many wines from Errázuriz over the years, I believe this is the first time I am tasting this Syrah. Let's see how it's tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERRÁZURIZ SYRAH 2018 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#387910) (XD) - $21.95
The medium-high intensity nose is intriguing and complex with black olive and peppery spice aromas layered over crushed blackberry, raspberry and savoury notes with touches of violet and meaty notes. On the medium-full bodied palate it has lovely blackberry, raspberry, pepper spice, savoury, meaty, and nut flavours with touches of olive, all framed by fresh, mouth-watering acidity and smooth, fine-grained, slightly grippy tannins. Tar notes join the savoury, blackberry, and spice finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy for Syrah wine lovers! Score: 91 pts

Other fine wines from Viña Errázuriz can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Errázuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

To celebrate National Wine Day, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely Pinot Noir from Chile. This red wine is a perennial visitor to VINTAGES and arrived in Ontario as part of the most recent LCBO VINTAGES Release on May 15th.

It is produced by Viña Errázuriz, one of Chile's best and most internationally recognized wineries. Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded the winery in 1870 with a great vision. His innovative and pioneering spirit led him to plant the first French grape varieties in the Aconcagua Valley. Future generations of the family continued his innovative and creative spirit, and his descendants positioned the wines of Viña Errázuriz among the world's most noteworthy. Today, Viña Errázuriz is led by President Eduardo Chadwick Claro and Winemaker Francisco Baettig Hidalgo.

This particular Pinot Noir is from Viña Errázuriz's "Specialties" range of wines, where they explore the Aconcagua Valley for the best and purest expression of each variety through wines that show their true sense of origin. The two geographical landmarks make up this line of wines are Mount Aconcagua - the highest peak in the western hemisphere, and the Pacific Ocean which has the coldest waters in the world. Aconcagua Alto (Mount Aconcagua) wines are from the highest area of the Aconcagua Valley, while wines from Aconcagua Costa are located in vineyards just 12 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of this Pinot Noir and it's always been a delight. The grapes for this vintage were sourced from vines planted in 2005 and 2009 in the coastal vineyard of Aconcagua Costa. The soil in this vineyard is composed of a thin layer of loamy texture that sits above a base of clay and metamorphic rock (slate/schist) that adds mineral notes to the wines.

In 2019, Aconcagua Costa experienced a slightly warmer than normal growing season due to higher temperatures in the Spring, but this was balanced by slightly cooler than normal temperatures in February and March, allowing for a slow and gentle ripening process. Overall, the result was outstanding, healthy fruit. The grapes were hand-harvested and fermented using native yeasts, then aged for 13 months in French oak barrels, only 15% new. Let's see how this delicious Chilean Pinot Noir is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA COSTA PINOT NOIR 2019 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#541151) (XD) - $24.95
The slightly reductive, delicate nose offers lovely dark cherry, raspberry, and smoky earth aromas with subtle spice tones. The black cherry notes continue on the mid-weighted and structured palate with spicy, smoky earth flavours and touches of floral adding further interest. It has fresh, balanced acidity, while the structured tannins have a medium-firm grippy texture. Smoky, earthy, mineral-laced finish, with excellent length. Enjoyable now, but will really blossom in 3-4 years. Score: 91+ pts

Other fine wines from Viña Errázuriz can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Laura Hartwig Edición de Familia back in November, tonight's wine review is another fine offering from Laura Hartwig that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the April 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. In 1966, his daughter Laura Bisquert inherited the "Santa Laura" farm and further expanded the estate with her husband Alejandro Hartwig. In the 1970's, while the Hartwig family lived in Toronto and Montreal, Alejandro Hartwig (Sr.) took wine courses and developed a passion for wine, eventually deciding to establish a winery back in Chile as their active retirement project. In 1978, Laura Hartwig Premium Wines was borne when they planted their first vines in the Colchagua Valley. Today, Alejandro Hartwig Jr. has also joined the family project as winegrower.

This Single Vineyard Carménère is Laura Hartwig's top selling wine from the Colchagua Valley. It is crafted using grapes, which were planted in 2000, from the Block "Isla" at the Laura Hartwig Estate in Santa Cruz, the heart of Colchagua Valley. This site has clay loam soils on the surface with sand deposits located much deeper in the ground. The grapes were hand-harvested and sorted, then vinified in stainless steel tanks, followed by ageing in French oak barrels for 12 months. The 2018 vintage Chile was considered to be brilliant in terms of quality and quantity. Let's see how this Chilean Carménère is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG SINGLE VINEYARD CARMÉNÈRE 2018 - DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#213512) (XD) - $15.95
Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, this 100% Carménère has a fragrant nose offering aromas of herbaceous and grilled red pepper notes joined by blackberry and touches of vanilla, chocolate, and walnut. On the medium-bodied palate it has vanilla-infused flavours of grilled red pepper, herbs, and black cherry. Acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the polished tannins have a fine-grained texture. Chocolatey oak, black cherry, and red pepper notes linger on the juicy, balanced finish, with very good length. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 88 pts

While you might find a couple of other wines from Laura Hartwig at the LCBO, your best bet is to contact their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Carmenère 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

To start off the long weekend, tonight's wine review is this lovely Carmenère from Chile that arrives at the LCBO this long weekend as the Wine of the Month from the April 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Viña Errázuriz was founded in 1870 by businessman and politician Don Maximiano Errázuriz. With a great vision for the future, along with an innovative and pioneering spirit, he planted the first French grape varietals in the Aconcagua Valley, about 65 km north of Santiago. The winery has since passed through generations of the family and today still remains with the descendants of Don Maximiano. Today, Eduardo Chadwick represents the fifth generation of the family to lead Viña Errázuriz, an iconic Chilean winery that has become one of the world's most noteworthy.

I've had the opportunity to taste previous vintages of this wine and it has always been a delight. The 2018 vintage of this Carmenère is sourced from their vineyard site located 600 metres above sea level, on the second ancient alluvial terrace of the Aconcagua River where the deep gravel soil has a clay-loam texture. These unique soil conditions, plus the radiant sun, allows this late-ripening varietal to have great success in the Aconcagua Valley. The grapes for this red wine were hand-picked, double sorted, and then crushed. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, it was aged in French oak barrels (35% new) for 14 months. Overall, the 2018 vintage in Chile was considered to be brilliant. Let's see how this Carmenère is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CARMENÈRE 2018 - DO Valle de Aconcagua, Chile (#546424) (XD) - $21.95
Fresh, herbally, tomato leaf, and roasted red pepper aromas surround a core and red and black fruits, and subtle wood spice. The medium-full bodied palate offers juicy, slightly tart red and dark berry fruits, tomato leaf, paprika, and wood spice flavours, with herbally and red pepper notes in the background. Very clean and well-balanced throughout with balanced acidity and textured, slightly chalky tannins. Earthy and savoury on the long, structured finish. Enjoy this fine Carmenère over the next 3-5 years. Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines from Viña Errázuriz can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

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San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a fine Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that returned to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the March 6th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in 1865 in the Curicó Valley by the Correa brothers, Viña San Pedro is today one of Chile's most important producers. The brothers were pioneers in bringing different varieties from the Old World to the Curicó, exploring the rich and varied soils of Chile, while also welcoming new opportunities to further the progress of Chilean winemaking. Viña San Pedro produces a diverse range of wines of exceptional quality from distinct origins, while also working in harmony with nature and the environment to meet their sustainable goals.

This particular Cabernet Sauvignon is from the 1865 Wines Collection - a distinct set of wines that was created in 1997 to honour the founding of San Pedro in 1865 and highlights the unique regions and styles. Each bottle of 1865 wine is the product of careful selection of emblematic varietals from Chile's most recognized wine regions. The grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon come from Chile's finest terroir in the Maipo Valley. It was grown mainly in the Los Piedros Vineyard at the foothills of the Andes Mountains where the soils are poor and gravelly. In this vineyard, there is also a second terrace that has alluvial soil from the Maipo River, a terroir that helps produce Chile's best Cabernet Sauvignon.

I have tasted and recommended previous editions of this fine Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see how the 2018 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Maipo Valley, Chile (#37911) (XD) - $19.95
The medium+ intensity nose offers fresh red and black berry fruit, and cassis with touches of minty herb, wood spice, and a whiff of earthy mineral. The full-bodied, concentrated palate is spicy with more red and black fruit, and savoury oak flavours. It has fresh, lively acidity and refined, structured tannins that have some chalky grip. The minty herbal notes arrive on the mid-palate, joined by savoury oak on the satisfying finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Viña San Pedro can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

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