Clos St. Antonin Côtes du Rhône 2016 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Côtes du Rhône that I purchased from the December 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release in 2019.

It is produced by siblings Christophe and Isabelle Sabon of the family that owns Domaine de la Janasse. Christophe and Isabelle decided to embark on a new adventure and purchased St. Antonin after the 2014 harvest. The property is located in the town of Jon-Quières and has 15 hectares of vines and has terraces of pebbles on clay (marls) soils preserved from erosion. The entire vineyard, which is oriented north-south, was re-worked and redesigned with respect for the terroir and environment.

This particular Côtes du Rhône red wine is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah grown just south of St. Antonin on plots characterized by clay and silt soils resting on marls, from vines averaging 40 years of age. The grapes were manually harvested and sorted in the vineyard. with 80% de-stemmed prior to maceration and fermentation. It was aged for 9 months in concrete vats and casks.

The 2016 vintage was excellent across the Rhône Valley. With a long, drawn-out growing season, Grenache became intensely concentrated, while Mourvèdre was able to reach full phenolic ripeness. Let's see how this 2016 Rhône red is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS ST. ANTONIN 2016 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#10513) (XD) - $19.95
A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah aged in concrete vats and casks, the fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose leads with savoury meaty notes, mingling with spices, garrigue, kirsch, dark berry, black cherry, and blackberry aromas. Impressively concentrated on the medium-full to full-bodied palate, it has savoury, earthy, and green herb flavours surrounding a dark berry, garrigue, and kirsch flavoured core. There's a touch of warmth on the mid-palate, but not out balance, along with fresh, juicy acidity, and smooth, refined, lightly chalky tannins. Finishes savoury with stony minerals on the long finish. Should continue to drink well over the next couple of years. Score: 91 pts

The agent for this wine was Brand New Day Wines & Spirits.

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Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2020 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely, organic Côtes du Rhône that I've had the pleasure of enjoying on a couple of occasions over the last few years. The latest edition of this Rhône red will arrive in stores at the LCBO this weekend as part of the May 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Xavier Vignon, a man who started out as an consultant oenologist in 1996 in a laboratory in Vaucluse for 30+ cellars. Originally of Picardie in the North of France, he followed his passions of music and natural sciences and landed in Champagne to study in the faculty of pharmacy in Reims. A chance encounter with an oenologist while studying and Xavier caught the wine bug. He applied to the French National Diploma of Oenology and gained valuable experience working at several Champagne houses. Xavier worked several harvests across the globe, found mentors, and eventually settled in the southern Rhône Valley in 1996. He was amazed by the variety of terroirs and cultivars across the southern Rhône Valley and gained a reputation as a slightly mad consultant with innovative techniques.

In 1999, Xavier began producing artisanal cuvees from his garage for his friends. One of his friends secretly took his wines and submitted them to Guide Hachette where they received critical acclaim. In 2002, he started creating his own wines under the Xavier Vins label. Today, Xavier Vignon's two fundamental values are the love for a job well done and the capacity to transmit knowledge. He bottles wines under his own name and is known as a Terroir Hunter and Master Blender. With respect for the environment, Xavier's wines are the result of a scientific background, a great deal of experience, confidence in others, total involvement, exchange of knowledge, and shared pleasure.

My last full review of this wine was the 2017 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône that I enjoyed three summers ago. This organic red wine continues to be a blend of primarily Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. The Grenache comes from 80-year-old vines, the Syrah from 45-year-old vines, and the Mourvèdre is from 60-year-old vines. The grapes were grown on Galets roulés (rolled pebbles), sands, clay, and limestone soils located mostly in the northern part of the Vaucluse and altitude parcels. Manually harvested, the grapes were fermented at moderate temperatures to favour soft diffusion of flavour compounds, and aged in concrete tanks for a short period of time. With a generally dry, sunny growing season, the 2020 vintage promises to be a very good year. Let's see how this 2020 Côtes du Rhône is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $17.95
This organic wine is primarily Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support, aged in concrete tanks, and has a clean, fragrant, mineral-inflected nose layered with ripe black, blueberry, and violet aromas with meaty and dried herbal touches. On the medium-full bodied palate it is ripe and slightly warming, yet balanced, with black-blue-purple fruits, violet, stony mineral, and meaty flavours. Acids are crisp and juicy, while the ripe, supple tannins have some structure and chalky grip. Very good length on the long, savoury, minerally finish. I really like this. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Xavier Vignon are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château d'Aquéria Tavel 2021 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is this refreshingly lovely wine from the Tavel Cru in the southern Rhône Valley that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on May 21 as the Wine of the Month and featured as part of the theme on rosé wines.

The long and fascinating history of Château d'Aquéria began in 1595 when Louis Joseph d'Aqueria purchased this prime vine-growing area of Tavel known as "Puy Sablonneux" from the monks at the Abbey in Villeneuve les Avignon. His son, Robert d'Aqueria, hereditary Count Palatine, built a home which was transformed in the 18th century into the Château as it stands today. Many families have since owned the Château, cherishing the lands as they honed the art of crafting wine with knowledge of their terroir, the vines, and the fruit of those vines. Today, Aquéria is owned and operated by brothers Bruno and Vincent de Bez. Aquéria has been applying environmentally-friendly winegrowing techniques for over 20 years while also preserving and protecting local floral and fauna. Sustainable agriculture and respect for the environment is part of Aquéria's identity.

The 2021 edition of this lovely Tavel Rosé is a blend of mainly Grenache, Clairette, and Syrah, and typically also includes small amounts of other varietals. The grapes were grown around the Château on sandy-clayey soils which are ideal for producing great rosé wines that are both fruity and complex. The grapes were hand-harvested and de-stemmed, then macerated to extract colour and structure. The varieties were then blended two-by-two to enhance aromatic complexity, then underwent temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats. A second blending took place in December before bottling this unoaked rosé.

At Château d'Aquéria, the climate is quintessentially Mediterranean with low rainfall, strong sunshine, and exposure to the Mistral winds. The growing season in 2021 was marked by capricious weather and seasons. Although Château d'Aquéria was spared freeze damage, they did have to be extremely vigilant throughout the season and their efforts were rewarded with a superb vintage in terms of both quality and quantity.

Having enjoyed previous vintages of this rosé, including most recently the 2020 Château d'Aquéria Tavel last May, I would expect this dry rosé to also be quite lovely. Let's see how this 2021 Tavel Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of mainly Grenache, Clairette, and Syrah, the lovely, medium-high intensity aromatics offer fresh, red fruited aromas of raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and fine mineral notes with hints of citrus and peach. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is very nicely balanced with raspberry, cherry, strawberry, currant, mineral, and citrus flavours, plus lightly peppery and herbal notes, all lifted by fresh acidity. Minerally, red fruited, and citrus notes linger on the long, juicy, and crisp finish. I think even better than last year's edition. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Château d'Aquéria are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2018 (Roussillon) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2017 M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem around this time last year, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this perennially lovely wine from Roussillon that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on April 30th.

It is produced by Maison M. Chapoutier, one of the iconic names in northern Rhône Valley winemaking whose roots go back to the year 1808 in Rue de l'Hermitage in Tain. Marius Chapoutier joined the company in 1897 and had complete control of the winery by the 1920's. Passed down through the generations, M. Chapoutier is led today by the highly acclaimed winemaker Michel Chapoutier who took control of operations in 1990. Michel has a passion for the environment, thirst for knowledge, and drive for innovation, and began applying biodynamic cultivation techniques in the year 2000, the same year Chapoutier expanded into Roussillon.

Domaine de Bila-Haut was Michel's first domain in Roussillon. It is located in Latour de France on a bend in the Agly river. The had an intense, forceful, and sometimes violent past, but also has contoured terraces with stony soils and rich geology. The climate is climate is Mediterranean with long, hot summers, and relatively mild winters, while experiencing more sunshine over the course of a year than any other part of France. This Occultum Lapidem wine was the first expression of this terroir and is a blend of mainly Syrah and Grenache, plus some Carignan, all grown in a vineyard with gneiss and schistous soils from the Devonian Period (approx. 400 million ago) and limestone from Kimmeridgian Period (approx. 150 million years ago). The grapes were hand-harvested, non-pressed, and de-stemmed prior to fermentation. It was aged entirely in concrete tanks.

In 2018, Chapoutier reports that they (finally!) had perfect water balance for an outstanding vintage. Rainfall had been scarce in Roussillon since 2014, but in 2018 the exceptional rainfall arrived at opportune times. September was also noteworthy with average daytime temperatures reaching 30°C, along with cool nights, and no tramontane wind but a light sea breeze. This allowed the grapes to gradually ripen and reach phenolic maturity, resulting in wines with freshness, aromatic complexity, and lower alcohol content, all characters worthy of a great year in Roussillon. In this particular wine, the schist soils provided suppleness, while the Syrah offered sophisticated spiciness, and Grenache grown in limestone soils gave the wine exceptional structure. Let's see how this 2018 wine from Roussillon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2018 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages
Latour-de-France, France (#643239) (XD) - $26.95
Matured in concrete tanks, this blend of mainly Syrah and Grenache, plus Carignan has a medium-high to highly aromatic nose with lovely, ripe wild berry aromas in the shades of black-red-blue, joined by plum, peppery spice, and dried herb, and underlying meaty and minerally notes. It's medium-full bodied with lovely raspberry, blackberry, pepper, and mineral flavours with hints of violet. It's got fresh acidity and smooth, supple, and lightly structured tannins. Raspberry, wild berry, and meaty flavoured, tapering to a long, minerally, and very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by M. Chapoutier are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Pierre Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this beautiful organic and biodynamic Gigondas from Rhône that arrived at the LCBO last weekend in the April 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Pierre Amadieu has been winegrowing in the hills of Gigondas since 1929. At the time, he had a 7 hectare vineyard that had been passed down through the generations. Pierre Amadieu was one of the first producers to print the name of the appellation on its labels and played an instrumental role in developing and promoting Gigondas wines. Near the village in 1945, Pierre Amadieu built a winemaking facility and a subterranean ageing cellar that was dug two levels underground to ensure constant temperature and hygrometry.

In 1950, Pierre Amadieu, who was a pioneer in several domains in Gigondas, purchased two properties that were historically linked - Romane and La Machotte. With this purchase, Pierre Amadieu became the largest estate in Gigondas with 137 hectares of vines that were surrounded by 200 hectares of garrigue and holm oaks, assuring natural protection of the vineyard. In 1955, he purchased an old railway tunnel near Pierrelongue (Drôme) to allow for exceptional ageing of his wines. The property at La Machotte is equipped with oak casks still in use today, as well as takes advantage of natural air conditioning, and also has 13th century ceramic vats which are still visible. Well before environmental awareness grew across the globe, 1,200 sheep were pasturing in the vineyards in the off-season and providing natural manure and controlled ground cover planting to obtain a natural and healthy vineyard.

The next generation took up the reins in the vineyard and cellar when Pierre Amadieu's sons Jean-Pierre and Claude joined the family business in 1965 and 1975. In 1989, Pierre Amadieu Jr. (Jean-Pierre's son) became the head of the company and represented the third generation of the family. Soon thereafter, Pierre was joined by his three cousins Henri-Claude, Jean-Marie, and Marie, and all three play important roles in the company. In 2019, Pierre Amadieu celebrated its 90th vintage and with a commitment to continuously improving their knowledge and infrastructure, they inaugurated their new ageing cellar that was built in natural stone. Their goal is to produce well-balanced, fine wines that reveal the elegance and richness of their protected terroirs located in the heights of the Gigondas appellation.

This particular red wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was grown in the southern Rhone Valley Cru of Gigondas on vines that are deeply rooted on the hillsides of the family estate, where the scent of "garrigue" that grew there for centuries still perfumes the vines that replaced it. The vineyard is located at 300 metres altitude, faces northwest, and has soils composed of alternating Cretaceous limestone and marl. The grapes for this bottling were grown on vines averaging 45 years. After hand-picking the grapes, it was fermented in concrete tanks and aged for 12 months in foudres and barrels.

Tasting Note:

PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE MACHOTTE GIGONDAS 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#17400) (XD) - $27.95
Composed of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, the fragrant nose is intense and spicy with beautiful aromas of garrigue, peppery spice, raspberry, dark cherry, floral, and dried herb flecked with smoky minerals. It's medium-full bodied, structured, and ripe with plummy, black cherry, raspberry, smoky flavours. It has fresh, well-balanced acidity, while the tannins are supple, structured, and a bit tight. Smoky raspberry notes linger on the long, juicy, and crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other excellent wines by Pierre Amadieu can be ordered through their Agent - Trilogy Wine Group.

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Château Maucoil 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the organic 2016 Château Maucoil when it arrived at the LCBO three years ago and for tonight's red wine review I am delighted to bring you the latest vintage of this lovely red wine that came to shelves across Ontario on the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on March 19.

Château Maucoil (pronounced "moh-kwahl") is an historic property located on northwestern edge of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône Valley with over 400 years of history and ancient documents stating that its first occupants were Romans that set up a base there for Caesar's legions. Winegrowing activities on the site began in the 17th century, with several families owning the estate over time. Some plots were planted in 1895 and still exist today!

In 1995, the Arnaud family, who already owned vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, purchased the estate and devoted great energy and passion. In 2009, the Arnauds' youngest daughter, Bénédicte, and her husband, Charles Bonnet, took up the torch to secure the future of the estate and manage it in an environmentally-responsible manner, becoming fully certified organic in 2014. After working with Maison LAVAU for several years, Château Maucoil partnered with Lavau brothers in 2013 and today the four run the estate together.

This organic red wine is crafted using a traditional southern Rhône blend of mainly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. However, it is unique in that the grapes come vineyards near Châteauneuf-du-Pape and with similar soils consisting of a mixture of sand and pebbles. From old vines, the grapes in this Côtes du Rhône-Villages yield great concentration and loads of character. The grapes were hand-harvested and transported to the cellar in 15 kg perforated crates, then sorted berry-by-berry before going into vat. Each grape variety and parcel was vinified separately. After fermentation, the wines were drawn off and aged in vats until bottling.

While the 2016 vintage in the southern Rhône was a truly rare, benchmark vintage, the 2019 vintage was no slouch with a wet winter setting the table for the region's vineyards to get through the hot, dry growing season. Grenache and Mourvèdre excelled during the long growing season to produce rich, ripe, and expressive red wines with refined textures. Overall, 2019 was a gorgeous vintage that only falls short when compared to truly elite years. Let's see how this 2019 Côtes du Rhône-Villages is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL 2019 - AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#638502) (XD) - $19.95
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, the lovely medium-high intensity nose is rich, spicy, meaty, and dark berry scented with ripe cherry, cassis, and whiffs of mineral arriving with time in the glass. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has lovely spicy, black cherry, cassis, meaty, stony mineral flavours with touches of plum. It has clean, fresh acidity, nice structure, and slightly chalky tannins. Really well-balanced and elegant with lovely savoury mineral notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Château Maucoil can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Château de Nages ButiNAGES Red 2019 and White 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, organic wines from southern Rhône that arrived at the LCBO for the first time last weekend as part of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château de Nages is a family-owned operation located in Costières de Nîmes that has been passed down over the generations. The family's history at Château de Nages begins with Joseph Torres, the family patriarch who at 68 years of age purchased this southern Rhône estate during World War II. After the passing of Joseph, the estate was managed by his son-in-law Alfred Gassier.

Today, the highly-acclaimed Michel Gassier is the fourth generation of the family to manage the estate. Situated in the heart of a Natura 2000 zone (an ecological network of protected areas of the European Union), the vineyards are planted with typical Rhône varietals and organically farmed. They are firmly committed to protecting their ecosystem and using resources wisely. To produce their fabulous wines, they combine ancestral know-how with modern techniques and with an absolute respect for the soil.

Both of these wines are from Château de Nages' ButiNAGES collection, which also includes a rosé. ButiNAGES, which means "gather nectar", is a metaphor that describes both the style of these wines, as well as the vineyard approach that allows us to achieve it. The grapes for these wines come from their younger vineyards, but receive the same attentiveness as their other cuvées. ButiNAGES wines are crafted with purity of fruit in mind to produce fresh, crisp, and unoaked wines with a soft mouthfeel. While the producer suggests that these are easy-drinking crowd pleasers (which they are), the quality offered in these wines are far superior than what you would normally find in an easy-drinking crowd pleaser type of wine. The 2019 vintage was outstanding in the Southern Rhône Valley, while the 2020 vintage for white wine varietals was very good. Let's see how these lovely wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

BUTINAGES WHITE 2020 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20906) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Blend of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne that was aged on fine lees in concrete vats with batonnage for 3 months. Elegant, fragrant, medium-high intensity aromatics are leesy mineral-inflected with lemon citrus, grapefruit, and white florals nuanced with ripe apple, stone fruits, and white peach. The palate is dry and impressively concentrated with flavours of apple, stone fruit, grapefruit, citrus, and white floral. Nicely balanced with fresh, succulent acidity. Saline minerals with citrusy notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

BUTINAGES RED 2019 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20637) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Unoaked blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was destemmed without crushing to keep only whole berries. It was blended and aged on lees in vats for 6 months. The medium-high intensity nose offers a lovely bouquet of dark cherry, raspberry, wild herbs, smoky minerality, garrigue, peppery spice, and subtle meaty nuances. It's medium-full bodied with rich, ripe, supple, and dusty tannins that have a subtly textured grip. Flavours of dark cherry, raspberry, licorice, peppery spice, smoky minerality, and garrigue are lifted by fresh, vibrant acidity. Finishes long and juicy with smoky mineral notes. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Château de Nages are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2015 (Midi) - Wine Review

To cap off my weekend, for tonight's wine review I dive into this lovely, unoaked red wine blend from southern France that I purchased from an LCBO VINTAGES Release in July 2017.

This red wine is from the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun in southern France. It is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown 30 km north of Beziers on the schistous hillside of Roquebrun that faces south and south-east. It was macerated in whole bunches and fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.

Being one of my "go-to" wines, I previously enjoyed the 2018 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun last year, the 2010 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun a few years ago, and I still have one more vintage in my collection. Although this wine is not available at the LCBO right now, I wouldn't be surprised to see it come to VINTAGES in the spring or summer.

Let's see how this 2015 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2015 - AC, Midi, France (#155804) (XD) - $18.95
Raised entirely in tank, this lovely blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre pours a medium-deep garnet colour. The fragrant nose is elegant, mature, and complex with lovely dried dark berry, plum, dried florals, herbs, spices, olive, and mushroom with savoury, meaty, and smoky mineral hints. It's medium-full bodied with flavours of dried dark berry, smoky mineral, purple fruit, and plum in a spicy profile that's supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity. Structured tannins are quite grippy and chalky, while the alcohol is slightly warming, but still balanced. Savoury with smoky minerals linger on the very long, chalky finish. Could be cellared a bit longer, but it is drinking quite well right now. Always a great buy! Score: 91 pts

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LAVAU Gigondas 2018 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2016 LAVAU Gigondas approximately 18 months ago, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this red wine from one of my favourite Rhône producers. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the January 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, a winemaking family with a passion for wine and love for terroir and land. The Lavau family's story begins in Saint-Émilion in the 19th century, followed by a move to Tunisia where René Lavau and his son transformed a small estate of vines and orange trees into the country's biggest wine producer. In the 1960s, Jean-Guy Lavau (René's grandson) and his wife Anne-Marie returned to France and settled in Sablet in the heart of the Rhône Valley and took charge of a small winemaking cellar that would eventually become Maison LAVAU in 1965.

In the 1990s, their two sons, Frédéric and Benoît Lavau, joined the family winery and took over once their parents retired at the turn of the century. In addition to having over 180 hectares of vines across the Rhône Valley, Maison LAVAU has also formed partnerships with growers and other estates. Today, Maison LAVAU is a major producer of Rhône wines and one of the last family-run and independent wine estates in the Rhône Valley.

Like the previous vintage, this Gigondas is crafted with old vines Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (10%). Originally from Spain, Grenache is the emblematic grape of the Southern Rhône Valley. Grenache is very resistant to drought, produces very sweet juice, and is usually blended to contribute to the power and volume of the wines from the Southern Rhône. Syrah is not very resistant to the Mistral wind, thus it is often trained. Syrah produces a beautiful purplish hue, intense fruit or spice notes, and combines very well with Grenache as it imparts freshness, fruit, and tannin to the blend. Also originally from Spain, Mourvèdre is a late ripening variety that produces intense and powerful wines, yet show great finesse. Mourvèdre is particularly suitable for maturing and ageing in oak.

This Gigondas was grown on fairly poor, calcareous-marl soils, from parcels located on the terraced, north-facing slopes of Gigondas, at the foot of the famous Dentelles de Montmirail. The grapes were de-stemmed, macerated, and fermented in temperature-controlled vats. The wine was aged for 12 months, with 55% aged in vat, while the remainder was aged in 450 L barrels that were used previously for 1 or 2 vintages, and then blended to create the final wine. Although the 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhône was a bit of a hit or miss, Maison LAVAU always produces a solid range of wines, so let's see how this Gigondas is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU GIGONDAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#234955) (XD) - $34.95
This blend of old vines Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (10%) has a lovely, intense nose of spices, black pepper, and dark berries with meaty, licorice, black cherry, and smoky mineral, plus hints of violets adding further complexity. On the structured, medium-full bodied palate it is very ripe with black and blueberry, smoky mineral, black pepper spice, black raspberry, and licorice flavours supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity. Slightly chalky on the mid-palate and beautifully balanced throughout with lovely flavour replays lingering on the long, smoky mineral finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Although very few other bottlings from this producer are currently available at the LCBO, wines from Maison LAVAU can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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FRAM Shiraz 2019 (South Africa) - Wine Review

For my final post of 2021, tonight's wine review is this lovely Shiraz from South Africa that arrives at the LCBO in the New Year as part of the first LCBO VINTAGES Release of 2022 on January 8.

This red wine is produced by FRAM Wines, a passion project created in 2013 by Winemaker Thinus Krüger. After working at Boschendal Winery for 12 long years, Thinus decided to take his experience and passion to make even better wines on his own. As CEO, President, Winemaker, and Grape Crusher, Thinus desired to craft wines oozing with personality that wine drinkers will enjoy drinking.

FRAM Wines is named after the Norwegian polar exploration vessel that went to both the North and South Poles more than a century ago. The name means "to move forward". In this spirit, FRAM Wines also sails into uncharted territory to boldly search for whatever great grapes lie behind the next hill, over the next horizon, or in previously unexplored territory.

Thinus Krüger is a member of the Swartland Independent Producers and this is my first time tasting any of his wines. He is known among his peers for having an experimental approach in the cellar, but also strikes a balance between tradition and personal expression. Thinus has become known for creating beautifully balanced wines that seek to reflect the terroir and soil.

Although Thinus works with various different blocks of Shiraz grapes each year, thus the final composition tends to change every year as well, he always tries to represent the unique character of the Swartland terroir. In particular, he believes that Shiraz truly reflects the singular soils in the area. Let's see how this Shiraz is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FRAM SHIRAZ 2019 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#21326) (XD) - $22.95
Mainly Shiraz from a vineyard on sandy granite soils on the eastern side of Malmesbury, plus 5% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre to complete the blend. Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose offers lovely meaty, black and blue fruit, blackberry, black pepper spice, anise, clove, and gentle wood spice aromas rising out of the glass. On the medium-full bodied, structured palate, it has good fruit concentration and is slightly warming with delicious dark berry, blackberry, black pepper spice, meaty, earthy, and licorice flavours. Slightly tangy on the mid-palate, with fresh, balanced acidity, and refined, slightly grippy tannins. Savoury, earthy, and cocoa notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other delicious FRAM Wines are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Xavier Vignon Lirac 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely red from the Lirac AOC in the southern Rhône Valley that arrives at the LCBO this weekend. Not only is this wine featured as part of the theme on "Elegant Wines for Holiday Entertaining" in the December 11 LCBO VINTAGES Release, but it also the Wine of the Month and will be widely available across the province by Saturday, if not already.

It is produced by Xavier Vignon, a man who for years was branding his wines under the "Xavier Vins" label. Xavier Vignon began his studies in the faculty of pharmacy in Reims, but caught the wine bug after a chance encounter with an oenologist. This encounter enabled Xavier to gain valuable experience working in several Champagne houses and began his journey to discover the world of wine.

Xavier studies oenology and agronomy and begins working for world class estates in France and Australia, mentored along the way. In 1998, he partnered with a friend to create their own consulting company, to great success, then started creating his own Rhône Valley blends a year later. In the first few years of the 21st century, Xavier builds his own brand of wines under the Xavier Vins label.

Today Xavier Vignon's fundamental values are the love for a job well done and the capacity to transmit knowledge. Xavier has in-depth knowledge of the Rhône Valley with many harvests under his belt. He is a terroir hunter and master blender, imparting his own history and style to craft unique wines while being respectful of the environment. His desire is to share his wines, the fruit of his passion, with people whether they are new wine drinkers, amateurs or connoisseurs.

This red wine from Lirac, a region I had the pleasure of visiting back in 2018, and is crafted using a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. The grapes were sustainably grown on clay and galets roulés (pebble stone) soils, with the vines averaging 40-50 years old. In the winery, the grapes were co-fermented to increase aromatic complexity and fermented at moderate temperatures to favour soft diffusion of flavor compounds. Only 30% of the wine was aged in barrel for 12 months, while the remainder was aged in concrete tank to preserve the purity of the fruit.

The last cru wine I enjoyed from this producer was the 2017 Xavier Vignon Ventoux a couple of summers ago, let's see how this Lirac red is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON LIRAC 2019 - AP, Rhône, France (#636183) (XD) - $23.95
This co-fermented blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah was aged mostly in concrete tank. The medium+ intensity nose seems a bit shy, offering hints of spicy raspberry and blackberry, garrigue, plus whiffs of oak and mineral. The medium to medium-full bodied palate is fruit forward and uber-ripe with raspberry, dark berry, spice, and garrigue flavours surrounding a savoury core, plus touches of florality. It has juicy, lip-smacking acidity, and ripe, smooth, supple, and lightly chalky textured tannins. Nicely balanced throughout with a pleasing mix of berries and smoky mineral lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next 5-6 years. Score: 91 pts

Some of the lovely wines from Xavier Vignon are currently available at the LCBO, while others can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Torbreck Cuvée Juveniles 2019 (Barossa) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Torbreck Old Vines Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre a couple of months ago, tonight's wine review is another lovely wine made with the same varietals from the same producer. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the October 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is featured as part of the theme in that Release on wines from Australia.

Founded in 1994 by David Powell, Torbreck Vintners was named after a forest in Scotland where David worked as a lumberjack. He was inspired to create is own label after working at a number of Barossa wineries. With the share-farm vineyard concept, David was able to obtain fruit from Barossa'a best vineyards to craft highly-acclaimed wines using the classic Rhône varieties Shiraz (Syrah), Grenache and Mataró (Mourvèdre). Today, Torbreck Vintners is owned by Proprietor Peter Kight and they work with multi-generational winegrowers who have great knowledge of the terroir and work their vineyards with minimal intervention.

Cuvée Juveniles was created as a "Côtes du Rhône" inspired bistro wine from the classic Barossa varieties Grenache, Mataro, and Shiraz from mostly old, unirrigated vineyards. These varieties are the cornerstone of the Barossa Valley, and when combined together are often referred to as GSM blends. This particular red wine is a blend of old vines 72% Grenache, 23% Mataro, and 5% Shiraz from multiple vineyards ranging from 40 to 150 year old vines. It was fermented and aged completely in stainless steel tanks, including a completely natural malolactic fermentation, prior to bottling.

The 2019 growing season was defined by a continuously warm to hot summer with no effective rainfall, wind and hail at flowering, and followed with three major frosts - resulting in an earlier and much smaller harvest than average. These tough conditions produced smaller clusters of intensely dark berries with thick, fleshy skins which contrasted against brown, mature stalks. Although 2019 was another year of reduced yields, it did produce wines of very high quality with impressive concentration of colour, tannins, and aromas. Let's see how this 2019 GSM from Barossa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TORBRECK CUVÉE JUVENILES 2019 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#723940) (XD) - $29.95
Screw cap. This unoaked blend of old vines 72% Grenache, 23% Mataro, and 5% Shiraz has fresh, open, intense, and complex aromas of lovely red berry, notes of raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and pomegranate joined by spices, white pepper, and subtle meaty notes. The medium to medium-full bodied palate is fruit-forward with lovely red berry, raspberry, cherry, and pomegranate replays on the flavour profile with spices and meaty notes adding a pleasant savoury component. Exceptionally well-balanced with fresh acidity, smooth, supple, and dusty-textured tannins. Savoury, earthy, even some mineral lingers on the long, clean finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Torbreck are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Vini Ventures - A New Experience in Virtual Wine Tastings

In response to growing demand for private and corporate sustainable wine tastings, Toronto-based entrepreneur Michelle Paris, DipWSET, launched Vini Ventures - Canada's first virtual wine tasting company that focuses on environmental and sustainable practices. I received this sample box of six wines to experience Vini Ventures firsthand.

Launched to great acclaim over the summer, Vini Ventures creates one hundred per cent bespoke, high quality wine tasting kits delivered directly and safely to the customer's door. With an ongoing commitment to a plastic-free planet, Vini Ventures' wine kits are produced using recyclable and reusable glass bottles, packaging made with minimum 75 per cent recycled paper, and recyclable packing materials.

Vini Ventures' uses a vacuum bottle filler system to ensure the wines are fresh and stable. Given that the wines have had minimal exposure to oxygen, all bottles are topped with ArT Wine Preserver to remove oxygen and replaced with Argon - the industry standard for food and wine preservation. Furthermore, by using only glass bottles, the wine is fully protected from oxygen ingress.

The wine kits are fully customizable from three to six bottles per box, and bottle sizes start at two ounces - which are ideal for wine classes, study and tasting groups. There's also a handy QR code in each box so recipients can access tasting notes for each wine that is selected either by the client or Vini Ventures. The company also provides expertise on planning and executing wine tasting events that are fully- or self-guided, large or small, and their clients have ranged from wine associations and producers, to corporate, consumer and private companies. Labels on the bottles can also be customized to suit your brand and needs.

To perfect the art of food and wine pairing, Vini Ventures has partnered with Toronto's La Palette, Cheese Boutique, and other local providers to further personalize each tasting kit. There is a range of quality charcuterie, cheeses, and snacks at different price points which can be customized for each unique Vini Ventures delivery.

All of the wines in my sample box that I tasted tonight were fresh and tasted great - my full tasting notes are provided below. In case you are interested in any of these wines, you might be able to find them at the LCBO.

Contact Vini Ventures to get started on your wine adventure!

Tasting Notes:

LITORALE VAL DELLE ROSE VERMENTINO 2019 - DOC Maremma Toscana, Italy (XD)
Fresh, intense aromas of lemon citrus, herbs, and ripe pear, accented by hints of lemon pith, leesy and saline mineral. The medium-full to full-bodied palate is creamy textured and ripe with lovely pear, apple, lemon citrus flavours, along with herbal touches. Refreshing acids lift the palate, along with saline notes on the mid-palate. Slightly spicy on the tail end with saline, leesy mineral, and zesty notes lingering on the long finish. Score: 90 pts

ROBERT MONDAVI FUMÉ BLANC 2018 - Napa Valley, California, USA (XD)
The highly aromatic nose offers intense tropical fruit aromas of guava, kiwi, and passion fruit that mingle with subtle smoky and oak influence. It’s full bodied with lovely interplays between the oak vanillin and tropical fruit flavours on the crunchy palate, joined by grapefruit and lemon citrus notes that add complexity. Acids are fresh and nicely balanced. Crisp and long on the lip-smacking finish. Score: 90 pts

XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2019 - AC, France (XD)
This has a medium+ intensity nose that is ripe and fruit forward with plummy, dark red cherry, blueberry, candied licorice and sweet spice aromas. The medium+ bodied palate is also ripe with black-red-blue berry, dark plum, and spice flavours, with savoury, stony mineral undertones. Acids are well-balanced, while the tannins are smooth, supple, and refined. Savoury and stony on the finish, with very good length. Score: 88+ pts

BARON DE LEY RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (XD)
Made with Tempranillo, the medium-high intensity nose delivers sandalwood, sweet oak vanillin, red cherry, and coconut aromas, all of which come through on the flavour profile of the medium-full bodied palate, joined by some maturing dried cherry and floral notes. It has very good, juicy acidity, while the well-integrated tannins have a slight grip. Very good length on the finish with savoury, earthy, wood, and red cherry notes with a touch of graphite. Score: 89 pts

ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP BARON VON NEMESIS SHIRAZ 2018 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (XD)
The medium-high intensity nose is ripe and fruit with slightly jammy aromas of blackberry, mint, herbs, and cedar wood with some underlying meaty notes. It’s medium-full bodied with smooth, ripe, and sweet tannins on the dry palate with pleasing aroma replays of ripe dark fruit, blackberry, herbal mint, and wood spice. Acids are fresh and nicely balanced, while the finish length is very good. Score: 89 pts

LUIGI BOSCA MALBEC 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (XD)
The medium+ intensity nose has aromas of dark fruit, blackberry, black cherry, and smoke, with touches of olive, herb and wood spice adding interest. The ripe, full-bodied palate has delightful aroma replays of blackberry and black cherry with touches of violet, boysenberry, smoke, and bramble with a savoury and spicy underpinning and fresh acidity. The elegant, well-structured tannins provide a nice mouthfeel. Smoky mineral notes linger on the long-lasting finish. Score: 89 pts

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Vanderpump Rosé 2020 (Provence) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely Vanderpump Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines from California back in July, tonight's wine review completes the look at the Vanderpump portfolio with this deliciously dry rosé that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the Sept. 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release, and is also featured again this month in the October 2nd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

With many decades in the hospitality industry worldwide, the Vanderpump family developed an appreciation for wines of outstanding quality. After living in the South of France for many years, rosé became a passion for the family, inspiring them to create Vanderpump Wines. In 2017, the family created their own rosé in the classic Provence style and launched their first wine - the Vanderpump Rosé - using grapes from the sun-drenched region of Côtes de Provence.

Now in its fifth vintage, the 2020 Vanderpump Rosé is comprised of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah that was sourced from the gorgeous vineyards of the Côtes de Provence AOP, France. More specifically, the grapes come from the interior Valley of Provence and Sainte Victoire, where there is plentiful sunshine and frequent dry, cool mistral winds blow in from the north. The vineyard soils are primarily clay, limestone pebbles and sand, and the hillsides are covered with wild lavender, rosemary and thyme. Crafted in the classical, dry Provencal rosé style, the wine has minimal skin contact to produce a pretty, pale peach colour. Let's see how this dry rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

VANDERPUMP ROSÉ 2020 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#14808) (XD) - $29.95
This blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah has a fresh, medium to medium-high intensity nose that delivers dry aromas of grapefruit, citrus, and stone fruits with underlying red currant, minerals, and herbs. The full palate is dry with a honeyed flavour profile of peach, strawberry, grapefruit, citrus, red currant, and spice. It has fresh, lively acidity, while leesy minerals, strawberry, and citrus with a twist of honey linger on the dry, crisp finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

All of the wines from the Vanderpump portfolio are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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Reine des Fleurs Rosé 2020 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely dry rosé from Languedoc that is new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves across Ontario recently as part of the Sept. 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release - and listed again in the upcoming Oct. 2 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The Reine des Fleurs brand rings like the Cicada’s song... Drinking Reine des Fleurs wines is all about enjoying the true French way of life where people take time to indulge in the simple, yet refined pleasures of life. In the French countryside, the brand conveys the vineyards peaceful atmosphere and its picturesque wineries. One sip and you can already imagine the scented Garrigue and the Cicadas singing in the field.

Languedoc is the source of grapes for this rosé, a beautiful wine region located in Southern France, by the Mediterranean sea. This wine region benefits from the Mediterranean climate that offers hot and dry summers. Grape varietals in Languedoc are planted according to the specific characteristics of each terroir, thus, one of the most distinguishing features of Languedoc appellation wines is the strong bond between taste and place.

This dry rosé is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah where the grapes were harvested and fermented separately. Upon reaching the winery, the grapes were sorted and destemmed, then gently pressed with a pneumatic press to slowly extract the juice. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was aged on fine lees for 4 months. It was then blended, carefully filtered and bottled prior to release. Let's see how this rosé from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

REINE DES FLEURS ROSÉ 2020 - AP Languedoc, France (#19841) (XD) - $14.95
Crafted with 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, the fragrant nose offers pretty aromas of melon and grapefruit citrus alongside some garrigue and herbs with a touch of minerality. The fleshy, medium+ bodied palate is dry with delightful melon, grapefruit, citrus, ripe strawberry, and mineral flavours supported by fresh, balanced acidity. Slightly chalky textured on the mid-palate, with mineral, grapefruit, and strawberry notes lingering on the crisp, dry, and very long after taste. Highly recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines from the Reine des Fleurs label can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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La Vie d'Arnaud Corbières 2017 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious red wine from the Corbières appellation that arrived at the LCBO for the first time as part last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES Release on September 18th.

This tidy little red wine is produced by the young and dynamic winegrower Arnaud Sié, In 2000, he took over his family's estate, which is located in located in Talairan, between Carcassonne and Perpignan, in the southern France wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Currently, he has 20 hectares of vineyards, 14 hectares of which are in the Corbières appellation. The vineyards are located on chalky clay soils 200 to 350 metres above sea level. Arnaud has worked tirelessly to modernize the wine cellars, while also performing extensive work in the vineyards. To ensure high quality, all of the grapes hand-harvested and sorted in the vineyard.

I enjoyed the 2017 Château de Tréviac Corbières back in March, a red wine also crafted by Arnaud Sié, and would expect this wine to also be quite enjoyable. Let's see how this Corbières red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA VIE D'ARNAUD CORBIÈRES 2017 - AC, Languedoc, France (#18784) (XD) - $13.95
This blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache has a pleasing medium-high intensity nose that offers spicy black pepper, dark plum, dark cherry, ripe black & blueberry aromas, plus some stony mineral notes. The ripe, medium-full bodied, well-structured palate has dark cherry, black-blueberry fruit, peppery spice, violet, and licorice flavours with underlying savoury mineral notes. Plummy and dry on the mid-palate with fresh acids, and slightly chalky tannins, with more plum, dark berry, and savoury mineral notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Impressive quality for the price. Highly recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Arnaud Sié are available through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé 2020 (Provence) - Wine Review

The 2019 La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé that I enjoyed last summer was one of my favourite rosés of the year. For tonight's wine review, I am delighted to try the new vintage of this lovely dry rosé from Bandol that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the August 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release. It is pictured on the cover of the VINTAGES magazine, as well as featured in the theme about Mediterranean wines.

The co-operative Les Vignerons de La Cadiérenne was formed in 1929 by 37 winegrowers. Today, it is comprised of nearly 300 winegrowers who cultivate approximately 600 hectares of mostly hillside vines surrounding the villages, and is the largest and most important cellar in western Var. Members of the co-operative produce wines that respect nature and the environment. All of the fruit is manually harvested, and members stay in contact with their fruit until bottling. Not only does La Cadiérenne produce AOP Côtes de Provence and Pays du Var (Protected Geographical Indication) wines, but they are also the largest producer of AOP Bandol wines.

The previous vintage was nearly an equal split of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Cinsault, led slightly by Mourvèdre, while this vintage is predominantly Grenache (50%), and the rest equal parts Cinsault and Mourvèdre, all grown on clay-limestone and marl soils. At the winery, the grapes were direct pressed and each grape variety was vinified separately, while fermentation was carried out at low temperatures in order to preserve the fruity aromas and colour. I very much enjoyed the 2019, let's see how the 2020 Bandol Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA CADIÉRENNE CUVÉE GRANDE TRADITION BANDOL ROSÉ 2020 - AC, Provence, France (#119453) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, and 25% Mourvèdre. The fresh, medium-high to highly aromatic nose has pretty aromas of ripe peach, melon, floral, citrus, blood orange, and grapefruit with underlying herbal notes. It has fresh acidity and a fine, slightly chalky texture on the medium-full bodied, fleshy palate with spicy aroma replays. There's a tinge of honey on the dry flavour profile, tapering to herbal, seaspray, and oyster shell minerality on the long, crisp, and dry finish. Love the complex array of flavours. Highly recommended buy. Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines from Les Vignerons de La Cadiérenne can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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LAVAU Côtes du Rhône 2018 (France) - Wine Review

New to the LCBO, tonight's wine review is a delicious Côtes du Rhône red that arrived on shelves across Ontario over the weekend as part of the August 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, a family who has been involved in winemaking for several generations. Formerly of St. Emilion,, the Lavau family settled in the Rhône Valley in 1964. Today, Maison LAVAU is a negociant producer with 3 cellars in the Southern Rhône and with a partnership with over 300 grape growers, the Lavau family produces high-quality and authentic appellation and Cru-level wines from both the Southern and Northern Rhône Valleys. The cellar is managed by brothers Benoit and Frederic Lavau, and using long-held partnerships established with local growers, they are able to carefully choose the best terroir and grapes to create their blends.

This red wine is crafted from the Southern Rhône Valley's two most popular red grape varieties - Grenache and Syrah. Grenache is the emblematic grape varietal of the Southern Rhône Valley. It grows well in drought-like conditions, is often used in blends, and contributes much of the volume of wine in the Rhône Valley. Syrah is often trained because it is not very resistant to the Mistral winds, but produces beautiful purplish-hued wines with intense fruit aromas and spices, and is a great partner for blending with Grenache.

This particular red is made with 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, with fruit selected from vineyards planted on clay-limestone plains across the Southern Rhône Valley, stretching from Montélimar in the north to Nîmes in the south. At the winery, the grapes for this wine were completely de-stemmed and placed in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for maceration and fermentation. To complete the wine, it was aged in vats for 12 months prior to bottling. Although 2018 was a challenging growing season in Southern Rhône, the resulting wines were generally good, more densely concentrated than usual, and offered strong fruit flavours and structure. Let's see how this 2018 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#18783) (XD) - $14.95
The blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose of candied red cherry and red licorice layered over black fruits, and sweet spices, with hints of black pepper and savoury notes. On the medium bodied, slightly warming and dry palate, it has dark red fruit, plummy, black pepper spice, and savoury flavours with virtually no oak influence, It's supported by fresh, tangy acidity and grainy, structured, slightly chalky textured tannins. Savoury mineral notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this highly recommended buy with a light chill. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Maison LAVAU are available at the LCBO, but can also be purchased through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Cellier des Dauphins Réserve 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this delicious Côtes du Rhône red that comes to the LCBO this weekend, as part of the August 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The story of Cellier des Dauphins begins with the formation of Union of Côtes du Rhône winegrowers (UVCDR) in 1967. The UVCDR brought together 2,300 winemaking families in the southern Rhône Valley, a territory that covered 2,500 hectares of vines and approximately 20 AOCs. Founded in 1967 by UVCDR, Cellier des Dauphins has become the pride of the member winemakers as it has risen to regional preeminence. The sun-drenched wines of Cellier des Dauphins are highly esteemed and synonymous with the voluptuous south's art de vivre.

Proud of their terroir, the founding winemakers of Cellier des Dauphins are driven by constant innovation, preparing for the future, and striving relentlessly to raise quality from vine to glass. They have a wide variety of soils and terroirs within their vineyards which offers oenologists a rich palette of grapes for blending. Cellier des Dauphins is committed to sustainable agriculture and has launched various eco-friendly initiatives to meet this goal. Their goal is to ensure that their wines are environmentally-sound by reducing their environmental footprint, earning Haute Valeur Environnementale accreditation, and reducing by-product waste. As of today, Cellier des Dauphins has over 1,000 hectares of organically farmed vines.

Tasting Note:

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE 2019 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#14081) (XD) - $16.95
Harvested at full maturity on sunny terroirs in the Côtes du Rhône, this blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose that offers red berry, raspberry, and spice aromas with subtle savoury and mineral undertones. On the fleshy, medium-full bodied palate it has very ripe red currant, raspberry, and spice flavours that are balanced with tangy, juicy acidity. Touch grapey on the mid-palate. The refined, grainy tannins are a bit tight, while the taut finish tapers to savoury and slightly mineral, with very good length. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Cellier des Dauphins can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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Torbreck Old Vines Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2017 (Barossa) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely GSM blend from Australia that returned to the LCBO last weekend in the August 7 LCBO VINTAGES Release as a "VINTAGES Online Exclusive", meaning that it is only available for purchase online through LCBO.com. To purchase, simply click on the product code below to visit its product page on the LCBO website.

Torbreck Vintners was founded in 1994 by David Powell. It was named after a forest in Scotland where David worked as a lumberjack. David gained his experience in winemaking by working at other wineries in Barossa prior to forming Torbreck, but was inspired to create his own label. In order to achieve this, he began to share-farm vineyards, which allowed Torbreck to obtain fruit from the very best vineyards in the Barossa Valley. With his love for wines from France's Rhône Valley, Torbreck's highly-acclaimed red and white wines were also based on classic Rhône varieties - Shiraz (Syrah), Grenache and Mataró (Mourvèdre) - all of which are considered classic varieties of the Barossa.

Today, Torbreck Vintners is owned by Proprietor Peter Kight with the aim of building one of the best wine estates in the world. Torbreck considers Barossa to be the most exciting place to make wine in the world, with its gentle Mediterranean climate and 175 years of Silesian and English commitment to grape-growing and winemaking. They work with multi-generational winegrowers, whose ancestors arrived here nearly two centuries ago, and have great knowledge of the seasons and soil, while working the vineyards with minimal intervention and aiming to get the best out of each vineyard site.

This red wine is a blend of 62% Grenache, 26% Shiraz, and 12% Mourvèdre that was hand-harvested from old vines, some as much as 100 years old, from the sub-regions of Marananga, Gomersal, and Ebenezer. As each parcel of grapes enters the winery, they were fermented in a combination of open top cement and wooden vats, as well as stainless steel tanks. It was aged in well-seasoned French oak hogsheads for 24 months. Each parcel was kept separate throughout the vinification process, until it was finally blended and bottled.

During the growing season in the Barossa Valley, a wet spring replenished sub-soil moisture, while a warm, dry Indian summer created perfect ripening conditions through to April 2017, resulting in an outstanding vintage that produced intense, well-structured reds. I had the opportunity to taste this 2017 back in January 2020 and am curious to see how it has evolved since then.

Tasting Note:

TORBRECK OLD VINES GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2017 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#10223) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. This GSM blend of 62% Grenache, 26% Shiraz, and 12% Mourvèdre is open and complex on the nose with lovely aromas of red berry, strawberry, and cherry mingling with savoury, black pepper, dried spice, earth, and a touch of rosemary. The medium-full bodied palate has slightly maturing flavours of dried red and black berries, strawberry, raspberry, black pepper, and spices supported by fresh, lively acidity and smooth, refined, and lightly chalky tannins. Nicely balanced flavours throughout with savoury, earthy and red berry complexity on the long finish. Enjoy this recommended buy lightly chilled. Score: 90+ pts

A limited selection of Torbreck wines are available at the LCBO, while others from the Torbreck portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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