Tessellae Old Vines Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre Côtes du Roussillon 2015 (Midi) - Wine Review

I opened up this delightful red blend from the Roussillon on Saturday night. This was purchased from the recent November 25 VINTAGES Release and is still widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario. This red wine is made by the famed house of Domaine Lafage.

Tasting Note:

TESSELLAE OLD VINES GRENACHE/SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON 2015 - AC, Midi, France (#343517) (XD) - $18.95
From vines more than 65 years old on schist soils, this is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was tank-fermented and followed by aging in concrete tanks. Red and black fruit notes, plus some dark plum aromas from the cork. In the glass, this has a medium+ intensity nose leads with flinty minerality and is layered with red and black fruits, white pepper, wild herbs, and hints of black plum and evergreen. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with ripe fruited, peppery, dark berry, and black plum, with good fruit purity and concentration. Acids are bright and zesty. Suave tannins provide subtle grip. Some bitterness mid palate. Juicy finish with good length. Drink over the next 4-5 years. Score: 88 pts

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Hecht & Bannier Côtes du Roussillon-Villages 2008 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine to end a busy Summer is this red wine blend from one of my favourite producers in the Languedoc - Hecht & Bannier. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the founders of this winery, Gregory Hecht, a few years ago and will likely meet him again this Fall.

This wine was purchased from a VINTAGES Release in March 2012. Newer vintages have periodically shown up in VINTAGES as well, with the most recent appearance of this wine showing up in September 2015. Since it is currently not available at the LCBO, you can contact Halpern Enterprises to order this wine by the case.

Tasting Note:

HECHT & BANNIER CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2008 - AC, Midi, France (#142802) (XD) - $22.95
A blend of mostly Grenache with some Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Prune, dried fig and leathery aromas from the cork. In this glass, this has a fragrant, mature nose of garrigue, wet earth/forest floor, blackberry, along with subtle hints of dried floral, dried cherry and sweet oak spice. It's full-bodied and somewhat chalky textured on the palate with smooth tannins that are well-integrated and nearly fully resolved. Complex garrigue, dark fruit, blackberry, and hints of fig with flavours moving towards savoury on the mid-palate. Acids are juicy. The finish is long and savoury with touches of florality, dried cherry, bitterness, and mineral. Showing fine complexity and maturity and should drink well for another 2-3 years. Lovely! Score: 91 pts

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Lavau Vacqueyras 2014 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a lovely offering that will be released into LCBO VINTAGES on January 21. Back in 2015, I reviewed the 2012 Lavau Vacqueyras, and that was the last time this wine showed up at the LCBO - until now.

The Lavau family has been making wine for several generations in the area ranging from Bordeaux to the hills of Tunisia. In 1964, the family settled in the southern Rhône Valley as they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provençal soil and 40 years later, the cellar is now managed by Benoit and Frederic Lavau. With possession of 3 cellars and working with 300 grape growers, the Lavau winery vinifies most of the appellations of the southern Rhône Valley.

Tasting Note:

LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2014 - AC, Rhône, France (#104927) (D) - $25.95
GSM blend consisting of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Plum and ripe berry aromas from the cork. Medium-high aromatics featuring mineral followed by mulberry, blackberry, sweet herbs, ending with hints of earth. Ripe, sweet-edged flavours of blackberry, dark fruit, and cinnamon spice on the medium-bodied palate with finely-grained, slightly grippy tannins. Acids are fresh and a touch sharp. Long, satisfying, earthen finish. I would age this another year or two and drink over the next 6-7 years. Enjoy with lamb or rich poultry dishes. Score: 90 pts

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Lavau Vacqueyras 2012 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a nice follow-up to the 2011 Lavau Côtes du Rhône Villages that arrived in the General List section at the LCBO during the Summer. This delicious red wine will be available in the October 31 VINTAGES Release.

Tasting Note:

LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2012 - AC, Rhône, France (#104927) (D) - $24.95
Blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Sweet dark fruits and hint of prune aromas from the cork. Medium+ aromatics from the glass with seductive violet, acacia flower, dark fruit, eucalypt, dusty earth notions with blackberry, plum, and black pepper notes forming as it warms up. On the palate, it is medium bodied with refined, dusty tannins and nicely balanced aroma replays. Sweet tannins provide good structure while acids are juicy. Very good length on the dry finish. Enjoy over the next 5-6 years. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

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Grant Burge Wine Tasting

Last week I had the pleasure of tasting Grant Burge Wines at the Trialto Wines office in Toronto. The tasting was led by Nick Doumanis, Global Sales Director at Grant Burge. Six wines were on the lineup card, but we ended up tasting seven.


GRANT BURGE VINEYARD RANGE SUMMERS CHARDONNAY 2010 - Eden Valley & Adelaide Hills (#269829) (D) - $19.95
Lovely aromas of citrus, oak, nut and hints of spice. One the palate, peach, apple, citrus and oak mingle together with racy acidity and finishing long. Medium-bodied. Tastes and feels more expensive. Excellent summer appertif, but can also be paired with lightly seasoned salmon. This white wine is scheduled to be part of the LCBO General List in about a month. Be ready to pounce.

GRANT BURGE MIAMBA SHIRAZ 2010 - Barossa (#725127) (XD) - $17.95
Smells dense with smoky, dark fruits, vanilla aromas. Blueberry flavours in the glass with hints of mint, lavender and pepper. Medium-bodied with a medium-length finish. Current vintage not available at LCBO.

GRANT BURGE CAMERON VALE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Barossa (#937276) (XD) - $15.95
Dark fruit, blackcurrant, vanillan and oak aromas. On the palate there is lots of cassis and blackcurrant in this medium-bodied wine. Evident tannins will reward ageing another 2-3 years. Very good Cab Sauv. Currently not available at the LCBO.

GRANT BURGE THE HOLY TRINITY GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2008 - Barossa (#236257) (XD) - $33.95
Holy moly! This blend of 46% Grenache, 39% Shiraz and 15% Mourvèdre offers gorgeous aromas of red fruit, ripe cherries and subtle milk chocolate. Crushed red berries and blueberries with hints of chocolate and mocha on the palate. Medium-full bodied. Could be aged another 5-6 years. Awesome! My favourite wine of the evening.

GRANT BURGE FILSELL OLD VINE SHIRAZ 2010 - Barossa (#987453) (XD) - $29.95
This is a big wine with aromas of ripe dark fruits, blueberry, violet and lavender. Lovely blueberry with hints of coffee and vanilla on the palate. Full-bodied. Drinkable now, but has enough tannic grip to let sit for another 2-3 years. Current vintage not available at LCBO.

GRANT BURGE CORRYTON PARK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Barossa (#317834) (XD) - $35.00
Another big wine with blackcurrants, tobacco, smoke, meat and oak aromas. On the palate, there is blackcurrant and red fruits (cranberry and cherry) that are well-integrated with fine tannins. Very smooth. Medium-bodied with a very long finish. Yummy. Available via private order from Trialto Wines.

GRANT BURGE 10 YEAR OLD TAWNY - Barossa (#058388) (S) - $30.95
Made with Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz. Gorgeous aromas of caramel, floral, herbal and touch of earth. Complex palate that begins with candied pecans, followed by burnt orange, and finishes with cocoa. It starts sweet and finishes dry. Lovely! Very few left in stock at the LCBO.

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