Château d'Aquéria Tavel 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Review

As we look forward to bright and sunny weather, tonight's wine review is a bright and lovely rosé from the southern Rhône Valley Cru of Tavel that came to the LCBO as part of the most recent LCBO VINTAGES Release on May 1st.

Perennially one of my favourite Tavel wines, this rosé takes me back to my visit to the historic Château d'Aquéria nearly three years ago. The fascinating story of Château d'Aquéria begins in 1595 when Louis Joseph d'Aqueria purchased the area of Tavel known as "Puy Sablonneux" from the monks at the Abbey in Villeneuve les Avignon. On prime vine-growing lands, his son, Robert d'Aqueria, built a home that was transformed in the 18th century into the Château that stands today. Château d'Aquéria has been owned by many families since that time, while maintaining winegrowing activities.

In 1919, Jean Olivier purchased the estate, which was then managed by his son-in-law, Paul de Bez, beginning in 1943. Today, his grandsons, Bruno and Vincent de Bez, run the estate using environmentally-friendly and sustainable agricultural principles. The climate at Château d'Aquéria is quintessentially Mediterreanean with low rainfall, plenty of sunshine, and exposure to the Mistral winds. Situated in Tavel, the distinct soils around the Château are light and sandy-clayey, and when combined with the climate are ideal for the production of the estate's great rosé wines that are both fruity and complex. Let's see how the lovely 2020 Tavel is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 45% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 15% Cinsault, 8% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah, 4% Bourboulenc, and 2% Picpoul grown on sandy-clayey hillsides. Pretty, deep red colour in classic Tavel style. Medium-high to highly aromatic nose is bright, ripe, and sunny with lovely aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry joined by white pepper spice, mineral, and herbal nuances. The full-bodied palate is ripe and dry with lovely aromas replays, plus lavender and a tinge of honey on the flavour profile supported by fresh, vibrant, and citrusy acidity. It has a nicely textured, slightly chalky mouthfeel, while mineral notes linger on the long, balanced, and crisp finish. One of the best vintages ever? Highly recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

There's another Tavel by Aquéria available at the LCBO, while other lovely wines from this producer can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2018 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, unoaked red wine blend from Languedoc in the south of France. This wine comes to the LCBO just about every year and is usually on my shopping list each time. This latest vintage arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the May 1st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in 1967, Cave de Roquebrun is located in Haut-Languedoc Natural Regional Park approximately 30 km north of Béziers, between Montpellier and Toulouse. This co-operative is the largest producer in the Saint-Chinian appellation of Languedoc, consisting of 70 winegrowers that cultivate over 650 hectares of vines, plus 30 members in the cellar. Together, their philosophy is to create wines of originality, balance, and power.

Situated in the village of Roquebrun, the exceptional, sunny Mediterranean micro-climate combined with the schist terroir typical of Languedoc allows for the production of high quality and original wines with a sense of place. The soils in the Saint-Chinian appellation are among the oldest in France at 500 million years of age, and are ideal for the cultivation of grapes. These acidic, schist soils of character make up 80% of the winegrowing lands in the area and form the base of the reputation of the quality wines from Roquebrun.

I enjoyed the 2010 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun back in October 2018, and with a couple of other vintages still resting in my cellar, I am delighted to open the 2018 tonight. From the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun, this vintage is a blend of 45% Syrah, 35% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown on schistous soils facing south and south-east. It was vinified in whole bunches and fermented and aged in stainless steel vats. Let's see how this unoaked red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2018 - AC, Languedoc, France (#155804) (XD) - $20.95
This blend of 45% Syrah, 35% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre from the schistous hillside of Roquebrun was raised entirely in tanks. The fragrant, spicy nose and lovely aromas of ripe dark berry, blackberry, schist mineral, and peppery aromas with touches of smoke. The full-bodied palate is ripe with dark berry, blackberry, currant, peppery spice flavours backed by lovely mineral and hints of cassis and meaty notes. It has fresh, juicy acidity, while the chalky tannins are just a touch tight at the moment. Some bitterness with smoky mineral notes linger on the finish, very good length. Enjoyable now, but will be even better in a couple of years. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Cave de Roquebrun can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2017 (France) - Wine Review

On this fine Friday, tonight's red wine review is a bright and lovely Côtes du Rhône-Villages that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the April 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Rémy Ferbras was the first cellar master of Grandes Serres, a winery with deep roots in the Southern Rhône Valley. With the Rémy Ferbras range of wines, Grandes Serres pays tribute to the iconic figure of the winery who was a tireless advocate of the Rhône terroir and of its grape varieties, and always succeeded in expressing the full potential of the Rhône Valley wines. Through his work and tenacity, Rémy Ferbras played a large role towards the development and public recognition of Grandes Serres. The range of Rémy Ferbras wines are the result of strict selections, and precise vinification and ageing, just as Remy Ferbras would have preferred.

Rémy Ferbras produces a diverse array of wines from the Southern Rhône Valley's most popular appellations, and this particular bottling is from Plan de Dieu, one of the named villages of the Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation. Plan de Dieu, which translates to "God's Plain", is located in the Southern Rhône Valley, just west of Gigondas, and covers an area of 1,060 hectares, most of which is planted to vineyards with only a few patches of woodland among the vineyards. The climate in this area is Mediterranean and influenced by the Mistral winds, while the vines are primarily grown on a bed of red clay and smooth-rolled cobbles. The leading grape varieties of Plan de Dieu are Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, all found in this wine, and pick up aromas of the surrounding garrigue scrublands.

Although Plan de Dieu is linked to viticulture going back nearly 700 years, it was only awarded Côtes du Rhône-Villages with geographical name status for red wines in 2005. In order to give the appellation an identity, winegrowers designed a special bottle that is embossed with the village name and the vineyard's coat of arms - a bunch of grapes topped with an halo. Let's see how this latest vintage is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RÉMY FERBRAS TERRE DE MISTRAL PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2017 - AP, France (#538009) (XD) - $16.95
This blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre was grown on soils mostly composed of limestone pebbles and brown clay, with each grape vinified separately prior to blending and bottling. The medium-high intensity nose is elegant and composed with red fruited, raspberry, cherry, and spices with underlying savoury tones flecked with stony minerals. It's full-bodied with very good fruit concentration on the spicy palate with more red fruit, cherry, and raspberry flavours balanced with stony and savoury notes. Acids are fresh, while the fine-grained tannins have some structure. Some chalky textured grip on the long, spicy, stony, and savoury finish. Enjoy this great buy over the next 3-5 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Rémy Ferbras can be found at the LCBO (there is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape), while the rest of the portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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LAVAU Vacqueyras 2017 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely red wine from the Southern Rhône Valley cru of Vacqueyras that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the April 3, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Maison LAVAU was founded in the Rhône Valley in 1964 by the Lavau family that had been involved in winemaking from Bordeaux to Tunisia for several generations. Seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soils, the Lavau family decided to settle in the Rhône Valley. Today, Maison LAVAU continues to be managed by brothers Benoit and Frédéric Lavau, and they own three cellars in the Southern Rhône Valley where they vinify all of their wines. In addition to owning wine estates covering more than 180 hectares of vines across the Rhône Valley, the Lavau family has also formed long-running partnerships with more than 350 growers, thus allowing Maison LAVAU to select the best terroir and grapes in order to craft top quality wines.

I last enjoyed the 2014 LAVAU Vacqueyras back in June 2018 and am surprised that this red wine did not come back to the LCBO for a couple of years. The 2017 vintage in the Southern Rhone can be described as inconsistent with heavy rains in May leading to reduced yields of the ever-sensitive Grenache. However, there was almost no rain from the end of June and it was very hot throughout the rest of the growing season, resulting in a very good quality vintage that produced structured, age-worthy wines. The reduced yields of Grenache apparently had no effect on this wine is it remains a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvédre. The vines have an average age of 35+ years old and were grown on west-facing parcels on the plain of Vacqueyras with good draining alluvial and sandy soils. Let's see how the 2017 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#104927) (XD) - $26.95
A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvédre that was aged in a combination of stainless steel vats and used barrels. The medium-high intensity nose has a savoury core surrounded by complex aromas of black pepper, dark berry, spice, and plum notes. The full-ish bodied palate has lovely flavours of red cherry, raspberry, spice with savoury undertones and a hint of orange. It has well-balanced acidity and refined, well-knit tannins with a touch of chalky grip. Really well-balanced throughout with more savoury and stony flavours with spice and a tinge of orange on the long finish. Enjoy this lovely Vacqueyras over the next 5+ years. Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Maison Lavau can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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La Chevalière Rasteau 2017 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely red wine from Rasteau, a Cru of the Southern Rhône Valley. It is brand new to the LCBO and will be widely available across Ontario as Wine of the Month from the upcoming March 6, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Les Grandes Serres, a negociant firm based in the Southern Rhône Valley, using grapes sourced from the village of Rasteau, north of Vaucluse county. Winegrowing activities were revived in Rasteau in the Middle Ages, becoming the largest vineyards in Vaucluse by the 18th century. In 1937, Rasteau became part of the Côtes du Rhône AOC appellation and in 1966 it was promoted to Côtes du Rhône Villages status. After much hard work and dedication, the dry red wines of Rasteau were elevated to Cru status in 2010.

The village of Rasteau offers a variety of terroirs that includes red marl and sandstone, clay and limestone soils. Much of Rasteau is also covered with the famous rolled pebbles that the Rhône Valley is known for. These pebbles retain heat from the Mediterranean sun during the day and release it to the vines at night, thereby producing excellent concentration in the grapes. The distinctive wines of Rasteau are known for their structure, richness, and intensity. Let's see how the La Chevalière is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA CHEVALIÈRE RASTEAU 2017 - AC Rasteau, Rhône, France (#18502) (XD) - $20.95
Predominantly Grenache with Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Syrah completing the blend. The medium-high intensity and fresh aromatics are intriguingly herbal with spice, dark red berry, raspberry, and touches of stone, charcuterie and meaty notes adding further interest. The medium-full bodied palate is rich, structured and slightly warming with dark red berry, garrigue, licorice, spice, clove, and hints of plum flavours. Acids are juicy and well-balanced, while the structured tannins are smooth, refined and have a subtle chalky texture. Savoury and earthy notes come to the fore on the long, juicy finish. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from La Chevalière can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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E. Guigal Gigondas 2009 (Rhône) - Wine Review

For tonight's wine review, I opened up this excellent Gigondas that I picked up back in June 2013.

Guigal was established in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in Ampuis - a small, ancient village just south of Lyon in the heart of the Côte-Rôtie appellation in northern Rhône, and overlooked by unique vineyards where wines have been made for more than 2,400 years. In 1961, a still very young Marcel Guigal took over management of the domain from his father. In 1973, Marcel was joined by his wife, Bernadette, and two years later their son, Philippe, was born. Today, Philippe is the domain's oenologist and represents the third generation of the family to work at the domain.

After expanding the family business and acquiring several estates in the Rhône Valley, Guigal strived to further improve their knowledge of winemaking in 2003 by venturing into barrel making. This artisanal and ancient craft enabled them to master another skill within the charming historical surroundings of Château d'Ampuis - one of the famous estates they acquired a decade prior.

This Gigondas is part of The Collection range of wines at Guigal. Vintage after vintage, wines from The Collection have become symbols of the family's ethos of supreme quality wines. Marcel and Philippe Guigal pay meticulous attention throughout the winemaking process, including selection, blending, and ageing to craft wines with consistency and excellence, while representing the great appellations of the Rhône Valley.

While this vintage is long sold out, this red wine is a frequent visitor to LCBO VINTAGES and most recently arrived in November 2020. A few bottles of the latest vintage are available across Ontario, but I am sure can also be ordered through their Agents - Vinexx in Ontario and Sélection Fréchette in Québec. Let's see how this Gigondas is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

E. GUIGAL GIGONDAS 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#331900) (XD) - $31.95
A blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah from 40 year old vines grown on ancient alluvia, red clay, and gravelly slopes, and aged for 2 years in oak foudres, 50% new. Lovely, elegant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers maturing dried dark berry, sweet cinnamon spice, floral, and wood aromas. It is medium-full to full-bodied on the palate with very good concentration and lovely savoury, sweet spice, dried dark berry, and wet earth flavours with a touch of olive on the mid-palate. It has balanced acidity, while the fine tannins have integrated very nicely, with a slight chalky texture. Well-balanced overall with earthy, savoury, and dried berry notes lingering on the long finish. Drinking great now and still has a few more years of enjoyment ahead. Score: 92 pts

Tasting Note from 2013:

Intense aromas are earthy, meaty, and dark fruited, all of which follow through nicely on the full-bodied palate. It's well-balanced with dusty tannins and balanced acidity, and excellent length on the finish. Nice! Score: 91 pts

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Laya 2018 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice Spanish red wine that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 23, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Bodegas Atalaya is part of the Gil Family Estates group of wineries. The family's winemaking story begins with humble beginnings in 1916 in the heart of Jumilla, Spain, and has continuously remained in the family, now spanning four generations. Today, Gil Family Estates is run by brothers Miguel and Ángel Gil. They have over 1,400 hectares of vineyards among their many wineries in Spain's winegrowing regions.

Bodegas Atalaya is located in DOP Almansa, the easternmost and one of the smallest wine regions in Castilla-La Mancha, and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea further to the east. The climate is dry, hot, arid, and very lightly influenced by the sea. The very old bush vines of Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) and Monastrell (Mourvèdre) flourish in the limestone soils of low fertility and little rain to produce concentrated fruit that is bursting with flavour and fragrance.

This unique red wine is a blend of Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell that were grown on bush vines in the region of Almansa in southeastern Spain on calcareous soils located between 700 to 1,000 metres above sea level. The grapes were fermented separately in stainless steel tanks, followed by a short passage through French wood, then remained in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.

Tasting Note:

LAYA 2018 - DOP Almansa, Spain (#132605) (D) - $17.95
A blend of Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) and Monastrell (Mourvèdre) bush vines raised mostly in stainless steel tanks. The medium-high intensity nose is fruit forward and ripe with blueberry, bramble, black tea, and savoury aromas. It's medium+ bodied on the sweetish palate with more ripe blueberry, blackberry, and black tea flavours with some savouryness and touches of pepper spice. It has fresh, juicy acidity and polished tannins that offer a subtle, textural grip, along with some warmth on the mid-palate. Dark berry and savoury notes linger on the finish, with good length. Score: 88 pts

Other wines from Bodegas Atalaya and Gil Family Estates can be found at the LCBO or through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Château Maucoil Privilège Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 (Rhône) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the 2016 Château Maucoil Côtes du Rhône-Villages when it came through VINTAGES in March 2019, and tonight's wine review is another fine wine from the same producer. This excellent organic Châteauneuf-du-Pape makes it's first appearance at the LCBO as part of the November 14, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château Maucoil is an historic property located in an area in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that has been occupied since the time of the Romans. The Château Maucoil estate and castle was built in 1624, and winegrowing gained prominence some time thereafter when Joseph de La Pise, Lord of Maucoil and archivist of the House of Orange-Nassau (the Dutch royal family) inherited the property. Château Maucoil has changed hands many times over the years, with each family helping establish the estate's reputation for producing quality wines.

The Arnaud family, with its deep roots and winegrowing experience in Châteauneuf-du-Pape spanning several generations, acquired Château Maucoil in 1995. In 2009, Bénédicte, the youngest daughter of the Arnaud family, along with her husband Charles Bonnet took over the property. In 2013, they merged with the Lavau family and today they run the estate together.

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape was crafted from the Domaine's oldest vines which average 70 years old. Thirteen varieties are planted at the Domaine and six are included in this Châteauneuf-du-Pape - approximately 50% Grenache, smaller amounts of Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, as well as 5% of white varietals Clairette and Bourboulenc. The grapes are hand-harvested and individually sorted before going to vat. The grapes are fermented together before going into either 228 L or 600 L barrels that are either new or used for one vintage, and then aged for 12 to 18 months. The wine is then aged for several years in bottle prior to release. Let's see how this Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which hails from the classic 2016 Southern Rhône vintage, is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#16210) (XD) - $85.95
A blend of approx. 50% Grenache, plus Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, as well as 5% of white varietals Clairette and Bourboulenc grown on sandy, pebbly soils, with vines averaging 70 years old. The rich, highly aromatic nose is very complex with lovely notes of raspberry, blackberry, stony & smoky mineral, peppery spices, and violets. It's full-bodied and concentrated on the palate with lovely aroma replays plus some garrigue notes adding further complexity. It has juicy acidity and a touch of warmth on the mid-palate, but nicely balanced overall. Firm tannins are grainy and textured. Savoury, stony mineral notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Approachable now, but will be better in 5 years and enjoy into the mid-2030s. Gorgeous! Score: 94 pts

Other fine wines from Château Maucoil can be ordered via their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Château de Nages Vieilles Vignes Costières de Nîmes 2017 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely organic red wine from Rhône that returned to LCBO VINTAGES on October 3. I had the pleasure of visiting Château de Nages back in Spring 2018 and still recall fond memories of the visit. I have also tasted this previous vintages of this wine and have always loved it.

Château de Nages is now owned by the highly-acclaimed winemaker Michel Gassier, the 4th generation of the Gassier family to work this property in Costières de Nîmes, within the Southern Rhône Valley. The vineyards of Château de Nages are organically farmed and situated in the heart of a Natura 2000 zone - an ecological network of protected areas of the European Union. Being family-owned, Michel and the team are committed to protecting the ecosystem and using resources wisely.

Their vineyards are planted with typical Rhône varietals. Syrah is a grape variety that excels in their terroirs, while Grenache is reserved for the leaner soils that temper its natural exuberance. The last red grape variety is Mourvèdre that confers a striking spicy complexity. For white wine grapes, certain parcels of their terroir have a predilection for Roussanne that offers great aromatic richness, while Grenache Blanc rounds out the blends with its crystalline mineral imprint. I had the privilege of enjoying a pair of top wines from Château de Nages over the last few months, one of which is still available at the LCBO. To order Château de Nages wines that are not available at the LCBO, please contact their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

Michel swore that the 2016 vintage was the best of his career, but his sense is that the 2017 may be even better even though it was a tiny harvest. For 2017, the blend consists of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, which translates to no Carignan and less Syrah compared to the '16. The grapes were certified organically farmed with particular attention to soil health on grès (sandstone) with rolled pebbles from the Rhône river over iron‐rich red clay soils. All of the grapes were manually harvested and sorted, and fermented using native yeasts. One-quarter of the wine was aged in French oak barrels, with the remaining in cement tank for 12 months. Let's see how this organic red wine that is available in LCBO VINTAGES now is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES 2017 - AP, Rhône, France (#40964) (XD) - $19.95
This organic red wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah that was aged mainly in cement tanks for 12 months. The medium-high to highly aromatic nose is open, complex, and well-knit with lovely ripe and spicy black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, kirsch, black pepper, and smoky mineral aromas with touches of black plum and violet. It is medium-full bodied on the slightly warming, but balanced palate, with black cherry, raspberry, smoky mineral, pepper spice, and herbal flavours. Succulent acids are juicy and while smooth tannins are somewhat chalky textured. Smoky mineral and black cherry notes linger on the long, mineral-textured finish. Highly recommended. Score: 90+ pts

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Patrick Lesec Galets Blonds Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this excellent Châteauneuf-du-Pape that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 27 - and there are plenty of bottles available across Ontario so you can easily add this to your cellar.

It is produced by Patrick Lesec Selections, a highly esteemed negociant making delicious wines in the Southern Rhône Valley. Being a negociant, Patrick does not own any vineyards - his specialty is sourcing the best fruit from various winegrowers and blending the fruit to craft his special cuvées in a consistent style year after year. His top cuvées, like this Galets Blonds, are single-vineyard, estate-bottled wines. Patrick uses non-interventionist winemaking principles, carefully choosing the components to make the final cuvée. He prefers stainless steel elevage, with oak playing a minor role to add texture and complexity. The wine are unfined and unfiltered, and bottled by hand when possible.

When I enjoyed the 2012 Patrick Lesec Galets Blonds Châteauneuf-du-Pape five years go, it ended up being one of my favourite wines of the year. The 2017 vintage was very dry in Southern Rhône, resulting in lower yields. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the vintage lent itself to old vines with deep roots, such as those found in this predominantly old vines Grenache blend. Some of the best 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are the special cuvées such as this bottling. Let's see how it is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PATRICK LESEC GALETS BLONDS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#78089) (XD) - $60.95
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre from old, low-yielding vines that were grown on sparse, boulder-covered soils. Rich, medium-high intensity aromas deliver ripe blackberry, raspberry, and smoky crushed rocks with touches of pepper spice. It's medium-full to full-bodied on the palate with lovely aroma replays joined by some dried herb and gentle oak spice flavours. Good fruit concentration holds up well to the slightly warming alcohol, lifted by mouthwatering acidity. Fine-grained, slightly chalky tannins are nicely textured. Stony mineral, wood spice, and blackberry notes linger on the long finish, with excellent length. Exceptional! Score: 93 pts

Other fine wines from Patrick Lesec can be ordered via their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Domaine La Rougeante 2016 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Corbières - a new wine that arrives at the LCBO as part of the September 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release. Even though the wine is marked as a potentially late arrival, it is actually quite widely available across Ontario now.

It is produced by Select Vins, a collaboration between Château de la Négly owner, Jean Paux-Rosset, and his consulting winemaker, Claude Gros. Together, they have assembled some of the best grape growers from across the many appellations of the Languedoc, including Corbières, where this lovely red wine is from.

Corbières is Languedoc-Roussillon's largest AOC, accounting for nearly half of the region's wine production. Red wine dominates in Corbières, consisting of approximately 95% of all wines produced within the AOC. Due to the AOC's rather large size, Corbières has many different soil types and microclimates. Carignan is the mostly widely planted varietal in Corbières, however, none is curiously found in this red that consists of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah.

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE LA ROUGEANTE 2016 - AC Corbières, Languedoc, France (#15298) (XD) - $19.95
This Corbières is a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah that was grown on alluvial and clay-limestone soils, and raised completely in tank. Enticing aromas of dark berry, blackberry, and black plum sprinkled with crushed stones and touches of garrigue and dried herb. The medium-full bodied palate is ripe with good fruit concentration and nicely balanced fruity-savoury-herbal flavours of dark berry, pepper spice, dried herb, and earthy notes. Refined, lightly structured tannins have a nice dusty textured character, while juicy acids are well-balanced. Some warmth on the mid-palate. Savoury, earthy mineral notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy to enjoy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines from Select Vins can be found via their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Château de Nages JT 2016 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely organic red wine from a Southern Rhône winery that I had the pleasure of visiting back in 2018. This delicious wine arrived at the LCBO as part of the July 25 LCBO VINTAGES Release and plenty of bottles are still available for purchase.

Château de Nages is situated in the Costières de Nîmes appellation and the heart of an ecological network of protected areas of the European Union. It is the 4th generation family estate of the highly-acclaimed winemaker Michel Gassier and his wife Tina. They are committed to protecting the ecosystem with an absolute respect for the soil. By combining ancestral know-how with modern winemaking techniques from their fabulous terroir, Michel Gassier is able to produce high-quality, fine wines.

The JT line of wines at Château de Nages, which consists of the lovely 2015 Château de Nages JT White that I enjoyed back in June and this JT Red are dedicated to Michel Gassier's visionary great grandfather, Joseph Torrès. Both of these cuvées are crafted using fruit from the very best parcels of their own estate vineyards in Costières de Nîmes, while offering northern Rhône character.

For this vintage of the JT Red, Michel Gassier notes that the 2016 vintage is the greatest he has ever seen in 23 years of making wine. In 2016, yields were naturally moderate in a warm and dry growing season with exceptionally cool nights that helped produce fresh, concentrated and wonderfully balanced grapes. All of the grapes were certified organically farmed with particular attention to soil health. The grapes were manually harvested and sorted, then fermented using natural yeasts with 50% aged in French oak, while the other half was raised in cement tanks for 12 months. Finally, it was blended and bottled without filtration.

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE NAGES JT 2016 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#736876) (XD) - $26.95
This organic red wine is a blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Mourvèdre from soils that have rolled pebbles from the Rhône over red clay rich in iron. Ripe, medium-high intensity nose has dark berry, black pepper spice, and game aromas with a strong mineral character. The medium-full bodied, structured palate is flavourful with lovely ripe dark berry, mineral and pepper with some gamey, floral, and oak spice tones. Acids are well-balanced while the mid-palate is somewhat chalky with drying tannins. Finishes long with savoury, earthy mineral and floral notes. Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines from the Château de Nages portfolio can be found at the LCBO or ordered via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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LAVAU Gigondas 2016 and Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 (Rhône) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of excellent cru wines from the Southern Rhône. These red wines are from Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape and are from the spectacular 2016 vintage. Moreover, both of these lovely wines arrived at the LCBO as part of the August 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

These wines are produced by Maison LAVAU, a family that has been involved in winemaking for several generations and was officially created in 1965 when Jean-Guy Lavau and his wife Anne-Marie returned to France (from Tunisia) and took charge of a small winemaking cellar in Sablet that Jean-Guy's father, Jean, purchased a few years earlier.

With great attention to detail and a thirst for excellence, Jean-Guy and Anne-Marie Lavau built a reputation as top quality winemakers in the region. They also formed close ties with other winegrowers and invested in the their future by purchasing the biggest winemaking business in the Vaucluse in 1994. In an interesting Canadian connection, their two sons, Frédéric and Benoît, both studied in Canada before joining the family business back in Rhône. Frédéric joined the family business in 1995, and Benoît followed suit two years later.

In 2000, Frédéric and Benoît took over the family business after their parents retired. They continued to invest in their business by building a new, modern, and high-performance cellar, as well as creating the LAVAU brand, and exporting their wines to other countries.

Today, Maison LAVAU is one of the last family-run and independent wine estates in the Rhône Valley. It has three winemaking cellars and 180 hectares of vines and has become a major producer of Rhône wines. The primary objectives are to make top quality, generous, and affordable wines, while also promoting the diversity and quality of the prestigious Rhône Valley appellations.

I have enjoyed many LAVAU wines over the years, which are represented by Connexion Oenophilia, and would expect these fine Rhône wines to be just as excellent.

Tasting Notes:

LAVAU GIGONDAS 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#234955) (XD) - $36.95

This Gigondas is a blend of old Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (10%) vines that were hand-harvested from steep, north-facing, terraced hillsides on fairly poor, calcareous-marl soils at the foot of the famous Dentelles de Montmirail. 55% of the wine is aged in vat, while the rest in 450 L barrels that were used for 1 or 2 vintages. The barrel-aged wine spends 12 months in barrel prior to blending with the vat-aged wine. The fresh, rich, and highly aromatic nose offers peppery spice, garrigue, and dark berry with earthy tones and touches of plum. The medium-full bodied palate is rich with a concentrated mouthfeel and spicy, dark berry flavours supported by refined, structured tannins and fresh, lively acidity. There's some chalkiness on the mid-palate while earthy mineral, spice, and dark berry notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Lovely Gigondas that will reward with a couple of years in the cellar and drink well to the end of the decade. Score: 91 pts

LAVAU CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#15183) (XD) - $44.95

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of old 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre planted on sandy terrain, and undergoes similar vinification to the Gigondas with 50% of the wine aged in vat, while the other half spent 12 months in 450 L barrels that were used for 1 or 2 vintages prior to blending with the vat-aged wine. Complex, fragrant, and spicy medley of ripe raspberry, wild dark berry, garrigue, violet, and plum with touches of smoky-stony mineral aromas. The medium-full to full-bodied palate has black plum, black currant, and raspberry flavours mingling with spice and stony mineral notes. There's also touches of herb and tobacco on the mid-palate, adding further complexity. It's supported by fresh, juicy acidity and smooth, fine-grained tannins that have some grip. Well-balanced with plum, spicy dark berry with fine stony mineral notes lingering on the finish, with excellent length. Lovely now, but has the structure to develop further over the coming decade. Score: 91+ pts

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La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé 2019 (Provence) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent Bandol Rosé that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 27th. This rose has improved in quality every time I've tasted it, including the excellent 2018 La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé that I enjoyed last summer, so I would fully expect the 2019 to be just as outstanding. Provence experienced some extreme weather conditions again, leading to slightly lower yields in 2019, but vintage quality was excellent.

We don't see too many Bandol wines here in Ontario, but wine has been made in Bandol ever since the Greeks colonized the area more than 2,600 years ago. Bandol is located in Provence, along the French Riviera between Marseille and Toulon. Bandol was one of the first French appellations granted AOC status in 1941, and today, 60% of the entire production is devoted to rosé wine. It is also noteworthy to mention that Mourvèdre - a late-maturing black varietal that is ideal for the terrain and climate of Bandol - is the principle grape of the region, and makes up the majority of this rosé.

This particular rosé is produced by Les Vignerons de La Cadiérenne, a group of producers that formed the co-operative in 1929 and celebrated 90 years of winemaking in 2019. La Cadiérenne is the largest producer of PDO Bandol wines, working with 294 winegrowers that have approximately 600 hectares of land - of which 400 hectares are classified as AOP. The vines are mostly planted on hillsides within the municipalities of La Cadière d'Azur, Le Castellet, and Saint-Cyr sur Mer. Other wines from the La Cadiérenne portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

Tasting Note:

LA CADIÉRENNE CUVÉE GRANDE TRADITION BANDOL ROSÉ 2019 - AC, Provence, France (#119453) (XD) - $24.95
This Bandol Rosé is a blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, and 30% Cinsault from vines averaging 20 years and grown on clay-limestone and marl soils. All of the grapes were hand-harvested, partly de-stemmed, crushed, and vinified separately. Lovely, fresh, balanced, and complex aromas of nectarine, melon, citrus, grapefruit, red berry, and blackberry with touches of minerality. The dry, medium-full bodied palate has a lovely texture with fresh, vibrant acidity and spicy berry, orchard fruit, currant, anise, and saline mineral flavours. Some wild herbs on the mid-palate, while mineral notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Complex, elegant, and refreshing. Recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

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Hecht & Bannier Côtes du Roussillon-Villages 2010 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely 2010 Roussillon-Villages red wine that I purchased back in 2013 when it came through LCBO VINTAGES on February 2nd. I had the pleasure of tasting this wine with co-founder Gregory Hecht at the Halpern Enterprises portfolio tasting later that same year, and was pleasantly surprised to see it return to LCBO VINTAGES on March 1, 2014.

Although this wine is no longer available at the LCBO, you should be able to get your hands on the latest vintage through Halpern Enterprises.

Tasting Note:

HECHT & BANNIER CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2010 - AC, Midi, France (#142802) (XD) - $23.95
A blend of Grenache from the Catalan Hills, Mourvèdre, high-altitude Syrah, and small amounts of Carignan and Lledoner Pelut that was raised in a combination of tanks, demi muids, and large oak casks. Mature deep garnet colour. Aromas of dried herb and dark berries mingle with wet schisty mineral, smoke, and hints of wet forest floor. It is medium+ bodied with more dried herbal, dark berry, schisty mineral, and smoke flavours. Acids are still quite juicy and mouth-watering. There's some warmth on the mid-palate, but it doesn't intrude on enjoyment. Fine, velvety tannins have fully integrated, offering a smooth mouthfeel, developing a nice, slightly chalky grip with each passing sip. Savoury mineral with dried dark berry and earthy notes linger on the very long finish. Drinking beautifully at 10 years from vintage. I wouldn't hold on to this much longer. Score: 91 pts

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Cave de Roquebrun Roches Noires 2016 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely red wine from Languedoc that was featured in the October 12th LCBO VINTAGES Release and should be arriving on shelves across Ontario within a week or so.

It is produced by the co-operative cellar Cave de Roquebrun that was established in 1967 in the regional park of Haut Languedoc, 30 km northwest of Béziers and between the two regional capitals, Montpellier and Toulouse.

In Roquebrun, the mild climate with relatively arid and acidic soils combined with shale/schist allow different varietals to develop in a particular way in the appellation of Saint-Chinian. The winegrowers of Cave de Roquebrun produce mainly Syrah, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc with aim of enhancing the character of their terroir. Through this commitment, the Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun appellation was created in 2004 and subsequently became recognized as a Cru of Languedoc. Cave de Roquebrun manually harvests the grapes for all of their wines by choice. However, according to the decree of 2004, it is noteworthy to know that all Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun appellation wines must be manually harvested.

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN ROCHES NOIRES 2016 - AC Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun, Languedoc, France (#251637) (XD) - $22.95
A blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 20% Mourvedre that was manually harvested from the schist hills of Roquebrun and raised entirely in stainless steel tanks. The medium-high intensity nose delivers enticing aromas of blackberry, schist mineral, and spice layered on top of black pepper and meaty notes. It is medium-full bodied with nicely balanced wild berry, schist mineral, garrigue, black pepper spice, and meaty flavours. Acids are very fresh, while the juicy finish is long, meaty and peppery. Youthful tannins are chalky and quite tight at the moment. Enjoyable now with protein, but will be even better after 2-3 years of tannin integration. Drink into the mid-20's. Score: 90+ pts

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La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé 2018 (Provence) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a lovely rosé that came to the LCBO as part of the July 20 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Les Vignerons de La Cadiérenne are a group of producers that have been making wine since 1929. While they make wines from various appellations in Provence, they are the largest producer of AOP Bandol wines. Their growers have approximately 600 ha of land within the region, of which 400 ha are planted to AOP classified vines and, for the most part, are planted on hillsides surrounding villages. La Cadiérenne is the most important cellar of western Var in Provence.

This excellent rosé comes from a long tradition of wine production in Bandol, where wine has been made since the Greeks first colonized the area over 2,600 years ago. The wine region of Bandol is located in the South of France and specializes in rosé wine, with 60% of its entire production devoted to rosé.

I last enjoyed the 2015 La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé nearly 3 years ago to the day and am expecting the current vintage to be just as good, if not better. Let's see how this Bandol Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA CADIÉRENNE CUVÉE GRANDE TRADITION BANDOL ROSÉ 2018 - AC, Provence, France (#119453) (XD) - $22.95
A blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, and 30% Cinsault that was vinified separately prior to creating the final cuvée. Clean, fresh and fragrant nose of grapefruit, citrus, herb, and garrigue aromas with hints of stony mineral. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with plenty of fruit and structure that is supported by crisp, juicy, mouth-watering acidity. It's dry on the flavour profile with lovely floral, peach blossom, grapefruit, red berry notes and a spicy mid-palate. There's a fine mineral note that lingers on the long, succulent finish. Nicely textured and well-balanced throughout. An excellent buy to enjoy over the next couple of years. Score: 91 pts

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Xavier Vignon Ventoux 2017 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Following up on the delicious 2017 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône that I enjoyed last week, tonight's red wine review is a new, lovely wine from the same producer that is also arriving as part of the July 20 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Xavier Vins is the creation of notable renowned wine consultant Xavier Vignon. He began his work as a consultant in 1996 and over time developed a profound knowledge of terroirs in the Rhône Valley. The 34 grape harvests around the world, mentors, winegrowers' friendships, and exceptional memory have all shaped Xavier's style and identity.

He works with various domaines in the southern Rhône Valley, including Raymond Usseglio, La Nerthe, Marcoux, Gardine, Jerome Quiot, Beaurenard, Mont Redon, Maucoil, Roger Perrin, and Grand Veneur, while also developing his own, self-named brand - Xavier Vignon.

This red wine hails from Ventoux appellation, a wine region in the southern Rhône Valley that I had the pleasure of visiting last May.

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON VENTOUX 2017 - AP, Rhône, France (#413211) (XD) - $16.95
Blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre. The Grenache was aged in tank, while the other varietals were aged in barrel. Generous aromas offer spicy red and blackberry fruit with hints of pepper and smoky-flinty minerality. It is medium-full bodied with nicely balanced and spicy aroma replays that are supported by vibrant acidity. More minerally on the mid-palate plus touches of purple fruit. Tannins are soft, supple, and finely textured. Dark berry and mineral notes linger on the long finish. I really like the mineral aspect of this Ventoux red wine. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

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Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2017 (France) - Wine Review

For tonight's wine review, I opened this organic red wine from Rhône ahead of it's release into LCBO VINTAGES on July 20.

Xavier Vignon began oenologist consulting activities in 1996 in a laboratory in Vaucluse for 30+ cellars. With a growing clientele and knowledge of terroirs and grape varietals that are best suited for each other, he developed a reputation for being the "crazy guy". Xavier enjoys going into the vineyard and in 1998 he creates a consulting company with his friend Dominique Portet. Soon thereafter, his client base reaches triple digits. However, after Dominique left the partnership to start his own cellar in 1999, Xavier began producing artisanal cuvees from his garage for his friends. One of his winemaker friends' discreetly sent his cuvees to Guide Hachette and the results were one wine heart (i.e. Commended) rating, and all the other cuvees scored 3 stars (the highest possible rating).

In 2002, Xavier's wine importer friends asked if he could create his own wines. He chooses amongst the best wines he has made and creates Rhone wines of different vintages and appellations, and begins bottling as Xavier Vins.

More recently, Xavier Vignon decided that he had to express himself in his own name because he wants, above all, to share with all lovers, neophytes or enlightened, the fruit of his passion: his wines.

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2017 - AP, Rhône, France (#297317) (XD) - $17.95
This organic red wine is a blend of equal parts Syrah and Grenache, plus some Mourvèdre to round out the blend. The medium+ intensity nose offers lovely smoky black cherry, blackberry, and spice notes with hints of currant and minty herbs adding complexity. The medium-full bodied palate is more red-fruited and ripe with cherry, pepper spice, and currant flavours, along with some smoky mineral notes on the mid-palate. It has balanced acids and chewy, fine-grained tannins. Finishes with mocha chocolate and spice notes, with good length. Enjoy over the next 5 years. Score: 89 pts

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Ortas Tradition Rasteau 2017 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is nice southern Rhône red wine that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on July 20.

It comes from the Rasteau Cru appellation that is located northeast of Orange and is the westerly neighbour to Cairanne. Winemaking in this region was first established by the Romans in 30 BC.

Founded in 1925, Cave de Rasteau is one of Côtes du Rhône's oldest co-operative wineries. It is a leading producer within the Rasteau appellation and it's partners include 80 vignerons and 600 hectares of vines, which is nearly half of Rasteau's 1240 hectares. Cave de Rasteau is located in Provence, in the heart of the southern Rhône Valley and faces Mont Ventoux, the Dentelles de Montmirail, and the French Prealps mountain ranges.

It's terroir is quite diverse, with hilly, south-facing slopes and smooth, pebbled soils that provide heat, while the cool Mistral winds provide freshness - all of which are ideal for planting classic Rhône varietals like Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. At Cave de Rasteau, wine growing knowledge has been passed down over four generations of wine growers with passion and respect for the environment.

Cave de Rasteau is part of Cercle des Vignerons du Rhône, a union of three companies that work together and share their knowledge with each other to produce quality wines while respecting their terroirs.

Tasting Note:

ORTAS TRADITION RASTEAU 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#998716) (XD) - $17.95
A blend of old vines 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre from a hillside and terraced vineyard with limestone white clay, red clay, and fluvio-glacial sandy soils. Medium intensity nose offers nice blackberry liqueur, dark berry, spice, and kirsch, with hints of graphite and loamy earth aromas. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with blackberry, spice, and graphite flavours. Acids are balanced and juicy, while finely textured tannins are well-integrated. Graphite notes and a touch of bitterness linger on the finish, with very good length. The 14.5% alc./vol. is well-balanced. Enjoy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 88 pts

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