Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

After following up on yesterday's celebration of International Sauvignon Blanc Day, tonight's wine is also a Sauvignon Blanc that will be arriving on LCBO shelves as part of the May 13 VINTAGES Release.

Greywacke is the Marlborough label of one of the region's pioneer winemakers, Kevin Judd. The name comes from his first Marlborough vineyard located in Rapaura where there is an high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones in the soils of the vineyard.

I tasted the 2014 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc in February of last year and am curious to see how this latest vintage turned out. In 2014, the quality of the fruit was considered above-average, along with the largest ever vintage in Marlborough. For the 2015 vintage, quality across South Island was good, but crop yields were lower, resulting in less wine produced; it was also a very dry summer in Marlborough, resulting in greater concentration than the 2014s.

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Medium-high intensity aromatics are clean and elegant with subtle nuances of lemon zest, herbs, yellow flowers, tropical fruit and a fine mineral note. There's very good fruit concentration on the medium-bodied palate, balanced by zesty acids and fine minerally texture. Ripe stone fruits and lemon flavours are followed by hints of melon, orange and ripe tropical fruits, all nicely balanced. Stony mineral notes linger on the very long finish. Wow. This is excellent! Must buy. Score: 92 pts

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Saint Clair Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

I opened up this wine tonight to celebrate the 8th Annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day, which is always the first Friday in May and takes place on May 5th this year.

This Sauvignon Blanc is produced by Saint Clair Family Estate, one of the leading wineries in New Zealand. The winery is owned by Neal and Judy Ibbotson, a couple that are considered viticultural pioneers in Marlborough since 1978. Initially, grapes they produced were sold to other wine companies, but in 1994 they established Saint Clair Family Estate because they had a desire to produce their own finished wine. Saint Clair is synonymous with quality ever since its first vintage in 1994 and continues to produce top quality wines today, such as this 2016 Sauvignon Blanc.

This delicious white wine is readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario. How are you celebrating #SauvBlancDay?

Tasting Note:

SAINT CLAIR FAMILY ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2016 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#237255) (XD) - $17.35
Screw cap. Lifted aromatics offer ripe tropical fruits, kiwi, gooseberry, grass and hints of mineral notes. It's light-weighted and fleshy with clean, refreshing acids. Fine chalky mineral texture on the dry palate with ripe tropical fruit and blood orange flavours. Clean, lingering finish. Score: 88 pts

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Bel Echo Pinot Noir 2012 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine was purchased back in 2014 from the July 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release, where "Summery New Zealand Wines" were featured as the main release and this wine was listed as the Benchmark/Wine of the Month.

Produced by Clos Henri, a French family from Sancerre whose roots in winemaking go back 10 generations. The grapes for this wine are grown predominantly on their free draining river stone soil, without any irrigation, thereby stressing the vines and providing fruit with the purest expression of terroir,

The 2012 is no longer available at the LCBO, but small quantities of the 2014 vintage are available, and if history is any indication, the 2016 should come through VINTAGES next year.

Tasting Note:

BEL ECHO PINOT NOIR 2012 - 'Terroir: Greywacke', Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#159137) (XD) - $22.95
Terroir blend of Greywacke riverbed (65%) and Broadbridge clay (35%) soil, and bottled under screw cap. Screw cap. Highly aromatic, complex and alluring nose that bounces between blackberry, mulberry, cherry, red currant, sweet spice, earth and a hint of herbs. Some dried cherry and floral notes also appear with time in glass. The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth and refined tannins. With air, flavour profile offers earthy spiciness along with cherry and strawberry notes. Rush of acidity mid-palate gives way to long, juicy finish. If you still have it, enjoy this fine wine over the next 12 months. Score: 91 pts

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Top Wines at Great New Zealand Wine Tiki Tour - May 2016

At the Great New Zealand Wine Tiki Tour in May, as expected, there were many very nice Sauvignon Blanc wines, including some oaked styles, and Pinot Noir wines. However, there were two wines that stood out - a young Syrah that showed impeccable balance and was very approachable for such a young wine, and an oaked Chardonnay.

Here are my top wines from the New Zealand tasting. We should see most of these wines show up at the LCBO at some point, however, you can always contact the Agent directly for more ordering options.

Tasting Notes:

NGATARAWA STABLES RESERVE SYRAH 2015 - Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (XD) - $22.95
With only 3 months of oak, this young wine has a medium-to-high intensity nose showing true varietal character with notes of black peppercorn, black fruits and some oak spices. The palate is medium+ bodied with nicely balanced aroma replays and balanced acids. Tannins are smooth and supple. Medium-to-long finish. Available via Private Order through EPIC Wines and Spirits. Score: 89 pts

PASQUALE CHARDONNAY 2012 - Waitaki Valley, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (XD) - $39
A rich wine with an high intensity nose featuring very nice apple, butter notes and some elegant oak, vanilla notes. On the palate, it is medium+ bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and orchard fruit, oak, buttery flavours to go along with crisp, clean acids. Excellent length on the finish. Contact Trilogy Wine Merchants for purchasing information. Score: 91 pts

SPY VALLEY ENVOY JOHNSON VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#429308) (XD) - $29.95
From their oldest vines, this barrel fermented and oak aged Sauvignon Blanc offers a lovely smoky nose combined with elegant grass, hay, asparagus and hints of citrus aromas. On the nicely textured palate, it is light-to-mid-weighted with tart green fruit, grass, and lime that is on the tangy side. It has well-balanced acids and excellent length on the finish. Can age at least half dozen years. Contact Trialto for availability. Score: 91 pts

STONELEIGH LATITUDE PINOT NOIR 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325654) (XD) - $25.95
The medium-to-high intensity nose has lively aromas of black cherry, tea leaf, and black spices. On the medium-bodied palate it is smooth with rounded tannins, juicy acids, and cherry flavours with earthy undertones. Well-balanced and long finishing. Contact Corby Spirit & Wine for availability. Score: 90+ pts

WHITEHAVEN GREG SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (XD) - $24.95
Medium-to-high intensity aromas that are clean with notes of asparagus, gooseberry, and lime which echo nicely on the well-balanced palate. It's medium-bodied with good acidity and a long, juicy finish. Contact E.J. Gallo to order. Score: 90+ pts

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May 14 VINTAGES Wine Release: Customer Favourites + New Zealand + Sake

New wines from the May 14, 2016 LCBO VINTAGES Release will be on shelves this coming Saturday and features Customer Favourites as it's main theme. The mini-themes of this release features wine from New Zealand and an assortment of Sake.

Twenty-three wines are listed as part of the "Customer Favourites" theme and 6 made my list of wine picks. First up is a lovely rosé wine from Mas des Bressades that usually consists of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. The Crémant de Bourgogne dry sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay, Aligoté. Another favourite is the Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. In red wines, customer favourites include a Carménère from Chile and a premium Malbec from Argentina. Also delightful year-after-year is the Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape that in the 2013 vintage consists of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and 5% Cinsault.

Of the 8 wines featured in the New Zealand theme, three are included among my wine picks and all are very fine Sauvignon Blancs. The grape does very well there and the ones I have chosen are of the single vineyard variety from the producers te Pā, Auntsfield, and Villa Maria.

In red wines from the rest of the release, the Rosso do Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese Grosso, while the Sicilian wine is made with the indigenous Nerello Mascalese. The 2010 Château de Panigon (50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) appeared in VINTAGES in 2014 and has developed and matured quite well over the last couple of years. The Domaine Courbis is a northern Rhône wine made using Syrah. Lastly, the Amarone is a blend of 70% Corvina Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Oseleta & Croatina.

Among my white wine picks, the lovely Mas des Bressades Blanc is a blend of traditional Rhône varietals Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier. while the Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy is made with Chardonnay.

Last but not least is the highly regarded Fielding Rosé wine that is a blend primarily consisting of Gamay and Cabernet Franc.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release. Cheers!

Red Wine:

• RENDOLA ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2009 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#438564) (XD) - $15.95  reviewed here
• ANTICHI VINAI IL MASCALESE NERELLO 2013 - IGT Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy (#442376) (XD) - $16.95
• BOUTARI GRANDE RESERVE XINOMAVRO 2010 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#140111) (D) - $18.95  reviewed here
• TERRANOBLE GRAN RESERVA CARMÉNÈRE 2012 - Maule Valley, Chile (#957050) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU DE PANIGON 2010 - Cru Bourgeois, AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#348250) (D) - $19.95
• FABRE MONTMAYOU GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2012 - Mendoza, Argentina (#279802) (D) - $24.95
• DOMAINE COURBIS SAINT-JOSEPH 2013 - AC, Rhône, France (#007914) (XD) - $36.95
• LATIUM MORINI CAMPO LEÒN AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2010 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#334300) (D) - $47.95
• VAL DI SUGA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#713719) (XD) - $48.95  reviewed here
• CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2013 - AC, Rhône, France (#711317) (XD) - $89.95

White Wine:

• CONCHA Y TORO SERIE RIBERAS GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2013 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#287995) (XD) - $16.95
• MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION BLANC 2015 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#701094) (XD) - $17.95
• THÖRLE-WEIN ESTATE DRY RIESLING 2014 - Rheinhessen, Germany (#445817) (D) - $19.95  reviewed here
• TE PĀ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#450668) (XD) - $19.95  reviewed here
• NORMAN HARDIE RIESLING 2015 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#131169) (D) - $21.00  reviewed here
• AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $22.95
• DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $24.95
• VILLA MARIA SOUTHERN CLAYS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447474) (XD) - $29.95
• ERNEST MEURGEY-PERRON POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2012 - AC, Burgundy, France (#448852) (XD) - $31.95

Rosé Wine:

• MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION ROSÉ 2015 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#950576) (XD) - $15.95
• FIELDING ROSÉ 2015 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#053421) (XD) - $15.95

Sparkling Wine:

• BAILLY LAPIERRE RÉSERVE BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Méthode Traditionnelle, AC, Burgundy, France (#991562) (XD) - $19.95

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Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2014 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is from the Marlborough label of Kevin Judd, one of Marlborough's pioneer winemakers. The name Greywacke was adopted by Kevin and his wife for their first Marlborough vineyard in Rapaura in recognition of the high prevalence of rounded greywacke stones found in the soils of the vineyard. Kevin registered the name back in 1993 with the idea that he would use it on a wine label one day. But it was only in 2009 - after making wine for Cloudy Bay for 25 years - that he established his own label - Greywacke.

The fruit for this wine was sourced from Marlborough's Southern Valleys and the central Wairau Plains. Soil types vary from the young alluvial soils of the Wairau Plains that contain high proportions of New Zealand’s ubiquitous greywacke river stones, to the older and denser clay-loams of the Southern Valleys. Greywacke wines are made by Kevin at Dog Point Winery in the lower Brancott Valley, a facility extended to him by long-standing friends and colleagues Ivan Sutherland and James Healy.

This delicious white wine will be available in the February 20 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $23.95
Screw cap. Very fragrant grassy nose with hints of kiwi, gooseberry, grapefruit and some citrus zest. The light-to-mid-weighted palate is clean and crisp with vibrant acidity. Grapefruit, minerals, gooseberry, kiwi and citrus flavour profile. Extremely well-balanced from start to end. Excellent length with mineral and lemon notes on the finish. This is superb and highly recommended. Buy this on February 20th and save it for patio weather. Score: 91 pts

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Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2014 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is new to VINTAGES and will be available as part of the February 20 VINTAGES Release.

Kono Wines are made from carefully selected vineyards within Marlborough on New Zealand's South Island. Owned by the native Māori, the grapes are grown with soil knowledge and cultivation methods passed down from Māori forbearers. Kaitiakitanga - guardianship of the land, resources and environment - is an integral part of the values of Kono Wines. As such, the vineyards for Kono Wines are certified SWNZ (Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand) and CEMARS (Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme).

True to Māori culture, they have a strong spiritual connection to everything they grow and a responsibility to ensure that the land is passed onto future generations in pristine condition.

Tasting Note:

KONO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#441394) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. Highly fragrant nose of gooseberry, kiwi, asparagus and lime citrus in typical New Zealand style. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with piercing, juicy acidity to go along with ripe pear, asparagus, melon and citrus flavours. Good length on the tart finish. Serve well-chilled and drink over the next 2 years. Enjoyed tonight with herbed salmon. Score: 87 pts

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Te Awa Chardonnay 2010 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine was purchased from the March 2 VINTAGES Release back in 2013. Knowing that I could let this sit for a while and mature, I decided to finally open this wine after 2 years, just before it reaches the end of it's predicted drinking window and starts to degrade. Let's see how it is...

TE AWA CHARDONNAY 2010 - Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#301135) (D) - $18.95

Tasting Note:

Screw cap. Highly aromatic nose featuring pear, lemon peel and sweet vanillan shows judicious use of oak. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet lemon, stonefruit, and some nutty oak notes intermingling with fine, refreshing acids. Evident use of oak balances fruit well, slightly creamy mouthfeel. Shows good balance and tension. Excellent length on the finish with flinty aftertaste. Very nice! Drink soon. Score: 90 pts

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Eradus Sauvignon Blanc 2014 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

It's a fine spring day here in Toronto and calls for a nice, spring-like wine. Tonight's wine is this lovely Sauvignon Blanc that hails from the Awatere (Aw-wah-tree) Valley within the Marlborough region, located on the South Island of New Zealand. This is the latest vintage of this wine and will be available in the next VINTAGES release - May 16th.

ERADUS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#225557) (XD) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Quite aromatic with crisp citrus, guava, kiwi and hints of gooseberry. On the palate, it's juicy with crisp, balanced acids and a flavour profile filled with pleasing aroma replays and hints of fresh cut grass. Dry, well-balanced with a fine mineral streak on the medium-long finish. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

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May 2 LCBO Wine Picks: New Zealand + Germany + Rosés

The next LCBO VINTAGES release will be on shelves across Ontario on Saturday, May 2, 2015. With warm weather approaching in the coming weeks (days?), this release focuses on wines from two countries - New Zealand and Germany - that are primarily known for their white wines and make excellent warm weather sippers. Also in the release is a feature on rosé wines - another fine category of wines for warm-weather sipping.

Of the 11 wines featured as part of the feature on New Zealand, three made my list of wine picks. New Zealand is known for its Sauvignon Blanc. The Savvy from Sugar Loaf Wines, being from Marlborough, is on the tropical fruit side of the spectrum. New Zealand's take on Pinot Gris tends to lean towards to the robust, sweeter versions found in Alsace, such as the version from Waimea Estates that's found in this release. Also from Waimea Estates is a just off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) Riesling that hails from Nelson on the South Island. Lastly, placed near the back of the magazine as part of the Flagship Store Exclusive is a stunning Pinot Noir from Dog Point Vineyard.

The feature on German wines is titled "Next-Generation Germany" and focuses on 8 winemakers who are making waves within the German wine world and abroad. Seven of the eight wines featured are included among my wine recommendations, with wines ranging from bone-dry to medium-sweet, and include grapes (styles) such as Pinot Blanc (Trocken/dry), Pinot Gris, Riesling, Riesling (Kabinett), and Gewürztraminer (Spätlese/late harvest.)

The rosé feature had 10 wines listed, three of which are included below. All three wines are dry in style (i.e. not sweet) - my preferred style of rosé. The version from Torres is a blend of Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) and Cariñena (a.k.a. Carignan.) Meanwhile, the two rosés from Rhône both contain Grenache and Syrah, while the Mas des Bressades adds some Cinsault.

From the rest of the release, there is a trifecta of Spanish wines worth your attention. The Costaño is made with 70% Monastrell, 15% Garnacha Tintorera, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the mature 2005 Hacienda Lopez de Haro is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano. Lastly, the 2005 Marqués de Cáceres is a blend of mostly Tempranillo, with small amounts of Grenache and Graciano added. More Grenache (75%) is found in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape, along with 11% Mourvèdre, 11% Syrah and 3 other grapes making up the final blend.

Last, but definitely not least, is a dessert wine from Austria that's made using botrytis-affected grapes and blended as 41% Sämling (Scheurebe), 24% Muscat Ottonel, 22% Chardonnay and 13% Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc.)

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CASTAÑO SOLANERA VIÑAS VIEJAS 2012 - DO Yecla, Spain (#276162) (D) - $16.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND LANGUEDOC SYRAH/GRENACHE 2011 - AP, Midi, France (#413237) (XD) - $17.00
• HACIENDA LOPEZ DE HARO RESERVA 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#357335) (XD) - $18.95
• TERRA NOBLE GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2011 - Maule Valley, Chile (#957050) (XD) - $18.95
• TRIVENTO GOLDEN RESERVE MALBEC 2012 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#588731) (XD) - $19.95
• MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#976670) (XD) - $29.95
• BACHELDER LOWREY VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2012 - VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#361816) (XD) - $44.95  Flagship Store Exclusive  reviewed here
• BOSQUET DES PAPES CUVÉE TRADITION CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012 - AC, Rhône, France (#726687) (D) - $49.95
• DOG POINT PINOT NOIR 2012 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#329672) (XD) - $49.95  Flagship Store Exclusive

White Wine:

• SANDER PINOT BLANC TROCKEN 2013 - Qualitätswein, Pfalz, Germany (#413930) (D) - $15.95
• RUPPERTSBERGER LINSENBUSCH GEWÜRZTRAMINER SPÄTLESE 2014 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#320473) (MS) - $17.95  reviewed here
• WAIMEA PINOT GRIS 2014 - Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#408682) (D) - $18.95  reviewed here
• WAIMEA CLASSIC RIESLING 2014 - Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#408666) (D) - $18.95  reviewed here
• SUGAR LOAF SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#410001) (XD) - $19.95
• KLUMPP RIESLING 2013 - Qualitätswein, Baden, Germany (#409748) (D) - $19.95
• MARKUS MOLITOR HAUS KLOSTERBERG RIESLING 2013 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#409698) (D) - $20.95  reviewed here
• SALWEY PINOT GRIS 2013 - Qualitätswein, Baden, Germany (#409912) (XD) - $21.95
• FRIEDRICH-WILHELM-GYMNASIUM GRAACHER HIMMELREICH RIESLING KABINETT 2012 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#411249) (MS) - $22.95
• C.H. BERRES ÜRZIGER WÜRZGARTEN RIESLING KABINETT 2012 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#207274) (MS) - $24.95  reviewed here
• PHILIPPE COLIN CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET LES CHAUMÉES 1ER CRU 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#299933) (XD) - $87.95  Flagship Store Exclusive

Rosé Wine:

• TORRES SANGRE DE TORO ROSÉ 2014 - DO Catalunya, Spain (#233437) (XD) - $13.95
• MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION ROSÉ 2014 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#950576) (XD) - $15.95
• BROTTE LES EGLANTIERS TAVEL 2014 - AC, Rhône, France (#654970) (XD) - $19.95

Sparkling Wine:

• LABOURÉ-GONTARD BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Méthode Traditionnelle, AC, Burgundy, France (#401018) (XD) - $19.95

Dessert Wine:

• LENZ MOSER PRESTIGE TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE 2012 - Prädikatswein, Burgenland, Austria (#729657) (S) (375 mL) - $20.95

The rest of the wines from this release are here.

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July 5 LCBO Wine Picks: New Zealand + Spain

The main focus of the next LCBO Vintages release is on summery wines from New Zealand, while stylish Spanish wines are the secondary focus. All of these and other delightful wines will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on Saturday, July 5th.

The timing and major focus of this release is perfect as the weather finally feels like summer. It's also evident as my number of white wine recommendations are greater than red wines, with many refreshing wines to choose from.

From New Zealand, refreshing whites are the order of the day. There are two 2012 Sauvignon Blancs, including a low-alcohol (only 9.5%) version from Forrest Estate, as well as a medium-dry (sweetish) Gewürztraminer from Lawson's Dry Hills. My other wine pick from this portion of the release is the Bel Echo Pinot Noir - which is also the Benchmark/Wine of the Month.

Unfortunately, the Spanish wines in this release were rather un-stylish as only the Albariño stood out.

With eight 2010 Bordeaux wines in this release, 2010 Bordeaux could have easily been the second focus. However, just one of these wines made my list of wine picks - the version from Château Gachon is a mostly Merlot-led blend. Not from Bordeaux, but 2010 vintage wines, nonetheless, are the Château de Gourgazaud Reserve that is a Syrah-based blend, and the Hidden Bench Terroir Caché Meritage that consists of 53% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Malbec and should be aged a couple of years before enjoying. Also, the Red Rooster Meritage is a blend of 40% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.

In white wines, if you think the Lawson's Dry Hills Gewürz won't be sweet enough for you, then you'll want to go up a few sugar cubes to the version from Kuhlmann-Platz. In Riesling, the version from Jim Barry is off-dry (slightly sweet), while the version from Alsace's Dopff & Irion is medium in sweetness. The wine from Château des Charmes Chardonnay Musqué is made using a clone of the Chardonnay grape (specifically Clone 809) and is unoaked.

And last but not least, the rosé wine from Château de Lancyre is a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Cinsault.

Enjoy my wine picks from this release. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE GOURGAZAUD RÉSERVE 2010 - AC Minervois La Livinière, Midi, France (#986083) (XD) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU GACHON CUVÉE LES PETITS RANGAS 2010 - AC Montagne Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#280040) (XD) - $18.95
• CHÂTEAU LOS BOLDOS VIEILLES VIGNES SYRAH 2011 - Single Vineyard, Cachapoal Andes, Chile (#371187) (XD) - $18.95
• BEL ECHO PINOT NOIR 2012 - 'Terroir: Greywacke', Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#159137) (XD) - $22.95
• RED ROOSTER RESERVE MERITAGE 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#366187) (XD) - $24.95
• HIDDEN BENCH TERROIR CACHÉ MERITAGE 2010 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#505610) (D) - $38.20
• BAROSSA VALLEY ESTATE EBENEZER SHIRAZ 2007 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#971705) (D) - $39.95

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ESTATE BOTTLED CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2012 - Estate bottled, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#640516) (XD) - $16.95
• CEMBRA VIGNA DELLE FORCHE MÜLLER THURGAU 2012 - DOC Trentino, Italy (#372508) (XD) - $17.95
• BURGÁNS ALBARIÑO 2012 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#945063) (D) - $18.95
• KUHLMANN-PLATZ MUEHLFORST GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2012 - AC Alsace, France (#168864) (MS) - $18.95
• FORREST ESTATE THE DOCTORS’ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#317842) (XD) - $19.95  reviewed here
• LAWSON’S DRY HILLS GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#060129) (D) - $19.95  reviewed here
• ALPHA ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - PGI Florina, Greece (#368464) (XD) - $19.95
• DOPFF & IRION DOMAINES DU CHÂTEAU DE RIQUEWIHR LES MURAILLES RIESLING 2009 - AC Alsace, France (#933069) (M) - $19.95
• JIM BARRY THE LODGE HILL DRY RIESLING 2013 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#262469) (XD) - $24.95  reviewed here
• CLOS HENRI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#675629) (XD) - $28.95
• HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2012 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (#931006) (D) - $34.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE LANCYRE PIC SAINT-LOUP ROSÉ 2013 - AC Coteaux du Languedoc, Midi, France (#374900) (XD) - $17.95

Icewine:

• SUE-ANN STAFF VIDAL ICEWINE 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#368720) (S) (200 mL) - $24.95

Sparkling Wine:

• CHÂTEAU MONCONTOUR CUVÉE PRÉDILECTION BRUT VOUVRAY 2011 - AC, Loire, France (#168963) (D) - $18.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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iYellow Summer Wine Jam - Review

On August 29, I attended iYellow Wine Club's Summer Wine Jam, which has held at Airship 37 near The Distillery District. The venue allowed for both indoor and outdoor imbibing, which was perfect for this fine summer night. I arrived there just after 7 p.m. and the place was filling up across the 2 rooms and the outdoor area quite nicely.

Over 70 wines from around the world were available for tasting, spread out over 15 "wine stations". There was quite a variety of wines to choose from, including a Port wine, and a half-size bottle of Australian red wine.

The food was catered by Berkeley Events, there were three food stations located throughout the 2 rooms, featuring 5-6 food items in all. Mid-way through I took a break from wine and decided to fill my stomach with some eats. I had 2 food tickets (included with my admission), so I had the fish and chips, followed by a veggie poutine. Both items seemed to be in popular demand, as I had to wait for a fresh batch of both dishes to arrive. Extra food items were $5 a pop, but I was satisfied at this point and continued to taste more wine.

Music was provided by the usual iYellow event DJ - Sam Fleming. Towards the end of the night, the vibe was definitely club-like, but without the dance floor. iYellow events are typically fun and casual, unlike the trade tasting events that I attend, which are generally quite serious and more business-like.

Most of the wines are quite readily available at the LCBO, so this was a great opportunity to taste wines without having to buy it first and be disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised to find a few Vintages wines as well. Overall, there were no mind-blowing wines, but there were a few that stood out for me (see below) and I would be happy to add these to my collection or serve at gatherings.

YALUMBA THE Y SERIES VIOGNIER 2012 - South Australia (#624502) (XD) - $16.95
Was among my picks from the recent August 17 Vintages release. Medium-high intensity aromas of spring flowers, ginger and white pepper. Medium-bodied palate with more lovely floral notes, joined by tropical fruits. Oily texture and lengthy finish. Quite nice and my favourite of the evening! Score: 88+ pts.

GIESEN ESTATE RIESLING 2012 - Marlborough, New Zealand (#277673) (MS) - $15.95
Copious amounts of petrol and minerals waft from the glass, along with hints of honey. Medium-sweet on the palate, but balanced nicely with refreshing acidity. Good aromas replays and a medium-long finish. LCBO General List product and always available. Score: 88 pts

GIESEN THE BROTHERS LAND SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, New Zealand (#308270) (XD) - $17.95
Medium intensity nose with delicate passion fruit, grass, grapefruit and nettle aromas. Medium-bodied with balanced aroma replays, plus some tropical fruit notes on the palate. Finish is bitter and slightly hot. Serve well-chilled. LCBO General List product and always available. Score: 88 pts

 

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Apr. 13 LCBO Wine Picks: New Zealand + Portugal

The next Vintages release focuses on wines from 4 "premium" producers in New Zealand, while the secondary feature is on wines from Portugal. In Local Talent, Prince Edward County is featured - probably to coincide with the upcoming PEC in the City tasting - with 4 premium wines.

From New Zealand, a trio of Sauvignon Blancs from two producers are worth checking out. Both Dog Point and Cloudy Bay produce high-quality, premium wines, at premium price points. You will likely not be disappointed with Dog Point's Sauvignon Blanc or their Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc. Going further up in price is the Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc. All three are quite complex and interesting, and not your typical grassy/cat pee Savvys.

A couple of good value wines from Portugal also exist in this release. The Adriano Romas Pinto consists of 6 different local varietals, led by (45%) what is generally considered to be Portugal's best varietal - Touriga Nacional. If you want to try this varietal on its own, the Delaforce is a great choice as it's 100% Touriga Nacional.

From the rest of the release, it's interesting to note that the 2009 Maycas del Limarí Chardonnay is only arriving in Vintages now, while the 2010 arrived last June. The 2005 Marqués de Cáceres is already aged for your and made with 85% Tempranillo, and 15% Garnacha Tinta (Grenache) & Graciano. The 2010 Rhône from Domaine Durieu consists of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 3% Cinsault, and 2% Counoise and can be enjoyed now or a decade later. And finally, from our own backyard is the 2010 Château des Charmes Equuleus - it's a blend of 50% Cab Sauv, 25% Cab Franc and 25% Merlot and is made only in the best years.

Enjoy my picks for this week! New wines will be on LCBO Vintages shelves on Saturday, April 13. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• BODEGA SÉPTIMA SÉPTIMO DÍA MALBEC 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#219295) (D) - $15.95  reviewed here
• ADRIANO RAMOS PINTO DUAS QUINTAS 2010 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#359893) (XD) - $16.95
• DELAFORCE TOURIGA NACIONAL 2009 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#324517) (XD) - $18.95
• CUSUMANO NOÀ 2008 - IGT Sicilia, Italy (#109512) (XD) - $18.95
• ALPHA ESTATE HEDGEHOG VINEYARD XINOMAVRO 2008 - AOSQ Amyndeon, Greece (#259762) (D) - $19.95
• MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES TINTO RESERVA 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#702761) (XD) - $24.95
• NORMAN HARDIE COUNTY UNFILTERED PINOT NOIR 2011 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#125310) (XD) - $35.00
• DOMAINE DURIEU CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#320168) (XD) - $35.95
• CHÂTEAU DE FONBEL 2009 - AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France (#196451) (XD) - $37.85
• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES EQUULEUS 2010 - Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard, VQA St. David’s Bench (Niagara), Ontario, Canada (#319525) (XD) - $40.00  reviewed here
• BREWER-CLIFTON MOUNT CARMEL PINOT NOIR 2009 - Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California, USA (#311647) (XD) - $64.95

White Wine:

• DR. HERMANN ÜRZIGER WÜRZGARTEN RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2007 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#313528) (M) - $16.95
• KELLEREI KALTERN CALDARO PINOT GRIGIO 2011 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#317867) (D) - $16.95
• CONCILIO CONOIDI GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2011 - DOC Trentino, Italy (#670711) (XD) - $16.95
• MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL CHARDONNAY 2009 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#162040) (D) - $19.95
• RUSTENBERG CHARDONNAY 2011 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#598631) (D) - $22.95
• DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $22.95
• DOG POINT VINEYARD SECTION 94 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325977) (XD) - $39.95
• CLOUDY BAY TE KOKO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#084897) (XD) - $48.95

Rosé Wine:

• CLAUDE RIFFAULT LA NOUE SANCERRE ROSÉ 2011 - AC, Loire, France (#323626) (XD) - $19.95

Sparkling Wine:

• SHOENHEITZ BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE - AC, Alsace, France (#319962) (D) - $19.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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2009 Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand - Review

Purchased this one back in April as part of the New Zealand / Easter release.

JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#224428) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
Classic gooseberry, nettle, some grass, and tinge of orange blossom aromas. Palate: Citrus with touch of honey. Flavourful. Dry. Long finish. Quite nice on this fine spring evening. Having this with vegetable lasagne.

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