Château de Tréviac Corbières 2020 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, unoaked blend of Syrah and Grenache from the Languedoc wine region in southern France that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on September 9th.

It is produced by Arnaud Sié at Château Tréviac, a family-owned estate that was established in the early 20th century by Arnaud's grandfather, Fernand, and is located in the heart of the Corbières Massif, halfway between the cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne, in the Occitan region in the South of France.

The story of Château Tréviac begins when Fernand settled in the village of Talairan after World War I, as he was convinced that the wild and untapped terroir of the region was full of great potential. He built a house on an old priory and cleared the hillsides in order to build the vineyard that exists to this day. The next generation, Lucette and her husband Roger, owned a labour-horse and, against all odds, managed to remain independent and out of the co-operative system. The journey continued with their daughter, Ginette, and her husband, André Sié. Each generation of this family of winemakers brought great passion as they built the walls and cellars of the Château, stone by stone. Today, with the same passion and dedication as his ancestors, Arnaud Sié manages Château Tréviac and crafts his wines. The name Tréviac came to be over time and refers to the three old roads: the Trois Voies junction (or TRI-VIA) where traces of former construction and burial sites remain today.

The rugged and stony terroir in Corbières is not only shaped by the hot Mediterranean sun, but also by the terroir of garrigue and scrub that affords its wines such bold characters. Château Treviac extends over 36 hectares of vines, which are primarily planted with Syrah and Grenache, on the rolling hillsides of the Corbières Massif, in one of the wildest parts of France with its picturesque countryside and rich biodiversity. The soils in the area are rich in limestone and clay, with calcareous rocks on the surface, while the micro-climate offers good sun exposure and a high-altitude, which allows the vines to enjoy hot temperatures during the day, and cooler temperatures at night. With a commitment to the preservation of biodiversity and terroir, Arnaud Sié made the decision in 2019 to begin the conversion process towards organic farming.

I've enjoyed previous vintages of this terrific unoaked red, including most recently the 2019 Château de Tréviac Corbières last October. It continues to be a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was hand-harvested. The grapes were crushed and pressed immediately upon arriving at the cellar and macerated for 4 to 5 weeks with regular punch downs to extract the aromas while respecting the integrity of the berries. In order to preserve freshness, the wine is raised in thermo-regulated concrete vats.

The 2020 growing season in Languedoc delivered excellent quality, albeit with slightly lower yields. It began with generous autumn rains, followed by a very mild December and a warm February, which helped get the vines off to an early start. The warm conditions continued into April and May, although rain arrived in unusually copious amounts in May, which led to downy mildew. However, the damage was limited. Cool and stormy weather arrived at the beginning of June, but thereafter, summer was hot and dry, without any heatwaves. Harvest arrived earlier than normal and growers were generally happy with the average-to-good crop size of juicy grapes, resulting in wines that are elegant, fresh, and aromatic. Let's see how this 2020 Corbières from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2020 - AP, Languedoc, France (#670505) (XD) - $17.95
This blend of 60/40 Syrah and Grenache was aged in concrete vats and has a medium-high intensity nose that offers a complex and attractive mix of ripe dark berry, blackberry, plum, garrigue, black raspberry, stony mineral, pepper spice, and meaty aromas. It's medium+ to medium-full bodied on the dry, ripe palate with lovely dark berry, blackberry, garrigue, stony mineral, and spice flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and fine-grained, grippy tannins. The dark berry notes taper to smoky minerals on the very long, crisp, and savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Arnaud Sié can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia / Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Rodney Strong Symmetry 2017 (Sonoma) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent red blend from Sonoma County that I was first introduced to back in 2017 during a very interesting Rodney Strong Blending Seminar with Winemaker Rick Sayre. The latest vintage of Symmetry arrived at the LCBO last month, as part of the August 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the pioneering and well-respected Rodney Strong Vineyards, the 13th winery that was established in Sonoma County in 1959. It was founded by Rodney D. Strong and has become one of Sonoma's leading wine producers.

Rodney Strong was an accomplished dancer, but transitioned to winemaking after acquiring a 159-acre vineyard in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, because he saw great potential for growing high-quality wine grapes. In 1979, as Mr. Strong stepped back from daily activities, Rick Sayre came on board as the new winemaker for Rodney Strong Vineyards. It was around this time that Tom Klein was introduced to Rodney Strong Vineyards and in 1989 he purchased the vineyards and winery because he truly loved being in the wine business.

Today, under the leadership of the Klein family, who are also 4th generation farmers in California, Rodney Strong Vineyards is flourishing with a commitment and passion to crafting premium wines. They are also committed to sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship, and have received certifications such as certifications such as Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and Sonoma County Sustainable. Rodney Strong produces several ranges of wines, with Symmetry part of their Reserve collection. All wines from their Reserve collection are crafted at their state-of-the-art Artisan Winery.

The philosophy behind Symmetry is that at its heart, it is an artfully blended wine that is carefully crafted using fruit from the very best hillside vineyards in Sonoma County. Part of the goal when crafting Symmetry is to capture the essence of each varietal in the blend, while striking the perfect balance between the classic Bordeaux varieties. Only the best is selected for the final blend, which makes Symmetry a unique expression for each vintage. The name Symmetry means balance, and it is their winemakers' ultimate goal to craft a rich blend that is harmonious, elegant, and intensely flavoured.

Like the wine during the blend seminar and other vintages prior and since, this red wine is typically a blend based on at least 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, with this particular vintage composed of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 12% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The fruit was grown in the Cooley (45%), Brothers (30%), and Rockway (25%) vineyards. It was crafted by Winemakers Justin Seidenfeld and Greg Morthole, using their small lot winemaking facility which they call the Artisan Cellar. They employed artisan techniques such as cluster pre-sorting, berry sorting, and extended maceration, while also using small tanks and equipment sized for the most discriminating vineyard selection process. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 75% new, for 24 months. The facility is truly state-of-the-art and represents the Klein family's commitment to producing the finest wines.

The 2017 growing season was a complicated one and will be remembered for many years as the all-time precipitation record was set by mid-April, followed by six different heat waves as high as 43°C. The fruit was harvested between September 16th and October 13th. Let's see how this 2017 red wine from Sonoma is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RODNEY STRONG SYMMETRY 2017 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#641142) (XD) - $74.95
Blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 12% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Richly fragrant, fresh, and spicy on the highly aromatic nose with a lovely mélange of red and black fruits, currant, cassis, grilled herbs, and savoury earth aromas with a touch of barnyard and anise adding further complexity. It's full-bodied and dry with ripe, chewy, elegant, and well-structured tannins. Lovely, rich flavours of red and black fruits, black cherry, currant, cassis, grilled herbs, oak spice, and earth flavours. A touch palate warming on the mid-palate, but still balanced, while the acids are fresh and juicy. Grilled herbs, dark fruits, and smoky earth notes linger on the long, elegant finish. Enjoy to at least the end of the decade, and perhaps a bit longer. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Many other fine wines by Rodney Strong are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2019 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious GSM blend from McLaren Vale in Australia that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the recent August 19th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by d'Arenberg, a well-known and highly regarded winery situated in McLaren Vale, South Australia. It was established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn when he planted his first eight acres of Shiraz vines on the property. The same year, Joseph was joined by his third child, Frank Osborn, who left university to take up life on the land. Joseph also sold his stable of prize winning horses to purchase the d'Arenberg property, which was originally named Bundarra.

In 1913, Frank Osborn harvested his first vintage at the Bundarra property in McLaren Vale, with grape prices reaching an unheard of price of £20 per tonne. After several years serving in the army, Frank married Helena d'Arenberg in 1920. A year later, Jane Antoinette (Toni) Osborn was born, followed by the birth of Rowen Frederick Osborn in 1924. In 1926, Helena Osborn died after giving birth to their third child, Francis d'Arenberg Osborn, who was also always known as d'Arry.

After encouragement from Sam Tolley, Frank's brother-in-law and wine industry mentor, in 1927 Frank decided to build a winery and produce his own wine. Frank spent some time learning about winemaking, while Sam was largely responsible for building the winery. In 1928, Frank Osborn produced his first wines, which were labelled "Bundarra Vineyards by F. E. Osborn & Sons". Production ceased in 1942 due to Frank's health, but resumed when d'Arry Osborn left school at the age of 16 to join the family business in 1943 and work at the winery full-time.

Modernization began during this period when the first tractor with rubber tires was purchased in 1946, followed by electricity and the electrification of the production area in 1951. In 1959, d'Arry Osborn launched his own wine label with a distinctive red stripe, while also designing the family crest that has the Latin words "Vinum vita est", which translates to "Wine is Life", and the fertility symbol in the top right corner of the crest, and grapes in the opposite corner.

On a day that was hailed as a good start to the financial year, Chester d'Arenberg Osborn was born on July 1, 1962. In 1963, they purchased their first hydraulic basket press and a year later they built their first tasting room. To this day, traditional winemaking methods are still used, with all of the wines basket pressed and all the red wine ferments foot trodden. In 1965, d'Arry received a letter from another well-established winery who had applied for trademark protection for the name "Bundarra", and by mutual agreement, d'Arry agreed to let the name go and stop using the Bundarra name.

The name change didn't hinder progress or success, as d'Arenberg had to build another tasting room to accommodate the ever increasing number of visitors. In 1971, they installed their own bottling line. Starting in the late 1960s, d'Arenberg was awarded many trophies and awards for their wines.

d'Arenberg's success continued when Chester Osborn, the fourth generation of the family, took over as Chief Winemaker, focusing his efforts on producing high quality and distinctive wines, while also reducing yields in the vineyards by eliminating fertilization and minimizing irrigation. d'Arenberg is also focused on natural and environmentally-friendly philosophies which encourage strong root systems that penetrate the soil, which in turn results in lively tannin structures, soil characters, and fine minerality. Moreover, all d'Arenberg estate owned and leased vineyards are NASAA Certified for organic and biodynamic processes. d'Arenberg is also a founding member of Australia's First Families of Wine.

This particular red wine is from d'Arenberg's "The Stump Jump" range of wines. The name comes from a rumour that the inventor of the Stump Jump plough, which enabled a ploughshare to jump over tree roots, had poor eyesight and required regular eye tests to ensure he could still operate machinery safely. The label design of The Stump Jump range is inspired by an optometrist's eye chart and serves as a
makeshift sobriety test - if you can hold the bottle at arm's length and still read the front label, you can enjoy another glass. There are half a dozen wines in the range, and this particular wine is a blend is approximately equal parts Grenache and Shiraz, with Mourvèdre completing the blend. The grapes used to craft this blend were mostly from very old bush vines that underwent gentle crushing and were fermented in traditional, open tank fermenters, followed by basket pressing and maturation in oak prior to bottling.

During the 2019 growing season, winter was quite dry with sporadic light showers that didn't penetrate the soil very deeply. Although bud burst was impacted, it was managed with irrigation. During spring, a strong wind event at the time of flowering upset some of the growth, especially in Shiraz, while summer was hot with an extreme heat wave and a record high temperature of 46.6°C. Yields were down on most varieties. However, the quality was excellent, with the grapes exhibiting very typical varietal characteristics. From what is classified as a good vintage, let's see how this 2019 McLaren Vale GSM is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

D'ARENBERG THE STUMP JUMP GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#173294) (XD) - $17.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this GSM blend has a fresh, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers lovely black pepper, spice, raspberry and blackberry aromas layered over earthy and meaty notes. It's full-ish bodied, dry, and sweetly fruited with ripe dark red berry, blackberry, black raspberry, black pepper, oak spice, earth, and meaty flavours which are supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity and smooth, firm, and somewhat grippy tannins that are youthful. Some minty herbal notes on the mid-palate. Savoury with cedary wood spice and earth notes linger on the finish, with very good length. A solid, highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next few years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by d'Arenberg can be found at the LCBO (with some in very limited quantities), while the whole portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.

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Cellier des Dauphins Vinsobres 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2019 Cellier des Dauphins Réserve a couple of years ago, we move up a notch with tonight's red wine review that is a Cru wine from the same producer. It arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on August 19.

Cellier des Dauphins is a co-operative winery that was founded in 1967 when the Union of Côtes du Rhône winegrowers (UVCDR) was established. The UVCDR brought together 2,300 winemaking families in the southern Rhône Valley, a territory that covered 2,500 hectares of vines and approximately 20 AOCs. As a co-operative, member growers pool their resources together to produce and market their wines. Additionally, they have also invested in modern winemaking techniques and facilities to ensure consistent quality across its range of wines, while also focusing on sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices.

Today, Cellier des Dauphins is the pride of UVCDR, and is particularly renowned for its Côtes du Rhône wines. The name "Cellier des Dauphins" translates to "Cellar of the Dolphins", and is an historical reference between the Dauphiné region, which is located in the southeastern part of France, and the dolphin emblem associated with the French royal family. The founding members of Cellier des Dauphins are proud of their terroir and driven by constant innovation, while preparing for the future and striving relentlessly to raise the quality from vine to glass. Cellier des Dauphins is committed to sustainable agriculture and has launched various eco-friendly initiatives, while also having over 1,000 hectares of organically farmed vines. While Cellier des Dauphins has a wide variety of soils and terroirs within their vineyards, offering oenologists a rich palette of grapes for blending, for this particular bottling they have decided to craft it as a Cru wine from Vinsobres.

This red wine is crafted using grapes grown in the Cru of Vinsobres, whose name is derived from the Latin word "vinsobrio", which means wine and work. It is a blend of primarily 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was grown in the hills of the Southern Rhône Cru of Vinsobres, at 500 metres above sea level, in a region that was historically part of the estates of the King of France's sons. The region experiences a sunny, Mediterranean climate that is cooled by Mistral winds. It has dry winters and summers, with particularly high temperatures in summer, while rainfall occurs primarily in autumn and spring. The soil in Vinsobres is covered in stones, which enables the heat of the day to be accumulated and encourages early ripening and concentration in the grapes. The wine was crafted with meticulous attention at every stage, culminating with it being aged in cask for 12 months to develop smoothness and suppleness in the tannins.

Like the wine I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this red is also from the same vintage in the Southern Rhône. The 2019 growing season was a swelteringly hot and very dry year that was surprisingly successful. Grenache excelled during this vintage, producing wines that are rich, ripe, and expressive, with refined textures. Let's see how this 2019 Rhône red from the Vinsobres Cru is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS VINSOBRES 2019 - Cru des Côtes du Rhône, AC, France (#15448) (XD) - $19.95
Blend of mainly 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah, this has an enticing, medium-high nose that offers lovely aromas of black raspberry, licorice, garrigue, and baking spices with a touch of floral. It's medium-full bodied with velvety smooth, refined tannins and fresh, well-balanced acidity that supports the ripe black raspberry, red plum, baking spice, licorice, stony mineral, and meaty notes in a dry flavour profile. It's nicely balanced throughout, even showing some elegance, while stony mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, and very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other delicious wines by Cellier des Dauphins are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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Achaval Ferrer Quimera 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, old-vine Malbec-based blend from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO last month in the July 6th LCBO VINTAGES Cellar Collection Release and is still available for purchase on VINTAGES Shop Online.

It is produced by Achaval Ferrer, a prominent winery in Argentina that is known for producing limited quantity, high-quality wines, particularly from the Mendoza wine region. It was founded in 1998 by a group of friends, including Santiago Achával and Manuel Ferrer, who combined their surnames to form the wine company's name - Achaval Ferrer - and became well-known throughout the world in just a few short years.

As guardians of a legacy, Achaval Ferrer decided to preserve the legacy of time during a period when the old was quickly replaced by the new. The legacy is still treasured today as they keep the DNA of centennial vines intact, combining wisdom with passion, and creating wines that express the magic of the exceptional terroir they come from. Their philosophy is based on its commitment to and respect for nature, and its winemaking is based on a minimal interventionist principle from vine to wine, as well as three fundamental pillars. The first pillar is the centennial vines that are own-rooted and pre-phylloxera. The second pillar is to deliberately obtain low yields, which helps produce concentrated and complex berries. In addition to obtaining low yields, Achaval Ferrer also arranges the vines in a strategic, highly dense layout which makes the vines compete with each other, and thus forcing the roots to reach deeper into the soil, changing the structure of the grapes and producing highly concentrated berries. The third and final pillar is to produce wines with minimum intervention and maximum expression, thus respecting and preserving the terroir and its message all throughout the winegrowing and winemaking process, to obtain pure, highly expressive wines.

Quimera, or Chimera, is the name of this wine and it has two different meanings, both of which have an intimate relationship with this wine. The first is that in Greek mythology, Chimera was a beast made up of the parts of three different animals, while this wine is also made up of different varieties. The second meaning of the word is the one that best represents this wine - Chimera is an impossible search, a search for the unattainable; this is the mentality that everyone in the vineyards and winery has every year when they produce this wine. Without following any rules or tradition, the goal is to produce the best possible blend every year. Chimera is design and architecture, an intimate discovery, and a search for perfection.

Usually a Malbec-based blend, this vintage is composed of old-vine 59% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot that was grown in various vineyards across Mendoza. The Malbec was grown in the Perdriel appellation in Luján de Cuyo, on soils of alluvial origin that feature a thin sandy loam with gravel underneath, and very good drainage.The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in Medrano (Junín) and Los Arboles (Tunuyan). In Medrano, the soil is also of alluvial origin, but has an 80 cm surface layer of silty clay on a bed of sand and eroded rock, while in Los Arboles there is a great presence of stones with rounded edges, gravel with a toothed shape and colluvion. Furthermore, the sandy loam frame soil in Los Arboles provides ideal drainage. Both the Merlot and Cabernet Franc come from Tupungato, Uco Valley, where there is very little soil depth with gravel on the surface, while also combining volcanic ash and calcareous rocks, which offers very good drainage. All of the vineyards are managed in a highly sustainable manner.

To craft this red wine, each variety underwent primary fermentation separately in small cement tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, 65% new and 35% second use. It was then aged in barrel for 12 months, and finally bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The 2019 growing season was notable for its dry weather and cool climate, resulting in highly concentrated wines with great colour and acidity. From a good-to-excellent year, let's see how this 2019 Malbec blend from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ACHAVAL FERRER QUIMERA 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#24752) (XD) - $53
Blend of old vine 59% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Elegantly complex, medium-high intensity aromas of dark fruit, blackberry, violet, currant, cassis, earthy mineral, and fine oak spices. It is full-bodied and nicely concentrated with lovely ripe blackberry, currant, fine oak spice, violet, and earthy-stony mineral flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and firm, chewy, and well-structured tannins. Crisp and fresh with mineral notes lingering on the exceptionally long, dry finish. Enjoyable now and will improve to the end of the decade. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93+ pts

Very limited quantities of one of their Malbec wines is available at the LCBO, while the rest of their outstanding portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Cabriz Colheita Selecionada Rosé 2022 and Tinto 2020 (Portugal) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of very popular, wallet-friendly, and delicious wines from the Dão wine region of Portugal. You can grab both of these wines this weekend as the Tinto (red wine) will be on shelves this weekend as it will arrive in the August 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, while the rosé arrived at the LCBO last month in the July 22nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Cabriz is a well-known, entry-level brand of wines from Dão, the oldest winemaking region of Portugal. The brand is part of Dão Sul, which itself is the Dão branch of the Global Wines conglomerate, one of Portugal's leading wine producers. As a visionary company, they have done an excellent job of restoring the estate's 17th century manor and outlying buildings, as well as making a concerted effort to elevate wine tourism and fine dining within the region to the highest of international standards.

These two wines are among Cabriz's most popular, and when you look at the entire portfolio, it is like travelling to the heart of Portugal, through the plains, the mountains, the rivers, the food, and the people. The goal of the brand is to give more to those who choose Cabriz. They want to have a wine for everyone and for every moment, and made with the best that nature can provide, at the best possible price.

To craft Cabriz wines, the company draws fruit from 200 hectares of vines across the Dão. The winegrowing and production techniques used are ultra-modern and internationally-influenced. However, the wines do reflect Dão's terroir and style. After enjoying both the Cabriz Colheita Selecionada Rosé 2020 and Cabriz Colheita Selecionada Tinto 2019 last summer, let's see how the latest vintage of these two wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CABRIZ ROSÉ 2022 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#30445) (D) - $14.95
This unoaked blend of Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro has a medium+ intensity nose that offers enticing aromas of grapefruit, raspberry, honeysuckle, and citrus with a whiff of minerality. It has good weight on the medium+ to medium-full bodied palate with ripe citrus, grapefruit, raspberry, honeysuckle, apple, and red berry flavours. There is a vague impression of sweetness, but it's tempered by the fresh, crisp, and lively acidity. Nicely textured on the mid-palate, while oyster shell mineral and white cherry notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Delicious! Chill and enjoy this recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA TINTO 2020 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#247973) (D) - $14.95
Aged for 6 months in French oak barrels, this blend of 40% Alfrocheiro, 40% Aragonez (Tempranillo), and 20% Touriga Nacional has an intriguing, medium+ intensity nose of herbal and wood spices that surrounds a core of ripe, plummy, dark cherry-berry fruit. It's medium bodied with fine, bright acidity and dark cherry-berry, blackberry, wood spice, and dark plum flavours. Supple, well-structured tannins offer a nice mouthfeel, while cedary wood spice notes with hints of smoky mineral linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Cabriz can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Zonte's Footstep Splitting Hares Tempranillo / Grenache 2021 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious and unique blend of Tempranillo and Grenache from... Australia! This vegan-friendly red wine is a new arrival at the LCBO that landed on shelves across Ontario as part of the recent July 22nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Zonte's Footstep, a proudly independent wine producer that was established in Australia in 2003. They produce their wines using grapes from their own vineyards, as well as from their mates' vineyards, from regions that produce the desired expressive and varietal characteristics of the grapes, which are grounded by the soil that they are planted in. While they don't take themselves seriously, they are serious about their vineyards and wine. Their goal is simple - produce wines from regions such as McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Adelaide Hills, and the Barossa, that reflect a sense of place, style and purpose. Their aim is to bottle wines with personality and expression, hence each wine at Zonte's Footstep has its own name and face.

When Zonte's Footstep made their first wine in 2003, they needed a name for the company and looked back into the history of the region for some inspiration. In 1893, there was a vineyard planted with Zante currant to produce table grapes for the growing population of Adelaide. In the 1920s, the vineyard was replanted with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, grapes which were eventually used to make their first wine. As a tribute to the journey of the grapes in the vineyard - and because one isn't legally allowed to mention a grape variety unless it's contained in the wine - it was decided to change the "A" to an "O" to form ZONTE'S. The other half of the company name came about when a group of friends gathered together in 1999 and purchased a vineyard to plant Viognier, Sangiovese, and other exciting varieties to experiment with. During the replanting of the vineyard, they discovered large boulders with footprints of the largest known marsupial to have ever lived: the Diprotodon. This unique, fossilized FOOTSTEP cemented the company's name and journey that they started just before the turn of the century and are continuing on as Zonte's Footstep today.

This red wine is a blend of Tempranillo and Grenache that was grown in the Fleurieu wine zone, south of Adelaide in South Australia. These two very different varieties were brought together by making small winemaking decisions that deliver a big impact and achieving perfect balance in the wine. To craft this wine, it came down to splitting hairs - hence the name of this wine - as they tweaked the proportions of the blend in tiny one percent increments until perfect balance was achieved. The final blend consists of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache and is the exact point at which the juicy, fragrant Grenache tames the savoury chewiness of the Tempranillo.

The grapes underwent alcoholic fermentation in 5 tonne open fermenters, then completed a natural malolactic fermentation in tank. The wine was then pressed off its skins and transferred into well-seasoned hogshead barrels and aged for up to 12 months, and then bottled with minimal filtration. Let's see how this unique 2021 Tempranillo / Grenache blend from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP SPLITTING HARES TEMPRANILLO / GRENACHE 2021 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#30847) (XD) - $21.95
Screw cap. This blend of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache has intriguing, fragrant, and medium-high intensity aromatics offering black-purple-blue fruited aromas, plus floral and spice layered over wet earth notes. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has a delicious savoury, dark fruited, and spicy core of flavours accented with blackberry, nut, cocoa, and clove spice notes. It has fresh, juicy acidity, while the firm, grainy tannins are slightly grippy. It's nicely balanced with savoury, spicy, and tangy dark fruit flavours lingering on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Many other delicious wines by Zonte's Footstep are widely available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Cru Wine Merchants.

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Tedeschi Capitel Nicalò Valpolicella Superiore 2020 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a lovely Valpolicella Superiore that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on June 24th.

It is produced by Azienda Agricola Tedeschi, also known as Tedeschi Wines, a prominent family-owned winery situated in the Valpolicella region, within Veneto in northeastern Italy. Founded in 1630, Tedeschi has a long and rich history in winemaking spanning over four centuries. Considered one of the leading wineries in Valpolicella, Tedeschi is also a pioneer in crafting cru wines from the region. Tedeschi Winery has been passed down through the generations within the family while having a strong commitment to quality winemaking and respect for traditional winemaking methods.

Today, Tedeschi is a renowned and respected producer of Amarone and other wines from Valpolicella. The winemaking philosophy at Tedeschi is based on patience - to wait for the amount of time required both in the vineyard and in the winery - and dedication - to carefully attend to details and have the appropriate attitude towards the raw materials, while striving to combine long-held family traditions with innovative research, experimentation, and production methods. Their profound attention to detail in the vineyard includes research to uncover the perfect interaction between the characteristics of the soil, micro-climate, sun exposure, selecting the most appropriate varietals, and the cultivation system. The resulting wines are elegant and endowed with marked personality, revealing the richness, tastes and aromas that are typical of the earth that have always characterized their production and identity. Tedeschi has always respected the environment and is certified sustainable according to the standards of Biodiversity Friend and Equalitas.

Like the 2019 Tedeschi Capitel Nicalò Valpolicella Superiore that I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this vintage continues to be a blend of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Rossignola / Oseleta / Negrara / Dindarella. The grapes were grown in the Moraine Hills, where the soils are moraine clay and limestone of moraine origin, in the heart of Valpolicella and vinified in the Veronese tradition of drying the grapes. By placing the grapes in crates for about one month, the grapes undergo partial dehydration, losing about 8-10% of their weight. This natural process results in water loss while enriching the sugar content of the grapes, their dry extract, and the colour of
the wine.

After harvesting the grapes, they were dried for one month and then underwent maceration and both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, and underwent further ageing for 6 months in bottle. The wine is named after their ancestor, Niccolò, and is crafted to be pleasing for all gastronomic delights. From a good vintage that is better than the 2019 vintage, let's see how this 2020 Valpolicella Superiore is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TEDESCHI CAPITEL NICALÒ VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2020 - Sustainable, DOC, Veneto, Italy (#984997) (XD) - $19.95
Blend of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Rossignola / Oseleta / Negrara / Dindarella. The clean, fresh, and fragrant nose offers an attractive mix of savoury earth, leafy herbs, black and dark red cherry, and fine spice aromas, plus some dried fruit, and red plum nuances adding further complexity. It's medium-full bodied on the dry palate with fresh, juicy, and tangy lemony acidity lifting the dark cherry fruited, savoury earth, fine spices, cedary oak, and mocha flavours. Supple, dusty textured tannins are smooth and refined. Tangy and dry with dark berry, earth, and wood spice notes lingering on the long, juicy, and well-balanced finish. Enjoyable now and over the next 4-5 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

With a fairly large portfolio, some wines by Tedeschi are available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2017 Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico nearly three years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest edition (and from a very good vintage!) to arrive recently at the LCBO as part of last month's June 24 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Rocca delle Macìe, a family-owned winery that was established in 1973 by Italian film producer Italo Zingarelli to fulfill a lifelong dream. Italo Zingarelli acquired the 85 hectare "Le Macìe" estate, of which only 2 hectares were planted to vine, and quickly grew the estate into one of the most popular names in Italian winemaking. Rocca della Macìe is located in the heart of Tuscany, near the town of Castellina in Chianti, with the estate having grown to an expansive area of approximately 600 hectares, with approximately 200 hectares dedicated to vineyards. The vineyards are situated at various altitudes, allowing for the cultivation of various grape varieties, but mainly Sangiovese, that thrive in the region's diverse micro-climates and terroirs.

Today, Rocca della Macìe is run by Italo's son, Sergio, and has become one of the most prominent wine producers in the Chianti region by creating wines that not only respect the terroir, but also through a deep commitment to improving wine quality through innovation while remaining rooted in tradition. The wines are crafted to reflect the unique characteristics of the terroir, while showcasing the aromas and flavours of the Tuscan countryside. The winery also follows sustainable agricultural practices and places a strong emphasis on preserving the natural balance of the environment.

Like the previous vintage, this edition is also composed of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. Bearing the Zingarelli family name, this red wine is the flagship wine of the zone and represents the greatest expression of the zone's particular features while highlighting the strong link that the family has to the area of Chianti Classico. It is proudly crafted using the best grapes from the four estates of Rocca delle Macìe in the area of Castellina in Chianti, representing the synthesis of four distinctive terroirs. The grapes were carefully selected and vinified according to traditional Chianti Classico methods. It was aged in French oak barrels for two years, and further refined in bottle for at least three months.

Although it is somewhat difficult to generalize a growing season in Chianti Classico, the 2019 vintage was, by many accounts, a very good-to-excellent vintage. The growing season was fairly even throughout, as it was quite dry with no humidity. The grape quantity and quality is very high, with many producers enjoying a very late harvest that is typically preferred for Sangiovese. The resulting wines this year tend to have well-balanced acidity and tannins, as well as a nicely balanced texture and excellent aromas. Let's see how this 2019 Riserva Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $25.95
Blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. The rich, complex, medium-high intensity nose has perfumed and spicy aromas layered over dark berry, cherry, blackberry, and forest floor with hints of plum, dried herb, dried cherry, and floral adding complexity. It's medium-full bodied and slightly chewy on the palate with elegant, gently grippy tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity. Lovely dark red cherry, clove, forest floor, and cedary wood spice flavours, plus some tangy notes on the mid-palate. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury forest floor and cocoa notes, plus a touch of mineral lingering on the long, succulent finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 90+ pts

Many other lovely wines by Rocca delle Macìe are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Blue Label Merlot 2018 and Red Label Zinfandel 2019 (California) - Wine Reviews

For Father's Day, tonight's red wine reviews are a pair of delicious red wines from California that are arriving at the LCBO in next weekend's June 24 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

These wines are produced by Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Famous for their name in cinema, the Coppola family purchased the historic Chateau Souverain property in Sonoma County in 2006 so they could create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life. After two years of renovations, the winery had its grand opening in 2010 with a tasting room, museum, and restaurant, and encompasses all that Francis loves most - cinema, wine, food, resorts and adventure. The backbone of each of these endeavours is the deep commitment to quality, authenticity, and pleasure.

With more than 20 years of experience in the wine industry, Corey Beck is the Executive Vice President Production & Chief Winemaker at Coppola. He began his career in viticulture by tagging alongside his grandfather who was the vineyard manager for Napa Valley's renowned Chateau Montelena. Corey has a degree in Fermentation Science from U.C. Davis in California and joined the Coppola family wine business in 1998 as an assistant winemaker, eventually becoming CEO and Chief Winemaker in 2018. Corey and his team have created a strong grower relations program with more than 150 growers, and are regarded as leaders in the wine industry for their innovative and engaging approach.

Following along these lines, Francis and Eleanor Coppola have long supported sustainability throughout their lives and many business endeavours in an effort to preserve the land for generations to come. The have constantly searched for innovative ways to implement environmentally responsible practices into the vineyards and winemaking techniques to improve efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and create a nurturing habitat for wildlife, on-site staff, and visiting guests. Some of these initiatives include reducing energy use, while currently 36% of the energy sourced from renewable sources. In the vineyard, Coppola has implemented leading water conservation practices which includes aerial imagery, weather stations, soil monitoring probes, smart scheduling, and drip irrigation, while reducing water usage and recycling water in every aspect of their operations. The winery was certified sustainable through the California Sustainable Wine-growing Alliance in 2012, while the whole business was 100% certified sustainable in 2019. Sustainability efforts are also extended throughout their network of growers.

Like the 2018 Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend that I enjoyed last year, both of these wines are from Coppola's Diamond Collection range and inspired by the oldest bottle in the portfolio - the Claret. The Diamond Collection represents quality, consistency, and authenticity. The range has expanded to more than 15 wines, showcasing grapes sourced from high quality vineyards situated along the coast and inland valleys across California. By combining carefully selected fruit with precise winemaking techniques, the Diamond Collections aims to capture the pure expression of each varietal.

Although both wines reviewed below are labelled as a varietal wine because each is composed of at least 75% of the variety mentioned on the label, each wine is in fact a blend. It is interesting that Petite Sirah is common between both wines. Let's see how these red wines from California are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION BLUE LABEL MERLOT 2018 - California, USA (#595686) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Petite Sirah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown across California and aged for 13 months in French and American oak. The intriguing, medium+ intensity nose is savoury with cocoa, nutty, earthy woodspice, and dried herb aromas which surround a core of black fruit. On the lush, dry, medium-bodied palate it is dry with fresh dark berry fruit, blackberry, plum, oak spice, and chocolate flavours supported by fresh acidity and smooth, supple tannins. Very good length on the fresh, savoury and dried herb finish. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED LABEL ZINFANDEL 2019 - California, USA (#708289) (D) - $24.95
This blend of 87% Zinfandel and 13% Petite Sirah was sourced from old vines in Amador County and cooler sites in Paso Robles and Sonoma, and aged for 10 months in French oak. The medium+ intensity nose is ripe and somewhat jammy and raisiny with brambly berry, sweet spices and vanilla aromas. It's medium-full bodied with just a kiss of sweetness on the spicy palate with ripe, brambly dark berry, and savoury woodspice flavours. Tangy on the mid-palate with fresh, juicy acidity, and dusty textured, fine-grained tannins. Savoury and earthy with brambly dark berry tones lingering on the finish, with very good length. A widely appealing, recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines by Francis Ford Coppola can be purchased at the LCBO or through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Barón de Ley Gran Reserva 2015 (Rioja) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, vegan-friendly blend of Tempranillo and Graciano from the Classic European Wine Region of Rioja that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the April 29th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is still widely available across the province.

It is produced by Barón de Ley, a family-owned winery located in Rioja, Spain's most celebrated wine region with a privileged terroir to farm and craft premium quality wines. A relatively young winery, Barón de Ley was founded in 1985 as a ground-breaking project in DOCa Rioja as a vineyard-focused winery that was inspired by French châteaux and specializing in premium Rioja wines. They are housed in a monastery that was built in 1548 on the banks of the Ebro river where vineyards and winemaking were introduced by monks in 1568. The Estate changed hands numerous times over the years and was eventually purchased by a family that remained there for three generations as they farmed crops and raised livestock until it was acquired and re-born as Barón de Ley. The name "de ley" comes from the Spanish expression for "legit", and at at Barón de Ley they take care of every little detail to offer in every bottle an excellent, trustworthy wine - a genuinely good Rioja.

Barón de Ley launched their first wines in 1990, including this Gran Reserva which is one of the signature wines of the Estate. After growing the business throughout the 90s, In 2000, Barón de Ley renewed their winemaking philosophy with Gonzalo Rodríguez recruited as the new Chief Winemaker, encouraging the planting of new indigenous grape varieties. Success and growth continued over the ensuing decade, and by 2008 they owned over 600 hectares of vineyards across different sub-regions with a variety of micro-climates and soils. In 2018, they renovated their vinification facilities with state-of-the-art winemaking techniques and constructed a new oak ageing cellar to expand their ageing capacity. As a specialist in Reserva and Gran Reserva wines, Barón de Ley honours Rioja's acclaimed tradition of long ageing in French and American oak barrels.

This red wine is a blend of mainly Tempranillo plus some Graciano. The grapes were grown in the best terroirs in their old vineyards in Cenicero, in Rioja Alta, in an area with Mediterranean climate with a clear Atlantic influence, and low yields. These conditions are ideal for creating elegant wines with ageing capacity. After manually harvesting and selecting the bunches, the individual berries were mechanically selected using their state-of-the-art sorting table. This process ensures that only the best grapes are used, which in turn helps deliver the maximum quality of the wine. After fermentation, the wine was aged for a minimum of 24 months in American and French oak casks, followed by a further 36 months in bottle.

Only marketed in the best vintages, the 2015 vintage was a very good one in Rioja that began with a balmy and dry spring. Temperatures rose quickly thereafter, but Rioja did receive some rejuvenating showers in June. Heat records were broken in July and the intense heatwave continued for much of the summer. Fortunately, temperatures cooled for the most part in August and September, leading to an early harvest with balanced ripening and exceptionally healthy grapes. The higher (and cooler) vineyards produced wines of great aromatic complexity and concentration, and stand out for their finesse and elegance. Let's see how this 2015 Gran Reserva from Rioja is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2015 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $34.95
Blend of Tempranillo and Graciano. Lovely, slowly emerging and complex aromas of Indian spices, red and black cherry, underbrush, forest floor, olive, pot pourri, and sandalwood rise out of the glass. It's medium-full to full-bodied with very good depth and delicious flavours of red and black cherry, spices, cedar wood, underbrush, and forest floor in a dry, lightly tangy profile. It has very good, juicy acidity, while the well-structured, dusty textured tannins are lightly chalky and grippy on the back palate. Cedary, sandalwood, and earthy notes linger on the long savoury finish, with excellent length. Enjoy this highly recommended buy to the end of the decade. Score: 92+ pts

Limited quantities of the Reserva is available at the LCBO, while the full portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château Guillou 2020 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent wine from the Right Bank of Bordeaux that is arriving at the LCBO this weekend (and likely in stores already) as part of the May 27th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Famille Saby, a winegrowing family of oenologists for nine generations with knowledge passed down from father to son since the 18th century. Today, the family business is led by Jean-Bernard Saby, the 8th generation of the family, and his two sons who are the 9th generation - Jean-Christophe and Jean-Philippe. The Saby family are considered specialists of wines from the Right Bank of Bordeaux and own and operate several estates in this historic wine region. One of these estates is Château Guillou and its vineyard which has existed in its current form since 1870. At Château Guillou there are 62 hectares of vines, most of which are planted on a plateau with clay-limestone soils, and hillsides with clayey-silty soils.

I've had the pleasure of enjoying this wine quite a few times over the years, including most recently the 2018 Château Guillou late last year. Like previous vintages, this red wine from Bordeaux is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The grapes were grown on the siliceous, sandy, and gravelly soils at Château Guillou in the Montagne-Saint-Emilion appellation. The Château is located in the Libourne sub-region on the right bank of the Dordogne where the wines are usually Merlot-based. The grapes were traditionally hand-picked and sorted on tables. It underwent a cold soak pre-fermentation and foulage, a temperature-controlled fermentation, and malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in second- and third-use French and American oak barrels.

Despite the challenges during the growing season due to the pandemic, the 2020 vintage is rated as an excellent and legendary vintage. The growing season began well with a frequently wet spring that put the vineyards in a good state leading up to the hot, dry summer. Autumn was blessed with golden sunshine and warm days, along with chilly nights in September which brought the grapes to phenolic ripeness. Although there were some periods of rain, it was the periods of drought that helped concentrate the grapes to deliver rich and intense wines. Overall, yields were slightly smaller than average, but the fruit is, for the most part, healthy and of high quality. Let's see how this 2020 Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU GUILLOU 2020 - AC Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#140483) (XD) - $24.95
This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc has a gorgeous, intense, and complex bouquet of crushed dark fruit, currant, blackberry, black cherry, and plum mingling with oak spice, dried herb, and savoury wet earth aromas rising out of the glass, plus hints of floral with time. On the ripe, full-bodied palate it has plummy, dark red cherry, blackberry, and currant flavours balanced with savoury earth, dried herbs, and gentle oak spice notes. It's supported by fresh, juicy acidity and well-structured, medium-firm tannins. Quite balanced throughout with some mineral notes appearing on the long, structured finish, with excellent length. Provides pleasure now, but will improve further with a few years in the cellar. Enjoy to the end of the decade and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by Famille Saby can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Calcu Winemaker's Selection Blend 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent five-grape blend led by Cabernet Franc that is sustainably crafted from Chile. It arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the LCBO VINTAGES May Cellar Collection (formerly Classics) and is available for purchase directly from VINTAGES Shop Online.

It is produced by Calcu Vineyards, a special and unique project that was established by the Hurtado family in 2003. The Hurtado family has over a century's worth of experience making quality wines in the Colchagua Valley and found a unique place in Marchigüe, within the Colchagua Valley in central Chile that is marked by hills of granite stone. This hill is the inspiration for the name Calcu Vineyards - "CAL: Hill" and "CUrá: Stone".

One of the fundamental pillars of the Hurtado family business is the passion for the pursuit of excellence. This is reflected in each of their wines and implemented by each member of the viticultural and winemaking team in the pursuit of excellence through precision viticulture and winemaking that accurately reflects the character of Calcu Vineyards in Marchigüe. Calcu Vineyards and the historic Viña Maquis share a winery in Palmilla, in the Colchagua Valley, for vinifying and ageing their wines. This winery was built in 2002, a year prior to the establishment of Calcu, under a sustainable concept by using gravity-flow technology to gently move the fruit and juice throughout the winery. The facility also uses geothermal energy for its wine production and is the only winery of its kind in Chile.

Sustainability is also a core value of the Hurtado family. They care for the environment, workers, and local community. One such example is the small vineyard blocks with short rows which were intentionally planted this way so that it minimizes soil erosion, while the sloping rows help reduce the risk of accidents for farm workers. The vineyards were also planted with extra care devoted to respecting natural rock formations, clay deposits, and native trees; 4,500 plants were also planted in ravines near the vineyards to increase biodiversity and protect endangered native species.

With this red wine blend, Calcu seeks to rediscover Colchagua Valley from the exceptional terroir in Marchigüe, a town and commune located in the province of Cardenal Caro, a few kilometres from the Pacific coast. The vineyard here has a unique architecture that was designed by hand to craft world-class wines that faithfully reflect the terroir, with deep care for the winegrowing and natural landscape. A blend that changes every year, this particular vintage is composed of 38% Cabernet Franc, 25% Carmenere, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot.

The grapes were grown in Calcu's own vineyards in Marchigüe on gentle hills where it is influenced by the sea breeze in the afternoon and at night, which helps moderate temperatures to produce particularly fresh grapes. The soils are primarily granitic with some important clay content, but poor in organic matter which helps to obtain low yields, delivering power, structure, and elegance to the wines. The grapes were manually harvested and selected in bunches, and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. It was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.

The 2018 growing season in Chile was somewhat cool during spring and early summer, resulting in a harvest that was a little later than normal. This helped deliver grapes with great freshness, outstanding elegance, and natural balance with round and delicate tannins. With dry weather during the ripening phase, the grapes were very healthy with developed impressive concentration. From an exceptional vintage that is described as the year of finesse, let's see how this 2018 red wine from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CALCU WINEMAKER'S SELECTION BLEND 2018 - Sustainable, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#28585) (XD) - $43.00
A blend of 38% Cabernet Franc, 25% Carmenere, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot, it is elegantly fresh and fragrant on the nose with lovely, complex aromas of crushed red and black berry, currant, cassis, floral and fine oak spices with touches of dried herbs and stony mineral. On the full-ish bodied, warming palate it has well-structured and velvety smooth tannins along with fresh, juicy acidity that supports the ripe red and black berry, cassis, currant, smoky oak, mineral, and dried herbal flavours on a well-structured frame. Impressive depth and complexity. Some tannic grippiness on the back palate. Savoury with mineral and smoky oak notes lingering on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoy over coming 10 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other lovely wines by Calcu Vineyards can be ordered through their Agent - Don Ackerman's Wines & Spirits.

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Cigar Box Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Chile) - Wine Review

Staying with Wines of Chile, tonight's red wine review is a well-made red wine crafted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that is widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Cigar Box Wines, a brand that was founded in 2011 with the goal of producing straight-forward, flavour-packed wines from the regions of Maipo and Leyda in Chile and the Luján de Cuyo zone in Argentina. The inspiration of the name "Cigar Box" comes from South America's cigar-making traditions in which handmade craftsmanship and adherence to quality is of great importance. To follow these traditions, each Cigar Box wine is handcrafted using grapes only from well-established, carefully managed, low-yielding, and old vine vineyards. The grapes are grown and produced using SVP and Carbon Neutral status, as well as bunch selected and hand-harvested. Cigar Box wines are meant to be enjoyed while celebrating life's everyday moments to memorable revelries, and are complex wines that still remain approachable to the average consumer.

While this wine is typically made with only Cabernet Sauvignon, this particular vintage is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah, all grown in Maipo Valley, one of the finest wine producing regions in the world. Maipo Valley is located at the northern end of Chile's vast Central Valley and is often described as the Bordeaux of South America. After high colour extraction, the grapes were fermented with selected yeasts at high controlled temperatures, followed by a fermentation at lower temperature to ensure a different extraction of the skin components. It was aged in a combination of French oak and stainless steel vats, with 60% of the wine aged in French oak for 8 months. From a good-to-excellent vintage, let's see how this 2021 Cabernet-Syrah from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CIGAR BOX OLD VINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - DO Valle Maipo, Chile (#25011) (XD) - $14.95
This blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose that leads with ripe red and black cherry, followed some funky savoury wet earth aromas, plus hints of cigar box, black plum, olive, and dried herbs emerging with time in the glass. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has ripe red and black cherry, black plum, cigar box, and oak spice flavours. It has fresh acidity and smooth, refined, and lightly chalky textured tannins, while savoury, earthy oak spice notes longer on the finish, with good length. Score: 87+ pts

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Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Syrah Organic 2020 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious organic wine that is a blend of three varieties from Chile that is readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery, one of the leading wine producers in Chile. Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1993 with the vision of producing premium, expressive, and innovative wines that convey the spirit of the New World. Quality, innovation, and sustainability are the three core values of Cono Sur. They are orientated towards growing quality grapes in order to produce quality wines, innovating with the creative use of technology, and respect for the environment and people. The company's name "Cono Sur" is translated to "Southern cone" and refers to company's geographic position - wines proudly made in South America's southern cone, on whose western edge lies Chile and its gifted wine valleys.

Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery is committed to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future, while also taking care of the environment without neglecting the aspects of social development and economic growth. In 1998, they switched from conventional agriculture to an integrated vineyard management system that favours natural alternatives to fertilize the soil and to prevent and control pests and disease. Their commitments have led to 17 years of organic certification, 13 years of Carbon Neutral Delivery, and 12 years of Wine Biodiversity and Climate Change. In 2007, Cono Sur became the first winery in the world to receive the CarbonNeutral delivery status, and in 2011 they were awarded Green Company of the Year by British magazine Drinks Business. Today, Cono Sur has over 300 hectares under organic management and they have vineyards in 7 of Chile's wine valleys.

This organic red wine is made with 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Carmenère, and 28% Syrah, with grapes grown in vineyards across Chile in the valleys of Maipo, Maule, Colchagua, and Limarí. Thus, this red wine bears the country of the appellation of Chile. There grapes were grown in a Mediterranean climate on various soil types, but mostly consisted of alluvial and gravelly, pumacita, red clay, and mineral soils. After a combination of hand-picking and mechanically harvesting the grapes, the wine was vinified at their estate in Chimbarongo, about 160 km south of Santiago. It was aged for 12 months, with half aged in French oak barrels and the other half in stainless steel tanks. From an extremely early and hot growing season, and a challenging harvest, let's see how this 2020 Chilean organic red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CONO SUR CABERNET SAUVIGNON CARMENÈRE SYRAH ORGANIC 2020 - Chile (#553792) (XD) - $16.55
Enclosed by screw cap, this blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Carmenère, and 28% Syrah has a medium to medium-high intensity nose that is rich and ripe with red and black cherry, currant, cassis, peppery spice, vanilla, and cedary oak spice aromas. It's medium+ bodied on the dry palate with delicious currant, cassis, dried herbs, herbaceous, peppery spice, and gentle cedary oak flavours supported by fresh acidity and supple, fine-grained tannins. Cedary oak spice and dried herbal notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88 pts

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Giacomo Mori Chianti 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Chianti from the classic European wine region of Tuscany that is part of the theme in this weekend's April 29 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and should be widely available across Ontario by this Saturday, if not a day or two earlier.

It is crafted by Giacomo Mori, a wine producer located in the village of Palazzone, in the southeast corner of Tuscany, east of San Casciano dei Bagni, just outside of the Chianti Classico zone. The story of Giacomo Mori begins at the end of the 18th century when they were in the marketing business of processed, aged, and bottled wine from the cellars of Palazzone and Chiusi. Unfortunately, these activities slowed with the onset of World War I and eventually ceased during the economic crisis of 1927. Giovanni Mori, the son of Giacomo, started winemaking activities with his sons in 1970 and sold their wines mostly in tanks and demijohns.

With a renewed focus on making quality wines, in 1995 they began planting new vineyards with careful selection of varieties, clones, and vineyard layout. Over the next 15 years, Giacomo Mori renovated their cellars in Palazzone, as well as renovated the original building. Winemaking activities were moved to steel containers and ageing in oak barrels, as well as inside the "barriques", old containers dug in the tuff of which the ancient grottoes (caves) are made. A constant temperature of 12°C is maintained in the area set aside for ageing.

Today, this small estate has 10 hectares of land with south-southeast exposure to the sun. The planting density is 4500-5000 vines/hectare, and the vines are trained using the "cordone speronato" (pruned-spur cordon-trained) system. The main variety planted is Sangiovese, which makes up 75% of their total production. 12% of their production is devoted to Merlot, while the remainder is a mix of international and indigenous red and white grape varieties. All of the grapes are harvested manually and beginning with the 2019 vintage, all of their wines are certified organic. Emiliano Falsini is the consultant oenologist and works closely with Giacomo Mori.

I last enjoyed the 2015 Giacomo Mori Chianti about four years ago and like previous vintages, this red wine from Chianti continues to be a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo. It was fermented at controlled temperatures in 40-60 hectolitre stainless steel containers, followed by ageing for 10 to 12 months in 20 hectolitre Slavonian and Allier oak barrels, as well of 5 hectolitre tonneaux and third-use barriques. From the excellent 2018 vintage across Tuscany, let's see how this 2018 Chianti is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2018 - Palazzone, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo. The intensely fragrant and perfumed nose offers lovely aromas of dark red cherries, baking spices, clove, and savoury earth with hints of dried herbs. It's medium+ bodied on the palate, with impressive weight and delicious tangy red and black cherry, spice, clove, rose floral, and savoury earth flavours. Quite elegant, refined, and nicely balanced throughout with fresh acidity and supple, slightly chalky tannins. Red cherry notes are joined by smoky minerals plus touches of orange and rose floral on the long, fresh finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Giacomo Mori can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Anatolikos Vineyards (Greece) - Winemaker's Dinner

Back in October, I enjoyed the fine wines of Anatolikos Vineyards with winemaker Sakis Nikolaidis at the new (and very secluded) Vintage Conservatory location in Yorkville, downtown Toronto. The wines were paired with a specially prepared 4-course dinner and hosted by Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits, the agency who represents the wines of Anatolikos Vineyards.

Anatolikos Vineyards was established in 2005 by brothers Sakis and Marios Nikolaidis. The Nikolaidis brothers are from Xanthi in northeastern Greece and experienced businessmen in the field of gastronomy. Their vineyard is located in the Avdira area of Xanthi, which is in the Thrace region of Greece. The city of Avdira is known from the ancient times as a city of initiative. In this same spirit in the year 2000, the Nikolaidis brothers began the revival of a famous ancient vineyard and in 2005 Anatolikos Vineyards started farming Greek and foreign grape varieties on the site.

The vineyard is located on the dry hills of Avdira at an elevation of 50-70 metres above sea level, approximately 3 km north of the Thrace Sea, and features sandy soils, continuous cool winds, and Avdira's micro-climate which is great for growing high quality grapes. Avdira's micro-climate offers an ideal environment for the cultivation of grapes as it experiences very little, but necessary, rainfall, while the evenings have low temperatures. The thermal amplitude between warm days and cool nights is about 13-15°C.

Today, Anatolikos Vineyards has 10 varietal and regional wines in their portfolio, all certified organic, vegan, and vegetarian, and continues to develop and expand the vineyard. The wines are grown according to the principals of bio-agriculture, cultivating traditional grape varieties from the lands of Avdira and Thrace, highlighting the history and interest of the wider region. One of the more interesting facts I learned from Sakis is that their wines are aged outdoors in clay amphorae for 270 days. They also continue to develop the distribution channels in Greece and overseas. In Canada, the lovely wines of Anatolikos Vineyards are available via Kolonaki.

Thank you to the team at Kolonaki for a lovely evening and the opportunity to taste these fine, certified vegan and organic wines from Greece. All five wines were great and really complemented the food pairings very nicely. Full reviews of each wine is provided below and all of the Anatolikos Vineyards wines can be purchased through Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

Tasting Notes:

ANATOLIKOS FINE ASSYRTIKO 2021 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $34.95
Aged for 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels, this Assyrtiko has an elegant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is leesy with citrus, herbs, and earthy mineral aromas. On the medium-bodied, well-structured palate, it is fleshy and gains weight in the mouth with pleasing aroma replays, plus salty notes on the ripe flavour profile. With balanced acidity, it is nicely textured on the mid-palate, continuing on the long finish with touches of vanilla and butter. Score: 90+ pts

ANATOLIKOS MALAGOUSIA 2021 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $32.95
Fermented with indigenous yeast and spending some time in French oak barrels, this Malagousia has a lovely, fragrant, highly aromatic nose featuring aromas of anise, wild herbs, chamomile, some citrus, and touches of sweet oak. It's medium-full bodied on the nicely textured, dry palate with lovely, flavourful replays joined by floral notes. It's well-structured with good acidity, and very good length on the finish. Score: 91 pts

ANATOLIKOS ORANGE WINE 2019 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $61.95
Blend of 80% Assyrtiko and 20% Malagousia that was grown on sandy hills with stony subsoil at a distance of 3 km from the sea. This skin-fermented white (aka orange wine) was fermented in amphora with native yeasts. It offers a medium+ intensity nose with aromas of tea leaf, orange citrus, herbs, and spices. It's medium-full to full-bodied and harmonious with lovely, dry aroma replays, and nicely textured with a chalky mouthfeel. Impressively concentrated and a lingering finish. Score: 92 pts

ANATOLIKOS MV MAVROUDI OF THRACE 2018 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $36.95
Organically grown blend of 60% Mavroudi, 20% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was fermented with native yeasts and aged for 10 months in French oak barrels. The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose is spicy with dark currant, dark berry, cassis, and blackberry aromas. On the medium-full to full-bodied palate it is structured with mildly grippy, yet smooth tannins balanced with fresh, juicy acidity. It has nicely balanced aroma replays on the flavour profile with a tinge of cocoa on the long finish. Score: 91+ pts

ANATOLIKOS FINE MAVROUDI OF THRACE 2019 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $49.95
Organically grown 100% Mavroudi, this has an elegant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose of spices, pepper spice, ripe dark berry, blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. It's medium-full to full-bodied on the palate with appealing ripe currant, pepper spice, and green herbal flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and smooth, refined tannins. Elegant and nicely balanced throughout, with excellent length on the finish. Score: 93 pts

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