Louis Pommery Brut Rosé Sparkling (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is this excellent brut rosé sparkling wine from California. It's brand new to the LCBO, arrived in stores across Ontario this weekend as part of the feature on rosé wines in the May 27 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

With a rich legacy in France, the historic Champagne Pommery wanted to grow further and launched Louis Pommery California in 2017. Louis Pommery wines are rooted in tradition and symbolizes the best of sophisticated French winemaking combined with California style and innovation.

The tradition and story of Pommery begins in 1836 when Alexandre Louis Pommery, a retired wool merchant, co-founded his champagne house. Following his death in 1958, the former Jeanne Alexandrine Louise Melin, his widow, took over the operations. Known as Madame Pommery, she had a very clear idea and vision and wanted to produce a different wine while also relocating to different place which combined the optimal conditions for the production of these wines. She began construction of the new site in 1868 in Reims, the unofficial capital of the Champagne winegrowing region, and in 1874 she developed the dry brut Champagne style. Madame Pommery is widely credited for creating the dry champagne style and steering the world's taste in sparkling wine from sweet to dry.

With the great success and popularity of this new, dry style of Champagne across Europe and England, Pommery's focus shifted to the USA. An excellent marketing strategy led to the creation of gigantic 75,000 Litre vat in 1904 at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to being both a technical device and an art object, the vat was also a formidable PR tool.

The heirs of the Alexandre Louis and Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery continued the family tradition and acquired land in the legendary Napa Valley and embarked on a journey to produce sparkling wine in the New World. In 2004, after acquiring the famed Champagne Pommery house, Paul-François Vranken resurrected the quest to produce sparkling wines with a distinct identity from the very best quality grapes. Napa Valley offers a myriad of micro-climates, including vines for cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the ideal grapes to produce fine sparkling wine. The region also offers an exceptionally large diversity of soils with perfectly drained gravel, silt, poor rocks, volcanic ashes, and quartz, ideal for the creation of sparkling wines.

Louis Pommery traditional method sparkling wines are crafted using a revolutionary method by Thierry Gasco, the ninth Pommery cellar master. With a modern and different vision, Thierry spent many years working on developing and implementing a revolutionary new way of encapsulating yeast. This new method results in very clear and pure wines because it is completely free of sediment, while also giving off an exceptional range of aromas and taste. Let's see how this brut rosé sparkling wine from California is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LOUIS POMMERY BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING - Traditional method, California, USA (#31540) (XD) - $44.95
Crafted in the traditional method with 76% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Noir, and aged on its lees for 18 months. The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers elegant and pretty aromas of red berry, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and citrus with a touch of autolytic character. The mid-weighted palate is crisp, dry, and very clean with finesse, delivering lovely, delicate citrusy, red berry, raspberry, grapefruit, strawberry, and white cherry flavours with touches of toast and brioche. It is well-balanced throughout with crisp acidity and fine mousse, leading to a long, crisp, dry, minerally, and toasty finish, with excellent length. Very impressive and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other lovely wines by Louis Pommery are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Paso Robles) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles in California that I picked up a couple of weeks ago at the LCBO on Queens Quay (Toronto) and had signed on the spot at the bottle signing by its creator - Austin Hope. It was an honour to have this bottle signed, shake his hand, and exchange pleasantries before heading on to my next engagement. This California Cab arrived at the LCBO late last year as part of the feature on "Gifts to Celebrate" in the November 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release and is still available to buy now.

Austin Hope is the Winemaker & President of Hope Family Wines, Wine Enthusiast's American Winery of the Year in 2022. Austin is the son of Chuck Hope and was eight years old when he moved from Bakersfield to Paso Robles in 1978 with his parents. Chuck and his wife, Marilyn, sought a change of scenery and career and purchased the property in Paso Robles where Austin still lives today. They started out farming grapes and apples and soon discovered that Paso Robles was ideal for winegrowing and focused their efforts on growing high quality grapes.

Austin credits three people for his growth and encouragement on his path in wine: his father Chuck Hope, his uncle Paul, and the famed Napa Valley winemaker Chuck Wagner. In the 1980s, the Hope family began selling their grapes to Chuck Wagner for a new brand of wines Mr. Wagner was producing - a brand that was later acquired by the Hope family. Austin was a bit of a troublemaker as a kid and his punishment was to go work in the fields. However, he actually enjoyed this chore and preferred working on the ranch instead of being in school, eventually finding himself working in the vineyard alongside his father during the 80's and 90's as the Hope family expanded their winegrowing activities.

While studying fruit science at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Chuck Wagner took him under his wing and it was during this period that Austin developed a passion for making wine. Uncle Paul Hope's desire for the family was to move from simply growing grapes to producing their own wine. In 1996, when the Hope family acquired Chuck Wagner's Liberty School label, Paul was slated to lead the project. However, his untimely death shortly after the acquisition put Austin, who was only 26 at the time, in charge of the project and propel the family's addition of winemaking to their operations.

Today, Hope Family Wines has six labels of wines, each with their own unique focus and personality. The Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon is the top bottle in the Hope Family Wines portfolio. It is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles and aims to express all that Paso has to offer with its
pastoral beauty, perfect soils, maritime climate, and limitless possibility. Paso Robles is one of California's most pastoral domains and its name roughly translates to "Passageway of Oaks", which comes from the majestic trees that mark the landscape. Amongst the rolling hills and native habitat lie manicured vineyards, where the ideal soil exists for farming Cabernet. The typical weather in Paso Robles are dry and warm, yet the evenings are chilled by a breeze from the Pacific Ocean just 18 miles to the west, allowing the fruit to ripen into luxurious richness.

This Cabernet was grown in several vineyards in Paso with each vineyard lot harvested and fermented individually in stainless steel tanks. Extended macerations and carefully managed pump overs enhanced the extraction of colour and tannin. Each lot was aged in mostly used French oak for 11 months, with the exact combination being 10% new, 25% second use, and 65% in third or fourth use. After tasting and analyzing each lot, the best lots were selected and blended together in late summer 2021, then aged a further 2 months in 75% new and 25% second use French oak.had

From a banner year in Paso Robles that produced grapes of excellent quality, let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from California is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

AUSTIN HOPE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#578005) (D) - $74.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fragrant, highly aromatic nose is sweet vanillin oak spice and ripe, jammy black fruit driven with notes of black plum, blackberry, fine oak spice, cassis, and red licorice. On the full-bodied, richly structured palate it has sweet oak vanillin, fresh & ripe black fruit, blackberry, mocha, and black plum flavours supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity. The ripe, smooth, and refined tannins have a pleasingly mild grip on the back palate that will reward with a few years of ageing. Vanilla with roasted coffee, smoky oak, and tangy dark berry notes linger on the long, juicy finish, with excellent length. Well-balanced throughout. For the style, this is really nicely made and a highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by Hope Family Wines are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Treana Chardonnay 2021 (California) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2020 Treana Cabernet Sauvignon late last year, tonight's white wine review is its companion Chardonnay that arrived at the LCBO last month in the January 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Hope Family Wines, a winemaking family that has been farming the lands in Paso Robles, a sub-region within the Central Coast AVA, for over 30 years. When the family first arrived in this barely-discovered region, they planted apples and grapes. Over time, the rolling, oak-studded terrain of Paso Robles would become a viticultural terroir of significance and one of the top winegrowing regions for quality red wine within the Central Coast.

Hope Family Wines consists of five individual wine brands. Like the aforementioned Cabernet Savuginon, this white wine is from the Hope family's Treana line of wines. The name "Treana" is inspired by Spanish word for trio of natural elements. It represents the sum of three elements that influences their wines: the land that their families farm, the warm California sun that nurtures, and the cooling ocean breeze that balances.

This Chardonnay is crafted with fruit sourced from some very distinctive vineyards mainly in Santa Barbara County - all of which have sandy loam soils that provide good drainage and a climate that experiences marine layers that typically dominate the summer mornings and lead into warm afternoons. After harvesting, the grapes were whole-cluster pressed into stainless steel tanks. The juice was fermented in a combination of barrel and stainless steel. 65% of the wine was barrel-fermented in American and French oak followed by 7 months of sur-lie ageing, while the other 35% was fermented in stainless steel. The two wines were blended together and a portion was barrel-aged for 1 month in new French oak. The barrels used to craft this wine offer a distinctive nuance. Let's see how this 2021 California Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TREANA CHARDONNAY 2021 - Central Coast, California, USA (#481523) (D) - $25.95
Screw cap. Rich, fragrant aromas of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, pineapple, butter, and poached apple rise out of the glass. On the medium-full bodied palate it is ripe, creamy, and sweet with oak-influenced flavours of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, lemon, pineapple, butter, and apple. The textured mid-palate gives way to smoky, toasty oak flavours on the finish, with good length. A crowd-pleasing Chardonnay. Score: 87 pts

Other delicious wines from Hope Family Wines are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, California, that arrived at the LCBO last month. It was featured as part of the theme on California wines in the January 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release, and while the magazine and LCBO website list the 2018 vintage, it's actually the 2019 that arrived and widely available across Ontario.

It is produced by Rodney Strong Vineyards, a pioneering winery that was the 13th winery established in Sonoma County in 1959. Rodney Strong envisioned Sonoma County as a special place for producing wine and led the way for the future of the region's winemaking.

Winery Founder Rodney D. Strong was born in 1927 in Carnas, Washington, and was a Renaissance man from an early age. In 1946, Rod returned from a dancing stint in Paris, where he fell in love with fine wine. In 1959, Rod retired from dancing, married his dance partner, Charlotte Ann Winson, and began his new career in winemaking. After searching California and meeting UC Davis scientists, Rod and Charlotte settled in Sonoma County. Over the ensuing years, Rodney Strong purchased vineyards and lands, and replanted some of them with new vines, while also building a new winery in 1970 in Russian River Valley with an innovative and cutting edge design.

In 1979, as Rod took a step back from the demanding daily activities, Rick Sayre came on board as the new winemaker for Rodney Strong Vineyards. At this time, the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company was also hired to evaluate the potential of the well-known Sonoma County winery. Tom Klein was employed by McKinsey & Company and met Rod and Rick for the very first time.

Tom realized that he truly loved the wine business and purchased Rodney Strong Vineyards in 1989, and over the next decade made significant investments in innovation in the cellar, including purchasing fermentation tanks, state-of-the-art wine presses, custom barrel equipment, and a large barrel ageing building.

Today, Rodney Strong Vineyards is flourishing under the leadership of the Klein family. They are passionate and committed to crafting premium wines and a leader in sustainability in Sonoma County. As 4th generation California farmers, the Klein family is committed to protecting and preserving the environment in both the vineyards and at the winery through sustainable farming and winemaking.

The history of this wine goes back to the 1960s when Rodney Strong recognized that Sonoma County's Alexander Valley was an exceptional area for heat loving Cabernet Sauvignon grape varietal. He planted the wine producer's first Cabernet vineyard, Alexander's Crown, in 1971 on a small hill in Jimtown and the reputation for fine Sonoma County Cabernet was set and has never looked back. Alexander Valley is best known for classic Bordeaux varieties which thrive in the unique soils and warm climate, with parts of the valley moderated by cooling ocean breezes and evening fog. Today, Rodney Strong has three exceptional vineyards planted with Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley - Jimtown in the southern part of the valley, Geyserville in the central part of the valley, and Cloverdale in the north. The vineyards are planted on well-drained, alluvial, volcanic, and uplifted shale/sandstone soils that make Sonoma County an ideal place for this noble grape variety.

The 2019 vintage of this red wine is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was grown on the hillsides of the Alexander Valley and aged in French oak barrels for 24 months, half of which was new. According to Rodney Strong, the 2019 growing season produced another fantastic vintage in California. It started with a copious amount of rain in Sonoma County, saturating the soil in late winter and early spring, followed by early summer heat waves which acclimated the vines to warmer weather and allowed the grapes to withstand the heat spell in August. This moved the sugars higher and allowed the flavours to ripen. Let's see how this 2019 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RODNEY STRONG ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Sustainable, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#350454) (XD) - $35.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fresh, fragrant, and highly aromatic nose offers lovely, fine oak spice scented aromas of red & black fruits, currant, and cassis layered over wet earth and herbal notes. On the medium-full bodied palate it has elegant, medium-firm, lightly grippy tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity that frames the currant, cassis, and earthy flavours replays, plus some mocha chocolate notes. Juicy and flavourful with earthy, mocha chocolate notes lingering on the long finish. Enjoyable now, but will improve with a couple of years in the cellar, and drink well to the end of the decade. Recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

With many lovely wines in the Rodney Strong portfolio, quite a few are available at the LCBO, while others can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Powers Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Washington) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley in Washington State that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the January 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Powers Winery was founded by the legendary Bill Powers, a man who was drawn from Oklahoma to the Columbia Valley in the 1950's. After years of farming multiple crops, Bill and his son, Greg, planted their estate Badger Mountain Vineyard in 1982 and soon after they went organic. In 1990, their Badger Mountain estate was the first certified organic vineyard in Washington.

Since the release of their first wines in 1992, Powers Winery has remained committed to crafting concentrated, structured, and age-worthy wines, while also practicing and innovating environmental, community, and fiscal sustainability. Bill Powers passed away in 2014, but he was highly respected for his progressive techniques and farming expertise. He was honoured by his colleagues many times over the years and was considered a Washington wine industry pioneer.

Today, Bill's legacy lives on through his son, Greg Powers, Director of Winemaking. They have a dynamic winemaking team and long-time grower partnerships that allows Powers Winery to continue to showcase Washington State's diverse micro-climates and distinctive vineyards. All Powers wines reflect a devotion, experience, and integrity that result in products worthy to carry the family name.

Their comprehensive approach to sustainability comes from a long-held belief that they are responsible not only to the land from which the fruit comes, but also to their employees, grower partners, and to the larger communities in which they operate. Powers Winery believes that stewardship in the vineyard, the winery, and the community is rewarded with better wines, but more importantly they believe it is simply the right thing to do. By utilizing both tradition and technology, they are able to produce compelling wines with a sustainable approach. Their continued approach to reduce their carbon footprint led to the installation of solar panels and giving back to the grid in 2011, making their own bio-diesel by sourcing recycled cooking oil from local restaurants, and switching to lighter weight glass for their wines.

This red wine actually a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Carménère, and 1% Merlot which was sourced from seven vineyards across the Columbia Valley. I love the transparency that Powers Winery lists exactly where the grapes were sourced from. The Cabernet Sauvignon in this wine was grown in five different vineyards - Goose Ridge Vineyard (36%) in Columbia Valley, Champoux Vineyard (28%) in Horse Heaven Hills, Rivercrest Vineyard (25%) in Columbia Valley, Ravenscliff Vineyard (5%) in Wahluke Slope, and Kiona Vineyard (3%) in Red Mountain. With all of these great vineyard sites to choose from, Powers was able to have the lots harvested from late-September into early-November and blend the perfectly ripe and balanced fruit with great acidity and tannin structure into a very complex, yet approachable Cabernet. It was fermented using PDM yeast in a combination of pump-under method and in upright stainless steel tanks. It was aged in mostly used French oak barrels for 22 months, with 50% in third-use and 38% in second-use barrels. Let's see how this Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

POWERS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#434456) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. This blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Carménère, and 1% Merlot has a medium-high intensity nose that delivers complex sage, herbal, and minty freshness aromas layered over dark currant, blackberry, black raspberry, savoury wet earth, and subtle plum and oak spices. On the medium to medium-full bodied, dry palate it has delicious ripe dark berry, blackberry, black currant, raspberry, spices, savoury earth, and chocolate flavours that are supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity and smooth, fine-grained, and lightly grippy tannins. Blackberry, savoury earth, mineral, and chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. A delicious, recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Powers Winery can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

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Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah 2018 (Napa Valley) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Petite Sirah, a distinct variety not to be confused with Syrah, from Napa Valley that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the January 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Established in 1893, Stags' Leap Winery is one of California's oldest wine estates. Their 240-acre property is situated on the watershed of the Stags Leap Palisades, nine miles north of the city of Napa, and is planted to 90 acres of vineyards. Situated in an intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, they have a unique terroir and ideal microclimate which supports a classical standard of viticulture, land use, and winemaking. Their goal is to convey the essence of their world-class terroir from grape to glass, and to create handcrafted wines that tell an authentic story of the land on which they are grown.

The Stags' Leap name originated in the late 1880s with the founding Chase family, and is attributed to a native Wappo legend of a stag leaping to escape hunters. The mountains behind the property on the eastern side came to be known as the Stags Leap Palisades.

The Stags Leap Palisades are a rock outcropping that forms the eastern boundary of the estate and sheds debris in the form of volcanic rhyolite and tuff, which is carried to the valley floor where it mingles with the deeper subsoil made up of Bale loam formed from ancient river sediment. Topographically, the slope of the palisades and its small valley are oriented to block early morning sun, retain afternoon heat, and funnel cooler marine air coming from the San Pablo Bay to the south. The sheer volume of rock has a direct impact on the local climate of the estate as the rock face of the palisades gives off stored warmth after sunset, radiating down over the entire ranch. Moreover, the high incidence of rock in the soil holds the heat of the sun into the early twilight hours, and then loses it rapidly, effectively slowing and prolonging the ripening process. With Napa Valley's long growing season combined with the accentuated warmth and cooling of the Stags Leap District, the result is an ideal balance of acid and sugar in the fruit that also gives the grapes more time to mature and develop.

This Petite Sirah is actually a blend that includes small amounts of Syrah, Grenache, and other Rhône varieties. The grapes that make up the backbone of this wine come from the estate's vineyards which have deep, rocky soils, while other carefully selected fruit also comes from Calistoga and St. Helena in the north, and Oakville, Oak Knoll and Coombsville in the south, as well as from their own Stags Leap District. Petite Sirah is a varietal that is enhanced by the deliberate diversity of their vineyard sites.

It was vinified by Winemaker Christophe Paubert using the same, time-honoured techniques - simple and traditional - that have made Petite Sirah one of the winery's staples, thereby showing the uniqueness of the Petite Sirah fruit. It underwent a relatively short maceration and fermentation, and was aged for approximately 15 months in mostly used American oak barrels.

The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley was stunning and near-perfect with good winter rains, mild spring weather, and steady temperatures throughout that allowed for even flowering and bud break. These ideal growing conditions were followed by a cool, even, and slow-paced harvest, which allowed Stags' Leap to vinify wines at a gentle pace. The result is that the wines of 2018 are of very high quality with lower alcohol, concentrated flavours, colour, and excellent acidity. Let's see how this 2018 Petite Sirah from Napa Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

STAGS' LEAP WINERY PETITE SIRAH 2018 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#590356) (XD) - $60.95
Primarily Petite Sirah with a small amount of Syrah, Grenache, and other Rhône varieties completing the blend. Elegantly perfumed aromas of black and blue berry, dark plum, peppery spice, and cocoa, with some wood spice and reductive notes rise out of the glass. It's full-bodied and well-structured on the palate with juicy, ripe black and blue fruit, pepper, spices, and cocoa flavours with touches of smoky mineral and black raspberry adding further complexity. Acids are fresh, vibrant, and juicy, while the firm tannins are structured and grainy. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury, smoky mineral, and cocoa notes lingering on the very long finish. Enjoyable now, but will be better in a few years. Drink over the next 15 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Other excellent wines by Stags' Leap Winery are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Treana Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Paso Robles) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this delicious, crowd-pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles that arrived at the LCBO some weeks ago as part of the September 24th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Hope Family Wines, a family that has been farming the land in Paso Robles for more than 30 years. When the family arrived in this barely-discovered region, they planted apples and grapes. Little did they know that the rolling, oak-studded terrain of Paso Robles would one day become a viticultural terroir of significance and one of the top winegrowing regions for quality red wine within the Central Coast.

Today, the Hope family cultivates mature vineyards of varieties best suited to their area including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Mourvedre and Grenache. Vine density has increased and each vine is asked to produce very little fruit. The terroir of the domain expresses itself in its unique regional character which includes spice, licorice, and berry notes to go along with soft textures and silky tannins.

The Hope family range of wines consists of five individual brands, and this particular wine is from their Treana label that began as a dream when the family arrived in Paso Robles at a time when it was a rural, grain farming community with very few grape vines and even fewer wineries. The dream was to create world-class wines that could compete on the world stage, and yet be approachable for all to enjoy. The name "Treana" is inspired by the Spanish word for a trio of natural elements and in Paso Robles it is represented by the sun, soil, and sea - the three elements that make Paso Robles an exceptional winegrowing region. In 1996, the first Treana wines were crafted and became the benchmark for Paso Robles blends. In very recent news, Hope Family Wines won the 2022 American Winery of the Year at Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards.

Owner and winemaker Austin Hope grew up in his family's vineyards and much of his life around Cabernet Sauvignon and three men who helped guide his path - his father Chuck Hope, his Uncle Paul, and winemaker Chuck Wagner. As a tribute to these three men, Austin created the Treana Cabernet Sauvignon that encapsulates the quintessential learning over the course of this career.

To craft this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon red wine from the Paso Robles AVA, the grapes from each vineyard lot were vinified separately. Each lot was fermented in stainless steel tanks, underwent extended maceration, and carefully managed pump overs to enhance the extraction of colour and tannin. Furthermore, each lot was aged for 14 months in a combination of 25% once used French oak and 75% neutral French and American oak. After blending the lots together, the wine spent three months in new French oak. Let's see how this 2020 California Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TREANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#639518) (D) - $39.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fragrant nose offers sweet and lush aromas of ripe dark berry, blackberry, cassis, sweet oak, milk chocolate, green herbs, licorice, and spice. It's full-bodied and concentrated with sweet chocolatey oak flavours over shadowing the dark berry fruit, cassis, spice, and licorice notes. It's all supported by fresh, juicy acidity and smooth, supple, and lightly chalky tannins. Savoury chocolate with touches of coffee linger on the dry finish, with very good length. Reminds me of a chocolate milkshake. Will be enjoyed by many! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines from Hope Family Wines are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Group.

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Dough Chardonnay 2019 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (California) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of delicious wines from the North Coast AVA in California that are coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the October 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Dough is the foundation of bread, signifying new beginnings. Like making bread, thoughtful maturing creates positive change that rises from the simplest of actions. Dough Wines are rooted in purpose by sourcing grapes from some of the most prestigious winegrowing regions on the West Coast (USA) and crafting the most food-friendly wines possible in concert with a diverse group of chefs and leaders of the James Beard Foundation (JBF). Dough wines are crafted by Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen who brings a solid scientific background to her winemaking with a B.S. degree in biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her goal in pursuing winemaking is to combine her scientific expertise and her creative skills. She is also a firm believer in the value of exploration and experimentation.

Heidi utilizes DVWP vineyards and its network of growers and négociants to choose high quality lots from top AVAs, and bringing the art of assemblage to life to craft the core wines to be as food-friendly as possible. The final blend for each wine is a collaborative approach with a hand-selected group of JBF Chefs and Sommeliers, where everyone has an opportunity to weigh in on the various aspects of the wine and which will pair best with food. With this feedback, Heidi returns to the cellar to compose the final blend.

At Dough, they believe that they can be a catalyst for good and believe that each glass, bottle and conversation can make a lasting impact. Dough Wines is proud to support the James Beard Foundation's work to create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable food culture through an annual donation. In Ontario, Dough Wines is providing an annual scholarship of $5,000 to be awarded to Black, Indigenous and other People of Colour (BIPOC) students of the hospitality and culinary arts programs at George Brown College.

Tasting Notes:

DOUGH CHARDONNAY 2019 - North Coast, California, USA (#25598) (XD) - $26.95
Screw cap. 100% Chardonnay that was hand-picked from a few select vineyards. It was mostly barrel-fermented and aged in French oak with a smaller percentage coming from stainless steel fermented parcels. The generous nose offers lovely ripe orchard and tropical fruits, apple, pear, peach, vanilla, citrus, and cold cream aromas with hints of bubblegum adding intrigue. It's full-bodied and richly textured on the palate with delicious ripe apple, pear, vanilla, gentle oak spice, peach, and citrus flavours. Acids are fresh and juicy. I really like the chalky textured mouthfeel throughout, while apple, pear, and citrus taper to mineral, smoke, and coffee notes on the long finish. Solid buy for Thanksgiving dinner. Score: 89 pts

DOUGH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - North Coast, California, USA (#20802) (XD) - $27.95
Screw cap. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Mendocino. The appealing, medium-high intensity nose is a mix of ripe black currant, cassis, blackberry, vanillin oak spice, and chocolate aromas accented with grilled herbs, pepper, and savoury earth notes. It's medium-full bodied with ripe, smooth, and fine-grained tannins with flavours of dark currant, black cherry, blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, grilled herbs and earth with a hint of mint. Acids are juicy and well-balanced. Chocolate, earth, savoury oak spice, and minty notes linger on the textured, fine-grained finish, with very good length. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious Dough Wines can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Emerging California Master Class (Apr. 2022)

Last month was California Wine Month and one afternoon in April I had the pleasure of attending a virtual zoom Master Class on "Emerging California". This master class was put on by California Wines and led by leading wine critic, journalist, and educator Elaine Chukan Brown.

Winegrowing activities in California began in the mid-1800's. Since that time, California has emerged as one of the world's great wine producing regions most notable for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay from Napa Valley and Sonoma County. In this master class, which included 9 wine samples for us to taste along with Elaine, we learned about some of California's lesser-known wine regions, focusing mainly on areas in the Central Coast.

The wines were, for the most part, made with grape varieties one wouldn't normally associate with California - Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc were just some of the varietals we touched upon. Overall, I found the master class to be quite informative as a wealth of information was presented by Elaine. I was also very pleased with the quality of the wines. In the end, the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon were my definitive favourites, but there were also many other lovely wines. To purchase any of these wines, please contact each wine's Agent for availability and pricing as only a very small amount of the rosé is currently available at the LCBO.

Tasting Notes:

BONNY DOON VINEYARD LE CIGARE VOLANT 2020 - Central Coast, California, USA (#18516) (XD) - $20 CAD
Primarily from Monterey, this blend of 42% Grenache, 31% Cinsault, 24% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Counoise has a medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is fresh, ripe, plummy, red fruited with a subtle smokiness. It’s medium-full bodied with smooth, nicely textured tannins. Flavours are dry and nicely balanced with red fruits, currant, red cherry, and subtle wood. Fresh, balanced acids. Long, red fruited, cherry, and smoky finish. Agent: FWM Canada. Score: 90 pts

SCHUG CABERNET FRANC 2017 - Sonoma County, California, USA (XD) - $47 USD
Blend of 78% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. The lovely, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers aromas of currant, cassis, red pepper, pretty florals, and herbaceous touches. It’s medium-full bodied and dry with lovely aroma replays with noted red pepper and smoky touches, along with tangy, juicy acidity. Structured and smooth with fine tannins. Red pepper, currant, and chocolate notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Agent: Lifford Wine and Spirits. Score: 91 pts

RIDGE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast, California, USA (#89284) (XD) - $112 CAD
Composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, it has a lovely, highly aromatic nose featuring aromas of sweet cassis, floral, currant, red berry fruit, cherry, and sweet spices. It’s full-bodied, dry, and structured with elegant, slightly chalky tannins along with lovely aroma replays and fresh, tangy acidity lifting the palate. Red cherry, floral, and earthy with some stony mineral notes lingering on the very long, juicy finish. Agent: Rogers & Company. Score: 93 pts

CLINE ANCIENT VINES CARIGNANE 2019 - Contra Costa County, Central Coast, California, USA (#32177) (XD) - $33 CAD
From old vines, some more than 100 years old, grown in sandy soils in northwest Oakley near the San Joaquin River, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers lovely purple and black fruit, dark plum, and minty herbal aromas. It’s full-bodied with structured, slightly chalky tannins with lovely aroma replays on the flavour profile. Juicy acids with minty, dark berry notes, plus touches of smoke linger on the long finish. Agent: Vinexx. Score: 91 pts

OAK RIDGE MAGGIO PETITE SIRAH 2020 - Lodi, California, USA (D) - $12 USD
A blend of 90% Petite Sirah and 10% Zinfandel, the medium-high nose is very ripe, plummy, and fruit forward with dark berry and sweet oak aromas. The fleshy, full-bodied palate is juicy and fruit forward, dark berry, plum, tea leaf, and purple fruit flavours joined by subtle sweet spices and vanilla. Structured tannins have some grip. Juicy acids and ripe plum and berry notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Agent: Profile Wine Group. Score: 87 pts

DAOU DISCOVERY ROSÉ 2020 - Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, USA (#19527) (XD) - $29.95 CAD
This blend of 95% Grenache grown on limestone soils, plus 5% Sauvignon Blanc was barrel-aged on its lees. Aromas are fresh and bright with notions of grapefruit, citrus, and red berries, with herbally touches. It’s medium-bodied and dry with a pleasingly chalky textured mouthfeel to go along with very nice aroma replays on the palate, joined by touches of grassy notes. Somewhat fleshy on the mid-palate. Very good length on the slightly leesy finish. Only 10 bottles remain at LCBO, and at a big discount. Agent: Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits of Canada. Score: 90 pts

INGLENOOK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA (#17090) (XD) - $38 USD
A blend of 76% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Semillon that was aged for 8 months sur lie with 70% in stainless steel tanks, 19% in new French oak, and the rest in neutral French oak. The elegant, medium-high intensity nose is earthy-leesy in profile with pear, stone fruit, white peach, citrus, lemongrass, and herbs. On the medium+ bodied palate it is very textural and rich with pear, citrus, lemongrass, and white peach replays supported by juicy, balanced acidity. Citrus, pear, and subtle spices linger on the long, crisp, and tight finish. Agent: Noble Estates Wine & Spirits. Score: 91+ pts

BOGLE CHENIN BLANC 2020 - Clarksburg, California, USA (#704049) (D) - $21.95 CAD
Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted variety in the Clarksburg AVA, which has mostly alluvial soils mixed with clay and some sand. This Chenin has muted aromas of tropical fruit, honeyed, beeswax, floral, and honeysuckle. It’s medium-full bodied with appealing, off-dry aroma replays joined by spice notes. It has a viscous mouthfeel with lively acids, subtly spicy and tapering to a dry-ish, crisp finish, with very good length. Agent: Abcon Wine Merchants. Score: 88 pts

CALERA MT. HARLAN CHARDONNAY 2018 - Certified Organic Farmed Vineyards, Central Coast, California, USA (#16406) (XD) - $55 USD
Grown in limestone soils in the Gavilan Mountains at a high elevation of 2,200 feet and cooled by ocean breezes. The gorgeous, highly aromatic nose is rich and buttery with apple, pear, stone fruits, lemon citrus, and subtle smokiness aromas. It’s medium-full to full bodied with a lovely, rich, creamy mouthfeel and very nice, flavourful aroma replays, plus elegant oak spice and vanilla notes, all framed by lovely, racy acidity. Excellent length on the long, dry, leesy mineral finish. Agent: Rogers & Company. Score: 94 pts

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Domaine Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir 2019 (Oregon) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this beautiful Pinot Noir from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Oregon that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the April 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Domaine Drouhin Oregon, a winemaking family whose roots were planted in Burgundy in 1880 when Joseph Drouhin moved from Chablis to Beaune and purchased a wine house that was founded in 1756. Oregon entered the picture when Robert Drouhin, grandson of Joseph, was invited to visit Oregon while on a trip to America's west coast in 1961. Although there were no vineyards in Willamette Valley at the time, Robert was impressed by the natural beauty of the region.

In 1979, a Pinot Noir from Oregon finished in the top 10 in the Gault-Millau Wine Olympiad in Paris. Intrigued by the results, Robert re-staged this tasting at the Drouhin cellars in Beaune, including many of his own Burgundies, in order to better understand the competition from the new world. Amazingly, the same Oregon wine placed 2nd, and only by a very narrow margin.

In 1986, Robert's daughter Véronique came to Oregon after achieving her master's diploma in enology. She worked that first harvest with three Oregon families who were some of the state's founding families of Oregon wine, and her profound first impression help form the bond between the Drouhins and these families. A year later, Robert purchased an exceptional piece of land in Dundee Hills and asked Véronique to be the winemaker, even though there was no vineyard, winery, or equipment. Robert also later asked his son Philippe to be in charge of viticulture. In 1988, Domaine Drouhin Oregon was born with Véronique making wine in a rented space.

Fast forward to 2013 and Roserock continues the Drouhin family's commitment to Oregon as the newest chapter of their story. The extraordinary Roserock vineyard was purchased in 2013 because of its exceptional terroir marked by ancient volcanic soils, cooler temperatures due to the Van Duzer corridor, and an ideal elevation range. The 279 acre site is located at the southern tip of the Eola-Amity Hills in Oregon's Willamette Valley, and is planted to 122 acres of vines. This vineyard produces classic cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - both of which I've had the opportunity to taste in past and both were lovely.

This Pinot Noir is a cuvée selection from the estate's 35 Pinot Noir blocks at the Roserock vineyard. The grapes were hand-picked, sorted, and individually fermented. Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir wines are typically known for their structure and power, however, winemaker Véronique Boss-Drouhin has crafted this Pinot to emphasize elegance and refinement, yet also age-worthy. Let's see how this 2019 Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir from Oregon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE DROUHIN ROSEROCK PINOT NOIR 2019 - Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#529107) (XD) - $42.95
The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers lovely aromas of sweet, ripe red cherry, raspberry, and currant joined by strawberry, subtle wood spice, and touches of smoky minerality laying underneath. It's medium+ bodied and crunchy with an elegant, lightly structured mouthfeel and lovely ripe, red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and currant flavours flecked with savoury, smoky minerals in a harmonious profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins are smooth, refined, and lightly structured. Savoury and minerally with touches of smoke lingering on the finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other fine wines by Domaine Drouhin are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Coppola Rosso & Bianco Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (California) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2018 Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend last month, tonight's wine review is another California red wine blend from the same producer. While this bottle is the 2018 vintage, it is the 2019 vintage that is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release as a new arrival.

Following many years of success in the world of cinema, the Coppola family established Francis Ford Coppola Winery in 2006 after the purchase of a historic winery in Sonoma County, California. Their desire was to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life, and after two years of renovations the winery opened in 2010 with a brand new tasting room, museum, and restaurant. And just like in many of their other business endeavours, the Coppola family is firmly committed to preserving the land for future generations, while also practising sustainability and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Rosso & Bianco collection that consists of three wines. Francis Ford Coppola grew up with wine on the family table. Rosso & Bianco wines are very special to the family as they pay tribute to their family's Italian heritage. As the story goes, Francis Ford Coppola used to hear stories from his father about how Grandpa Agostino Coppola made wine in the tenement in New York City during Prohibition. Grandpa Coppola's wines weren't fancy, but pleasurable, everyday wines that reflected the comfort of home. This Cabernet Sauvignon (blend) is crafted in the same spirit - a wine for everyday life. Let's see how this California Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting on this Tuesday night...

Tasting Note:

COPPOLA ROSSO & BIANCO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - California, USA (#23646) (D) - $19.95
This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Petite Sirah, and 4% Segalin was aged for 12 months in French oak. The medium+ intensity nose has oak driven aromas of wood spice, caramel, and clove surrounding a core of ripe currant, cassis, and blueberry. It's medium+ bodied and ripe with sweet oak vanillin, currant, cassis, clove spice, milk chocolate, cold cream, and blueberry flavours on the verge of being jammy. Juicy acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the polished tannins are smooth and rounded. Coffee, milk chocolate, and clove notes linger on the finish, with good length. Easy drinking crowd pleaser. Score: 87 pts

Other delicious wines Francis Ford Coppola are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend 2018 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious blend from California that is featured on the cover of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release and arrives on shelves across Ontario for the first time this Saturday.

It is produced by Francis Ford Coppola Winery, a name famous in the world of cinema, but also quite popular in the world of wine. In 2006, the Coppola family purchased a historic property in Sonoma County and wanted to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life. After two years of renovations, the winery opened in 2010 with a tasting room, museum, and restaurant.

The Coppola family also has a firm commitment to sustainability as they have long supported sustainability throughout their lives and many business endeavours in an effort to preserve the land for generations to come. In 2020, the winery became certified sustainable through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Some of Coppola winery's sustainability activities include using energy produced from renewable sources, conserving and reducing water usage, as well as farming sustainably and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Diamond Collection, a range of wines that are crafted with grapes grown across California (and Oregon), and are carefully combined to create wines for all occasions. This particular wine is created exclusively by taste each vintage with no particular roadmap in mind. The 2018 vintage it is a blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah using grapes from various appellations across California and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Note:

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95
This blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah has a fragrant nose that offers a lush array of ripe black, dark red, and purple fruit aromas mingling with vanillin oak, and spices. It's full-bodied with slightly jammy black and red fruits such as blackberry and cherry, along with spice, and vanillin oak flavours in a pleasingly dry flavour profile. Although there is a touch of warmth, it's still well-balanced with good acidity, and smooth, dusty textured, and moderately grippy tannins. Woody, earthy, and milk chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines Francis Ford Coppola are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Six-pack of LCBO General List Wines (Dec. 2021)

To wrap up the last batch of LCBO General List wines I received a few months ago, tonight's wine reviews are six wines that are readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario, with a couple that are on promotion right now.

While all of these wines in this post are represented by Dionysus Wines & Spirits (and Churchill Cellars), the Mare di Sirena and Popcorn Chardonnay are actually brands owned by Alex Patinios and made under his business Garage Wine Company. Alex is also President of the Ontario wine agencies Dionysus and Churchill Cellars.

The story of Popcorn Chardonnay (not to be confused with the California wine of the same name) began in early 2020 when some Ontario wineries realized that they had a surplus of Chardonnay in tank and barrel due to the pandemic. The ever opportunistic and entrepreneurial Alex purchased the wine and sent it to Niagara's Strewn Winery. He worked with Strewn's winemaker Marc Bradshaw to have it blended and finished to the desired taste profile, and bottled as Popcorn Chardonnay. The catchy label features a silhouette of a bag of popcorn and a single popped kernel in the center, just above the name.

It's possible that the 2019 Popcorn Chardonnay is sold out across the province as I have seen the 2020 vintage on LCBO shelves now. However, you should know that with the 2020 vintage, Alex purchased fruit specifically for this wine and Marc applied small-batch winemaking techniques such as sur lie, blending, and barrel fermentation with three different types of barrels. There may be vintage variation, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is sure to be delicious.

Let's see how these wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

POPCORN CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20264) (D) - $15.95
Screw cap. This Chardonnay was barrel fermented and aged in French and American oak barrels and has a subtle nose offering suggestions of ripe orchard fruit, peach, lemon curd, poached apple, tropical fruit, and honeyed aromas. There's good weight on the creamy, medium-bodied palate with ripe apple, buttery, lemon curd, sweet vanillin, and a touch of honey adding a kiss of sweetness to the flavour profile. Acids are juicy and well-balanced, while some smoky, leesy, and saline notes add interest to the lingering dry finish, with very good length. Highly delicious! Score: 88 pts

MARE DI SIRENA PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - IGT Italy (#20054) (XD) - $8.90
Screw cap. Translates to Sea of the Mermaid, the myth is that the mermaids in the seas surrounding Italy blow cool air over vineyards during summer to enhance ripening of the grapes, and warm air during the winter to protect the vines from frost. The majority of this Pinot Grigio is from Central Italy at 350-600 metres above sea level and has aromas of fresh lemon citrus, pear, and white peach with herbal hints. On the mid-weighted palate it has lemon citrus, mandarin orange, and peach flavours supported by zesty, well-balanced acidity. Clean, dry and flavourful on the zesty, citrusy finish, with some leesy minerals adding interest. Very good length on the finish. Will surely please! Score: 87 pts

STREWN NURTURE WHITE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20261) (D) - $14.95
Screw cap. This off-dry blend of 32% Riesling, 28% Gewurztraminer, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Pinot Gris, 9% Chardonnay Musque, and 1% Muscat has a fragrant nose offering attractive honeyed aromas of orange citrus, lemon, honeysuckle, and wild flower. The palate is just off-dry (i.e. lightly sweet) with delicious white flower, beeswax, orange citrus, lychee, and ripe apple flavours in a nicely textured profile. With balanced acidity, it leads to a floral, leesy, juicy, and dry-ish finish, with good length. Delicious! Score: 87 pts

BREAD & BUTTER CHARDONNAY 2019 - California, USA (#19261) (D) - $18.95 $16.95 until Jan. 2
Crafted by award-winning veteran winemaker Linda Trotta in an honest, good, delicious, and uncomplicated style. Classic, traditional California Chardonnay with sweet vanillin oak, caramel, butter, ripe apple and pear aromas waft out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied and creamy on the sweetish palate with more vanillin oak, caramel, wood spice, and butter flavours with underlying apple and pear fruit notes. Slightly spicy on the mid-palate, with juicy acidity, while the vanilla, caramel, and butter notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Fans of Cali Chardonnay will like this. Score: 87 pts

STEL+MAR CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Lodi, California, USA (#20808) (D) - $17.95
Two friends (who grew up in Canada) and their families came together to create STEL+MAR. They make unpretentious and approachable wines that let the terroir speak for itself. This Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium+ intensity nose that offers ripe dark berry fruit, black currant, sweet cinnamon spice, and cassis aromas with savoury earthy undertones. On the medium-full bodied palate it is slightly sweet with ripe cassis, blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, cocoa, and oak spice flavours. Crafted in a very approachable style, it has well-balanced acidity and supple, structured tannins. Intriguing cassis and minty notes linger on the long, dry finish. Delicious! Score: 88+ pts

SUNNY WITH A CHANCE OF FLOWERS PINOT NOIR 2019 - Monterey, California, USA (#18946) (XD) - $17.95 $8.30
Sunny Wines are sustainably crafted for healthy lifestyle wine lovers with zero sugar, low calories, and low alcohol (9% abv). Screw cap. Earthy beetroot aromas with a hint of toasted oak mingle with ripe black cherry, black raspberry, and strawberry aromas. There's also a hint of tea leaf. The light-to-mid-weighted palate is dry with light, supple tannins that are slightly textured. Flavours of beetroot, earth, and tea leaf with fruity notes of black cherry and raspberry on the palate, turning quite bitter on the finish, with good length. Score: 86 pts

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California Sommelier Sessions: Cakebread Cellars + St. Francis + Sequoia Grove

I received this tasting kit recently containing samples of three delightful wines from California. These three wines were featured in the latest California Sommelier Sessions virtual tasting series with representatives from each winery joining the tasting last week.

Joining us for this virtual tasting were Stephanie Jacobsen of Cakebread Cellars, Kate Madigan of St. Francis, and Molly Hill of Sequoia Grove. All three women have been with their respective companies for many, many years, working their way up to become winemakers. Today, Stephanie, Kate, and Molly are some of California's top winemakers and represent the new generation of female winemakers making an impact in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys of California.

Moderating and leading the discussion during the one hour tasting was sommelier and wine writer Sara d'Amato. The tasting was quite fascinating and very informative as each woman talked about where their wine was grown and how each of the unique terroirs across Napa and Sonoma Valley influences the expression of these grape varietals and the resulting wines.

All three wines were delicious, with the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon notably outstanding! Each wine is available through their Agent - Charton Hobbs, with the Chardonnay also coming to LCBO VINTAGES next weekend.

Tasting Notes:

CAKEBREAD CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2019 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#709717) (XD) - $69.95
Cakebread's first wine back in 1973 and fine-tuning ever since. This 100% Chardonnay from the Carneros appellation was barrel fermented and aged on yeast lees for 8 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. The fragrant nose has pretty aromas of lemon meringue and sweet vanillin oak spice, with a hint of bubblegum. The medium-full bodied palate is creamy with lovely ripe apple, pear, lemon citrus, and spicy flavours nuanced with butter and sweet oak vanillin, all in a very nicely balanced and elegant profile. It has fresh, balanced acidity, along with a taut texture on the mid-to-back palate. Leesy mineral notes linger on the long and clean aftertaste. Score: 92 pts

ST. FRANCIS OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2018 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#539155) (XD) - $29.95
A blend of 87% Zinfandel and 13% Petite Sirah from vines 50 to more than 100 years old that was aged for 16 months in French oak (25% new) in mostly medium-toast levels. The medium-high intensity nose offers sweet, ripe red and black fruits and sweet baking spices. The full-bodied palate is slightly warming (15.2% abv) with woody notes surrounding a core of dark fruit, blackberry, dark cherry, oak spice flavours with a hint of cinnamon. Acids are fresh and bright, while the firm tannins seem a bit tight and grippy at the moment. Dry overall with very good length on the finish. Score: 89 pts

SEQUOIA GROVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#60020) (XD) - $69.95
Known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 1% Syrah, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. The highly aromatic nose delivers very attractive aromas of sweet, ripe black cherry, red berry, blackberry, currant, and cassis liqueur accented with gentle oak spices. The full-bodied, structured palate is rich and ripe with lovely aroma replays of black cherry, blackberry, currant, cassis, and woody notes supported by fresh and juicy acidity. Youthful tannins are chalky, yet approachable. Woody, earthy, and cocoa notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Highly pleasurable now, this should continue to evolve nicely until at least the end of the decade. Score: 93 pts

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Hedges CMS Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 and CMS Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (Washington) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely wines from Washington State. The Cabernet Sauvignon arrived at LCBO outlets across Ontario this weekend as part of the October 2nd LCBO VINTAGES Release, while the 2019 vintage of the Sauvignon Blanc also arrived in the same Release, but only at Flagship stores in limited quantities.

These two wines are produced by Hedges Family Estate, a family winery whose story begins when Washington State native Tom Hedges marries Anne-Marie Liégeois in her hometown in Champagne, France. With a passion for authenticity and a deep connection to the land in Washington, the Hedges family began shipping their wines to Taiwan in 1986, and a year later Hedges Cellars was born. In 1989, Tom and Anne-Marie purchased 50 acres of land on Red Mountain in the Yakima Valley and planted forty hectares of Bordeaux varieties. With continued success, the Hedges family broke ground in 1995 on their new Chateau on the coveted Red Mountain.

Tom and Anne-Marie's children - Sarah and Christophe - worked in the vineyards and at the winery, eventually earning prominent roles in the family business. In 2005, Christophe Hedges was promoted to Director of National Sales and Marketing, while Sarah Hedges Goedhart followed a year later to become Assistant Winemaker and became the Head Winemaker in 2015.

In 2008, the Hedges Estate Vineyard was converted to biodynamic farming, and by 2019 all five of their vineyards were converted to biodynamics. The Hedges family also sources fruit for some of them wines, including the two reviewed below, and ensure that these vineyards meet their requirements for sustainable farming. The family fosters a true homegrown approach to farming and viticulture, while also uniting the past and present, and evolving tradition for generations to come. Their winemaking philosophy is of less intervention and filtration

Tasting Notes:

HEDGES CMS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#20496) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. This white wine is a unique blend of 78% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, and 2% Marsanne with a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose delivering an attractive and unique bouquet of passion fruit and guava aromas mingling with ripe apple, pear, butter, grapefruit, citrus, and touches of floral characters. The ripe, full palate is slightly creamy with bright acidity and stone fruit, ripe apple, grapefruit, and citrus flavours with underlying guava and white floral notes. Subtle chalky texture on the mid-palate, while lemon peel and leesy mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, lip-smacking finish. Chill and enjoy! Score: 90 pts

HEDGES CMS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#20491) (XD) - $29.95
Blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 8% Syrah. The medium-high intensity nose offers dark fruited blackberry and plum aromas accented with savoury, cocoa, wet earth, and touches of black pepper spice and brett. It's full-bodied, structured, and chewy with smooth, refined, and supple tannins and fresh, juicy acidity that supports the dark fruit, blackberry, cocoa, and earthy flavours. Some peppery spice, tobacco, and dried herbs add complexity on the mid-palate. Savoury cocoa notes linger on the long finish. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines from Hedges Family Estate are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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