Showing posts with label wine-picks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine-picks. Show all posts

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  • Date publishedWednesday, June 5, 2019

Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release June 8, 2019: Euro Regions + Chile



LCBO Wine Picks: June 8, 2019 VINTAGES Release
The main theme of the upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release on June 8, 2019 features European wine regions that should be on your radar, while the mini theme looks at wines from Chile. All of these wines, plus many others that are part of this Release will be available on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that features wines from a few up-and-coming and lesser-known European wine regions. Of the twelve wines featured, four are included among my top wine picks. Three of the wines are from Languedoc-Roussillon. From Corbières, and one of the best buys of the Release, is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was raised in tank. The red wine from Languedoc is also a blend of Grenache and Syrah, but was raised in concrete tanks. Lastly, the Roussillon wines is made with Grenache from 65-year-old vines. The lone white is a Falanghina from the mountainous and rugged region of Campania.

Château de Tréviac Corbières 2016 (90 pts)Mathilde Chapoutier Sélection 2017 (88 pts)

Domaine Lafage Cuvée Nicolas Vieilles Vignes Grenache Noir 2017 (89 pts)Villa Matilde Rocca dei Leoni Falanghina 2017 (89 pts)

The mini-theme of this release is titled "Spicy Chile" and features ten wines from the cool-climate wine-growing region of Chile. Three of these wines are among my top wine recommendations, including a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Carmenère, and an oaked Chardonnay. Last, but not least, no conversation of hot Chilean wines would be complete without mentioning the 2015 Montes Purple Angel (92 pts, review) that is an outstanding blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot.

Miguel Torres Cordillera de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (89 pts)San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Carmenère 2017 (88 pts)

Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 (89 pts)

Red wines from the main Release includes a South African wine made with 52% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The Bordeaux red hails from the great 2010 vintage and consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Lastly, from Tuscany, the Fonterutoli contains 65% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, while the latest edition of the iconic Ornellaia is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.

Château Les Ormes 2010 (92 pts)Mazzei Poggio Badiola di Fonterutoli 2016 (88+ pts)

Among my white wine picks, all are dry, single varietal and some are unique wines that are worth a look. Included among them are a Moschofilero from Greece and an Aligoté from Burgundy. There is also a barrel-fermented Torrontés from Argentina. Of course, the Pouilly-Fumé is made with Sauvignon Blanc, while the Chablis is made with Chardonnay.

Domaine Laroche Vieilles Vignes Les Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru 2017 (92 pts)Troupis Fteri Moschofilero 2017 (88 pts)

Lastly, a pair of local wines, the rosé is a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir, while the sparkling wine is 100% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • MATHILDE CHAPOUTIER SÉLECTION 2017 - AP Languedoc, France (#644468) (XD) - $14.95  88 pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2016 - AP, Midi, France (#670505) (XD) - $16.95  90 pts  wine review
  • SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CARMENÈRE 2017 - DO Maule Valley, Chile (#249201) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
  • MAZZEI POGGIO BADIOLA DI FONTERUTOLI 2016 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#330951) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE LAFAGE CUVÉE NICOLAS VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE NOIR 2017 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#354191) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • MIGUEL TORRES CORDILLERA DE LOS ANDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#541169) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
  • SPY VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2015 - Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#734681) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
  • RUSTENBERG JOHN X MERRIMAN 2015 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#707323) (XD) - $24.95
  • ASCHERI BAROLO 2013 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#496851) (XD) - $49.95
  • LA LECCIAIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#121905) (XD) - $66.95
  • CHÂTEAU LES ORMES 2010 - AC Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France (#648295) (XD) - $69.95  92 pts  wine review
  • ORNELLAIA 2016 - “La Tensione” label, DOC Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy (#722470) (XD) - $239.95
Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2015 (89 pts)

White Wine:

  • TROUPIS FTERI MOSCHOFILERO 2017 - PGI Arcadia, Greece (#647388) (XD) - $16.95  88 pts  wine review
  • BLASON DE BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2017 - AC Bourgogne, France (#648436) (D) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
  • VILLA MATILDE ROCCA DEI LEONI FALANGHINA 2017 - IGT, Campania, Italy (#631747) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • CAVE SPRING ESTATE RIESLING 2016 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#286377) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE BARREL FERMENTED TORRONTÉS 2017 - Uco Valley, Argentina (#384339) (XD) - $19.95
  • CASABLANCA NIMBUS SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2017 - Casablanca Valley, Chile (#638411) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
  • CHATELAIN LES VIGNES DE SAINT-LAURENT L’ABBAYE POUILLY-FUMÉ 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#958801) (XD) - $26.95
  • NAUTILUS CHARDONNAY 2017 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#331652) (XD) - $27.95
  • DOMAINE LAROCHE VIEILLES VIGNES LES VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2017 - AC, Burgundy, France (#991893) (XD) - $39.95  92 pts  wine review
  • GREYWACKE WILD SAUVIGNON 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#282806) (D) - $39.95  FE
Cave Spring Estate Riesling 2016 (89 pts)

Rose Wine:

  • FIELDING ROSÉ 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#053421) (XD) - $15.95

Sparkling Wine:

  • CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#213983) (XD) - $29.95


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  • Date publishedTuesday, May 21, 2019

Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release May 25, 2019: Brilliant Women + Bubbles

LCBO Wine Picks: May 25, 2019 VINTAGES Release
The main theme of the upcoming LCBO VINTAGES Release May 25, 2019 is titled "Sister Act" and features some brilliant women from the wine world, while the mini-theme features some super sparkling wines. All of the wines from this Release will arrive on LCBO VINTAGES shelves by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that looks at 13 women in wine. Of the 20 wines featured as part of this theme, 6 are include among my top wine picks. Ann Sperling is the Director of Winemaking at Southbrook, and her single vineyard Riesling is a lovely off-dry, organic and biodynamic wine from Niagara. Dr. Laura Catena was born into Argentina's most prominent wine family, and her Altamira Vineyard Malbec is a lovely wine to enjoy over several years. Virginia Willcock is the chief winemaker at Vasse Felix and prefers a hands-off approach to allow the vineyard to express itself, as it does with her Margaret River Chardonnay. Nadia Barnard believes in working in harmony with nature, so she is a good fit for the organic and biodynamic Waterkloof Wines - she brings us her Circle of Life white wine that is a blend of 72% Sauvignon Blanc and 28% Chenin Blanc. Lastly, I met with Maria Larrea, Techincal Director and Chief Winemaker at Spain's legendary Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (CVNE) earlier this month and a full report from that tasting will be posted soon. In the meantime, I can tell you that both Cune Crianza and CVNE Imperial Reserva are made with 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha Tinta/Mazuelo.

Southbrook Heather's Home Vineyard Riesling 2017 (91 pts)Catena Paraje Altamira Malbec 2016 (90 pts)

Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2018 (91 pts)

CVNE Imperial Reserva 2014 (92 pts)CVNE Cune Crianza 2015 (88 pts)

From the mini-theme that focuses on sparkling wines, two of the seven bubbly's are included among my wine recommendations, and both are from Canada and made using the Traditional Method. The bubbly from British Columbia consists of 50% Pinot Noir, 45.5% Chardonnay, and 4.5% Pinot Gris, while the Trius Brut Rosé is mostly Pinot Noir.

Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut Sparkling (90 pts)Trius Brut Rosé (90 pts)

My red wine picks contain several great buys. From France, the Morgon is 100% Gamay from one of the best Cru vineyard sites in Beaujolais and is located one the slopes of a volcano, while the Crozes-Hermitage is a classic, northern Rhône Syrah. Also from France, the Bordeaux red consists of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Languedoc red is a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah. Lastly, the California Cab actually consists of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Stéphane Aviron Vieilles Vignes Morgon Côte du Py 2014 (90+ pts)Cave de Tain Grand Classique Crozes-Hermitage 2015 (90 pts)

Château Gaumaran 2014 (89 pts)Cháteau Puech-Haut Les Complices 2016 (89 pts)

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, most are single varietal wines, including the Blanco from Spain that is made with 100% Viura, while the outstanding Fumé Blanc is made with Sauvignon Blanc. The Creekside Iconoclast is a blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon that sees some time in neutral French oak. If you prefer sweeter wines, check out the Riesling Kabinett from Germany.

Hidden Bench Fumé Blanc 2017 (92 pts)Creekside Iconoclast Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (89 pts)

Muriel Fincas de la Villa Blanco 2018 (89 pts)

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • CVNE CUNE CRIANZA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#039925) (XD) - $16.95  88 pts  wine review
  • TONEL 46 MALBEC 2015 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#629808) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU GAUMARAN 2014 - AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#634014) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
  • CHÁTEAU PUECH-HAUT LES COMPLICES 2016 - AP Languedoc, France (#644666) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • PAXTON MV SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#327403) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2016 - Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
  • STÉPHANE AVIRON VIEILLES VIGNES MORGON CÔTE DU PY 2014 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#424804) (XD) - $23.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • CAVE DE TAIN GRAND CLASSIQUE CROZES-HERMITAGE 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#572230) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
  • CVNE IMPERIAL RESERVA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#424390) (XD) - $39.95  92 pts  wine review
  • CLIFF LEDE STAGS LEAP DISTRICT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, USA (#014217) (XD) - $119.95  FE
Paxton MV Shiraz 2016 (90+ pts)Tonel 46 Malbec 2015 (88 pts)

White Wine:

  • MURIEL FINCAS DE LA VILLA BLANCO 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#645127) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
  • FEUDO ANTICO BIOLOGICO PECORINO 2017 - IGP Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy (#644930) (D) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
  • WATERKLOOF CIRCLE OF LIFE 2015 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#284588) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
  • THE LANE VINEYARD BLOCK 1A CHARDONNAY 2017 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#429233) (XD) $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • SOUTHBROOK HEATHER'S HOME VINEYARD RIESLING 2017 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#650135) (D) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review
  • CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SÉMILLON/SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#520627) (XD) - $23.00  89 pts  wine review
  • VASSE FELIX FILIUS CHARDONNAY 2018 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#416511) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
  • REICHSGRAF VON KESSELSTATT KASELER NIES’CHEN RIESLING KABINETT 2016 - VDP Grosse Lage, Mosel, Germany (#940809) (MS) - $27.95  FE
  • HIDDEN BENCH FUMÉ BLANC 2017 - Rosomel Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#068825) (XD) - $29.95  FE  92 pts  wine review
  • KISTLER LES NOISETIERS CHARDONNAY 2017 - Sonoma Coast, California, USA (#251223) (XD) - $99.95
The Lane Vineyard Block 1A Chardonnay 2017 (89 pts)Feudo Antico Biologico Pecorino 2017 (88 pts)

Sparkling Wine:

  • BLUE MOUNTAIN GOLD LABEL BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#206326) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
  • TRIUS BRUT ROSÉ - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#184309) (XD) - $32.95  90 pts  wine review

Dessert Wine:

  • PALATINE HILLS VIDAL ICEWINE 2012 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#614842) (S) (200 mL) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
Palatine Hills Vidal Icewine 2012 (89 pts)


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  • Date publishedMonday, May 6, 2019

Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release May 11, 2019: People's Choice + New Zealand

LCBO Wine Picks: May 11, 2019 VINTAGES Release
The main theme from the upcoming May 11, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release is titled "The People's Choice", while the mini-theme focuses on wines from New Zealand. All of these wines, plus many more will arrive on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme titled "The People's Choice". This feature lists twenty wines that are grouped together as "Customer Favourites", of which five are included among my top wine picks. The lone white is a lovely, minerally Sancerre from Loire that is made with Sauvignon Blanc. The rose from Château Saint Roch is a blend of Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris, and Mourvèdre. Among the red wines, there is a nice, meaty Australian Shiraz that includes 2% Barbera. There is also the latest vintage of the La Ferme Du Mont Première Côte that is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, as well as the Monasterio de las Viñas which consists of Garnacha, Cariñena, and Tempranillo.

Roger & Didier Raimbault Sancerre 2017 (90 pts)Château Saint Roch Le Rosé 2018 (88 pts)

La Ferme Du Mont Première Côte Côtes du Rhône 2017 (88+ pts)Wits End Luna Shiraz 2017 (88 pts)

The mini-theme looks at wines from New Zealand, where producer's these days are fine-tuning the country's wine story by focusing on site selection. Of the ten wines featured, just two are included among my wine recommendations. The first wine is an organic Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, while the second wine is a lovely Pinot Noir from Central Otago.

Rapaura Springs Reserve Pinot Noir 2017 (90 pts)Momo Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (90 pts)

For lovers of red wines, from the fantastic 2015 Bordeaux vintage is the Cap Royal Rouge that consists of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Château Le Boscq is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. From Rhône, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is mostly Grenache with small amounts of Syrah and Mourvèdre completing the blend - all of which was raised entirely in concrete tanks.

Château Le Boscq 2015 (92 pts)Tawse Limestone Ridge-North Estate Bottled Riesling 2016 (91 pts)

Among my white wine picks, the only blend is from Rioja that consists of Viura and other varietals, and also sees some time in barrel. The rest are all single varietal wines, including a Grillo, a barrel fermented Chardonnay, and a dry Riesling from Alsace. For those that prefer sweeter wines, you will enjoy the lovely Riesling from Niagara's Tawse Winery.

Enjoy my wine picks from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS RESERVA GARNACHA / TEMPRANILLO / CARIÑENA 2014 - DOP Cariñena, Spain (#166579) (XD) - $14.95  88 pts  wine review
  • WITS END LUNA SHIRAZ 2017 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#311258) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
  • LA FERME DU MONT PREMIÈRE CÔTE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2017 - AP, France (#251645) (XD) - $18.95  88+ pts  wine review
  • CAP ROYAL ROUGE 2015 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#486761) (XD) - $18.95
  • CREEKSIDE GAMAY 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#646521) (XD) - $19.00  88+ pts  wine review
  • ALPHA BOX & DICE TAROT GRENACHE 2017 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#632612) (XD) - $21.95
  • RAPAURA SPRINGS RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2017 - Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (#645184) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
  • DAMILANO LECINQUEVIGNE BAROLO 2013 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#454488) (XD) - $45.95
  • CHÂTEAU LE BOSCQ 2015 - Cru Bourgeois, AC Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France (#633891) (XD) - $51.95  92 pts  wine review
  • LE PARVIS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#638551) (XD) - $53.95
Creekside Gamay 2017 (88+ pts)

White Wine:

  • FEUDO MACCARI OLLI GRILLO 2017 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#477877) (XD) - $15.95
  • EDGEBASTON CHARDONNAY 2017 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#636019) (XD) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
  • OHH POITOU SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - AP Haut-Poitou, Loire, France (#635854) (XD) - $16.95  88 pts  wine review
  • MOMO ORGANIC SAUVIGNON BLANC 2016 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#009167) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
  • TAWSE LIMESTONE RIDGE-NORTH ESTATE BOTTLED RIESLING 2016 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#431593) (M) - $25.95  91 pts  wine review
  • ROGER & DIDIER RAIMBAULT SANCERRE 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#082255) (XD) - $31.95  90 pts  wine review
  • CVNE MONOPOLE CLÁSICO 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#489583) (XD) - $31.95
  • TRIMBACH RÉSERVE RIESLING 2016 - AC Alsace, France (#247023) (XD) - $34.95  FE
Edgebaston Chardonnay 2017 (88 pts)Ohh Poitou Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (88 pts)

Rosé Wine:

  • CABRIZ ROSÉ 2018 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#030445) (XD) - $13.95  88 pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU SAINT ROCH LE ROSÉ 2018 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#557900) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
  • MIRAVAL ROSÉ 2018 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#342584 / #490870) (XD) - $24.95 / $48.95  90 pts  wine review
Miraval Rosé 2018 (90 pts)Cabriz Rosé 2018 (88 pts)

Sparkling Wine:

  • TAWSE SPARK LIMESTONE RIDGE ORGANIC SPARKLING RIESLING 2016 - Traditional method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#370361) (D) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
  • ANGELS GATE ARCHANGEL BRUT CHARDONNAY 2013 - Traditional method, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#227009) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
Angels Gate Archangel Brut Chardonnay 2013 (90 pts)Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Sparkling Riesling 2016 (89 pts)


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