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  • Date publishedMonday, April 23, 2012

Apr. 28 Wine Picks: Veneto + New Zealand Whites

Cover of April 28 LCBO Vintages release
Here are my picks for the next LCBO Vintages release, which will be in stores on . The main feature in this release are wines from Veneto (Italy), where wines are steeped in tradition and can pair exceptionally well with food. Among the Venetian red wines, the Monte del Frá Tenuta Lena and the Brigaldara made my list and both offer outstanding value at $15.95 and $14.95, respectively.

The secondary feature in this release is on white wines from New Zealand. The grapes Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris normally don't come to mind when thinking of New Zealand white wines, but both of these are worth checking out. Of course, no talk of NZ white wine would be complete without a Sauvignon Blanc, thus, we have a premium Savvy from Two Rivers.

From the rest of the release, we've got a lovely blend from Arnoux & Fils and a Burgundy Pinot Noir from Rochebin. You won't be disappointed with the Marziano Barolo, but perhaps let it rest for a few years.

Enjoy my picks for this week!


Red Wine:
  • MONTE DEL FRÁ TENUTA LENA DI MEZZO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2008 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#272500) (D) - $15.95
  • BRIGALDARA VALPOLICELLA 2010 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#917864) (XD) - $14.95
  • ARNOUX & FILS VACQUEYRAS 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#264663) (D) - $19.95
  • BORSAO TRES PICOS GARNACHA 2009 - DO Campo de Borja, Spain (#273748) (XD) - $19.95
  • DOMAINE DE ROCHEBIN CLOS ST. GERMAIN VIEILLES VIGNES BOURGOGNE 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#264549) (D) - $17.95
  • MARZIANO ABBONA TERLO RAVERA BAROLO 2006 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#067918) (XD) - $42.95

White Wine:
  • CHAVET & FILS LA DAME DE JACQUES COEUR MENETOU-SALON BLANC 2010 - AC, Loire, France (#525048) (XD) - $19.95
  • LAWSON’S DRY HILLS GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#060129) (D) - $17.95
  • SPY VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277723) (MD) - $19.95
  • VINEA GARGANEGA 2010 - IGT Veronese, Veneto, Italy (#230656) (XD) - $13.95
  • TWO RIVERS OF MARLBOROUGH CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $29.95
  • LE CLOS JORDANNE LE CLOS JORDANNE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2009 - Twenty Mile Bench, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#033910) (XD) - $40.00

Rose Wine:
  • WINZERGENOSSENSCHAFT KÖNIGSCHAFFHAUSEN PINOT NOIR ROSÉ TROCKEN 2011 - QbA Baden, Königschaffhauser Vulkanfelsen, Germany (#168237) (D) - $11.95


You can find the rest of the wines from this release here.


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  • Date publishedMonday, April 16, 2012

Joseph Cattin Hatschbourg Pinot Gris 2009 (Alsace) - Wine Review


Purchased this Alsatian Pinot Gris just last month from the Made in France Vintages release. I always enjoy off-dry offerings from Alsace, and this one should be no exception. This white wine was opened Sunday night and went over very well among my guests.

JOSEPH CATTIN HATSCHBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#260240) (M) - $19.95

Label photo of 2009 Joseph Cattin Hatschbourg Pinot Gris from Alsace
Tasting Note:
Aromas of peach, mineral with touches honey and mushroom. Rich, and flavourful with gorgeous peach and honey on the palate, with a light seam of acidity. Finishes a bit spicy. Full-bodied, smooth and very tasty. Enjoyed this with spicy chicken pakoras and chicken masala meatballs in curry. Highly recommended.

Joseph Cattin is an excellent producer of Pinot Gris. You can find my review of their 2008 Pinot Gris here.


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  • Date publishedMonday, April 9, 2012

Konzelmann Select Late Harvest Vidal 2004 (Ontario) - Wine Review

Purchased back in 2007 from the , this fabulous dessert wine was opened, almost to the day, 5 years later.

KONZELMANN SELECT LATE HARVEST VIDAL 2004 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#409474) (MS) (375 mL) - $19.95

Label photo of 2004 Konzelmann Select Late Harvest Vidal from Ontario, Canada
Tasting Note:
Aromas of candied oranges, honey and peach from cork. Soft toasted honey notes, slight citrusy aromas in the glass.Honey, peach, nutmeg and orange flavours on the palate. Light texture. Very sweet for a late harvest. Delicious, but doesn't quite match up to the sweetness of this Cadbury Creme Egg that I'm enjoying.

This wine is no longer available from the LCBO. However, you can purchase a similar, newer vintage wine directly from the winery.


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  • Date publishedMonday, April 9, 2012

Apr. 14 Wine Picks: Argentina + Eco-Friendly Wines

Cover page for April 14 LCBO Vintages release
The next LCBO Vintages release is on , and just in time to restock after Easter and Passover holidays. Titled Heat of the Moment, the major focus in this release is on wines from Argentina.

While the overall release is rather weak, there does seem to be many more wines in the sub-$20 category. From Argentina, we have two intense reds in the CarinaE Malbec and Fabre Cab Sauv. We also have the Grenache-blended Brotte from Rhône, and an Italian Old Vines Primitivo (a.k.a. Zinfandel) who are the masters of this grape varietal.

The secondary feature is on Eco-Friendly wines, and while each region is adopting their own set of best practices, more and more wineries are trending towards making eco-friendly wines. You can read more about this subject on page 19 and 20. The Zuccardi Malbec Rosé is an organic wine, while the Herdade Penedo Gordo is a sustainable product - and both are worth a look.

As with many Vintages products, it's important to buy the day the wine is released, because you may not find it on shelves again until the next vintage (i.e. next year). Enjoy my picks and let me know if you liked any of these!


Red Wine:
  • HERDADE PENEDO GORDO VINHO TINTO 2008 - DOC Alentejo, Portugal (#218339) (XD) - $13.95
  • BROTTE CHÂTEAU DE BORD LA CROIX DE FRÉGÈRE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES LAUDUN 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#264218) (D) - $16.95
  • CARINAE RESERVA MALBEC 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#261735) (XD) - $15.95
  • LA CORTE OLD VINES PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2010 - DOC, Puglia, Italy (#269019) (D) - $15.95
  • FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#261891) (XD) - $14.95
  • PASSADOURO VINHO TINTO 2008 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#267997) (XD) - $21.95
  • NORTON PRIVADA 2008 - Mendoza, Argentina (#148155) (XD) - $24.95

White Wine:
  • MICHEL DELHOMMEAU CUVÉE HARMONIE MUSCADET DE SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2010 - AC, Loire, France (#164624) (XD) - $12.95
  • ST. HALLETT SEMILLON 2006 - Barossa, South Australia, Australia (#658005) (D) - $19.95
  • VINELAND ESTATES CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2010 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#996793) (MD) - $17.95
  • INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER’S SERIES TWO VINEYARDS RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#105387) (D) - $17.95
  • FAMIGLIA BIANCHI CHARDONNAY 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#001461) (XD) - $14.95

Rosé Wine:
  • ZUCCARDI ORGANICA MALBEC ROSÉ 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#271015) (XD) - $12.95

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


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  • Date publishedThursday, April 5, 2012

Beringer Stone Cellars Merlot (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine was received back in February, courtesy of Sandals St. Lucia. I am not expecting much, but, as always, keeping an open mind and was quite pleasantly surprised. I suspect this is the same wine that can be purchased from the LCBO for $13.95.

BERINGER STONE CELLARS MERLOT - California, USA (#462473) (D) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
Slippery cork was pulled out rather easily. Cork aromas of crushed red berries and some prune. In the glass, aromas of ripe red berries, raspberry, plum, licorice, and some earthy elements. Lots of blackberry notes on the palate, mulberry, some spice, and hints of milk chocolate. Sweet core, medium-bodied with chewy ripe tannins. Finishes somewhat hot - alcohol seems higher than the 13.5% on the label. Easy drinking.


  • Date publishedSaturday, March 31, 2012

Eclipse Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2007 (Italy) - Wine Review

Ordering a glass of house wine at a restaurant? Almost unheard of for me, and rarely would I recommend it. However, I really enjoyed a glass of this red wine recently at Mideastro in Vaughan.

ECLIPSE MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2007 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy - $8/glass

Tasting Note:
Aromas of black cherry, fig, pepper and earth. Ripe, dark fruits on the palate with juicy, ripe tannins. Light bodied red wine. It wasn't the ideal to be enjoyed with Panko-crusted Chilean Sea Bass, but wasn't entirely over-bearing either. It did pair well with the double-cut Lamb Chops. Definitely a very good house wine, and the restaurant is top-notch! Wasn't my first time there, and won't be my last.


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  • Date publishedMonday, March 26, 2012

Mar. 31 Wine Picks: Food-Friendly Easter Feasts Wines

The next release of wines from LCBO Vintages is on the and the main feature in this release is on food-friendly wines that go well with feasts.

Among these wines, the Auntsfield Sauvignon Blanc will pair nicely with seafood and light salads, while the off-dry Riesling Spätlese will pair nicely with spicy Asian dishes.

In reds, there are three French wines that are worth a look, with the Grenache-blended Hecht & Bannier that offers impeccable value and is my top pick from the entire release. Also from France, we have two Bordeaux blends - from the great 2009 vintage is the Haut-Surget, and the 2008 La Bourrée. From Australia, we have the Salmagundi which is blended with more than half Shiraz, followed by 4 other grapes.

If you're looking for something sweet, then you will enjoy the Elysium Muscat from California. Want to pop something sweet for a celebration? Go for the sweet Moscato d'Asti, which typically goes over quite well in my circles. A very nice summer patio sipper is the Rosé from our local Tawse Winery. Enjoy my picks for the week!


Red Wine:
  • ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $19.95
  • HECHT & BANNIER CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2008 - AC, Midi, France (#142802) (XD) - $22.95
  • GOTHAM OLD VINE SALMAGUNDI 2008 - Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia (#265942) (XD) - $29.95
  • GÉRARD BERTRAND MINERVOIS SYRAH/GRENACHE 2009 - AP, Midi, France (#952804) (XD) - $15.95
  • CHÂTEAU HAUT-SURGET 2009 - AC Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bordeaux, France (#268680) (XD) - $24.95
  • CHÂTEAU LA BOURRÉE 2008 - AC Côtes de Bordeaux, Castillon, Bordeaux, France (#138800) (D) - $17.95
  • TYRRELL’S RUFUS STONE SHIRAZ 2009 - Heathcote, Victoria, Australia (#091488) (D) - $19.95

White Wine:
  • PETER LEHMANN LAYERS WHITE 2010 - Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (#167171) (XD) - $15.95
  • STUDERT-PRÜM WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2007 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#114777) (M) - $17.95
  • JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER HATSCHBOURG 2009 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#259770) (D) - $19.95
  • VINTAGE INK RITE OF PASSAGE CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#245712) (D) - $16.95
  • AUNTSFIELD ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $19.95

Rosé Wine:
  • TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA ROSÉ 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#172643) (D) - $15.95

Dessert Wine:
  • QUADY ELYSIUM BLACK MUSCAT 2010 - California, USA (#276840) (S) (375 mL) - $14.95

Sparkling Wine:
  • BOERI RIBOTA MOSCATO D’ASTI 2010 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#184978) (S) - $15.95
  • CAVE SPRING CSV BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT Méthode Traditionnelle 2004 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#237198) (XD) - $39.95


All the wines from this release can be found here.


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