Apr. 28 Wine Picks: Veneto + New Zealand Whites

Here are my picks for the next LCBO Vintages release, which will be in stores on April 28. 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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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

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

Purchased back in 2007 from the April 14 Vintages release, 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

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

The next LCBO Vintages release is on April 14th, 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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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.

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

The next release of wines from LCBO Vintages is on the March 31 and the main feature in this release is on food-friendly wines that go well with Easter 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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Anne Boecklin Pinot Gris Réserve 2008 (Alsace) - Wine Review

Purchased this white wine from the Holiday Cheer release back in December as I am big fan of Alsatian Pinot Gris, which is typically made in an off-dry style.

ANNE BOECKLIN PINOT GRIS RÉSERVE 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#106831) (D) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
Cork aromas of orange marmalade and honey. In the glass, more lovely aromas of orange marmalade, plus peach, earth and honey. Lots of peach and honey notes on the palate, with a slight spicy finish. Starts off-dry, but the sweetness dies off at mid-palate and finishes dry with some bitterness. Good acidity. Will pair nicely with the chili chicken and steamed white rice that's on the menu tonight.

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Two Oceans Shiraz 2010 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Received this red wine in a gift pack along with the Sauvignon Blanc back in December and I am quite impressed with the high QPR (Quality-to-Price Ratio) of this Shiraz from South Africa. From the LCBO general list, this is always available.

TWO OCEANS SHIRAZ 2010 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#699249) (D) - $9.95

Tasting Note:

Screw cap. Nose seems closed with ripe red fruits, pepper and oak with more of the same on the palate. Some sweet overtones. Medium-full bodied with crunchy, ripe tannins. Quite nice. A great value at $9.95 and a notch higher than the Yellow Tail Shiraz. Would go well with lamb chops or BBQ chicken with mint chutney.

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Minerality in Wine

I Tried 3 Rocks So That You Don’t Have To.

Today I understand minerality in wine by going directly to the source. What does chalk, river stone and slate actually taste like? Learn the definition of minerality in wine and see if wine sommeliers and wine experts are full of... chalk.


That Rock Looks Delicious from Madeline Puckette on Vimeo.

Slate Minerality in Wine

Slate is commonly associated with riesling and I feel this to be very true when actually licking a slate rock. I encourage you all to lick slate, it’s delicious! Be sure to boil it to remove all the dangerous microbes. I don’t recommend making yourself sick.

Chalk Minerality in Wine

Chalk is feels like licking a hard sponge that sucks all the moisture out of your mouth. The flavor of chalk reminds me mildly of a very dry Champagne or Brut Zero (a Champagne with no added dosage..aka sugar). However the drying sensation reminds me more of Italian Wines with very strong tannins such as Barolo, Barbaresco and Chianti.

River Stone Minerality in Wine

River stone is supposed to remind people of chenin blanc, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. The flavor of a river stone is so gross and offensive I don’t feel comfortable talking about it. Please don’t make me try it again. Oh! And! In case you’re curious... You too can buy a bag of rocks for only $6 on amazon.com.


Getting Serious About the Definition of Minerality in Wine

Minerality is neither a single compound or the vines ability to “suck the minerals out of the soil.” It is in fact a combination of all of many different aspects including esters, trace minerals, acidity level and a wines’ alcohol level. To define minerality is like trying to define why someone is tall, there’s too many genes at play that affect someone’s height. So, when wine writers write “Minerality” they are trying to put a name on a multi-faceted characteristic that science doesn’t have a definition for. Instead, as a wine drinker focus more on what you like about a wine in particular and observe the following list of wines that are known for their mineral-like character.

• Riesling from Germany as “Flinty or Slatey”
• Chardonnay from Chablis as “Chalky”
• Sangiovese from Italy (aka Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo) as “Clay” or “Brick”
• Assyrtiko from Greece as “Gritty” or “Concrete”
• Red Bordeaux from France as “Gravelly”
• Pinot Noir from Burgundy as “Rustic” “Barnyard” or “Forest-floor”

Author of this post: Madeline Puckette of WineFolly

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Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2009 (Australia) - Wine Review

This red wine was my first purchase of 2012. Acquired from the 'Smart Buys' release in January, this multi-award winner offers great value.

JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ 2009 - Padthaway, South Australia, Australia (#673897) (D) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Screw top. Ripe red fruits, blackberry and currants aromas with touch of barnyard. Uncomplicated and quite straightforward with currant and blackberry flavours on the palate. Fresh tasting with very nicely integrated oak, not your typical big Aussie Shiraz. Doesn't have the legs to stand up to spicy goat curry, but would work well mildly-spiced rack of lamb. A good, everyday, house-style of Shiraz.

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Mar. 17 Wine Picks: Spanish Wine + Bubbly

The next Vintages wine release is on March 17 and is titled "Flavour Fiesta", featuring Spanish wines. I am a big fan of Spanish wines and four of them made my list of wine picks.

The first is the Monastrell (with 10% Garnacha) at $13.95 offers great value and will pair nicely with chicken or lamb curry dishes. Second pick is the dry white Verdejo, known for it's aromatics and bright acidity, this will pair nicely with seafood dishes and tomato-based dishes. Third pick is also a dry white, the Peciña is made with the Viura grape (a.k.a. Macabeo) and reminds me of a Chardonnay, but with more floral notes. This one can be aged a few years. The fourth and final pick from Spain is the Adoremus Tinta de Toro, made with the classic Spanish grape - Tempranillo. A great wine that will pair nicely with rack of lamb.

I'm not a big fan of Sparkling wines, or "bubbly" as it's sometimes called, and the secondary feature in this release was not terribly interesting for me. However, the Brut Rosé sparkler from Burgundy is intriguing.

From the rest of the release, the 2009 St. Hallett Shiraz (#535104) is a standout, but will set you back $29.95. Also, if you like sweet wine, try the Sauternes 2005 Le Dauphin de Guiraud (#190496, $24.95) or the Botrytis Semillon (below) - I think you will enjoy it!

Here are the rest of my picks from this release. Cheers!

Red Wine:

• COLUMBIA CREST H3 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, USA (#210047) (XD) - $19.95
• OLIVARES ALTOS DE LA HOYA MONASTRELL 2009 - DO Jumilla, Spain (#163154) (XD) - $13.95
• WAKEFIELD SHIRAZ 2009 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#943787) (XD) - $17.95
• MAS D’AUZIERÈS LES ÉCLATS 2009 - AC Coteaux du Languedoc, Midi, France (#271742) (XD) - $16.95
• VEGA SAUCO ADOREMUS TINTA DE TORO 2004 - DO Toro, Spain (#268813) (XD) - $19.95
• XUMEK SINGLE VINEYARD SYRAH 2009 - Zonda Valley, San Juan, Argentina (#265223) (XD) - $15.95

White Wine:

• ALKOOMI RIESLING 2009 - Frankland River, Western Australia, Australia (#269290) (XD) - $16.95
• SEÑORIO DE P. PECIÑA CHOBEO DE PECIÑA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#266866) (XD) - $17.95
• CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY 2010 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#328559) (XD) - $14.95
• FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#001552) (XD) - $24.95
• VEGA MURILLO VERDEJO 2010 - DO Rueda, Spain (#268797) (XD) - $15.95

Sparkling Wine:

• LEFÈVRE RÉMONDET BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - AC, Burgundy, France (#265306) (D) - $15.95

Dessert Wine:

• DE BORTOLI NOBLE ONE BOTRYTIS SEMILLON 2008 - New South Wales, Australia (#917252) (S) (375 mL) - $29.95

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

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Château Ampélia 2005 (Bordeaux) - Bottle 2 of 3 Wine Review

Ordered this red wine back in February 2006, in lots of 3 bottles from the Vintages Bordeaux Futures program and arrived at my doorstep in March of 2008. The intent was to experience the evolution of a wine at various stages as it ages in the bottle. The 2005 Bordeaux's were remarked as possibly greatest vintage ever!

The first bottle was, ironically, opened on my wife's birthday in June of 2010 and based on my notes it looks like I did enjoy it. The second bottle was opened this evening, and here is my review...

CHÂTEAU AMPÉLIA 2005 - Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux, France (#500330) (XD) - $20

Tasting Note:
Some oak resin aromas from cork. Earthy, cedar, dark fruit, and some plum aromas. Fairly straightforward on the palate with dark and red fruits, finishing with pepper and some mocha notes. Full bodied wine. Tannins integrating nicely, but still need more time. This should drink well for at least another 4-5 years. Will be enjoying this with homemade Chicken Enchiladas.

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Hinterbrook Riesling 2010 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Purchased this white wine from the 'Smart Buys' release back in January. This Riesling is made in an off-dry style and is definitely a smart buy if you like wines on the sweet side.

HINTERBROOK RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada (#270512) (MD) - $17.95

Tasting Note:
Screw-top. Aromas: tropical fruit, lemon citrus, stone fruits, mineral and petrol. Tropical fruit, lemon-citrus, slightly tangy on the palate. Finishes with honey and some mineral notes. Deliciously medium-dry. Very good wine to sip on its own or pair with mild-cheeses.

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Mar. 3 Wine Picks: Made in France + Carmenère

The next LCBO Vintages release is on March 3 and there are lots of great buys. I am big fan of French wines, and the major feature in this release focuses on 13 benchmark-setting grapes from wines Made in France.

Of the French wines that made my list, the Moulin-à-Vent is made using the Gamay grape, which you see quite commonly planted here in Ontario, but is actually not planted widely anywhere else. The Crozes-Hermitage is a fabulous Rhône-style Syrah (a.k.a Shiraz), while the Vacqueyras is a blend of mostly Grenache and some Syrah.

The secondary wine feature of this release is on a grape varietal that is a favourite of mine - Carmenère. Chile does this grape better than anyone else and two wines emerged from this release that are worth tasting: Concha y Toro Terrunyo Block 27 Carmenère 2008 (#562892, $29.95) and the Misiones de Rengo Gran Reserva Cuvée Carmenère 2010 (#264937, $19.95).

Also featured in this release, and just in time for St. Patrick's Day, are a selection of fine Irish Whiskies which you can peruse at your leisure from the magazine here. Enjoy my picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• DELAS FRÈRES LES LAUNES CROZES-HERMITAGE 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#701359) (XD) - $20.95
• DOMAINE DES AILES MOULIN-À-VENT 2010 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#183442) (XD) - $16.95
• PERRIN & FILS LES CHRISTINS VACQUEYRAS 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#973453) (XD) - $23.95
• CHÂTEAU LA BRIE PRESTIGE 2009 - AC Bergerac, Southwest, France (#061994) (XD) - $13.95
• THE WATCHER SHIRAZ 2008 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#219196) (XD) - $19.95
• THE GRINDER PINOTAGE 2010 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#269076) (XD) - $14.95

White Wine:

• JOSEPH CATTIN HATSCHBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#260240) (M) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU PERRON BLANC 2009 - AC Graves, Bordeaux, France (#226126) (XD) - $17.95
• GRAY MONK RIESLING 2009 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#273466) (D) - $18.95
• STONEY RIDGE WARREN CLASSIC CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#224113) (XD) - $16.95

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Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 54 Syrah 2008 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine was purchased from the October 29 Vintages release and opened tonight with the idea that it would still evolve and taste pretty good on the second day. Why the second day? Because the food pairing on Sunday night will match better than what's on the menu tonight, coupled with the fact that I haven't had a sip of wine since Tuesday. :)

CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER’S LOT 54 SYRAH 2008 - Los Brujos Vineyard, San Javier Valley, Maule Valley, Chile (#227496) (XD) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Aromas of mulberry and black pepper from cork. Ripe blackberry, pepper, earth, bacon and touch of mocha aromas in the glass. Mulberry, ripe red fruits on the palate. Full-bodied. Alcohol comes to fore at mid-palate of long finish. Ripe tannins. Will reward ageing another 2-3 years, but definitely enjoyable now.

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Belje Grasevina 2009 (Croatia) - Wine Review

To celebrate my birthday weekend, I wanted to remind myself that even though I am a year older, it's important to continue to try new things - wine-related or not. Life is too short!

As such, I've chosen an off-dry white wine that originates from Croatia. This will be my first time trying a white wine from Croatia - looking through my database I see that I did taste a red from Croatia back in 2002!

Made using an ancient variety of white grape called 'Grasevina' - which is also known as Welschriesling in Austria and not related to Rhine Riesling - this varietal is notably found in Hungary, Croatia, Austria and Czech Republic. This wine was purchased from the Feb 4. Vintage release.

BELJE GRAŠEVINA 2009 - Suho Vrhunsko, Croatia (#264200) (D) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Cork smells fresh and infused with sweet syrup. Water cress, wet grass, green apple, and touch of sweet citrus aromas. Buttered popcorn, toffee, dried apricots and some lychee. Weighty white with floral notes on the long finish. Different and yummy. This would go well with a mild cheddar.

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Feb. 18 Wine Picks: Customer Favourites + Tasting Terroir + Kosher Wines

The next Vintages release is nearly upon us and will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on February 18. The main feature of this release is "22 Customer Favourites" and is quite self-explanatory. I honestly didn't find anything too exciting in this part of the magazine and, so, moved to the sub-feature titled "Tasting Terroir".

The Bachelder series of Chardonnays from 3 different terroirs - Niagara, Oregon, Bourgogne offer a very interesting opportunity to taste the same varietal from 3 different parts of the world crafted by same winemaker, from the same vintage. Each one costs $34.95 - buy all 3 and taste the difference!

White wines in this release impressed me more than the reds. The two that stood out for me were the Mike Weir Riesling and the Tawse Chardonnay, both locally made. Among the red wines is another locally made wine - the Creekside Laura's Red, made using the classic Bordeaux-style blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

I enjoy trying single vineyard wines because terroir plays such an influential role at the vineyard. As such, the Single Vineyard Chardonnay and Malbec from Xumek (Argentina) are both very interesting wines to try.

In this issue, there's also a premium selection of Kosher-certified certified wines for Purim and Passover. Enjoy my picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• XUMEK SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC 2009 - Zonda Valley, San Juan, Argentina (#265215) (XD) - $15.95
• CREEKSIDE LAURA’S RED 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117960) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINES DAMIENS TRADITION MADIRAN 2009 - AC, Southwest, France (#268482) (D) - $16.95
• SARONSBERG ART SPACE SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2009 - WO Coastal Region, South Africa (#263590) (XD) - $14.95

White Wine:

• MIKE WEIR RIESLING 2008 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#229286) (MD) - $14.95
• XUMEK SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2010 - Zonda Valley, San Juan, Argentina (#265231) (XD) - $15.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089037) (XD) - $19.95
• VALMIÑOR ALBARIÑO 2010 - O’Rosal, DO Rias Baixas, Spain (#266924) (XD) - $15.95

Sparkling Wine:

• DOMAINE FRANÇOIS SCHWACH BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE 2007 - AC, Alsace, France (#268060) (XD) - $18.95

Full list of wines from the February 18th Vintages release can be found here.

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Red Knot Shiraz 2008 (Australia) - Wine Review

Received this one last November and was surprised to see the unique cap. Very interesting top with a string-like wrap that you peel off before you simply pull out the re-sealable plastic cork. I've never seen a cap like this!

RED KNOT SHIRAZ 2008 - South Australia, Australia (#619395) - $15.95 (on sale now)

Tasting Note:
Interesting resin cork. Ripe raspberry, herbal spice aromas. Straightforward and uncomplicated Shiraz with gobs of red berries, along with cedar oak flavours. Chewy, ripe tannins. Medium-bodied. Good, easy-drinking AU Shiraz that I'll be enjoying with chicken meatballs in masala curry sauce.

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Wine Reviews from 2012 Niagara Icewine Festival

During the 2012 Niagara Icewine Festival, I had the opportunity to taste many wines. Most of them were (obviously) sweet, but I was able to taste a few dry table red wines and white wines. Below, you will find  tasting notes of some of the wines I tasted.

The best Icewine of the bunch was, by far, the Chateau des Charmes Riesling Icewine. Among dry wines, I look forward to getting my hands on the Legends Estate Shiraz and serving with goat curry. I'm also looking forward to the GreenLane Cabernet Sauvignon, when it's ready.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ALIGOTÉ 2009 - Estate Btld, VQA (#284950) (XD) - $10.65
Crisp apple, floral, grassy. A tinge of butter. Light, easy drinking white wine reminds me of a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and an unoaked Chardonnay. Quite nice.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES RIESLING 2008 - Estate Btld, VQA (#061499) (D) - $12.55
Lovely floral aromas. Mineral, slate and petrol on the palate. Crisp acidity allows it to be paired with meals. Off-dry and delicious.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES GENERATION SEVEN WHITE - VQA (#197988) (D) - $13.95

Soft, easy drinking white wine featuring aromas and flavours of kiwi, grapefruit and floral notes. Good "food wine" with balanced acidity.

CHÂTEAU  DES CHARMES GAMAY NOIR 2008 - Estate Btld, VQA (#057349) (XD) - $12.55

Smoke, dark fruits, white pepper, herbal aromas with a touch of cherry. All follow through on palate, with dark fruits dominating; pepper on the mid-palate. Medium-bodied red wine.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES 'OLD VINES' CABERNET-MERLOT 2006 - Estate Btld, VQA (#222372) (XD) - $19.95
Notes of currant, cassis, mint, oak and chocolate. Smooth and silky tannins make their presence felt. Tastes expensive.

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES RIESLING ICEWINE 2007 - VQA, Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard (S) (375 mL) - $65.00

Seductive aromas of honey and apricot that follow through on the palate. Very good acidity that will allow this Icewine to be paired with a meal. Outstanding offering that is excellent right now, and could rested for up to 5 years. Buy online

CATTAIL CREEK SELECT LATE HARVEST VIDAL 2008 - VQA Ontario (MS) (375 mL) - $20.95
Mild honey, apricot, petrol aromas and flavours. Acidity a touch strong, providing harsh experience.

PONDVIEW VIDAL ICEWINE 2010 - VQA (S) (200 mL) - $25.15

Strong burnt honey aromas and flavours leaving tingling sensation in mouth. Some apricot notes. Strong acidity. Serve with mild blue cheese.

PONDVIEW CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2009 - VQA (S) (200 mL) - $35.10
Strong nose of red berries - strawberry and raspberry dipped in sugar. Pairs well with chocolate and acidity strong enough for meal pairing. Buy here

RIVERVIEW CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2010 - VQA (S) (375 mL) - $59.95

Full of strawberry and honey notes. Not too sweet; serve with milk chocolate or light cheese. Buy direct

JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2007 - VQA (#264325) (S) (200 mL) - $19.95 (from JT website)

Aromas of raspberry. Intense flavours of sweet red berries interplay with some raisin and fig notes. A deal at $20.

PELLER ESTATES VIDAL and OAK AGED VIDAL ICEWINE - VQA (S)

Both were outstanding - delicious honey, apricots, mineral/petrol, with the Oak Aged having more peppery, spicy notes.

GREENLANE RIESLING ICEWINE 2008 - VQA (S) (200 mL) - $29.95

Honey, citrus and candied lime aromas. Lovely honey and candied fruits on the palate. Balanced wine that pairs well with (blue) cheese.

GREENLANE GREETINGS CABERNET MERLOT 2007 - VQA (#256271) (XD) - $12.95
Cassis, herbal, spicy notes. Ripe, round wine that has some tannin grip, but is easy drinking. Would match well with a wide variety of foods.

GREENLANE GREETINGS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - VQA (XD) - $23.95
Dark fruit, spice and hints of chocolate. Very tannic and needs more time to develop, but has excellent potential.

LEGENDS ESTATES SHIRAZ RESERVE 2006 - VQA (XD) - $19.95
Lots of smoky, pepper notes. Full bodied. Beautiful Shiraz made for lamb. Buy here

LEGENDS ESTATES VIDAL ICEWINE 2006 - VQA (S) (375 mL) - $39.95
Thick and syrupy with the usual honey, apricot aromas and flavours. A little low on sweetness for my taste.

MAGNOTTA VIDAL HARVEST MOON 2010 - VQA (MS) (750 mL) - $9.95
Medium-sweet wine with orange and tangerine on the nose. Passionfruit and apple on the palate. Tangy. Buy here

MAGNOTTA CANADIAN PASSITO VIDAL 2006 - VQA (MS) (375 mL) - $14.95
Another medium-sweet offering with melon, apricot, honey, floral and some raisin notes. Pair with cheese.

MAGNOTTA VIDAL ICEWINE 2008 - VQA (#587154) (S) (375 mL) - $29.95
Fabulous Icewine with honey, toffee, apricots and peach. Suitable for cheese and desserts. Great value!

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Henry of Pelham Reserve Off-Dry Riesling 2009 (Ontario) - Wine Review

This off-dry white wine is a perennial favourite of mine, as I've purchased the 2007 vintage 3 times (twice in 2008, once in 2009) and enjoyed it each and every time. Purchased recently from the Jan 21 LCBO Vintages release, this promises to be just as good...

HENRY OF PELHAM RESERVE OFF-DRY RIESLING 2009 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#557165) (MD) - $15.95

Tasting Note:
Candied lime, citrus, mineral, wax and petrol aromas. Tangy citrus, lime, with a slight touch of sweetness on the palate. Bright seam of acidity cuts through the middle. Off-dry. Could be cellared a few more years, but is definitely delicious now. Recommended if you like wines that are slightly sweet. Will be enjoying this with spinach & potatoes.

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California Cabs + Greek Revival: Feb. 4 LCBO Vintages Wine Picks

The next LCBO Vintages release is on Saturday, February 4th and the major feature in this release is titled "California Cabs". I find most Cabernets Sauvignons from California to be relatively high-priced and don't provide high QPR (quality-price ratio). However, the Sebastiani Cab Sauv did make my list of top wine picks.

Secondary feature of this release focuses on popular varietals from Greece. I've always enjoyed Greek wines and believe you will too! Some grape varietals to discover are the white Assyrtiko and Moschofilero (see Tselopos below), and the red grape Agiorgitiko.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, some sweet wine that won't break the bank would be nice. I've chosen two such wines that will satisfy you and/or your partner's sweet tooth.

The rest of the release features a few quality wines, including the 'Wine of the Month' Plunkett Fowles Shiraz. Jip Jip Rocks also made my list of wine picks for the second time in three releases.

If you try any of these, send me a note or post a comment and tell me what you thought. Enjoy my picks for this week! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• PLUNKETT FOWLES STONE DWELLERS SHIRAZ 2008 - Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria, Australia (#265967) (XD) - $19.95
• MAETIERRA DOMINUM QUATRO PAGOS 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#246660) (XD) - $19.95
• JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ/CABERNET 2009 - Padthaway, South Australia, Australia (#186114) (D) - $16.95
• LA POSTA ANGEL PAULUCCI VINEYARD MALBEC 2008 - Mendoza, Argentina (#075515) (XD) - $15.95
• ALBINO ARMANI EGLE RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2008 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#247916) (XD) - $15.95
• SEBASTIANI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#640573) (D) - $19.95

White Wine:

• BELJE GRAŠEVINA 2009 - Suho Vrhunsko, Croatia (#264200) (D) - $16.95
• JOSEPH CATTIN RIESLING 2010 - AC, Alsace, France (#259788) (XD) - $14.95
• SMALL GULLY THE FORMULA HELEN’S HARMONY VIOGNIER 2008 - Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia (#269332) (XD) - $19.95
• TSELEPOS MOSCHOFILERO MANTINIA 2010 - PDO, Greece (#724583) (D) - $16.95

Icewine:

• FLOURISH VIDAL ICEWINE 2008 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#222356) (S) (200 mL) - $17.95

Dessert Wine:

• COTNARI GRASA DE COTNARI 2009 - DOCC, Romania (#073205) (MS) - $12.95

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

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2007 Concha y Toro Winemaker's Lot 148 Carmenère (Chile) - Review

It's chicken fajita night. To celebrate, I turned to one of my favourite grapes: Carmenère. This little-known varietal is making its trademark in Chile and gaining popularity. Purchased in August, 2009 from the "Chile's Brilliant Showstoppers" release, it needed to be aged to soften the tannins and is now ready for primetime.

CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER'S LOT 148 CARMENÈRE 2007 - Las Pataguas Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile (#030957) (XD) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Cork smells of plums, dark fruit and hints of raisin. Inky, smoky, chocolate, cassis, pomegranate and hints of mocha aromas from the glass. Cassis, herbal, white pepper, mocha, milk chocolate notes on the palate. Full bodied red with ripe tannins. Could be aged another 1-2 years, but can be savoured today. Recommended.

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2012 Niagara Icewine Festival - Review

Wow! What a weekend. By the time we were done mid-Saturday afternoon, I could not believe we were Icewine-d out! Here's why:

Our first stop was Château des Charmes for their mini Icewine glazed New York-style cheesecake and mocha cheesecake. Both were delicious and paired extremely well with the Icewine cocktail made with fruit juices. We also took in a tour of the facilities as we heard it is one of the best in the region. We heard correctly - it is very good and Rose is an excellent and entertaining tour guide. We also tasted quite a few of the wines and was extremely impressed with the 2007 Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard Riesling Icewine. Full review of this fantastic Icewine and other wines we tasted along the tour will be available in another post later this week.

Cellar at Château des Charmes

The next stop was nearby at Cattail Creek Estate Winery for some butter chicken. In a word - disappointing. The butter chicken was nothing like I had seen before - it was dry and mixed with rice, and I did not see/taste the mango chutney. It was also paired with the 2008 Select Late Harvest Vidal (the Official Icewine Festival booklet states 2006 Barrel Fermented Vidal Icewine). What happened? Seems like everything was off base here. Off to PondView Estate Winery...

"Fire and Ice" Wine Jelly

Two Icewines - Cabernet Franc in chocolate cup, and Vidal in glass. Both were very delicious. The Vidal Icewine was paired with a slice of baguette topped with blue cheese. The surprise was a cucumber topped with some cream (soft cheese?) and "Fire and Ice" wine jelly. Everything here was tasty with top-notch presentation!

Next up - Riverview Cellars Estate Winery for some homemade biscotti, and skewers of banana, strawberry & marshmallow - all dipped in a fountain of Belgian chocolate. Messy, but tasty. The Cab Franc Icewine was delicious, but it's flavours were drowned out by the chocolate. It was busy here! I also experienced for the first time the glass holder attached to the plate - it works, but I was nervous the whole time. :)

Icewine Marshmallow

Since we had some time, we made an unplanned visit to Peller Estates Winery for Icewine and marshmallows and wow! This was a hot spot, lots of people everywhere. Marshmallows were large, and took no time to crisp. How did they do that? Two Icewines were served - Vidal and the Oak Aged. Both were delicious!

Our final winery visit of the day was Jackson Triggs. Here, we sampled a few table wines, followed by the 2007 Cabernet Franc Icewine and the 2007 Delaine Vineyard Riesling Icewine. Both were impressive (and on sale)!

By now, we were quite Icewine-d out, but still had to check out the main event: The Icewine Village. Located on one block of Queen St. in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the street was buzzing with people sipping Icewine as they mingled outdoors from booth to booth and shop to shop. Many (if not all) Niagara-region wineries were represented. The ice sculptures were cool, but I felt a little bit more could have been done to make it more festive - perhaps some lights or colourful decorations?

Ice Sculpture at the Icewine Village, Niagara-on-the-Lake

On Day 2, as we made our way back home, we stopped at GreenLane Estate Winery for some gourmet grilled cheese. These two grilled cheese - one gorgonzola, the other cheddar - paired very well with their 2008 Riesling Icewine and red wine (2007 Cabernet Merlot?). Even though they were small-ish, they were very flavourful and filling.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Then, we made an unexpected stop at Legends Estates Winery for pulled lamb souvlaki. Wow! Another great appetizer that paired perfectly with their Reserve Shiraz, not so much with the Sauvignon Blanc. The Icewine for dessert was icing on the cake.

For our final stop, we visited Magnotta Winery for three sweet wines, paired with the classic: cheese. Amanda, our host for the tasting was very knowledgeable about the wines and winemaking process - you can tell she loves wine! We tasted the 2010 Vidal Harvest Moon, 2006 Passito Vidal, and 2007 Riesling Icewine. All three were delicious and paired well with the 3 cheeses offered: cheddar, friulano and blue cheese.

That's it for my review of the 2012 Niagara Icewine Festival. The festival will run one more weekend on January 28-29. If you enjoy Icewine, I highly recommend you go because the food and wine was fabulous.

You can purchase Discovery Passes on-site at any of the participating wineries. If you can hold back the urge, buy only 1 Pass and share the 6 tastings with your partner or loved one OR buy 2 passes and share 12 tastings. The weather looks like it will be pretty good this weekend too! Enjoy!

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Australia + Taste Treats: Jan. 21 Wine Picks

The second Vintages release of 2012 will be in LCBO stores across Ontario on January 21. Primary feature of this release is on Australia. However, I found the secondary feature titled "Taste Treats" to be much more interesting.

Taste Treats is about discovering 6 great grapes - Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Mencía, Monastrell (a.k.a. Mourvèdre), Montepulciano and Petit Verdot. Each of these grapes has its own style and should be discovered on their own (i.e. not blended) so you can taste what each has to offer. Five of these grapes made my wine picks (the Pétalos from Spain is made using Mencía).

The rest of this release has a few good value wines, including the 13th Street Merlot. I give much credit to Nero d'Avola because this was the grape that first got me into wine - it's worth discovering.

Enjoy my picks for this week. Let me know your thoughts if you taste any of these. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• 13TH STREET MERLOT 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#270504) (XD) - $17.95
• CANICATTI AQUILAE NERO D'AVOLA 2008 - IGT Sicilia, Italy (#218503) (D) - $15.95
• CONCHA Y TORO SERIE RIBERAS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Marchigue, Ribera del Tinguiririca, Chile (#256693) (XD) - $14.95
• IGNACIO MARIN OLD VINE GARNACHA 2008 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#214205) (D) - $15.95
• TALAMONTI TRE SAGGI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2008 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#204016) (D) - $15.95
• DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS PÉTALOS 2009 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#675207) (XD) - $22.95
• SANTA CAROLINA BARRICA SELECTION PETIT VERDOT 2009 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#007484) (XD) - $14.95

White Wine:

• JEAN GEILER LIEU-DIT VOGELGARTEN PINOT GRIS 2009 - AC Alsace, France (#259739) (MD) - $17.95
• SPICE ROUTE CHENIN BLANC 2009 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#174623) (XD) - $17.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM RESERVE OFF-DRY RIESLING 2009 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#557165) (MD) - $15.95
• WEINGUT ZAHEL RIEDENCUVÉE GRÜNER VELTLINER 2010 - Wiener Lagen, Austria (#181594) (XD) - $15.95

Full list of wines from the Jan. 21 release is here.

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2010 Domaine de Rimauresq Rosé (Provence, France) - Wine Review

Who says you can't enjoy a rosé in the middle of Winter when it feels like -22°C outside? This rosé wine was purchased last December from the "Holiday Cheer" release.

DOMAINE DE RIMAURESQ ROSÉ Cru Classé 2010 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#226647) (XD) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
Beautiful peach hue. Mineral, orange, lemon, and citrus aromas. Unexpected spicy flavours to start, followed by floral and citrus tones, and finishing with orange blossom nuances. Well made, dry rosé. Will be enjoying this with bhinda (video with Okra recipe, we also add potatoes).

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2009 Chateau des Charmes Generation Seven Red (Ontario) - Wine Review

Wanted to open an Italian wine to pair with vegetable spinach lasagna that's on the menu tonight, but since I didn't have anything ready to open, I decided to go with something else that was stylistically lighter. It happened to be local...

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES GENERATION SEVEN RED 2009 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#198036) (D) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
Screw-top and packaged in a clear bottle. Made from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot and hint of Gamay Noir. Bright red fruit aromas turn to dark fruit as it warms up in the glass (this was pulled directly from the cellar and opened). Dark berries, blackberry aromas with hints of oak. Blackberry with hints of licorice and spice on the palate. Light- to medium-bodied with ripe fruit and tannins, this is a smooth and easy drinking red that is ready to drink now. Will be enjoying this with vegetable spinach lasagna.

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2011 Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa) - Wine Review

Received this white wine as a gift over the holidays. Typically, Sauvignon Blancs are meant to be opened while still young, and this one is no exception.

TWO OCEANS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#340380) (D) - $9.95

Tasting Note:
Screw-top cap (which doesn't necessarily mean cheap or low quality). Classic gooseberry, grass, nettle aromas, with a touch of mineral, petrol and melon. Gooseberry, kiwi, lemon/lime citrus on the palate. Off-dry and quite the nice sipper. Provides really good value at this price point. Will be enjoying this with spinach and potatoes (similar recipe) because the saltiness of this dish should pair well with the grippy, lip-smacking quality of Savvy's.

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Smart Buys: Jan. 7 LCBO Vintages Wine Picks

It's been 1 year since I began this blog and I have enjoyed every moment. A BIG THANK YOU to all of my growing number of supporters and followers - you mean a lot to me! If you're enjoying my posts, send me note. If you think I can do better in some aspect, let me know! I would love to hear from you.

Without further ado, here are my wine picks for the first Vintages release of 2012 to help you replenish your wine stocks that may have been depleted over the holidays.

The annual "Smart Buys" release will be out in LCBO stores on January 7. I had difficulty paring down my picks as there were lots of good "value wines".

Among the reds, the Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz made my picks at least once in 2011, but I never purchased it. This time, I think I will. If you're looking to cellar something for a few years, go for the LaGrange (Bordeaux). I purchased the 1999 vintage Cappellaccio back in 2004, and recall it being quite good. The 2005 appears just as tempting.

In whites, try something new & sweet with the Huxelrebe grape from Germany. Something a little less sweet is the outstanding Hinterbrook Riesling that won Gold at the 2011 All Canadian Wine Championships. Even drier are the Calamus Cosmic White and the Stephansberg Riesling. If you want something bone dry, the Chablis is your best bet among my picks.

If you're into Ports, the vintage Fonseca/Zeller offers outstanding value and is definitely one to try. Enjoy my wine picks this week and beyond into 2012!


Red Wine:

• JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ 2009 - Padthaway, South Australia, Australia (#673897) (D) - $16.95
• RIVERA CAPPELLACCIO RISERVA AGLIANICO 2005 - DOC Castel del Monte, Puglia, Italy (#984120) (XD) - $18.95
• CHÂTEAU LA CROIX DE QUEYNAC 2009 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#138636) (XD) - $14.95
• CHÂTEAU LAGRANGE 2008 - AC Lussac Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#230391) (XD) - $19.95
• URBAN UCO MALBEC/TEMPRANILLO 2010 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#166397) (XD) - $13.95

White Wine:

• HINTERBROOK RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada (#270512) (MD) - $17.95
• ANSELMANN HUXELREBE AUSLESE 2009 - Pfalz, Germany (#681445) (MS) - $17.95
• CALAMUS COSMIC WHITE 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#255893) (D) - $14.95
• DOMAINE HUBERT REYSER STEPHANSBERG RIESLING 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#118240) (D) - $19.95
• DOMAINE DU CHARDONNAY CHABLIS 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#183574) (XD) - $19.95

Port Wine:

• JOSÉ MARIA DA FONSECA & VAN ZELLER VINTAGE PORT 2003 - DOC Douro, Btld. 2005, Portugal (#638924) (S) - $19.95

Full list of wines from the Jan. 7 release is here.

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