Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
The next LCBO Vintages release continues the recent promotion California wines - a trend that looks like it will last the entire month of March go into the beginnng of April with the California Wine Fair. The last release focused on the latest Trends in California, while this edition features wines from some of California's most iconic names.
You really can't go wrong with any of the 18 wines that are featured, while, of course, some will offer better value than others. For me, the 2009 Calera de Villiers Vineyard Pinot Noir is one worth pursuing. If you'd like, also get the 2009 Calera Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir (#058966, $49.95) and compare with the de Villiers Vineyard - same winery, same grape, same vintage, but different vineyard within the Mount Harlen AVA (American Viticultural Area).
The secondary focus in this release is on Classic Euro white wines - Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewürztraminer are the three classic varietals. From this portion of the release, only the German Gewürztraminer Spätlese made the cut. Also in this release are three Irish Whiskies for St. Patrick's Day, and a maple-syrup-infused whisky from Quebec.
From the rest of the release, we have a 2009 Château de la Dauphine from Bordeaux that is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, and the 2010 Château Hauchat Bordeaux that is 100% Merlot. From the fabulous 2010 southern-Rhone vintage, we have a red wine from Domaine des Amadieu that is made with 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre. The Antinori is one to cellar away for at least few years and consists of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.
New wines from this release will be in stores on . Enjoy my picks! Cheers!
Red Wine:
CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2010 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $14.95
CHÂTEAU LES ARMES DE BRANDEAU CUVÉE DE LA TRILOGIE 2009 - AC Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#308445) (XD) - $16.95
DOMAINE DES AMADIEU CUVÉE DES GARRIGUES CAIRANNE 2010 - AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#310060) (XD) - $17.95
FAMILIA MAYOL MALBEC 2009 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#301234) (D) - $18.95
Purchased this fabulous red wine from the August 18, 2012 Vintages release. Comprised of Syrah and Grenache, and 15% Carignan, this is a tremendous value from the outstanding 2010 Rhône vintage. that is drinking great now! I can only hope you bought this back in August when I recommended it, because it's essentially not available any longer.
DOMAINE LES GRANDS BOIS CUVÉE PHILIPPINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#286344) (XD) - $17.95
Tasting Note:
Oak and rubber aromas from cork. Medium intensity violet, lavender, blackberries, crushed black fruits and hints of oak aromas from the glass. Medium-full bodied with blackfruits, garrigue, mint and undertones of cocoa on the palate. Oak comes through on the long, smooth finish. Mouth-watering acidity with juicy, ripe tannins that are well-integrated. Nicely balanced throughout, with good structure and clarity. Recommended buy (if you can get your hands on it).
I had the pleasure of tasting some new wines from the Hope Family Wines portfolio.
The Hope family arrived in Paso Robles (California) in 1978 and current President Austin Hope, at the age of 8 years, began learning in the vineyards alongside his father, Chuck Hope.
In the late 1980's, the Hope Family began selling their grapes to Chuck Wagner of the famous Caymus Vineyards, to produce Wagner's second label - Liberty School. In the mid-90's, the Hope Family acquired the Liberty School label from Chuck Wagner.
Hope Family Wines now encompasses five brands: Liberty School, Treana (est. 1996 and symbolizes the 3 natural elements: the sun, the soil and the ocean), Austin Hope (high-end, hand-crafted wines inspired by northern Rhône), Candor (multi-vintage Zinfandel and Merlot) and Troublemaker (multi-vintage GSM-blends).
The winery continues to be family-owned and operated, while being actively involved within the community. They have their own vineyards, but do source grapes from nearly 50 growers with an eye towards sustainable growing practices. To soften the filtration process of the wine, they recently purchased a made-in-Italy cross-flow filtering machine. Their 2010 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon (wine review below) has gone through this machine and the results look very good as it does appear to have more clarity and refinement.
All of these wines (except for the Troublemaker, unfortunately) can be purchased via Trialto Wine Group. Many of these are (or will be soon) available in the Vintages section at the LCBO.
Tasting Notes: LIBERTY SCHOOL CHARDONNAY 2011 - Central Coast, California, USA (#960120) (XD) - $18.95
Consisting of 90% Chardonnay, 5% Viognier, and for the first time 5% Marsanne. Crisp orchard fruit, pear and earth aromas. Full bodied and dry with a creamy mouthfeel and oily texture. Very nice flavours of apple, pear, butter and sweet vanillan. Quite well-balanced with lively acidity. Finish is medium-length. Will be in Vintages on March 30th. Score: 88+ pts
LIBERTY SCHOOL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#738823) (XD) - $19.95
Part of the Vintages Essentials collection (i.e. always available). The 2010 just reached the shelves this weekend - if the 2009 is also available, take notice of the new label - it looks much sharper and cleaner! Lovely crushed black fruit, red cherries and cedar oak aromas. Medium-bodied with nice aromas replays on palate, with hints of blueberries and cocoa on the long, smooth finish. Has mouth-watering acidity and velvety tannins. Very nice! Score: 90 pts
LIBERTY SCHOOL SYRAH 2010 - Central Coast, California, USA (#942383) (XD) - $18.95
Was featured as part of the California Trends section of the latest Vintages release and contains small amounts of Viognier. Aromas of dark fruits, mushroom smoked meat, and violet. More dark fruits and violet on the palate, plus blackberry notes. Full-bodied with grippy tannins that are a bit tight. Could use 1-2 years to unwind. Smooth, medium-long finish that's well-balanced. Score: 87 pts
CANDOR LOT 3 ZINFANDEL (NV) - California, USA (#133389) (D) - $21.95
A blend of grapes from Paso Robles and Lodi appellations, from the 2008 (6%), 2009 (78%) and 2010 (16%) vintages. Smells very green with ripe fruits and sour cherry aromas. Medium-bodied, slightly off-dry with notes of raisins, red plums and is slightly jammy. Good acidity with medium-length finish. Will be in Vintages on March 30th. Score: 88
TREANA RED 2009 - Paso Robles, California, USA (#011221) (D) - $39.95
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah and high 15% alc/vol. Dark fruits and sweet vanillan aromas. Full bodied with grippy tannins and very good acidity. More dark fruits, black cherry and oak on the palate with hints of mocha. Has a long finish. Drinking well now, but can be enjoyed over the next 5 years. Score: 90 pts
TROUBLEMAKER (NV) - Paso Robles, California, USA (#) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 4 grapes (67% Syrah, 22% Mourvedre, 8% Grenache, 3% Petite Sirah) from the 2010 and 2011 vintages. 14.5% alc/vol. Intense smoke and fresh wood plank aromas with undertones of sour cherry. Medium-bodied with flavours of black pepper, raspberry, oak and lots of pepper on the mid-palate. Very well-balanced with very good acidity and a smooth, medium-long finish. Score: 89+ pts
TREANA WHITE 2009 - Central Coast, California, USA (#011247) (M) - $29.95
Fresh floral aromas, plus pineapple and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with an oily texture. Palate consists of lemon, orange rind and some evident French oak ageing. Nice, long finish. Score: 89 pts.
JACKSON-TRIGGS PROPRIETORS' GRAND RESERVE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2007 - VQA (#264325) (S) (200 mL) - $19.95 (on sale)
Tasting Note:
Unpleasant raisins and prunes from the cork. Intense aromas of candied strawberry and raspberry, along with some cranberry. Creamy and full-bodied with more candied strawberry and cranberry on the palate. Good acidity, but fruit is fading slightly on the medium-length finish. Still quite delicious and paired well with a Lemon Raspberry Cake w/ White Chocolate Shavings from Sobey's.
Purchased this uncommonly found white wine from the current release with the intention of opening it when having guests over who enjoy wines on the sweeter side of things. Suffice it to say - it was enjoyed by our guests.
Tasting Note:
Honeysuckle and pear aromas from the cork. Soft aromas of lychee, melon, rose, honeysuckle and lemon from the glass joined by citrus and more prominent rose notes on the palate. It's medium-sweet with an oily texture that gives way to a chalky-mouthfeel and moves to an off-dry, medium-length finish. Has enough acidity to pair with lightly spiced foods, such as the Chili Chicken that we enjoyed as an appetizer over the weekend.
The next LCBO Vintages wine release will be in stores on . The main feature in this release is on the latest trends in California - which includes experimenting with new varietals, regions, and eco-friendly initiatives.
From this part of the release, we begin with the Bonterra Pinot Noir. It's difficult to find a Pinot under $20 from anywhere, nevermind a quality version from California that's made with certified organically grown grapes from Mendocino County, like this one from Bonterra Vineyards.
From Paso Robles - one of the fastest growing wine regions in California - we have an extra-dry (XD) white wine from Vina Robles that's blended with 4 varietals, only one (Sauvignon Blanc) of which is widely planted in California. It consists of 29% Viognier, 28% Verdelho, 27% Sauvignon Blanc, and 16% Vermentino.
The third and final pick from California is the Chalone Estate Chardonnay from the Chalone AVA in Central Coast. Chalone Vineyard is the only winery within this American Viticultural Area (AVA). It sits up high in the mountains within the Monterey County region and has a unique climate. You can read more about this unique area on the winery's website.
A minor feature in this release focuses on native grapes in Central and Southern Italy. The Selvanova Vigna Antica Aglianico from Campania (the "shin" of the Italy) is my lone pick and it's one to open right away. This varietal was originally brought to the region from Greece and thrived during Roman times. It was called Ellenico (the Italian word for "Greek") until the 15th century, when it acquired it's current name.
From the rest of the release, the Chilean Tabalí Reserva is a blend of 74% Syrah, 14% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Marqués de Cáceres from Spain, at 9 years old and ready to drink now or could be cellared for at least another 5 years, is composed of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano/Garnacha Tinta. From the fantastic 2009 Bordeaux vintage, we have the Château la Vieille Cure that consists of 74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon.
had the opportunity to taste some very fine wines from the historic Tuscan winery Tenuta di Argiano. The tasting event was hosted by Trialto Wine Group at the Fine Wine Reserve that is located in the King W and Spadina area.
There were 4 wines available for tasting and purchase - reviews are below. Two other wines - the Brunello di Montalcino 2004 ($50) and Solengo 2004 ($80) - were available strictly for purchase. All of these wines were Consignment Wines, meaning that they are not available at the LCBO and only available in cases of 6 bottles via the wine agent, Trialto.
At the summit of a hill, southwest of Montalcino in Tuscany, the Villa of Argiano was built during the Renaissance-period by the Pecci's, a noble family from Siena. Remaining for some decades under the Pecci family, it then passed to the
Counts of Pieri, who bequeath it to the Marquis of Ballanti Merli and
to the Duchess of Caetani from the Counts Lovatelli.
In 1992, the estate was purchased by Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano and was sold just last week. Winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers joined Argiano in 2003 and is the craftsman behind the wines. He will remain with Argiano. On hand to pour the wines was the Marketing Director Bernardino Sani.
The Argiano Estate covers 100 hectares - with nearly half dedicated to vineyards - while being protected in the southeast by Mount Amiata. Being from the Old World, the Argiano vineyards have been cultivated by noble families since the 1500's. Argiano has some of the oldest vines in Montalcino, at over 60+ years old. Wines from these vineyards have garnered awards dating back to 1934 and are consistently high-quality.
ARGIANO ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2009 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#) (XD) - $28.80
Hand-picked 100% Sangiovese grosso. The Rosso is considered the younger brother of the Brunello. Nice aromas of crushed blackcherry, red currant and cedar waft from the glass. Medium bodied on the palate with dark red fruits, cherry, oak, and hints of earth on the flavour profile. Very finely integrated tannins that is velvety smooth, with a medium-long finish and balanced throughout. Likely my favourite of the evening. Score: 89-90 pts
ARGIANO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#) (XD) - $45.00
First tasted last November. Light smoky oak, dried fruit and fig aromas from the glass. Full-bodied with mouth-watering acidity. Palate consists of more dark fruits and fig. Quite well-balanced. Tannins still somewhat tight, will reward 3-5 years in cellar. Score: 91 pts
ARGIANO 'NC' NON CONFUNDITUR 2011 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#072397) (XD) - $23.95
The 2009 was released in Vintages last July and is virtually sold out. Non Confunditur's initials "NC" are often though to refer to Argiano's longstanding owner Noemi Cinzano. The truth is that Non Confunditur is a latin term meaning "don't get confused". The 2011 is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 20% Sangiovese and has fruity aromas of red fruits and cherries. Medium-full bodied and round with more red fruits, cranberry-cherry notes and oak. Very good acidity, but overpowering at mid-palate with a very long finish. Chalky tannins show this red wine is still a bit young. Very long finish. Give it 2-3 years. Score: 88 pts
ARGIANO SOLENGO 2009 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#) (XD) - $75.00
Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah. Lovely violet, lavender aromas from the glass. Medium-full bodied with big tannins that need at least 7+ years to integrate. Nicely structured and shows finesse with black fruits and blueberries on the palate. Very nice wine that needs time, can be enjoyed up to 20 years from now. Score: 91+ pts
The next LCBO Vintages wine release will be in stores across Ontario on . The major focus of this release is on wines from Tuscany, highlighting four of their more notable appellations. The secondary focus is on Kosher wines for the upcoming Purim holiday and Passover festival.
The Sangiovese varietal is Tuscany's most prominent, however, many towns have their own local version of this grape. Within the Chianti region, there is the sub-region called "Chianti Classico". The Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva is made from 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo, and was first produced in 1897.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is an appellation surrounding the town of Montepulciano. Wines from this region have been documented as far back as year 789. The version from Poliziano is made from 85% Prugnolo Gentile (local clone of Sangiovese) and 15% Colorino/Canaiolo/Merlot.
Last, but not least, we have two wines from the Brunello di Montalcino appellation, which surrounds the town of Montalcino. The Brunello's from Caparzo and Altesino are both 100% Sangiovese and are from the excellent 2007 vintage. The Caparzo is drinkable now, while the Altesino needs at least 1 year in bottle, while both could be aged for at least the next 7 years.
From the rest of the release, the La Montesa from Spain is Tempranillo-blend, while the Château Cailleteau is a mostly Merlot-blend. In white wine, the Croix de Montceau is an oaked Chardonnay and the Clos Floridène is a blend of 51% Sémillon, 47% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle. Enjoy
Red Wine:
TRAPICHE FINCAS LAS PALMAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina (#143206) (XD) - $16.95
Purchased this red wine last month from the Vintages release that featured Spanish Wines. One of the good things about this wine is that all the ageing was done at the winery before being released, and it's drinking great right now! It's made using 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha / Mazuelo (Carignan) and bottled in 2008.
Tasting Note:
Interesting aromas of freshly cut wood, rubber and menthol from the cork. Lots of little hints of cranberry, sour cherry, pomegranate and violets. Medium-full bodied with finely-grained and dusty tannins on the palate with nice aroma replays plus hints of cocoa. Very good acidity and balanced throughout, while finishing long with integrated oak flavours. Even though it's already 9 years old and drinking well now, it could be aged another 2-3 years. Will be enjoying this with Piri-Piri Chicken Fajitas. It's a good one and definitely recommended if you like Tempranillo.
Last Fall, I was fortunate to win the "Dinner for Two at Peller Estates Winery" contest held by DINE Magazine. The prize was a 5-course Tasting Menu with Wine Pairings. Since I knew I would be Niagara for the Icewine Festival, it was only fitting that I make what was already going to be a fantastic weekend even better by enjoying this great prize at the same time.
On , after enjoying a full day of Icewine, we checked into our hotel in Niagara Falls and freshened up before returning to Peller Estates. I had dined here a few times in the early years of this century, but this was my first meal here in a while, and I really wasn't sure what to expect given that we would be experiencing a Tasting Menu (i.e. set menu) where we didn't get to pick what we eat. But Chef Parsons and his staff were all very, very accommodating, given our dietary restrictions on this day.
We started off our meal with an Amuse Bouche of rare Tuna crusted with 5 spices, Icewine reduction and a strawberry/raspberry jelly. Although I'm not a big fan of Tuna, this was a nice start to our evening.
For our next course, we enjoyed a plate of Niagara Heirloom Beetroots, Buffalo Mozzarella, Fennel Seedlings and White Chocolate Dust paired with the Peller Signature Series Ice Cuvée Sparkling Wine (reviewed below). The beetroots were fresh with a nice crunch to them, and really tasted great when dipped into the White Chocolate Dust (where can I get some of this?). I love Buffalo Mozzarella - and this version was soft, creamy and delicious. The pairing was good with everything balancing nicely and nothing dominating the palate.
Up next was the soup course - a Cauliflower and Heirloom Bean Soup that also contained nuts and small chunks of 9-year-old Aged Cheddar. The soup was a little bland, but the cheese really added some "pop", and was overall quite good. Some salt and pepper would've been nice. This was an interesting pairing with their 2010 Private Reserve Chardonnay as the wine brought out the nutty notes in the soup. The creaminess from the soup also helped calm down the wine's lively acidity.
Our final item before the main course was a pair of fried Pickerel fish cakes, with a side of vegetables and crème fraîche. The fish cakes were quite dry, but tasted great when dipped into the smooth and crème fraîche dip that reminded me of Hollandaise sauce. It was paired with the bone-dry 2011 Private Reserve Pinot Gris, which was probably my least favourite wine of the night, and also the worst pairing - the flavours and mouthfeel just didn't mesh.
Prior to the main course, we were offered Blackcurrant and Star Anise soda to cleanse the palate. This was quite refreshing and definitely did the job! For our main course, we had fettuccine topped with a grilled Salmon that was paired with the 2009 Andrew Peller Signature Series Chardonnay 'Sur Lie'. Nothing exciting on either front for this course. However, the Salmon was fresh and tender, while this white wine was light, crisp and perfectly suited for fish.
By now, the two of us were quite full and weren't sure if there was any room for dessert. But, we all know that famous saying, right? =) Compliments of the Chef, our server brought out a sampling of each of their desserts they had available on this Saturday night - 6 desserts in all. Suffice to say, our eyes lit up like little kids in a candy store. On our dessert platter we had (from the top, counter-clockwise) Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream, Carrot Cake, Apple Crumble, Red Velvet Cake, Toffee Pastry and Chocolate Ganache. There were also drops of fondants, jelly and caramel. It was all very decadent. My favourite items were the Pudding, Ganache and the Toffee Pastry. All of this was paired with their fabulous 2010 Signature Series Cabernet Franc Icewine. While the flavours from the Icewine didn't complement much of anything on the dessert platter, the high sweetness-levels and acidity from the Icewine did allow it to pair well with the desserts. The Red Velvet Cake and berry jelly paired the best with this Icewine.
Overall, I was quite happy with our dinner here at Peller Estates. It's always a good sign when you leave a restaurant with a full stomach. The ingredients were fresh and the service was impeccable. I would not hesitate to dine here again. Dining at a luxurious restaurant at a winery is an experience that everyone should enjoy at least once in a lifetime. My first such experience was here, back in 2003. It felt nice to be back!
Tasting Notes: PELLER ESTATES SIGNATURE SERIES ICE CUVÉE - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#284547) (D) - $31.95
Floral, peach, toast and leesy aromas from the glass with more toast and floral replays, along with some yeast on the palate. Creamy, long-lasting mousse with a hints of honey on the mid-palate. Finish is dry. Score: 88 pts
PELLER ESTATES PRIVATE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $18.95
Mainly apple and pear aromas with tart mango coming through at the tail end. More ripe orchard fruits (apple, pear) on the palate, plus pineapple notes that give way to a mineral, nutty finish. Round mouthfeel with very good acidity. Quite smooth and balanced. Delicious! Score: 90 pts
PELLER ESTATES PRIVATE RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2011 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $18.95
Apricot, citrus and pear aromas. Crisp and dry with minerality and hints of apricot and pear on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a short finish that is slightly off-dry. Score: 86 pts
PELLER ESTATES ANDREW PELLER SIGNATURE SERIES CHARDONNAY 'SUR LIE' 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#024059) (XD) - $31.95
Crisp, fresh lime, citrus and vanilla aromas. Lively acidity with tart lemon/lime on the palate and some minerality showing through. Medium-full bodied with lemon and spice on the finish. Score: 89 pts
PELLER ESTATES ANDREW PELLER SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (S) (375 mL) - $90.10
Jammy red fruit, red currants and candied fruit aromas. Candied red currants, strawberries and honey on the palate with bright acidity. Very good balance between sweetness and acidity. Finish is medium-length. Would pair well with meals. Score: 91 pts
Opened this wine on to match the red on the 49ers uniform - I was cheering for the 49ers because of my affinity to the Bay Area (not sure what I would have done if I had an affinity to the Ravens).
This dessert wine was purchased this last summer when I visited the Muskoka Lakes Winery. It's made using raspberries and cranberries and has a relatively high 15% alcohol/volume. This wine is only available for purchase through the winery.
Tasting Note:
Candied cranberry and raspberry, along with musky herbal aromas. Juicy, sweet raspberry on the palate with cranberry and maraschino cherry undertones. Good tannin and acidity. The finish lingers for a while. It paired well with sponge cakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream as the flavours complemented each other.
Since I didn't have any Italian red wines that were quite ready to drink now, I decided to open this very fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon to pair with homemade Margherita Pizza . This red wine was received as a gift over the holidays. It's from the LCBO General List and is readily available.
BERINGER CALIFORNIA COLLECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - California, USA (#113001) (D) - $9.95
Tasting Note:
Plum, blackberry jam, cassis, cedar and hints of sweet fruit aromas. Medium-bodied with sweet, ripe fruit on the palate. Very fruit-forward with red and dark fruit flavours, with oak undertones. Tannins are a bit chalky, but otherwise well-integrated. Off-dry with a short finish. Not your typical, big, dry Cali Cab. Easy drinker. Good acidity allowed it to pair well with the pizza.
The next Vintages release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on . In this release, the main feature is on signature varietals from New World wine regions, with two varietals chosen from various wine regions throughout the New World.
From Ontario, no doubt, our top two varietals are Riesling and Chardonnay. If there was a third varietal to be selected, I would choose Cabernet Franc. The Ontario whites in this feature are both quite good, with the Malivoire Chardonnay among my picks below (the other Ontario white is the Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2011 [#080234]).
The other New World wine regions featured in this release are California (Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon), Argentina (Torrontés & Malbec), Chile (Carmenère & Cabernet Sauvignon), Australia (Chardonnay & Shiraz), New Zealand (Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir), and South Africa (Chenin Blanc & Syrah). Read more about this feature here.
With around the corner, this release features a few bubbly's to celebrate the occasion. If I was to celebrate this day with a Sparkling Wine, I would choose something on the sweeter side. If you like sweeter Sparkling Wines, go with a Moscato D'Asti. If you want something only slightly sweet (i.e. Off-Dry), then check out the Peller Ice Cuvée Rosé that has a dosage of Cab Franc Icewine and Vidal Icewine added after the wine has been degorged; also check out the Dr. L. Sparkling Riesling. For something dry, your best best is the Pouillon & Fils Brut Rosé Champagne.
From the rest of the release, the Remhoogte from South Africa is a red-blend consisting of 40% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Shiraz, and 15% Pinotage. My top red from the release is the 2010 Hecht & Bannier (composed of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Lledoner Pelut) and which I'm looking forward to a vertical tasting with the 2008 that I acquired early last year. The Tour de L'Isle from Rhône is predominantly Grenache (85%), containing also 8% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 2% Cinsault.
I am a bit embarrassed to say that this is the first bottle of wine I opened from my collection for the first time in 7 weeks. It was purchased from the November 10 Vintages release and I must say, this was an excellent choice... (It's still available at the LCBO, if you're interested).
DOPFF & IRION VORBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#292227) (M) - $17.95
Tasting Note:
Nice citrusy, honey and pine aromas from cork. Lots or orange and tropical fruit aromas from the glass. Medium-full bodied and creamy texture with lively acidity. Aroma replays of orange and tropical fruits, plus some spice. Medium in sweetness. Quite the intensity on mid-palate, leading to a long, balanced finish. Delicious! Recommended buy. Will be enjoying this with Piri Piri Chicken Burgers.
I had the opportunity to taste these 6 wines for the #ONtastesBC Tweet-Up held on . It's a shame that we do not get more wines from our sister province out West.
Part of this promotion, as well as the feature in the current Vintages magazine, is to help spread the word and bring more B.C. wines into Ontario. As a consumer, I am also hoping that this will help, somehow, some way, open up the borders (between provinces!) to allow wine to move more freely from West to East (and vice versa). To show your support on Twitter, use the hashtag #FreeMyGrapes.
GRAY MONK GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#321588) (D) - $19.95
Quite aromatic with lemon, mineral and herbal spice aromas. Light-bodied with crisp, tart lemon, citrus, orange rind and some lychee on the palate. Has very bright acidity. Finish is medium-length and spicy. Score: 87 pts
QUAILS' GATE CHARDONNAY 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#377770) (D) - $20.95
Nice aromas of apple, pear and butter waft from the glass. Medium-full bodied with nice aroma replays, plus some minerality and French oak on the palate. Some herbal/leesy notes come through on the mid-palate. Very good acidity and the finish is medium-long. Score: 89 pts
MISSION HILL RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#545004) (D) - $19.95
Nose seemed a bit closed with apple, oak, peach and pineapple aromas. Full-bodied with a round core of ripe orchard and tropical fruits on the palate. American and French oak is well-integrated. Easy drinking, crowd pleasing wine. Score: 87 pts
EAU VIVRE PINOT NOIR 2008 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#308353) (D) - $24.95
Seems higher than 13.3% alcohol. Complex aromas of earth, tar, dark red fruits and cranberries. On the palate, there is beetroot, strawberry, cranberry, earth and some cedar on the palate. Medium-bodied with smooth, integrated tannins, and a short finish. Score: 88 pts
MISSION HILL QUATRAIN 2009 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#218636) (XD) - $44.95
Blend of 35% Merlot, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Very nice aromas of dark fruits, blackberries, blackcurrants and (French) oak. Full bodied with good structure. It's very smooth with blackcurrant, dark cherry, ripe dark fruits on the palate. Refined tannins are well-integrated. Well-balanced with a long finish and hints of sweet fruit. Very approachable right now, but could be cellared another 1-2 years. Gorgeous! Score: 91 pts
OSOYOOS LAROSE LE GRAND VIN 2008 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#626325) (XD) - $45.95
Blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. Fruity aromas jump out of the glass, followed by leather, cedar, kirsch liquer and raspberry. Core of dark fruits surrounded by very chalky tannins. Well-balanced with mouth-watering acidity. Finish is long with hints of mocha. Should be even better once tannins settle in 3+ years. Score: 91 pts
we enjoyed another very good (and sweet!) weekend in Niagara for the 18th Annual Icewine Festival. Our small group visited 4 wineries on Saturday in Niagara-on-the-Lake, then headed to the Icewine Village to check out the very large ice sculpture and taste some more Icewine and treats.
Our group started off the tour at Niagara College Teaching Winery to sample their 2010 Cabernet Franc Icewine paired with a salted caramel cheesecake. This pairing was an absolute delight as the caramel flavours from the cheesecake complemented the Icewine very well, while the extra cheese from the cheesecake balanced the acidity from the Icewine just right. This was definitely my favourite pairing of the day! Full reviews of the wines tasted during this visit will be posted at a later date.
The second stop on our tour was Château des Charmes for a tour of their facilities and to learn a bit about the winemaking process, followed by a structured tasting of 3 VQA wines. Following the tour, we partook in their Discovery Pass Experience to enjoy their fabulous 2009 Riesling Icewine paired with shrimp topped with a mango salsa. The shrimp offering did seem different than advertised, but was nonetheless fresh and tasty. An enjoyable pairing, but this Icewine is one of the best around and was the star in this pairing.
Our third stop of the afternoon was Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery for their 2008 Proprietors' Reserve Vidal Icewine paired with a creamy East Coast Lobster Bisque. This was a very popular item as evidenced by lineup when we arrived. While the Icewine was not much to speak of on its own, its creamy mouthfeel did allow it to pair beautifully with the bisque that actually contained pieces of lobster. I could have easily eaten a couple of full-size bowls of the bisque - it was delicious!
And last, but not least, we visited Peller Estates Winery for an Icewine Marshmallow paired with not one, but two Icewines. Lots of sweet, sweet goodness from the roasted-over-an-open-fire marshmallow and the Vidal and Vidal Oak Aged Icewines made this a heavenly (and slightly messy) experience. My wife and I returned later in the evening for a 5-course tasting menu dinner courtesy of a DINE Magazine contest. More on this in another post.
That concluded our visit to the wineries on Saturday. Our group now headed off to the Icewine Village in the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, where a block of Queen St. was closed off and became pedestrian-only. There were quite a few tents, many delicious Icewines to taste, and even a few food samples to try. Portable heaters scattered throughout kept attendees warm when they were not by the Icewine booths, and were sparse enough to keep the large ice sculpture from melting more quickly. Regarding food samples, there were many beef and pork items, and not much of anything else. I did enjoy the Thai shrimp soup and the cluster of nuts in a chocolate cup. If you're planning on heading to the Icewine Village this weekend (Jan. 26-27), check the weather forecasts and news sources to ensure that the Village is in fact open, because it was closed on Sunday (Jan. 20) due to severe high winds.
On Sunday, we got off to an unexpected early start at Coyote's Run Estate Winery to enjoy their 2008 Riesling Icewine paired with a lightly spiced coconut curried chicken on Kaffir-scented Jasmine rice. This was a nice pairing, but the Icewine would have held up well against a (preferred) slightly spicier curried chicken that had more fuller flavours.
The next winery on our list was Strewn Winery to try a 'deconstructed' Icewine crème brûlée with maple-oat crunch and pomegranate with their 2010 Select Late Harvest Vidal. I wouldn't have called this dessert item a "crème brûlée", but it was very good, light, not too sweet and matched the sweetness from the Vidal very nicely. Definitely two "thumbs up" on this one. I wouldn't mind getting the recipe of this dessert as it seems relatively simple to make and would likely go over well at gatherings.
Our next stop was to "Get Schooled in Cool" - a 60 minute tasting event hosted by Winemaker Angela Kasimos at Riverview Cellars Estate Winery, who talked about the Icewine-making process and took everyone through a tasting of 4 of their dessert wines. The session was quite informative and the wines were delicious! It's quite the experience to meet the Winemaker and hear everything from their perspective. Since we had arrived at Riverview a bit early, we also had the chance to sample their Discovery Pass offering - skewers of strawberries and bananas, and a homemade cranberry-cinnamon biscotti - all dipped in a Belgian chocolate fountain. Yum!
Next, we headed to Twenty Valley to visit Tawse Winery and taste their Riesling Icewine paired with an artisanal cheese, and Cabernet Icewine paired with PC specialty chocolates. Both pairings were quite good as the cheese cut into the Riesling Icewine very well, while the chocolates complemented the flavours from the Cabernet Icewine very nicely. Both Icewines are also very good on their own!
The final stop of our trip to Niagara was at Fielding Estate Winery where we had a decadent, dark chocolate brownie topped with our choice of either a sweet or spicy chocolate frosting. I opted for the spicy version and didn't regret it. It was different, and enjoyable - I would definitely have it again (we brought the recipe back). It was first paired with their 2010 Merlot, followed by their 2010 Vidal Icewine. Both pairings produced lots of spicy sensations.
If you were tempted by any of the above, keep in mind that the Icewine Festival is running one more weekend (Jan. 26-27). Wineries will be offering their Discovery Pass Experiences. The Icewine Village may or may not be open - do check prior to heading there. The weather looks like it will be cold, but sunny with some clouds. My reviews of the wines tasted over the weekend will be available in a future post. Stay tuned...
Thank you to everyone that attended my tour and I hope you will join me again in the Spring for the New Vintage Festival. As with this tour, space will be limited. One member of our group was my Twitter friend Krista Lamb. She has her own blog titled "Upkeep", where she muses about wine, body and soul. Here is her awesome review of our tour and the Icewine Festival.
The next Vintages Release will be on LCBO shelves across Ontario on . This is the 2nd release of 2013 and has Spanish wines as its main feature. Spanish wines tend to offer great value, and this release offers a few very good wines from this Iberian country.
Spain is known for its two red varietals Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache); both tend to go wonderfully with mildly-spiced chicken curries, in my opinion. The Don Jacobo is 8 years old and drinking great! It's from the Rioja DOCa and made from 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha / Mazuelo (Carignan). The Borsao Garnacha is a limited edition release from the Campo de Borja DO, which is just southeast of neighbouring Rioja. It's 100% Garnacha and made from vines 35-60 years old. The Planets de Prior Pons, from the Priorat DOCa in Catalunya, is a blend of 40% Carinena (Carignan), 40% Garnacha, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 5% Syrah. The Legón Reserva is from north-central Spain from the Ribera del Duero DO, which is situated along the Duero river that runs eastward into Portugal and to the Atlantic Ocean; this wine is 100% Tempranillo.
In white wines, Spain is known for its Albariño and Verdejo varietals. The Cuatro Rayas is from the Rueda DO in the north-central part of Spain, just west of Ribera del Duero. It`s made using 100% Verdejo from vines over 100 years old! The Señorio de Rubiós is 100% Albariño and is from the far west part of Spain (near the Atlantic, just north of Portugal) in the Rias Baixas DO.
I was also surprised to see a Roussanne from California in this release, as it's not widely planted. I was in Napa over the holidays and tasted a great Roussanne - I get the feeling that this highly aromatic white varietal will be making heads turn in the very near future, if it hasn't already. It has definitely gotten my attention!
There is also a feature on wines from the Okanagan Valley, of which I was less than impressed. If you're into Scotch, there are a few "distilled treasures". Enjoy my picks for this week. Cheers!
Apologies for the really delayed post, as I've been under the weather out here in cold & rainy California! As per the usual, the first Vintages release of the new year is always titled "Smart Buys". New wines will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on . I will keep this short as I really need to get back into bed.
The best buy in the release is a fantastic Barolo for under $30. Italy shines through with 3 other reds as well. In whites, there are 2 German wines, plus a delicious extra-dry Assyrtiko from Greece. It's great to see the Flourish Vidal Icewine back on Vintages shelves - superb QPR at $17.95!
There is also a very nice feature on the Cabernet Franc varietal and it's impact here in Ontario. When I first tasted Ontario Cab Francs many years ago, I did not like them and tended to avoid them whenever possible. But over the last few years, I decided to revisit this varietal and now passionately seek them out. They are quite delicious! Enjoy my picks for this week and Happy New Year to all! I'm off to bed!
Red Wine:
DE MARTINO LEGADO RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2010 - DO Maipo Valley, Chile (#236059) (XD) - $16.95
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
