Mar. 15 LCBO Wine Picks: Cali Classics + Handcrafted Wines

The next LCBO Vintages release will be on Saturday, March 15th. The major theme of this release is titled "Cali Classics" and highlights some iconic wines from some of the biggest and best names in California, while the secondary theme is titled "Labour of Love" and focuses on artisanal wines from around the globe.

We'll begin with the Cali Classics section, where nearly all of the 12 wines featured are very good and I would be happy to add many of them to my cellar. However, I've selected three in particular that I would cherish the most.

First up is the 2010 Dominus that is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It's not too often we see a Parker-rated 100-point wine on LCBO shelves, and while I doubt many other critics would also score this red wine 100 points, I am certain it's very, very good. It's a big wine that can be decanted and enjoyed now, or cellared for at least 20 years. At $170.95, you may want to go in with one or two close friends and open it on a very special occasion.

Also from Napa is the CADE Cabernet Sauvignon - a relatively new winery at 9 years old and making its debut in Ontario this month. The 2010 is 90% Cab and 10% Merlot from the Howell Mountain AVA (which is a sub-AVA of Napa Valley) and aged in 100% French Oak (80% new).

The Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the best value of the bunch. The 2010 edition is a blend of 80% Cab Sauv, 17% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc and can also be decanted and enjoyed now or cellared for up to 10 years. And yes, even though it says Cabernet Sauvignon in big letters on the label, they are allowed to blend a certain percentage (at most 25% according to U.S. federal law) of other grapes and still be allowed call it by it's primary grape. It's great they included the full blend in smaller letters right on the label!

From the second feature of this release on handcrafted wines, we have the Castello di Ama Chianti (80% Sangiovese, 20% Malvasia Nera and Merlot), Thomas Bachelder's Pinot Noir from Burgundy. And finally, from Loire is a wine on the sweeter side - a Vouvray (Chenin Blanc) from Domaine Bourillon-Dorléans. The winemakers at all three wineries were involved at every stage of making these wines - from picking and pruning the grapes, all the way to the final stages of blending and marketing. Also, both Thomas Bachelder and Frédéric Bourillon focus on terroir-driven wines, with as little intervention as possible.

From the rest of the release, returning to Vintages (and $2 higher) is the 2009 Mas d'Auzierès les Éclats 2009 which I purchased and reviewed 2 years ago, while the Cahors is a blend of Malbec and Merlot. From Spain, the Odipus Old Vines Grenache amazingly comes from 100+-year-old vines, while the Lacrimus Crianza is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha (Grenache). Also from Spain is the Señorío de los Baldíos that is 100% Tempranillo. There's also an interesting Piedmont blend from Tenuta Stefano Farina that consists of 40% Barbera, 40% Nebbiolo and 20% Merlot.

Once again, it was slim pickings among white wines. The Henry of Pelham Chardonnay was barrel fermented, while the Quails' Gate version was 50% barrel fermented and 50% tank fermented. The Saint-Roch is a blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Marsanne from 50-year-old vines.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• ODIPUS OLD VINES GRENACHE 2008 - Unfiltered, DO Navarra, Spain (#366401) (XD) - $15.95
• TENUTA STEFANO FARINA LE BRUME LANGHE 2009 - DOC, Piedmont, Italy (#360073) (XD) - $17.95
• CLOS LA COUTALE CAHORS 2011 - AC, Southwest, France (#286385) (XD) - $17.95
• MAS D’AUZIERÈS LES ÉCLATS 2009 - AC Côteaux du Languedoc, Midi, France (#271742) (XD) - $18.95  reviewed here
• LACRIMUS CRIANZA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#359968) (XD) - $18.95
• YALUMBA SHIRAZ 2012 - South Australia (#280883) (XD) - $19.95
• SEÑORIO DE LOS BALDÍOS 2009 - DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#366393) (XD) - $19.95
• ALJIBES CABERNET FRANC 2007 - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain (#358788) (XD) - $24.95
• CASTELLO DI AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2009 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#039768) (XD) - $35.95
• BACHELDER LA PETITE CHARMOTTE NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#357228) (XD) - $49.95
• RIDGE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA (#089284) (D) - $61.95
• CADE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California (#325027) (XD) - $99.95
• DOMINUS 2010 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#212381) (XD) - $170.95

White Wine:

• SAINT-ROCH VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE BLANC/MARSANNE 2012 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#175232) (XD) - $15.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2012 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#268342) (XD) - $19.95
• QUAILS’ GATE CHARDONNAY 2012 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, USA (#377770) (XD) - $21.95
• BOURILLON-DORLÉANS LA BOURDONNERIE DEMI-SEC VOUVRAY 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#357244) (M) - $21.95

Sparkling Wine:

• DOMAINE DE VAUGONDY BRUT VOUVRAY - Méthode Traditionnelle, AC, Loire Valley, France (#154567) (D) - $15.95
• BARON-FUENTÉ GRAND MILLÉSIME BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2006 - AC, Champagne, France (#155119) (D) - $53.95

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

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Domaine Lafage Cuvée Centenaire 2011 (Midi) - Wine Review

This white wine was purchased from last October's LCBO Vintages release with the intention of opening it sooner rather than later. For dry white wine lovers, I hope you bought this when I recommended it because it's very good, as you will see from my wine review below and there is virtually nothing left at the LCBO.

DOMAINE LAFAGE CUVÉE CENTENAIRE 2011 - AC Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#343491) (XD) - $17.95

Tasting Note:
Blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, and 20% Roussanne. Lemon, mineral and floral aromas from the cork. Quite aromatic with nice florals, wet rock, pleasing barnyard and hints of peach notes. Light weight, with fresh, crisp acids on the palate. Complex flavour profile featuring white peach, acacia flowers, elegant spice, and herbs. Dry with good structure and a long, mouth-watering finish. Highly recommended. Score: 90+ pts

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Mar. 1 LCBO Wine Picks: Cabernet Sauvignon + Israel

The next Vintages release will be on LCBO shelves across Ontario on Saturday, March 1. The major feature of this release is on the grape Cabernet Sauvignon, while the minor feature is on wines from Israel.

We'll begin with Israel as it highlights 6 wines, five of which of are from one of its top regions - Upper Galilee. Not all wines made in Israel are certified Kosher, but the each of the Israeli wines in this release are certified Kosher for Passover - to help you prepare for upcoming Passover celebrations. The single Israeli wine that made my wine picks is the Galil Mountain Alon that is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Syrah, 8% Petit Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. And in case you were wondering, Cab Sauv, Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc are the most widely planted grapes in Israel.

A recent study showed that Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely planted grape on the planet. In this release there are 15 Cabs highlighted, most of which are from the New World. A version from Chile's Santa Rita and a blend from Washington's Hedges Family Estate (44% Cab Sauv, 33% Merlot, 16% Syrah, 4% Malbec, 3% Cab Franc) are the only two Cabs I'm recommending from this section of the release. There's also a Cab Sauv from Argentina that's not part of the "Cab Fab" feature, but is found later on in the magazine. Why they separated this and other Cabernet Sauvignons from the rest is beyond me...

From the rest of the release, the Bodegas Olarra is a blend of mostly Tempranillo and small amounts of Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, while the Brouilly from Beaujolais is made with Gamay Noir. And last but not least of the red wines is a gorgeous wine from Hecht & Bannier that returns to Vintages. I was delighted to have co-founder Gregory Hecht pour this fabulous wine for me at the Halpern Enterprises Grand Cru tasting last November. It's a highly aromatic blend and a big wine containing Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and trace amounts of Lladoner Pelut, a grape I had never heard of. Drink this wine over the next 5 years. I have both the 2008 and 2010 in my cellar and will probably open them both up over the next couple of years.

Only 4 white wines made my cut, and all are from France. The Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc), Chardonnay, and Riesling are all dry, while the Altesse is off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet).

This concludes my take on this week's Vintages release. Enjoy my wine picks and, as usual, let me know if you try any of my recommendations. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• SANTA CAROLINA GRAN RESERVA PETIT VERDOT 2011 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#007484) (D) - $15.95
• LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2009 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) (XD) - $17.95
• SANTA RITA MEDALLA REAL GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#375386) (XD) - $17.95  reviewed here
• FINCA SOPHENIA RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#350090) (D) - $17.00
• BODEGAS OLARRA AÑARES RESERVA 2006 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#244723) (XD) - $19.95
• JEAN-PAUL BRUN TERRES DORÉES CÔTE DE BROUILLY 2012 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#235127) (XD) - $20.95
• GALIL MOUNTAIN ALON KP 2010 - Kosher for Passover, Upper Galilee, Israel (#354522) (XD) - $20.95
• HECHT & BANNIER CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2010 - AC, Midi, France (#142802) (XD) - $24.95  reviewed here
• JIM BARRY THE LODGE HILL SHIRAZ 2012 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#998476) (XD) - $26.95
• HEDGES FAMILY ESTATE RED 2011 - Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Washington State, USA (#001594) (XD) - $32.95

White Wine:

• MAISON ADRIEN VACHER LES ADRETS ALTESSE ROUSSETTE DE SAVOIE 2012 - AC, Savoie, France (#365163) (D) - $16.95  reviewed here
• MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE VIEILLES VIGNES BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#299867) (XD) - $18.95
• DOMAINE FRANCK MILLET SANCERRE 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#297879) (XD) - $26.95
• TRIMBACH RÉSERVE RIESLING 2010 - AC Alsace, France (#995316) (XD) - $27.95

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

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Featherstone Cabernet Franc 2010 (Niagara) - Wine Review

My love for Ontario Cabernet Franc began with the 2008 vintage version from this winery and continues to this day. The 2011 was great when I tasted it at the winery back in the September 2012, but was not as impressive when I opened the bottle at home, 13 months later.

Tonight, on National Drink Wine Day, I am delighted to open this wonderful Ontario Cab Franc. This red wine was purchased from a Vintages release in September 2012. Good luck finding the 2010 now, but if you have this in your cellar, open it now and enjoy!

FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#64618) (XD) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Medium+ intensity aromas that feature complex notes of wet earth, bramble, ripe plum, red currant, herbal and hints of eucalyptus. On the palate, it's medium bodied very nice aroma replays surrounded by a lovely earthy, sweet core. Bright, balanced acids and very smooth, refined tannins. Gorgeous! Drink now if you have it! Will be enjoying this with Chicken Fajitas. Score: 90 pts

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NCT Dean's List Savant Icewine 2009 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tasted and purchased this Icewine at the winery back in the Fall of 2012, during the Niagara Wine Festival. and opened it last night to continue our wedding anniversary celebrations. This wine is drinking well, but not nearly as well as it did back in 2012.

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN'S LIST SAVANT ICEWINE 2009 - Jack Forrer Vineyard, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (S) (200 mL) - $37.95

Tasting Note:
Field blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Pinot Noir. Sweet prune, plum and grapey aromas from the cork. Apple cider, honey and hint of melon aromas of medium intensity from the glass. Fairly lightweight with sweet apple cider, caramel, peach, nutty, orange zest, and honey notes. Good acids and a long finish that's showing hints of bitterness. Drink now. Score: 89+ pts

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Joseph Cattin Gewürztraminer 2011 (Alsace) - Wine Review

To celebrate our 6th Wedding Anniversary, I decided to open this lovely white wine from Alsace. The Gewürztraminer grape is not everyone's cup of tea and can take some time getting used to, but I know that my wife and I enjoy it, when made well, such as this one.

This wine was purchased from the December 7 Vintages release and could have been cellared a couple of years, but is definitely enjoyable now. I've enjoyed many wines from Joseph Cattin over the years, and enjoyed this one as well. If you're feeling adventurous and want to try this grape, it is available at the LCBO.

JOSEPH CATTIN GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2011 - AC Alsace, France (#224626) (M) - $17.95

Tasting Note:
Yummy lychee, meyer lemon and rose petal aromas from the cork. Classic, elegant Gewürztraminer aromas led by lychee fruit from the glass. Full-bodied, creamy mouthfeel, and round with more lychee, orange, lavender, rose and hints of ginger on the palate. Bracing acids and not as sweet as one might expect. Long, smooth, and almost bitter finish. Recommended buy. Paired really well with red pepper flake shrimps as the wine really tamed the fiery shrimp, while the pairing was less than ideal with lamb chops. Score: 90 pts

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Feb. 15 LCBO Wine Picks: France + Ontario

The next LCBO Vintages wine release will be in stores on Saturday, February 15th and the major of theme of this release is on benchmark wines from the top regions in France. The secondary theme of the release is a small one, featuring only 5 award winning wines from Ontario.

Overall, I was disappointed with most of the 20 French wines featured as they did not represent good buys. This is likely due to the fact that the 2011 and 2012 vintages were only average throughout most of France; while the two 2010 Bordeauxs featured were not top-notch, as one might expect from that great vintage. On to the positives, three French wines did make my list of wine picks.

On the premium wine side, there is a Champagne from Sourdet-Diot that is off-dry and made with 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, while the Vincent Girardin is an oaked Chardonnay from 50 year-old vines.

From Midi (aka Languedoc), where great values can often be found, there is a 60/40 Syrah/Grenache blend from Domaine Lambrusques. There's also a classic Muscat wine from Terres Blanches for only $13.95 that wasn't part of the France feature but has wonderful aromas and is made in a dry style (i.e. not sweet).

Not surprisingly, three of the five Ontario award-winning wines featured in this release made my cut. First is the Huff Estates sparkling wine that is 100% Prince Edward County Chardonnay. From Niagara is the lightly-oaked Malivoire Gamay. And last, but definitely not least, is the exceptional Konzelmann Vidal Icewine that I tasted recently at the Niagara Icewine Festival.

From the rest of the release, the Spanish Monasterio is a blend of 60% Garnacha (Grenache), 30% Tempranillo and 10% Cariñena (Carignan). Zinfandel lovers may want to check out the Primitivo - the Italian take on the same grape; careful though, as it's not sweet as the versions you may have tried from California. And finally, the Hess Collection is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 9% Syrah, 7% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot - all of which come from 19 blocks from their highest altitude estate vineyard on Mount Vedeer.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week! Let me know if you try any of these. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAN RESERVA 2005 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#082024) (XD) - $16.95
• MALIVOIRE GAMAY 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#591313) (D) - $17.95
• DOMAINE LAMBRUSQUES ESPRIT SAUVAGE 2011 - AP Pic Saint-Loup, Midi, France (#354142) (XD) - $17.95
• PODERI ANGELINI PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2008 - DOC, Puglia, Italy (#268136) (XD) - $18.95
• ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $19.95
• KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2011 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#009225) (XD) - $19.95  reviewed here
• CASTORANI AMORINO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2007 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#366732) (XD) - $27.95
• FONTODI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#933317) (XD) - $32.95
• HESS COLLECTION 19 BLOCK CUVÉE 2009 - Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, California, USA (#018879) (D) - $47.95  reviewed here

White Wine:

• TERRES BLANCHES MUSCAT SEC 2012 - Pays d’Oc IGP, Midi, France (#653188) (XD) - $13.95
• BOUTARI SANTORINI 2012 - PDO, Greece (#047985) (XD) - $17.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#089029) (M) - $17.95
• KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN RIESLING 2012 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#365635) (XD) - $17.95  reviewed here
• VILLA MARIA CELLAR SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#974527) (XD) - $21.95
• VINCENT GIRARDIN VIEILLES VIGNES CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#364141) (XD) - $55.95

Sparkling Wine:

• HUFF ESTATES CUVÉE PETER F. HUFF 2007 - Traditional Method, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#198754) (D) - $39.95
• SOURDET-DIOT CUVÉE DE RÉSERVE BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AC, Champagne, France (#364752) (D) - $49.95

Dessert Wine:

• AGRI-RONCÃO DR LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT 2000 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#351395) (S) - $24.95
• KONZELMANN VIDAL ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#167866) (S) (200 mL) - $25.10  reviewed here

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

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Domaine de l'Arjolle Wine Tasting

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Domaine de l'Arjolle tasting hosted by their Ontario wine agent H.H.D. Imports. The tasting was held at the Summerhill LCBO, inside the Premium Tasting Room beside the Vintages section.

This Languedoc winery was formed in 1973 by brothers Prosper and Louis-Marie Teisserenc. That same year they planted their first vines - Cabernet Sauvignon - the fruits of which are now found in their very nice 2011 Cabernet (wine review below and my favourite wine of the session). During that same period, they also planted Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

In the mid-80's, soon after their brother-in-law Charles Duby and nephew Guilhem de Fozières joined the winery, Domaine de l'Arjolle subscribed to the Terra Vitis Charta for sustainable viticulture. Prosper's son Roland joined the team in 1986. In 2002, Proper's other son, Roch, and Louis-Marie's son, François, joined the family winery, making the total number of men running the show equal 7.

Prosper has since retired, reducing the number to 6. However, Geoffroy de La Besnardière, who was leading our tasting on this day, is excited to bring that number back to 7, as he will officially become an associate at Domaine de l'Arjolle later this year.

As part of d'Arjolle's commitment to sustainable agriculture via the Terra Vitis charter, they produce their own compost using goat manure, while also using earthworms (instead of machinery) to improve and aerate the soil. They are also currently undergoing certification for biodiversity.

It's interesting to note that this winery, unlike others in Languedoc (and perhaps the world?) produce an equal amount of red and white table wines. Also, l'Arjolle is the only winery in all of France to make a Zinfandel. It is nothing like what you may have tasted from California, but is very good. I very much prefer this style of Zinfandel over the sweetish versions from Cali. They also make a Carménère which, even though it's considered to be one of the original 6 grapes from Bordeaux, is now not commonly found throughout France, let alone in Languedoc.

The two wines listed below with the 6-digit LCBO product number can be purchased at the LCBO - click the link to view inventory in your area. Joining the 2011 Cabernet as my two favourite wines of the tasting was the 2013 Equilibré Viognier-Sauvignon - I can only hope the LCBO brings both of these to their stores so you can taste these wonderful wines for yourself. And if they don't bring them in, you can order them privately, along with the other wines not found at the LCBO through the agent H.H.D. Imports Inc.

Tasting Notes:
L'ARJOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC-VIOGNIER 2012 - Côtes de Thongue, Midi, France (#348904) (XD) - $11.95
60/40 blend led by Sauvignon Blanc. Medium-high intensity aromas with the Viognier dominant consisting of herbal, anise, fennel, minerals, and some lime from the Sauvignon Blanc. Palate expresses more of the Sauvignon Blanc with notes of gooseberry, kiwi, herbal, lees and hints of spice. It's medium-bodied with fresh acidity and a medium-long finish. Round mouthfeel and easy drinking. Would pair well with seafood. Part of the LCBO General List and widely available. Pretty good for $11.95. Score: 88 pts

DOMAINE DE L'ARJOLLE EQUILIBRÉ VIOGNIER-SAUVIGNON 2013 - Côtes de Thongue, Midi, France (XD) - $15.95
Blend of 60% Viognier, 35% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Sauvignon Gris. Fresh gooseberry, kiwi and cat pee aromas of medium intensity, along with hints of herbal and lees. Medium-full bodied with very nice aroma replays. Shows good complexity and is very balanced, with mouth-watering acidity and a long, slightly creamy finish. Enjoy over the next 2 years. Score: 89+/90 pts

L'ARJOLLE MERLOT-CABERNET 2013 - Côtes de Thongue, Midi, France (#) (XD) - $11.95
Bottled only 3 weeks ago, this 60/40 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon has a nose of very fresh herbal and eucalyptus aromas. It is light-to-medium bodied with oak, fresh red currant, cassis, and hints of dried fruit on the palate. Easy drinking with ripe tannins and a lingering finish. Evident alcohol, but not intrusive. Chill slightly. Score: 86 pts

DOMAINE DE L'ARJOLLE CABERNET-MERLOT 2012 - Côtes de Thongue, Midi, France (#) (XD) - $15.95
Blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Medium intensity aromas of oak, crushed red fruit and hints of cassis. Medium+ bodied with ripe tannins that are a bit chalky. Clean flavours of red currants, vanilla and hints of mocha. Balanced acids and a medium-length finish. Score: 87 pts

Z DE L'ARJOLLE ZINFANDEL 2011 - Vin de France, Midi (#346072) (XD) - $19.95
Was released in Vintages January 4th and is still currently in stock at the LCBO. Contains 10% Cab Sauv. Medium intensity aromas of barnyard, oak, plum and dark fruits. Medium-bodied with big, chalky tannins. Aromas replay in the mouth and are joined by herbal and cassis notes. Good acids and a long finish with some heat. Big wine that will age 4-5 years. Score: 88 pts

K DE L'ARJOLLE CARMÉNÈRE 2010 - Vin de France, Midi (#) (XD) - $19.95
Medium intensity aromas of fresh herbal and vegetal notes typical of Carménère, plus some undertones of oak. Medium-bodied with an initial burst of spice that gives way to aroma replays and hints of mocha. Taut, firm tannins with mouth-watering acidity and long finish that shows some heat. Score: 87 pts

DOMAINE DE L'ARJOLLE CABERNET 2011 - Côtes de Thongue, Midi, France (#) (XD) - $21.95
70/30 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Medium-high intensity aromas consisting of oak, dark currant, cassis and black cherry. Full-bodied with a smooth and lush mouthfeel. Black cherry, oak spice, milk chocolate and hints of vanillan on the palate. Nicely balanced with fresh acids. Has good structure for ageing and a long, smooth oak and spice tinged finish. Enjoyable now, but will reward 3-5 years ageing. Score: 90 pts

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Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Bernkasteler alte Badstube am Doctorberg Riesling Spätlese 2011 (Mosel) - Wine Review

This is the final wine in my German wine tasting series (links to all previous wines are provided at the bottom of this post).

There isn't much I can say to tie this white wine from Germany to today's Superbowl. However, it is low in alcohol with only 8.5% abv, so this could be suitable for serving early in the day or at very long gatherings. Also, the naturally high acidity in (German) Rieslings makes it favourable for pairing with all sorts of snacks and meals. Tonight, it was enjoyed with homemade chicken enchiladas.

This white wine was released in Vintages last June and was the only German wine featured in the entire release. It is still quite readily available at the LCBO, especially if you live in Oakville.

DR. PAULY-BERGWEILER BERNKASTELER ALTE BADSTUBE AM DOCTORBERG RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2011 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#140764) (MS) - $24.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Elegant aromas of mineral, rose petals, beeswax and hint of petrol. Full-bodied, round and full-flavoured in the mouth with apricot, peach, mango, orange zest flavours, and a slight spritz. Medium-sweet with lively, mouth-watering acidity. Notes of wet rocks and hints of honey on a lingering finish. Yum! It helped tone down the heat and paired well with the chicken enchiladas. Score: 90 pts

Part 4: Heitlinger Mellow Silk Pinot Noir 2011 (Baden)
Part 3: Henkell Trocken Dry-Sec Piccolo and Deinhard Green Label Riesling 2012
Part 2: Moselland Ars Vitis Riesling Winter Scene 2012
Part 1: Gustav Adolf Schmitt Niersteiner Spätlese Late Harvest 2012 (Rheinhessen)

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Heitlinger Mellow Silk Pinot Noir 2011 (Baden) - Wine Review

Continuing with my German wines tasting, the next wine on the list is this Pinot Noir. This grape is the most widely planted red grape in Germany, and the third most widely planted overall - behind Riesling and not far behind Rivaner.

I opened this red wine Sunday night and paired it with oven-roasted chicken. This wine was part of the last year's October 12 Vintages release and is still available at the LCBO.

HEITLINGER MELLOW SILK PINOT NOIR 2011 - Qualitätswein, Baden, Germany (#344697) (XD) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Low to medium nose that features smoke, pepper, earth, and mushroom aromas. Light-bodied with delicate, yet firm tannins. It's dry with pepper, tomato leaf, herbal, earth and hints of mushroom and strawberry on the palate. Tannins a bit chalky at mid-palate and some heat on the medium-long finish. Chill slightly. Paired well with oven-roasted chicken that was seasoned in Mrs. Dash Chili Seasoning. Score: 87 pts

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Feb. 1 LCBO Wine Picks: Australia + Valentine's

The next Vintages release will be on LCBO shelves across Ontario on Saturday, February 1st. This edition focuses on food-friendly wines from Australia. The small secondary features are on new noteworthy wines & wineries, and wines for Valentine's Day.

We'll begin with the Australian section, which highlights 15 wines for pairing with beef burgers, rack of lamb, duck, roasted chicken and blue crabs. Personally, I am not so rigid with food pairings because if I was, I wouldn't be able to drink wines of certain styles as much as I would like to. However, one important facet of food and wine pairings is the amount of tannins in the wine.

The bigger Australian Shirazes such as the Jip Jip Rocks and the two wines from Dandelion will pair exquisitely with meatier dishes like beef and lamb because of the greater amount of tannins. Year after after, the Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz has shown to be very good quality, and is now probably my "house" Shiraz. The two Shirazes from Dandelion Vineyards are both from the 2011 vintage, but from different areas within South Australia. The Lionheart is from the Barossa Valley and is unfined and unfiltered; it comes in half bottle size. Meanwhile, the Lioness is from McLaren Vale. Both are extra dry. Get both and taste the difference!

There are lesser tannins in the Chapel Hill Grenache and the Schild Old Bush Vine GMS (approx. 45% Grenache, 28% Mourvedre and 27% Shiraz), making them ideal for lighter meats such as poultry. You can also pair Chardonnays with poultry, such as the oaked version from Mountadam Vineyards. Of course, there are no tannins in white wine, but the full-bodied and flavourful Chardonnay grape lends itself well to poultry dishes.

Most interesting of all the Australian wines in this release is a cellar aged Semillon from McWilliam's that is suitable for pairing with shellfish or vegetarian dishes. The magazine suggests serving this white wine with blue crabs in black peppercorns - the recipe looks delicious!

From the secondary feature highlighting new wineries and new wines, two wines made my list of wine picks. First is a light-to-medium bodied Mencía from Spain. The second wine is the Kew Vineyards Soldier's Grant. It's an intriguing Ontario Bordeaux-blend red (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc) for under $20 from a winery that only opened it's doors last fall.

For Valentine's Day, there are six wines featured in the magazine. From this portion of the release, the Henry of Pelham Cabernet (Franc) Icewine and Flat Rock's Nadja's Riesling made my list.

From the rest of the release, the Cave de Roquebrun returns with the 2011 vintage and is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre. I still have the 2010 version of this red wine in my cellar, so it would be interesting to compare the two in a vertical tasting. Also from France is the Château Tour Calon from the fabulous 2009 Bordeaux vintage and is a blend of 88% Merlot, 7% Cab Sauv, 5% Cab Franc. And finally, Glen Carlou provides us with an almost unheard of blend consisting of Petit Verdot and Tannat, which looks like it may have been specially crafted for the LCBO.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2011 - AC, Midi, France (#155804) (XD) - $15.95
• JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ 2011 - Padthaway, South Australia (#673897) (XD) - $16.95
• KEW VINEYARDS SOLDIER’S GRANT 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#367318) (XD) - $18.95
• TILENUS ENVEJECIDO EN ROBLE MENCÍA 2010 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#297143) (XD) - $18.95
• SCHILD ESTATE OLD BUSH VINE GMS GRENACHE/MOURVÈDRE/SHIRAZ 2011 - Barossa, South Australia (#108183) (XD) - $19.95
• THYMIOPOULOS VINEYARDS YN KAI OUPAVÓS XINOMAVRO 2010 - Unfiltered, AP Naoussa, Greece (#360750) (XD) - $19.95
• DANDELION LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2011 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#357475) (XD) - $19.95
• DANDELION VINEYARDS LIONHEART OF THE BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2011 - Unfined and Unfiltered, Barossa Valley, South Australia (#358127) (XD) (375 mL) - $10.95
• CHÂTEAU TOUR CALON 2009 - AC Montagne Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France (#362012) (XD) - $20.95
• GLEN CARLOU PETIT VERDOT/TANNAT 2009 - WO Paarl, South Africa (#363440) (XD) - $21.95
• CHAPEL HILL BUSH VINE GRENACHE 2011 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#262105) (XD) - $26.95
• VILLA GIRARDI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2009 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#159913) (D) - $41.95

WhiteWine:

• FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#080234) (M) - $16.95
• FLAT ROCK NADJA’S VINEYARD RIESLING 2012 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#578625) (D) - $19.95  reviewed here
• JEAN-MARC BROCARD DOMAINE SAINTE CLAIRE CHABLIS 2011 - Single Vineyard, AC, Burgundy, France (#356634) (XD) - $19.95
• MCWILLIAM’S MOUNT PLEASANT ELIZABETH SEMILLON 2006 - Cellar aged, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#724492) (XD) - $19.95
• MOUNTADAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2009 - High Eden, Eden Valley, South Australia (#333211) (XD) - $24.95

Dessert Wine:

• HENRY OF PELHAM CABERNET ICEWINE 2012 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#672402) (S) (200 mL) - $39.95
• BULAS VINTAGE PORT 2009 - Unfiltered, DO Douro, Portugal (#363119) (S) - $49.95

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

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2014 Niagara Icewine Festival - My Review

What an amazing two days! Last weekend, we enjoyed many Icewines and tasty culinary creations at 9 different wineries throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake and Twenty Valley. The full photo gallery is available at the bottom of this post.

Our group of 11 began Saturday afternoon at Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, where we were greeted by Chris, whom I first met back in Fall of 2012 at Niagara College Teaching Winery. While waiting for the rest of the group to arrive, we tasted a few wines in Sue-Ann's kitchen. Sue-Ann tends to make wines in a crowd-pleasing style, and her 2012 Rosé (87 pts) fits that bill nicely. It's a blend of 92% Loved by Lu Riesling and 8% Unoaked Cab Franc and is fresh and crisp with grapefruit, peach, and lime aromas, with nice replays on the palate; it's medium-bodied with a long, tart finish.

Once everyone arrived, we walked into Sue-Ann's formal dining room where we chose our chocolate bark and hand-picked our toppings, and then paired it with our choice of the 2007 Riesling Icewine or the 2011 Sparkling & SASSY Riesling (89 pts, reviewed here). On my chocolate bark, I opted for the nuts, dried citrus and dried berries and paired it with the sparkling wine. The pairing was fantastic - the right amount of sweetness from both the wine and the chocolate bark was in sync and perfectly complemented each other. There was also a smoked salt bark which I completely forgot about, but at least one person in our group tried it and said it was delicious! Ironically, this first stop ended up being my favourite stop of the weekend and is definitely a MUST stop if you're heading out on the final weekend of the Icewine Festival.

The second stop was in Niagara-on-the-Lake at Pillitteri Estates Winery, where they had brought in Canadian Beavertails topped with lemon, cinnamon and brown sugar and paired it with their delicious 2007 Chardonnay Icewine (89 pts, reviewed here). Once the again the pairing was quite well done, and if you've never had a Beavertail, this was a great opportunity to try it! Icewine made out of Chardonnay is also not very common, so it is not surprising to see the largest Estate Icewine producer in the world make it - and it was a treat to taste on this day. We then headed inside to warm up a bit and found my wife talking to Beth, who convinced us that maybe we should head further inside do some more tastings. I'm glad we went inside the private tasting room to taste three more Icewines made out of grapes you normally you don't see - 2008 Gewürztraminer Icewine (89 pts), 2008 Merlot Icewine (88 pts), and 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine (89 pts, reviewed here) - it was quite the experience!

Our 3rd stop of the day was Inniskillin Wines for some house made lobster chili paired with their 2012 Riesling Icewine. It all sounded good on paper, but this was probably my least favourite stop of the entire weekend. I suppose the lobster was in the chili broth - because I didn't get any chunks of lobster - but I didn't get much broth either. It was very dry and mostly beans, fennel seeds and celery. I'm not sure anyone in our group enjoyed it either. The Icewine was good, but needs time for the acidity to settle down.

The final stop on Saturday was The Ice House Winery for a savoury pairing of their Northern Ice Vidal Icewine paired with chicken tikka masala. Since we also did a tour of the facilities with co-owner Karen King, wife of winemaker Jamie MacFarlane, we savoured the chicken tikka masala with an Icewine Slushie. Both items were very good on their own, and the Icewine Slushie is something I'm looking forward to making at home. We also played winemaker for a bit by mixing some Vidal Icewine with some clean, dry and refreshing Chardonnay. The results were interesting - as adding even just a little bit of Icewine to the Chardonnay completely changed the flavours of the Chardonnay.

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On Sunday, after a brief stop at Chocolate F/X for a complimentary tour of the facility and a light breakfast that consisted of chocolate covered berries, cheesecake flavoured chocolates, and mint chocolate, we headed over to Cattail Creek Estate Winery for a scrumptious cup of caramelized onion cream soup that was paired with their newly release 2012 Small Lot Series Riesling Icewine (89+ pts). The beverage for designated driver's was called Gesundheit! and made out of Vidal grape juice. Both were delicious and paired very well with the soup. I also felt this was a great example of how the Icewine Festival can be a family event as my 5 and a half month old daughter really enjoyed the soup and Vidal grape juice. And because we now have the recipe, we'll be making this soup at home!

From here, we moved on to Strewn Winery to taste a 14-year-old Vidal Icewine from 1999 (89 pts, reviewed here) that was paired with Caramel Heavenlies. This cookie/square was topped with sliced almonds, oats, coconut, caramel, and honey and perfectly complemented the caramel and honey notes from the Icewine. I recall uttering the words "heavenly" in my head during this pairing. On sale for $20 (200mL) at the winery, this Icewine offers really good value.

Our third stop of the day was a short drive away to Konzelmann Estate Winery for what was described as "PEI lobster, fresh cream, and white wine enhanced with a delicate touch of Herbs de Provence, finished with a backerhaus crostini and crème fraîche". In fact, it was a lobster bisque - and a delicious one at that! Rich, creamy, and savoury, it paired beautifully with their 2010 Vidal Icewine (91 pts, reviewed here). While there, I also tasted a few other wines, including their 2011 Estate Gewürztraminer (88 pts, reviewed here) which is readily available at the LCBO.

The fourth stop was most memorable for all the wrong reasons. We entered Hernder Estate Wines to find that we were the only guests in the entire place - which sometimes isn't a bad thing! But then, as I reached into the breast pocket of my coat to pull out my notebook, I was (perhaps jokingly?) questioned with a "What are you pulling out? What's inside your jacket?". I think the employee behind the counter was seriously afraid for his life. LOL. Combine that with their 2010 Vidal Icewine that was paired with a cupcake topped with teeth-chattering sweet icing, and the whole experience was just plain awkward.

And finally, the fifth and final stop of our indulgent, Icewine-filled weekend was at Magnotta Winery. Here, we were promised fluffy pancakes, but instead got fluffy waffles. No complaints from my end. The waffles were topped with a berry reduction and served with their 2008 Vidal Icewine (91 pts, reviewed here) and 2007 Cab Franc Icewine in sparkling wine flutes. It was all delicious and worked well together, which capped our weekend very satisfyingly. However, I would say their choice of wine glasses for these two Icewines did not do the wines justice.

Maybe it's me, but one observation that struck me during this visit to Niagara is that there seems to be a growing trend towards dry Rieslings in Niagara. Many of these wines never see the light of day at the LCBO. It was an enjoyable eye-opener for me and will be an interesting story to watch over the next couple of years.

All in all, we had a great time at this year's Icewine Festival. I hope you enjoyed my review. It runs one more weekend (January 25-26) and I hope this will help you plan your Discovery Pass Experience to Niagara. If you're interested in joining me on a future visit to the region, let me know and I'll be sure to keep you posted.

View the slideshow of photos from our tour:

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South African Wines

I'm taking a break from reviewing German Wines to review a couple of South African wine samples that landed on my desk after our Ice Storm.

The Sauvignon Blanc is from Nederburg Wines, an award-winning winery that first established its roots back in 1791. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this white wine at all, as it's a steal at $11.45.

Both of these wines are from the Western Cape, which includes the legislative capital (and famous) city of Cape Town. From the LCBO's General List, both of these wines are readily available for purchase today.

Tasting Notes:
NEDERBURG WINEMASTER'S RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#382713) (XD) - $11.45
Screw cap. Medium-high intense aromas which are complex featuring an intriguing mix of lemon peel, herbal, gooseberry, asparagus, and hints of butter. Medium bodied with a slightly oily viscosity, and crisp, mouthwatering acids on the palate. Pleasant lime and gooseberry flavours with hints of melon on the medium-long finish. Nicely balanced throughout. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

OBIKWA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#665323) (D) - $9.45
Screw cap. Closed nose of sweet, ripe red cherries, blackberry, and fresh oak barrels. This red wine is medium-bodied with dusty oak and slightly sweet aroma replays on the palate. Has balanced acidity and slightly dusty tannins. Medium-length finish. Drink now or hold up to 2 years. Score: 86 pts

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Jan. 18 LCBO Wine Picks: Spain + British Columbia

The next LCBO Vintages release will be on shelves across Ontario on Saturday, January 18th. After the annual Smart Buys release, which is always the first release of the year, it seems like Spain and British Columbia will be usually featured in the second release of the year. Will signature grapes from the New World be the third release of 2014? We shall see.

Back to this release, the secondary feature is on wines from B.C., but as was the case last year, it is disappointing to see nothing interesting again!

The major feature is on Spanish wines with a particular emphasis on the 3 major wine regions in Spain - Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Priorat. Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) are the primary red grapes in Rioja and Ribera del Duero that are used to make full-bodied red wines. In Priorat, Garnacha is the primary grape.

Of the 17 Spanish wines featured in the "Hot Hot Hot!" section, four made my list of wine picks. The 2009 Ares Crianza is a young-ish Tempranillo that could be enjoyed now until 2017. You can read my full review of the 2004 Don Jacobo here, which was in Vintages last January and returns a year later. A year younger is the 2005 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva, which is mostly Tempranillo, but also contains 5% Graciano and 5% Garnacha and is approachable now, but can be aged for at least the next decade. The three wines above are all from Rioja, while the Cepa 21 Hito is from Ribera del Duero and is also made using Tempranillo, but goes by the name Tinto Fino in this wine.

From the rest of the release, I've chosen some good wines to encourage you to try some different grapes. Try the Xinomavro from Greece, or a Bonarda or Petit Verdot from Argentina. Chile's Syrah (aka Shiraz) star continues to rise, with the Valle Andino offering superb value at $13.95. Wines from the 2010 Rhône vintage continue to impress, with the Château de Nages showcasing the vintage in this release; it's an old vines GSM-blend consisting of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10 % Mourvèdre.

In white wines, I hope you enjoy Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, because that's all I've got for you in this release. The German Riesling is very sweet, but with good acidity, while the Ontario Riesling is off-dry (i.e. just a little sweet). The two Sauvignon Blancs will both be crisp, dry, and refreshing.

That's it for my Vintages recommendations from this release. If you buy and try any of these, please let me know as I always like to hear from my readers. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• VALLE ANDINO RESERVA ESPECIAL SYRAH 2008 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#272682) (XD) - $13.95
• BOUTARI GRANDE RESERVE 2007 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#140111) (D) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES 2010 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#040964) (D) - $17.95
• HACIENDA LOPEZ DE HARO RESERVA 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#357335) (XD) - $17.95
• ARES CRIANZA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#305912) (XD) - $17.95
• CEPA 21 HITO 2010 - DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#360503) (XD) - $17.95
• CENTUNO NERO D’AVOLA 2010 - IGT Sicilia, Italy (#357103) (XD) - $17.95
• DON JACOBO RESERVA 2004 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#313270) (XD) - $18.95  reviewed here
• PASSIONATE WINES MONTESCO BONARDA 2010 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#363127) (XD) - $19.95
• LA LUZ CALLEJÓN DEL CRIMEN GRAN RESERVA PETIT VERDOT 2008 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#360412) (XD) - $23.95

White Wine:

• MÖNCHHOF ROBERT EYMAEL RIESLING 2011 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#349431) (MS) - $16.95
• SUE-ANN STAFF GRACE’S DRY RIESLING 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#367086) (XD) - $18.95  reviewed here
• COOPERS CREEK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#957407) (XD) - $18.95
• FOUASSIER PERE & FILS POUILLY-FUMÉ 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#357319) (XD) - $19.95

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

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German Wines - Part 3

Here are two more wines I received courtesy of Wines of Germany Canada. The first two wines were reviewed here and here.

The first wine reviewed below is a Sparkling Wine in the 200 mL size, which is (likely) available in packs of 3 at the LCBO. It's on the sweet side and makes a good alternative for those who like Moscato d'Asti. The second wine reviewed in this post is a medium (in sweetness) Riesling. Both of these wines are easy drinking wines that are suitable for gatherings where your guests enjoy sweeter wines.

HENKELL TROCKEN DRY-SEC PICCOLO - Baden, Germany (#009118) (MD) (200 mL) - $11.45

Tasting Note:
Comes in pack of 3. Screw cap on this 200 mL bottle. Medium-high intensity aromas of apple, floral and hints of barnyard from the glass. Good, crisp bubbles and fresh acidity. Palate is quite sweet with lemon/lime, citrus and honeydew. Fairly light-weight and finishing short-medium in length. For a Trocken Dry-Sec, it's quite sweet. Score: 83 pts


DEINHARD GREEN LABEL RIESLING 2012 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#008094) (M) - $11.95

Tasting Note:

Screw cap. This white wine has muted aromas of pink grapefruit, peach, and Flintstones vitamins. Medium in sweetness with white peach, floral, petrol, and wet rocks on the palate. Hints of honey linger on the medium-long finish. Good acidity and medium bodied. Score: 86 pts

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Moselland Ars Vitis Riesling Winter Scene 2012 (Mosel) - Wine Review

This is the 2nd wine I received from the fine folks at Wines of Germany Canada (the first was reviewed here). I opened this white wine earlier today because it's light and crisp, with only 10% abv and perfectly suitable for brunch or lunch.

MOSELLAND ARS VITIS RIESLING WINTER SCENE 2012 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germanyy (#589929) (MD) - $9.95

Tasting Note:
Low intensity aromas of citrus, lime and floral notes. It's mid-weight and has a slightly oily texture with a palate consisting of orange blossom, citrus and florals. Medium-dry sweetness with bracing acids and a slight spritz. Some tartness arrives at the mid-palate and continues through to the medium-length finish. Delicate - chill slightly. Paired well with homemade butter chicken. Score: 85 pts

What's really interesting is the "label". The entire bottle has a frosted glass finish. But on the front is a clear window that let's you peer through the bottle to view the graphic that's been printed on the back of the bottle. Pretty cool!

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Peller Estates Andrew Peller Signature Series Cabernet Franc Icewine 2010 (Niagara) - Wine Review

To ring in the New Year, I opened this delicious Icewine that I received last January as part of my "Dinner for Two at Peller Estates Winery" contest winnings. Suffice it to say, it was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

PELLER ESTATES ANDREW PELLER SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (S) (375 mL) - $90.10

Tasting Note:
Sweet red fruit, currants and cranberry aromas from the cork. Gorgeously intense candied red fruits, bing cherry and ripe strawberry aromas from the glass with very nice replays led by strawberry notes on the palate. Medium-full bodied with heavy viscosity. It's sweet and has very good balancing acids and a long finish. Lovely! Score: 91 pts

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Gustav Adolf Schmitt Niersteiner Spätlese Late Harvest 2012 (Rheinhessen) - Wine Review

This is the first of a few wines that I received courtesy of Wines of Germany Canada. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be reviewing each and every one of them and posting my thoughts. If you like wines on the sweeter side, then you'll want to keep checking back. Alternatively, you can subscribe to my blog (it's free!) via the "Follow By Email" web form located on the right, near the top of this page, and get all my posts delivered right to your inbox.

The Niersteiner Spätlese is a Riesling-blend that comes in a unique clear Cobalt blue bottle. Ironically, I had this same bottle a couple of weeks ago at Fisherman's Wharf in downtown Toronto. It tastes much the same as it did over a week ago and was enjoyed by all at the table. I decided to open this one on New Year's Eve on the suggestion of my wife, and also knowing that my guests would enjoy it - which they did!

GUSTAV ADOLF SCHMITT NIERSTEINER SPÄTLESE LATE HARVEST 2012 - Prädikatswein, Rheinhessen, Germany (#262337) (MS) - $10.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. This white wine has fresh lime, mineral and floral aromas of low-to-medium intensity. Lots of honey flavours on the palate with undertones of ginger and candied peach. Slightly chalky mouthfeel and quite sweet with good acids. Finish lingers. Great value at $10.95. Part of the LCBO General List and widely available throughout the province. Score: 87 pts

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