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  • Date publishedWednesday, December 31, 2014

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



To ring in the New Year, I decided to open this red wine that turns 10 years old in 2015.

This is the last of the 3 bottles I purchased from the VINTAGES Bordeaux Futures program way back in February of 2006. The 2nd bottle of this wine was opened in March 2012. At that point in time, I commented that the tannins could have used more time to soften. Let's see how this red wine has evolved over the last (nearly) 3 years.

The 2009 vintage (#191171) of this wine was released in VINTAGES on Sept 28, 2013, with small quantities surprisingly still available.

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

Wine Review of 2005 Château Ampélia from AC Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux, France
Tasting Note:
Blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Wood and black plum aromas from the cork. Medium+ intensity aromas from the glass with aromas of dark currant, black plum, earth, wood and hints of dried herbs. Palate is medium+ bodied with a flavour profile that is quite complex - dried herb, clove flavours up front, followed by blackberry, currant, cedar, floral notes. Some prune and dried figs notes with air. Lengthy finish has clove, cocoa and oak flavours. Shows good balanced, acidity still quite fresh, while drying tannins have integrated very nicely. Could be aged another couple of years, but highly drinkable right now. Score: 89+ pts


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  • Date publishedThursday, December 25, 2014

Parés Baltà Brut Cava (Spain) - Wine Review

Opened this organic sparkling wine from Spain tonight to celebrate with the family. Available by consignment only from Trialto Wine Group.

PARÉS BALTÀ BRUT CAVA - DO Catalunya, Spain (#661586) (XD) - $13.95

Wine Review of Parés Baltà Brut Cava from DO Catalunya, Spain
Tasting Note:
Non-vintage, organic sparkling wine made using 58% Parellada, 25% Macabeo and 17% Xarel-lo. Lifted nose featuring leesy, green apple and toast aromas. Medium+ bodied with green apple, lemon peel, green melon, wild herb, and yeasty flavours with hints of sweetness. Balanced mousse. Dry, mineral and lime finish that is medium in length. Serve nicely chilled. Score: 88 pts


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  • Date publishedWednesday, December 24, 2014

Pillitteri Chardonnay Icewine 2007 (Niagara) - Wine Review

To celebrate , I opened this Icewine that was first tasted last January during the Icewine Festival. This delicious Icewine is only available at the winery, but can be ordered online via their website.

PILLITTERI CHARDONNAY ICEWINE 2007 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#) (S) (375 mL) - $60.10

Wine Review of 2007 Pillitteri Chardonnay Icewine from VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
Tasting Note:
Hints of honeysuckle aromas from the cork. In the glass, sweet aromas of honeysuckle, lemon meringue, apricot of medium intensity. Palate is medium+ bodied with a slightly viscous mouthfeel and very nice aroma replays. It's sweet, but balanced acids keep it in check. Lengthy finish that is showing nutty, caramel, pear, and melon notes. Some interesting orangey flavours on the 2nd pour. Delicious. Score: 90 pts


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  • Date publishedTuesday, December 23, 2014

Herdade do Sobroso Sobro Red 2012 (Portugal) - Wine Review

Opened this delicious red wine . It was purchased from the July 19 VINTAGES release and tiny quantities are still available at the LCBO.

HERDADE DO SOBROSO SOBRO RED 2012 - Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (#306563) (D) - $14.95

Wine Review of 2012 Herdade do Sobroso Sobro Red from Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal
Tasting Note:
Blend of 30% Aragonez, 30% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Syrah. Plummy aromas from the cork. In the glass, it has medium intensity aromatics with notions of purple flowers, blackberries, clove and new cedar oak with pleasing replays on the palate. Some meaty and dried herb notes as well. Spicy mid-palate, balanced acids and a smooth, lengthy finish. Firm, grippy tannins will soften in a year or two, but highly drinkable right now. Score: 88+ pts


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  • Date publishedSaturday, December 20, 2014

Southbrook Transitions (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wines are from Southbrook Vineyards' and appropriately part of their "Transitions" line as they are all currently undergoing transition to organic certification. All of the grapes for these wines were handpicked. These wines are available to licensees only, via Trialto Wine Group - look for them in restaurants, as they are not available at the LCBO.

Tasting Notes:
SOUTHBROOK TRANSITIONS CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (D) - $13
Stelvin screw cap. Handpicked from 3 vineyards in Niagara, of which 1% is Gamay. Fresh strawberry, bing cherry and earthy aromas from the glass. It's medium-bodied with balanced acids on the palate with red fruit, cherry and strawberry flavours with some sweetness. Soft, rounded, medium-length finish. Simple and easy drinking. Score: 86 pts

Wine Review of 2012 Southbrook Transitions Cabernet Franc Rosé from VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

SOUTHBROOK TRANSITIONS CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $13
Stelvin screw cap. 100% Chardonnay, handpicked from Sabourin Vineyards. Spring flowers, lime and pear aromas of medium intensity from the glass. Medium-full bodied with honeyed fruit flavours followed by pear, tropical fruit, lemon, and butter notes. Balanced acids and decent length on the dry finish. Score: 87 pts

Wine Review of 2013 Southbrook Transitions Chardonnay from VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

SOUTHBROOK TRANSITIONS CABERNET FRANC 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $13
Stelvin screw cap. Contains 15% Gamay. Medium intensity aromas and bretty with green pepper and cedar nose. It's medium+ bodied with medium+ level tannins and fresh acids. Dark currant, black cherry, vanilla and toasted oak flavour profile. Dry, bitter, lasting finish. Score: 88 pts

Wine Review of 2012 Southbrook Transitions Cabernet Franc from VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada


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  • Date publishedTuesday, December 16, 2014

Miguel Torres Ibéricos Crianza 2010 (Spain) - Wine Review

Somehow I missed posting this red wine review of a bottle I opened a . The 2011 vintage of this wine was released in VINTAGES in September and is still quite readily available in stores.

MIGUEL TORRES IBÉRICOS CRIANZA 2010 - DOC Rioja, Spain (#381046) (XD) - $16.95

Wine Review of 2010 Miguel Torres Ibéricos Crianza from DOC Rioja, Spain
Tasting Note:
100% Tempranillo. Woodsy, cedar and currant aromas from the cork. Medium-intensity aromas featuring sour cherry, wet earth, berry, and sweet spice aromas with much of the same, fruit-forward flavours on the palate. It's medium-bodied and dry with fresh acids and ripe tannins. Balanced oak is definitely in the background. Decent length on the finish that shows hints of prune. Easy drinking, well-made, weekday wine. Score: 87 pts


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  • Date publishedSaturday, December 13, 2014

Parés Baltà Calcari 2013 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine is organic & biodynamic and comes from a family-owned winery with traditions dating back to 1970 (although you wouldn't have guessed it given the very modern look of the label.) It is available by Consignment only via Trialto Wine Group.

PARÉS BALTÀ CALCARI 2013 - DO Penedès, Spain (#781286) (XD) - $16.95

Wine Review of 2013 Parés Baltà Calcari from DO Penedès, Spain
Tasting Note:
Made using 100% Xarel-lo, a grape traditionally used to make Cava. Screw cap. Medium intensity nose with lemony and grapefruit aromas. Medium-full bodied with very chalky, mineral mouthfeel with tarty lemon, grapefruit pith and salty flavours on the dry palate. Fresh, balanced acids and a long, tart finish. Would serve this with oily foods such as fish & chips. Score: 87 pts


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