Jan. 10 LCBO Wine Picks: Smart Buys

The new year is upon us and, as such, we have the annual "Smart Buys" release from VINTAGES that arrives on LCBO shelves this Saturday, January 10th. The magazine is quite noticeably lighter than the massive releases we had in November and December leading up to the busy holiday season. The secondary mini-feature in this VINTAGES release highlights a few Scotches to salute Robbie Burns Day (Jan. 25th).

Of the 28 wines featured in the "Smart Buys" section, only 2 made my list of wine picks. The Famille Lafage from Roussillon is a red wine blend consisting of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache, and offers excellent value in this release - a "Smart Buy" for sure. The second wine is a Spanish red made with a grape that's normally used in blends, but in this case, the Rio Madre is 100% Graciano.

From the rest of the release, there is a 2010 Bordeaux that is a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend from an excellent vintage that will reward with a couple of years in the cellar. Other blends include a 80% Malbec / 10% Bonarda / 10% Syrah blend from Argentina, and an organic wine from Parés Baltà that is 50/50 Cab Sauv and Grenache. Lastly, from Greece is a 100% Xinomavro from Boutari. In white wines, the Gavi di Gavi is made with 100% Cortese.

That's all for this week. In the next release, wines from Spain, Chile and Argentina are featured - so we should find quite a few very nice wines to recommend. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• BOUTARI NAOUSSA 2010 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#023218) (XD) - $13.95
• RIO MADRE 2013 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#354753) (XD) - $14.95  reviewed here
• LAFAGE CÔTÉ SUD 2012 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#395236) (XD) - $14.95
• PARÉS BALTÀ MAS PETIT GARNATXA/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - DO Penedès, Spain (#114264) (XD) - $15.95
• TRIVENTO AMADO SUR MALBEC/BONARDA/SYRAH 2012 - Mendoza, Argentina (#037036) (XD) - $16.95  reviewed here
• OAK BAY GAMAY NOIR 2012 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#392431) (XD) - $17.95
• CASAR DE BURBIA MENCÍA 2010 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#392530) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU BEAUSÉJOUR HOSTENS 2010 - AC Haut Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#388298) (XD) - $22.95

White Wine:

• BERSANO GAVI DI GAVI 2013 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#999979) (XD) - $14.95  reviewed here
• ROYAL TOKAJI FURMINT 2011 - Hungary (#653220) (XD) - $14.95
• KEINT-HE VOYAGEUR CHARDONNAY 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#389544) (XD) - $16.00  reviewed here
• ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO 2013 - IGT Venezia Giulia, Friuli, Italy (#707950) (XD) - $19.95
• ANSELMANN RIESLING AUSLESE 2012 - Qualitätswein, Pfalz, Germany (#391052) (MS) - $19.95

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

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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

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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Parés Baltà Brut Cava (Spain) - Wine Review

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

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

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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Pillitteri Chardonnay Icewine 2007 (Niagara) - Wine Review

To celebrate Christmas Eve, 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

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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