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!
My record keeping was sometimes a bit shoddy back in 2005, but based on evidence that lay before me, it appears I bought this wine from the VINTAGES release, where Icewine was the secondary theme of the wine release. However, the bottle I have is the 2003 vintage, while the vintage featured in the magazine is 2002. C'est la vie...
Tasting Note:
Peach, apricot and some raisiny aromas from the cork. Quite aromatic with apricot, plum, raisin and hazelnut aromas from the glass, with more apricot, peach and raisin on the palate. Sweet, but has slight tartness on the medium-bodied finish. Still has good acidity. I wish I had opened this Icewine years earlier as it's definitely passed it's prime. Their recent vintages look much, much better!
The next LCBO VINTAGES wine release is on and the main theme of this release coincides with the 99th annual Tour de France bike race that began on June 30th and runs to July 22nd. In the magazine, you will find the bike route runs through (or nearby) various French wine regions. This wine release offers up a few wines from some of these regions.
For my wine picks, I chose to stop in Alsace for a lovely Gewürztraminer, followed by a stop in Savoie for an off-dry white made with the Altesse varietal (also commonly known as Roussette). From here, I head to Southern Rhône for a GSM-blend Gigondas (Grenache 60%, Mourvedre 25%, Syrah 15%) and remain in Southern Rhône for an off-dry rosé made with Syrah. I finish our Tour of France in Languedoc for a lovely Syrah (#277046) which isn't part of the theme in this release, but was part of the May 26th release and wasn't available. Good to see that it will be available this time!
The secondary theme of this release is on wines from South Africa, with two white wines standing out. The off-dry Chenin Blanc offers great value, while the dry Waterkloof Circle of Life is blended with 60% Sauvignon Blanc, with Chenin Blanc and Semillion making up the other 40%.
With the International Cool-Climate Chardonnay Celebration approaching later this month, VINTAGES has also chosen to feature some of these delicious Chardonnay expressions from 7 regions around the globe. My pick among these is the Rosehall Run Chard from Prince Edward County, right here in Ontario.
Enjoy my picks for this week! Cheers!
Red Wine:
SANTA RITA MEDALLA REAL GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#275594) (D) - $17.95
MAS D'AUZIÈRES SYMPATHIE POUR LES STONES 2009 - AC Côteaux du Languedoc, Midi, France (#277046) (XD) - $19.95
E. GUIGAL GIGONDAS 2009 - AC, Rhône, France (#331900) (D) - $29.95
It's only fitting to sip Canadian wine to celebrate Canada Day. I purchased this red wine back in 2010 from the April 17 VINTAGES release and let it age for just over 2 years.
Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Plum, boysenberry, cedar aromas. More boysenberry on the palate, plus brambleberry and ripe red fruits. Hints of smokiness on the long finish. Smooth, well-integrated tannins. Medium-bodied. Fresh acidity. Ready to drink now.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit Niagara for the 2012 New Vintage Wine Festival. I was able to make it on the very last day of the festival, which runs for only 2 weekends in June, and managed to squeeze in 6 wineries using the Discovery Pass; we finished just as they were closing up at the last winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
We started off in Beamsville at Fielding Estate Winery. This was my first ever visit to Fielding and probably won't be my last. Their 2011 Rosé paired well with the cheddar & thyme shortbread topped with a hot (and delicious!) red pepper jelly. The jelly was the dominant flavour in this pairing. The second pairing was a goat cheese & chive shortbread topped with red onion marmalade that paired well with their 2011 Estate Bottled Pinot Gris. Full reviews of all the wines tasted during our tour will be posted soon.
Next stop was Stoney Ridge Estate Winery for three delicious wines of varying styles. First pairing was the 2010 Pinot Grigio with strawberry fondue over bread - quite nice! Next was the 2009 Cabernet Merlot paired with goat cheese fondue over bread that complemented each other extremely well. They also offer a very nice selection & variety of cheeses in the winery that are worth checking out. The third and final pairing was their Icewine-infused port-style 2009 Passion - an excellent wine - that paired really well with dark chocolate fondue over a strawberry.
Our third stop on this lovely afternoon was at Flat Rock Cellars for some AVella's Wood Fired Oven pizza paired with the 2011 Pinot Noir Rosé (which will be in VINTAGES as part of the July 7 release). The Margherita pizza was juicy and quite nice, while the pepperoni pizza was very dry and over-cooked. The pairing was amicable.
For the fourth stop, we ventured into Niagara-on-the-Lake at the always enjoyable Château des Charmes for some cheese and a chocolate salted caramel. We began with their off-dry 2010 "Old Vines" Riesling paired with the chocolate salted caramel square - both items were delicious. This was followed by a pairing of their 2010 Cabernet Franc with a rather large triangle of Toscano cheese - lots of spice/pepper from both fronts going on here, with the cheese offering slightly more spiciness.
The fifth stop was regrettable. Diamond Estates offered an enticing menu of goat cheese, tomato, basil and balsamic was served on a round (stale?) cracker and paired with a much-warmer-than-room-temp 2009 Dan Aykroyd Cabernet Shiraz. There was also a too warm port-style offering paired with blue cheese on a round (stale?) cracker. It wasn't bad, but I left disappointed with the entire experience.
By now, it's about 4:45pm and things are starting to wind up as we reach Inniskillin Wines for our 6th and final stop of the tour. They offered two wines from their Winemaker's Series - the 2011 Viognier and 2011 Pinot Gris. Both white wines were similar to each other and went well with the curried-lime flavours of the tandoori chicken wrapped in roti.
This concludes my review of the 2012 New Vintage Wine Festival as we toured 6 wineries throughout the Niagara region. Next up in this series is the big event in September. I encourage everyone to get a Discovery Pass for the Niagara Wine Festival and visit a few wineries, then head on over to Montebello Park in St. Catharines for cheese, food, music, and more wine! It really is a lot of fun! Get in touch with me if you'd like to join our group.
Tonight's wine is a sweet sparkling rosé from Castello di Amorosa that is ideally suited for prior to dinner or with dessert. I believe this is also the first time I've ever had a "Sparkling Rosé" at home.
FANTASIA ROSÉ 2011 - Napa Valley, California, USA (M) - $28
Tasting Note:
Normally, I don't comment on colour, but this one has a gorgeous raspberry colour to it. Fresh & sweet aromas of red cherry and ripe strawberry. Smooth flavours of strawberry on the palate, joined by peach & apricot mid-palate. Round, short finish with hints of honeycomb. Medium in sweetness. Light-bodied. Easy-drinking, low-alcohol (7%) wine with light carbonation. Serve with strawberry shortcake.
Purchased this one back in November from the Holiday Magic VINTAGES wine release. There are still a few available in the VINTAGES section of the LCBO across the province.
LUIGI BOSCA RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2010 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#142836) (XD) - $17.95
Tasting Note:
Melon/peach aromas from cork. Mango, pineapple, oak and barnyard aromas from the glass. Tropical fruits with hints of juicy sweetness dance with apple and butter notes, giving way to oaky finish in this dry, full-bodied white wine. This could be enjoyed on its own or paired with Dungeness Crab served with drawn butter. Tasty!
Just in time for summer, the next VINTAGES release will be out in LCBO outlets on and is appropriately titled "Refresher Course - Fine Wines for Summer Sipping".
Among the many refreshing summer sippers in this release, my top pick in white wines is the dry Italian Pinot Grigio. Another dry white wine worth checking out is the Spanish Albariño. If you're looking for something off-dry, your best bets are a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, or the Grüner Veltliner from Austria.
Also from the Refresher Course feature in this release is an off-dry rosé from Francis Coppola and a relatively sweet Moscato d'Asti sparkler from Michele Chiarlo.
In red wines, Concha y Toro brings us their lovely 2010 Carmenère. The Barón de Magaña from Spain is a blend made with Merlot 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Tempranillo 10% and other varietals to make up the last 10%.
Enjoy my picks for this week!
Red Wine:
CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CARMENÈRE 2010 - Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile (#169862) (XD) - $17.00
BARÓN DE MAGAÑA 2007 - DO Navarra, Spain (#280552) (XD) - $17.95
The next VINTAGES Wine Release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on . The major feature in this release is on food-friendly Chilean wines - and there are some good values to be had.
We've got two wines from Concha y Toro's "Maycas del Limarí" label. Their Reserva Especial Syrah and Chardonnay are both very good. Chile is known for it's Carmenère and is one of my favourite varietals; if you've never tried this grape, the Mayu Reserva is a good place to start.
The 1st of two secondary features in this release focuses on wines from the South of France. In general, I have found that this region in France offers the best value wines in the country. Among these wines, the Syrah/Carignan/Grenache blend from Mont Tauch made my picks. The 2nd minor feature in this release is all about Father's Day. From this section, the Barolo from Marziano Abbona is a heavy-hitter and would make an excellent cellaring candidate.
A couple of wines that struck me, but aren't listed below, are worth a look if you want to try something a bit different. Firstly, the Domaine Boyar Royal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (#259747, $13.95) is a nice introduction to wines from Bulgaria. The second wine is an unusual Italian red that tastes like a Gewürztraminer - the Ramosceto Lacrima di Morro d'Alba 2010 from Marche (#277889, $14.95).
Enjoy my picks for this week! Let me know if you try any of these. Cheers!
Red Wine:
CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#269357) (XD) - $19.95
MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL SYRAH 2008 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#269423) (XD) - $19.95
MAYU RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2009 - Elqui Valley, Chile (#090035) (XD) - $17.95
Tonight's wine is the red version of Diamond Estates' "Hat Trick" series, the white version was reviewed last week. This red wine is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, and 24% Shiraz and is available from the LCBO General List.
HAT TRICK RED 2010 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#273854) (D) - $12.95
Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Mulberry, dark fruit and cedar aromas. Balanced flavour profile with plush cassis, red fruits, black cherry and hints of vanilla. Medium-bodied, easy drinking wine. Tannins are well-integrated. Paired nicely with shish kebobs and homemade piri-piri chicken burgers.
This is a new wine that just launched recently from Diamond Estates and is part of the LCBO General List. Blended with 50% Gewürztraminer, 35% Riesling, and 15% Chardonnay, this white wine received a Bronze medal at Cuvée 2012. Here is my wine review...
HAT TRICK WHITE 2011 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#273862) (D) - $12.95
Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Mostly tropical fruits, citrus aromas, with some melon. Manuka honey with more tropical fruits on the palate. Finishes dry with a crisp seam of acidity, almost lip-smacking. Well-balanced. Medium-bodied. Quite nice for $12.95.
The next VINTAGES wine release from the LCBO will be out in stores across Ontario on . The theme of this release is on wines that scored 90 and higher. I've whittled down the many 90+ wines from this feature into a few that are worth pursuing.
Among them are the following red wines Lealtanza from Spain made with 100% Tempranillo; the Sequillo Cellars Red from South Africa that is a GSM blend plus Carignan and Cinsault, while the Antinori Brunello di Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese. In white wine, we have the C.H. Berres Riesling Kabinett, the Vasse Felix Chardonnay, and the Cave Spring CSV Riesling.
One wine that is not listed below but deserves a mention is the Mas d’Auzières Sympathie pour les Stones 2009 from Midi (#277046, $19.95). It's part of the 90+ feature but there's a note saying the product is currently not available. Why they would include this wine in this release if it's not going to be available?? I would keep an eye out for this once it does arrive in stores.
The secondary feature in this release is on wines from Portugal's hotspots. My pick from Portugal is the Cunha Martins, made from the varietals Touriga-Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro-Preto and Jaen.
Among the rest of the my wine picks, the Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is an Organic wine made with 100% Montepulciano and has a very high QPR. As the weather gets warmer, rosés tend to quench the thirst. The 13th Street version is made using 6 different red and white varietals, while the Château Montet is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.
There are lots of good wines to choose from this release. Hope you enjoy my picks! Cheers!
I had the pleasure of tasting Grant Burge Wines at the Trialto Wines office in Toronto. The tasting was led by Nick Doumanis, Global Sales Director at Grant Burge. Six wines were on the lineup card, but we ended up tasting seven.
GRANT BURGE VINEYARD RANGE SUMMERS CHARDONNAY 2010 - Eden Valley & Adelaide Hills (#269829) (D) - $19.95
Lovely aromas of citrus, oak, nut and hints of spice. One the palate, peach, apple, citrus and oak mingle together with racy acidity and finishing long. Medium-bodied. Tastes and feels more expensive. Excellent summer appertif, but can also be paired with lightly seasoned salmon. This white wine is scheduled to be part of the LCBO General List in about a month. Be ready to pounce.
GRANT BURGE MIAMBA SHIRAZ 2010 - Barossa (#725127) (XD) - $17.95
Smells dense with smoky, dark fruits, vanilla aromas. Blueberry flavours in the glass with hints of mint, lavender and pepper. Medium-bodied with a medium-length finish. Current vintage not available at LCBO.
GRANT BURGE CAMERON VALE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Barossa (#937276) (XD) - $15.95
Dark fruit, blackcurrant, vanillan and oak aromas. On the palate there is lots of cassis and blackcurrant in this medium-bodied wine. Evident tannins will reward ageing another 2-3 years. Very good Cab Sauv. Currently not available at the LCBO.
GRANT BURGE THE HOLY TRINITY GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2008 - Barossa (#236257) (XD) - $33.95
Holy moly! This blend of 46% Grenache, 39% Shiraz and 15% Mourvèdre offers gorgeous aromas of red fruit, ripe cherries and subtle milk chocolate. Crushed red berries and blueberries with hints of chocolate and mocha on the palate. Medium-full bodied. Could be aged another 5-6 years. Awesome! My favourite wine of the evening.
GRANT BURGE FILSELL OLD VINE SHIRAZ 2010 - Barossa (#987453) (XD) - $29.95
This is a big wine with aromas of ripe dark fruits, blueberry, violet and lavender. Lovely blueberry with hints of coffee and vanilla on the palate. Full-bodied. Drinkable now, but has enough tannic grip to let sit for another 2-3 years. Current vintage not available at LCBO.
GRANT BURGE CORRYTON PARK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Barossa (#317834) (XD) - $35.00
Another big wine with blackcurrants, tobacco, smoke, meat and oak aromas. On the palate, there is blackcurrant and red fruits (cranberry and cherry) that are well-integrated with fine tannins. Very smooth. Medium-bodied with a very long finish. Yummy. Available via private order from Trialto Wines.
GRANT BURGE 10 YEAR OLD TAWNY - Barossa (#058388) (S) - $30.95
Made with Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz. Gorgeous aromas of caramel, floral, herbal and touch of earth. Complex palate that begins with candied pecans, followed by burnt orange, and finishes with cocoa. It starts sweet and finishes dry. Lovely! Very few left in stock at the LCBO.
I had the opportunity to attend a Winemakers Dinner and Wine Walkthrough hosted at the Edward Day Gallery by Bill Hardy, the great grandson of Hardys founder - Thomas Hardy.
I arrived early and had the chance to mingle before the festivities got started. While mingling and waiting for everyone to arrive, we were offered 'The Gamble' Chard Pinot Gris, which ended up being one of my favourites wines of the evening. It was a rather small, intimate crowd (which I enjoyed) that also allowed everyone to meet and chat with Bill for a few moments. Overall, the event was well organized and executed. Quality and portions of both the food and wine were just right!
Here are my full reviews of the wine and food pairings:
HARDYS CHRONICLES 'THE GAMBLE' CHARDONNAY PINOT GRIS 2011 - South Australia (#219147) (D) - $15.05
Served to open the evening as people walked in and played the part very well with very smooth with apple, pear, citrus notes, mingling with peach aromas and flavours. Some earthy notes. Medium bodied wine with a medium-length finish that would make a very good appetizer wine. Yummy. Part of the LCBO General List and always available.
HARDYS HRB CHARDONNAY D648 2009 - Pemberton & Adelaide Hills (XD) - $29.95
Lots of butter, apple, citrus with some oak notes. Smooth, full bodied with fine seam of acidity. Long finish. Tasty.
Paired quite nicely with seared scallops, braised leeks, fricasse of baby spring vegetables and saffron cream. Coming to VINTAGES in .
EILEEN HARDY CHARDONNAY 2009 - Tasmania (#500991) (XD) - $59.95
Nutty, hazelnut, earth, oak aromas and flavours with touch of barnyard on the finish. Extremely smooth, medium-bodied with a very long finish. Excellent.
Paired with lobster poached in lemongrass consommé, Napa cabbage, orange-ruby grapefruit salad and toasted hazelnuts. This pairing was exquisite as the toasted hazelnuts really brought out the nutty flavours of this white wine. Unfortunately not currently available.
HARDYS CHRONICLES 'BUTCHERS GOLD' SHIRAZ SANGIOVESE 2008 - South Australia (#219139) (XD) - $15.05
Aromas of plum, raisin, currant, oak, sour cherry with nuances of mint. Plum, fruit forward with ripe fruit on the palate. Ripe tannins for drinking now. I would serve this slightly chilled.
HARDYS HRB SHIRAZ D641 2007 - McLaren Vale & Clare Valley (XD) - $34.95
Bright and minty, licorice, pepper with red fruit aromas. Dark fruits and herbal pepper notes on the palate balanced by oak. Good amount of tannin for ageing another 3-5 years. Full-bodied with a long finish. Yum.
The above two red wines were paired with a lamb duo of roasted loin and braised shank, cherry-infused lamb jus, whipped mash potatoes, and baby carrot. I thought the Shiraz Sangiovese was a bit weak for the gamey lamb flavours, while the HRB Shiraz, with it's full body and integrated tannins was well suited. The Shiraz Sangiovese is always available as in LCBO General List, while the HRB Shiraz will be coming to VINTAGES on .
EILEEN HARDY SHIRAZ 2005 - McLaren Vale (#461368) (XD) - $89.95
Big, Australian fruit bomb with an explosion of red and black fruit aromas and flavours. Some mintyness arrives towards the finish. Still evident tannins will reward another 2-3 years ageing, or decant prior to serving today.
Served with a cheese plate featuring cheddar, melted brie(?) and a too-salty blue cheese. I would've preferred this wine with a chicken dish, as opposed to a cheese plate. If you like big, fruit bombs, you will enjoy this one.
HARDYS WHISKER'S BLAKE TAWNY - Australia (S)
Peach, caramel, nuts, raisin and plum aromas. Dried raisin, caramel and peach flavours on the palate. Medium-viscosity. Should be served well-chilled to tone down the alcohol. Quite nice.
This Fortified wine is not available in Ontario (and possibly Canada), so it was a real treat to taste this with Pear Beignet, espresso-chocolate sauce, and hazelnut-sun dried cherry praline.
The next LCBO VINTAGES release will be out in stores on , and the main "attraction" in this release are California Legends starring Cab, Zin and Chard. However, as is the par for Cali wines in Ontario, many are over-priced and out of budget. However, the Ravenswood Zin is a "star" in this release and worth checking out.
The secondary attraction in this release is on Rosé wines and features 11 wines of various different styles, from dry to off-dry, and made using many different varietal combinations. The Mas des Bressades is made in a dry style using Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, while the dry Carpineto is made using Sangiovese and Canaiolo. The off-dry Ontario versions from Fielding Estate is a blend of Cab Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah, while the Featherstone is made up of almost 50/50 Gamay and Cab Franc.
Among the rest of the release, Morgon is made using Gamay, the Cinghiale is a blend of Syrah, Cab France, Merlot and Petit Verdot, while Vouvray is made with currently trending varietal Chenin Blanc. If you want something sweet, definitely check out the Yalumba Muscat.
When you head into the LCBO this Saturday, you may notice updates to shelf tags. Among other things, the sugar code levels (0, 1, 2, 3, etc...) have been replaced with XD, D, M, MS, S (i.e. Extra Dry, Dry, Medium, Medium-Sweet or Sweet) and indicate the perceived sweetness level of any wine. These sweetness levels are always indicated for wine picks and reviews found on my blog, and now also fall in line with the rest of the world. Alongside this you will also find the actual sugar content, which may or may not affect your decision to purchase a particular bottle of wine. Enjoy shopping on Saturday!
Red Wine:
MONTES ALPHA CARMENÈRE 2009 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#143230) (XD) - $19.95
RAVENSWOOD OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2009 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#673798) (D) - $23.95
GEORGES DUBOEUF DOMAINE MONT CHAVY MORGON 2010 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#276477) (D) - $17.95
GRAFFIGNA GRAND RESERVE MALBEC 2008 - Pedernal Valley, San Juan, Argentina (#162149) (D) - $16.95
CAMPO DI SASSO INSOGLIO DEL CINGHIALE 2010 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#277012) (D) - $29.95
Tasting Note:
Made with grape varietals Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. Cork was dry. Licorice, black cherry, plum, pepper and hints of smoked meat aromas. Lots of red cherries on the palate. Spicy core with good acidity throughout. Light- to medium-bodied. Dry with well-balanced ripe tannins. Perfect for chicken lasagna. Very good wine.
This white wine was purchased very recently from the April 14th VINTAGES release and can still be found in many stores across the province.
MICHEL DELHOMMEAU CUVÉE HARMONIE MUSCADET DE SÈVRE-ET-MAINE 2010 - AC, Loire, France (#164624) (XD) - $12.95
Tasting Note:
Made with 100% Melon de Bourgogne. Aromas of lime and citrus from the cork. More fresh lime aromas in the glass, followed by gooseberry notes that mingle nicely together on the palate. Hint of sweetness on the finish. Dry, with zippy acidity. Very well made summer sipper that can be enjoyed alone or with a simply prepared white fish or lightly herbed chicken.
It was a gorgeous spring evening when I recently attended a walk-around tasting of Vinho Verde wines. The weather was perfectly suited for tasting wines from this Portuguese region.
Prior to this event, I couldn't recall the last time I tasted a Vinho Verde as it must have been many years ago, so I was excited to be attending this tasting and getting re-acquainted the region.
The event was held at Verity Club on Queent St. East (Toronto) and featured about 10 wineries. Most wines produced in Vinho Verde are white wines, while rosé wines are becoming more popular; not many red wines are produced.
Overall, most of the white wines were very high in acidity, slightly tart and many had a slight spritz. The few red wines that were on hand were average at best and generally not my cup of tea. The rosé wines were my favourite of the evening, with notes of candied strawberries and cherries in a light, fruit foward style perfect for sipping on the patio on a hot summer day. Here are some of my tasting notes from the evening:
White Wine: AVELEDA QUINTA DA AVELEDA 2010 - Colheita Seleccionada Vinho Verde (#089995) (XD) - $9.95
Fresh, delicate floral, herbal aromas. Grassy, tart, some tropical fruits on the palate with a slight spritz.
QUINTA DAS ARCAS CONDE VILLAR LOUREIRO 2009 - DOC (XD)
Grass, nettle, peach aromas and flavours. High acidity. Reminds me of a strong NZ Sauvignon Blanc.
QUINTA DAS ARCAS CONDE VILLAR ALVARINHO 2010 - DOC (XD)
Tropical fruits, floral and citrus aromas follow through on palate. Crisp acidity; will pair nicely with food.
QUINTA DE CARAPEÇOS ESCOLHA 2010 - Vinho Regional Tinto (XD)
This white wine had a closed nose with apple, butter notes on palate. Creamy mouthfeel with spicy notes on mid-palate. Quite nice. Would buy.
QUINTA DE CARAPEÇOS EIRA DOS MOUROS Non-Vintage
Lots of orange and citrus aromas and flavours. Spritzy.
QUINTAS DO HOMEM VALE DO HOMEM BRANCO 2011 (D)
Very aromatic, tree fruits, floral aromas and peach on the palate. Off-dry. Lacking a bit of acidity.
SOLAR DO LOUREDO 2011 (XD)
70% Loureiro, 30% Trajadero. Fresh floral aromas and flavours. Some sweetness, smooth, clean white. Nice.
SOLAR DO LOUREDO TERRAS DE GERAZ 2011 (XD)
50/50 blend of Loureiro and Trajadero. Aromatic white wine with anise notes.
SOLAR DO LOUREDO VIANNA 2011 (D)
Crisp, clean white wine with light acidity levels. Floral aromas and flavours.Slightly off-dry.
SAVAM SOLAR DE SERRADE ALVARINHO 2011 (XD)
Smooth, crisp white wine with citrus notes, followed by floral and mineral flavour profile.
VINIVERDE ESTREIA ALVARINHO 2011 (XD)
Floral aromas with sweet notes in the mouth, followed by slightly earthy tones. Interesting.
VINIVERDE ESTREIA LOUREIRO GRANDE ESCOLHA 2011 - DOC (XD)
Clean, crisp aromas of grass and mineral also evident on palate. Slight spritz.
VINIVERDE ESTREIA BRANCO - DOC (XD)
Clean, fresh white wine, very basic, straightforward and uncomplex.
QUINTA DA LIXA TERRAS DO MINHO BRANCO 2011 - Vinho Verde (XD)
Lime and grass aroma and flavour profile. Very tart and acidic.
Rosé Wine: AVELEDA CASAL GARCIA ROSÉ 2010 - DOC (D)
My favourite rosé of the event - very fruit forward with fresh raspberries and strawberries aromas and flavours. Off-dry. Perfect patio sipper.
VINIVERDE ESTREIA ROSÉ - DOC (D)
Fairly straight-forward profile with lovely candy coated strawberries aromas and flavours with a nice seam of acidity. Off-dry. Nice!
QUINTA DE CARAPEÇOS ESPADEIRO 2010 - Vinho Verde (XD)
Simple, fruit forward, rosé wine with balanced acidity.
SAVAM TERRAS DE MONÇÃO 2011 (XD)
Dry rosé wine with mineral, grassy and floral aromas and flavours.
Red Wine: VINIVERDE ESTREIA VINHÃO TINTO (XD)
Fruit-forward red wine with lots of red berries. Light-bodied. Best red at the event.
QUINTAS DO HOMEM VALE DO HOMEM TINTO 2010 (XD)
Smoky, bacon, mushroom and barnyard profile. Not enjoyable.
Purchased this red wine last month from the Spanish Wine and Bubbly Vintages release. This wine contains 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre.
MAS D’AUZIERÈS LES ÉCLATS 2009 - AC Coteaux du Languedoc, Midi, France (#271742) (XD) - $16.95
Tasting Note:
Dark berries with hints of lavender from the cork. Kirsch liquer, cedar, and hints of earth aromas in the glass. Full on barrel oak, lots of sage, bitter cherry-pit and cassis flavours. Medium-bodied with a rather short finish. Chunky tannins will reward further ageing another 2-3 years, but drinkable now. It will be paired with one of my favourite dishes - spicy masala curry chicken.
Here are my picks for the next LCBO Vintages release, which will be in stores on . The main feature in this release are wines from Veneto (Italy), where wines are steeped in tradition and can pair exceptionally well with food. Among the Venetian red wines, the Monte del Frá Tenuta Lena and the Brigaldara made my list and both offer outstanding value at $15.95 and $14.95, respectively.
The secondary feature in this release is on white wines from New Zealand. The grapes Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris normally don't come to mind when thinking of New Zealand white wines, but both of these are worth checking out. Of course, no talk of NZ white wine would be complete without a Sauvignon Blanc, thus, we have a premium Savvy from Two Rivers.
From the rest of the release, we've got a lovely blend from Arnoux & Fils and a Burgundy Pinot Noir from Rochebin. You won't be disappointed with the Marziano Barolo, but perhaps let it rest for a few years.
Enjoy my picks for this week!
Red Wine:
MONTE DEL FRÁ TENUTA LENA DI MEZZO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2008 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#272500) (D) - $15.95
Purchased this Alsatian Pinot Gris just last month from the Made in France Vintages release. I always enjoy off-dry offerings from Alsace, and this one should be no exception. This white wine was opened Sunday night and went over very well among my guests.
JOSEPH CATTIN HATSCHBOURG PINOT GRIS 2009 - AC Alsace Grand Cru, France (#260240) (M) - $19.95
Tasting Note:
Aromas of peach, mineral with touches honey and mushroom. Rich, and flavourful with gorgeous peach and honey on the palate, with a light seam of acidity. Finishes a bit spicy. Full-bodied, smooth and very tasty. Enjoyed this with spicy chicken pakoras and chicken masala meatballs in curry. Highly recommended.
Joseph Cattin is an excellent producer of Pinot Gris. You can find my review of their 2008 Pinot Gris here.
Tasting Note:
Aromas of candied oranges, honey and peach from cork. Soft toasted honey notes, slight citrusy aromas in the glass.Honey, peach, nutmeg and orange flavours on the palate. Light texture. Very sweet for a late harvest. Delicious, but doesn't quite match up to the sweetness of this Cadbury Creme Egg that I'm enjoying.
This wine is no longer available from the LCBO. However, you can purchase a similar, newer vintage wine directly from the winery.
The next LCBO Vintages release is on , and just in time to restock after Easter and Passover holidays. Titled Heat of the Moment, the major focus in this release is on wines from Argentina.
While the overall release is rather weak, there does seem to be many more wines in the sub-$20 category. From Argentina, we have two intense reds in the CarinaE Malbec and Fabre Cab Sauv. We also have the Grenache-blended Brotte from Rhône, and an Italian Old Vines Primitivo (a.k.a. Zinfandel) who are the masters of this grape varietal.
The secondary feature is on Eco-Friendly wines, and while each region is adopting their own set of best practices, more and more wineries are trending towards making eco-friendly wines. You can read more about this subject on page 19 and 20. The Zuccardi Malbec Rosé is an organic wine, while the Herdade Penedo Gordo is a sustainable product - and both are worth a look.
As with many Vintages products, it's important to buy the day the wine is released, because you may not find it on shelves again until the next vintage (i.e. next year). Enjoy my picks and let me know if you liked any of these!
Tonight's red wine was received back in February, courtesy of Sandals St. Lucia. I am not expecting much, but, as always, keeping an open mind and was quite pleasantly surprised. I suspect this is the same wine that can be purchased from the LCBO for $13.95.
BERINGER STONE CELLARS MERLOT - California, USA (#462473) (D) - $13.95
Tasting Note:
Slippery cork was pulled out rather easily. Cork aromas of crushed red berries and some prune. In the glass, aromas of ripe red berries, raspberry, plum, licorice, and some earthy elements. Lots of blackberry notes on the palate, mulberry, some spice, and hints of milk chocolate. Sweet core, medium-bodied with chewy ripe tannins. Finishes somewhat hot - alcohol seems higher than the 13.5% on the label. Easy drinking.
Ordering a glass of house wine at a restaurant? Almost unheard of for me, and rarely would I recommend it. However, I really enjoyed a glass of this red wine recently at Mideastro in Vaughan.
Tasting Note:
Aromas of black cherry, fig, pepper and earth. Ripe, dark fruits on the palate with juicy, ripe tannins. Light bodied red wine. It wasn't the ideal to be enjoyed with Panko-crusted Chilean Sea Bass, but wasn't entirely over-bearing either. It did pair well with the double-cut Lamb Chops. Definitely a very good house wine, and the restaurant is top-notch! Wasn't my first time there, and won't be my last.
The next release of wines from LCBO Vintages is on the and the main feature in this release is on food-friendly wines that go well with feasts.
Among these wines, the Auntsfield Sauvignon Blanc will pair nicely with seafood and light salads, while the off-dry Riesling Spätlese will pair nicely with spicy Asian dishes.
In reds, there are three French wines that are worth a look, with the Grenache-blended Hecht & Bannier that offers impeccable value and is my top pick from the entire release. Also from France, we have two Bordeaux blends - from the great 2009 vintage is the Haut-Surget, and the 2008 La Bourrée. From Australia, we have the Salmagundi which is blended with more than half Shiraz, followed by 4 other grapes.
If you're looking for something sweet, then you will enjoy the Elysium Muscat from California. Want to pop something sweet for a celebration? Go for the sweet Moscato d'Asti, which typically goes over quite well in my circles. A very nice summer patio sipper is the Rosé from our local Tawse Winery. Enjoy my picks for the week!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tasting Note:
