Azienda Poliziano In Violas Merlot 2017 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Merlot from the Cortona DOC in Tuscany that comes to the LCBO as a new arrival next weekend as part of the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

With a romantic and passionate vision for this native land, Dino Carletti founded Poliziano in 1961 after he purchased his first parcel of 22 hectares near Montepulciano. The Poliziano name is a tribute to the humanist poet Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494) who had the nickname "Poliziano". The son of Dino, Federico Carletti, took over the management of the property in 1980 after completing his studies in agriculture. Federico made his mark immediately by focusing on only estate grown fruit, quality viticulture, and innovation, while respecting tradition and the environment.

Over the years, Federico continued his pursuit for quality and excellence by improving techniques in both in the vineyards and cellar. For almost 20 years, Federico has concentrated on coaxing the highest expression of the territory from his wines, dedicated himself to the production of "cru" wines of great renown.

Today, the family passion for wine and the territory continues with the 3rd generation of the family joining the business. Francesco and Maria Stella are essential advisors to Federico, ready to interpret and face both current and future challenges of the estate that has now grown to 170 hectares of vineyards.

This red wine is from the Cortona DOC in the southern part of Tuscany, just north of Lago Trasimeno. Wine production in the region dates back to the time of the Etruscans, but was only established as a DOC in 1999. Inspiration of Poliziano's oenological project in the area came in the aftermath of the creation of the DOC as it was suitable for international varieties, along with it's friendship with the Aliotti Tommasi family that owned optimal lands in the area. Mainly international varieties are planted within the Cortona DOC, and this particular red wine is crafted with 100% Merlot. First produced in 2004, the grapes for this wine come from a 7 hectare vineyard that is planted between 300-350 metres above sea level with southwest exposure to the sun, and on clay loam (Pliocene clay) soils that have a good presence of stones. The grapes are manually harvested and sorted, fermented in stainless steel vats, and aged for 16-18 months in French oak barrels. In Violas is named in tribute to one of Angelo Ambrogini's elegies. Let's see how this Merlot from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

AZIENDA POLIZIANO IN VIOLAS MERLOT 2017 - DOC Cortona, Tuscany, Italy (#22794) (XD) - $32.95
The rich, intense nose offers lovely aromas that leads with sandalwood, dark berry, and blackberry, followed by notes of currant, floral, walnut, and cocoa. The richly structured, chewy, full-bodied palate is a touch warming with more sandalwood, dark berry, blackberry, walnut, clove, and cocoa replays supported by fresh, lively acidity. Ripe, structured tannins have some youthful grip. Long, juicy, structured, and savoury finish with sandalwood, cocoa, and clove spice notes. Oak heavy, but high quality, and it works really well. Highly recommended buy to enjoy towards the end of the decade. Score: 91+ pts

One other bottling from this producer is available at the LCBO, while other lovely wines from Azienda Poliziano are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château de Nages ButiNAGES Red 2019 and White 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, organic wines from southern Rhône that arrived at the LCBO for the first time last weekend as part of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château de Nages is a family-owned operation located in Costières de Nîmes that has been passed down over the generations. The family's history at Château de Nages begins with Joseph Torres, the family patriarch who at 68 years of age purchased this southern Rhône estate during World War II. After the passing of Joseph, the estate was managed by his son-in-law Alfred Gassier.

Today, the highly-acclaimed Michel Gassier is the fourth generation of the family to manage the estate. Situated in the heart of a Natura 2000 zone (an ecological network of protected areas of the European Union), the vineyards are planted with typical Rhône varietals and organically farmed. They are firmly committed to protecting their ecosystem and using resources wisely. To produce their fabulous wines, they combine ancestral know-how with modern techniques and with an absolute respect for the soil.

Both of these wines are from Château de Nages' ButiNAGES collection, which also includes a rosé. ButiNAGES, which means "gather nectar", is a metaphor that describes both the style of these wines, as well as the vineyard approach that allows us to achieve it. The grapes for these wines come from their younger vineyards, but receive the same attentiveness as their other cuvées. ButiNAGES wines are crafted with purity of fruit in mind to produce fresh, crisp, and unoaked wines with a soft mouthfeel. While the producer suggests that these are easy-drinking crowd pleasers (which they are), the quality offered in these wines are far superior than what you would normally find in an easy-drinking crowd pleaser type of wine. The 2019 vintage was outstanding in the Southern Rhône Valley, while the 2020 vintage for white wine varietals was very good. Let's see how these lovely wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

BUTINAGES WHITE 2020 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20906) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Blend of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne that was aged on fine lees in concrete vats with batonnage for 3 months. Elegant, fragrant, medium-high intensity aromatics are leesy mineral-inflected with lemon citrus, grapefruit, and white florals nuanced with ripe apple, stone fruits, and white peach. The palate is dry and impressively concentrated with flavours of apple, stone fruit, grapefruit, citrus, and white floral. Nicely balanced with fresh, succulent acidity. Saline minerals with citrusy notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

BUTINAGES RED 2019 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20637) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Unoaked blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was destemmed without crushing to keep only whole berries. It was blended and aged on lees in vats for 6 months. The medium-high intensity nose offers a lovely bouquet of dark cherry, raspberry, wild herbs, smoky minerality, garrigue, peppery spice, and subtle meaty nuances. It's medium-full bodied with rich, ripe, supple, and dusty tannins that have a subtly textured grip. Flavours of dark cherry, raspberry, licorice, peppery spice, smoky minerality, and garrigue are lifted by fresh, vibrant acidity. Finishes long and juicy with smoky mineral notes. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Château de Nages are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend 2018 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious blend from California that is featured on the cover of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release and arrives on shelves across Ontario for the first time this Saturday.

It is produced by Francis Ford Coppola Winery, a name famous in the world of cinema, but also quite popular in the world of wine. In 2006, the Coppola family purchased a historic property in Sonoma County and wanted to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life. After two years of renovations, the winery opened in 2010 with a tasting room, museum, and restaurant.

The Coppola family also has a firm commitment to sustainability as they have long supported sustainability throughout their lives and many business endeavours in an effort to preserve the land for generations to come. In 2020, the winery became certified sustainable through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Some of Coppola winery's sustainability activities include using energy produced from renewable sources, conserving and reducing water usage, as well as farming sustainably and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Diamond Collection, a range of wines that are crafted with grapes grown across California (and Oregon), and are carefully combined to create wines for all occasions. This particular wine is created exclusively by taste each vintage with no particular roadmap in mind. The 2018 vintage it is a blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah using grapes from various appellations across California and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Note:

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95
This blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah has a fragrant nose that offers a lush array of ripe black, dark red, and purple fruit aromas mingling with vanillin oak, and spices. It's full-bodied with slightly jammy black and red fruits such as blackberry and cherry, along with spice, and vanillin oak flavours in a pleasingly dry flavour profile. Although there is a touch of warmth, it's still well-balanced with good acidity, and smooth, dusty textured, and moderately grippy tannins. Woody, earthy, and milk chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines Francis Ford Coppola are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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January 22, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California

The main theme of the mono-thematic January 22, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on wines from California. All of the wines from release, including those featured in the California thematic, should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday. Also mentioned in this release is the introduction of the Monthly Online-Only Collection - a curated selection of wines that can only be purchased exclusively online on lcbo.com.

We begin with the theme on California wines that features fifteen wines, of which two are included among my top wine picks. The Red Blend from California is composed of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah. The only other California wine recommendation is a Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, at the northern end of California's prime winegrowing area.

From my top red wine picks, Rhone reds include the Costières de Nîmes that consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Carignan. With the Chianti Classico wines from Italy, the San Felice is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino, and 10% Pugnitello, while the Ama is composed of 96% Sangiovese and 4% Merlot. From Spain, the Calatayud is a blend of primarily old-vine Garnacha (between 70 and 100 years old), Syrah, Tempranillo, and Mazuelo, while the Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon includes 5% Syrah. Single varietal wines include an Aglianico from Campania, a Carignan from Roussillon, a Carménère from Chile, and a Graciano from Spain.

Among my white wine recommendations, the only blend is the Rhône White that is composed of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne. Among the single varietal white wines, there are Sauvignon Blanc wines from Chile and New Zealand, a Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, and a dry Pinot Gris from British Columbia. There is also a Chardonnay from Burgundy, while the partially matured in oak barrels Chenin Blanc is from South Africa. For sweet wine lovers, the white wine from Pfalz is a late harvest made with Siegerrebe and should be on your shopping list.

For readers seeking sparkling wines, there is a Prosecco made with Glera, the vintage bubbly from South Africa is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, and lastly, the Champagne is made with 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• EL ESCOCÉS VOLANTE MANGA DEL BRUJO 2018 - DO Calatayud, Spain (#15073) (XD) - $16.95
• CAMILLE CAYRAN LE CHÊNE NOIR CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 - AP, Rhône, France (#10006) (XD) - $16.95
• BUTINAGES RED 2019 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20637) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• IL POGGIO SANNIO AGLIANICO 2017 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#575225) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#282996) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LAFAGE CAYROL VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2019 - Sustainable, IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#494039) (XD) - $19.95

• CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review
• TORRES CORDILLERA DE LOS ANDES RESERVA ESPECIAL CARMENÈRE 2018 - Parcela La Ladera, DO Peumo, Valle del Cachapoal, Chile (#389692) (XD) - $22.95
• FINCAS DE LANDALUCE GRACIANO 2017 - Rioja Alavesa, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#23413) (XD) - $25.95
• FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95  89 pts  wine review
• CASTELLO DI AMA AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#515759) (XD) - $35.95
• LONG MEADOW RANCH PINOT NOIR 2016 - Estate grown, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, USA (#22598) (XD) - $59.95

White Wine:

• BUTINAGES WHITE 2020 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20906) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• BELLINGHAM THE OLD ORCHARDS CHENIN BLANC 2020 - WO Paarl, South Africa (#484055) (XD) - $16.95
• LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $17.95
• ANSELMANN EDESHEIMER ROSENGARTEN SIEGERREBE SPÄTLESE 2019 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#910554) (S) - $17.95
• ALOIS LAGEDER TERRA ALPINA PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige, Italy (#681429) (XD) - $19.95
• SOHO STELLA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Vegan, sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#554311) (XD) - $22.95
• MISSION HILL RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2020 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#537076) (XD) - $22.95
• CHRISTOPHE PATRICE PETIT CHABLIS 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#14871) (XD) - $23.95

Sparkling Wine:

• GIUSTI BRUT ASOLO PROSECCO SUPERIORE - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#16555) (D) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• JACQUES BRUÉRE CAP CLASSIQUE BLANC DE BLANCS SPARKLING 2011 - Traditional method, WO Robertson, South Africa (#23971) (XD) - $25.95
• ANDRÉ CHEMIN CUVÉE SÉLECTIONNÉE BRUT 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#20245) (XD) - $52.95
  

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Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 22 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Cloz de Luz is a family run business located in the Almahue Valley, which is part of the D.O. Rapel Valley, and naturally walled in by the Mancuman Hill, that has belonged in the family for five generations. The vineyards were planted in 1945 by their grandmother Luz and are among the oldest in Chile. Today, they have 33 hectares of estate vineyards and the estate is owned by the Edwards Cosmelli branch of the family. The principal focus is on producing elegant and quality wines based on a non-interventionist approach with freshness and subtle use of oak to enhance the natural fruity character of the wines.

With several ranges of wines within their portfolio, this particular wine by Clos de Luz is from their Massal 1945 range, signifying the year in which most of the Clos de Luz vineyard was planted by Grandma Luz. The Massal range also evokes the philosophy of planting 100% Massal selection by replanting vineyards with cuttings from old vineyards to promote natural diversity of the plants. Massal selection tends to be produce an interesting collection of fruit, which in turn produces wines of individuality and uniqueness.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is often a blend with one or two other varietals playing a minor role. The 2018 vintage is composed of old 95% Cabernet Sauvignon from Almahue and 5% Syrah. It was hand-harvested with strict selection criteria, fermented with indigenous yeast and stabilized naturally without any chemicals. 50% of the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 44% in 7,000 L Taransaud oak tanks, and 6% in 500 L Sylvain French oak barrels.

A few years ago I tasted (and liked) the 2016 vintage of this wine, which hailed from what was considered a poor vintage across Chile. On the other hand, the 2018 edition of this wine comes from an excellent vintage with slightly cooler-than-average temperatures that delivered structure and concentration. Let's see how this Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $21.95
This blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah has a lovely bouquet offering an intense and complex medley of evergreen, forest floor, ripe dark cherry, blackberry, currant with hints of peppery spice, all surrounding an earthy core. It's full-bodied, concentrated and ripe with lovely, minty herbs, tangy red and black berry, and subtle oak spice flavours. Slightly warming, but still well-balanced with fine acidity and ripe, structured and fine-grained tannins. The juicy, succulent acids take you through to the long finish with lingering minty herb, dark red and black cherry, earth, and subtle oak notes. Highly recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

The companion Carménère to this wine is coming to VINTAGES in March, while other wines from Clos de Luz can be ordered through their Agent - Touchstone Brands.

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2015 (Midi) - Wine Review

To cap off my weekend, for tonight's wine review I dive into this lovely, unoaked red wine blend from southern France that I purchased from an LCBO VINTAGES Release in July 2017.

This red wine is from the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun in southern France. It is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown 30 km north of Beziers on the schistous hillside of Roquebrun that faces south and south-east. It was macerated in whole bunches and fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.

Being one of my "go-to" wines, I previously enjoyed the 2018 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun last year, the 2010 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun a few years ago, and I still have one more vintage in my collection. Although this wine is not available at the LCBO right now, I wouldn't be surprised to see it come to VINTAGES in the spring or summer.

Let's see how this 2015 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2015 - AC, Midi, France (#155804) (XD) - $18.95
Raised entirely in tank, this lovely blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre pours a medium-deep garnet colour. The fragrant nose is elegant, mature, and complex with lovely dried dark berry, plum, dried florals, herbs, spices, olive, and mushroom with savoury, meaty, and smoky mineral hints. It's medium-full bodied with flavours of dried dark berry, smoky mineral, purple fruit, and plum in a spicy profile that's supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity. Structured tannins are quite grippy and chalky, while the alcohol is slightly warming, but still balanced. Savoury with smoky minerals linger on the very long, chalky finish. Could be cellared a bit longer, but it is drinking quite well right now. Always a great buy! Score: 91 pts

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Fasoli Gino San Raffaele Pinot Grigio 2020 (delle Venezie) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is the latest incarnation of this delicious, organic, and vegan-friendly Pinot Grigio that arrived at the LCBO as part of the January 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release last weekend.

I last tasted a previous edition of this wine nearly six years ago when the 2015 San Raffaele Monte Tabor Pinot Grigio arrived at the LCBO. However, this wine now bears the DOC delle Venezie designation, a new appellation that began with the 2017 vintage. It is produced by Fasoli Gino, a winemaking family with four generations of experience and deep roots in Verona. The family has been producing wine since 1925 with the goal of crafting unique wines that they are proud of. In 1984, they transitioned to organic wines, and in 2006 they started implementing biodynamic practices.

Today, Fasoli Gino is one of Italy's most long-standing and respected organic producers. They continue to apply knowledge passed down over generations to modern techniques to ensure they consistently produce high-quality wines. Let's see how this tasty Pinot Grigio is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FASOLI GINO SAN RAFFAELE PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - Vegan, DOC delle Venezie, Italy (#204768) (XD) - $15.95
Organic and vegan-friendly, this 100% Pinot Grigio was hand-harvested and enclosed by screw cap. Clean, fresh, and generous aromas of orchard fruit, pear, lemon citrus, and melon, along with mineral undertones and a whiff of herb. It's medium+ bodied with good concentration on the lightly honeyed, yet dry palate with crisp, refreshing acidity lifting the apple, pear, lemon citrus, and melon flavours. Juicy, slightly spicy on the mid-palate, and nicely balanced with fine leesy mineral notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Fasoli Gino can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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LAVAU Gigondas 2018 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2016 LAVAU Gigondas approximately 18 months ago, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this red wine from one of my favourite Rhône producers. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the January 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, a winemaking family with a passion for wine and love for terroir and land. The Lavau family's story begins in Saint-Émilion in the 19th century, followed by a move to Tunisia where René Lavau and his son transformed a small estate of vines and orange trees into the country's biggest wine producer. In the 1960s, Jean-Guy Lavau (René's grandson) and his wife Anne-Marie returned to France and settled in Sablet in the heart of the Rhône Valley and took charge of a small winemaking cellar that would eventually become Maison LAVAU in 1965.

In the 1990s, their two sons, Frédéric and Benoît Lavau, joined the family winery and took over once their parents retired at the turn of the century. In addition to having over 180 hectares of vines across the Rhône Valley, Maison LAVAU has also formed partnerships with growers and other estates. Today, Maison LAVAU is a major producer of Rhône wines and one of the last family-run and independent wine estates in the Rhône Valley.

Like the previous vintage, this Gigondas is crafted with old vines Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (10%). Originally from Spain, Grenache is the emblematic grape of the Southern Rhône Valley. Grenache is very resistant to drought, produces very sweet juice, and is usually blended to contribute to the power and volume of the wines from the Southern Rhône. Syrah is not very resistant to the Mistral wind, thus it is often trained. Syrah produces a beautiful purplish hue, intense fruit or spice notes, and combines very well with Grenache as it imparts freshness, fruit, and tannin to the blend. Also originally from Spain, Mourvèdre is a late ripening variety that produces intense and powerful wines, yet show great finesse. Mourvèdre is particularly suitable for maturing and ageing in oak.

This Gigondas was grown on fairly poor, calcareous-marl soils, from parcels located on the terraced, north-facing slopes of Gigondas, at the foot of the famous Dentelles de Montmirail. The grapes were de-stemmed, macerated, and fermented in temperature-controlled vats. The wine was aged for 12 months, with 55% aged in vat, while the remainder was aged in 450 L barrels that were used previously for 1 or 2 vintages, and then blended to create the final wine. Although the 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhône was a bit of a hit or miss, Maison LAVAU always produces a solid range of wines, so let's see how this Gigondas is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU GIGONDAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#234955) (XD) - $34.95
This blend of old vines Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (10%) has a lovely, intense nose of spices, black pepper, and dark berries with meaty, licorice, black cherry, and smoky mineral, plus hints of violets adding further complexity. On the structured, medium-full bodied palate it is very ripe with black and blueberry, smoky mineral, black pepper spice, black raspberry, and licorice flavours supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity. Slightly chalky on the mid-palate and beautifully balanced throughout with lovely flavour replays lingering on the long, smoky mineral finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Although very few other bottlings from this producer are currently available at the LCBO, wines from Maison LAVAU can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Closerie des Alisiers Bourgogne Aligoté 2020 and Petit Chablis 2019 (Burgundy) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely white wines from Burgundy that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

These are wines are produced by Stéphane Brocard, the son of a Chablisian winegrower Jean-Marc Brocard. Stéphane founded his Trading House after he moved to Marsannay in 2007, and in addition to his own vines in Pommard and in the old winegrowing village of Daix, Stéphane also works with the same winegrowers and plots year after year to offer authentic wines based on purity, fruit, and freshness while also having the greatest respect for terroir and the environment.

In Burgundy, the concept of 'clos' is very old, with the first clos appearing in the 7th century. Initially of religious influence, these stone walls multiplied in the 19th century and made it possible to retain the soil of each estate, giving each Burgundy estate its own personality. A Closerie is a small clos - a small property surrounded by walls or hedges.

Maison Stéphane Brocard established Closerie des Alisiers, and together with partner estates is able to craft wines from all of Burgundy's appellations representing the region's diversity, with an increasingly large range of organic wines. The wines of Closerie des Alisiers represent a range of Burgundy wines almost exclusively from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as few Aligoté wines. Together, they present the complexity and authenticity of Burgundy wines.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of both of these wines - the 2017 Closerie des Alisiers Bourgogne Aligoté and 2016 Closerie des Alisiers Petit Chablis - and expect wines of similar quality, if not better this time around. Let's see how these Burgundy white wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2020 - AC, France (#557728) (XD) - $17.95
Crafted with Burgundy's second white grape - Aligoté - this unoaked white wine has a medium-high intensity nose that is very pretty with lovely white floral, ripe apple, and zesty lime citrus aromas with mineral accents. The medium+ bodied palate has good weight and concentration with slightly honeyed notes of ripe apple, white flowers, lime citrus, and oyster shell mineral with a hint of orange in a dry flavour profile. Acids are fresh, succulent, and juicy. Slightly chalky textured with oyster shell minerality and lime citrus notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Keeps you coming back for another sip. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS PETIT CHABLIS 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557769) (XD) - $22.95
100% Chardonnay grown at altitude on Kimmeridgian soils of limestone, rich in marine fossils, and in particular small comma-shaped oysters. Raised entirely in stainless steel vats, the nose seems somewhat quiet, offering delicate aromas of lemon/lime citrus, oyster shell and limestone minerals, and a whiff of white flowers. The creamy, slightly chalky textured, mid-weighted palate is lightly honeyed and dry with ripe stone fruits, apple, lemon, pear, mealy, and nutty flavours flecked with minerality. Bright acids are fresh and juicy, while oyster shell minerals, ripe stone fruits, and light spice notes linger on the long, succulent finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Closerie des Alisiers can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Montresor Capitel della Crosara Valpolicella Ripasso 2018 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Valpolicella from Veneto that comes to the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Vini Montresor, a family with a long history that boasts illustrious ancestors such as the Count Claude de Montresor, a trusted advisor to the Duke of Orleans in France in the 17th century. A branch of the Montresor family moved to the Veneto region in Italy at the beginning of the 19th and settled near Lake Garda in an area renowned for its moraine soils. It was here that the family continued to grow one of its main passions - wine making - and in 1892 Giacomo Montresor started up Cantine Giacomo Montresor. With French blood and an Italian spirit, the Montresor family has been part of the wine industry for more than 200 years and would like to this privilege with wine drinkers across the globe.

This particular red wine is from their Capitel della Crosara collection that was created in 1991. The "Capitello" is a very old stone at the intersection in a small village of Valpolicella and on it is painted a figure of the Madonna which in past times was used by the peasantry as a votive icon. Impressed by the charm of this area, the Montresor family established relationships with almost all of the peasant families of the Borgo in the 1950s and bought their grapes. The relationship between the growers and Cantine Giacomo Montresor was so deep that it was said that Montresor had a monopoly on the grapes from this area.

A traditional blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes from the Valpolicella area were used to craft this red wine in the Ripasso method. The grapes were harvested in September and October and followed traditional vinification methods with destemming and maceration of the skins, and a very slow fermentation. After re-fermentation on Amarone pomace, the wine is aged in wood for about 1 year. I've been tasting quite a few Valpolicella wines lately, let's see how this one is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MONTRESOR CAPITEL DELLA CROSARA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2018 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#379172) (XD) - $19.95
Crafted with Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, the medium-high intensity nose is quite elegant with a pleasing mix of candied black cherry, dried spices, and wood spice with savoury, earthy undertones, and a slight herbal touch. On the medium-full bodied palate it comes off as dry on the flavour profile with delicious aroma replays. It's very well balanced with fresh, juicy acidity and refined, slightly grippy tannins. Savoury, earthy, cocoa, and woody with herbal notes linger on the long, succulent finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Montresor are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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January 8, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Smart Buys

Happy New Year! The first release of the year is the January 8, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release and is always the "Smart Buys" release with most of the wines coming in at under $20. It's a very good release and all of the wines should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme of this mono-thematic release which is titled "Smart Buys" and features twenty-five wines under $20, four of which are included among my top wine picks. First up is an interesting red wine from Tuscany that is a blend of mainly Sangiovese, plus small amounts of Canaiolo, Malvasia Nera, and Trebbiano rounding out the blend, and all fermented and aged in concrete tanks. Also unwooded is a red blend from Minervois that consists of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache that was aged in concrete and stainless steel tanks. Other Smart Buys include a Pinot Noir from British Columbia and an off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) Pinot Gris from Alsace.

From my red wine picks, the Valpolicella is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, while the Gigondas consists of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. From Western Australia, the Folklore is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, while the Margaret River Cab/Merlot is actually a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Some of the single varietal wines that should be on your shopping list include a Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa, and a dry Georgian wine made with Saperavi, as well as a pair of Shiraz wines - one from South Africa and the other from Hunter Valley in Australia.

Among my white wine recommendations, the only blend is a Sauvignon Blanc (that includes 5% Semillon) from South Africa. For a pure Sauvignon Blanc expression, there is a fine version from New Zealand. For Chardonnay wine lovers, the Chardonnay from Niagara and the Petit Chablis from Burgundy are both unoaked, while the Chardonnay from Australia was aged in oak. Other single varietal dry white wines include an Aligoté from Burgundy and an organic Pinot Grigio from Italy. For sweet wine lovers, in addition to the aforementioned Pinot Gris, there is also a fine off-dry Riesling from Washington.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers and happy drinking in 2022!

Red Wine:

• FORTANT GRANDS TERROIRS 2018 - AC Minervois, Languedoc, France (#20713) (XD) - $15.95
• PIAZZANO VENTOSO SANGIOVESE 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#22761) (XD) - $17.00  89 pts  wine review
• ZANGAURA SAPERAVI 2018 - PDO Kindzmarauli, Kakheti, Georgia (#617332) (XD) - $17.95
• FOLKLORE CABERNET/MERLOT 2018 - Western Australia (#20879) (XD) - $17.95
• MONTRESOR CAPITEL DELLA CROSARA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2018 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#379172) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• OAK BAY PINOT NOIR 2019 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#267146) (XD) - $19.95
• CANTINA TOLLO MO RISERVA MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2015 - DOP Abruzzo, Italy (#19874) (XD) - $19.95

• FRAM SHIRAZ 2019 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#21326) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• LA MOTTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#21155) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SHIRAZ 2019 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#13990) (XD) - $26.95
• BEL ECHO PINOT NOIR 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#159137) (XD) - $29.95
• LAVAU GIGONDAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#234955) (XD) - $34.95  92 pts  wine review
• EVANS & TATE REDBROOK ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT 2017 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#16530) (XD) - $38.95

White Wine:

• JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2019 - AC Alsace, France (#196956) (D) - $14.95
• FASOLI GINO SAN RAFFAELE PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - Vegan, DOC delle Venezie, Italy (#204768) (XD) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
• THE FLEDGE & CO JIKKEN BARERU EXPERIMENTAL BARRELS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#21157) (XD) - $15.95
• KUNG FU GIRL RIESLING 2019 - Washington, USA (#394759) (D) - $16.95
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557728) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• PONDVIEW BELLA TERRA CHARDONNAY 2020 - Sur lie, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#23972) (XD) - $19.95
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS PETIT CHABLIS 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557769) (XD) - $22.95  90 pts  wine review
• VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Sustainable, Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#536201) (XD) - $24.95
• STELLA BELLA CHARDONNAY 2018 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#102061) (XD) - $29.95

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Piazzano Ventoso Sangiovese 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely Tuscan red wine made with Sangiovese. A new arrival, it comes to the LCBO as part of the upcoming January 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is featured as a Smart Buy and a $17 solution as a great-value wine in this release.

Fattoria di Piazzano has been in the Bettarini family since 1948, when Otello Bettarini, who had a great interest in astronomy fell in love with the village and region, decided to move from Prato to the area among the hills, south of Empoli. Soon after moving, the family's main activity was winegrowing. Otello and his nephew, Riccardo, would be the first members of the family to work the vineyards and advance the progress of the estate, with Riccardo eventually managing the estate on his own.

At the end of the 1990s, Riccardo entrusted the estate to his children Rolando and Ilaria to continue the traditions, passion and tenacity that was handed down to them. Today, the estate continues to be family-run with Rolando responsible for everything related to winemaking, while Ilaria focuses on the foreign market and administration. Rolando's wife, Michela, focuses on the Italian market.

Although the family has gained great experience over the years, the family does use a consultant winemaker, Attilio Pagli, and other collaborators and technicians to ensure the wines are of high quality while also having respect for the environment and ensuring eco-sustainability to keep the land as healthy as possible. In this context, Piazzano has chosen to use only energy produced from renewable sources.

I've had the pleasure of tasting a number Piazzano wines in this past. This red wine is crafted mainly with Sangiovese, but also includes some Canaiolo, Malvasia Nera, and Trebbiano in the final blend. All of the grapes were grown on clay-loam soils with rock fragments and planted with sun exposure to the south, south-west, and north. After manual and mechanical harvesting, the grapes were sorted, de-stemmed, and pressed. It was fermented and aged in concrete tanks to preserve freshness and fruitiness. By many accounts, the 2019 vintage in Tuscany was extremely good. Although the growing season was marked by extreme heat, life-saving rains in mid-summer proved crucial. Let's see how this red wine from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PIAZZANO VENTOSO SANGIOVESE 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#22761) (XD) - $17.00
Mainly Sangiovese with Canaiolo, Malvasia Nera, and Trebbiano completing the blend, the fragrant nose has funky barnyard and earthy notes off the top, layered over red flowers, red cherry, blackberry, and forest floor aromas. On the medium+ bodied palate it is rustic and savoury with wet earth, red & black fruited, and clove flavours supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity and fine-grained, lightly grippy tannins. Juicy with earthy, savoury, clove, and cocoa notes linger on the long, persistent finish. Really quite nice in a rustic, savoury profile. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Piazzano can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Mike Weir Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review takes me back to 6 years ago when I first tasted this lovely Icewine at Mike Weir Winery in January 2016 while attending the annual Icewine Festival.

Unfortunately, their wines are no longer available as the winery closed its doors sometime in Spring 2018, and I still have their 2010 Meritage that I should crack open soon. On the bright side, the winery was sold and reopened in Spring/Summer 2020 as Locust Lane Estate Winery.

At 9 years from vintage, let's see how this 2013 Cabernet Franc Icewine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MIKE WEIR CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (S) (200 mL) - $39.95
100% Cabernet Franc. Pours a mature deep tawny in colour. The medium+ intensity nose wasn't initially very appealing with mature, slightly funky aromas of sugar plums, brandied strawberries, brown sugar, caramel, and brown spices. The medium+ bodied palate, however, is lovely with a viscous, almost syrupy mouthfeel balanced by bracing acidity. I really liked the lusciously sweet flavours of strawberry, raspberry, brown sugar, caramel, and sugar plums, all of which linger through to the juicy and sticky finish, with very good length. Should continue to age well for at least another 5+ years, but it is highly pleasurable right now. Score: 91 pts

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La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Happy New Year! For my first wine of 2022, tonight's red wine review is an excellent, sustainably crafted, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa. It's a new arrival to the LCBO that should be on shelves across Ontario next weekend as part of the January 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by the historic La Motte Estate, where viticulture was first established on the farm by Huguenot descendant Gabriël du Toit in 1752 with an initial planting of 4,000 vines. La Motte is situated in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley in South Africa's Cape winelands and is believed to be named after the French village La Motte d'Aigues in Provence, which was home to several Huguenots who left their country for South Africa in 1688. A number of these French refugees were granted land in the region that later became known as Franschhoek, which means "French Corner".

Today, La Motte is one of three wine estates owned by the Rupert family after it was acquired by the late Dr. Anton Rupert in 1970. Dr. Rupert was an internationally respected industrialist who established a global business empire and was also a committed conservationist. Following the acquisition in 1970, La Motte was redeveloped and restored to become a leading global wine producer and sought-after tourist destination with a number of historic buildings and sites that date back to the 18th century.

Environmental management is a high priority at La Motte. They practice sustainable farming along with other long-term strategies, and also consider the environmental impact in day-to-day operations. Among the many green certifications and initiatives, in 2003 La Motte became one of the first wine estates to be awarded the coveted ISO 14001 Environmental Management Certification. As a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), social responsibility is also top of mind La Motte as they seek to uplift and empower its people. Today, La Motte is owned by Dr. Rupert's daughter, Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg and her husband Hein Koegelenberg and the Estate is known for producing fine wines of exceptional quality.

This red wine is made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was grown in two areas - Franschhoek (67%), which yields pure berry fruit and creamy texture, and from Stellenbosch (33%) which provides volume and light minty spice notes. Grapes from different blocks were fermented and aged separately, with fermentation occurring in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in a mix of new and used 300 L French oak barrels for 16 months, followed by blending and bottling in November 2019. Although the 2018 growing season was challenging due to extreme drought conditions leading to reduced yields, the end result was ripe, concentrated berries of excellent quality. Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA MOTTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#21155) (XD) - $24.95
This lovely 100% Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium-high intensity nose offering earthy minerals, dark berry fruit, currant, and cassis aromas accented with wood spice. It's elegantly structured with firm, yet approachable tannins on the full-bodied palate with fresh, vibrant, and lemony acidity. Flavours of dark berry, currant, earthy mineral, and wood spice are nicely balanced with touches of minty dried herbs. Structured and slightly tangy with earthy, woody, and cocoa notes on the long finish. Enjoyable now, but I would hold for at least 3+ years. Highly recommend buy. Score: 91 pts

Other fine wines from La Motte Estate can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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