Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Azienda Poliziano In Violas Merlot at the end of January, tonight's red wine review is another delicious offering from the same producer. This red wine is a new arrival to the LCBO that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on March 5th and is featured as part of the theme on wines from Tuscany.

Dino Carletti founded Poliziano in 1961 after he purchased his first parcel of 22 hectares near Montepulciano. The name is a tribute to the humanist poet Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494) who had the nickname "Poliziano". In 1980, his son, Federico Carletti, took over the management of the property and made his mark immediately by focusing on only estate grown fruit, quality viticulture, and innovation, while respecting tradition and the environment. With Francesco and Maria Stella, the 3rd generation joined the family business as essential advisors to Federico. Together, they face both current and future challenges of the estate that has now grown to 170 hectares of vineyards.

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC is essentially the little brother to the more famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG by using declassified grapes from Vino Nobile. The Rosso di Montepulciano DOC is a relatively new DOC as it was only established in 1989, and some of the significant rules governing the DOC include that the wine must be made up of at least 70% Sangiovese (locallly known as Prugnolo Gentile) from grapes grown between 250 metres (820 feet) and 600 metres (1,970 feet) above sea level. Higher yields and more freedom to experiment with other permitted varietals is also allowed.

This particular Rosso di Montepulciano was first crafted in 1989 and is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot. The grapes are from a 58 hectare vineyard situated between 280-350 metres above sea level on soils that are silty-clay in nature and with the presence of stones. The grapes were manually harvested and sorted using an optical sorter, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks. It was aged for 8 months with 20-40% of the wine aged in wood of various sizes. By many accounts, even with extreme summer heat, the 2019 vintage was a very good year for Tuscany. Let's see how this Rosso di Montepulciano is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

POLIZIANO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#22795) (XD) - $20.95
Blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose has a pretty bouquet of sweet red cherries, floral, spices, black cherry, and raspberry with savoury earthy undertones. On the medium-full bodied palate it has red cherry, raspberry, black cherry, and floral flavours wrapped around a savoury, earthy core. There's some warmth on the mid-palate, along with fresh acidity that is juicy and succulent, while the supple tannins have some grip. Savoury, earthy, and even some mineral notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Poliziano are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Greywacke Riesling 2020 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Greywacke Riesling back in October 2020, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely medium-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) Riesling from New Zealand which arrived at the LCBO as a VINTAGES Online Exclusive as part of the recent February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Greywacke (pronounced Greywacky) is the Marlborough label of the Judd family and named after New Zealand's most abundant bedrock. After many successful years working for another winery, the renowned and one of Marlborough's pioneer winemakers, Kevin Judd fulfilled a lifelong dream to create his own label of wines and established Greywacke in 2009. Situated in the heart of Marlborough's Omaka Valley, Greywacke is a family affair with a "keep it simple and hands-on" approach.

The fruit for Greywacke wines are sourced from prime viticultural sites from vineyards that are sustainably managed, and an increasing amount from organically farmed vineyards. Crop levels are restricted to enhance flavour concentration and a long, cool growing season produces fruit with incredible varietal intensity and bright, natural acidity. Greywacke is accredited with Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW), ensuring provenance, authenticity and integrity. In the winery, a minimal-interventionist approach to winemaking is adopted, along with extensive use of wild (indigenous) yeast fermentations to create wines with personality and individuality. Although the Greywacke range of wines is primarily based on just two varieties - Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, limited edition releases of other wines such as this Riesling complement the lineup.

The grapes for this Riesling are from the 24-year-old certified organic Ashmore Vineyard in Fairhall, adjacent to the mouth of the Brancott Valley on gravelly clay-loam soils. The fruit was hand-picked at moderate ripeness levels to capture the exuberance and natural acidity of the variety. After whole-bunch pressing and very low maceration press cycle, half of the juice was fermented in stainless steel, while the other half underwent spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation in old French oak barriques. Towards the end of fermentation, all of the wine was transferred into stainless steel and fermentation was stopped. The blended wine was aged in old barrels on its yeast lees for five months, then bottled in November 2020.

While the 2020 vintage will be remembered as the year of abnormal working conditions due to the pandemic, the growing season was slightly warmer than average and delivered superb fruit quality. Let's see how this excellent Marlborough Riesling is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE RIESLING 2020 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) - $29.95
Screw cap. Intense, gorgeously scented bouquet of flowers, lime citrus, white peach, and petrol with whiffs of mineral rise out of the glass. On the impressively concentrated palate it has a very good textured mouthfeel and an off-dry flavour profile of lime citrus, ripe apple, leesy mineral, white flowers, and subtle spicy tones. Impeccably balanced with fresh and juicy acids, while leesy mineral and lime notes taper to a dry, textured finish, with excellent length. Wow! Highly recommended buy to enjoy towards the end of the decade. Score: 93 pts

Small quantities of other Greywacke wines are available at the LCBO, while the rest of the portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Salentein Reserve Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2018 Salentein Reserve Malbec approximately 18 months ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this consistently lovely Malbec that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in the 1990s, the goal of family-owned Bodegas Salentein is to produce first-rate wines with a commitment to the earth where they come from. Situated in Tunuyán, in the heart of Uco Valley, Salentein respects nature and participates in the life of the area's community because the people are an essential component and reflected in the wine's expression. Salentein is a pioneer bodega in the Uco Valley whose exceptional range of wines is a testament to the diversity and quality that can be achieved in its high-elevation estate vineyards.

Salentein's vineyards are located in the elevated mountainsides at the base of the ancient and snowy Andes in an area known as the Uco Valley. The characteristics of the Uco Valley include its elevation (900 - 1,500 metres / 2,950 - 4,900 feet), alluvial soils, sunny days and cool nights, all of which provide the ideal microclimate for grape cultivation and growth of the highest quality Malbec grapes. Chief winemaker Jose "Pepe" Galante is heralded as one of Argentina's most important winemakers and helped pioneer the effort in winemaking that catapulted Malbec and Argentine wines onto the international stage.

This 100% Malbec is crafted with fruit from three different estate vineyards within the Uco Valley, with the oldest vines planted at the turn of the decade. 68% of the grapes are from the El Oasis estate which is 1,050 to 1,100 metres (3,444 to 3,608 feet) above sea level. 30% of the grapes are from the La Pampa estate, which is part of the San Pablo GI, and located at 1,250 metres (4,100 feet) above sea level. The remaining balance comes from the El Tomillo estate in Altamira GI and situated at 1,150 metres (3,772 feet) above sea level. The grapes were manually and mechanically harvested at different times, depending on the estate. After fermentation, the wine was aged for approximately 12 months in 80% French and 20% second-use American oak barrels. The 2019 harvest has received rave reviews across Argentina with a cold winter and dry summer delivering balanced and concentrated wines with great colour and acidity, albeit with slightly lower yields. Let's see how this 2019 Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2019 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95
Lovely, fresh, intense, dark fruited and savoury nose with aromas of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, earthy, violet, dried herb, and touches of wood spice. It's full-bodied, structured, and concentrated with savoury, earthy, dark currant, blackberry, black cherry, and dried herb flavours. Acids are juicy and succulent, while the youthful, fine-grained tannins have some grip and will soften with some time in the cellar. Structured with savoury, earthy, and wood flavours joined by some tangy berry notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines from Bodegas Salentein are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Azureau Wines & Spirits.

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CARO Amancaya Reserve Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely blend from Argentina that newly landed at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the February 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The idea of Bodegas CARO was first conceptualized in 1999 when the Catena family and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) formed a partnership. The name comes from the first two letters of each producer - CAtena and ROthschild. A year later, the concept became a reality with the goal of producing a single wine that combined Argentine and French cultures and the two signature grape varietals from each producer - Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

With four generations of winegrowing experience, the Catena family contributed with its vast knowledge of the high-altitude terroirs in Mendoza and its passion for Malbec. Domaines Barons de Rothschild contributed its centuries-old skills in growing, vinifying and ageing great Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as blending wines that are more than the sum of its parts. The Bodegas CARO winery is located in a historic building in the heart of Mendoza and has cellars that were originally built between 1884 and 1895. After finding success with their first wine - a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, they launched the Amancaya several years later.

In the Quechuan language, the Amancaya is the name of a flower of the Andes that is found in the Mendoza area. A blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the generic Mendoza appellation, the grapes were actually sourced from selected plots of old vines in Lujan de Cuyo, just outside Mendoza City, and from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley. In Lujan de Cuyo, the soils are quite varied depending on how close the vineyards are to the mountains or Mendoza River, and tend to form alluvial layers of loam, rock, and gravel. In Paraje Altamira, the vineyards are planted at 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) above sea level on the ancient alluvial bed of the Tunuyan River. The grapes were hand-harvested, carefully sorted and destemmed, then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Half of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, while the other half was aged in concrete vats.

With nearly ideal conditions across the growing season in Mendoza that consisted of fine weather, little rain, and high diurnal temperature ranges between day and night, the 2018 harvest is considered one of the best of the decade. The resulting wines are generally well-structured with fine-grained tannins, and ripe fruit flavours. Let's see how this 2018 red from Mendoza is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CARO AMANCAYA RESERVE MALBEC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Lujàn de Cuyo & Paraje Altamira, Mendoza, Argentina (#21999) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, the rich, elegant nose is highly aromatic with notes of ripe black-red-purple fruits, stony minerals, earth, currant, cassis, and spice. The medium-full bodied palate is very ripe with a rich array of red, black, blue, and purple fruit that balanced with savoury, stony minerals, white pepper spice, and earthy flavours. Acids are fresh and lively, while the supple, refined tannins have a subtle textural grip. Juicy with smoky mineral notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Bodegas CARO are available through their Agent - Select Wines Merchants.

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Crios Chardonnay 2020 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review for this Family Day long weekend is this delicious Chardonnay from the Uco Valley in Argentina that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

After deciding to follow the family business in viticulture, Susana received her degree in enology in 1991 to become the first woman in Argentina to do so. Susana worked as a consultant for many wineries in Argentina and internationally over the years, and eventually fulfilled a lifelong dream to have her own winery and create her own wines when she established Susana Balbo Wines in 1999. More recently, Susana and her team have worked tirelessly to meet international high quality standards for their wines while also showing commitment to food safety, environmental sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.

This white wine is from Susana Balbo's Crios range of wines that was borne out of her love for her children, José and Ana, and desire to forge a legacy for her family, helping them navigate their own life journeys with lessons learned from a lifetime of trailblazing entrepreneurship. The handprint logo on each Crios bottle symbolizes this relationship and illustrates the hand as powerful tool for mothers, allowing them to hold, provide warmth, nourish, and comfort, as well as teach the next generation the skills and wisdom achieved. Conviction, energy, and identity all go into making something with your hands, establishing an indelible personal mark.

To bring out the very best in Crios wines, Susana and her team choose the region of Argentina most suited for growing each particular grape, and nurture each variety to elevate its intrinsic character. Together with her children, Crios wines are crafted to be enjoyed across generations and to represent values we strive to instill in our own families, including reminding us to stop and enjoy the small pleasures of life.

This particular Chardonnay is sourced from the Uco Valley at high-altitudes averaging 1,050 metres (3,445 feet). The grapes were hand-harvested and hand-selected, followed by destemming and soft crushing. It was aged on its lees for three months in second- and third-use French oak barrels. The 2020 vintage growing season was extremely good and minimally impacted by the pandemic. Let's see how this high-altitude Uco Valley Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CRIOS CHARDONNAY 2020 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#243196) (XD) - $15.95
Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose is fresh with ripe lemons, citrus, apple, and white peach underpinned by leesy mineral notes. It has good weight on the dry, medium+ bodied palate with fresh, zippy acidity lifting the ripe lemon, citrus, apple, white peach, leesy mineral, and grapefruit flavours with a touch of wood spice. Leesy mineral, citrusy, apple, and grapefruit notes linger on the satisfyingly long and juicy finish. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Susana Balbo are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Humberto Canale Patagonia Intimo Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious, organic Malbec from the southern region of Patagonia in Argentina that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on February 19.

The family's story begins with the arrival of Humberto Canale in the Rio Negro Valley, a story that is closely linked to the growth of Argentina and the development of Patagonia. The project was made possible because of the arrival of the railway and construction of the irrigation system in the upper valley of Rio Negro at the beginning of 1900. Humberto Canale acquired 400 hectares of land in an inhospitable territory and imported tools to develop viticulture. Bodega Humberto Canale was founded in 1909 and is amongst the most southerly situated wineries in the world. By the middle of the century, they were well-established as a family winery. Five generations of the family have been involved in the business since its founding, now spanning more than 110 years, and today they have 5,000 hectares of vines across 150 vineyards. Pioneering and still family-owned, Humberto Canale combines century-old traditions and modern winemaking techniques to craft their wines. In Patagania, the air is unpolluted, while pure waters from the melting snow of the Andes irrigate the valley. The region is naturally protected by the surrounding dry desert and persistent South-West winds.

Argentina is synonymous with Malbec as the grape varietal is by far the most widely planted across the country with 84% of all Malbec in the country planted in Mendoza, and by comparison only 0.8% is planted in Rio Negro. Malbec is cultivated at various altitudes and on diverse soil types, and with these variations come different styles of wine. This Malbec is from Rio Negro, Patagonia, where the style of Malbec is actually more similar to those found in the Uco Valley with a purplish colour and notes red and black fruit, and herbal tones, a medium palate, freshness, and firmer tannins.

This particular Malbec is from Humberto Canale Intimo range of wines that are classic and traditional in concept, but also stand out for its modern style with a good combination of intense colour, lots of fruit, and just a little bit of wood to add complexity and elegance. The grapes for this 100% Malbec are from their 60+ year old vineyards located in the city of General Roca, which is situated in the northeastern part of Rio Negro. The berries were carefully handpicked and delivered to the winery a mere 1 kilometre away from the vineyard. It was fermented in large concrete vats and 10% of the wine was aged in French and Central European oak casks for 10 months. The wine was aged a further 6 months in bottle prior to its release. The 2019 vintage in Rio Negro was very balanced and produced wines of high quality. Let's see how this Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HUMBERTO CANALE PATAGONIA INTIMO MALBEC 2019 - Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina (#144725) (XD) - $14.95
This delicious organic Malbec has a medium-high intensity nose with stony mineral aromas layered over dark red cherry, spice, and touches of ripe plum which also reveal floral and candied cherry hints with time in the glass. It's medium+ bodied and slightly warming on the palate with dark red cherry, spices, and smoky mineral with hints of licorice on the flavour profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins are supple and fine-grained. Minerally and slightly spicy on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely wines from Humberto Canale are available through their Agent - Select Wines Merchants.

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February 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: France

The streak of mono-thematic releases continues with the February 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release that is titled "French Connections" and focuses on the wines from France. In addition to wines on arriving on shelves across Ontario by Saturday, there is also a collection of wines in this release that are VINTAGES Online Exclusives (VOE) and can only be purchased online through lcbo.com.

We begin with the theme on wines from France, with a total of fifteen wines featured across France's top wine regions. Surprisingly, just one wine is among my top wine recommendations - a lovely Châteauneuf-du-Pape that consists of 35% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault.

Among my top red wine picks, the always top-notch Purple Angel from Chile is a blend of 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot, while the Caro from Argentina is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The only other red wine that is a blend is from Uruguay and composed of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Tannat. The Australian Shiraz is noteworthy as the grapes come from a block of vines planted around the year 1894. The rest of the red wines are all single varietals, and mostly from South America with a Bonarda and pair of delicious Malbec wines from Argentina, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, and a lovely Tannat from Uruguay. From the northern hemisphere, the Spanish red is made with Garnacha, the Petite Sirah is from Napa Valley, and the Pinot Noir is from Willamette Valley.

There is only a small selection of white wines in this release and among my top white wine picks are all single varietal wines. Three of my recommendations are crafted using relatively unknown grapes - Picpoul, Grasevina, and Verdejo. There are also three different Chardonnays, each with its own fermentation and ageing style. Lastly, for sweet wine lovers, there is an excellent medium-sweet Riesling from New Zealand.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• HUMBERTO CANALE PATAGONIA INTIMO MALBEC 2019 - Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina (#144725) (XD) - $14.95  88+ pts  wine review
• SAN ALEJANDRO EVODIA 2019 - DO Calatayud, Spain (#23914) (XD) - $14.95
• SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2019 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95  90+ pts  wine review
• GARZÓN CABERNET FRANC/TANNAT 2018 - Uruguay (#12651) (XD) - $19.95
• LAURA HARTWIG SELECCIÓN DEL VITICULTOR BLOCK NOGALES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Santa Cruz, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#21951) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• EL ENEMIGO SINGLE VINEYARD LA ESPERANZA BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#629782) (XD) - $21.95

• CARO AMANCAYA RESERVE MALBEC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#21999) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• GARZÓN RESERVA TANNAT 2019 - Maldonado, Uruguay (#558916) (XD) - $24.95
• GIRARD PETITE SIRAH 2018 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#521542) (XD) - $44.95  VOE
• CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2018 - AC, Rhone, France (#735407) (XD) - $55.95
• ADELSHEIM PINOT NOIR 2019 - Sustainable, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#683821) (XD) - $57.95  VOE  91+ pts  wine review
• MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2018 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $74.95  94 pts  wine review
• ELDERTON COMMAND SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2017 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#716142) (XD) - $99.95

White Wine:

• BEAUVIGNAC PICPOUL DE PINET 2020 - AP, Midi, France (#350124) (XD) - $13.95
• CRIOS CHARDONNAY 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#243196) (XD) - $15.95  88+ pts  wine review
• KUTJEVO GRASEVINA 2020 - Danube-Kutjevo Vineyard, Slavonia, Croatia (#519074) (XD) - $16.95
• VIÑA MAYOR VERDEJO 2020 - DO Rueda, Spain (#23254) (XD) - $17.95
• SIDEWOOD CHARDONNAY 2018 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#186346) (XD) - $19.95
• AIRFIELD YAKIMA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2020 - Yakima Valley, Washington, USA (#479295) (XD) - $22.95
• GREYWACKE RIESLING 2020 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) - $29.95  VOE  93 pts  wine review

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Coppola Rosso & Bianco Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (California) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2018 Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend last month, tonight's wine review is another California red wine blend from the same producer. While this bottle is the 2018 vintage, it is the 2019 vintage that is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release as a new arrival.

Following many years of success in the world of cinema, the Coppola family established Francis Ford Coppola Winery in 2006 after the purchase of a historic winery in Sonoma County, California. Their desire was to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life, and after two years of renovations the winery opened in 2010 with a brand new tasting room, museum, and restaurant. And just like in many of their other business endeavours, the Coppola family is firmly committed to preserving the land for future generations, while also practising sustainability and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Rosso & Bianco collection that consists of three wines. Francis Ford Coppola grew up with wine on the family table. Rosso & Bianco wines are very special to the family as they pay tribute to their family's Italian heritage. As the story goes, Francis Ford Coppola used to hear stories from his father about how Grandpa Agostino Coppola made wine in the tenement in New York City during Prohibition. Grandpa Coppola's wines weren't fancy, but pleasurable, everyday wines that reflected the comfort of home. This Cabernet Sauvignon (blend) is crafted in the same spirit - a wine for everyday life. Let's see how this California Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting on this Tuesday night...

Tasting Note:

COPPOLA ROSSO & BIANCO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - California, USA (#23646) (D) - $19.95
This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Petite Sirah, and 4% Segalin was aged for 12 months in French oak. The medium+ intensity nose has oak driven aromas of wood spice, caramel, and clove surrounding a core of ripe currant, cassis, and blueberry. It's medium+ bodied and ripe with sweet oak vanillin, currant, cassis, clove spice, milk chocolate, cold cream, and blueberry flavours on the verge of being jammy. Juicy acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the polished tannins are smooth and rounded. Coffee, milk chocolate, and clove notes linger on the finish, with good length. Easy drinking crowd pleaser. Score: 87 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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Luigi Bosca Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the feature on wines from Argentina in the February 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

This red wine is produced by Bodega Luigi Bosca, Argentina's oldest family-run winery. It was founded in 1901 by Leoncio Arizu and soon after joined forces with the Bosca family that emigrated from Piamonte, Italy, to form Bodega Luigi Bosca - Arizu Family. Celebrating it's 120th anniversary last year, Luigi Bosca is regarded as one of Argentina's pioneers in winemaking. Luigi Bosca helped establish Argentina's first D.O.C., paving the way for the development of new Geographical Indications (GIs) throughout Mendoza. Today, the historic Luigi Bosca is run by the fourth generation of the Arizu family based in Mendoza's original premium zone - Lujàn de Cuyo.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the third most planted red variety in Argentina with more than 35,000 acres planted, representing approximately 12% of all red varieties. More than three-quarters of all Cabernet Sauvignon planted within the country is in Mendoza, with Maipú and Luján de Cuyo the historical regions with older vines - and also where this wine is from. The Maipú sub-zone is located on the southern outskirts of Mendoza City, dominated by flat vineyards at high-altitudes, while Luján de Cuyo is situated just west of Maipú and south of Mendoza City. Cabernet Sauvignon is also one of the most researched varieties in Argentina, and the majority of new plantings are located in the premium growing zones, such as the Uco Valley. In Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, the climate is warm and dry, helping Cabernet ripen and give it an intense and voluptuous style with good body and structure. In Maipú, Cabernet has a classic profile of black fruits and spices, while in Luján de Cuyo, with its deep silty, clay, and sandy soils, delivers good varietal typicity reminiscent of black fruits and a broad, rounded palate.

This particular Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted with grapes grown in Luigi Bosca's own vineyards located in Maipú and Luján de Cuyo. This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vines that are on average 40-years-old. The grapes were manually harvested, bunch selected, and de-stemmed, followed by fermentation in stainless steel. After ageing for 14 months in French and American oak barrels, the wine is gently filtered and bottled. The 2019 vintage is considered excellent with a slightly cooler than normal growing season resulting in concentrated and balanced wines, albeit with yields slightly lower than normal. Let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUIGI BOSCA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Maipú & Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#128629) (XD) - $18.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 40-year-old vines grown between 800 to 1,000 metres (2,600 to 3,200 feet) elevation. The fresh, medium-high intensity nose is black fruited with dark currant, spice, and woody aromas with a hint of vanilla. On the medium-full bodied palate, it has delicious ripe black and red fruits, currant, cassis, spices, and wood flavours supported by fresh acidity. Structured tannins are smooth and refined. Spiced wood notes linger on the crisp, juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Luigi Bosca are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - FWM Canada.

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Trinity Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that returned to the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The idea of Trinity Hill was formed by three individuals in the late 1980's - winemaker John Hancock and restaurant owners Robyn and Robert Wilson. In 1993, the idea became a reality on a stony site in Hawke's Bay with the goal to produce world-class wines from classic grape varieties, using the spiritual homes of these varieties as inspiration. Today, the winemaker is Warren Gibson, a man who has spent many vintages throughout the world soaking up inspiration and joined the team at Trinity Hill in 1997. Trinity Hill wines are produced with the utmost care and respect for the grapes and with minimum intervention.

The fruit for this Sauvignon Blanc is mainly from Mangaorapa Station in southern Hawke's Bay that has a cool climate and argillite soils which provide beautiful aromatic characters and salivating acidity. With optimal vineyard management and attention to detail, the grapes were harvested when flavour profiles were at their maximum potential. Upon arriving at the winery, the fruit was gently pressed and the majority was fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Each batch spent 3 months in contact with lees in tank before blending. A small component was fermented and aged in small 228 L barriques to enhance texture and complexity.

I last enjoyed the 2019 Trinity Hill Sauvignon Blanc in November 2020 and am curious to see how it has evolved over last 15 months. The 2019 vintage was considered exceptional for white wines from Hawke's Bay. Three years from vintage, let's see how this Sauvignon Blanc from Hawke's Bay is holding up tonight...

Tasting Note:

TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The elegantly intense aromatics offer lovely notes of tangy citrus, grapefruit, gooseberry, and stone fruits, all surrounded by earthy minerality in a slightly reductive and smoky profile. It has good weight on the dry, tangy palate with citrus, gooseberry, grapefruit, and apple flavours supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity. Lightly chalky textured mouthfeel on the mid-palate, with leesy mineral and tangy notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Trinity Hill are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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El Enemigo Chardonnay 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Wow. I can't believe how the time flew by. In October 2020 I recall enjoying the 2017 El Enemigo Chardonnay - a wine that was excellent upon opening, but really blossomed into something special over the course of 7 days that I had it open. For tonight's white wine review, I opened the latest vintage of this terrific wine that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend along with a pair of excellent Bonarda wines from the same producer as part the feature on wines from Argentina in the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

El Enemigo Wines is a passion project founded by Catena Zapata head winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena, Dr. Laura Catena's younger sister. The name El Enemigo, which means 'the enemy within', was inspired by Dante Alighieri's poem "The Divine Comedy", and the goal was to produce wines that would respect history while rejecting the status quo. El Enemigo has gained global recognition for many of their wines by displaying the best of the Mendoza and Uco Valley soils, while also combining old and new winemaking techniques.

Chardonnay is Argentina's third most widely planted white wine varietal with more than 14,400 acres planted and representing 16% of all white wine varieties planted in the country. Chardonnay is the queen of white grapes and produces wines of great character and personality, all of which depend on the terroir where it's grown and techniques used by the winemaker in the vineyard and cellar.

In Argentina, Chardonnay has historically been grown in Luján de Cuyo and Maipú, Mendoza, where the elevation is between 700 and 1000 metres above sea level and the climate is hot, dry, and sunny. More recently, since the early part of the 2000's, many producers have migrated their vineyards to higher areas, in the mountains, in the search for a cooler climate. For every 100 metres in elevation, the temperature drops by about 1°C. Mountain vineyard Chardonnay resides mainly in the Uco Valley, with Tupungato having the most vineyards, but the pinnacle for Argentine Chardonnay is in Gualtallary - where this wine is from. These regions offers a combination of alluvial, stony soils with high calcium content, and a cool climate, along with the orientation and layout of the vines that all contribute produce high quality wines that are Burgundian in style. Argentina's high elevation vineyards and intense sunlight allows Chardonnay to ripen fully while maintaining bright acidity.

Like the previous vintage, the grapes for this Chardonnay were grown in Gualtallary - a high-altitude region situated within Tupungato, which is at the northern reaches of the Uco Valley - at an elevation of 1,470 metres (4,822 feet) above sea level on deep-calcareous, rocky soils. The grapes were barrel-fermented using wild yeasts in 500 L French oak barrels, then aged for 9 months in French oak with veil. With near ideal growing conditions, the 2018 vintage produced excellent quality fruit and a bumper crop, resulting in excellent wines across Argentina. Let's see how this 2018 Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2018 - Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $24.95
Beautifully fragrant, elegant, refined, and complex with minerality, nut, and mealy aromas accented with ripe orchard fruit, apple, pear, lemon citrus, and a touch of honey. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is creamy and spicy with bright acidity. It is lightly honeyed with baked apple, lemon citrus, mineral, and mealy with some nutty tones on the flavour profile. Nicely textured on the mid-palate. Long, juicy, and succulent on the finish with lingering minerally and leesy notes. Gorgeous! Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other fantastic bottlings from El Enemigo Wines are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wine & Spirits.

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El Enemigo El Barranco Bonarda 2017 and El Mirador Bonarda 2017 (Argentina) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of excellent wines made with Bonarda from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the February 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Until the end of the last century, Bonarda was actually Argentina's most widely planted red varietal. Today, Bonarda is Argentina's second-most planted red wine variety with more than 44,000 acres planted, representing 15% of all red wine varietals. Bonarda was introduced to Argentina by European immigrants at the end of the 19th century and it was thought to be of Italian origin like Bonarda del Piedmont. However, in 2009 it was proven that it is actually Corbeau Noir, a European varietal originally from Savoy in the French Alps.

Over the years, the grape vines adapted to have little in common with those of Savoy and Piedmont. The varietal is now known as Bonarda Argentina and thrives in the warmer terroirs of Argentina. Sixty percent of Bonarda Argentina is cultivated in eastern Mendoza, where it is warmer and located at approximately 700 metres (2,300 feet) above sea level. Both of the wines in this post are from eastern Mendoza - one from the town of Junín, and the other from Rivadavia.

Both of these lovely wines were crafted by El Enemigo Wines, a passion project founded by Catena Zapata head winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena, who is Dr. Laura Catena's younger sister. The name El Enemigo, which means 'the enemy within', was inspired by Dante Alighieri's poem "The Divine Comedy", and the goal was to produce wines that would respect history while rejecting the status quo. I've enjoyed a number of excellent wines from El Enemigo over the years and the winery has gained global recognition for displaying the best of the Mendoza and Uco Valley soils. Many El Enemigo wines, including their single vineyard Bonardas and Chardonnay, combine old and new winemaking techniques that feature the use of concrete eggs in conjunction with 100-year-old oak foudres. The 2017 vintage across Argentina was excellent in quality, but low in yield. Let's see how this pair of Single Vineyard Bonarda wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

EL ENEMIGO EL BARRANCO SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Junín, Mendoza, Argentina (#15132) (XD) - $21.95
100% Bonarda grown at 650 metres (2,132 feet) above sea level on sand and river stone soils. It was fermented using wild yeasts and aged for 12 months in 100-year-old foudre. The generous, fragrant, and elegant nose has lovely aromas of dark berry, currant, black cherry, funky earth, and plum which lead to fine stony mineral notes that fill the glass. On the medium+ bodied, slightly chewy palate it offers pleasing notes of dark berry, currant, black cherry, stony minerals, and gentle herbal spice, all supported by fresh, balanced acidity. Refined tannins have a subtle, textured grip, while on the lingering finish it has mineral, dark berry, and herbal notes, with very good length. A really fine expression of Bonarda. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Rivadavia, Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $21.95
This 100% Bonarda was grown 650 metres (2,132 feet) on sand and deep clay soils. It was fermented using wild yeast and aged for 12 months in 100-year-old foudre. The rich, elegant, refined, and intense nose is deep, complex and spicy with dark berries, black cherry, blackberry, stony mineral, purple fruit, and hints of chocolate. Interesting black raspberry notes emerge with time in the glass. On the medium-full bodied there is some warmth on the entry, but it has smooth, refined and nicely textured tannins that support the spicy, dark berry, black cherry, blackberry, stony mineral, and cocoa flavours. Acids are fresh and juicy. Lovely dark berry, black cherry, and stony mineral notes linger on the long finish, with excellent length. Best Bonarda I've ever tasted. Must buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by El Enemigo, including other Bonarda wines, are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely, organic Chianti Classico that arrives at the LCBO this weekend and is featured as the Wine of the Month in the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The wines of Castello di Bossi are produced by Bacci Wines. After developing a passion for wine while growing up in Tuscany, Marco Bacci purchased the estate in 1983 and after spending some to learn about the soil and vines, he bottled his first wines in 1985.

Castello di Bossi is located in the southern half of the Chianti Classico production zone, within the Comune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Florence and 14 kilometres east of Siena. The estate has changed hands several times over the years, while the site itself has a long history that goes back to the first tower that was built there in the year 1090. In 1450, the original structure was expanded into the 4-walled fortress that can be seen today. The estate now covers 650 hectares, with 124 hectares under vine that are mostly planted with Sangiovese. The Bacci family has since purchased a number of estates in Tuscany and use modern viticultural practices to consistently harvest the best quality fruit in order to express the best qualities of the terroir and each grape variety. Marco uses only estate-grown fruit and believes that nature plays a significant role in the quality of their wines, thereby growing all of their grapes with great care and an eye for detail.

After enjoying the 2016 Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico from an exceptional vintage a couple of years ago, this red wine is from a vintage that was generally a cool year with uneven ripening. It is crafted using 100% Sangiovese that was grown at 350 metres (1,148 feet) above sea level on tufo, brown and yellow clay, and broken stone soils within the Chianti Classico subzone of Castelnuovo Berardenga that is located in the south of the denomination. The wines of Castelnuovo Berardenga are often described as having Brunello-like structure. Let's see how this 2018 Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95
Organic, this 100% Sangiovese has an elegant, medium+ intensity nose with aromas of sour red and black cherry, savoury earth, and clove spice. The medium-full bodied, structured and ripe palate has more sour red and black cherries, savoury earth, and clove spice flavours supported by fresh, lemony acidity. It has grippy, structured tannins, while the long, juicy finish is minerally with savoury earthy, and clove spice notes. A big wine for an Annata. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Although I see one other wine from this producer at the LCBO, other lovely wines from the Bacci Wines portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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February 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Argentina

Continuing the recent trend of mono-thematic releases, the February 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release looks on the fantastic, high-altitude wines from Argentina. All of the wines from this release should be on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

If you've been following me over the past few years, you'll know by now that Argentine wine is more than just Malbec. In this release, there are thirteen wines from Argentina featured and seven are included among my top wine picks. In addition to a pair of lovely Malbec wines, there are also a pair of lovely single vineyard wines made with Bonarda, Argentina's second-most widely planted red varietal. Other red wines from Argentina include a delicious Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Surprisingly, there is only one white wine from Argentina in this release, however, it is an outstanding Chardonnay.

Among my top red wine picks, the 2016 Rioja is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano / Mazuelo / Garnacha, while the 2020 Rioja is a 50/50 blend of Garnacha Tinta and Tempranillo. The rest of the wines are all single varietals, including a trio of lovely wines from Italy - a Merlot from Cortona, a Nebbiolo from Piedmont, and an organic Sangiovese from Tuscany. There is also a fine Pinot Noir from Niagara.

All of my white wine recommendations are single varietal wines. The old vines Chablis is a Chardonnay that was raised entirely in stainless steel tanks, the Sancerre is crafted with Sauvignon Blanc, and the Muscadet is made with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal. There are a trio of delightful Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, from three different areas and vintages, and even crafted in different slightly different manners. The version from Hawke's Bay has a small portion fermented and aged in small oak barriques, while the Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc was raised completely in tanks, and lastly, the regional Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was partially raised in concrete egg tank and clay amphora. Other single varietal dry white wines include a Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County in California, as well as a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. For sweet wine lovers, the Gewürztraminer Kabinett from Pfalz should be on your shopping list.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• LUIGI BOSCA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#128629) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• PALACIOS REMONDO LA VENDIMIA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#674564) (XD) - $18.95
• SUR DE LOS ANDES RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2018 - Rio Negro Single Vineyard, Patagonia, Argentina (#21991) (XD) - $19.95
• ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO 2019 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#22793) (XD) - $19.95
• EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $21.95  92 pts  wine review
• EL ENEMIGO EL BARRANCO SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#15132) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review

 

• CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• KEW VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR 2018 - Estate vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520080) (XD) - $23.95
• LORENZO LOBENDITO MALBEC 2017 - Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina (#19599) (XD) - $27.95
• AZIENDA POLIZIANO IN VIOLAS MERLOT 2017 - DOC Cortona, Tuscany, Italy (#22794) (XD) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CVNE IMPERIAL RESERVA 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#424390) (XD) - $39.95
• VERSADO ANCIENT RESERVA MALBEC 2014 - Mendoza, Argentina (#316984) (XD) - $58.95
  

White Wine:

• LA GRIFFE BERNARD CHÉREAU SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2020 - AP, Loire, France (#948182) (XD) - $16.95
• RABL LANGENLOIS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2020 - Sustainable, DAC Kamptal, Austria (#377457) (XD) - $18.95
• TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• DARTING DÜRKHEIMER NONNENGARTEN GEWÜRZTRAMINER KABINETT 2020 - Estate bottled, Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#944181) (S) - $19.95
• TWO RIVERS CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $21.95
• WHITEHAVEN GREG SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $23.95
• EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $24.95  92 pts  wine review
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS VIEILLES VIGNES CHABLIS 2019 - AP, Burgundy, France (#20912) (XD) $27.95  review coming soon...
• CAMBRIA KATHERINE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018 - Sustainable, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA (#980490) (XD) - $29.95
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95  92+ pts  wine review
  

Dessert Wine:

• JACKSON-TRIGGS RESERVE VIDAL ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#389411) (S) (375 mL) - $39.95

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