Treana Chardonnay 2021 (California) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2020 Treana Cabernet Sauvignon late last year, tonight's white wine review is its companion Chardonnay that arrived at the LCBO last month in the January 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Hope Family Wines, a winemaking family that has been farming the lands in Paso Robles, a sub-region within the Central Coast AVA, for over 30 years. When the family first arrived in this barely-discovered region, they planted apples and grapes. Over time, the rolling, oak-studded terrain of Paso Robles would become a viticultural terroir of significance and one of the top winegrowing regions for quality red wine within the Central Coast.

Hope Family Wines consists of five individual wine brands. Like the aforementioned Cabernet Savuginon, this white wine is from the Hope family's Treana line of wines. The name "Treana" is inspired by Spanish word for trio of natural elements. It represents the sum of three elements that influences their wines: the land that their families farm, the warm California sun that nurtures, and the cooling ocean breeze that balances.

This Chardonnay is crafted with fruit sourced from some very distinctive vineyards mainly in Santa Barbara County - all of which have sandy loam soils that provide good drainage and a climate that experiences marine layers that typically dominate the summer mornings and lead into warm afternoons. After harvesting, the grapes were whole-cluster pressed into stainless steel tanks. The juice was fermented in a combination of barrel and stainless steel. 65% of the wine was barrel-fermented in American and French oak followed by 7 months of sur-lie ageing, while the other 35% was fermented in stainless steel. The two wines were blended together and a portion was barrel-aged for 1 month in new French oak. The barrels used to craft this wine offer a distinctive nuance. Let's see how this 2021 California Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TREANA CHARDONNAY 2021 - Central Coast, California, USA (#481523) (D) - $25.95
Screw cap. Rich, fragrant aromas of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, pineapple, butter, and poached apple rise out of the glass. On the medium-full bodied palate it is ripe, creamy, and sweet with oak-influenced flavours of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, lemon, pineapple, butter, and apple. The textured mid-palate gives way to smoky, toasty oak flavours on the finish, with good length. A crowd-pleasing Chardonnay. Score: 87 pts

Other delicious wines from Hope Family Wines are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Zingari 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2018 Zingari last year, tonight's red wine review is the latest edition of this lovely Super Tuscan that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Petra, a winery and estate whose modern story was conceived in the late 1990's with the intention of bringing together some of the greatest pioneers of Italian wine to create a new benchmark for Super Tuscans - wines made using international grape varieties grown and vinified on Tuscan soils. Petra is situated close to the ancient village of Suvereto, in northern Maremma of Tuscany, on the ferrous hills of the Val di Cornia where you can see as far as the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Although Petra was only conceived fairly recently, it's roots go back to 1808 when Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleone's sister, Princess of Lucca and Piombino and grand duchess of Tuscany, chose this place in Maremma to establish the first seed of an agricultural and viticultural project. Nearly two centuries later, Francesca Moretti fell in love with the history and the culture of the chateaux in Bordeaux and began studying agriculture and oenology. She eventually settled in the fertile Val di Cornia and in 1997, her father Vittorio Moretti, one of the greats of Italian wine, purchased 60 hectares in San Lorenzo and 45 hectares in Campiglia Marittima, a few kilometres from Piombino, in the Suvereto area, as the start of the contemporary project that would become Petra.

While still in university, Francesca planted her first varietals at the winery based on the terroir and her vision and favouring international varieties in the Princess Vineyard, a 5 hectare plot where Elisa Bonaparte had also planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes two centuries earlier. The vineyards of Petra are located in a pristine, "wild" part of Maremma along the Tuscan coast where biodiversity is vibrant. The vineyards are managed according to organic practices while in the process of being certified, as well as reducing environmental impact.

The Zingari wine was born as an experimental vineyard on loamy-sandy textured and slightly calcareous soils to test the attitude of its varietals: Syrah, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot. The wine traces its roots to an ancient water spring that was a stop-over for pilgrims and wayfarers who were travelling along the Aurelia Street, hence the name Zingari (aka Gypsies), and could seek refreshment by resting near by its crystal clear waters. The decision to plant not only autochthonous grape varieties, but also international varieties, was to underline and narrate the migrating nature of the wine. The grape varieties used in this wine travelled distances to finally find comfort within the water spring of Zingari! It was aged in barrels and barriques for at least 12 months, and then at least a further 3 months in bottle prior to release.

By most accounts, the 2019 growing season in Tuscany was extremely good, marked by extreme summer heat and life-saving rains which fell towards the end of July that prevented the onslaught of drought. The weather stayed fine and stable through to harvest period, raising expectations for producing some excellent wines. Let's see how this 2019 Super Tuscan is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZINGARI 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#244228) (XD) - $19.95
This Super Tuscan is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot has clean, fragrant, medium-high intensity aromatics that deliver spicy, dried herbs, dark-black cherry, cocoa, clove, earthy mineral, and balsamic notes with impressive complexity. On the dry, chewy, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has ripe dark berry cherry, cassis, black plum, mineral, and dried herbs flavours with a saltiness that permeates throughout. Acids are fresh and succulent, while the supple tannins have a lightly pleasant chalky grip. Salty minerals, dark berry, cherry, sweet cassis, and cedary oak notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Better than the previous vintage and a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious Petra Wines can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rouge 2017 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from Sancerre that arrived at the LCBO last weekend. It was featured as part of the theme on wines from France's top wine regions in the February 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is available online at lcbo.com and at Flagship Exclusive locations in Ontario.

It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of my favourite Loire wine producers. Jean-Max Roger is a family-owned winery that descends from a long line of winegrowers from the village of Bué, in the Sancerre appellation, dating back to the early 17th century. In the early 1970's, Jean-Max Roger took over the 4 hectares of vineyards from his parents and, with his wife Nicole, focused on developing the vineyards to become one of the top estates in Sancerre today. The Rogers family passion was transferred to their sons with Etienne and Thibault joining the family estate in 2004, while their third son, Xavier, has a passion for wine and works in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Today, the estate covers 26 hectares in the Sancerre AOC, all located along the Loire River, and together they perpetuate the family know-how and techniques to continuously improve their wines vintage after vintage.

Pinot Noir from this region in France is a bit of a rarity here in Ontario, and this particular wine seems to show up at the LCBO once every 2-3 years. I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages this lovely Pinot on a couple of occasions, including most recently the 2015 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rouge back in July 2020. It's name "La Grange Dîmière" refers to one of Bué's ancient tithe barns. The ancestors of Jean-Max Roger used this barn for making their wine and today it remains the oldest part of the winery.

This Sancerre Rouge is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir that was grown in various vineyards within the villages of Bué, Sancerre, and Amigny, on limestone soils called Caillottes and Terres Blanches, which are also known as Kimmeridgian marls. The vines average between 25 to 40 years old and have southwestern and southeastern exposure to the sun. Across each vineyard, the grapes were grown to reveal its terroir while revitalizing and respecting soil life. The grapes were hand-harvested, sorted, de-stemmed, and crushed, and after a few days of cold maceration it was fermented using natural yeasts. Approximately 30% of the wine was aged for 10-12 months in 400 L barrels, and the wine was aged in bottle for at least another 6 months prior to release.

From a somewhat difficult start to the growing season in 2017 that began with frosts, the fortunes turned and became picture-perfect throughout summer and allowed the grapes to full ripen. Overall, the 2017 vintage in Loire is a good one, with especially high-quality in Sancerre. Let's see how this 2017 Sancerre Rouge is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LA GRANGE DÎMIÈRE SANCERRE ROUGE 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#539858) (XD) - $33.95
100% Pinot Noir. The medium-high intensity nose has ripe, maturing, and slightly stewed strawberry, red berry, raspberry, and cranberry aromas surrounded by enticing savoury mineral, earthy, and spice notes. It's light-to-mid weighted on the dry palate with delicious strawberry-cran-cherry, raspberry, and spice flavours layered over mineral and savoury earth notes. It has very good acidity and supple, well-structured tannins and a light grip on the mid-palate. I really like the long, elegant, stony mineral and raspberry flavoured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Only small quantities of other wines from the Jean-Max Roger portfolio are available at the LCBO, but they can also be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Lealtanza Gran Reserva 2015 (Rioja) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, vegan-friendly Gran Reserva from Rioja that arrived at the LCBO over the long weekend as part of the February 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Bodegas Altanza, a relatively young winery that was established in 1998 by a group of friends with a shared dream to make high quality, 100% Tempranillo wines. Their name is a synonym for 'quality' and their goal is to offer modern wines with an authentic touch, while also producing the best possible quality wine at a sensible price. The estate of Bodegas Altanza is situated in the higher elevation town of Fuenmayor, in Rioja Alta, and spans 300 hectares, of which 220 hectares are planted to vines. At Altanza's state-of-the-art, modern winery, they have many stainless steel tanks of varying sizes which allows them to better customize the fermentation process depending on the varietal and style of wine they wish to craft. Each tank is also fitted with a temperature-control jacket and managed by a central control panel.

Like the 2011 Lealtanza Gran Reserva that I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this vintage is also crafted with 100% Tempranillo. In fact, they craft all of their red wines with 100% Tempranillo! It was fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts. The wine was aged for 24 months in 50% French and 50% American oak barrels, as well as a further three months in large 22,000 L French oak vats.

The Rioja Control Board declared the 2015 vintage as "Very Good" back in 2016. However, more recent reports suggest that the vintage was excellent. Although the 2015 growing season in Spain was difficult at times, it all turned out good in the end. Spring was balmy and dry, but temperatures quickly rose and drought became an issue. However, Rioja was lucky enough to receive some rejuvenating showers in June. In July, heat records were being broken and the intense heatwave continued for much of the summer. Temperatures cooled for the most part in August and September. The end result was wines with a bit more higher-than-normal alcoholic levels, with Rioja producing richly concentrated wines with the potential to age. The higher, cooler vineyards of Rioja are showing especially high quality. Let's see how this 2015 Rioja is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LEALTANZA GRAN RESERVA 2015 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#453548) (XD) - $30.95
100% Tempranillo. The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers attractive aromas of sandalwood, elegant spices, leather, red & black cherry and coconut. On the rich, medium-full bodied palate, it shows very good concentration with delicious sandalwood, earthy wood spices, leather, coconut, red & black cherry, raspberry, and licorice flavours. It has fresh, well-balanced acidity and supple, still-grippy tannins that will continue to soften and integrate with time in the cellar. The sandalwood, oak spice, and earthen notes linger through to the long, savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by Bodegas Altanza can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Queenston Mile Pinot Noir 2017 (Niagara) - Wine Review

I first tasted this lovely 2017 Queenston Mile Pinot Noir back in June 2019 and for tonight's red wine review I'm delighted to see it return to the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 18th LCBO VINTAGES Release as an Online and Flagship Exclusive.

It is produced by Queenston Mile Vineyard, a 50-acre vineyard and winery that launched as a brand in early 2019. Queenston Mile is located in the St. David's Bench sub-appellation of Niagara Peninsula, within the Niagara-on-the-Lake region. They are located just 10 kilometres south of the shores of Lake Ontario, an area formed when glaciers carved out the Niagara Escarpment and arose from the historic shoreline of Lake Iroquois towards the base of the Niagara Escarpment. Today, the escarpment's steep ridge collects winds off the lake and circulates them back over the low-lying plains of Niagara-on-the-Lake, creating a warmer climate that extends from early in the spring to lengthen the entire growing season.

The small, dedicated team behind Queenston Mile Vineyard is led by talented winemaker Rob Power of Creekside Estate Winery. Rob and his team had been growing grapes and making wine from the land where Queenston Mile resides for over twenty years, with the first ten years spent waiting for the newly planted vines to mature. They discovered that Queenston Mile has one of the warmest and longest growing sites in the Niagara Peninsula. During the next ten years, they began to see the special qualities of the vineyard, with soils consisting of red sandstone bedrock and rich layers of silty clay and loam. Today, they grow seven varieties on the property, with the primary focus on crafting wines mainly with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, including sparkling wines.

Crafted with 100% Pinot Noir, the fruit in this wine is from their estate vineyard in the St. David's Bench sub-appellation of the Niagara Peninsula. It was small-batch fermented in stainless steel tanks after a 3-day cold soak, and aged for 16 months in French oak barriques and demi-muids, 40% new.

The 2017 growing season near the estate featured a rainy spring and moderate summer. But things turned around in the fall when the sun started to shine brightly and delivered a hot and dry September, bringing extended heat to record one of the nicest fall seasons on record. Although this vineyard always creates a powerful wine, this particular vintage produced a Pinot that not only comes across as more restrained and smooth, but also elegantly styled with balanced structure. Let's see how this 2017 Pinot Noir from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

QUEENSTON MILE PINOT NOIR 2017 - Estate bottled, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#10138) (XD) - $40.00
Screw cap. Evolved to a medium-pale garnet colour, this has a beautifully fragrant and highly aromatic nose of black cherry, raspberry, Damson plum, and subtle spice with some earthy and mushroomy characters while continuing to evolve in the glass. It's mid-weighted and well-structured on the palate with lovely black cherry, sour cherry, raspberry, and Damson plum flavours joined by savoury wet earth, beet root, and subtle spice and smoky notes adding further complexity. Touches of tea leaf on the mid-palate. It's nicely textured with some grip and a pleasant, lightly chalky mouthfeel, while acids are fresh and succulent. Smoky and savoury on the long, juicy finish. Wow! Highly recommend buy! Score: 93 pts

Other fine wines by Queenston Mile Vineyard come through the LCBO from time to time, but can also be ordered direct from the winery in Niagara.

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Wakefield Estate Label Chardonnay 2021 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a consistently delicious and well-made Chardonnay from Australia that returned to the LCBO recently as part of the feature in wines from the Southern Hemisphere in the February 4 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Wakefield Wines, the export brand of the Taylor family who bottle wines under their family name in Australia and New Zealand, but here in Canada and abroad they use the Wakefield branding. Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons established their own estate winery in 1969 by the Wakefield River in Clare Valley, South Australia, when they planted their first vineyards and began a journey to create their own, authentic, estate grown wines. They achieved overwhelming success with their first vintage and expanded the range of their Estate Label wines to include this Chardonnay, among other wines.

Today, Wakefield Wines is led by the third generation of the family - brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton - with a focus on continuing the family tradition of making delicious wines that stand the test of time. The family's philosophy is to produce wines sustainably and responsibly, while respecting the fruit and where it came from, as well as having a strong innovative spirit. One of the Taylor family's innovations is the Optimum Drinking Sensor that is located on the back label of many of their wines such as this Chardonnay.

I've enjoyed this Chardonnay for quite a few years now, including most recently the 2020 Wakefield Estate Chardonnay last April. While this wine was initially crafted with only Clare Valley fruit, it is increasingly using fruit from Padthaway, and this particular vintage is 100% Chardonnay composed of 70% Padthaway fruit and 30% from Clare Valley. To vinify this wine, a small portion was barrel-fermented and then lees stirred for 4 months. After 6 to 8 months of maturation in French oak, the wine was blended and bottled. I also like the fresh, new label that gives the bottle a more elegant, cohesive look.

The 2021 growing season in South Australia was very slightly warmer-than-average and very dry, with grapes ripening later-than-normal in the last half of March and into April, in sunny, windless, and cool days that enabled the perfect autumnal conditions. With near-perfect growing conditions, both wine regions of Padthaway and Clare Valley produced excellent quality wines with high acidity. Let's see how this 2021 Chardonnay from South Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL CHARDONNAY 2021 - Padthaway/Clare Valley, South Australia (#711556) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. Composed of 70% Padthaway and 30% Clare Valley Chardonnay, this has fresh, ripe, and attractive aromas of white peach, lemon, citrus, melon, buttery cream, and hints of vanilla rising out of the glass. It has very good weight on the creamy, spicy, medium-full bodied palate with lovely aroma replays of white peach, citrus, melon, butter, and vanilla spice flavours. It's lightly textured with juicy acidity on the mid-palate. Finishes gently spicy with leesy mineral notes on the finish, with very good length. Another winner from Wakefield and a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Wakefield Wine are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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February 18, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: France

Here's my top wine picks from the February 18, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release. The theme of this release looks at wines from the top 10 wine regions in France. Also included in this release are the monthly selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives (FE) - wines that are available only online at lcbo.com and at flagship outlets. All of the wines should be available for purchase starting this Saturday.

We start with the theme on wines from 10 of France's wine regions, although noticeably absent from this list is Northern Rhône and Provence. In a new twist on the theme, the LCBO has included all of the French Online & Flagship Exclusives wines as part of the theme, bringing the total number of wines in the theme to eighteen, of which four are included among my top wine picks. We begin in the Southern Rhône Cru of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with a red wine crafted with 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. From Languedoc, this consistently delicious red is made with approx. 50% Syrah and the rest Grenache and Mourvèdre. Lastly, from Loire the Sancerre Rouge is crafted with Pinot Noir, while the Sancerre Blanc is made with Sauvignon Blanc.

Red wine picks from the rest of the release starts with a red blend from Washington that consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 9% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot, as well as the Super Tuscan by Gaja that is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Syrah, and 10% Sangiovese. Also from Tuscany, the Zingari Super Tuscan is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot, while the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is crafted with 90-95% Sangiovese. Both wines from Veneto are blends, with the Amarone consisting of 59% Corvina, 21% Corvinone, 17% Rondinella, and 3% other permitted varieties, while the Ripasso is composed of 55% Corvina, 25% Corvinone, and 20% Rondinella. The only other blend is from Argentina and it is in fact a blend of 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec. Single varietal red wines include a lovely Tempranillo from Spain, as well aa a Pinot Noir from Niagara.

Among my white wine recommendations, all are single varietal wines. In addition to the Sancerre mentioned above, there are also a pair of Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand and Niagara. Other white wines include a Chardonnay from South Africa, a Moschofilero from Greece, and a Garganega from Veneto.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• ZINGARI 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#244228) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2020 - AC, Languedoc, France (#155804) (XD) - $19.95
• TRIUS DISTINCTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#25366) (XD) - $19.95
• ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CARMENÈRE 2020 - Vegan, DO Valle de Aconcagua, Chile (#546424) (XD) - $21.95
• OAK BAY PINOT NOIR 2020 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#267146) (XD) - $21.95
• BRIGALDARA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE 2019 - Sustainable, DOC, Veneto, Italy (#16090) (XD) - $22.95
• EL ENEMIGO CABERNET FRANC 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#11813) (XD) - $26.95

 

• LEALTANZA GRAN RESERVA 2015 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#453548) (XD) - $30.95  92 pts  wine review
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LA GRANGE DÎMIÈRE SANCERRE ROUGE 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#539858) (XD) - $33.95  FE  91 pts  wine review
• POLIZIANO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#988055) (XD) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review
• QUEENSTON MILE PINOT NOIR 2017 - Estate bottled, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#10138) (XD) - $40.00  FE  93 pts  wine review
• BRIGALDARA CAVOLO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2016 - Sustainable, DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#568766) (D) - $49.95
• HEDGES FAMILY ESTATE RED 2020 - Unfined, vegan, Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Washington, USA (#1594) (XD) - $49.95  FE
• CHÂTEAU GIGOGNAN CLOS DU ROI CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#20937) (XD) - $54.95
• GAJA CA'MARCANDA PROMIS 2020 - IGP Toscana, Italy (#174334) (XD) - $65.95

White Wine:

• CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY 2021 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#328559) (XD) - $17.95
• TSELEPOS MOSCHOFILERO 2021 - PDO Mantinia, Greece (#724583) (XD) - $17.95
• TRIUS DISTINCTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#19379) (XD) - $19.95
• I CAMPI CAMPO BASE 2021 - Vegan, DOC Soave, Veneto, Italy (#27620) (XD) - $22.95
• JOSEPH MELLOT LA CHATELLENIE SANCERRE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#525154) (XD) - $31.95
• VILLA MARIA SOUTHERN CLAYS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447474) (XD) - $34.95

Dessert Wine:

• ANSELMANN ORTEGA BEERENAUSLESE 2020 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#30597) (S) (375 mL) - $19.95

Fortified:

• WARRE'S QUINTA DA CAVADINHA VINTAGE PORT 2006 - DOP, Portugal (#189605) (S) - $59.95

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El Esteco 1946 Old Vines Malbec 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2019 El Esteco 1946 Old Vines Malbec nearly two years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific, organic Malbec that was featured in the most LCBO VINTAGES Release on February 4th as part of the theme on wines from the Southern Hemisphere.

It is produced by El Esteco, a winery founded in 1892 and situated in the Calchaquí Valleys in northwestern Argentina, a natural landscape carved by the sun, mountains, and vineyards. As one of the first institutions in Argentina to master the art of viticulture and winemaking, they have a significant presence in famous Cafayate, as well as the little-known and unique sub-region of Chañar Punco. Cafayate is the heart of Calchaquí Valleys, a region that was seemingly unsuitable for grape-growing, but is an isolated stretch of desert with unique features that make it ideal to grow the highest vineyards in the world. In addition to plenty of sunshine and a high diurnal temperature range between night and day, it is the desert climate with its poor soils that makes this small region of Cafayate unique. The resulting wines are distinctive and elegant with great concentration of colour, deep aromas, and well-defined flavours.

Today, El Esteco has nearly 1,000 acres of vineyards at an ideal altitude of more than 1,700 metres (5,500 feet) above sea level. Furthermore, with abundant sunshine and perfect diurnal temperature range, this environment is perfect for the creation of high-end wines such as this Old Vines Malbec. The spirit of the region is encapsulated in their fruit and the fusion between the legacy of ancient civilizations, Hispanic influence, criollo spirit, and it's vallisto Spanish colonial-style building which is surrounded by ancient vineyards. The hundred-year-old building contrasts with the latest wine production technologies found inside the winery such as concrete containers, stainless steel tanks, and the poetic French and American oak barrels, all of which help create wines of diverse styles, flavours, and aromas.

This 100% Malbec comes from a vineyard planted in 1946 at their Finca Las Mercedes estate in the Cafayate Valley in northwest Argentina. This estate is home to 370 pergola-trained Malbec vines that are more than 65 years old and in perfect harmony with the terroir of Cafayate as they were raised with minimal human intervention to yield exceptional wines. The grapes were manually harvested at optimum ripeness in the early hours of the morning. After being sorted at the winery, the grapes were placed into a single cement egg and fermented using native yeasts, then aged on its lees for 11 months and bottled unfiltered.

Northern Argentina experienced slightly cooler growing conditions during the 2021 season, with the Calchaquis Valleys experiencing a more typical vintage. Spring was quite normal with very little rainfall and good budbreak. December was dry, while January had lower than normal rainfall. In February, there were twice the normal rainfall, but it only amounted to 80 mm, so it was not an issue. However, this did mean that there were more cloudier days, which slowed maturation and led to greater concentration and colour. Let's see how this 2021 old vine Malbec from the Calchaquis Valleys is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL ESTECO 1946 OLD VINES MALBEC 2021 - Valles Calchaquíes, Argentina (#19391) (XD) - $25.95
100% organic and unoaked Malbec. After some initial reductive notes blow off, this reveals fresh, distinctive earthy and stony mineral aromas joined by ripe blackberry, white pepper, dried spices, and plum. It's medium to medium-full bodied with good concentration on the dry palate with savoury stony minerals, earthy, and dried spice flavours, plus dark berry, blackberry, and plum notes adding fruity notes. It has fresh, racy acidity and lightly grippy, chalky, grainy textured, and youthful tannins. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury mineral and lightly tangy dark berry notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Enjoyable now, but will benefit with 1-2 years in the cellar, and drink well to the end of the decade. A distinctive Malbec and a highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Only one other wine by El Esteco is available at the LCBO, while others from their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Creekside Laura's Red 2018 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a terrific red blend from Niagara that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 4 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Creekside Estate Winery in small-town Jordan, Ontario, within the Niagara Peninsula. Creekside was founded in 1997 by Laura McCain and has a been a leader in producing distinctive, premium wines, and introducing grape varieties to Niagara that have expanded the horizons of the region. They are also known for their eclectic blends such as this wine - Laura's Blend - which has been made since the winery's founding in the late 90s.

Today, Creekside is owned by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc., but they are still led by the same group of passionate (and some say fanatical) group of industry veterans, chief among them winemaker Rob Power, who have decades of experience in their respective fields. The team of self-described cork dorks love what they do, and have fun doing it.

This lovely red wine is always a blend whose exact composition changes with each vintage, but always consists of red vinifera varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and often includes other varieties as well, with the end goal of creating the best wine possible. This particular edition was meticulously crafted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Syrah to create a wine with structure and ageing potential, but also with a core of good fruit that can also be enjoyed in its youth.

The 2018 growing season in Niagara was one of the most difficult vintages ever in terms of weather calamities with a hot summer season and very little rain, followed by rain, rain, and more rain mid-harvest. However, this didn't seem to impact grape quality too much as the resulting wines were all quite good in a moderate climate idiom. Let's see how this 2018 red wine from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CREEKSIDE LAURA'S RED 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117960) (XD) - $25.00
Screw cap. This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Syrah has a fragrant, open, and medium-high intensity nose that delivers a fine, complex mix of red & black fruits, currant, cassis, oak spices, and grilled herbs with savoury earth undertones. It's medium to medium-full bodied on the dry palate with ripe black cherry, peppery spice, grilled herbs, currant, and cassis flavours all supported by fresh acidity and grainy textured, lightly grippy tannins. Flavours taper to savoury, chocolate, and oak spice notes on the finish, with very good length. A delicious, recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Creekside are widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario, and direct from the winery in Niagara.

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Casal di Serra Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2020 (Marche) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an organic and consistently delicious white wine from Marche. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the recent February 4th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Umani Ronchi, a family-run winery that was established in 1957 when Gino Umani Ronchi set up a small farm at Cupramontana, the heart of Verdicchio Classico country in Marche. In 1968, Roberto Bianchi and his son-in-law Massimo Bernetti acquired the property and brought new energy to the estate's production and improved the quality of the wines. Massimo soon expanded the estate's area under vine to 210 hectares, most of which was nestled between the hills and sea, along the Adriatic coast on the eastern side of central Italy in Marche and Abruzzo. Massimo was joined by his son, Michele, in the 1990s and together with input from university research centres, they began exploring advanced vine cultivation and winemaking techniques, while also identifying the best grape-growing sites.

Today, Michele and his technical team continue to fine-tune all of their wines, resulting in a range of new products, while paying great attention to existing wines. He has partnered with Giacomo Tachis, a skilled winemaker known for celebrated wines like the Solaia and Sassicaia. Umani Ronchi continues its innovative spirit with all of the vineyards are farmed organically, by technical choice, because organic means quality. Umani Ronchi is driven by strong ethics and respects the environment, with sustainability at top of mind in every aspect of the business.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Verdicchio that was grown on the hills of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. The vineyards are between 8 to 30 years old and situated between 200 and 350 metres above sea level, on opposite sides of the Esino Valley, while the soils go back to pleiocene-pleistocene formations and characterized by being very deep, medium-calcareous clay loams. The grapes were hand-harvested with particular attention paid to determine the right moment to harvest, when there was the best balance between sugar content, phenolic ripening, and acidity. It was vinified by lightly pressing the grapes and undergoing fermentation in temperature-controlled steel tanks. After ageing the wine on its own lees for about 5 months, it was then aged in bottle for a few months prior to release.

Looking through my notes, I had actually tasted this particular vintage a couple of times in the second half of last year, and both times it was delicious, with consistent notes. The 2019 Casal di Serra Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore which I tasted a couple of years ago was also lovely! Let's see how this 2020 Verdicchio from Marche is tasting in early 2023...

Tasting Note:

CASAL DI SERRA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2020 - DOCG, Marche, Italy (#268169) (XD) - $19.95
Switched from screw cap to Nomacorc for this vintage. The medium-high intensity nose is faintly perfumed with attractive ripe lemon-lime citrus, melon, and peach aromas with whiffs of florality. There good weight and concentration on the dry, crunchy, medium-full bodied palate with deliciously ripe lemon-lime, apple, melon, white floral, and leesy flavours in a lightly honeyed profile. Acids are juicy, vibrant, and well-balanced. Nicely textured on the mid-palate, while leesy mineral notes linger on the long, succulent finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Umani Ronchi are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, California, that arrived at the LCBO last month. It was featured as part of the theme on California wines in the January 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release, and while the magazine and LCBO website list the 2018 vintage, it's actually the 2019 that arrived and widely available across Ontario.

It is produced by Rodney Strong Vineyards, a pioneering winery that was the 13th winery established in Sonoma County in 1959. Rodney Strong envisioned Sonoma County as a special place for producing wine and led the way for the future of the region's winemaking.

Winery Founder Rodney D. Strong was born in 1927 in Carnas, Washington, and was a Renaissance man from an early age. In 1946, Rod returned from a dancing stint in Paris, where he fell in love with fine wine. In 1959, Rod retired from dancing, married his dance partner, Charlotte Ann Winson, and began his new career in winemaking. After searching California and meeting UC Davis scientists, Rod and Charlotte settled in Sonoma County. Over the ensuing years, Rodney Strong purchased vineyards and lands, and replanted some of them with new vines, while also building a new winery in 1970 in Russian River Valley with an innovative and cutting edge design.

In 1979, as Rod took a step back from the demanding daily activities, Rick Sayre came on board as the new winemaker for Rodney Strong Vineyards. At this time, the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company was also hired to evaluate the potential of the well-known Sonoma County winery. Tom Klein was employed by McKinsey & Company and met Rod and Rick for the very first time.

Tom realized that he truly loved the wine business and purchased Rodney Strong Vineyards in 1989, and over the next decade made significant investments in innovation in the cellar, including purchasing fermentation tanks, state-of-the-art wine presses, custom barrel equipment, and a large barrel ageing building.

Today, Rodney Strong Vineyards is flourishing under the leadership of the Klein family. They are passionate and committed to crafting premium wines and a leader in sustainability in Sonoma County. As 4th generation California farmers, the Klein family is committed to protecting and preserving the environment in both the vineyards and at the winery through sustainable farming and winemaking.

The history of this wine goes back to the 1960s when Rodney Strong recognized that Sonoma County's Alexander Valley was an exceptional area for heat loving Cabernet Sauvignon grape varietal. He planted the wine producer's first Cabernet vineyard, Alexander's Crown, in 1971 on a small hill in Jimtown and the reputation for fine Sonoma County Cabernet was set and has never looked back. Alexander Valley is best known for classic Bordeaux varieties which thrive in the unique soils and warm climate, with parts of the valley moderated by cooling ocean breezes and evening fog. Today, Rodney Strong has three exceptional vineyards planted with Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley - Jimtown in the southern part of the valley, Geyserville in the central part of the valley, and Cloverdale in the north. The vineyards are planted on well-drained, alluvial, volcanic, and uplifted shale/sandstone soils that make Sonoma County an ideal place for this noble grape variety.

The 2019 vintage of this red wine is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was grown on the hillsides of the Alexander Valley and aged in French oak barrels for 24 months, half of which was new. According to Rodney Strong, the 2019 growing season produced another fantastic vintage in California. It started with a copious amount of rain in Sonoma County, saturating the soil in late winter and early spring, followed by early summer heat waves which acclimated the vines to warmer weather and allowed the grapes to withstand the heat spell in August. This moved the sugars higher and allowed the flavours to ripen. Let's see how this 2019 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RODNEY STRONG ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Sustainable, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#350454) (XD) - $35.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fresh, fragrant, and highly aromatic nose offers lovely, fine oak spice scented aromas of red & black fruits, currant, and cassis layered over wet earth and herbal notes. On the medium-full bodied palate it has elegant, medium-firm, lightly grippy tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity that frames the currant, cassis, and earthy flavours replays, plus some mocha chocolate notes. Juicy and flavourful with earthy, mocha chocolate notes lingering on the long finish. Enjoyable now, but will improve with a couple of years in the cellar, and drink well to the end of the decade. Recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

With many lovely wines in the Rodney Strong portfolio, quite a few are available at the LCBO, while others can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Lungarotti San Giorgio 2018 (Umbria) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2016 Lungarotti San Giorgio from Umbria nearly three years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this Super Umbrian red wine that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the VINTAGES Classics Collection on January 5. It is still available for purchase through VINTAGES Shop Online and also appears to be available at select LCBO outlets within the GTA and Ottawa.

It is produced by Cantine Giorgio Lungarotti, a winery founded in the 1960's in Torgiano, the heart and birthplace of Umbrian wine, in central Italy. Lungarotti is a symbol of Umbrian oenological excellence within the region and Italy. With a story of successes, Lungarotti became a major driving force for new opportunities in the region - with wine as the centrepiece.

Today, the family business is led by Maria Grazia, wife of the pioneering founder and late Giorgio Lungarotti, and their two daughters, Chiara and Teresa. With the third generation of the family, Teresa's son, Francesco, and daughter, Gemma, are also involved in the business. Lungarotti has two estates - one in Torgiano and one in Montefalco, and 250 hectares of vineyards. As a pioneer in modern Italian oenology, Lungarotti is focused on quality wine production and sustainability.

Lungarotti has been practicing sustainable viticulture for many years. They safeguard the land and everything that allows it to bear fruit which, to a great extent, depends on respecting the environment. For Lungarotti, sustainability means not only protecting the environment, but also using energy wisely, and continuously experimenting and applying new techniques and solutions to swiftly adapt to climate change. The choices they make are guided by the desire to obtain the best possible grapes, while respecting the vine, biodiversity of the soil, and the vineyard environment. To achieve this, they have undertaken various projects in both the vineyards and cellars.

This red wine is dedicated to Saint George (a.k.a. San Giorgio). According to an ancient custom that is still practiced today in the countryside of Torgiano, on the eve of the feast of Saint George, on April 23rd, propitiatory bonfires are still lit in the vineyards with cuttings from the winter vine pruning, hoping for a good harvest. The label depicts the preparatory drawing by Raffaello for "Saint George and the Dragon", which is housed at the Louvre in Paris. The wine label also bears the signature of Giorgio Lungarotti who introduced Cabernet Sauvignon to Umbria in the 1960s and was one of the first in Italy to blend it with Sangiovese, creating this "Super Umbrian" whose first vintage dates back
to 1977.

Like the previous vintage, this red wine is crafted with equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese and harvested separately. The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on soils with pebbles and a medium mix that leans towards limestone on a tufa subsoil, while the Sangiovese is from a plot within the Monticchio Vineyard which has clay layers alternating with sandy fringes in the lower part of the vineyard. It was fermented in stainless steel, undergoing 25-28 days of maceration on skins. The wine was then aged in barrique for 12 months, followed by at least 1 year in bottle. From what was apparently an unusually good vintage, let's see how this 2018 Super Umbrian is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI SAN GIORGIO 2018 - IGT Umbria Rosso, Italy (#62877) (XD) - $62
A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, this has a medium-high intensity nose that delivers ripe red fruited aromas of currant, wet earth, cassis, brambly, cherry, and cedary oak spices with hints of dried leafy green herbs. It's well-structured on the medium-full bodied palate with lovely red & black fruited notes of currant, cherry, cedar oak spice, clove, cassis, and earthy flavours. It's supported by juicy, balanced acids and smooth, fine grained, and well-knit tannins. Subtle grippiness on the mid-palate, while savoury earthy, spice, and even some mineral notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoyable now and will drink nicely for at least the next 5+ years. Recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Lungarotti are available not only at the LCBO, but also through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Segura Viudas Heredad Reserva Brut Cava (Spain) - Wine Review (Feb. 2023)

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a lovely bubbly that I've had the pleasure of tasting on several occasions in the past and recently returned to the LCBO as part of the January 21 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Segura Viudas, an iconic boutique winery located just outside of Barcelona, Spain, in the sunny, ancient wine region of Penedès. They are situated in a beautiful stone manor house whose origins can be traced back to the 11th century, the time of the Iberian Crusades. This stone manor house has assumed many identities over the years such as embattled fortress, farmhouse, flour mill, family residence, and most recently, a boutique winery.

The land initially belonged to the Monastery of Sant Cugat, the most important monastery in the county of Barcelona, until the abbey ceded the land to one, Gerard Alemany. He constructed the first building on the land, originally as a defensive tower and having been through battles, the scars and bullet holes can be seen on the walls today.

New buildings were added in the 12th century to convert the fortress to a working farmhouse with grains and cereals grown on the estate. Grapes were also cultivated on the estate with native vines criss-crossing its steep hills and swampy riverbanks. In 1156, the building itself was referred to as Domus de Reÿm - The House of Grapes.

Fast forwarding to modern history into the mid-20th century, Cava became recognized as a revolution in the world of "Champagne" and grew to become an international reference of sparkling wine in its own right as it was recognized for its quality and diversity. At this time, the farmhouse and estate of Can Esbert de Raïm were bought by the Segura brothers in the 1950s. The Segura brothers invested in new caves and built new wineries with the latest machinery installed. They began producing their own Cava and in 1969 they proudly launched the iconic Segura Viudas Heredad premium Cava.

Today, their philosophy begins with sensitive farming. They study, understand, and promote biodiversity of the ecosystem around the Heredad. They also respect and preserve the environment, while also remaining in harmony with it. Segura Viudas is certified sustainable under the Wineries for Climate Protection (WFCP) certification.

This Brut Reserva Heredad Cava is the brand's icon wine and impressively packaged as such with its distinctive pewter badge and base. It is crafted with 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay grapes which were handpicked from old vine vineyards and transported to the winery in self-draining plastic boxes to prevent grape damage which could lead to oxidized juice and loss of freshness. The first fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled low temperature to retain the primary aromas of the grapes. The final blend is composed of nine different wines, each one vinified separately, and the magic of this blend is in ensuring that each wine lends its own touch of character to the whole. As Macabeo is the dominant grape in this wine, it contributes acidity, freshness, and allows the wine to age well during the 24 months (or more) that it will be in contact with the lees. Both the first and the second fermentations were carried out using their own selected yeast strains. Before disgorgement, each bottle is given a last sharp shake, or twist of the wrist, known as a "poignettage", which lifts the yeast cells from the side of the bottle and mixes them once more with the wine, thus intensifying the element of autolysis. Riddling (or turning) of all the bottles are done by hand and in pupitres, and a dosage of 9 g/L sugar is added to optimize the wine's versatility.

Having enjoying this sparkling wine previously, let's see how the latest edition of this Cava from Spain is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SEGURA VIUDAS HEREDAD RESERVA BRUT CAVA - Traditional method, DO, Spain (#558825) (D) - $39.95
Crafted with 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay, the medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers pretty biscuit, lemon, white floral, pear, and leesy aromas. It has good weight on the crisp, medium-full bodied palate with flavours of lemon citrus, pear, biscuit, floral, and leesy replays with just a pinch of pleasant sweetness. It has crisp, refreshing acidity and fine, persistent bubbles. Long and succulent on the crisp finish with leesy mineral, floral, and lemony notes. Delicious and will keep you coming back for another sip. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely Cava sparkling wines by Segura Viudas are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Dam Chardonnay 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Chardonnay from Niagara that was quietly released last fall without much of the usual fanfare, and I had the pleasure of tasting last night in a virtual tasting with one of the partners at 80x Wine Company, André Proulx.

It is produced by 80x Wine Company, a virtual winery that started as an idea in 2015 when Vadim Chelekhov and André had a conversation at a wine gala in Niagara and asked each other "Wouldn't it be great if we made some wine together?"

André is a wine writer based in Ontario and not only believes you are what you drink, but also that it is important to understand what it takes to go from vineyard to bottle. Vadim wanted an outlet to explore some more experimental winemaking, while Guillaume Frénéhard studied the wine business in France and assured André and Vadim that he could help them sell their wine. Since all of the partners in this project were born in the 80s, they named the business 80x Wine Company.

In 2019, Adam Kern joined the team as dedicated winemaker, bringing with him years of experience being trained as a somm and working at some of Ontario's best wineries. As a virtual winery, 80x Wine Company purchases grapes from selected vineyards across the Niagara Peninsula and vinify their wines at Rockway Vineyards in St. Catharines, Ontario. Together, they believe that great wine is the result of passion, insanity, and friendship.

This Chardonnay gets its name after a contentious discussion within the company on what wine they were going to make next - their first wine was a Gamay, which I recall tasting several years ago, and was followed by Pinot Noir. The conversation ended with one of the partners saying "Fine, You can have your damned Chardonnay".

It is crafted with fruit from vines planted in 1983 at the famed Erv and Esther Willms Vineyard within the Four Mile Creek sub-appellation in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The 80x team didn't hesitate to purchase the Willms fruit when presented with the opportunity as they knew quality wines were produced by other well-known Niagara wine producers using fruit from this vineyard in the past.

The growing season in 2020 in Niagara was exceptional, in spite of a challenging year for humanity. Conditions were near perfect and favoured both white and red varieties. Grapes reached phenolic ripeness while retaining the all-important acidity. Days were warm, but nights were cool, allowing the grapes to rest and retain its acidity. The high diurnal temperature range between warm days and cool nights is almost unheard of in Niagara and helped greatly in achieving high quality wines across the board.

Harvest day was one of the highlights of 2020 for 80x Wine Company. It was an opportunity to get a small team of close friends to help them pick the fruit from the vineyards that looked like they had been photoshopped by mother nature. It was vinified by slow fermentation over several months in 2nd and 4th fill puncheons with indigenous yeast, with winemaker Adam keeping a close eye on it. In January 2021, they were forced to cover their puncheons with blankets to raise the temperature and feel that their patience was rewarded.

Only 99 cases and 16 magnums were produced and it is currently available for purchase direct through 80x Wine Company, on-site at Rockway Vineyards, and at select bottle shops in Ontario. Let's see how this 2020 Niagara Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DAM CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $30
Elegant, medium-high intensity aromatics are a little musty, revealing golden apple, lemon citrus, butter and lactic aromas with a hint of vanilla spice. On the dry, creamy, medium+ bodied, and nicely textured, palate it offers delicious ripe golden apple, pear, lemon citrus, and buttery flavours with a hints of spice, peach, and honey. It's all supported by fresh, mouth-watering acidity. Citrus and apple notes are joined by touches of spice and earthy minerals on the finish, with very good length. This is indeed a Dam good Chardonnay and a recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

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February 4, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Southern Hemisphere

Here are my top wine picks from the February 4 LCBO VINTAGES Release, where the theme of the release focuses on five wine regions in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a pretty good release with many fine options, although the number of sub-$20 wines continues to dwindle.

We begin in the Southern Hemisphere where five well-known wine producing countries are featured. In total there are a combined 21 wines listed between Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa, and seven are included among my top wine picks. Argentina has three recommendations with a pair of lovely Malbec wines, as well as a Chardonnay. From Chile there is a Cabernet Sauvignon, and from South Africa there is a Merlot and a perennial favourite - Chenin Blanc. Lastly, there is a consistently well-made Chardonnay from Australia.

Among my top red wine picks from the rest of the release, there are quite a few blends. We start at home in Ontario where the wine from Niagara is crafted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Staying with Bordeaux varieties but moving to its namesake region, the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru consists of mostly Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon completing the blend, while the Fronsac is a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. Moving to Tuscany, the Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of 95% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo, and 2% Colorino, while the Annata Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese. Also from Italy, the wine from Sardinia is made with Cannonau (a.k.a. Grenache or Garnacha), while the Etna Rosso is crafted with 85% Nerello Mascalese and 15% Nerello Cappuccio from grown on volcanic soils.

The only blend among my white wine recommendations from the rest of the release is from Bordeaux it is composed of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon. Other white wines include a consistently well-made Verdicchio from Marche, and a lovely Chardonnay from Burgundy. For sweet wine lovers, look to the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel.

There are also a couple of lovely pink wines worth your attention. The Crémant sparkling wine is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, and 10% Gamay, while the dry pink table wine is composed of 47% Cinsault, 42% Grenache Noir, 6.5% Grenache Blanc, and 4.5% Clairette.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• GLENELLY GLASS COLLECTION MERLOT 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#26669) (XD) - $16.95
• FINCA LALANDE ORGANIC MALBEC 2020 - Vegan, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#28082) (XD) - $17.95
• JERZU MARGHIA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA 2020 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#508630) (XD) - $18.95
• LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
• PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Valle del Maipo, Chile (#431015) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• NICOSIA LENZA DI MUNTI 2018 - Sustainable, DOC Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy (#28129) (XD) - $23.95
• CREEKSIDE LAURA'S RED 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117960) (XD) - $25.00  89 pts  wine review
• EL ESTECO 1946 OLD VINES MALBEC 2021 - Valles Calchaquíes, Argentina (#19391) (XD) - $25.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DU GAZIN 2018 - AP Canon Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#26303) (XD) - $25.95
• CHÂTEAU BELLEVUE FIGEAC 2018 - AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France (#496661) (XD) - $29.95
• DIEVOLE NOVECENTO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#213926) (XD) - $45.95  92 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• CHÂTEAU LES TOURELLES 2021 - AC, Bordeaux, France (#28717) (XD) - $15.95
• WAKEFIELD ESTATE LABEL CHARDONNAY 2021 - Padthaway/Clare Valley, South Australia (#711556) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2021 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $18.95
• VIÑA COBOS FELINO CHARDONNAY 2021 - Unfined and unfiltered, Mendoza, Argentina (#119099) (XD) - $19.95
• CASAL DI SERRA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2020 - DOCG, Marche, Italy (#268169) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• ANDRÉ GOICHOT MÂCON-VILLAGES 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#26439) (XD) - $22.95
• SELBACH TRADITION FEINHERB RIESLING KABINETT 2020 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#21031) (M) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• BONNY DOON VINEYARD VIN GRIS DE CIGARE 2021 - Central Coast, California, USA (#19526) (XD) - $19.95

Sparkling Wine:

• HENRI CHAMPLIAU BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Traditional method, AC, Burgundy, France (#20945) (XD) - $25.95  91 pts  wine review

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