Maturana Puente Austral Reserva Privada Carmenère 2022 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Carmenère from Chile that made its debut at the LCBO as part of last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on February 15th.Like the 2021 Puente Austral Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon I enjoyed last year, this red wine is produced by Maturana Winery, a family-owned winery that was established by the two Maturana two brothers...

Read More

Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc 2020 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, sustainable and vegan-friendly Cabernet Franc from Chile. It is brand new to the LCBO and arrived on shelves earlier this month as part of the feature on wines from Chile in the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on February 3rd.It is produced by Calcu Vineyards, a winery project that was established in 2003 by the Hurtado family....

Read More

Calcu Winemaker's Selection Blend 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent five-grape blend led by Cabernet Franc that is sustainably crafted from Chile. It arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the LCBO VINTAGES May Cellar Collection (formerly Classics) and is available for purchase directly from VINTAGES Shop Online.It is produced by Calcu Vineyards, a special and unique project that was established...

Read More

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Syrah Organic 2020 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious organic wine that is a blend of three varieties from Chile that is readily available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.It is produced by Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery, one of the leading wine producers in Chile. Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1993 with the vision of producing premium, expressive, and innovative wines...

Read More

Powers Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Washington) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley in Washington State that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the January 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.Powers Winery was founded by the legendary Bill Powers, a man who was drawn from Oklahoma to the Columbia Valley in the 1950's. After years of farming multiple crops, Bill and his son,...

Read More

Viña del Pedregal Kidia Reserve Carmenère 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, single vineyard Carmenère from Chile that is new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves across Ontario on the weekend as part of the January 7 LCBO VINTAGES Release.It is produced by Viña del Pedregal, a family with a long history in wine that dates back to the mid-19th century when Carlos Adolfo del Pedregal Neumann was one of the first to...

Read More

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

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon back in January, tonight's red wine review is a lovely Carmenère from the same producer and vintage. This red wine arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the March 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.The family run winery of Cloz de Luz is situated in the Almahue Valley within the Rapel Valley D.O. in Chile's...

Read More

Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Laura Hartwig Edición de Familia back in November, tonight's wine review is another fine offering from Laura Hartwig that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the April 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release.Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. In 1966, his daughter Laura Bisquert inherited the...

Read More

Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Carmenère 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

To start off the long weekend, tonight's wine review is this lovely Carmenère from Chile that arrives at the LCBO this long weekend as the Wine of the Month from the April 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release.Viña Errázuriz was founded in 1870 by businessman and politician Don Maximiano Errázuriz. With a great vision for the future, along with an innovative and pioneering spirit, he...

Read More

Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely Chilean Carmenère that I've enjoyed and recommended many times over the years. The latest vintage is the 2019 and arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the February 20th LCBO VINTAGES Release - with plenty of bottles still available across Ontario.It is produced by Viña Tarapacá, an historic winery in Chile whose roots go back to 1874...

Read More

Errázuriz Icons Wine Tasting 2019 with Winemaker Francisco Baettig

In late January, I had the pleasure of tasting some iconic wines from the quality, award-winning Chilean producer Viña Errázuriz with Winemaker Francisco Baettig in attendance. I've tasted previous vintages of the Icon wines - La Cumbre, Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve, and Kai - recalling the time I was first introduced to these delicious wines back in September 2013, but...

Read More

Pérez Cruz Limited Edition Carménère 2012 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's lovely red wine had been sitting in my cellar for nearly 5 years and, according to my notes, was reaching full maturity. It was purchased from the March 29, 2014 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Of course, the 2012 is long gone from stores, but the 2016 is available for purchase at $20.95. Tasting Note: PÉREZ CRUZ LIMITED EDITION CARMÉNÈRE 2012 - Maipo Valley, Chile...

Read More

Emiliana Coyam 2013 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is the first in a series from PMA Canada's portfolio that highlights a few top scoring wines from around the globe to help you gear up for the International Sports Stage in February, namely the 2018 Winter Olympics. As the world comes together this February to celebrate their top athletes, PMA Canada celebrates diversity by offering a selection of award-winning...

Read More

Novas Gran Reserva Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's organic red wine is the last in a series featuring delicious turkey recipes that I'm sure would also work well with chicken. It is produced by Emiliana, a winery known for producing fine organic wines and was recently named Winery of the Year in 2015. This particular wine comes from their Novas line, and is made with organic grapes from carefully selected vineyards,...

Read More

LCBO VINTAGES September 2, 2017: New World Benchmarks + Syrah vs. Shiraz

The upcoming release in LCBO VINTAGES on September 2, 2017 is titled "Reference Library" and features benchmark varietals in new world wine regions as its main theme. Meanwhile, the mini-theme compares Syrah and Shiraz. These new wines will be on shelves this coming Saturday. We'll begin with the feature on new world benchmark varietals, which lists 11 wines across 7 varietals....

Read More

Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carmenère 2008 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's delicious wine was purchased back in the Spring of 2014 from the April 12 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Obviously, the 2008 is no longer available at the LCBO, but this wine is always solid year after year, and the latest vintage should will show up in VINTAGES in September. Keep an eye out on this blog as I'm sure it will be a recommended buy. Tasting Note: CONCHA...

Read More

Arboleda Wine Tasting with Emily Faulconer

In late-May, I had the pleasure of tasting the wines of Arboleda from Chile with winemaker Emily Faulconer. The venue was El Catrin, in the Distillery District, where after tasting through the Arboleda portfolio, we had the opportunity to try the wines with various Mexican dishes. Viña Arboleda is a relatively young winery, founded in 1999 by Eduardo Chadwick. He is a...

Read More