Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
The next Vintages release will be on LCBO shelves across Ontario on . The major feature of this release is on the grape Cabernet Sauvignon, while the minor feature is on wines from Israel.
We'll begin with Israel as it highlights 6 wines, five of which of are from one of its top regions - Upper Galilee. Not all wines made in Israel are certified Kosher, but the each of the Israeli wines in this release are certified Kosher for Passover - to help you prepare for upcoming Passover celebrations. The single Israeli wine that made my wine picks is the Galil Mountain Alon that is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Syrah, 8% Petit Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. And in case you were wondering, Cab Sauv, Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc are the most widely planted grapes in Israel.
A recent study showed that Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely planted grape on the planet. In this release there are 15 Cabs highlighted, most of which are from the New World. A version from Chile's Santa Rita and a blend from Washington's Hedges Family Estate (44% Cab Sauv, 33% Merlot, 16% Syrah, 4% Malbec, 3% Cab Franc) are the only two Cabs I'm recommending from this section of the release. There's also a Cab Sauv from Argentina that's not part of the "Cab Fab" feature, but is found later on in the magazine. Why they separated this and other Cabernet Sauvignons from the rest is beyond me...
From the rest of the release, the Bodegas Olarra is a blend of mostly Tempranillo and small amounts of Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, while the Brouilly from Beaujolais is made with Gamay Noir. And last but not least of the red wines is a gorgeous wine from Hecht & Bannier that returns to Vintages. I was delighted to have co-founder Gregory Hecht pour this fabulous wine for me at the Halpern Enterprises Grand Cru tasting last November. It's a highly aromatic blend and a big wine containing Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and trace amounts of Lladoner Pelut, a grape I had never heard of. Drink this wine over the next 5 years. I have both the 2008 and 2010 in my cellar and will probably open them both up over the next couple of years.
Only 4 white wines made my cut, and all are from France. The Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc), Chardonnay, and Riesling are all dry, while the Altesse is off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet).
This concludes my take on this week's Vintages release. Enjoy my wine picks and, as usual, let me know if you try any of my recommendations. Cheers!
Red Wine:
SANTA CAROLINA GRAN RESERVA PETIT VERDOT 2011 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#007484) (D) - $15.95
The California Wine Institute has been heavily promoting their wines all over Canada throughout March, and will continue to the beginning of May. Included among this promotion were the major features on California wine in the March 2nd and 16thVintages releases, and the rather large promotion in the General List wine section at the LCBO titled "California Style". The recent iYellow Wine Club California Cruisin', Hope Family Wines tasting, and California Wine Fair in Toronto (review coming soon) were (I'm sure) also timed to coincide with this promotion.
Given all this, it seems only fitting that I finally post a review of my trip to Napa Valley in , where I had the opportunity to visit and taste wines from 6 different wineries. There was also a planned visit to Sonoma-County and Russian River Valley during this trip, however, I unfortunately became quite ill and had to forgo the journey.
We arrived in Napa Valley in the early afternoon, travelling along the famous Silverado Trail. Our first winery visit of the day was Hagafen Cellars. This is a small, family-owned winery that generally does not sell to any of the "big box" operations, including the LCBO, due to their small lot bottlings. Hagafen produces a grand total of only 7,500 cases per year. Definitely visit this winery if you're in the area - because this is probably the only time you will get the chance to taste their wines, unless, of course, you are invited to the White House (Washington, D.C.), where Hagafen has been poured since 1981. The reason for this is simple - all Hagafen wines are certified kosher for Passover and Mevushal. This certification comes in handy when delegates from Israel come to visit the White House. A quick search shows that one Hagafen wine is available at an LCBO in Ottawa too.
HAGAFEN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Napa Valley (XD) - $21
Citrus and floral aromas. Soft and round on the palate with nice aromas replays. Good acidity and well-balanced. Quite nice. Would make a good appertif. Score: 89 pts
HAGAFEN ROUSSANNE 2011 - Ripken Vineyard, Lodi (D) - $18
This white wine has honeysuckle on the nose. Medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. More honeysuckle on the palate with some spicy vanilla notes on the mid-palate. Slightly off-dry. Score: 88-89 pts
HAGAFEN CHARDONNAY 2010 - Oak Knoll, Napa Valley (XD) - $24
Nice floral and mineral aromas. Round lemon and citrus on the palate. Medium-length finish. Crowd pleaser. Score: 89 pts
HAGAFEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $45
Dark berries, sweet vanilla, and light oak aromas from the glass. Medium-bodied with dark fruits, cassis and cocoa on the palate. Integrated tannins, well-balanced with good acidity, but finishes short. Score: 88-89 pts
HAGAFEN PRIX CHARDONNAY 2010 - Hall Vineyard, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley (XD) - $36
Refreshing lime and mineral aromas. Tropical fruits and butter on the palate with a creamy mouthfeel and some spiciness on the mid-palate. Very good acidity and a very long finish. My favourite white. Score: 90-91 pts
HAGAFEN PRIX CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - MJT Block, Napa Valley (XD) - $60
Rich, red fruit aromas on the palate with dark fruits, cassis and mint on the palate. Full bodied red with lots of tannin that is drinking really well right now. Score: 88 pts
HAGAFEN PRIX MÉLANGE RED TABLE WINE 2006 - Napa Valley (XD) - $75
Bordeaux-blend with Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Lovely ripe red fruit aromas with some tartness quality. More fruit on the palate. Nicely integrated tannins and mouth-watering acidity. Very well-balanced with a medium-long finish. Yum! Score: 92 pts
HAGAFEN LATE HARVEST SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008 - Sonoma Coast (S) (375 mL) - $30
Beeswax aromas from the glass. Blast of sweetness (honey) on the palate with vibrant acidity that dies quickly. Medium-length finish. Score: 91 pts
Our second stop of the afternoon was about 30 seconds up the road to neighbouring Signorello Estate. It turns out that nearly all the wineries in the area border each other and are just a quick, short drive from one to the next. Ray Signorello Sr. purchased a 100-acre estate during the mid 1970's with the intention of selling the grapes to other wineries, but the bountiful harvest of 1985 changed everything. In 1986, the Signorello's (both Jr. and Sr.) made plans to start a winery. The Padrone - meaning godfather or father-figure - is their flagship wine and made in tribute to Ray Sr., who passed away in 1998.
SIGNORELLO SETA 2011 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $45
"Seta" means "silk" in Italian. Blend of 62% Semillon and 38% Sauvignon Blanc. Light lemon and peach aromas, while the palate is intense with honeysuckle, floral and spice. Lacking balance. Score: 86-87 pts
SIGNORELLO HOPE'S CUVÉE CHARDONNAY - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $70
This wine is named in tribute to the wife of Ray Signorello Sr. and mother to Ray Jr. Unfined and unfiltered. Lots of butter aromas with nutmeg undertones. Creamy mouthfeel on the palate, full-bodied with mineral and spices notes that kick-in mid-palate and linger on the long finish with vanilla nuances. Score: 89 pts
SIGNORELLO CABERNET FRANC 2009 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $70
Old-world style with mulberry, brambleberry and cheddar cheese aromas with great aroma replays on the palate. Medium-full bodied, very good acidity and well-balanced. Finish is medium-long. Score: 90-91 pts
SIGNORELLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (#060152) (XD) - $100
Mostly Cab Sauv (75%) with Merlot (18%) and Cab Franc (7%) to complete the blend. Fig and jammy plum aromas from the glass. Ageing quite well, this full-bodied red wine has nice aroma replays, plus some mint, cassis and black currant notes on the palate. Very good acidity. Score: 90-91 pts
SIGNORELLO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (#060152) (XD) - $90
Cab Sauv (93%) and Cab Franc (7%) has oak, barnyard, woodsmoke and dense blackcurrant aromas with balanced aroma replays on the palate. Smooth, velvety tannins and finishing long. Very nice! Drinking well now, could be cellared another 10 years. Score: 92-93 pts
SIGNORELLO PADRONE 2007 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $165
Consisting of 84% Cab Sauv, 8% Merlot and 8% Cab Franc. Sweet plum drops and incense aromas. Medium-full bodied and very smooth with blackcurrant, cassis, dark fruits on the palate. Very nicely integrated tannins and a long, dark finish that is silky smooth. Score: 93-94 pts
SIGNORELLO PADRONE 2008 - Estate Btld, Napa Valley (XD) - $155
Blend a bit different than the '07 with 89% Cab Sauv and 11% Merlot. Woodsmoke and plum aromas. Full-bodied with dark fruits and leather on the palate. Tannins are very chalky and need 2-3 years to settle down. Score: 93 pts
The third stop of the afternoon was 2 minutes north on the Silverado Trail, the independent winery of Clos Du Val. This winery was founded in 1970 and planted its first vineyards in '72 in what is now known as the Stags Leap District. Clos Du Val's '72 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of 6 wines selected for the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting. At the 10 year anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the same wines were tasted again and Clos Du Val's '72 Cab ranked 1st overall. The "Three Graces" that have "graced" the winery's labels since its inception in 1972 come from the 3 mischievous daughters of Zeus that symbolize the independent mind, body and spirit of Clos Du Val.
CLOS DU VAL BRUT (NV) - (XD) - $???
Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend. Very smooth, creamy mousse on the palate. Extra dry. Quite nice.
CLOS DU VAL ARIADNE 2010 - Napa Valley (XD) - $19
Ariadne gets it's name from the wife of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. Blended with 68% Sémillon and 32% Sauvignon Blanc. Melon, herbal, cilantro and fresh mint aromas. Palate is intense with a creamy mouthfeel and flavours of passion fruit, guava and citrus. Crowd pleaser. Score: 88-89 pts
CLOS DU VAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Napa Valley (#652925) (XD) - $38
84% Cab Sauv, 7% Merlot, 6% Cab Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Ripe black fruit, cedar oak and toast aromas. Smooth mouthfeel with chocolate, blackberry and blackcurrant flavours on the palate. Silky tannins, but a touch spicy on the mid-palate. Finish is long. Score: 89 pts
CLOS DU VAL CABERNET FRANC 2009 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $65
Pleasant violet and oak aromas from the glass. Medium-full bodied with more violet notes on the palate. Slightly chalky tannins will reward ageing 2 years, but drinking excellent now. Good acidity and a smooth, long finish. Score: 92 pts
CLOS DU VAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (#720961) (XD) - $80
94% Cab Sauv and 6% Merlot. Blackfruits, oak, smoke and toast aromas. Black fruits, mocha and coffee notes on the palate with velvety smooth tannins. Very good acidity and long finishing. Very nice! Score: 92 pts
CLOS DU VAL THREE GRACES RED 2009 - Napa Valley (XD) - $65
A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 14% Cab Franc, 3% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Intense aromas of ripe black fruits, dark chocolate, coffee and spice. Medium-full bodied with flavours of brambleberry, mocha and sweet vanilla. Mouth-watering acidity, with tannins that are well-integrated. Lengthy finish. Yum. Score: 91-92 pts
CLOS DU VAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE 2008 - Napa Valley (XD) - $120
With fruit sourced from vineyards in Rutherford, this is mostly Cab Sauv (93%), with 4% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cab Franc to complete the blend. Aromas of black/dark fruits, chocolate tobacco and cigar box. Full-bodied with nice aroma replays plus some leathery notes. Turns spicy at mid-palate. Tannins are very chalky and finish is long. Score: 91 pts
We travelled another 2 minutes north and stopped at Chimney Rock. A relatively young winery, Chimney Rock produced it's first wine in only 1989. The Terlato Family joined founders Hack & Stella Wilson in 2000 and assumed full ownership in 2004. Chimney Rock practices sustainable winemaking techniques and aims to leave the environment in better condition than how they found it. I wish all people would think like this. As for the winery experience - Chimney Rock was the busiest of all the wineries we visited. The crowds seemed too much for the pourers, and was a bit much for me as well. The Elevage is a stellar red wine, but otherwise this visit sort of left a bad taste in my mouth.
CHIMNEY ROCK ELEVAGE BLANC 2008 - Napa Valley (XD) - $39
A unique blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris. Herbal, grassy, floral and guava aromas. Medium-full bodied with a crisp mouthfeel and nice aroma replays. Lively acidity and a long, lingering finish. Score: 88 pts
CHIMNEY ROCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON STAG'S LEAP DISTRICT 2008 - Napa Valley (#731810) (XD) - $66
Leather and spice dominate the aroma profile, with undertones of bramble, violet and sweet vanillan. Well-integrated tannins with finish that is spicy with chocolate & mocha notes. Delicious. Score: 90 pts
CHIMNEY ROCK ELEVAGE 2008 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $85
A blend of 56% Merlot, 38% Cab Sauv and 6% Petit Verdot. Ripe red fruit aromas. On the palate, it's very smooth with dark fruits, milk chocolate, and mocha flavours. Lively acidity and a medium-long finish that is very smooth. Score: 91 pts
CHIMNEY ROCK TOMAHAWK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $130
Comprised from a small group of vines planted in 2002, otherwise known as the Tomahawk Vineyard. This wine saw French oak for 18 months. Very nice sweet vanillan oak aromas. Extremely smooth at the beginning, but turns to spicy mid-palate. Flavour profile consists of blackberry, milk chocolate and light oak notes. Needs 2 years for tannins to settle. Score: 90 pts
Heading further north, we arrived in less than one minute at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. According to popular legend, the origin of the "Stags Leap" name comes from a stag (deer) who eluded hungry hunters by leaping to freedom across the District's landmark peaks. This winery (not to be confused with Stags' Leap Winery) was founded in 1970 and is widely-known for it's estate-grown Cab Sauv's - CASK 23, S.L.V. and FAY. Furthermore, this winery also has the distinction of winning the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting with their '73 S.L.V. Cab Sauv. Suffice it to say, I was really excited about this tasting.
We entered the winery and quickly noticed oak barrels that were on-end and scattered throughout the floor, while on the far left was the wine bar. It turns out that the barrels were used as mini-tables to be used by customers for tastings. We were greeted and offered one of these "barrel tables" to taste a flight Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignons. Our server brought over the bottles for our tasting flight, plus a couple of surprises that were not on the list. It was quite the experience being in this setting, and I would highly recommend you visit if you're in the area.
STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS FAY ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Napa Valley (XD) - $95
Named after Nathan Fay, a pioneering grape grower, this wine's grapes come from the FAY vineyard. Sweet blackberry and dark fruits aromas. Medium-bodied with cassis and blackcurrant on the palate. Good acidity and medium-length finish. Fairly light in style for a Cab Sauv. Score: 89-90 pts
STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS ARTEMIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Napa Valley (#708892) (XD) - $55
Blend of 88% Cab Sauv and 12% Merlot. Nicely balanced oak and chocolate aromas. Medium-full bodied with blackcurrant and violet on the palate. Very smooth and round. Tannins are integrated and overall is a well-balanced red. This is currently available in the Vintages section at the LCBO. Score: 89 pts
STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS S.L.V. CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley (XD) - $125
Some of the grapes in this wine are from original vines planted in 1970. Black cherry and smoke aromas. Medium-full bodied and plummy, dark fruit and violet flavours on the palate. Smooth, fine-grained tannins and high acidity. A big wine with a long, smooth finish. Very nice! Score: 93 pts
STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS CASK 23 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Napa Valley (XD) - $210
Originally got it's name "CASK 23" when, in 1974, winemaker André Tchelistcheff tasted a deliciously distinct barrel of S.L.V. labelled "Cask 23", and asked that it be bottled separately. Today, it a blend of distinctive fruits from both the S.L.V. and FAY vineyards. Lovely intense smoke, oak and black cherry and black fruit aromas. Medium-full bodied and balanced aroma replays on the palate. Smooth tannins and bright acidity, while finishing long. Nice! Score: 92 pts
STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS S.L.V. CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Stags Leap Distric, Napa Valley (XD) - ???
Very nice smoke, black fruits, cassis, earth and oak aromas. Full-bodied and nice aromas replays on palate. Great acidity and smooth tannins. Ageing gracefully and still could be enjoyed 5 years from now. Score: 92 pts
STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS MERLOT 1998 - Napa Valley (XD) - $???
Lots of smoke and oak aromas, with undertones of dark fruit. Full-bodied and fruit forward with violets and mocha. Spicy mid-palate. Long finish. Score: 90 pts
Our final stop of the day - before we headed to dinner at Bistro Don Giovanni (lovely place, by the way) - was supposed to be Robert Mondavi Winery, located within the Oakville AVA. However, they were just closing up as we arrived. So, on the suggestion of the folks at Mondavi, and because we had a little bit of time to kill before dinner, we headed a few minutes south on St. Helena Hwy to Napa Cellars. Also poured in this tasting room are wines from Sonoma County-based Folie à Deux, and their other label Ménage à Trois. The tasting room felt dark and rustic, and contained many nicknacks, wine gear and lots of cookbooks for sale.
FOLIE À DEUX CHARDONNAY 2010 - Napa Valley (XD) - $24
Ripe lime and citrus aromas with replays on the palate. A bit spicy on the mid-palate. Bright acidity and medium-length finish. Score: 87 pts
FOLIE À DEUX PINOT NOIR 2011 - Sonoma Coast (XD) - $20
Aromas of cherry, strawberry, raspberry and hints of earth. Aromas carryover onto the light-bodied palate, joined by oak flavours. Score: 87 pts
NAPA CELLARS RESERVE STAGECOACH VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Napa Valley (XD) - $48
Cherries, sweet vanillan, and oak aromas. Red and black fruit flavours on the medium-full bodied palate. Medium acidity and tannins that are integrating nicely. Finish is medium-length and well-balanced. Quite nice. Score: 89 pts
NAPA CELLARS RESERVE DYER VINEYARD SYRAH 2010 - Carneros, Napa Valley (XD) - $28
Intense dark sweet fruit, mint and herbal aromas from the glass. Full-bodied with dark cherry and spice on the palate. Well-balanced overall with good acidity and integrated tannins. Finish is medium-length. Score: 88 pts
The next LCBO Vintages wine release will be in stores across Ontario on . The major focus of this release is on wines from Tuscany, highlighting four of their more notable appellations. The secondary focus is on Kosher wines for the upcoming Purim holiday and Passover festival.
The Sangiovese varietal is Tuscany's most prominent, however, many towns have their own local version of this grape. Within the Chianti region, there is the sub-region called "Chianti Classico". The Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva is made from 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo, and was first produced in 1897.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is an appellation surrounding the town of Montepulciano. Wines from this region have been documented as far back as year 789. The version from Poliziano is made from 85% Prugnolo Gentile (local clone of Sangiovese) and 15% Colorino/Canaiolo/Merlot.
Last, but not least, we have two wines from the Brunello di Montalcino appellation, which surrounds the town of Montalcino. The Brunello's from Caparzo and Altesino are both 100% Sangiovese and are from the excellent 2007 vintage. The Caparzo is drinkable now, while the Altesino needs at least 1 year in bottle, while both could be aged for at least the next 7 years.
From the rest of the release, the La Montesa from Spain is Tempranillo-blend, while the Château Cailleteau is a mostly Merlot-blend. In white wine, the Croix de Montceau is an oaked Chardonnay and the Clos Floridène is a blend of 51% Sémillon, 47% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle. Enjoy
Red Wine:
TRAPICHE FINCAS LAS PALMAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina (#143206) (XD) - $16.95
Monday, February 24, 2014
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