M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2021 (Midi) - Wine Review

A perennial favourite of mine that seems to get better every vintage, tonight's white wine review is this lovely wine from Roussillon that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release.M. Chapoutier is the legendary producer from Rhône whose origins go back to the year 1808. In 1990, the renowned Michel Chapoutier took over the reins of...

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2013 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely GSM blend from Languedoc that I purchased from the February 6th LCBO VINTAGES Release back in 2016.It is produced by Cave de Roquebrun with grapes from the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun in southern France. The blend consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown 30 km north of Beziers on...

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J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (Midi) - Wine Review (Apr. 2022)

I've enjoyed this lovely Limoux sparkling wine on a couple of occasions now, including most recently in May 2021 when it showed up in VINTAGES that month. For tonight's sparkling wine review, I bring you the latest batch of this delicious sparkling wine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the April 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release.Limoux wine is produced around the...

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

To cap off my weekend, for tonight's wine review I dive into this lovely, unoaked red wine blend from southern France that I purchased from an LCBO VINTAGES Release in July 2017.This red wine is from the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun in southern France. It is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown 30 km north of Beziers...

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Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2020 (Midi) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2018 Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc at the beginning of this year, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of a perennial favourite from Roussillon that arrives at the LCBO tomorrow as part of the November 27 LCBO VINTAGES Release.This white wine is produced by the legendary Rhône producer M. Chapoutier. The origins...

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J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux (Midi) - Wine Review (May 2021)

Tonight's wine review is a very nice sparkling wine that I last enjoyed four years ago and am delighted to see return to the LCBO this weekend. It is featured as part of the theme on fresh French sippers in the May 15th LCBO VINTAGES Release.The story of Domaine J. Laurens begins in the 1980s, when Michel Dervin of Champagne decided to settle in the village of La Digne d'Aval...

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Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Blanc 2018 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Côtes du Roussillon Blanc by M. Chapoutier that returned to the LCBO as part of the recent January 23rd LCBO VINTAGES Release.The origins of this historic and highly-acclaimed winemaking company date back to the year 1808, with the Chapoutier name entering the picture in 1897 and Marius Chapoutier becoming the sole owner of the company...

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Hecht & Bannier Côtes du Roussillon-Villages 2010 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely 2010 Roussillon-Villages red wine that I purchased back in 2013 when it came through LCBO VINTAGES on February 2nd. I had the pleasure of tasting this wine with co-founder Gregory Hecht at the Halpern Enterprises portfolio tasting later that same year, and was pleasantly surprised to see it return to LCBO VINTAGES on March 1, 2014. Although...

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M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut L'Esquerda 2018 (Roussillon) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely red wine from the highly-acclaimed house of M. Chapoutier. While this is the 2018 vintage, the 2017 vintage will arrive on shelves at the LCBO as part of the October 26th LCBO VINTAGES Release. The story of M. Chapoutier begins in 1808, when Calvet et Compagnie was created in the Rue de l’Hermitage in Tain. In 1855, ownership was transferred...

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Château de Tréviac Corbières 2016 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely unoaked red wine that will be arriving in LCBO VINTAGES on June 8. The 2012 and 2015 Château de Tréviac Corbières were both delightful wines when they arrived in VINTAGES in previous years, showing remarkable consistency. I have no doubt that this latest vintage will also be very good. It is produced by the young and dynamic winegrower Arnaud...

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2010 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's beverage is a lovely red wine blend that I purchased 5 years ago from the March 30, 2013 LCBO VINTAGES Release. I also have the 2013 and 2015 vintages of this wine, which would've made for a nice vertical tasting, but alas, only the 2010 is opened tonight. The latest vintage (2016) of this delicious wine can be found in the LCBO VINTAGES section for a couple of...

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Wine Reviews from August 5, 2018 Birthday Party

Last month, we held a birthday party for my toddler daughter and a few of her close friends. And for the adults - there was wine! The dry rosé was easily the most popular wine at the party, while the Riesling and Shiraz were a close second. All three wines are fairly recent releases to VINTAGES, so you should be able to pick up a bottle at your local LCBO. Full wine reviews...

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Château La Négly La Natice Rosé 2017 (Midi) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the 2016 Château La Négly La Natice Rosé last year and am pleased to see the lovely 2017 vintage come to LCBO VINTAGES on September 1st. Tonight's wine review is a lovely dry rosé that is produced by Château de la Negly. The winery is located in the Languedoc, overlooking the Mediterranean. The unique geographical location of the winery allows a synergy of the elements...

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Château de Treviac Corbières 2015 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a preview of a delicious red blend that will arrive in LCBO VINTAGES on February 3. This red wine is produced by Arnaud Sié at his family's estate that he took responsibility over in the year 2000. The southern facing vineyards are situated 200 to 350 metres elevation, on very rocky limestone-clay soils - perfect terroir for Syrah and Grenache - and surrounded...

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Mas d'Auzières Sympathie Pour Les Stones 2009 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is the first bottle I'm opening in 2018. It was purchased nearly 6 years ago from the July 7 LCBO VINTAGES Release and no newer vintages have reached VINTAGES shelves since. This red wine is made with Syrah and the name is not only a tribute to the Rolling Stones song "Sympathy of the Devil", but also gives a nod to the rocks (i.e. terroir) in the vineyard...

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Tessellae Old Vines Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre Côtes du Roussillon 2015 (Midi) - Wine Review

I opened up this delightful red blend from the Roussillon on Saturday night. This was purchased from the recent November 25 VINTAGES Release and is still widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario. This red wine is made by the famed house of Domaine Lafage. Tasting Note: TESSELLAE OLD VINES GRENACHE/SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON 2015 - AC, Midi, France (#343517)...

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Hecht & Bannier Côtes du Roussillon-Villages 2008 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine to end a busy Summer is this red wine blend from one of my favourite producers in the Languedoc - Hecht & Bannier. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the founders of this winery, Gregory Hecht, a few years ago and will likely meet him again this Fall. This wine was purchased from a VINTAGES Release in March 2012. Newer vintages have periodically shown...

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Claude Gros La Condamine Paulignan Minervois 2013 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a new wine that will be released into LCBO VINTAGES on Saturday, July 22, 2017. This red wine is produced by Select Vins, which is a collaboration between Château de la Négly owner, Jean Paux-Rosset, and his consulting winemaker, Claude Gros. Together, they have assembled some of the best grape growers from across the appellations of the Languedoc,...

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Château de la Négly La Natice 2016 (Midi) - Rosé Wine Review

National Rosé Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of June, and this year it falls on June 10th. Tonight's wine to celebrate National Rosé Day is this delicious dry rosé from the Languedoc in France. Château de la Negly is the producer of tonight's wine review and is located in the Languedoc, overlooking the Mediterranean, in the massif of La Clape. This privileged...

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Château de Fontenelles Renaissance Corbières 2013 (Midi) - Wine Review

On Monday night, I opened up this delicious red wine that will be available at the LCBO as part of the upcoming May 13 VINTAGES Release. This red wine is produced by Château de Fontenelles, a winery located in the north-westerly commune of Douzens in Corbières. The Domaine, with over 40 hectares of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, has been part of the family for...

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