Rémy Ferbras Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2022 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Côtes du Rhône-Villages from the Plan de Dieu appellation that arrived at the LCBO last month in the October 19th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the 2018 Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this red wine is produced by Rémy Ferbras, a winery with deep roots in the Southern Rhone Valley, at the heart of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards. Owned by Grandes Serres winery, they pay tribute to Rémy Ferbras, its very first cellar master. Rémy Ferbras was an iconic figure of the winery and a tireless advocate of the Rhône terroir and its grape varieties. He succeeded in expressing the full potential of Rhône Valley wines and, through his work and tenacity, contributed greatly to the development and public recognition of Grandes Serres. The Rémy Ferbras range of wines are the result of strict selections, precise vinification, and ageing, methodologies he would've used, to produce wines that are rich, elegant, complex, and flavourful.

This red wine is a blend of four grapes that were grown in the Plan de Dieu appellation, in the heart of the Southern Rhône Valley. Plan de Dieu is spread across four villages and extends to the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail. In the Middle Ages, the sisters of Prébayon Abbey tended to these lands, which were covered with a vast garrigue forest rife with brigands and other robbers who ambushed travellers. Thus, when travelling in the region, it is best to put yourself in God's hands! Vine cultivation had been practiced in the region since at least 1326, but was abandoned for many years until it was revived during the 1920s. The terroir of this plateau is stony and arid, with soils composed of mainly limestone chippings and brown clay, conditions loved by Grenache.

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre, the grapes for this red wine were picked at optimum harvest maturity. Each grape was vinified separately using traditional techniques for each grape variety. It underwent alcoholic fermentation between 26-28°C, with two weeks of maceration. After undergoing malolactic fermentation, the individual wines were blended and bottled.

The 2022 growing season in the Southern Rhône Valley was marked by intense heat and drought. The year began with a dry winter and very little rain, followed by a spring that rapidly warmed up, although there was a fleeting cold snap in April. Temperatures continued to rise throughout spring, leading to a successful budburst and flowering. May was abnormally hot, while June rains brought some relief. Summer brought intense heat and drought, with some vines struggling, while rot and disease were mostly kept at bay. Some humidity in August helped revive some of the vines. From a very good vintage that was more suitable for red wines, particularly Grenache and Syrah, let's see how this 2022 Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RÉMY FERBRAS PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, France (#538009) (XD) - $17.95
This blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre has a fragrant, open, and medium-high intensity nose that offers ripe, lush, and complex aromas of black raspberry, scorched earth, smoky mineral, red plum, black cherry, blackberry, and spice notes. On the crisp, dry, medium+ bodied palate, it has lovely, ripe black raspberry, red plum, cherry, peppery spice, red licorice, and mineral flavours. It has juicy, succulent acidity, and supple, lightly chalky tannins with good structure. Gently tangy on the mid-palate, while lovely smoky mineral and touches of spice notes linger on the long, savoury finish. Absolutely delicious and a highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Rémy Ferbras can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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La Chevalière Rasteau 2022 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Grenache-based blend from Rasteau that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the October 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

The La Chevalière label is a joint product between Les Grandes Serres and Rémy Ferbras. Both producers are based in the Rhône Valley and known for their expertise in crafting high-quality wines from the prestigious Southern Rhône Valley appellations. They use traditional winemaking techniques combined with modern practices to express the unique terroirs of the Rhône Valley. With sustainable vineyard practices, hand-harvesting, and meticulous sorting of grapes, both producers work with growers to ensure high-quality grapes are grown.

Like the 2017 La Chevalière Rasteau I enjoyed a few years ago, this red wine is a blend of four grapes led by Grenache. The 2022 vintage is, in fact, a blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. The grapes were grown in the Rasteau Cru, a village located just north of Vaucluse county, between the valleys of Aigues and Ouvèze, in the Southern Rhône Valley. The area of Rasteau has a variety of terroirs, including red marl and sandstone, clay and limestone soils, and is covered with worn pebbles on the surface. After accumulating heat throughout the day, these pebbles are known for their ability to release all that heat at night, which in turn cools down the vines. The Mediterranean climate and diversity of terroirs in Rasteau offers an ideal environment for the wines to fully express their structured, generous, and powerful nature.

To vinify this Rhône red, the grapes were destemmed, softly crushed, and placed in temperature-controlled vats to undergo a three-week maceration with regular pumping-over and délestage (rack and return). After ageing, the different terroirs were blended together to achieve optimum balance for the very differentiated character of this Rasteau.

The 2022 growing season in the Southern Rhône was marked by intense heat and drought, with the year beginning as a dry winter that saw very little rain. It was followed by a spring that rapidly warmed up, although April did experience a fleeting cold snap. Even though temperatures continued to rise, budburst and flowering were a success. May was abnormally hot, while rain in June brought some relief. Heat and drought during the summer months kept rot and disease at bay, while humidity arrived in August, which revived the vines and benefited the red grape varieties Grenache and Syrah. Overall, grape quality is high in 2022. Let's see how this 2022 Rasteau from the Southern Rhône is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA CHEVALIÈRE RASTEAU 2022 - AC, Rhône, France (#18502) (XD) - $23.95
This blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah has a ripe, bright, and lifted nose of medium-high to high intensity that delivers lovely red & black raspberry, blackberry, black cherry, and spice aromas surrounding a meaty, savoury, and mineral core. Some olive and Mediterranean herb aromas appear with time in the glass, adding further complexity. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has spicy, black and red berry fruited raspberry, cassis, savoury mineral, and earthy flavours with some plummy notes. Acids are fresh and tangy, while structured, grainy tannins have some chalky grip. Peppery spice with savoury earth and stony mineral notes linger on the long, grippy, and structured finish. Enjoyable now, and should drink well over the next 6-8 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from the producers of La Chevalière can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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Xavier Vignon Lirac 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the follow-up to the excellent 2019 Xavier Vignon Lirac that I enjoyed nearly three years ago. This latest vintage arrived at the LCBO as part of last month's September 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Xavier Vins, a wine label that was established towards the end of the 20th century by celebrated French winemaker Xavier Vignon. The story begins while Xavier was studying in the faculty of pharmacy in the Champagne capital of Reims when he caught the wine bug thanks to a chance encounter with an oenologist. This encounter led to Xavier gaining valuable experience at several Champagne houses and was the beginning of his journey into the world of winegrowing and producing wine.

Today, Xavier Vignon is known for using his expertise in blending and deep understanding of terroir to produce high-quality wines from the Rhône Valley. The philosophy at Xavier Vignon is to use an unusual, original, and creative approach that combines daring with inspiration. His time in Champagne and Bordeaux left a lasting impression on him, with strong values in the freedom of blending and the notion of beginning with an idea before embarking on the creation of the wine. Furthermore, each year is different and a source of surprise. The art of blending different grape varieties imparts complexity to the wine, while also enhancing the terroir. As a means to achieve this philosophy, Xavier Vignon has a wide range of ingredients at his disposal, such as grapes, terroirs, parcels, exposures, altitudes, stainless steel, concrete, and wooden receptacles.

With Xavier's deep knowledge of each and every part of the Rhône Valley, he is able to start by selecting a soil, a parcel, and a varietal with the aim of creating the most loyal and harmonious composition possible. Wines are always the result of contrary or complementary unions, and by bringing together these different entities, it provides the opportunity for the best possible result. Therefore, each cuvée is a unique experience that is an expression of vintage, varietal or terroir. It is also a source of emotion that is guided by the pleasure of sharing, and an invitation to not only dream, but also to better understand those landscapes which Xavier holds close to his heart. Xavier Vignon strives to capture this little part of the southern Rhône in the bottle, to encapsulate all of its aromas, colours, and textures, with the ultimate goal of making people happy.

While the previous vintage was predominantly Grenache, the 2020 vintage is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. This cuvée was crafted using grapes from the heart of the Lirac appellation, one of the most southern Crus of the Rhône Valley and covers the best soils of four communes in the Gard. The grapes come from a selection of 15 parcels within the appellation that are mainly made up of rolled pebbles and clay soils. In the vineyard, the grapes were pruned using the goblet pruning method, which helps limit the sugar content and preserves freshness. In a sunny vintage such as 2020, goblet pruning allows natural acidity to be maintained. Upon determining the harvest dates by daily measurement of polyphenols in the berries, the grapes were manually harvested. It was fermented at a moderate temperature to favour soft diffusion of flavour compounds using 100% free-run juice, with extraction by gravity. All the Grenache was vinified and matured in concrete tanks. Meanwhile, 30% of the Syrah was matured in unheated Allier and Vosges barrels for 12 months, with the remainder matured in concrete tanks.

From an excellent growing season that delivered wines of finesse and elegance, let's see how this 2020 Lirac red from the southern Rhône Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON LIRAC 2020 - AP, Rhône, France (#636183) (XD) - $23.95
Mostly aged in concrete tanks, this blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah has a ripe and spicy medium-high intensity nose that offers lovely black & red cherry, peppery spice, blackberry, and stony mineral aromas with touches of floral and oak spice. The dry, medium-full bodied palate shows elegance and finesse with delicious black raspberry, red & black cherry, peppery spice, and mineral flavours, joined by meaty and floral touches that add complexity. It's well-supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity and smooth, fine-grained, and well-structured tannins. It's nicely balanced throughout with savoury mineral notes lingering on the long, gently chalky finish, with excellent length. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5+ years. Score: 90+ pts

Several lovely wines by Xavier Vignon are available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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LAVAU Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2022 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier from the Rhône wine region of France. It made its debut at the LCBO in the recent August 24th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available across Ontario right now.

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, a winery that was founded by the Lavau family in 1965. The Lavau family had already been involved in winemaking for several generations when Jean-Guy Lavau, the third generation of the family, and his wife, Anne-Marie, returned to France from Tunisia in the mid-20th century. By 1964, the couple decided to take over a small winemaking cellar in the southern Rhône Valley village of Sablet. Together, the Lavau's built a reputation as one of the region's top winemakers thanks to their dedication to high-quality standards, attention to detail, and thirst for excellence.

Today, Maison LAVAU is a major player locally in the Rhône Valley as it has developed close ties with other winegrowers in the region. Maison LAVAU is led by brothers Frédéric and Benoît Lavau, the sons of Jean-Guy and Anne-Marie. The brothers completed their studies in Canada and joined the family business - Frédéric in 1995, followed by Benoît two years later, and by 2000, the Lavau brothers had taken over the family business because their parents opted to retire. Frédéric and Benoît's youthful energy and adventurous spirit allowed them to further structure, develop, and improve the Maison, including building a new cellar in Violès and investing in modern, high-performance cellar facilities. Maison LAVAU has long-running partnerships with more than 250 winegrowers who have over 140 hectares of vines across the appellations of Rhône Valley. Moreover, the Lavau brothers are also talented winemakers and wine traders, and invested in vineyards so they could produce their wine using their own grapes. As one of the last family-run and independent wine estates in the Rhône Valley, Maison LAVAU's main objective is to offer the very best of the Rhône Valley by producing quality wines that are fine, generous, and affordable, while also expressing the unique characteristics of the Rhône Valley's terroirs.

This white wine is a blend of 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Viognier that was grown in selected vineyards in the Vaucluse and Gard departments of the Rhône wine region, from vines planted in clay-limestone soil on plains and hillsides. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes underwent a light skin maceration, then pressed and placed into temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Fermentation was carried out at a low temperature to preserve the fruit. The wine was aged in stainless steel vats, on its fine lees, without malolactic fermentation, in order to preserve the crisp and crunchy character of the wine.

The 2022 growing season was the hottest and driest vintage in the Rhône since 1950! The season was marked by extremes, beginning with a dry winter that saw very little precipitation, while spring rapidly warmed up, although there was a fleeting cold snap in April. Budburst and flowering were a success, even though temperatures continued to rise. May was abnormally hot, while June brought some relief with rain. Summer was marked by heat and drought, with rot and disease mostly kept at bay, while August brought some humidity which helped revive some of the vines. Faced with the increasing regularity of these growing conditions, it would appear as though the vines have learned to adapt by slowing down their growth rates and maturity cycles. From a vintage that favours white grape varieties, let's see how this 2022 Côtes du Rhône Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2022 - AC, France (#36914) (XD) - $16.95
This 60/40 blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier has a fresh, medium+ intensity nose offering attractive aromas of fresh and ripe pear, apple, lemon citrus, Mediterranean herbs, and grapefruit with accents of white floral and white peach. Intriguing leesy and mealy aromas emerge with time in the glass. On the weighty, medium-full bodied, and dry palate it has very good concentration with a fleshy mouthfeel and delicious ripe pear, apple, white floral, yellow fruit, lemon citrus, grapefruit, and spice flavours with some honeyed overtones. It has very good acidity, while pear, apple, floral, and spice notes linger on the long-lasting and juicy finish. With the alcohol starting to peak through, you'll want to chill well and enjoy this recommended buy over the coming year. Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely wines by Maison LAVAU can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Domaine Terre Davau Tavel Rosé 2023 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is a lovely, organic Tavel from Rhône that is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO and landed on shelves across Ontario in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on August 24th.

It is produced by the Château de Manissy, an historic winery situated in the Tavel appellation of the southern Rhône Valley in France. The Château has a long history dating back to the 17th century. In more recent history, the Château and its lands were bequeathed to the Missionary Brothers of the Holy Family after the First World War. Soon thereafter, the Brothers planted their first vines and released their first Tavel wines for use at Mass and general consumption. The motto of the estate was introduced as "Auspice Clara Manissy Stella" – "Under the Protection of the Bright Star of Manissy", and continues to be used today, which also led to the estate's name - Château de Manissy.

Even though the brothers lived at the Château all those years (and continue to do so today), as they grew older they decided that they needed someone new to manage the vineyards. As such, in 2003, the young Tavel winemaker Florian André arrived at the estate and wholeheartedly carried out the brothers' work. Florian comes from 7 generations of Tavel winegrowers who know and love their terroir. With great respect for the vine and wine, Florian began converting all the vineyards to organic in 2009, followed by the progression to biodynamic agriculture. After joining Château de Manissy, Florian also created a new range of wines - one of which is the Domaine Terre Davau line.

Today, all Château de Manissy's vineyards, which are spread over 60 hectares across the appellations of Tavel, Lirac, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Cotes du Rhône, are farmed biodynamically. The soils in these vineyards are sandy clay and topped with either limestone fragments or "galets roulés", Rhône Valley's classic rounded pudding-stones. The vines get plenty of Mediterranean sunshine and are swept by Mistral wind, the ideal conditions for vinegrowing which dry up excess moisture in the soil and helps prevent disease, resulting in a healthy vineyard full of healthy grapes.

Domaine Terre Davau is Château de Manissy's winegrowing estate in the village of Roque sur Cèz (considered officially as one of the most beautiful villages in France), in the northeast of the department of Gard, about 40 km northwest of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and is a true gem of the Rhône Valley. The estate of Domaine Terre Davau is named after a savoury herb and medicinal plant, locally once known as "davau", which grows freely in the area. The domaine's historic vineyards are situated on south-facing terraces, ascending a gentle slope, and have been in the hands of Florian's mother's side of the family for six generations. The grapes of Domaine Terre Davau are vinified at Château de Manissy's site in Tavel.

This Tavel Rosé is crafted using a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Clairette, and Cinsault from 40 to 50-year-old vines that were grown on a small, 13-hectare parcel that has pudding stones over sand and blue clay soil. The grapes were hand harvested, and upon arriving at the winery they were destemmed, crushed, and cold-soaked for 12–24 hours prior to pressing. It underwent alcoholic fermentation by native yeasts at low temperatures for about 15 days, without malolactic fermentation, and was aged in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.

From a promising vintage across the southern Rhône Valley, let's see how this 2023 Tavel Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE TERRE DAVAU TAVEL ROSÉ 2023 - AC, Rhône, France (#37680) (XD) - $19.95
This organic rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Clairette, and Cinsault. It has a hint of reduction that gives way to reveal a medium-high intensity nose of stony minerals and a red berry medley of strawberry, pomegranate, raspberry, and currant aromas, as well as some dried herbs and white pepper spice. On the dry, flavourful, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has lovely red berry, currant, pomegranate, strawberry, and cherry flavours, plus savoury stony minerals, dried herb, and peppery spice replays Slightly creamy mouthfeel with crisp, juicy acidity on the well-structured palate. Red berry, currant, spice, and mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, dry, and gently chalky finish. Should be even better in a year or two. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Château de Manissy can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

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La Ferme du Mont Le Ponnant Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2022 (France) - Wine Review

To celebrate Father's Day, tonight's red wine review is an excellent GSM-blend Côtes du Rhône-Villages that is a frequent visitor to the LCBO, with the latest vintage arriving on shelves across Ontario last weekend in the June 8 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by La Ferme du Mont, a notable winery situated in the Southern Rhône Valley of France. La Ferme du Mont is a relatively new project in the context of French winemaking, led by winemaker Stéphane Vedeau, and has gained notoriety for its high-quality wines and attention to detail.

With more than two decades of experience as a viticulturist and winemaker, Stéphane Vedeau is a 3rd generation winemaker who continues the traditions from his mother's side of the family. Stéphane has a deep understanding of the Rhône Valley's terroir and winemaking traditions. With La Ferme du Mont, the aim is to create wines that express the unique characteristics of the terroir, emphasizing minimal intervention in the winemaking process to allow the terroir to shine through.

In the vineyard, the goal is harmony. The plants live in a permanent equilibrium in the middle of a biotope rich in different species. The goal is to have the healthiest grapes, which take up most of the time and effort, as well as grapes that are balanced and in harmony with the plant and the natural environment, as well as be in harmony of fruit, juices, and breeding.

Having tasted several vintages of this red wine in the past, this is generally a Grenache-led blend, with this 2022 vintage composed of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The grapes were grown in the Southern Rhône Valley in a region dominated by a rocky peak and rounded stones in the vineyards, while the climate is warm, dry, and influenced by the powerful Mistral winds. The combination of these factors allows Stéphane to use an environmentally-friendly approach to viticulture, with minimal intervention. To vinify this wine, the grapes were lightly pressed and then underwent a long fermentation of 5 to 6 weeks, with soft extractions. To fully express the terroir, two-thirds of the wine was matured in concrete tubs for at least 8 months, out of contact with air, while the remaining was aged 225 L and 500 L barrels to increase complexity. The wine is bottled without filtration.

The 2022 growing season was marked by intense heat and drought. The year began with a dry winter that saw very little rain, followed by a spring that rapidly warmed up, although April did experience a fleeting cold snap. Budburst and flowering were a success, even though temperatures continued to rise. May was abnormally hot, while rain in June brought some relief. The summer months were marked by heat and drought, conditions which keep rot and disease at bay. The vines were revived in August thanks to some humidity, and benefited the red grape varieties Grenache and Syrah. Overall, grape quality is high, which will produce some sophisticated, age-worthy wines. Let's see how this 2022 Côtes du Rhône-Villages red wine from the Southern Rhône Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA FERME DU MONT LE PONNANT CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, unfiltered, France (#171371) (XD) - $26.95
This lovely GSM blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre has a lifted, medium-high to highly aromatic, and complex nose of black cherry, raspberry, kirsch liqueur, black peppercorn, and spice with hints of stony minerality. On the medium-full bodied palate it is chewy, ripe, dry, slightly warming and spicy with delicious dark berry-cherry, black raspberry, black peppercorn, stony mineral, and earthy flavours. Acids are crisp and refreshing, while the smooth tannins have some structural and textured grip. Lovely stony mineral notes linger on the long, grippy finish. Should drink nicely to the end of the decade. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

One other lovely wine by La Ferme du Mont is available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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Rhonéa Tradition Rasteau 2021 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Southern Rhône Valley red from the Cru Rasteau appellation that is arriving at the LCBO this weekend as part of the June 8th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - and is available in many stores already.

It is produced by Cave de Rasteau - Rhonéa (formerly Ortas), a co-operative winery that was formed after the merger of two historic co-operatives who had deep roots in the Rhône Valley going back to the year 1925. As a co-operative, Rhonéa is today a collective of 400 families of Artisan Winegrowers who have over a combined 2,900 hectares of vineyards that have been cultivated in Rhône's terroirs for 3 to 4 generations.

The initial project at the beginning of the 20th century consisted of only a handful of passionate and visionary families who laid the first stones of the village wineries. Their aim was to create a shared asset which put everyone's talents to use in order to provide the best conditions for producing, ageing and selling wines.

Rhonéa is the innovative, new generation co-operative model made up of 400 families who are winegrowers with small vineyards averaging 10 hectares each. They are united with a common passion, but with know-how that has been passed on from one generation to the next to create their own, unique stories. With perfect knowledge of their terroirs, plots, and grape varieties, they aim to reveal the very best of them. All Rhonéa winegrowers are committed to ethical and sustainable winegrowing, vintage after vintage. The main mission of Rhonéa is to craft wines that are accessible, without compromising on quality, while also innovating with sustainability commitments, which includes social responsibility and environmental protection, at the top of mind.

I enjoyed a previous incarnation of this wine, the 2017 Ortas Tradition Rasteau, nearly five years ago, and like that wine, this edition is also mainly Grenache. In fact, this edition is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan. The grapes were grown on terraces of clay, limestone, and pebbles on the plain, and blue marls on the hills situated between 200 and 250 metres altitude, facing the Dentelles de Montmirail. After manually harvesting, sorting, and destemming the grapes, they underwent a traditional vinification with long maceration and partial punching down.

The 2021 growing season for red grape varieties presented many difficulties with frost, hail, and rain. With poor weather, disease, pests, and low yields, the vintage will be remembered for being atypical, but also resulting in qualitative, fresh, lush, and tasty wines. Let's see how this 2021 Southern Rhône red from Rasteau is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RHONÉA TRADITION RASTEAU 2021 - AP, Rhône, France (#998716) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan has a medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that is musky and woodsy, giving way to a core of ripe raspberry, black cherry, black pepper spice, stony minerals, and black olive aromas, with touches of savoury earth. On dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied, and slightly warming palate it has savoury stony minerals, black raspberry, black cherry, woodsy oak spice flavours. Acids are crisp, fresh, and juicy, while the supple, fine-grained tannins have with some textural grip. Savoury stony mineral and spice notes linger on the well-structured finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely wines by Rhonéa can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château Maucoil Privilège Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the beautiful 2016 Château Maucoil Privilège Châteauneuf-du-Pape a few years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest edition of this terrific, certified organic red wine that arrived at the LCBO last month in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on December 16th - with plenty of bottles still available for purchase.

It is produced by Château Maucoil, an historic property that is situated in an area of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that has been occupied since Roman times when they set up a base for Caesar's legions. The Château Maucoil estate and castle was built in 1624 and inherited by Joseph de La Pise, Lord of Maucoil and archivist of the House of Orange-Nassau (the Dutch royal family). Winegrowing has been an intrinsic part of the property since the 17th century, with Château Maucoil possessing some of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's oldest vines, some of which are over 100 years old.

Château Maucoil has changed hands many times over the years, with a series of illustrious families taking over the reins to develop the estate and establish its reputation. Most recently, in late 2022, Château Maucoil was acquired by Bernard Duseigneur from Groupe Maucoil Lavau, which was owned jointly by the (65%) Lavau and (35%) Bonnet families.

Today, Château Maucoil has 45 hectares of vines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, all of which have been tended to organically since 2011. With the estate's privileged situation and unique terroir, the vines are allowed to grow at pace with care, precision, and patience. The soils are worked in the traditional method, without any chemical weed killers, while preferring the use of ancient methods such as furrowing, forming mounds, and ploughing. The vineyards are tended to with maximum respect for the people and the environment.

This cuvée marks a return to the traditions of Châteauneuf-du-Pape by using the original 13 grape varieties that were permitted within the AOC (in 2009 the list of permitted grape varieties was expanded). It is crafted with 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Cinsault, Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Counoise, Terret, Roussanne, Picpoul, and Picardan. All the grapes were hand-harvested from a plot of old vines that were planted on sand and large rounded stones. After meticulously sorting the grapes, it was vinified using traditional methods and represents a return to the origins of winemaking by co-fermenting the grapes and ageing for 18 months in larger demi-muids. It was then aged for several years in bottle prior to release.

The 2020 growing season in the Southern Rhône began with a mild winter, followed by a hot and dry summer, with slightly cooler nights, which led to wines with good freshness and balance. Conditions during harvest were ideal, resulting in a stress-free vintage with solid yields. Since 2020 lacked lengthier periods of extreme heat, Grenache took its time to ripen. Fortunately, some light rain arrived towards the end of September, and by early October all Grenache grapes were harvested. There is some variance in the quality of wines from 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but overall, the wines are harmonious, fresh, balanced, and engaging, with more delicate tannins and lower alcohol levels, and offer immediate drinkability.

It is also interesting that the 2016 I enjoyed in November 2020 retailed for $86, while this vintage is priced at more than 25% less, an unusual surprise in these highly inflationary times, although the ownership change may have been a factor. Let's see how this organic 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#16210) (XD) - $62.95
Certified organic and a blend of 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Cinsault, Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Counoise, Terret, Roussanne, Picpoul, and Picardan. The highly aromatic nose is deep and complex with aromas of ripe, dark red & black fruits, black cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, stony mineral, garrigue, white pepper spice, kirsch, and smoke. On the dry, medium-full to full-bodied palate it is ripe, harmonious, gently spicy, and warming, but within balance, with lovely savoury, stony, black-blue fruits, peppery spice, garrigue, and meaty flavours with touches of violet. Acids are crisp, juicy, and succulent, while the ripe tannins are smooth and refined with good structure. Stony, smoky, meaty, and peppery spice notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Provides immense pleasure now, and will continue to do so over the next 10+ years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 94 pts

Other fine wines by Château Maucoil can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia / Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Les Vignerons du Castelas Le Monarque Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2022 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, organic, Viognier-based white wine blend from Rhône that arrived at the LCBO over the long weekend in the October 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Les Vignerons du Castelas, a co-operative winery that was established in 1952 by a handful of winegrowers that were keen to combine their efforts and wills to produce appellation wines of high quality. The co-op is located in Rochefort du Gard, between Pont d'Avignon and Pont du Gard, on the right bank of the Rhône River, and is named after a XII century Romanesque chapel that is perched atop the village. The origins of Rochefort du Gard as a winegrowing village goes back to 1933, when it became one of the first villages to be approved in the, at the time, very young Côtes du Rhône Appellation, officially gained its status within the appellation in 1937.

Following the formation of the co-op, the winery opened its doors three years later, in 1955, on the eve of harvest, and inscribed on the cellar walls was the quote "Less wine but better" - a philosophy that still holds today. Since that time, several generations have followed one another and, together, they continue to make wines with respect for tradition, while also respecting the people and the land.

Today, 45 families of winemakers, who are attached to their land and vineyard, form Les Vignerons du Castelas. Together, they have over 450 hectares of vineyards, mainly in the Côtes du Rhône appellation, with four distinct soil characteristics - deep soils on stony spreads, marl soils, sandy soils, and Villafranchian terraced floors - with each soil type playing an important role in the character of the wine. The families of winegrowers cultivate their quality vines in order to create supple and pleasurable wines for every occasion. The winemakers of Rochefort du Gard are committed, by vocation, to healthy vines on a living soil, to create wines that express the enthusiasm and sincerity of their work accomplished with passion, knowledge, and sensitivity.

The name of this wine - Le Monarque - comes from the butterfly that is found in their region, in the Rhône Valley, and migrates every summer to Africa, travelling more than 4,000 kilometres during its journey. As a wine that seems to show up every couple of years, I last enjoyed the 2019 Les Vignerons du Castelas Le Monarque Côtes du Rhône Blanc just over two years ago. For this vintage, it continues to be a blend of 60% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc, and 20% Roussanne, as per the back label. The grapes were grown on sandy marl soils which are mainly composed of clay, limestone, and carbonate sand. The grapes were harvested by machine at night to preserve freshness and underwent a slow, 1-month fermentation in temperature-controlled vats. The wine was matured in concrete tanks and bottled at the property without any added sulphites. Let's see how this 2022 Côtes du Rhône Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LES VIGNERONS DU CASTELAS LE MONARQUE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2022 - AP, France (#18570) (XD) - $17.95
This organic white wine is a blend of 60% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc, and 20% Roussanne. Fragrant and highly attractive aromas of yellow and white florals, lemon citrus, ripe apple, and pear with white peach and herbally tones. It's medium-full bodied and impressively concentrated on the fleshy palate with lovely yellow and white floral, lemon citrus, apple, pear, and herbal replays in a dry flavour profile. Some leesy mineral notes appear on the nicely textured, slightly oily palate. Juicy with fresh, zesty acidity, while citrusy, orchard fruit, and leesy mineral notes linger on the long, succulent, and lightly spicy finish. Lots going on here and a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other delicious wines by Les Vignerons du Castelas can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia / Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Cellier des Dauphins Vinsobres 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2019 Cellier des Dauphins Réserve a couple of years ago, we move up a notch with tonight's red wine review that is a Cru wine from the same producer. It arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on August 19.

Cellier des Dauphins is a co-operative winery that was founded in 1967 when the Union of Côtes du Rhône winegrowers (UVCDR) was established. The UVCDR brought together 2,300 winemaking families in the southern Rhône Valley, a territory that covered 2,500 hectares of vines and approximately 20 AOCs. As a co-operative, member growers pool their resources together to produce and market their wines. Additionally, they have also invested in modern winemaking techniques and facilities to ensure consistent quality across its range of wines, while also focusing on sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices.

Today, Cellier des Dauphins is the pride of UVCDR, and is particularly renowned for its Côtes du Rhône wines. The name "Cellier des Dauphins" translates to "Cellar of the Dolphins", and is an historical reference between the Dauphiné region, which is located in the southeastern part of France, and the dolphin emblem associated with the French royal family. The founding members of Cellier des Dauphins are proud of their terroir and driven by constant innovation, while preparing for the future and striving relentlessly to raise the quality from vine to glass. Cellier des Dauphins is committed to sustainable agriculture and has launched various eco-friendly initiatives, while also having over 1,000 hectares of organically farmed vines. While Cellier des Dauphins has a wide variety of soils and terroirs within their vineyards, offering oenologists a rich palette of grapes for blending, for this particular bottling they have decided to craft it as a Cru wine from Vinsobres.

This red wine is crafted using grapes grown in the Cru of Vinsobres, whose name is derived from the Latin word "vinsobrio", which means wine and work. It is a blend of primarily 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was grown in the hills of the Southern Rhône Cru of Vinsobres, at 500 metres above sea level, in a region that was historically part of the estates of the King of France's sons. The region experiences a sunny, Mediterranean climate that is cooled by Mistral winds. It has dry winters and summers, with particularly high temperatures in summer, while rainfall occurs primarily in autumn and spring. The soil in Vinsobres is covered in stones, which enables the heat of the day to be accumulated and encourages early ripening and concentration in the grapes. The wine was crafted with meticulous attention at every stage, culminating with it being aged in cask for 12 months to develop smoothness and suppleness in the tannins.

Like the wine I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this red is also from the same vintage in the Southern Rhône. The 2019 growing season was a swelteringly hot and very dry year that was surprisingly successful. Grenache excelled during this vintage, producing wines that are rich, ripe, and expressive, with refined textures. Let's see how this 2019 Rhône red from the Vinsobres Cru is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS VINSOBRES 2019 - Cru des Côtes du Rhône, AC, France (#15448) (XD) - $19.95
Blend of mainly 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah, this has an enticing, medium-high nose that offers lovely aromas of black raspberry, licorice, garrigue, and baking spices with a touch of floral. It's medium-full bodied with velvety smooth, refined tannins and fresh, well-balanced acidity that supports the ripe black raspberry, red plum, baking spice, licorice, stony mineral, and meaty notes in a dry flavour profile. It's nicely balanced throughout, even showing some elegance, while stony mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, and very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other delicious wines by Cellier des Dauphins are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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April 29, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Classic European Regions

Here are my top wine picks from the April 29, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "Fine Wines from Classic European Regions". Also included in the printed magazine is a sneak preview of the next release which will be the return of the monthly "Online & Flagship Exclusives" only release, with no associated in-store release. All of the wines from the last release of April should be in stores across Ontario by Saturday.

We begin with the theme on wines from classic European wine regions that features nineteen wines, of which eight are included among my top wine picks. Can you guess the eight classic European wine regions that span three countries featured in the theme? They are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Rhône Valley, Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto, and Rioja. From France, the Rhône Valley wines are the Châteauneuf-du-Pape which is crafted with 58% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre, and 2% other permitted varieties, while the Côtes du Rhône is mainly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. The white Burgundy from France is made with Chardonnay, while the white wine from Piedmont is made with the indigenous Cortese varietal. From Tuscany, the Chianti is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo, while the Cepparello Super Tuscan is 100% Sangiovese. From Veneto, the Amarone consists of 47% Corvina, 39% Corvinone, 6% Rondinella, and 8% other varieties. And lastly, the 2015 Rioja is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano, while the 2018 Rioja which is also the Wine of the Month is crafted with 100% Tempranillo.

The only blend among my red wine recommendations from the main release is the Syrah from Chile that actually consists of 90% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Viognier. Otherwise, there is a nice variety of other red wines to check out, such as a pair of Cabernet Franc wines - one from Niagara and one from Argentina. There is also a Pinot Noir from Niagara, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Mencía from Bierzo in Spain.

Among my white wine picks, it was a somewhat surprisingly small release of white wines and all of my recommendations are mono-varietal wines. Dry white wines include a pair of Sauvignon Blanc wines - one from Chile and the other from New Zealand, as well as a Viognier from Australia, and the Riesling from Austria. If you like your wines a little sweet, the Riesling from Niagara is a perennial favourite!

Both rosé wine recommendations are dry in style and predominantly made with Grenache, with the Tavel composed of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Clairette, and 10% Cinsault, while the rose wine from California is Grenache-based and blended with Syrah and Carignan.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CABERNET FRANC 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#523001) (XD) - $19.95
• XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LA POSTA FAZZIO MALBEC 2020 - Sustainable, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#444687) (XD) - $19.95
• MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES EXCELLENS CUVÉE ESPECIAL COLECCIÓN PRIVADA CRIANZA 2018 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#10684) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTES ALPHA SYRAH 2020 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#612) (XD) - $20.95
• FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Mendoza, Argentina (#492736) (XD) - $21.95

• GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2018 - Palazzone, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• PITTACUM VAL DE LA OSA MENCÍA 2017 - Old vines, enclave singular, DO Bierzo, Spain (#31200) (XD) - $28.95  91+ pts  wine review
• LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#33894) (XD) - $29.95
• BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2015 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review
  
• DOMAINE DES SÉNÉCHAUX CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#677922) (XD) - $63.95
• BRIGALDARA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2017 - Sustainable, DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#300012) (XD) - $78.95
• ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#12818) (XD) - $159.95

White Wine:

• YALUMBA ORGANIC VIOGNIER 2021 - Vegan, sustainable, South Australia (#288217) (XD) - $16.95
• LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Coastal vineyards, DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $17.95
• TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (M) - $19.95
• FONTANAFREDDA GAVI DI GAVI 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#366948) (XD) - $23.95
• STADT KREMS STEINTERRASSEN RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, DAC Kremstal, Austria (#30595) (XD) - $24.95
• FRAMINGHAM SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#606848) (XD) - $24.95
• NICOLAS POTEL BOURGOGNE HAUTES CÔTES DE BEAUNE BLANC 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#29712) (XD) - $34.95

Rosé Wine:

• ANGELS & COWBOYS ROSÉ 2022 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#493155) (XD) - $24.95
• CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2022 - AP, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95

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LAVAU Rasteau 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Rhône red wine from the southern Rhône Valley Cru of Rasteau that arrived at the LCBO this weekend in the January 21 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Maison LAVAU was founded in 1965 after the Lavau family, who had been involved in winemaking for several generations, took charge of a small winemaking cellar a year earlier in Sablet, in the southern Rhône Valley. It was established by Jean-Guy Lavau, the third generation of the family, and his wife Anne-Marie as they returned to France from Tunisia. Together, Jean-Guy and Anne-Marie Lavau built a reputation as top quality winemakers in the region thanks to their dedication to high standards, attention to detail, and thirst for excellence. Recognized as a major local player, Maison LAVAU has developed close ties with other winegrowers, especially in the southern Rhône Valley.

Today, Maison LAVAU is run by their two sons - Frédéric and Benoît Lavau. After completing their studies in Canada, Frédéric joined the family business in 1995, and Benoît quickly followed in 1997. The Lavau brothers official took charge of the Maison in 2000 when their parents retired. Their youth, energy and adventurous spirit allowed them to further structure and develop the Maison, including building a new cellar in Violès, and investing in modern, high-performance cellar facilities. As talented winemakers and wine traders, the Lavau brothers also invested in vineyards to also become producers of wine. Maison LAVAU is today one of the last family-run and independent wine estates in the Rhône Valley. Their objective is to offer the very best of the Rhône Valley by producing top quality wines that are fine, generous, and affordable.

Like previous vintages, including the 2017 LAVAU Rasteau that I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this southern Rhône Valley red continues to be a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. The village of Rasteau is situated on the summit of a hill at an altitude of 200 metres. The grapes for this wine come from parcels located near the village, on east-facing, stony hillsides that have a Mediterranean climate and offer some protection from the Mistral wind. The vineyards are planted on fairly deep, fairly dry, and pebbly terrain, which results in low yields and late ripening grapes.

It was vinified by completely de-stemming the grapes and placing them in temperature-controlled vats to macerate for around 25 days with rack-and-return operations at the start of fermentation, followed by two pumping-over operations per day. The wine was then aged in barrels for 12 months, with half going into 450 L second- or third-use barrels.

The 2019 growing season began with a wet winter setting the table for the region's vineyards to get through the hot, dry growing season. Grenache, in particular, excelled this vintage as it coped well with the severely hot weather and cooler nights that helped it retain acidity and aromas. Overall, the excellent 2019 vintage is a powerful, ripe vintage with localized areas of greatness. Let's see how this 2019 southern Rhône Valley red from Rasteau is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU RASTEAU 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#394650) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. The fragrant nose of medium-high intensity delivers lovely, perfumed aromas of dark berry, black cherry, black plum, peppery spice, and meaty notes with subtle whiffs of violet, floral, and oak. It's medium-full bodied with ripe, dark fruited flavours of black cherry, black plum, cassis, peppery spice, violet, meaty, and subtle wood. It's slightly spicy on the mid-palate and has fresh, lively acidity, along with smooth, ripe, refined, and lightly chewy and well-structured tannins. Lovely smoky mineral notes linger on the long-lasting, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Limited quantities of one other Maison LAVAU wine is available at the LCBO, while the rest of their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2020 (France) - Wine Review (Nov. 2022)

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, organic red wine from Rhône that returned to LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario just over a week ago as part of the recent November 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Xavier Vignon, a man who started out as an consultant oenologist in 1996 in a laboratory in Vaucluse in the Southern Rhône Valley for 30+ cellars, and three years later started crafted artisanal cuvees from his garage for his friends. After one of his friends secretly took his wines and submitted them to Guide Hachette where they received critical acclaim, Xavier started crafted his own wines under the Xavier Vins label. Today, with two fundamental values of a job well done and the capacity to transmit knowledge, Xavier bottles wines under his own name. He is known as a Terroir Hunter and Master Blender, while also having respect for the environment. The wines of Xavier Vignon are the result of a scientific background, great deal of experience, confidence in others, total involvement, exchange of knowledge, and shared pleasure.

I first enjoyed this organic 2020 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône six month ago when it showed up in VINTAGES in last spring. It is a blend of primarily Grenache from 80-year-old vines, plus Syrah from 45-year-old vines, and Mourvèdre from 60-year-old vines, all grown on Galets roulés (rolled pebbles), sands, clay, and limestone soils located mostly in the northern part of the Vaucluse and altitude parcels. The grapes were manually harvested, fermented at moderate temperatures, and aged in concrete tanks for a short period of time.

The 2020 vintage benefitted from a good amount of rain in late-autumn and the early winter of 2019, providing very good water stores that would help the vines stay hydrated later in the year. The mild and dry winter meant that flowering and bud break took place early, while the dry and hot summer resulted in a long ripening season with vines drawing water from their winter reserves. During the 2020 growing season, there were no sever heat spikes and night-time temperatures were much cooler, thus allowing the grapes to gently and gradually ripen. The Southern Rhône also benefitted from cool winds which refreshed the vines during the summer heat. Conditions were splendid during harvest as the pristine grapes were picked in warm, dry conditions. Wines from the 2020 Southern Rhône Valley are described as well-balanced with finesse and elegance. Let's see how this 2020 organic Côtes du Rhône tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $17.95
Aged in concrete, this is primarily Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. Lovely, elegant, and fragrant mix that is spicy and savoury, joined by ripe dark red cherry, raspberry, and red plum aromas, plus hints of white pepper spice and meaty notes. It's medium-full bodied with good concentration on the crunchy palate with spicy flavours of ripe dark red cherry, raspberry, and red plum that tapers to savoury, earthy, and meaty flavours. Saliva-inducing fresh and juicy acids. Supple, lightly grippy tannins. Nicely balanced throughout with lovely dark red cherry, raspberry, and mineral notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Score: 89 pts

You can find other lovely wines by Xavier Vignon at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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LAVAU Vacqueyras 2018 (Rhône) - Wine Review

For Rhône wine lovers (like me!), tonight's red wine review is this lovely Vacqueyras that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, one of my favourite Southen Rhône producers. Maison LAVAU was founded in the Rhône Valley in 1964 by the Lavau family that had been involved in winemaking from Bordeaux to Tunisia for several generations. The Lavau family decided to settle in the Rhône Valley after being seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soils. Today, Lavau is a renowned and respected name in Rhône Valley winemaking with brothers Benoit and Frédéric Lavau at the helm of the family business. Over the years, the Lavau brothers have enhanced their expertise by becoming creators of cuvées and producers. Not only do they own wine estates covering more than 180 hectares of vines across the Rhône Valley, but they also have long-running partnerships with more than 350 growers so that Maison LAVAU is able to select the best terroir and grapes in order to craft top quality wines.

This red wine is crafted with 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all grown in plots on the plain of Vacqueyras. The vines average 35 years old and are planted on alluvial and sandy, well-draining soils. Grenache is the emblematic variety of the Southern Rhône Valley, tolerating drought very well, while also providing juice that is very sweet, and often contributes power and volume to wine blends. Syrah is often trellised because it is not very resistant to the mistral winds, while adding a beautiful purple colour to the wines, along with intense fruit aromas and spices; Syrah also pairs very well with Grenache. Mourvèdre is the late-maturing variety that originated in Spain and produces intense and powerful wines with great finesse, and is particularly suited for ageing and ageing in wood. At the winery, the grapes for this wine were de-stemmed and placed in stainless steel, thermo-regulated vats for a 24-hour maceration, followed by fermentation. 60% of the cuvée is matured in vats, while the rest was aged in 450 L first and second-use barrels for a period of 12 months, before being blended together with the tank-aged portion.

The 2018 growing season in Rhône was a bit of a hit and miss. Winter and spring were wet and mild, but reasonably successful. In the Southern Rhône, there was unexpected rainfall in June that caused some difficulties with mildew and rot. The damp weather eventually dried up and gave way to a hot, dry summer. Despite a challenging growing season, the resulting wines were generally good with red wines more densely concentrated than typical with strong fruit flavours and structure. After enjoying the excellent 2017 LAVAU Vacqueyras in Spring of last year, let's see how this latest vintage is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#104927) (XD) - $26.95
Blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The fragrant, medium-high intensity offers lovely perfumed, ripe dark berry, purple fruit, dark cherry, and floral aromas with swarthy, scorched earth undertones. The medium-full bodied palate is ripe with smooth, refined, subtly structured and grippy tannins that support the ripe dark berry-cherry, purple fruit, earthy, and smoky flavours with subtle spicy notes. Acids are fresh and lively, Nicely balanced throughout with lovely dark berry, subtle smoky earth, and spice notes linger on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by Maison LAVAU can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2018 (France) - Wine Review

After the enjoying the lovely 2017 Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages in Spring of last year, for tonight's red wine review I'm delighted to see the next vintage come to the LCBO next weekend as part of the September 10th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Rémy Ferbras, a range of wines that pays tribute to the first cellar master of Maison Grandes Serres - a winery with deep roots in the Southern Rhône Valley at the heart of the presigious vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Rémy Ferbras is an iconic figure of the winery as he was a tireless advocate of the Rhône terroir and its grape varieties. He also contributed largely through his work and tenacity to the development and recognition of Grandes Serres. The Rémy Ferbras range is a result of strict selections, precise vinification and ageing, to produce rich, elegant, complex, and flavourful wines, just as Rémy Ferbras would have it.

This red wine from Rhône is a classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, or GSM for short. The grapes were grown within the Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation on soils mostly composed of limestone pebbles and brown clay. After harvesting the grapes at optimum maturity, each variety was vinified separately and after alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, the wine was blended and bottled.

The 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhône was a bit of a hit and miss with humidity, mildew, and uneven ripening issues due to unexpected rainfall. However, despite a challenging growing season, the resulting wines were generally good and more densely concentrated that normal with strong fruit flavours and structure. Let's see how this 2018 Rhône wine from Plan de Dieu is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RÉMY FERBRAS TERRE DE MISTRAL PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2018 - AP, Rhône, France (#538009) (XD) - $15.95
This classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre has a fresh, perfumed, medium-high intensity nose with a lovely bouquet of ripe dark red cherry, floral, and spices with touches of red plum and subtle earthiness. On the medium to medium-full bodied palate it offers delicious red cherry and raspberry flavours in a slightly cooked profile, plus spices and earthy-stony-smoky minerality notes. Acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the tannins are smooth, refined, and lightly structured with a subtle grip on the back palate. Tangy with lovely stony mineral notes lingering on the very long aftertaste. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Rémy Ferbras are available through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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Clos St. Antonin Côtes du Rhône 2016 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Côtes du Rhône that I purchased from the December 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release in 2019.

It is produced by siblings Christophe and Isabelle Sabon of the family that owns Domaine de la Janasse. Christophe and Isabelle decided to embark on a new adventure and purchased St. Antonin after the 2014 harvest. The property is located in the town of Jon-Quières and has 15 hectares of vines and has terraces of pebbles on clay (marls) soils preserved from erosion. The entire vineyard, which is oriented north-south, was re-worked and redesigned with respect for the terroir and environment.

This particular Côtes du Rhône red wine is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah grown just south of St. Antonin on plots characterized by clay and silt soils resting on marls, from vines averaging 40 years of age. The grapes were manually harvested and sorted in the vineyard. with 80% de-stemmed prior to maceration and fermentation. It was aged for 9 months in concrete vats and casks.

The 2016 vintage was excellent across the Rhône Valley. With a long, drawn-out growing season, Grenache became intensely concentrated, while Mourvèdre was able to reach full phenolic ripeness. Let's see how this 2016 Rhône red is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS ST. ANTONIN 2016 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#10513) (XD) - $19.95
A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah aged in concrete vats and casks, the fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose leads with savoury meaty notes, mingling with spices, garrigue, kirsch, dark berry, black cherry, and blackberry aromas. Impressively concentrated on the medium-full to full-bodied palate, it has savoury, earthy, and green herb flavours surrounding a dark berry, garrigue, and kirsch flavoured core. There's a touch of warmth on the mid-palate, but not out balance, along with fresh, juicy acidity, and smooth, refined, lightly chalky tannins. Finishes savoury with stony minerals on the long finish. Should continue to drink well over the next couple of years. Score: 91 pts

The agent for this wine was Brand New Day Wines & Spirits.

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