Showing posts with label sake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sake. Show all posts

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  • Date publishedTuesday, May 22, 2018

Wine Picks LCBO VINTAGES Release May 26, 2018: Makers + Fizz + Sake



LCBO Wine Picks: May 26, 2018 VINTAGES Release
The next LCBO VINTAGES Release on comes to us with the major theme titled "Makers" and focuses on women in wine, while the two mini-themes focus on sparkling wines and sake. New wines will be on shelves across Ontario by .

We'll begin with the main theme that features 16 women in wine that have made indelible marks in the wine world. There are 21 wines featured, and 8 are included among my top wine picks. From the Lungarotti family, Theresa was one of Italy's first female winemakers, while Chiara is the CEO of Lungarotti - their wines from Umbria are the entry-level Rubesco that is primarily Sangiovese, with Colorino completing the blend, while the single vineyard Monticchio Rubesco is 100% Sangiovese. Virginia Willcock was instrumental in the evolution of Margaret River's reputation as a fine wine region, and has been the chief winemaker at Vasse Felix since 2006, creating her lovely Chardonnay year after year.

Geneviève Janssens is the director of winemaking at Robert Mondavi, and their Fumé Blanc (barrel-fermented and barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc) is a quality wine. Winemaker Andrea Mullineux saw the potential for making fine wine in Swartland and helped revolutionize and revitalize the region, and both of her wines are included among my top wine picks; the Kloof Street is a blend of 94% Syrah, 4% Cinsault, and 2% Carignan, while the Mullineux Old Vines White is a blend of 62% Chenin Blanc, 15% Grenache Blanc, 11% Viognier, 8% Clairette Blanche, and 4% Semillon Gris.

On the local front, Dr. Belinda Kemp is senior oenologist at the CCOVI at Brock University and is at the forefront of research on aroma and flavour in sparkling and appassimento wines, as well as leading studies on clones, soil type and canopy management; associated to this woman in wine is the Cave Spring Blanc de Blancs that is made with 60% Chardonnay and 40% Chardonnay Musqué. I've had the pleasure of meeting Louise Engel, co-owner at Featherstone in Niagara, and along with her commitment to eco-farming, she was the first in Canada to employ falconry to patrol the vineyards and keep the starlings at bay; Featherstone's Cabernet Franc is featured in this Release.

The mini-theme on sparkling wines is more fizzle than fizz, with none of the ten wines included my top wine recommendations. If you're in the market for some sake, this might be a good time to pick up a bottle as there are four listed, three of which are new to VINTAGES.

From the rest of the release, among my top red wine picks, there are a pair Rhône reds from the excellent 2015 vintage - the Luberon is a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, while from neighbouring Ventoux is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah. From the excellent 2010 Bordeaux vintage, the Ch. Brown is a Flagship Exclusive (FE) that is a nicely mature blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. And lastly, from Tuscany the Chianti Classico is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Villa Antinori Riserva Chianti Classico 2013 (90 pts)

Among my top white wine picks, the Rhône white is a blend of 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8 % Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc. Sweet wine lovers should seek out the Niagara Riesling or the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel.

From my rosé wine picks, the Berne is a blend of Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache Noir, while the Saint Roch is a 50/50 blend of Grenache Gris and Mourvèdre. Lastly, the Doctors' Rosé is a unique blend of Pinot Noir and Arneis.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • MARRENON VERSANT NORD LUBERON 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#537969) (XD) - $15.95
  • SISTER’S RUN BETHLEHEM BLOCK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Gomersal, Barossa, South Australia (#360636) (XD) - $18.95
  • LUNGAROTTI RUBESCO SANGIOVESE/COLORINO 2014 - DOC Rosso di Torgiano, Umbria, Italy (#368548) (XD) - $18.95
  • FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC 2016 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#64618) (D) - $19.95
  • KLOOF STREET 2016 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#460964) (XD) - $19.95
  • CHÂTEAU JUVÉNAL LA TERRE DU PETIT HOMME 2015 - AC Ventoux, Rhône, France (#490672) (XD) - $27.95  FE
  • VILLA ANTINORI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#540971) (XD) - $29.95  90 pts  wine review
  • SOKOL BLOSSER PINOT NOIR 2014 - Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#748434) (XD) - $35.95  91 pts  wine review
  • LUNGAROTTI MONTICCHIO RUBESCO TORGIANO ROSSO RISERVA 2010 - DOCG, Umbria, Italy (#51771) (XD) - $46.95
  • PHELPS CREEK PINOT NOIR 2014 - Columbia Gorge, Oregon, USA (#557538) (XD) - $48.95  FE
  • CHÂTEAU BROWN 2010 - AC Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France (#496646) (XD) - $66.95  FE
Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir 2014 (91 pts)

White Wine:

  • NURAGICO JUSTU VERMENTINO DI SARDEGNA 2016 - DOC, Sardinia, Italy (#541516) (XD) - $14.95
  • LOMA LARGA LOMAS DEL VALLE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - Casablanca Valley, Chile (#283630) (XD) - $15.95
  • FLAT ROCK UNPLUGGED CHARDONNAY 2016 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#68015) (XD) - $17.95
  • DIM EDGEWATER RIESLING 2015 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#547364) (M) - $19.95
  • E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#290296) (XD) - $19.95
  • ROBERT MONDAVI FUMÉ BLANC 2015 - 50th Anniversary, Napa Valley, California, USA (#221887) (XD) - $22.95
  • STUDERT-PRÜM MAXIOMINHOF WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING KABINETT 2016 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#970129) (S) - $25.95
  • RODNEY STRONG CHALK HILL CHARDONNAY 2015 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#275552) (XD) - $26.95  90 pts  wine review
  • VASSE FELIX FILIUS CHARDONNAY 2017 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#416511) (XD) - $26.95
  • MULLINEUX OLD VINES WHITE 2016 - Unfiltered & unfined, WO Swartland, South Africa (#556597) (XD) - $36.95
Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2015 (90 pts)

Rosé Wine:

  • CHÂTEAU DE BERNE TERRES DE BERNE ROSÉ 2017 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#278861) (XD) - $17.95
  • CHÂTEAU SAINT ROCH LE ROSÉ 2017 - AP Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#557900) (XD) - $17.95
  • THE DOCTORS’ ROSÉ 2017 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#498428) (D) - $19.95

Sparkling Wine:

  • CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#213983) (XD) - $29.95


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  • Date publishedTuesday, May 9, 2017

VINTAGES Release May 13, 2017: Buyers' Best + New Zealand + Sake

LCBO Wine Picks from May 13, 2017 VINTAGES Release
The next LCBO VINTAGES Release on will be on shelves this coming and features an interesting theme as its main release - an introduction to some of the buyers at the LCBO and their best finds, which is also a collection of wines that are new to VINTAGES. The mini-themes are wines from New Zealand and Sake - the same as the first release of .

We'll begin with Buyers' Best finds feature that lists 19 wines from 5 different buyers. However, only 1 wine made my list of wine picks - a dry rosé from Spain that is made with Garnacha from nearly 60-year-old vines planted at high-altitude (790 metres).

From the New Zealand mini-theme, there are 7 wines listed and 2 are included among my top wine picks. If you enjoy Sauv Blanc, then the excellent Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc should be on your shopping list. Also from New Zealand is a red wine blend that consists of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 10% Malbec.

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (92 pts)

In red wines from the rest of the release, the wine from Rhône is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, while the Corbières is a blend of 55% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 20% Carignan/Mourvèdre. From Spain, the Valdemar is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, while the Cune adds more Graciano, with the final blend consisting of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo. The 2 California Cabs are also blends - the Clos du Bois includes 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, while the Ridge includes 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. From South Africa, the Glenelly Red is a blend of 36% Shiraz, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. And last but not least, the Solaia is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Cune Gran Reserva 2010 (91 pts)Château de Fontenelles Renaissance Corbières 2013 (89 pts)

In white wines, the Portuguese wine consists of two local barrel-aged varietals Arinto and Rabigato, rarely found in these parts, while the Sancerre is a Sauvignon Blanc, and the Meursault is a lightly oaked Chardonnay. For sweet wine lovers, try either Riesling or Gewürztraminer, including the very sweet Late Harvest Gewürztraminer from Konzelmann.

Cave Spring CSV Riesling 2015 (91 pts)Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Sparkling 2010 (90+ pts)

Among my sparkling wine picks, the Franciacorta is made with 100% Chardonnay, while both the Riddled and the Rosé Champagne consist of a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • DOMAINE LES GRANDS BOIS CUVÉE PHILIPPINE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2015 - AP, Rhône, France (#286344) (D) - $18.95
  • PASK GIMBLETT GRAVELS CABERNET/MERLOT/MALBEC 2013 - Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#279869) (XD) - $19.95
  • CHÂTEAU DE FONTENELLES RENAISSANCE CORBIÈRES 2013 - AP, Midi, France (#148692) (D) - $19.95  reviewed here
  • CONDE VALDEMAR RESERVA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#947309) (XD) - $19.95
  • GRAND VIN DE GLENELLY RED 2010 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#360339) (D) - $19.95
  • CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2014 - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#054080) (XD) - $24.95
  • CUNE GRAN RESERVA 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#393553) (D) - $38.95  reviewed here
  • CORTE PAVONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#237263) (D) - $55.95
  • MICHELE CHIARLO CEREQUIO BAROLO 2011 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#393355) (XD) - $73.95  FSE
  • RIDGE VINEYARDS ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 - Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA (#089284) (D) - $86.95  FSE
  • ANTINORI SOLAIA 2013 - IGT Toscana, Tuscany, Italy (#987586) (XD) - $254.95

White Wine:

  • KONZELMANN LATE HARVEST GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#392357) (S) - $14.75
  • FLAT ROCK RIESLING 2015 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#043281) (M) - $17.95
  • PIERRE SPARR RÉSERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2016 - AC Alsace, France (#747600) (D) - $18.95
  • QUINTA DA REDE GRANDE RESERVA BRANCO 2014 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#477943) (XD) - $21.95
  • GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $24.95  reviewed here
  • ANDRÉ DEZAT SANCERRE 2015 - AC, Loire, France (#493320) (XD) - $26.95
  • CAVE SPRING CSV RIESLING 2015 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#566026) (XD) - $29.95  reviewed here
  • MARCHAND TAWSE MEURSAULT 2014 - AC, Burgundy, France (#285866) (D) - $65.95  FSE

Rosé Wine:

  • IZADI LARROSA PREMIUM ROSÉ 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#490961) (XD) - $14.95
  • CHÂTEAU D’AQUÉRIA TAVEL 2016 - AP, Rhône, Spain (#319368) (XD) - $21.95

Sparkling Wine:

  • LO SPARVIERE FRANCIACORTA BRUT CUVÉE NO. 7 - Traditional method, DOCG Franciacorta, Lombardy, Italy (#484584) (D) - $29.95  FSE
  • FLAT ROCK CELLARS RIDDLED SPARKLING 2010 - Traditional method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#383315) (D) - $29.95  reviewed here
  • DUVAL-LEROY PRESTIGE PREMIER CRU BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#483107) (XD) - $70.95

Dessert Wine:

  • CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES VIDAL ICEWINE 2015 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#565861) (S) (200 mL) - $26.95


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  • Date publishedMonday, May 9, 2016

May 14 VINTAGES Wine Release: Customer Favourites + New Zealand + Sake

LCBO Wine Picks from May 14, 2016 VINTAGES Release
New wines from the LCBO VINTAGES Release will be on shelves this coming and features Customer Favourites as it's main theme. The mini-themes of this release features wine from New Zealand and an assortment of Sake.

Twenty-three wines are listed as part of the "Customer Favourites" theme and 6 made my list of wine picks. First up is a lovely rosé wine from Mas des Bressades that usually consists of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. The Crémant de Bourgogne dry sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay, Aligoté. Another favourite is the Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. In red wines, customer favourites include a Carménère from Chile and a premium Malbec from Argentina. Also delightful year-after-year is the Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape that in the 2013 vintage consists of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and 5% Cinsault.

Of the 8 wines featured in the New Zealand theme, three are included among my wine picks and all are very fine Sauvignon Blancs. The grape does very well there and the ones I have chosen are of the single vineyard variety from the producers te Pā, Auntsfield, and Villa Maria.

te Pā Sauvignon Blanc 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (89 pts)

In red wines from the rest of the release, the Rosso do Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese Grosso, while the Sicilian wine is made with the indigenous Nerello Mascalese. The 2010 Château de Panigon (50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) appeared in VINTAGES in 2014 and has developed and matured quite well over the last couple of years. The Domaine Courbis is a northern Rhône wine made using Syrah. Lastly, the Amarone is a blend of 70% Corvina Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Oseleta & Croatina.

Rendola Rosso di Montalcino 2009 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (89 pts)Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (91 pts)

Among my white wine picks, the lovely Mas des Bressades Blanc is a blend of traditional Rhône varietals Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier. while the Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy is made with Chardonnay.

Last but not least is the highly regarded Fielding Rosé wine that is a blend primarily consisting of Gamay and Cabernet Franc.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release. Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • RENDOLA ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2009 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#438564) (XD) - $15.95  reviewed here
  • ANTICHI VINAI IL MASCALESE NERELLO 2013 - IGT Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy (#442376) (XD) - $16.95
  • BOUTARI GRANDE RESERVE XINOMAVRO 2010 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#140111) (D) - $18.95  reviewed here
  • TERRANOBLE GRAN RESERVA CARMÉNÈRE 2012 - Maule Valley, Chile (#957050) (XD) - $19.95
  • CHÂTEAU DE PANIGON 2010 - Cru Bourgeois, AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#348250) (D) - $19.95
  • FABRE MONTMAYOU GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2012 - Mendoza, Argentina (#279802) (D) - $24.95
  • DOMAINE COURBIS SAINT-JOSEPH 2013 - AC, Rhône, France (#007914) (XD) - $36.95
  • LATIUM MORINI CAMPO LEÒN AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2010 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#334300) (D) - $47.95
  • VAL DI SUGA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2010 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#713719) (XD) - $48.95  reviewed here
  • CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2013 - AC, Rhône, France (#711317) (XD) - $89.95
Boutari Grande Reserve Xinomavro 2010 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (90 pts)

White Wine:

  • CONCHA Y TORO SERIE RIBERAS GRAN RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2013 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#287995) (XD) - $16.95
  • MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION BLANC 2015 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#701094) (XD) - $17.95
  • THÖRLE-WEIN ESTATE DRY RIESLING 2014 - Rheinhessen, Germany (#445817) (D) - $19.95  reviewed here
  • TE PĀ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#450668) (XD) - $19.95  reviewed here
  • NORMAN HARDIE RIESLING 2015 - VQA Ontario, Canada (#131169) (D) - $21.00  reviewed here
  • AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $22.95
  • DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $24.95
  • VILLA MARIA SOUTHERN CLAYS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#447474) (XD) - $29.95
  • ERNEST MEURGEY-PERRON POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2012 - AC, Burgundy, France (#448852) (XD) - $31.95
Norman Hardie Riesling 2015 - VQA Ontario, Canada (89 pts)Thörle-Wein Estate Dry Riesling 2014 - Rheinhessen, Germany (89 pts)

Rosé Wine:

  • MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION ROSÉ 2015 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#950576) (XD) - $15.95
  • FIELDING ROSÉ 2015 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#053421) (XD) - $15.95

Sparkling Wine:

  • BAILLY LAPIERRE RÉSERVE BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Méthode Traditionnelle, AC, Burgundy, France (#991562) (XD) - $19.95


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