Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review (Bottle 2)

Tonight's wine review is this consistently well-made Australian Shiraz by the ever-reliable Wakefield Wines. I enjoyed the 2017 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz when it first came to VINTAGES in July 2019 and am pleased to see it return in time for the holidays as part of the December 12, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Produced by the Taylor family, one of Australia's First Families of Wine, at their home base in the southern end of Clare Valley, South Australia, this red wines comes from their Jaraman range of wines in which they seek parcels of extraordinary fruit to craft wines that showcase the distinctive regional characteristics and style.

This particular wine is 100% Shiraz from 60.5% Clare Valley fruit and 39.5% McLaren Vale fruit. Shiraz from Clare Valley tends to be big on flavour with hints of liquorice and excellent acidity, while also providing some structure. On the other hand, McLaren Vale Shiraz is typically full-bodied with blue fruit and hints of chocolate. Let's see how this bottle has evolved, more than one year after tasting it the first time.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2017 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Aromas of ripe black and blue fruit along with oak resin, wood, brown spices, and meaty notes with touches of licorice rise out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied on the slightly warm palate with flavours of blackberry, blueberry, savoury oak spice, and earthy tones with hints of white pepper. Food-friendly acids are juicy and well-balanced, while smooth, polished tannins have a fine-grained texture. Wood and savoury notes linger on the finish, with good length. More savoury than the bottle tasted last year and still a pleasure. Score: 88 pts

Many other Wakefield Wines can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Wakefield Merlot 2018 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice Merlot from the always dependable Wakefield Wines. This red wine is a regular visitor to VINTAGES for many years now and, in fact, looking through my database, I actually purchased a 2004 vintage of this wine in 2006 and opened it that same year. The latest vintage of this Merlot arrived at LCBO outlets across Ontario recently as part of the October 31st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The Taylor family established their wine business in 1969 and decided to create a proper 'old world' style Estate like the great producers of Bordeaux, but in the 'new world' location of the Clare Valley in South Australia. In the language of wine, an Estate means that the vineyards and winery are in the same location, thus allowing the producer to have ultimate control over the vineyards and winery. Today, the Taylor family continues to craft and bottle wines at the Estate. However, not all of the fruit comes from their own property these days mainly because their wines are so popular that they need to source fruit from elsewhere, but they sometimes also seek out fruit from other areas because the fruit is of higher quality. This commitment to crafting quality wines from quality fruit has helped the Taylor's develop an enviable reputation and garnered much success over the years.

The first wines they crafted were the Estate range Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, while the Merlot followed sometime thereafter. Like the trio of Wakefield Estate Wines I enjoyed back in August, this Merlot also has the innovative Optimum Drinking Temperature sensor on the back label. The fruit for this Merlot comes from the Taylor family estate and was de-stemmed and underwent a quick, yet gentle, warm fermentation using a yeast that enhances fruit expression. It was then pressed and went through malolactic fermentation. Finally, it was matured in mostly second use and older American & French oak barrels, then blended and bottled with minimal filtration.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD MERLOT 2018 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#683201) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The fragrant nose on this Merlot offers spicy ripe currant and green herbal aromas with savoury, earthy, and vanilla undertones. It's medium-bodied on the ripe, slightly candied and jammy palate with blackberry, minty cassis, vanilla, and sweet spice flavours with touches of plum. Acids are fresh while soft, supple tannins have some texture. Savoury wood spice and chocolate notes linger on the finish, with good length. Crafted in a casual, crowd-pleasing style. Score: 87 pts

Many other Wakefield Wines can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review (Bottle 2)

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Australian Cabernet Sauvignon that returned to LCBO VINTAGES on August 22nd.

Bill Taylor and his family have been crafting fine wines in Clare Valley for three generations, beginning in 1969. They carefull selected this site for its red-brown loam over limestone soils, also known as terra rossa, and the cool climate which they immediately recognized would grow excellent Cabernet Sauvignon. The three seahorse logo - one for each generations of the family - comes from the fossilized remains of seahorses they discovered on their land during excavations for the vineyard's dam. In the Southern Hemisphere, the family makes their wines under the Taylors label, but they sell their wines in the Northern Hemisphere, including here in Ontario, as Wakefield Wines.

The Jaraman collection of wines includes a Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and this Cabernet Sauvignon, With the Jaraman range, the Taylor family searches for parcels of extraordinary fruit to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style. The fruit for these wines are sourced from Australia's celebrated wine regions that are renowned for the particular variety. At the winery, the winemakers ensure that distinct regional characteristics are preserved and enhanced through any winemaking techniques, all the while having respect for the fruit.

I last enjoyed this same 2016 Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon when it came to LCBO VINTAGES in August of 2019 and recall that the tannins were a bit tight at the time. Let's see how this bottle is tasting now, a full 12 months after last year's tasting.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Coonawarra & Clare Valley, South Australia (#142398) (D) - $24.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon composed of 73% Coonawarra and 27% Clare Valley fruit. Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose offers menthol, currant, and cassis with hints of leafy, dried herb aromas. It's full-bodied with minty cassis, ripe blackberry, and currant flavours accented with oak spice and just a touch of jamminess. It's well-balanced with fresh acidity while tannins have softened since last year, having a touch of chalky grip. Savoury chocolatey oak with currant and herbal notes linger on the long finish. Score: 89 pts

There are quite a few Wakefield Wines available at the LCBO, but can also be ordered via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Wakefield Estate Wines (Australia) and Optimum Drinking Temperature

Tonight's wine reviews are a trio of wines from Australia's Wakefield Wines where we take brief look at wine serving temperatures.

But first, the story of Wakefield Wines begins in 1950, when the Taylor family's long-standing association with Clare Valley results in a partnership with a local co-operative to bottle and distribute their own wines. In 1969, Bill Taylor finds a perfect plot of land by the Wakefield River in South Australia's Clare Valley to establish their family estate and plants its first Cabernet Sauvignon vines. At the same time, Bill was excavating the land to find a water source and discovered tiny seahorses in the limestone bedrock that date back more than 600 million years. These seahorses are featured prominently in the company's logo.

In 1973, the Taylor family completed construction of the winery and also released their first wines - the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Estate Shiraz which are the heart of the business. As the company grew and expanded, they began exporting wines to the UK in 1985 under the name "Wakefield" due to international trademarks held by the Taylors family of Portugal. In 2004, Wakefield became the first major Australian wine company to bottle all of their wines under screw cap. The latest innovation came a few years ago, when they launched the Optimum Drinking Temperature sensor on the back label.

A world first, the back label of the Wakefield Estate and Promised Land range of wines feature their exclusive, touch-activated, Optimum Drinking Temperature sensor. The temperature of a wine plays an important role in the experience and enjoyment of wine. However, most people serve their wine without really thinking about the temperature of it and serve red wines at room temperature - which is too warm - and white wines too cold. The myth surrounding enjoying red wine at room temperature originated from the chilly drawing rooms of medieval French castles. In my younger days, I was also guilty of this behaviour as I would bring a nicely cooled red wine up from the basement and let it warm up to room temp before opening. I learned, and these days I chill all of my wines - how much time in the fridge depends on the varietal/style - and gradually let them warm up to see how the wine changes. I would strongly encourage you to try this at home as well.

Wakefield's solution to the temperature problem is to provide temperature sensors on the back label that indicate when the wine is ready to enjoy. Each wine has its own calibrated sensor that is touch-activated and changes colour depending on the temperature of the wine. By referencing the temperature guide (also printed on the back label) with the colour of the sensor, you can easily tell if the wine is too warm, too cold, or at the right serving temperature. Pictures of the back label are provided below, as well as wine reviews of three Wakefield Estate wines. Based on my personal experimentation, the temperature sensor is a useful guide that will help you determine when to drink the wine. However, since I tend to slowly sip my wines, I would serve them a little cooler than recommended and gradually let the wine warm up in the glass for best enjoyment.

All three of these wines are readily available in the VINTAGES section at the LCBO. Other wines from the Wakefield portfolio can be found at the LCBO or ordered via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

Tasting Notes:

WAKEFIELD CLARE VALLEY ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2018 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#711556) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Ripe, medium+ intensity nose has buttery, pear, golden apple, and some leesy aromas. It's medium-full bodied on the creamy palate with ripe banana and pineapple flavours balanced by apple, lemon, and sweet vanillin oak, and touches of butterscotch. Acids are fresh while the lemony, spicy finish has very good length. Arrived in LCBO VINTAGES August 8th. Score: 88 pts

WAKEFIELD ESTATE SHIRAZ 2018 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#943787) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose is fresh with herbal, leafy, mint and spice layered over black cherry, plum, and gentle oak aromas. The medium-full bodied palate offers well-integrated oak spice, black cherry, plum, and peppery spice flavours supported by smooth, fine-grained, and sweet tannins. It has fresh, juicy acidity. Pleasantly dry (but undeniably Shiraz) and well-balanced overall with a touch of chocolate on the long finish. VINTAGES Essentials product and always available year-round. The 2018 is a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

WAKEFIELD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. Fresh, medium-high intensity aromatics lead with herbal, green pepper, and black cherry liqueur followed by cassis, wood spice, and touches of olive. It is full-bodied on the palate with herbal, dark cherry, cassis, and woodsy replays on the flavour profile. Acids are well-balanced, while tannins are slightly chalky and grainy, softening somewhat since tasting in Sept. 2019. Earthy and wood spice notes linger on the finish, with good length. Available in LCBO VINTAGES now and also featured in the September 19, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Score: 88 pts

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Elderton E Series Chardonnay 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

On this cold, wintry night, I bring you some sunshine in a glass with a wine review of this Australian Chardonnay that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the October 12th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The story of Elderton Wines begins 1894, when a vineyard was planted by the Scholz family on the banks of North Para River in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. In 1916, the property was purchased by Tolley family. The homestead is located in the heart of the township of Nuriootpa and was surrounded by extremely old Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. At a time where demand for Australian table wine was negligible, the vineyard had become derelict.

In 1979, Neil and Lorraine Ashmead moved to the Barossa after spending some years in Saudi Arabia. After years of no interest in the homestead, the Ashmead family purchased the property in 1980, which included a 72-acre vineyard as a bonus as part of the sale. Three years later, after restoring the vineyard and with the help of one of Australia's most respected and innovative winemakers, Peter Lehmann, the Ashmead family produced their first wine under Elderton Wines label.

Since that time, Elderton has garnered many accolades. Today, the winery continues to be run by the Ashmead family, with the second generation, Cameron and Allister, taking over the reins in 2003. Neil passed away in 1997, but Lorraine still continues to be involved through her role on the Board. Together, they intend on taking the company to the next level by purchasing other great vineyards, while also implementing sustainable practices so that the next generation of the Ashmead family will have a lot to work with when they are at the helm.

The E Series wines from Elderton are their entry-level wines that are designed to be affordable, everyday drinking wines made with exceptional quality. The E series stands for excellence, excitement, evolution, epicure, elegance and euphoria. E is for earth. E is for Elderton. Embrace and enjoy!

Tasting Note:

ELDERTON E SERIES CHARDONNAY 2017 - Barossa, South Australia (#458760) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. The medium intensity nose is ripe with melon, peach, and golden apple aromas, plus touches of pear, floral, and butter characters. It is medium-full bodied and dry with clean, refreshing acids and fleshy fruit that delivers golden apple, melon, and citrus flavours. Oak is very subtle, adding mostly a textural element. Leesy, apple, and citrus notes linger on the finish, with good length. Will be a fine match with poultry. Score: 87 pts

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Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia that will be coming to the LCBO as part of the upcoming September 28 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Wakefield Wines, which is owned and operated by the Taylor family that believes great wines are made in the vineyard. This particular red wine comes from their Estate line of wines which are crafted with care, seek to capture the essence of the vineyard site, and the pure varietal expression of the grape.

The fruit for this wine was harvested from the Taylor family estate vineyard in Clare Valley and was fermented in the winery's original "Potter" fermenters which allow for excellent control of skin maceration, colour, and tannin extraction. After gently pressing the wine into French oak barrels for completion of malolactic fermentation, the wine was matured for 12 months in mostly used barrels prior to blending and bottling.

Like the 2017 Wakefield Clare Valley Estate Chardonnay that I enjoyed in July, this bottle also has a touch-activated temperature sensor on the back label that will tell you the ideal temperature to drink this wine.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (D) - $19.95
Screw cap. This has a medium intensity nose that is herbally, minty, and green, surrounding a core of cassis and blackberry notes. It is medium+ bodied on the palate with more minty green flavours mingling with blackberry, cassis, wood spice, and sweet tobacco flavours. It has food-friendly acidity and soft, supple tannins that offer a touch of grip. Earthy and oak spice notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Score: 88 pts

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Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Enjoy Shiraz? Tonight's wine review is an excellent organic Australian Shiraz that came to the LCBO last month as part of the August 3rd LCBO VINTAGES Release. Surprisingly, there is plenty of stock still available, so you can get your hands on this bottle too!

It is produced by Gemtree Wines, a winery in McLaren Vale whose story begins in the 1980's when Paul and Jill Buttery purchased a plot of land named Gemtree off the narrow, gum-lined track that is Elliot Road. In 1994, some years after the vineyards were already well-established, their daughter Melissa asked to work in the vineyards. Melissa would go on to become a qualified viticulturalist, a well-regarded expert in biodynamic and organic farming, and married a boy named Mike Brown who is now Gemtree's chief winemaker and managing director.

Melissa and Mike and were both mindful about the environment and earth, and soon pursued sustainable growing and farming of grapes. After experimenting with a few blocks of Tempranillo, which included trial and error, grit and determination, Melissa started to see more life in the vineyards and a better quality of fruit. From this point on wards, Melissa was determined to farm all of Gemtree’s blocks organically and Gemtree earned full organic certification in 2011.

In 2007, to improve Gemtree’s vineyards and wines, Melissa delved into biodynamics which introduced techniques that interweave the health of the soil, vines and resident fauna and flora. Inside the winery, Mike also began testing biodynamic winemaking practices.

Tasting Note:

GEMTREE UNCUT SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#627844) (XD) - $24.95
Named 'Uncut' because nothing is added from vineyard to bottle. Screw cap enclosure. This organic Shiraz has a fresh and highly aromatic array of dark berry, blackberry, black pepper, meaty, savoury, and cigar box aromas with just a wisp of blackberry jam. It's is medium-full bodied on the palate with fleshy dark fruits, black cherry, licorice, pepper spice, earth, and oak spice flavours. It has a very nice, supple mouthfeel with smooth, refined tannins, while acids are juicy and well-balanced. More black pepper, licorice, and oak spice on the mid-palate, while the long, juicy finish veers towards earthy and savoury notes. Enticing stony mineral notes arrive with time in the glass. Should drink nicely over the next decade. Highly recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

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Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

After having enjoyed the 2015 Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon a few months ago, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage that arrives in LCBO VINTAGES on August 17th.

This red wine is crafted by the Taylor's family that has been making fine wines for three generations. Wakefield Wines produces different ranges of wines, with the Jaraman range falling directly in the middle and created from parcels that offer extraordinary fruit that showcases the varietals distinctive regional characteristics and style.

The 2016 bottling has a bit more Clare Valley fruit than the previous vintage. Perhaps this is due to the fact that even though rainfall was below average, it came at the right time and had a very positive impact on the quality of fruit. The 2016 vintage in Clare Valley is being lauded as one of the great vintages in part due to the timely rainfall, as well as the fact that the vines were stress free heading into winter, and conditions were ideal during flowering.

In Coonawarra, the growing season was drier than usual, and combined with a warmer October, the whole growing season was a couple of weeks earlier than normal. However, berry development and ripening was in line with normal growing seasons, which allowed adequate time for the fruit to develop tannins and complexity. In February and March, temperatures were mild, and the cold nights and warm days delivered an extended ripening period and the longer hang time contributed to a rich, medium bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with good varietal definition.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Coonawarra/Clare Valley, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra (73%) and Clare Valley (27%) that was aged in used oak barrels. Screw cap. The medium+ intensity nose offers ripe blackcurrant and cassis aromas mingling with savoury oak spice and hints of herbs and mint. It is medium+ bodied and very spicy on the palate with blackcurrant, chocolate, mint, herbs, and cassis flavours. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the chalky and grippy tannins are tight at the moment. Herb, oak spice, dark berry, and chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Seems lighter than previous vintage, but tannins need a good 2-3 years to loosen up. Score: 89 pts

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Wakefield Clare Valley Estate Chardonnay 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's delicious white wine is a frequent visitor to VINTAGES and will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on July 20th.

Winemaking in Clare Valley spans over 150 years, making it one of Australia's oldest wine-producing regions. The unique combination of geography, geology and climate results in terroir that is ideal producing wine in Clare Valley.

The journey of Wakefield Wines began when they planted their first vineyards in the Clare Valley in 1969 with the goal of producing authentic, estate grown wines. The first vintage from these vineyards was an overwhelming success as it won a gold medal in every national wine show that it entered. Since that time, the Estate Range was grown to include other varietals, but every bottle is still crafted at their Clare Valley Estate with the same care and attention as the very first vintage.

The fruit for this Chardonnay was harvested at night from the Taylor family estate in Clare Valley. It was whole berry pressed and the majority was barrel fermented in new and used French oak barrels. A small parcel of juice was fermented using wild yeast, and a small parcel was fermented in stainless steel tanks. Finally, after 10 months of oak maturation, the final wine was blended and fined in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.

Lastly, I was pleasantly surprised (and impressed) to find a touch-activated temperature sensor (pictured below) on the back label that will tell you the ideal temperature to drink this Chardonnay - simply swipe the sensor to activate and see if the colour matches the perfect temperature range on the scale.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD CLARE VALLEY ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2017 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#711556) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Medium+ intensity nose that delivers buttery, green apple, pear, and white peach aromas with touches of citrus, vanilla and nutty notes. It is medium-full bodied and quite substantial on the palate with ripe apple and pear flavours accented by some pineapple, banana and butterscotch nuances. Acids are fresh and lively. Nicely balanced throughout, while finishing with notes of citrus, stone fruit, buttery flavours, plus some lingering minerality, with good length. Very good buy! Score: 88+ pts

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The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

This popular red wine has come through VINTAGES many times over the years - and looking through my database I discovered that I purchased the 2007 vintage of this bottle in 2008. Tonight, I opened the latest vintage which arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 8th - with plenty still available for purchase at the LCBO.

It is produced by Penny's Hill, a winery located in the rolling foothills east of McLaren Vale and named after a hill that sits at the base of the site in South Australia. The project began in 1988 by Tony and Susie Parkinson when they planted 32 ha of vines facing the waters of Gulf St.Vincent. In 1993, they acquired the newly-planted Malpas Road property, followed in 1996 by acquiring the adjacent, highly prized hay-producing paddock that was planted to vines and named Goss Corner. In 1998, the original Goss family homestead, "Ingleburne", was added to the Malpas and Goss properties to reconnect what had originally been one entire holding.

Today, Tony Parkinson still maintains ownership and management of the business, and joining him is his younger son, James, who is learning the vineyard ropes, and his elder son, David, who is a filmmaker and contributes much to the aesthetics of the enterprise.

The Penny’s Hill Cellar Door chook house is home to The Black Chook brand’s namesake, and the original "Black Chook" can be seen scratching and pecking for grubs under the big old gum tree. The fruit for the Black Chook range of wines are sourced from some of South Australia’s eminent wine regions and are made to be affordable, enjoyed, shared and celebrated. The Black Chook Shiraz/Viognier is sourced from McLaren Vale and Padthaway as both regions have very consistent climates, which helps produce some of the best Shiraz in Australia and work together harmoniously in the final blend.

Tasting Note:

THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER 2017 - McLaren Vale/Padthaway, South Australia (#66738) (XD) - $18.95
A blend of Shiraz (96%) and Viognier (4%) that was co-fermented, while vineyard parcels were vinified and matured with suitable oak separately to best express the nuances of each block. The final wine was blended together after 12 months of oak ageing. Screw cap. Fresh, plummy, black cherry aromas mingle with peppery spice and oak notes, and just a hint of floral. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with dark currant and dark berry flavours, along with hints of pepper and oak spice in a dry flavour profile. It has soft, refined tannins and juicy acids. Wood and pepper spice notes linger on the finish. Score: 87 pts

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2016 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz earlier this year, I am delighted to try the 2017 vintage of this wine tonight that will be arriving in LCBO VINTAGES on July 6.

It is produced by Wakefield Wines and within their Jaraman range of wines they search for parcels of extraordinary fruit to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style.

The growing season leading up to the 2017 vintage in Clare Valley was rather wet and, in fact, the wettest recorded since 2000. Soil temperatures remained very low due to the waterlogged conditions, and below average ambient temperatures resulted in later budburst. However, weather conditions during flowering were favourable and, hence, fruit set was good across all varieties. Harvest began in late February and continued through early May. Overall, the winemakers at Wakefield declared the vintage to be an above average vintage in terms of quantity and quality.

In McLaren Vale, winter and spring saw above average rainfall, leading to full soil profiles. Like in Clare Valley, cooler than average temperatures led to delayed flowering and veraison, which also meant that harvest was also slightly delayed with very few vineyards picked in February. The weather during March & April was stable, with warm and dry conditions and little rainfall. Overall, the winemakers reported the reds to be lively, bright, spicy, vibrant, and elegant.

Compared with the 2016 vintage, the 2017 has a bit less fruit from Clare Valley, with the blend consisting of 60.5% Clare Valley and 39.5% McLaren Vale. The grapes were gently de-stemmed and fermented in small static stainless steel tanks using Shiraz-specific yeast isolate. Gentle pressing occurred in a mixture of American oak hogshead and barriques (30% 1 year old, 70% 2 to 3 year old) for secondary malolactic fermentation, and upon completion was transferred back to barrel for maturation before being fined, filtered, and bottled in August 2018.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2017 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Medium+ intensity nose delivers blackberry pie, plum, dark cherry and spice with hints of violet and mint. The fresh medium+ bodied palate offers more spice notes surrounding a core of blackberry, plum, and dark cherry flavours. Acids are fresh, while tannins are smooth, refined and textured. Finishes on the woody side with a touch of bitter dark chocolate. Very good finish length. Score: 88 pts

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Peter Lehmann The Barossan Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

A few weeks ago, I enjoyed the 2016 Peter Lehmann The Barossan Shiraz. Tonight, I opened the 2017 vintage of this delicious Australian Shiraz that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on May 25th - and there are plenty of bottles still available across Ontario.

This red wine is crafted by the next generation of Peter Lehmann winemakers, showcasing the superb fruit that is sourced from the many fabled sub-regions across the Barossa Valley. The fruit comes from a selection of Barossa's key growers that are renowned for their quality, skill, and passion.

For the 2017 vintage, the winemakers at Peter Lehmann identified various expressions of Shiraz across the Barossa and blended the high-quality parcels together to seamlessly deliver a complex, layered wine. The 2017 vintage began after a long, wet winter, resulting in damp soils and cooler temperatures which lead to vine development that was slower than normal. The summer had average temperatures with two short heat bursts and well-timed rains. An Indian Summer began in March, allowing for consistent ripening, colour development, and good natural acidity.

Tasting Note:

PETER LEHMANN THE BAROSSAN SHIRAZ 2017 - Barossa, South Australia (#522235) (XD) - $21.95
Partially barrel fermented. Matured in a combination of 1-5 year old French and American 300 L oak hogsheads barrels for 12 months. Screw cap enclosure. I like the fairly intense and complex nose that offers cassis, mint, black cherry, licorice, and vanillin oak spices. The medium-full bodied palate has chewy, well-integrated tannins that are quite smooth. More black plum on the flavour profile, followed by cassis, black cherry, oak spice, and licorice notes. Acids are juicy and balanced. Spice and mocha chocolate notes on the mid-palate, lingering through to the long finish. Enjoy over the next 5-6 years. Score: 89 pts

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Paxton MV Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Australian Shiraz that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the May 25 LCBO VINTAGES Release - and plenty of bottles are available across Ontario.

It is produced by the Paxton family that has been winegrowing since 1979. Founder and owner, David Paxton, is also one of Australia’s most highly respected viticulturalists as he and his family have been nurturing their own vineyards in McLaren Vale for over 30 years. In 2000, the family released their first wine under their own label - a 1998 Paxton Shiraz.

Today, wines are made under the direction and guidance of Richard Freebairn Paxton to produce a range of estate grown wines under the family label. The range features an approachable collection of wines that showcases the quality of fruit and varietal expression from McLaren Vale. David Paxton and his team strive to minimize inputs and manage the Paxton vineyards biodynamically - whereby vineyards are farmed without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and with a focus on promoting healthy, living soils through the use of natural compost preparation. Inside the winery, the family practices minimal interventionist winemaking to ensure the integrity of the fruit from vineyard to bottle. In 2011, Paxton Wines became a fully certified organic and biodynamic wine producer.

Tasting Note:

PAXTON MV SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#327403) (XD) - $19.95
This biodynamic wine was matured in French and American oak. Screw cap. Quite intense on the nose with lovely savoury, blackberry, earthy, and meaty aromas with hints of black pepper, licorice and oak. It is full-ish bodied on the palate with finely-grained and structured tannins. Nicely textured with juicy acids freshening the palate. On the flavour profile, there are blackberry, licorice, cedar oak spice, and vanillin notes with some peppery hints, all of which lingers nicely on the long, balanced finish. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

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Peter Lehmann The Barossan Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a nice Australian Shiraz. The 2017 vintage of wine will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on May 25.

Peter Lehmann was born in Barossa in 1930 and was the fifth generation of one of Barossa's pioneering families. In 1947, Peter apprenticed as a winemaker at Yalumba and in 1959 he became the Winemaker/Manager at the Barossa winery Saltram. In the late 1970's, during a difficult time in the winegrowing region when there was a grape surplus and contracts were being cancelled, Peter took a massive gamble by working with growers to process their grapes at Saltram (with the permission of Saltram's owners) as a side-project he called "Masterson" - a famous gambler from Guys and Dolls. After Saltram was sold, Peter parted ways with the new owners and he started Masterson Wines in 1979, which evolved into Peter Lehmann Wines.

Today, Peter Lehmann Wines is renowned as one of Australia’s most internationally awarded wineries and its wines are a celebration of the Barossa community and the benefits that passion, craft and collaboration can bring. Peter Lehmann Wines has strong relationships with more than 140 grape growers across the region and has access to some of Barossa’s finest fruit.

The fruit for The Barossan Shiraz come from high quality parcels that are selected from a diverse range of Shiraz vineyards throughout the Barossa Valley, many of which include vines over 100 years old.

Tasting Note:

PETER LEHMANN THE BAROSSAN SHIRAZ 2016 - Barossa, South Australia (#522235) (XD) - $21.95
Screw cap. Medium+ intensity nose offers ripe black cherry and blackberry aromas combined with enticing black pepper notes. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with mocha, licorice, oak spice and touches of mint joining the black cherry and black pepper notes on the flavour profile. It has fresh acids and smooth, supple tannins. Earthy and mocha notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Enjoyed with lamb burgers off the BBQ. Score: 88 pts

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Wakefield Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's yummy red wine from Australia is returning to LCBO VINTAGES on March 16. It is the latest in a series of wines I've reviewed from Wakefield Wines over the past year.

Wakefield Wines have been crafted by the Taylor's family for three generations. Australia's iconic wine regions provide great diversity. The Jaraman range of wines are created from parcels of fruit that showcases the regions distinctive characteristics and style.

In 2015, Coonawarra experienced an excellent start to the growing season with average winter rainfall ensuring good soil moisture. However, Spring was not typical as it was very dry and one of the region's warmest, with conditions remaining this way through December. In January, there were some refreshing rains, while the Summer growing season was a classic with warm days and cool nights, leading to a long and cool ripening that is ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon.

In the Clare Valley, there was slightly higher than average rainfall leading up to the 2015 vintage. However, there was very little rainfall afterwards, making it the driest August ever recorded. In addition to an extremely dry Spring, it was also warm and windy, leading to higher water loss. This resulted in smaller bunch numbers. Rains in January provided a welcomed relief for the vines, and helped increase yields and quality.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 - Coonawarra/Clare Valley, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra (76%) and Clare Valley (24%). Screw cap. The medium+ intensity nose is very minty with thyme and herbal aromas layered on top of ripe blackberry, red fruit, and oak spice notes. It is full-bodied and quite dense on the palate with firm tannins. Blackberry, mint, and oak spice flavours with high acids freshening the palate. Dry and chalky on the long finish with more blackberry, mint, and oak spice flavours. A big, enjoyable Aussie Cab that should be better in 2-3 years. Score: 89 pts

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review (Bottle 2)

Tonight's red wine is a frequent arrival in VINTAGES and was recently featured in the December 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release. It is currently available for purchase in the VINTAGES section at many LCBO outlets across Ontario.

Wakefield Wines is a family-owned and -operated winery located in the southern end of Clare Valley, South Australia. Wakefield is also a member of Australia's First Families of Wine, a group of twelve of Australia's oldest and most respected family-owned, multi-generational wineries who collectively have over 1,380 years of winemaking experience.

I reviewed this delicious Shiraz back in August and am curious to see if this bottling, which is enclosed with a screw cap, has changed much over the last 5 months.

Wine Review/Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2016 - Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Dark berry, mint, pepper and spice aromas waft from the glass with some jamminess. It is a touch confected on the full-bodied palate with smooth, silky tannins and fresh, lively acids supporting the minty, blueberry, dark berry, cocoa, and spice flavours. Some chalkiness arrives mid-palate. Smooth berry, mocha, and earthy notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Aussie Shiraz lovers will like this. Score: 88 pts

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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 are provided below.

Tasting Notes:

GÉRARD BERTRAND CÔTE DES ROSES ROSÉ 2017 - AP Languedoc, Midi, France (#373985) (XD) - $18.95
Glass enclosure. The medium+ intensity nose has appealing aromas of grapefruit, citrus, spring meadow and herbally notes. On the medium+ bodied palate, it has clean and crisp acids with nice texture. Herbally and grapefruit flavours on the dry flavour profile. Touch honeyed, with some bitterness on the long finish. Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. Enjoy over the next 18 months. Part of the VINTAGES Essentials collection and released as part of the May 12 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Score: 89 pts

REDSTONE LIMESTONE VINEYARD SOUTH RIESLING 2016 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#381251) (M) - $19.95
Screw cap. Lovely limestone mineral and petrol aromas mingle with white peach and citrus. It's medium-sweet with nicely balanced acids and flavours with white peach, orange zest, citrus, and green apple flavours with hints of mineral. Tart fruited, lip-smacking finish, with very good length. July 21 LCBO VINTAGES Release. Score: 89 pts

DANDELION LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#357475) (XD) - $21.95
Full wine review here.

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an Australian Shiraz that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 23rd.

Like the 2016 Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon that I enjoyed in June, this red wine is produced by the family-owned and -operated Wakefield Wines. This particular red wine is part of their Jaraman Collection - a selection of premium wines that represent the celebration the regional diversity, bringing together two of Australia's finest wine regions in a single varietal wine.

This is a blend of 63% Clare Valley fruit and 37% McLaren Vale fruit. Clare Valley experienced low, but timely, rainfall, while flowering conditions were ideal. Combined with the vines being stress-free heading into winter, this led to the vintage being called one of the greats. In McLaren Vale, there was low rainfall leading up to the growing season, as well as lower than average rainfall during vintage and long dry spells in between. However, intense rainfall over two days in early February helped increase yields. Overall, it was fairly dry year in McLaren Vale, which is ideal for Shiraz.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale/Clare Valley, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. The richly spiced nose has aromas of blackberry, dark cherry, mocha chocolate, and vanilla oak with hints of black plum. It is full-bodied on the richly concentrated and ripe palate with blueberry and blackberry fruit flavours. There is some jamminess on the flavour profile, but it's backed by earthy, mocha, and savoury notes with hints of pepper spice, putting the jamminess firmly in the background (which I like). Acids are fresh, while tannins are smooth, supple and well-integrated. Very good finish length. Score: 88 pts

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Dandelion Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an Australian Shiraz that recently arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 23rd.

Dandelion Vineyards is a unique fusion of vineyards and vignerons. The wines represent decades of experience, blending the fruit of old vine gardens with the finest traditions of artisan winemaking, while also allowing the unique character of these vineyards to express their terroir.

The grapes for the Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz are sourced from Angus and Helen Tuck's vineyard located in the subregion of Bakers Gully, in the foothills of McLaren Vale. These are mature vines are grown on ironstone pebble laden clay loam, over ancient Kurrajong Formation geology, a silica cemented conglomerate most suited to grow Shiraz.

Tasting Note:

DANDELION LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#357475) (XD) - $21.95
Hand-picked and pressed in whole bunches, and raised in 20% new and 80% older French Oak barriques for 18 months. Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose offers aromas of black plum, blackberry, jammy, black peppercorn, and oak spices with some jamminess. On the medium-full bodied palate, this has vibrant acids and nice black peppercorn and blue fruit aroma replays in a dry flavour profile, with jamminess firmly in the background. Rounded tannins are ripe, dusty, and smooth. Black peppercorn and chocolate notes linger on the long finish. Score: 88+ pts

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Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a perennial visitor to the LCBO and was recently released into VINTAGES on May 12th. It is widely available across Ontario.

Wakefield Wines is a family-owned winery based near the Wakefield River in Clare Valley, South Australia. The Taylor family planted their first vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon) in 1969 with a vision to create authentic, estate grown wines. When Bill Taylor Sr. excavated a dam to secure a water source, he discovered tiny seahorses in the limestone bedrock - a reminder that these soils were under water more than 600 million years ago. The seahorse quickly became the symbol of the family's wine brand, with three seahorses now representing the three generations of Taylor family winemakers.

The family is also committed to operating in a responsible and sustainable manner to help protect the environment. In 2009, Wakefield received their ISO14001 certification for their Environmental Management System (EMS) which demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship. The EMS assists with identifying and controlling environmental impacts throughout the wine-growing process such as environmental risks, impact on land and biodiversity, and water conservation.

Wakefield has won numerous medals for its wines, including this Cabernet Sauvignon. They also had a run of four years (from 2013 to 2016) being named one of the top 5 wineries in the world. In 2004, they were the first major Australian wine company to bottle 100% of their wines under screw cap - a trend which continues all over the world today.

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. This has evergreen aromas wrapped around cassis, red and black fruits, dark currants and sweet oak, with medium+ intensity. On the medium-full bodied palate, this has medium-firm, gritty tannins with nice aroma replays, and just a touch of sweetness hidden by the bright acids. The finish length is very good. Age 2+ years for better tannin integration. Score: 87 pts

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