LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

February 22, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Wintry Reds

LCBO Wine Picks: February 22, 2020 VINTAGES Release

The February 22, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is basically another mono-thematic Release, focusing on red wines for winter drinking, while the feature on local talent looks award-winning wines from Ontario. All of these wines, plus those from the main Release will be on VINTAGES shelves at LCBO outlets across Ontario by this Saturday.

Of the thirteen wines featured as part of the Wintry Red Wines theme, four wines are included among my top wine picks. First up is a lovely Syrah (that includes trace amounts of Mourvèdre and Viognier) from South Africa. From Australia, there is a very nice old vines GSM blend that consists of 65% Grenache, 26% Shiraz, and 12% Mourvèdre, as well as a straight-up Shiraz from McLaren Vale. Lastly, there is a nice blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Tannat from Uruguay.

Torbreck Old Vines Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvèdre 2017 (90 pts)

Sister's Run Epiphany Shiraz 2017 (88 pts)

Garzón Estate Cabernet Franc/Tannat 2017 (89 pts)

The feature on local talent focuses on four award-winning wines from Ontario, three of which are included among my top wine picks. All three are gold medal winners at either one of the local competitions - the National Wine Awards of Canada or the Ontario Wine Awards. First up is a lovely Icewine made with Gewürztraminer - a grape not commonly used for making Icewine, but can make some brilliant Icewines with distinctive characters. There is also a lovely, perennially award-winning Niagara Chardonnay, as well as a brilliant Traditional Method Sparkling Rosé that is made with 100% Pinot Noir.

Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay 2017 (91 pts)

Megalomaniac Bubblehead Sparkling Rosé (91 pts)

Lakeview Cellars Gewürztraminer Icewine 2017 (90 pts)

From my top red wine recommendations from this Release, blends include the latest vintage of the consistently delicious Château Saint-Roch Chimères, which consists of 65% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 5% Carignan, while the Bordeaux red is a blend of 54% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot. Highlights from the single varietal red wines includes the Vista Flores Malbec which is also the Wine of the Month, as well as a lovely Nebbiolo and the Brunello di Montalcino that is made with 100% Sangiovese.

Château Saint-Roch Chimères 2017 (89 pts)

Zuccardi Apelación Vista Flores Malbec 2017 (91 pts)

Enrico Serafino Picotener Nebbiolo 2017 (91 pts)

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (92 pts)

Among my top white wine picks, all are single varietal wines. There are a pair of lovely Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand - one is clearly of higher quality than the other, but both are delicious, and it would be interesting to compare each other side-by-side while also including the Sancerre (which is also made with Sauvignon Blanc) in the tasting. Other white wines include a Falanghina from Campania, a Verdicchio from Marche, and a Chardonnay from Australia. For sweet wine lovers, the Mosel Riesling is your best bet, although it does veer towards a slightly dry finish.

Janare Senete Falanghina del Sannio 2017 (90+ pts)

Fontevecchia Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2017 (88 pts)

Clemens Busch Nonnengarten Pündericher Ortswein Riesling 2016 (91 pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

GARZÓN ESTATE CABERNET FRANC/TANNAT 2017 - Uruguay (#12651) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
SISTER'S RUN EPIPHANY SHIRAZ 2017 - Epiphany Vineyard, McLaren Vale, South Australia (#269464) (XD) - $17.95 88 pts wine review
VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2017 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#57513) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2017 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
NOBLE HILL SYRAH 2016 - WO Simonsberg-Paarl, South Africa (#12686) (XD) - $18.95 90 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES 2017 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, Midi, France (#119354) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
MONTERRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#12835) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU DU BREUIL 2014 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#633081) (XD) - $24.95 90 pts wine review
TORBRECK OLD VINES GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2017 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#10223) (XD) - $24.95 90 pts wine review
ZUCCARDI APELACIÓN VISTA FLORES MALBEC 2017 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#11770) (XD) - $24.95 91 pts wine review
ENRICO SERAFINO PICOTENER NEBBIOLO 2017 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#12736) (XD) - $38.95 91 pts wine review
IL POGGIONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#551176) (XD) - $72.95 92 pts wine review

Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère 2017 (89 pts)

Monterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (89 pts)

White Wine:

FONTEVECCHIA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2017 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#11140) (XD) - $14.95 88 pts wine review
BELLINGHAM HOMESTEAD SERIES THE OLD ORCHARDS CHENIN BLANC 2018 - WO Paarl, South Africa (#484055) (XD) - $17.95
MUD HOUSE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#190454) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
JANARE SENETE FALANGHINA DEL SANNIO 2017 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#556787) (XD) - $19.95 90+ pts wine review
XANADU DJL CHARDONNAY 2018 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#12653) (XD) - $24.95 89 pts wine review
GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $24.95 91 pts wine review
HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#68817) (XD) - $29.95 91 pts wine review
JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE GENÈSE SANCERRE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#189126) (XD) - $30.95
CLEMENS BUSCH NONNENGARTEN PÜNDERICHER ORTSWEIN RIESLING 2016 - VDP, Mosel, Germany (#13247) (M) - $37.95 91 pts wine review

Sparkling Wine:

MEGALOMANIAC BUBBLEHEAD SPARKLING ROSÉ - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#363655) (D) - $34.95 91 pts wine review

Dessert Wine:

LAKEVIEW CELLARS GEWÜRZTRAMINER ICEWINE 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#547703) (S) (200 mL) - $34.95 90 pts wine review

Fortified:

BURMESTER 10-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT - DOP, Portugal (#223958) (S) - $29.95 91 pts wine review

Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny Port (91 pts)

Zuccardi Apelación Vista Flores Malbec 2017 (Argentina) - Wine Review

For Valentine's Day celebrations, tonight's wine review is this lovely, brand new Malbec from Zuccardi Wines that will arrive in LCBO VINTAGES on February 22nd. It is also featured as the Wine of the Month in this Release and will be widely available at LCBO outlets throughout Ontario.

Zuccardi is one of the leaders and most well-known names in Argentine winemaking. Current winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi grew up in a family that had a strong visionary and innovative spirit. Since 1963, when his grandfather planted the first hectares of grapevines in Maipú, Mendoza, the Zuccardi family has not stopped growing and developing.

Sebastien handcrafted this Malbec with fruit from their Vista Flores Estate which is located in the district of Tunuyan in the central-western part of the Uco Valley, which itself is located in the Mendoza wine region.

The 55 hectares of meticulously worked vineyards at the Vista Flores Estate are located 3215 feet (980 metres) above sea level and planted to mainly Malbec, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For vine training, both the vertical conduction system and the Parral Zuccardi conduction system are used. The Zuccardi vine training system elevates the the vineyards to create an arched green web that allows the process of photosynthesis to develop in the perfect conditions. Additionally, it also protects the grapes from the hours of highest sun radiation by having the right density of leaves and cluster distribution, and also facilitates protection against frosts.

This particular Malbec was carefully harvested in bunches and gravity-fed into tanks, followed by fermentation with indigenous yeasts. After fermentation, skin maceration took place for 20 days. Lastly, after undergoing complete malolactic fermentation, it was aged in concrete tanks and oak barrels.

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI APELACIÓN VISTA FLORES MALBEC 2017 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#011770) (XD) - $24.95
Medium+ intensity nose has a lovely dark berry, blackberry and black cherry core surrounded by stony mineral and black pepper spice aromas. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with more succulent dark berry and pepper spice flavours flecked with stony minerals and hints of purple fruits. Spicy on the mid-palate with fresh and vibrant acids, while the tannins are gritty and a bit tight at the moment. Juicy and long on the finish with with stony mineral, dark berry, and violet notes. A lovely Malbec that should improve in 2 years and enjoyed over the next 5-6 years. Score: 91 pts

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that will be arriving in LCBO VINTAGES on February 22.

It is produced by the legendary Kevin Judd at Greywacke - his Marlborough label on the South Island of New Zealand. Greywacke is the fulfillment of a long-held dream, a name adopted by Kevin and his wife Kimberley for their first Marlborough vineyard located in Rapaura which has a high prevalence of rounded greywacke stones in the soils of the vineyard. I am excited to be visiting New Zealand later this month and will be meeting up with Kevin at Greywacke and hope to see these stones in person. Stay tuned.

The grapes for this Sauvignon Blanc were sourced from various prime vineyard sites in Marlborough's Southern Valleys, the central Wairau Plains (specifically in Woodbourne, Renwick, and Rapaura), and a spectacular river terrace site in the upper Awatere Valley. Soil types vary from the young alluvial soils of Rapaura, Renwick and the upper Awatere, which contain high proportions of New Zealand’s ubiquitous greywacke river stones, to the older and denser clay-loams of the Southern Valleys.

The previous three vintages of the Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc that I tasted have all been amazing, high-quality wines - and perhaps not really surprising given who is behind these wines - so, I fully expect this latest vintage to also be delicious! The 2018 vintage was very warm and humid, but also very wet, resulting in a challenging year that promises to deliver quality wines. Let's see how the 2018 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#164228) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. Ripe, medium-high intensity nose delivers guava, kiwi, passion fruit, tropical fruit, gooseberry, and citrus aromas with a fine mineral underpinning. It is medium-bodied with good weight to the fruit and slightly creamy textured. Zesty citrus, ripe kiwi, guava, and passion fruit flavours with touches of spice and floral are lifted by the fresh, vibrant acidity. Fine mineral and lime zest notes linger on the long, crisp finish, with excellent length. Lovely, as always. Score: 91 pts

Klippenkop Pinotage 2018 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a Pinotage from South Africa that newly arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the January 25th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Robertson Winery, a large wine producer situated just outside the town of Robertson, in the Breede River Valley in southwestern South Africa. The winery was established in 1941 in a stone church that was built by the community and serviced by missionaries, but was no longer in use and converted for use in winemaking and cellaring operations.

Robertson is nestled in a valley of abundance, from the sun-drenched mountain vineyards growing select varietals to plentiful river valley vineyards heavy with fruit. The Breede River is the life source of the Robertson Valley and is one of the most important rivers in the Western Cape. It flows from the Skurweberg to the sea at Witsands, and is joined by hundreds of streams off the surrounding Langeberg mountains along the way. They irrigate their vines from this vital artery.

This particular wine gets its name from the geographical term 'klippen', which refers to an outcrop of rock, while 'kop' in Afrikaans translates to either 'hillock' or 'head'.

Tasting Note:

KLIPPENKOP PINOTAGE 2018 - WO Robertson, South Africa (#012428) (XD) - $13.95
Screw cap. Matured on wood for 3 months, this has the distinctive wood-influenced smoky, coffee, and mocha chocolate nose so commonly found in South African Pinotage. The light-to-medium bodied palate is sour and tart with more coffee and mocha chocolate flavours. Acids are succulent, while the lingering finish has more coffee and mocha chocolate notes. Coffee lovers will probably enjoy this. Score: 85 pts

February 8, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Sun, Soil & Soaring Heights

LCBO Wine Picks: February 8, 2020 VINTAGES Release

The upcoming February 8, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is yet another mono-thematic Release, but this time focuses on the exciting topic of how the Sun, Soil, and Soaring Heights shapes the wines we love and enjoy. All the wines from the theme, as well as of the rest of the Release will be on shelves by this Saturday.

The first concept from the theme is the topic of elevation and how it affects the grapes. Planting vineyards at higher altitudes allows the grapes to grow at cooler temperatures with increased diurnal variation, and provides excellent drainage. Cooler temperatures and high diurnal variation allows the grapes to slow down the ripening process and preserve it's natural acidity - which in turn provides freshness in wines. There are five wines featured as part of this concept and three are included among my top wine picks. The Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend of mostly Sangiovese that was grown at 300 metres altitude. From 360 to 540 metres elevation, the Douro red is a blend 70% Touriga Nacional and 30% Aragonez/Tinta Roriz. Lastly, the Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio off the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna is grown at 550 to 700 metres above sea level.

Tornatore Nerello Mascalese/Nerello Cappuccio 2017 (91 pts)

Carpineto Riserva Chianti Classico 2015 (90 pts)

Casca Mountain Vineyards 1808 Reserva 2016 (89 pts)

The second concept looks at the proximity of a vineyard to a bodies of water. Warm climates such as those found in South Africa and Chile, among other places, can grow high-quality cool-climate varietals such as Chardonnay and Syrah due to the cooling breezes and fog generated by the nearby oceans. Rivers can help moderate temperatures by reflecting sunlight back into the vineyard, which in turn increases sun exposure and helps with the grape ripening process. Of the five wines listed as part of this concept, a couple of fine examples include a Syrah from Chile and a Chardonnay from South Africa.

Casa Silva Lolol Gran Terroir de la Costa Syrah 2016 (90 pts)

For the third concept, the focus is on exposure to the sun - the driving force behind grape growing. Too much sun, and wines can become overripe, while too little sun and the grapes lack flavour, among other things. Vineyards grown on mountains, hillsides, and valleys create dynamic mesoclimates, resulting in some grapes getting more sun exposure than others. Winemakers can then use grapes from various locations - obtaining fruit characters from one location and blending with the power and concentration from another location. Two of the five wines from this concept are among my wine recommendations - a lovely Gigondas which is a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 15% Syrah, and a medium sweet Riesling from Niagara.

Pierre Amadieu Domaine Grand Romane Cuvée Prestige Vieilles Vignes Gigondas 2017 (92 pts)

The fourth and final concept looks at how dirt affects the wines. The makeup of the vineyard soil is critical to the flavour and quality of the wine. Depth, fertility (the poorer the better), drainage, texture, and composition are just some of the many facets of soil and how it impacts wine growing. One of the most important aspects of the soil is how difficult a vine's roots need to work through the soil to get nutrients and water - the harder it needs to work, the higher the quality of the wine. The concept of minerality also comes in to play here. Two of the four wines featured here are recommended - a lovely Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) from silex soils, and a nice Chablis (Chardonnay) from Kimmeridgian limestone soils.

Château de Fontaine-Audon Sancerre 2018 (90 pts)

François Martenot Les Marouettes Chablis 2018 (89 pts)

Top red wine picks from the rest of the Release include a pair of lovely Malbec wines that would be great to compare and taste side-by-side. From Languedoc there are a pair of Grenache-Syrah blends - the Puech-Haut is a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah, while the Domaine des Vals is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah that was raised entirely in concrete tanks. Lastly, if you want to go off the beaten path, try the Cirò wine from Calabria that is made with the Gagliappo varietal.

Catena Lunlunta Old Vines Appellation Malbec 2017 (91 pts)

TintoNegro Limestone Block Malbec 2015 (89 pts)

Puech-Haut Prestige Saint-Drézéry 2017 (90 pts)

Domaine des Vals Corbières 2017 (88 pts)

Tenuta Iuzzolini Cirò Rosso Classico 2017 (87 pts)

Among my sparkling wine picks, the Champagne is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, while the Brut Rosé is a blend of 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release!