Rhône Wine Tour 2018 - Costières de Nîmes (Day 3)

After visits to Luberon and Ventoux, and Cairanne earlier in the week, our third day in Rhône focused on the Costières de Nîmes appellation. This region is the southern-most wine-growing region of the Rhône Valley and exhibits a rich history and culture dating back to Greek and Roman times. In the year 280 A.D., the area was replanted with vines after the decree banning viticulture was revoked and is considered to be one of the first winegrowing regions in France. Winegrowing was further encouraged in the 17th century, and became even more important when the Canal du Midi was linked with the Rhône River in the 19th century.

The appellation was known as Costières du Gard when it was granted AOC status in 1986, and only had its name changed to Costières de Nîmes in 1989. In 2004, Costières de Nîmes was moved from Languedoc to the Rhône wine region because the wines were more reflective of the typical characteristics of Rhône than of the Languedoc. Today, Costières de Nîmes produces 8% of the wines from Rhône, of which 35% are rosé and 5% white wines. Like other Rhône AOCs, blending of at least two grape varieties is required. For rosé wines, Syrah is usually combined with either Grenache and/or Mourvedre, and sometimes Carignan and Cinsault. White wines are usually composed of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne, and sometimes Viognier, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Macabeu, and Vermentino (Rolle).

The day began with a visit to Château de Nages, where Tina Gassier, wife of renowned winemaker Michel Gassier, took us through some of their impressive current offerings of white and rosé wines from both Domaine Gassier and Château de Nages labels, and ranged in vintage from 2014 to 2017. They have vineyards in the northern part of the appellation featuring "galets" (i.e. pebbles) that sit atop iron-rich red clay, while some of this area is covered by a thin blanket of loess (wind-blown silt) that is very suitable for white varietals and Syrah. Their Bek Vineyard to the south, which was acquired fairly recently, has a base of chalk and “safres” layers that sit below a layer of red sandstone (iron-rich clay and sand) and is topped by “cailloutis” (pebbles from the ancient Durance River) on the higher elevations. The terroir of the Bek Vineyards changes as you move to lower elevations, with chalk and “safres” layers closer to the surface and topped with a layer of sandy-clay loam, offering freshness and salinity to the wines due to the vineyard being located at a fault line. At the lowest point of the Bek Vineyard, the alluvium soil that sits on top of the chalk and “safres” layer is rich in nutrients and limestone and offers minerality and freshness - white wine varietals are planted here. Unfortunately, due to the rainy weather, we were not able to see the vineyards, but I can imagine it would have been quite the sight.

The vineyards at Château de Nages have been passed along 4 generations, and the story begins when Joseph Torres purchased the southern Rhône estate during World War II. After the passing of Mr. Torres, his son-in-law, Alfred Gassier, begins managing the property all the while residing in Algeria with his wife. He helps his sons re-construct their lives in France, with the eldest son, Jean Gassier taking the reins and restoring farm while the second son, Roger Gassier, restored the Château and the property. Michel is the great grandson of Joseph and was asked to take over the property in 1993 when his father retired.

Today, Château de Nages has 112 hectares of vineyards. 32% of their production is devoted to rosé wines, while is 16% to white wines, making them one of the larger producers of white wines in Costières de Nîmes. Vineyards are organically farmed, and there is a commitment to protecting the ecosystem and using resources wisely. All of the wines among the half dozen we tasted were delicious, and some were downright excellent. Fortunately for us, these wines do show up in our market from time to time. However, I think I will have to make another trip out to Château de Nages to take a stroll through the vineyards.

The second stop of the day was meeting Cyril Marès at Mas Carlot - Château Paul Blanc. Upon arriving at the winery, I thought to myself that the buildings looked rather historic. In fact, I learned that the buildings were from the 17th century, remodelled in the 19th century by the Grasset family, and fully restored by Paul Blanc a century later. Roman remains dating back to more than 2000 years old have also been found around the Mas. The visit began with a tour of the vineyards in Cyril's SUV - since it was raining on and off, and we would be able to see more of the 75 hectare property that was littered with round pebbles coloured by the red clay of the Costières, known locally as "Grès".

After returning to the winery and getting a quick look at the tank and barrel rooms, we began tasting the wines with Cyril. Mas Carlot - Château Paul Blanc is actually the winery of Cyril's wife, Nathalie Blanc-Marès. She is an oenologist and the winemaker at Mas Carlot, and has been running the estate since 1998, following in the footsteps of her father, Paul Blanc. We didn't actually get to meet Nathalie, but Cyril tells us that she prefers to craft her wines in an elegant and fresh style, allowing the wines to express the Domaine's terroir fully. We tasted through the portfolio of whites and rosé wines (5 wines in all) and each wine was delicious and of very good quality. In 2018, Cyril Marès took over complete management of the estate and is currently moving towards organic farming.

The Marès family has a long tradition of winemaking going back centuries. Cyril was born in Nîmes and has always lived between the vineyards and orchards of his father Roger Marès. Mas des Bressades neighbours Mas Carlot and was founded by Roger in 1964. After studying agronomy, viticulture and oenology in Montpellier, Cyril went on to vinify on other continents before returning to Mas des Bressades and taking over the reins in 1996 and becoming the latest of 6 generations to make wine. At Mas des Bressades, Cyril and his small team try with passion to produce ripe and fruity wines. Today, the estate is managed by Cyril's cousin, Alix Marès. The fabulous estate terroir is comprised of Siliceous pebbles which originated from the Rhône River Basin dating back to the Quaternary era and is 6 to 15 metres thick. Roussanne is the most widely planted white varietal on the property, leading to Roussanne-dominate white wines, while the single rosé is a Grenache-led blend. After tasting the yummy wines of Mas des Bressades with Cyril at Mas Carlot, we headed out for lunch.

Hotel Restaurant Le Cours was the venue for lunch, a family hotel in Saint-Gilles that offers cultural fare in the tradition of the Camargue. It was a short drive away from Mas Carlot and Cyril joined us. I expected lunch to be on the quiet side, however, it got really interesting after Cyril pulled out 10 whites and rosés for tasting. All of the wines were from various producers in Costières de Nîmes and Cyril did his best to provide some information regarding each of the wines, along with tech sheets that came in handy. A couple of wines, one each from Domaine du Vistre and Château d'Or et de Gueules really stood out for me, and wine reviews of each are provided below.

As for lunch, the shrimp I ordered was loaded with garlic and really delicious, but made it a bit difficult for tasting the wines and, of course, it was a little messy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and would highly recommend this entrée.

We visited the family-owned and -operated Château Mourgues du Grès for the only winery stop of the afternoon - and it was quite the visit! The site is located in Beaucaire on a slope in Costières de Nîmes and is a former 16th century agricultural estate of the Ursulines de Beaucaire. It takes its name from the nuns called "Mourgues" in the Provençal language, and the "Grès" which are the rounded stones found across Costières de Nîmes and give character to the wines from this region. The "grès" were transported here naturally via the River Rhône during the Ice Age. Since the weather had cleared up around here and the ground was fairly dry, owner and vigneron François Collard and his wife Anne gave us a tour of the property, which involved driving up the hill.

The first stop along the way was an ancient Roman archaeological site that was recently discovered while planting a new vineyard. We then drove up to a plateau that featured vineyards with plenty of "grès" on the ground and were also told about Mistral (winds) that plays an important role in winegrowing. The mistral from the north is dry, while the south wind brings moisture from the sea. Together, these winds accentuate the diurnal temperature and brings freshness to the wines. We went further up the hill and got a lovely view of the vineyards below, the town of Beaucaire, and the eastern plateau facing the River Rhône. After the brief tour of the property, we headed back to the tasting room to learn more and taste their portfolio of white and rosé wines.

Of their entire production, 20% is devoted to white wines, which is fairly high among Rhône producers. Château Mourgues du Grès is a certified organic winery, being mindful and respectful of nature and the environment. Since 2015, they have not used sulphur during winemaking (a slight addition of sulphur is added at bottling to ensure stability of the wine). All six wines we tasted were delicious - 3 whites and 3 rosés - ranging in style from fresh and fruity to something more serious for gastronomie. Most of the wines also had a fine mineral element. All in all, I was very satisfied with my visit to Château Mourgues du Grès.

This concludes a fascinating day in Costières de Nîmes, an area rich in winemaking history that goes back more than two-thousand years. The fresh white wines showed fine mineral character thanks to the terroir, while the rosés wines were deliciously fresh and fruity. From here, we moved to Lirac and Tavel the following day as we toured through the southern Rhône Valley.

Tasting Notes:

MICHEL GASSIER LOU COUCARDIÉ BLANC 2014 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (XD) - $35
Bek vineyard. Blend of 50% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, and 20% Viognier grown on galets and sandy limestone soils over beds of safres and chalk. Barrel-fermented and aged on the lees for 9 months. Medium+ intensity nose of lanolin, yellow floral, anise, and herbs. The palate is medium-to-full bodied with a nice mouthfeel and lovely aroma replays that are balanced with fresh acids. Chalky mineral notes appear mid-palate and continue through to the long finish. Score: 90+ pts

Agent: Halpern Enterprises (ON), Le Maitre de Chai (QC)

CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES ROSÉ 2017 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#496919) (XD) - $20
A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre, the nose is subtle but offers rich cherry and strawberry aromas, while the medium-full bodied palate has nice aroma replays supported by balanced, juicy acids. There's some structure to this dry rosé that has a nice, rich texture. Finish length is very good. A serious, gastronomie rosé. Score: 90 pts

Agent: Profile Wine Group (ON), LCC Vins et Spiritueux (QC)

MAS CARLOT LA TERRE NATALE 2016 - AP Clairette de Bellegarde, Rhône, France (XD) - 10 €
Neighbouring Costières de Nîmes, this Clairette de Bellegarde appellation wine is 100% Clairette and mostly raised in concrete tanks (20% in oak). This elegant white wine has a medium+ intensity nose that is herbally with lemon oil, citrus, and stone fruits. It is medium+ bodied on the palate with fine minerally and balanced aroma replays and some fennel notes. Nicely textured with succulent acids and long finishing. Score: 90 pts

Agent: Nicholas Pearce Wines (ON)

MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE EXCELLENCE BLANC 2017 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (XD) - 12 €
70/30 Roussanne and Viognier that was barrel-fermented and aged oak for 5 months. Medium-high, wood-inflected nose of baked pear, white peach, subtle vanilla, and floral aromas. It is medium-full bodied, rounded, and richly structured with oak nicely integrated on the palate. Nice aroma replays and somewhat chalky textured. Balanced acids. Shows impressive complexity and very good finish length. Score: 89 pts

Agent: Vinexx (ON)

DOMAINE DU VISTRE CUVÉE GLADIATEUR ROSÉ 2017 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (XD) - 8 €
Blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah from hillside vineyards featuring sandstone and pebbles from the Rhône river, this has a medium-high intensity nose that is clean and fresh with currant, strawberry, mineral, and herbal aromas. Medium-bodied on the very clean palate with fresh acids and nicely balanced aroma replays and a long-lasting finish. Score: 88+ pts

Agent: N/A

CHÂTEAU D'OR ET DE GUEULES TRASSEGUM BLANC 2017 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (XD) - 14.50 €
Organic and biodynamic blend of 80% Roussanne (barrel-fermented), 10% Grenache Blanc, and 10% Rolle (Vermentino). Barrel ageing evident on the nose, along with clean fresh lemon and herbal scents. It's medium-full bodied, a touch creamy, and nicely textured on the palate with more barrel influenced and pear flavours. Balanced acids. There's some complexity on the long finish. Score: 88 pts

Agent: N/A

CHÂTEAU MOURGUES DU GRÈS FLEUR D'EGLANTINE 2017 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (XD) - 7.5 €  88 pts  wine review

CHÂTEAU MOURGUES DU GRÈS GALETS ROSÉS 2017 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (XD) - 7.5 €
Blend of Syrah, Grenache, and 15% Mourvèdre made in the saignee method. Medium+ intensity and fruity with red berry, candied cherry and strawberry aromas. It is medium+ bodied, fresh, lively and dry with nice, fruity aroma replays and some structure. Minerally on the finish, with very good length. Score: 88 pts

CHÂTEAU MOURGUES DU GRÈS CAPITELLES BLANC 2015 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhone, France (XD) - 16 €
Blend of old vines Grenache Blanc that grow on chalky soils (rare for this appellation), Roussanne, and Viognier, and is barrel-fermented and aged. Pours deep yellow gold and offers a medium-high intensity and slightly mature nose that is waxy with baked apple, white and yellow flowers. It is medium-full bodied and fleshy on the palate with nice aroma replays. Acids are still quite fresh and juicy. Very good length on the limestone mineral finish. Should drink well for another 5 years. Score: 89 pts

Agent: Brand New Day Wines & Spirits (ON)

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Marqués de Cáceres Crianza 2014 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Rioja that came to LCBO VINTAGES on July 20 and plenty of bottles are still available for purchase across Ontario.

Marqués de Cáceres was founded in La Rioja and Cenicero, within the heart of the La Rioja Alta sub-region in Spain in 1970 by Enrique Forner, forming an historic alliance between a region and an enterprising family that has been devoted to the wine trade for five generations.

After making wine at his own Chateaux's in Bordeaux, he brought the same reformist spirit when he returned to Spain and employed some of the same techniques for success such as vineyard control, grape selection, cold production, ageing in new and semi-new French oak barrels, and long refinement in the bottle. All of this contributes to wines that can show finesse and elegance. Their first wine was the 1970 Crianza which was released to the public in 1975 and offered more fruity notes over wood when compared to classic Riojas of the time.

In the 1990's, a trend for innovation took hold in La Rioja. Young oenologists and wine producers looked to Bordeaux for inspiration, just as Enrique Forner had done twenty years previously, and worked the terroir and vineyards, to obtain profiles that were different to the traditional Riojas. Marqués de Cáceres was advised by Michel Rolland - the most influential oenologist in Bordeaux at the time - and together they were united by a great obsession to create quality wines.

Their single objective at Marqués de Cáceres is to have the best vine growers and vineyards in La Rioja to produce the best wines, an obsession that continues today, led by the fourth generation of this wine family, Cristina Forner. They are also the best-known Rioja in Spain as well as one of the top 50 most admired wine brands globally.

Tasting Note:

MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES CRIANZA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#638775) (D) - $16.95
Blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha & 5% Graciano aged in both French and American oak. The medium intensity nose delivers red cherry/berry notes with hints of dried red fruit, followed by sweet oak spice, herbs, and floral aromas. The medium+ bodied palate is fresh and lively, offering more red cherry, floral, and oak spiced flavours surrounding a savoury, earthy core. Refined tannins offer a nice, dusty texture with a touch of chalkiness. Finish is long and earthy. A satisfying Rioja to enjoy over the next 3 years. Score: 88 pts

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De Bortoli Rosé Rosé 2018 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a pale coloured and dry rosé wine from Australia made with the Sangiovese grape varietal. It's a new wine that recently arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on August 17 and there is plenty of stock available throughout Ontario.

It is made by De Bortoli Wines, a member of Australia's First Families of Wines. However, their story actually begins in the 1920's in war-torn Europe when Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli immigrated to Australia and through hard work, innovation and the support of family and friends formed De Bortoli Wines.

In 1928, Vittorio produced his first wine in Australia from grapes he acquired for free due to the glut of Shiraz grapes that vintage and sold his wine mostly to fellow European immigrants. In the 1950's, their middle child, Deen, left school to begin work at the family winery and at 21 years old was itching to modernize the winery. Soon thereafter, De Bortoli Wines expanded and consolidated under the direction of Deen and his wife Emeri. During the 1980's, Deen and Emeri's four children joined the family business and developed De Bortoli's repoutation for premium wine, firstly through their iconic Noble One dessert wine, followed closely by their success at the family's Yarra Valley Estate.

In the 1990's, the De Bortoli family purchased a vineyard in the King Valley - where the grapes for this rosé wine come from. The 90's also welcomed the 4th generation of the family.

Today, Deen and Emeri's children are the custodians of De Bortoli Wines. As the 4th generation of the family contemplates entering the family business, De Bortoli Wine’s official motto is Semper ad Majora (“always striving for better”) while the unofficial motto - good food, good wine and good friends - remain as true and central as ever.

Tasting Note:

DE BORTOLI ROSÉ ROSÉ 2018 - King Valley, Victoria, Australia (#668343) (XD) - $17.95
Screw cap. Mainly Sangiovese from their King Valley Estate Vineyard that was grown for the purpose of making this rosé, this has a medium intensity nose of floral, peach, red berry, and a hint of wild herbal notes. The mid-weighted palate is dry with clean fruit, offering herbally, red berry, strawberry, spice, and peach flavours. Acids cut nicely into palate that has a soft, rounded mouthfeel. Good length on the dry, herbally with hints of spice and mineral finish. Score: 86 pts

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August 31, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: 90+ Scores + Southern Rhône

The main theme of the August 31, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release features wines that scored 90 pts or higher, while the mini-theme focuses on wines from the Southern Rhône. As always, there are other delightful wines to choose from outside of the themes. All of these wines will appear on LCBO VINTAGES across Ontario shelves by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that looks at wine scoring and focuses on wines that scores 90+ points. Of the thirteen wines featured as part of this theme, four are included among my top wine picks. From South Africa, the white wine is a blend that consists of 40% Chenin Blanc, 40% Roussanne, 10% Grenache Blanc, 8% Viognier, and 2% Verdelho, while the red wine from South Africa is a blend of 73% Syrah, 16% Merlot, and 11% Petit Verdot. From Bordeaux, the Pauillac red is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. Lastly, the white Burgundy is a lovely Chardonnay from 60-90 year old vines.

From the mini-theme on wines from Southern Rhône that features only five wines, four are included among my top wine recommendations. Among the three red wines from Rhône, all are composed of various amounts of Grenache and Syrah - the two primary red wine varietals in Southern Rhône. At the top of the list is a lovely Gigondas that consists of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, while the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an early maturing blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Lastly, the Vinsobres is a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah. The lone Rhône white wine is a blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, and 20% Clairette.

My top red wine picks include a pair of Chianti Classico wines - the 2014 is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino / Canaiolo / Malvasia Nera, while the 2015 consists of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Also from Italy, the Tornatore is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grown on the northern slopes and volcanic soils of Mount Etna.

Among my white wine picks, the Côte des Roses White is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Vermentino that comes in the same fancy bottle as their rosé. The rest are all single varietal wines, including the Pouilly-Fumé that is made with Sauvignon Blanc. If you prefer sweeter wines, the Riesling should be on your shopping list.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• COURTOIS LA GRANGE VINSOBRES 2015 - AC, Rhône, France (#526632) (XD) - $17.00  89 pts  wine review
• H J. FABRE RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#646844) (D) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#64618) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• WATERKLOOF CIRCLE OF LIFE RED 2015 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#698175) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2014 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#085209) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• TORNATORE NERELLO MASCALESE/NERELLO CAPPUCCIO 2017 - DOC Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy (#487090) (XD) - $24.95
• VICCHIOMAGGIO AGOSTINO PETRI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#993360) (D) - $29.95
• DOMAINE DU GRAPILLON D’OR GIGONDAS 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#981787) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR PEYRABON 2014 - AC Pauillac, Bordeaux, France (#648063) (XD) - $49.95  91 pts  wine review
• GABRIEL MEFFRE LAURUS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2015 - AC, Rhone, France (#699074) (XD) - $55.95  92 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• SIMONSIG CHENIN BLANC 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#610907) (XD) - $13.95  89 pts  wine review
• LES VIGNERONS DU CASTELAS CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2017 - AC, France (#142125) (XD) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
• FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#080234) (M) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• TAHBILK VIOGNIER 2018 - Nagambie Lakes, Central Victoria, Australia (#271387) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• GÉRARD BERTRAND CÔTE DES ROSES WHITE 2018 - AP, Languedoc, France (#010621) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• RASCALLION 33-1/3 RPM WHITE BLEND 2017 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#914390) (XD) - $18.95
• CLOS HENRI PETIT CLOS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#927186) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• NALS MARGREID PUNGGL PINOT GRIGIO 2016 - DOC Südtirol – Alto Adige, Italy (#395756) (XD) - $29.95
• DOMAINE DE CONGY POUILLY-FUMÉ 2017 - AC, Loire, France (#667501) (XD) - $32.95  90 pts  wine review
• DEUX ROCHES VIEILLES VIGNES POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2016 - AP, Burgundy, France (#488825) (XD) - $41.95  91 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• DELAS SAINT-ESPRIT CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROSÉ 2018 - AC, France (#224964) (D) - $16.95  88 pts  wine review
• OTT BY.OTT ROSÉ 2018 - AP Côtes de Provence, France (#490896) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• PARÉS BALTÀ BRUT CAVA - Traditional method, DO, Spain (#650648) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
• RENÉ GEOFFROY EMPREINTE BRUT 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#665844) (XD) - $69.95  91 pts  wine review

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Les Vignerons du Castelas Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2017 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice white blend from Côtes du Rhône that will arrive in LCBO VINTAGES on August 31.

It is produced by the co-operative winery Les Vignerons du Castelas that was formed in 1952 by a handful of winemakers that wanted to pool their efforts to make the most of the land and terroir found in the Côtes du Rhône appellation. The winery is located on the right bank of the Rhône river, between Pont d'Avignon and Pont du Gard in Rochefort du Gard. The name of the winery comes from a Romanesque chapel of the XI century that is perched atop the village.

Today, the co-operative consists of more than 500 hectares of vines, the majority within the Côtes du Rhône appellation. Terroir consists primarily of sandy marls from the Pliocene period and terraces with round pebbles from the Villafranchiennes period on the plateau of the Signargues appellation.

Tasting Note:

LES VIGNERONS DU CASTELAS CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2017 - AC, France (#142125) (XD) - $15.95
This blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, and 20% Clairette has a medium intensity and evolving nose of floral, beeswax, peach, citrus, and grapefruit tones infused with tarragon herbs. It is medium+ bodied with 6 to 8 months of lees ageing adding weight and texture to the dry palate. Clean, lively acids are well-balanced. More floral, beeswax, tarragon and lemon citrus notes on the flavour profile that follow through to the finish with hints of mineral and very good length. Score: 88 pts

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Château Hauchat 2016 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

I tasted the 2011 Château Hauchat nearly 4 years ago, and tonight I opened the 2016 vintage of the same wine that just arrived at the LCBO as part of the August 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Vignobles Jean-Bernard Saby & Fils at the Hauchat property that is located on a high plateau in the commune of Saint-Aignan, to the west of of neighbouring Pomerol and Saint Émilion in Bordeaux, France. The vineyard of Château Hauchat is facing south and southwest, ensuring ideal sunshine and perfect drainage conditions, while the terroir is very homogeneous with its clay-limestone soils. Lastly, they only grow one grape varietal at Château Hauchat - Merlot.

The Saby family has been making wine in the region for eight generations, combining century-old knowledge with the advantages of modern viticulture. Today, it is owned by brothers Jean Christophe and Jean Philippe who continue the family tradition and hope to pass it along their own children one day.

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2016 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $17.95
This 100% Merlot was aged for 15 months in an equal parts new, 1 year old, and 2 year old barrels. Enticing and complex, this has medium+ intensity aromas of spice mingling with ripe dark berry fruit, wood, and hints of vanilla and plum. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with dark berry, currant, cedar oak, and spice flavours. Acids are juicy while the ripe tannins are quite chalky and a bit tight at the moment. Dark berry, clove spice, and wood linger on the finish, with very good length. I would cellar this for 2 years and enjoy into the mid-20's. Score: 88 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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Closerie des Alisiers Bourgogne Aligoté 2017 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely white wine that is made using Burgundy's other white wine varietal - Aligoté - and will be arriving on VINTAGES shelves this weekend as part of the August 17th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Stéphane Brocard, son of famed Chablis winemaker Jean-Marc Brocard. Closerie des Alisiers was founded by Stéphane when he settled in Marsannay (south Dijon) in 2007. In addition to working his own vines in Pommard and in the old wine village of Daix, Stéphane has also been working for years with the same growers and on the same plots for the wines he sources according to his philosophy that focuses on purity, fruit and freshness. He likes to produce genuine wines while having respect for terroir and environment. Stéphane's main objective is to highlight terroirs through the each grape variety.

This white wine was vinified in stainless steel vats and made in order keep in line with his philosophy to preserve the purity of the fruit, minerality and freshness. Ageing for 6 to 9 months and malolactic fermentation also occurred in stainless steel vats.

Tasting Note:

CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2017 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557728) (XD) - $18.95
The medium+ intensity nose offers enticing aromas of apple and lime citrus mingling with flinty minerality. It is medium+ bodied, a touch creamy, and quite fleshy with good fruit concentration on the palate. Nicely balanced with more flavours of apple and lime citrus with a distinct oyster shell note. It has crisp and fresh acidity, while the finish is long and minerally. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

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August 17, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Argentina + Euro Gems

The main theme of the upcoming August 17, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release features wines from Argentina for perfect pairings, while the mini-theme focuses on hidden treasures from Europe. All of the wines from the themes, plus the main release will arrive on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the main theme that features wines from Argentina that will pair perfectly with grilled fare off the barbecue. Of the twelve wines featured as part of the theme, five are included among my top wine picks. The lone white wine is a barrel fermented Chardonnay. Among the red wines from Argentina, there are a trio of lovely Malbec wines that would be awesome to try side-by-side. The last of the reds is a very nice Cabernet Franc. All of these delicious wines should go great with foods made over the barbecue.

The mini-theme is titled "Hidden Treasure" and focuses on wines from Europe's up-and-coming and lesser-known wine regions. Of the nine wines featured as part of this theme, three are included among my wine recommendations. The white wine is a dry Grüner Veltliner from the Kremstal appellation in Austria. The first red wine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan from Tautavel, an appellation in Roussillon in the South of France. Lastly, from Alentejo in Portugal is an indigenous blend of 45% Trincadeira, 35% Aragonez, and 20% Alicante Bouchet.

From my red wine recommendations, the Bordeaux red is made with 100% Merlot, while the Rioja is the Wine of the Month and consists of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano. The rest are all single varietal wines.

Among my white wine picks from this Release, the only blend is from Roussillon and it consists of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Macabeu. If you prefer sweeter wines, the Niagara Riesling will be off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet), while the 2009 Riesling Spätlese from Germany will be fairly sweet and still has all the right elements to continue further ageing.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CARMIM TERRA LENTA PREMIUM REGUENGOS 2016 - DOC Alentejo, Portugal (#646083) (D) - $13.95  88 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2016 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $17.95  88 pts  wine review
• FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2016 - Mendoza, Argentina (#492736) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• H J. FABRE BARREL SELECTION MALBEC 2016 - Patagonia, Argentina (#114983) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• GÉRARD BERTRAND GRAND TERROIR TAUTAVEL 2016 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, France (#272575) (D) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• WESTMOUNT PINOT NOIR 2015 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#010704) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• HAZAÑA VIÑAS VIEJAS 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#648204) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review
• EL ESTECO MALBEC 2015 - Calchaquí Valley, Argentina (#113191) (XD) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review
• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Coonawarra & Clare Valley, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• COLOMÉ ESTATE MALBEC 2016 - Calchaquí Valley, Salta, Argentina (#477315) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• PECCHENINO SAN GIUSEPPE BAROLO 2014 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#181396) (XD) - $66.95

White Wine:

• WINZER KREMS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2017 - DAC Kremstal, Austria (#647735) (XD) - $15.95  88 pts  wine review
• LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON BLANC 2017 - AC, Midi, France (#485656) (XD) - $15.95
• EDETÀRIA VIA TERRA GARNATXA BLANCA 2017 - DO Terra Alta, Spain (#105908) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2017 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557728) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• MOUNTADAM EDEN VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2017 - Eden Valley, South Australia (#010411) (XD) - 19.95  89 pts  wine review
• QUAILS’ GATE DRY RIESLING 2018 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#308312) (XD) - $19.95
• DR. SIEMENS HERRENBERG RIESLING SPÄTLESE FEINHERB 2009 - Prädikatswein, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany (#665992) (MS) - $19.95  91 pts  wine review
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2016 - Finca Dominio Gualta, Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#688077) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
• LEANING POST WISMER-FOXCROFT VINEYARD RIESLING 2016 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#644740) (D) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• LUNAE VERMENTINO 2017 - DOC Colli di Luni, Liguria, Italy (#336644) (XD) - $36.95  FE

Rosé Wine:

• XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROSÉ 2018 - AP, France (#450908) (XD) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES ROSÉ 2018 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#496919) (XD) - $19.95
• FLEURS DE PRAIRIE ROSÉ 2018 - AP Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France (#667329) (XD) - $23.95  90 pts  wine review

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Fantini Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Rosé 2018 (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is an Italian rosé made with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo that is available in the General List section at the LCBO and widely available across the province.

Vini Fantini is one of a number of wineries that make up the Farnese Vini group. Farnese is a young company has become the leading export company in the South of Italy, producing of over 24 million bottles per year, and garnering many awards over the years.

The refined Fantini wines are made with the best selected grapes coming from the Farneto Valley and other important estates in Abruzzo. The aging process for these wines is completed in the beautiful cellars of the Caldora Castle, a historical building that has a cultural heritage and viticultural traditions of the territory of Ortona, The winemaking team at Fantini is headed by two internationally renowned super-consultants who constantly dedicate their work to the care of each production phase and provide direction to the team of talented young winemakers and agronomists.

This particular rosé underwent soft stalk-stripping and crushing, followed by a brief maceration on skins for approximately 6 hours. It was fermented without skins for 15 days in order to obtain the desired colour and taste.

Tasting Note:

FANTINI CERASUOLO D'ABRUZZO ROSÉ 2018 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#635342) (D) - $10.95
Made with 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and pours a fairly deep red with tinges of blood orange. Ripe red berry, strawberry, and cherry aromas with herbally hints. It's light-to-mid weighted on the spicy palate with more ripe red berry, herb, and white pepper flavours. There's some sweetness, but it hides well due to the lively, food-friendly acidity. Chalky textured on the finish, with good length. Score: 87 pts

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Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer 2018 (Alsace) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely, slightly sweet white wine from Alsace that was recently promoted from General List to a VINTAGES Essentials listing at the LCBO and should arrive on shelves within a week or so.

It is produced Pierre Sparr, from the historic Sparr winemaking family that has been making wine since 1680. In 1785, François Pierre Sparr influenced expanded the size of vineyards. Generations later, Charles Sparr developed the business further by increasing activities with trade and influencing the wine ageing process. Charles' son, Pierre, succeeded his father at the tender age of 20 and became a pioneer of estate bottling of wines in Alsace.

Unfortunately, the commune of Sigolsheim and all of its vineyards were completely destroyed during WWII. However, with courage and determination, Pierre Sparr rebuilt one of Alsace’s most beautiful and prestigious Domaines. With contributions from his sons René and Charles, Vins Sparr continued to grow and develop the business, expanding vineyards and exporting their wines to new markets.

Today, the 9th generation of the Sparr family continues the family tradition of making quality wines using ancestral knowledge and modern technology with passion and emotion. They also respect each varietal's own character that is a special harmony of soil and climate in Alsace. Maison Pierre Sparr is located in the heart of Alsace’s famous vineyard, working on 15 ha of estate vineyards while also sourcing grapes from 130 ha owned by experienced winegrowers.

Tasting Note:

PIERRE SPARR GEWURZTRAMINER 2018 - AC Alsace, France (#373373) (M) - $17.95
This single-vineyard Gewurztraminer comes from 35-year-old vines that were grown on granitic, limestone, and gneiss chalk & clay soils. Screw cap. Fragrant aromas of lychee, floral, and spice lift out of the glass. The medium+ bodied palate is structured and spicy with very good, mouthfilling fruit. It's medium sweet with nicely balanced flavours of lychee, rose floral, lemon citrus, and touches of honeyed apricot. Acids are lively and fresh, while the finish is long and dry. Enjoy nicely chilled. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

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Nederburg The Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this casual, fairly easy-drinking Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa. It was opened on Saturday night as the 2017 vintage recently arrived at the LCBO and is widely available throughout Ontario.

The story of Nederburg begins in 1791, when Philippus Wolvaart bought a farm that lay between the Berg and Palmiet rivers for 5600 guilder. Philippus was a man of courage and vision, as well as love for winemaking. With his wife, Margaretha, they nurtured the land together to build a strong foundation on which the success of Nederburg flourished.

Today, Nederburg is one of South Africa’s most awarded wineries, with a prize-winning pedigree that stems from a culture of innovation and disciplined attention to detail. Their portfolio consists of many different lines of wines.

The Winemasters range of wines consist of varietal offerings and named to honour the Paarl winery's long-established tradition of winemaking excellence. These classically styled, food-friendly wines have abundant fruit flavours, elegance and finesse, while treasuring the integrity of the grape in every step of the winegrowing and winemaking process. Every drop aims to demonstrate a commitment to vineyard and cellar skills.

Tasting Note:

NEDERBURG THE WINEMASTERS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#111526) (D) - $13.95
The medium intensity nose is herbaceous with green pepper, red and black fruit aromas that are layered on top of cassis, oak spice notes. The medium+ bodied palate has herbally, ripe currant, and dark plum flavours, along with subtle oak spice characters. Acids are balanced while tannins are soft and supple. Finish length is very good. Score: 87 pts

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Bottega Gold Prosecco (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's shiny sparkling wine review was recently listed as a VINTAGES Essentials product at the LCBO and is now widely available all year round across Ontario.

It is produced by Bottega, a family-owned, third generation company led by Barbara, Sandro, and Stefano Bottega in Bibano, Treviso, north of Venice, that has been producing premium quality, typical Italian wines, grappa, spirits and food products since 1977. The headquarters are located in a 19th century farmhouse that was renovated to preserve the original architectural and environmental characteristics, and is surrounded by 10 hectares of vineyards.

Bottega Gold is a premium quality Italian Prosecco characterized by its shiny, iconic metallized bottle, an idea that was conceived by Sandro Bottega in 2000 to create an eye-catching package for their premium quality Prosecco. However, this Prosecco is more than just a fancy bottle.

Even though this bottle is labelled as DOC, the Bottega Gold is actually the higher designated DOCG - where the native Glera grapes used for Prosecco are grown (in a mix of old and new vines) and hand-picked in Valdobbiadene within the heart of the DOCG area. It is labelled as DOC because Italian regulations preclude Bottega’s gold-plated bottle from being labelled as a DOCG.

This Prosecco undergoes a single fermentation, directly transforming the grape must into sparkling wine, followed by a second fermentation in autoclaves (pressurized tanks) with the addition of selected yeasts for approximately 40 days. This unique method is known as the Charmat-Martinotti method and helps preserves freshness and all of the characteristics that the Glera varietal is known for, such as white flowers, green apple, pear and citrus.

Tasting Note:

BOTTEGA GOLD PROSECCO - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#621458) (D) - $27.95
Faint aromas of pear, white peach, citrus and floral from the glass. The palate has an initial crispness, giving way to frothy, mouthfilling mousse and flavours of pear, floral, and citrus with just a touch of sweetness. There's good structure and balanced acidity. It's also nicely balanced throughout with lingering citrus notes on the finish that veers towards dry, with good length. A well-made Prosecco that can be enjoyed at the table. Score: 87 pts

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