LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

December 7, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Festive Get-Togethers

LCBO Wine Picks: December 7, 2019 VINTAGES Release

The December 7, 2019 VINTAGES Release is the final release of the year and it's a mono-themed release featuring Fine Wines for Festive Get-Togethers, which also includes a fine selection of sparkling wines. All of the wines from this release will be on shelves by this Saturday, with a subset possibly arriving a bit later.

We begin with feature on table wines for Festive Get-Togethers. There are 18 wines listed as part of this theme, of which five are included among my wine picks. The lone white wine from this part of the release is an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre. Among the reds, single varietal wines include a Petit Verdot, the Gran Reserva from Rioja that is made with Tempranillo, and the Chianti Classico that is made with Sangiovese. Lastly, the Bordeaux is a blend of 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère.

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Marnes et Caillottes Sancerre 2018 (92 pts)

Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Chianti Classico 2015 (88 pts)

The second part of this theme is titled Festive Fizz and focuses on fine sparkling wines. Of the eleven sparkling wines featured, four are included among my top wine recommendations. First up at the entry level is a dry Prosecco made using the Glera grape. Moving up in price and quality, the classy bubbly from Ontario is made with Chardonnay. And last but not least, the 1er Cru Champagne is made with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, while the Brut Champagne is a blend of 49% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 11% Pinot Meunier.

Ruinart R de Ruinart Brut Champagne (92 pts)

Vilmart et Cie Grande Réserve 1er Cru Champagne (92 pts)

Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Carte Blanche Estate Blanc de Blanc 2014 (92 pts)

Belcanto di Bellussi Extra Dry Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore (89 pts)

From my red wine recommendations, the 2014 Reserva from Rioja consists of Tempranillo and Graciano. From Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of mainly Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, while the Côtes du Rhône is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. Last, but definitely not the least, the superb Cepparello Super Tuscan is made with 100% Sangiovese.

Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 (91 pts)

Hacienda López de Haro Reserva 2014 (89 pts)

Among white wine picks from the rest of the Release, the only blends are an Australian white made with 62% Sauvignon Blanc and 38% Semillon, while the Vinho Verde is a blend of 85% Alvarinho and 15% Trajadura. The rest are all single varietals, and for those that prefer sweeter wines, the Mosel Riesling should be on your shopping list.

The Lane Gathering Single Vineyard Sauvignon/Semillon 2016 (91 pts)

Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2017 (90+ pts)

Muralhas de Monção Vinho Verde 2018 (88+ pts)

Happy holidays and enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#421388) (XD) - $18.95 88 pts wine review
BODEM LAS MARGAS GARNACHA 2017 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#10700) (XD) - $19.95 88+ pts wine review
TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#29280) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
HACIENDA LÓPEZ DE HARO RESERVA 2014 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#357335) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
CLOS ST. ANTONIN 2016 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#10513) (XD) - $19.95
PIRRAMIMMA PETIT VERDOT 2016 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#986752) (XD) - $28.95 90 pts wine review
LEALTANZA GRAN RESERVA 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#453548) (XD) - $31.95 91 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU BOUTISSE 2016 - AC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France (#368175) (XD) - $40.95 91+ pts wine review
CHÂTEAU MONT-REDON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2016 - AC, Rhône, France (#959627) (XD) - $49.95 91 pts wine review
TWO HANDS BELLA'S GARDEN SHIRAZ 2017 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#636407) (XD) - $59.95
ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2016 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#25650 / #25601) (XD) (750 mL / 1500 mL) - $113.95 / $256.95 94 pts wine review

Terrazas de Los Andes Reserva Malbec 2017 (89 pts)

Bodem Las Margas Garnacha 2017 (88+ pts)

White Wine:

MURALHAS DE MONÇÃO VINHO VERDE 2018 - Monção e Melgaço, DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal (#80374) (XD) - $15.95 88+ pts wine review
DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2018 - DAC Wachau, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
KEN FORRESTER OLD VINE RESERVE CHENIN BLANC 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#231282) (XD) - $17.95 90 pts wine review
JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Certified sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#224428) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL RIESLING 2018 - DAC Wachau, Austria (#491902) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
THE LANE GATHERING SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON / SEMILLON 2016 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#10539) (XD) - $24.95 91 pts wine review
FLAT ROCK THE RUSTY SHED CHARDONNAY 2018 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#1552) (XD) - $26.95
BISCHÖFLICHE WEINGÜTER TRIER SCHARZHOFBERGER RIESLING KABINETT 2017 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#670752) (S) - $27.95 90+ pts wine review
JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95 92 pts wine review

Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 (90 pts)

Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (89 pts)

Domäne Wachau Terrassen Federspiel Grüner Veltliner 2018 (89 pts)

Domäne Wachau Terrassen Federspiel Riesling 2018 (89 pts)

Sparkling Wine:

DESIDERIUS PONGRÁCZ BRUT CAP CLASSIQUE SPARKLING CHARDONNAY / PINOT NOIR - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#404111) (XD) - $16.95 90 pts wine review
BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#53215) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANC 2014 - Traditional method, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#315200) (XD) - $49.95 92 pts wine review
VILMART ET CIE GRANDE RÉSERVE 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#12619) (XD) - $69.95 92 pts wine review
RUINART R DE RUINART BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#189878) (D) - $88.95 92 pts wine review

Desiderius Pongrácz Brut Cap Classique Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir (90 pts)

Fortified:

CÉSAR FLORIDO CHIPIONA DORADO MOSCATEL - DO, Spain (#10824) (S) (375 mL) - $17.95
CALEM 20-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT - DOP, Portugal (#10902) (S) - $56.95

13th Street Grande Cuvée Blanc de Noir 2013 (Niagara) - Wine Review

For tonight's wine review, I venture into the VINTAGES Classics Collection - a selection of fine wine (and spirits) that are some of the best, most iconic, and most collectible wines from top producers around the world. The VINTAGES Classics program releases new wines on a monthly basis, specifically on the first Thursday of every month.

13th Street Winery produces this lovely sparkling wine on Fourth Avenue in St. Catharines. The winery was founded by amateur winemakers in 1998, and purchased in 2008 by the current owners - John & June Mann and Doug & Karen Whitty. Both families have deep roots in the region and aim to create exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Niagara. John Mann has been involved in farming for over 30 years, while Doug Whitty is the third generation to be operating the family farm in St. Catharines, which was originally established in 1908.

In all, 13th Street Winery owns seven vineyards in Niagara and produces 85% of their wines using fruit from their own vineyards. The Whitty family has been farming fruit for more than 100 years, and with each new generation they employ a sustainable and minimal interventionist approach to viticulture, respecting the life of the land and ensuring it stays healthy and happy for future generations.

I have enjoyed many table wines from 13th Street over the years, but it was only in the last few years that I discovered their fantastic sparkling wines. The Grand Cuvée is their top traditional method sparkling wine. It is produced only in the best vintages and is made with 100% Pinot Noir from their own Whitty Vineyard (which surrounds the winery itself on Fourth Avenue) in the Creek Shores appellation in Niagara. After careful manual harvest, whole bunches of Pinot Noir were put into the press where the free run juice was separated out and blended with the first gentle press to extract juice, but not colour or phenolics. It was aged on the lees for 60 months and after disgorging, winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas deemed the wine to be perfectly balanced and decided to not add any sugar to the dosage, resulting in a classically dry sparkling wine in the zero dosage style.

This top Niagara sparkling wine will be available for purchase by the bottle at VINTAGES Shop Online as part of the December VINTAGES Classics Collection on December 5th at 8:30 a.m. Orders are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's highly advised to shop early to secure your bottles. Unfortunately, this will not be coming to VINTAGES Classics after all. However, it is available at the winery and through their online web store.

13th Street Grande Cuvée Blanc de Noir 2013 (93 pts)

Tasting Note:

13TH STREET GRANDE CUVÉE BLANC DE NOIR 2013 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#361394) (XD) - $59.95
100% Pinot Noir from the Whitty Vineyard and made only in top vintages, this traditional method sparkling wine was aged for 60 months on the lees. Fine, persistent aromas of brioche, biscuit, lemon curd, and white berries rise out of the glass. On the medium+ bodied palate, it has fresh acidity and fine, delicate mousse that provide a very nice mouthfeel with plenty of finesse. It is classically dry, with slightly oxidative and complex flavours of baked apple, lemon curd, citrus, leesy, brioche, and yeasty with touches of stony mineral that linger through to the long lemony-mineral finish. Really fine bubbly! Score: 93 pts

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Marnes et Caillottes Sancerre 2018 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a crisp, refreshing, and high quality Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on December 7th.

It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of my favourite Loire producers. The Roger family descends from a long line of winegrowers from the village of Bué, with the name first mentioned in texts in the 17th century. In the early 1970's, Jean-Max Roger took over the family estate and in 2004, two of his three sons, Etienne and Thibault, began working at the estate. Together, they strive to produce wines that both express their terroir and the work that they perform in the vineyards and at the winery. They are continually questioning their viticultural and winemaking practises with sustainability of the soil, the health of the vines, the purity of their musts and the meticulousness of their vinification and ageing processes which are top of mind on a daily basis.

The 2018 harvest in the Loire Valley was historically great in terms and quality and quantity, delivering one of the largest crops of the decade. It was the hottest summer since 2003, and the driest since 1945! From mid-June right through to harvest, sunny, dry weather persisted, resulting in clean fruit with ample ripeness and vivid acidity.

This lovely white white has been making an appearance in VINTAGES quite regularly over the past few years. I enjoyed the 2014 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée C.M. Sancerre Blanc a couple of years ago and I am excited to see the 2018 vintage as it comes to the LCBO in just over a week's time.

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95
From 5 to 40 year old vines grown on Kimmeridgian Marls called "Marnes" and Limestone called "Caillottes", this Sauvignon Blanc underwent a long fermentation by natural yeasts and was aged on heavy lees from fermentation until the first racking. Fresh, clean, open, and fragrant nose of stony mineral mingles with lime citrus, stone fruit, and a hint of grassy herb. It is firmly structured and fresh on the palate with very good depth of fruit and flavour intensity, offering stony mineral, citrus, and saline flavours. Tangy, mouth-watering acids are fresh and lively, while the stony-citrus finish has excellent length. Highly recommended buy. Score: 92 pts

Rolly Gassmann Rotleibel de Rorschwihr Auxerrois 2007 (Alsace) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review was inspired after my visit to the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo on Thursday, where I visited the Vins d'Alsace booth and tasted some amazing white wines.

This lovely late harvest white wine is made by a producer who has been vine growing since 1611. The Auxerrois grape varietal is grown mostly in Alsace (France), with other sizable plantings grown only in Germany and Luxembourg. In Alsace, Auxerrois is the 4th most widely planted varietal and is commonly blended into Pinot blanc wines. It is rare to find an Auxerrois on its own, and even rarer to find at the LCBO.

I purchased this Auxerrois back in the summer of 2013 from the July 20th LCBO VINTAGES Release - let's see how it is tasting 12 years from vintage...

Rolly Gassmann Rotleibel de Rorschwihr Auxerrois 2007 (92 pts)

Tasting Note:

ROLLY GASSMANN ROTLEIBEL DE RORSCHWIHR AUXERROIS 2007 - AC Alsace, France (#328872) (M) - $19.95
From darker brown clay and silt soils of Rotleibel, this late harvest Auxerrois pours a medium deep yellow gold and delivers medium+ intensity aromatics that slowly reveal aromas of dried apricot, peach, citrus, candied ginger, orange blossom, and some floral nuances. It is medium-full bodied with very good weight to the fruit and medium-dry honeyed flavours of dried apricot, ginger, orange peel, floral, and grilled pineapple. Acids are still quite lively and juicy. Excellent finish length with floral and orange peel notes veering towards dry. Great buy! Score: 92 pts

November 23, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Coveted, Iconic Wines

LCBO Wine Picks: November 23, 2019 VINTAGES Release

The November 23, 2019 LCBO VINTAGES Release is another big one as we dive into the busy holiday season. This Release is another mono-thematic edition, featuring Coveted, Iconic Wines for your cellar or gift-giving. There are plenty of other great options from the rest of the Release as well, with all of these wines showing up on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

There are 31 wines listed as part of the Coveted, Iconic Wines theme, of which a dozen are included among my top wine picks from the November 23rd LCBO VINTAGES Release. We begin with an excellent 2012 vintage Champagne that was aged for 5+ years and consists of 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 26% Pinot Meunier. For white wine lovers, there are a pair of lovely Chardonnays from the new world - one from Niagara and one from Napa Valley.

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2017 (93 pts)

Grgich Hills Estate Grown Chardonnay 2014 (93 pts)

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Extra Brut Champagne 2012 (92 pts)

Red wines from the main thematic include a high-end Australian Shiraz, a South African Pinot Noir, a lovely Barolo (which is made with Nebbiolo), an Argentinean Malbec, and an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. The blends include the Stratus Red which is a blend of 25% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 10% Malbec, 7% Tannat, and 5% Petit Verdot, while The Chocolate Block consists of 64% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 11% Cinsault, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Viognier.

Barossa Valley Estate E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2016 (92 pts)

Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2018 (92 pts)

Aurelio Settimo Rocche Dell'Annunziata Barolo 2014 (92 pts)

Trapiche Terroir Series Finca Orellana Single Vineyard Malbec 2015 (91+ pts)

Rymill Coonawarra Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (90 pts)

For sweet wine lovers, the iconic and coveted Noble One Botrytis Semillon and Delaforce Vintage Port will surely satisfy your cravings.

De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon 2016 (93 pts)

My red wine recommendations from the rest of the Release starts with the iconic $450 Antinori Solaia - easily one of the best wines I've ever tasted - is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. For the rest of us modest folks, from the southern Rhône Valley, there is the Costières de Nîmes Rouge which is a blend of old vines 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Carignan, while the Cairanne is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. From Roussillon, the Lafage Tessellae is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. From Portugal, the Sagrado is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz, while the Porca de Murça consists of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. Lastly, coming back to Italy, we have a Chianti Classico that consists of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot.

Tessellae Old Vines Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre 2017 (89 pts)

Château de Nages Vieilles Vignes Costières de Nîmes 2016 (90 pts)

Jean-Luc Colombo Le Pavillon des Courtisanes Cairanne 2016 (90 pts)

Trasqua Fanatico Riserva Chianti Classico 2013 (90 pts)

Among my white wine picks from this Release, the Costières de Nîmes Blanc from Rhône is the companion to the rouge above and consists of 45% Grenache Blanc, 25% Roussanne, 20% Viognier, and 10% Clairette, while the Pomino is an interesting blend of mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco. The rest are all single varietal wines, and for those that prefer sweeter wines, check out the always delicious Nadja's Riesling from Niagara.

Château de Nages Vieilles Vignes Blanc 2017 (89 pts)

Frescobaldi Castello di Pomino Pomino Bianco 2017 (89 pts)

And that's a wrap for this Release! Only one more to go in 2019! Enjoy!