Luigi Bosca Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the feature on wines from Argentina in the February 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

This red wine is produced by Bodega Luigi Bosca, Argentina's oldest family-run winery. It was founded in 1901 by Leoncio Arizu and soon after joined forces with the Bosca family that emigrated from Piamonte, Italy, to form Bodega Luigi Bosca - Arizu Family. Celebrating it's 120th anniversary last year, Luigi Bosca is regarded as one of Argentina's pioneers in winemaking. Luigi Bosca helped establish Argentina's first D.O.C., paving the way for the development of new Geographical Indications (GIs) throughout Mendoza. Today, the historic Luigi Bosca is run by the fourth generation of the Arizu family based in Mendoza's original premium zone - Lujàn de Cuyo.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the third most planted red variety in Argentina with more than 35,000 acres planted, representing approximately 12% of all red varieties. More than three-quarters of all Cabernet Sauvignon planted within the country is in Mendoza, with Maipú and Luján de Cuyo the historical regions with older vines - and also where this wine is from. The Maipú sub-zone is located on the southern outskirts of Mendoza City, dominated by flat vineyards at high-altitudes, while Luján de Cuyo is situated just west of Maipú and south of Mendoza City. Cabernet Sauvignon is also one of the most researched varieties in Argentina, and the majority of new plantings are located in the premium growing zones, such as the Uco Valley. In Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, the climate is warm and dry, helping Cabernet ripen and give it an intense and voluptuous style with good body and structure. In Maipú, Cabernet has a classic profile of black fruits and spices, while in Luján de Cuyo, with its deep silty, clay, and sandy soils, delivers good varietal typicity reminiscent of black fruits and a broad, rounded palate.

This particular Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted with grapes grown in Luigi Bosca's own vineyards located in Maipú and Luján de Cuyo. This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vines that are on average 40-years-old. The grapes were manually harvested, bunch selected, and de-stemmed, followed by fermentation in stainless steel. After ageing for 14 months in French and American oak barrels, the wine is gently filtered and bottled. The 2019 vintage is considered excellent with a slightly cooler than normal growing season resulting in concentrated and balanced wines, albeit with yields slightly lower than normal. Let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUIGI BOSCA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Maipú & Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#128629) (XD) - $18.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 40-year-old vines grown between 800 to 1,000 metres (2,600 to 3,200 feet) elevation. The fresh, medium-high intensity nose is black fruited with dark currant, spice, and woody aromas with a hint of vanilla. On the medium-full bodied palate, it has delicious ripe black and red fruits, currant, cassis, spices, and wood flavours supported by fresh acidity. Structured tannins are smooth and refined. Spiced wood notes linger on the crisp, juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Luigi Bosca are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - FWM Canada.

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Trinity Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that returned to the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The idea of Trinity Hill was formed by three individuals in the late 1980's - winemaker John Hancock and restaurant owners Robyn and Robert Wilson. In 1993, the idea became a reality on a stony site in Hawke's Bay with the goal to produce world-class wines from classic grape varieties, using the spiritual homes of these varieties as inspiration. Today, the winemaker is Warren Gibson, a man who has spent many vintages throughout the world soaking up inspiration and joined the team at Trinity Hill in 1997. Trinity Hill wines are produced with the utmost care and respect for the grapes and with minimum intervention.

The fruit for this Sauvignon Blanc is mainly from Mangaorapa Station in southern Hawke's Bay that has a cool climate and argillite soils which provide beautiful aromatic characters and salivating acidity. With optimal vineyard management and attention to detail, the grapes were harvested when flavour profiles were at their maximum potential. Upon arriving at the winery, the fruit was gently pressed and the majority was fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Each batch spent 3 months in contact with lees in tank before blending. A small component was fermented and aged in small 228 L barriques to enhance texture and complexity.

I last enjoyed the 2019 Trinity Hill Sauvignon Blanc in November 2020 and am curious to see how it has evolved over last 15 months. The 2019 vintage was considered exceptional for white wines from Hawke's Bay. Three years from vintage, let's see how this Sauvignon Blanc from Hawke's Bay is holding up tonight...

Tasting Note:

TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The elegantly intense aromatics offer lovely notes of tangy citrus, grapefruit, gooseberry, and stone fruits, all surrounded by earthy minerality in a slightly reductive and smoky profile. It has good weight on the dry, tangy palate with citrus, gooseberry, grapefruit, and apple flavours supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity. Lightly chalky textured mouthfeel on the mid-palate, with leesy mineral and tangy notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Trinity Hill are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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El Enemigo Chardonnay 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Wow. I can't believe how the time flew by. In October 2020 I recall enjoying the 2017 El Enemigo Chardonnay - a wine that was excellent upon opening, but really blossomed into something special over the course of 7 days that I had it open. For tonight's white wine review, I opened the latest vintage of this terrific wine that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend along with a pair of excellent Bonarda wines from the same producer as part the feature on wines from Argentina in the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

El Enemigo Wines is a passion project founded by Catena Zapata head winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena, Dr. Laura Catena's younger sister. The name El Enemigo, which means 'the enemy within', was inspired by Dante Alighieri's poem "The Divine Comedy", and the goal was to produce wines that would respect history while rejecting the status quo. El Enemigo has gained global recognition for many of their wines by displaying the best of the Mendoza and Uco Valley soils, while also combining old and new winemaking techniques.

Chardonnay is Argentina's third most widely planted white wine varietal with more than 14,400 acres planted and representing 16% of all white wine varieties planted in the country. Chardonnay is the queen of white grapes and produces wines of great character and personality, all of which depend on the terroir where it's grown and techniques used by the winemaker in the vineyard and cellar.

In Argentina, Chardonnay has historically been grown in Luján de Cuyo and Maipú, Mendoza, where the elevation is between 700 and 1000 metres above sea level and the climate is hot, dry, and sunny. More recently, since the early part of the 2000's, many producers have migrated their vineyards to higher areas, in the mountains, in the search for a cooler climate. For every 100 metres in elevation, the temperature drops by about 1°C. Mountain vineyard Chardonnay resides mainly in the Uco Valley, with Tupungato having the most vineyards, but the pinnacle for Argentine Chardonnay is in Gualtallary - where this wine is from. These regions offers a combination of alluvial, stony soils with high calcium content, and a cool climate, along with the orientation and layout of the vines that all contribute produce high quality wines that are Burgundian in style. Argentina's high elevation vineyards and intense sunlight allows Chardonnay to ripen fully while maintaining bright acidity.

Like the previous vintage, the grapes for this Chardonnay were grown in Gualtallary - a high-altitude region situated within Tupungato, which is at the northern reaches of the Uco Valley - at an elevation of 1,470 metres (4,822 feet) above sea level on deep-calcareous, rocky soils. The grapes were barrel-fermented using wild yeasts in 500 L French oak barrels, then aged for 9 months in French oak with veil. With near ideal growing conditions, the 2018 vintage produced excellent quality fruit and a bumper crop, resulting in excellent wines across Argentina. Let's see how this 2018 Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2018 - Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $24.95
Beautifully fragrant, elegant, refined, and complex with minerality, nut, and mealy aromas accented with ripe orchard fruit, apple, pear, lemon citrus, and a touch of honey. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is creamy and spicy with bright acidity. It is lightly honeyed with baked apple, lemon citrus, mineral, and mealy with some nutty tones on the flavour profile. Nicely textured on the mid-palate. Long, juicy, and succulent on the finish with lingering minerally and leesy notes. Gorgeous! Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other fantastic bottlings from El Enemigo Wines are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wine & Spirits.

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El Enemigo El Barranco Bonarda 2017 and El Mirador Bonarda 2017 (Argentina) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of excellent wines made with Bonarda from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the February 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Until the end of the last century, Bonarda was actually Argentina's most widely planted red varietal. Today, Bonarda is Argentina's second-most planted red wine variety with more than 44,000 acres planted, representing 15% of all red wine varietals. Bonarda was introduced to Argentina by European immigrants at the end of the 19th century and it was thought to be of Italian origin like Bonarda del Piedmont. However, in 2009 it was proven that it is actually Corbeau Noir, a European varietal originally from Savoy in the French Alps.

Over the years, the grape vines adapted to have little in common with those of Savoy and Piedmont. The varietal is now known as Bonarda Argentina and thrives in the warmer terroirs of Argentina. Sixty percent of Bonarda Argentina is cultivated in eastern Mendoza, where it is warmer and located at approximately 700 metres (2,300 feet) above sea level. Both of the wines in this post are from eastern Mendoza - one from the town of Junín, and the other from Rivadavia.

Both of these lovely wines were crafted by El Enemigo Wines, a passion project founded by Catena Zapata head winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena, who is Dr. Laura Catena's younger sister. The name El Enemigo, which means 'the enemy within', was inspired by Dante Alighieri's poem "The Divine Comedy", and the goal was to produce wines that would respect history while rejecting the status quo. I've enjoyed a number of excellent wines from El Enemigo over the years and the winery has gained global recognition for displaying the best of the Mendoza and Uco Valley soils. Many El Enemigo wines, including their single vineyard Bonardas and Chardonnay, combine old and new winemaking techniques that feature the use of concrete eggs in conjunction with 100-year-old oak foudres. The 2017 vintage across Argentina was excellent in quality, but low in yield. Let's see how this pair of Single Vineyard Bonarda wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

EL ENEMIGO EL BARRANCO SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Junín, Mendoza, Argentina (#15132) (XD) - $21.95
100% Bonarda grown at 650 metres (2,132 feet) above sea level on sand and river stone soils. It was fermented using wild yeasts and aged for 12 months in 100-year-old foudre. The generous, fragrant, and elegant nose has lovely aromas of dark berry, currant, black cherry, funky earth, and plum which lead to fine stony mineral notes that fill the glass. On the medium+ bodied, slightly chewy palate it offers pleasing notes of dark berry, currant, black cherry, stony minerals, and gentle herbal spice, all supported by fresh, balanced acidity. Refined tannins have a subtle, textured grip, while on the lingering finish it has mineral, dark berry, and herbal notes, with very good length. A really fine expression of Bonarda. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Rivadavia, Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $21.95
This 100% Bonarda was grown 650 metres (2,132 feet) on sand and deep clay soils. It was fermented using wild yeast and aged for 12 months in 100-year-old foudre. The rich, elegant, refined, and intense nose is deep, complex and spicy with dark berries, black cherry, blackberry, stony mineral, purple fruit, and hints of chocolate. Interesting black raspberry notes emerge with time in the glass. On the medium-full bodied there is some warmth on the entry, but it has smooth, refined and nicely textured tannins that support the spicy, dark berry, black cherry, blackberry, stony mineral, and cocoa flavours. Acids are fresh and juicy. Lovely dark berry, black cherry, and stony mineral notes linger on the long finish, with excellent length. Best Bonarda I've ever tasted. Must buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by El Enemigo, including other Bonarda wines, are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely, organic Chianti Classico that arrives at the LCBO this weekend and is featured as the Wine of the Month in the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The wines of Castello di Bossi are produced by Bacci Wines. After developing a passion for wine while growing up in Tuscany, Marco Bacci purchased the estate in 1983 and after spending some to learn about the soil and vines, he bottled his first wines in 1985.

Castello di Bossi is located in the southern half of the Chianti Classico production zone, within the Comune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Florence and 14 kilometres east of Siena. The estate has changed hands several times over the years, while the site itself has a long history that goes back to the first tower that was built there in the year 1090. In 1450, the original structure was expanded into the 4-walled fortress that can be seen today. The estate now covers 650 hectares, with 124 hectares under vine that are mostly planted with Sangiovese. The Bacci family has since purchased a number of estates in Tuscany and use modern viticultural practices to consistently harvest the best quality fruit in order to express the best qualities of the terroir and each grape variety. Marco uses only estate-grown fruit and believes that nature plays a significant role in the quality of their wines, thereby growing all of their grapes with great care and an eye for detail.

After enjoying the 2016 Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico from an exceptional vintage a couple of years ago, this red wine is from a vintage that was generally a cool year with uneven ripening. It is crafted using 100% Sangiovese that was grown at 350 metres (1,148 feet) above sea level on tufo, brown and yellow clay, and broken stone soils within the Chianti Classico subzone of Castelnuovo Berardenga that is located in the south of the denomination. The wines of Castelnuovo Berardenga are often described as having Brunello-like structure. Let's see how this 2018 Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95
Organic, this 100% Sangiovese has an elegant, medium+ intensity nose with aromas of sour red and black cherry, savoury earth, and clove spice. The medium-full bodied, structured and ripe palate has more sour red and black cherries, savoury earth, and clove spice flavours supported by fresh, lemony acidity. It has grippy, structured tannins, while the long, juicy finish is minerally with savoury earthy, and clove spice notes. A big wine for an Annata. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Although I see one other wine from this producer at the LCBO, other lovely wines from the Bacci Wines portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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February 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Argentina

Continuing the recent trend of mono-thematic releases, the February 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release looks on the fantastic, high-altitude wines from Argentina. All of the wines from this release should be on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

If you've been following me over the past few years, you'll know by now that Argentine wine is more than just Malbec. In this release, there are thirteen wines from Argentina featured and seven are included among my top wine picks. In addition to a pair of lovely Malbec wines, there are also a pair of lovely single vineyard wines made with Bonarda, Argentina's second-most widely planted red varietal. Other red wines from Argentina include a delicious Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Surprisingly, there is only one white wine from Argentina in this release, however, it is an outstanding Chardonnay.

Among my top red wine picks, the 2016 Rioja is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano / Mazuelo / Garnacha, while the 2020 Rioja is a 50/50 blend of Garnacha Tinta and Tempranillo. The rest of the wines are all single varietals, including a trio of lovely wines from Italy - a Merlot from Cortona, a Nebbiolo from Piedmont, and an organic Sangiovese from Tuscany. There is also a fine Pinot Noir from Niagara.

All of my white wine recommendations are single varietal wines. The old vines Chablis is a Chardonnay that was raised entirely in stainless steel tanks, the Sancerre is crafted with Sauvignon Blanc, and the Muscadet is made with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal. There are a trio of delightful Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, from three different areas and vintages, and even crafted in different slightly different manners. The version from Hawke's Bay has a small portion fermented and aged in small oak barriques, while the Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc was raised completely in tanks, and lastly, the regional Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was partially raised in concrete egg tank and clay amphora. Other single varietal dry white wines include a Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County in California, as well as a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. For sweet wine lovers, the Gewürztraminer Kabinett from Pfalz should be on your shopping list.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• LUIGI BOSCA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#128629) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• PALACIOS REMONDO LA VENDIMIA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#674564) (XD) - $18.95
• SUR DE LOS ANDES RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2018 - Rio Negro Single Vineyard, Patagonia, Argentina (#21991) (XD) - $19.95
• ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO 2019 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#22793) (XD) - $19.95
• EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $21.95  92 pts  wine review
• EL ENEMIGO EL BARRANCO SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#15132) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review

 

• CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• KEW VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR 2018 - Estate vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520080) (XD) - $23.95
• LORENZO LOBENDITO MALBEC 2017 - Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina (#19599) (XD) - $27.95
• AZIENDA POLIZIANO IN VIOLAS MERLOT 2017 - DOC Cortona, Tuscany, Italy (#22794) (XD) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CVNE IMPERIAL RESERVA 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#424390) (XD) - $39.95
• VERSADO ANCIENT RESERVA MALBEC 2014 - Mendoza, Argentina (#316984) (XD) - $58.95
  

White Wine:

• LA GRIFFE BERNARD CHÉREAU SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2020 - AP, Loire, France (#948182) (XD) - $16.95
• RABL LANGENLOIS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2020 - Sustainable, DAC Kamptal, Austria (#377457) (XD) - $18.95
• TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• DARTING DÜRKHEIMER NONNENGARTEN GEWÜRZTRAMINER KABINETT 2020 - Estate bottled, Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#944181) (S) - $19.95
• TWO RIVERS CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $21.95
• WHITEHAVEN GREG SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $23.95
• EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $24.95  92 pts  wine review
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS VIEILLES VIGNES CHABLIS 2019 - AP, Burgundy, France (#20912) (XD) $27.95  review coming soon...
• CAMBRIA KATHERINE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018 - Sustainable, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA (#980490) (XD) - $29.95
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95  92+ pts  wine review
  

Dessert Wine:

• JACKSON-TRIGGS RESERVE VIDAL ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#389411) (S) (375 mL) - $39.95

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Azienda Poliziano In Violas Merlot 2017 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Merlot from the Cortona DOC in Tuscany that comes to the LCBO as a new arrival next weekend as part of the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

With a romantic and passionate vision for this native land, Dino Carletti founded Poliziano in 1961 after he purchased his first parcel of 22 hectares near Montepulciano. The Poliziano name is a tribute to the humanist poet Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494) who had the nickname "Poliziano". The son of Dino, Federico Carletti, took over the management of the property in 1980 after completing his studies in agriculture. Federico made his mark immediately by focusing on only estate grown fruit, quality viticulture, and innovation, while respecting tradition and the environment.

Over the years, Federico continued his pursuit for quality and excellence by improving techniques in both in the vineyards and cellar. For almost 20 years, Federico has concentrated on coaxing the highest expression of the territory from his wines, dedicated himself to the production of "cru" wines of great renown.

Today, the family passion for wine and the territory continues with the 3rd generation of the family joining the business. Francesco and Maria Stella are essential advisors to Federico, ready to interpret and face both current and future challenges of the estate that has now grown to 170 hectares of vineyards.

This red wine is from the Cortona DOC in the southern part of Tuscany, just north of Lago Trasimeno. Wine production in the region dates back to the time of the Etruscans, but was only established as a DOC in 1999. Inspiration of Poliziano's oenological project in the area came in the aftermath of the creation of the DOC as it was suitable for international varieties, along with it's friendship with the Aliotti Tommasi family that owned optimal lands in the area. Mainly international varieties are planted within the Cortona DOC, and this particular red wine is crafted with 100% Merlot. First produced in 2004, the grapes for this wine come from a 7 hectare vineyard that is planted between 300-350 metres above sea level with southwest exposure to the sun, and on clay loam (Pliocene clay) soils that have a good presence of stones. The grapes are manually harvested and sorted, fermented in stainless steel vats, and aged for 16-18 months in French oak barrels. In Violas is named in tribute to one of Angelo Ambrogini's elegies. Let's see how this Merlot from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

AZIENDA POLIZIANO IN VIOLAS MERLOT 2017 - DOC Cortona, Tuscany, Italy (#22794) (XD) - $32.95
The rich, intense nose offers lovely aromas that leads with sandalwood, dark berry, and blackberry, followed by notes of currant, floral, walnut, and cocoa. The richly structured, chewy, full-bodied palate is a touch warming with more sandalwood, dark berry, blackberry, walnut, clove, and cocoa replays supported by fresh, lively acidity. Ripe, structured tannins have some youthful grip. Long, juicy, structured, and savoury finish with sandalwood, cocoa, and clove spice notes. Oak heavy, but high quality, and it works really well. Highly recommended buy to enjoy towards the end of the decade. Score: 91+ pts

One other bottling from this producer is available at the LCBO, while other lovely wines from Azienda Poliziano are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château de Nages ButiNAGES Red 2019 and White 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, organic wines from southern Rhône that arrived at the LCBO for the first time last weekend as part of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château de Nages is a family-owned operation located in Costières de Nîmes that has been passed down over the generations. The family's history at Château de Nages begins with Joseph Torres, the family patriarch who at 68 years of age purchased this southern Rhône estate during World War II. After the passing of Joseph, the estate was managed by his son-in-law Alfred Gassier.

Today, the highly-acclaimed Michel Gassier is the fourth generation of the family to manage the estate. Situated in the heart of a Natura 2000 zone (an ecological network of protected areas of the European Union), the vineyards are planted with typical Rhône varietals and organically farmed. They are firmly committed to protecting their ecosystem and using resources wisely. To produce their fabulous wines, they combine ancestral know-how with modern techniques and with an absolute respect for the soil.

Both of these wines are from Château de Nages' ButiNAGES collection, which also includes a rosé. ButiNAGES, which means "gather nectar", is a metaphor that describes both the style of these wines, as well as the vineyard approach that allows us to achieve it. The grapes for these wines come from their younger vineyards, but receive the same attentiveness as their other cuvées. ButiNAGES wines are crafted with purity of fruit in mind to produce fresh, crisp, and unoaked wines with a soft mouthfeel. While the producer suggests that these are easy-drinking crowd pleasers (which they are), the quality offered in these wines are far superior than what you would normally find in an easy-drinking crowd pleaser type of wine. The 2019 vintage was outstanding in the Southern Rhône Valley, while the 2020 vintage for white wine varietals was very good. Let's see how these lovely wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

BUTINAGES WHITE 2020 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20906) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Blend of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne that was aged on fine lees in concrete vats with batonnage for 3 months. Elegant, fragrant, medium-high intensity aromatics are leesy mineral-inflected with lemon citrus, grapefruit, and white florals nuanced with ripe apple, stone fruits, and white peach. The palate is dry and impressively concentrated with flavours of apple, stone fruit, grapefruit, citrus, and white floral. Nicely balanced with fresh, succulent acidity. Saline minerals with citrusy notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

BUTINAGES RED 2019 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20637) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Unoaked blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was destemmed without crushing to keep only whole berries. It was blended and aged on lees in vats for 6 months. The medium-high intensity nose offers a lovely bouquet of dark cherry, raspberry, wild herbs, smoky minerality, garrigue, peppery spice, and subtle meaty nuances. It's medium-full bodied with rich, ripe, supple, and dusty tannins that have a subtly textured grip. Flavours of dark cherry, raspberry, licorice, peppery spice, smoky minerality, and garrigue are lifted by fresh, vibrant acidity. Finishes long and juicy with smoky mineral notes. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Château de Nages are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend 2018 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious blend from California that is featured on the cover of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release and arrives on shelves across Ontario for the first time this Saturday.

It is produced by Francis Ford Coppola Winery, a name famous in the world of cinema, but also quite popular in the world of wine. In 2006, the Coppola family purchased a historic property in Sonoma County and wanted to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life. After two years of renovations, the winery opened in 2010 with a tasting room, museum, and restaurant.

The Coppola family also has a firm commitment to sustainability as they have long supported sustainability throughout their lives and many business endeavours in an effort to preserve the land for generations to come. In 2020, the winery became certified sustainable through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Some of Coppola winery's sustainability activities include using energy produced from renewable sources, conserving and reducing water usage, as well as farming sustainably and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Diamond Collection, a range of wines that are crafted with grapes grown across California (and Oregon), and are carefully combined to create wines for all occasions. This particular wine is created exclusively by taste each vintage with no particular roadmap in mind. The 2018 vintage it is a blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah using grapes from various appellations across California and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Note:

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95
This blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah has a fragrant nose that offers a lush array of ripe black, dark red, and purple fruit aromas mingling with vanillin oak, and spices. It's full-bodied with slightly jammy black and red fruits such as blackberry and cherry, along with spice, and vanillin oak flavours in a pleasingly dry flavour profile. Although there is a touch of warmth, it's still well-balanced with good acidity, and smooth, dusty textured, and moderately grippy tannins. Woody, earthy, and milk chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines Francis Ford Coppola are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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January 22, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California

The main theme of the mono-thematic January 22, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on wines from California. All of the wines from release, including those featured in the California thematic, should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday. Also mentioned in this release is the introduction of the Monthly Online-Only Collection - a curated selection of wines that can only be purchased exclusively online on lcbo.com.

We begin with the theme on California wines that features fifteen wines, of which two are included among my top wine picks. The Red Blend from California is composed of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah. The only other California wine recommendation is a Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, at the northern end of California's prime winegrowing area.

From my top red wine picks, Rhone reds include the Costières de Nîmes that consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Carignan. With the Chianti Classico wines from Italy, the San Felice is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino, and 10% Pugnitello, while the Ama is composed of 96% Sangiovese and 4% Merlot. From Spain, the Calatayud is a blend of primarily old-vine Garnacha (between 70 and 100 years old), Syrah, Tempranillo, and Mazuelo, while the Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon includes 5% Syrah. Single varietal wines include an Aglianico from Campania, a Carignan from Roussillon, a Carménère from Chile, and a Graciano from Spain.

Among my white wine recommendations, the only blend is the Rhône White that is composed of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne. Among the single varietal white wines, there are Sauvignon Blanc wines from Chile and New Zealand, a Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, and a dry Pinot Gris from British Columbia. There is also a Chardonnay from Burgundy, while the partially matured in oak barrels Chenin Blanc is from South Africa. For sweet wine lovers, the white wine from Pfalz is a late harvest made with Siegerrebe and should be on your shopping list.

For readers seeking sparkling wines, there is a Prosecco made with Glera, the vintage bubbly from South Africa is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, and lastly, the Champagne is made with 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• EL ESCOCÉS VOLANTE MANGA DEL BRUJO 2018 - DO Calatayud, Spain (#15073) (XD) - $16.95
• CAMILLE CAYRAN LE CHÊNE NOIR CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 - AP, Rhône, France (#10006) (XD) - $16.95
• BUTINAGES RED 2019 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20637) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• IL POGGIO SANNIO AGLIANICO 2017 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#575225) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#282996) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LAFAGE CAYROL VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2019 - Sustainable, IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#494039) (XD) - $19.95

• CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review
• TORRES CORDILLERA DE LOS ANDES RESERVA ESPECIAL CARMENÈRE 2018 - Parcela La Ladera, DO Peumo, Valle del Cachapoal, Chile (#389692) (XD) - $22.95
• FINCAS DE LANDALUCE GRACIANO 2017 - Rioja Alavesa, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#23413) (XD) - $25.95
• FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95  89 pts  wine review
• CASTELLO DI AMA AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#515759) (XD) - $35.95
• LONG MEADOW RANCH PINOT NOIR 2016 - Estate grown, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, USA (#22598) (XD) - $59.95

White Wine:

• BUTINAGES WHITE 2020 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20906) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• BELLINGHAM THE OLD ORCHARDS CHENIN BLANC 2020 - WO Paarl, South Africa (#484055) (XD) - $16.95
• LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $17.95
• ANSELMANN EDESHEIMER ROSENGARTEN SIEGERREBE SPÄTLESE 2019 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#910554) (S) - $17.95
• ALOIS LAGEDER TERRA ALPINA PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige, Italy (#681429) (XD) - $19.95
• SOHO STELLA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Vegan, sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#554311) (XD) - $22.95
• MISSION HILL RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2020 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#537076) (XD) - $22.95
• CHRISTOPHE PATRICE PETIT CHABLIS 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#14871) (XD) - $23.95

Sparkling Wine:

• GIUSTI BRUT ASOLO PROSECCO SUPERIORE - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#16555) (D) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• JACQUES BRUÉRE CAP CLASSIQUE BLANC DE BLANCS SPARKLING 2011 - Traditional method, WO Robertson, South Africa (#23971) (XD) - $25.95
• ANDRÉ CHEMIN CUVÉE SÉLECTIONNÉE BRUT 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#20245) (XD) - $52.95
  

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Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 22 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Cloz de Luz is a family run business located in the Almahue Valley, which is part of the D.O. Rapel Valley, and naturally walled in by the Mancuman Hill, that has belonged in the family for five generations. The vineyards were planted in 1945 by their grandmother Luz and are among the oldest in Chile. Today, they have 33 hectares of estate vineyards and the estate is owned by the Edwards Cosmelli branch of the family. The principal focus is on producing elegant and quality wines based on a non-interventionist approach with freshness and subtle use of oak to enhance the natural fruity character of the wines.

With several ranges of wines within their portfolio, this particular wine by Clos de Luz is from their Massal 1945 range, signifying the year in which most of the Clos de Luz vineyard was planted by Grandma Luz. The Massal range also evokes the philosophy of planting 100% Massal selection by replanting vineyards with cuttings from old vineyards to promote natural diversity of the plants. Massal selection tends to be produce an interesting collection of fruit, which in turn produces wines of individuality and uniqueness.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is often a blend with one or two other varietals playing a minor role. The 2018 vintage is composed of old 95% Cabernet Sauvignon from Almahue and 5% Syrah. It was hand-harvested with strict selection criteria, fermented with indigenous yeast and stabilized naturally without any chemicals. 50% of the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 44% in 7,000 L Taransaud oak tanks, and 6% in 500 L Sylvain French oak barrels.

A few years ago I tasted (and liked) the 2016 vintage of this wine, which hailed from what was considered a poor vintage across Chile. On the other hand, the 2018 edition of this wine comes from an excellent vintage with slightly cooler-than-average temperatures that delivered structure and concentration. Let's see how this Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $21.95
This blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah has a lovely bouquet offering an intense and complex medley of evergreen, forest floor, ripe dark cherry, blackberry, currant with hints of peppery spice, all surrounding an earthy core. It's full-bodied, concentrated and ripe with lovely, minty herbs, tangy red and black berry, and subtle oak spice flavours. Slightly warming, but still well-balanced with fine acidity and ripe, structured and fine-grained tannins. The juicy, succulent acids take you through to the long finish with lingering minty herb, dark red and black cherry, earth, and subtle oak notes. Highly recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

The companion Carménère to this wine is coming to VINTAGES in March, while other wines from Clos de Luz can be ordered through their Agent - Touchstone Brands.

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2015 (Midi) - Wine Review

To cap off my weekend, for tonight's wine review I dive into this lovely, unoaked red wine blend from southern France that I purchased from an LCBO VINTAGES Release in July 2017.

This red wine is from the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun in southern France. It is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown 30 km north of Beziers on the schistous hillside of Roquebrun that faces south and south-east. It was macerated in whole bunches and fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.

Being one of my "go-to" wines, I previously enjoyed the 2018 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun last year, the 2010 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun a few years ago, and I still have one more vintage in my collection. Although this wine is not available at the LCBO right now, I wouldn't be surprised to see it come to VINTAGES in the spring or summer.

Let's see how this 2015 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2015 - AC, Midi, France (#155804) (XD) - $18.95
Raised entirely in tank, this lovely blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre pours a medium-deep garnet colour. The fragrant nose is elegant, mature, and complex with lovely dried dark berry, plum, dried florals, herbs, spices, olive, and mushroom with savoury, meaty, and smoky mineral hints. It's medium-full bodied with flavours of dried dark berry, smoky mineral, purple fruit, and plum in a spicy profile that's supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity. Structured tannins are quite grippy and chalky, while the alcohol is slightly warming, but still balanced. Savoury with smoky minerals linger on the very long, chalky finish. Could be cellared a bit longer, but it is drinking quite well right now. Always a great buy! Score: 91 pts

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Fasoli Gino San Raffaele Pinot Grigio 2020 (delle Venezie) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is the latest incarnation of this delicious, organic, and vegan-friendly Pinot Grigio that arrived at the LCBO as part of the January 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release last weekend.

I last tasted a previous edition of this wine nearly six years ago when the 2015 San Raffaele Monte Tabor Pinot Grigio arrived at the LCBO. However, this wine now bears the DOC delle Venezie designation, a new appellation that began with the 2017 vintage. It is produced by Fasoli Gino, a winemaking family with four generations of experience and deep roots in Verona. The family has been producing wine since 1925 with the goal of crafting unique wines that they are proud of. In 1984, they transitioned to organic wines, and in 2006 they started implementing biodynamic practices.

Today, Fasoli Gino is one of Italy's most long-standing and respected organic producers. They continue to apply knowledge passed down over generations to modern techniques to ensure they consistently produce high-quality wines. Let's see how this tasty Pinot Grigio is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FASOLI GINO SAN RAFFAELE PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - Vegan, DOC delle Venezie, Italy (#204768) (XD) - $15.95
Organic and vegan-friendly, this 100% Pinot Grigio was hand-harvested and enclosed by screw cap. Clean, fresh, and generous aromas of orchard fruit, pear, lemon citrus, and melon, along with mineral undertones and a whiff of herb. It's medium+ bodied with good concentration on the lightly honeyed, yet dry palate with crisp, refreshing acidity lifting the apple, pear, lemon citrus, and melon flavours. Juicy, slightly spicy on the mid-palate, and nicely balanced with fine leesy mineral notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Fasoli Gino can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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LAVAU Gigondas 2018 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2016 LAVAU Gigondas approximately 18 months ago, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this red wine from one of my favourite Rhône producers. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the January 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, a winemaking family with a passion for wine and love for terroir and land. The Lavau family's story begins in Saint-Émilion in the 19th century, followed by a move to Tunisia where René Lavau and his son transformed a small estate of vines and orange trees into the country's biggest wine producer. In the 1960s, Jean-Guy Lavau (René's grandson) and his wife Anne-Marie returned to France and settled in Sablet in the heart of the Rhône Valley and took charge of a small winemaking cellar that would eventually become Maison LAVAU in 1965.

In the 1990s, their two sons, Frédéric and Benoît Lavau, joined the family winery and took over once their parents retired at the turn of the century. In addition to having over 180 hectares of vines across the Rhône Valley, Maison LAVAU has also formed partnerships with growers and other estates. Today, Maison LAVAU is a major producer of Rhône wines and one of the last family-run and independent wine estates in the Rhône Valley.

Like the previous vintage, this Gigondas is crafted with old vines Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (10%). Originally from Spain, Grenache is the emblematic grape of the Southern Rhône Valley. Grenache is very resistant to drought, produces very sweet juice, and is usually blended to contribute to the power and volume of the wines from the Southern Rhône. Syrah is not very resistant to the Mistral wind, thus it is often trained. Syrah produces a beautiful purplish hue, intense fruit or spice notes, and combines very well with Grenache as it imparts freshness, fruit, and tannin to the blend. Also originally from Spain, Mourvèdre is a late ripening variety that produces intense and powerful wines, yet show great finesse. Mourvèdre is particularly suitable for maturing and ageing in oak.

This Gigondas was grown on fairly poor, calcareous-marl soils, from parcels located on the terraced, north-facing slopes of Gigondas, at the foot of the famous Dentelles de Montmirail. The grapes were de-stemmed, macerated, and fermented in temperature-controlled vats. The wine was aged for 12 months, with 55% aged in vat, while the remainder was aged in 450 L barrels that were used previously for 1 or 2 vintages, and then blended to create the final wine. Although the 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhône was a bit of a hit or miss, Maison LAVAU always produces a solid range of wines, so let's see how this Gigondas is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU GIGONDAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#234955) (XD) - $34.95
This blend of old vines Grenache (50%), Syrah (40%), and Mourvèdre (10%) has a lovely, intense nose of spices, black pepper, and dark berries with meaty, licorice, black cherry, and smoky mineral, plus hints of violets adding further complexity. On the structured, medium-full bodied palate it is very ripe with black and blueberry, smoky mineral, black pepper spice, black raspberry, and licorice flavours supported by ripe, fine-grained tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity. Slightly chalky on the mid-palate and beautifully balanced throughout with lovely flavour replays lingering on the long, smoky mineral finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Although very few other bottlings from this producer are currently available at the LCBO, wines from Maison LAVAU can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Closerie des Alisiers Bourgogne Aligoté 2020 and Petit Chablis 2019 (Burgundy) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely white wines from Burgundy that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

These are wines are produced by Stéphane Brocard, the son of a Chablisian winegrower Jean-Marc Brocard. Stéphane founded his Trading House after he moved to Marsannay in 2007, and in addition to his own vines in Pommard and in the old winegrowing village of Daix, Stéphane also works with the same winegrowers and plots year after year to offer authentic wines based on purity, fruit, and freshness while also having the greatest respect for terroir and the environment.

In Burgundy, the concept of 'clos' is very old, with the first clos appearing in the 7th century. Initially of religious influence, these stone walls multiplied in the 19th century and made it possible to retain the soil of each estate, giving each Burgundy estate its own personality. A Closerie is a small clos - a small property surrounded by walls or hedges.

Maison Stéphane Brocard established Closerie des Alisiers, and together with partner estates is able to craft wines from all of Burgundy's appellations representing the region's diversity, with an increasingly large range of organic wines. The wines of Closerie des Alisiers represent a range of Burgundy wines almost exclusively from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as few Aligoté wines. Together, they present the complexity and authenticity of Burgundy wines.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of both of these wines - the 2017 Closerie des Alisiers Bourgogne Aligoté and 2016 Closerie des Alisiers Petit Chablis - and expect wines of similar quality, if not better this time around. Let's see how these Burgundy white wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2020 - AC, France (#557728) (XD) - $17.95
Crafted with Burgundy's second white grape - Aligoté - this unoaked white wine has a medium-high intensity nose that is very pretty with lovely white floral, ripe apple, and zesty lime citrus aromas with mineral accents. The medium+ bodied palate has good weight and concentration with slightly honeyed notes of ripe apple, white flowers, lime citrus, and oyster shell mineral with a hint of orange in a dry flavour profile. Acids are fresh, succulent, and juicy. Slightly chalky textured with oyster shell minerality and lime citrus notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Keeps you coming back for another sip. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS PETIT CHABLIS 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#557769) (XD) - $22.95
100% Chardonnay grown at altitude on Kimmeridgian soils of limestone, rich in marine fossils, and in particular small comma-shaped oysters. Raised entirely in stainless steel vats, the nose seems somewhat quiet, offering delicate aromas of lemon/lime citrus, oyster shell and limestone minerals, and a whiff of white flowers. The creamy, slightly chalky textured, mid-weighted palate is lightly honeyed and dry with ripe stone fruits, apple, lemon, pear, mealy, and nutty flavours flecked with minerality. Bright acids are fresh and juicy, while oyster shell minerals, ripe stone fruits, and light spice notes linger on the long, succulent finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Closerie des Alisiers can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Montresor Capitel della Crosara Valpolicella Ripasso 2018 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Valpolicella from Veneto that comes to the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 8 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Vini Montresor, a family with a long history that boasts illustrious ancestors such as the Count Claude de Montresor, a trusted advisor to the Duke of Orleans in France in the 17th century. A branch of the Montresor family moved to the Veneto region in Italy at the beginning of the 19th and settled near Lake Garda in an area renowned for its moraine soils. It was here that the family continued to grow one of its main passions - wine making - and in 1892 Giacomo Montresor started up Cantine Giacomo Montresor. With French blood and an Italian spirit, the Montresor family has been part of the wine industry for more than 200 years and would like to this privilege with wine drinkers across the globe.

This particular red wine is from their Capitel della Crosara collection that was created in 1991. The "Capitello" is a very old stone at the intersection in a small village of Valpolicella and on it is painted a figure of the Madonna which in past times was used by the peasantry as a votive icon. Impressed by the charm of this area, the Montresor family established relationships with almost all of the peasant families of the Borgo in the 1950s and bought their grapes. The relationship between the growers and Cantine Giacomo Montresor was so deep that it was said that Montresor had a monopoly on the grapes from this area.

A traditional blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes from the Valpolicella area were used to craft this red wine in the Ripasso method. The grapes were harvested in September and October and followed traditional vinification methods with destemming and maceration of the skins, and a very slow fermentation. After re-fermentation on Amarone pomace, the wine is aged in wood for about 1 year. I've been tasting quite a few Valpolicella wines lately, let's see how this one is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MONTRESOR CAPITEL DELLA CROSARA VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO 2018 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#379172) (XD) - $19.95
Crafted with Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, the medium-high intensity nose is quite elegant with a pleasing mix of candied black cherry, dried spices, and wood spice with savoury, earthy undertones, and a slight herbal touch. On the medium-full bodied palate it comes off as dry on the flavour profile with delicious aroma replays. It's very well balanced with fresh, juicy acidity and refined, slightly grippy tannins. Savoury, earthy, cocoa, and woody with herbal notes linger on the long, succulent finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Montresor are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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