March 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Cabernet Sauvignon

The main theme of the March 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release is yet another mono-themed release and focuses on wines made using Cabernet Sauvignon. There's also a number of Online Exclusive (OE) wines as part of this release and will be available for purchase exclusively on lcbo.com a couple of days prior to release day. In-store wines should be available across the province by Saturday.

Titled "The ABCs of CABs", we begin with the theme on wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon. This noble red grape varietal is considered the "King of Grapes" due to its bold and ageable character. The grape is treasured and celebrated in Bordeaux's iconic blends of the Left Bank, but has also found a home in many other wine regions around the globe. Of the sixteen wines listed as part of the theme, only a Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale in Australia is among my top wine picks.

Red wine options from the rest of the release are aplenty. Starting in Rhône, there is a lovely Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre, and 4% Cinsault, while the Lirac consists of 55% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Carignan, and 5% Mourvèdre. Also from Rhône, the Crozes-Hermitage is 100% Syrah, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of roughly 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 25% Carignan. From Italy, the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico consists of 80% Sangiovese and the rest Merlot and Colorino, while the Barolo is, of course, made with Nebbiolo. Other blends include a Madiran that is mostly Tannat plus Cabernet Franc completing the blend, as well as a Douro red that consists of roughly equal parts Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Barroca.

All of my white wine picks are single varietal wines. There are a pair of lovely Torrontés wines from Argentina - one is unoaked, while the other is barrel fermented and aged in French oak barrels. From Italy there is a Pinot Grigio from the northeastern part of the country in Friuli, while the Pecorino is from Abruzzo in central Italy. On the local front, there is a fine Chardonnay that is available only as an Online Exclusive, as well as its mutated variant, the unique and aromatic Chardonnay Musqué. Other recommendations include an Albariño from Spain, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, and a Semillon from Hunter Valley.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CRASTO 2019 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#81588) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• MITOLO JESTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#43224) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LA POSTA FAZZIO MALBEC 2019 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#444687) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• SUTHERLAND PINOT NOIR 2019 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#624924) (XD) - $19.95
• MONTGRAS AMARAL SYRAH 2019 - Sustainable, DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#21958) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL 2019 - AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#638502) {XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review

 

• CHÂTEAU PEYROS VIEILLES VIGNES MADIRAN 2017 - AC, Southwest, France (#234997) (XD) - $22.95
• FERRATON PÈRE & FILS LA MATINIÈRE CROZES-HERMITAGE 2018 - AP, Rhône, France (#127712) (XD) - $28.95  OE
• CHÂTEAU DE MONTFAUCON BARON LOUIS LIRAC 2015 - AP, Rhône, France (#13438) (XD) - $32.95  91 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE DROUHIN OREGON PINOT NOIR 2019 - Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#11263) (XD) - $42.95  OE
• RUFFINO RISERVA DUCALE ORO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#353201) (XD) - $49.95  92 pts  wine review
• DOMAINE DU VIEUX TÉLÉGRAPHE TÉLÉGRAMME CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#292722) (XD) - $59.95
• BORGOGNO BAROLO 2016 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#283499) (XD) - $65.95  OE
  

White Wine:

• RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH CHENIN BLANC 2019 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#698274) (XD) - $14.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2021 - IP Salta, Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• FERZO ABRUZZO PECORINO SUPERIORE 2020 - DOP, Abruzzo, Italy (#573683) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2020 - Sustainable, Cave Spring Vineyard, VOA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#246579) (XD) - $19.95
• ATTEMS PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - DOC Friuli, Italy (#707950) (XD) - $19.95
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE BARREL FERMENTED TORRONTÉS 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#384339) (XD) - $21.95
• PAZO DAS BRUXAS ALBARIÑO 2019 - DO Rias Baixas, Spain (#417667) (XD) - $21.95
• TYRRELL'S HUNTER VALLEY SERIES SEMILLON 2019 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#632034) (XD) - $24.95
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES CHARDONNAY 2018 - VOA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#16059) (XD) - $34.95  OE
  

Fortified:

• FONSECA LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT 2015 - Unfiltered, DOP, Portugal (#87551) (S) - $23.95

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Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale. A frequent visitor to the LCBO for many years now. I recall enjoying 2008 vintage of this wine back in 2010, while the latest vintage should be arriving on shelves across Ontario this weekend as part of the March 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Originally from Abruzzo with a viticultural ancestry, the Mitolo family moved to Australia in the 1950s to become successful market gardeners. After years of working in his family's potato business, Frank Mitolo started making wine for family and friends. In 1999, after a legendary 5-hour discussion with winemaker Ben Glaetzer, the pair fashioned a dream of making the ultimate expression of McLaren Vale's rich provenance of soils. Mitolo Wines was formed with a six word business plan on the back of a napkin: individuality, integrity, quality, purity, elegance and power, and the first wine was a 2000 G.A.M. Shiraz that was named in honour of Frank's children Gemma, Alex, and Marco. Ben is part of the well-known Glaetzer family that has a long lineage of viticulture and winemaking within the Barossa Valley, and uses a hands-off approach in the winery, while also working closely with the growers of Mitolo wines - the Lopresti family.

Mitolo works closely with its growers, the Lopresti family, who are also from Italy and old friends of the Mitolo family. Don Lopresti, a Calabrian, started planting his vineyards in the coastal Aldinga McLaren Vale in 1975. Today, Don works closely with his sons Joe and Michael to fastidiously maintain the 200 acres of vineyards to produce the style Mitolo is renowned for. The Lopresti vineyards are sandwiched between the Gulf St Vincent and the nearby Willunga Hills, known as the Clay Plains of Aldinga, where the soils are of heavy, grey loams mixed with black 'Biscay' clay overlying ancient Ngaltinga formation that was formed one million years ago in the Pleistocene age. Winter rains soak deep into the clay and hold the moisture deep in the soil, and when the soils have dried out, the ensuing cracks create positive stress on the vines as they strive for energy and concentrating fruit flavours.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is from Mitolo's Jester range of wines. The Jesters of the Courts of Europe had one motivation - to entertain the household of a nobleman and their guests. A modern entertainer, the Jester is able to excite, tell stories at any dinner table, and are the life of the party. Ultimately, the Jesters - and these wines - are there to remind us not to take life too seriously.

Crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% of the fruit was dried on racks for approximately 7-8 weeks in the Italian Appassimento style. From vineyards located at the southern end of McLaren Vale on heavy clay soils, close to the seaside town of Aldinga, the combination of cool sea breezes and gully winds provide the ideal conditions for growing powerful fruit with intensity and balance. Yields were down compared to the 2017 vintage, but quality was exceptional. Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

MITOLO JESTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#43224) (XD) - $19.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% of the grapes dried in the Appassimento style. Screw cap. The medium+ intensity nose has ripe black currant, and cassis aromas joined by spices, mocha chocolate, dried herbs, and whiffs of crushed rock. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has fresh, juicy acidity that supports the ripe black currant, dark cherry, mocha chocolate, and dried herbal flavours with a slightly tangy mid-palate. Textured tannins have a supple grip. Savoury, earthy, and mocha chocolate notes linger on the fresh finish, with very good length. A bit of a crowd pleaser, a joy to sip. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Mitolo are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Catena Paraje Altamira Malbec 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

I first came across this lovely, high-altitude, single vineyard Malbec from Paraje Altamira, Argentina, at the LCBO lab three years ago and have been enamoured with this wine ever since. For tonight's red wine review, I bring you the latest vintage of this terrific wine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the March 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded by the Catena family in 1902, Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's most internationally renowned and celebrated wineries. Recognized for it's pioneering role in high-altitude viticulture, Catena is also responsible for introducing the world to premium quality Malbec. Now in its fourth generation, the winery is led by Dr. Laura Catena, who has spearheaded significant terroir research in pursuit of her family's dream to produce Argentina's "Premier Crus." In February 2021, The Catena Institute of Wine published a research study that proved irrefutably the existence of terroir and its persistence across vintages for Malbec wines.

Like other Catena wines I've enjoyed over the years, this Malbec is from Catena's Appellation range of wines which follow Burgundy's pattern of where the village the grapes are grown lends their name to the appellation. In Argentina, the rural towns of Lunlunta, Vista Flores, San Carlos, Tupungato, Agrelo, and La Consulta lend their names to the beautiful historic vineyards that surround them and proudly displayed on the label for each of Catena's wines in this range. In France, the village vineyards are small and often owned by siblings and cousins within the same family due to the Napoleonic code which establishes that at a person's death, his or her land is divided equally among his or her heirs. Being a Latin country, Argentina also shares the Napoleonic code, and over half of the vineyards in Mendoza are less than four hectares in size and owned by multiple family members. The Catena range of "Village" wines express the diversity of terroir and the historic farming customs of these local families.

The history of this wine can be traced back to the 1950s when Don Domingo Catena began sourcing Malbec from the vineyards of Altamira in the Uco Valley. Today, this wine is from the Altamira Vineyard located at 1,095 metres (3,593 feet) elevation on alluvial origin soils which are loamy with rounded rocks on the bottom, and a composition of 80% sand, 10% clay, and 10% silt. At these high elevations, the combination of intense sunlight and cool nights help produce an elegant, minerally, and slightly spicy Malbec with a deep texture and flavours. From the excellent 2018 vintage, let's see how this Paraje Altamira Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2018 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $22.95
100% Malbec that was grown in Paraje Altamira at 1,095 metres (3,593 feet) above sea level, it was aged for 12 months in mostly used French oak. The fresh, intense nose has lovely ripe black and purple fruits balanced with savoury stony-earthy mineral aromas and touches of herbal spice adding complexity. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is rich and nicely structured with spicy, dark berry, violet, currant, stony-earthy minerals, and some herbal notes on the complex flavour profile. Fresh acids are well-balanced, while the structured, refined tannins have a pleasantly and lightly chalky grip. Minerally with black cherry, currant, and violet accents lingering on the juicy finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Catena Zapata are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Zingari 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious Super Tuscan red that is featured as part of theme on wines from Tuscany and on the cover of the March 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release catalogue.

Petra is a wine company located close to the ancient village of Suvereto, in northern Maremma of Tuscany, on the ferrous hills of the Val di Cornia where you can see as far as the Tyrrhenian Sea. A women's company, Petra has been directed by women for more than 200 years.

The story of Petra begins in 1808 when Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleone's sister, Princess of Lucca and Piombino and grand duchess of Tuscany, chose this place in Maremma to establish the first seed of an agricultural and viticultural project. Two centuries later, Francesca Moretti fell in love with the history and the culture of the chateaux in Bordeaux and began studying agriculture and oenology. Francesca also begin looking for properties to convert into a winemaking company like those found in Bordeaux and settled in the fertile Val di Cornia area in Maremma with the cooperation of the explorer Attilio Scienza.

In 1997, Vittorio Moretti purchased 60 hectares in San Lorenzo and 45 hectares in Campiglia Marittima, a few kilometres from Piombino, in the Suvereto area. These purchases were the seed, the start of an extensive and contemporary project that would become Petra. Originally from Franciacorta, Francesca Moretti found her second home in Suvereto. Francesca planted her first varietals at the winery while still in university. Based on the terroir and her vision, she favoured international varieties and planted these in the Princess Vineyard, a 5 hectare plot where Elisa Bonaparte had also planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes two centuries earlier. In the vineyard, agricultural practices follow an organic regime while also reducing environmental impact, with a path towards organic certification.

This red wine is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Petit Verdot that was born out of an experimental vineyard to test the attitudes of each varietal. The wine's roots can be traced back to an ancient water spring that was a stop-over for pilgrims and wayfarers, also known as the Zingari (Gypsies), who were travelling along nearby Aurelia Street and could seek refreshment by resting nearby its crystal clear waters. The average age of the vines is 17 years and they are planted on loamy-sandy texture and slightly calcareous soils. It was aged in barrels and barriques for at least 12 months and spent a further 3 months in bottle prior to release. Let's see how this red blend from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZINGARI 2018 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#244228) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Petit Verdot has a fragrant, open nose that offers an attractive mix of ripe black cherry, red plum, savoury earth, and subtle wood spice aromas. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it has delicious ripe black cherry, plum, cassis, cedary wood spice, and savoury earth flavours. Fresh acids are juicy and nicely balanced, while the supple tannins have a subtle, grippy texture. Supple and dry on the long, savoury, cedary wood spiced finish. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Petra can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Pasarisa Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the second of three delicious Malbec wines that arrived at the LCBO on the weekend as part of the March 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Pasarisa is one of Catena Zapata's newer range of wines that was launched in 2015 and celebrates Argentina's wine producing regions outside of its roots in Mendoza. Pasarisa gets its name by taking the first two letters from Patagonia, Salta, and La Rioja, then finishing with the initials of South America. The range was launched by Catena as part of their vision for the future, along with the work of the Catena Institute, to extensively research and improve Argentina's viticultural and vinification practices outside of Mendoza. Additionally, the hope is to bring economic prosperity to these poorer regions by finding special locations for the cultivation of grapes beyond Malbec.

With this new range of six wines, Catena works with growers in the three regions of Patagonia, Salta, and La Rioja to highlight their varied history, culture, and wine styles. From the remote and southerly region of Patagonia, where the climate is cool and windy, is a Merlot and Pinot Noir, the most widely planted varietals after Malbec. From the high-altitude region of Salta is a Torrontés, the only white in the range, and a Cabernet Sauvignon where some plantings go back to the mid-19th century. Lastly, from the iron-rich soils of La Rioja is a Syrah that pairs nicely with local cuisine that features many dishes made with lamb. For the sixth wine of the collection, Catena returns to its roots with a regionally blended Malbec from Mendoza. Let's see how this Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PASARISA MALBEC 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#21986) (XD) - $16.95
The medium+ intensity nose is spicy with stony mineral notes surrounding a core of ripe dark berry, blackberry, and plummy aromas. The medium to medium+ bodied palate is very ripe with dark berry, blackberry, black cherry, plum, spice, and mineral flavours supported by fresh, balanced acidity and ripe, fine-grained, and slightly grippy tannins. Smoky minerals linger on the savoury finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Pasarisa can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Alamos Selección Malbec 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Malbec that returned to the LCBO this weekend as part of the March 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Alamos, a producer whose history is rooted in over 100 years of family winemaking with the founding wine family of Argentina - the Catenas. With generations of passion and expertise, the adventurous spirit of Alamos wines are crafted from high-elevation vineyards at the foot of the Andes. The wines are flavourful, approachable, and authentically Argentine, with this Malbec the pinnacle of their portfolio.

The winemaker at Alamos is Lucía Vaieretti. She comes from a family of winegrowers who have been tending vines in Mendoza for more than 40 years. Lucía attended Don Bosco, South America's most prestigious viticulture and enology school and has been working with the Catena family of wineries for nearly 20 years, eventually taking over the Alamos cellar in 2016. Alamos wines are internationally renowned for their ability to blend quality grapes from various terroirs and elevations. At high elevations, the intense sunlight leads to thicker grape skins and richer, more flavourful wines, while the crisp, cool nights allow the grapes to gain complexity while retaining balance and acidity. The mineral-rich irrigation from mountain snowmelt also add to the rich, layered aromas and flavours of Argentina's signature varieties.

Without a doubt, Malbec is Argentina's signature varietal with 23 percent of the country's vineyards planted to the varietal and two out of every three bottles exported to other countries. Malbec is grown from north to south and this particular bottling is from the small winegrowing sub-region of La Consulta in the southern Uco Valley of Mendoza. It was grown and hand-picked at high-altitude vineyards between 910 to 1,520 metres (2,985 to 4,986 feet) elevation. At the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented in upright and conical tanks, with each Malbec lot kept separate throughout the vinification process. The wine was aged in French oak for 9 to 12 months prior to blending, then aged another 4 months in bottle.

I first enjoyed the 2016 Alamos Selección Malbec in November 2020. I also enjoyed the 2018 vintage when it first arrived on shelves in July of last year and am curious to see if it has evolved much over the past 8 months...

Tasting Notes:

ALAMOS SELECCIÓN MALBEC 2018 - La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#322800) (XD) - $16.95
100% Malbec from high-elevation vineyards between 910 to 1,520 metres (2,985 to 4,986 feet), the medium-high intensity nose offers lush, ripe dark fruited aromas of blackberry, purple fruit, violet, and dried herbal spice with some savoury, earthy, and stony minerality notes rising out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied with juicy, well-balanced acidity and smooth, rounded, fine-grained tannins that support the ripe blackberry, black cherry, and black raspberry, smoky mineral, and wood flavours. Slightly tangy with a touch of warmth on the mid-palate, while smoky mineral, wood, black raspberry and dark berry notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Alamos are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - E & J Gallo Winery Canada.

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

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon back in January, tonight's red wine review is a lovely Carmenère from the same producer and vintage. This red wine arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the March 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The family run winery of Cloz de Luz is situated in the Almahue Valley within the Rapel Valley D.O. in Chile's Central Valley. The Alamhue Valley is 150 km south of Santiago, 65 km west of the Pacific, and 45 km east of the Andes. The winery and vineyards are naturally walled in by the Mancuman Hill, benefiting from the early morning sun and cooler afternoons with the Pacific Ocean breeze. The vineyards were planted in 1945 by the family's Grandmother Luz, have been part of the family for five generations, and are now among the oldest in Chile. Today, the estate is owned by the Edwards Cosmelli branch of the family and with 33 hectares of estate vineyards, the principal focus is on crafting elegant, quality wines in a non-interventionist style with freshness and subtle use of oak to enhance the natural fruity character of the wines.

Like the Cabernet Sauvignon, this Carmenère also includes 5% Syrah and is from Clos de Luz's Massal 1945 range of wines. The Massal range is named because of the old and rigorous technique used in the vineyard to select the best vines in a vineyard and propagating them through cuttings - it is the opposite of clonal propagation. As such, all of their vineyards are ungrafted and non-clonal. The grapes are sustainably grown and ploughed by horses, while also aiming to conserve the natural diversity of the plants to create more complex and unique wines.

The grapes for this wine are from the Amalhue Valley - an area considered the birthplace of Carmenère. From vines planted in 1945 on granitic soils with quartz components of volcanic origin, the grapes were manually harvested. After gentle extraction, the juice was spontaneously fermented using native yeasts. After fermentation, it was aged for 12 months, with 50% aged in 4,000 L Gamba French oak tanks, 44% in 225 and 300 L French oak barrels, and 6% in new 600 L Sylvain French oak barrels. From a brilliant 2018 vintage, let's see how this Chilean Carmenère is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CARMENÈRE 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#11861) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 95% Carmenère and 5% Syrah, the fresh, medium-high intensity nose offers herbaceous, leafy green notes sitting atop currant, cassis, and savoury earth aromas with hints of minerality. On the medium-full bodied palate it has lovely, fresh acidity that lifts the clean red and black fruits, cassis, and currant flavours which interplay nicely with the herbaceous, savoury, and spice tones. Really nicely balanced with supple, lightly textured tannins. Juicy, earthy, and minerally on the long, balanced and fresh finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

The Cabernet is available at the LCBO, while other wines from the Clos de Luz portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Touchstone Brands.

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Laura Hartwig Selección del Viticultor Block Nogales Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Back in June I enjoyed the 2018 Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and for tonight's red wine review I take it up a notch with this Winemaker's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon from the same producer. This red wine from Chile is a new arrival to the LCBO that came to LCBO VINTAGES on February 19th.

Laura Hartwig is a winery located Santa Cruz, in the heart of the Colchagua Valley, Chile. Their story begins when Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. His daughter, Laura Bisquert, inherited the "Santa Laura" farm in 1966 and further expanded the estate. Wine entered the picture in the 1970's after she and her husband, Alejandro Hartwig, developed a passion for wine and returned to Chile from Toronto to focus their attention on viticulture.

Alejandro Hartwig is a dedicated winegrower who personally oversees the entire Estate. He understands that producing excellent wine requires not only blessed soils, careful management of the vineyard, and the finest selection of grapes, but also perseverance, respect, and dedication. With a non-interventionist philosophy and human scale production to craft their wines, Laura Hartwig is able to take detailed care with each step of the winemaking process.

This Winemaker's Selection of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was grown at the Laura Hartwig Estate in Santa Cruz, specifically from a single block that was planted in 1980 over deep soils and a loam clay surface. These old vines which are now over 40 years old have achieved a natural balance between growth and production per season to give balanced fruit for high quality wines. The grapes were hand-selected by cluster and transported to the winery in bins for further detailed selection. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the the wine was aged for 12 months in first and second-use French oak barrels, followed by a further 5 months in cement egg.

With a brilliant 2018 growing season across Chile that started with a warm spring and moderate conditions that allowed the grapes to slowly ripen, the resulting wines achieved good fruit characters, balanced alcohol, and very good acidity. Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG SELECCIÓN DEL VITICULTOR BLOCK NOGALES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Santa Cruz, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#21951) (XD) - $20.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 40-year-old vines, the medium+ intensity nose has cool, fresh, leafy herbals and evergreen aromas followed by red currant, cassis, and subtle spice notes. On the full-bodied palate it has structured, smooth, and polished tannins, along with fresh, balanced acidity. Nice interplays between fruity and herbals on the palate with currant, cassis, leafy herbs, evergreen, and some smoky notes on the back palate. Long and juicy with wood smoke notes lingering on the finish. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

While there are a couple of dozen bottles of one other Laura Hartwig wine available at the LCBO, wines from the rest of their portfolio can be ordered through the Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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March 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Tuscany

The title of the March 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release is "Under the Tuscan Sun" and features wines from Tuscany as the theme of the release. Overall, it is a smaller-than-usual release with just 89 wines listed, and the majority of the wines are red coloured. All of the wines in this release should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme on wines from Tuscany. Of the thirteen wines featured, four are included among my top wine picks and the lone white is a Chardonnay-based blend. The Rosso di Montepulciano (which tastes quite a bit like a Rosso di Montalcino) is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, while the Chianti Classico Riserva is composed of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Colorino. Lastly, the IGT Super Tuscan is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.

Among my red wine recommendations, at the top of the list is the 2nd wine of Ornellaia that is a blend of 54% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. The only other blend is the red from the Itata Valley in Chile that consists of 72% Cinsault, 18% País, and 10% Carignan. Single varietal wines include a Monastrell from Spain, a Xinomavro from Greece, and a Carmenère from Chile. There is also a trio of Malbec wines from Argentina, and a Grenache from 65-year-old vines in Roussillon.

From a small release of white wines, the only blend among my recommendations is an Argentine wine that consists of 42% Semillón, 33% Sauvignon Blanc, and 25% Torrontés. From single varietal white wines, both Chardonnays from Niagara spent some time fermenting and ageing in barrels. The other mono-varietal wines are a Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine in Loire and a lovely Grüner Veltliner from Austria. If you enjoy some sweetness to your wines, check out the off-dry Riesling from Niagara.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cin cin!

Red Wine:

• PASARISA MALBEC 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#21986) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• ALAMOS SELECCIÓN MALBEC 2018 - La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#322800) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• BOUTARI NAOUSSA XINOMAVRO 2019 - PDO Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece (#23218) (XD) - $18.95
• ZINGARI 2018 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#244228) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• DOMAINE LAFAGE CUVÉE NICOLAS VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE NOIR 2019 - Sustainable, IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#354191) (XD) - $19.95
• POLIZIANO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#22795) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
• LA CAUSA CINSAULT / PAÍS / CARIGNAN 2019 - Valle del Itata, Chile (#23434) (XD) - $22.95

• CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2018 - Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review
• MATETIC EQ GRANITE PINOT NOIR 2016 - Sustainable, DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#21952) (XD) - $22.95
• CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CARMENÈRE 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#11861) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• UNDURRAGA TERROIR HUNTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Alto Maipo, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#630350) (XD) - $24.95
• LOS FRAILES CALIZA 2018 - Sustainable, La Parada de Tordos Vineyard, DO Valencia, Spain (#23806) (XD) - $29.95
• LE SERRE NUOVE DELL'ORNELLAIA 2019 - DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#606194) (XD) - $74.95

White Wine:

• DOMAINE DU PRÉ BARON TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Sustainable, AC, Loire, France (#107128) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2020 - Vegan, sustainable, Qualitätswein, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $17.95
• FLAT ROCK CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#286278) (XD) - $19.95
• ADAMO LEPP DAVID'S VINEYARD RIESLING 2020 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#17203) (D) - $19.95
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE WHITE BLEND 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#558734) (XD) - $21.95
• DUCA DI SARAGNANO VECCIANO TOSCANA BIANCO 2020 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#23042) (XD) - $25.95
• QUEYLUS TRADITION CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#417774) (XD) - $29.95

Sparkling Wine:

• DRAPPIER BRUT NATURE PINOT NOIR CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#179275) (XD) - $64.95

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Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Azienda Poliziano In Violas Merlot at the end of January, tonight's red wine review is another delicious offering from the same producer. This red wine is a new arrival to the LCBO that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on March 5th and is featured as part of the theme on wines from Tuscany.

Dino Carletti founded Poliziano in 1961 after he purchased his first parcel of 22 hectares near Montepulciano. The name is a tribute to the humanist poet Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494) who had the nickname "Poliziano". In 1980, his son, Federico Carletti, took over the management of the property and made his mark immediately by focusing on only estate grown fruit, quality viticulture, and innovation, while respecting tradition and the environment. With Francesco and Maria Stella, the 3rd generation joined the family business as essential advisors to Federico. Together, they face both current and future challenges of the estate that has now grown to 170 hectares of vineyards.

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC is essentially the little brother to the more famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG by using declassified grapes from Vino Nobile. The Rosso di Montepulciano DOC is a relatively new DOC as it was only established in 1989, and some of the significant rules governing the DOC include that the wine must be made up of at least 70% Sangiovese (locallly known as Prugnolo Gentile) from grapes grown between 250 metres (820 feet) and 600 metres (1,970 feet) above sea level. Higher yields and more freedom to experiment with other permitted varietals is also allowed.

This particular Rosso di Montepulciano was first crafted in 1989 and is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot. The grapes are from a 58 hectare vineyard situated between 280-350 metres above sea level on soils that are silty-clay in nature and with the presence of stones. The grapes were manually harvested and sorted using an optical sorter, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks. It was aged for 8 months with 20-40% of the wine aged in wood of various sizes. By many accounts, even with extreme summer heat, the 2019 vintage was a very good year for Tuscany. Let's see how this Rosso di Montepulciano is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

POLIZIANO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#22795) (XD) - $20.95
Blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose has a pretty bouquet of sweet red cherries, floral, spices, black cherry, and raspberry with savoury earthy undertones. On the medium-full bodied palate it has red cherry, raspberry, black cherry, and floral flavours wrapped around a savoury, earthy core. There's some warmth on the mid-palate, along with fresh acidity that is juicy and succulent, while the supple tannins have some grip. Savoury, earthy, and even some mineral notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Poliziano are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Greywacke Riesling 2020 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Greywacke Riesling back in October 2020, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely medium-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) Riesling from New Zealand which arrived at the LCBO as a VINTAGES Online Exclusive as part of the recent February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Greywacke (pronounced Greywacky) is the Marlborough label of the Judd family and named after New Zealand's most abundant bedrock. After many successful years working for another winery, the renowned and one of Marlborough's pioneer winemakers, Kevin Judd fulfilled a lifelong dream to create his own label of wines and established Greywacke in 2009. Situated in the heart of Marlborough's Omaka Valley, Greywacke is a family affair with a "keep it simple and hands-on" approach.

The fruit for Greywacke wines are sourced from prime viticultural sites from vineyards that are sustainably managed, and an increasing amount from organically farmed vineyards. Crop levels are restricted to enhance flavour concentration and a long, cool growing season produces fruit with incredible varietal intensity and bright, natural acidity. Greywacke is accredited with Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW), ensuring provenance, authenticity and integrity. In the winery, a minimal-interventionist approach to winemaking is adopted, along with extensive use of wild (indigenous) yeast fermentations to create wines with personality and individuality. Although the Greywacke range of wines is primarily based on just two varieties - Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, limited edition releases of other wines such as this Riesling complement the lineup.

The grapes for this Riesling are from the 24-year-old certified organic Ashmore Vineyard in Fairhall, adjacent to the mouth of the Brancott Valley on gravelly clay-loam soils. The fruit was hand-picked at moderate ripeness levels to capture the exuberance and natural acidity of the variety. After whole-bunch pressing and very low maceration press cycle, half of the juice was fermented in stainless steel, while the other half underwent spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation in old French oak barriques. Towards the end of fermentation, all of the wine was transferred into stainless steel and fermentation was stopped. The blended wine was aged in old barrels on its yeast lees for five months, then bottled in November 2020.

While the 2020 vintage will be remembered as the year of abnormal working conditions due to the pandemic, the growing season was slightly warmer than average and delivered superb fruit quality. Let's see how this excellent Marlborough Riesling is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE RIESLING 2020 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) - $29.95
Screw cap. Intense, gorgeously scented bouquet of flowers, lime citrus, white peach, and petrol with whiffs of mineral rise out of the glass. On the impressively concentrated palate it has a very good textured mouthfeel and an off-dry flavour profile of lime citrus, ripe apple, leesy mineral, white flowers, and subtle spicy tones. Impeccably balanced with fresh and juicy acids, while leesy mineral and lime notes taper to a dry, textured finish, with excellent length. Wow! Highly recommended buy to enjoy towards the end of the decade. Score: 93 pts

Small quantities of other Greywacke wines are available at the LCBO, while the rest of the portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Salentein Reserve Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2018 Salentein Reserve Malbec approximately 18 months ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this consistently lovely Malbec that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in the 1990s, the goal of family-owned Bodegas Salentein is to produce first-rate wines with a commitment to the earth where they come from. Situated in Tunuyán, in the heart of Uco Valley, Salentein respects nature and participates in the life of the area's community because the people are an essential component and reflected in the wine's expression. Salentein is a pioneer bodega in the Uco Valley whose exceptional range of wines is a testament to the diversity and quality that can be achieved in its high-elevation estate vineyards.

Salentein's vineyards are located in the elevated mountainsides at the base of the ancient and snowy Andes in an area known as the Uco Valley. The characteristics of the Uco Valley include its elevation (900 - 1,500 metres / 2,950 - 4,900 feet), alluvial soils, sunny days and cool nights, all of which provide the ideal microclimate for grape cultivation and growth of the highest quality Malbec grapes. Chief winemaker Jose "Pepe" Galante is heralded as one of Argentina's most important winemakers and helped pioneer the effort in winemaking that catapulted Malbec and Argentine wines onto the international stage.

This 100% Malbec is crafted with fruit from three different estate vineyards within the Uco Valley, with the oldest vines planted at the turn of the decade. 68% of the grapes are from the El Oasis estate which is 1,050 to 1,100 metres (3,444 to 3,608 feet) above sea level. 30% of the grapes are from the La Pampa estate, which is part of the San Pablo GI, and located at 1,250 metres (4,100 feet) above sea level. The remaining balance comes from the El Tomillo estate in Altamira GI and situated at 1,150 metres (3,772 feet) above sea level. The grapes were manually and mechanically harvested at different times, depending on the estate. After fermentation, the wine was aged for approximately 12 months in 80% French and 20% second-use American oak barrels. The 2019 harvest has received rave reviews across Argentina with a cold winter and dry summer delivering balanced and concentrated wines with great colour and acidity, albeit with slightly lower yields. Let's see how this 2019 Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2019 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95
Lovely, fresh, intense, dark fruited and savoury nose with aromas of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, earthy, violet, dried herb, and touches of wood spice. It's full-bodied, structured, and concentrated with savoury, earthy, dark currant, blackberry, black cherry, and dried herb flavours. Acids are juicy and succulent, while the youthful, fine-grained tannins have some grip and will soften with some time in the cellar. Structured with savoury, earthy, and wood flavours joined by some tangy berry notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines from Bodegas Salentein are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Azureau Wines & Spirits.

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CARO Amancaya Reserve Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely blend from Argentina that newly landed at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the February 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The idea of Bodegas CARO was first conceptualized in 1999 when the Catena family and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) formed a partnership. The name comes from the first two letters of each producer - CAtena and ROthschild. A year later, the concept became a reality with the goal of producing a single wine that combined Argentine and French cultures and the two signature grape varietals from each producer - Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

With four generations of winegrowing experience, the Catena family contributed with its vast knowledge of the high-altitude terroirs in Mendoza and its passion for Malbec. Domaines Barons de Rothschild contributed its centuries-old skills in growing, vinifying and ageing great Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as blending wines that are more than the sum of its parts. The Bodegas CARO winery is located in a historic building in the heart of Mendoza and has cellars that were originally built between 1884 and 1895. After finding success with their first wine - a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, they launched the Amancaya several years later.

In the Quechuan language, the Amancaya is the name of a flower of the Andes that is found in the Mendoza area. A blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the generic Mendoza appellation, the grapes were actually sourced from selected plots of old vines in Lujan de Cuyo, just outside Mendoza City, and from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley. In Lujan de Cuyo, the soils are quite varied depending on how close the vineyards are to the mountains or Mendoza River, and tend to form alluvial layers of loam, rock, and gravel. In Paraje Altamira, the vineyards are planted at 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) above sea level on the ancient alluvial bed of the Tunuyan River. The grapes were hand-harvested, carefully sorted and destemmed, then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Half of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, while the other half was aged in concrete vats.

With nearly ideal conditions across the growing season in Mendoza that consisted of fine weather, little rain, and high diurnal temperature ranges between day and night, the 2018 harvest is considered one of the best of the decade. The resulting wines are generally well-structured with fine-grained tannins, and ripe fruit flavours. Let's see how this 2018 red from Mendoza is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CARO AMANCAYA RESERVE MALBEC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Lujàn de Cuyo & Paraje Altamira, Mendoza, Argentina (#21999) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, the rich, elegant nose is highly aromatic with notes of ripe black-red-purple fruits, stony minerals, earth, currant, cassis, and spice. The medium-full bodied palate is very ripe with a rich array of red, black, blue, and purple fruit that balanced with savoury, stony minerals, white pepper spice, and earthy flavours. Acids are fresh and lively, while the supple, refined tannins have a subtle textural grip. Juicy with smoky mineral notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Bodegas CARO are available through their Agent - Select Wines Merchants.

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Crios Chardonnay 2020 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review for this Family Day long weekend is this delicious Chardonnay from the Uco Valley in Argentina that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

After deciding to follow the family business in viticulture, Susana received her degree in enology in 1991 to become the first woman in Argentina to do so. Susana worked as a consultant for many wineries in Argentina and internationally over the years, and eventually fulfilled a lifelong dream to have her own winery and create her own wines when she established Susana Balbo Wines in 1999. More recently, Susana and her team have worked tirelessly to meet international high quality standards for their wines while also showing commitment to food safety, environmental sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.

This white wine is from Susana Balbo's Crios range of wines that was borne out of her love for her children, José and Ana, and desire to forge a legacy for her family, helping them navigate their own life journeys with lessons learned from a lifetime of trailblazing entrepreneurship. The handprint logo on each Crios bottle symbolizes this relationship and illustrates the hand as powerful tool for mothers, allowing them to hold, provide warmth, nourish, and comfort, as well as teach the next generation the skills and wisdom achieved. Conviction, energy, and identity all go into making something with your hands, establishing an indelible personal mark.

To bring out the very best in Crios wines, Susana and her team choose the region of Argentina most suited for growing each particular grape, and nurture each variety to elevate its intrinsic character. Together with her children, Crios wines are crafted to be enjoyed across generations and to represent values we strive to instill in our own families, including reminding us to stop and enjoy the small pleasures of life.

This particular Chardonnay is sourced from the Uco Valley at high-altitudes averaging 1,050 metres (3,445 feet). The grapes were hand-harvested and hand-selected, followed by destemming and soft crushing. It was aged on its lees for three months in second- and third-use French oak barrels. The 2020 vintage growing season was extremely good and minimally impacted by the pandemic. Let's see how this high-altitude Uco Valley Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CRIOS CHARDONNAY 2020 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#243196) (XD) - $15.95
Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose is fresh with ripe lemons, citrus, apple, and white peach underpinned by leesy mineral notes. It has good weight on the dry, medium+ bodied palate with fresh, zippy acidity lifting the ripe lemon, citrus, apple, white peach, leesy mineral, and grapefruit flavours with a touch of wood spice. Leesy mineral, citrusy, apple, and grapefruit notes linger on the satisfyingly long and juicy finish. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Susana Balbo are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Humberto Canale Patagonia Intimo Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious, organic Malbec from the southern region of Patagonia in Argentina that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on February 19.

The family's story begins with the arrival of Humberto Canale in the Rio Negro Valley, a story that is closely linked to the growth of Argentina and the development of Patagonia. The project was made possible because of the arrival of the railway and construction of the irrigation system in the upper valley of Rio Negro at the beginning of 1900. Humberto Canale acquired 400 hectares of land in an inhospitable territory and imported tools to develop viticulture. Bodega Humberto Canale was founded in 1909 and is amongst the most southerly situated wineries in the world. By the middle of the century, they were well-established as a family winery. Five generations of the family have been involved in the business since its founding, now spanning more than 110 years, and today they have 5,000 hectares of vines across 150 vineyards. Pioneering and still family-owned, Humberto Canale combines century-old traditions and modern winemaking techniques to craft their wines. In Patagania, the air is unpolluted, while pure waters from the melting snow of the Andes irrigate the valley. The region is naturally protected by the surrounding dry desert and persistent South-West winds.

Argentina is synonymous with Malbec as the grape varietal is by far the most widely planted across the country with 84% of all Malbec in the country planted in Mendoza, and by comparison only 0.8% is planted in Rio Negro. Malbec is cultivated at various altitudes and on diverse soil types, and with these variations come different styles of wine. This Malbec is from Rio Negro, Patagonia, where the style of Malbec is actually more similar to those found in the Uco Valley with a purplish colour and notes red and black fruit, and herbal tones, a medium palate, freshness, and firmer tannins.

This particular Malbec is from Humberto Canale Intimo range of wines that are classic and traditional in concept, but also stand out for its modern style with a good combination of intense colour, lots of fruit, and just a little bit of wood to add complexity and elegance. The grapes for this 100% Malbec are from their 60+ year old vineyards located in the city of General Roca, which is situated in the northeastern part of Rio Negro. The berries were carefully handpicked and delivered to the winery a mere 1 kilometre away from the vineyard. It was fermented in large concrete vats and 10% of the wine was aged in French and Central European oak casks for 10 months. The wine was aged a further 6 months in bottle prior to its release. The 2019 vintage in Rio Negro was very balanced and produced wines of high quality. Let's see how this Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HUMBERTO CANALE PATAGONIA INTIMO MALBEC 2019 - Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina (#144725) (XD) - $14.95
This delicious organic Malbec has a medium-high intensity nose with stony mineral aromas layered over dark red cherry, spice, and touches of ripe plum which also reveal floral and candied cherry hints with time in the glass. It's medium+ bodied and slightly warming on the palate with dark red cherry, spices, and smoky mineral with hints of licorice on the flavour profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins are supple and fine-grained. Minerally and slightly spicy on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely wines from Humberto Canale are available through their Agent - Select Wines Merchants.

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February 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: France

The streak of mono-thematic releases continues with the February 19, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release that is titled "French Connections" and focuses on the wines from France. In addition to wines on arriving on shelves across Ontario by Saturday, there is also a collection of wines in this release that are VINTAGES Online Exclusives (VOE) and can only be purchased online through lcbo.com.

We begin with the theme on wines from France, with a total of fifteen wines featured across France's top wine regions. Surprisingly, just one wine is among my top wine recommendations - a lovely Châteauneuf-du-Pape that consists of 35% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, and 5% Cinsault.

Among my top red wine picks, the always top-notch Purple Angel from Chile is a blend of 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot, while the Caro from Argentina is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The only other red wine that is a blend is from Uruguay and composed of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Tannat. The Australian Shiraz is noteworthy as the grapes come from a block of vines planted around the year 1894. The rest of the red wines are all single varietals, and mostly from South America with a Bonarda and pair of delicious Malbec wines from Argentina, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, and a lovely Tannat from Uruguay. From the northern hemisphere, the Spanish red is made with Garnacha, the Petite Sirah is from Napa Valley, and the Pinot Noir is from Willamette Valley.

There is only a small selection of white wines in this release and among my top white wine picks are all single varietal wines. Three of my recommendations are crafted using relatively unknown grapes - Picpoul, Grasevina, and Verdejo. There are also three different Chardonnays, each with its own fermentation and ageing style. Lastly, for sweet wine lovers, there is an excellent medium-sweet Riesling from New Zealand.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• HUMBERTO CANALE PATAGONIA INTIMO MALBEC 2019 - Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina (#144725) (XD) - $14.95  88+ pts  wine review
• SAN ALEJANDRO EVODIA 2019 - DO Calatayud, Spain (#23914) (XD) - $14.95
• SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2019 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95  90+ pts  wine review
• GARZÓN CABERNET FRANC/TANNAT 2018 - Uruguay (#12651) (XD) - $19.95
• LAURA HARTWIG SELECCIÓN DEL VITICULTOR BLOCK NOGALES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Santa Cruz, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#21951) (XD) - $20.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• EL ENEMIGO SINGLE VINEYARD LA ESPERANZA BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#629782) (XD) - $21.95

• CARO AMANCAYA RESERVE MALBEC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#21999) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• GARZÓN RESERVA TANNAT 2019 - Maldonado, Uruguay (#558916) (XD) - $24.95
• GIRARD PETITE SIRAH 2018 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#521542) (XD) - $44.95  VOE
• CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2018 - AC, Rhone, France (#735407) (XD) - $55.95
• ADELSHEIM PINOT NOIR 2019 - Sustainable, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#683821) (XD) - $57.95  VOE  91+ pts  wine review
• MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2018 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#62364) (XD) - $74.95  94 pts  wine review
• ELDERTON COMMAND SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2017 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#716142) (XD) - $99.95

White Wine:

• BEAUVIGNAC PICPOUL DE PINET 2020 - AP, Midi, France (#350124) (XD) - $13.95
• CRIOS CHARDONNAY 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#243196) (XD) - $15.95  88+ pts  wine review
• KUTJEVO GRASEVINA 2020 - Danube-Kutjevo Vineyard, Slavonia, Croatia (#519074) (XD) - $16.95
• VIÑA MAYOR VERDEJO 2020 - DO Rueda, Spain (#23254) (XD) - $17.95
• SIDEWOOD CHARDONNAY 2018 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia (#186346) (XD) - $19.95
• AIRFIELD YAKIMA VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2020 - Yakima Valley, Washington, USA (#479295) (XD) - $22.95
• GREYWACKE RIESLING 2020 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) - $29.95  VOE  93 pts  wine review

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Coppola Rosso & Bianco Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (California) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2018 Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend last month, tonight's wine review is another California red wine blend from the same producer. While this bottle is the 2018 vintage, it is the 2019 vintage that is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release as a new arrival.

Following many years of success in the world of cinema, the Coppola family established Francis Ford Coppola Winery in 2006 after the purchase of a historic winery in Sonoma County, California. Their desire was to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life, and after two years of renovations the winery opened in 2010 with a brand new tasting room, museum, and restaurant. And just like in many of their other business endeavours, the Coppola family is firmly committed to preserving the land for future generations, while also practising sustainability and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Rosso & Bianco collection that consists of three wines. Francis Ford Coppola grew up with wine on the family table. Rosso & Bianco wines are very special to the family as they pay tribute to their family's Italian heritage. As the story goes, Francis Ford Coppola used to hear stories from his father about how Grandpa Agostino Coppola made wine in the tenement in New York City during Prohibition. Grandpa Coppola's wines weren't fancy, but pleasurable, everyday wines that reflected the comfort of home. This Cabernet Sauvignon (blend) is crafted in the same spirit - a wine for everyday life. Let's see how this California Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting on this Tuesday night...

Tasting Note:

COPPOLA ROSSO & BIANCO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - California, USA (#23646) (D) - $19.95
This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Petite Sirah, and 4% Segalin was aged for 12 months in French oak. The medium+ intensity nose has oak driven aromas of wood spice, caramel, and clove surrounding a core of ripe currant, cassis, and blueberry. It's medium+ bodied and ripe with sweet oak vanillin, currant, cassis, clove spice, milk chocolate, cold cream, and blueberry flavours on the verge of being jammy. Juicy acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the polished tannins are smooth and rounded. Coffee, milk chocolate, and clove notes linger on the finish, with good length. Easy drinking crowd pleaser. Score: 87 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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