2008 Château la Verriere (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

CHÂTEAU LA VERRIÈRE 2008 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#199000) - $14.95

Tasting Note:

Cork was a bit dried out, even though it was purchased only in April 2011. Nevertheless, it did taste/smell like very delicious dark chocolate. Gold medal winner in 2010. Aromas of cherries, herbs, smoked wood aromas. On the palate - lots of lilac/violet flavours, plus some toasty smoked oak. Medium-full bodied with lovely, rich tannins. Long finishing fruit. Could have been held for another year, but definitely ready to drink now. Having this with cheese strings right now. ;)

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2010 Bieler Père et Fils Sabine Rosé (France) - Review

Purchased this dry Rosé earlier this week from the latest Vintages Release and chilled it for about 90 minutes in the refrigerator (a bit too much I think). But it warmed up quickly thanks to this great weather we're having!

BIELER PÈRE ET FILS SABINE ROSÉ 2010 - AC Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence (#071423) - $12.95

Tasting Note:
Very light, pretty, peachy hue. Aromas: citrus, nectarine, peach, grass. Dry style with flavours of herbs and grass - reminds me of a Sauvignon Blanc, but stronger in flavour. Some bubbles, slightly acidic. Long finishing, especially for a rosé. Will be having this home-made chicken souvlaki with Greek salad on the side. Yum!

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Renzo Masi Chianti Riserva 2007 (Italy) - Wine Review

Here's my review of this Tuscan wine purchased last month as part of the May 28th Vintages Release. I decided to open this Chianti tonight knowing that it was ripe and ready to drink now, and ageing it would certainly reduce it's quality and appeal.

RENZO MASI CHIANTI RISERVA 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#969469) - $14.95

Tasting Note:
Ripe black cherry, blueberry, cedar, mocha, plum aromas. Full of blackberry, cola, tobacco flavours. Quite bitter for my palate. A touch of acidity on the medium-bodied, long finish. Ready tannins. Having this tonight with chicken meatballs in Indian curry.

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Veneto Italy + Father's Day Gifts - June 11 Vintages Wine Release

This week's Vintages Release on Saturday, June 11 features Veneto in all its glory, along with some new & notable wines from Ontario. Some expensive selections for Father's Day are also highlighted.

Among my picks, a Rosé made the list again, as well as a couple of refreshing whites for those sunny days on the patio. Among the several reds on my list, none stood out from the rest, but all appear enticing and ready to drink now! Enjoy!


Red Wine:

• CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS FAT CAT 2008 - Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia (#222042) - $17.95
• ROSE HILL PRIVATE RESERVE CABERNET/MERLOT 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#233841) - $18.95
• CHÂTEAU DU LUC LES MURETS CORBIÈRES 2008 - AC, Midi, France (#219410) - $16.95
• TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO MONTI GARBI RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2008 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#029850) - $17.95
• ZENI COSTALAGO 2008 - IGT Rosso Veronese, Veneto, Italy (#220848) - $14.95
• PENINSULA RIDGE BEAL VINEYARDS RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#226001) - $18.95
• COLONIA LAS LIEBRES BONARDA 2009 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#219303) - $11.95
• FALERNIA RESERVA SYRAH 2007 - Elquí Valley, Chile (#208371) - $15.95

White Wine:

• JARDIN BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2009 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#663336) - $17.95
• GIUSEPPE CAMPAGNOLA LE BINE MONTE FOSCARINO SOAVE CLASSICO 2009 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#134551) - $13.95

Rosé Wine:

• BIELER PÈRE ET FILS SABINE ROSÉ 2010 - AC Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence (#071423) - $12.95

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Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Spätlese 2006 (Germany) - Review

Purchased this beaut back in January.

KRUGER-RUMPF RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2006 - QmP, Münsterer Dautenpflänzer, Nahe, Germany (MD) (#189662) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Petrol, slate, mineral aromas. Delicious melon, peach, citrus flavours. Smooth and refreshing. Off-dry. If you like off-dry Reislings, this is definitely one to try today or in 10 years. Not sure what I'll be having this with...

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2006 Nativa Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile - Review

I'm a big fan of Chilean wines, so tonight's wine is an Organic version from Nativa. Purchased only last month as part of the April 30th Vintages Release.

NATIVA SINGLE VINEYARD GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Organically Grown, Maipo Valley, Chile (#975359) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Gorgeous herbs (eucalyptus), pepper/spice, earth aromas. Raspberry, blackberry, herbal, cocoa/coffee flavours. Prevalent tannins would reward some years in cellar. Oak lays in (far) background. Dry. Medium-full bodied. Very nicely made for an organic wine. Recommended. Will be having this with Cajun Chicken Sliders and Fries.

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Cali Confidential + Alsace Alliance - May 28 Vintages Release

This week's LCBO Vintages Release on Saturday, May 28, 2011 focuses on wines from California. Now, because I'm not a big fan of Cali wines (because I find many of them grossly overpriced), I was left wondering if there would be anything in this release that I might purchase. Sure enough, I did find a couple of wines that appear to be good quality, and within budget!

There is also a minor focus on Alsatians wines from France - the Pinot Noir stood out for me. For the 2nd consecutive release, a couple more Rosés from Ontario were selected. (Check out the May 14 Vintages Release for 2 more quality Rosés.)


Red Wine:

• PREDATOR OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2008 - Lodi, California, USA (#219485) - $17.95
• RENZO MASI CHIANTI RISERVA 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#969469) - $14.95
• JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT NOIR 2009 - AC Alsace, France (#224618) - $14.95
• VIÑA HONDA CRIANZA 2006 - DO Jumilla, Spain (#208108) - $17.95
• SANTA JULIA MAGNA 2008 - Mendoza, Argentina (#093799) - $14.95
• BOMMARITO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#213918) - $19.95

White Wine:

• DOMAINE ROUX PÈRE & FILS MONTAGNY 1er CRU 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#208017) - $18.95
• TRES OLMOS LIAS VERDEJO 2009 - DO Rueda, Spain, (#218354) - $13.95

Rosé Wine:

• CATTAIL CREEK SERENDIPITY ROSÉ 2009 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#118059) - $14.95
• KACABA SUMMERTIME SERIES REBECCA ROSÉ 2010 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#227025) - $14.95

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