Sept. 15 LCBO Wine Picks: Ontario Wines

The next LCBO Vintages release will be in stores across the province on Saturday, September 15. The theme of this release is on wines from Ontario, to coincide with the upcoming #LCBOgoLOCAL campaign that runs from mid-September to mid-October.

A mini-theme of my picks this week includes 5 Chardonnays of various styles that includes 2 wines from Niagara, and 1 each from Prince Edward County, Chile, and a Chablis from France. If you prefer the unoaked style of Chardonnay, your best best is the Chablis from Burgundy as it was aged in steel tanks. Having said that, the three Ontario Chardonnays from Lailey, Closson Chase and Bachelder are not the big, oaky-type, but do have just enough to be aged a few years in the cellar. All are very well-made.

If you didn't know already, Ontario does Cabernet Franc quite well. Among my red wine picks, there is a fine example from Featherstone, who is among the leaders of this varietal here in Ontario. They also have a very interesting set of eco-friendly practices that include sheep labour and falconry. Pinot Noir is also quite well-made here in Ontario, with Le Clos Jordanne among the best producers of this varietal with a focus on terroir.

Among the rest of my wine picks, the Côte de l'Ange is a 2010 Rhone blend consisting of 95% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre. The Brunello di Montalcino is the made with 100% Sangiovese (Brunello) and should be cellared for at least 2 years. While The Black Chook is mostly Shiraz, and fermented with some Viognier to add lovely aromatics.

This release also coincides with the annual Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, that runs Sept 21-30, of which I will also be in attendance. Say 'hello' if you see me around in Niagara during the Festival. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• FEATHERSTONE CABERNET FRANC 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#64618) (XD) - $16.95
• THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER 2010 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#66738) (D) - $17.95
• JUANA DE SOL RESERVA MALBEC 2010 - Single Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina (#288381) (XD) - $15.95
• DOMAINE DE LA CÔTE DE L’ANGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#074856) (XD) - $37.95
• COLLOSORBO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#285742) (XD) - $49.95
• LE CLOS JORDANNE CLAYSTONE TERRACE PINOT NOIR 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada (#033951) (D) - $45.00

White Wine:

• LAILEY CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#193482) (XD) - $19.95
• SOL DE ANDES RESERVA ESPECIAL CHARDONNAY 2009 - Casablanca Valley, Chile (#254326) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMAINE SÉGUINOT-BORDET CHABLIS 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#289371) (XD) - $19.95
• DRIFT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#278465) (D) - $19.95
• NALS MARGREID PINOT GRIGIO 2011 - DOC Südtirol Alto Adige, Italy (#290924) (XD) - $17.95
• ROLLY GASSMANN STEGREBEN DE RORSCHWIHR GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2009 - AC Alsace, France (#289439) (M) - $27.95
• CLOSSON CHASE CHARDONNAY 2009 - Closson Chase Vineyard, VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#148866) (XD) - $29.95
• BACHELDER NIAGARA CHARDONNAY 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#302083) (XD) - $29.95

Sparkling Wine:

• ROEDERER ESTATE L’ERMITAGE BRUT SPARKLING WINE 2003 - Anderson Valley, California (#183392) (D) - $54.95
• INNISKILLIN VIDAL SPARKLING ICEWINE 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#560367) (S) (375 mL) - $79.95

Icewine:

• CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ESTATE BOTTLED VIDAL ICEWINE 2009 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#565861) (S) (200 mL) - $25.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carmenère 2010 (Chile) - Wine Review

Opened this lovely Chilean red wine that was purchased from the June 23 Vintages wine release.

CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA CARMENÈRE 2010 - Peumo Vineyard, Rapel Valley, Chile (#169862) (XD) - $17.00

Tasting Note:
Plum and cherry cola nose from the cork. Alluring spice box and cherry aromas from the glass. Medium-bodied with savoury black cherry and dark red fruits on the palate. Very light tannins are backed by mouth-watering good acidity. Short finish is a touch hot. Could cellar for 2 years, but definitely enjoyable now. Tip: Serve this straight out of the cellar or even chill for 5-10 minutes prior to serving. Will pair well with the homemade pizza we're having tonight.

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Bosman Adama White 2010 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Purchased this white wine last month from the August 18 Vintages release.

BOSMAN ADAMA WHITE 2010 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#282764) (D) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
A white blend that is primarily Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Semillon playing a supporting role. Peach and tart citrus aromas from the cork. Grapefruit, citrus, peach and mineral aromas. More grapefruit and stoney minerailty on the palate, joined by citrus and green flavours. Lively acidity with a short finish. Smells sweeter than it tastes, only very slightly off-dry on the palate. Quite good. Will be enjoyed with chicken kebabs off the BBQ.

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Sept. 1 LCBO Wine Picks: Fall Fêtes + Champagne

The next Vintages release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on September 1. This issue celebrates wines for Fall Fêtes with different styles of wines (from light to the big & bold and everything in between) that would be suitable for your gatherings as we transition from Summer to Fall.

You can open your gathering with an extra dry Tavel Rosé that is made from 40-year-old vines using Grenache, Clairette, Cinsault and Bourboulenc. From there, we move to big & bold wines with a 2010 Rhône that is a Grenache-Syrah blend from Château de Galifay. We also have a big Californian Zinfandel from vines that were planted in 1918!

To end your gathering, go with the sweet Muscat from Greece, or the slightly less sweet Lillet Blanc from Bordeaux that is made with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon varietals and fortified with brandy.

Also featured in this release, to coordinate with TIFF, are 5 Champagnes that are stars and will undoubtedly delight. Of course, there is the 2003 Dom Perignon (#280461, $219.95) and the 2005 Cristal (#268755, $286.95), but the best "value" of the bunch is the Non-Vintage (N.V.) Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve (#036962, $54.95).

And finally, this wine is not listed below, but if you would like to try something new, the Malvirà Favorita Langhe 2011 from Piedmont (#291336, XD, $19.95) is a white wine made using the Favorita varietal. We don't see this grape very often at all, so it's worth checking out as it does look tasty - think pineapples.

Enjoy my wine picks for this week!


Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE GALIFAY CAIRANNE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#290080) (XD) - $17.00
• ROSS ESTATE LIGHTS OUT SHIRAZ 2009 - Barossa, South Australia (#285387) (D) - $19.95
• GÉRARD BERTRAND ST. CHINIAN SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE 2009 - AC, Midi, France (#281832) (XD) - $16.95
• CAROL SHELTON MONGA ZIN OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2008 - Lopez Vineyard, Cucamonga Valley, California, USA (#282525) (D) - $26.95
• CASCINA BUSSIA DARDI BAROLO 2006 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#268516) (XD) - $39.95
• SAMPIETRANA VIGNA DELLE MONACHE RISERVA SALICE SALENTINO 2006 - DOC, Puglia, Italy (#247908) (XD) - $15.95

White Wine:

• ANDRÉ BLANCK ET SES FILS ROSENBURG PINOT BLANC 2011 - AC Alsace, France (#626606) (D) - $13.95
• SCHLOSS REINHARTSHAUSEN ERBACHER SCHLOSSBERG RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2005 - Prädikatswein, Rheingau, Germany (#129858) (M) - $19.95
• PEDRO ESCUDERO FUENTE ELVIRA VERDEJO 2010 - DO Rueda, Spain (#218313) (XD) - $14.95
• MIKE WEIR RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#229286) (D) - $14.95
• SÉGUINOT-BORDET VAILLONS CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#289389) (XD) - $29.95
• ANTICA CHARDONNAY 2010 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#290536) (XD) - $35.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DE MANISSY TAVEL 2011 - AC, Rhône, France (#276469) (XD) - $15.95

Dessert/Fortified Wine:

• LILLET BLANC - Bordeaux, France (#322297) (MS) - $15.95
• KOURTAKI MUSCAT OF SAMOS - AOQS Samos, Greece (#938407) (S) - $14.95

The rest of the wines from this release can be found here.

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Prince Edward County Wine Tasting

During the Spring earlier this year, I had the pleasure of attending the Prince Edward County wine tasting held at Berkeley Church in downtown Toronto.

Prior to this event, I had only tasted one wine from PEC and was left with the impression that Prince Edward County is still a maturing region. That impression did not change after this event, but I can tell you that there are some worthy wines to check out if you get the chance. With summer nearly over and having visited Muskoka earlier this month, I believe a visit to Prince Edward County will be in store next summer as most of these wines can only be found at the winery.

Here are some tasting notes from the evening. Enjoy my wine reviews!


HUFF ESTATES RIESLING MEDIUM DRY 2010 - VQA Ontario (#155606) (MD) - $17.95
Crisp lychee, peach aromas. Petrol, mineral and some lychee on the palate. Crisp acidity. Would go well with a mild cheddar. (88 pts)

HUFF ESTATES SOUTH BAY CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#276006) (D) - $29.95
Crisp, ripe pear and apple aromatics. Fruit-forward with apple flavours on the palate, hints of sweetness. (88 pts)

KEINT-HE PINEAUX SAUVAGE 2008 - VQA Prince Edward County (MS) (375 mL) - $55.00
Botrytis affected Pinot Noir. Orange marmalade, honey and touch of oak aromas. On the palate there is dried apricots, caramel and ginger notes. Crisp acidity leads to a medium-sweet finish. Very nice! (91 pts)

KARLO ESTATES FRONTENAC GRIS ROSÉ 2011 (MD) - $16.00
Candied cherry, strawberry aromas and flavours. Starts off sweet and gives way to crisp, spicy, semi-dry finish. Quite pleasant. (88+ pts)

KARLO ESTATES QUINTUS 2010 (XD) - $35.00
A classic old-world blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot with classic aromas of currant and dark berries. On the palate, there is more currant, cassis, dark berries joined by spicy herbal notes. Balanced wine with ripe tannins and a long finish. (89 pts)

KARLO ESTATES THE 5TH ELEMENT 2010 (XD) - $39.00
Rare to see a 100% Petit Verdot. Dark fruits on the nose. Ripe dark fruit is well-integrated with oak. Full-bodied wine also has smoky flavours on the long finish. (88 pts)

KARLO ESTATES VAN ALSTINE WHITE 2010 (MS) (500 mL) - $29.00
Port-style wine made using Frontenac Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Lots of peach/apricot aromas with more of the same plus orange notes on the palate, in this medium- to full-bodied wine. Finishes with some spiciness and hazelnut notes. (88 pts)

SANDBANKS ESTATE RIESLING 2010 - VQA Prince Edward County (#139022) (D) - $14.95
Fresh floral and pear aromas. Off-dry lime-cordial on the palate, crisp acidity. (86 pts)

SANDBANKS ESTATE WINTER HARVEST - VQA Ontario (M) (200 mL) - $12.95
100% late-harvest Vidal. Lovely peach and honey aromatics with replays on palate, but is lacking acidity. (86 pts)

SANDBANKS ESTATE MOUTON NOIR - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $19.95
100% Marechal Foch. A style of red wine I haven't tasted in a while with aromas of concrete, tar, pencil lead, and steel. Dark fruits with lots of minerality, full-bodied and ripe tannins. (87 pts)

3630 CHARDONNAY 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $25.12
Very fresh, clean and crisp lime aromas. On the palate, gooseberry and grass notes reminds me more of a Sauvignon Blanc, and finishes spicy. Not your typical Chardonnay. (86 pts)

LIGHTHALL CHARDONNAY RÉSERVE 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#278226) (XD) - $25.00
Lightly oaked, but you wouldn't know it. Crisp and clean mineral characteristics with lime and citrus aromas and flavours in the background. Good acidity with a slight spritz on the finish. (87 pts)

ROSEHALL RUN SZ WHITE 2011 - VQA Prince Edward County (#214478) (XD) - $14.95
A medley of varietals used in this white wine brings citrusy and orange aromas and flavours. Starts off clean but finishes tart. (87 pts)

STANNERS PINOT GRIS CUIVRÉ 2010 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $25.00
Light, crisp aromas of citrus, butter and pear that mingle nicely into a complex set of flavours on the palate. Dry with good acidity. (88 pts)

CASA-DEA PINOT NOIR 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $19.95
Red berries aromas and flavours with smooth tannins that are a touch grippy. May need a bit of time for tannins to mellow out, or decant and serve now. Otherwise enjoyable. (88 pts)

CASA-DEA PINOT GRIS 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#237883) (XD) - $18.95
Floral aromas with some citrus. Light bodied on the palate with clean, tangy citrus notes. Very smooth and crisp. (87 pts)

CASA-DEA CABERNET FRANC 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (#241612) (XD) - $18.95
Lovely fresh berry and strawberry aromas and flavours. Medium bodied with ripe tannins. Crowd-pleaser. (88 pts)

HARWOOD PINOT GRIS 2010 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $18.00
Very clean, crisp white with light apple and mineral nose with replays on the palate. Backed by acidity, finishes soft and smooth. More of an Italian Pinot Grigio style. (87 pts)

HARWOOD PINOT NOIR 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $29.00
Lots of spice, smoke and vanilla aromas that I found overwhelmed the fruit. Some bramble comes through on palate. Decanting for an hour may soften the tannins. Didn't enjoy this one.

HARWOOD ST. LAURENT 2009 - VQA Prince Edward County (XD) - $20.00
The St. Laurent varietal is related to Pinot Noir. Another smoky wine with bacon and barnyard aromas. Palate is dominated by currant and leather flavours. Ripe tannins. (85 pts)

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Muskoka Lakes Winery - Wine Tasting

Over the Civic Holiday long weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the Muskoka Lakes Winery and Johnston's Cranberry Farm located in Bala, Ontario (just over 2 hours North of Toronto). I wasn't really sure what to expect as I had not tasted fruit wine in many years, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these wines.

If you're in the Muskoka region, I highly recommend that you visit the winery as many of these wines are not found at the LCBO. Also do the wine tour as you will learn about the winemaking process, which is slightly different than producing grape-based wines. After the tour, you can taste their full line-up of 8 cranberry, blueberry and raspberry-based wines, plus their wine spritzer. They have even started up a turkey farm on-site to go with their cranberry marshes... get it? ;)

Hope you enjoy my wine reviews!

Tasting Notes:
Muskoka Red Oak Aged Wild Blueberry 2010 - QC (Quality Certified) (XD) - $19.95
Lots of dark fruits, licorice and oak aromas, with licorice flowing onto the palate and joined by inky iodine, Christmas spice, and oak flavours. Medium-bodied with a long finish. (85 pts)

Wild Blueberry Wine 2008 - QC (D) - $18.95
Concentrated blueberry aromas with a zippy, crisp, light-bodied with a sweet-edged blueberry flavour profile along with some minty notes. (87 pts)

Georgian Bay Rosé 2010 - QC (#234880) (XD) - $16.95
Made with apples and cranberries. Earthy, musky aromas with hints of peach. On the palate, there are crisp, fruit forward red fruits and with good acidity. Finishes slightly spicy and dry. (88 pts)

Cranberry Wine 2010 - QC (#609701) (D) - $14.95
Candied cranberry aromas and flavours, crisp, chalky tannins lead to a very dry finish. Needs a couple of years in the bottle for tannins to settle. (85 pts)

Cranberry Blueberry Wine 2010 - QC (#609719) (D) - $16.95
Equal parts cranberry and blueberry. Aromas of candied blueberries and menthol with replays of both on the palate. Light bodied, off-dry with sweetness balanced by fine acidity. Relatively light in alcohol at 10.5%. (88+ pts)

White Cranberry Wine 2011 - QC (#621938) (M) - $18.95
Elegant aromas of candied cranberries. Fruit forward, tannic and lots of acidity on the spicy finish. Quite different. (86 pts)

Red Maple Dessert Wine 2009 - QC (#050039) (S) - $23.95
Made with cranberries and maple syrup. Closed nose, but flavours of cranberry, caramel and maple syrup come through on the lively palate. Sweetness cut by acidity from cranberries. Very nice! (90 pts)

Framberge Dessert Wine - QC (S) - $22.95
Made using raspberries and cranberries. Lots of rasp-cran aromas. On the palate, it leads with flavours of raspberries, and finishes with cranberry notes. At 15% alcohol, this is a hefty wine that should be chilled well prior to serving to suppress the alcohol flavours. (88 pts)

'Muskoka Moment' Cranberry Wine Spritzer - QC, Bala, Ontario, Canada - $17.95 / 6 per box
A very nice cranberry wine spritzer that smells and tastes like strawberries. Yum.

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Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Washington) - Wine Review

Purchased this red wine earlier this year from the March 17 Vintages release and was re-released in the upcoming August 18 release as part of the mini-feature on wines from the Pacific Northwest. It's a beauty!

COLUMBIA CREST H3 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 - Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, USA (#210047) (XD) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Currants, cassis, cedar and mint aromas with some earthy & herbal aromas at the tail end. Currant and dark fruits lead to dark chocolate and coffee on the palate. Good acidity with well-integrated tannins, full-bodied. Quite smooth. Oven-roasted chicken would go very nicely with this. Recommended.

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