Jan. 18 LCBO Wine Picks: Spain + British Columbia

The next LCBO Vintages release will be on shelves across Ontario on Saturday, January 18th. After the annual Smart Buys release, which is always the first release of the year, it seems like Spain and British Columbia will be usually featured in the second release of the year. Will signature grapes from the New World be the third release of 2014? We shall see.

Back to this release, the secondary feature is on wines from B.C., but as was the case last year, it is disappointing to see nothing interesting again!

The major feature is on Spanish wines with a particular emphasis on the 3 major wine regions in Spain - Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Priorat. Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) are the primary red grapes in Rioja and Ribera del Duero that are used to make full-bodied red wines. In Priorat, Garnacha is the primary grape.

Of the 17 Spanish wines featured in the "Hot Hot Hot!" section, four made my list of wine picks. The 2009 Ares Crianza is a young-ish Tempranillo that could be enjoyed now until 2017. You can read my full review of the 2004 Don Jacobo here, which was in Vintages last January and returns a year later. A year younger is the 2005 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva, which is mostly Tempranillo, but also contains 5% Graciano and 5% Garnacha and is approachable now, but can be aged for at least the next decade. The three wines above are all from Rioja, while the Cepa 21 Hito is from Ribera del Duero and is also made using Tempranillo, but goes by the name Tinto Fino in this wine.

From the rest of the release, I've chosen some good wines to encourage you to try some different grapes. Try the Xinomavro from Greece, or a Bonarda or Petit Verdot from Argentina. Chile's Syrah (aka Shiraz) star continues to rise, with the Valle Andino offering superb value at $13.95. Wines from the 2010 Rhône vintage continue to impress, with the Château de Nages showcasing the vintage in this release; it's an old vines GSM-blend consisting of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10 % Mourvèdre.

In white wines, I hope you enjoy Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, because that's all I've got for you in this release. The German Riesling is very sweet, but with good acidity, while the Ontario Riesling is off-dry (i.e. just a little sweet). The two Sauvignon Blancs will both be crisp, dry, and refreshing.

That's it for my Vintages recommendations from this release. If you buy and try any of these, please let me know as I always like to hear from my readers. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• VALLE ANDINO RESERVA ESPECIAL SYRAH 2008 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#272682) (XD) - $13.95
• BOUTARI GRANDE RESERVE 2007 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#140111) (D) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU DE NAGES VIEILLES VIGNES 2010 - AC Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#040964) (D) - $17.95
• HACIENDA LOPEZ DE HARO RESERVA 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#357335) (XD) - $17.95
• ARES CRIANZA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#305912) (XD) - $17.95
• CEPA 21 HITO 2010 - DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#360503) (XD) - $17.95
• CENTUNO NERO D’AVOLA 2010 - IGT Sicilia, Italy (#357103) (XD) - $17.95
• DON JACOBO RESERVA 2004 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#313270) (XD) - $18.95  reviewed here
• PASSIONATE WINES MONTESCO BONARDA 2010 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#363127) (XD) - $19.95
• LA LUZ CALLEJÓN DEL CRIMEN GRAN RESERVA PETIT VERDOT 2008 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#360412) (XD) - $23.95

White Wine:

• MÖNCHHOF ROBERT EYMAEL RIESLING 2011 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#349431) (MS) - $16.95
• SUE-ANN STAFF GRACE’S DRY RIESLING 2011 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#367086) (XD) - $18.95  reviewed here
• COOPERS CREEK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#957407) (XD) - $18.95
• FOUASSIER PERE & FILS POUILLY-FUMÉ 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#357319) (XD) - $19.95

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

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German Wines - Part 3

Here are two more wines I received courtesy of Wines of Germany Canada. The first two wines were reviewed here and here.

The first wine reviewed below is a Sparkling Wine in the 200 mL size, which is (likely) available in packs of 3 at the LCBO. It's on the sweet side and makes a good alternative for those who like Moscato d'Asti. The second wine reviewed in this post is a medium (in sweetness) Riesling. Both of these wines are easy drinking wines that are suitable for gatherings where your guests enjoy sweeter wines.

HENKELL TROCKEN DRY-SEC PICCOLO - Baden, Germany (#009118) (MD) (200 mL) - $11.45

Tasting Note:
Comes in pack of 3. Screw cap on this 200 mL bottle. Medium-high intensity aromas of apple, floral and hints of barnyard from the glass. Good, crisp bubbles and fresh acidity. Palate is quite sweet with lemon/lime, citrus and honeydew. Fairly light-weight and finishing short-medium in length. For a Trocken Dry-Sec, it's quite sweet. Score: 83 pts


DEINHARD GREEN LABEL RIESLING 2012 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#008094) (M) - $11.95

Tasting Note:

Screw cap. This white wine has muted aromas of pink grapefruit, peach, and Flintstones vitamins. Medium in sweetness with white peach, floral, petrol, and wet rocks on the palate. Hints of honey linger on the medium-long finish. Good acidity and medium bodied. Score: 86 pts

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Moselland Ars Vitis Riesling Winter Scene 2012 (Mosel) - Wine Review

This is the 2nd wine I received from the fine folks at Wines of Germany Canada (the first was reviewed here). I opened this white wine earlier today because it's light and crisp, with only 10% abv and perfectly suitable for brunch or lunch.

MOSELLAND ARS VITIS RIESLING WINTER SCENE 2012 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germanyy (#589929) (MD) - $9.95

Tasting Note:
Low intensity aromas of citrus, lime and floral notes. It's mid-weight and has a slightly oily texture with a palate consisting of orange blossom, citrus and florals. Medium-dry sweetness with bracing acids and a slight spritz. Some tartness arrives at the mid-palate and continues through to the medium-length finish. Delicate - chill slightly. Paired well with homemade butter chicken. Score: 85 pts

What's really interesting is the "label". The entire bottle has a frosted glass finish. But on the front is a clear window that let's you peer through the bottle to view the graphic that's been printed on the back of the bottle. Pretty cool!

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Peller Estates Andrew Peller Signature Series Cabernet Franc Icewine 2010 (Niagara) - Wine Review

To ring in the New Year, I opened this delicious Icewine that I received last January as part of my "Dinner for Two at Peller Estates Winery" contest winnings. Suffice it to say, it was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

PELLER ESTATES ANDREW PELLER SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (S) (375 mL) - $90.10

Tasting Note:
Sweet red fruit, currants and cranberry aromas from the cork. Gorgeously intense candied red fruits, bing cherry and ripe strawberry aromas from the glass with very nice replays led by strawberry notes on the palate. Medium-full bodied with heavy viscosity. It's sweet and has very good balancing acids and a long finish. Lovely! Score: 91 pts

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Gustav Adolf Schmitt Niersteiner Spätlese Late Harvest 2012 (Rheinhessen) - Wine Review

This is the first of a few wines that I received courtesy of Wines of Germany Canada. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be reviewing each and every one of them and posting my thoughts. If you like wines on the sweeter side, then you'll want to keep checking back. Alternatively, you can subscribe to my blog (it's free!) via the "Follow By Email" web form located on the right, near the top of this page, and get all my posts delivered right to your inbox.

The Niersteiner Spätlese is a Riesling-blend that comes in a unique clear Cobalt blue bottle. Ironically, I had this same bottle a couple of weeks ago at Fisherman's Wharf in downtown Toronto. It tastes much the same as it did over a week ago and was enjoyed by all at the table. I decided to open this one on New Year's Eve on the suggestion of my wife, and also knowing that my guests would enjoy it - which they did!

GUSTAV ADOLF SCHMITT NIERSTEINER SPÄTLESE LATE HARVEST 2012 - Prädikatswein, Rheinhessen, Germany (#262337) (MS) - $10.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. This white wine has fresh lime, mineral and floral aromas of low-to-medium intensity. Lots of honey flavours on the palate with undertones of ginger and candied peach. Slightly chalky mouthfeel and quite sweet with good acids. Finish lingers. Great value at $10.95. Part of the LCBO General List and widely available throughout the province. Score: 87 pts

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Jan. 4 LCBO Wine Picks: Smart Buys

This is the first LCBO Vintages release of 2014 and, as always, is the annual "Smart Buys" release. New wines will be on shelves across Ontario on Saturday, January 4. There are 27 wines featured in the "Smart Buys" section and 8 made my list.

For some (strange?) reason, it's extremely rare that a "Wine of the Month" makes my list of wine picks, but this time it did. Perhaps this bodes well for subsequent Wines of the Month in 2014! The Cusumano Noà is one of this release's Wines of the Month and is also part of the Smart Buys feature. It's a blend of 40% Nero d’Avola, 30% Merlot, and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and definitely a worthy buy.

The 2011 Vacqueyras is featured as a Smart Buy and arrives in Vintages just 2 months after the 2010 was featured. It is a blend of Grenache and Syrah and, interestingly, priced $2 higher than the 2010.

Also from the Smart Buys section is the Valle Las Acequias Oak Malbec and the First Press (oaked) Chardonnay, while the Australian Domaine Tournon Mathilda Shiraz made by the famous Marc Chapoutier saw no oak whatsoever. Both the New Zealand white wines - Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc - did not touch any oak, which is typical for each varietal. And finally, the crowd-pleasing Flat Rock Riesling is off-dry (medium in sweetness) and comes from a local Niagara winery that focuses on environmental sustainability.

From the rest of the release, I am happy to see the 2011 Bula finally arrive in Vintages this coming weekend. I had the opportunity to taste this full-bodied red wine at the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo in November and it ended up being one of my favourite wines of the night. It's a blend of 40% Carinena, 40% Garnacha (Grenache), and 20% Syrah. I enjoyed it very much and hope you will enjoy it too!

And last but not least, there are a couple of premium Bordeaux reds that are worth your consideration. The Château Caronne Ste. Gemme is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, while the Château Grand Village is 75% Merlot and 25% Cab Franc. Both of these wines hail from great, but very different vintages.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• BULA 2011 - DO Montsant, Spain (#292094) (XD) - $16.95  reviewed here
• VALLE LAS ACEQUIAS OAK MALBEC 2007 - Estate Don Angelino, Medrano, Mendoza, Argentina (#138412) (XD) - $16.95
• 13TH STREET MERLOT 2012 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#270504) (XD) - $17.95
• CUSUMANO NOÀ 2010 - IGT Sicilia, Italy (#109512) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE TOURNON MATHILDA SHIRAZ 2011 - Victoria, Australia (#327395) (XD) - $19.95
• PIERRE AMADIEU LA GRANGELIÈRE VACQUEYRAS 2011 - AC, Rhone, France (#076398) (XD) - $21.95
• CHÂTEAU GRAND VILLAGE 2010 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#254805) (XD) - $22.85
• CHÂTEAU CARONNE STE. GEMME 2009 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#191460) (XD) - $25.85

White Wine:

• VILLA MARIA PRIVATE BIN EAST COAST GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2012 - New Zealand (#357509) (M) - $14.95
• FLAT ROCK RIESLING 2012 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#043281) (M) - $16.95
• MOUNT RILEY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#981670) (XD) - $17.95
• FIRST PRESS CHARDONNAY 2011 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#199810) (XD) - $19.95
• CHATEAU MONTELENA CHARDONNAY 2011 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#701748) (XD) - $59.95

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

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Remhoogte Estate Wine 2006 (South Africa) - Wine Review

I thought it would be appropriate to finally open this wine last night as a tribute to Nelson Mandela, on the day of his memorial. Ironically, this winery began its new life when current owners Murray and Juliet Boustred purchased the land in 1994, the year that apartheid ended in South Africa.

This red wine was purchased earlier this year from the February 2nd LCBO Vintages release. And if you're looking to buy this, you will have to wait as this is no longer available at the LCBO.

REMHOOGTE ESTATE WINE 2006 - WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa (#694539) (XD) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
A blend of 40% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Shiraz, and 15% Pinotage. Plum and oak aromas from the cork. Medium-high intensity aromas of menthol, eucalyptus, licorice and bramble from the glass. Medium-full bodied with lively acids. Palate is warm with spice, mulberry, dark cherry and vanillan oak flavours. Tannis are firm, but ripe. Finishes long, bitter and smooth. Delicious. Could have been aged another 2-3 years, but enjoyable now. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

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