Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
Last night's red wine was purchased from last August's Vintages release that highlighted Italian wines off the beaten path. Puglia is most likely not one of the first names to roll off your tongue when thinking of Italian wines, nor are the grapes in this red blend - Negromaro and Malvasia Nera. If you live in Bracebridge, Kenora, or Sault Ste. Marie, you will likely be able to get your hands on it, as it's virtually sold out everywhere else.
Tasting Note:
Blend of 80% Negromaro and 20% Malvasia Nera. Plum, cherry and slight prune aromas from the cork. Medium nose with cherry, black fruits, graphite and pronounced horse/barnyard as it warmed up in the glass. Medium+ bodied with smooth palate and red cherry, earth and spice notes. Has fresh acidity along with jucy, crunchy and firm tannins. Smooth, medium-long finish with hints of cocoa. Could be aged another 1-2 years, but drinking great now. Delicious. Score: 89+ pts
The next LCBO Vintages release will be on . The major theme of this release is titled "Cali Classics" and highlights some iconic wines from some of the biggest and best names in California, while the secondary theme is titled "Labour of Love" and focuses on artisanal wines from around the globe.
We'll begin with the Cali Classics section, where nearly all of the 12 wines featured are very good and I would be happy to add many of them to my cellar. However, I've selected three in particular that I would cherish the most.
First up is the 2010 Dominus that is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It's not too often we see a Parker-rated 100-point wine on LCBO shelves, and while I doubt many other critics would also score this red wine 100 points, I am certain it's very, very good. It's a big wine that can be decanted and enjoyed now, or cellared for at least 20 years. At $170.95, you may want to go in with one or two close friends and open it on a very special occasion.
Also from Napa is the CADE Cabernet Sauvignon - a relatively new winery at 9 years old and making its debut in Ontario this month. The 2010 is 90% Cab and 10% Merlot from the Howell Mountain AVA (which is a sub-AVA of Napa Valley) and aged in 100% French Oak (80% new).
The Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the best value of the bunch. The 2010 edition is a blend of 80% Cab Sauv, 17% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc and can also be decanted and enjoyed now or cellared for up to 10 years. And yes, even though it says Cabernet Sauvignon in big letters on the label, they are allowed to blend a certain percentage (at most 25% according to U.S. federal law) of other grapes and still be allowed call it by it's primary grape. It's great they included the full blend in smaller letters right on the label!
From the second feature of this release on handcrafted wines, we have the Castello di Ama Chianti (80% Sangiovese, 20% Malvasia Nera and Merlot), Thomas Bachelder's Pinot Noir from Burgundy. And finally, from Loire is a wine on the sweeter side - a Vouvray (Chenin Blanc) from Domaine Bourillon-Dorléans. The winemakers at all three wineries were involved at every stage of making these wines - from picking and pruning the grapes, all the way to the final stages of blending and marketing. Also, both Thomas Bachelder and Frédéric Bourillon focus on terroir-driven wines, with as little intervention as possible.
From the rest of the release, returning to Vintages (and $2 higher) is the 2009 Mas d'Auzierès les Éclats 2009 which I purchased and reviewed 2 years ago, while the Cahors is a blend of Malbec and Merlot. From Spain, the Odipus Old Vines Grenache amazingly comes from 100+-year-old vines, while the Lacrimus Crianza is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha (Grenache). Also from Spain is the Señorío de los Baldíos that is 100% Tempranillo. There's also an interesting Piedmont blend from Tenuta Stefano Farina that consists of 40% Barbera, 40% Nebbiolo and 20% Merlot.
Once again, it was slim pickings among white wines. The Henry of Pelham Chardonnay was barrel fermented, while the Quails' Gate version was 50% barrel fermented and 50% tank fermented. The Saint-Roch is a blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Marsanne from 50-year-old vines.
Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!
Red Wine:
ODIPUS OLD VINES GRENACHE 2008 - Unfiltered, DO Navarra, Spain (#366401) (XD) - $15.95
This white wine was purchased from last October's LCBO Vintages release with the intention of opening it sooner rather than later. For dry white wine lovers, I hope you bought this when I recommended it because it's very good, as you will see from my wine review below and there is virtually nothing left at the LCBO.
DOMAINE LAFAGE CUVÉE CENTENAIRE 2011 - AC Côtes du Roussillon, Midi, France (#343491) (XD) - $17.95
Tasting Note:
Blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, and 20% Roussanne. Lemon, mineral and floral aromas from the cork. Quite aromatic with nice florals, wet rock, pleasing barnyard and hints of peach notes. Light weight, with fresh, crisp acids on the palate. Complex flavour profile featuring white peach, acacia flowers, elegant spice, and herbs. Dry with good structure and a long, mouth-watering finish. Highly recommended. Score: 90+ pts
The next Vintages release will be on LCBO shelves across Ontario on . The major feature of this release is on the grape Cabernet Sauvignon, while the minor feature is on wines from Israel.
We'll begin with Israel as it highlights 6 wines, five of which of are from one of its top regions - Upper Galilee. Not all wines made in Israel are certified Kosher, but the each of the Israeli wines in this release are certified Kosher for Passover - to help you prepare for upcoming Passover celebrations. The single Israeli wine that made my wine picks is the Galil Mountain Alon that is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Syrah, 8% Petit Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. And in case you were wondering, Cab Sauv, Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc are the most widely planted grapes in Israel.
A recent study showed that Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely planted grape on the planet. In this release there are 15 Cabs highlighted, most of which are from the New World. A version from Chile's Santa Rita and a blend from Washington's Hedges Family Estate (44% Cab Sauv, 33% Merlot, 16% Syrah, 4% Malbec, 3% Cab Franc) are the only two Cabs I'm recommending from this section of the release. There's also a Cab Sauv from Argentina that's not part of the "Cab Fab" feature, but is found later on in the magazine. Why they separated this and other Cabernet Sauvignons from the rest is beyond me...
From the rest of the release, the Bodegas Olarra is a blend of mostly Tempranillo and small amounts of Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, while the Brouilly from Beaujolais is made with Gamay Noir. And last but not least of the red wines is a gorgeous wine from Hecht & Bannier that returns to Vintages. I was delighted to have co-founder Gregory Hecht pour this fabulous wine for me at the Halpern Enterprises Grand Cru tasting last November. It's a highly aromatic blend and a big wine containing Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and trace amounts of Lladoner Pelut, a grape I had never heard of. Drink this wine over the next 5 years. I have both the 2008 and 2010 in my cellar and will probably open them both up over the next couple of years.
Only 4 white wines made my cut, and all are from France. The Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc), Chardonnay, and Riesling are all dry, while the Altesse is off-dry (i.e. slightly sweet).
This concludes my take on this week's Vintages release. Enjoy my wine picks and, as usual, let me know if you try any of my recommendations. Cheers!
Red Wine:
SANTA CAROLINA GRAN RESERVA PETIT VERDOT 2011 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#007484) (D) - $15.95
My love for Ontario Cabernet Franc began with the 2008 vintage version from this winery and continues to this day. The 2011 was great when I tasted it at the winery back in the September 2012, but was not as impressive when I opened the bottle at home, 13 months later.
Tonight, on National Drink Wine Day, I am delighted to open this wonderful Ontario Cab Franc. This red wine was purchased from a Vintages release in September 2012. Good luck finding the 2010 now, but if you have this in your cellar, open it now and enjoy!
Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Medium+ intensity aromas that feature complex notes of wet earth, bramble, ripe plum, red currant, herbal and hints of eucalyptus. On the palate, it's medium bodied very nice aroma replays surrounded by a lovely earthy, sweet core. Bright, balanced acids and very smooth, refined tannins. Gorgeous! Drink now if you have it! Will be enjoying this with Chicken Fajitas. Score: 90 pts
NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY DEAN'S LIST SAVANT ICEWINE 2009 - Jack Forrer Vineyard, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (S) (200 mL) - $37.95
Tasting Note:
Field blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Pinot Noir. Sweet prune, plum and grapey aromas from the cork. Apple cider, honey and hint of melon aromas of medium intensity from the glass. Fairly lightweight with sweet apple cider, caramel, peach, nutty, orange zest, and honey notes. Good acids and a long finish that's showing hints of bitterness. Drink now. Score: 89+ pts
To celebrate our 6th Wedding Anniversary, I decided to open this lovely white wine from Alsace. The Gewürztraminer grape is not everyone's cup of tea and can take some time getting used to, but I know that my wife and I enjoy it, when made well, such as this one.
This wine was purchased from the December 7 Vintages release and could have been cellared a couple of years, but is definitely enjoyable now. I've enjoyed many wines from Joseph Cattin over the years, and enjoyed this one as well. If you're feeling adventurous and want to try this grape, it is available at the LCBO.
JOSEPH CATTIN GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2011 - AC Alsace, France (#224626) (M) - $17.95
Tasting Note:
Yummy lychee, meyer lemon and rose petal aromas from the cork. Classic, elegant Gewürztraminer aromas led by lychee fruit from the glass. Full-bodied, creamy mouthfeel, and round with more lychee, orange, lavender, rose and hints of ginger on the palate. Bracing acids and not as sweet as one might expect. Long, smooth, and almost bitter finish. Recommended buy. Paired really well with red pepper flake shrimps as the wine really tamed the fiery shrimp, while the pairing was less than ideal with lamb chops. Score: 90 pts
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Tasting Note:
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