June 7 LCBO Wine Picks: Authentic Oz + Italian Whites + Father's Day

The next Vintages wine release will be in LCBO outlets across Ontario on Saturday, June 7th. This edition focuses on "authentic" Australian wines, with the emphasis solely on Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. The secondary feature is on regional white wines from Italy.

Overall, the selection of 14 Aussie wines featured are very good. At the top of the list is the Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, while in the same price range and a close second is the Grant Burge The Holy Trinity GSM (38% Grenache, 36% Shiraz and 26% Mourvèdre). Both of these wines hail from an excellent 2010 vintage. Further down the price range and into more affordable territory is the impressive Tournon Shiraz that is back in Vintages after showing up in January; the fourth and final red I can recommend is the Cab Sauv from Kilikanoon. Both Aussie Chardonnays featured in this release made my wine picks - neither are heavily oaked, but do have some oak influence.

From the secondary feature on Italian white wines, two of the nine wines made my list of wine picks. Tiefenbrunner's PG (Pinot Grigio) is one of the best around. Dry white wine lovers that want to try something new should check out Terredora's Greco di Tufo - it's made using the Greco grape.

The annual Father's Day selection is also included in this release and features a number of premium wines and spirits. If you're inclined, there is the Macallan Sherry Oak 25 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky going for almost $1000.

From the rest of the release, Palo Alto's red from Chile is a blend of 50% Shiraz, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carménère, 10% Merlot, and 2% Petit Syrah. The Carignanissime de Centeilles is 100% Carignan, comes from vines that are between 60-100 years old, and is matured in tanks only (no oak used). The Ramos Pinto is mostly Touriga Nacional (45%) and Touriga Franca (35%), while 6 other grapes make up the final 20% of the blend. And finally, the 2010 Niagara growing season was excellent for traditional Bordeaux grapes and helped produce a wonderful blend from Creekside (47.3% Cab Sauv, 37.2% Merlot, 10.8% Shiraz, 4.7% Malbec). In white wines, the Menetou-Salon is made using Sauvignon Blanc.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this LCBO Vintages release. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• PALO ALTO WINEMAKER’S SELECTION 2010 - Maule Valley, Chile (#376236) (XD) - $18.95
• CARIGNANISSIME DE CENTEILLES 2010 - AC Minervois, Midi, France (#041913) (XD) - $18.95
• KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#675223) (XD) - $19.95
• ADRIANO RAMOS PINTO DUAS QUINTAS 2011 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#359893) (XD) - $19.95
• CREEKSIDE LAURA’S RED 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#117960) (XD) - $19.95
• DOMAINE TOURNON MATHILDA SHIRAZ 2011 - Victoria, Australia (#327395) (XD) - $19.95
• WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE BLACK LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#084996) (XD) - $27.95  reviewed here
• LICENCIADO RESERVA TEMPRANILLO 2006 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#370023) (XD) - $29.95
• GRANT BURGE THE HOLY TRINITY GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2010 - Barossa, South Australia (#236257) (XD) - $29.95  reviewed here

White Wine:

• TIEFENBRUNNER PINOT GRIGIO 2013 - DOC Südtirol-Alto Adige, Italy (#954024) (XD) - $18.95
• MALIVOIRE PINOT GRIS 2012 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#591305) (D) - $19.95
• CHAVET & FILS LA DAME DE JACQUES COEUR MENETOU-SALON BLANC 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#525048) (XD) - $19.95
• NUGAN KING VALLEY FRASCA’S LANE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2012 - Frasca's Lane Vineyard, King Valley, Victoria, Australia (#288191) (XD) - $19.95
• TERREDORA DI PAOLO LOGGIA DELLA SERRA GRECO DI TUFO 2012 - DOCG, Campania, Italy (#983197) (XD) - $20.95
• WINZER KREMS EDITION CHREMISA GRÜNER VELTLINER 2012 - Niederösterreich, Austria (#368803) (XD) - $24.95
• TYRRELL’S HVD SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2012 - HVD (Hunter Valley Distillery) Vineyard, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#368282) (XD) - $29.95
• SMITH-MADRONE CHARDONNAY 2011 - Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California, USA (#363556) (XD) - $39.95

Dessert Wine:

• DOMINIUM CUVÉE LATE HARVEST TOKAJI 2006 - DOP, Hungary (#371617) (MS) (500 mL) - $28.95

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

Read More

Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is the second in a series of wines from Southbrook Vineyards (first up was their Triomphe Cab Franc Rosé).

This red wine is certfied organic and biodynamic. In fact, the entire Triomphe line of wines has been certified organic since 2010. Furthermore, Southbrook was Canada's first certified biodynamic winery.

As this wine is a Vintages Essentials product, it is always available in the Vintages section. The 2012 version was featured as part of the Cabernet Sauvignon focus in the March 1 Vintages Release.

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#193573) (XD) - $22.95

Tasting Note:
Stelvin screw cap closure. In addition to Cab Sauv, it contains 6.1% Petit Verdot, 3% Syrah, 2.3% Merlot, and 2.2% Cab Franc. Barnyard, vanillan oak, red currant aromas that also shows some meaty notes as it warms up in the glass. Medium-bodied with firm tannins. Flavour profile consists of sweet red currants, blackberries, subtle spice, and vanillan oak in the background. Good acids and a long finish that has hints of milk chocolate. Could be cellared another 2-3 years, but drinking well now. Has good crowd appeal. Score: 87 pts

Read More

Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc Rosé 2012 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Last night's wine is the first in a series of wines that I'll be reviewing from Southbrook Vineyards.

The roots of this winery began as a farm in the 1860s at the head of the Don River by the Patterson family. William Redelmeier, who is the grandfather of current owner Bill Redelmeier, purchased Don Head Farms in 1941. In the 1980s, Bill and partner/co-owner Marilyn evolve the business from a roadside stand into a thriving farm market, which led to the creation of "Southbrook Farms". In 1991, a boutique winery and event space was born.

Today, Southbrook Vineyards is one of the leading organic and biodynamic wineries in Ontario. Their hospitality pavilion was the first winery to receive Gold level of LEED status back in November, 2008.

This rosé wine is certified organic and also vegan-friendly. It has been in Vintages previously but is now part of the LCBO General List and is available in small quantities throughout the province.

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE ORGANIC CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#279117) (XD) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Also contains 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Gamay. Nose seems rather closed but shows an earthy character with notes of cherry and wild berries. Medium-bodied palate with tart fruit, and cherry flavours. It's dry (i.e. not sweet), with good acids and a medium-length finish. Serve only lightly chilled. Will be enjoyed with spiced rotisserie chicken off the BBQ. Score: 87 pts

Read More

Win Discovery Passes to 2014 Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival

Join the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival for the 19th Annual New Vintage Festival this June. I attended this event in both 2012 and 2013 and had a great time each visit! A family wedding followed by some much needed vacation time will prevent me from attending the Niagara Wine festival with the best weather this year.

Wine Country in Ontario presents a calendar of year round events and none is as highly anticipated as the Annual TD Tailgate Party. The 5th installment of the Tailgate Party is set to take place on Saturday June 21st from 5:30-9:30 pm in the 2013/14 Grower of the Year's vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Grape King, Wes Wiens represents the legacy of a Niagara grape growing family and invites guests to join the Wiens family in their vineyard for this special night.

The focus of this annual backyard style event is squarely wine and culinary and guests will experience the best food and wine that Niagara has to offer. Eight incredible chefs will serve up mouthwatering creations using the freshest local ingredients with an eye on culinary trends. The Dairy Farmers of Canada will be on hand to present a selection of artisanal cheeses that are unique and delicious.

And the TD Tailgate Party will host over 35 of Niagara's favourite wineries and a showcase of their latest releases and wines that are a perfect complement to summer entertaining. Join winemakers and wine industry personnel as they share their passion. From Vintage cars, to Vintage wines and incredible food and live entertainment, this is the kick off to summer that everyone is talking about.

In addition to the Farm to Table experience at the TD Tailgate Party, guests can also sample the freshness of the season with the ever popular Discovery Pass Program. Culinary offerings produced with the first produce of the season or locally sourced ingredients will be served with perfectly paired wines. The program takes place on June 14, 15, 21 and 22, 2014. The Discovery Pass is your ticket to 8 wineries from the participating 38 winery partners across the region. Here is the Official Festival Guide, so you can plan your visit ahead of time.

Discovery Passes are $40 and Tailgate Party tickets are $85 (plus HST). All are available by ordering online at www.niagarawinefestival.com or calling the Festival office at 905-688-0212.

Are you excited yet? Enter the contest below for your chance to win a pair of Discovery Passes!

Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

May 24 LCBO Wine Picks: Rhône + Crisp Whites

The next LCBO Vintages release will be on shelves across Ontario on Saturday, May 24th. This edition's main focus is on wines from Rhône, while the secondary focus is on crisp white wines - as summer is just around the corner.

Sixteen wines were featured in the Rhône roundup, and a quarter of them made my wine picks. The Valériane is a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, from old vines that are between 30-40 years of age, while the Lafond Lirac is 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Carignan, and 5% Mourvèdre. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 80% old vines Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% others. And finally, the Clos Bellane is an unspecified Grenache-blend. As you can see from the above, Grenache tends to play a large role in Rhône, with Syrah not far behind. Within the region, wine can be traced as far back 600 B.C., and many houses have long traditions dating back several generations. Personally, Rhône is one of my favourite wine regions and I am quite pleased with the selection available in this release.

All six white wines I've recommended below are from the secondary focus on crisp white wines. None of these wines are sweet, and five are the classic, cool French grapes - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. The Sancerre is a Sauvignon Blanc, while the Chablis is an unoaked Chardonnay. If you want to try something different and off the beaten path, then check out the Picpoul de Pinet - it's made using the Piquepoul grape, meant to served well-chilled and pairs well with seafood and shellfish.

From the rest of the release, the 2012 Bila-Haut continues to be a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan (same as the 2011), while the Château Vincens is an Malbec/Merlot (80/20) blend. There are a couple of very ageable reds from the Iberian peninsula that would make worthy additions to your cellar. Both of these wines are made using only local grapes - the Castro Ventosa is a 100% Mencía, while the Meandro do Vale is 35% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 27% Tinta Roriz, 3% Sousão, 3% Tinta Barroca and 2% Tinto Cão. The Barolo is, of course, made with Nebbiolo, and can be aged for at least the next dozen years.

Enjoy my wine picks for this week and let me know if you try any of these! Cheers!


Red Wine:

• M. CHAPOUTIER LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON VILLAGES 2012 - AC, Midi, France (#168716) (D) - $14.95
• DOMAINE LES YEUSES LES ÉPICES SYRAH 2011 - IGP Pays d’Oc, Midi, France (#177584) (XD) - $14.95
• FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA MALBEC 2012 - Mendoza, Argentina (#261867) (XD) - $15.95
• CHÂTEAU VINCENS PRESTIGE 2011 - AC Cahors, Southwest, France (#272427) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMAINE DE LA VALÉRIANE VIEILLES VIGNES CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2012 - AC, Rhône, France (#374280) (XD) - $17.95
• ROLF BINDER HALES SHIRAZ 2010 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#054239) (XD) - $18.95
• DOMAINE LAFOND ROC-ÉPINE LIRAC 2011 - AP, Rhône, France (#128660) (XD) - $18.95  reviewed here
• MONTES ALPHA SYRAH 2010 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#000612) (XD) - $19.95
• CLOS BELLANE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES VALRÉAS 2010 - AP, Rhône, France (#374991) (XD) - $19.95
• MEANDRO DO VALE MEÃO 2011 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#244731) (XD) - $24.95
• CASTRO VENTOSA EL CASTRO DE VALTUILLE 2010 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#366930) (XD) - $27.95
• MARZIANO ABBONA TERLO RAVERA BAROLO 2008 - DOCG, Piedmont, France (#067918) (XD) - $49.95
• E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2007 - AC, Rhône, France (#727503) (XD) - $59.95

White Wine:

• BEAUVIGNAC PICPOUL DE PINET 2013 - AC Coteaux du Languedoc, Midi, France (#350124) (XD) - $13.95
• LA JOYA RESERVE VIOGNIER 2013 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#168542) (XD) - $14.95
• JACKSON-TRIGGS GRAND RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#367797) (XD) - $19.95
• STONELEIGH LATITUDE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2012 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#324228) (XD) - $21.95  reviewed here
• ROGER & DIDIER RAIMBAULT SANCERRE BLANC 2012 - AC, Loire, France (#082255) (XD) - $27.95
• JEAN-MARC BROCARD VAUCOUPIN CHABLIS 1 ER CRU 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#288019) (XD) - $27.95

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

Read More

Fleur du Cap Chardonnay 2012 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a barrel-fermented Chardonnay from Fleur du Cap in South Africa. It's interesting to note that fermentation of 20% of this wine started in tank and was completed in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels, while the remaining 80% was fermented in tanks on French (50%) and American (50%) oak staves. At $12.80, it's a pretty good buy from LCBO General List (i.e. always available) - just remember to chill it well prior to serving.

FLEUR DU CAP CHARDONNAY BERGKELDER SELECTION 2012 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#358960) (XD) - $12.80

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Medium+ aromas that show notes of apple, butter, orchard fruits and hints of buttered popcorn. Palate is light-to-medium bodied with plenty of spice notes at the forefront, followed by lime, apple, and butter flavours. Fairly round on the palate, with good acids and a medium-length finish. Serve nicely chilled. Paired nicely with baked salmon. Score: 87 pts

Read More

Inception Deep Layered Red 2011 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine is a new wine that is about to be launched across Canada in the coming days. This wine will be launched first in Canada before being made available in other markets. I was given the opportunity to sample it prior to its official launch at the LCBO in Ontario.

The Shiraz and Mourvèdre grapes were handpicked for this blend. All three grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks, then matured for 12-14 months in oak barrels.

Wine label fans will want to take a closer look at the intricate artwork, which is quite interesting (click on the photo below for a close look). Here's my wine review of what's inside the bottle...

INCEPTION DEEP LAYERED RED 2011 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#369967) (D) - $13.90

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Blend of 81% Shiraz, 10% Petit Verdot, and 9% Mourvèdre. Medium intensity aromas consisting of black pepper, blackberry, clove spice, oak, and chocolate powder. Medium-bodied on the palate with sweet, ripe, lush and fruit-forward with blackberry/blueberry flavours, along with mocha, cherry and spice notes in support. It's definitely on the sweet side (off-dry), with refined tannins and good acids. Medium-length finish. This has good crowd appeal would be suitable for parties. Fans of Yellow Tail can look here for a suitable alternate. Score: 87 pts

Read More