2008 Cavino Grande Reserve Nemea (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is the final instalment in my series of Wines from Peloponnese (links to part 1, part 2 and part 3).

Once again, this is 100% Agiorgitiko with all the grapes coming from the Nemea PDO. However, in this case, the grapes hail from small vineyards in the Mountains of Nemea at an altitiude of 750 - 900 metres. It has gone through malolactic fermentation and maturation in French and American oak barrels for about 18 months, then bottled for another 12 months prior to release.

This particular red wine was featured last year in the November 22 LCBO VINTAGES release. Quite a few bottles are still available on shelves.


CAVINO GRANDE RESERVE 2008 - PDO Nemea, Peloponnese, Greece (#295618) (D) - $17.95

Tasting Note:
Plum, dried fig and herb aromas from the cork. Medium+ aromatics from the glass with blackcurrant, leather, cocoa and plum notes. On the palate, it's medium-bodied with rubber, wild herb, leather, raspberry, and spice flavours. It has very good acidity, dusty tannins, and shows hints of cocoa on the medium-length finish. This fine, maturing wine will drink nicely for another 2-3 years. Score: 88 pts

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2013 Tselepos Classic Moschofilero (Greece) - Wine Review

Opened up this fragrant beauty of a wine on Sunday in my continuuing series on wines from Peloponnese (part 1, part 2), Greece.

Grapes for this wine were sourced within Mantinia PDO, from selected vineyards within the communes of Rizes, Lithovounia and Agiorgitika in Arcadia. The region is known for producing wines of distinct aromatic and flavour profiles using the grapes Moschofilero and Asproudes (a term often used to refer to unknown varietals.) This white wine is a classic, textbook example of Moschofilero with its fragrant qualities and naturally fresh acidity.

The wine was featured among my wine picks in the December 6th LCBO VINTAGES release at $17.95, but has now come down in price by $3 - excellent value at this price point! Small quantities are available throughout the province, so you should be able to find this bottle at your local LCBO outlet.


TSELEPOS CLASSIC MOSCHOFILERO 2013 - PDO Mantinia, Peloponnese, Greece (#724583) (XD) - $14.95

Tasting Note:
100% Moschofilero. Light orange-pinkish hue. Perfumed nose of orange, peach, blossom flowers, very Muscat-like. Palate is medium-bodied and dry (not sweet) with orange peel, citrus and floral notes, vibrant acidity. Quite warm mouthfeel with 13% alcohol. Excellent length on the finish. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

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Apr. 18 LCBO Wine Picks: Putting Family First

The next LCBO VINTAGES release will be in stores across Ontario on Saturday, April 18, 2015. In this release, the major theme centres around "Family", with Europe's Primum Familiae Vini (PFV) and California's Wagner Family being the focus.

PFV is an exclusive guild of top winemakers from Europe, making many top wines that I'm sure you have at least heard of. Wines from all 11 members are featured in this release, and you can taste many, if not all, of these wines at a special VINTAGES walk-around tasting event on April 22 and also meet each of these winemakers at a reception/dinner on April 23. Tickets and details can be found here.

Established by Eloy Lecanda in 1864, the Vega Sicilia estate has changed owners many times before finally settling into the hands of the Alvarez family in 1982; the Vega Sicilia Alion is 100% Tempranillo. Symington Family Estates was established in 1882 and now remains the only family-owned Port company; Master Blender Charles Symington brings us his 2000 Warre's Colheita Tawny Port. Pol Roger was established in 1849 and produces some of best Champagne around. In this release, there is the 2004 Brut (60% Pinot Noir / 40% Chardonnay) and the 2006 Brut Rosé which is based on the Brut Vintage, but adds approximately 15% of still Pinot Noir prior to bottling and second fermentation - both of these Champagnes are a little sweet.

I've been a big fan of wines from Famille Perrin, and their Beaucastel CdP is back in VINTAGES, consisting of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault, and can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to 2 decades. Marchesi Antinori is arguably the most recognizable name in Italian wine and his 2011 Solaia (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Franc) is featured as the benchmark in this release; it should be cellared for a few years and enjoyed over the next decade.

The last PFV wine is from Egon Müller-Scharzhof. His great-great-grandfather Jean-Jacques Koch purchased the legendary Scharzhof estate in 1797, a site widely believed to be planted by the Romans and in near-continuous use ever since. Egon Müller makes wine in several countries, but only produces Riesling, including the Château Belá Riesling from Slovakia.

From the rest of the release, the latest vintage of the Bila-Haut is back in VINTAGES with an unspecified blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. A pair of Spanish red wines are returning to VINTAGES a year older - the 2006 Abad Dom Bueno (100% Mencía) and the 2007 Conde de Valdemar (90% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo/Carignan and 5% Graciano.) From Veneto is the Brigaldara that consists of 40% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, and 40% Rondinella / Molinara / Sangiovese.

For fans of sweet Riesling, seek out the Ontario wines from Cave Spring and Henry of Pelham. If you prefer dry Rieslings, check out the Trimbach version or venture off the beaten path with the wine from Slovakia. Look at the Buissonnier Montagny if you prefer your Chardonnay unoaked, as the other two Chardonnays recommended below are oaked.

Lastly, the Blanc de Blancs Cremant sparkling wine has a little bit of sweetness and is made using Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois.

This was a very good release at the low end of the price scale for red wines. Stock up and enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• BRIGALDARA VALPOLICELLA 2013 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#917864) (XD) - $14.95
• M. CHAPOUTIER LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON VILLAGES 2013 - AC, Midi, France (#168716) (D) - $15.95
• ABAD DOM BUENO CRIANZA 2006 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#244699) (XD) - $15.95  reviewed here
• SECRETO PATAGÓNICO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 - Patagonia, Argentina (#399204) (XD) - $18.95
• FALERNIA RESERVA SYRAH 2010 - Elquí Valley, Chile (#208371) (XD) - $18.95
• CARPINETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2012 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#356048) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU SAINT-NICOLAS 2010 - AC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, France (#405829) (XD) - $19.95
• POEIRA DUSTY 2010 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#405100) (XD) - $19.95
• CONDE DE VALDEMAR RESERVA 2007 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#947309) (XD) - $19.95

• ALPHA CRUCIS TITAN SHIRAZ 2012 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377069) (XD) - $24.95
• GREYWACKE PINOT NOIR 2011 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#402651) (XD) - $49.95  Flagship Store Exclusive
• LOUIS JADOT BEAUNE BOUCHEROTTES 1 ER CRU 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#121319) (XD) - $59.95  Flagship Store Exclusive
• CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012 - AC, Rhône, France (#711317) (D) - $89.95
• ALIÓN 2011 - DO Ribera del Duero, Spain (#199331) (XD) - $89.95
• ANTINORI SOLAIA 2011 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#987586) (XD) - $251.95  reviewed here

White Wine:

• LA JOYA GRAN RESERVA VIOGNIER 2014 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#168542) (XD) - $15.95
• TOKAJ KERESKEDOHÁZ GRAND SELECTION SEMI-DRY TOKAJI FURMINT 2012 - PDO, Hungary (#396366) (M) - $16.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE RIESLING 2012 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#557165) (M) - $17.95
• VIGNERONS DE BUXY BUISSONNIER MONTAGNY 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#382879) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU BELÁ RIESLING 2012 - Muzla, Slovakia (#410951) (XD) - $24.95
• CAVE SPRING CSV RIESLING 2012 - Cave Spring Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#566026) (M) - $29.95
• TRIMBACH RÉSERVE RIESLING 2011 - AC Alsace, France (#995316) (XD) - $29.95  Flagship Store Exclusive
• NORMAN HARDIE NIAGARA UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#184432) (XD) - $39.00
• RAMEY RITCHIE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2011 - Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#394528) (XD) - $90.00  Flagship Store Exclusive  reviewed here

Sparkling Wine:

• CAVE DE HOEN MAUSBERG BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE - Méthode Traditionnelle, AC, Alsace, France (#171785) (D) - $17.95
• POL ROGER VINTAGE EXTRA CUVEE DE RESERVE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2004 - AC, France (#411793) (D) - $94.95
• POL ROGER VINTAGE EXTRA CUVEE DE RESERVE BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2006 - AC, France (#411819) (D) - $105.95

Dessert Wine:

• REIF VIDAL ICEWINE 2013 - VQA Niagara River, Ontario, Canada (#544791) (S) (200 mL) - $24.95
• CHÂTEAU SUDUIRAUT 2011 - AC Sauternes, 1 er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France (#296012) (S) (375 mL) - $55.85  Flagship Store Exclusive

Fortified:

• WARRE’S COLHEITA TAWNY PORT 2000 - DOC, Portugal (#411702) (S) - $39.95

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

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Gaia Agiorgitiko by Gaia 2013 (Greece) - Wine Review

This is the 4th wine in my series featuring wines from the Peloponnese region of Greece. My first post about wines from Peloponnese featured a very easy drinking Agiorgitiko. Tonight's red wine is made from the same grape, but is more robust, shows more complexity and is more my style of wine.

Agiorgitiko is grown almost exclusively within Nemea, the largest PDO appellation of Greece. Nemea is located in northeast Peloponnese. Falling between Gaia Wines' Notios Red (which is meant to be enjoyed in its youth) and the Gaia Estate (with its long ageing potential), the Agiorgitiko by Gaia is a wine that can be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years after bottling.

The enclosure used on this wine is a synthetic cork made by Nomacorc. There is some writing in Greek (or some other language) written on the cork. It's included in picture below and if anyone can read that, I'd love to know what it says.

GAIA AGIORGITIKO BY GAIA 2013 - PDO Nemea, Peloponnese, Greece (#) (XD) - $21.30

Tasting Note:
Synthetic Nomacorc cork. Perfumed nose of cherries, red currant, and raspberry with underlying cedar oak and vanilla aromas. On the mid-weighted palate, it has much of the same aromas, with fine, dusty tannins, good structure and fresh acidity. Slight warmth on the mid-palate. Bitter, lengthy finish that has hints of oak. Enjoyable now or cellar up to 3 years. Available on Consignment via Agent The Small Winemakers Collection. Score: 88 pts

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Wines from Peloponnese, Greece

This is the first post in a series that will feature the wines of Peloponnese to celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter (April 12th) this year. In addition to the wines, I also received some very nice Greek products that I will be tweeting about over the coming days.

The Peloponnese wine region is located in the southern peninsula of Greece and is (mostly) separated from mainland Greece by the Gulf of Corinth. It is also the largest winemaking area in Greece. This region is home to ancient Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games, and has been producing wine for at least 4,000 years. Popular native grape varieties grown within the Peloponnese are Agiorgitiko, Moschofilero and Mavrodaphne.

Moschofilero (MOH-skoh-FEE-leh-roh) is a fragrant white grape with gray/pink/purple skin that exhibits floral, spice and perfumed characteristics. The wine reviewed below comes from Arcadia, in central Peloponnese, and shows very good typicity for the grape.

Agiorgitiko (ah-yohr-YEE-tee-koh) has to be one of the most difficult-to-pronounce grapes around. Fortunately, it also goes by the name 'St. George'. This black-skinned grape produces red wines that are quite fruity, as in the version below, similar to the Italian Barbera. Agiorgitiko is the second most widely planted red grape in all of Greece.

The last wine reviewed below is a blend using the Mavrodaphne and Black Korinthiaki grapes. The Mavrodaphne varietal is a black wine grape native to the Achaea region in Northern Peloponnese. It is typically used to produce fortified wine, as the Kourtaki is below. It is also typically blended using the solera method, which then produces a non-vintage wine.

The 2013 vintage of the Greek harvest is being hailed as one of the best in recent years, especially for white grapes. It showed in the Moschofilero. All the three wines reviewed below were quite easy drinking, have good crowd-appeal, and come at attractive price points at the LCBO.

Stay with me as I find kefi while taking you through the three remaining wines (two of which are from the 2013 vintage) to celebrate Easter and the wines of Peloponnese.

Tasting Notes:
TROUPIS FTERI MOSCHOFILERO 2013 - IGP Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece (#392936) (XD) - $15.20
Very pale yellow colour, almost clear white. Fragrant aromatics that show floral, citrus, peach and some lychee and herbal notes as it warms up. The palate is medium-bodied and creamy with balanced acids. Flavour profile consists of floral, white peach and hints of orange. Initial kiss of sweetness tapers off into the dry spectrum. Decent length on the finish. A very good introduction to the grape. Readily available as it's LCBO General List. Score: 87 pts

BOUTARI AGIORGITIKO 2013 - PDO Nemea, Peloponnese, Greece (#172148) (XD) - $11.85
Plum and prune aromas from the cork. Medium intensity nose with red cherry, red currant and soft floral aromas. Palate is medium-bodied and dry, with soft, rounded tannins, balanced acids and red currant, cherry and mild spice flavours. Average length finish. Simple, easy drinking red. Readily available as it's LCBO General List. Score: 86 pts

KOURTAKI MAVRODAPHNE OF PATRAS - PDO, Peloponnese, Greece (#208413) (S) - $14.95
Blend of Mavrodaphne and Black Korinthiaki. Prune and raisin aromas from the cork. Medium intensity aroams of raisins, dried figs, caramel and dates with medium sweet aroma replays on the palate. Smooth, slightly creamy texture, light-to-mid weight body with good acids. Medium length finish that has notes of semi-sweet milk chocolate from a hot fudge sundae. Serve well-chilled. This fortified wine was recently released into VINTAGES on March 21 and has good inventory levels. Score: 86 pts

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Wine Review - Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling 2012 (Mosel)

Opened this delicious, sweet-flavoured white wine Sunday night. It was purchased last summer from the July 19th LCBO VINTAGES release with the intention of opening it for guests during my daughter's 1st birthday party. Unfortunately, I never got around to opening it that day.

DR. PAULY-BERGWEILER RIESLING 2012 - Qualitätswein, Mosel, Germany (#596601) (M) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
Screw cap. Medium+ intensity aromas featuring nectarine, petrol, limestone mineral, citrus and hints of lemon and smoke. On the palate, it's mid-weighted with crisp acids and medium-dry sweet flavours of stone fruit, lemon/lime, and minerals. Slightly chalky on the mid-palate. Interesting stone flavours on the crisp, lengthy finish. Yummy. Paired really well with Masala Fried Chicken. Score: 88+ pts

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Apr. 4 LCBO Wine Picks: Veneto + Ontario Wines for Easter

The next LCBO VINTAGES release will be on shelves this Saturday, April 4, 2015. For those folks in Toronto's downtown core, you may find wines on shelves as early as Wednesday and some stores in and around the city may have them out as early as Thursday or Friday. Pay a visit to your local store prior to Saturday to see when they stock the shelves.

In this release, the major theme is on wines from Veneto, while the secondary theme highlights Ontario wines for upcoming Easter feasts.

The VINTAGES team did something interesting in this release with the Veneto thematic by trying to associate each letter of the alphabet with something from the region (e.g. A is for Amarone, B is for Baroque Music, C is for Corvina, etc.). However, only 11 wines were selected as part of the theme, four of which fell under V is for Valpolicella.

Only three Veneto wines are included among my wine picks, including one of the aforementioned Valpolicellas from Feudi San Pio that is made using the Ripasso technique - expect some sweet-fruited flavours. From the letter "R" is a Recioto from Monte Faustino that takes the sweetness levels up a few notches in this red wine. Lastly, under the letter "S" is a Soave, Veneto's signature white wine, from Montresor that is made using Garganega.

The mini-theme of Ontario wines for Easter featured 6 wines, and only the Fielding Viognier made my wine picks. Other Ontario wines not part of the thematic, but I think would also be perfectly suitable for Easter are the Flat Rock Riesling (medium sweet), Creekside Laura's White (a blend that is mostly Sauvignon Blanc), and Henry of Pelham Chardonnay.

From the rest of the release are a pair of matured Spanish reds, including the 10-year-old Monasterio de las Viñas (60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 10% Cariñena) and the 7-year-old Bodegas Muriel Reserva that is 100% Tempranillo. Another fabulous wine from the great 2010 Bordeaux vintage is the Château Haut Selve Réserve that is nearly 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend and should be cellared for at least a couple of years prior to opening.

And finally, if you want to end your Easter festivities this year with one terrific wine, check out the Château La Tour Blanche. This sweet dessert wine is a blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, from Noble Rot-affected grapes. You may see me lining at a VINTAGES Flagship Store up for this one.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week and Happy Easter. Cheers!


Red Wine:

• AGRIVERDE PIANE DI MAGGIO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2013 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#394999) (D) - $15.95
• MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAN RESERVA 2005 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#082024) (XD) - $16.95
• FEUDI SAN PIO RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2012 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#181446) (D) - $17.95
• CARMEN GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2012 - Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile (#439166) (XD) - $17.95
• MURIEL RESERVA VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA 2008 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#276030) (D) - $18.95
• TSCHARKE MARANANGA GNADENFREI SHIRAZ 2011 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#303370) (XD) - $26.95
• CHÂTEAU HAUT SELVE RÉSERVE 2010 - AC Graves, Bordeaux, France (#235424) (XD) - $27.95
• MONTE FAUSTINO RECIOTO DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2008 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#403857) (M) (500 mL) - $45.95
• FULIGNI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#245225) (XD) - $49.95
• VITANZA RISERVA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#236232) (XD) - $89.95  Flagship Store Exclusive

White Wine:

• MONTRESOR SOAVE CLASSICO 2013 - DOP, Veneto, Italy (#408302) (D) - $13.95
• FLAT ROCK RIESLING 2014 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#043281) (M) - $16.95
• GEHRINGER BROTHERS PRIVATE RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2013 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#347203) (XD) - $18.95
• CREEKSIDE LAURA’S WHITE 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#121764) (XD) - $18.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#268342) (XD) - $19.95
• FORREST THE DOCTORS’ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#317842) (D) - $19.95
• DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $24.95
• FIELDING VIOGNIER 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#142323) (D) - $25.95
• DOMAINE JEAN COLLET & FILS MONTMAINS CHABLIS 1 ER CRU 2011 - AC, Burgundy, France (#405704) (XD) - $31.95

Fortifieds:

• CÁLEM LÁGRIMA WHITE PORT - DOP, Douro, Portugal (#912568) (S) - $16.95

Dessert Wine:

• CHÂTEAU LA TOUR BLANCHE 2011 - 1er Cru, AC Sauternes, Bordeaux, France (#296319) (S) (375 mL) - $49.85  Flagship Store Exclusive

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

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