Terredora Aglianico 2010 (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine was purchased almost 2 years ago from the November 23 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Even though Aglianico is one of the my favourite indigenous varietals from Italy, this is the first Aglianico I've opened at home since I started blogging in 2011.

Tasting Note:

TERREDORA AGLIANICO 2010 - IGT Campania, Italy (#602284) (XD) - $16.95
Black licorice, sandalwood and wild herb aromas from the cork. Dried flower, woodsy nose of medium+ intensity with some herbal and dried red fruit aromas. On the medium-to-full bodied palate it has herbal, cassis, and black cherry flavours with a hint of leather. Acids are mouth-watering, while tannins are integrated very well. Juicy, with some tannic grip on the long finish. Still has good structure to age a couple more years, but drinking great right now! Score: 89 pts

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CHANTILLY French Cream Liqueur (Ontario) - Review

I was offered the opportunity to taste a liqueur that was just released at the LCBO - just in time for the holiday season.

The CHANTILLY French Cream is a cream liqueur that's made using all natural ingredients using a proprietary process that creates a lighter, smoother cream liqueur. It is made using fresh dairy cream, organic sugar and only natural flavours, without the use of any preservatives. Furthermore, it is blended by hand in small batches.

Normally, I don't comment on packaging, but this alcoholic beverage (17% abv) comes in a classy opaque black bottle that evokes images of French luxury. I thought for sure this was a very expensive imported product. However, after looking more closely, I discovered that it is made locally by Maverick Distillery in Oakville, Ontario - the makers of TAG Vodka.

Tasting Note:

CHANTILLY FRENCH CREAM - Ontario, Canada (#424044) (750 mL) - $29.95
Yummy notes of marzipan, almond, vanilla, maple, and dark rum on a light, creamy palate. Lasting, milky finish. Personally, I would enjoy this over ice as its great on its own, but you could easily use CHANTILLY French cream as part of a shooter or coffee-based drinks - recipes are provided on the attached bottle tag. I think I like this more than another popular brand of cream liqueur.

Bonus Offer: FREE Tag Double Espresso Vodka 50 mL until November 29, 2015 (or while supplies last)!

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Château Hauchat 2011 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

This fairly easy drinking red wine will be in VINTAGES on November 14th and is suitable for mid-week sipping.

The Château Hauchat property was re-acquired by the Saby family in 1973. In 1989, current owner Jean-Bernard Saby purchased the property from his uncle. The Saby family has been making wine in the region for an astounding 8 centuries now.

The property is located within the commune of Saint-Aignan, to the west of neighbouring Pomerol and Saint Émilion in Bordeaux, France. On the high plateau of Saint-Aignan, the Château is in one of the finest growing areas of the Fronsac appellation. Well drained clay-limestone soil and perfect south/southwest exposure to the sun are two of its most distinctive features. Château Hauchat also grows just a single grape variety on its property - Merlot.

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU HAUCHAT 2011 - AC Fronsac, Bordeaux, France (#123489) (XD) - $15.95
100% Merlot. Plummy and black cherry aromas from the cork. Medium intensity aromas from the glass showing plum, blackberry, sour cherry, black spices, soft cedar vanilla oak, mineral and hints of cocoa notes. It's medium-bodied on the palate with tart red berry and mineral/iodine flavours. Has good acids, fairly rounded but gritty tannins. Good length on the cocoa-tinged finish. Score: 86 pts

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November 14 LCBO VINTAGES Release: Top Wines for the Holidays

The November 14 VINTAGES Release will be on LCBO shelves this coming Saturday. This is a thick release that is using a more expensive perfect bound to keep the magazine together. It features a star studded lineup of wines for the holidays as it's main theme, while the secondary theme highlights crowd pleasing wines that are available in large format magnum (1500 mL) bottles.

Thirty-two wines are featured as part of the star studded lineup, and eight are included among my wine picks. Red wines among my wine recommendations include the Versado Malbec, the organic Emiliana Coyam (38% Syrah, 31% Carmenère, 19% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Mourvedre, and 1% Malbec), and The Dead Arm Shiraz.

In white wines, there are a pair of cool-climate Chardonnays - the Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Bachelder Chardonnay from Niagara.

A trio of fortified wines are also available in this release, including a 2003 LBV Aged Port and a Vintage Port from the great 2011 vintage. There is also a very sweet Sherry that is made using the Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez grapes.

If you're looking to stock up on Amarone, this would be a great release to pick up a few bottles. The first wine recommendation is a single vineyard Amarone from Speri. Meanwhile, the big house of Masi has a 750 mL bottle of Campolongo di Torbe Amarone that also comes from a single vineyard that has been producing grapes since the 12th Century. There is also 1500 mL magnum bottling of the Masi Costasera Amarone. The primary grapes in all of these very special wines is a blend of Corvina and Rondinella.

Of the 10 magnum bottles featured in the mini-thematic, 2 are recommended buys. The Masi Amarone mentioned above is definitely a special buy, while at the lower end of the price spectrum is the Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon.

From the rest of the release, the Glenelly Red is 42% Shiraz, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, while the gorgeous PoggioVerrano Dròmos is an unspecified blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. And last - but definitely not the least - is the second wine of Ornellaia that consists of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 12% Petit Verdot.

Enjoy my wine recommendations for this week. Cheers!

Red Wine:

• BOUTARI GRANDE RESERVE XINOMAVRO 2008 - PDO Naoussa, Greece (#140111) (D) - $18.95
• CANTINA DEL TABURNO FIDELIS SANNIO AGLIANICO 2011 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#651299) (XD) - $19.95
• MICHELE CASTELLANI I CASTEI COSTAMARAN RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2012 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#972406) (D) - $19.95
• GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2012 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (D) - $19.95  reviewed here
• GRAND VIN DE GLENELLY RED 2009 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#360339) (D) - $19.95  91 pts  wine review

• EMILIANA COYAM 2011 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#063891) (XD) - $29.95  reviewed here
• MARCHESE ANTINORI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2012 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#512384) (D) - $32.95
• SANTA CAROLINA RESERVA DE FAMILIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Maipo Valley, Chile (#430728) (XD) (1500 mL) - $37.95
• POGGIOVERRANO DRÒMOS 2005 - IGT Maremma Toscana, Italy (#107383) (XD) - $39.95  reviewed here
• RUFFINO GREPPONE MAZZI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#926402) (XD) - $49.95  FSE
• D’ARENBERG THE DEAD ARM SHIRAZ 2010 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#430512) (XD) - $54.95  reviewed here
• LE SERRE NUOVE DELL’ORNELLAIA 2013 - DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#606194) (XD) - $59.95  reviewed here
• VERSADO RESERVA ANCIENT MALBEC 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina (#316984) (D) - $59.95

• SPERI VIGNETO MONTE SANT’URBANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2010 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#205294) (D) - $74.95
• MASI CAMPOLONGO DI TORBE AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2009 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#548677) (D) - $101.95  reviewed here
• MASI RISERVA COSTASERA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO RISERVA 2009 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#348037) (D) (1500 mL) - $149.95  reviewed here

White Wine:

• QUERCUS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2014 - Goriška Brda, Slovenia (#429936) (XD) - $14.95
• TERREDORA FALANGHINA 2014 - IGT Campania, Italy (#642074) (XD) - $16.95
• CASA SILVA COOL COAST SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Colchagua Valley, Chile (#419812) (XD) - $16.95
• FRITZ WILLI RIESLING 2013 - Mosel, Germany (#436873) (M) - $18.00
• J. FRITSCH RIESLING 2014 - AC Alsace, France (#430520) (XD) - $19.95
• CLOSSON CHASE CLOSSON CHASE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#148866) (D) - $27.95  reviewed here
• JERMANN PINOT GRIGIO 2014 - IGT Venezia Giulia, Friuli, Italy (#117093) (XD) - $32.95
• ZILLIKEN SAARBURGER RAUSCH RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2009 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#949966) (S) - $43.00  FSE
• BACHELDER SAUNDERS VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2012 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#324103) (D) - $44.95
• DOMAINE BILLAUD-SIMON MONT DE MILIEU CHABLIS 1 ER CRU 2010 - AC, Burgundy, France (#373548) (XD) - $44.95  FSE
• FLOWERS SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY 2013 - Sonoma Coast, California, USA (#215210) (XD) - $64.95

Fortifieds:

• WARRE’S LBV BOTTLE AGED PORT 2003 - Unfiltered, DOP, Portugal (#434936) (S) - $34.95
• SANDEMAN VINTAGE PORT 2011 - DOP, Portugal (#362491) (MS) - $70.00

Sherry:

• LUSTAU EAST INDIA SOLERA SHERRY - DO, Spain (#342931) (S) (500 mL) - $24.95

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PoggioVerrano Dròmos 2005 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a very special red wine that'll be in LCBO VINTAGES on November 14th.

This wine comes from Tenuta PoggioVerrano, located in the Maremma wine region in southern Tuscany. The vineyards are 27 hectares in size with rocky soils of calcareous and clayey nature, and height between 170 and 300 metres above sea level, and 15 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. PoggioVerrano uses gravity flow technology that is fully underground and must be quite the impressive sight to see.

The winemaker, Francesco Bolla, is a third generation winemaker who started up this winery in 2000 with the vision "to create a red wine that is expression of the territory it comes from, the Maremma Toscana".

Let's see how the wine is...

Tasting Note:

POGGIOVERRANO DRÒMOS 2005 - IGT Maremma Toscana, Italy (#107383) (XD) - $39.95
This Super Tuscan is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc and underwent malolactic fermentation. Lovely mature nose of violets, dried fruit, and floral with hints of fig, cedar wood, earth and whiffs of prune. On the medium-bodied palate it has earthy, herbal, and resin notes with hints of mint and leather throughout. Some high-toned spice tones and warmth mid-palate is balanced well by fruit, oak and acids and gives way to long, smooth finish. Tannins are almost fully resolved. Should continue to drink well for another 4-5 years. Superb! Score: 92 pts

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Giacomo Mori Chianti 2012 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's delicious red wine will be available at the LCBO soon, as part of the November 14 VINTAGES Release.

The Giacomo Mori estate is located in San Casciano dei Bagni, at the southern edge of the Province of Siena and Tuscany in Central Italy. Eight of the ten hectares of vineyards were replanted in 1995 with meticulous attention paid to the selection of grape varieties, clones and rootstocks. The winery was renovated over 5 years, between 1996-2000.

Tasting Note:

GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2012 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (D) - $19.95
Mostly Sangiovese (95%) with Colorino and Canaiolo rounding out the blend. Black plum and cherry scents from the cork. Enticing aromas of red berries, earth, baking spice, and hints of leather. The plush palate is medium+ bodied with sweet red berries, tilled earth, herbs and sandalwood flavours. It is well-balanced with mouth-watering acidity. Dusty tannins become tight on the long, cocoa-tinged finish. Enjoyable now, but give this another 2 years to further integrate and drink to 2022. Score: 90 pts

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PondView Lot 74 Red and White 2014 (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Here are wine reviews of a pair of wines from PondView Estate Winery that were recently re-launched with a new, classic heritage label that is reminiscent of a time when farmlands in Niagara-on-the-Lake were referred to as nothing more than Lot numbers.

Giuseppe Puglisi emigrated from Sicily (Italy) to Canada in 1965 and brought with him a passion for grape-growing and winemaking. More than 40 years ago, the Puglisi family bought their first plot of farmland in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was Lot 74. Located on Line 2 in the heart of the Four Mile Creek appellation, the vines planted on that lot bore fruit for several wineries over the years, including many award-winning vintages.

Lou Puglisi, Giuseppe's son, was eventually handed the torch. After Lou was crowned the 2008 Grape King, it was decided that the efforts in the vineyard would be replicated in a winery, drawing on generations of winemaking heritage from the Puglisi family's Sicilian roots. All the grapes for the Lot 74 wines come from vines surrounding the property.

Both of these approachable, easy drinking wines are readily available at LCBO outlets throughout the province.

Tasting Notes:

PONDVIEW LOT 74 WHITE 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#308718) (D) - $14.95
Screw cap. Based on Chardonnay, with Gewürztraminer and Riesling added to round out the blend, this white wine has a perfumed nose of ripe tropical fruit, melon and lemon peel. Fleshy mouthfeel on the off-dry palate with honeyed aroma replays. Vibrant acidity and decent length on the finish. Should have wide appeal. Score: 85 pts

PONDVIEW LOT 74 RED 2014 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#336495) (D) - $14.95
Screw cap. Blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of ripe strawberry, and cherry, with hints of salsa and green pepper. The palate on this red wine is medium-bodied with sweet ripe red fruits, red currant, and black cherry flavours and a hint of sweetness. It has juicy acidity and soft, rounded tannins. Good length on the finish. Crowd pleaser. Score: 86 pts

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