LCBO VINTAGES Wine Picks & Reviews : Index

Thursday, July 23, 2020

July 25, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Food-Friendly European + Patio Sippers

LCBO Wine Picks: July 25, 2020 VINTAGES Release

The main theme of the July 25, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on food-friendly wines from Europe, while the mini-theme features summer sipping wines for the patio. All of the wines will be on shelves across Ontario by Saturday, if not a few days earlier in some areas.

We begin with the main theme that looks at seven top European wine regions and their famous food traditions. Sixteen wines are featured as part of this theme, with wines coming fro Greece, Spain, Tuscany, Veneto, Bordeaux, Beaujolais. Just two wines from this feature are among my top wine picks. First up is a Sauternes from Bordeaux that can be enjoyed not only as an aperitif or with dessert, but also as part of your main course such as a roasted chicken. The Sauternes is a blend of roughly 70% Semillon, 25% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Muscadelle. The second wine is an Albariño from Spain that will pair very well with a wide variety of Spanish tapas.

From the feature on patio-perfect wines for summer sipping, which are all under $20 consist of seven white, rosé, and sparkling wines, three are included among my wine recommendations. The sparkling wine of my choice is a delightfully dry Crémant d'Alsace that consists of 80% Pinot Blanc and 20% Pinot Auxerrois. The white wine is a Verdejo from Spain, while the rosé is a Tavel from Rhône that consists of Cinsault, Grenache, and Mourvèdre.

Pierre Sparr Réserve Brut Crémant d'Alsace (88+ pts)

My red wine picks take a bit of a global tour. We start in Lebanon with a blend that consists of 40% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. From Italy, the Brunello is made with Sangiovese, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages from France is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. From Spain, the Rioja is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, and 5% Graciano. From California, there is a gorgeous Zinfandel from Seghesio - a leader in crafting wines from this varietal. There are also a pair of very nice Pinot Noir wines - one from Oregon and the other from New Zealand. Staying in the Southern Hemisphere, the Barossa from Australia is a blend of 51% Shiraz and 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Coonawarra is a straight up Cabernet Sauvignon. And finally, there are a pair of nice Malbec wines - one from Argentina and the other from Cahors in France.

Seghesio Cortina Zinfandel 2016 (92 pts)

Penley Estate Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (89 pts)

Nautilus Southern Valleys Pinot Noir 2016 (90+ pts)

Among my white wine picks, all are once again single varietal wines. The Muscadet from Loire is made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape. There are a few nice Sauvignon Blanc wines - a pair from New Zealand and one from Chile. The New Zealand Chardonnay is of the oaked style, while the Niagara Chardonnay is unoaked. For sweet wine lovers, the Riesling Auslese is the one to seek out, although it is a Flagship Exclusive (FE) and only available in limited quantities at a few select LCBO VINTAGES outlets.

Domaine La Haute Févrie Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2018 (89 pts)

Leyda Garuma Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (90 pts)

There are also a pair of nice rosé wines worth your attention. The wine from Niagara is a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and the remaining Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, while the 2010 Spanish rosé is a blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 30% Tempranillo, and 10% Viura.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

CHÂTEAU KSARA RÉSERVE DU COUVENT 2017 - Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (#443721) (XD) - $16.95
LE GRAVILLAS SÉGURET CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2017 - AC, France (#309260) (XD) - $18.95
LIONEL OSMIN & CIE CAHORS MALBEC 2016 - AP Cahors, France (#247544) (XD) - $19.95
PENLEY ESTATE PHOENIX CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Coonawarra, South Australia (#639575) (XD) - $19.95 89 pts wine review
EL ESTECO MALBEC 2017 - Calchaquí Valley, Argentina (#113191) (XD) - $21.95
YALUMBA SAMUEL'S COLLECTION BAROSSA SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Vegan, Barossa, South Australia (#12999) (XD) - $24.95
NAUTILUS SOUTHERN VALLEYS PINOT NOIR 2016 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#606913) (XD) - $29.95 90+ pts wine review
ELK COVE PINOT NOIR 2013 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#234534) (XD) - $37.95 90 pts wine review
SEGHESIO CORTINA ZINFANDEL 2016 - Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#200840) (XD) - $61.95 FE 92 pts wine review
TENUTA BUON TEMPO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#14856) (XD) - $65.00 FE
GRANJA REMELLURI GRAN RESERVA 2011 - Labastida de Alava, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#548040) (XD) - $99.95 FE

White Wine:

GARCIARÉVALO FINCA TRES OLMOS LIAS VERDEJO 2018 - Vegan, DO Rueda, Spain (#218354) (XD) - $13.95
DOMAINE LA HAUTE FÉVRIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE 2018 - AC, Loire, France (#390625) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - DO Leyda Valley, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $16.95 90 pts wine review
VIÑA CARTIN ALBARIÑO 2019 - DO Rias Baixas, Spain (#14057) (XD) - $18.95
BABICH BLACK LABEL ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2018 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#630558) (D) - $19.95
CLOSSON CHASE K.J. WATSON VINEYARD PINOT GRIS 2018 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#469445) (XD) - $22.95
WESTCOTT LILLIAS CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#425322) (XD) - $24.95
DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $26.95 91 pts wine review
VILLA MARIA TAYLORS PASS SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#13901) (XD) - $29.95
MARKUS MOLITOR BERNKASTELER BADSTUBE GREEN CAPSULE RIESLING AUSLESE 2016 - Prädikatswein, Mosel, Germany (#15287) (MS) - $72.95 FE

Rosé Wine:

ORGANIZED CRIME ROSÉ 2019 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#16296) (D) - $16.95
FAMILLE PERRIN TAVEL 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#680801) (XD) - $19.95
LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA GRAN RESERVA ROSÉ 2010 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#15781) (XD) - $41.95

Sparkling Wine:

PIERRE SPARR RÉSERVE BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE - Traditional method, AC, Alsace, France (#388603) (D) - $18.95 88+ pts wine review
ANTHONIJ RUPERT L'ORMARINS CAP CLASSIQUE BLANC DE BLANCS 2013 - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#15681) (D) - $24.95

Dessert Wine:

CHÂTEAU LAMOTHE-GUIGNARD 2014 - AC Sauternes Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France (#12175) (S) (375 mL) - $27.95

Pierre Sparr Réserve Brut Crémant d'Alsace and Brut Rosé Crémant d'Alsace (France) - Wine Reviews

Wine reviews of Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé Crémant d'Alsace (87 pts) and Pierre Sparr Réserve Brut Crémant d'Alsace (88+ pts)

For tonight's wine reviews, I bring you a couple of sparkling wines from popular Alsatian producer Pierre Sparr. Both of these sparkling wines are VINTAGES products at the LCBO - one arrived in stores last month, while the other will be in stores by next weekend.

The Sparr family has been winemaking for more than 300 years, beginning in 1680 during the reign of King Louis XIV. Over the years, the family's passion for viticulture and winemaking was passed on from generation to generation. In more times, Charles Sparr developed the business further by focusing on activities in trade and wine ageing. His son, Pierre Sparr, took succession of the property in the early 1900s at the tender young age of 20 and became a pioneer of estate bottling in Alsace.

Maison Pierre Sparr Successeurs, as it is official known, is based in the heart of Alsace's most famous vineyard - Sigolsheim - in an area that was destroyed by WWII, and Pierre rebuilt the winery to become one of Alsace's most beautiful and prestigious Domaines. Today, the 9th generation of the Sparr family aims to continue the family's tradition, passion and emotion for wine. They produce wines using grapes from their own 15 hectares of vines, as well as 130 hectares sourced from experienced winegrowers.

The portfolio of Pierre Sparr consists of mostly white wines, some dessert wines, and a few Cremant sparkling wines such as the two reviewed below. Crémant is a sparkling wine made in the Traditional Method by using the same techniques used to produce Champagne - but are made outside of the famous region.

Tasting Notes:

PIERRE SPARR RÉSERVE BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE - Traditional method, AC, Alsace, France (#388603) (D) - $18.95
A blend of 80% Pinot Blanc and 20% Pinot Auxerrois grown on limestone, granite, chalky-clay, and gneiss soils that spent 12-16 months on the lees prior to disgorgement. The medium+ intensity nose has bready, yeasty, and autolytic aromas mingling with lemon citrus and floral. It's light-to-medium bodied on the palate with bready, yeasty, lemon citrus, and pear characters supported by fine mousse and balanced acidity. Essential dry overall with hints of mineral, honey, and nut carrying through to the fresh finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Coming to LCBO VINTAGES July 25, 2020. Score: 88+ pts

Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé Crémant d'Alsace (87 pts)

PIERRE SPARR BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT D'ALSACE - Traditional method, AC, Alsace, France (#39016) (D) - $19.95
100% Pinot Noir grown on limestone, granite, chalky-clay, and gneiss soils. Soft nose featuring tart red berry, citrus, and leesy characters. The medium-bodied palate is slightly frothy with gentle acids and a dry flavour profile of red berry, citrus, and bready flavours with a touch of herbal bitter notes. Good length on the dry, slightly bitter finish. Released in LCBO VINTAGES June 27, 2020. Score: 87 pts

Other wines from Pierre Sparr can be ordered via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé 2019 (Provence) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent Bandol Rosé that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 27th. This rose has improved in quality every time I've tasted it, including the excellent 2018 La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé that I enjoyed last summer, so I would fully expect the 2019 to be just as outstanding. Provence experienced some extreme weather conditions again, leading to slightly lower yields in 2019, but vintage quality was excellent.

We don't see too many Bandol wines here in Ontario, but wine has been made in Bandol ever since the Greeks colonized the area more than 2,600 years ago. Bandol is located in Provence, along the French Riviera between Marseille and Toulon. Bandol was one of the first French appellations granted AOC status in 1941, and today, 60% of the entire production is devoted to rosé wine. It is also noteworthy to mention that Mourvèdre - a late-maturing black varietal that is ideal for the terrain and climate of Bandol - is the principle grape of the region, and makes up the majority of this rosé.

This particular rosé is produced by Les Vignerons de La Cadiérenne, a group of producers that formed the co-operative in 1929 and celebrated 90 years of winemaking in 2019. La Cadiérenne is the largest producer of PDO Bandol wines, working with 294 winegrowers that have approximately 600 hectares of land - of which 400 hectares are classified as AOP. The vines are mostly planted on hillsides within the municipalities of La Cadière d'Azur, Le Castellet, and Saint-Cyr sur Mer. Other wines from the La Cadiérenne portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

La Cadiérenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé 2019 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

LA CADIÉRENNE CUVÉE GRANDE TRADITION BANDOL ROSÉ 2019 - AC, Provence, France (#119453) (XD) - $24.95
This Bandol Rosé is a blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, and 30% Cinsault from vines averaging 20 years and grown on clay-limestone and marl soils. All of the grapes were hand-harvested, partly de-stemmed, crushed, and vinified separately. Lovely, fresh, balanced, and complex aromas of nectarine, melon, citrus, grapefruit, red berry, and blackberry with touches of minerality. The dry, medium-full bodied palate has a lovely texture with fresh, vibrant acidity and spicy berry, orchard fruit, currant, anise, and saline mineral flavours. Some wild herbs on the mid-palate, while mineral notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Complex, elegant, and refreshing. Recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rouge 2015 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from one of my favourite producers of Sancerre that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on June 27 - with plenty still available for purchase throughout the province.

It is made by Jean-Max Roger, a family-owned winery that comes from a long line of winegrowers from the village of Bué dating back to the early 17th century. Jean-Max Roger took over from his parents in the early 1970's, and in 2004, two of his three sons, Etienne and Thibault, returned to the estate after working abroad. His third son, Xavier, has a passion for wine and works in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Today, the estate covers 26 hectares in the Sancerre AOC, all located along the Loire River.

The name "La Grange Dîmière" refers to one of Bué's ancient tithe barns. The ancestors of Jean-Max Roger used this barn for making their wine and today it remains the oldest part of the winery. This Sancerre Rouge is made with Pinot Noir grapes grown in the villages of Bué, Sancerre, and Amigny, on flint and limestone soils called Caillottes & Terres Blanches (Kimmeridgian marls) with south western and south eastern exposures. The vines are 25 to 40 years old and tended to using organic principles, handpicked and sorted, then fermented using natural yeast. Approximately 20-30% of the wine was aged in 300 L oak barrels, while the remainder was aged in stainless steel tanks where it underwent malolactic fermentation, with a total ageing time of 10 to 15 months. I recall enjoying the 2013 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rouge a couple of years ago and am expecting this vintage to be even better due to the legendary quality of the 2015 Loire vintage.

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rouge 2015 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LA GRANGE DÎMIÈRE SANCERRE ROUGE 2015 - AC, Loire, France (#539858) (XD) - $29.95
From the great 2015 vintage, this Pinot Noir has a pretty, pale ruby colour and the medium-high intensity nose leads with stony-smoky minerality, followed by red berry, cherry, and currant aromas, with subtle florals. It is light-to-medium bodied on the spicy, red fruited, cherry, and currant palate with elegantly structured tannins. Acids are nice and fresh, while the stony-smoky mineral notes come to the fore on the long, juicy finish. Enjoy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 91 pts

Other wines from the fabulous Jean-Max Roger collection can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

July 11, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Old World vs. New World + Cool-Climate Chardonnay

LCBO Wine Picks: July 11, 2020 VINTAGES Release

The upcoming July 11, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is a duo-thematic release, with the first feature comparing some of the wine world's most well-known grapes that were born and bred in the Old World (i.e. Europe) with their transplanted versions in the New World. The second theme of this release is the annual look at cool-climate Chardonnay. All of the wines from this release should be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that compares wines from the Old World versus those made with the same grapes in the New World. Of the fourteen wines featured, only the New World Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is included among my top wine picks.

The secondary theme of the release focuses on cool-climate Chardonnay wines from a few cool-climate regions across the world. Eleven wines are featured as part of this theme and three are included among my wine recommendations. First up are a pair of outstanding Chardonnays from Niagara, while the third wine is a lovely old vines Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy. Buying all three and trying them side-by-side would make for a lovely evening.

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2017 (93 pts)

From my red wine recommendations, the Chianti Classico (which is also the Wine of the Month) is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 4% Merlot, 3% Canaiolo, and 3% Cabernet, while the Châteauneuf-du-Pape consists of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. The Bordeaux red consists of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, while The Trinity Red Blend is also predominantly Merlot. Single varietal wines that should please your palate include an Australian Shiraz, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Pinot Noir from New Zealand.

Trinity Hill The Trinity Red Blend 2015 (89 pts)

Shanahans Silence Is Golden Shiraz 2016 (89 pts)

Among my white wine picks, the only blend comes from South Africa and it consists of 80% Chenin Blanc and the balance Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Verdelho, Clairette, Chardonnay, Colombard, and Viognier. Single varietal wines include a lovely Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, as well as a highly-ageable Marsanne from Australia. The Savoie is made with Jacquère from old vines. There is also a nice barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc - called Fumé Blanc - from Niagara. For sweet wine lovers, look for the Riesling Kabinett from Mosel.

Alois Lageder Dolomiti Pinot Grigio 2018 (90 pts)

Leeuwenkuil Reserve White 2017 (88+ pts)

Lakeview Cellars Fumé Blanc 2017 (88 pts)

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release!