October 31, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California + Italy

After nearly a month without a VINTAGES Release, we return with a fairly large October 31, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release that focuses on high-quality (and high-priced wines) from California as the main theme, while the mini-theme features wines from Italy. All of these wines, plus those from the rest of the Release, will be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the main theme that looks at a shining lineup of California wines. There are thirteen wines featured as part of this theme and four are included among my top wine picks. The lone white wine among the four is a high-end, perennially excellent Chardonnay from Sonoma Mountain. There is also a nice Petite Sirah from Napa Valley that always shows well every year, and in this vintage it is a blend of 85% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 6% Grenache, plus a mix of Rhône varietals. Of course, no talk of California wine would be complete without Cabernet Sauvignon. For those looking for top California Cab at the LCBO, the Groth Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, while the Cab from Cliff Lede consists of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

The mini-theme looks at fine wines from 10 favourite Italian producers - one wine from each producer. Like the theme on California, there are quite a few quality wines featured, but only two of these wines are on my wine recommendation list. First up is a lovely Gran Selezione Chianti Classico from Tuscany that is a blend of 93% Sangiovese and 7% Colorino, while the second wine is made with Verdicchio - one of Italy's classic white wines from the central-eastern wine region of Marche.

I suppose the Sassicaia, which is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, doesn't need any introduction as it wasn't included as part of the Italian theme, but it is coming to VINTAGES as part of this Release. Other red wines that are more wallet-friendly include a Cab-Merlot from B.C. that is actually a blend of 69% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, while the South African red consists of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. From France, the Rhône red is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, while the Roussillon red is a tank-aged blend of 66% Syrah and 34% Carignan. Lastly, the Spanish red from Montsant consists of Garnacha, Cariñena (Samsó), Syrah, and Merlot.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the Release, South Africa had a really good showing with four wines - a Chenin Blanc, a Sauvignon Blanc, an (oaked) Chardonnay, and an unoaked Chardonnay - and all are under $20. Elsewhere, there is also a nice unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara, while New Zealand brings us a sustainably crafted Sauvignon Blanc. Moving up in price, one of my favourite Chardonnays of the release is a lovely Chardonnay from Australia. For sweet wine lovers, the Riesling from New Zealand will bring much pleasure.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers and stay safe!

Red Wine:

• LOUIS BERNARD LOUIS CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2016 - AP, France (#561290) (XD) - $17.00
• VIÑALBA RESERVA MALBEC 2017 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#555763) (XD) - $18.95
• POTENTE 2018 - DO Montsant, Spain (#10682) (XD) - $19.95
• CARAMANY SOUS LA MONTAGNE CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2017 - AC, France (#15169) (XD) - $20.95
• MONTE CREEK RANCH CABERNET/MERLOT 2017 - BC VQA British Columbia, Canada (#15770) (XD) - $23.95  90 pts  wine review
• RUSTENBERG JOHN X MERRIMAN 2016 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#707323) (XD) - $24.95

 

• ROCCA DELLE MACÌE SINGLE VINEYARD RISERVA DI FIZZANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#699454) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• FLAT ROCK GRAVITY PINOT NOIR 2017 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#1560) (XD) - $34.95
• STAGS' LEAP WINERY PETITE SIRAH 2017 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#590356) (XD) - $59.95
• GROTH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA (#606517) (XD) - $121.95
• CLIFF LEDE STAGS LEAP DISTRICT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017 - Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, USA (#14217) (XD) - $124.95
• SASSICAIA 2017 - DOC Bolgheri-Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy (#480533) (XD) - $249.95

White Wine:

• THE WINERY OF GOOD HOPE UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2019 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#15985) (XD) - $14.95
• VELENOSI QUERCIANTICA VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI 2019 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#16607) (XD) - $16.95
• BELLINGHAM HOMESTEAD THE OLD ORCHARDS CHENIN BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, WO Paarl, South Africa (#484055) (XD) - $16.95
• ANTHONIJ RUPERT CAPE OF GOOD HOPE ALTIMA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - WO Elandskloof, South Africa (#15713) (XD) - $19.95
• RUSTENBERG CHARDONNAY 2019 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#598631) (XD) - $19.95
• 13TH STREET JUNE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#236745) (XD) - $21.95  89 pts  wine review

• SPY VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#686675) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
• GREYWACKE RIESLING 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) $29.95  FE  91 pts  wine review
• VASSE FELIX CHARDONNAY 2017 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#903617) (XD) - $39.95  FE  93 pts  wine review
• NORMAN HARDIE COUNTY UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2017 - VQA Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada (#381715) (XD) - $45.20  FE
• FLOWERS CHARDONNAY 2017 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215210) (XD) - $59.95  FE
• KISTLER SONOMA MOUNTAIN CHARDONNAY 2018 - Unfined and unfiltered, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma County, California, USA (#183921) (XD) - $116.95

Rosé Wine:

• GARZÓN RESERVA PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2019 - Garzón, Uruguay (#15265) (XD) - $17.95

Sparkling Wine:

• GRAHAM BECK MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE BRUT ROSÉ PINOT NOIR / CHARDONNAY - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#175588) (D) - $19.95

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13th Street June's Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious, locally-made, unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara that arrives in LCBO VINTAGES on October 31.

It is produced by 13th Street Winery in St. Catharines, Ontario, within the Niagara Peninsula. 13th Street Winery was founded in 1988 and purchased by the current owners, John & June Mann and Doug & Karen Whitty, in 2008. Doug is the third generation to operate the family farm and both families have deep roots in the Niagara community. Together, along with French-trained winemaker Jean Pierre Colas, they strive to create exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Niagara.

This particular Chardonnay uses fruit from June's Vineyard. This estate vineyard is named after one of the owners, June Mann, and is located just south of the winery on 5th Avenue, on the west side of Seventh Street Louth. Situated at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, this gorgeous site was established in 1999 and has a distinctive terroir of hard pale clay loam with decomposed yellow limestone soils that produce unique and expressive wines. The Chardonnay planted on this site is Burgundy Clone 96 and was carefully manual-harvested and full bunch pressed. It was fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel tanks, and also underwent full malolactic fermentation. The wine also spent 6 months on its fine lees prior to bottling in spring 2020. Let's see how this unoaked Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

13TH STREET JUNE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#236745) (XD) - $21.95
Screw cap. This unoaked Chardonnay has a medium+ intensity nose of ripe apple, stone fruit, citrus, and white peach aromas surrounded by leesy characters. It's medium+ bodied on the creamy, nicely textured palate that is ripe with golden apple, honeysuckle, citrus and leesy flavours with a touch of earthy minerality. Acids are well-balanced, while the finish is long and crisp with apple, earthy mineral, and some pleasing mealy notes adding complexity. Enjoy well-chilled. Score: 89 pts

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Rocca delle Macìe Single Vineyard Riserva di Fizzano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2015 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent Gran Selezione Chianti Classico from Tuscany that arrives in LCBO VINTAGES on October 31st.

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973 by by Italian film producer Italo Zingarelli to fulfill a life-long dream to have his own winery when he acquired the "Le Macìe" estate in the heart of Chianti Classico. Today, Rocca delle Macìe has four estates within the southwest area of Chianti Classico, more specifically in the Municipality of Castellina in Chianti. This area is particularly suited to the cultivation of vines and is characterized by very heterogeneous soils that guarantee a variety of aromas and unique organoleptic characteristics.

I've enjoyed many wines from Rocca delle Macìe over the years, including tasting this Gran Selezione that is made with grapes exclusively from Tenuta Riserva di Fizzano, one of Rocca delle Macìe's four estates in Chianti Classico. Tenuta Riserva di Fizzano was purchased in 1984 and is locally renowned for its excellent exposure of its primarily south-facing vineyards. Just over half of the 61 hectares of the estate are devoted to vineyards growing Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Colorino at an altitude between 623 to 985 feet above sea level, on soils with Miocene deposits with a sandy-loamy texture that is deep and calcareous. This site also has over 4 hectares of olive groves, along with an oil mill that produces all of Rocca delle Macìe's olive oil, as well as the company's hospitality hub - a place I would love to visit one day.

Even though the Gran Selezione classification only became official with the 2010 vintage, this winery's historic cru already had the characteristics of producing very special wines. Like all Gran Selezione which must use only estate grown fruit, this Riserva di Fizzano is also a single vineyard wine grown on sandy and pebbly soils that are ideal for Sangiovese. Every vintage, this wine is made with a minimum 90% Sangiovese, and the balance Colorino. After fermentation, most of the wine matures in 35 hL French oak barrels, while the rest is aged in 225 L barriques. After the two batches are blended, the wine rests in the bottle for another year prior to release. Let's see how this Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE SINGLE VINEYARD RISERVA DI FIZZANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#699454) (XD) - $34.95
The 2015 is a blend of 93% Sangiovese and 7% Colorino and offers a complex and elegant mix of savoury earth, spice, black and red cherry with a touch of dried floral aromas. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with lovely dried cherry and floral notes, plus sweet baking spice, forest floor, tobacco, leathery. and cherry liqueur flavours. Acids are juicy and well-balanced while tannins are smooth and refined with a touch of grip on the back palate. Forest floor with some dried cherry and floral notes linger on the savoury finish, with excellent length. An elegant wine to enjoy throughout the decade. Score: 91+ pts

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Zirkova One and Together Ultra Premium Vodka (Ukraine) - Spirit Reviews

For tonight's reviews, I bring you a pair of lovely vodkas from Ukraine that are widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

The Zirkova Vodka brand was founded by Canadians headquartered in Ontario and is authentically made in the Ukraine at the original factory that Tsar Nicholas II began distilling vodka in the 1800s. While this vodka is made with wheat and rye, it is certified by the LCBO as gluten-free.

After extensive testing, gluten was not detected in Zirkova Vodkas, with results detecting less than 5PPM - the standard for gluten-free certifications is less than 20PPM. This means that those who are celiac or gluten-intolerant can safely enjoy Zirkova Vodka. It was important for Zirkova's Director of Marketing to get this proof as she has Celiac. Proudly formulated and distilled to be all-inclusive, accessible and welcoming to everyone, Zirkova Vodka is also vegan, plant-based, and keto-friendly.

Zirkova has handcrafted in small batches these two vodkas for your pleasure - the Zirkova One was designed to be sipped neat, on the rocks, or in a martini, while the Zirkova Together was crafted to enhance and elevate your favourite cocktail. Zirkova One and Together are both quadruple distilled and centre cut from the finest Ukrainian rye and wheat spirits, blended with pure artisan water, then slow-filtered through massive columns of birch charcoal and quartz. Although both of these lovely vodkas are not considered flavoured vodkas, there are some subtleties worth nothing, and both are worth a try as they are very good quality. Budmo!

Tasting Notes:

ZIRKOVA ONE ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA - Ukraine (#638197) (750 mL) - $30.95 $28.95 until Nov. 8.
Aromas of almond, hay, earth, and mineral elegantly rise out of the glass. The mouthfeel is quite smooth and velvety. Some warmth as it glides down your throat, but nicely balanced overall with a tinge of citrus joining the aroma replays on the smooth, long finish. Very nice!

ZIRKOVA TOGETHER ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA - Ukraine (#638205) (750 mL) - $30.95
Subtle aromas of anise, hay, earth, and spice which follow through on the spicy palate. Although this is not a flavoured vodka, it is quite flavourful with some enticing anise and cucumber notes also coming through on the mid-palate. It is rounded and plump with hints of sweet vanilla and almond on the finish, with very good length. Recommended in cocktails, but I would also enjoy this on its own after dinner.

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Susana Balbo Signature Rosé 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Personally, I enjoy drinking rosé all year-round, so for tonight's wine review I opened this lovely rosé from Argentina that arrived during the summer as part of the July 11 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Susana Balbo Wines, a family winery located at the foothills of the Andes in the town of Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, within the province of Mendoza. After working in the wine business as a consultant around the globe for nearly two decades, Susana Balbo decided to fulfill a dream of having her own winery and established Susana Balbo Wines in 1999. After ten years of steady growth, Susana welcomed her children - José, winemaker who graduated from UC Davis (California) and Ana, Bachelor of Business Administration from University San Andrés (Buenos Aires) - to the family business as they joined the team.

The team at Susana Balbo Wines is devoted to sustainable winemaking, quality, and innovation. They work daily to address issues related to their product's sustainability throughout all of their production processes, including corporate social responsibility, environmental impact, and economic growth. Susana Balbo Wines has acquired various sustainability certifications and is in the process of becoming a Certified B Corporation.

Argentina is characterized by having large tracts of fertile land with diverse climates. Being situated at the foothills of the Andes, these high mountains accumulate ice of the purest water which will then slowly melt during the spring and summer months to provide a unique source for the development of their vineyards. And even though Malbec is the most widely planted varietal in Argentina, it offers a wide palate of flavours depending on the altitude and soil where it is planted. weather conditions, and the winemaking process. This brings us to the art of blending, where Susana combines the knowledge of terroir and winemaking skills, allowing her to express her talent.

As with the 2018 Susana Balbo Signature White Blend that I enjoyed back in August, tonight's rosé wine is also a blend. This dry rosé is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Pinot Noir that was grown in vineyards 1,200 metres above and hand-harvested. Susana decided to experiment by creating a new, fresh, aromatic, and engaging rosé in the style of Provence, applying similar techniques used for white wines - early picking times and extremely gentle pressing to get a very light-pink, red onion peel, salmon colour.

If you are in the Ottawa area, there are quite few bottles this delicious rose available for purchase at the LCBO, while only minute quantities remain elsewhere across Ontario. This rosé is also available, along with other wines from Susana Balbo, via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

Tasting Note:

SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE ROSÉ 2019 - Altamira, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#493130) (XD) - $22.95
A hand-harvested 60/40 blend of Malbec and Pinot Noir grown at 1,200 metres above sea level. It has an elegant melange of melon, grapefruit, orange citrus and floral aromas. It is medium-full bodied with good concentration on the palate with bright, lively acidity. Tangy citrus, grapefruit, peppery, and mineral with a kiss of honeyed notes in a dry flavour profile. Crisp and dry on the long finish with a touch of mineral. Lovely! Score: 90 pts

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Monte Creek Ranch Cabernet/Merlot 2017 and Hands Up Red 2017 (British Columbia) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of red wine blends from British Columbia that are available in Ontario for the first time!

Monte Creek Ranch Winery is owned by a local B.C. family and supported by a trusted team of on-site professionals to manage daily winery and ranch operations. They are one of four wineries located in the cool climate region of Thompson Valley GI (Geographical Indication) which became BC's newest VQA appellation in 2018, and is located near Kamloops. Since 2009, Monte Creek has been focused on growing strong vineyards and raising healthy animals, with many efforts geared towards sustainability. With an agricultural background, the family understands how important it is to have healthy permaculture - diversity in offering and land use - for successful and sustainable farming, while practicing organic farming methods at every opportunity.

Their 1,200 acre ranch has 75 acres of vines planted at two estate vineyards in the cool climate South Thompson valley - Monte Creek and Lion's Head - where the climate is semi-arid, with hot, dry days and cool nights. Located at the bottom of an old glacial lake, the soils here are rich in calcium and minerals, silty, uniform, and free-draining, thus requiring irrigation. The ultimate focus is to produce premium wines that showcase this unique terroir.

Monte Creek has won numerous awards for its wines, but they are most proud of their 2018 Reserve Riesling which won Best White Wine of the Year (Double Gold) at the 2020 All-Canadian Wine Championships. This was the first time an award of this level was given to a winery in colder climate Thompson Okanagan wine region. To order this dry Riesling in Ontario, you can reach out directly to the winery or contact Perigon Beverage Group (formerly Hobbs and Co.).

Tasting Notes:

MONTE CREEK RANCH CABERNET/MERLOT 2017 - BC VQA, British Columbia, Canada (#15770) (XD) - $23.95
A blend of 69% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc from carefully selected vineyards in Oliver, Osoyoos and Similkameen. It was partially fermented in oak vats, and then aged for 18 months in mostly used French oak barrels. Screw cap. Clean, medium+ intensity aromas of dark fruited currant, cassis, pepper spice, and oak. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with pleasing, fine-grained, and textured tannins and fresh, juicy acidity. More dark berry, cassis, and currant flavours are joined by minty, bay leaf, herbs, tobacco, and plum notes that add interest and complexity. Savoury with graphite and cedar oak notes linger on the long, juicy, slightly grippy finish. Enjoy over the next 4-5 years. Recommended buy. Arriving in LCBO VINTAGES Oct. 31, 2020. Score: 90 pts

MONTE CREEK HANDS UP RED 2017 - British Columbia, Canada (#15769) (XD) - $21.95
Hands Up pays homage to the area's past as the town of Monte Creek achieved fame after the last train robbery by the notorious "Gentleman Bandit" Bill Miner - whose photo is on the front label. A blend of predominantly Merlot, plus some Frontenac Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon that was mostly aged in large French oak tanks, with a smaller portion in barrel. Screw cap. The perfumed nose is very ripe with cassis and black cherry with some earthy, beetroot, and strawberry characters in a slightly jammy profile. It's medium+ bodied on the ripe palate with more jammy dark fruit and oak flavours. It has food-friendly acidity, while tannins are soft and rounded. Jammy fruit and oak notes linger on the finish, with good length. Crowd pleaser. Arrived in LCBO VINTAGES Oct. 3, 2020. Score: 86 pts

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Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2015 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent organic Brunello di Montalcino that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on September 19th - with plenty still available. I opened this wine tonight to coincide with an interactive Col d'Orcia Tasting Event via Zoom hosted by Francesco Marone Cinzano - the Count of Montalcino and owner of Col d'Orcia - and moderated by Carolyn Evans Hammond.

The iconic Col d'Orcia is one of Montalcino's oldest established wineries and is very much a part of the history of Brunello. The modern-day lineage of Col d'Orcia can be traced back to at least 1890 when the Franceschi family purchased the property that was then known as Fattoria di Sant'Angelo in Colle. In 1933, the winery presented it's Brunelli at an Italian trade show, decades before Brunello would become a prized, world-class wine. Brothers Leopoldo and Stefano Franceschi inherited the property, with Stefano taking over the farm in 1958 and changing its name to Col d'Orcia (hill above Orcia) after the river that runs through the property. In 1973, Stefano Franceschi sold the property, which only had a few hectares of grapes, to the Cinzano family of Piedmont. Under the leadership of Count Alberto Marone Cinzano, winegrowing activities increased the number of vines to 70 hectares by the early 1980s. In 1992, Alberto's son Francesco took over and expanded the vineyards further to 140 hectares, of which 108 are designated to Brunello, making Col d'Orcia the third largest owner of Brunello vineyards in Montalcino.

Col d'Orcia is located on the southern slope of the Montalcino territory, on a hill overlooking the Orcia River and is an integral part of the Orcia Valley, the Val d'Orcia. On the property, there is evidence of agricultural farming from 400 years ago because of the very old olive trees that are planted in rows and still exist today. The vineyards are protected by the barrier of Mount Amiata (1.750 metres) which prevent floods and hail, and benefits from the mild climate off the Tyrrhenian coast which is 35 km to the west. The soils are favourable to winegrowing with fundamentally loose grounds that are poor in clay and rich in limestone and inert materials.

This interactive tasting of Col d'Orcia wines introduced the exceptional 2015 vintage of the estate's Brunello di Montalcino (reviewed below) as well as a selection of older vintages from the estate. This Brunello has been produced organically for each of the last three vintages. In fact, the whole estate is now farmed organically. The fruit for the 2015 vintage comes from the Sant'Angelo hill overlooking the Orcia River, on South-Southwest facing slopes that are influenced by the sea winds an average of 300 metres above sea level. The grapes were manually harvested and sorted in the vineyard, then undergoing further selection at the winery. Vintage yields were just over half of what is allowable under regulations. It was aged for three years in large old Slavonian and Allier oak barrels, followed by 12 months in bottle for further refinement.

As part of this Tasting Event, there are a number of VINTAGES Special Offers from Col d'Orcia consisting of many wines from different vintages in multiple sizes from half-size bottles up to 5 L Jeroboams. Some of these bottles include rare back vintage Brunellos going as far back as 1990. You'll want to get your order in today as there aren't many bottles available, and this Col d'Orcia VINTAGES Special Offer closes October 29, 2020.

Tasting Note:

COL D'ORCIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#306852) (XD) - $55.95
100% Sangiovese, this organic Brunello di Montalcino has lovely, elegant, perfumed and very complex aromas of red cherry, sweet tobacco, earth, and leather with touches of rosemary, herb, dried rose floral, and balsamic wafting out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with savoury, earthy, oak, clove, and red cherry flavours. Acids are succulent and juicy while firm tannins are grippy. Savoury, bitter chocolate, and earthy notes linger on the long, persistent, and grippy finish. While enjoyable now, this should improve further with about 3 years in the cellar and drink well into the early 2030s. Score: 92 pts

The wines of Col d'Orcia are represented in Ontario by Dionysus Wines & Spirits Ltd.

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