13th Street Premier Cuvée Sparkling 2014 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely sparkling wine from Niagara that arrives in LCBO VINTAGES on November 14th. It is featured in this Release as part of the theme called "Holiday Cheer" and would make fine gift for the holidays.

13th Street Winery has become somewhat of a powerhouse in the world of Niagara sparkling wine, with a full lineup of high-quality, traditional method sparkling wines crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. To push the envelope of innovation, they also have a vintage sparkling wine made with Gamay - a varietal that 13th Street has much success with.

This particular vintage sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the 2014 vintage, with both varieties primarily sourced from their estate vineyards in the Creek Shores sub-appellation, along with some fruit coming from some of their favourite growers in both Creek Shores and Niagara-on-the-Lake. After harvest, both varieties went into the press with the free run juice being kept separate from the press wine. Each varietal went through primary fermentation separately, and then blended and bottled for secondary fermentation. The wine was aged on lees for a minimum of 48 months - during this period the bubbles become smaller and more compact, along with the development of slight autolytic, toast and bread characters. After disgorging, Winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas decided that the wine was in perfect balance and opted to not add any sugar to the dosage, resulting in a classically dry sparkling wine in the zero-dosage style.

Along with enjoying other fine sparkling wines from 13th Street Winery, I've had the pleasure of tasting the past two vintages of this lovely bubbly. It has been on my recommended list each of the last two times that it appeared in VINTAGES. Let's see how the 2014 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

13TH STREET PREMIER CUVÉE SPARKLING 2014 - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#142679) (XD) - $39.95
A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay that was aged on the lees for a minimum of 48 months and has zero-dosage. Maturing, toasty brioche, autolytic, yeast, and baked apple aromatics with touches of lemon citrus and honey adding complexity. It's medium+ bodied on the crisp, dry palate with fine mousse and lively acidity. The dry flavour profile offers toasty, brioche, leesy, lemon citrus, and mineral characters. The mineral notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Score: 91 pts

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Laura Hartwig Edición de Familia 2017 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely Chilean red blend that first came to VINTAGES as a Flagship Store Exclusive back in May (and sold out quickly), but now returns to LCBO VINTAGES on November 14 in quantities such that it will be widely available across Ontario.

It is produced by Laura Hartwig Premium Wines, and the story begins in 1966 when Laura Bisquertt inherited the "Santa Laura" farm from her father, Osvaldo. He purchased the property in 1928 and cultivated annual crops and had cattle. The next 5 years after inheriting the farm, Laura and her husband, Alejandro Hartwig, purchased neighbouring lots and ran the estate. In 1971, Alejandro decided to look for work abroad and landed in Montreal, Canada. While living in Canada with his family for 10 years, he developed a passion for wine and decided with Laura to return to Colchagua Valley, with its excellent climate for winegrowing, to establish a winery as their "Retirement Project".

In 1978, Laura and Alejandro started planting the estate with Bordeaux varietals and sold the fruit to other wineries. In 1994, they built the estate in Santa Cruz, in the heart of the Colchagua Valley, and created their first Laura Hartwig wine a year later - a Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva. Today, it is children of Laura and Alejandro who are in charge of the estate and aim to produce wines with the same principles that their parents instilled in them. With a temperate climate, loam clay soils, and a long-standing team, Laura Hartwig has developed low-impact and sustainable vineyard management practices.

This Edición de Familia (Family Edition) red wine blend was born out of the Winemaker's need to create a classic red blend with the oldest vines planted in the estate, and also reflect the potential of these varieties with quality fruit every vintage. The 2017 vintage of this wine is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. In the Edición de Familia, Winemaker Renato Czischke has the space and complete freedom express his passion, conviction, and ideas to make a wine with a unique and personal style while paying tribute to the Hartwig family.

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG EDICIÓN DE FAMILIA 2017 - DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#14147) (XD) - $27.95
A blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was aged in (50%) new and second use French oak barrels for 20 months. It has an elegant, rich, and fragrant nose of bay leaf, forest green herbs, cassis, blackcurrant, earth, and cedary oak aromas. It's medium+ bodied on the palate with firm, grippy, and textured tannins along with fresh, lively acidity. Some greenness on the flavour profile is balanced with pleasing savoury, earthy, oak, and blackcurrant notes with a touch of coffee. Long, bright finish is savoury and earthy with oak spice notes. Enjoyable now with big, red meats, but I would age this for 3-4 years for prime enjoyment. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Laura Hartwig are available via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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High Heaven Roaming Elk Red Blend 2017 (Washington) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice, vegan-friendly, Syrah and Merlot blend from Washington State. It is a new wine that arrives in Ontario for the first time as part of the November 14th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

This red wine blend is made by High Heaven Vintners, the same producer that crafted the 2018 High Heaven Majestic Pines Cabernet Sauvignon that I reviewed back in September. High Heaven Vintners is a new joint project between the Taub and Zirkle family. With more than a century of winemaking and farming experience, both families believe in growing great grapes to make amazing wines. High Heaven Vintners is located in the eastern part of Washington State and is inspired by the natural mountainous backdrop that surrounds their vines. The area is protected by the "Rain Shadow" that is formed by the Cascade Mountains to the west, creating a warm, sunny, and dry climate that is ideal for grape growing.

All High Heaven Vintners wines - the range consists of five wines - are estate grown & bottled. The aforementioned Cabernet Sauvignon is still available for purchase at the LCBO, while other wines can be ordered via their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits Ltd.

Tasting Note:

HIGH HEAVEN ROAMING ELK RED BLEND 2017 - Columbia Valley, Washington, USA (#15847) (XD) - $19.95
An estate grown blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Merlot, with most of the Syrah and Merlot coming from the McNary Vineyard (Horse Heaven Hills AVA). Additional Syrah from the Zillah Ranch (Rattlesnake Hills AVA) was added to the blend. The medium to medium+ intensity nose has resinous oak spice, dark berry, blackberry, and raspberry aromas with touches of purple fruit and smoke. On the dry, full-bodied palate, it has supple, rounded tannins and juicy acidity supporting the sweet vanillin oak spice, blackberry, cocoa flavours. Finishes long with a smoky, vanillin oak aftertaste. Vegan-friendly. Score: 88 pts

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Alamos Selección Malbec 2016 (Argentina) - Wine Review

To continue my series on Malbec wines from Argentina, tonight's wine review is a lovely Malbec that has come through VINTAGES a few times over the past 15 months, and most recently appeared at the LCBO as part of the July 11th LCBO VINTAGES Release - with bottles readily available across Ontario.

This Malbec is produced by Alamos - a label whose roots are based on the founding wine family of Argentina - the Catena family. With more than 100 years of passion and research in winemaking, Alamos strives to put the very best of Argentina into every bottle. The wines of Alamos showcase Argentina’s high-altitude winegrowing to create authentic wines from Argentina's signature grapes grown in Mendoza and Salta. Alamos wines are grown in the shadow of the Andes Mountains at elevations of 3,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level, where intense sunlight, cool evening temperatures, and mineral-rich irrigation from mountain snowmelt translates into rich, layered aromas and flavours of Argentina’s hallmark varieties.

The Winemaker at Alamos is Lucía Vaieretti. She grew up in Mendoza and her family has tended vines for more than 40 years. Lucía also worked the vineyards by picking grapes and pruning vines with her family when she was young. After completing high school, Lucia attended South America's oldest and most prestigious school of viticulture and oenology - Don Bosco in Mendoza. While still studying at Don Bosco, she began working for the Catena Family wineries in Mendoza and joined the company full-time after graduating in 2006. In 2010, Lucía began making wine at Alamos before taking over as head of winemaking in 2016.

The grapes for this Malbec come from La Consulta, within the Uco Valley in Mendoza, from an area that is tucked under the massive shoulders of the Andes Mountains in west-central Argentina. The grapes were grown at high-altitude between 3,000 to 5,000 feet. These high-altitude desert vineyards are irrigated by mineral-rich snowmelt from glaciers and snowfields. At this altitude, the air is clear and there is more sunlight. At night, the cold air sweeps down from the mountains to give the grapes the structure and complexity to balance perfectly with the intense flavours that make Malbec from Mendoza so unique.

Tasting Note:

ALAMOS SELECCIÓN MALBEC 2016 - La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#322800) (XD) - $17.95
100% Malbec hand selected from special blocks within their favourite vineyards at high-altitude between 3,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level. The medium+ intensity nose delivers ripe blackberry, earthy, and chocolate aromas with a touch of herb. It is medium-full with good fruit concentration and flavours of blackberry, smoky mineral, and savoury notes on the spicy palate accented by herbal and subtle oak influence. It has lively acidity and supple tannins that are well-integrated, along with some purple fruit notes on the mid-palate. The long finish has more blackberry and smoky mineral notes with a touch of white pepper spice. Great buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines from Alamos can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - E & J Gallo Winery Canada.

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Greywacke Riesling 2018 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

I had the opportunity to taste this fantastic Riesling back in March, in New Zealand with winemaker Kevin Judd (a full report on this is coming soon), and am delighted to see it come to LCBO VINTAGES on October 31st. For tonight's wine review, we take a look at how this Riesling has evolved, 8 months after my first tasting.

I have tasted many wines from Greywacke over the years and they have all been excellent. Greywacke is the Marlborough label of iconic winemaker Kevin Judd. After many successful years at Cloudy Bay, he fulfilled a long held dream with his wife Kimberley to have his own vineyard and winery. The name 'Greywacke' comes from the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones found in the soils of the vineyard in Rapaura. Kevin focuses on quality winemaking and sources fruit mostly from mature vineyards within the central Wairau Plains and the Southern Valleys, such as this single vineyard Riesling from 21-year-old vines. These prime viticultural sites are cultivated using yield restricting vineyard management, and a number of these are owned by the Sutherland family (Dog Point).

Kevin makes his wines at Dog Point Winery in the lower Brancott Valley, a facility extended to him by Ivan Sutherland and James Healy - long-standing friends and industry colleagues who go back to their days together at Cloudy Bay. The Greywacke portfolio is primarily based on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, but there are also limited release wines such as this Riesling. Kevin is also an accomplished photographer and uses his own photos on Greywacke wine labels.

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE RIESLING 2018 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) - $29.95
This single vineyard Riesling is from 27-year-old vines. Half of this wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks, while the other half underwent spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation in old French oak barriques. Both halves of this wine also spent about 4 months in barrels on yeast lees. Screw cap. Lovely, highly aromatic nose is slightly reductive and features earthy mineral, leesy, and petrol notes followed by lime zest, citrus, and floral aromas. It has lively, vibrant acidity on the medium+ bodied palate with fine concentration. Nicely textured with citrus, floral, and apple flavours. There's some sweetness, but it is relatively hidden due to the high acidity. Apple, floral, and stony mineral notes linger on the long, lip-smacking finish. Lovely! Score: 91 pts

Other delightful wines from the Greywacke portfolio are available in LCBO VINTAGES, as well as through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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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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