Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely, organic Chianti Classico that arrives at the LCBO this weekend and is featured as the Wine of the Month in the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The wines of Castello di Bossi are produced by Bacci Wines. After developing a passion for wine while growing up in Tuscany, Marco Bacci purchased the estate in 1983 and after spending some to learn about the soil and vines, he bottled his first wines in 1985.

Castello di Bossi is located in the southern half of the Chianti Classico production zone, within the Comune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Florence and 14 kilometres east of Siena. The estate has changed hands several times over the years, while the site itself has a long history that goes back to the first tower that was built there in the year 1090. In 1450, the original structure was expanded into the 4-walled fortress that can be seen today. The estate now covers 650 hectares, with 124 hectares under vine that are mostly planted with Sangiovese. The Bacci family has since purchased a number of estates in Tuscany and use modern viticultural practices to consistently harvest the best quality fruit in order to express the best qualities of the terroir and each grape variety. Marco uses only estate-grown fruit and believes that nature plays a significant role in the quality of their wines, thereby growing all of their grapes with great care and an eye for detail.

After enjoying the 2016 Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico from an exceptional vintage a couple of years ago, this red wine is from a vintage that was generally a cool year with uneven ripening. It is crafted using 100% Sangiovese that was grown at 350 metres (1,148 feet) above sea level on tufo, brown and yellow clay, and broken stone soils within the Chianti Classico subzone of Castelnuovo Berardenga that is located in the south of the denomination. The wines of Castelnuovo Berardenga are often described as having Brunello-like structure. Let's see how this 2018 Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95
Organic, this 100% Sangiovese has an elegant, medium+ intensity nose with aromas of sour red and black cherry, savoury earth, and clove spice. The medium-full bodied, structured and ripe palate has more sour red and black cherries, savoury earth, and clove spice flavours supported by fresh, lemony acidity. It has grippy, structured tannins, while the long, juicy finish is minerally with savoury earthy, and clove spice notes. A big wine for an Annata. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Although I see one other wine from this producer at the LCBO, other lovely wines from the Bacci Wines portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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February 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Argentina

Continuing the recent trend of mono-thematic releases, the February 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release looks on the fantastic, high-altitude wines from Argentina. All of the wines from this release should be on VINTAGES shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

If you've been following me over the past few years, you'll know by now that Argentine wine is more than just Malbec. In this release, there are thirteen wines from Argentina featured and seven are included among my top wine picks. In addition to a pair of lovely Malbec wines, there are also a pair of lovely single vineyard wines made with Bonarda, Argentina's second-most widely planted red varietal. Other red wines from Argentina include a delicious Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Surprisingly, there is only one white wine from Argentina in this release, however, it is an outstanding Chardonnay.

Among my top red wine picks, the 2016 Rioja is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano / Mazuelo / Garnacha, while the 2020 Rioja is a 50/50 blend of Garnacha Tinta and Tempranillo. The rest of the wines are all single varietals, including a trio of lovely wines from Italy - a Merlot from Cortona, a Nebbiolo from Piedmont, and an organic Sangiovese from Tuscany. There is also a fine Pinot Noir from Niagara.

All of my white wine recommendations are single varietal wines. The old vines Chablis is a Chardonnay that was raised entirely in stainless steel tanks, the Sancerre is crafted with Sauvignon Blanc, and the Muscadet is made with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal. There are a trio of delightful Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand, from three different areas and vintages, and even crafted in different slightly different manners. The version from Hawke's Bay has a small portion fermented and aged in small oak barriques, while the Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc was raised completely in tanks, and lastly, the regional Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was partially raised in concrete egg tank and clay amphora. Other single varietal dry white wines include a Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County in California, as well as a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. For sweet wine lovers, the Gewürztraminer Kabinett from Pfalz should be on your shopping list.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

• LUIGI BOSCA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#128629) (XD) - $18.95  88 pts  wine review
• PALACIOS REMONDO LA VENDIMIA 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#674564) (XD) - $18.95
• SUR DE LOS ANDES RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2018 - Rio Negro Single Vineyard, Patagonia, Argentina (#21991) (XD) - $19.95
• ROBERTO SAROTTO NATIVO NEBBIOLO 2019 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#22793) (XD) - $19.95
• EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $21.95  92 pts  wine review
• EL ENEMIGO EL BARRANCO SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2017 - Mendoza, Argentina (#15132) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review

 

• CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review
• KEW VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR 2018 - Estate vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520080) (XD) - $23.95
• LORENZO LOBENDITO MALBEC 2017 - Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina (#19599) (XD) - $27.95
• AZIENDA POLIZIANO IN VIOLAS MERLOT 2017 - DOC Cortona, Tuscany, Italy (#22794) (XD) - $32.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CVNE IMPERIAL RESERVA 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#424390) (XD) - $39.95
• VERSADO ANCIENT RESERVA MALBEC 2014 - Mendoza, Argentina (#316984) (XD) - $58.95
  

White Wine:

• LA GRIFFE BERNARD CHÉREAU SUR LIE MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2020 - AP, Loire, France (#948182) (XD) - $16.95
• RABL LANGENLOIS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2020 - Sustainable, DAC Kamptal, Austria (#377457) (XD) - $18.95
• TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• DARTING DÜRKHEIMER NONNENGARTEN GEWÜRZTRAMINER KABINETT 2020 - Estate bottled, Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#944181) (S) - $19.95
• TWO RIVERS CONVERGENCE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#277707) (XD) - $21.95
• WHITEHAVEN GREG SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Awatere Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#325944) (XD) - $23.95
• EL ENEMIGO CHARDONNAY 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#482984) (XD) - $24.95  92 pts  wine review
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS VIEILLES VIGNES CHABLIS 2019 - AP, Burgundy, France (#20912) (XD) $27.95  review coming soon...
• CAMBRIA KATHERINE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018 - Sustainable, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA (#980490) (XD) - $29.95
• JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95  92+ pts  wine review
  

Dessert Wine:

• JACKSON-TRIGGS RESERVE VIDAL ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#389411) (S) (375 mL) - $39.95

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Azienda Poliziano In Violas Merlot 2017 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Merlot from the Cortona DOC in Tuscany that comes to the LCBO as a new arrival next weekend as part of the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

With a romantic and passionate vision for this native land, Dino Carletti founded Poliziano in 1961 after he purchased his first parcel of 22 hectares near Montepulciano. The Poliziano name is a tribute to the humanist poet Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494) who had the nickname "Poliziano". The son of Dino, Federico Carletti, took over the management of the property in 1980 after completing his studies in agriculture. Federico made his mark immediately by focusing on only estate grown fruit, quality viticulture, and innovation, while respecting tradition and the environment.

Over the years, Federico continued his pursuit for quality and excellence by improving techniques in both in the vineyards and cellar. For almost 20 years, Federico has concentrated on coaxing the highest expression of the territory from his wines, dedicated himself to the production of "cru" wines of great renown.

Today, the family passion for wine and the territory continues with the 3rd generation of the family joining the business. Francesco and Maria Stella are essential advisors to Federico, ready to interpret and face both current and future challenges of the estate that has now grown to 170 hectares of vineyards.

This red wine is from the Cortona DOC in the southern part of Tuscany, just north of Lago Trasimeno. Wine production in the region dates back to the time of the Etruscans, but was only established as a DOC in 1999. Inspiration of Poliziano's oenological project in the area came in the aftermath of the creation of the DOC as it was suitable for international varieties, along with it's friendship with the Aliotti Tommasi family that owned optimal lands in the area. Mainly international varieties are planted within the Cortona DOC, and this particular red wine is crafted with 100% Merlot. First produced in 2004, the grapes for this wine come from a 7 hectare vineyard that is planted between 300-350 metres above sea level with southwest exposure to the sun, and on clay loam (Pliocene clay) soils that have a good presence of stones. The grapes are manually harvested and sorted, fermented in stainless steel vats, and aged for 16-18 months in French oak barrels. In Violas is named in tribute to one of Angelo Ambrogini's elegies. Let's see how this Merlot from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

AZIENDA POLIZIANO IN VIOLAS MERLOT 2017 - DOC Cortona, Tuscany, Italy (#22794) (XD) - $32.95
The rich, intense nose offers lovely aromas that leads with sandalwood, dark berry, and blackberry, followed by notes of currant, floral, walnut, and cocoa. The richly structured, chewy, full-bodied palate is a touch warming with more sandalwood, dark berry, blackberry, walnut, clove, and cocoa replays supported by fresh, lively acidity. Ripe, structured tannins have some youthful grip. Long, juicy, structured, and savoury finish with sandalwood, cocoa, and clove spice notes. Oak heavy, but high quality, and it works really well. Highly recommended buy to enjoy towards the end of the decade. Score: 91+ pts

One other bottling from this producer is available at the LCBO, while other lovely wines from Azienda Poliziano are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château de Nages ButiNAGES Red 2019 and White 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely, organic wines from southern Rhône that arrived at the LCBO for the first time last weekend as part of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château de Nages is a family-owned operation located in Costières de Nîmes that has been passed down over the generations. The family's history at Château de Nages begins with Joseph Torres, the family patriarch who at 68 years of age purchased this southern Rhône estate during World War II. After the passing of Joseph, the estate was managed by his son-in-law Alfred Gassier.

Today, the highly-acclaimed Michel Gassier is the fourth generation of the family to manage the estate. Situated in the heart of a Natura 2000 zone (an ecological network of protected areas of the European Union), the vineyards are planted with typical Rhône varietals and organically farmed. They are firmly committed to protecting their ecosystem and using resources wisely. To produce their fabulous wines, they combine ancestral know-how with modern techniques and with an absolute respect for the soil.

Both of these wines are from Château de Nages' ButiNAGES collection, which also includes a rosé. ButiNAGES, which means "gather nectar", is a metaphor that describes both the style of these wines, as well as the vineyard approach that allows us to achieve it. The grapes for these wines come from their younger vineyards, but receive the same attentiveness as their other cuvées. ButiNAGES wines are crafted with purity of fruit in mind to produce fresh, crisp, and unoaked wines with a soft mouthfeel. While the producer suggests that these are easy-drinking crowd pleasers (which they are), the quality offered in these wines are far superior than what you would normally find in an easy-drinking crowd pleaser type of wine. The 2019 vintage was outstanding in the Southern Rhône Valley, while the 2020 vintage for white wine varietals was very good. Let's see how these lovely wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Notes:

BUTINAGES WHITE 2020 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20906) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Blend of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne that was aged on fine lees in concrete vats with batonnage for 3 months. Elegant, fragrant, medium-high intensity aromatics are leesy mineral-inflected with lemon citrus, grapefruit, and white florals nuanced with ripe apple, stone fruits, and white peach. The palate is dry and impressively concentrated with flavours of apple, stone fruit, grapefruit, citrus, and white floral. Nicely balanced with fresh, succulent acidity. Saline minerals with citrusy notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

BUTINAGES RED 2019 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20637) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Unoaked blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was destemmed without crushing to keep only whole berries. It was blended and aged on lees in vats for 6 months. The medium-high intensity nose offers a lovely bouquet of dark cherry, raspberry, wild herbs, smoky minerality, garrigue, peppery spice, and subtle meaty nuances. It's medium-full bodied with rich, ripe, supple, and dusty tannins that have a subtly textured grip. Flavours of dark cherry, raspberry, licorice, peppery spice, smoky minerality, and garrigue are lifted by fresh, vibrant acidity. Finishes long and juicy with smoky mineral notes. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Château de Nages are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Red Blend 2018 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious blend from California that is featured on the cover of the January 22nd LCBO VINTAGES Release and arrives on shelves across Ontario for the first time this Saturday.

It is produced by Francis Ford Coppola Winery, a name famous in the world of cinema, but also quite popular in the world of wine. In 2006, the Coppola family purchased a historic property in Sonoma County and wanted to create a resort, a wine wonderland, and a place to celebrate the love of life. After two years of renovations, the winery opened in 2010 with a tasting room, museum, and restaurant.

The Coppola family also has a firm commitment to sustainability as they have long supported sustainability throughout their lives and many business endeavours in an effort to preserve the land for generations to come. In 2020, the winery became certified sustainable through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Some of Coppola winery's sustainability activities include using energy produced from renewable sources, conserving and reducing water usage, as well as farming sustainably and promoting biodiversity in the vineyard.

This red wine is from Coppola's Diamond Collection, a range of wines that are crafted with grapes grown across California (and Oregon), and are carefully combined to create wines for all occasions. This particular wine is created exclusively by taste each vintage with no particular roadmap in mind. The 2018 vintage it is a blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah using grapes from various appellations across California and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Note:

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95
This blend of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah has a fragrant nose that offers a lush array of ripe black, dark red, and purple fruit aromas mingling with vanillin oak, and spices. It's full-bodied with slightly jammy black and red fruits such as blackberry and cherry, along with spice, and vanillin oak flavours in a pleasingly dry flavour profile. Although there is a touch of warmth, it's still well-balanced with good acidity, and smooth, dusty textured, and moderately grippy tannins. Woody, earthy, and milk chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines Francis Ford Coppola are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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January 22, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California

The main theme of the mono-thematic January 22, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on wines from California. All of the wines from release, including those featured in the California thematic, should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday. Also mentioned in this release is the introduction of the Monthly Online-Only Collection - a curated selection of wines that can only be purchased exclusively online on lcbo.com.

We begin with the theme on California wines that features fifteen wines, of which two are included among my top wine picks. The Red Blend from California is composed of 43% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 12% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, and 7% Syrah. The only other California wine recommendation is a Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, at the northern end of California's prime winegrowing area.

From my top red wine picks, Rhone reds include the Costières de Nîmes that consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre, while the Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Carignan. With the Chianti Classico wines from Italy, the San Felice is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino, and 10% Pugnitello, while the Ama is composed of 96% Sangiovese and 4% Merlot. From Spain, the Calatayud is a blend of primarily old-vine Garnacha (between 70 and 100 years old), Syrah, Tempranillo, and Mazuelo, while the Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon includes 5% Syrah. Single varietal wines include an Aglianico from Campania, a Carignan from Roussillon, a Carménère from Chile, and a Graciano from Spain.

Among my white wine recommendations, the only blend is the Rhône White that is composed of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne. Among the single varietal white wines, there are Sauvignon Blanc wines from Chile and New Zealand, a Pinot Grigio from northern Italy, and a dry Pinot Gris from British Columbia. There is also a Chardonnay from Burgundy, while the partially matured in oak barrels Chenin Blanc is from South Africa. For sweet wine lovers, the white wine from Pfalz is a late harvest made with Siegerrebe and should be on your shopping list.

For readers seeking sparkling wines, there is a Prosecco made with Glera, the vintage bubbly from South Africa is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, and lastly, the Champagne is made with 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• EL ESCOCÉS VOLANTE MANGA DEL BRUJO 2018 - DO Calatayud, Spain (#15073) (XD) - $16.95
• CAMILLE CAYRAN LE CHÊNE NOIR CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 - AP, Rhône, France (#10006) (XD) - $16.95
• BUTINAGES RED 2019 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20637) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• IL POGGIO SANNIO AGLIANICO 2017 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#575225) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#282996) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LAFAGE CAYROL VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2019 - Sustainable, IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#494039) (XD) - $19.95

• CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review
• TORRES CORDILLERA DE LOS ANDES RESERVA ESPECIAL CARMENÈRE 2018 - Parcela La Ladera, DO Peumo, Valle del Cachapoal, Chile (#389692) (XD) - $22.95
• FINCAS DE LANDALUCE GRACIANO 2017 - Rioja Alavesa, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#23413) (XD) - $25.95
• FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION RED BLEND 2018 - California, USA (#22593) (XD) - $28.95  89 pts  wine review
• CASTELLO DI AMA AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#515759) (XD) - $35.95
• LONG MEADOW RANCH PINOT NOIR 2016 - Estate grown, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, USA (#22598) (XD) - $59.95

White Wine:

• BUTINAGES WHITE 2020 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#20906) (XD) - $16.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• BELLINGHAM THE OLD ORCHARDS CHENIN BLANC 2020 - WO Paarl, South Africa (#484055) (XD) - $16.95
• LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $17.95
• ANSELMANN EDESHEIMER ROSENGARTEN SIEGERREBE SPÄTLESE 2019 - Prädikatswein, Pfalz, Germany (#910554) (S) - $17.95
• ALOIS LAGEDER TERRA ALPINA PINOT GRIGIO 2020 - IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Alto Adige, Italy (#681429) (XD) - $19.95
• SOHO STELLA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Vegan, sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#554311) (XD) - $22.95
• MISSION HILL RESERVE PINOT GRIS 2020 - BC VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada (#537076) (XD) - $22.95
• CHRISTOPHE PATRICE PETIT CHABLIS 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#14871) (XD) - $23.95

Sparkling Wine:

• GIUSTI BRUT ASOLO PROSECCO SUPERIORE - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#16555) (D) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• JACQUES BRUÉRE CAP CLASSIQUE BLANC DE BLANCS SPARKLING 2011 - Traditional method, WO Robertson, South Africa (#23971) (XD) - $25.95
• ANDRÉ CHEMIN CUVÉE SÉLECTIONNÉE BRUT 1ER CRU CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#20245) (XD) - $52.95
  

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Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the January 22 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Cloz de Luz is a family run business located in the Almahue Valley, which is part of the D.O. Rapel Valley, and naturally walled in by the Mancuman Hill, that has belonged in the family for five generations. The vineyards were planted in 1945 by their grandmother Luz and are among the oldest in Chile. Today, they have 33 hectares of estate vineyards and the estate is owned by the Edwards Cosmelli branch of the family. The principal focus is on producing elegant and quality wines based on a non-interventionist approach with freshness and subtle use of oak to enhance the natural fruity character of the wines.

With several ranges of wines within their portfolio, this particular wine by Clos de Luz is from their Massal 1945 range, signifying the year in which most of the Clos de Luz vineyard was planted by Grandma Luz. The Massal range also evokes the philosophy of planting 100% Massal selection by replanting vineyards with cuttings from old vineyards to promote natural diversity of the plants. Massal selection tends to be produce an interesting collection of fruit, which in turn produces wines of individuality and uniqueness.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is often a blend with one or two other varietals playing a minor role. The 2018 vintage is composed of old 95% Cabernet Sauvignon from Almahue and 5% Syrah. It was hand-harvested with strict selection criteria, fermented with indigenous yeast and stabilized naturally without any chemicals. 50% of the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 44% in 7,000 L Taransaud oak tanks, and 6% in 500 L Sylvain French oak barrels.

A few years ago I tasted (and liked) the 2016 vintage of this wine, which hailed from what was considered a poor vintage across Chile. On the other hand, the 2018 edition of this wine comes from an excellent vintage with slightly cooler-than-average temperatures that delivered structure and concentration. Let's see how this Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle del Rapel, Chile (#12675) (XD) - $21.95
This blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah has a lovely bouquet offering an intense and complex medley of evergreen, forest floor, ripe dark cherry, blackberry, currant with hints of peppery spice, all surrounding an earthy core. It's full-bodied, concentrated and ripe with lovely, minty herbs, tangy red and black berry, and subtle oak spice flavours. Slightly warming, but still well-balanced with fine acidity and ripe, structured and fine-grained tannins. The juicy, succulent acids take you through to the long finish with lingering minty herb, dark red and black cherry, earth, and subtle oak notes. Highly recommended buy. Score: 91 pts

The companion Carménère to this wine is coming to VINTAGES in March, while other wines from Clos de Luz can be ordered through their Agent - Touchstone Brands.

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