Laura Hartwig Selección del Viticultor Block Nogales Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Back in June I enjoyed the 2018 Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and for tonight's red wine review I take it up a notch with this Winemaker's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon from the same producer. This red wine from Chile is a new arrival to the LCBO that came to LCBO VINTAGES on February 19th.

Laura Hartwig is a winery located Santa Cruz, in the heart of the Colchagua Valley, Chile. Their story begins when Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. His daughter, Laura Bisquert, inherited the "Santa Laura" farm in 1966 and further expanded the estate. Wine entered the picture in the 1970's after she and her husband, Alejandro Hartwig, developed a passion for wine and returned to Chile from Toronto to focus their attention on viticulture.

Alejandro Hartwig is a dedicated winegrower who personally oversees the entire Estate. He understands that producing excellent wine requires not only blessed soils, careful management of the vineyard, and the finest selection of grapes, but also perseverance, respect, and dedication. With a non-interventionist philosophy and human scale production to craft their wines, Laura Hartwig is able to take detailed care with each step of the winemaking process.

This Winemaker's Selection of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was grown at the Laura Hartwig Estate in Santa Cruz, specifically from a single block that was planted in 1980 over deep soils and a loam clay surface. These old vines which are now over 40 years old have achieved a natural balance between growth and production per season to give balanced fruit for high quality wines. The grapes were hand-selected by cluster and transported to the winery in bins for further detailed selection. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the the wine was aged for 12 months in first and second-use French oak barrels, followed by a further 5 months in cement egg.

With a brilliant 2018 growing season across Chile that started with a warm spring and moderate conditions that allowed the grapes to slowly ripen, the resulting wines achieved good fruit characters, balanced alcohol, and very good acidity. Let's see how this 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG SELECCIÓN DEL VITICULTOR BLOCK NOGALES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Santa Cruz, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#21951) (XD) - $20.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 40-year-old vines, the medium+ intensity nose has cool, fresh, leafy herbals and evergreen aromas followed by red currant, cassis, and subtle spice notes. On the full-bodied palate it has structured, smooth, and polished tannins, along with fresh, balanced acidity. Nice interplays between fruity and herbals on the palate with currant, cassis, leafy herbs, evergreen, and some smoky notes on the back palate. Long and juicy with wood smoke notes lingering on the finish. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

While there are a couple of dozen bottles of one other Laura Hartwig wine available at the LCBO, wines from the rest of their portfolio can be ordered through the Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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March 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Tuscany

The title of the March 5, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release is "Under the Tuscan Sun" and features wines from Tuscany as the theme of the release. Overall, it is a smaller-than-usual release with just 89 wines listed, and the majority of the wines are red coloured. All of the wines in this release should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with the theme on wines from Tuscany. Of the thirteen wines featured, four are included among my top wine picks and the lone white is a Chardonnay-based blend. The Rosso di Montepulciano (which tastes quite a bit like a Rosso di Montalcino) is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, while the Chianti Classico Riserva is composed of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Colorino. Lastly, the IGT Super Tuscan is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.

Among my red wine recommendations, at the top of the list is the 2nd wine of Ornellaia that is a blend of 54% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. The only other blend is the red from the Itata Valley in Chile that consists of 72% Cinsault, 18% País, and 10% Carignan. Single varietal wines include a Monastrell from Spain, a Xinomavro from Greece, and a Carmenère from Chile. There is also a trio of Malbec wines from Argentina, and a Grenache from 65-year-old vines in Roussillon.

From a small release of white wines, the only blend among my recommendations is an Argentine wine that consists of 42% Semillón, 33% Sauvignon Blanc, and 25% Torrontés. From single varietal white wines, both Chardonnays from Niagara spent some time fermenting and ageing in barrels. The other mono-varietal wines are a Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine in Loire and a lovely Grüner Veltliner from Austria. If you enjoy some sweetness to your wines, check out the off-dry Riesling from Niagara.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cin cin!

Red Wine:

• PASARISA MALBEC 2019 - Mendoza, Argentina (#21986) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• ALAMOS SELECCIÓN MALBEC 2018 - La Consulta, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#322800) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• BOUTARI NAOUSSA XINOMAVRO 2019 - PDO Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece (#23218) (XD) - $18.95
• ZINGARI 2018 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#244228) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
• DOMAINE LAFAGE CUVÉE NICOLAS VIEILLES VIGNES GRENACHE NOIR 2019 - Sustainable, IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#354191) (XD) - $19.95
• POLIZIANO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#22795) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
• LA CAUSA CINSAULT / PAÍS / CARIGNAN 2019 - Valle del Itata, Chile (#23434) (XD) - $22.95

• CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2018 - Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $22.95  91 pts  wine review
• MATETIC EQ GRANITE PINOT NOIR 2016 - Sustainable, DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#21952) (XD) - $22.95
• CLOS DE LUZ MASSAL 1945 CARMENÈRE 2018 - Almahue, DO Valle de Cachapoal, Chile (#11861) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• UNDURRAGA TERROIR HUNTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Alto Maipo, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#630350) (XD) - $24.95
• LOS FRAILES CALIZA 2018 - Sustainable, La Parada de Tordos Vineyard, DO Valencia, Spain (#23806) (XD) - $29.95
• LE SERRE NUOVE DELL'ORNELLAIA 2019 - DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#606194) (XD) - $74.95

White Wine:

• DOMAINE DU PRÉ BARON TOURAINE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Sustainable, AC, Loire, France (#107128) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2020 - Vegan, sustainable, Qualitätswein, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $17.95
• FLAT ROCK CHARDONNAY 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#286278) (XD) - $19.95
• ADAMO LEPP DAVID'S VINEYARD RIESLING 2020 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#17203) (D) - $19.95
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE WHITE BLEND 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#558734) (XD) - $21.95
• DUCA DI SARAGNANO VECCIANO TOSCANA BIANCO 2020 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#23042) (XD) - $25.95
• QUEYLUS TRADITION CHARDONNAY 2019 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#417774) (XD) - $29.95

Sparkling Wine:

• DRAPPIER BRUT NATURE PINOT NOIR CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#179275) (XD) - $64.95

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Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Azienda Poliziano In Violas Merlot at the end of January, tonight's red wine review is another delicious offering from the same producer. This red wine is a new arrival to the LCBO that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on March 5th and is featured as part of the theme on wines from Tuscany.

Dino Carletti founded Poliziano in 1961 after he purchased his first parcel of 22 hectares near Montepulciano. The name is a tribute to the humanist poet Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494) who had the nickname "Poliziano". In 1980, his son, Federico Carletti, took over the management of the property and made his mark immediately by focusing on only estate grown fruit, quality viticulture, and innovation, while respecting tradition and the environment. With Francesco and Maria Stella, the 3rd generation joined the family business as essential advisors to Federico. Together, they face both current and future challenges of the estate that has now grown to 170 hectares of vineyards.

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC is essentially the little brother to the more famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG by using declassified grapes from Vino Nobile. The Rosso di Montepulciano DOC is a relatively new DOC as it was only established in 1989, and some of the significant rules governing the DOC include that the wine must be made up of at least 70% Sangiovese (locallly known as Prugnolo Gentile) from grapes grown between 250 metres (820 feet) and 600 metres (1,970 feet) above sea level. Higher yields and more freedom to experiment with other permitted varietals is also allowed.

This particular Rosso di Montepulciano was first crafted in 1989 and is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot. The grapes are from a 58 hectare vineyard situated between 280-350 metres above sea level on soils that are silty-clay in nature and with the presence of stones. The grapes were manually harvested and sorted using an optical sorter, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks. It was aged for 8 months with 20-40% of the wine aged in wood of various sizes. By many accounts, even with extreme summer heat, the 2019 vintage was a very good year for Tuscany. Let's see how this Rosso di Montepulciano is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

POLIZIANO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#22795) (XD) - $20.95
Blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose has a pretty bouquet of sweet red cherries, floral, spices, black cherry, and raspberry with savoury earthy undertones. On the medium-full bodied palate it has red cherry, raspberry, black cherry, and floral flavours wrapped around a savoury, earthy core. There's some warmth on the mid-palate, along with fresh acidity that is juicy and succulent, while the supple tannins have some grip. Savoury, earthy, and even some mineral notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Poliziano are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Greywacke Riesling 2020 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Greywacke Riesling back in October 2020, tonight's white wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely medium-dry (i.e. slightly sweet) Riesling from New Zealand which arrived at the LCBO as a VINTAGES Online Exclusive as part of the recent February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Greywacke (pronounced Greywacky) is the Marlborough label of the Judd family and named after New Zealand's most abundant bedrock. After many successful years working for another winery, the renowned and one of Marlborough's pioneer winemakers, Kevin Judd fulfilled a lifelong dream to create his own label of wines and established Greywacke in 2009. Situated in the heart of Marlborough's Omaka Valley, Greywacke is a family affair with a "keep it simple and hands-on" approach.

The fruit for Greywacke wines are sourced from prime viticultural sites from vineyards that are sustainably managed, and an increasing amount from organically farmed vineyards. Crop levels are restricted to enhance flavour concentration and a long, cool growing season produces fruit with incredible varietal intensity and bright, natural acidity. Greywacke is accredited with Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW), ensuring provenance, authenticity and integrity. In the winery, a minimal-interventionist approach to winemaking is adopted, along with extensive use of wild (indigenous) yeast fermentations to create wines with personality and individuality. Although the Greywacke range of wines is primarily based on just two varieties - Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, limited edition releases of other wines such as this Riesling complement the lineup.

The grapes for this Riesling are from the 24-year-old certified organic Ashmore Vineyard in Fairhall, adjacent to the mouth of the Brancott Valley on gravelly clay-loam soils. The fruit was hand-picked at moderate ripeness levels to capture the exuberance and natural acidity of the variety. After whole-bunch pressing and very low maceration press cycle, half of the juice was fermented in stainless steel, while the other half underwent spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation in old French oak barriques. Towards the end of fermentation, all of the wine was transferred into stainless steel and fermentation was stopped. The blended wine was aged in old barrels on its yeast lees for five months, then bottled in November 2020.

While the 2020 vintage will be remembered as the year of abnormal working conditions due to the pandemic, the growing season was slightly warmer than average and delivered superb fruit quality. Let's see how this excellent Marlborough Riesling is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

GREYWACKE RIESLING 2020 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#14556) (M) - $29.95
Screw cap. Intense, gorgeously scented bouquet of flowers, lime citrus, white peach, and petrol with whiffs of mineral rise out of the glass. On the impressively concentrated palate it has a very good textured mouthfeel and an off-dry flavour profile of lime citrus, ripe apple, leesy mineral, white flowers, and subtle spicy tones. Impeccably balanced with fresh and juicy acids, while leesy mineral and lime notes taper to a dry, textured finish, with excellent length. Wow! Highly recommended buy to enjoy towards the end of the decade. Score: 93 pts

Small quantities of other Greywacke wines are available at the LCBO, while the rest of the portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Salentein Reserve Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2018 Salentein Reserve Malbec approximately 18 months ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this consistently lovely Malbec that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in the 1990s, the goal of family-owned Bodegas Salentein is to produce first-rate wines with a commitment to the earth where they come from. Situated in Tunuyán, in the heart of Uco Valley, Salentein respects nature and participates in the life of the area's community because the people are an essential component and reflected in the wine's expression. Salentein is a pioneer bodega in the Uco Valley whose exceptional range of wines is a testament to the diversity and quality that can be achieved in its high-elevation estate vineyards.

Salentein's vineyards are located in the elevated mountainsides at the base of the ancient and snowy Andes in an area known as the Uco Valley. The characteristics of the Uco Valley include its elevation (900 - 1,500 metres / 2,950 - 4,900 feet), alluvial soils, sunny days and cool nights, all of which provide the ideal microclimate for grape cultivation and growth of the highest quality Malbec grapes. Chief winemaker Jose "Pepe" Galante is heralded as one of Argentina's most important winemakers and helped pioneer the effort in winemaking that catapulted Malbec and Argentine wines onto the international stage.

This 100% Malbec is crafted with fruit from three different estate vineyards within the Uco Valley, with the oldest vines planted at the turn of the decade. 68% of the grapes are from the El Oasis estate which is 1,050 to 1,100 metres (3,444 to 3,608 feet) above sea level. 30% of the grapes are from the La Pampa estate, which is part of the San Pablo GI, and located at 1,250 metres (4,100 feet) above sea level. The remaining balance comes from the El Tomillo estate in Altamira GI and situated at 1,150 metres (3,772 feet) above sea level. The grapes were manually and mechanically harvested at different times, depending on the estate. After fermentation, the wine was aged for approximately 12 months in 80% French and 20% second-use American oak barrels. The 2019 harvest has received rave reviews across Argentina with a cold winter and dry summer delivering balanced and concentrated wines with great colour and acidity, albeit with slightly lower yields. Let's see how this 2019 Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2019 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#640854) (XD) - $17.95
Lovely, fresh, intense, dark fruited and savoury nose with aromas of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, earthy, violet, dried herb, and touches of wood spice. It's full-bodied, structured, and concentrated with savoury, earthy, dark currant, blackberry, black cherry, and dried herb flavours. Acids are juicy and succulent, while the youthful, fine-grained tannins have some grip and will soften with some time in the cellar. Structured with savoury, earthy, and wood flavours joined by some tangy berry notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines from Bodegas Salentein are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Azureau Wines & Spirits.

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CARO Amancaya Reserve Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely blend from Argentina that newly landed at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the February 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The idea of Bodegas CARO was first conceptualized in 1999 when the Catena family and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) formed a partnership. The name comes from the first two letters of each producer - CAtena and ROthschild. A year later, the concept became a reality with the goal of producing a single wine that combined Argentine and French cultures and the two signature grape varietals from each producer - Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

With four generations of winegrowing experience, the Catena family contributed with its vast knowledge of the high-altitude terroirs in Mendoza and its passion for Malbec. Domaines Barons de Rothschild contributed its centuries-old skills in growing, vinifying and ageing great Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as blending wines that are more than the sum of its parts. The Bodegas CARO winery is located in a historic building in the heart of Mendoza and has cellars that were originally built between 1884 and 1895. After finding success with their first wine - a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, they launched the Amancaya several years later.

In the Quechuan language, the Amancaya is the name of a flower of the Andes that is found in the Mendoza area. A blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the generic Mendoza appellation, the grapes were actually sourced from selected plots of old vines in Lujan de Cuyo, just outside Mendoza City, and from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley. In Lujan de Cuyo, the soils are quite varied depending on how close the vineyards are to the mountains or Mendoza River, and tend to form alluvial layers of loam, rock, and gravel. In Paraje Altamira, the vineyards are planted at 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) above sea level on the ancient alluvial bed of the Tunuyan River. The grapes were hand-harvested, carefully sorted and destemmed, then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Half of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, while the other half was aged in concrete vats.

With nearly ideal conditions across the growing season in Mendoza that consisted of fine weather, little rain, and high diurnal temperature ranges between day and night, the 2018 harvest is considered one of the best of the decade. The resulting wines are generally well-structured with fine-grained tannins, and ripe fruit flavours. Let's see how this 2018 red from Mendoza is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CARO AMANCAYA RESERVE MALBEC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - Lujàn de Cuyo & Paraje Altamira, Mendoza, Argentina (#21999) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, the rich, elegant nose is highly aromatic with notes of ripe black-red-purple fruits, stony minerals, earth, currant, cassis, and spice. The medium-full bodied palate is very ripe with a rich array of red, black, blue, and purple fruit that balanced with savoury, stony minerals, white pepper spice, and earthy flavours. Acids are fresh and lively, while the supple, refined tannins have a subtle textural grip. Juicy with smoky mineral notes lingering on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Bodegas CARO are available through their Agent - Select Wines Merchants.

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Crios Chardonnay 2020 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review for this Family Day long weekend is this delicious Chardonnay from the Uco Valley in Argentina that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the February 19 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

After deciding to follow the family business in viticulture, Susana received her degree in enology in 1991 to become the first woman in Argentina to do so. Susana worked as a consultant for many wineries in Argentina and internationally over the years, and eventually fulfilled a lifelong dream to have her own winery and create her own wines when she established Susana Balbo Wines in 1999. More recently, Susana and her team have worked tirelessly to meet international high quality standards for their wines while also showing commitment to food safety, environmental sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.

This white wine is from Susana Balbo's Crios range of wines that was borne out of her love for her children, José and Ana, and desire to forge a legacy for her family, helping them navigate their own life journeys with lessons learned from a lifetime of trailblazing entrepreneurship. The handprint logo on each Crios bottle symbolizes this relationship and illustrates the hand as powerful tool for mothers, allowing them to hold, provide warmth, nourish, and comfort, as well as teach the next generation the skills and wisdom achieved. Conviction, energy, and identity all go into making something with your hands, establishing an indelible personal mark.

To bring out the very best in Crios wines, Susana and her team choose the region of Argentina most suited for growing each particular grape, and nurture each variety to elevate its intrinsic character. Together with her children, Crios wines are crafted to be enjoyed across generations and to represent values we strive to instill in our own families, including reminding us to stop and enjoy the small pleasures of life.

This particular Chardonnay is sourced from the Uco Valley at high-altitudes averaging 1,050 metres (3,445 feet). The grapes were hand-harvested and hand-selected, followed by destemming and soft crushing. It was aged on its lees for three months in second- and third-use French oak barrels. The 2020 vintage growing season was extremely good and minimally impacted by the pandemic. Let's see how this high-altitude Uco Valley Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CRIOS CHARDONNAY 2020 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#243196) (XD) - $15.95
Screw cap. The medium-high intensity nose is fresh with ripe lemons, citrus, apple, and white peach underpinned by leesy mineral notes. It has good weight on the dry, medium+ bodied palate with fresh, zippy acidity lifting the ripe lemon, citrus, apple, white peach, leesy mineral, and grapefruit flavours with a touch of wood spice. Leesy mineral, citrusy, apple, and grapefruit notes linger on the satisfyingly long and juicy finish. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines from Susana Balbo are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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