Château d'Aquéria Tavel 2021 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is this refreshingly lovely wine from the Tavel Cru in the southern Rhône Valley that is coming to LCBO VINTAGES on May 21 as the Wine of the Month and featured as part of the theme on rosé wines.

The long and fascinating history of Château d'Aquéria began in 1595 when Louis Joseph d'Aqueria purchased this prime vine-growing area of Tavel known as "Puy Sablonneux" from the monks at the Abbey in Villeneuve les Avignon. His son, Robert d'Aqueria, hereditary Count Palatine, built a home which was transformed in the 18th century into the Château as it stands today. Many families have since owned the Château, cherishing the lands as they honed the art of crafting wine with knowledge of their terroir, the vines, and the fruit of those vines. Today, Aquéria is owned and operated by brothers Bruno and Vincent de Bez. Aquéria has been applying environmentally-friendly winegrowing techniques for over 20 years while also preserving and protecting local floral and fauna. Sustainable agriculture and respect for the environment is part of Aquéria's identity.

The 2021 edition of this lovely Tavel Rosé is a blend of mainly Grenache, Clairette, and Syrah, and typically also includes small amounts of other varietals. The grapes were grown around the Château on sandy-clayey soils which are ideal for producing great rosé wines that are both fruity and complex. The grapes were hand-harvested and de-stemmed, then macerated to extract colour and structure. The varieties were then blended two-by-two to enhance aromatic complexity, then underwent temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats. A second blending took place in December before bottling this unoaked rosé.

At Château d'Aquéria, the climate is quintessentially Mediterranean with low rainfall, strong sunshine, and exposure to the Mistral winds. The growing season in 2021 was marked by capricious weather and seasons. Although Château d'Aquéria was spared freeze damage, they did have to be extremely vigilant throughout the season and their efforts were rewarded with a superb vintage in terms of both quality and quantity.

Having enjoyed previous vintages of this rosé, including most recently the 2020 Château d'Aquéria Tavel last May, I would expect this dry rosé to also be quite lovely. Let's see how this 2021 Tavel Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of mainly Grenache, Clairette, and Syrah, the lovely, medium-high intensity aromatics offer fresh, red fruited aromas of raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and fine mineral notes with hints of citrus and peach. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is very nicely balanced with raspberry, cherry, strawberry, currant, mineral, and citrus flavours, plus lightly peppery and herbal notes, all lifted by fresh acidity. Minerally, red fruited, and citrus notes linger on the long, juicy, and crisp finish. I think even better than last year's edition. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Château d'Aquéria are available through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Domaine Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir 2019 (Oregon) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this beautiful Pinot Noir from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Oregon that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the April 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Domaine Drouhin Oregon, a winemaking family whose roots were planted in Burgundy in 1880 when Joseph Drouhin moved from Chablis to Beaune and purchased a wine house that was founded in 1756. Oregon entered the picture when Robert Drouhin, grandson of Joseph, was invited to visit Oregon while on a trip to America's west coast in 1961. Although there were no vineyards in Willamette Valley at the time, Robert was impressed by the natural beauty of the region.

In 1979, a Pinot Noir from Oregon finished in the top 10 in the Gault-Millau Wine Olympiad in Paris. Intrigued by the results, Robert re-staged this tasting at the Drouhin cellars in Beaune, including many of his own Burgundies, in order to better understand the competition from the new world. Amazingly, the same Oregon wine placed 2nd, and only by a very narrow margin.

In 1986, Robert's daughter Véronique came to Oregon after achieving her master's diploma in enology. She worked that first harvest with three Oregon families who were some of the state's founding families of Oregon wine, and her profound first impression help form the bond between the Drouhins and these families. A year later, Robert purchased an exceptional piece of land in Dundee Hills and asked Véronique to be the winemaker, even though there was no vineyard, winery, or equipment. Robert also later asked his son Philippe to be in charge of viticulture. In 1988, Domaine Drouhin Oregon was born with Véronique making wine in a rented space.

Fast forward to 2013 and Roserock continues the Drouhin family's commitment to Oregon as the newest chapter of their story. The extraordinary Roserock vineyard was purchased in 2013 because of its exceptional terroir marked by ancient volcanic soils, cooler temperatures due to the Van Duzer corridor, and an ideal elevation range. The 279 acre site is located at the southern tip of the Eola-Amity Hills in Oregon's Willamette Valley, and is planted to 122 acres of vines. This vineyard produces classic cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - both of which I've had the opportunity to taste in past and both were lovely.

This Pinot Noir is a cuvée selection from the estate's 35 Pinot Noir blocks at the Roserock vineyard. The grapes were hand-picked, sorted, and individually fermented. Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir wines are typically known for their structure and power, however, winemaker Véronique Boss-Drouhin has crafted this Pinot to emphasize elegance and refinement, yet also age-worthy. Let's see how this 2019 Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir from Oregon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE DROUHIN ROSEROCK PINOT NOIR 2019 - Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#529107) (XD) - $42.95
The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers lovely aromas of sweet, ripe red cherry, raspberry, and currant joined by strawberry, subtle wood spice, and touches of smoky minerality laying underneath. It's medium+ bodied and crunchy with an elegant, lightly structured mouthfeel and lovely ripe, red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and currant flavours flecked with savoury, smoky minerals in a harmonious profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins are smooth, refined, and lightly structured. Savoury and minerally with touches of smoke lingering on the finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other fine wines by Domaine Drouhin are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.

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May 12, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Online Exclusives

The first full Online Exclusives Release is on May 12, 2022. All of these wines can be purchased online only on lcbo.com starting on Thursday. There is no theme to this collection of 41 wines, of which a dozen are included among my top wine picks, but there is a strong contingent of New Zealand wines with almost half of my recommendations coming from the South Pacific island nation.

From New Zealand, the only North Island wine is a Syrah from Hawke's Bay. From the South Island in Waipara, there are two wines from the same producer - Pinot Noit and a Chardonnay. There is also an intriguing 2015 Grüner Veltliner from Marlborough, and a Sauvignon Blanc from Lake Wanaka in Central Otago.

Red wines from the rest of the release include Pinot Noir wines from Niagara and Chile, a Malbec from Cahors, a 2015 Montepulciano from Abruzzo, and lastly, a Nebbiolo from Piedmont. White wines include a lovely blend of 72% Semillon and 28% Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara, while the Rhone-white blend from California consists of 44% Viognier, 29% Marsanne, 19% Grenache Blanc, and 8% Roussanne.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU VINCENS ORIGINE MALBEC 2017 - AC Cahors, Southwest, France (#343400) (XD) - $19.95
• MIRAFIORE NEBBIOLO 2019 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#25524) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• FANTINI COLLINE TERAMANE MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2015 - DOCG, Abruzzo, Italy (#26195) (XD) - $27.95
• ELEPHANT HILL SYRAH 2018 - Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#408633) (XD) - $29.95
• BAETTIG VINO DE VIÑEDO LOS PARIENTES PINOT NOIR 2020 - DO Traiguén, Valle del Malleco, Chile (#23083) (XD) - $33.95
• MUDDY WATER PINOT NOIR 2018 - Waipara, South Island, New Zealand (#19622) (XD) - $39.95
• BACHELDER WISMER-PARKE PINOT NOIR 2019 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#520379) (XD) - $44.95

White Wine:

• CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SEMILLON / SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#520627) (XD) - $23.00  91 pts  wine review
• BLANK CANVAS GRÜNER VELTLINER 2015 - Sustainable, Berakah Vineyard, Rapaura, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#22874) (XD) - $31.95
• RIPPON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Lake Wanaka, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (#17588) (XD) - $32.95
• TABLAS CREEK CÔTES DE TABLAS BLANC 2019 - Adelaida District, Paso Robles, California, USA (#36616) (XD) - $36.95
• MUDDY WATER CHARDONNAY 2018 - Waipara, South Island, New Zealand (#19618) (XD) - $39.95

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3Q Umbria Rosso 2018 (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious red wine from Italy that comes in eco-friendly packaging. The world's first paper wine bottle was launched at the LCBO in March and is widely available across Ontario.

The wine is produced by Cantina Goccia. It was founded 15 years ago and borne out of the pure love of Umbria and its unrecognized potential as a superb wine producing area deep in the heart of Italy when they transformed an unloved vineyard into an award-winning producer of outstanding wines. With a focus on tradition, quality, and innovation, Cantina Goccia is proud to be the very first vineyard to use the Frugal Bottle, the world's first paper wine bottle.

Packaged by Frugalpac, the outer shell of this "bottle" is made with 94% recycled cardboard, which is 5 times lighter than a glass bottle, making it easier to carry and transport. I can attest that this bottle is quite light, and helps reduce its carbon footprint, which is already 84% less than glass and 1/3 less than 100% plastic. To keep the wine inside safe, it uses a food-grade liner. To recycle, simply split the bottle, remove the liner, and recycle the paper shell.

Tasting Note:

3Q UMBRIA ROSSO 2018 - IGT Umbria, Italy (#22878) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. This unoaked blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot has a medium-high intensity nose that is spicy and perfumed with red and black fruit, blackberry, currant, cassis, plum, and herbs with chocolate and wet earth tones. It's medium-full bodied on the ripe, dry, and fruity palate with plummy, red and black cherry, currant, herbs, and savoury earth flavours. Fresh acids and supple, grainy textured tannins offer a pleasing mouthfeel, while earthy and chocolate notes with a slight tang linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy for the juice and commendable packaging! Score: 88 pts

Other wines by Cantina Goccia can be ordered through their Agent - DB Wine & Spirits.

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M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2018 (Roussillon) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2017 M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem around this time last year, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this perennially lovely wine from Roussillon that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on April 30th.

It is produced by Maison M. Chapoutier, one of the iconic names in northern Rhône Valley winemaking whose roots go back to the year 1808 in Rue de l'Hermitage in Tain. Marius Chapoutier joined the company in 1897 and had complete control of the winery by the 1920's. Passed down through the generations, M. Chapoutier is led today by the highly acclaimed winemaker Michel Chapoutier who took control of operations in 1990. Michel has a passion for the environment, thirst for knowledge, and drive for innovation, and began applying biodynamic cultivation techniques in the year 2000, the same year Chapoutier expanded into Roussillon.

Domaine de Bila-Haut was Michel's first domain in Roussillon. It is located in Latour de France on a bend in the Agly river. The had an intense, forceful, and sometimes violent past, but also has contoured terraces with stony soils and rich geology. The climate is climate is Mediterranean with long, hot summers, and relatively mild winters, while experiencing more sunshine over the course of a year than any other part of France. This Occultum Lapidem wine was the first expression of this terroir and is a blend of mainly Syrah and Grenache, plus some Carignan, all grown in a vineyard with gneiss and schistous soils from the Devonian Period (approx. 400 million ago) and limestone from Kimmeridgian Period (approx. 150 million years ago). The grapes were hand-harvested, non-pressed, and de-stemmed prior to fermentation. It was aged entirely in concrete tanks.

In 2018, Chapoutier reports that they (finally!) had perfect water balance for an outstanding vintage. Rainfall had been scarce in Roussillon since 2014, but in 2018 the exceptional rainfall arrived at opportune times. September was also noteworthy with average daytime temperatures reaching 30°C, along with cool nights, and no tramontane wind but a light sea breeze. This allowed the grapes to gradually ripen and reach phenolic maturity, resulting in wines with freshness, aromatic complexity, and lower alcohol content, all characters worthy of a great year in Roussillon. In this particular wine, the schist soils provided suppleness, while the Syrah offered sophisticated spiciness, and Grenache grown in limestone soils gave the wine exceptional structure. Let's see how this 2018 wine from Roussillon is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2018 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages
Latour-de-France, France (#643239) (XD) - $26.95
Matured in concrete tanks, this blend of mainly Syrah and Grenache, plus Carignan has a medium-high to highly aromatic nose with lovely, ripe wild berry aromas in the shades of black-red-blue, joined by plum, peppery spice, and dried herb, and underlying meaty and minerally notes. It's medium-full bodied with lovely raspberry, blackberry, pepper, and mineral flavours with hints of violet. It's got fresh acidity and smooth, supple, and lightly structured tannins. Raspberry, wild berry, and meaty flavoured, tapering to a long, minerally, and very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by M. Chapoutier are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Dandurand.

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Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this consistently delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as the Wine of the Month in the April 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Viña Errázuriz was founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errázuriz. a visionary who planted the first French grape varieties in Chile's Aconcagua Valley. By 1873, the winery had over 300 hectares of vineyards and launched their first wine. Rafael Errázuriz, the son of Don Maximiano, took over the property by 1890 and established 700 hectares of vines to become the largest vineyard in the world in the hands of a single owner. Today, Viña Errázuriz continues to thrive with global accolades under Eduardo Chadwick Claro, the fifth generation of the family. Francisco Baettig, Viña Errázuriz's Technical Director, is considered to be one of the top 5 trend-setting winemakers of South America.

Errázuriz has quite a large portfolio of wines, and this red wine is from their "Specialties" range that reflects their exploration of the Aconcagua Valley for the best and purest expression of each variety through wines that show their true sense of origin. The Specialties range is divided into wines which are near the Pacific Ocean, or Aconcagua Costa, and Aconcagua Alto (Mount Aconcagua) which is the highest peak in the western hemisphere.

Like the 2018 Errázuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon I enjoyed in August of last year, the 2019 edition of this Cabernet Sauvignon is also sourced primarily from Errazuriz's Max vineyards which are located in the interior of the Aconcagua Valley at 600 metres elevation. The soils in the vineyard are of colluvial origin and predominantly silty textured, but also quite diverse in its unique nutrition and drainage conditions which help control plant vigour and produce balanced fruit loads with small bunches and berries. The grapes were hand-picked early in the morning to retain freshness and inspected on a double selection table, crushed, and finally deposited into stainless steel tanks for fermentation. After maceration and fermentation, the wine was aged in French oak barrels (35% new) for 14 months.

The growing season in 2019 was dry and warm with the absence of rains ensuring splendid conditions for the grapes. Harvest was earlier, while the vineyards' quality once again demonstrated its excellence given the climatic fluctuations, droughts and high temperatures to deliver grapes of superb concentration while preserving the aromas and acidity in the wines. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERRAZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#203364) (XD) - $21.95
The fresh, medium-high intensity nose delivers well-balanced aromas of evergreen, leafy, and herbs mingling with both red black fruits, cassis, and currant, and touches of sandalwood in a cool-climate profile. It's medium+ bodied with ripe, grainy textured tannins and lovely aroma replays on the palate. Acids are fresh and saliva-inducing. Oak, plus touches of woodsmoke and mineral join the currant, cassis, and evergreen notes on the long, satisfying finish. Enjoyable now, but will be even better in 1-2 years. Recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines from Viña Errázuriz are available not only at the LCBO, but also through their Agent - Dandurand. There is also An Evening with Errázuriz reception & dinner Vintages event being held on May 11.

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Pierre Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this beautiful organic and biodynamic Gigondas from Rhône that arrived at the LCBO last weekend in the April 30th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Pierre Amadieu has been winegrowing in the hills of Gigondas since 1929. At the time, he had a 7 hectare vineyard that had been passed down through the generations. Pierre Amadieu was one of the first producers to print the name of the appellation on its labels and played an instrumental role in developing and promoting Gigondas wines. Near the village in 1945, Pierre Amadieu built a winemaking facility and a subterranean ageing cellar that was dug two levels underground to ensure constant temperature and hygrometry.

In 1950, Pierre Amadieu, who was a pioneer in several domains in Gigondas, purchased two properties that were historically linked - Romane and La Machotte. With this purchase, Pierre Amadieu became the largest estate in Gigondas with 137 hectares of vines that were surrounded by 200 hectares of garrigue and holm oaks, assuring natural protection of the vineyard. In 1955, he purchased an old railway tunnel near Pierrelongue (Drôme) to allow for exceptional ageing of his wines. The property at La Machotte is equipped with oak casks still in use today, as well as takes advantage of natural air conditioning, and also has 13th century ceramic vats which are still visible. Well before environmental awareness grew across the globe, 1,200 sheep were pasturing in the vineyards in the off-season and providing natural manure and controlled ground cover planting to obtain a natural and healthy vineyard.

The next generation took up the reins in the vineyard and cellar when Pierre Amadieu's sons Jean-Pierre and Claude joined the family business in 1965 and 1975. In 1989, Pierre Amadieu Jr. (Jean-Pierre's son) became the head of the company and represented the third generation of the family. Soon thereafter, Pierre was joined by his three cousins Henri-Claude, Jean-Marie, and Marie, and all three play important roles in the company. In 2019, Pierre Amadieu celebrated its 90th vintage and with a commitment to continuously improving their knowledge and infrastructure, they inaugurated their new ageing cellar that was built in natural stone. Their goal is to produce well-balanced, fine wines that reveal the elegance and richness of their protected terroirs located in the heights of the Gigondas appellation.

This particular red wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was grown in the southern Rhone Valley Cru of Gigondas on vines that are deeply rooted on the hillsides of the family estate, where the scent of "garrigue" that grew there for centuries still perfumes the vines that replaced it. The vineyard is located at 300 metres altitude, faces northwest, and has soils composed of alternating Cretaceous limestone and marl. The grapes for this bottling were grown on vines averaging 45 years. After hand-picking the grapes, it was fermented in concrete tanks and aged for 12 months in foudres and barrels.

Tasting Note:

PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE MACHOTTE GIGONDAS 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#17400) (XD) - $27.95
Composed of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, the fragrant nose is intense and spicy with beautiful aromas of garrigue, peppery spice, raspberry, dark cherry, floral, and dried herb flecked with smoky minerals. It's medium-full bodied, structured, and ripe with plummy, black cherry, raspberry, smoky flavours. It has fresh, well-balanced acidity, while the tannins are supple, structured, and a bit tight. Smoky raspberry notes linger on the long, juicy, and crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other excellent wines by Pierre Amadieu can be ordered through their Agent - Trilogy Wine Group.

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