August 19, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Summer Smart Buys

Here's my top wine picks from the August 19, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, which is the annual Summer Smart Buys release. It's a big release with 147 wines featured and 27 included among my top wine picks. All of the wines from the release should be available for purchase by this Saturday.

We'll begin with the theme titled "Summer Smart Buys" and it features nineteen wines that are almost all below $25, and five are included among my top wine picks. The sparkling wine from Burgundy is composed of primarily Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with Aligoté completing the blend. Among the white table wines, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, while the red wines include a wine made with the País varietal from Chile, as well as a lovely Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley.

If this release was to have a mini-theme, it would feature the wines of Spain as there are many quality wines from this country in this release. In red wines, the Crianza is made with 100% Tempranillo, while the 2015 Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo and Mazuelo, and, lastly, the 2008 Gran Reserva is crafted with approximately 95% Tempranillo and the rest other native varieties. Other red wine blends include the wine from the Dão region in Portugal that consists of 40% Alfrocheiro, 40% Aragonez (Tempranillo), and 20% Touriga Nacional, while the both of the McLaren Vale and Vinsobres wines are crafted with Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The last blend is the Symmetry from Sonoma that is composed of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 12% Malbec,
4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Some of the single varietal wines include a Pinot Noir from Chile, an Aglianico from Basilicata, and a trio of Cabernet Sauvignon wines - two from California and one from Chile.

Among my white wine picks, we start in Greece with an oak aged blend of 85% Assyrtiko, 10% Athiri, and 5% Aidani from Santorini, while the wine from Attica is crafted with 100% Savatiano. The white wine from Abruzzo is a blend of 50% Pecorino, 30% Passerina, and 20% Trebbiano, while the Rhône white is composed of 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Viognier, 15% Marsanne, and 15% Roussanne. and the Rjoja white is a barrel fermented blend of Viura, Garnacha Blanca, and Malvasía. For wines with some sweetness, look to the off-dry Riesling from Niagara, or the medium sweet Vouvray from Loire which is crafted with 100% Chenin Blanc.

From my pink wine recommendations, both are dry rosé wines, with the rosé from Niagara crafted primarily with Pinot Noir, while the rosé from Provence is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA TINTO 2020 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#247973) (D) - $14.95  88+ pts  wine review
• D'ARENBERG THE STUMP JUMP GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#173294) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• BOUCHON PAÍS VIEJO 2022 - Dry farmed, old vines, ungrafted, Secano Interior, Valle del Maule, Chile (#25297) (XD) - $18.95
• CELLIER DES DAUPHINS VINSOBRES 2019 - Cru des Côtes du Rhône, AC, France (#15448) (XD) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• ALTANZA CRIANZA 2018 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#114835) (XD) - $19.95
• OLARRA CLÁSICO GRAN RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#30225) (XD) - $19.95
• PATERNOSTER SYNTHESI 2018 - DOC Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy (#51672) (XD) - $22.95

• SAN PEDRO 1865 TAYÚ PINOT NOIR 2020 - Buchahueico, DO Valle del Malleco, Chile (#16628) (XD) - $23.95
• LA LUNA E I FALÒ BARBERA D'ASTI SUPERIORE 2020 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#627901) (D) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• RANCH 32 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Monterey County, California, USA (#480269) (XD) - $25.95  90 pts  wine review
• UNDURRAGA TERROIR HUNTER CAUQUENES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Valle del Maule, Chile (#24768) (XD) - $26.95  92 pts  wine review
• PUELLES GRAN RESERVA 2008 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#30222) (XD) - $26.95
• RODNEY STRONG ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Sustainable, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#350454) (XD) - $34.95
• DAVIS BYNUM RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2018 - Sustainable, Sonoma County, California, USA (#458893) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• RODNEY STRONG SYMMETRY 2017 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#641142) (XD) - $74.95  93 pts  wine review
  

White Wine:

• TORRE ZAMBRA INCASTRO BIANCO 2022 - Vegan, sustainable, IGT Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy (#28121) (XD) - $17.95
• FAMILLE PERRIN RÉSERVE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2022 - AC, France (#499509) (XD) - $17.95
• PAPAGIANNAKOS OLD VINES SAVATIANO 2022 - Vegan, PGI Markopoulo, Attica, Greece (#33259) (XD) - $18.95
• MUGA BARREL FERMENTED WHITE 2021 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#958736) (XD) - $19.95
• OTU MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#17549) (XD) - $19.95
• DONATIEN BAHUAUD LES GRANDS MORTIERS VOUVRAY 2021 - AP, Loire, France (#140889) (M) - $21.95
• NEDERBURG THE ANCHORMAN CHENIN BLANC 2021 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#667212) (XD) - $22.95
• CHARLES BAKER B-SIDE RIESLING 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#523845) (D) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• SANTO WINES 1911 SANTORINI NYKTERI 2021 - Vegan, PDO Santorini, Greece (#33226) (XD) - $40.95  92 pts  wine review

Rosé Wine:

• BELLES D'EGUILLES ROSÉ 2022 - AP Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, France (#32421) (XD) - $17.95
• MALIVOIRE VIVANT ROSÉ 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#498535) (XD) - $19.95

Sparkling Wine:

• LABOURÉ-GONTARD BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Traditional method, AP, Burgundy, France (#401018) (D) - $21.95

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Cabriz Colheita Selecionada Rosé 2022 and Tinto 2020 (Portugal) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of very popular, wallet-friendly, and delicious wines from the Dão wine region of Portugal. You can grab both of these wines this weekend as the Tinto (red wine) will be on shelves this weekend as it will arrive in the August 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, while the rosé arrived at the LCBO last month in the July 22nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Cabriz is a well-known, entry-level brand of wines from Dão, the oldest winemaking region of Portugal. The brand is part of Dão Sul, which itself is the Dão branch of the Global Wines conglomerate, one of Portugal's leading wine producers. As a visionary company, they have done an excellent job of restoring the estate's 17th century manor and outlying buildings, as well as making a concerted effort to elevate wine tourism and fine dining within the region to the highest of international standards.

These two wines are among Cabriz's most popular, and when you look at the entire portfolio, it is like travelling to the heart of Portugal, through the plains, the mountains, the rivers, the food, and the people. The goal of the brand is to give more to those who choose Cabriz. They want to have a wine for everyone and for every moment, and made with the best that nature can provide, at the best possible price.

To craft Cabriz wines, the company draws fruit from 200 hectares of vines across the Dão. The winegrowing and production techniques used are ultra-modern and internationally-influenced. However, the wines do reflect Dão's terroir and style. After enjoying both the Cabriz Colheita Selecionada Rosé 2020 and Cabriz Colheita Selecionada Tinto 2019 last summer, let's see how the latest vintage of these two wines are tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CABRIZ ROSÉ 2022 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#30445) (D) - $14.95
This unoaked blend of Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro has a medium+ intensity nose that offers enticing aromas of grapefruit, raspberry, honeysuckle, and citrus with a whiff of minerality. It has good weight on the medium+ to medium-full bodied palate with ripe citrus, grapefruit, raspberry, honeysuckle, apple, and red berry flavours. There is a vague impression of sweetness, but it's tempered by the fresh, crisp, and lively acidity. Nicely textured on the mid-palate, while oyster shell mineral and white cherry notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Delicious! Chill and enjoy this recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

CABRIZ COLHEITA SELECIONADA TINTO 2020 - DOC Dão, Portugal (#247973) (D) - $14.95
Aged for 6 months in French oak barrels, this blend of 40% Alfrocheiro, 40% Aragonez (Tempranillo), and 20% Touriga Nacional has an intriguing, medium+ intensity nose of herbal and wood spices that surrounds a core of ripe, plummy, dark cherry-berry fruit. It's medium bodied with fine, bright acidity and dark cherry-berry, blackberry, wood spice, and dark plum flavours. Supple, well-structured tannins offer a nice mouthfeel, while cedary wood spice notes with hints of smoky mineral linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Cabriz can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Kacaba Cabernet Franc 2019 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely local offering from Niagara that arrived at the LCBO in last weekend's August 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is available for purchase online at LCBO.com and Flagship Exclusive stores.

It is produced by Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, a premium, small-batch winery located on prime, winegrowing land on the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland, Ontario. It's history began when the previous owner, Michael Kacaba, a Bay St. lawyer in Toronto of Ukrainian descent and from a Saskatchewan background, purchased the property in 1997. Although the land was slated for a subdivision, Michael had other ideas and began the work to establish a vineyard and winery. In 1999, Kacaba had his first vintage and consistent success followed thereafter.

Much of Kacaba's success can be attributed to its location on the Escarpment - the slope leading to the lake bed of the prehistoric lake that covered southern Ontario. This unique geographical area sets up a circulating air flow whereby cold air naturally moves down the Escarpment and over Lake Ontario where it warms, rises, and returns to heat the Escarpment. This process helps extend the frost-free season through spring and fall, thereby extending the growing season, which allows grapes such as Syrah and the Bordeaux varieties to develop phenolic maturity.

Kacaba wines are produced using only the finest grapes grown on their estate or partnered grape growers from surrounding vineyards, and their philosophy is based on small quantities. The production is limited based on their ability to handle and manage quantities that can be produced mainly by hand, with pumping kept to a minimum and using gravity for racking and bottling. By focusing on smaller batch sizes, Kacaba is able to produce wines of merit that are rich in aromas, and deep in colour and character with velvety finishes. While encouraging sustainable agriculture, their main goal is to produce ultra-premium wines. However, they also produce moderately priced wines that are necessary for the economic well-being of the company, while striving to produce more fruit-driven wines with more finesse and character.

This red wine is from Kacaba's "Escarpment" range of wines and crafted with 100% Cabernet Franc that was grown in their vineyards situated on the Escarpment Bench, where the soil helps produce quality wines even during an average growing season such as 2019. On the Escarpment Bench, the landscape's elevation and dense clay/loam soils naturally stress the vines which concentrate the flavours in the fruit, and when coupled with strategic crop thinning, this concentration produces balanced tannins with ripe fruit flavours.

The grapes to craft this red wine were carefully harvested and gently de-stemmed. It was fermented over 14 days using select yeast strains, with twice-daily manual pump-overs and punch-downs. Upon completion of primary fermentation, the wine was pressed from the skins and racked into a combination of 29 slightly older French and American oak barrels, where it finished malolactic fermentation. The wine remained in barrels for 12 months for further maturation, and was filtered and bottled. Let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Franc from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KACABA CABERNET FRANC 2019 - VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#272146) (XD) - $33.15
Lovely, medium-high intensity nose offers ripe red & black fruits, grilled herbs, black cherry, currant, and leather aromas with hints of tobacco. It's medium+ bodied, dry, and well-structured with delicious ripe currant, black cherry, grilled herbs, leather, and tobacco flavour replays, plus touches of pepper and spice. It's all supported by fresh acidity and supple, gently chalky textured, and well-structured tannins. Currant, black cherry, and savoury oak notes with a hint of dark plum lingers on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Kacaba Vineyards are available at the LCBO, with a wider variety available direct from winery in Niagara.

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Zonte's Footstep Splitting Hares Tempranillo / Grenache 2021 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious and unique blend of Tempranillo and Grenache from... Australia! This vegan-friendly red wine is a new arrival at the LCBO that landed on shelves across Ontario as part of the recent July 22nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Zonte's Footstep, a proudly independent wine producer that was established in Australia in 2003. They produce their wines using grapes from their own vineyards, as well as from their mates' vineyards, from regions that produce the desired expressive and varietal characteristics of the grapes, which are grounded by the soil that they are planted in. While they don't take themselves seriously, they are serious about their vineyards and wine. Their goal is simple - produce wines from regions such as McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Adelaide Hills, and the Barossa, that reflect a sense of place, style and purpose. Their aim is to bottle wines with personality and expression, hence each wine at Zonte's Footstep has its own name and face.

When Zonte's Footstep made their first wine in 2003, they needed a name for the company and looked back into the history of the region for some inspiration. In 1893, there was a vineyard planted with Zante currant to produce table grapes for the growing population of Adelaide. In the 1920s, the vineyard was replanted with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, grapes which were eventually used to make their first wine. As a tribute to the journey of the grapes in the vineyard - and because one isn't legally allowed to mention a grape variety unless it's contained in the wine - it was decided to change the "A" to an "O" to form ZONTE'S. The other half of the company name came about when a group of friends gathered together in 1999 and purchased a vineyard to plant Viognier, Sangiovese, and other exciting varieties to experiment with. During the replanting of the vineyard, they discovered large boulders with footprints of the largest known marsupial to have ever lived: the Diprotodon. This unique, fossilized FOOTSTEP cemented the company's name and journey that they started just before the turn of the century and are continuing on as Zonte's Footstep today.

This red wine is a blend of Tempranillo and Grenache that was grown in the Fleurieu wine zone, south of Adelaide in South Australia. These two very different varieties were brought together by making small winemaking decisions that deliver a big impact and achieving perfect balance in the wine. To craft this wine, it came down to splitting hairs - hence the name of this wine - as they tweaked the proportions of the blend in tiny one percent increments until perfect balance was achieved. The final blend consists of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache and is the exact point at which the juicy, fragrant Grenache tames the savoury chewiness of the Tempranillo.

The grapes underwent alcoholic fermentation in 5 tonne open fermenters, then completed a natural malolactic fermentation in tank. The wine was then pressed off its skins and transferred into well-seasoned hogshead barrels and aged for up to 12 months, and then bottled with minimal filtration. Let's see how this unique 2021 Tempranillo / Grenache blend from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP SPLITTING HARES TEMPRANILLO / GRENACHE 2021 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#30847) (XD) - $21.95
Screw cap. This blend of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache has intriguing, fragrant, and medium-high intensity aromatics offering black-purple-blue fruited aromas, plus floral and spice layered over wet earth notes. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has a delicious savoury, dark fruited, and spicy core of flavours accented with blackberry, nut, cocoa, and clove spice notes. It has fresh, juicy acidity, while the firm, grainy tannins are slightly grippy. It's nicely balanced with savoury, spicy, and tangy dark fruit flavours lingering on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Many other delicious wines by Zonte's Footstep are widely available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Cru Wine Merchants.

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Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay 2020 (Napa Valley) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2018 Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah earlier this year, tonight's white wine review is an excellent Chardonnay from the same producer that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on July 22nd, with plenty of bottles still available for purchase across Ontario.

It is produced by the historic and well-regarded Stags' Leap Winery, which is located in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, California. The wine estate was established in 1893 by Horace Blanchard Chase and his wife, Mary, when they planted their first vineyards on the unique terroir of the Stags Leap District which is known for its volcanic soils, warm days, and cool nights, characteristics that provide the ideal microclimate for growing premium wine grapes. As one of California's oldest wine estates, the name Stags Leap is attributed to the native Wappo legend of a stag leaping to escape hunters, and the mountains behind the property on the eastern side came to be known as the Stags Leap Palisades.

The estate went through a series of ownership changes in the early part of the 20th century and gained significant recognition during the 1970s because its wine won first place in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting. Today, Stags' Leap Winery is renowned for producing high quality wines throughout their portfolio. Their goal is to convey the essence of their world-class terroir from grape to glass, and to create handcrafted wines that tell an authentic story of the land on which they are grown.

Crafted with 100% Chardonnay, the grapes for this white wine were sourced from the cooler southern appellations within Napa Valley, where the fog from San Pablo Bay helps cool the vineyards throughout the growing season and preserves the ideal freshness and acidity in the grapes. The majority of the fruit is from the Carneros AVA, which provides citrus, mineral, and crisp apple notes, while a smaller percentage is from the Oak Knoll AVA, which provides more tropical and stone fruit characters. Both of these vineyards produce Chardonnay that is ideal for Stags' Leap's style of winemaking - to craft wines with fresh fruit flavours, and bright acidity with vibrancy.

To craft this Napa Valley Chardonnay, Stags' Leap Winery gently whole-cluster pressed the grapes in order to preserve the naturally fresh aromatics. Twenty-five percent of the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, while the remainder was fermented and aged in French oak barrels, with 25% in new oak and 50% in seasoned French oak. By using this specific method of barrel treatment, this helps preserve the essential purity of the fruit, while adding subtle notes of oak complexity. As is the style of Stags' Leap, the wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation, which further helps maintain the fruit's natural acidity, terroir expression, and aromatic freshness. The yeast lees were put in suspension during 7 months of maturation with weekly batonnage, then the three batches of wines were blended and bottled.

The 2020 growing season will be remembered for factors beyond the typical harvest season. Winter was warm and dry, with rain and cooler weather not arriving until the end of March. The mild spring offered a great, early start, while summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days. Stags' Leap Winery was very fortunate in that none of their vineyards were in the areas of active fires and they were able to harvest their grapes as planned. White wine grapes showed excellent development in the cellar, reflecting the fine vintage. The resulting wines of 2020 are of very high quality with concentrated flavours and excellent acidity, especially for varieties like Chardonnay. Let's see how this 2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

STAGS' LEAP WINERY CHARDONNAY 2020 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#655381) (XD) - $44.95
The medium-high to highly aromatic nose is rich with impressive depth, featuring lovely aromas of lemon citrus, stone fruit, green apple, pear, and white peach with touches of vanillin oak spice, butter, and a hint of mineral. It has a concentrated, medium-full bodied, dry and spicy palate with delicious, ripe lemon citrus, green apple, pear, white peach, and gentle oak spice flavours, plus hints of vanilla, butter, and flinty mineral. It's nicely textured with fresh and vibrant acidity, while flinty mineral and oak spice notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

While the Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of the Petite Sirah are available at the LCBO, the whole range can be ordered through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a lovely, consistently well-made Australian Cabernet Sauvignon that arrived at the LCBO last month in the July 22nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Wakefield Wines, a well-respected winery situated in the Clare Valley wine region of South Australia. The family winemaking business was established in 1969 by Bill Taylor Sr. He was inspired by the producers of Bordeaux and had a vision to craft estate wines that rival the best in the world. In Australia and New Zealand, they trade under their family name, Taylors Wines, but here in Canada and abroad, the wines are marketed under the Wakefield Wines brand.

When the Taylor family established their wine business, they wanted to create proper "old world" style estate wines, which are by definition when both the vineyards and winery are in the same location. This approach allowed the Taylor family to have ultimate control over the vineyards, winery, and even the bottling of the wines. The first wines they crafted were this Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and an Estate Shiraz. These days, each wine is still crafted and bottled at the estate, but all of the fruit is not grown on the property. This is mainly due to the popularity of the wines - they need more fruit to meet demand, but also because fruit from other regions can be of higher quality.

Today, Wakefield Wines is led by the grandsons of Bill Taylor Sr. - brothers Mitchell, Justin, and Clinton, who represent the third generation of the family. The commitment from each generation of the family to the way the wines are crafted has earned the Taylors an enviable reputation and contributed to their continued success. Their love for winemaking, keen eye for detail, and commitment to excellence have made Wakefield Wines a renowned producer of top Australian wines.

The Taylor family is also committed to ensuring that they function in a responsible and sustainable manner on both land and sea. While their strong connection to the land is evident, their connection to the sea is equally strong, starting with their unique seahorse emblem that adorns each bottle of wine. Nationally and globally, the Taylor family has partnered with two organisations that are working to protect seahorses. On land, they favour innovative techniques to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and packaging, as well as prevent or eliminate the production of waste or pollution. Their goal as a company is to apply best practice principles in environmental management which promote biodiversity to enhance sustainable business activities and products.

I've had the pleasure of tasting quite a few vintages of this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, going back to at least the 2016 vintage. This wine is traditionally crafted with fruit exclusively from the Clare Valley. However, fruit from Limestone Coast played a minority role in the final blend of the 2019 Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. For this vintage, the wine is still 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, but Limestone Coast fruit plays a major role with 67% Limestone Coast and 33% Clare Valley fruit.

The Limestone Coast zone is approximately 400 km south of the Clare Valley and includes, among others, the winegrowing regions of Coonawarra (one of the finest regions for Cabernet Sauvignon) and Padthaway. In 2020, the Limestone Coast zone produced small quantities of high quality fruit due to a cool spring that resulted in small berries with great fruit concentration and lovely tannins. Warm days and cool nights also provided the perfect ripening conditions. Let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Limestone Coast / Clare Valley, South Australia (#744235) (XD) - $19.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was matured for up to 12 months in used French oak barrels, with half in 2 year old barrels and the remainder in 3 year old barrels, prior to final blending and bottling. Elegantly fragrant, medium-high intensity aromatics offer attractive minty cassis, black currant, tomato leaf, and herbs with a savoury, earthy core, plus some oak spice and cocoa notes. It's medium-full bodied with fresh, lively acidity that lifts the minty, cassis, black currant, tomato leaf, and herbal flavours that become savoury with earthy and cocoa notes on the gently tangy mid-palate. Smooth, refined tannins are well-structured. Clean and well-balanced throughout with very good acid structure. Earthy, cedary oak, and cocoa with touches of mineral, plus some tangy notes on the long, well-structured finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5+ years. Score: 89 pts

Many other lovely wines from the Wakefield Wines portfolio are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Planeta Frappato 2021 (Sicily) - Wine Review

After enjoying the beautiful 2018 Planeta Frappato Vittoria a couple of years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific (and now organically certified) red wine that arrived at the LCBO last weekend in the July 22 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Planeta, a well-established and respected wine producer based on the island of Sicily, Italy. The Planeta family have been involved in the agricultural evolution on the complex lands of Sicily for over 500 years and 17 generations. Their approach has always been inclined towards openness and innovation, and in the early 1900's, Grandfather Vito led the way towards new solutions and new prospects by transforming the small, family winery in Menfi, in western Sicily, into a large co-operative in a short period of time.

Fast-forward to the mid-1980's, the Planeta family planted their first vines around a 16th century farmhouse, Ulmo, which the family has always owned. They wanted to provide this beautiful place full of memories with a new future and built their first winery at the site in 1995, on the banks of Lake Arancio and its nearby woods. The success of the winery at Ulmo led to further expansion on the island, with the idea of producing each wine in its own territory.

In addition to the winery in Menfi, Planeta also has wineries in Etna, Capo Milazzo, Noto, and where this wine is from - Vittoria. The Dorilli estate was established in Vittoria by renovating the big country house which stood at the centre of the family's landholding in the late-1990's, with the first vines planted in 1997. Vittoria is a place redolent of history and the long agricultural traditions of the Planeta family - even their ancestors couldn't agree on whether Vittoria or Menfi would be better suited to cultivate vines.

Planeta is still family-owned and operated today, with primarily two generations of the family, which includes brothers and sisters, children, nieces and nephews, who work together with a vision of unity, a love for the land, and a desire to protect it by using sustainable and environmentally-friendly viticultural approaches to winemaking. Planeta is also dedicated to producing high-quality wines that showcase the unique terroir of Sicily's diverse wine regions.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Frappato, a rare, exclusive, and sought after variety that is grown in only a few hectares around Vittoria, on the island of Sicily. It is cultivated according to sustainable and organic standards and reaches its ultimate expression in the red sands of Vittoria, not far from the sea, where this wine is from. The soils in Vittoria are primarily sandy textured and consist of mainly loose red sands with a structure of small dimensions, moderately deep. An important layer of tufa (limestone) sits at about 90 cm deep, allowing for water capacity and balance for the plants. This Frappato was grown in the Mogli vineyard, which is located 70 metres above sea level.

The grapes were hand picked and transported to the winery in small trolleys. Once the grapes arrived at the winery, they were de-stemmed and pressed, then fermented in stainless steel tanks. After alcoholic fermentation is completed, the wine remains in contact with the skins for 10-13 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wine remains in stainless steel tanks for further maturation, prior to bottling. From a smaller, but formidable vintage, let's see how this 2021 Frappato from Sicily is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

PLANETA FRAPPATO 2021 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia Vittoria, Italy (#508655) (XD) - $24.95
Organic, 100% Frappato raised entirely in stainless steel tanks. The fragrant, medium-high intensity nose is elegantly aromatic with red berry, raspberry, herbs, red licorice, cherry, and smoky-stony mineral aromas with touches of floral and earth. On the dry, light-to-mid weighted palate it offers juicy and ripe raspberry, herbal, cherry, earthy mineral flavours that are backed by fresh, well-balanced acidity and light, dusty textured tannins. It has very nice interplays between the berry fruit, savoury mineral, and herbal characters, with the mineral notes lingering through to the long-lasting, gently chalky textured finish. Even better than last time and a highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Quite a few wines by Planeta are available at the LCBO, albeit in limited quantities, while the whol range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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