October 7, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Classic European Regions

Here's my top wine picks from the October 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "Classic European Regions. It is a big, and very fine release with 141 wines that also includes a selection of Online & Flagship Exclusive wines. All of these wines should be available by this Saturday.

We begin with the feature on Classic European Regions, which include twenty-three wines from seven classic wine producing countries across Europe. From the theme, there are five wines included among my top picks, with the lone white wine is from Spain and it is a blend of 70% Viura (from 80 year old vines) and 30% Maturana Blanca that was fermented and aged in oak. There are three wines from the classic wine producing country of Italy - an Amarone that is a traditional blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, a Barolo that is made with Nebbiolo, and a Brunello di Montalcino that is made with Sangiovese. From France, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is composed of 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, and 5% Counoise.

Red wine recommendations from the main release begins in France with a 2012 vintage blend from Bordeaux that is crafted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernets, while the red from Gigondas is roughly 70/20/10 Grenache / Syrah / Mourvèdre, and the wine from Madiran in Southwest France is composed of 50% Tannat, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 24% Cabernet Franc. The only other blend is a Rioja from Spain that is composed of 80% Tempranillo, 11% Graciano, and 9% Garnacha. Mono-varietal wines should be self-explanatory, but include wines crafted with Malbec from Paraje Altamira in Argentina, an Aglianico from Campania, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia.

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the release, the only blend is the white wine from Rhone that is a blend of 60% Viognier, 20% Grenache Blanc, and 20% Roussanne. Other fine offerings include a quartet of lovely Chardonnays from Piedmont, California, and Burgundy. If you would like to explore a new grape variety, try the Greek wine that is made with the Kydonitsa varietal. And lastly, if you want something a bit sweet, check out the Riesling from Niagara.

Other wines include a fine vintage sparkling rosé from Champagne that is a blend of 52% Pinot Noir (14% red wine), 27% Chardonnay, and 21% Meunier, while the Vin Santo is composed of 40% Malvasia Bianca, 30% Trebbiano Toscano, and 30% San Colombano.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• IL POGGIO SANNIO AGLIANICO 2018 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#575225) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU TOUR DE SARRAIL 2012 - AC Bordeaux, France (#448829) (XD) - $19.95
• CHAKANA FINCA LOS CEDROS MALBEC 2020 - Vegan, Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#32142) (XD) - $20.95  91 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU BOUSCASSÉ 2017 - AP Madiran, Southwest, France (#743385) (XD) - $23.95  90+ pts  wine review
• WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Clare Valley and Coonawarra, South Australia (#142398) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
• CATENA PARAJE ALTAMIRA MALBEC 2021 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#492413) (XD) - $24.95

• FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LAMBERT PRESTIGE DES DENTELLES GIGONDAS 2020 - AP, Rhône, France (#20952) (XD) - $36.95  FE
• REMELLURI RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#480160) (XD) - $52.95  FE
• DOMAINE DE LA SOLITUDE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2021 - AC, Rhône, France (#560987) (XD) - $54.95
• TENUTA ROCCA COMUNE DI SERRALUNGA D'ALBA BAROLO 2018 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#154591) (XD) - $62.95
• CORTONESI LA MANNELLA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#12405) (XD) - $72.95
• MASI CAMPOLONGO DI TORBE AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#548677) (D) - $148.95

White Wine:

• VIENI RIESLING 2021 - VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#35299) (M) - $17.95
• LES VIGNERONS DU CASTELAS LE MONARQUE CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC 2022 - AP, France (#18570) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• MONEMVASIA KYDONITSA 2021 - PGI Laconia, Greece (#33254) (XD) - $23.95
• NIVARIUS LIMITED EDITION BLANCO 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#15591) (XD) - $27.95
• RENATO RATTI BRIGATA CHARDONNAY 2022 - DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#17387) (XD) - $27.95
• CAMBRIA KATHERINE'S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2021 - Sustainable, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA (#980490) (XD) - $39.95  92 pts  wine review
• CHANZY LE BOIS CASSIEN MONOPOLE MERCUREY 1ER CRU 2019 - AC, Burgundy, France (#32950) (XD) - $41.95  FE
• DOMAINE PINSON FRÈRES MONT-DE-MILIEU CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#700914) (XD) - $74.95  FE  94 pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• MOËT & CHANDON GRAND VINTAGE EXTRA BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE 2015 - AC, France (#69831) (XD) - $117.95

Fortified Wine:

• FONSECA GUIMARAENS VINTAGE PORT 1998 - Douro, Portugal (#33813) (S) (375 mL) - $46.95

Dessert Wine:

• ROSSETTI IL NOSTRO VIN SANTO DEL CHIANTI 2004 - DOC, Tuscany, Italy (#33440) (S) (375 mL) - $26.95

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Neiss Bockenheim Pinot Noir 2019 (Pfalz) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly, and sustainable Pinot Noir (locally known as Spätburgunder) from the Pfalz wine region in Germany. This red wine is brand new to the LCBO, arriving as part of the recent September 23rd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Weingut Neiss, a well-known, family-owned winery located in the town of Kindenheim within the Pfalz wine region in southwestern Germany. The Neiss family has a long history of winemaking, going back many generations, and are known for their dedication to producing top-quality wines from a diverse range of grape varieties.

Today, the winery is managed by Axel Neiss, the 6th generation of the family, and his wife, Katja. The winery is located in the far north of the Palatinate. The hillside vineyards are located in the same region, in Kindenheim, Bockenheim, and Zell, and up to 250 meters above sea level, which is significantly higher than comparable locations in the Northern Palatinate.The grapes in this area naturally benefit from a cooler climate due to westerly winds which ventilate the exposed vineyards and extends the growing season. The grapes are also influenced by the clearly visible lime content in the soil. The vines are a high proportion of old, deeply rooted vines which are nearly 50 years old. This terroir helps produce wines with moderate alcohol levels, great depth of taste, fully developed aromas, and refreshing acidity, as well as naturally dense, compact, and powerful wines that are characterized by fresh elegance and stimulating lightness.

The wine philosophy of Axel Neiss is future-oriented and with an extra portion of handwork, as well as working close to nature. Their focus is on sustainable and environmentally-friendly winemaking practices, which not only ensures the health of the vineyards, but also contributes to the overall quality of their wines. In the mid-1990s, the winery actively switched to controlled, environmentally friendly viticulture. In 2013, they joined the Fair'n Green association, a German system for sustainable viticulture, as a founding member. In 2021, Winegut Neiss became one of the few German wineries to be certified CO2-neutral.

This Pinot Noir is from Neiss winery's Local Range of wines - wines with clear origins. All of their wines in the Local Range come from their best vineyards within the municipality of Bockenheim, a region that showcases the calcareous terroir, fruit, and minerality. The grapes were grown to low-harvest yields in a cool climate on sand, loam, mineral limestone, and clay soils. Selectively hand-picked, the grapes were mash fermented for 6-8 days, then pressed into a combination of barriques and large wooden barrels, where the wine matured for 12 months prior to bottling.

The growing season in Pfalz in 2019 began with vines budding in mid-April and blossoming in early-to-mid June. The dry weather in July and August caused problems for the vines in the Palatinate region, while rainfall was 50 to 60 percent less than normal, resulting in many small-grained grapes, while some were also damaged from sunburn due to the extreme heat in July. Harvest was largely completed by the end of September, prior to the continuous rain that set in. The quality of the harvested grapes is very satisfying, with the first young wines presenting themselves in a fruity and rather light manner, with clearly pronounced varietal aromas, ripe tannins, and good colour expression due to the smaller berries. While this vintage was not the easiest, it is considered to be an exceptional vintage. Let's see how this 2019 Pinot Noir from Pfalz is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

NEISS BOCKENHEIM PINOT NOIR 2019 - Vegan, sustainable, Pfalz, Germany (#25769) (XD) - $30.95
The intense nose is fragrant and highly aromatic with lovely, complex wet earth, minerality, raspberry, black cherry, cinnamon, beetroot, and spice aromas. Even some tea leaf notes with time in the glass. It is medium+ bodied and dry with delicious black cherry, raspberry, and cola flavours surrounding a savoury, wet earth core, and accented with cinnamon and spices. Acids are fresh and juicy, while fine-grained tannins are lightly grippy. Some tomato leaf notes add further complexity on the mid-palate. Earthy and minerally on the long, savoury, and crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Weingut Neiss can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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Hãhã Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, sustainably-crafted Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that landed at the LCBO last month as part of the September 9 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Hãhã Wine, a winery based in the Hawke's Bay wine region, on the North Island of New Zealand. It was founded by three families who came together to share their passion for wine. This partnership is at the foundation of a sharing and caring culture that is carried out in all aspects of the winemaking process, from vineyard to bottle. With a background in farming and fishing export, the company has a deep respect for the land. To go along with a strong commitment to an environmentally responsible approach, all of Hãhã Wine vineyards, wineries, and bottling facilities are certified 100% sustainable by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

The name of this wine producer comes from the Māori language of Te Reo, where Hãhã means to catch your breath. The breath of conversation which brings us together also leads to discussions and reflections, and the memories and stories binding the past to the present and the present to future ventures. The breath weaves worlds together and is the inspiration behind the Hãhã logo.

As a family-owned winery, they are focused and quality-driven, while also built on a generosity of spirit towards each other and the land. Internationally acclaimed, Hãhã's range of premium quality wines are a true expression of both the long, warm summers of Marlborough and the temperate climate of Hawke’s Bay, while also sharing a place, a time, and a belonging. With an uncompromising commitment to quality, Hãhã wines are now one of New Zealand's fastest growing wine brands and are available across the world.

Crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the grapes for this white wine were harvested early in the morning from vineyards situated in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. The grapes were lightly pressed, while the juice was cool-fermented with selected yeasts to preserve the aromatic characters of the fruit.

The 2022 growing season in New Zealand was the warmest ever recorded. Along with favourable rain post-flowering, the warm temperatures helped deliver a fantastic fruit crop. Harvest was early and compact, which allowed the talented winemaker at Hãhã to produce fabulous, well-balanced, and flavourful wines that rival the last two vintages. Let's see how this 2022 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HÃHÃ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#388363) (XD) - $18.95
Sustainably crafted and enclosed by screw cap, this has a clean, fragrant, fresh, and well-balanced nose of ripe tropical fruit, guava, passion fruit, kiwi, lime citrus, grassy, and herbal aromas. On the dry, mid-weighted palate it offers deliciously ripe lime citrus, passion fruit, guava, grassy, and herbal flavour replays joined by some mineral notes. It's all supported by fresh and lively acidity. It is composed, elegant, and nicely balanced throughout with lime citrus, guava, and mineral notes lingering on the long, succulent, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other delicious wines by Hãhã Wine can be purchased at the LCBO, or through their Agent - Perigon Beverage Group.

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Domaine Hamelin Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru 2021 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a beautiful Chablis Premier Cru from Burgundy that arrived at the LCBO as an Online & Flagship Exclusive in the recent September 9 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Domaine Hamelin, a small, family-owned winery with a long winemaking history in the village of Lignorelles, in Burgundy, just minutes from the town of Chablis. The history of the domaine begins when Gustave Hamelin planted 2 hectares of vines in 1840, alongside his mixed farm. In 1880, Pierre Hamelin grew the domaine to 3 hectares of vines and used his mules to help work them. At this time, the wines were held in 132 litre barrels and gave rise to the name "feuillette" or little cask, and were transported by river using barges or rafts.

In 1911, Georges Hamelin extended the property to 4 hectares and worked the vines by horse, while transporting the wines in feuillettes by railway. In 1936, Pierre Hamelin took over the domaine from his father and further developed the vineyard and winery by using some of the industry's latest technological advancements and continuing well into the next decade. In 1970, Marc Hamelin created his own vineyard, while also adding an area he inherited from his father.

Today, Domaine Hamelin is run by the sixth and seventh generations of the family - Thierry and his son, Charles. They run the estate together while perpetuating the wine traditions of Chablis and knowledge that has been handed down from one generation to the next. They harvest their grapes from nearly 37 hectares of vines which extend over the villages of Poinchy, Beines, and Lignorelle. The focus at Domaine Hamelin is mainly on Chablis wines, using a mix of old traditions and modern-day techniques to craft wines that express their terroir. The wines are crafted by the Hamelin family in a well-controlled environment with thermo-regulated processes, including bottling at the estate at the optimal moment.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, from vines that were planted between 1980 and 1982 on very strong, south-facing slopes (30 - 45% / 16.5 - 24 degrees), opposite the Lac de Beines, and extends from the bottom of the valley to the top of the slopes. The soils on this slope consist of Kimmeridgian sub-soils that give the wine its intensity and the typicity of the character of a fine Chablis Premier Cru. The 3.9 hectare vineyard is managed under the strict conditions of Chablis tradition, with the grapes virtually guaranteed to reach maturity every year. The grapes are mostly harvested mechanically, and after being selected, sorted, and fermented, the wine is aged for 12 to 18 months in stainless steel vats prior to bottling.

The 2021 growing season in Chablis was a difficult one with frost, mildew, oidium, and botrytis, resulting in reduced volumes. However, with great attention to the vineyard and technical expertise in the winery, this vintage did produce wines with a classic profile full of vibrant acidity and a particularly strong terroir influence that highlights minerality. Having enjoyed the excellent 2019 Domaine Hamelin Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru last year, let's see how this 2021 Chablis 1er Cru is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

DOMAINE HAMELIN BEAUROY CHABLIS 1ER CRU 2021 - AC, Burgundy, France (#391805) (XD) - $45.95
100% Chardonnay raised in stainless steel, this has a lovely, open, fragrant, and highly aromatic on the nose with earthy/stony minerals flecked with lemon citrus, apple, pear, and herbal aromas, plus touches of pleasant bitter notes adding further savoury characters. It is quite the mouthful on the medium-full bodied, well-structured palate with very impressive concentration. It's dry with stony mineral flavours layered over lemon citrus, apple, pear, and green herbal notes which are supported by crisp, juicy acidity. It has a nice texture on the gently spicy mid-palate, while oyster-shell notes join the stony mineral, apple, pear, and lemon replays on the exceptionally long, balanced finish. Enjoy to the end of the decade, maybe a bit longer. Highly recommended buy! Score: 94 pts

Other fine wines by Domaine Hamelin can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia and Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Henkell Brut Crémant de Loire 2016 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a delicious vintage Crémant from Loire that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on September 9th.

It is produced by Henkell, a leading, family-owned sparkling wine producer that is based in Wiesbaden, Germany. Henkell is an international star and best seller when it comes to exporting the German sparkling wine culture as their wines are found globally in more than 100 countries.

It all began when wine lover, Adam Henkell, opened a store as a wine merchant in 1832. He later discovered the fine art of crafting traditional method sparkling wine in France and brought this knowledge back home to Germany, marrying the French art of the cuvée with the German art of cellar-mastery. Following the French example, Henkell made his first outstanding sparkling wines in 1856, marking the beginning of a unique German success story. The Henkell brand of sparkling wines was famous all over the world before the end of the 19th century thanks to Otto Henkell, Adam's grandson. Henkell was also an export pioneer and market leader before the turn of the century, and in the 1950's, after Otto Henkell II took the helm, the company played an important role in the German economic miracle. Since its inception, Henkell has used the best base wines and the perfect technical skills of both German and French cellarmasters to guarantee its inimitable flavour and consistently high quality.

This sparkling wine was launched by Henkell in the fast-growing product segment of Crémant de Loire as a tribute to its French roots. Founder Adam Henkell learned the fine art of sparkling wine production in France and also had his own winery in the French town of Reims, the home of Champagne.

It is not often we see vintage-dated Crémant, but the grapes for this bubbly were hand-harvested at the end of the 2016 growing season, and only the best juices were selected for this wine. It is crafted in the traditional method using 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The first fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. It was aged on its lees for a short period of time, then underwent a second fermentation in bottle for about 3 years in natural cellars, where the temperature remains a constant 12-13°C and provides the optimal environment for secondary fermentation. Let's see how this 2016 Crémant de Loire sparkling wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HENKELL BRUT CRÉMANT DE LOIRE 2016 - Traditional method, AP, Loire, France (#29893) (D) - $21.95
A blend of 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The attractive, medium+ intensity nose has lemon citrus, pear, and peach aromas nuanced with brioche, autolytic, and toasty characters. It's medium-full bodied with some sweetness on the palate with honeyed flavours of ripe pear, peach, lemon citrus, plus some toasty, brioche, and hazelnut notes adding a savoury component. It has a crisp mouthfeel with a fine mousse and fresh acidity. More savoury with leesy mineral notes and hints citrus lingering on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious sparkling wines by Henkell are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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September 23, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: High-Scoring Wines

Here's my top wine picks from the September 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "High-Scoring Wines". It's a good sized release with 114 wines, and as we move closer to the gift-giving season, the prices also move up, with the average price per bottle settling in at just above $28/btl in this release. All of the wines should be available at the LCBO beginning this Saturday.

We begin with the feature on "High-Scoring Wines", which has nineteen wines listed, of which four are included among my top wine picks. There are a pair of red wines, including a perennially lovely Pinot Noir from Niagara, as well as a Chianti Classico that is mainly (~90%) Sangiovese. The other two wines are surprisingly both from Portugal - a white wine that is a blend of Viosinho, Arinto, Rabigato, and Gouveiro, and a Port wine that is a field blend of unspecified varieties.

At the top of the stack among my red wine picks is an Amarone that is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Molinara, while other blends include a wine from Jumilla that is composed of 55% Monastrell, 30% Garnacha, and 15% Syrah. The only other blend is the Cab Franc from Argentina, which is actually crafted with 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec. The single varietal wines are all pretty straightforward with a pair Pinot Noirs - one from Germany and one from New Zealand, as well as a pair of Garnacha (aka Grenache) wines from Spain. There is also a fine Malbec from Argentina, and a Nero d'Avola from Sicily.

Moving on to my white wine recommendations from the main release, there are a couple of blends. First up is a wine from Limoux that is mainly Chardonnay, but also includes a splash of Mauzac, while the regionally blended Greek wine is composed of 70% Xinomavro and 30% Malagousia. Some of the excellent single varietal wines include a pair of Chardonnays - one from South Africa and one from Napa Valley, as well as a 100% Malagousia from Drama in Greece, and a Torrontés from Argentina. If you enjoy something on the sweeter side, try the always reliable Riesling from Niagara.

Among my top sparkling wine picks, which are all from Champagne, the Monmarthe Champagne is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Meunier, and 20% Chardonnay, while the 2009 Vintage Champagne is composed of 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay. Lastly, the Brut Rosé Champagne is an unspecified blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• EL PETIT BONHOMME 2020 - Vegan, DOP Jumilla, Spain (#16578) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• NAVASCUÉS ENOLOGÍA CUTIO GARNACHA 2019 - DO Cariñena, Spain (#30586) (XD) - $16.95
• DESQUICIADO CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#32146) (XD) - $17.95
• FEUDO MACCARI NOTO NERÉ NERO D'AVOLA 2020 - DOP, Sicily, Italy (#339101) (XD) - $19.95
• GARNACHA DE LA MADRE 2018 - Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain (#18927) (XD) - $19.95
• CASTELLO DI QUERCETO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#680496) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
• ALTA YARÍ GRAN MALBEC 2020 - Gualtallary, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#32147) (XD) - $24.95
• JULES TAYLOR PINOT NOIR 2020 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#329805) (XD) - $27.95
• NEISS BOCKENHEIM PINOT NOIR 2019 - Vegan, sustainable, Pfalz, Germany (#25769) (XD) - $30.95  91 pts  wine review
• HIDDEN BENCH PINOT NOIR 2021 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#274753) (XD) - $37.95  92 pts  wine review
• MASI COSTASERA RISERVA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#324137) (D) - $79.95

White Wine:

• CABRAL RESERVA 2020 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#35446) (XD) - $14.95
• THYMIOPOULOS ATMA WHITE XINOMAVRO/MALAGOUSIA 2021 - Greece (#33249) (XD) - $17.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A TORRONTÉS 2022 - Sustainable, Argentina (#389262) (XD) - $17.95
• AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Sustainable, Southern Valleys, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#663286) (XD) - $21.95
• WINE ART ESTATE PLANO MALAGOUSIA 2022 - PGI Drama, Greece (#33256) (XD) - $23.95
• ALTUGNAC TERRES AMOUREUSES 2021 - AP Limoux, Languedoc, France (#16413) (XD) - $26.95  91 pts  wine review
• HENRY OF PELHAM SPECK FAMILY RESERVE RIESLING 2022 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#643361) (M) - $32.95
• HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2022 - WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (#931006) (XD) - $64.95
• GRGICH HILLS ESTATE GROWN CHARDONNAY 2019 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#346304) (XD) - $78.95

Sparkling Wine:

• MONMARTHE SECRET DE FAMILLE 1ER CRU BRUT CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#624775) (D) - $52.95  91+ pts  wine review
• DUVAL-LEROY PRESTIGE PREMIER CRU BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE - AC, France (#483107) (XD) - $93.95
• LANSON LE VINTAGE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2009 - AC, France (#29949) (XD) - $102.95

Fortified Wine:

• POÇAS COLHEITA PORT 2010 - Vegan, aged in cask, DOC, Portugal (#21813) (S) - $38.95

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Château de Tréviac Corbières 2020 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, unoaked blend of Syrah and Grenache from the Languedoc wine region in southern France that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on September 9th.

It is produced by Arnaud Sié at Château Tréviac, a family-owned estate that was established in the early 20th century by Arnaud's grandfather, Fernand, and is located in the heart of the Corbières Massif, halfway between the cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne, in the Occitan region in the South of France.

The story of Château Tréviac begins when Fernand settled in the village of Talairan after World War I, as he was convinced that the wild and untapped terroir of the region was full of great potential. He built a house on an old priory and cleared the hillsides in order to build the vineyard that exists to this day. The next generation, Lucette and her husband Roger, owned a labour-horse and, against all odds, managed to remain independent and out of the co-operative system. The journey continued with their daughter, Ginette, and her husband, André Sié. Each generation of this family of winemakers brought great passion as they built the walls and cellars of the Château, stone by stone. Today, with the same passion and dedication as his ancestors, Arnaud Sié manages Château Tréviac and crafts his wines. The name Tréviac came to be over time and refers to the three old roads: the Trois Voies junction (or TRI-VIA) where traces of former construction and burial sites remain today.

The rugged and stony terroir in Corbières is not only shaped by the hot Mediterranean sun, but also by the terroir of garrigue and scrub that affords its wines such bold characters. Château Treviac extends over 36 hectares of vines, which are primarily planted with Syrah and Grenache, on the rolling hillsides of the Corbières Massif, in one of the wildest parts of France with its picturesque countryside and rich biodiversity. The soils in the area are rich in limestone and clay, with calcareous rocks on the surface, while the micro-climate offers good sun exposure and a high-altitude, which allows the vines to enjoy hot temperatures during the day, and cooler temperatures at night. With a commitment to the preservation of biodiversity and terroir, Arnaud Sié made the decision in 2019 to begin the conversion process towards organic farming.

I've enjoyed previous vintages of this terrific unoaked red, including most recently the 2019 Château de Tréviac Corbières last October. It continues to be a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was hand-harvested. The grapes were crushed and pressed immediately upon arriving at the cellar and macerated for 4 to 5 weeks with regular punch downs to extract the aromas while respecting the integrity of the berries. In order to preserve freshness, the wine is raised in thermo-regulated concrete vats.

The 2020 growing season in Languedoc delivered excellent quality, albeit with slightly lower yields. It began with generous autumn rains, followed by a very mild December and a warm February, which helped get the vines off to an early start. The warm conditions continued into April and May, although rain arrived in unusually copious amounts in May, which led to downy mildew. However, the damage was limited. Cool and stormy weather arrived at the beginning of June, but thereafter, summer was hot and dry, without any heatwaves. Harvest arrived earlier than normal and growers were generally happy with the average-to-good crop size of juicy grapes, resulting in wines that are elegant, fresh, and aromatic. Let's see how this 2020 Corbières from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2020 - AP, Languedoc, France (#670505) (XD) - $17.95
This blend of 60/40 Syrah and Grenache was aged in concrete vats and has a medium-high intensity nose that offers a complex and attractive mix of ripe dark berry, blackberry, plum, garrigue, black raspberry, stony mineral, pepper spice, and meaty aromas. It's medium+ to medium-full bodied on the dry, ripe palate with lovely dark berry, blackberry, garrigue, stony mineral, and spice flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and fine-grained, grippy tannins. The dark berry notes taper to smoky minerals on the very long, crisp, and savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Arnaud Sié can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia / Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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