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  • Date publishedThursday, February 29, 2024

March 2, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Italian Women in Wine

LCBO Wine Picks: March 2, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Here's my top wine picks from the March 2, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "Women in Wine - Italian Tastemakers". There are 89 wines included in this release, which also includes a selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives. In keeping with what seems to be the trend of the year, the number of wines in each release does seem to be smaller than in the past. Having said that, it is a very good release with many lovely wines to add to your collection. All the wines in this release should be available for purchase by this Saturday.

The feature of this release focuses on twenty-one Italian women in wine. There are thirteen wines as part of the theme, and four are included among my top wine picks. At the top of the list is the pioneering Donatella Cinelli Colombini and her Brunello di Montalcino that is crafted with 100% Sangiovese. There is also an organic Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany by Barbara Widmer, who uses a terroir-driven approach and is the daughter of the founders of Brancaia. Chiara Lungarotti and Teresa Severini are the daughters of Giorgio Lungarotti, and they bring us a lovely white blend that is composed of 50% Vermentino, 30% Grechetto, and 20% Trebbiano. And lastly, the white wine from Sicily is predominantly Lucido (a synonym for Catarratto), by Gabriella Anca Rallo, who founded Donnafugata with her husband.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino 2018 (93+ pts)Brancaia N°2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (92 pts)

Lungarotti Torre di Giano Bianco di Torgiano Vermentino / Grechetto / Trebbiano 2022 (90 pts)

The blends among my red wine recommendations include a red wine from the spectacular 2020 Niagara vintage that is composed of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah, while the red wine from Spain is crafted with 70% Monastrell, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Portuguese red is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Barroca, while the Roussillon red is made of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan. There is also the excellent 66% Shiraz and 34% Mataro blend from Barossa. The other red wines are all single-varietal wines, including the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico that is made with 100% Sangiovese Grosso.

Seppeltsfield EC405 Barossa Shiraz/Mataro 2020 (93 pts)

Kacaba Cabernet/Syrah 2020 (90 pts)El Goru Gold Monastrell / Syrah / Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (89 pts)

Among my white wine picks from the rest of the release, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of roughly equal parts Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Clairette, and Picpoul, while the wine from Croatia is composed of 70% Pošip, 20% Chardonnay, and 10% Vugava. White wines from Bordeaux are usually blends, including the Lagarde Blanc that is 60/40 Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, but the Savas Cuvée Eva is actually made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The Riesling from Australia is crafted in a dry style, while the delectably sweet fortified wine from Greece is made with White Muscat.

Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc 2022 (89 pts)Samos Vin Doux White Muscat (90+ pts)

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release. Cin cin!

Red Wine:

  • EL GORU GOLD MONASTRELL / SYRAH / CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Vegan, DOP Jumilla, Spain (#13621) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES GRENACHE / CARIGNAN / SYRAH 2020 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, France (#119354) (XD) - $19.95
  • ZUCCARDI Q MALBEC 2022 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#723478) (XD) - $20.95
  • CRASTO 2020 - Vegan, DOC Douro, Portugal (#81588) (XD) - $21.95
  • CASAS DEL BOSQUE GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2022 - Sustainable, Valle del Cachapoal, Chile (#36166) (XD) - $22.95  89 pts  wine review
  • KACABA CABERNET / SYRAH 2020 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#26424) (XD) - $24.95  90 pts  wine review
  • BRANCAIA N°2 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - DOC Maremma Toscana, Italy (#28451) (XD) - $33.95  92 pts  wine review
  • SEPPELTSFIELD EC405 BAROSSA SHIRAZ/MATARO 2020 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#33561) (XD) - $33.95  93 pts  wine review
  • BABICH WINEMAKERS' RESERVE SYRAH 2017 - Single vineyard, estate grown and bottled, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#32412) (XD) - $36.95  FE  92+ pts  wine review
  • BIBBIANO VIGNA DEL CAPANNINO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#32287) (XD) - $49.95
  • DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#113357) (XD) - $73.95  93+ pts  wine review
Babich Winemakers' Reserve Syrah 2017 (92+ pts)Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Carmenère 2022 (89 pts)

White Wine:

  • WAPISA PATAGONIA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina (#36181) (XD) - $17.95
  • LUNGAROTTI TORRE DI GIANO BIANCO DI TORGIANO VERMENTINO / GRECHETTO / TREBBIANO 2022 - DOC, Umbria, Italy (#268110) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
  • DONNAFUGATA ANTHÌLIA BIANCO 2022 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia, Italy (#195115) (XD) - $18.95
  • LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BLANC 2022 - Vegan, AC Bordeaux, France (#387787) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • DOMÄNE WACHAU TERRASSEN FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER 2022 - Sustainable, Qualitätswein, Austria (#31534) (XD) - $19.95
  • STINA CUVÉE WHITE 2022 - PDO Central and South Dalmatia, Croatia (#32035) (XD) - $19.95
  • SAVAS CUVÉE EVA 2020 - AC, Bordeaux, France (#35368) (XD) - $21.95
  • MITCHELL WATERVALE RIESLING 2022 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#487785) (XD) - $21.95
  • DE BORTOLI ESTATE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2019 - Dixons Creek, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#33565) (XD) - $23.95  90 pts  wine review
  • PAPAGIANNAKOS ASSYRTIKO 2022 - Vegan, PGI Attica, Greece (#33260) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • PHI CHARDONNAY 2021 - Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia (#33567) (XD) - $33.95  FE  91+ pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE CHANTE CIGALE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 2022 - AP, Rhône, France (#102962) (XD) - $48.95  FE
PHI Chardonnay 2021 (91+ pts)Papagiannakos Assyrtiko 2022 (90+ pts)

De Bortoli Estate Vineyard Chardonnay (90 pts)

Fortified:

  • SAMOS VIN DOUX WHITE MUSCAT - PDO Samos, Greece (#44578) (S) - $15.95  90+ pts  wine review


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  • Date publishedMonday, February 26, 2024

Castelgreve Riserva Chianti Classico 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

red wine review is a lovely Riserva Chianti Classico from Tuscany that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Castelli del Grevepesa, a modern co-operative winery that was established in the Chianti Classico wine region of Tuscany in 1965 by visionary Sir Armando Nunzi and an initial group of 17 winegrowers. Situated in Greve in Chianti, the co-operative model allowed small growers to pool their resources to collectively make wines. Castelli del Grevepesa was one of Italy's first co-operative wineries.

Today, Castelli del Grevepesa is Chianti Classico's largest family with over 120 associate growers. Together, they promote the land, while also safeguarding and maintaining the age-old tradition of Tuscan winegrowing. As many of these growers are small, family-owned farms that have been handed down along ancestral lines for generations, the long-established knowledge and traditions are still transferred from one generation to the next. As a co-operative, they also share knowledge and use modern and innovative production methods and techniques to craft their wines. With passion and love for their land, Castelli del Grevepesa's mission is to produce wines of high quality at affordable prices.

This red wine is from Castelli del Grevepesa's historical line of wines named Castelgreve, a collection of wines that have been produced since the 1970s and whose name is derived from the company's full name. The Castelgreve collection of wines reflects the winery's dedication to crafting high-quality wines which represent the essence of the Chianti Classico region. Like the 2018 Castelgreve Riserva Chianti Classico that I enjoyed about a year and a half ago, this red wine is crafted mainly with Sangiovese (min. 80% as per the regulations), plus other permitted varieties. After hand-harvesting the grapes with individual grape selection, it was fermented at a controlled temperature. It was matured for a minimum of 24 months in oak barrels, followed by further refinement for 3 months in bottle.

While 2018 was a challenging vintage, 2019 was a comparatively easy ride as it was much drier with no humidity, as well as without the drought and heat spikes of 2017. Quantity and quality is high across the region, with an excellent vintage that will enhance the characteristic features of the Sangiovese grape and the many facets of such a widely varied area in rich soil diversity and microclimates. Let's see how this 2019 Riserva Chianti Classico from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Castelgreve Riserva Chianti Classico 2019 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

CASTELGREVE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#344416) (XD) - $23.95
Crafted mainly with Sangiovese, the medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers enticing red and black cherry, spices, cedar wood, wet earth, and baking spice aromas. It's medium+ bodied and dry with elegant red and black cherry, and savoury wet earth flavours accented with oak spice, cedar, and forest floor notes. It has fresh, juicy acidity and while the grainy textured tannins have some tannic grip. There's a touch of graphite minerality on the mid-palate which lingers through to the savoury, smoky, long, and juicy finish. Best enjoyed over the next 4-5 years and a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Castelli del Grevepesa are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, February 24, 2024

Bertani Catullo Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2019 (Veneto) - Wine Review

red wine review is an excellent Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore from Veneto that arrived at the LCBO as the Wine of the Month in last weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the excellent 2020 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena that I loved last month, this red wine is produced by Cantine Bertani. Situated in the heart of Veneto, Cantine Bertani has a long and storied history that began in the mid-19th century. It was established in Valpantena in 1857 by Gaetano and his brother Giovan Battista Bertani, after Gaetano returned from Burgundy, where he learned from his friend and well-known winemaker Jules Guyot about the most modern techniques in viticulture and winemaking.

Today, one of Cantine Bertani's most essential values is to remain coherent with their authentic identity. With more than 150 years of winemaking history, Bertani is recognizable for its identity and wines with a clear and unmistakable stylistic profile. The path for Bertani has always focused on wines of a territory, even when method is guiding them. While the path of territory can be difficult at times, it does build relationships and has led to countless numbers of happy customers. The values of Respect, Coherence, and Patience are the foundation of the company and remain solid and strong today. To continue to perpetuate their style, Bertani uses innovation as respect for tradition - meaning that they respect what has been done and, at the same time, re-evaluate it every day in order to assure quality worthy of their potential and reputation.

The grapes for this red wine come from Tenuta Novare, within the Valpolicella Classica zone. Valpolicella is embraced by the warm air from Lake Garda to the west and the cool breezes from Monti Lessini from the north and east. The geological structure of Valpolicella's soil has been influenced by both the Adige River to the south and Alpine glaciers to the north. Moreover, the valley landscapes fan out from Monti Lessini and slope down into the Veronese plains. As such, the soils have great diversity - basalt soils, marine gravel, limestone and clay mixtures, red and white limestone - which benefits a great variety of wines.

From Bertani's Tradition range of wines - which only consists of an Amarone della Valpolicella Classico and this wine - this Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore is crafted using 70% Corvina Veronese, 20% Corvinone, and 10% Rondinella, with all the fruit grown at their Tenuta Novare Estate in Arbizzano di Negrar. The vineyards are planted on marl-limestone soil with clay deposits and trained using the Double Guyot system, with the vines averaging 20 years old. It is crafted using the ripasso method of double fermentation. In the ripasso method, the first fermentation turns the must into basic Valpolicella, while the second fermentation was triggered in March by adding slightly sweet skins left over from Amarone Classico production. It was aged for 12 months in 75 hectolitre French oak barrels, followed by a year in 100 hectolitre concrete vats. The wine was matured further by spending at least 6 months in bottle prior to release.

The 2019 growing season began with a cool and rainy spring, along with the coolest temperatures that April and May have seen in the last 30 years. It was followed by a hot and dry March. Summer was very hot, with heat waves reaching 38°C at the end of June and into July. While drought conditions marked June, hailstorms took place in July and August, with temperatures returning to normal in early August and throughout September. From a very good to excellent vintage, let's see how this 2019 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore is tasting tonight...

Bertani Catullo Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2019 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

BERTANI CATULLO VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2019 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#17777) (XD) - $26.95
Blend of 70% Corvina Veronese, 20% Corvinone, and 10% Rondinella. The elegant and refined nose of medium-high intensity has attractive red berry, cherry, strawberry aromas followed by sweet and savoury spice, and sandalwood notes. On the medium+ bodied palate it is well-structured and dry with red and dark red cherry, strawberry, earthy spices, and white pepper flavours. Although quite pale in colour for this style of wine, it has very good structure with some grip to the gently chalky tannins. Very good acidity. Lovely cherry, strawberry, and earthy notes are joined by mineral touches on the long, crisp finish. Still feels quite young. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5-6 years. Score: 91 pts

Fine wines by Bertani can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.


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  • Date publishedWednesday, February 21, 2024

Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate Laborum Finca El Retiro Torrontés 2022 (Argentina) - Wine Review

white wine review is a lovely Torrontés from the high-altitude Cafayate Valley that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature on wines from Argentina in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate, a winery that was born as part of a generation of wineries at the end of the 20th century, during the transformation of the Argentine wine industry. During this time, the Salta wine industry was also re-converted, including the expansion of Cafayete wines. El Porvenir was founded by the Romero Marcuzzi family in 2000 and since 2013 has been led by Lucía Romero Marcuzzi, a vintner, entrepreneur, mother, and third-generation vineyard owner who was born and raised in Salta. Under Lucía's direction, this female-led, family-run project is rewriting the legend of Cafayate.

El Porvenir - which means "future" - embodies the paradigm of Cafayate wine - the fusion between innovation and great respect for the identity and unmistakable character of the terroir. The philosophy at El Porvenir is based on deep respect and love for terroir, with their wines a reflection of their terroir. With both the heart and mind firmly in the Cafayate Valley, El Porvenir wants to share their place with the world.

Cafayate is known for its stunning red rock formations. It is a small, isolated, and elevated valley that was home to the pre-Hispanic Diaguita-Calchaquí indigenous people and is located 180 km south of the city of Salta. With its unique characteristics and care of El Porvenir, Cafayete is able to produce high-quality and healthy grapes from this special, high-altitude valley to create iconic vintages, modern classics, and cutting-edge, innovative wines. The extreme desert climate, combined with poor soils, warm days and cool nights, very little rainfall, and plentiful sunlight means that it is easy for El Porvenir to practice integrated, sustainable, and organic viticulture. With vineyards situated between 1,750 and 2,500 metres above sea level, the broad thermal amplitude allows the grapes to become highly concentrated while retaining fresh acidity.

This 100% Torrontés was crafted using fruit grown at Finca El Retiro, El Porvenir's most established vineyard. It is situated in the heart of Cafayate, Salta, at the high-altitude of 1,650 metres above sea level, in the far north of Argentina. The vineyard at Finca El Retiro was planted in 1945 on soil that is deep and sandy, with the presence of minerals such as mica crystals. The Torrontés planted in this vineyard were trained using the pergola system, a vine-training system that is ideal for cultivating Torrontés. To craft this wine, it underwent a fairly long fermentation with selected yeast in stainless steel tanks, followed by several months of ageing on its lees.

The 2022 growing season in Salta didn't have any major climatic events, but did produce a late vintage. It was a cooler growing season, with yields at the usual quantities. From a very good vintage, let's see how this 2022 Torrontés from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate Laborum Finca El Retiro Torrontés 2022 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

BODEGA EL PORVENIR DE CAFAYATE LABORUM FINCA EL RETIRO TORRONTÉS 2022 - Single vineyard, Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (#489179) (XD) - $18.95
Screw cap. Fresh, medium-high intensity nose of floral, lemon citrus, grapefruit, and herbal aromas with a touch of thyme. On the dry, mid-weighted palate it has a very nicely textured mouthfeel with lovely floral, lemon citrus, thyme, grapefruit, lychee, apple, and herbal flavours supported by fresh, lemony, and zesty acidity. Leesy mineral notes arrive on the mid-palate and is joined by lemon citrus notes on the juicy and exceptionally long finish. Should continue to drink well over the next 3-4 years and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.


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  • Date publishedMonday, February 19, 2024

Puente Austral Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Chile) - Wine Review

red wine review is a delicious, sustainably crafted Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the feature on wines from Chile in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Maturana Winery, a family-owned winery that was established in Colchagua, central Chile, in 2010 by José Ignacio Maturana, together with his brother Sebastian and his family. Their passion for making excellent wines developed after the great earthquake that affected Chile. Since that time, Maturana has developed unique wines, which also represent a way of life and how to sustainably keep intact the conditions from which our grapes come from.

One of the ways Maturana differentiates themselves is due to innovation. They aim to capture the identity of each variety and specific place, and deliver the best expression in each wine. To achieve this goal, they use different and innovative materials such as concrete in different shapes and sizes, clay amphoras, or French oak, which allows Maturana to capture and develop the best ageing capabilities for each variety. While the Chilean wine industry has developed in much the same way for decades, in a classic and traditional way, and there is nothing wrong with that, Maturana wants to do things that are different in every way possible, embracing differentiation as an opportunity.

With sustainability a core value of Maturana, the family supports the management of the vineyards in a natural and responsible manner that also benefits the growers and their families. For example, Maturana pays their growers more than 7 times the market average for the price per kilo of grapes. They believe in the concept of horizontal growth, whereby the grower of heritage vineyards, the grape processor, and the international marketing of wines all grow together. Maturana also has a strong commitment to making known the old vineyards that exist in central Chile, with some of these vineyards dating back to the year 1900 and featuring native strains of grape varieties.

At Maturana, they believe that producing the best quality wines is their responsibility, and it goes hand-in-hand with their concept of creating something unique. The Puente Austral brand of wines is Maturana's second label, with the Reserva Privada range created as a result of their innovative spirit and openness to taking risks. The origin of Reserva Privada wines lies in their constant search for new vineyard sites, new varieties, and unique blends, while restricted in production. The Puente Austral Reserva Privada wines are approachable, medium-bodied wines that stand out for their fruitiness, freshness, and intensity.

From a very good to excellent vintage, let's see how this 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Puente Austral Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (89 pts)

Tasting Note:

PUENTE AUSTRAL RESERVA PRIVADA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Sustainable, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#21960) (XD) - $16.95
100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in third-use French barrels for 6 months. The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose has attractive, ripe, red fruited currant, cassis, cran-cherry, and red plum aromas accented with touches of vanilla and oak spice. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it offers deliciously harmonious, ripe, and fruit-forward flavours of red currant, cran-cherry, cassis, and red plum, plus touches of earthy oak adding savoury tones. It has fresh, juicy acidity and smooth, creamy, and fine-grained tannins. It has a supple grip with savoury, earthy oak, and touches of mineral notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Maturana Winery can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.


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  • Date publishedThursday, February 15, 2024

Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc 2020 (Chile) - Wine Review

red wine review is a lovely, sustainable and vegan-friendly Cabernet Franc from Chile. It is brand new to the LCBO and arrived on shelves earlier this month as part of the feature on wines from Chile in the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on .

It is produced by Calcu Vineyards, a winery project that was established in 2003 by the Hurtado family. With over a century's worth of experience making quality wines in the Colchagua Valley, the Hurtado family found a unique place in Marchigüe, within the Colchagua Valley in central Chile, that is marked by hills of granite stone. The hills are the inspiration for the name Calcu Vineyards - "CAL: Hill" and "CUrá: Stone" - and means Hills of Stone.

The granite hills with clay seams, combined with the proximity of the vineyard to the sea at just 26 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean, as well as the altitude of the vineyard with different orientations of the slopes allows for a perfect blend that reflects the personality of the vineyard. By combining all of these features, it enables each Calcu wine to showcase the brand's characteristic freshness, structure, verve, and depth.

The core values at Calcu Vineyards are excellence, perseverance, and honesty. While sustainability is also one of the four essential values of the Hurtado family, whereby caring for the environment, workers, and the local community is key, Calcu Vineyards was created with the ambition of redefining the Colchagua Valley with world-class, handcrafted wines. With the assistance of winemaking advisor, Xavier Choné, the Hurtado family designed each of the 166 micro-terroirs using a high-precision manual process that followed the orientation of the slopes and natural clay seams that are present on the site. This resulted in a vineyard architecture of small blocks, with many less than 1 hectare in size, with varying slopes and irregular shapes. The nature of these blocks allows each variety to find the ideal place within the vineyard, where it can express its maximum potential. One of the most important aspects of the site is the gentle granitic slopes on the coastal hills. The soil on these slopes contains important seams of clay, which are preserved and maintained as they contribute structure, texture, and depth to the resulting wines.

To craft this red wine, the grapes were manually harvested and double sorted from vineyards situated at their Marchigüe Estate vineyard, 25 km from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard is planted on the gentle hills of the coastal hills, where the soft sea breeze moderates the temperatures and allows the grapes to develop excellent concentration and fresh, aromatic fruit. The soil in this vineyard is mainly granitic with a significant clay content, characters that positively influence concentration and persistent aromas. The tiny blocks selected for this Cabernet Franc (which also includes splashes of Petit Verdot and Carménère) are planted in the highest sectors of soil with a high presence of quartz, which provides a fantastic combination of fresh fruit, structure, and elegance. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks at temperatures between 20ºC and 24ºC, and underwent 18 days of maceration time with its skins. After completing malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, it was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

The 2020 growing season at Calcu was marked by a warm and dry climate. This challenged the team at Calcu because they needed to be more alert than ever in identifying the opportune time for harvest in order to maintain the elegance and natural balance that characterizes the wines from this terroir. The resulting wines from the high quality 2020 vintage have high concentration, excellent colour intensity and complexity, and very good ageing capability. Let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Franc from Chile is tasting tonight...

Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc 2020 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

CALCU TINY BLOCKS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2020 - Sustainable, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#35677) (XD) - $14.95
This blend of 95% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Carménère has a lovely, lifted, medium-high intensity nose of wet earth, mineral, dark fruited (blackberry, black cherry), minty herb, and sweet tobacco aromas. On the dry, ripe, medium+ bodied palate it has lovely, elegant, and balanced aroma replays of dark fruit, mineral, savoury wet earth, blackberry, black cherry, and tobacco flavours with some spicy and herbal notes. It is well-structured with very good acidity and grippy, structured, and mouth puckering tannins. Minerally with dark fruit and tobacco notes linger on the long, crisp, and juicy finish. Enjoyable now, but will reward with 2-3 years in the cellar. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

While only a limited number of the excellent 2018 Calcu Winemaker's Selection Blend is available on clearance at the LCBO, all wines in the Calcu Vineyards portfolio can be ordered through Agent - Don Ackerman's Wines & Spirits.


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  • Date publishedWednesday, February 14, 2024

February 17, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: France

LCBO Wine Picks: February 17, 2024 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Here's my top wine picks from the February 17, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It's another small-ish release with 85 wines offered, although a number of these are VINTAGES Essentials products. The feature of the release focuses on the wines from France, and all the wines should be available for purchase by this Saturday.

We begin with the feature that looks at the wines from France. There are nineteen wines as part of the theme, but six of these are VINTAGES Essentials products that are always available. Overall, it is a weak theme with several important categories missing, such as wines from Loire, Rhône whites, and reds from Languedoc. Of the nineteen wines in the theme, only three are included among my top wine recommendations. There are two whites - a Gewurztraminer from Alsace and an Aligoté from Burgundy, while the lone red wine is from Bordeaux, and it is crafted with 50/50 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Closerie des Alisiers Bourgogne Aligoté 2022

Leading the way in the main release among my top red wine picks is Italy with five recommended wines, most of which are from Tuscany. At the top of the list is the Brunello di Montalcino, which is crafted with 100% Sangiovese Grosso, followed by the Rosso di Montalcino that is made with 100% Sangiovese. The Chianti Classico Annata is also 100% Sangiovese, while the Riserva Chianti Classico is a blend with a minimum of 80% Sangiovese. The last wine from Italy is the Wine of the Month - a Valpolicella that is composed of 70% Corvina Veronese, 20% Corvinone, and 10% Rondinella. Red wine blends from other parts of the world include the Niagara Syrah which is actually a co-fermented blend of 99.4% Syrah and 0.6% Viognier, while the Gualtallary red from Argentina is composed of 50% Cabernet Franc, 45% Malbec, and 5% Casavecchia. There is also an Australian GSM that is made with 67% Grenache, 27% Shiraz, and 6% Mataro, as well as the red from South Africa that is crafted with 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Syrah. And last, but not least, the Rhône red is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah.

Carpineto Brunello di Montalcino 2018 (92+ pts)Corte Pavone Rosso di Montalcino 2021 (91 pts)

Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico 2019 (90+ pts)Castelgreve Riserva Chianti Classico 2019 (90 pts)

Bertani Catullo Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2019 (91 pts)Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2020 (91 pts)

LAVAU Rasteau 2020

Among my white wine recommendations from the main release, all are mono-varietal wines. From Italy, there is a Fiano from Campania, and the Lugana from Veneto is crafted with the Turbiana varietal. The other white wines are a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, and an unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara. If you enjoy decadently sweet wines, the Sherry made with Pedro Ximénez will be right up your alley.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Salud!

Red Wine:

  • KIR YIANNI CUVÉE VILLAGES XINOMAVRO 2020 - Vegan, PDO Naoussa, Greece (#14151) (XD) - $17.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • SHANAHANS THE BARKING DOG GSM 2021 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#20880) (XD) - $18.95
  • HENRY LAGARDE OLD VINES ORGANIC MALBEC 2022 - Vegan, Mendoza, Argentina (#36182) (XD) - $20.95
  • DOÑA PAULA 1350 ALTITUDE SERIES RED 2020 - Gualtallary, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#17382) (XD) - $22.95
  • CHÂTEAU FONTAINE DE L'AUBIER 2016 - AC Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#35619) (XD) - $22.95
  • CASTELGREVE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#344416) (XD) - $23.95  90 pts  wine review

  • LAVAU RASTEAU 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#394650) (XD) - $23.95
  • GREAT HEART RED BLEND 2020 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#33288) (XD) - $23.95
  • IL MOLINO DI GRACE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#85209) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • CREEKSIDE ICONOCLAST SYRAH 2020 - Queen's Road Vineyard, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#471797) (XD) - $25.00  91 pts  wine review
  • BERTANI CATULLO VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2019 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#17777) (XD) - $26.95  91 pts  wine review
  • CORTE PAVONE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#550699) (XD) - $28.95  91 pts  wine review
  • CARPINETO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#14857) (XD) - $66.95  92+ pts  wine review
Kir Yianni Cuvée Villages Xinomavro 2020 (90+ pts)

White Wine:

  • CANTINA SAN PAOLO FIANO 2022 - IGP, Campania, Italy (#36304) (XD) - $15.95
  • TOMMASI LE FORNACI LUGANA 2022 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#23866) (XD) - $19.95
  • JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER 2022 - Sustainable, AC Alsace, France (#224626) (M) - $19.95
  • ROCKWAY VINEYARDS UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2022 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#483891) (XD) - $20.00
  • CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE ALIGOTÉ 2022 - AP, Burgundy, France (#557728) (XD) - $22.95
  • GREAT HEART CHENIN BLANC 2021 - WO Swartland, South Africa (#24764) (XD) - $23.95

Fortified Wine:

  • GONZÁLEZ BYASS NECTAR PEDRO XIMÉNEZ DULCE SHERRY - Vegan, DO, Spain (#87577) (S) - $26.95


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