Clemente VII Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Gran Selezione Chianti Classico from Tuscany that arrived at the LCBO yesterday in the March 16 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the 2019 Castelgreve Riserva Chianti Classico I enjoyed last month, this red wine is produced by Castelli del Grevepesa, a modern co-operative winery that has a history which is deeply intertwined with the rich winemaking heritage of the Chianti Classico wine region of Tuscany, Italy.

Castelli del Grevepesa was established in 1965 by visionary Sir Armando Nunzi and an initial group of seventeen winegrowers as one of Italy's first co-operative wineries. Together, they recognized the potential of pooling their resources and generations of know-how to produce wine collectively. By coming together, the group of small-scale growers were able to safeguard and maintain the age-old tradition of Tuscany winegrowing. In the co-operative model, individual vineyard growers maintain their own autonomy in the vineyard, while benefiting from shared facilities, including equipment, and sharing knowledge.

Over the years, Castelli del Grevepesa experienced steady growth to become Chianti Classico's largest family today, with over 120 associate growers. Situated in the heart of Chianti Classico, they use modern and innovative winemaking techniques and technologies to improve the quality and achieve greater efficiency when producing their wines. Castelli del Grevepesa is dedicated to crafting high-quality wines that represent the essence of the Chianti Classico wine region, while also upholding the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship to preserve the land for future generations. With a great 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 Grevepesa's Clemente VII range, which celebrates a member of the famous Florentine Medici family - Giulio de' Medici - who became Pope Clemente VII in the year 1523. Giulio lived in Campoli, within the Chianti Classico region where Castelli del Grevepesa produces their wines today.

Gran Selezione is a relatively new type of Chianti Classico. It was introduced in 2014 and is at the top of the qualitative pyramid of the Chianti Classico denomination. Crafted with 100% Sangiovese, this red wine was grown in Grevepesa's vineyards in Campoli, within the municipality of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, in the Chianti Classico appellation of Tuscany. The vines where this Sangiovese was grown are planted on hills rising up from the alluvial plateau with geological formations of Sillano and Alberese stones. Trained using the Guyot, spurred cordon vine training system, the vines now average 20 to 30 years old. The grapes were harvested from the end of September to the beginning of October by hand, only selecting the best grapes. To vinify this wine, the grapes were gently crushed, fermented in stainless steel tanks with maceration on the skins for 15 days at a thermostatically controlled temperature of a maximum of 28°C. It underwent malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks, followed by ageing in Slavonian oak cask for 24 months, and at least another 6 months in bottle for further refining.

While it is difficult to generalize the growing season in Chianti Classico, 2019 was comparatively easier than the two prior years as it was much drier with no humidity, but avoided drought and heat spikes. The productive vintage resulted in both high quantity and quality, as well as a later harvest into October that is very good for the late-ripening Sangiovese grape varietal. Overall, 2019 is an excellent vintage that will enhance the characteristic features of the Sangiovese grape and the many facets of such a widely varied area in soil diversity and microclimates. Let's see how this 2019 Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CLEMENTE VII GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#573493) (XD) - $35.95
100% Sangiovese. Elegantly refined, open, and pretty aromatics of pure red cherry, sweet spices, cinnamon, and rose floral notes with a hint of orange layered savoury forest floor aromas. On the chewy, medium-full bodied palate it delivers spicy, savoury earth, dark red cherry, forest herbs, and chocolate flavours. It has very good, juicy, well-balanced, and lightly tangy acidity, while the tannins are smooth and refined, with good structure. Savoury, earthy, and chocolate notes linger on the long, classy finish. Should drink nicely over the next 6-8 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Castelli del Grevepesa are available not only at the LCBO, but also through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Bichot Saint-Romain Pinot Noir 2018 (Burgundy) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from Burgundy that was a new arrival at the LCBO in December. It was included as part of the theme of "Fine Wines for Festive Entertaining" in the December 2nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and would be a fine match for upcoming family feasts, with the added bonus that it's on clearance right now, with plenty of bottles still available for purchase.

It is produced by the prestigious and historic Maison Albert Bichot. The first traces of the family name date back to 1214, while in 1350 they settled in Burgundy, France. The Bichot family's coat of arms - a doe (biche) - was established in the 14th century and has not changed since. In 1831, Bernard Bichot founded a wine trading business in his name in Monthélie, while his son, Hippolyte, succeeded him and bought the first vines in Volnay. Hippolyte's son, Albert Bichot, the first to bear the name, gave the family business new momentum in the late 19th century and settled in the centre of Beaune in 1912.

Born in 1900, the second Albert Bichot was a pioneer of international commerce and travelled the globe to introduce the family's wines, which were already recognized as being among the best. During the second half of the 20th century, Albert's four sons - Albert, Bernard, Bénigne, and Jean-Marc - inherited the family business and know-how, and a new era of expansion with the construction of a large cellar, bottling facility, and winery.

In the early 1990s, Albéric Bichot, the son of the third Albert, joined the family company and took over its management in 1996. Though he fully respects long-held family traditions, he is completely focused on the future. He compares himself to the conductor of an orchestra and is proud to bring people and their talents together over a common project. Albéric has numerous challenges, such as converting to organic viticulture in the Côte-d'Or vineyards, ongoing adaptation to new markets, and increasing the prestige and exposure of Burgundy wines, but he is convinced that the quality of the wine is dependent on the quality of the grapes. Thus, he is focused on developing control of grape growing, a task that began in the 1980s. Albéric also secured equipment, expanded vinification capacity, and the ageing cellars, while the company's vineyards now total 6 estates that are spread out across Burgundy from the north to the south.

Today, the philosophy at Albert Bichot is based on protecting their children's planet, and respect for the terroir and nature. They practice sustainable viticulture based on observation, prevention, and being attentive to the complex balances found in nature. The soil is maintained responsibly, while encouraging manual labour that boosts the plants’ natural defences. Bichot also follows up on their partners' grower plots with the same thoroughness and philosophy as their own. At the winery, they apply a minimal interventionist approach during the vinification process so that the wines reveal the terroir and characteristics of the village where they hail from. The wine is carefully transferred from the vinification vats or barrels to the cellars by means of gravity. It is during the key period, while in the cellar, that time and expertise come together, and the wines truly acquire their body, reveal their personality, and all of their potential.

Crafted with 100% Pinot Noir, this red wine was grown in the village appellation of Saint-Romain, in the central part of Côte de Beaune, Burgundy. The appellation is situated in an isolated valley to the north of the Cote d'Or's main escarpment and stands at the foot of a high cliff, but at an elevation which enables it to look out over a wide stretch of the countryside. While bears and lions roamed here 100,000 years ago, the area has been a focus of human activity since neolithic times. The area was one of the first places in Bourgogne where the Celts and Gallo-Romans cultivated vines, and eventually led to Saint-Romain being instituted as an appellation in 1947. The terroir in Saint-Romain can be traced back to the earliest period of the Jurassic, with the soil consisting of a blend of limestone and marl, with patches of clay. The vines in Saint-Romain, which face south-southeast and north-northeast at altitudes between 280 and 400 metres, occupy a sloping site where they benefit from the excellent soil. The Pinot Noir vines used to craft this wine were grown in brown limestone soil. It was vinified in oak barrels (20% new) for 6 to 8 weeks, and remained in oak barrels (25% new) for 14 to 16 months to maturation.

The 2018 growing season was noted for being one of the hottest and driest growing seasons since the intense heatwave of 2003. Despite a wet winter and spring, perfect weather arrived in time for an early, but very successful flowering. Summer was hot and exceedingly dry, followed by ideal conditions arriving in August and September, which meant that producers could harvest their grapes at their own leisure. From an excellent vintage, let's see how this 2018 Pinot Noir from Burgundy is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BICHOT SAINT-ROMAIN PINOT NOIR 2018 - AC, Burgundy, France (#33708) (XD) - $41.95 $34.75
From the Saint-Romain village appellation of Côte de Beaune, this Pinot Noir has a perfumed, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers a lovely bouquet of rose floral, sweet spices, ripe red & black cherry, earthy mineral, and mushroom aromas. It's light-to-mid weighted with good structure and fine, crisp, and tangy acidity that supports the ripe red & black cherry, gentle oak spice, and earthy mineral flavours with touches of beetroot. The light tannins have a subtle, chalky textured grip. Earthy mineral notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other fine wines by Maison Albert Bichot are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Dionysus Wines & Spirits.

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March 16, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Family Feasts

Here's my top wine picks from the March 16, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. With Easter long weekend on the horizon, the feature of this release is titled "Perfect Pairings for Family Feasts". Overall, it is a very good release, albeit on the small-ish side that is on-trend for the year, with 85 products on offer.

We'll begin with the feature on wines that are Perfect Pairings for Family Feasts. Of the seventeen wines that are included as part of the theme, six are included among my top wine picks. First up on the list is an excellent vintage Champagne that is crafted with 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay that will be ideal for pairing with appetizers. For pairing wines with cheese, try the Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara, or the wine from Bierzo that is made with 93% Mencía and 3% Alicante Bouschet. The LCBO suggests serving the Gamay Noir from Niagara with veggies, although it is big enough to serve with richer dishes such as poultry, braises, or roasts. From Margaret River in Western Australia, the white wine crafted with 51% Sauvignon Blanc and 49% Sémillon can be paired with weighty and textured dishes such as those with rich sauces. The last wine from the feature is a Carmenère from Chile, which can be paired with well-seasoned, full-flavoured meals.

Red wine recommendations from the main release start in Italy with a Barolo that is, of course, crafted with 100% Nebbiolo, followed by the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico that is made with 100% Sangiovese. There's also a Rioja red that is composed of 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo, and 2% Garnacha, while the Rhône red is equal parts Grenache and Syrah. For Australian Shiraz wine lovers, the Clare Valley wine is made with 100% Shiraz, while the Frankland River Shiraz is blended with 4% Touriga Nacional, 4% Mourvedre, and 1% Viognier. And lastly, there is a fine Pinot Noir from Chile.

The only blend among my top white wine picks from the main release is the Soave from Veneto, which is composed of 85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave. Among the mono-varietal wines, the Torrontés from Argentina, Chardonnay from Australia, and Sauvignon Blanc from Chile all underwent barrel fermentation. Other white wine picks include an organic, old vine Verdicchio from Marche, as well as an off-dry (i.e. lightly sweet) Riesling from Niagara. There's also the lusciously sweet Gewürztraminer Icewine from Niagara that would be ideal for post-dinner sips.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• LAVAU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2019 - AC, France (#421024) (XD) - $16.95
• SAN PEDRO 1865 SELECTED VINEYARDS CARMENÈRE 2022 - Las Lagunas, DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#249201) (XD) - $19.95
• ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA COSTA PINOT NOIR 2021 - Sustainable, DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#541151) (XD) - $22.95  91+ pts  wine review
• JIM BARRY THE LODGE HILL SHIRAZ 2021 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#998476) (XD) - $23.95
• FRANKLAND ESTATE SHIRAZ 2020 - Frankland River, Western Australia (#15998) (XD) - $25.95
• BACHELDER LES VILLAGES GAMAY NOIR 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#17239) (XD) - $26.95  92+ pts  wine review
• DESCENDIENTES DE J. PALACIOS PÉTALOS 2021 - Old vines, DO Bierzo, Spain (#446484) (XD) - $28.95
• CLEMENTE VII GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#573493) (XD) - $35.95  91+ pts  wine review
• MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA FINCA YGAY RESERVA 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#209148) (XD) - $37.95
• CASA E. DI MIRAFIORE BAROLO 2018 - Vegan, DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#26908) (XD) - $56.95  93 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• SKUTTLEBUTT SAUVIGNON BLANC / SEMILLON 2022 - Margaret River, Western Australia (#47621) (XD) - $19.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM THE DRY RIVER RIESLING 2022 - Sustainable, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#557165) (D) - $19.95
• TRIUS DISTINCTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#19379) (XD) - $19.95
• PIEROPAN SOAVE CLASSICO 2022 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#946848) (XD) - $20.95
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE BARREL FERMENTED TORRONTÉS 2022 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#384339) (XD) - $22.95
• FORTES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - WO Napier, South Africa (#33297) (XD) - $23.95  89 pts  wine review
  
• ELDERTON EDEN VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2022 - Single vineyard, Eden Valley, South Australia (#15054) (XD) - $23.95  90+ pts  wine review
• LEYDA LOT 4 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Valle de Leyda, Chile (#18997) (XD) - $25.95
• CASAL DI SERRA VECCHIE VIGNE VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2021 - DOC, Marche, Italy (#98111) (XD) - $26.95

Sparkling Wine:

• LANSON LE VINTAGE BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2012 - AC, France (#29949) (XD) - $99.95  94 pts  wine review

Dessert Wine:

• LAKEVIEW CELLARS GEWÜRZTRAMINER ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#547703, 200mL) (S) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review

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Kacaba Cabernet/Syrah 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Cabernet Franc and Syrah blend that was locally and sustainably grown and crafted in Niagara and arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent March 2nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the 2019 Kacaba Cabernet Franc that I enjoyed last year, this red wine is also produced by Kacaba Vineyards & Winery, a premium, small-batch winery located on prime, winegrowing land on the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland, Ontario. The history of the winery begins in 1997 after the land was purchased by Michael Kacaba, a Bay St. lawyer in Toronto of Ukrainian descent and a Saskatchewan background. Although the land was slated for a subdivision, Mr. Kacaba had other visions and began the work to establish a vineyard and winery. Only two years later, in 1999, Kacaba had their first vintage and consistent success followed thereafter.

The choice of establishing the vineyard and winery on the Niagara Escarpment - the slope leading to the lake bed of the prehistoric lake that covered southern Ontario - has greatly contributed to Kacaba's success. 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 Bordeaux varieties, such as Cabernet Franc, to develop phenolic maturity.

Today, while no longer owned by Michael Kacaba, the wines of Kacaba Vineyards & Winery are produced using only the finest grapes on the estate or from partner growers in surrounding vineyards. The philosophy at Kacaba is dependent on producing small quantities of wines by limiting the quantities they can handle such that they are able to manage all aspects of the winemaking process mainly by hand. By focusing on small-batch winemaking, Kacaba is able to produce wines of merit that are deep in colour, rich in aromas and character. Kacaba also strives to encourage sustainable agriculture on their land, as well as their partner growers.

This red wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah, and due to the stellar growing season in the Niagara region, the Cabernet Franc was harvested in early November, while the Syrah was harvested in mid-October. Each varietal was picked separately at slightly different times and kept separate throughout the vinification process. The grapes were gently destemmed and fermented in stainless steel containers. After pressing, the wines were aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels for 17 months. In the spring of 2022, Winemaker Vadim Chelekhov tasted the various barrels of wine and selected the unique tasting casks that showed elegant tannins and overall balance. The chosen barrels were then blended, filtered, and bottled on May 17, 2022.

The 2020 growing season started off warmer than average and was mostly dry with only a few snow storms in January and February. The warm trend continued into March, but then slowed in April, which included a cold snap in the latter part of the month, and kept the vines dormant. The great growing season took off once spring arrived in May, followed by a dry and warm summer, which was followed by a cool, dry, and long fall season. With extensive crop thinning, leaf pulling, and constant vineyard monitoring, the Cabernet Franc grapes hung on to the vines into October and early November. From a vintage that has been deemed the vintage of the century in Niagara, let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Franc - Syrah blend from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KACABA CABERNET / SYRAH 2020 - Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#26424) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Syrah, this has a rich, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers pleasing, ripe red & black fruit, currant, raspberry, oak spice, chocolate, and savoury earth aromas, plus hints of plum, meaty, and mineral notes. It's medium-bodied on the dry palate with delicious, tangy red & black fruits, currant, raspberry, savoury earth flavours, plus subtle oak spice, black pepper, and meaty notes add further character. It has fresh, lemony acidity, while the smooth, supple, and refined tannins are well-managed. There's a touch of chalky grip on the back palate. Tangy with savoury earth and mineral notes linger on the long, fresh finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5+ years. Score: 90 pts

Some of the fine wines by Kacaba Vineyards are available at the LCBO, while the full range is available direct from winery in Niagara.

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Samos Vin Doux White Muscat (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delectably sweet fortified wine from the Island of Samos in Greece that made its inaugural arrival at the LCBO in last weekend's March 2 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by United Winemaking Agricultural Cooperative of Samos (UWC Samos), one of the oldest cooperative wineries in Greece as it was founded in 1934. UWC Samos is also one of Greece's biggest wineries, composed of more than 2,200 producers participating in the Cooperative as members.

The Cooperative was formed after actions taken by the vine growers of the island in 1934, and has proved that the alliance was a strategically important move that helped the preservation of viticulture on the island, as well as the protection of the producers' income. As a cooperative, the principal objective of UWC Samos is to advance the economic and social conditions of its member vine growers and, in general, the Samian society. UWC Samos receives the grapes, produces the wine, and trades almost the entire production of the island through their modern wineries in Malagari (the capital of the island) and Karlovassi (the second-biggest town). In a harmonious combination with traditional viticulture and winemaking, UWC Samos is in constant search for modernization while investing in technology and know-how. The wines of Samos have received hundreds of distinctions at international competitions and fairs over the years, with the very first award received in 1937.

While Somas Muscat wines of Protected Designation of Origin Samos (or PDO Samos) are one of the oldest origin-controlled appellations in Europe, the history of viticulture on the island goes back much further. When one thinks of Samos vineyards, the word's mythology, history, and the name of "Ampelos" (Vine) for one of the two mountain ranges that dominate the island come to mind. The history of Samos wine dates back to early antiquity, while legend says that Dionysus (the god of wine) taught the Samians all about winegrowing and winemaking in order to thank them for their help in defeating the Amazons. According to tradition, the first person to teach winegrowing to the inhabitants of the island was the hero of the Argonauts, Agkaios. There are also historical references in antiquity that reference the wines of Samos in the writings of Hippocrates, Galenos, and Theophrastos, while "Samena" military ships transported wine in amphorae with a pointed base from Samos to various ports in other parts of the globe. References to Samos wine are also found during the Byzantine period, when a traveller clergyman visited the island in 741 AD.

A turbulent history on the island culminated in the almost complete desolation of the land during the 15th century, which resulted in the abandonment of the vineyards as natives lived in hiding in inaccessible mountain areas. Fortunately, Samos was recolonized a century later with people arriving from all parts of Greece, and the history of Muscat wines on the Island of Samos begins again. During the Ottoman occupation and after 1562, European forces appear to be commercially interested in the wines of Samos and setup Consulates on the island for this purpose. Samos' wines were noted by French and German travellers during the 18th century, and in the 19th century, Samos was supplying branded wines to the east and west, while the Catholic Church granted Samos the privilege of producing wine certified by the Catholic Mission.

In 2016, UWC Samos formed a strategic alliance with Greek Wine Cellars to further the commercial development of the award-winning Samos wines, with the aim of strengthening its position in domestic and international markets.

As a fortified wine, the Samos Vin Doux falls under the Vins de Liqueurs category. Not only is it the most popular wine of Samos, this wine is also the No. 1 selling sweet wine in Greece. It is crafted using the indigenous White Muscat of Samos, the grape that reigns king on the island. It was grown on semi-mountainous and mountainous terraces that are influenced by the sun and the Aegean winds. Let's see how this Vin de Liqueur from Samos is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SAMOS VIN DOUX WHITE MUSCAT - PDO Samos, Greece (#44578) (S) - $15.95
Attractive, medium-high intensity nose of dried apricot, orange marmalade, peach, and honey aromas with a touch of golden raisin. It's mid-weighted on the palate with a sweet and spicy flavour profile of dried apricot, peach, orange zest, honey, and raisin replays, plus butterscotch and caramel flavours adding further complexity. It has well-balanced acidity, along with some warmth on the mid-palate, while notes of dried apricot, orange zest, caramel, and touches of vanilla linger on the long, delicious finish. Really sings after a nice chill. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Small quantities of other fine wines by UWC Samos are available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc 2022 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, organic and vegan white wine blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon from Bordeaux that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on March 2nd.

It is produced by Maison Raymond, a vigneron and negociant that is located in the southeastern end of Bordeaux's largest appellation, the Entre-Deux-Mers region, southeast of the city of Bordeaux. It was founded by the Raymond family in 1850 and, as such, they have a long history of winegrowing since the medieval times in the villages of Saint-Laurent-du-Bois, Saint-Martial, and Saint-Felix de Conclude.

Today, Maison Raymond is led by the 8th generation of the family. They reside on the family property of Domaine du Château de Lagarde, which had been built over the years by successive generations. The winery honours its heritage by using a special combination of ancestral tradition and the most efficient modern technologies to craft its wines. Organic farming at Maison Raymond was introduced after Lionel Raymond acquired an organic vineyard in 2000 and, because he had a strong respect for the environment and terroir, he was convinced that organic was the way to move forward and proceeded to convert all 130 hectares of vines at Maison Raymond to organic viticulture. Most winemakers in the area thought he was crazy as it was twice the work of a conventional vineyard. Today, Maison Raymond is one of Bordeaux's largest organic wineries and one of the few in the region that has made a commitment to organic viticulture. Maison Raymond is passionately relentless in its commitment to crating wines using natural, chemical-free methods, and without compromising on quality.

Like the 2019 Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc that I enjoyed a few years ago, this vintage is also a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon. The grapes were sourced from hillside sites in Saint Laurent du Bois. The climate at these sites is mild, with cooling breezes off the Atlantic Ocean, with lots of sunshine and regular rain. The vineyards are planted in soil composed of clay and limestone. The grapes were vinified completely in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats, without the use of any oak.

The 2022 growing season was surprisingly good, despite the perilous conditions. Winter started cool and dry, with dry conditions remaining in place even as temperatures started to rise in spring, and allowed for both an early and successful budburst and flowering. The aforementioned perilous conditions arrived with frosts in April and significant hailstorms in June. Yields were cut, but temperatures continued to rise, leading to drought conditions. July was the driest in decades, and from that month onward there was virtually no rain, and it featured prominent heatwaves. Serious wildfires sparked concerns of smoke taint, but most of the vineyards managed to escape unscathed. Cool nights helped bring some relief, which in turn helped preserve aromatic freshness and acidity in the fruit. Harvest was a little early, with much of the resulting fruit exceptionally fine. Let's see how this 2022 Bordeaux Blanc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LES HAUTS DE LAGARDE BLANC 2022 - Vegan, AC Bordeaux, France (#387787) (XD) - $19.95
This organic white wine is a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon. The medium to medium-high intensity nose offers an attractive bouquet of citrus, apple, grapefruit, orange, and honeysuckle aromas layered over guava, passion fruit, and tropical fruit notes. It has good concentration on the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied with lovely citrus, grapefruit, white floral, herbal, and spice flavours. It's supported by fresh, lemony acidity, while citrusy, spice, and mineral notes linger on the juicy finish, with very good length. Enjoyable now, but will be even better with a further 6-12 months in the cellar. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other fine wines by Maison Raymond can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

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El Goru Gold Monastrell/Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly Monastrell-based blend from Jumilla in Spain that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend in the March 2, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Ego Bodegas, a winery project that was started from scratch in 2011 by Santos Ortiz, of Spanish origin, and Ioana Paunescu from Romania. The project was born out of the partners' passion and effort. While they were short on financial resources, they had an extraordinary talent for creating wines and coordinating the financial, marketing, and sales departments.

Together, Santos and Ioana, who are united and committed, both personally and professionally, built the winery from top to bottom, from the roof down. They fell in love with a spectacular farm in an area known as the carpenter's place, just a few kilometres away from the historical city of Jumilla. Situated in an elevated area, they enjoyed the beauty of the landscape which was surrounded by vineyards planted to Monastrell that were older than their combined ages. Their objectives were sales and profitability, as when these targets are achieved, it would guarantee the future of the company. The idea was simple: to achieve a balance between the three concepts of quality, image, and price, and then get to work to achieve that balance. The process took two years, and by 2013 Ego Bodegas had a good design, good pricing, and good wine that has been improving ever since, allowing the company to gain a foothold in over 30 countries.

Today, Ego Bodegas is a winery with modern facilities that improve quality and efficiency, and strives to seek out the best technology available. Since the beginning, they have taken a contemporary twist on winemaking by combining traditional methods with modern techniques. They have also been fascinated by the land and the magical combination of its soil and native grape variety - Monastrell, while devoting themselves to finding the best vineyards and obtaining the best fruit possible. Monastrell is a native variety to Jumilla and has best adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of the region. As such, more than 80% of the vineyards in Jumilla are planted to Monastrell. The climate in the region is continental, influenced by the Mediterranean in the east and by the plateau of La Mancha in the west. Along with a sunny and arid climate, it receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, and is one of the driest areas of Spain, averaging 300 litres per square metre in annual precipitation over the last few years. The soil in Jumilla is dark and enriched with lime, while also being permeable with good moisture retention, which helps the vines during periods of drought.

This red wine is a blend of mainly Monastrell (70%), which is also known as Mourvèdre and Mataro in other regions. Completing the blend is 20% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. All the grapes were harvested by hand with a strict selection in the vineyard. In the cellar, maceration is supervised in order to reach the ideal wine profile. The pigeage technique for pumping down, which leads to a slower extraction and favours the development of varietal aromas. It underwent a temperature-controlled fermentation up to a maximum of 28ºC in order to extract the full potential of the grapes. It was aged for 12 months in new French and American oak barrels.

The 2019 growing season was a warm, dry year in Spain, with below average rainfall, an early summer heatwave for some regions, and very low levels of disease in the vineyards. Conditions were wet and windy during flowering, which kept yields naturally at a modest level, while berries and bunch weights were significantly smaller than the prior year. Harvest was extended into November, allowing for a long ripening season. According to Wines from Spain, 2019 may end up being one of the best vintages of the decade. Let's see how this 2019 Jumilla red from Spain is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL GORU GOLD MONASTRELL / SYRAH / CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Vegan, DOP Jumilla, Spain (#13621) (XD) - $19.95
This blend of 70% Monastrell, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon has a fragrant, open, medium-high to highly aromatic nose that delivers a perfumed nose of spices, dark berry, blackberry, woodsy earth, and black plum. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it offers delicious ripe black-purple fruit, blackberry, violet, cedar, earthy oak, and black pepper spice flavours that are framed by smooth, ripe, and refined tannins and crisp, juicy acidity. The mouthfeel has a supple grip on the mid-palate, while earthy oak and smoke notes linger on the long, balanced finish. Very nicely done. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 89 pts

A few wines by Ego Bodegas can be found at the LCBO, while the entire portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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