September 21, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: High-Scoring Wines

Here's my top wine picks from the September 21, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. There are nearly 120 wines in this release, with the theme focusing on High-Scoring Wines. I am pleased to see the mini-theme return. However, the mini-theme on Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc only includes 2 wines and does not make much of a theme. Also included in this release are a fine selection of Online & Flagship Exclusives (OFE), which can be purchased online or at one of the 16 Flagship Exclusive stores. Wines are arriving in many stores much earlier than the release date, and can be purchased ahead of Saturday's official release day.

Of the twenty-three wines featured in the theme on High-Scoring Wines, seven are included among my top wine picks. Starting with the white wines, there is the always excellent Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, followed by the Muscadet from Loire Valley, which is made with the Melon varietal. The lone white blend is a distinctive wine from Southwest, France, that is crafted using 60% Gros Manseng, 20% Arrufiac, and 20% Petit Courbu. High-scoring red wine picks begin in Tuscany with a pair of Riserva Chianti Classico wines, with the 2018 composed of Sangiovese and Merlot, while the 2019 is made with 100% Sangiovese. From the 2021 vintage in Chile, there is a fine Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a unique Pinot Noir.

With cooler weather and gift-giving season arriving soon, the percentage of red wines in VINTAGES Releases goes up, and in this Release nearly two-thirds of wines are red. My top red wine recommendations begin in Brunello di Montalcino with a pair of wines from the excellent 2019 vintage, both of which are crafted with 100% Sangiovese. Meanwhile, the Alexander Valley Cab is actually a blend of 95.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.9% Merlot, and 0.4% Petit Verdot, while the Lirac is a blend of 60/40 Grenache and Syrah. Some of the single varietal wines include both Riojas, which are 100% Tempranillo, and the Rubin (aka Rubin Bolgarskii) from Bulgaria, a variety that is a crossing of Nebbiolo and Syrah.

Among my top white wine picks, most fall into the premium category, with high-quality to match. For Chardonnay wine lovers, there are fine, old vines options from both Niagara and Burgundy. There is also an excellent Fiano from Campania, as well as an off-dry Riesling from Niagara. In the sub-$20 category, there is a lovely Moschofilero from Greece, and a Trebbiano from Abruzzo in Italy.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• ESCAPADE SHIRAZ 2021 - Vegan, Barossa Valley, South Australia (#36286) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• MIGUEL TORRES ANDICA ORGANIC GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - Valle del Itata, Chile (#25933) (XD) - $17.95
• COSME PALACIO VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#37552) (XD) - $18.95
• LES TURITELLES ALTUGNAC PINOT NOIR 2022 - IGP Pays d'Oc, France (#37921) (XD) - $19.95  88+ pts  wine review
  
• TRÉNEL BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, France (#487140) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• LICENCIADO RESERVA 2019 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#370023) (XD) - $19.95

• TERRA TANGRA BLACK LABEL RUBIN 2019 - Sakar Mountain Vineyard, PGI Thracian Valley, Bulgaria (#37744) (XD) - $21.95  90+ pts  wine review
• XAVIER VIGNON LIRAC 2020 - AP, Rhône, France (#636183) (XD) - $23.95  90+ pts  wine review
• SAN PEDRO 1865 TAYÚ PINOT NOIR 2021 - Buchahueico, DO Valle del Malleco, Chile (#16628) (XD) - $23.95
• UNDURRAGA TERROIR HUNTER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Alto Maipo, Valle del Maipo, Chile (#630350) (XD) - $27.95  93 pts  wine review
  
• TENUTA PERANO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#13496) (XD) - $34.95
• VIETTI PERBACCO NEBBIOLO 2020 - Vegan, DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#15087) (XD) - $36.95  92+ pts  wine review

• CASTELLO DI BOSSI BERARDO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#113316) (XD) - $41.95
• LA SPINONA SORÌ GEPIN BAROLO 2012 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#577874) (XD) - $56.95
• COL D'ORCIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#306852) (XD) - $64.95  93 pts  wine review
• DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#113357) (XD) - $77.95  OFE  94 pts  wine review
• SILVER OAK ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#943472) (XD) - $163.95

White Wine:

• JASCI ORGANIC TREBBIANO D'ABRUZZO 2023 - DOC, Italy (#36732) (XD) - $17.95
• PLAIMONT LES CÉPAGES PRÉSERVÉS SAINT-MONT 2019 - AC, Southwest, France (#36911) (XD) - $18.95
• MONEMVASIA LALUDI MOSCHOFILERO 2023 - PGI Peloponnese, Greece (#33252) (XD) - $19.95
• CHÂTEAU-THÉBAUD MELON DE BOURGOGNE 2018 - AC Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine, Loire, France (#541458) (XD) - $21.95
• THIRTY BENCH SMALL LOT WOOD POST VINEYARD RIESLING 2019 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#359760) (M) - $32.00  92+ pts  wine review
• TERREDORA DI PAOLO CAMPORE RISERVA FIANO DI AVELLINO 2018 - DOCG, Campania, Italy (#905596) (XD) - $47.95  OFE  92 pts  wine review
• DEUX ROCHES VIEILLES VIGNES POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2021 - AP, Burgundy, France (#488825) (XD) - $49.95  OFE  91 pts  wine review
  
• BACHELDER BAI XU NIAGARA CRU SINGLE VINEYARD 1981 PLANTING VIEILLES VIGNES CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#32364) (XD) - $49.95  OFE
• FLOWERS CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA (#215210) (XD) - $64.95

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Omrah Crossing Chardonnay 2023 (Western Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Chardonnay from Great Southern, Western Australia, that arrived at the LCBO in the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on September 7th.

Located in the Great Southern wine region of Western Australia, Omrah Wines are produced by Plantagenet Wines, a wine producer that was established in 1968 by Tony Smith. Plantagenet produced its first vintage in 1974 and purchased an apple packing shed in Mount Barker and converted it to the region's first winery cellar.

The Omrah Wines label was established in 1996 and focuses on producing fresh, fruit-driven wines with minimal oak influence. The story of Omrah wines begins with the best parcels of grapes from Western Australia's wine regions, where the rich and diverse terroir provides the perfect canvas for crafting exceptional wines. The vineyards in Western Australia benefit from an idyllic climate with warm days and cool nights, which ensure that the grapes develop a perfect balance of acidity and flavour. In this unique environment, Omrah wines are produced in a fresh, contemporary style that is as vibrant as the land from which they come. Omrah wines are produced for those who appreciate the art of casual elegance, such as a relaxed beach picnic, a lively backyard barbecue, or an intimate dinner with friends.

The name "Omrah" is believed to be inspired by a maritime exploration and travel ship that sailed between Australia and England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with Omrah chosen to reflect the spirit of exploration and discovery to uncover and express the cool-climate varietals of Western Australia's Great Southern region. The grapes for Omrah wines are responsibly sourced from some of the best vineyards in Western Australia and crafted by the winemaking team at Plantagenet Wines. Embracing freshness, vibrancy, and balance, Omrah wines are designed to be enjoyed now. With seven wines in the portfolio, Omrah has a wine for every occasion.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay that was grown in the Great Southern wine region of Western Australia. The Great Southern is the largest region in Australia and one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is situated southeast of Perth and contains five distinct sub-regions. As the second-largest producer of grapes in Western Australia, the Great Southern has a landscape of forested cliffs and resplendent mountain ranges, grazing pastures and towns steeped in history. The climate in Great Southern is cool-temperate and strongly influenced by its proximity to the Southern Ocean. There is plenty of rainfall, even during the hottest Australian summer, while daytime temperatures are moderated by the cool, evening sea breeze. The high diurnal temperature range between warm days and cool nights in Great Southern allows for the maximum retention of acidity and varietal expression to create complex wines. Details are light on the vinification methods used to craft this wine, but after undergoing alcoholic fermentation, it also underwent minimal malolactic fermentation and spent minimal time in oak.

The 2023 growing season in Great Southern was characterized by a warmer than average March, which aided ripening just prior to harvest. At the beginning of the growing season, Mount Barker had a cool and wet winter, which ensured ample moisture for budburst and early season growth. Early spring rains delayed flowering and fruit set, while healthy vine canopies were well-balanced and healthy. Growing conditions were perfect from December to February, with clear blue skies, warmer temperatures, and cool, clear nights. By the time harvest season arrived in March, phenological ripening stages of the vineyards were back to normal and helped deliver great aromatic intensity in white grape varieties. From an overall successful vintage, let's see how this 2023 Chardonnay from Great Southern is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

OMRAH CROSSING CHARDONNAY 2023 - Great Southern, Western Australia (#17644) (XD) - $21.95
Screw cap. The fragrant, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose delivers white peaches & cream, ripe stone & orchard fruit, and apple aromas accented with vanilla and touches of cashew nut and earthy mineral. On the medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it is dry and lightly honeyed with delicious ripe apple, stone & orchard fruit, white peach, vanilla, and oak spice flavours. It has bright and lively acidity, while the stone & orchard fruit notes taper to cashew and earthy mineral flavours on the crisp, juicy, and long-lasting finish. Enjoyable now, but will reward with 1-2 years in the cellar. Enjoy this recommended buy over next 4-5 years. Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely Omrah Wines can be ordered through their Agent - Airen Imports.

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Catena Appellation Tupungato Chardonnay 2022 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, high-altitude Chardonnay from Tupungato in Argentina that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the September 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Catena Zapata, one of Argentina's most prestigious and renowned winemaking families. A pioneer in Argentine winemaking, the Catena family also has a long history of viticulture and winemaking that goes back over a century.

Bodega Catena Zapata was established in 1902 by Nicola Catena when he planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza. At the time, Malbec was used primarily as a blending grape, but Nicola suspected that it would find its hidden splendour in the Argentine Andes. His eldest son, Domingo, inherited his father's dream and took the family business to another level, becoming one of Mendoza's largest vineyard holders.

In the 1960s, Nicolás Catena Zapata, Domingo's son and a recent PhD graduate, took over the family winery after years of turmoil due to a downturn in the Argentine economy and soaring inflation rates. The name Zapata comes from Nicolás' paternal grandmother's ancestors, who were a traditional landowning family dating back to colonial times, and by Argentine custom, Zapata follows Catena in Nicolás's full name. In the early 1980s, Nicolás got the opportunity to become a visiting scholar of economics at the University of California, on the world-renowned campus at Berkeley. During this period, California decided to challenge France by creating Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines that could rival the best French wines. This provided Nicolás and his wife, Elena, with inspiration, so that when he returned to Mendoza, he sold his bulk wine table-wine producing company and focused on producing fine wine. In 1992, the Catena family settled in Gualtallary Alto - the highest and westernmost spot in Tupungato, at 5,000 feet above sea level, an area that is cool, but well-protected from frost by the nearby mountains. The vineyard, which is named after his youngest daughter - Adrianna - has a slight slope and a small hill.

Today, Bodega Catena Zapata is led by Dr. Laura Catena, daughter of Nicolás, and the 4th generation of the family, along with talented Winemaker Alejandro Vigil. Catena Zapata is known for being one of the first Argentine wineries to introduce modern viticultural and winemaking techniques to the country, as well as for its commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability. Catena wines are produced from six historic family estate vineyards and each of these vineyards is divided into parcels according to their soil composition, with each parcel farmed individually. Nearly all of Catena's vineyards are farmed sustainably and organically, focusing on lower yields and biodiversity.

Like the 2019 Catena Appellation Tupungato Chardonnay I enjoyed just over three years ago, this white wine is crafted using Chardonnay that was grown in the high-altitude Tupungato sub-region of northern Uco Valley. Over two decades ago, Nicolás Catena Zapata selected the Tupungato appellation to plant the family's Chardonnay vineyards. Situated between 4,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Andes mountains, the Tupungato appellation has pebble-covered soils and extreme cool nights. Catena's Tupungato Vineyard is located at about 1,450 metres (4,750 feet) above sea level and has soil of alluvial origin, with gravel and limestone, rounded rocks at the bottom, and sandy loam. To vinify this wine, the grapes undergo cold settling for 8-24 hours at 5ºC (41ºF), followed by a 25 to 45 day fermentation. After fermentation, the wine spends 4 to 10 months in contact with its fine lees in 100% French oak, 35% new.

The 2022 growing season at Catena Zapata was exceptional, producing wines with optimal acidity, great concentration and ripeness of polyphenols, and just-right alcohol levels. While the growing season was like a roller-coaster year with two big frosts, a shorter harvest period, and unpredictable weather patterns, the team at Catena persevered with great dedication and endurance while using their deep knowledge of every region and vineyard. Winter was milder than usual, while glacial water played an important role because spring and summer were especially dry with rain 15-40% less than usual in most areas. Spring frosts were remedied by lighting anti-frost cans. Yields were down 10-20% by harvest time, while cooler than usual autumn temperatures allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and fully. From a challenging vintage, let's see how this 2022 Chardonnay from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CATENA APPELLATION TUPUNGATO CHARDONNAY 2022 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#10964) (XD) - $19.95
The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose offers bright lemon citrus and ripe apple-pear aromas nuanced with vanilla, earthy mineral, and hints of butterscotch and tropical fruit notes. On the rich, dry, medium-full bodied palate it has delicious lemon citrus, apple-pear, vanilla, and mineral replays, plus some spice flavours. It's well-structured with tight and juicy acidity. Citrus and apple notes taper to savoury minerals on the long, crisp finish. Has room to develop further and should drink well over the next 5 years. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Many other fine wines by Catena Zapata can be found at the LCBO, or ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Ormarine Carte Noire Picpoul de Pinet 2023 (Southwest) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious Picpoul that is brand-new to the LCBO, arriving as part of last weekend's September 7 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Cave de l'Ormarine, a well-known co-operative winery located in the Languedoc of southern France. Its story begins in 1922, when a group of winegrowers in the town of Pinet gathered together in the spirit of solidarity and formed a winegrowers' association. However, the story of Pinet goes back much further - 2000 years.

It all started in the year 118 B.C., when a Roman General Domitius Aheobarbus built a military road across Gaul to link the Italian Peninsula to the Iberic Peninsula. The famous via Domitia went across the vineyards of Pinet and opened the path for the wine trade and promoted the expansion of the vineyards. The historical grape variety Picpoul, also known as Piquepoul, was first quoted in 1618 by the famous botanist J.B. Magnol in his book and called it one of the six best-known grape varieties of Languedoc.

Fast-forward to 1922, and the 53 winegrowers of Pinet came together officially to enhance the white wine produced from the terroirs of Pinet. Ets Noilly Prat of Marseillan bought all the wines produced at the cellar and was responsible for the marketing and sales of the wines. In 1985, after several long years of investment to improve the quality of their wines and create brand awareness at both the national and international level, the producers of Cellar Ormarine were able to get Picpoul de Pinet classified as an AOC and joined the large family of AOC Côteaux du Languedoc. Even though the Languedoc region is mostly known for its blends, the appellation of AOC Picpoul de Pinet is dedicated solely to dry white production and permits the use of only one single grape variety - Picpoul.

In 1992, the co-operative cellar celebrated its 70th anniversary and re-introduced itself to the market as Ormarine. In 2008, the cellar merged with the Cooperative Cellar of Villeveyrac, allowing them to produce more wine, and gave birth to its new and current name - SCA Cave de l'Ormarine. In 2013, the Cooperative Cellar of Cournonterral joined Ormarine, which allows Ormarine to produce wines from a wide variety of appellations and grape varieties. In 2017, two more mergers occurred, bringing together 470 united coopérators operating more than 2,500 hectares of vines.

With "Terroir Discovery" their slogan, Ormarine benefits with access to grapes from a wide area extending from the Cévennes to the Mediterranean to produce high-quality wines. These grapes benefit from the maritime influence of the Etang de Thau, as well as the limestone clay and red sandstone soils. In Pinet, which is situated just north of Etang de Thau, the terroir is mainly composed of limestone clay soils, while its proximity to the Lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea plays a role in regulating and reducing temperature variations. The Marin, Tramontane, and Mistral winds also help keep the vines healthy and reduce disease pressure. Omarine is also committed to nature and the environment, as they embarked on a path to organic viticulture in 2011. Furthermore, in 2018, Ormarine obtained Terra Vitis certification, which highlights sustainable and integrated winegrowing.

This white wine is crafted using the Picpoul grape varietal that was grown in the AOP Picpoul de Pinet appellation, within the Languedoc region of southern France. This 100% Picpoul de Pinet was grown on homogeneous limestone clay soils that open out to the sea. After undergoing plot selection in the vineyard, the grapes were harvested at night, then underwent another round of selection upon arriving at the winery. The grapes underwent a cold, pre-fermentary maceration, followed fermentation at low temperature, and then matured in thermo-regulated vats. The wine was then filtered and bottled at the estate. From a challenging year of extremes, let's see how this 2023 Picpoul de Pinet is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ORMARINE CARTE NOIRE PICPOUL DE PINET 2023 - AP, Southwest, France (#38396) (XD) - $14.95
Screw cap enclosure. This Picpoul de Pinet has an attractive, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers ripe apple, lemon citrus, white floral, and orchard fruit aromas with hints of limestone minerality and white spice. It's light-to-medium bodied on the dry palate with slightly honeyed flavours of apple, white-fleshed orchard fruit, lemon citrus, and white pepper spice notes which are supported by refreshing, saliva-inducing, and food-friendly acidity. It's nicely textured, a touch creamy, with stony mineral and spice notes appearing on the mid-palate. Stony mineral notes linger on the long-lasting, savoury finish. Ideal with seafood and a recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Ormarine can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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September 7, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Ontario

Here's my top wine picks from the September 7, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. As is always the case, the first release of September features the fabulous wines from Ontario. It is a very good release with just over 100 wines, and all are readily available across the province.

We begin with the theme on wines from Ontario. Of the sixteen wines featured as part of the theme titled "Bring Home Ontario", there are five wines included among my top wine picks from Ontario, with a few others that I opted not to put on the list below because I had recommended them previously when they came through VINTAGES some months ago. White wines from Ontario continue to be a strong and consistent point, with a Chardonnay and off-dry Riesling that are both from the Niagara Escarpment. There's also a fine Marsanne - one of the few and possibly the only in Ontario - which is actually a blend of 95.2% Marsanne, 2.4% Viognier, and 2.4% Pinot Gris. The only Ontario red among my picks below is a Cabernet Franc, while the lone bubbly recommendation is a dry, traditional method sparkling wine crafted with Gamay!

My red wine recommendations from the main release are mostly blends, starting with the flagship Archimedes, which is 93.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.4% Malbec, 1.6% Petit Verdot, and 0.2% other varieties. Lovers of Grenache-Syrah blends have a few options in this release, beginning with the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Counoise, the Vinsobres that is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, and the Roussillon red that is made with Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan. Also from France, the Madiran is a blend of 65% Tannat and 35% Cabernet Franc. The other two blends are a Super Tuscan that is composed of 42% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 15.5% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4.5% Sangiovese, and 1% Alicante, while the Portuguese red consists of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca. Among the single varietal reds, the Brunello is made with Sangiovese, the Rioja is a Tempranillo, and the Barolo is, of course, made with Nebbiolo.

Among my white wine picks, all are mono-varietal wines and starts with a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Some varietals are a bit rare to find in our market, including a Picpoul from the Southwest of France, a Ribolla Gialla from Friuli, and a higher-end Muscadet, which is made with the Melon varietal. For Chardonnay wine lovers, there are nice wines from both Western Australia and Argentina. Lastly, if you enjoy some sweetness in your wine, try the Pinot Gris from New Zealand.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• TOM DE BATON DOS HEREDIAS 2021 - Tabuaço, DOC Douro, Portugal (#363168) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU PEYROS HÉRITAGE TANNAT / CABERNET FRANC 2020 - Sustainable, AC Madiran, France (#208249) (XD) - $17.95
• DOMAINE AUTRAND VINSOBRES 2022 - AC, Rhône, France (#15451) (XD) - $18.95
• IL POGGIO SANNIO AGLIANICO 2019 - DOP, Campania, Italy (#575225) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES GRENACHE / CARIGNAN / SYRAH 2021 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, Midi, France (#119354) (XD) - $19.95
• CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CAVE SPRING VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2022 - Sustainable, Unfiltered, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#523001) (XD) - $20.95

 

• PALACIO GLORIOSO RESERVA 2018 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#930164) (XD) - $23.95
• EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2020 - Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $27.95  92 pts  wine review
  
• CAIAROSSA 2016 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#533117) (XD) - $48.95
• ELLENA GIUSEPPE ASCHERI BAROLO 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#36670) (XD) - $53.95
• DOMAINE DE LA SOLITUDE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2022 - AC, Rhône, France (#560987) (XD) - $54.95
• FATTORIA DEI BARBI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#372938) (XD) - $69.95  93 pts  wine review
• ARCHIMEDES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Sustainable, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#431825) (XD) - $99.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• ORMARINE CARTE NOIRE PICPOUL DE PINET 2023 - AP, Southwest, France (#38396) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
• INVIVO PINOT GRIS 2023 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#367771) (D) - $19.95
• CATENA APPELLATION TUPUNGATO CHARDONNAY 2022 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#10964) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CHÂTEAU DE CHASSELOIR MUSCADET DE SÈVRE ET MAINE 2020 - Sur lie, AP, Loire, France (#35904) (XD) - $21.95
• OMRAH CROSSING CHARDONNAY 2023 - Great Southern, Western Australia (#17644) (XD) - $21.95  90+ pts  wine review
• URLAR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - Gladstone, North Island, New Zealand (#22852) (XD) - $22.95
• GRADIS'CUITTA RIBOLLA GIALLA 2021 - DOC Collio, Friuli, Italy (#36849) (XD) - $23.95
• HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE ORGANIC RIESLING 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#183491) (M) - $24.95
• LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00  90+ pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• 13TH STREET GAMAY BLANC DE NOIR SPARKLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39728) (XD) - $34.95  91 pts  wine review

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Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose Rosé 2023 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's rosé wine review is a delicious, vegan-friendly dry rosé wine from Languedoc that arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago in the August 24th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Bijou Wines, a wine producer based in the heart of the South of France. Originally established in the Languedoc in 2012, Bijou Wines has since expanded into Provence and specializes in the production of rosé wines.

With a talented team of growers and winemakers, Bijou's stance has always been to produce best-in-class wines. Bijou sources their grapes from unique, lesser-known, but authentic terroirs such as Coteaux de Béziers, Coteaux Varois en Provence, and Haute Vallee de l'Aude in Limoux. Framed as "affordable luxury", Bijou wines are comprised of the very best expressions of old and low-yielding Mediterranean grape varieties, and recognized around the world by critics as authentic and delicious, with beautiful aromas and flavours, and good structure to allow the wines to be enjoyed with or without food.

At Bijou, sustainability is always at the top of mind. The vision is to provide quality wine sustainably by using greener approaches from vineyard to packaging. In 2019, their growers in Coteaux de Béziers (where this wine is from) obtained the HVE Level 3 certification. Today, more than 95% of Bijou's wines are sustainably farmed as HVE3 and organic certified. With climate change and weather patterns changing, adapting viticulture is paramount. As such, Bijou began using the sustainable Caladoc grape varietal in their blends starting in 2019. Caladoc is a crossing of Grenache and Malbec that is resistant to intense heat and drought. In the realm of packaging, Bijou uses lightweight bottles, as well as an extraordinary range of sustainable and environmentally-friendly 1.5 L pouches that significantly lowers their carbon footprint.

This particular rosé is from Bijou's Sophie Valrose line of wines, which also includes a white and red. The "Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose" range is named after a lady who worked in the vineyards of Languedoc during the late 19th century and became a local hero. In that era, it was largely women who worked in the vineyards to prune and harvest the vines, while often mistreated, overworked and underpaid. Not pleased with the situation, Sophie fought for women's rights and drastically improved the working conditions for her fellow women who also worked in the vineyards. As a tribute to Sophie and her legacy, the back label of every bottle in this range shares her story. Each wine in this range is crafted using grapes sourced from handpicked bush vines, just like those that Sophie would have harvested herself many years ago.

The rosé is a blend of 45% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 10% Caladoc, and 5% Syrah from 25-50 year-old well-trellised and low yielding bush vines. The grapes were grown on cool, alluvial clay soils within the Coteaux de Béziers appellation of Languedoc. After harvesting the grapes early in the morning, when temperatures are cooler, in order to preserve fresh acidity and balanced sugar levels, the grapes are destemmed and direct-pressed, with the Syrah undergoing a light maceration on its skins. The four grapes separately underwent a long and cool fermentation, and were then blended together, clarified, and stabilized prior to bottling. From a growing season that was a challenging year of extremes, let's see how this 2023 rosé from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LE BIJOU DE SOPHIE VALROSE ROSÉ 2023 - Vegan, IGP Coteaux de Béziers, Languedoc, France (#20012) (XD) - $17.95
Enclosed by screw cap and pours a pale copper-pink colour. This blend of 45% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 10% Caladoc, and 5% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose that delivers ripe Mandarin orange, red apple, grapefruit, citrus, and melon aromas with honeyed peach overtones. It has good weight on the medium+ to medium-full bodied and dry palate with refreshing acidity and flavours of citrus, grapefruit, red apple, strawberry, red berry, plus touches of peppery spice. It has a slightly creamy mouthfeel on the mid-palate, while hints of oyster shell and saline mineral notes appear on the citrusy, lengthy, and very juicy finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

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

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Wine Art Estate Idisma Drios Assyrtiko 2022 (Greece) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent Assyrtiko from PGI Drama in northeastern Greece. It is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO, coming to shelves as part of last month's August 24th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is readily available across Ontario right now.

Founded by Yiannis Papadopoulos in 1993, Wine Art Estate is a project of love and passion for wine. Yiannis, who is a civil engineer by profession, wanted to explore the vinification procedure and settled on planting a small, family vineyard on the outskirts of Drama, on the northeastern end of Macedonia in northern Greece.

The Drama wine region is made up of quiet valleys, exceptional microclimates, and rich soil that shapes the character of the wines. Wine Art Estate's vineyards are planted on carefully chosen slopes situated between two parallel mountains - Mount Falakro and Mount Menikion - which create a unique winegrowing environment that offers amazing potential for the production of distinctive, high-quality, aromatic, flavourful, and balanced wines. Highly suitable for the cultivation of Greek and international varieties, the soil in these vineyards is mainly composed of sandy-clay over limestone layers. Moreover, the blocks in the Kali Vrisi area have been known since ancient times for the cultivation of vines and production of wines, as indicated at the ruins of the Sanctuary of Dionysus. Kali Vrisi was chosen for its rich soil and is known as a premium wine growing area.

In 2009, Akis Papadopoulos, son of Yiannis, returned from his studies in Bordeaux and took over from his father as Chief Oenologist. Iralklis Topalidis joined the team as viticulturist and, after seeing and assessing the vines, began focusing on the importance of the vineyard as a precursor to quality winemaking. After years of research and experimentation, as well as an enthusiastic response from consumers, trade and press in many countries around the world, Wine Art Estate continues its dedication to quality with a winemaking philosophy that respects harmony and balance. Additionally, the philosophy at Wine Art Estate is that great wines begin in the vineyard and are grown by those who adapt, listen to nature, and are respectful of the land's energy. With winemaking experience spanning three decades, Wine Art Estate is committed to sustainable winegrowing, while producing high quality wines without compromise, and preserving nature for future generations.

While I recall enjoying the 2019 Wine Art Techni Alipias Red Blend last November, with this wine we go up a notch to Wine Art Estate's Idisma Drios premium range of wines that showcases their commitment to quality and tradition. The name "Idisma Drios" translates to "sweetly oaked" in Greek, and reflects the careful use of oak barrels in the winemaking process for each of the four Idisma Drios wines.

This particular wine is crafted with 100% Assyrtiko that was grown in the villages of Kali Vrisi and Mikrochori, from vineyards that are under conversion to organic viticulture. The Kali Vrisi vineyard has sandy-clay soil over limestone layers, while the Mikrochori vineyard has sandy-clay soil. The climate in these vineyards is continental with intense diurnal temperature changes between day and night, along with cool, northern winds during summer. To craft this white wine, the skins were cold-soaked prior to fermentation in order to transfer aromas from the grapes to the must. After fermentation for 7 days in stainless steel tanks, the wine is transferred with its fine lees into 225 L French oak barrels where it completes fermentation. Manual bâtonnage (stirring of fine lees) is applied for about 6 months to give the wine volume, density, and creaminess.

The 2022 growing season in northern Greece can be characterized as a late year that was very demanding for viticulturists. Winter was normal, but spring had low temperatures, which delayed the start of the vegetative cycle. Normal temperatures combined with rainfall during June and July led to smooth maturation of grapes, but winegrowers did need to stay alert to protect the health of the vineyards and ensure leaf surface and yield were balanced. While August had favourable temperatures, there was also plentiful rainfall, which led to temporary interruption of harvest in some places, as well as disease-related issues. September was smooth, and the harvest was completed without any further complications. Overall, the white wines from this vintage show rich varietal aromas and good acidity. Let's see how this 2022 Assyrtiko from Greece is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WINE ART ESTATE IDISMA DRIOS ASSYRTIKO 2022 - PGI Drama, Greece (#36834) (XD) - $28.95
Richly fragrant, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers elegant and enticing aromas of buttery and vanillin oak layered over ripe lemon citrus, apple, orchard fruit, mineral, and floral. On the dry, medium-full to full-bodied palate it is richly structured, creamy, and complex with delicious vanilla, toasty oak spice, citrus, apple, orchard fruit, and nut flavours. Touch spicy on the mid-palate, while leesy mineral notes appear on the back palate. It has tangy and juicy acidity, while vanilla, citrus, orchard fruit, and mineral notes with touches of spice lingering on the very long, succulent finish. Should drink nicely to the end of the decade and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other fine wines by Wine Art Estate can be ordered at the LCBO or through their Agent - Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

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