October 5, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Fall Favourites

Here are my top wine picks from the October 5, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, where the theme is titled "Fall Favourites". There are 107 wines offered in this release, with more than 70 wines coloured red, and about two-thirds of the wines priced at more than $20. Overall, it is a very good release leading up to Thanksgiving and the gift-giving season. All the wines should be on shelves across Ontario already. Also, it is worth noting that the cover of the printed LCBO VINTAGES catalogue doesn't mention the date of the release.

We'll begin with the theme titled "Fall Favourites", which features twenty wines and six of which are included among my top wine picks. Starting with the white wines, the Rhône white is predominantly Grenache Blanc (60%), plus Clairette, Viognier, and Roussanne completing the blend, while the Sicilian white is composed of 33% Inzolia, 27% Catarratto, 30% Grecanico, and 10% Chardonnay. Also included as part of the theme is a lovely Chenin Blanc from South Africa. The red wines from the theme begin in Bolgheri with the Second wine of Ornellaia, which is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Mono-varietal reds from the theme are the Shiraz from Australia, and a Malbec from Uco Valley in Argentina.

Among my top red wine recommendations from the main release, there are quite a few high-quality wines worthy of your attention. We'll start with a couple of the oldest recommended wines - a 2009 Bordeaux that is composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by the 2012 Rioja that is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo. Next, we move to Tuscany with a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano that is crafted mainly with Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), as well as a pair of Chianti Classico wines made with 100% Sangiovese. Other blends include the Carmenère from Chile, which is actually a blend of 85% Carmenère and 15% Cabernet Franc, and the Barossa red that is made with Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro. From Portugal, the Douro red is composed of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and Sezão. The last blend is the Rasteau from Rhône, which is composed of 70% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah.

The only blend among my white wine picks from the main release is a blend of 55% Viognier and 45% Marsanne from McLaren Vale. Chardonnay wine lovers will want to look to South America for wines from Argentina and Chile, while fans of Sauvignon Blanc will want to sip local with a pair of wines from Niagara. For those that like some sweetness to their wines, check out the off-dry Pinot Gris from New Zealand, or the semi-sweet Riesling from Niagara.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release!

Red Wine:

• CALCU TINY BLOCKS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Sustainable, Vegan, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#37867) (XD) - $17.95  90 pts  wine review
• SISTER'S RUN COW'S CORNER GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MATARO 2022 - Gomersal, Barossa, South Australia (#346510) (XD) - $18.95
• ZUCCARDI SERIE A MALBEC 2022 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#167619) (XD) - $18.95
• VERSADO MALBEC 2018 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#317008) (XD) - $21.95  91 pts  wine review
• TENUTA DI RENIERI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#540849) (XD) - $22.95  90+ pts  wine review

 

• LA CHEVALIÈRE RASTEAU 2022 - AC, Rhône, France (#18502) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
• CASTORANI AMORINO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2018 - DOC, Italy (#366732) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
• DIEVOLE PETRIGNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#39448) (XD) - $28.95  92 pts  wine review
• FATTORIA SVETONI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#36916) (XD) - $29.95  92 pts  wine review
• WOLF BLASS GREY LABEL SHIRAZ 2021 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#390872) (XD) 750mL $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• QUADRUS RESERVA 2016 - DOC Douro, Portugal (#534271) (XD)  - $34.95  92 pts  wine review
  

• CHÂTEAU COUFRAN HAUT-MÉDOC 2009 - AC, Bordeaux, France (#38194) (XD) - $43.95  92+ pts  wine review
• ROCCA BAROLO 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#395103) (XD) - $48.95  92+ pts  wine review
• MONTES WINGS CARMENÈRE 2020 - DO Apalta, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#33354) (XD) - $67.95
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2012 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $73.95
• LE SERRE NUOVE DELL'ORNELLAIA 2022 - Second wine of Ornellaia, DOC Bolgheri Rosso, Tuscany, Italy (#606194) (XD) - $78.95  94 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER / MARSANNE 2023 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#662775) (XD) - $16.95
• TASCA D'ALMERITA REGALEALI BIANCO 2023 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia, Italy (#531780) (XD) - $17.95
• FEATHERSTONE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Vegan, Sustainable, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89011) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• PETER ZEMMER PINOT GRIGIO 2023 - DOC Alto Adige, Italy (#95802) (XD) - $18.95
• BORD ELEGANCE LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES BLANC 2022 - AP, France (#644385) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• HEAPHY PINOT GRIS 2023 - Sustainable, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#36901) (D) - $19.95  90 pts  wine review
• RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2022 - Vegan, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13338) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CATENA HIGH MOUNTAIN VINES CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#918805) (XD) - $20.95
• ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA COSTA CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#556118) (XD) - $22.95
• FOGOLAR GRIMSBY HILLSIDE VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#39764) (M) - $27.95
• TRIUS SHOWCASE WILD FERMENT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - VQA Niagara Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada (#39763) (XD) - $32.00

Fortified Wine:

• BARBEITO 5-YEAR-OLD MALVASIA RESERVA - DOP Madeira, Portugal (#39480, 500 mL) (S) - $17.95

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Trénel Beaujolais-Villages 2022 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Gamay from Beaujolais that arrived at the LCBO last month in the September 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Maison Trénel, a winery that was created in Burgundy in 1928 by Henri Claudius Trénel. Since the beginning, Maison Trénel's philosophy has been driven by the search for authenticity in their wines, as well as their fruit-liqueurs. To create their products, Trénel chooses the best terroirs in Burgundy and Beaujolais as the source of their fruit. With Burgundy tradition the cornerstone of Maison Trénel, the taste of authenticity has been present since its founding.

Today, Maison Trénel is renowned for its wines, specifically from the Beaujolais and Mâconnais areas. Trénel has also become a local reference as the winery was passed down from Henri Claudius to his son, André, and remains a familial authentic company, a philosophy that shared with the famous Maison M. Chapoutier, with whom they collaborate with today.

Trénel is dedicated to crafting high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroirs from across Beaujolais and Burgundy. While embracing sustainable vineyard practices, Trénel uses traditional winemaking methods and focuses on minimal intervention during the vinification process to allow the wines to express the specific terroir, climate, and geology of each area.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Gamay from the Beaujolais Villages AOP. There are 38 Villages that make up the Beaujolais Villages AOP, which produce wines of distinction and character. Most of the grapes in this red wine come from the areas of Le Perréon and Clochermerle, in the south of the AOP. These regions' undulating landscapes are perfectly suited to Gamay Noir. The Gamay used to craft this wine are from 30 to 60 year old vines which are planted facing southeast, on silty clay granite soil. After hand-harvesting the grapes, they underwent an 8-10 day maceration, 30% of which were destemmed. After fermentation, the wine was aged for 6 months in concrete tank, and then bottled without fining, but a light filtration.

The 2022 growing season in Beaujolais began with a cold January and a mild February. This was followed by cool weather in March, which helped prevent frost damage in April, while the rest of April and May was warm and dry, leading to an even and successful flowering. Violent summer storms, which often come to this continental zone, arrived at the end of June and caused some hail damage. The summer months of July and August were fiercely sunny and warm, leading to some drought losses and lowered yields during harvest. However, the quality of the grapes was outstanding, leading to aromatic and intense wines with fine balance, sap, and poise, especially from those grown in clay and granite soils. Let's see how this 2022 Beaujolais-Villages Gamay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TRÉNEL BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2022 - AP, France (#487140) (XD) - $19.95
100% Gamay. The open, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is spicy with savoury earth aromas layered over ripe black fruits, black cherry, plus touches of cassis, floral, cranberry that emerge with time in the glass. On the dry, mid-weighted palate it is ripe with black cherry, cassis, spice, earth flavours with touches of cranberry. It has crisp, clean, and fresh acidity, along with supple, slightly grippy tannins. Pleasing mineral notes join the dark cherry, earth, and spice flavours on the finish, with very good length. This shows better balance with time in the glass and will be better in 6 to 12 months. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

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

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Les Turitelles Altugnac Pinot Noir 2022 (France) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Pinot Noir from the Upper Aude Valley in the Languedoc region. It is a brand-new arrival at the LCBO that landed on shelves across Ontario as part of the September 21st LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Domaine Altugnac is the Languedoc wine estate of two winegrowing families - Collovray & Terrier. The estate of Altugnac is situated in Antugnac, on the edge of Languedoc, on the Pyrenean foothills, where the vines flirt with the scrubland and the woods, between sunny days and cool nights, and at the crossroads of the Atlantic and Mediterranean winds. Antugnac is a peaceful village that is dominated by an amphitheatre of mountains, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, and an invitation to imagine and create unique wines.

The Collovray & Terrier arrived in Antugnac in 1997 with a desire to explore new horizons and take on new challenges. Coming from Burgundy, the quality of the white wines in Languedoc appealed to them, especially those from high in the Aude Valley where mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted on limestone soils. Moreover, the harvest dates of these grapes were within a few days compared to those back home in Davayé (Burgundy), while the vegetative cycles were also very similar.

At the time, the domaine was owned by Mr. Ramirez, a founding member of the association of private cellars, and one of the first to imagine Chardonnay in the Aude Valley. Upon taking over the domaine in 1997, the Collovray & Terrier families undertook the colossal project to revitalize the 45 hectares of vineyards and rebuild the facilities.

Today, there are six members of the Collovray & Terrier families that work with a strong sense of cohesion within the family business, and with the support of a close-knit, loyal, and dedicated team. Their philosophy begins with strong roots in agriculture, where everything begins in the vines. It is widely known that working with the soil and respecting the vegetation are the prerequisites for a healthy, ripe, and good quality crop. While adapting to the year's weather conditions, the team at Altugnac has the know-how to evolve and experiment, in order to ensure that each variety is harvested at the optimum moment. The goal is to reveal the diversity of their terroirs, while also protecting and developing the biodiversity in and around the vineyards.

Collovray & Terrier has three ranges of wines within the Altugnac label. The excellent 2021 Altugnac Terres Amoureuses that I enjoyed last year (with a few bottles still available at LCBO) is from their Les Terroirs d'Altitude range, while this red wine is from their Les Turitelles d'Altugnac range. Turitelles are marine fossils that are found in abundance in their plots situated on the slopes of the Upper Aude Valley. This area experiences significant diurnal temperature variations between night and day, and when combined with clay-limestone soils, helps promote slow and complete maturation of the grapes to produce are range of aromatic and fresh wines.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Pinot Noir that was grown in their vineyard that is full of Turitelles fossils on the slopes of the Upper Aude Valley. These fossils are the origin of their soil and are carried by a limestone and clay base, which form the sloping plateaus in the landscape. This terroir in the foothills of the Pyrenees is known for the quality of its hillsides and its sunny and cool microclimate. To vinify this wine, the harvested grapes were placed into vats by gravity. They underwent a few days of cold, prefectural maceration, along with daily, gentle pickling and winding, to extract a beautiful aromatic palette and silky tannins. Two weeks after a controlled-temperature alcoholic fermentation, below 25°C, the juices are tasted, followed by malolactic fermentation and ageing in stainless steel or concrete tanks for several months, with bottling taking place within a year from harvest. From harvest to bottling, inputs are limited as much as possible, including the reduction of sulphites.

From a hot and dry growing season that is rated as a very good vintage, let's see how this 2022 Pinot Noir from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LES TURITELLES ALTUGNAC PINOT NOIR 2022 - IGP Pays d'Oc, France (#37921) (XD) - $19.95
The ripe, medium+ intensity nose offers mild mannered, yet typical, Pinot characters of red & black cherry, and strawberry aromas with touches of beet root, earth, and black tea. The ripe notes continue on the light-to-mid-weighted palate with red & black cherry, strawberry, beet root, earth, and black tea leaf flavour replays. It has fresh, succulent acidity, while the light, supple tannins have a gentle, chalky textured mouthfeel. A touch grippy, with dark berry, earthy, and hints of mineral linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Small quantities of the Amoureuses, while the entire portfolio of wines by Collovray et Terrier can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Brunello di Montalcino that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the September 7, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Fattoria dei Barbi, a winery owned by the Colombini family, one of Tuscany's oldest noble families. The Cinelli Colombini family has owned land in Montalcino since 1352, and the Fattoria dei Barbi since the end of the 18th century.

Historically, the Colombini family has a long history in Siena as one of the noble families. They have been active in the Sienese government since the year 1000, with the first member quoted in the chronicles as Tignoso Colombino. His children were named Colombini, and this has been the family's name ever since. Tignoso lived in a castle in the village of Uopini, just outside Siena, a castle which became a hospital in the Middle Ages and is still in existence today. In 1200, the family was allowed to have a Coat of Arms with four little doves painted on a blue field, a version of which adorns the labels of Fattoria dei Barbi wines.

In the 14th century, the family changed from being wool merchants to banking, with their headquarters in Siena and various branches across Italy and Marseille. In 1352, the Colombini family acquired a share of the Castle of San Giovanni d'Asso and the Castle of Poggio alle Mura, and established the arrival of the Colombini family in Montalcino for the first time. During this century, Giovanni Colombini decided to become a monk and donated all his materialistic possessions to the Church. Over the years, there were many members of the Colombini family, some were saints, while others were womanizers, hedonists, and down right weird (like most families?).

After decades of strictness and austerity, in the 16th century, the family decided to change politically and support the Florentines. The powerful Cosimo dei Medici restored their fortunes and properties. Cosimo, Lucrezio, Ascanio and Giovanni Colombini were among the one hundred Sienese citizens chosen to run the government of the city, with Cosimo becoming Podestà (Mayor) of Montalcino in 1560.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the family lived in Carmignano, near Lucca, while maintaining a strong relationship with Siena. The Bishop of Lucca moved to Montalcino in order to manage his small agricultural properties there, and following him there was Paolo Colombini, a law scholar, who decided to become a Notary. This lucky choice by Paolo started a new chapter in the family history, which lasts to this day. Pio Colombini, son of Paolo, produced the first bottles of Brunello, and also married Elina Padelletti, who is from an ancient and noble family of Montalcino. This marriage increased the family's possessions, encompassing Villa Podernovi, where the cellar and laboratories are located today. Born in 1906, Giovanni Colombini, the son of Pio and Elina, was an innovator and pioneer of modern viticulture, and instrumental in the standing of Fattoria dei Barbi on the global stage. Upon Giovanni's death in 1976, the Fattoria was managed by his daughter, Francesca, and then his nephew, Stefano. Both Francesca and Stefano have helped develop and expand Fattoria dei Barbi into what it is today - a wine estate known for producing some of the finest Brunello di Montalcino that reflect the unique terroir of Montalcino.

Today, Fattoria dei Barbi extends over 306 hectares in Montalcino and Scansano. The property is run by Stefano Cinelli Colombini, an heir of the ancient Sienese line that has been present in Montalcino since 1352. The cellar has over 300 wooden barrels and thousands of bottles laid down for ageing, including bottles from 1870 to the present day, which displays the continuity of Fattoria dei Barbi that makes it unique in Italy. The Fattoria has always been a careful custodian of tradition, while also embracing innovation and a pioneer in every aspect of winemaking. Fattoria dei Barbi can stake its claim to a number of firsts in Montalcino, including exporting the first bottled wine to France in 1817, and creating the first Super Tuscan in 1969. The estate was also a pioneer in the use of organic fertilizers in the 1960s, while also creating the first "artificial nose" to analyze wines in the 1990s. In 2000, Barbi was one of the first to use carbon dioxide for cold fermentation of red wines. The philosophy at Fattoria dei Barbi has always been to know and study the most innovative technologies and combine them with the best traditions to improve everything they produce, without ever changing its distinguishing characteristics.

First produced in 1892, this red wine is crafted with 100% Sangiovese that was grown on the property of Fattoria dei Barbi, in the heart of the hill of Montalcino. The vines were planted on a south-facing vineyard between 1975 and 2017, on marl and alberese limestone soil at an altitude between 300 and 500 metres above sea level. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes underwent a cold pre-fermentative maceration at a temperature of 16°C in an environment protected by CO², a process which increases the extraction of polyphenols and aroma compounds. The grapes then underwent a 16 to 17-day alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature of 27°-28°C. After racking and undergoing malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged in small-to-medium size oak barrels for the first few months, followed by further ageing in larger oak barrels for a total of two years, and then matured in bottle for at least four months prior to release.

The 2018 vintage can be described as cool and classic, producing wines with excellent balance and more immediate drinkability. The season began with a mild January and a colder February with northern winds, along with both months experiencing abundant rain and occasional snow, which helped with water supply. Spring was still very rainy and wet, with temperatures higher than average, while summer was dryer and very hot during the second half of August. At the beginning of September there were a few thunderstorms, which refreshed the temperature and helped the grapes reach a good and balanced maturation, while harvest took place over twelve days during the second half of the month. Overall, it is a variable vintage with mixed results that puts the winemaking style on display. The wines from this vintage tend to be mid-weighted with a slender structure for near to midterm ageing. Let's see how this 2018 Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

FATTORIA DEI BARBI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#372938) (XD) - $69.95
100% Sangiovese. The fragrant, slightly perfumed, and medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers attractive aromas of ripe red cherry, strawberry, rose floral, underbrush, herbs, and savoury earth with touches of stony mineral and citrus. On the medium-full to full-bodied palate it is dry with very good structure and lovely dried red cherry, rose floral, savoury scorched earth, mineral, sweet spice flavours, plus touches of tangy orange citrus adding further interest and complexity. It has very good, food-friendly and structured acidity, while the youthful, structured, and chalky textured tannins are integrating nicely. Well-balanced throughout with red cherry and floral notes giving way to savoury earth and minerals on the long, crisp finish, with excellent length. Highly recommended buy that is enjoyable now, but will reward cellaring and drink well into the mid-to-late 2030s. Score: 93 pts

Other excellent wines by Fattoria dei Barbi can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Kew Vineyards Marsanne 2020 (Niagara) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is an excellent Marsanne from the Beamsville Bench appellation in Niagara that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the feature on Ontario Wines in the September 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Kew Vineyards, a boutique winery focused on small-batch production that is located in the heart of Niagara on the Beamsville Bench, an area known for its limestone-rich soils. Situated on a 160-year-old estate, Kew Vineyards epitomizes country style and grace. The winery stands in the Kew homestead, a house which was built by William Kew. The Kew family lived in the home and operated a successful carriage making company from the house. Historically, the Kew homestead was known for mixing business with pleasure, and where the Kew family's chapter ends is when the story of Kew Vineyards begins.

In 1975, Mr. Hermann Weis brought his own clones from the Mosel Valley in Germany and planted some of Niagara's first Riesling vines on the estate at Kew Vineyards. Unknowingly, Mr. Weis became a true pioneer of Ontario's wine region, even while he was relentlessly met with skepticism as the community said he could never do it. Today, most of Niagara's Rieslings are based on the Weis Clone.

Kew Vineyards' prides itself on its unique vineyard, which includes some of Ontario's oldest vines, along with a few varietals that are rare for the region. The Marsanne vines at Kew Vineyards are special, unique, and continue to thrive in the cool-climate of Niagara and the challenges it presents. This white wine is one of the few, and perhaps only, Marsanne from Niagara, and almost always contains small amounts of other varieties. For the 2020 vintage, this is a blend of 95.2% Marsanne, 2.4% Viognier, and 2.4% Pinot Gris. To craft this wine, it was fermented for 10 months in larger French oak.

The 2020 growing season in Niagara delivered near-perfect conditions which benefited a wide spectrum of grape varieties. The growing season got off to a slow start, while the summer was hot and dry, resulting in clean and intense fruit. The grapes exhibited brightness, character, acidity, and energy due to cool weather early in the season, but they also displayed the depth of a warm vintage. Overall, it is a great vintage with many great wines across the board. Let's see how this 2020 Marsanne from Niagara is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

KEW VINEYARDS MARSANNE 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#485334) (XD) - $19.95
Enclosed by Stelvin screw cap, this is mainly Marsanne with a splash of (2.4%) Viognier and (2.4%) Pinot Gris. Fragrant, open, and slightly perfumed, the medium-high intensity nose offers lovely and complex lemon citrus, ripe apple, herbs, and stony-leesy mineral aromas with touches of white floral. It is impressively weighted on the well-structured, medium+ bodied, textured, and dry palate with touches of vanilla oak and spice notes joining the lemon citrus, ripe apple, stony-leesy mineral flavours. It's very nicely balanced throughout with crisp, refreshing acidity, while the length is excellent with persistent leesy-stony mineral notes lingering on the savoury, long, and crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Limited quantities of other fine wines by Kew Vineyards are available at the LCBO, while the entire portfolio can be purchased directly from winery online or by visiting them in Beamsville, Ontario, or through their Agent - Arterra Wines Canada.

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Tom de Baton dos Heredias 2021 (Portugal) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious, vegan-friendly red blend from Portugal that returned to the LCBO as part of the recent September 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Magnum Wines, a winery that was born from the dream of Winemaker Carlos Lucas. He created this company in the Dão region in 2011 with the dedication to producing high quality wines, surrounding himself with a team that brings experience and youth that has a continuous interest in innovation and dynamism, while respecting tradition and history.

Carlos is a man of the land and a modern farmer. He has over 25 years of winemaking experience and has worked in various wine regions, including Montpellier, Piemonte, Priorat, and Vale de S. Francisco. Carlos was also one of the first to bring a spotlight to the Dão region.

Since the beginning, Carlos has been concerned about the environment and respectful of the land, and his practices led to Magnum Vinhos being awarded "The Best Farmer of the Year" in 2014 by the Ministry of Agriculture of Portugal. Today, Magnum Wines is pursuing a sustainable growth strategy that respects the land and wines, while aiming to show the authentic character of every region where it has vineyards.

Magnum Wines produces several ranges of wines from across Portugal, with this red wine under the "Tom de Baton" label and being produced at the Quinta das Herédias property in Douro. The name "Tom de Baton" refers to the traditional winemaking tool called "bâton", which is used for stirring the wine during fermentation, a process which is known as "bâtonnage". Tom de Baton wines are crafted to be easy to drink, while also maintaining quality and structure, and often have a complexity that reflects the terroir.

This red wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca that was grown in the Douro on schist soil with slight granitic outcrops. The vineyards are between 15 and 50 years old and planted at an altitude between 100 and 500 metres above sea level. These vineyards experience hot summers, low annual precipitation, and are protected by the Serra do Marão and Serra do Montemuro mountains. To craft this blend, the grapes were manually harvested and de-stemmed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of about 22°C, with gentle stirring to extract colour and aromas. It underwent natural decanting and filtration prior to bottling.

The 2021 growing season is characterized by early budbreak, a dry and cooler year with healthy yields (just a bit below average), and slow ripening. The nights were cool during harvest, with some rain that interrupted picking. The resulting wines are slightly less concentrated when compared to the year prior, with lower alcohol levels. From a cool and somewhat challenging vintage for red wines, let's see how this 2021 Douro red from Portugal is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TOM DE BATON DOS HEREDIAS 2021 - Tabuaço, DOC Douro, Portugal (#363168) (XD) - $17.95
This vegan-friendly blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca has a fragrant, open, medium-high intensity nose that is slightly spicy with ripe plum, red & black fruits, blackberry, and black cherry aromas with underlying stony minerality. It's medium-bodied on the dry palate with ripe plummy flavours, plus red & black fruits, black cherry, blackberry, and gentle oak spice notes. Well-balanced with crisp and fresh acidity, as well as slightly grippy, youthful tannins with good structure. Smoky mineral notes linger on the crisp, juicy, and savoury finish, with very good length. Enjoyable now, but will be even better in 1-2 years. Recommended buy. Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious Magnum Wines can be purchased at the LCBO, or through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.

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El Enemigo El Mirador Single Vineyard Bonarda 2020 (Argentina) - Wine Review

I enjoyed the excellent 2017 El Enemigo El Mirador Single Vineyard Bonarda a couple of years ago, and for tonight's red wine review I am loving the latest vintage of this single vineyard Bonarda that arrived at the LCBO in the September 7th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Established in 2008, El Enemigo Wines is the project of two notable Argentine wine figures - Adrianna Catena, the youngest daughter of Nicolás Catena, and Alejandro Vigil. The name El Enemigo means "The Enemy", and reflects the personal philosophy of its founders, which is that the biggest enemy is oneself. Moreover, the philosophy behind El Enemigo is to constantly strive to push boundaries and challenge personal limits.

In that same spirit, El Enemigo Wines emphasize Argentine terroir, while focusing on old world winemaking techniques to create new world wines that are creative and energetic. Furthermore, each wine is crafted to be in balance between old world elegance and new world, fruit-driven intensity.

El Enemigo Wines are produced in the southern foothills of Maipu, Mendoza. They have a number of vineyards across Mendoza, a region known for its high-altitude vineyards in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Alejandro is a soil expert, holding a Master's Degree in both winemaking and irrigation management, and has been the Winemaking Director at Bodega Catena Zapata since 2007. His strong scientific background led to important developments in both vineyard management and winemaking.

Like the previous vintage, this 100% Bonarda was grown at the El Mirador Vineyard in Rivadavia, a sub-region located in central-north Mendoza. The vineyard is situated at 650 metres (2,132 feet) above sea level and planted on sandy, deep clay soil. To craft this wine, the grapes were fermented using wild yeast at 28°C for 15 days, with 25 days of maceration, followed by maturation in foudre for 12 months.

The 2020 growing season was drier than usual and produced small berries with slightly lower yields. Temperatures were also cooler than average. Harvest occurred 1 to 3 weeks earlier than usual, with the grapes in pristine condition with not a drop of botrytis or downy mildew. From an extremely good vintage that produced boldly coloured, beautifully balanced wines with great fruit character, acidity, and tannins, let's see how this 2020 Single Vineyard Bonarda from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL ENEMIGO EL MIRADOR SINGLE VINEYARD BONARDA 2020 - Rivadavia, Mendoza, Argentina (#15120) (XD) - $27.95
Ripe, fragrant, and focused, the medium-high intensity nose offers plummy, dark berry, blackberry, medicinal herbs, and oak spice aromas. On the medium+ bodied, dry, and spicy palate it has lovely dark berry, blackberry, and plum replays joined by stony mineral and savoury oak flavours. It's framed with crisp, juicy acidity and fine-grained, nicely textured tannins with good structure. There's a slightly chalky grip on the back palate, while savoury mineral, dark berry, and plum notes linger on the long, elegant finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 5 years. Score: 92 pts

El Enemigo's excellent Chardonnay is available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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