Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2021 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Malbec from Argentina. While this particular vintage was featured as a Food & Drink Discovery wine that arrived in VINTAGES back in June of last year and is long sold-out, the 2022 vintage landed on VINTAGES shelves last month in the October 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available for purchase now.

It is produced by the internationally-acclaimed Zuccardi Valle de Uco, a winery that was established by Engineer Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 in Maipú, Mendoza. As one of the pioneers of Argentine wine, Alberto planted his first vineyard in the Mendoza desert in order to demonstrate his new, innovative, and efficient irrigation system, which led him to discover his passion for viticulture and pave the way for future generations of the family. In 1985, José Alberto, son of Alberto, assumed responsibility for the management of the family business and, like his father, had an innovative and visionary spirit which made him one of Argentina's most enthusiastic wine ambassadors, while also elevating their winery and the Argentine wine industry to global recognition.

Today, the winery is run by the third generation of the Zuccardi family with viticulturist Sebastián Zuccardi the current director. Sebastián joined the family business in 2007 and led the development of the high mountain region of the Uco Valley. He planted the family's first vineyard in the Uco Valley and in 2009 he established a Research & Development department within the company to study the soils and terroir of the Uco Valley to gain a deeper understanding of how they are expressed in the wines. This research has led Zuccardi to produce wines with an identity that expresses, with transparency and precision, the place where they come from. After three years of construction, Zuccardi inaugurated their new winery - Zuccardi Valle de Uco - in 2016 in the Paraje Altamira area of the Uco Valley. This modern winery is a tribute to the mountains of Mendoza. To this day, Sebastián and the team continue to create, innovate, and push the boundaries to develop the unique personality of Argentine wines.

Zuccardi has several lines of wines in their portfolio, with this particular Malbec coming from their "Serie A", or "Argentina Series", line which highlights the richness and diversity of Argentina's terroirs. Wines in the Serie A line express the most representative grape varieties from the best regions for each grape, and from selected vineyards at the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Malbec. The grapes were hand-picked from several vineyards in the Uco Valley and placed in plastic boxes during the second week of April. Upon arriving at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, followed by undergoing a cold maceration for 5-7 days, and then classic vinification with native yeasts and fermentation at 25-27°C. It then underwent maceration for 20 days, with periodic pumping over and délestage. A portion of the wine was aged in French oak barrels.

The growing season in 2021 produced a great vintage in the Uco Valley. The cool and humid climate allowed the clusters to reach phenolic maturity with a perfect balance of sugar and acidity, as well as great tannic structure. Zuccardi's meticulous work on separating plots and types of soil for harvesting (work which has been going for more than a decade) allowed them to harvest every corner of their vineyards at the perfect time, thus showcasing the great diversity that characterizes the Uco Valley. Let's see how this 2021 Malbec from Argentina compares with the 2016 Zuccardi Serie A Malbec that I enjoyed many years ago...

Tasting Note:

ZUCCARDI SERIE A MALBEC 2021 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#167619) (XD) - $17.00
The medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is savoury and slightly reductive with dark fruited, blackberry, plum, mocha chocolate, and oak aromas surrounding an earthy core. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it is spicy with savoury, ripe, and dark fruited replays of blackberry, oak spice, earth, and black plum flavours flecked with violet and stony mineral notes adding interest. It is well-structured with crisp and juicy acidity, along with well-integrated, gently textured tannins. Savoury with stony mineral notes, plus some dried herbs linger on the long-lasting, slightly grippy finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 88+ pts

Other fine wines by Zuccardi Valle de Uco can be found at the LCBO, or through their Agent - Bacchus Fréchette Wine & Spirits.

Read More

Heaphy Pinot Gris 2023 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly Pinot Gris from New Zealand that made its debut at the LCBO as a brand new arrival in last month's October 5 LCBO New Release Collection.

It is produced by Heaphy Vineyard, a wine brand that was only established in 2019, but has long roots deep into the soil of the cooler Nelson winegrowing region on the South Island of New Zealand. The brand was established, mainly for international markets, by one of Nelson's wine pioneers, Greg Day, and his wife, Amanda.

Heaphy Vineyard is situated in the northwest corner of New Zealand's South Island, in a region named Nelson Tasman. The small winery is located high above Tasman Bay, in the Moutere Hills, where they have 10 hectares of long-established vineyards planted on Moutere's signature clay soils. Some of the vines in these vineyards were first planted in 1973, and are among the oldest productive vineyards in New Zealand.

In 2022, Heaphy Vineyard was acquired by Boutinot Wines, an international producer and distributor based in Manchester, UK. Greg had a long-standing relationship with Boutinot and offered them the opportunity to buy the brand as Greg and Amanda were planning on retiring. With the acquisition, Boutinot planned to make Heaphy the largest Nelson wine brand and one of the largest New Zealand wine brands in the UK. To help achieve this goal, Boutinot purchased new equipment in order to handle the additional capacity.

Today, Heaphy Vineyard is committed to sustainability and quality winemaking, with a particular focus on crafting wines that express the unique Nelson landscape. Heaphy Vineyard has two ranges of wines - the entry-level, which is the line this Pinot Gris is from, and the premium Moutere Range. Heaphy Vineyard is certified by Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand (SWNZ), which means that their wines are crafted using grapes grown in 100% SWNZ-certified vineyards and produced in 100% SWNZ-certified winemaking facilities. Some of the SWNZ certification commitments include completing annual submissions, as well as undergoing regular on-site audits, which are conducted by an independent verification company.

This white wine is crafted using 100% Pinot Gris that was grown in a single vineyard on Moutere's clay loam soils. The grapes were hand-picked at full ripeness, then gently pressed and cold settled in stainless steel tanks. The pressing juices were separated into free run and (direct) pressings, which allows for better integration for when they eventually come together again. The two juices were then racked together for fermentation at 14°C (on average) in stainless steel tanks, which delivered a natural residual sugar (RS) level of 4.5 g/L.

From an excellent vintage, albeit with slightly lower yields, let's see how this 2023 Pinot Gris from Nelson is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HEAPHY PINOT GRIS 2023 - Sustainable, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand (#36901) (D) - $19.95
Screw cap. This single vineyard Pinot Gris has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose that is attractive with freshly squeezed lemon citrus and lemon peel aromas joined by grapefruit, pear, and touches of floral, pithy and mineral notes adding complexity and interest. It has good weight on the dry, fleshy, medium-full bodied palate with delicious, honeyed flavours of pear, apple, lemon citrus, and grapefruit flavours. There's a kiss of sweetness, along with spice notes on the mid-palate. Clean acids are well-balanced and juicy. It's gently spicy with flor and leesy mineral notes lingering on the long, dry, and finely textured finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 2 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Heaphy Vineyard can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Read More

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

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, sustainable and vegan Cabernet Sauvignon (blend) that made its debut at the LCBO last month as part of the October 5th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Calcu Vineyards, a winery that began its life in 2003 as the unique project of the Hurtado family who have over a century's worth of winemaking experience making quality wines in the Colchagua Valley. The Hurtado family found a unique place in Marchigüe, in western Colchagua Valley, that is marked by granite stone hills which are the inspiration for the name of the winery - "CAL: Hill" and "CUrá: Stone".

The vineyards in Marchigüe have granite hills with clay seams, and are situated at altitude just 26 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. The blend of differing orientations of the slopes makes the perfect blend which reflects the personality of the vineyard, and enables each variety to showcase the characteristic freshness, structure, verve, and depth in each Calcu wine.

With the core values of excellence, perseverance, honesty, and sustainability, Calcu is seeking to redefine Colchagua through the architecture of its vineyards. Excellence is reflected in the crafting of world-class wines by using high standards throughout each process and precision winemaking. With perseverance and determination, Calcu is continuously searching to improve their wine by taking action to achieve their proposed objectives. Honesty is the intention of their wines to naturally reflect their origin, and by scarcely intervening in the vineyards, the environment, and winery management. By adopting sustainable practices, Calcu is constantly implementing new measures and technologies to be more energy efficient, reducing waste and water consumption, while also becoming more environmentally-friendly. One of Calcu's sustainable initiatives was to design their vineyards in small blocks with short rows that minimize soil erosion, while the sloping rows are intended to reduce the risk of accidents for farmworkers.

Today, the passion for the pursuit of excellence is one of the fundamental pillars of the Hurtado family business and is reflected in each of their wines. This pursuit of excellence is implemented through precision viticulture and winemaking to accurately reflect the character of Calcu Vineyards in Marchigüe. Calcu Vineyards shares a winery with its sister company, Viña Maquis, in Palmilla in the Colchagua Valley, where they make and age their wines. This winery was built in 2002 under a sustainable concept and uses gravity technology to gently move the grapes, must, and wine throughout the winery in order to preserve the aromas and flavours of each of its wines. The winery is also innovative in that it is the only winery in Chile with a geothermal plant to generate energy, which is then used for wine production, thereby reducing its consumption of gas by 90%, and electricity by 40% per litre of wine produced.

Like the 2020 Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc, which I enjoyed earlier this year and included small amounts of other grape varieties to complete the blend, this Cabernet Sauvignon includes 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. The grapes were grown at their vineyard in Marchigüe, 25 km from the Pacific Ocean, in the gentle hills of the coastal mountains where the soft breezes coming from the ocean moderate temperatures and allow the grapes to obtain freshness, aromatics, and excellent concentration. The vineyard is planted on granitic soils with important clay content that helps develop persistent aromas and increases concentration in the wine. The tiny blocks selected for this Cabernet Sauvignon have a high clay content, but are poor in organic matter, which helps to obtain lower yields, while also allowing the wines to have fantastic power, structure, and elegance.

To craft this red wine, the grapes were hand-picked, followed by hand-sorting of clusters and berries. It underwent alcoholic fermentation between 20-24°C, maceration for 18 days, and then malolactic fermentation, all in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

The 2020 growing season experienced by Calcu in the Colchagua Valley was marked by a dry and warm climate, which challenged the team to be on high alert in order to identify the right moment of harvest for each block. The time of harvest is very important because this is what allows winemakers to maintain elegance and balance, characteristics which have embodied the wines of Calcu from this terroir. From a good vintage that produced high quality wines with excellent colour intensity and high concentration, which resulted in excellent complexity and very good ageing capability, let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CALCU TINY BLOCKS GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Sustainable, Vegan, Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#37867) (XD) - $17.95
This blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot has a whiff of reduction off the top, giving way to reveal fresh layers of ripe red and some black fruits, currant, cassis, and fine wood spice aromas of medium-high intensity, along with touches of dried herbs. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it offers delicious red and some black fruit, currant, cassis, and dried herb flavour replays with smoky oak spice accents. Touch spicy on the mid-palate. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the ripe tannins are smooth and well-structured, with some grip on the back-palate. Minerally and savoury on the long, slightly chalky textured, and youthful finish. Should drink nicely to the end of the decade and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Calcu Vineyards can be ordered through their Agent - Don Ackerman's Wines & Spirits.

Read More

November 2, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: California

Here are my top wine picks from the November 2, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection, with the theme of the release titled "California Stars & Icons". The release is on the bigger and more expensive side of the spectrum with 121 wines offered in this release, with about two-thirds dedicated to red wines. Overall, it is a very good release, especially if you are looking for red wines, since there are a wide variety of choices at many price points, including many fine gifting options. All the wines should be readily available for purchase today!

We'll begin with the theme of the release, which looks at some of California's Stars & Icon wines. There are twelve wines included as part of the feature, and four are included among my top wine picks. The mono varietal wines include the lone white, which is a fine Napa Valley Chardonnay, and an excellent Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. Both Napa Cabs are blends, with the Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 15% Merlot, while the Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon includes 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.

There are a good number of high quality red wines from the main release, and we'll begin in Tuscany with an excellent Brunello di Montalcino that is crafted with Sangiovese, followed by a Chianti Classico that is also crafted using the same grape, while the Super Tuscan is mainly Sangiovese (79%) with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (8%). The red from Rioja is a blend of 80/20 Tempranillo and Garnacha, while the Armenian red is composed of Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. Meanwhile, the red from Niagara is a blend of 48% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Bordeaux red is a Cabernet-based blend. The rest of the reds are all single varietal wines.

The only blend among my white wine recommendations is the white from Argentina, which is composed of 38% Sémillon, 32% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Torrontes. Among the mono-varietal dry whites, there is a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, and a Chardonnay from Chile. If you want something a little sweet, the Niagara Riesling is a top-notch wine.

Among my sparkling wine picks, the 2009 Dom leads the pack with a Brut Rosé that is a blend of 59% Pinot Noir and 41% Chardonnay, followed by the sparkling wine from Australia that is composed of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The Cava is also a blend, consisting of approximately 70% Parellada, 15% Macabeu, and 15% Xarel·lo, while the Cap Classique from South Africa is made with straight Chenin Blanc.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU DUCASSE 2020 - AC Graves, Bordeaux, France (#38261) (XD) - $16.95
• SUSANA BALBO CRÍOS MALBEC 2022 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#162529) (XD) - $17.95  88+ pts  wine review
• FINCA SOPHENIA ALTOSUR MALBEC 2023 - Gualtallary, Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#13113) (XD) - $17.95
• CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - Sustainable, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#421388) (XD) - $22.95  88+ pts  wine review
• SALENTEIN PYROS APPELLATION MALBEC 2019 - Valle de Pedernal, Argentina (#38506) (XD) - $22.95

• FALERNIA TITÓN SINGLE VINEYARD RESERVA SYRAH 2019 - DO Valle del Elqui, Chile (#27198) (XD) - $22.95
• KARAS RED BLEND 2022 - Armavir Region, Ararat Valley, Armenia (#492751) (XD) - $22.95
• URLAR THE MEDIATOR GLADSTONE PINOT NOIR 2020 - Vegan, Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand (#37396) (XD) - $24.95
• PLANETA PLUMBAGO NERO D'AVOLA 2021 - Sustainable, DOC Sicilia Menfi, Italy (#19491) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review
• TWO SISTERS ELEVENTH POST 2018 - VQA Niagara River, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#20935) (XD) - $48.00  92 pts  wine review
• LA RIOJA ALTA VIÑA ARDANZA RESERVA 2016 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#315531) (XD) - $59.95

• HAMILTON RUSSELL PINOT NOIR 2023 - Sustainable, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa (#999516) (XD) - $69.95
• GARY FARRELL RUSSIAN RIVER SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2021 - Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA (#27686) (XD) - $72.95  93 pts  wine review
• BANFI POGGIO ALLE MURA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#372250) (XD) - $82.95  94 pts  wine review
• SEQUOIA GROVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 - Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA (#60020) (XD - 2 g/L) - $85.95
  
• GROTH OAKVILLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#27256) (XD) - $128.95  94 pts  wine review
• TIGNANELLO 2021 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#986786) (XD) - $192.95  93 pts  wine review

White Wine:

• RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#456020) (XD) - $15.95
• ARBOLEDA CHARDONNAY 2022 - Sustainable, DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#606772) (XD) - $18.95  89 pts  wine review
• SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE WHITE BLEND 2023 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#558734) (XD) - $22.95
• CHARLES BAKER PICONE VINEYARD RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#241182) (M) - $44.95
• FAR NIENTE CHARDONNAY 2022 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#539130) (XD) - $99.95

Sparkling Wine:

• STARS BRUT NATURE RESERVA CAVA 2022 - Traditional method, DO, Spain (#515221) (D) - $17.95
• TALTARNI TACHÉ BRUT ROSÉ SPARKLING 2016 - Traditional method, Australia (#967398) (D) - $26.95
• KEN FORRESTER SPARKLEHORSE CAP CLASSIQUE SPARKLING CHENIN BLANC 2020 - Traditional method, WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#32030) (D) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review
• DOM PÉRIGNON BRUT ROSÉ VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE 2009 - AC, France (#91777) (D) - $471.95

Fortified Wine:

• BURMESTER 10-YEAR-OLD TAWNY PORT - DOP, Portugal (#223958) (S) - $29.95

Dessert Wine:

• CAVE SPRING SELECT LATE HARVEST RIESLING 2023 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#415901, 375 mL) (S) - $27.95
• LAKEVIEW CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON ICEWINE 2017 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471813, 200 mL) (S) - $29.95  92 pts  wine review

Read More

Tenuta di Renieri Chianti Classico 2020 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, organic Sangiovese from the Chianti Classico DOCG appellation that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month in the October 5th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Like the 2013 Tenuta di Renieri Chianti Classico that I enjoyed over six years ago, this red wine is produced by Bacci Wines, a family-owned winery with deep roots in Tuscany. It was established by Marco Bacci, who was born in Florence and embarked on a career path that took him through his family's business that specialized in clothing manufacturing to become an iconic fashion company in Italy. Marco also had a real estate company and acquired several properties, one of which was Castello di Bossi in 1984.

Oenology was a pleasant hobby for Marco, and in 1985 he bottled his first wine. For many years, Marco balanced his commitment to the fashion world with his passion for wine. In 1996, Marco decided to leave the fashion world and dedicate his heart and soul to the wine industry by focusing on the vine and wine. Over the next few years, he acquired estates in Brunello di Montalcino and Morellino di Scansano to complete the coverage of the three main Tuscan DOCGs.

Jacopo Bacci, son of Marco, was born in Florence in 1984, and after obtaining his diploma in scientific studies, he enrolled in the University of Enology in Florence. By 2004, while still studying oenology, Jacobo joined and expanded the family business by taking responsibility for the Italian, English, and German markets. He continued to expand the family's wine brand presence in North American and Asian markets.

Today, the mission of Bacci Wines is to offer their customers the opportunity to enjoy some of the world's best wines at any time and wherever they may be. Bacci Wines is made up of five estates across Tuscany's best territories covering more than 900 hectares of vineyards, while producing various styles of wines across a wide range of labels. The group of wineries are organic and powered by clean energy. The vision is to produce high-quality, organic wines across their entire portfolio. Bacci Wines firmly believes that by choosing an organic approach, they are able to safeguard the beauty and integrity of their land, while also ensuring extraordinary quality standards and an unparalleled tasting experience.

With several estates owned by Bacci Wines, this particular red wine is from their Tenuta di Renieri Estate, which is located in the municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southeast of the Chianti Classico territory. This property borders the lands of Castello di Bossi, one of Bacci's other estates, and covers approximately 60 hectares of land, of which 22 hectares are planted to vineyards. Specializing in the production of Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva, the Renieri estate's vineyards are situated 300 metres above sea-level and south-facing. The soil composition at Renieri varies from yellow clays to tuff, and is supported by a rounded stone skeleton that provides natural drainage.

The 2020 growing season in Chianti Classico was somewhat difficult due to the pandemic and a spring frost which reduced yields. However, the long, hot summer with good diurnal temperature variation and important rainfall in June and September led to an early harvest that resulted in ripe, fleshy, and fruit-filled red wines. The pandemic also allowed winegrowers to concentrate their efforts towards every aspect of cultivation, vineyard management, and production. Let's see how this 2020 Chianti Classico from Tuscany is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TENUTA DI RENIERI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#540849) (XD) - $22.95
Aged in wooden casks, this organic Sangiovese has a fragrant, medium-high intensity nose that is savoury and slightly reductive, which blows off and reveals a lovely, attractive mix of ripe red & black cherries, rose floral, savoury earth, and sweet spice aromas, plus whiffs crushed stone and blackberry adding further complexity. On the dry, medium+ bodied palate it has sour dark red cherry, black cherry, blackberry, savoury earth, and oak spice flavours. It has fresh, tangy acidity, while the smooth, supportive, and elegant tannins have good structure and a touch of grip on the back palate. Shows nice balance with savoury earth, mineral, and touches of oak spice lingering on the long, persistent, and juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Fine wines from other Bacci Wines estates are available not only at the LCBO, but can also be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Read More

La Chevalière Rasteau 2022 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Grenache-based blend from Rasteau that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month as part of the October 5 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

The La Chevalière label is a joint product between Les Grandes Serres and Rémy Ferbras. Both producers are based in the Rhône Valley and known for their expertise in crafting high-quality wines from the prestigious Southern Rhône Valley appellations. They use traditional winemaking techniques combined with modern practices to express the unique terroirs of the Rhône Valley. With sustainable vineyard practices, hand-harvesting, and meticulous sorting of grapes, both producers work with growers to ensure high-quality grapes are grown.

Like the 2017 La Chevalière Rasteau I enjoyed a few years ago, this red wine is a blend of four grapes led by Grenache. The 2022 vintage is, in fact, a blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah. The grapes were grown in the Rasteau Cru, a village located just north of Vaucluse county, between the valleys of Aigues and Ouvèze, in the Southern Rhône Valley. The area of Rasteau has a variety of terroirs, including red marl and sandstone, clay and limestone soils, and is covered with worn pebbles on the surface. After accumulating heat throughout the day, these pebbles are known for their ability to release all that heat at night, which in turn cools down the vines. The Mediterranean climate and diversity of terroirs in Rasteau offers an ideal environment for the wines to fully express their structured, generous, and powerful nature.

To vinify this Rhône red, the grapes were destemmed, softly crushed, and placed in temperature-controlled vats to undergo a three-week maceration with regular pumping-over and délestage (rack and return). After ageing, the different terroirs were blended together to achieve optimum balance for the very differentiated character of this Rasteau.

The 2022 growing season in the Southern Rhône was marked by intense heat and drought, with the year beginning as a dry winter that saw very little rain. It was followed by a spring that rapidly warmed up, although April did experience a fleeting cold snap. Even though temperatures continued to rise, budburst and flowering were a success. May was abnormally hot, while rain in June brought some relief. Heat and drought during the summer months kept rot and disease at bay, while humidity arrived in August, which revived the vines and benefited the red grape varieties Grenache and Syrah. Overall, grape quality is high in 2022. Let's see how this 2022 Rasteau from the Southern Rhône is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LA CHEVALIÈRE RASTEAU 2022 - AC, Rhône, France (#18502) (XD) - $23.95
This blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah has a ripe, bright, and lifted nose of medium-high to high intensity that delivers lovely red & black raspberry, blackberry, black cherry, and spice aromas surrounding a meaty, savoury, and mineral core. Some olive and Mediterranean herb aromas appear with time in the glass, adding further complexity. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has spicy, black and red berry fruited raspberry, cassis, savoury mineral, and earthy flavours with some plummy notes. Acids are fresh and tangy, while structured, grainy tannins have some chalky grip. Peppery spice with savoury earth and stony mineral notes linger on the long, grippy, and structured finish. Enjoyable now, and should drink well over the next 6-8 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from the producers of La Chevalière can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

Read More

Vietti Perbacco Nebbiolo 2020 (Piedmont) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent, vegan-friendly Nebbiolo from Piedmont that arrived at the LCBO last month in the September 21 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by the prestigious and historic Vietti winery, which was established at the end of the 1800s by Carlo Vietti in the heart of the Langhe wine region, on the highest point of the medieval village of Castiglione Falletto, where it continues to be located today.

In 1917, Mario Vietti, son of Carlo, returned after spending several years in the U.S. and took over the family farm and transformed it into a winemaking facility dedicated to the production of high quality wines. In the late-1950s, Luciana Vietti, daughter of Mario, and her husband and winemaker Alfredo Currado, who were both great admirers of art, brought the Vietti family to newer heights by intertwining winemaking knowledge, art, and culture.

With the ambition and foresight of Alfredo, one of the first Barolo Cru - Rocche di Castiglione - was born in 1961, and six years later the first Roero Arneis was born. In 1974, as Vietti wines were matched with artist labels, the Vietti brand became an icon and a standard-bearer of one of the most important revolutions of that time.

In the 1980s, the legacy of Luciana and Alfredo was taken over by their son-in-law, Mario Cordero, followed in the 1990s by their son Luca Currado Vietti, and accompanied by his wife, Elena. Under the leadership of the 4th generation of the Vietti family, the brand has grown today to be universally recognized among the best Italian labels with the core values of commitment, vision, culture, and enthusiasm. Vietti's road to quality combines respect for tradition and careful experimentation, where man and earth have always been able to dialogue.

In 2016, the Krause family purchased the winery and expanded the estate with new and renowned Crus in the denomination of both Barolo and Barbaresco. The Krause family is committed to safeguarding the identity and values that have characterized the Vietti brand since its origins, while also looking towards the future. Today, Vietti holds some of the most valuable and representative vineyards in the Barolo and Barbaresco areas. In total, they have 75 hectares of vineyards across Langhe, Roero, Asti, and Colli Tortonesi. The territory they inhabit, cultivate, take care of, and practice sustainability, has been recognized since 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a home for them and the vines.

Vietti has an Agronomic Manifesto with sustainability at its core. Since 2007, Vietti has been practicing sustainable vineyard management techniques. They resort to weeding, promoting biodiversity of the agricultural ecosystem, and minimizing the use of agricultural vehicles. Furthermore, they monitor the impact on the environment around them and act flexibly and adaptively.

With several ranges in the Vietti portfolio, this red wine is from their Classic range and is crafted with 100% Nebbiolo that was grown in selected vineyard sites mostly situated in the areas of Barolo and Barbaresco. To vinify this wine, the grapes underwent temperature-controlled (28°-32°C) alcoholic fermentation for 3-4 weeks, followed by malolactic fermentation in steel tanks and/or barriques. Each parcel is vinified and aged separately, followed by a selection of lots that will be used for this Langhe Nebbiolo, and those that will continue to be aged for Barolo Castiglione. After malolactic fermentation, further maturation takes place in barriques and large barrels for about 18-20 months, followed by blending in steel, and finally bottled.

The 2020 growing season in Piedmont was an earlier ripening vintage that began with a mild winter, a very wet spring, and followed by a warm summer. Crop size was slightly lower than average, while acidity levels were bright and demonstrated impressive complexity. Overall, the quality in Piedmont in 2020 is excellent, with Langhe Nebbiolo wines showcasing their elegance with rounded tannins. With a vintage that's believed to be even better than the powerful 2019 vintage for Nebbiolo, let's see how this 2020 Nebbiolo from Piedmont is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

VIETTI PERBACCO NEBBIOLO 2020 - Vegan, DOC Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (#15087) (XD) - $36.95
Clean, fragrant, and perfumed, the very attractive, highly aromatic nose is complex with red & black cherry, floral, underbrush, cinnamon, and fine sweet spice aromas, plus touches of tobacco and savoury earth. The medium-full bodied palate is impressively structured with ripe red berry, cherry, cranberry, savoury earth, and underbrush flavours with hints of oak spice and herbs. Acids are crisp, fresh, and juicy, while the dusty, structured tannins are approachable, yet age worthy. Some orange notes add further complexity to the red cherry, floral, and oak spice finish, with excellent length. Should drink nicely for at least a decade, probably more. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Small quantities of other fine wines by Vietti are available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

Read More