Southern Italy and Families of Australia - April 30 Vintages Release

This Saturday's Vintages Release at the LCBO focuses on the wine-making families of Australia and highlights some of Italy's southern regions. Good quality in this release, but the prices seem to be edging ever closely to $20. All 4 of my Whites picked below look fantastic - it will be a tough choice which one(s) to purchase. Enjoy making the decision!

Red Wine:

• NATIVA SINGLE VINEYARD GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Organically Grown, Maipo Valley, Chile (#975359) - $19.95
• VALLE REALE MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2007 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#216408) - $17.95
• FIRRIATO ETNA ROSSO 2008 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#219592) - $16.95
• LEONE DE CASTRIS SALICE SALENTINO ROSSO RISERVA 2006 - DOC, 50th Vintage, Puglia, Italy (#597534) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU DE FONTENELLES CUVÉE RENAISSANCE 2006 - AC Corbières, Midi, France (#148692) - $18.95

White Wine:

• NAIA VERDEJO 2009 - DO Rueda, Spain (#211045) - $18.95
• McWILLIAM'S MOUNT PLEASANT ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia (#225441) - $19.95
• BÉRES PREMIUM SELECTION LÖCSE TOKAJI FURMINT 2007 - Hungary (#200154) - $18.95
• MEINHARDT HUBE STEINBACH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Südsteiermark, Austria (#211094) - $19.95

Dessert Wine:

• CAMPBELLS RUTHERGLEN MUSCAT - Victoria, Australia (#225425) - $19.95 (375 mL)

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2010 Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling, Niagara - Review

Tonight's wine is a local Riesling from the Niagara Peninsula. It's also from the latest Vintages Release that partly focused on food & wine pairings for Easter dinners.

FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#080234) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Mineral, flowers, and honey aromas all follow through on the palate. Dry, soft, ripe and focused. Gorgeous with lots of flavour, and not over-bearing with sweetness. Had this tonight with chicken meatballs in curry.

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2009 Cave des Vignerons de Bel Air Beaujolais-Villages - Review

Opened this light, easy drinking Beaujolais - which was purchased from the latest LCBO Vintages Release - last night for guests who prefer red wines with little-to-no oak.

CAVE DES VIGNERONS DE BEL AIR BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2009 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#208058) - $13.95

Tasting Note:

Cherry, strawberry aromas and flavours. Some pepper notes. Finishes a touch smoky. Light-medium bodied with a medium-long finish. A lighter style of wine that appears unoaked and ready to drink now. Tasty!

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2008 Joseph Cattin Pinot Gris (Alsace, France) - Review

Purchased this one from the February 5th Vintages Release.

JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#196956) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
Subdued orange, melon aromas. Definitely didn't expect the peach, apple, spiced pear, fennel/licorice, and oak flavours. Intense spicy start, finishes smooth. Delicious! Having this tonight with one of my favourite Indian dishes: spinach. Yum!

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New Zealand & Easter - April 16th Vintages Release

Starting with this Release and going forward, I will also be posting my Wine Picks a few days prior to the Release date so you have some time review, prior to heading to your local LCBO outlet on Saturday. I hope you are enjoying my bi-weekly selections and reviews.

The upcoming Vintages Release on Saturday, April 16th spotlights New Zealand and the upcoming Easter festivities.

My 2 Sauv Blanc picks from NZ are not your typical gooseberry/nettle/grassy/lemon/lime-style - they are different and definitely worth a look. There are also numerous reds that provide great value and will go well at get-togethers during Easter long weekend (and on many occasions this summer). Cheers!

Red Wine:

• OSCAR'S ESTATE VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2008 - Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia (#225631) - $15.95
• BARONIA DEL MONTSANT FLOR D'ENGLORA ROURE 2009 - DO Montsant, Spain (#210989) - $15.95
• VILLA MATILDE ROCCA DEI LEONI AGLIANICO 2007 - IGT Campania, Italy (#165035) - $19.95
• CASAS DEL BOSQUE RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2009 - Rapel Valley, Chile (#205872) - $13.95
• APOLLONIO VALLE CUPA 2004 - IGT Salento Rosso, Puglia, Italy (#084046) - $17.95
• LONE KAURI RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#214858) - $16.95
• CAVE DES VIGNERONS DE BEL AIR BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2009 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#208058) - $13.95
• GROVE STREET CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#161190) - $15.00

White Wine:

• JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#224428) - $18.95
• FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2009 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#080234) - $16.95
• GIESEN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - The Brothers Land, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#223180) - 14.95

Rosé Wine:

• CHÂTEAU VAL JOANIS TRADITION SYRAH ROSÉ 2009 - AC Luberon, Rhône, France (#707281) - $14.95

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2008 Kacaba Escarpment Cabernet/Syrah - Review

Received this from a friend last week who was at Kacaba Vineyards hosting an event that I was, unfortunately, unable to attend due to short notice. But, she graciously brought back this red wine for me.

Tasting Note:
Aromas of plum and raisin when opening. Crushed red berries, earth, barnyard, oak aromas in the glass. Currant, smoky, and light, new oak on the palate. Chalky tannins. Medium-bodied. Ripe and ready-to-drink. Overall, this red makes a nice impression, but something seems to be lacking that would make it an "exceptional" wine.

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Burgundy & South Africa - April 2nd Vintages Release

Today's Vintages Release focuses on wines from Burgundy (France) and South Africa. There are some quality wines in this release, but for the most part, I found it a little weak among Reds. For white wine lovers, there are quite a few nice backyard on-the-patio sippers. Enjoy!


Red Wine:

• CHÂTEAU LA VERRIÈRE 2008 - AC Bordeaux Supérieur, France (#199000) - $14.95
• HENRY OF PELHAM GAMAY 2009 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#291112) - $14.95
• PISANO RÍO DE LOS PÁJAROS RESERVE TANNAT 2008 - AO Progreso, Uruguay (#222141) - $16.95
• ROUX PÈRE & FILS CÔTE DE BEAUNE-VILLAGES 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#208520) - $17.95
• THE OAK VALLEY BLEND 2005 - WO Elgin, South Africa (#214361) - $16.95
• OLIVARES ALTOS DE LA HOYA MONASTRELL 2008 - Do Jumilla, Spain (#163154) - $13.95

White Wine:

• DOMAINE SAINT-SATURNIN DE VERGY BOURGOGNE HAUTES CÔTES DE NUITS BLANC 2009 - AC, Burgundy, France (#128686) - $18.95
• CATTAIL CREEK CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2009 - VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#222257) - $17.20
• CHÂTEAU LA GRAVE D'ARZAC BLANC 2009 - AC Graves, Bordeaux, France (#206714) - $14.95
• SAN FELICE PEROLLA VERMENTINO 2009 - IGT Maremma Toscana, Italy (#222802) - $15.95

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