Château Ampélia 2005 (Bordeaux) - Bottle 3 of 3 Wine Review

To ring in the New Year, I decided to open this red wine that turns 10 years old in 2015.

This is the last of the 3 bottles I purchased from the VINTAGES Bordeaux Futures program way back in February of 2006. The 2nd bottle of this wine was opened in March 2012. At that point in time, I commented that the tannins could have used more time to soften. Let's see how this red wine has evolved over the last (nearly) 3 years.

The 2009 vintage (#191171) of this wine was released in VINTAGES on Sept 28, 2013, with small quantities surprisingly still available.

CHÂTEAU AMPÉLIA 2005 - AC Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux, France (#500330) (XD) - $20

Tasting Note:
Blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Wood and black plum aromas from the cork. Medium+ intensity aromas from the glass with aromas of dark currant, black plum, earth, wood and hints of dried herbs. Palate is medium+ bodied with a flavour profile that is quite complex - dried herb, clove flavours up front, followed by blackberry, currant, cedar, floral notes. Some prune and dried figs notes with air. Lengthy finish has clove, cocoa and oak flavours. Shows good balanced, acidity still quite fresh, while drying tannins have integrated very nicely. Could be aged another couple of years, but highly drinkable right now. Score: 89+ pts

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Parés Baltà Brut Cava (Spain) - Wine Review

Opened this organic sparkling wine from Spain tonight to celebrate Christmas with the family. Available by consignment only from Trialto Wine Group.

PARÉS BALTÀ BRUT CAVA - DO Catalunya, Spain (#661586) (XD) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
Non-vintage, organic sparkling wine made using 58% Parellada, 25% Macabeo and 17% Xarel-lo. Lifted nose featuring leesy, green apple and toast aromas. Medium+ bodied with green apple, lemon peel, green melon, wild herb, and yeasty flavours with hints of sweetness. Balanced mousse. Dry, mineral and lime finish that is medium in length. Serve nicely chilled. Score: 88 pts

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Pillitteri Chardonnay Icewine 2007 (Niagara) - Wine Review

To celebrate Christmas Eve, I opened this Icewine that was first tasted last January during the Icewine Festival. This delicious Icewine is only available at the winery, but can be ordered online via their website.

PILLITTERI CHARDONNAY ICEWINE 2007 - VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#) (S) (375 mL) - $60.10

Tasting Note:
Hints of honeysuckle aromas from the cork. In the glass, sweet aromas of honeysuckle, lemon meringue, apricot of medium intensity. Palate is medium+ bodied with a slightly viscous mouthfeel and very nice aroma replays. It's sweet, but balanced acids keep it in check. Lengthy finish that is showing nutty, caramel, pear, and melon notes. Some interesting orangey flavours on the 2nd pour. Delicious. Score: 90 pts

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Herdade do Sobroso Sobro Red 2012 (Portugal) - Wine Review

Opened this delicious red wine last night. It was purchased from the July 19 VINTAGES release and tiny quantities are still available at the LCBO.

HERDADE DO SOBROSO SOBRO RED 2012 - Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal (#306563) (D) - $14.95

Tasting Note:
Blend of 30% Aragonez, 30% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Syrah. Plummy aromas from the cork. In the glass, it has medium intensity aromatics with notions of purple flowers, blackberries, clove and new cedar oak with pleasing replays on the palate. Some meaty and dried herb notes as well. Spicy mid-palate, balanced acids and a smooth, lengthy finish. Firm, grippy tannins will soften in a year or two, but highly drinkable right now. Score: 88+ pts

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Southbrook Transitions (Niagara) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wines are from Southbrook Vineyards' and appropriately part of their "Transitions" line as they are all currently undergoing transition to organic certification. All of the grapes for these wines were handpicked. These wines are available to licensees only, via Trialto Wine Group - look for them in restaurants, as they are not available at the LCBO.

Tasting Notes:
SOUTHBROOK TRANSITIONS CABERNET FRANC ROSÉ 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (D) - $13
Stelvin screw cap. Handpicked from 3 vineyards in Niagara, of which 1% is Gamay. Fresh strawberry, bing cherry and earthy aromas from the glass. It's medium-bodied with balanced acids on the palate with red fruit, cherry and strawberry flavours with some sweetness. Soft, rounded, medium-length finish. Simple and easy drinking. Score: 86 pts

SOUTHBROOK TRANSITIONS CHARDONNAY 2013 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $13
Stelvin screw cap. 100% Chardonnay, handpicked from Sabourin Vineyards. Spring flowers, lime and pear aromas of medium intensity from the glass. Medium-full bodied with honeyed fruit flavours followed by pear, tropical fruit, lemon, and butter notes. Balanced acids and decent length on the dry finish. Score: 87 pts

SOUTHBROOK TRANSITIONS CABERNET FRANC 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#) (XD) - $13
Stelvin screw cap. Contains 15% Gamay. Medium intensity aromas and bretty with green pepper and cedar nose. It's medium+ bodied with medium+ level tannins and fresh acids. Dark currant, black cherry, vanilla and toasted oak flavour profile. Dry, bitter, lasting finish. Score: 88 pts

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Miguel Torres Ibéricos Crianza 2010 (Spain) - Wine Review

Somehow I missed posting this red wine review of a bottle I opened a couple of Fridays ago. The 2011 vintage of this wine was released in VINTAGES in September and is still quite readily available in stores.

MIGUEL TORRES IBÉRICOS CRIANZA 2010 - DOC Rioja, Spain (#381046) (XD) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
100% Tempranillo. Woodsy, cedar and currant aromas from the cork. Medium-intensity aromas featuring sour cherry, wet earth, berry, and sweet spice aromas with much of the same, fruit-forward flavours on the palate. It's medium-bodied and dry with fresh acids and ripe tannins. Balanced oak is definitely in the background. Decent length on the finish that shows hints of prune. Easy drinking, well-made, weekday wine. Score: 87 pts

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Parés Baltà Calcari 2013 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine is organic & biodynamic and comes from a family-owned winery with traditions dating back to 1970 (although you wouldn't have guessed it given the very modern look of the label.) It is available by Consignment only via Trialto Wine Group.

PARÉS BALTÀ CALCARI 2013 - DO Penedès, Spain (#781286) (XD) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Made using 100% Xarel-lo, a grape traditionally used to make Cava. Screw cap. Medium intensity nose with lemony and grapefruit aromas. Medium-full bodied with very chalky, mineral mouthfeel with tarty lemon, grapefruit pith and salty flavours on the dry palate. Fresh, balanced acids and a long, tart finish. Would serve this with oily foods such as fish & chips. Score: 87 pts

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