First image of this post
  • Date publishedSaturday, April 29, 2023

Pittacum Val de la Osa Mencía 2017 (Spain) - Wine Review

red wine review is this lovely Mencía from DO Bierzo in Spain that is brand new to the LCBO, arriving on shelves across the province as part the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Viñedos y Bodegas Pittacum, one of four member wineries that make up Grupo Terras Gauda. Present in four of Spain's principal wine regions, Terras Gauda has established itself as one of the Spain's top winemaking groups. Their main objective is to produce high quality wines with unique personalities, using noble varieties grown in ideal conditions, and vinified according to the area's tradition and crafted with the most advanced technology and the utmost care.

Acquired by Terras Gauda in 2002, Viñedos y Bodegas Pittacum is located in Arganza, a town with a longstanding vine-growing and winemaking heritage, and nestled in the beautiful landscape of the Bierzo. The Denomination of Origin Bierzo is located in the northwest of León province, in the north western part of Spain. Bierzo covers 18% of the total surface area of the province borders the provinces of Orense, Lugo, Oviedo, and is in an area of transition between Galicia, León, and Asturias. The Bierzo is a series of small valleys within this mountainous area, while the lower Bierzo is a vast and flat depression, and each area determines the crop types.

Since Pittacum first opened, it's mission has been to create wines with personality and bearing a unique stamp, without losing sight of the hallmark features of the Mencía variety and the local area and climate. They are committed to wines of personality, reliability, and quality.

The area where Pittacum is located has a very special micro-climate - its mild, calm, and rather temperate climate is regulated by a humidity similar to the humidity of Galicia. It also boasts the dryness of Castilla which helps maintain water balance. Situated at low altitude, this prevents late frosts on the whole, which also makes it mild enough for early grape harvesting that generally takes place a month earlier than the rest of Castilla and Rioja.

The soils in mountains of Bierzo are a a mixture of refined elements, quartzite, chalks, while in the lowland areas of the valleys the soils are enriched by the continuous benefits of the soil on the slopes. The vineyards in the Bierzo region are situated primarily on damp black and slightly acidic soils, and as such lack the carbonates typical of humid climates. One of the defining factors for the quality of grapes is their location. As such, the vines are situated on slightly inclined terraces closest to rivers, on semi-terraced slopes, or in vineyards with pronounced inclination and at altitudes between 450 and 1,000 metres.

To craft their wines, they use grapes from their own 5 hectares of excellent old vines, as well as sourcing the finest old vine grapes (between 50 and 80 years old) from growers in different parts of Bierzo while monitoring their development all year round as scrupulously as in our own vineyards. The Pittacum project is based on the Mencía (Men-thee-ah) variety, a rare grape variety with great potential that is only grown in two places: northwestern Spain and the northern half of Portugal.

Crafted with 100% Mencía, the Val de la Osa is born out of an ancient vineyard and land where the Mencía variety has been grown for centuries. It is a wine that speaks of the land and the conditions in which it was grown and the vines taken care of. The Mencía vines were grown on sloping, well-drained, moderately fertile, deep-seated, loamy-soil terrain. The grapes were harvested from 60+ year old vines and carefully destemmed and sorted, bunch by bunch, on the sorting table. It was fermented in temperature-controlled tanks for 20 days and then aged for 12 months in 1-year-old French oak barrels. Let's see how this 2017 Mencía from Bierzo is tasting tonight...

Pittacum Val de la Osa Mencía 2017 (91+ pts)

Tasting Note:

PITTACUM VAL DE LA OSA MENCÍA 2017 - Old vines, enclave singular, DO Bierzo, Spain (#31200) (XD) - $28.95
From 60+ year old vines, this 100% Mencía has intriguing earthy black mineral aromas which are joined by black and blue berry fruit, plus touches of violet, black plum, olive, and spice adding complexity to the bouquet. On the medium-full bodied, dry palate it offers lovely black and blue fruit, earthy black mineral, spice, and violet replays on the flavour profile. It's supported by fresh, bright, acidity and smooth, well-structured, and fine-grained tannins. Savoury minerals with black and blue fruits linger on the long, balanced finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Pittacum can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.


First image of this post
  • Date publishedWednesday, April 26, 2023

Giacomo Mori Chianti 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

red wine review is this lovely Chianti from the classic European wine region of Tuscany that is part of the theme in this weekend's LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and should be widely available across Ontario by this , if not a day or two earlier.

It is crafted by Giacomo Mori, a wine producer located in the village of Palazzone, in the southeast corner of Tuscany, east of San Casciano dei Bagni, just outside of the Chianti Classico zone. The story of Giacomo Mori begins at the end of the 18th century when they were in the marketing business of processed, aged, and bottled wine from the cellars of Palazzone and Chiusi. Unfortunately, these activities slowed with the onset of World War I and eventually ceased during the economic crisis of 1927. Giovanni Mori, the son of Giacomo, started winemaking activities with his sons in 1970 and sold their wines mostly in tanks and demijohns.

With a renewed focus on making quality wines, in 1995 they began planting new vineyards with careful selection of varieties, clones, and vineyard layout. Over the next 15 years, Giacomo Mori renovated their cellars in Palazzone, as well as renovated the original building. Winemaking activities were moved to steel containers and ageing in oak barrels, as well as inside the "barriques", old containers dug in the tuff of which the ancient grottoes (caves) are made. A constant temperature of 12°C is maintained in the area set aside for ageing.

Today, this small estate has 10 hectares of land with south-southeast exposure to the sun. The planting density is 4500-5000 vines/hectare, and the vines are trained using the "cordone speronato" (pruned-spur cordon-trained) system. The main variety planted is Sangiovese, which makes up 75% of their total production. 12% of their production is devoted to Merlot, while the remainder is a mix of international and indigenous red and white grape varieties. All of the grapes are harvested manually and beginning with the 2019 vintage, all of their wines are certified organic. Emiliano Falsini is the consultant oenologist and works closely with Giacomo Mori.

I last enjoyed the 2015 Giacomo Mori Chianti about four years ago and like previous vintages, this red wine from Chianti continues to be a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo. It was fermented at controlled temperatures in 40-60 hectolitre stainless steel containers, followed by ageing for 10 to 12 months in 20 hectolitre Slavonian and Allier oak barrels, as well of 5 hectolitre tonneaux and third-use barriques. From the excellent 2018 vintage across Tuscany, let's see how this 2018 Chianti is tasting tonight...

Giacomo Mori Chianti 2018 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2018 - Palazzone, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo. The intensely fragrant and perfumed nose offers lovely aromas of dark red cherries, baking spices, clove, and savoury earth with hints of dried herbs. It's medium+ bodied on the palate, with impressive weight and delicious tangy red and black cherry, spice, clove, rose floral, and savoury earth flavours. Quite elegant, refined, and nicely balanced throughout with fresh acidity and supple, slightly chalky tannins. Red cherry notes are joined by smoky minerals plus touches of orange and rose floral on the long, fresh finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Giacomo Mori can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.


First image of this post
  • Date publishedWednesday, April 26, 2023

April 29, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Classic European Regions

LCBO Wine Picks: April 29, 2023 VINTAGES New Release Collection
Here are my top wine picks from the April 29, 2023 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection which is titled "Fine Wines from Classic European Regions". Also included in the printed magazine is a sneak preview of the next release which will be the return of the monthly "Online & Flagship Exclusives" only release, with no associated in-store release. All of the wines from the last release of April should be in stores across Ontario by Saturday.

We begin with the theme on wines from classic European wine regions that features nineteen wines, of which eight are included among my top wine picks. Can you guess the eight classic European wine regions that span three countries featured in the theme? They are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Rhône Valley, Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto, and Rioja. From France, the Rhône Valley wines are the Châteauneuf-du-Pape which is crafted with 58% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre, and 2% other permitted varieties, while the Côtes du Rhône is mainly Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. The white Burgundy from France is made with Chardonnay, while the white wine from Piedmont is made with the indigenous Cortese varietal. From Tuscany, the Chianti is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo, while the Cepparello Super Tuscan is 100% Sangiovese. From Veneto, the Amarone consists of 47% Corvina, 39% Corvinone, 6% Rondinella, and 8% other varieties. And lastly, the 2015 Rioja is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano, while the 2018 Rioja which is also the Wine of the Month is crafted with 100% Tempranillo.

Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2020 (89 pts)Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc 2020

Giacomo Mori Chianti 2018 (91 pts)Isole e Olena Cepparello 2019

Barón de Ley Gran Reserva 2015 (92+ pts)Marqués de Cáceres Excellens Cuvée Especial Colección Privada Crianza 2018

The only blend among my red wine recommendations from the main release is the Syrah from Chile that actually consists of 90% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Viognier. Otherwise, there is a nice variety of other red wines to check out, such as a pair of Cabernet Franc wines - one from Niagara and one from Argentina. There is also a Pinot Noir from Niagara, a Malbec from Argentina, and a Mencía from Bierzo in Spain.

Montes Alpha Syrah 2020Pittacum Val de la Osa Mencía 2017 (91+ pts)

Cave Spring Estate Grown Cabernet Franc 2020

Among my white wine picks, it was a somewhat surprisingly small release of white wines and all of my recommendations are mono-varietal wines. Dry white wines include a pair of Sauvignon Blanc wines - one from Chile and the other from New Zealand, as well as a Viognier from Australia, and the Riesling from Austria. If you like your wines a little sweet, the Riesling from Niagara is a perennial favourite!

Tawse Sketches of Niagara Riesling 2021

Both rosé wine recommendations are dry in style and predominantly made with Grenache, with the Tavel composed of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Clairette, and 10% Cinsault, while the rose wine from California is Grenache-based and blended with Syrah and Carignan.

Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

  • CAVE SPRING ESTATE GROWN CABERNET FRANC 2020 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#523001) (XD) - $19.95
  • XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
  • LA POSTA FAZZIO MALBEC 2020 - Sustainable, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (#444687) (XD) - $19.95
  • MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES EXCELLENS CUVÉE ESPECIAL COLECCIÓN PRIVADA CRIANZA 2018 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#10684) (XD) - $19.95
  • MONTES ALPHA SYRAH 2020 - DO Valle de Colchagua, Chile (#612) (XD) - $20.95
  • FABRE MONTMAYOU RESERVA CABERNET FRANC 2021 - Mendoza, Argentina (#492736) (XD) - $21.95

  • GIACOMO MORI CHIANTI 2018 - Palazzone, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#68858) (XD) - $23.95  91 pts  wine review
  • PITTACUM VAL DE LA OSA MENCÍA 2017 - Old vines, enclave singular, DO Bierzo, Spain (#31200) (XD) - $28.95  91+ pts  wine review
  • LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE PINOT NOIR 2020 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#33894) (XD) - $29.95
  • BARÓN DE LEY GRAN RESERVA 2015 - Vegan, DOCa Rioja, Spain (#642496) (XD) - $34.95  92+ pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE DES SÉNÉCHAUX CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#677922) (XD) - $63.95
  • BRIGALDARA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2017 - Sustainable, DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#300012) (XD) - $78.95
  • ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2019 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#12818) (XD) - $159.95

White Wine:

  • YALUMBA ORGANIC VIOGNIER 2021 - Vegan, sustainable, South Australia (#288217) (XD) - $16.95
  • LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Coastal vineyards, DO Valle de Leyda, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $17.95
  • TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA RIESLING 2021 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#89029) (M) - $19.95
  • FONTANAFREDDA GAVI DI GAVI 2021 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#366948) (XD) - $23.95
  • STADT KREMS STEINTERRASSEN RIESLING 2021 - Sustainable, DAC Kremstal, Austria (#30595) (XD) - $24.95
  • FRAMINGHAM SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#606848) (XD) - $24.95
  • NICOLAS POTEL BOURGOGNE HAUTES CÔTES DE BEAUNE BLANC 2020 - AC, Burgundy, France (#29712) (XD) - $34.95

Rosé Wine:

  • ANGELS & COWBOYS ROSÉ 2022 - Sonoma County, California, USA (#493155) (XD) - $24.95
  • CHÂTEAU D'AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2022 - AP, Rhône, France (#319368) (XD) - $24.95


First image of this post
  • Date publishedSaturday, April 22, 2023

Southside Fizz by Aloette (Ontario) - Cocktail Review

cocktail review is a delicious, brand new, ready-to-drink cocktail that just arrived at the LCBO. It is produced locally in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is widely available across the province now.

Southside Fizz by Aloette is a mojito-esque twist on the classic Southside cocktail where London Dry Gin (plus Vodka according to the ingredients) is mixed with lime juice, muddled mint, and a hint of fresh cucumber to create a cool and refreshing carbonated cocktail that is light and citrusy on the palate, and enjoyed chilled or over ice.

It was created by Aloette, a neighbourhood bistro located in downtown Toronto and imagined by Alo Food Group. At Aloette, they take pride in using only the finest ingredients to create the perfectly crafted cocktail. Let's see how this new Southside Fizz cocktail by Aloette is tasting tonight...

Southside Fizz by Aloette

Tasting Note:

SOUTHSIDE FIZZ BY ALOETTE - Ontario, Canada (#31248) (355 mL) - $2.95
It smells very fresh with hints of cucumber, lime, and mint, all of which is echoed on the very fresh and flavourful palate, joined by some savoury London Dry Gin notes on the finish. It's not very sweet, while the carbonated bubbles add to the overall freshness. Chill and enjoy! Perfect for sipping on hot summer days and a recommended buy!


First image of this post
  • Date publishedFriday, April 21, 2023

Anatolikos Vineyards (Greece) - Winemaker's Dinner

Anatolikos Winemaker's Dinner - Main Course
Back in , I enjoyed the fine wines of Anatolikos Vineyards with winemaker Sakis Nikolaidis at the new (and very secluded) Vintage Conservatory location in Yorkville, downtown Toronto. The wines were paired with a specially prepared 4-course dinner and hosted by Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits, the agency who represents the wines of Anatolikos Vineyards.

Anatolikos Vineyards was established in 2005 by brothers Sakis and Marios Nikolaidis. The Nikolaidis brothers are from Xanthi in northeastern Greece and experienced businessmen in the field of gastronomy. Their vineyard is located in the Avdira area of Xanthi, which is in the Thrace region of Greece. The city of Avdira is known from the ancient times as a city of initiative. In this same spirit in the year 2000, the Nikolaidis brothers began the revival of a famous ancient vineyard and in 2005 Anatolikos Vineyards started farming Greek and foreign grape varieties on the site.

The vineyard is located on the dry hills of Avdira at an elevation of 50-70 metres above sea level, approximately 3 km north of the Thrace Sea, and features sandy soils, continuous cool winds, and Avdira's micro-climate which is great for growing high quality grapes. Avdira's micro-climate offers an ideal environment for the cultivation of grapes as it experiences very little, but necessary, rainfall, while the evenings have low temperatures. The thermal amplitude between warm days and cool nights is about 13-15°C.

Today, Anatolikos Vineyards has 10 varietal and regional wines in their portfolio, all certified organic, vegan, and vegetarian, and continues to develop and expand the vineyard. The wines are grown according to the principals of bio-agriculture, cultivating traditional grape varieties from the lands of Avdira and Thrace, highlighting the history and interest of the wider region. One of the more interesting facts I learned from Sakis is that their wines are aged outdoors in clay amphorae for 270 days. They also continue to develop the distribution channels in Greece and overseas. In Canada, the lovely wines of Anatolikos Vineyards are available via Kolonaki.

Thank you to the team at Kolonaki for a lovely evening and the opportunity to taste these fine, certified vegan and organic wines from Greece. All five wines were great and really complemented the food pairings very nicely. Full reviews of each wine is provided below and all of the Anatolikos Vineyards wines can be purchased through Kolonaki Fine Wines & Spirits.

Anatolikos Winemaker's Dinner - AppetizerAnatolikos Winemaker's Dinner - Second Course

Anatolikos Winemaker's Dinner - Dessert

Tasting Notes:

ANATOLIKOS FINE ASSYRTIKO 2021 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $34.95
Aged for 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels, this Assyrtiko has an elegant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is leesy with citrus, herbs, and earthy mineral aromas. On the medium-bodied, well-structured palate, it is fleshy and gains weight in the mouth with pleasing aroma replays, plus salty notes on the ripe flavour profile. With balanced acidity, it is nicely textured on the mid-palate, continuing on the long finish with touches of vanilla and butter. Score: 90+ pts

Anatolikos Fine Assyrtiko 2021 (90+ pts)Anatolikos Malagousia 2021 (91 pts)

ANATOLIKOS MALAGOUSIA 2021 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $32.95
Fermented with indigenous yeast and spending some time in French oak barrels, this Malagousia has a lovely, fragrant, highly aromatic nose featuring aromas of anise, wild herbs, chamomile, some citrus, and touches of sweet oak. It's medium-full bodied on the nicely textured, dry palate with lovely, flavourful replays joined by floral notes. It's well-structured with good acidity, and very good length on the finish. Score: 91 pts

ANATOLIKOS ORANGE WINE 2019 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $61.95
Blend of 80% Assyrtiko and 20% Malagousia that was grown on sandy hills with stony subsoil at a distance of 3 km from the sea. This skin-fermented white (aka orange wine) was fermented in amphora with native yeasts. It offers a medium+ intensity nose with aromas of tea leaf, orange citrus, herbs, and spices. It's medium-full to full-bodied and harmonious with lovely, dry aroma replays, and nicely textured with a chalky mouthfeel. Impressively concentrated and a lingering finish. Score: 92 pts

Anatolikos Orange Wine 2019 (92 pts)

ANATOLIKOS MV MAVROUDI OF THRACE 2018 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $36.95
Organically grown blend of 60% Mavroudi, 20% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was fermented with native yeasts and aged for 10 months in French oak barrels. The fragrant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose is spicy with dark currant, dark berry, cassis, and blackberry aromas. On the medium-full to full-bodied palate it is structured with mildly grippy, yet smooth tannins balanced with fresh, juicy acidity. It has nicely balanced aroma replays on the flavour profile with a tinge of cocoa on the long finish. Score: 91+ pts

Anatolikos MV Mavroudi of Thrace 2018 (91+ pts)Anatolikos Fine Mavroudi of Thrace 2019 (93 pts)

ANATOLIKOS FINE MAVROUDI OF THRACE 2019 - PGI Avdira, Greece (XD) - $49.95
Organically grown 100% Mavroudi, this has an elegant, medium-high to highly aromatic nose of spices, pepper spice, ripe dark berry, blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. It's medium-full to full-bodied on the palate with appealing ripe currant, pepper spice, and green herbal flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and smooth, refined tannins. Elegant and nicely balanced throughout, with excellent length on the finish. Score: 93 pts


First image of this post
  • Date publishedWednesday, April 19, 2023

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2021 (Loire) - Wine Review

After the enjoying the beautiful 2020 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre over the weekend, white wine review is its excellent companion that also arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on .

It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of the most highly regarded wine producers in Sancerre and the Loire Valley. The Roger family comes from long-line of of winegrowers in the village of Bué, with the family name first mentioned in the 17th century. Until the 1960s, the family practiced mixed farming which included animal rearing.

In the 1970s, Jean-Max Roger took over the 4 hectares of vines from his parents and together with his wife, Nicole, they focused on developing the vineyards and the estate. Their passion and love for wine and terroir was naturally passed on to their sons, Thibault and Etienne, and in 2004 both joined the family estate. The brothers complement each other, perpetuating their family's know-how and techniques to improve their wines with each passing vintage. Today, the estate covers 28 hectares of vines in the Sancerre appellation, and 6 hectares in Menetou-Salon, with more than 40 plots that offer exceptional diversity of exposure, slope, and soil profiles. This diversity, combined with the Roger family's winemaking expertise, allows each wine to express all of the uniqueness of their terroirs through their structure, elegance, and finesse.

I've enjoyed this Sancerre Blanc many times over the years, including most recently the 2020 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre back in September. It is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in ancestral plots in the village of Bué, in Grand Chemarin and neighbouring vineyards with identical agronomic characteristics. It gets its name "Cuvée Genèse" because this is the wine that has shaped the tastes of several generations of the Roger family and it is the genesis of the estate.

The Sauvignon Blanc vines are between 10-40 years old and planted on stony, limestone, and calcareous soils called "caillottes" with south-eastern exposure to the sun. Like other wines in the portfolio, the vineyards are managed according to organic principles to produce grapes that reveal its terroir. At the winery, the wines are produced to reflect the fruitiness and density of the vintage. The grapes are immediately pneumatically pressed upon arrival at the winery, then cold settled for between 48 and 72 hours. It undergoes a long, temperature-controlled fermentation using natural yeasts, followed by ageing on heavy lees. After fining and filtration, the wine is bottled at the estate. From a challenging 2021 growing season, let's see how this Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre is tasting tonight...

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Genèse Sancerre 2021 (92+ pts)

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE GENÈSE SANCERRE 2021 - AC, Loire, France (#189126) (XD) - $37.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh, fragrant, and intensely aromatic with impressive depth, it has lovely aromas of lemon citrus, white floral, flinty-earthy minerality, pear, quince, and melon. On the dry, medium-full bodied palate it has very good concentration with ripe, lightly honeyed flavours of citrus, pear, quince, and flinty-earthy-leesy minerality. It's supported by fresh, crisp, and lively acidity, and a pleasing textural mouthfeel on the mid-palate. Leesy minerality with citrus, quince, and pear notes linger on the very long, crisp finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92+ pts

Other lovely wines by Jean-Max Roger can be purchased at the LCBO or through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.


First image of this post
  • Date publishedSunday, April 16, 2023

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2020 (Loire) - Wine Review

white wine review is this beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Jean-Max Roger, one of my favourite Loire Valley wine producers. The Roger family comes from a long-line of winegrowers in the village of Bué, which is located just west and a little south of the town of Sancerre. The first mention of the Roger family name dates back to the 17th century and up until the 1960s, the Roger family practiced mixed farming with animal rearing. In the 1970s, Jean-Max Roger took over the 4 hectares of vines from his parents and together with his wife, Nicole, they focused on developing the vineyards and the estate.

Today, Jean-Max Roger is one of the most highly regarded wine producers in Sancerre and the Loire Valley. Their passion and love for wine and terroir was naturally passed on to their sons, Thibault and Etienne, and in 2004 both joined the family estate. The brothers complement each other, perpetuating their family's know-how and techniques to improve their wines with each passing vintage. The estate covers 28 hectares of vines in the Sancerre appellation, and 6 hectares in Menetou-Salon, with more than 40 plots that offer exceptional diversity of exposure, slope, and soil profiles. This diversity, combined with the Roger family's winemaking expertise, allows each wine to express all of the uniqueness of their terroirs through their structure, elegance, and finesse.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of this lovely white wine from Sancerre, including most recently the 2019 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre last September. It is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in the famous vineyards of Saint Martin, L'Epée, and others, within the villages of Bué, Amigny, and Sancerre. Most importantly, this is a terroir-focused wine where all of the grapes were grown on limestone soils called "caillottes", and hence, where the wine gets its name from. The grapes have southern and south-western exposure to the sun. The vines are between 6-40 years of age and were managed according to organic principles to produce grapes that reveal its terroir. After harvesting, the grapes are brought to the winery and immediately pneumatically pressed and cold settled for between 48 and 72 hours. It undergoes a long, temperature-controlled fermentation using natural yeasts, followed by ageing on heavy lees. After fining and filtering, the wine is bottled at the estate using their own facilities.

The 2020 growing season was the warmest ever recorded in the Loire Valley. However, periods of intense rain helped fully replenish the soils. March and April were alternately warm and cool, while late April and May were warm; July began cool, but turned very warm, while August was hot. There were some welcomed rains at the end of August, leading to fine September weather. Overall, 2020 is an excellent vintage with wines having concentration, freshness, and poise. Let's see how this 2020 Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre is tasting tonight...

Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Les Caillottes Sancerre 2020 (93 pts)

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE LES CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2020 - AC, Loire, France (#65573) (XD) - $35.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh, fragrant, open, and highly aromatic on the nose with lovely lemon citrus, quince, pear, and spring flower aromas with a fine, flinty mineral underpinning. It is medium to medium-full bodied on the well-structured, dry, and ripe palate with deliciously elegant lemon citrus, stone fruit, apple, quince, and pear replays, plus spicy notes, herbs, and flinty mineral flavours. It is impeccably well-balanced throughout with crisp, juicy acidity, while minerally, herbal, and stone fruit characters linger on the finish, with excellent length. Wow. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Other lovely wines by Jean-Max Roger can be purchased at the LCBO or through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.


Featured Post

December 14, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Bubbles

Blog Archive

Posts by Tag

Tezza Valpolicella Ripasso Valpantena Superiore 2020

La Ferme du Mont Le Ponnant Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2022

Recent Posts

Recent Posts Widget