Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
Purchased this white wine from a Vintages release last November and opened it Sunday night for a Thanksgiving dinner with roasted chicken. I was expecting good things and it definitely lived up to my expectations! If you like wines on the sweeter side of things, then you'll enjoy this one. My guests certainly enjoyed this one as well, as there was very little remaining for the second day.
I can't wait to open the 2008 vintage, which is also in my rack, because it is even better than the 2009. I can only hope you picked up either one (or both!) of these wines when I recommended them, as neither the '08 or '09 are available at the LCBO any longer. However, I predict the '10 and/or '11 vintage may be in Vintages soon.
Screw cap. Medium-high intense aromas of slate, honeyed pear, floral, petrol, and minerals. Medium sweetness with zippy acidity that rushes across the palate and has very nice aroma replays. Slightly chalky mouthfeel. Finishes long and smooth with a honeyed tinge. Gorgeous! It paired well with the homemade oven roasted chicken. Score: 90 pts
This was my first time visiting Soho House, and I must say that this place is quite discreet with the lack of signs, sitting at the corner of Adelaide and Simcoe. I ended up walking once around the building before realizing it was the venue. I also arrived there a little late due to a prior commitment and came in to Francisco speaking to attendees about Errázuriz's Max Reserva line of wines.
I was able to catch up to the rest of group rather quickly by tasting only two of Errázuriz's entry-level Estate wines (for some reason the Sauvignon Blanc did not show up). Neither of the Estate wines were interesting for my palate, but they were good for what they are - basic, entry level wines that will please many palates. Going up a notch is the Max Reserva line, featuring hand-picked grapes and higher-quality control standards. The results from this extra care can be seen in the Savvy and Syrah, while not so much in the Cab Sauv - you can see my wine reviews below.
Last and definitely not least, Francisco introduced the "Icon Series" wines. Once again the grapes were all hand-picked, but the grapes are now inspected twice on the sorting table, and all were aged in new French oak barrels. I'm sure all of this contributed to the super-premium price. All three Icon Series wines were beautiful, as you will see from my notes.
Viña Errázuriz was founded by Don Maximiano Errázuriz in 1870 in Aconcagua Valley, 100 kms north of the capital city, Santiago. Recognizing that the valley provided ideal weather and soil conditions for grape growing, Don Maximiano sent for the finest clones from France. Today, through much perseverance, we have world-class vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley. The Errázuriz family is quite famous in Chile, producing four Presidents, two Archbishops of Santiago, and countless other men (yes, only men) who were involved with the country's social, cultural and political affairs that helped develop and shape the country we see today. The Founder's Reserve (below) is fittingly named in honour of Don Maximiano.
Francisco has been Chief Winemaker at Errázuriz since 2003 and was awarded 2011 Winemaker of the Year by the Chilean Guild of Food & Wine Writers. Prior to Errazuriz, he was a flying winemaker at various wineries in France and U.S.A.. In Chile, he was the winemaker at Viña Santa Carolina and Casa Lapostolle. Mr. Baettig also helped pioneer the introduction of Syrah to Chile, which is evident in both Syrahs I tasted on this night.
The first 5 wines can be readily found at the LCBO, while the last 3 are Icon Series wines and are quite rare to find at the LCBO. However, you can try your hand at ordering these three premium wines via the agent, Philippe Dandurand Wines.
Medium-high intensity aromas that show grassy, herbal, lime and tropical fruit notes. Medium-full bodied on the creamy palate with spice, orchard fruit and pear flavours. Vibrant acidity on the mid-palate and finishes hot. Score: 86 pts
ERRÁZURIZ MAX RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 - Aconcagua Valley (#273342) (XD) - $15.95
Effervescent gooseberry, herbal, grass and guava aromas. Crisp mouthfeel with good aroma replays. Has bright acidity for pairing with food and a lengthy, tart finish. Score: 88 pts
Medium intensity aromas of smoke, earth and beetroot. Light-bodied with notes of plum, cran-raspberry, strawberry and oak on the palate. Good, round tannins. Finish is short and very hot. Score: 87 pts
ERRÁZURIZ MAX RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 - Aconcagua Valley (#335174) (XD) - $18.95
Also contains 9% Cab Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Low intensity aromas of pepper, cassis and blackcurrants. Simple red and black fruit flavours on a medium-full bodied frame. Soft dusty tannins and a short finish. Was expecting better. Bad bottle/batch? This red wine didn't appeal to anyone I spoke to. I wouldn't mind tasting this again. Score: 85 pts
ERRÁZURIZ MAX RESERVA SYRAH 2011 - Aconcagua Valley (#614750) (XD) - $18.95
Very nice black pepper, herbal, eucalyptus aromas. Full-bodied with nice aroma replays. Well-balanced with integrated tannins and very approachable. Hints of milk chocolate on the medium-length finish. My 2nd favourite wine of the evening. Score: 89 pts
ERRÁZURIZ LA CUMBRE 2008 - Aconcagua Valley (#) (XD) - $89.95
Containing 97% Syrah and 3% Petit Verdot, this red wine features very nice and intense red, black and blue fruit aromas, plus cedar and vanillan. Full-bodied with mouth-watering acidity, aroma replays come through on the palate along with some spice notes. Tannins are like velvet, while the finish is long with notes of eucalyptus. Yum! This was my wine of the night. Score: 92 pts
ERRÁZURIZ DON MAXIMIANO FOUNDER'S RESERVE 2008 - Aconcagua Valley (#) (XD) - $79.95
Blend of 84% Cab Sauv, 8% Carménère, 5% Syrah and 3% Petit Verdot. Intense blackcurrant and cassis aromas from the glass. Full-bodied with firm tannins that are still a bit tight. Cedar and dark fruits on the palate. Cellar 3+ years and has potential to reward up to 10 years later. Score: 92 pts
ERRÁZURIZ KAI 2010 - Aconcagua Valley (#) (XD) - $144.95
Mostly Carménère with 4% Petit Verdot. Medium-high intense aromas of roasted pepper and black pepper. Full-bodied with more roasted pepper notes on the palate, with some nuances of milk chocolate and black currant. Dusty tannins are integrating nicely. Finish is long and smooth. Delicious. Score: 91 pts
The next LCBO Vintages release is nearly upon us and will be on shelves across Ontario on . The main and sub-foci of this release features (very) high priced wines from Napa Valley, Burgundy and Piedmont - I suppose to get ready (already? so soon?) for the holiday season.
The Napa Valley feature highlights 8 premium and super-premium Cabernet Sauvignons ranging in price from $24.95 to $137.95. My top Napa red is the Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (93 pts), which I tasted back in April at the California Wine Fair and was my favourite wine at the event. At $84, it's hard to say that this is good value, but on merit alone, it's a great wine! Save this full-bodied wine for a special occasion in the near future, as it's drinking well right now, or 10+ years down the road.
Also part of the Napa focus are 3 Chardonnays and 4 wines using other varietals. I'm sure this feature also coincides with the upcoming Napa Valley Rocks tasting later this month. See my wine events page for more information.
Terroir comparison between the two world renown regions of Burgundy and Piedmont is the focus of the small secondary feature in this release. A common theme between the two regions, unlike most other regions around the world, is that these two regions almost strictly focus on single varietal wines - Pinot Noir in Burgundy and Nebbiolo in Peidmont. Both of these regions produce very terroir-driven wines. The Albert Morot hails from the Les Aigrots vineyard (Premier Cru), while the Giacosa Barolo is from Bussia, a sub-area of Montforte d'Alba. Both of these wines you'll want to let sit for 2-3 years before enjoying.
From the rest of the release, if you like dry wines (not sweet), then you'll want to pick up Domaine Lafage's Cuvée Centenaire, which is a blend of 80% Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, and 20% Roussanne. Grenache Gris is a mutation of the Grenache grape; it's skin colour is pinkish-grey and while quite obscure in winemaking, is most commonly used in pale rosé wines and lightly tinted white wines such as the Cuvée Centenaire.
In red wines, there are 4 French reds under $20 that you should consider. Domaine Lafage is represented here as well, with the Tessellae Carignan Old Vines that consists of 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, and (surprise, surprise) - 5% Grenache Gris. The Château Lieujean is a blend of 75% Cab Sauv and 25% Merlot. Both of these wines can be enjoyed over the next 4 years. From Midi is the red blend Mont Tauch that consists of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah that can be enjoyed now or 10 years later. And last but not least, from Domaine Les Aphillanthes we have yet another 2010 Rhône that is a GSM-blend (60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre) using 45-65 year old vines.
That's it for this week. Let me know if you purchase any of my Vintages recommendations as I'd love to hear your thoughts! Cheers!
Red Wine:
TESSELLAE CARIGNAN OLD VINES CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON 2011 - AP, Midi, France (#343517) (XD) - $18.95
MONT TAUCH LE TAUCH FITOU 2010 - AC, Élevé en Fûts de Chêne, Midi, France (#272484) (XD) - $19.95
DOMAINE LES APHILLANTHES CUVÉE DES GALETS PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2010 - AC, Rhône, France (#252270) (D) - $19.95
CHÂTEAU LIEUJEAN 2010 - Cru Bourgeois, AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (#085308) (XD) - $19.95
LUIS CAÑAS SELECCIÓN DE LA FAMILIA RESERVA 2005 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#334102) (XD) - $34.95
I held a small wine tasting and invited a few friends over to indulge in some of the wines that arrived on my doorstep.
Of the four wines we tasted, the favourite was by far Dan Aykroyd's Cab/Shiraz. This red wine offered a bit of everything - aromas, flavours, acids, tannin, balance and finish. It had good crowd appeal, so I wasn't surprised that this was the favourite wine of the night. My personal favourite was a toss up between this one and the De Sousa Meritage.
Diamond Estates is a fairly large wine and spirits production, marketing and distribution company based in Toronto and Niagara, Canada. They market both Canadian and International wines. The 4 wines we tasted on this night were all from Ontario, and fruit for a couple of these were sourced only from Niagara.
Fruit for Lakeview Cellars wines are sourced from Diamond Estates' best vineyards in Niagara. Lakeview Cellars is known to be a premium Niagara wine producer, yet is able to keep prices relatively affordable. After tasting their 2012 Syrah Rosé, and previously, their 2008 "GMR" Sparkling Reserve, I am eagerly looking forward to tasting more from them.
LAKEVIEW CELLARS SYRAH ROSÉ 2012 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario (#) (XD) - $16.95
Also contains 8.5% Moscato and 1.5% Auxerrois, two grapes that are not widely planted in Niagara. Slightly sweet with low-to-medium intensity perfumy floral aromas. Good acidity and slightly chalky tannins which come from the Syrah. Palate is fruity and very slightly off-dry, with blueberry and raspberry notes showing through on the medium-length finish. This rosé wine is only available at the winery. Score: 86 pts
DAREDEVIL CABERNET 2011 - VQA Ontario (#) (XD) - $14.95
This is the first wine with their new label and is made using traditional Bordeaux grapes with a blend consisting of 48% Cab Sauv, 47% Cab Franc, and 5% Merlot. Medium intensity aromas with oak dominating the nose, with some underlying dark fruits. Interesting pepper notes developed in the glass. Palate is light-to-medium bodied with dark and red fruits, with a spiciness that shows up mid-palate and continues through to the medium-length finish. Tannins are harsh and very chalky. This was the least favourite among the group. Available only at the winery. Score: 85 pts
Dan Aykroyd Wines are one of the few, and growing, "celebrity wines" in Ontario. Dan's affinity for travel took him around the globe and he eventually developed a taste for fine wines. He worked closely with Diamond Estates' head winemaker Tom Green for nearly 2 years and launched his first wine in 2007.
DAN AYKROYD DISCOVERY SERIES CABERNET/SHIRAZ 2011 - VQA Ontario (#074062) (XD) - $14.95
Red wine blend of 38% Cab Franc, 37% Cab Sauv, and 25% Shiraz. Medium intensity aromas of black fruits, currant, and cassis. Medium-bodied with smooth, round tannins and nice aroma replays on the palate, with hints of blueberry on the smooth, lengthy finish. Quite fruit forward and has good acidity. Crowd pleaser and the favourite among my guests. Readily available at the LCBO. Score: 87 pts
Originally from Portugal, the De Sousa family purchased some vineyards in the Beamsville Bench area in 1979. In 1990, the family was able to get a winery licence that enabled them to open a full-fledged winery. 20 years later, we have the Meritage Reserve below. In between, Diamond Estates purchased the winery and some of their vineyards. John De Sousa Jr. continues three generations of winemaking and remains on board as Operations Manager and Winemaker.
DE SOUSA SEASONS MERITAGE RESERVE 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario (#315911) (XD) - $14.95
Another Bordeaux blend consisting of 72% Merlot, 25% Cab Sauv, and 3% Cab Franc. Strong oak aromas from glass give way to black currant and blackberry aromas. This red wine is full bodied with chalky tannins that are integrating nicely. Sour cherry, blackberry jam, wood and hints of mocha on the palate. Has mouth-watering acidity and a long finish. Could be cellared 1-2 years. Vintages product and should re-appear in the Vintages section at the LCBO soon. Score: 87 pts
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2013 edition of the Niagara Wine Festival - the annual festival that celebrates the vintage harvest. This year, as last year, I brought along with me a small group of wine lovers (enthusiasts?) to join me in the festivities. The weather on had called for rain pretty much the entire day, but that did not deter us or other groups as every stop was buzzing with folks.
We visited 4 wineries in total and began the afternoon at Flat Rock Cellars. Since it was raining, we were not able to head out into the vineyard, but the tour guide did tell us about their vineyards from the veranda overlooking the vineyards. I always find it quite calming and relaxing when overlooking vineyards. Flat Rock has about 80 acres of vineyards, growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and a small patch of Gewürztraminer grapes. They were hosting a grape crush on this day, but our group was not too keen on this activity. We then headed towards their winemaking area, where grapes are fed through a state-of-the-art 5-level gravity flow system.
As part of the guided tour, we got to taste the 2011 Twisted (Riesling/Gewürztraminer/Chardonnay blend), followed by the 2012 version of their ever popular (and one of my favourites) Nadja's Vineyard Riesling (88 pts, $19.95). We ended the guided tour with a tasting of the 2011 Pinot Noir (87 pts, $19.95), that actually won a Bronze Medal at the recent 2013 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC13).
We also partook in the Discovery Pass Experience at Flat Rock, where we enjoyed a very generous serving of Memphis Fire verde chicken that was served in a soft taco with lettuce and fresh tomato salsa. A healthy amount of fruit flies also joined us, one of which I think I swallowed with my Pinot. The pairing was quite spicy all-around with the 2009 Chardonnay (88 pts, $17.15) that was partially-oaked. From here, we continued our tour into Niagara-on-the-Lake to visit 3 more wineries.
Our second stop was Marynissen Estates Winery, where we stopped in to "feast" on a Lamb Za'atar in a bite-sized pita topped with cumin yogurt. This was paired with the newly released 2009 Nanny's Blend. The tannins were still tight in this red wine, but worked well with the tiny food pairing.
I had tasted Marynissen wines some time during the early part of the last decade and recall fond memories, but this was my first ever visit to the winery and was very excited to taste their current lineup. The highlight of this visit was definitely Steve who offered one member my group a taste of their 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Marynissen Vineyard Estate Bottled (91-92 pts, $45). Of course, I wanted to taste this as well, and Steve happily obliged. Blackberry jam, licorice, prune and caramel aromas from this aged beauty and big tannins with a very long finish. It has reached its peak and is drinking beautifully now. There were only 3 bottles in stock when we arrived, 2 when we left. :) This was my wine of the day.
Steve also took us into the back for a tasting a few of their current release wines, some of which were available for only $10. It's a shame that the LCBO doesn't carry much (if any) wines from Marynissen, because the wines here are quite good - and at unbelievably low price points.
Our third stop of the afternoon was PondView Estate Winery to enjoy savoury (and slightly spicy) skewered Tandoori chicken, served with a side of cold rice. We were served by one of the heads of this family-owned winery, Adriana Puglisi. This was paired with their 2011 Bella Terra Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (90 pts, $25). The pairing was good, nicely balanced, but I was wow-ed by this oaked Chardonnay that features buttered popcorn, apple, pear and hints of butterscotch aromas and nice aroma replays. It's full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel, good acidity and a smooth, long finish.
I also enjoyed the vegetarian option, which featured some brie on a baguette, the cold rice, and finished off with a chocolate praline. Yum! We also tasted at the bar and I rediscovered their delicious 2010 Vidal Icewine (92 pts, $25). This family-owned winery has over three generations of winemaking experience, and it shows!
Our fourth and final stop of this rainy afternoon was a unique experience at Strewn Winery. Here we tasted the winery's flagship red wine - the Strewn Three Terroir - from four different vintages to see how the wine developed over time. First up was the 2005, which was jammy and pruney with nicely integrated tannins and drinking great, but likely just past it's prime. The 2007 vintage had red fruits with oak, leather and tobacco aromas and flavours; it also had good structure with refined tannins and was my favourite of the four. The 2010 is from a great vintage and had fresh dark berries, currants, and blackberry aromas with dark fruits and oak on the palate; tannins still a bit tight, but drinkable now. And finally, the 2012 Futures has very fresh fruit and oak aromas, palate had lots of tannin and definitely needs time to settle down.
All in all, it was a great time. We sampled some good wine and eats. We had a good group and enjoyed each others company, and didn't let the rain affect us. If you're interested in joining me on a future tour, send me a quick note and I'll be sure to let you know!
This award used to be part of the Canadian Wine Awards, which was run by WineAccess Magazine, until the magazine was abruptly shut down earlier this year. WineAccess was established in the 1990s by David Lawrason. Among other responsibilities, David is now VP of Wine at WineAlign, and was the co-chief judge of these awards.
Mission Hill submitted 16 wines at this competition and came away with 12 medals, including Platinum medals for their Compendium and Riesling Reserve. The B.C. winery also received Gold medals for their Chardonnay Reserve, Perpetua and Reserve Riesling Icewine.
On hand was Ingo Grady, Mission Hill's Director of Wine Education, to accept the awards. I spoke briefly with Ingo, who was quite gracious, humble, and a pleasure to talk to. You can tell he has a passion for wine. I can't wait to visit Mission Hill!
To celebrate, it was only fitting to serve Mission Hill's top 5 medal winning wines on this night. It was a treat to taste (and enjoy) each and every one of these wines, which were exquisitely paired with small bites that were served throughout the night. It's a shame that only one of these wines is readily available at the LCBO.
Here are my tasting notes from the evening:
MISSION HILL RIESLING RESERVE 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley (#) (D) - $20.00
This white wine has crisp petrol, honey, and lime aromas of medium intensity, with hints of minerality. It's off-dry with a palate consisting of peach, citrus and tropical fruits. Balanced throughout with a fine seam of acidity that makes it very food-friendly. Lengthy finish. Nice! Paired beautifully with the Ahi Tuna and Tempura Prawn Sushi Cones that were stuffed with Tobiko, Spicy Aioli, Pickled Ginger, Cucumber, Daikon and Avocado. Score: 91 pts
MISSION HILL CHARDONNAY RESERVE 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley (#545004) (XD) - $19.95 Vintages Essentials product and always available, this white wine was partially fermented in American oak and has crisp tropical fruit and citrus aromas of medium intensity from the glass. Medium-bodied with lively acidity. Palate is fruit-forward and brings poached pear and tropical fruits, with light hints of butter and oak. Long, clean, lemony finish. Missed the pairing with the Butter Poached Prawn with Mango Salsa (that looked very tasty!) Score: 89 pts
MISSION HILL PERPETUA 2010 - Osoyoos Vineyard Estate, VQA Okanagan Valley (#28894) (XD) - $34.99
Available through the agent Mark Anthony. Made using 3 different Chardonnay clones, and uses French oak for fermentation and ageing. Medium-intensity and subtle aromas of butterscotch and oak. Slightly creamy texture on the medium-full body with restrained notes of oak, plus some butter and apple flavours. Spicy mid-palate lingers through the very long finish. It paired nicely with Triple Cream Brie de Bourgogne and Deer Hunter Gouda. Score: 90 pts
MISSION HILL COMPENDIUM 2009 - VQA Okanagan Valley (#) (XD) - $50.00
Available via agent. Bordeaux blend of 40% Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Medium-high intensity aromas of herbal, pepper, oak, dark fruits and sour cherry. Palate is medium-full bodied with flavours of black currant, black fruit, cedar, and vanillan. Subtle spice on the mid-palate continues on the very long, smooth, and silky finish. This red wine has food-friendly acidity and velvety tannins. Lovely! Score: 91 pts
MISSION HILL RESERVE RIESLING ICEWINE 2011 - VQA Okanagan Valley (#240127) (S) (375 mL) - $59.99
Available via agent. Gorgeous peach, apricot and honey aromas. Medium-full bodied with very nice aroma replays and subtle spice. Sweet, but not cloying because of crisp acidity. It's balanced throughout and has a medium-long finish. Paired very nicely with an Apple Tart with Toasted Almonds and Caramel. It also went extremely well with a special dip (Apricot Ginger?) that Ingo brought from British Columbia. Score: 92 pts
The upcoming LCBO Vintages release will be on shelves this . The main feature in this release focuses on premium-quality wines from Tuscany, which range in price from $15.95 to $48.95. In all, there are 16 wines featured, and 3 made my list of wine picks below. It just so happens that all three are north of $20.
The Frassinello is an IGT wine that is made using 50% Sangioveto (essentially a localized clone of Sangiovese), 25% Cab Sauv, and 25% Merlot. The Carpineto is also an IGT wine and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The San Felice is made using the more traditional Tuscan grape - Sangiovese.
Five wines from Chile are in secondary feature, which focuses on premium wines from local pioneers and international influencers. I was fortunate enough to meet the CEO of Lapostolle last June (international influencer) and had the opportunity to taste their Apalta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which is made using organic grapes. I am definitely pleased that this wine is among my top picks from this release. Not part of the Chilean feature, but in my list below is a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. At $13.95, the Matetic Corralillo is a steal and a must buy! I'm a big fan of Chilean Savvy!
This issue also contains the annual Thanksgiving feature which highlights 11 wines suitable for your Thanksgiving get-together. The Tawse Riesling, the Reichsgraf Riesling Kabinett, and the Château des Charmes Vidal Icewine are all worthy buys for your holiday gathering.
From the rest of the release, there are a couple of Australian reds worth your attention. The Sister's Run is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Shiraz, 5% Mataro, while the D'Arenberg D'Arry's Original is 53% Grenache and 47% Syrah. There are also 2 outstanding reds that I will likely be adding to my collection: The Lacroix-Vanel from Midi is mostly Grenache, and the rest likely Syrah, while the Villacreces from Spain is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cab Sauv.
Normally, I stay away from the Spirits section of the Vintages release, but I had to make an exception for the G.E. Massenez Vieux Calvados (#271726, $64.95), which is an apple brandy that actually contains an apple inside the bottle! It's quite unique and I'm sure a treat to taste.
That's it for this week. Enjoy!
Red Wine:
SISTER’S RUN COW’S CORNER GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MATARO 2011 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#346510) (XD) - $15.95
Monday, October 14, 2013
