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!
This delicious red wine only appeared to show up at the LCBO once, but the latest vintage should be available via Charles Jewett at Trilogy Wine Merchants.
Tasting Note:
OLARRA CLÁSICO RESERVA 2009 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#423541) (XD) - $18.95
A blend of mostly Tempranillo with Grenache and Mazuelo (a.k.a. Carignan) in support, this has a generous bouquet of complex spices, fig, dried dark berry, floral pastille, sweet tobacco, and wood spice aromas rising out of the glass. It's medium-full bodied, mouthwatering and juicy on the palate with savoury, earthy, fig, dried berry, and tobacco flavours. A touch of alcoholic heat on the mid-palate, but otherwise quite balanced. Tannins are well-integrated with a nice chalky textured mouthfeel. Excellent finish length that is earthy and savoury with wood spice and tobacco notes. Should continue to drink well over the next 2-3 years. Score: 90 pts
Happy New Year! The January 11, 2020 LCBO VINTAGES Release is the first release of the new year (and decade) and it is the annual "Smart Buys" Release - a theme that is perennially featured in the first release of the year. All of the wines from the thematic, as well as the rest of the release will appear on shelves by this Saturday.
We'll begin with the "Smart Buys" theme that focuses on great-value wines. After the many expensive releases leading up to the holidays. This release is very much wallet-friendly, but at the same time does offer some quality wines to add to your collection. Nearly all of the 27 wines featured in the "Smart Buys" section are under $20, with six included among my top wine picks. Smart Buys in white wines include a Chenin Blanc from South Africa and a Falanghina from Italy. Red wines that are Smart Buys include a pair of relatively mature wines - a Tempranillo from Rioja and a Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley. Lastly, red wine blends from the Smart Buys section include a 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre blend from Costières de Nîmes, and a 60/40 Shiraz/Grenache blend from McLaren Vale.
Among my red wine picks from the rest of the Release, there are a pair of lovely Rhône reds. The Cairanne is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Carignan, while the Lirac is a blend of 55% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Carignan, and 5% Mourvèdre. Lastly, the Corbières is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache.
There are no blends among the rest of my white wine recommendations. But there are some lovely dry wines include a pair of Chardonnays, a Pinot Gris, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Muscadet which is made with the Melon de Bourgogne varietal. For sweet wine lovers, there are quite a few lovely offerings - an off-dry Riesling from Alsace, a medium dry Riesling from New Zealand, and finally, a mature Riesling Kabinett from Germany.
Enjoy my top wine recommendations from this Release! Cheers!
Red Wine:
CHÂTEAU SAINT-LOUIS LA PERDRIX L'ENVOL 2018 - AP Costières de Nîmes, Rhône, France (#10514) (XD) - $12.95 88 pts wine review
PIATTELLI RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#10968) (XD) - $16.95 89 pts wine review
BRELLA PINOT NOIR 2014 - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA (#514786) (XD) - $16.95 90 pts wine review
FINCA LOS MAZA RESERVA MALBEC 2016 - Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (#10772) (XD) - $17.00 89 pts wine review
CAMILLE CAYRAN CAVE DE CAIRANNE LE CHÊNE NOIR 2017 - AP Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France (#10006) (XD) - $17.00 89 pts wine review
CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2017 - AP, Midi, France (#670505) (D) - $17.95
MARQUES DE LA CONCORDIA VIÑA ALARDE RESERVA 2013 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#10548) (XD) - $17.95 89 pts wine review
PAXTON AAA SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2017 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#149898) (XD) - $19.95 90 pts wine review
For my first wine review of the year (and decade), I take you back more than a decade to this lovely 2008 Syrah from Chile that I opened . It was purchased from the VINTAGES Release, when it was billed as the benchmark for Chilean Syrah.
Viña Maycas del Limarí is part of the Concha y Toro portfolio of wine brands. Maycas, meaning "ariable lands" in Quechua, were the foundation of South America's most powerful civilization, the Inca Empire. Formerly Inca lands in northern Chile, the Limarí Valley opens into a wide river basin of mineral-rich soils that receive a constant, fresh breeze off the Pacific Ocean.
Of course, this bottle is long sold out. However, the latest vintage may be available through their Agent in Ontario, Escalade Wines & Spirits.
Tasting Note:
MAYCAS DEL LIMARÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL SYRAH 2008 - Limarí Valley, Chile (#269423) (XD) - $19.95
Gorgeous, open, and mature aromas are savoury and earthy at its core, mingling with stewed blackberry and plum, layered over peppery spice, meaty, and whiffs of floral. It's full-bodied and still quite dense and chewy on the palate, supported by juicy acidity. Earthy and savoury flavours, plus black pepper spice, clove, cocoa, dark berry, and hints of mint and dried herb. Smooth, finely-grained tannins have integrated very nicely with a slightly chalky textured character. A touch warming on the mid-palate, but still impeccably balanced. Interesting medicinal, minty, dark berry, spice, cocoa, and savoury mineral notes linger on the long-lasting, juicy finish. Should continue to drink well over the next 2-3 years. Score: 90+ pts
For wine review, I opened this lovely Agiorgitiko from Greece. I discovered this red wine at a Greek wine tasting event in May 2017 and found out that it was available for purchase at the Greece Destination Collection Store located on Danforth Avenue (in Toronto). On top of that, I found out that it was currently on promotion for under $17. On the after that tasting, I rushed over to The Danforth and picked up a bottle.
I would think this bottle would be long gone from shelves, however, I do see it listed on the LCBO website for $22. If you're in Greektown, you might want to pop-in to see if they have any bottles. Alternatively, you can reach out to the agent Intra Vino as they also have this delicious red wine from Greece listed on their website.
Tasting Note:
NEMEION ESTATE RÉSERVE 2008 - Nemea, Greece (#234624) (XD) - $16.90
Hand-harvested 100% Agiorgitiko grown on limestone soils with high copper content. It was aged for two years in French oak barrels, followed by another year in bottle prior to release. Fresh, medium-high intensity, dark fruited scented aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, and black currant mingle with limestone mineral, earth, and woody notes. It is medium-full bodied on the palate with stewed and slightly dried berry flavours plus fig, red cherry, smoke, savoury, earthy, and spice notes with a hint of florality. It's supported by succulent acids and refined, slightly chalky tannins that are still quite well structured. Earthy, mineral, dried cherry, and fig notes linger on the long finish, with excellent length. Should continue to drink well over the next 4-5 years. Score: 90 pts
red wine arrived in LCBO VINTAGES back in in conjunction with the Rioja Revelation wine tasting event that took place in downtown Toronto. After enjoying a pair of wines from Bodegas Olarra recently, I am expecting this bottle to also be delicious.
It is produced by Bodegas Ondarre. which is part of Bodegas Olarra Group. Founded in 1985 in the town of Viana, located in the province of Navarre in northern Spain, Bodegas Ondarre was created with the aim of making wines that clearly reflect the personality of the town. The identity of Viana is defined by the diversity of soils and the distribution of the small, old vineyards located on the slopes which climb up towards the mountains. With low-yielding vines and careful selection of the grapes, Bodegas Ondarre produces wines that are a reflection of the terroir, which expresses itself through the climate, soil and the handiwork of man.
Bodegas Ondarre produces classic Rioja wines, as well as specific vineyard wines under the "Valdebarón" label from their estate in Viana. The Valdebarón Reserva Tinto is made with grapes from northwest Viana, where the complex and shallow soils are a mix of limestone, clay, loam, and chalk. There are twelve south-facing vineyards which are planted between 450 to 695 metres elevation on cliffs and slopes at the northern end of the Rioja valley. The average age of the vines is over 35 years. All of this helps produce their best quality Tempranillo and Mazuelo. The label of this red wine is rather interesting as it represents an aerial view of the two streams in the Valdebarón area of Viana, along with the location of the twelve vineyards that make up this wine.
While this bottle appears to be sold out at the LCBO, you can reach out to Charles Jewett at Trilogy Wine Merchants for availability.
Tasting Note:
VALDEBARÓN RESERVA 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#011784) (XD) - $22.95
A blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo from specific vineyards that was raised in Allier (French) and Missouri (American) casks for 18 months. Medium-high intensity aromatics are elegant and complex with notes of dark red berry, spice, licorice, and black plum accented by herbs, savoury, earthy, and mineral notes. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with ripe red berry, spice, and earthy flavours supported by fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins that have just a touch of grippy texture. Earthy and mineral notes linger on the long finish. Enjoy over the next 5-6 years. Score: 89 pts
On a fine , I had the pleasure of attending a winemaker's dinner at The National Club in downtown Toronto. We enjoyed the wines from Bordeaux's Château Bel Orme with Winemaker/Vigneron Anne Françoise Quié in attendance.
After enjoying a glass of Louis Pommery Brut from California during the reception, which is made by French producer Champagne Pommery, we headed to the dining area to begin the evening's program that included a five-wine vertical of Château Bel Orme Tronquoy de Lalande and ended with a Sauternes.
The story of Château Bel Orme begins in 1936 when Anne's parents, Paul and Lucienne Quié, purchased the Château which overlooked the Gironde Estuary. Château Bel Orme covers an area of 30 hectares on Bordeaux's left bank, 6 miles north of Pauillac, with vineyards extending over the hills of the village. The name of the winery dates back to the 18th century, referring to the wooded park named "Bel Orme" that surrounds the Château. In 1946, Paul and Lucienne Quié acquired Château Rauzan-Gassies, a Margaux super second growth. Today, all of the Quié family's wine brands fall under the Domaines Quié umbrella.
We tasted five red wines from Château Bel Orme on this night, a vertical ranging from 2016 going back to 2000, including one wine that was poured out of an Imperial bottle. And if you didn't know, an Imperial bottle contains 6 L of wine - the equivalent of 8 standard 750 mL bottles of wine.
Wines from the left bank are traditionally Cabernet Sauvignon dominant. However, at Château Bel Orme they have planted more Merlot than Cabernet Sauvignon due to the Château's terroirs which consist of deep, sandy gravels. Moreover, because of their knowledge of the terroirs in the village of Saint Seurin de Cadourne and the results they've achieved over the years, they continue to plant more Merlot. This is reflected in the wines themselves as each of the five wines we tasted were Merlot dominant by varying degrees. It's also interesting to note that fermentation at the winery takes place in concrete vats - a growing trend in Bordeaux - and is followed by 12 months of ageing in French oak barrels.
The evening closed with Château d'Armajan des Ormes Sauternes (89 pts) dessert wine that paired beautifully with a cheese plate.
Thank you to Eurovintage for the invitation and the opportunity to try these fine wines from Bordeaux, as well as the California bubbly from Louis Pommery. All of these wines can be purchased by contacting Eurovintage Fine Wines & Spirits.
Tasting Notes:
CHÂTEAU BEL ORME TRONQUOY DE LALANDE 2016 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (XD) - $38
A blend of 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has a ripe, medium-high intensity nose that offers elegant dark berry/cherry, currant, wet forest floor, complex wood spice, and touches of savoury notes. It's full-bodied with astringent, grippy tannins, fresh acids and ripe fruited aroma replays joined by herbally flavours. Very good finish length. Still very young, needs 3-4 years of cellar time. Score: 88 pts
CHÂTEAU BEL ORME TRONQUOY DE LALANDE 2011 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (XD) - $37
Assembled with 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has a medium-high intensity nose that is clean, elegant, and refined with currant, cassis, and sweet oak spice with savoury notes laying underneath. It is full-bodied with refined tannins that are nicely maturing and lovely aroma replays with some herbally, forest floor, and mature fruit characters adding complexity. Acids are nicely balanced, while the long, balanced finish is earthy and savoury. In a fine place right now, and should continue to develop over the next 7-8 years. Score: 90 pts
CHÂTEAU BEL ORME TRONQUOY DE LALANDE 2006 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (XD) - Sold Out
This blend of 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Sauvignon has a lovely, fragrant nose that is savoury with wet forest floor, earth, dried cherry/berry, and floral aromas. The medium-full bodied palate is mature with refined tannins that are soft, rounded and elegant. Flavours are nicely mature, showing finesses with balanced acidity. Savoury and dried berry notes on the linger on the long, finish. Could age another 6-7 years. Score: 92 pts
CHÂTEAU BEL ORME TRONQUOY DE LALANDE 2000 - AC Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (XD) - $68
A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon that has a fragrant and mature nose with savoury, earthy, forest floor, olive, and barnyard aromas, all of which comes through nicely on the medium+ bodied palate with savoury and barnyard flavours more prominent. It has good acidity while the fine tannins are mature, smooth and well-integrated. There is just a touch of heat on the mid-palate, while the long finish continues with more savoury and barnyard notes. Drink soon. Score: 90 pts
The Erudito Reserva Especial, along with the Summa Reserva, are the top-tier, vineyard specific wines from Bodegas Olarra and are only made during exceptional vintages. The grapes for the Erudito come from a specially selected 12 hectare vineyard and are hand-harvested only when the grapes reach full maturity. It was vinified in small vats and fermented and aged on the lees. Further ageing occurred in new barrels for at least 18 months. Prior to bottling, in order to preserve the wine's unique character, it was left to settle without the use of any fining agents. Lastly, it spent a minimum of 18 months in the bottle cellar prior to release.
Tasting Note:
OLARRA ERUDITO RESERVA ESPECIAL 2015 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#378885) (XD) - $39.95
A single-vineyard blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo that delivers an elegant, fragrant and intense nose of blackberry, black cherry, red berry, spice, licorice and smoky mineral aromas. It is medium-full bodied with fresh, juicy acidity that coats the palate. Lovely aroma replays on the flavour profile are joined by tobacco notes that add further complexity. Dusty, fine-grained tannins gain grip on the mid-palate. Excellent length with mineral notes on the long, balanced, and succulent finish. Enjoy over the next 6-7 years. Score: 92 pts
Monday, January 13, 2020
