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  • Date publishedSunday, April 18, 2021

Bayle-Carreau Château Landreau 2016 (Bordeaux) - Wine Review

wine review is a lovely Right Bank Bordeaux that arrived at the LCBO for the first time this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced Vignobles Bayle-Carreau, two families that have been cultivating vines in Bordeaux for more than 150 years. Both families share a passion for wine and excellence, with the Carreau family having profound knowledge of the vine that has been passed down from generation to generation, while the Bayle family has the expertise in winemaking.

The Carreau family's venture into viticulture began in 1852, while the Bayle family purchased their first estate in 1910. Bayle-Carreau was formed in 1952 when Jeanne-Marie, daughter of André Bayle, married Claude Carreau. With this union, the families combined their knowledge and expertise and further expanded their estates.

In 1955, the Bayle-Carreau family acquired Château Landreau, a property located on the first watershed of the Côtes de Bourg on the right bank of the Gironde estuary, around the town of Bourg-sur-Gironde, just northwest of the city of Bordeaux. The family restored and renovated Château Landreau after the property had ceased producing wine following the frost of 1956. The soils at Château Landreau consist of deep clay mixed with red gravel and has southwest exposure to the sun - conditions which are suitable for Merlot. With respect for the environment, Bayle-Carreau also practices sustainable viticulture at Château Landreau.

This red wine is from 14 hectare estate of Château Landreau and consists of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks, following by further ageing in tank for 6 months, then aged in oak barrels for 12 to 14 months prior to bottling. It is interesting to know that 95% of this wine is sold locally in Bordeaux, leaving just 5% for export markets. I would say we are quite fortunate to have this land in Ontario. From a remarkable vintage, let's see how this delicious Bordeaux is tasting tonight...

Bayle-Carreau Château Landreau 2016 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

BAYLE-CARREAU CHÂTEAU LANDREAU 2016 - AC Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France (#18535) (XD) - $20.95
This blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium-high intensity nose that is rich and concentrated with aromas of ripe dark currant, dark plum, and savoury earth aromas with touches of wood, cassis, and herbs. It's medium-to-full bodied on the palate with flavours of black cherry, dark berry, plum, blackberry, currant, and cassis alongside subtle savoury earth and spice, plus spearmint notes adding further interest with time in the glass. It has fresh, balanced acidity and well-structured tannins that have a subtle chalky grip. Very good length with black cherry and hints of mineral on the finish. Drinking well now and should continue to develop nicely until the late '20s. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Vignobles Bayle-Carreau can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.


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  • Date publishedSaturday, April 17, 2021

Great Italian Wines - Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties - Montepulciano & Aglianico

Great Italian Wines - Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties - Montepulciano & Aglianico
After exploring Sangiovese & Vernaccia di San Gimignano last month as part of the masterclass series on "Great Italian Wines - Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties", on I attended the 3rd part in the series which focused on the varieties Montepulciano & Aglianico.

Montepulciano has been cultivated since the late 1700s, and likely even earlier during the time of the Etruscans. Today, Montepulciano is the second most widely planted varietal in Italy, right after Sangiovese. It is planted mainly in central Italy, predominantly in Abruzzo, as well as the regions of Marche, Molise. and Puglia.

The most famous Montepulciano wines comes from the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC. Montepulciano is a high-yielding grape that thrives in area of Abruzzo, in central Italy, along the eastern Adriatic coast. Abruzzo is considered the Greenest Region of Europe and also has 2nd highest mountain range in Europe with Mount Majella rising to 2,793 metres.

Winemaking traditions in Abruzzo date back to the 6th century BC and today produce the 5th most wine by volume in Italy. Montepulciano is produced in each of Abruzzo's provinces - L'Aquila (Capital), Chieti, Pescara, and Teramo - and over half of the 32,000 hectares of vines are planted to this varietal. Montepulciano has a blue-purple skin colour with a high concentration of inky coloured pigment. It is late-ripening and thick-skinned, yet produces wines with softer tannins and lower acidity. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo was designated a DOC in 1968 and requires at least 85% of the wine to be made with Montepulciano and no more than 15% of Sangiovese. The wine I tasted as part of this masterclass is 100% Montepulciano.

Aglianico is considered to be the Barolo of the South and the best examples are produced in Basilicata and Campania. The wine tasted in this masterclass is from Basilicata, a region located in the instep of the boot of Italy and borders Campania, Puglia, and Calabria between the Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts. The mountainous region has been occupied by humans for many thousands of years and includes an extinct volcano - Mount Vulture - that rises to 1,326 metres above sea level.

Established in 1971, Aglianico del Vulture DOC is the most significant winemaking region of Basilicata. Only 2,400 hectares are cultivated, all on volcanic soils derived from Mount Vulture, and Aglianico is the only permitted grape within this DOC. The best examples of Aglianico del Vulture DOC wines are grown between 350 to 500 metres above sea level.

The Aglianico grape has a dark blue-black colour and is thick-skinned. It is a late-ripening variety that can be harvested into November and is low-yielding. Aglianico requires abundant sunshine and dry climates, while thriving on steep slopes, high altitudes, and volcanic soils. Aglianico del Vulture wines tend to be full-bodied and structured with firm tannins, and are very age-worthy.

As with previous masterclasses in the series, both of the wines are available by the case through their Agent - Cavinona. Use special discount code ICCOAPRIL for 10% off any case purchase until May 15th. These wines can also be purchased by the bottle at their bottle shops - contact Cavinona directly for details.

The small bites I enjoyed as part of the tasting package included some Grana Padano DOP and Pecorino Toscano DOP cheese, as well as A Però Carciofi e Olive (mixed artichokes and olives), and Focaccia - a traditional Italian flat oven-baked bread made by Luca Rotatori, the Head Baker at Spaccio, Terroni's central kitchen.

I very much enjoyed this tasting series and hope to attend the next online masterclasses in June and September. For more details and to register, please visit the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario Canada.

@trueitaliantaste #ExtraordinaryItalianTaste #TrueItalianTaste #iffoodcouldtalk

Tasting Notes:

TORRE DEI BEATI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2018 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (XD) - $31.50
100% Montepulciano grown on clay-limestone soils at 250 to 300 metres above sea level, and aged mainly in French oak barriques for 15-18 months. The medium-high intensity nose has rustic, peppery spice, black raspberry, earthy, and black plum aromas with touches of balsamic and barnyard. It's light-to-medium bodied with fresh, vibrant acidity and spicy flavours of dark berry, black raspberry, earth, and balsamic. It has very smooth, refined tannins, while pleasing savoury-earthy notes with touches of balsamic and coffee linger on the long, balanced, juicy finish. Score: 90 pts

Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2018 (90 pts)

GRIFALCO AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE 2018 - DOC, Basilicata, Italy (XD) - $36.02
Organically grown 100% Aglianico from vines 25-40 years old, at 450 to 550 metres above sea level, and aged mostly in stainless steel tanks. Very pretty, medium-high intensity aromas of sweet spice, incense, and rose floral with underlying dark berry and smoky, earthy mineral aromas. On the medium-full to full-bodied palate it has lovely red and black cherry, wet earth, baking spice flavours supported by balanced acidity. Chalky, structured tannins are a bit tight at this stage. Savoury with mineral and touches of barnyard notes on the long finish. Enjoyable now, but will be even better after 3+ years in the cellar. Score: 91+ pts

Grifalco Aglianico del Vulture 2018 (91+ pts)


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  • Date publishedWednesday, April 14, 2021

April 17, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Sustainable + Piedmont

LCBO Wine Picks: April 17, 2021 VINTAGES Release
The major theme of the April 17, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release focuses on Sustainable Wines from around the world, while the mini-theme looks at wines from Piedmont. All of these wines, plus those from the rest of the Release should be on shelves across Ontario by Saturday.

We begin with the main theme on Sustainable Wines from around the world. Of the nineteen wines featured, four are included among my top wine picks. The concept of Sustainability is broken down into three areas of impact - in the vineyard, in the winery, and within the community. The Fumé Blanc from Niagara is an organic wine that consists of primarily Sauvignon Blanc aged in oak barrels (and concrete eggs), as well as a splash of Semillon. Villa Maria has many sustainability initiatives as it is a core value of this quality producer, and their Sauvignon Blanc from Wairau Valley is definitely a worthy buy. The last two wines that follow sustainability principles are the Rasteau that is a GSM blend consisting of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, and the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is a blend of 97% Sangiovese and 3% Abrusco.

Villa Maria Wairau Valley Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (90+ pts)

From the feature on Piedmont wines, four of the nine wines listed are included among my top wine recommendations. While Piedmont is mostly known for their red wines, there are some fine white wines as well. After Moscato Bianco, the top still white wine grapes are Cortese and Arneis. In this Release, the wine from Gavi is made with Cortese, while the best-known examples of Arneis come from Roero. The king of red wine varieties from Piedmont is without a doubt Nebbiolo, but did you know that the Barbera grape is actually the region's most widely planted varietal? You can explore Barbera by Stefano Farina, as well as the relatively rare Grignolino varietal.

Tenuta Fratelli Povero Terre del Conte Roero Arneis 2019 (89 pts)

There are quite a few French red blends from the rest of the Release. The Bordeaux red is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, while the red from Southwest France consists of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and the local varietal Abourriou. From Rhône, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape consists of 50%  Grenache, 35%  Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre, while the Rioja is a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, and 10% Graciano & Mazuelo (Carignan). Single varietal wines include a fine Beaujolais made with Gamay, as well as the maturing wine from Abruzzo that is made with Montepulciano.

Bayle-Carreau Château Landreau 2016 (90 pts)Domaine de Côtes Rémont 2018 (90 pts)

Castorani Amorino Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2013 (89 pts)

Among my white wine recommendations, the only blend is the Greek wine that consists of 75% Assyrtiko, 15% Athiri, and 10% Aidani. For those that prefer slightly sweet wines, you'll want to pick-up the pair of Riesling wines from Niagara to compare and contrast.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this Release! Cin cin!

Red Wine:

  • STEFANO FARINA BARBERA D'ALBA 2018 - DOC, Piedmont, Italy (#10601) (XD) - $17.95
  • GÉRARD BERTRAND GRENACHE/SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE 2018 - AP Corbières, Languedoc, France (#394288) (XD) - $17.95
  • ACCORNERO BRICCO DEL BOSCO GRIGNOLINO MONFERRATO CASALESE 2019 - DOC, Piedmont, Italy (#426635) (XD) - $19.95
  • DOMAINE DE CÔTES RÉMONT 2018 - AP Chénas, Beaujolais, France (#18368) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE DE BEYSSAC INITIAL 2016 - Unfined and unfiltered, AP Côtes du Marmandais, Southwest, France (#18367) (XD) - $20.95
  • BAYLE-CARREAU CHÂTEAU LANDREAU 2016 - AC Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France (#18535) (XD) - $20.95  90 pts  wine review
  • CASTORANI AMORINO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2013 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#366732) (XD) - $24.95  89 pts  wine review
  • DOMAINE DE L'ESPIGOUETTE PAS DE MEUNIER RASTEAU 2017 - AC, Rhône, France (#18797) (XD) - $24.95
  • CHÂTEAU FORTIA CUVÉE DU BARON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2017 - Sustainable, AC, Rhône, France (#959999) (XD) - $51.95
  • BARONE RICASOLI CASTELLO DI BROLIO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#942607) (XD) - $59.95
  • R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA RESERVA 2008 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#356337) (XD) - $63.95

White Wine:

  • TENUTA FRATELLI POVERO TERRE DEL CONTE ROERO ARNEIS 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#436915) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
  • LA GIUSTINIANA TERRE ANTICHE GAVI DI GAVI 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#17658) (XD) - $18.95
  • RADFORD DALE VINUM CHENIN BLANC 2018 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#13338) (XD) - $18.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • JULES TAYLOR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#224428) (XD) - $19.95
  • CAVE SPRING ESTATE RIESLING 2018 - VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#286377) (D) - $19.95
  • CHARLES BAKER B-SIDE RIESLING 2018 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#523845) (D) - $21.95
  • VILLA MARIA WAIRAU VALLEY RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Wairau Valley, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#536201) (XD) - $24.95  90+ pts  wine review
  • NYKTERI SANTORINI 2018 - PDO, Greece (#18923) (XD) - $27.95  FE
  • HIDDEN BENCH FUMÉ BLANC 2019 - Rosomel Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#68825) (XD) - $29.95
  • TESCH KRONE RIESLING TROCKEN 2018 - Qualitätswein, Nahe, Germany (#18253) (XD) - $34.95
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2018 (90+ pts)

Sparkling Wine:

  • CAVE SPRING BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT SPARKLING - Traditional method, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, Canada (#213983) (XD) - $29.95

Fortified:

  • GRAHAM'S QUINTA DOS MALVEDOS 2009 - Bottled in 2011, DOP, Portugal (#18363) (S) - $59.95  FE


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  • Date publishedTuesday, April 13, 2021

Planeta Frappato Vittoria 2018 (Sicily) - Wine Review

wine review is a lovely red wine made with the rare Frappato varietal from Sicily that arrived at the LCBO recently as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

With a heritage of seventeen generations, Planeta is one of Sicily's historic wine producers. The family has been involved with the course of agricultural evolution over five centuries in the complex land of Sicily, with an approach always inclined to openness and innovation. During the 1900's, Grandfather Vito led the path towards new solutions and new prospects. In Menfi, he transformed the small family winery into a large co-operative winery in a short period of time.

In 1985, they planted their first vines next to the fortress of Ulmo, eventually growing to 50 hectares of vines and created a wine in 1995 that opened doors to the whole world. This success led to further research of the indigenous varieties of Sicily. They travelled across the island, from Menfi to Vittoria to Noto to Etna, and finally to Capo Milazzowith with the idea of producing each wine in its own territory. In 1997, they planted their first vines at Vittoria, where this red wine is from. Today, two generations of the family - including brothers and sisters, children, nieces and nephews - work together with a vision of unity, a love for the land, and a desire to protect it by using a sustainable, long-term viticultural approach to winemaking.

Frappato is a red wine grape that is genetically close to Sangiovese and ten other Italian red wine varieties, suggesting that it is a cross between Sangiovese and another varietal. It is more commonly used in blends, can be found on its own as well. Frappato is primarily grown in Sicily, with the best expressions coming from the red sands of Vittoria (where this wine is from) in southern Sicily, not far from the sea.

The first vintage of this Frappato was 2013, and it hails from Planeta's Dorilli winery in Vittoria. This Frappato was cultivated from only a few hectares of their Mogli vineyard in the commune of Acate, within the province of Ragusa, that mainly consists of loose red sand with no stones, and a layer of tufa below that is important for the water balance of the vines. Being close to the sea, the vineyard is only 70 metres above sea level. Let's see how the lighter bodied Frappato is tasting tonight...

Planeta Frappato Vittoria 2018 (91 pts)

Tasting Note:

PLANETA FRAPPATO VITTORIA 2018 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#508655) (XD) - $24.95
100% Frappato that was raised entirely in stainless steel vats has a pretty, pale ruby colour. The medium-high intensity nose offers lovely red cherry and strawberry aromas alongside gentle spice, floral, and smoky notes. It is light-to-medium bodied on the palate with impressive concentration and structure. More red cherry, strawberry and white pepper spice with savoury undertones on the flavour profile. It has fresh acidity and light tannins that have a pleasant textural grip. Smoky and red berry notes linger on the long, chalky, and very satisfying finish. Must try! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Planeta can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.


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  • Date publishedSunday, April 11, 2021

Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Laura Hartwig Edición de Familia back in November, wine review is another fine offering from Laura Hartwig that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Osvaldo Bisquertt purchased the property in 1928 to cultivate annual crops and raise cattle. In 1966, his daughter Laura Bisquert inherited the "Santa Laura" farm and further expanded the estate with her husband Alejandro Hartwig. In the 1970's, while the Hartwig family lived in Toronto and Montreal, Alejandro Hartwig (Sr.) took wine courses and developed a passion for wine, eventually deciding to establish a winery back in Chile as their active retirement project. In 1978, Laura Hartwig Premium Wines was borne when they planted their first vines in the Colchagua Valley. Today, Alejandro Hartwig Jr. has also joined the family project as winegrower.

This Single Vineyard Carménère is Laura Hartwig's top selling wine from the Colchagua Valley. It is crafted using grapes, which were planted in 2000, from the Block "Isla" at the Laura Hartwig Estate in Santa Cruz, the heart of Colchagua Valley. This site has clay loam soils on the surface with sand deposits located much deeper in the ground. The grapes were hand-harvested and sorted, then vinified in stainless steel tanks, followed by ageing in French oak barrels for 12 months. The 2018 vintage Chile was considered to be brilliant in terms of quality and quantity. Let's see how this Chilean Carménère is tasting tonight...

Laura Hartwig Single Vineyard Carménère 2018 (88 pts)

Tasting Note:

LAURA HARTWIG SINGLE VINEYARD CARMÉNÈRE 2018 - DO Colchagua Valley, Chile (#213512) (XD) - $15.95
Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, this 100% Carménère has a fragrant nose offering aromas of herbaceous and grilled red pepper notes joined by blackberry and touches of vanilla, chocolate, and walnut. On the medium-bodied palate it has vanilla-infused flavours of grilled red pepper, herbs, and black cherry. Acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the polished tannins have a fine-grained texture. Chocolatey oak, black cherry, and red pepper notes linger on the juicy, balanced finish, with very good length. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 88 pts

While you might find a couple of other wines from Laura Hartwig at the LCBO, your best bet is to contact their Agent - Profile Wine Group.


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  • Date publishedFriday, April 9, 2021

Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2017 (France) - Wine Review

On this fine Friday, red wine review is a bright and lovely Côtes du Rhône-Villages that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Rémy Ferbras was the first cellar master of Grandes Serres, a winery with deep roots in the Southern Rhône Valley. With the Rémy Ferbras range of wines, Grandes Serres pays tribute to the iconic figure of the winery who was a tireless advocate of the Rhône terroir and of its grape varieties, and always succeeded in expressing the full potential of the Rhône Valley wines. Through his work and tenacity, Rémy Ferbras played a large role towards the development and public recognition of Grandes Serres. The range of Rémy Ferbras wines are the result of strict selections, and precise vinification and ageing, just as Remy Ferbras would have preferred.

Rémy Ferbras produces a diverse array of wines from the Southern Rhône Valley's most popular appellations, and this particular bottling is from Plan de Dieu, one of the named villages of the Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation. Plan de Dieu, which translates to "God's Plain", is located in the Southern Rhône Valley, just west of Gigondas, and covers an area of 1,060 hectares, most of which is planted to vineyards with only a few patches of woodland among the vineyards. The climate in this area is Mediterranean and influenced by the Mistral winds, while the vines are primarily grown on a bed of red clay and smooth-rolled cobbles. The leading grape varieties of Plan de Dieu are Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, all found in this wine, and pick up aromas of the surrounding garrigue scrublands.

Although Plan de Dieu is linked to viticulture going back nearly 700 years, it was only awarded Côtes du Rhône-Villages with geographical name status for red wines in 2005. In order to give the appellation an identity, winegrowers designed a special bottle that is embossed with the village name and the vineyard's coat of arms - a bunch of grapes topped with an halo. Let's see how this latest vintage is tasting tonight...

Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2017 (90 pts)

Tasting Note:

RÉMY FERBRAS TERRE DE MISTRAL PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2017 - AP, France (#538009) (XD) - $16.95
This blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre was grown on soils mostly composed of limestone pebbles and brown clay, with each grape vinified separately prior to blending and bottling. The medium-high intensity nose is elegant and composed with red fruited, raspberry, cherry, and spices with underlying savoury tones flecked with stony minerals. It's full-bodied with very good fruit concentration on the spicy palate with more red fruit, cherry, and raspberry flavours balanced with stony and savoury notes. Acids are fresh, while the fine-grained tannins have some structure. Some chalky textured grip on the long, spicy, stony, and savoury finish. Enjoy this great buy over the next 3-5 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Rémy Ferbras can be found at the LCBO (there is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape), while the rest of the portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.


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  • Date publishedWednesday, April 7, 2021

M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2017 (Roussillon) - Wine Review

wine review is this excellent red blend from the village of Latour-de-France within the Côtes du Roussillon-Villages appellation that returned to the LCBO over the weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The roots of M. Chapoutier go back to 1808 when Calvet et Compagnie was created in the Rue de l’Hermitage in Tain, northern Rhône. Marius Chapoutier joined the company in 1897 and had complete control of the winery by the 1920's. Chapoutier winery was then passed down through the generations, eventually landing in the hands of world renowned winemaker Michel Chapoutier in 1990. With a passion for the environment and drive for innovation, Michel began applying biodynamic cultivation techniques and expanded the company in the year 2000 to produce wines from Roussillon.

Many wines encompass the fabulous portfolio of M. Chapoutier, with this particular wine coming from Domaine de Bila-Haut in Roussillon. This domain was setup by Michel in the village of Latour de France, in the hilly northern third of Roussillon, near Fitou and Corbieres, in the South of France. The vines of Bila-Haut and Occultum Lapidem were the first expressions of this terroir. Latour de France is situated on a bend in the Agly river - which winds it way to the Mediterranean Sea - and its climate is Mediterranean with long, hot summers, and relatively mild winters, while experiencing more sunshine over the course of a year than any other part of France.

This red wine is a blend of predominantly Syrah and Grenache, plus some Carignan, all of which were grown in a vineyard located on gneiss and schistous soils from the Devonian Period (approx. 400 million ago) and limestone from Kimmeridgian Period (approximately 150 million years ago). The grapes were hand-picked and matured entirely in concrete tanks.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of this lovely wine and it has always been excellent. Although the 2017 vintage had reduced yields, the fruit during harvest was very good, thus allowing quality producers such as M. Chapoutier to craft excellent wines such as this.

M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2017 (91+ pts)

Tasting Note:

M. CHAPOUTIER BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2017 - AP Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Latour-de-France (#643239) (XD) - $26.95
Blend of mainly Syrah and Grenache, plus some Carignan, all aged in concrete tanks. The highly aromatic nose is fresh and complex with lovely garrigue, Provençal herb, black pepper spice, black cherry, dark berry, and schisty mineral notes. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with fresh, succulent acids and savoury, stony, black cherry, and black pepper spice flavours with touches of garrigue and herb. Well-balanced with refined tannins that have a nice, slightly chalky textured grip. Excellent length on the stony finish. Recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines from M. Chapoutier can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.


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