August 21, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Mediterranean + Taste Wine Like Pros

With 159 wines listed, the upcoming August 21, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release is a big one. And just like the last Release, there are number of wines listed as a VINTAGES Online Exclusive (VOE) which are only mentioned and available for purchase on LCBO.com. The main theme of this Release tours the wines of the Mediterranean, while the mini-theme is titled "Taste Wine Like a Pro". All of the wines (except the VOEs, of course) should be on shelves across Ontario by this Saturday.

We begin with a tour across the Mediterranean, which includes wines from Italy, Southern France, and Spain. Of the 15 wines featured, the majority of which are from France, 4 are included among my top wine picks. From France, there is a lovely Bandol Rosé that is composed of 50% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, and 25% Mourvèdre, while the Roussillon is an unoaked Carignan from 70+ year old vines. The other two wines are from Italy - one is a lovely Nero d'Avola from Sicily, while the other is an unoaked red made with the indigenous Gaglioppo varietal from Calabria.

The mini-theme on "Taste Wine Like a Pro" offers some useful tips if you are a relative newcomer to wine and want to learn how to taste wine. In addition to what is mentioned in the magazine, I would pay particular attention to the temperature of the wines being served, including the reds. Of the 10 wines list in this feature, 3 are included among my top wine recommendations. First up is a Traditional Method Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé that is made with 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, and 10% Gamay. In still wines, there is the Rapaura Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and the Muga which is a barrel fermented blend of Viura, Garnacha Blanca, and Malvasía de Rioja.

From my red wine recommendations, there are a pair of Côtes du Rhônes - the LAVAU is the blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, while the Dauphins consists of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. At the higher-end of the price scale, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre, and 7% Cinsault. while the Tuscan red is 100% Sangiovese. Lastly, both reds from Argentina are 100% Malbec.

Although not listed below, there's also a fine quartet of sub-$20 red wines that I previously enjoyed and returned to VINTAGES in this release. These wines are: Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (90 pts), Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Carmenère 2019 (89 pts), Salentein Reserve Malbec 2018 (89 pts), and Château Hauchat 2018 (88+ pts).

Among my white wine picks, at the top of the list is a 2012 Crianza that was barrel-aged for 4 years and made with 100% Viura. The Argentinean white is a blend of 60% Semillón and 40% Chenin Blanc, while the dry Alsatian wine consists of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, and Sylvaner. The Viognier from California is actually a blend of 83% Viognier, 6.7% Chardonnay, 5% Gewurztraminer, and 5.3% Muscat. The rest of the white wines are single varietals, and if you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc, there are three others in addition to the one mentioned above that would make for an interesting comparative tasting. Lastly, the pale-coloured dry rosé from Argentina is (surprisingly!) made with 100% Syrah.

Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• ALBERT BICHOT SÉLECTION PARCELLAIRE BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2018 - AC Beaujolais, France (#18781) (XD) - $13.95  88+ pts  wine review
• LAVAU CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#18783) (XD) - $14.95  89 pts  wine review
• CELLIER DES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE 2019 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#14081) (XD) - $16.95  88 pts  wine review
• LIBRANDI DUCA SANFELICE CIRÒ RISERVA ROSSO 2017 - DOC, Calabria, Italy (#695874) (XD) - $17.95  90+ pts  wine review
• SANTA RITA MEDALLA REAL GRAN RESERVA SYRAH 2018 - Valle del Limarí, Chile (#19236) (XD) - $17.95
• TESSELLAE VIEILLES VIGNES CARIGNAN 2018 - IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, France (#343509) (XD) - $18.95
• CHAKANA ESTATE SELECTION MALBEC 2019 - Vegan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#219261) (XD) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• ERRAZURIZ ACONCAGUA ALTO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018 - DO Valle del Aconcagua, Chile (#203364) (XD) - $21.95  90+ pts  wine review
• MATÍAS RICCITELLI TINTO DE LA CASA 2018 - Mendoza, Argentina (#19400) (XD) - $29.95
• FEUDO MACCARI SAIA NERO D'AVOLA 2017 - DOC Sicilia, Italy (#128967) (XD) - $29.95
• CHÂTEAU LA NERTHE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2017 - AC, Rhone, France (#735407) (XD) - $59.95
• ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2017 - IGT Toscana, Italy (#12818) (XD) - $128.95

White Wine:

• MUGA BARREL FERMENTED WHITE 2020 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#958736) (XD) - $17.95
• CLOSERIE DES ALISIERS BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY 2019 - AC Burgundy, France (#20911) (XD) - $18.95  90 pts  wine review
• HUGEL GENTIL 2019 - AC Alsace, France (#367284) (XD) - $18.95  VOE
• MONTPELLIER VIOGNIER 2020 - California, USA (#658138) (D) - $19.95  88 pts  wine review
• BODEGA GARZÓN MALDONADO SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Garzón, Uruguay (#12678) (XD) - $19.95
• CATENA APPELLATION SERIES WHITE CLAY 2019 - Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (#19392) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• RAPAURA SPRINGS RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Sustainable, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#388421) (XD) - $23.95
• DOG POINT SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#677450) (XD) - $27.95
• BROKENWOOD SEMILLON 2019 - Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia (#657726) (XD) - $27.95  FE
• LEYDA LOT 4 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015 - Valle de Leyda, Chile (#18997) (XD) - $29.95
• R. LÓPEZ DE HEREDIA VIÑA TONDONIA VIÑA GRAVONIA CRIANZA 2012 - DOCa Rioja, Spain (#910711) (XD) - $44.95  FE

Rosé Wine:

• SALENTEIN RESERVE ROSÉ 2020 - Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (#19555) (XD) - $17.95  89 pts  wine review
• LA CADIÉRENNE CUVÉE GRANDE TRADITION BANDOL ROSÉ 2020 - AC, Provence, France (#119453) (XD) - $24.95  91+ pts  wine review

Sparkling Wine:

• PONGRÁCZ BRUT CAP CLASSIQUE SPARKLING CHARDONNAY/PINOT NOIR - Traditional method, WO Western Cape, South Africa (#404111) (XD) - $16.95  91 pts  wine review
• HENRI CHAMPLIAU BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE ROSÉ - Traditional method, AC, Burgundy, France (#20945) (XD) - $24.95  91 pts  wine review

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Cellier des Dauphins Réserve 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this delicious Côtes du Rhône red that comes to the LCBO this weekend, as part of the August 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The story of Cellier des Dauphins begins with the formation of Union of Côtes du Rhône winegrowers (UVCDR) in 1967. The UVCDR brought together 2,300 winemaking families in the southern Rhône Valley, a territory that covered 2,500 hectares of vines and approximately 20 AOCs. Founded in 1967 by UVCDR, Cellier des Dauphins has become the pride of the member winemakers as it has risen to regional preeminence. The sun-drenched wines of Cellier des Dauphins are highly esteemed and synonymous with the voluptuous south's art de vivre.

Proud of their terroir, the founding winemakers of Cellier des Dauphins are driven by constant innovation, preparing for the future, and striving relentlessly to raise quality from vine to glass. They have a wide variety of soils and terroirs within their vineyards which offers oenologists a rich palette of grapes for blending. Cellier des Dauphins is committed to sustainable agriculture and has launched various eco-friendly initiatives to meet this goal. Their goal is to ensure that their wines are environmentally-sound by reducing their environmental footprint, earning Haute Valeur Environnementale accreditation, and reducing by-product waste. As of today, Cellier des Dauphins has over 1,000 hectares of organically farmed vines.

Tasting Note:

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS RÉSERVE 2019 - AC Côtes du Rhône, France (#14081) (XD) - $16.95
Harvested at full maturity on sunny terroirs in the Côtes du Rhône, this blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah has a medium+ intensity nose that offers red berry, raspberry, and spice aromas with subtle savoury and mineral undertones. On the fleshy, medium-full bodied palate it has very ripe red currant, raspberry, and spice flavours that are balanced with tangy, juicy acidity. Touch grapey on the mid-palate. The refined, grainy tannins are a bit tight, while the taut finish tapers to savoury and slightly mineral, with very good length. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Cellier des Dauphins can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2019 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this always reliable, premium Australian Shiraz from Wakefield Wines that arrived at the LCBO earlier this month, as part of the August 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Bill Taylor Sr. and his two sons founded the winery in Clare Valley in 1969 to create estate wines. Today, Wakefield produces wines not only from estate fruit, but also sourcing fruit from other growers. The Wakefield's Jaraman range of wines takes advantage of Australia's iconic wine regions which provide great diversity. With the Jaraman range, the family searches for parcels of extraordinary fruit, from Australia's celebrated wine regions that are renowned for a particular variety, to craft wines that showcase their distinctive regional characteristics and style.

I have enjoyed previous vintages of this red wine, including most recently the 2017 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz back in December. For this vintage, this 100% Shiraz is composed of 59% Clare Valley and 41% McLaren Vale fruit, which is more or the less the same composition as the 2017. In Clare Valley, the 2019 growing season experienced a lower than average winter and spring rainfall, along with some hail and frost events affected yields. There were also some extreme temperatures - the lowest temperature ever recorded in spring, as well as the highest ever temperature in the summer. However, the vines showed great resilience and wine quality is strong with intense flavours and colour. In McLaren Vale, dry conditions, plus a hail event in November, and hot weather in January and February resulted in reduced yields, but an increase in flavour intensity. Overall, while yields were down, the fruit quality is, once again, very good. Let's see how this 2019 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

WAKEFIELD JARAMAN SHIRAZ 2019 - Clare Valley & McLaren Vale, South Australia (#377036) (XD) - $24.95
100% Shiraz from Clare Valley (59%) & McLaren Vale (41%) and aged in a mix of coopers' American oak hogsheads (30% 1 year old and 70% 2-3 year old) for an average of 12 months before being bottled. Screw cap. The highly aromatic nose is ripe with slightly jammy dark berries and spices nuanced with sweet oak vanillin and cocoa aromas. The medium-full bodied palate delivers pleasing aroma replays which are joined by black pepper spice, savoury, and earthy tones with touches of olive in a slightly warming profile, but still well-balanced. There's a fresh lick of acidity, while the finely textured tannins are slightly grippy. Some herbal complexities show up on the cocoa-dusted, savoury finish, with very good length. Enjoyable now, but should be even better in a couple of years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Wakefield Wines can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group, who also now offer Air Miles Reward Miles with purchase.

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Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Marnes et Caillottes Sancerre 2019 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a brilliant Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the August 7 LCBO VINTAGES Release. However, this lovely white wine is listed as a VINTAGES Online Exclusive and can only be purchased online through LCBO.com.

One of my favourite Loire wine producers, Jean-Max Roger comes from a long line of winegrowers dating back to at least the early part of the 17th century. The winery, which has evolved over time with the development of the estate, is located in the heart of the village of Bué. The oldest structures on the estate are date back to the 17th century, while part of the winery was once one of the village's tithe barns.

In the early 1970s, Jean-Max Roger took over the property from his parents, and in 2004 was joined by two of his three sons, Thibault and Etienne. The estate's vineyards are managed according to regional winegrowing traditions, while also striving to uphold sustainable viticultural practices. The Roger family uses the Guyot Poussart pruning method which helps to better balance the vines and respect sap flow, in turn keeping the vines strong and healthy.

I last enjoyed this white wine when the 2018 Jean-Max Roger Cuvée Marnes et Caillottes Sancerre arrived at the LCBO in November 2019 and am delighted to taste the latest vintage. The grapes for this Sauvignon Blanc were grown in several vineyards within the Sancerre appellation villages of Bué and Amigny. The soils in these vineyards are a blend of Kimmeridgian Marls called "Marnes" and Limestone called "Caillottes" - hence the name of this wine. The vines are between 5 and 40 years of age with southeastern and southwestern exposure to the sun and farmed using organic principles to revitalize soil life and produce grapes that reveal its terroir. At the winery, the grapes are long-fermented using natural yeasts to develop aromatic complexity, followed by ageing on heavy lees to develop minerality.

During the growing season in 2019, although the summer heat and dry weather stressed the vines and reduced yields, the fruit at harvest was of premium quality, with general consensus being that the quality is even better than the previous year. I rated the last vintage of this wine 92 pts, let's see how the 2019 is tasting...

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE MARNES ET CAILLOTTES SANCERRE 2019 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $31.95
100% Sauvignon Blanc from Kimmeridgian Marls ("Marnes") and stony calcareous "Caillottes" terroirs, this has an intense, aromatic nose that is elegant, pretty, and ripe with lemon citrus, floral, and earthy white stone mineral notes accented with stone fruit and white peach. The concentrated, medium-full bodied palate has lovely aroma replays of ripe lemon citrus, white peach, floral, and white stone mineral adding a pleasant savoury touch. Subtly spice on the mid-palate, along with a slightly chalky texture. Finely balanced throughout with fresh, well-articulated acidity. Oyster-shell minerality with hints of citrus lingers on the juicy finish, with excellent length. Beautiful. Highly recommended buy. Score: 92+ pts

Other lovely wines from Jean-Max Roger are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Viña Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina that arrived at the LCBO last weekend, as part of the August 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Viña Cobos was established 1988 by founding partner and winemaker Paul Hobbs. Since that time, he has explored the different terroirs of Mendoza, looking for the most distinguished regions in Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley to produce wines that authentically and uniquely express their terroir and origins.

Although Mendoza is divided into various regions for the cultivation of excellent quality vines, Paul finds that the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo stand out for their particular growing conditions. Luján de Cuyo is known historically as the premier winegrowing region in Mendoza with its high elevation between 800 and 1,100 metres (2,624 and 3,308 feet), semi-desert climate, and low-nutrient, gravelly soils. The Uco Valley is at the privileged location at the foot of the Andes Mountains at high-altitudes between 900 and 1,400 m (2,952 and 4,593 feet), and has alluvial soils that are incredibly rocky with pebbles and stones of varying sizes scattered throughout.

The Andes Mountains strongly influence the climate in Mendoza by blocking the humid conditions created by the Pacific Ocean to the west, resulting in a temperate climate that is mostly dry with plentiful sunshine, and along with a wide diurnal temperature range, helps create favourable vine growing conditions. Snowmelt is the principal source of irrigation as the pure mountain water is distributed through an ingenious thousand-year-old system of canals designed and constructed by the Huarpes, the indigenous people of the region.

Viña Cobos has several estates and vineyards, and this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-harvested from sustainably farmed vineyards located in semi-desert climates in Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, at high altitudes between 700 and 1,195 metres (2,306 and 3,927 feet). The different parcels of grapes were kept separate throughout vinification and produced with minimal intervention. It was fermented with selected and native yeasts in closed-top stainless steel tanks, and gently moved throughout the winery using gravity flow. It was in aged in American oak barrels (10% new) for 8 months. The 2019 vintage was characterized by great thermal amplitude (high diurnal temperatures) and low rainfall, resulting in fruit bunches of excellent quality. Let's see how this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

VIÑA COBOS FELINO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Unfined, Mendoza, Argentina (#132365) (XD) - $19.95
From vineyards in Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, this Cabernet Sauvignon has a clean, highly aromatic nose that delivers spicy, dark fruited, blackberry, and savoury aromas accented with grilled herbs, leafy, and graphite notes. It's full-bodied on the spicy, dark fruited, blackberry palate joined by herbal and plummy flavours framed by fresh, succulent acidity and fine, dusty textured tannins. Savoury with dark berry, and a graphite edge on the finish, with very good length. Enjoyable now, and should be even better in 3-4 years. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Viña Cobos can be ordered through their Agent - Rogers & Company.

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Torbreck Old Vines Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2017 (Barossa) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely GSM blend from Australia that returned to the LCBO last weekend in the August 7 LCBO VINTAGES Release as a "VINTAGES Online Exclusive", meaning that it is only available for purchase online through LCBO.com. To purchase, simply click on the product code below to visit its product page on the LCBO website.

Torbreck Vintners was founded in 1994 by David Powell. It was named after a forest in Scotland where David worked as a lumberjack. David gained his experience in winemaking by working at other wineries in Barossa prior to forming Torbreck, but was inspired to create his own label. In order to achieve this, he began to share-farm vineyards, which allowed Torbreck to obtain fruit from the very best vineyards in the Barossa Valley. With his love for wines from France's Rhône Valley, Torbreck's highly-acclaimed red and white wines were also based on classic Rhône varieties - Shiraz (Syrah), Grenache and Mataró (Mourvèdre) - all of which are considered classic varieties of the Barossa.

Today, Torbreck Vintners is owned by Proprietor Peter Kight with the aim of building one of the best wine estates in the world. Torbreck considers Barossa to be the most exciting place to make wine in the world, with its gentle Mediterranean climate and 175 years of Silesian and English commitment to grape-growing and winemaking. They work with multi-generational winegrowers, whose ancestors arrived here nearly two centuries ago, and have great knowledge of the seasons and soil, while working the vineyards with minimal intervention and aiming to get the best out of each vineyard site.

This red wine is a blend of 62% Grenache, 26% Shiraz, and 12% Mourvèdre that was hand-harvested from old vines, some as much as 100 years old, from the sub-regions of Marananga, Gomersal, and Ebenezer. As each parcel of grapes enters the winery, they were fermented in a combination of open top cement and wooden vats, as well as stainless steel tanks. It was aged in well-seasoned French oak hogsheads for 24 months. Each parcel was kept separate throughout the vinification process, until it was finally blended and bottled.

During the growing season in the Barossa Valley, a wet spring replenished sub-soil moisture, while a warm, dry Indian summer created perfect ripening conditions through to April 2017, resulting in an outstanding vintage that produced intense, well-structured reds. I had the opportunity to taste this 2017 back in January 2020 and am curious to see how it has evolved since then.

Tasting Note:

TORBRECK OLD VINES GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2017 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#10223) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap. This GSM blend of 62% Grenache, 26% Shiraz, and 12% Mourvèdre is open and complex on the nose with lovely aromas of red berry, strawberry, and cherry mingling with savoury, black pepper, dried spice, earth, and a touch of rosemary. The medium-full bodied palate has slightly maturing flavours of dried red and black berries, strawberry, raspberry, black pepper, and spices supported by fresh, lively acidity and smooth, refined, and lightly chalky tannins. Nicely balanced flavours throughout with savoury, earthy and red berry complexity on the long finish. Enjoy this recommended buy lightly chilled. Score: 90+ pts

A limited selection of Torbreck wines are available at the LCBO, while others from the Torbreck portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Jean-Max Roger La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rosé 2020 (Loire) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely dry rosé from Sancerre that arrived at the LCBO this weekend, as part of the August 7 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Jean-Max Roger comes from a long-line of winegrowers in the village of Bué, just southwest of the town of Sancerre, with the Roger family name mentioned in texts going back to the early part of the 17th century. In the early 1970s, Jean-Max Roger took over the 4 hectares of vines left to him by his parents, and together with his wife, Nicole, developed the vineyards and further expanded the estate. In 2004, he was joined by two of this three sons, Etienne and Thibault. Today, the estate covers 34 hectares, 28 of which are in the Sancerre appellation along the Loire River.

I've always enjoyed this rose, including most recently just over three years ago when the 2017 Jean-Max Roger La Grange Dîmière Sancerre Rosé showed up at the LCBO. This lovely rose is crafted from 100% Pinot Noir grown in the villages of Vinon, Bué, and Sancerre, on flint, Kimmeridgian marls & Limestone Silex, Terres Blanches & Caillottes soils. The vines average between 25 to 45 years old and are farmed using organic principles, including revitalization of soil life, to produce grapes which reveal its terroir. In the winery, the grapes undergo a long fermentation to develop aromatic complexity and are aged on heavy lees to develop minerality.

Although little detailed information exists about the 2020 vintage in Loire, it was frost-free and relatively easy-going, resulting in an excellent vintage with berry fruited and aromatic rosé wines. Let's see how this 2020 Sancerre Rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

JEAN-MAX ROGER LA GRANGE DÎMIÈRE SANCERRE ROSÉ 2020 - AC, Loire, France (#490813) (XD) - $26.95
This 100% Pinot Noir rosé has a fresh, elegant, and intense nose with attractive aromas of grapefruit, citrus, red currant, strawberry, red cherry, and mineral. It's medium+ bodied with good weight to the fruit with lovely grapefruit, citrus and red berry flavours coming through on the dry palate. Acids are well-balanced, while white pepper spice notes join the grapefruit, citrus, and red berry profile on the mid-palate, lingering through to the long, leesy mineral finish. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines from Jean-Max Roger are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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