Paul's Picks from the LCBO Vintages New Release of July 20, 2013 - My picks from the Global BBQ fare offering and Cool-Clima​te Chardonnay

Hello to all my wine friends,

 

The central feature of this New Release (NR) showcases BBQ wines from around the world, with the secondary feature being a solid selection of “Cool-Climate Chardonnay”. When you take a closer look at this NR, there is only one wine over $50.00, which is a bit unusual, but maybe not so much for a summer release. That means, if you are looking for a premium wine for a gift, Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from California (189795) at $87.95 has no competition here. That being said, I have recommended many red wines at the $20.00 mark, ideal for summer entertaining and your budget.

 

 

Now my favourite question;  If I were allowed to buy only one wine from this NR, which one would that be? Baron De Ley Gran Reserva 2004 from Spain (642496) at $29.95. I always love the elegant and mature wine coming out of this winery. This wine is 90% Tempranillo with maturation in French and American oak for 30 months and alcohol comes in at 13%. This wine is ready to enjoy now or could be cellared for a further 2-3 years. Now, apart from the wines featured in the following two highlighted segments, here are a few wines I would like to bring to your attention;

Starting with white wines;

• For fans of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc like me, here is a SB to be considered, Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from New Zealand (663286) at $19.95

   
• Here is my pick for of the off the beaten track white of this NR, Casal Farneto Crisio Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi Riserva Classico 2010 from Italy (326926) at $19.95. This is a medium bodied white, made with the Italian grape Verdicchio and ideal for a pasta dish in a cream sauce, or with chicken, pork or seafood.

 

Now for the red wines;
 

• Here is a not to be missed reasonably priced wine from Tuscany, Fontalpino Chianti Classico 2010 from Italy (275859) at $23.95
   
• For fans of a cooler wine region of Australia, Leasingham Winemakers selection Bin 61 Shiraz 2009, (448241) at $25.95 is from the Clare Valley region of South Australia. This is one of those wines which would benefit from 1-2 years in your cellar.
   
•  As for my recommended off the beaten track red of this NR, Château de Ventenac la Grande Réserve Cabardès 2009 from France (336255) at $17.95. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Merlot 30%, Syrah 35% and Grenache 5%. Now let’s get started;      

 

 

My picks from the “Global BBQ fare” offering;  What I look for in a summer BBQ wine is a wine with lots of flavour, good acidity (refreshing), low tannins, not to high in alcohol (when possible) and a decent price. Of the 20 wines featured in this Global BBQ fare, I would only recommend four. Now I know that to be featured in a segment like this, wineries have to pay extra for the added visibility. However, there are many other wines in this release which would work very well during this BBQ season. So here are a few affordable reds, for your summer entertaining;

 

• Bisquertt Ecos De Rulo Carmenère 2009 from Chile (325365) at $17.95 – This is a new product at the LCBO from Chile. Interestingly, Carmenère was for a long time mistaken for Merlot. This winery uses French oak for their wines and alcohol comes in at 14%.

   
• Robert Oatley Signature Series Shiraz 2010 from Australia (327387) at $18.95 – For fans of full bodied, rich McLaren Vale Shiraz, this wine is 100% Shiraz with maturation in French oak for 10 months. Alcohol comes in at 14%. This wine is a perfect match with a juicy steak from the Barbie.
   
•  Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2008 from South Africa (053124) at $16.95 – An elegant blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz with 14% Merlot in a supporting role and alcohol comes in at 14.4%.
   
•  Porca de Murça Reserva Tinto 2010 from Portugal (684753) at $17.95 – One of two great wines in this NR from Real Companhia Velha the other being their Quinta De Ventozelo Touriga Nacional 2009. A wine company dedicated to producing high quality wines made with native Portuguese grapes in a mixture of traditional and modern style. This wine should be paired with BBQ steak or lamb.  It could benefit from 1-2 years of additional time in your cellar to allow the tannins to soften, if you prefer.   

 

Cool-Climate Chardonnay;  The Chardonnay grape is the most popular white grape and is grown throughout the wine world because of its early ripening nature. I generally prefer Chardonnay from cooler growing regions of the world, like Ontario and British Columbia in Canada, the cooler regions of California, Chablis in France, Tasmania in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Friuli region of Italy to name a few. The reason, cool-climate regions improve the wines natural acidity which makes them lighter, dryer and more refreshing. This of course depends on how the grapes are handled at the vineyard, meaning judicious use of oak. Here is my pick of three of these Chardonnays from cooler regions; 

 

• Nautilus Chardonnay 2011 from New Zealand (657569) at $24.95 – The same region in New Zealand which produce fantastic Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) also produce some very nice Chardonnay. This wine is produced with 100% Chardonnay, maturation in French oak (20% new) and alcohol comes in at 13.5%.
  
  
•  Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2011 from South Africa (931006) at $32.95 – For a few years now I have been reading about this winery that produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It seems that they pay a great deal of attention to the important details in their wine making of which they are all well rated. This wine is made with 100% estate Chardonnay fruit with maturation in French oak for 8 months (34% new and the rest is 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th use) and alcohol comes in at a low of 13%.
  
  
•  Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 from Ontario (345819) at $44.95 – The winemaker responsible for this stunning Chardonnay (Thomas Bachelder) sure is a busy man. Bachelder is a “virtual” winery and his project is making both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from three different regions; Niagara Peninsula here in Ontario, the state of Oregon in the United States and Burgundy in France. This wine is a full bodied and rich style of Chardonnay with alcohol coming in at 13.9%.   

 

My top three wines from this release;

1- Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2011 from South Africa (931006) at $32.95

 

2- Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 from Ontario (345819) at $44.95

 

3- Baron De Ley Gran Reserva 2004 from Spain (642496) at $29.95

 

 

My top three wines for value;

 

1- Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2008 from South Africa (053124) at $16.95

 

2- Bisquertt Ecos De Rulo Carmenère 2009 from Chile (325365) at $17.95

 

3- Porca de Murça Reserva Tinto 2010 from Portugal (684753) at $17.95

 

My wines picks from this New Release for your consideration;

 Red Wines;

1- Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from California (189795) at $87.95 

2- Altocedro Ano Cero Malbec 2011 from Argentina (322768) at $19.95 

3- Bisquertt Ecos De Rulo Carmenère 2009 from Chile (325365) at $17.95

 

4- Tamaya Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 from Chile (292367) at $14.95

 

5- Leasingham Winemakers selection Bin 61 Shiraz 2009 from Australia (448241) at $25.95

 

6- Robert Oatley Signature Series Shiraz 2010 from Australia (327387) at $18.95

 

7- Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2008 from South Africa (053124) at $16.95

 

8- Château Pindefleurs 2009 from France (195263) at $28.85

 

9- Château de Ventenac la Grande Réserve Cabardès 2009 from France (336255) at $17.95

 

10- Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2010 from France (643239) at $24.95

 

11- Romain Duvernay Vacqueyras 2010 from France (280966) at $26.95

 

12- Fontalpino Chianti Classico 2010 from Italy (275859) at $23.95

 

13- Renieri Invetro 2010 from Italy (330696) at $19.95

 

14- Porca de Murça Reserva Tinto 2010 from Portugal (684753) at $17.95

 

15- Quinta De Ventozelo Touriga Nacional 2009 from Portugal (657452) at $19.95

 

16- Baron De Ley Gran Reserva 2004 from Spain (642496) at $29.95

 

 

White Wines;

 

1- Bachelder Wismer Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 from Ontario (345819) at $44.95

 

2- Nautilus Chardonnay 2011 from New Zealand (657569) at $24.95

 

3- Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from New Zealand (663286) at $19.95

 

4- Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2011 from South Africa (931006) at $32.95

 

5- Maison Roche de Bellène Rully les Cloux 1^er Cru 2011 from France (339226) at $29.95

 

6- Rolly Gassmann Rotleibel de Rorschwihr Auxerrois 2007 from France (328872) at $19.95

 

7- Billaud-Simon Vaillons Chablis 1^er Cru 2009 from France (330175) at $35.95

 

8- Casal Farneto Crisio Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi Riserva Classico 2010 from Italy (326926) at $19.95 

 

That is all for me and my team. I will be taking a small vacation and won’t be reviewing the next New Release of August 3, 2013. For those of you who are wondering, the featured segments will be "Fresh French whites" and "Syrah and Shiraz around the world". My world is a bit hectic at the moment, but I will try to provide my recommendations for the following New Release in August.

 

Cheers

Paul YWG