Paul's Picks from the LCBO New Release of April 28, 2012 - Sauvignon Blanc Challenge and My Top 5 Best Value from this New Release

Hello to all my wine friends,

While looking through the selection on this New Release (NR), I couldn’t believe how many good wines were available. This is a solid selection from around the world. Apart from the wines featured in the following two highlighted segments, here are a few wines I would like to bring to your attention. Looking at white wines first, here is a couple of mid-priced, well balanced, oaked Chardonnays; Cuvaison Chardonnay 2009 from California (988261) at $29.95, and this first class Dog Point Chardonnay 2009 from New Zealand (238568) at $39.95. Now, a few reds for your consideration; a must buy for fans of rich textured Merlot, Beringer Merlot 2009 from Napa Valley (919647) at $29.95, a mid price California Cabernet from Summers Andriana's Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Knights Valley (275719) at $26.95. Here are a few gems from the old world starting with the 2009 French vintage; Château Des Moines 2009 from Bordeaux (206789) at $21.95 and from Burgundy Domaine Vincent Girardin Santenay les Gravières 1er Cru 2009 (940825) at $38.95. A Barolo for your cellar? how about Marziano Abbona Terlo Ravera Barolo 2006 (067918) at $42.95, and if like me, you are a fan of Spanish Rioja this wine should be on your shopping list, Allende 2006, Rioja from Spain (954560) at $24.95. Well let's get started.

Sauvignon Blanc Challenge;  With summer fast approaching, the sale of white wine is about to pick up. For fans of Sauvignon Blanc (SB), three very good SB are been released this weekend, two from New Zealand and one from California. What about a challenge? Dare to compare! There are two premium SB around the same price, one from California at $29 and the other from New Zealand at $30. If you decide to take this challenge, write me back to tell me which one of these two SB won you over?

• Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from New Zealand (735043) at $21.95 – I love the wines from this winery and their SB is definitely one of my favourite. A blend of 94% Sauvignon Blanc and 6% Sémillon, both of these grapes are certified organic. This wine was naturally fermented using wild yeast, the Sémillon and 10% of the SB were fermented in aged French oak.

• Two Rivers of Marlborough Convergence Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from New Zealand (277707) at $29.95 – This 100% SB grapes are from two separate vineyards located on the banks of the Wairau and Awatere rivers. A percentage of the wine was aged on natural yeast lees in French oak for 3 months to add complexity and texture, the rest of the aging process took place in stainless steel tanks.

• Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from California (094375) at $28.95 - I tasted this SB at the California Wine Fair in Ottawa a month ago, here in Ottawa. Very refreshing with slight creaminess, flavours of pineapple, peach and citrus notes. This wine is a blend of 75% SB and 25% Sémillon with 15% barrel fermented in 100% French oak Château style barrels (60 gallons)

My Top 5 Best Value from this New Release; I have often been asked to recommend wines under $20.00. Well in this NR, there are many wines of great value and worth stocking up, that I decided to elaborate on five of these wines. These wines should offer enjoyable drinking pleasure, delivering quality well above their asking price and not likely to disappoint.

• Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2010 from Ontario (043281) at $16.95 - From a very reliable producer, with a lot of attention to detail for $16.95. This wine is 100% Riesling grapes, hand picked and hand sorted, a selection of different yeast strains were used, fermentation lasted about four weeks and filtered prior to bottling. The alcohol comes in at 10.5% with sweetness level at medium-dry (26g/Littler)

• Raimat Abadia Cabernet Sauvignon/Tempranillo 2008 from Spain (935460) at $15.95 - This wine is made to be enjoyed upon release, and at this price, a great wine for the BBQ season. On the label its says Sauvignon/Tempranillo, but what it doesn't say is that Merlot is a big component with 29% of the blend and all the better for it, Cabernet Sauvignon with 48% and Tempranillo at 23%, maturation took place in nearly-new American oak for 10 months, followed by 6 months in French oak.

• Brigaldara Valpolicella 2010 from Italy (917864) at $14.95 – This wine is from a very good producer Brigaldara (love there Amarone), Valpolicella is usually a easy drinking, light bodied wine, medium to pale ruby in color and low tannins. This Valpolicella is a blend of Corvina 40% Corvina, 40% Molinara e Sangiovese and 20% Rondinella. This is a great light bodied, inexpensive wine, serve slightly chilled during the hot summer months.

• Tommasi Arele Appassimento 2009 from Italy (224188) at $17.95 – In the making of a Appassimento style wine, fully ripe grapes are dried for about a month before pressing, usually producing a fuller, sweeter and richer wine. This wine is a blend of 90% Corvina and 10% Oseleta with maturation taking place in Slavonian and French oak for 12 months. I tasted this wine at the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival last March, and I found it to be delicious. I would pair this wine with a cheese platter because of the rich and creamy texture of this wine.

• Canonica A. Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 from Italy (275867) at $17.95 – I had the opportunity to enjoy this wine in a pizzeria in Montréal last December. From a very good 2007 Tuscan vintage, this Chianti Classico Riserva is very rich and concentrated and that an extra four to five months would make this wine even better. I had never tried this winery before, but was very happy with this wine and was hoping to find it in a store at some point. At $17.95, this is my choice of the best value wine in this NR. To see my review of this wine on my blog follow this link;    http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.ca/2011/12/canonica-cerreto-chianti-classico.html

My top three wines from this release;
1-Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from California (071407) at $74.95
2-Marziano Abbona Terlo Ravera Barolo 2006 from Italy (067918) at $48.95
3-Dog Point Chardonnay 2009 from New Zealand (238568) at $39.95

My top three wines for value;
1-Canonica A. Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 from Italy (275867) at $17.95
2-Brigaldara Valpolicella 2010 from Italy (917864) at $14.95
3-Raimat Abadia Cabernet Sauvignon/Tempranillo 2008 from Spain (935460) at $15.95

These wines did not make my shopping list but are worth considering;

Red Wines;

1- Maculan Brentino Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Italy (708897) at $18.95
2- Farina Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2008 from Italy (995910) at $34.95
3- Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from California (071407) at $74.95 

4- Ravenswood Single Vineyard Pickberry Red 2007 from California (200865) at $44.95 

5- Andrew Rich Cuvée B Pinot Noir 2008 from Oregon (127043) at $29.95
6- Mendel Malbec 2009 from Argentina (108225) at $24.95
7- Majella Shiraz 2008 from Australia (269308) at $29.95
8- Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Australia (048579) at $24.95
9-Sister's Run Epiphany Shiraz 2008 from Australia (269464) at $15.95
10- Momo Pinot Noir 2009 from New Zealand (163972) at $19.95
11-Château Cantemerle 2008 from France (135004) at $43.00
12-Château Des Moines 2009 from France (206789) at $21.95
13-Domaine Vincent Girardin Santenay les Gravières 1er Cru 2009 from France (940825) at $38.95 14-Marziano Abbona Terlo Ravera Barolo 2006 from Italy (067918) at $48.95

15-Isole E. Olena Chianti Classico 2008 from Italy (704346) at $26.95
16-Condado De Haza Tinto 2008 from Spain (963348) at $23.95
17-Raimat Abadia Cabernet Sauvignon/Tempranillo 2008 from Spain (935460) at $15.95

White Wines;

1-Dog Point Chardonnay 2009 from New Zealand (238568) at $39.95
2-Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2010 from Ontario (043281) at $16.95
3-Cuvaison Chardonnay 2009 from California (988261) at $29.95
4-Domaine Bachey-Legros Vieilles Vignes Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru from France (268508) at $53.95
5-Chavet & Fils La Dame de Jacques Cœur Menetou-Salon Blanc 2010 from France (525048) at $19.95

That is it for me and my team. We will be back for next New Release of May 12, 2012 where one of the featured segments is California Chards, Zins and Cabs. Will that be an expensive selection?

Cheers,
Paul YWG