Paul's Picks from the LCBO New Release of May 12, 2012 - My top Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandels and Chardonnay​s Picks from the California Legends Feature

Hello to all my wine friends,

Looking at this New Release (NR), apart from the wines featured in the California segment, here are a few wines I would like to bring to your attention. If you are a fan of Chablis, there is the not to be missed Domaine Hervé Azo Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru 2010 from Burgundy, France (276451) at $27.95. Another white wine I want to highlight is the Wither Hills Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from New Zealand (919514) at $17.95. Now for the reds, a trio of Tuscan wines; Campo Di Sasso Insoglio Del Cinghiale 2010 (277012) at $29.95 (an unusual blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot), Banfi Rosso Di Montalcino 2009 (681262) at $22.95 (100% Sangiovese, 50% French and 50% Slavonian oak for 1 year) and San Fabiano Calcinaia Chianti Classico 2008 (023408) at $19.95. Finally, for fans of mature Spanish Rioja, this is ready to drink and is on my shopping list, Heredad De Baroja Gran Reserva 2001 from Spain (276113) at $21.95. Well let’s get started.  

My Top Picks from the California Legends Feature; The wines from California hardly need the many featured segment in our LCBO NR, to help there wine sales. The sales of California wines, are doing very well across the country. I have to say that the California Wine Institute with their 2012 Canadian Fair touring 7 cities from Vancouver to Halifax certainly helps spread the news about California wines. With the Cdn dollar at par with the US, it makes their wines a little more affordable. Have you been to California wine country? Truly enjoyable! Just a short drive from San Francisco, blessed with a warm climate, gorgeous vineyards, hundreds of wineries and an incredible landscape of palm trees, rolling hills, morning fog and charming Spanish architecture. Here are a few suggestions from this NR;

Cabernet Sauvignon;

• Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Sonoma County (226944) at $21.95 – I love this winery, they make very good wines across all price points. Rodney Strong was the first carbon neutral winery in Sonoma, sustainable and fish friendly farming with use of solar power to produce its wines. This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, grapes are mostly from Alexander Valley in Sonoma County with maturation taking place in 85% American oak and 15% in French oak for 17 months.

• Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Stag’s Leap District, Napa Valley (045476) at $84.95 – A delicious but expensive wine for sure, this wine is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, and in a supporting role 1% Petite Verdot and 1% Malbec all organically grown estate grape with maturation taking place in 100% French oak for 20 months. The only negatives, high in price and alcohol at 15.4%.

Zinfandel;

• Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel 2009 from Sonoma County (673798) at $23.95 – Most of you have probably enjoy Ravenswood Vintners Blend Old Vine Zinfandel in the past (around $18.00), for a few dollars more, consider their Old Vine Zinfandel 2009 from Sonoma County. This wine is a blend of 84% Zinfandel, 8% Petit Sirah, 6% Carignane and 2% Mixes Blacks, you will find a more interesting Zin with better acidity and more flavour and complexity.

• Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel 2010 from Sonoma County (942151) at $29.95 – I tasted this Zin at the California Wine Fair in Ottawa a little over a month ago. A big and luscious Zinfandel with aromas of black cherries, wild berries, red currants, Asian spices and cedar notes. Full bodied mouthfeel with alcohol coming in at 14.8%, black fruit and spices flavours with balanced acidity and fine grained tannins. This wine is 100% Zinfandel grapes with maturation taking place in 75% American oak (10% new) and 25% French oak (neutral). My personal opinion, lay this down until the fall or next summer for optimum pleasure.

Chardonnay;

• Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay 2010 (369686) at $19.95 – This is the #1 selling Chardonnay in America for the last 20 years and like so many others, I have been purchasing this wine for many years. This wine is 100% Jackson Estate grown Chardonnay grapes from these three county; Monterey, Santa Barbara and Sonoma, maturation in both American and French oak with alcohol at a reasonable 13.8%. A full bodied, slightly sweet Chardonnay with citrus and tropical fruit, creamy and buttery texture. During the last American Presidential campaign, during an interview with Barack Obama in his house in Chicago, you can see in the background a bottle of Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay. If it’s good enough for Barack Obama, it’s good enough for me.

• Stag’s Leap Winery Chardonnay 2010 from Napa Valley (655381) at $34.95 – Another wine tasted at the California Wine Fair in Ottawa, a big and luscious Chardonnay with aromas of tree fruit, tropical fruit and citrus fruit and sweet oak notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, loads of flavours, creamy texture with decent enough acidity and well integrated oak. Very good length on the finish with flavours of toast, pineapple, orange peel, caramel-crème brulée flavours. To be enjoyed with lobster, BBQ pork chops, BBQ pork or chicken skewers with grilled pineapple or roast chicken.

My top three wines from this release;
1-Far Niente Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from California (539098) at $144.95
2-Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Napa Estate Zinfandel 2009 from California (682989) at $46.95
3-Stag’s Leap Winery Chardonnay 2010 from California (655381) at $34.95

My top three wines for value;
1-Heredad De Baroja Gran Reserva 2001 from Spain (276113) at $21.95

2-Pinyolet Garnacha 2010 from Spain (271791) at $16.95
3-Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from California (226944) at $21.95

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

Red Wines;
1- Far Niente Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from California (539098) at $144.95 - Cellar Candidate 2- Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from California (060020) at $54.95 – Cellar Candidate

3- Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from California (045476) at $84.95
4- Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range Napa Estate Zinfandel 2009 from California (682989) at $46.95 – Cellar Candidate
5- Hartley Ostini Hitching Post Crok Dancer Pinot Noir 2009 from California (179812) at $34.95

6- Regnati Reserve Single Vineyard Merlot KP 2007 from Israel (282590) at $28.95
7- Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Quartage 2008 from Australia (024091) at $22.95
8- Wallace by Ben Glaetzer Shiraz/Grenache 2009 from Australia (047605) at $28.95
9- Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz 2008 from Australia (590273) at $28.95

10-Château Ormes de Pez 2008 from France (133819) at $43.00 – Cellar Candidate
11-Pinyolet Garnacha 2010 from Spain (271791) at $16.95

White Wines;
1-Talbot Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay 2009 from California (716290) at $26.95

2-Stag’s Leap Winery Chardonnay 2010 from California (655381) at $34.95

3-Angels Gate Mountainview Chardonnay 2010 from Ontario, Canada (116384) at $18.95
4-Wither Hills Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from New Zealand (919514) at $17.95
5-Monmousseau Vouvray 2010 from France (271940) at $14.95

That is it for me and my team. We will be back for next New Release of May 26, 2012 where one of the featured segment is, Top Wines from Portugal’s top region. I have discovered some real nice Portuguese wines recently, especially Prats & Symington Chryseia 2008 from Douro Valley, tasted at the Vancouver wine show. Can’t wait to see what will be offered.

Cheers,
Paul YWG