Paul's Picks from the LCBO New Release of September 1, 2012 - A Solid Italian Selection and My Splurges Picks

Hello to all my wine friends,

Looking at this New Release (NR), I see a very good Italian selection (more on that later), with some very expensive Champagne, now apart from the wines features in the following two highlighted segments, here are a few wines I would like to bring to your attention. Starting with white wines, a very good value wine from Alsace, France,  André Blanck et ses Fils Rosenburg Pinot Blanc 2010 (626606) at $13.95, a off-dry Riesling from Mike Weir Riesling 2010 from Ontario (229286) at $14.95, for fans of Chablis (Chardonnay from Burgundy) Séguinot-Bordet Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru 2010 from France (289389) at $29.95 and finally, a cool climate Chardonnay (and the only white on my shopping list) Marimar Estate La Masia Don Miguel Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 from Russian River Valley in California (270090) at $25.95. Now for the reds, a very good Pinot Noir is being released this week but only 119 cases for the whole province, Jacques Girardin Clos Rousseau Santenay 1er Cru 2009 from France (281121) at $32.95, I expect this Pinot to be sold out by the end of the weekend. For fans of elegant, well balanced Syrah, Trinity Hill Syrah 2010 from New Zealand (194274) at $20.95. Perhaps a rich Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon for your cellar? Wakefield St. Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from Australia (058198) at $49.95, and finally Casa de la Ermita Idilico Crianza Seleccion 2006 from Spain (286161) at $19.95 a ready to enjoy blend of Monastrell and Petit Verdot. Well let’s get started    

 

 

A Solid Italian Selection; When looking at the list of wines being released, there were no less than 9 wines from Italy that grabbed my attention. A quality selection which includes a Barolo from Piedmont, two Brunello’s from Tuscany, two Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico from Veneto, numerous Chianti Classico from Tuscany and a delicious blend from the region of Puglia. Here are a few of them for your consideration;

• Canonica A. Cerreto Chianti Classico 2008 from Italy (283697) at $16.95 – For those who had the pleasure of tasting this wineries Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 released at the LCBO last spring, from their Chianti Classico 2008, you should expect less tannins, lighter color and easy drinking wine. There Chianti Classico Riserva wines have 6 more months in new French oak compared to their Chianti Classico. Canonica A. Cerreto Chianti Classico 2008 is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot, maturation taking place in first and second usage French oak for 12 months.

• Rivera IL Falcone Riserva 2007 from Italy (177295) at $22.95 – I only became aware of this wine last year on a recommendation from a LCBO product consultant, it indeed has a big following, this 2007 vintage is a blend of mostly Uva di Troia and Montepulciano grapes from the region of Puglia. I loved the 2006 vintage and I will definitely purchase some of the 2007 vintage.

• Castello Di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2009 from Italy (994608) at $22.95 – This wine is 100% Sangiovese grown in soil with a high chalk content, maturation taking place in French oak (2 and 3 use barrels) for 12 months, follow by 3 months in bottle before release with alcohol coming in at 14%.

• Fattoria Dei Barbi Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (928028) at $41.95 – From the very good 2006 vintage in Tuscany, here is a Brunello from a family who knows how to make Brunello’s. In the cellar of Barbi farm, they have a collection of Brunello starting from their 1892 vintage. A producer of a more traditional and elegant style of Brunello, their 2006 vintage was aged in Slavonian oak for 2 plus years.

 

 

My Splurges Picks;  I know many people who, on occasion, will spend some extra dollars on a special bottle of wine. Either as a bottle for themselves or as a gift for a wedding, retirement or anniversary celebration. There is definitely a lot of choices for that premium market share. Here are a few suggestion of splurging ideas.

• Antica Chardonnay 2010 from California (290536) at $35.95 - Combining 600 years of Italian winemaking and the warm California sunshine, Antica is an Antinori Family Estate in Napa Valley. Sure is a lot of detail about this classy Chardonnay, a blend of 5 distinct Chardonnay clones, from 10-22 years old vines, maturation took place in French oak (30% new) for 6 months sur lees with alcohol coming in at 14.1%

• Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from California (685685) at $58.95 – From the superb 2007 California vintage, this wine is 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, maturation in 33% new French oak, the remaining American oak for 12 months and alcohol coming in at 15.7%.

• Remo Farina Monte Fante Riserva Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006 from Italy (063636) at $59.95 – Amarone would be a superb wine for the upcoming cool fall evenings. A big wine with a luscious texture and very comforting, blend of 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 5% Molinara and 5% Dindarella, alcohol coming in at 15% with maturation taking place in 5 hectolitres Slavonian oak casks for 4 years and 1 year in bottle before release.

• Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne from France (036962) at $54.95 – The LCBO is releasing 5 Champagne's to coincide with the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. Since I don’t think that Jeremy Renner or Meryl Streep read my newsletter, of all five Champagne, this is my picks for an affordable but still very good Champagne. But if Meryl Streep is reading this newsletter, how about Cristal Brut Champagne 2005 at $286.95 ? or Don Pérignon Brut Champagne 2003 at $219.95 ? 

My top three wines from this release;

1- Fattoria Dei Barbi Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (928028) at $41.95

2- Jacques Girardin Clos Rousseau Santenay 1er Cru 2009 from France (281121) at $32.95

3- Antica Chardonnay 2010 from California (290536) at $35.95

My top three wines for value;

1- André Blanck et ses Fils Rosenburg Pinot Blanc 2010 from France (626606) at $13.95

2- Canonica A. Cerreto Chianti Classico 2008 from Italy (283697) at $16.95

3- Casa de la Ermita Idilico Crianza Seleccion 2006 from Spain (286161) at $19.95

My wines picks from this New Release for your considerations;

Red Wines;

1- Cooper Mountain Reserve Pinot Noir 2009 from Oregon, USA (510750) at $29.95

2- Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from California (685685) at $58.95

3- Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from California (655506) at $34.95

4- La Crema Pinot Noir 2010 from California (906404) at $44.95

5- Oscar’s Estate Shiraz/Viognier 2008 from Australia (287961) at $17.00

6- Alkoomi Black Label Shiraz/Viognier 2009 from Australia (203166) at $21.95

7- D’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Australia (943456) at $19.95

8- Wakefield St. Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from Australia (058198) at $49.95

9- Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Australia (059956) at $28.95

10-Trinity Hill Syrah 2010 from New Zealand (194274) at $20.95

11-Domaine Parent Pinot Noir Bourgogne 2010 from France (597971) at $19.95

12-Jacques Girardin Clos Rousseau Santenay 1er Cru 2009 from France (281121) at $32.95

13-Canonica A. Cerreto Chianti Classico 2008 from Italy (283697) at $16.95

14-Rivera IL Falcone Riserva 2007 from Italy (177295) at $22.95

15-Cascina Bussia Dardi Barolo 2006 from Italy (268516) at $39.95

16-Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino 2007 from Italy (378257) at $59.95

17-Castello Di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2009 from Italy (994608) at $22.95

18-Fattoria Dei Barbi Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (928028) at $41.95

19-Rocca Delle Macie Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2007 from Italy (232488) at $24.95

20-Farina Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2008 from Italy (995591) at $34.95

21-Remo Farina Monte Fante Riserva Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006 from Italy (063636) at $59.95

22-Casa de la Ermita Idilico Crianza Seleccion 2006 from Spain (286161) at $19.95

23-Lan Crianza 2008 from Spain (166538) at $15.95

White Wines;

1- Angels Gate Old Vines Chardonnay 2010 from Ontario (116350) at $23.95

2- Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay 2010 from Ontario (268342) at $19.95

3- Mike Weir Riesling 2010 from Ontario (229286) at $14.95

4- Marimar Estate La Masia Don Miguel Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 from California (270090) at $25.95

5- Antica Chardonnay 2010 from California (290536) at $35.95

6- Beringer Chardonnay 2010 from California (084988) at $27.95

7- André Blanck et ses Fils Rosenburg Pinot Blanc 2010 from France (626606) at $13.95

8- Séguinot-Bordet Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru 2010 from France (289389) at $29.95

9- Jean Perrier & Fils Abymes Cuvée Prestige 2010 from France (271981) at $12.95
 

Champagne;

1-Cristal Brut Champagne 2005 (268755) at $286.95

2-Dom Pérignon Brut Champagne 2003 (280464) at $219.95

3-Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut Champagne (158550) at $99.95

4-Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne 2004 (281337) at $75.95

5-Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne (036962) at $54.95

That is all for me and my team. We will be back for the next New Release of September 15, 2012. Have a great Labour Day long weekend.

Cheers

Paul YWG