Hello to all my wine friends,
Looking at this
New Release (NR), this is the second of three massive Holiday Vintage LCBO NR.
I have been waiting for the high priced trophy wines to appear, well, here they
are. With 18 wines and spirits between $50 to $100 and 14 over $100, there are
many options for the collectors and big spenders among us. Your spending can quickly
get out of control from temptations like those in this NR. This is why I have a
budget, and a plan to stick to it. What I’m looking for in this NR is wines
which represent good value for your hard earn dollars. Meaning, no matter how
much you spend on a bottle of wine, the enjoyment factor of that wine should
justify the amount that you have spent on it. I have reviewed the entire NR
book and wrote down every wine which appeals to me, regardless of the price.
From this NR, 49 of them made it into my list. 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.
First the white
wines;
- Here is a good value Chardonnay from
- Looking to splurge on a California
Chardonnay, here are two options for you, Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay
2009 from
- For fans of Australian dry Riesling,
here is a Riesling which is highly recommended, Pewsey Vale Riesling 2011
from
- A perennial favourite and always enjoyable Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa will be released this weekend, Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from South Africa (933424) at $18.95.
Now for the red
wines;
- From this very good South Okanagan
winery, Nk’Mip Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from
- Here is a wine which over delivered
at the $20.00 dollar price point, Arboleda Carmenère 2010 from
- For fans of Rhône Valley wines, from
the 2010 vintages, two highly recommended wines, the first, from one of my
favourite producers; Alain Jaume & Fils, Domaine Grand Veneur Clos de
Sixte Lirac 2010 of France (076349) at $22.95 and one of the best values
of this release, Pierre Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2010 from France
(017400) at $23.95 and finally.
- A full bodied wine from
Smart Buys
for Holiday Entertaining;
With all those Holiday entertaining, parties and gatherings, here are three
wines which are meant to be enjoyed with appetizers, finger foods and won't
break the bank;
- Musella Vigne Nuove Valpolicella
Superiore 2009 from Italy (205757) at $15.95 – This light to medium red
would pair well with appetizers, finger foods and cheese platter, a blend
of 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Barbera with alcohol coming
in at a reasonable 13.5%.
- Ballast Stone Shiraz 2009 from
Australia (167064) at $18.95 – This wine is made with 100% Shiraz grape,
maturation in a combination of French and American oak with alcohol coming
in at 15%. This Shiraz is made to be enjoyed upon release but could cellar
for 4-5 years.
- Canonica A Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 from Italy (275867) at $18.95 - This wine was previously released at the LCBO on April 28 for $17.95. Even with a few extra dollars in price, this wine still qualifies as a wine of great value. There is a lot of complexity and texture for a under $20.00 wine. I have review this wine on this blog and you can read it here.
Wine Gifts, La crème de la crème; So many good if not great wines will be released this weekend, I thought I would highlight wines (from different price point) which would be either a fantastic gifts for someone special or for yourself. Splurging on ourselves once in a while is good for the morale. Here are my splurge wine gift suggestions;
- Salcheto Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2006 from Italy (685180) at $24.95 – Always nice to see an aged Vino Nobile in our stores, last years 2005 was absolutely gorgeous and this vintage is equally delicious. I just posted the review today, here are my thoughts;
- Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
from California (186171) at $29.95 – Blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3%
Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, maturation taking place in 100% French oak (5%
new oak) for 12 months and alcohol coming in at 13.9%. The 2010 vintage of
Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon is not as approachable in its youth than the 2009
vintage, cellar for 1-2 years. A California Cabernet Sauvignon lovers Cab.
- Domaine La Roquète
Châteauneuf-Du-Pape 2009 from France (070862) at $46.95 – When you
consider price vs. quality, this Châteauneuf-Du-Pape offers the best bang
for your buck. Domaine La Roquète is a producer of a more elegant styles
of Châteauneuf, this is a blend of mostly Grenache with 80% and the
remaining 20% Syrah with alcohol coming in at 14.5%.
- Cliff Lede Stags Leap District
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (014217) at $74.95 – I had the
great joy of tasting this Cab at the California Wine Fair here in Ottawa
in March. It was my favourite Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine with a rich
combination of fruit, great texture, robust wine, and very approachable. A
blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 1% each of
merlot and Cabernet Franc with alcohol coming in at 14.9%.
- Yalumba The Octavius Old Vines Shiraz 2006 from Australia (449017) at $110.95 – If Santa believes that I have been good this year, this wine would be a great gift in my Christmas stocking. From a family owned winery, made with 100% old vines Shiraz, maturation in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak for 20 months with alcohol coming in at 14.5%. I can still taste the 2001 vintage of Yalumba The Octavius, which I enjoyed at the Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria BC a few years back.
My top three
wines from this release;
1- Yalumba
The Octavius Old Vines Shiraz 2006 from Australia (449017) at $110.95
2- Cliff Lede
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (014217) at $74.95
3- Concha Y
Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Chile (315176) at $79.95
My top three
wines for Holiday Gift (around $30.00)
1- Pierre
Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2010 from France (017400) at $23.95
2- Salcheto
Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2006 from Italy (685180) at $24.95
3- Decoy
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from California (186171) at $29.95
My top three
wines for value;
1- Musella
Vigne Nuove Valpolicella Superiore 2009 from Italy (205757) at $15.95
2- Santa
Carolina Specialties Dry Farming Carignan 2009 from Chile (213520) at $15.95
3- Ballast
Stone Shiraz 2009 from Australia (167064) at $18.95
My wine picks
from this New Release for your considerations;
Red Wines;
1- Nk’Mip
Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from British Columbia (303719) at $28.95
2- Cliff Lede
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (014217) at $74.95
3- Decoy
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from California (186171) at $29.95
4- Dunn
Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from California (193763) at
$99.95
5- Joseph
Phelps Insignia 2008 from California (710400) at $224.95
6- Paul Hobbs
Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from California (118695) at $38.95
7- Catena
Zapata Nicolas Catena Zapata 2008 from Argentina (662072) at $109.95
8- Arboleda
Carmenère 2010 from Chile (046284) at $19.95
9- Santa
Carolina Specialties Dry Farming Carignan 2009 from Chile (213520) at $15.95
10-Concha Y
Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Chile (315176) at $79.95
11-Ballast
Stone Shiraz 2009 from Australia (167064) at $18.95
12-Elderton
Command Single Vineyard Shiraz 2008 from Australia (716142) at $89.95
13-Hardys HRB
D641 Heritage Reserve Bin Shiraz 2007 from Australia (289934) at $35.95
14-Kilikanoon
Green’s Vineyard Shiraz 2009 from Australia (006007) at $74.95
15-Massena
The Eleventh Hour Shiraz 2006 from Australia (039073) at $48.95
16-Penfold
Bin 128 Shiraz 2010 from Australia (509919) at $36.95
17-Peter
Lehmann The Futures Shiraz 2008 from Australia (606780) at $24.95
18-Yalumba
The Octavius Old Vines Shiraz 2006 from Australia (449017) at $110.95
19-Villa Ponciago La Réserve Fleurie 2011 from France
(299917) at $21.95
20-Maison Roche de Bellene Cuvée Réserve Bourgogne 2010
from France (299859) at $16.95
21-Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010 from
France (711317) at $89.95
22-Domaine Grand Veneur Clos de Sixte Lirac 2010 from
France (076349) at $22.95
23-Domaine La Roquète Châteauneuf-Du-Pape 2009 from
France (070862) at $46.95
24-Pierre
Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2010 from France (017400) at $23.95
25-Canonica A
Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 from Italy (275867) at $18.95
26-Cennatoio
Chianti Classico 2010 from Italy (232561) at $15.95
27-Ornellaia
2009 from Italy (722470) at $189.95
28-Salcheto
Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2006 from Italy (685180) at $24.95
29-Sassicaia
2009 from Italy (480533) at $179.95
30-Volpaia Chianti
Classico 2009 from Italy (953828) at $23.95
31-Brigaldara
Amaronne Della Valpolicella Classico 2008 from Italy (300012) at $49.95
32-Musella
Vigne Nuove Valpolicella Superiore 2009 from Italy (205757) at $15.95
White Wines;
1- Malivoire
Moira Chardonnay 2009 from Ontario (243113) at $39.95
2- First
Press Chardonnay 2010 from California (199810) at $19.95
3- Rodney
Strong Reserve Chardonnay 2009 from California (210039) at $34.95
4- Shafer Red
Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2010 from California (045583) at $62.95
5- Columbia
Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay 2009 from Washington State (366542) at $14.95
6- Pewsey
Vale Riesling 2011 from Australia (686600) at $19.95
7- Wither
Hills Pinot Gris 2011 from New Zealand (214999) at $19.95
8-
Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from South Africa (933424) at $18.95
9- Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chaumées 1er
Cru 2008 from France (299933) at $69.95
10-C. H.
Berres Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett 2009 from Germany (207274) at
$19.95
Champagne;
1-Charles de Cazanove 1er Cru Brut Champagne from France
(299750) at $43.95
2-Charles Mignon Premier Cru Grande Réserve Brut
Champagne from France (173484) at $47.95
3-Dom
Pérignon Brut Rosé Champagne 2000 from France (091777) at $299.95
4-Krug Grande
Cuvée Brut Champagne from France (038562) at $271.95
Dessert
Wines;
1-Henry of
Pelham Cabernet Icewine from Ontario (672402) at $39.95
2-Konzelmann
Vidal Icewine 2009 from Ontario (167866) at $24.95
3-Stratus
Riesling Icewine from Ontario (056671) at $39.95
That is all
for me and my team. We will be back for the last New Release before the
Holidays on December 8, 2012 where the feature segment is “Fine Wines for
Holiday get-togethers” and “Fabulous Fizz”.
Cheers
Paul YWG
Paul YWG
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