Hello and Happy New Year to all my wine friends,
For the
first New Release (NR) of the year, what you find here is the usual LCBO Smart
Buy Issue. Definitely a big difference from the NR of October and November, the
LCBO is introducing 104 new products with only two wines over $50.00 and 80 of
them under $20.00. As you know the holidays have come and gone, our bills will
arrive any day and our stock of wine has taken a hit, you may very well be in
need of some frugal re-supply. Well, this and the next NR is meant to inspire
good value and smart buys. I will do my best to point you in the right
direction, so let’s get started.
For the
first New Release (NR) of the year, what you find here is the usual LCBO Smart
Buy Issue. Definitely a big difference from the NR of October and November, the
LCBO is introducing 104 new products with only two wines over $50.00 and 80 of
them under $20.00. As you know the holidays have come and gone, our bills will
arrive any day and our stock of wine has taken a hit, you may very well be in
need of some frugal re-supply. Well, this and the next NR is meant to inspire
good value and smart buys. I will do my best to point you in the right
direction, so let’s get started.
Smart
Buys; my
definition of smart buy is not a cheap wine. It means a wine of quality, which
should appeal to many people and over deliver for the price.
Smart Buy
Red; All of these wines are fairly young, ready to enjoy now with the right
food but would be better by a short period in your cellar (6 months to two
years)
·
Tabali
Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Chile (058446) at $14.95 – This wine is
made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in Maipo Valley south of Chile’s
capital city of Santiago, with alcohol coming in at 14%.
·
Alta
Vista Premium Estate Malbec 2010 from Argentina (677443) at $14.95 - This wine
is made with 100% Malbec grapes from old vines, half of the wine is aged in 80%
French oak and 20% American oak for 12 months, all barrels have previously been
used and finally, alcohol comes in at a robust 15%.
·
De
Martino Legado Reserva Carmenère 2010 from Chile (236059) at $16.95 - This wine
is made with 100% Carmenère grapes, fermentation was done using native yeast
only, maturation taking place in old French oak barrels for 14 months and
alcohol coming in at a moderate 13.5%.
·
Coto De
Hayas Centenaria Garnacha 2011 from Spain (094805) at $17.00 - This wine is
made with 100% Garnacha (Grenache) from old vines, maturation for 4 months in
American oak with alcohol coming in at 13%.
Smart Buy
White;
·
Dr.
Herman Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2007 from Germany (181917) at $16.95
– From a father and son operation, these Riesling grapes are grown on the steep
slopes along the Mosel river, vines are between 16 to 21 years old and alcohol
comes in at a low of 8.5%. Fantastic served as an aperitif or with spicy Indian
or Thai food.
·
Tiki
Pinot Gris 2011 from New Zealand (295279) at $17.95 – This is a family vineyard
which is certified “sustainable” and has been farmed naturally since early
2011. This wine is made using 100% estate grown Pinot Gris, 100% maturation in
stainless steel tanks with alcohol coming in at 13%.
·
Santo
Assyrtiko 2011 from Greece (627760) at $16.95 – This wine is from the beautiful
island of Santorini, made with 100% Assyrtiko grapes with maturation in
stainless steel tanks (no oak) and alcohol coming in at 13.5%. You shouldn’t be
expecting a lot of fruit in this bottle, more like strong stony/minerality.
Suggestive pairing, ideal for grilled white fish and seafood.
My top
three wines from this release;
1- La
Pieve Barolo 2008 from Italy (213132) at $28.95
2- La
Sala Chianti Classico Riserva 2008 from Italy (303487) at $19.95
3-
Fattoria Di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2008 from Italy (719864) at
$29.95
My top
three wines for value;
1- Dr.
Herman Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2007 from Germany (181917) at $16.95
2- Coto
De Hayas Centenaria Garnacha 2011 from Spain (094805) at $17.00
3- De
Martino Legado Reserva Carmenère 2010 from Chile (236059) at $16.95
My wine
picks from this New Release for your considerations;
Red
Wines;
1- Dieter
Meier Puro Corte 2010 from Argentina (365094) at $16.95
2- La
Pieve Barolo 2008 from Italy (213132) at $28.95
3- La
Sala Chianti Classico Riserva 2008 from Italy (303487) at $19.95
4- Coto
De Hayas Centenaria Garnacha 2011 from Spain (094805) at $17.00
5-
Carabella Pinot Noir 2008 from Oregon, USA (180125) at $37.95
6-
Fattoria Di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2008 from Italy (719864) at
$29.95
7-
Guerrieri Rizzardi Villa Rizzardi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2007 from
Italy (302836) at $46.95
8- Cave
Spring Estate Cabernet Franc 2007 from Ontario (072751) at $24.95
9-
Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (678615)
at $34.95
10-Alta
Vista Premium Estate Malbec 2010 from Argentina (677443) at $14.95
11-De
Martino Legado Reserva Carmenère 2010 from Chile (236059) at $16.95
12-Tabali
Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Chile (058446) at $14.95
13-M. Gassier Nostre Pais Costière de Nîmes 2010 from France (295410) at
$18.95
14-Arnaldo
Caprai Rosso Montefalco 2009 from Italy (303065) at $19.95
White
Wines;
1- Dr.
Herman Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2007 from Germany (181917) at $16.95
2- Ad Lib Hen & Chicken
Oaked Chardonnay 2010 from Australia (297697) at $19.95
3- Roger
& Didier Raimbault Sancerre 2011 from France (082255) at $22.95
4- Tiki
Pinot Gris 2011 from New Zealand (295279) at $17.95
5- Santo
Assyrtiko 2011 from Greece (627760) at $16.95
Dessert
Wine;
1- Sivipa
Vinho Generoso Moscatel De Setubal 2010 from Portugal (246652) at $14.95
On the
same day as the NR, Vintages will also release wine under the In-Store
Discoveries (ISD) program. These wines are released in limited quantities and
in a few select stores only. For the January 5th ISD there are only 4 products
being released, one of them may be of interest to a few of you. FEUDI DI SAN
GREGORIO TAURASI 2007 from Campania region of Italy (956011) at $39.95, this
a premium Aglianico wine from the very good winery Feudi Di San Gregorio with
suggestive pairing of beef or leg of lamb.
My team and I will be back for
next New Release, on January 19, 2013. Where the feature segment is “ A Wealth
of Spanish Wines” , “Wines Of the Vibrant Okanagan Valley” and “ A Toast to
Robbie Burns”. Being a fan of both Spanish wines and wines of the Okanagan Valley
I am praying for a few hard to find gems to fill my cellar, but I am not
holding my breath this will be another austere January NR after all.
Cheers
Paul YWG
Paul YWG
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