Paul's Picks from the LCBO New Release of January 19, 2013 - The Best from the Spanish Feature and Wines from British Columbia

Hello to all my wine friends,

Here are my observations about this New Release (NR); when a country is given centre stage of a NR (in this case Spain) with the cover page plus 14 pages of beautiful pictures of wine & food, and informative story about their wine industry, the best wine's or the stars of the NR should come from that featured country. Case in point, in this NR a strong Italian selection and a California Cabernet Sauvignon steal the spotlight from Spain. What was needed here was to showcase a few premium wines from the region of Priorat, Ribera del Duero or Rioja. It seems that these premium Spanish wines can only be found in LCBO's Classic Catalogue, and if you are lucky, your local product consultant may order them to stock their shelves. A big thank-you to the product consultant at my local store (thanks Niki).

Having said that, this is a very interesting NR with a strong selection of really good valued wines in the $17 to $24 dollar range, call them “blue chip” wines. This would be a good occasion to stock up on wines which are ready to drink now or would benefit from a short term in your cellar. 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;

• The most interesting, off the beaten track wine of this entire release is McNab Ridge Shadow Brook Farms Roussanne 2009 from California (312892) at $18.95. Roussanne is a highly aromatic grape mostly grown in the Rhône Valley in southern France.
  
  
• Speaking of off the beaten track choices, how about Cuatro Rayas Viñedos Centenarios Verdejo 2011 from Spain (312900) at $15.95. Made with 100% Verdejo grapes, very fruity, great value to pair with grilled fish or tapas.

Now for the red wines; 

• Starting with a surprising full bodied Shiraz from here in Ontario, Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Grand Reserve Shiraz 2010 from Ontario (317941) at $19.95. I had the opportunity to taste this wine about a month ago, great structured wine to pair with a strong dish of beef or lamb.
  
  
• For fans of full bodied California Cabernet, here is one for your consideration and my pick for the best wine of this NR, Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (708842) at $49.95.
  
  
• Speaking of a strong Italian offering, here are four well priced, good valued Italian wines; Marchesi Mazzei Zisola Nero D’Avola 2009 from Sicily (303925) at $25.95, and three wines from Tuscany, Castellani Poggio Al Casone La Cattura 2010 (121194) at $18.95, Fattoria Di Piazzano Rio Camerata Chianti Riserva 2006 (301929) at $24.95 and I Greppi Greppicante Bolgheri 2009 from Italy (170381) at $23.95.
  
  
• Finally a superb robust Portuguese wines and definitely on my shopping list is Quinta De Foz De Arouge Red 2008 (303545) at $19.95, now let’s get started with the main featured.

The Best from the Spanish Feature;  If you have never experienced the beauty of drinking a mature wine, there are two of these wines in this selection. I am a big fan of Spanish wines, especially those made with Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache). I think they represent great value in the wine world. Here is a selection of three Spanish red wines from different regions, which would be a great starting point if you would like to experience the wines of this beautiful country;

• Planets De Prior Pons 2008 from Priorat (314559) at $22.95 – This wine is a blend of 40% Cariñena, 40% Grenache, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 5% Syrah with maturation taking place in seasoned French & American oak for 12 months and alcohol coming in at 14.5%. Expect a big inky coloured wine to pair with red meat.
  
  
• Don Jacobo Reserva 2004 from Rioja (313270) at $17.95 – Where else can you find an 8 year old mature wine like this one, which has been cellared for you at the vineyard and ready to drink for $17.95? This is my pick for best value of this NR, a blend of 90% Tempranillo and the remaining 10% combination of Grenache and Mazuelo with 18 months ageing in casks, bottled in September 2008 and alcohol coming in at 13.5%.
  
  
• Legón Reserva 2005 from Ribera del Duero (303511) at $23.95 – This is a mature, ready to enjoy or short term cellar (2-4 years), 100% Tempranillo wine from Ribera del Duero along the Duero river. Maturation took place in French oak for 18 months and alcohol coming in at 13.5% 

Wines from British Columbia;  I lived 3 1/2 years in British Columbia and can attest to the quality and charm of BC wines. Unfortunately, few of these wines manage to find their way onto our LCBO shelves. I have reviewed 20 BC wines on my blog over the last two years (most of them I carried with me from BC) with many more in my cellar waiting to be enjoyed. Here are my top three picks from the British Columbia feature; 

• Quails’ Gate Chardonnay 2011 from Okanagan Valley (377770) at $20.95 – From this small winery in Kelowna, this Chardonnay is a mix of 50/50 tank and wood fermented with only 20% new French and American oak and alcohol coming in at 13.5%. If you ever visit this winery, try to squeeze in a visit to their great restaurant with amazing views of the vineyards.
  
  
• Mission Hill Quatrain 2008 from Okanagan Valley (218636) at $44.95 – Mission Hill is a short five minutes drive from Quails’ Gate but benefits from owning vineyards all over the Okanagan Valley including the warmer region in the south of Oliver and Osoyoos. It’s in these regions of Oliver and Osoyoos where the fruit in the Quatrain is grown. I reviewed Mission Hill's Quatrain 2008, last November, here is the link.

            http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.ca/2012/11/mission-hill-quatrain-2008-okanagan.html

• Burrowing Owl Merlot 2009 from Okanagan Valley (585737) at $41.95 – I love the style of wine made from Burrowing Owl, located in Osoyoos, especially their Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This wine is 100% Merlot with maturation taking place in a mixture of French, American and Russian oak, bottled unfiltered with alcohol coming in at 14.5%. Unfortunately, this wine sells for $12.00 more in Ontario compared to BC.

My top three wines from this release;

1- Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (708842) at $49.95

2- Domaine Tournon Shay’s Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2010 from Australia (311480) at $29.95

3- Mission Hill Quatrain 2008 from British Columbia (218636) at $44.95

My top three wines for value;

1- Don Jacobo Reserva 2004 from Spain (313270) at $17.95

2- Cuatro Rayas Viñedos Centenarios Verdejo 2011 from Spain (312900) at $15.95

3- Castellani Poggio Al Casone La Cattura 2010 from Italy (121194) at $18.95

My wine picks from this New Release for your considerations;

Red Wines;

1- Albret Crianza 2009 from Spain (306555) at $19.95

2- Planets De Prior Pons 2008 from Spain (314559) at $22.95

3- Don Jacobo Reserva 2004 from Spain (313270) at $17.95

4- Legón Reserva 2005 from Spain (303511) at $23.95 

5- Mission Hill Quatrain 2008 from British Columbia (218636) at $44.95

6- Burrowing Owl Merlot 2009 from British Columbia (585737) at $41.95

7- Inniskillin Winemaker’s Series Select Vineyards Pinot Noir 2010 from Ontario (175174) at $22.95

8- Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Grand Reserve Shiraz 2010 from Ontario (317941) at $19.95

9- Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (708842) at $49.95

10-Pascual Toso Alta Reserve Malbec 2009 from Argentina (261958) at $32.95

11-Domaine Tournon Shay’s Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2010 from Australia (311480) at $29.95

12-Heartland Shiraz 2009 from Australia (661934) at $19.95

13-Mount Langi Ghiran Kneebones Shiraz 2007 from Australia (295527) at $21.95

14-Château de Puisseguin Curat 2010 from France (307140) at $19.95

15-Les Hauts de Castellas Vacqueyras 2010 from France (177634) at $19.95

16-Marchesi Mazzei Zisola Nero D’Avola 2009 from Italy (303925) at $25.95

17-Castellani Poggio Al Casone La Cattura 2010 from Italy (121194) at $18.95

18-Fattoria Di Piazzano Rio Camerata Chianti Riserva 2006 from Italy (301929) at $24.95

19-I Greppi Greppicante Bolgheri 2009 from Italy (170381) at $23.95

20-Quinta De Foz De Arouge Red 2008 from Portugal (303545) at $19.95

White Wines;

1- Señorio De Rubios Albariño 2011 from Spain (314427) at $17.95

2- Cuatro Rayas Viñedos Centenarios Verdejo 2011 from Spain (312900) at $15.95

3- Quails’ Gate Chardonnay 2011 from British Columbia (377770) at $20.95

4- McNab Ridge Shadow Brook Farms Roussanne 2009 from California (312892) at $18.95

5- Sanford Chardonnay 2010 from California (956003) at $31.95

6- D’Arenberg The Olive Grove Chardonnay 2011 from Australia (702845) at $18.95

7- Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from New Zealand (686675) at $19.95

8- Roche de Bellene Vieilles Vignes Bourgogne Chardonnay 2010 from France (299867) at $19.95

9- C.H. Berres Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese 2010 from Germany (301952) at $24.95

That is all for me and my team. We will be back for the New Release of February 2, 2013 where the featured segments are “New World Signature Grapes”, Versatile Sparklers” and Wines for Valentine’s Day”.

Cheers
Paul YWG