Château De Treviac Corbières 2010, AP Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

A lovely blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, this wine opened up with aromas of ripe berry fruit, plum, savory herbs, black pepper and light licorice notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with alcohol at a generous 15%, the texture is smooth, ripe and silky, fresh acidity and well integrated fine grained tannins. On the finish, the length is very good, the texture is pure velvet with flavors of ripe fruit, prune and savory notes lingering. This was my first experience from this winery and I was blown away, when you consider the quality of this flavorful age-worthy Rhône blend and its price. Great value and strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased March 30, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (670505) at $15.95

Domaine De Billa-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2010, Ac Côte Du Rousillon-Villages Latour De France, France

Another great wine from Michel Chapoutier, that is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. This wine opened up with complex aromas of blackberry, sour cherry, underbrush, dried sage, saddle leather, smoky and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (alcohol comes in at 14.5%), the texture is slightly rustic with flavors of black fruit, meaty and peppery notes and fine grainy tannins. The finish is medium length with excellent depth of flavors. These days so many wines seem to all taste the same, for me this red blend has a real sense of place, very interesting and strongly recommended. Score 90 points.

Purchased July 20, 2013 LCBO Vinatges New Release (643239) at $24.95 

Domaine Les Yeuses Les Épices Syrah 2010, IGP Pays d’Oc, Languedoc Roussillon, France

This wine is 100% Syrah from old vines with maturation of 60% on fine lees in tank with the remaining 40% on lees in oak barrels for 9 months. After blending the wine spends its final 3 months in tanks before bottling and alcohol comes in at 13.5%. In French les épices means spices.

This wine is medium violet in color and opened up with aromas of raspberry, blueberry, spices, black pepper, earthy and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied, light on fruit, mineral driven, herbal flavours with balanced acidity and well integrated tannins. Great energy on the finish with peppery flavours, this wine has a strong minerality presence throughout. This wine is not meant for everyone, if you like a fruity type of Shiraz, this is not going to be for you. I found the first two glasses to be interesting but that interest quickly faded away. Score 87 points.  

LCBO Vintages New Release of March 30, 2013 (177584) at $13.95

Domaine De Billa-Haut Occultum Lapidem 2009, Ac Côte Du Rousillon-Villages Latour De France, France

 

This wine is a blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 20% Carignan with maturation taking place in equal part in vats and casks and alcohol coming in at 15%.

The first thing that stands out for me is how aromatic this wine is, with aromas of crushed ripe cherries, blackberry, dark plum, dried sage, rosemary and underbrush with a smoky and a stony minerality. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, with a creamy and juicy texture and flavours of dark ripe fruit, savoury notes and gentle wood spices, balanced acidity and silky tannins. The finish is long and juicy with great flavours.

This was my first experience with this wine and a much more enjoyable experience than the straight Rousillon Village from Bila-Haut and worth the extra dollars. Real easy to enjoy and worthy of another purchase; the bad news is that it’s already sold out in this market. I will approach the next vintage a little wiser, score 89 points.

Purchased September 29, 2012 LCBO New Release (643239) at $24.95

Les Vignes Bila Haut Côtes Du Roussillon Villages 2010, Ac Languedoc Roussillon, France

This wine is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from the south of France, alcohol coming in at 14.5%. This wine opens up with aromas of blackberry/plumy fruit, licorice, smoke, pencil shavings, black pepper, Asian spices and gamey. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, very rustic, highly concentrated flavours, low acidity and firm tannins. This blend finish is medium length, slightly tart with dark fruit, pencil shaving texture lingering. There is nothing wrong with this wine, but it failed to excite me. I would have prefer more forward fruit, less rustic flavours, less extraction and a more easy drinking wine for this price. Not a wine I would buy again, score 85 points.

Purchased September 29, 2012 LCBO New Release (168716) at $14.95

Hecht & Bannier Côtes Du Roussillon Villages 2008, Languedoc Roussillon, France

This beautiful wine is a blend of Grenache,  Mourvèdre, Carignan and Syrah, maturation in oak barrels for 24 months and alcohol arrives at 15%. What incredible aromatics on this wine with aromas of sweet ripe berries, blackberry, prunes, savoury herbs, smoke, leather and some mineral component. On the palate, medium bodied, balance acidity, well integrated tannins. Very good length and smooth on the finish with flavours of ripe berries, vanilla and savoury spices. A very elegant, finely textured, fruit driven and fragrant wine, similar to a Châteauneuf-du-Pape but at half the price. Great value, score 92 points.  

Purchased March 31, 2012 LCBO New Release (142802) at $22.95