Varramista Ottopioppi 2007, Tuscany, Italy

I purchased this wine in Voltera, Italy this summer after a tasting in a small wine shop. An unusual blend from Italy, Sangiovese and Grenache. A youthful, fresh and fruity blend which opens up with aromas of cherry, raspberry, strawberry and red licorice. The alcohol coming in at 13%, this light to medium body mouthfeel is spicy with crisp acidity and well integrated tannins. The finish is long, spicy with ripe berry fruit aromas and silky tannins. Every part of this wine was very enjoyable, specially the aromatics. Well made wine with no excess.

This wine was purchased in Voltera, Italy August 2011 at €12.

Barone Ricasoli Castello Di Brolio Chianti Classico 2006, Tuscany, Italy

The last time I opened this wine was last winter (February 2010).  It is slowly coming around and is much better than it was the first time, but I suppose it is at it's best two or three years after the oak has integrated into the wine and the tannins have softened up a bit. A deep red color with great aromatics of blackberry, sour cherry, leather, tobacco and toasty oak. On the palate, big and concentrated flavours, enough acidity and persistent tannins.  The finish is long with black currant, blackberry and toasty oak flavours lingering. A much better nose than mouthfeel at the moment, but it is still a young wine. This wine is a blend of 95% Sangiovese, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot with alcohol coming in at 13.5%. I should have waited a couple more years, very enjoyable none the less.

This wine was purchase September 4, 2010 LCBO New Release at $54.95.

Marc Brédif Vouvray 2009, Loire, France

Looking for a wine to pair with a chicken dish with a rosemary cream sauce, I decided on Marc Brédif Vouvray, made with Chenin Blanc grape. This wine is medium sweet and opens up with citrus fruit, pear, apple, honey and mineral notes. On the palate, medium body (13.5% alcohol), with crisp acidity and creamy mouthfeel. The finish is long with honey flavours and citrus fruit lingering. A very refreshing wine which worked beautifully with this dish, cutting through the fat from the sauce and coating your mouth with refreshing flavours. Very enjoyable and strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased October 29, 2011 LCBO New Release at $20.95.

Baron De Ley Grand Reserva 2001, Rioja, Spain

Having previousley reviewed two of Baron De Ley wines on my blog, their Grand Reserva 1998 and Reserva 2005, I was happy to see Baron De Ley Grand Reserva 2001 at the SAQ in Gatineau, Québec. I am always surprised how many people from all over the world (Asia, Australia, Africa, Northern and Eastern Europe, North and South America) are searching the web for reviews of Baron De Ley wines and landing on my site. Baron De Ley must have a large production and even better distribution network.

Now, how about this Baron De Ley Grand Reserva 2001?  Right off the bat, pulling the cork releases a bounty of aromas. As the wines begins to breath a bit, it evolves into an aromatic wine indeed,with aromas of cherry, dark plum, Asian spices, tobacco, smoke, church wood and light barnyard notes. The mouthfeel is so smooth, and well balanced by fresh acidity, silky tannins and long spicy mid palate. The finish is long with complex flavours wrapped up in a thin layer of tannins. This wine has been aged for 24 months in American and French oak casks and for a further 36 months in bottles before release, alcohol comes in at 13.5%.  I love Grand Reserva when its beautifully done like this one, a great way to experience a mature and elegant wine without breaking the bank. Strongly recommended.

This wine was purchase on October 23, 2011at the SAQ at $28.25.

Umberto Cesari Liano 2008, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

I have long enjoyed the wines from Umberto Cesari, especially their Cesari Mara, which for many years (about ten years ago) was my house wine. Now Umberto Cesari Liano 2008 came strongly recommended at a wine tasting event I had put together.I promised to review it, so here goes. A wine only available in Québec, I went shopping in La Belle Province and bought a bottle. Liano 2008 is a blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for six months in 50/60hl barrels and one year in French Allier tonneaux. A very appealing nose here, with aromas of wild berry fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, burnt sugar, cedar and smoke. On the palate, medium to full body, alcohol at 13.5% with fresh acidity and persistent tannins. Good length on the finish with rich and concentrated flavours. It would be difficult for me, in a blind tasting, to know that this wine originated in Italy. A very enjoyable wine with a great deal of flavour and sweetness, a lot of oak for sure, and just enough tannins to give it a nice structure. I will definitely buy this again.

This wine was purchased October 23, 2011 at the SAQ for $27.50.

Domaine Grand Veneur Clos de Sixte Lirac 2009, Rhône, France

What a beautiful wine here, a real Southern Rhône charmer. The Lirac 2009 Clos de Sixte is a blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre, its smell like a Châteauneuf-du-Pape yet very approachable right now. On the nose, I definitely get the Grenache aromas, ripe raspberry, wild strawberry, violets, savoury spices and loads of licorice. Medium to full body with alcohol coming in at 15%, but this wine is so well balanced the alcohol is barely noticeable, the acidity is crisp with silky tannins. The wine finish is long, spicy with strawberry jam flavours and lots of licorice. This wine just blew me away, so well balanced with great aromatics and how spicy, fresh and lively the mouthfeel was. Great value and strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased September 17, 2011 LCBO New Release at $23.95.

My top three enjoyed wines for October 2011

When going over the list of wine reviewed for this month, the price category of $35 to $50 delivered the most bang for the money and left me with the most memorable impression.  I first narrowed the list down to six; two from Australia, one each from Argentina, France, Italy and the US. And here his the three wines that made the final cut.

My top three enjoyed wines in October;

1-Chateau Haut-Marbuzet 2002, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/10/chateau-haut-marbuzet-2002-saint.html

Three elements came together which make this wine enjoyment a real memorable one. A mature wine which I think is drinking at its peek right now. Having my brothers family over for dinner and sharing this great bottle with them and finally pairing this wine with a great dish, Coq au Vin.

2-Elderton Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz / Merlot 2008, Barossa Valley, Australia
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/10/elderton-ode-to-lorraine-2008-barossa.html

A seriously good wine here with a lots of detail in both aromas and mouthfeel. Above all excellent balance and drink ability.

3-Caymus Vineyards Zinfandel 2007, Napa Valley, California, USA
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/10/caymus-vineyards-zinfandel-2007-napa.html

This beautiful full body Zinfandel sure warm up my soul. A big, bold and beautiful wine.