Finally, a lesson in pronounciation of all those great German wines.

I thought we could all learn something here.  Prost!   Paul.

Dr. Herman Erdner Treppchen Riesling Spätlese 2006, Mosel, Germany

This complex moderately sweet Riesling opens up with aromas of ripe white peach and apricot, citrus fruit and mineral notes. Medium bodied with alcohol coming in at 9%, on the palate, layers of creamy richness with exquisite balance between sweetness and acidity. This Riesling finish is long, creamy with ripe tree fruit and honeyed notes lingering. Very enjoyable, score 91 points.

This wine was purchased November 26, 2011 LCBO New Release at $21.95

Summers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley, California, USA

I first tasted this wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon last Friday with friends visiting for dinner. Time did not allow for photos, so there we were the following night opening Summers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 again, two in as many days, life is good indeed. This wine opens up with a very sensuous aromas of rich ripe fruit, stewed blackberry, black currants, vanilla and attractive oak notes. Medium to full bodied (with alcohol at 14.1%) with luscious flavours, balanced acidity, silky tannins with all elements well integrated. Medium length on the finish with fine grained tannins, savoury flavours and very smooth. Well liked by all on Friday and just as delicious on Saturday. Strongly recommended, score 91 points.

This wine was purchased September 3, 2011 LCBO New Release at $45.95

Paul's Picks from the LCBO New Release of January 7, 2012 - Smart Buys / "The Frugal Shoppers New Release

                                                                

Hello and Happy New Year to all my wine friends,

This certainly is a very different New Release (NR) then the last four of 2011. The LCBO is introducing 110 new products with only one wine over $50.00 (except for the five Scotch Whisky between $60.00 to $100.00) and 76 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 lets 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 delivers for the price. A $50.00 wine could be a smart buy if I feel that it is of high quality and could easily pass for a $65.00 wine.

Smart Buy Red;

* Trivento Amado Sur Malbec/Bonarda/Syrah 2009 from Argentina (037036) at $15.00 Mostly Malbec with 73%, with Bonarda at 15% and 12% Syrah aged in French oak. Scoring a 90 points on Wine Spectator, is definitely worth considering.

* Capezzana Barco Reale Di Carmignano 2008 from Italy (508531) at $15.95. This wine is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Canaiolo (a native Italian grape) from Tuscany. A lighter red with generous tannins at this point.

* Sabor Real 2008 from Spain (172932) at $15.95. Produced from 70 years old vines, expect big and rustics flavours from the 100% Tempranillo grapes.

* Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Carmenère 2009 from Chile (169854) at $16.95. Chile sure knows how to make full bodied reds at a decent price. Try this Carmenère with steaks, lamb or hamburger on the BBQ, ready to drink or hold 1-2 years.

* Domaine Saint Andéol Séduction Cairanne Côtes du Rhône-Village 2007 (248575) at $17.95 From 50 to 90 years old vines, this wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan from the very good 2007 vintage. 

* Perrin & Fils Peyre Blanche Côte Du Rhône-Village Cairanne 2009 from France (650960) at $17.95. From a very good producer, this blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah is from the very good 2009 vintage, ready to drink or hold for 1-2 years.

* Fattoi Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (033498) at $34.95 Brunello's is one of Italy's best know and most expensive wine. Made 100% with Sangiovese grape, aged in oak for a minimum of 2 years and at least 4 months in bottle before release. The very good Fattoi Brunello Di Montalcino 2004 was one of the first wine reviewed on my blog last March. Brunello usually sells for $50.00 and up, which makes in my view, this Fattoi Brunello a smart buy.

Smart Buy White;

* Loma Larga Chardonnay 2009 from Chile (257048) at $15.95. A killer value, well balanced Chardonnay from the cooler region of Casablanca in Chile.

* Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay 2010 from New Zealand (991950) at $17.95. I tasted this unoaked Chardonnay last November at the Ottawa Wine and Food show. Of all the Kim Crawford wines, this one is my favourite, lots of flavour and very refreshing, almost creamy. Well priced.

* Domaine du Chardonnay Chablis 2009 from France (183574) at $19.95. This is another unoaked Chardonnay, this time from the region of Burgundy in France. Expect a wine with good acidity, minerality and refreshing finish. Would be fantastic with roast chicken.

My top three wines of this release;
1-Fattoi Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (033498) at $34.95
2-Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras 2009 from France (251579) at $24.95
3-Domaine du Chardonnay Chablis 2009 from France (183574) at $19.95.

My top three wines for value;
1-Perrin & Fils Peyre Blanche Côte Du Rhône-Village Cairanne 2009 from France (650960) at $17.95.
2-Trivento Amado Sur Malbec/Bonarda/Syrah 2009 from Argentina (037036) at $15.00.
3-Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Carmenère 2009 from Chile (169854) at $16.95.

These wines did not make my shopping list but are worth considering;

Red Wines;
1-Rosewood Merlot 2009 from Ontario (211896) at $21.95.
2-Brutocao Hopland Ranches Estate Zinfandel 2007 from California (259325) at $22.95.
3-Trivento Amado Sur Malbec/Bonarda/Syrah 2009 from Argentina (037036) at $15.00.
4-Château Ampélia 2008 from France (136770) at $24.00.
5-Château de la Lamarque 2006 from France (194159) at $29.95.
6-Domaine du Roche-Guillon Fleurie 2010 from France (269514) at $17.95.
7-Uggiano Prestige Chianti 2009 from Italy (250852) at $15.95.
8-Vignamaggio Terre Di Prenzano Chianti Classico 2008 from Italy (164822) at $17.95.
9-Sabor Real 2008 from Spain (172932) at $15.95.

White Wines;
1-Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay 2010 from New Zealand (991950) at $17.95.
2-Domaine Carrette Chardonnay Pouilly-Fuissé 2009 from France (264481) at $21.95.

My team and I will be back for the next New Release of January 21, 2012 where the main features will be Australia's diverse wine style and Great grapes to discover. As a fan of Merlot there will be a Selection of local talent - Ontario Merlot, looking forward to it.

Cheers
Paul YWG

San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello Di Montalcino 2005, Tuscany, Italy

This is the essence of finesse and elegance with sensuous aromas of plums, figs, dried berries, sandalwood, soft leather and violets. Silky smooth on the palate, the alcohol is at 14.5% but it's so well integrated into the wine that it is barely noticeable, balanced acidity and fine grained tannins. The finish is long, savoury and so incredibly smooth. What a way to start the new year, a beautiful lighter style of Brunello Di Montalcino. Score 91 points.

This wine was purchased June 11, 2011 LCBO New Release at $48.95.

Ayala Majeur Brut Champagne, Champagne, France

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a fantastic year with great health and a few outstanding bottles of wine. I don't often purchase Champagne, but if I am going to splurge and spend up to $50.00, I would prefer to spend my dollars on a full bodied red. But on this occasion of welcoming the New Year, spending the evening with my brother and his family, toasting the New Year with a great bottle of Champagne seems like the perfect thing to do. This is a bright and cheerful Champagne using all three grapes allowed within the Appelation; Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Visually, very beautiful bubbles with aromas of citrus notes, green apple, buttered croissant and nutty. Medium bodied, dry and creamy with balanced green apple acidity and some minerality. This Champagne's finish is long refreshing and citrusy. Very enjoyable, score 90 points.

This Champagne was purchased December 10, 2011 LCBO New Release at $49.95.  

My top three enjoyed wines for December 2011

When looking at the list of wine reviewed this month, to my surprise, I had not reviewed a single white wine. Not that I did not drink any, but those enjoyed had previously been reviewed on this blog. Recently I purchased some Spiegelau white wine glasses and can't wait to try them. If the previous month was a great month for French wines, in December Italy took over this spot with some great food friendly wines. It is always difficult to narrow the list down to three wines, here are a few wines that did not make my list but are worth an honourable mention; Kilikanoon Parable Shiraz 2007, McLaren Vale, Australia and Mission Hill Quatrain 2006, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada and Ramon Bilbao Gran Reserva 2004, Rioja, Spain. Speaking of Italy, I could not pick one wine for the number 3 spot, which explains the two wines sharing this spot. Each of them for two very good and different reasons. Here are the wines that made the final cut.

My top three enjoyed wines in December;

1-Château Ségur de Cabanac 2004, AC Saint-Estèphe, Cru Bourgeois, France
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/12/chateau-segur-de-cabanac-2004-ac-saint.html

Mixing power and great structure with elegance, you get this fantastic Bordeaux which is drinking beautifully right now. An easy pick at number one.


2-Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley, California, USA
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/12/stags-leap-cabernet-sauvignon-2006-napa.html

I am not sure that if this would have been a full size bottle, it would have been in this position. Benefiting from being in a small bottle, allowed this wine to mature quicker. A robust yet approachable Cabernet Sauvignon

3-Valiano Poggio Teo Chianti Classico 2006, Tuscany, Italy
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/12/valiano-poggio-teo-chianti-classico.html

I cannot say enough about this Chianti Classico with a real sense of place, love the fact that its 100% Sangiovese grapes, a wine which doesn't taste manipulated, where the winemaker let the grapes and region express themselves. An at $17.95 a fantastic value, I have already returned to purchase, twice.


  -Canonica A. Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, Tuscany, Italy
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/12/canonica-cerreto-chianti-classico.html

The right food and wine pairing should enhance and make each other better. When you achieve this in a restaurant; the wine arrives at your table at cellar temperature, is poured without overflowing your glass and when your glass is refilled with you hardly noticing it. Discovering a wine and vineyard which you haven't heard before, really make for an memorable evening.