Ontañón Reserva 2004, Rioja, Spain

This wine is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano with maturation in 60% American oak and 40% in French oak (a combination of used and new oak for both) for 12 months, plus a further 24 months in bottle before release, alcohol comes in at 13%.

This wine opened up with aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, dark plum, Asian spices, incense, leather and black pepper. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, firm structure, concentrated flavours with balanced acidity and considerable tannins. This wines finish is long with loads of black fruit, bitter chocolate and woody tannins. I really enjoyed the aromatics and mouthfeel, but even if this Rioja is almost nine years old the tannins still need time to soften up a bit. The finish is too tannic and tangy for me at this time. Give this wine another year or two, score 89 points.    

Purchased March 16, 2013 Vintages New Release (725895) at $24.95

Tabali Reserva Especial 2009, Limari Valley, Chile

This wine is a blend of 74% Syrah with the remaining 14% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and alcohol coming in at 14%.

This wine opened up with intense aromatics and flavours of blueberry, blackberry, black currants, pain grillé, exotic spices, sandalwood, and gamey notes. On the mouthfeel, full-bodied, robust, well structured with flavours of dark fruit, cedar and spices, crisp acidity and considerable woodsy tannins. Very good length on the finish with loads of power, rich flavours and chalky tannins. I enjoyed this wine so much, I returned to the shop to buy replacements. This time I will wait an additional 1-2 years before opening my next bottle, it needs time to fully integrate and for the tannins to soften to provide drinking pleasure over the next 4-5 years at least. Fantastic value and strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased March 2, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (107540) at $22.95

Mitolo Savitar Shiraz 2008, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

 

This wine is 100% Shiraz, aged in 100% new medium to light toasted 80% French oak and 20% French coopered American oak for 17 months and alcohol is listed as 14.5% on the label but is advertised at 15% on the winery website.

Pouring a deep purple, this wines aromatics opened up with a bouquet of wild berries, blackcurrants, stewed plums, raisins, eucalyptus, incense, toasty and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with a rich texture of layered dark fruit and spices, low acidity and velvet tannins. This Shiraz finish is robust with chocolate covered blueberries and vanilla spices flavours with slightly burning alcohol that leaves a lasting impression. I love both the superb aromatics and the rich mouthfeel but I would have to think that the alcohol is indeed at 15%, leaving you with a hot finish. This is a big imposing Shiraz, tailor made for steaks on the barbie. I would have enjoyed a little more elegance at this price, but still very enjoyable, scored 90 points.

Purchased June 9, 2012 LCBO Vintages New Release (659581) at $54.95



Marchesi Mazzei Zisola Nero D’Avola 2009, Igt Sicily, Italy

Zisola is an estate owned by the Mazzei family of Tuscany, made with Nero D’Avola from head-pruned bush vines with maturation in small French oak barrels for 10 months and alcohol coming in at 13.5%.

This wine opened up with aromas of red fruit, rhubarb, orange zest, beets, violets and herbal notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, juicy with flavours of sweet berry fruit, spices with an underlying minerality, balanced acidity and well integrated tannins. This wine’s finish is short but intense and tangy with herbal notes lingering. This wine is corrected technically, but the flavours are slightly at odds for me, and at $25.95 does not represent a good value. Score 88 points.

Purchased January 19, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (303925) at $25.95

Domaine Grand Veneur Les Champauvins Côtes Du Rhône 2010, Ac, Rhône, France

This wine is a blend of mostly Grenache at 80% and Syrah with the remaining 20%, soil type is clay-gravel soil covered with rolled stones, wine is lightly filtered and alcohol comes in at 14.5%.

Pouring a deep purple in color, this Rhône blend opened up with aromas of blueberry-plummy fruit, new leather, vanilla, licorice, dried herbs and spicy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, delicious forward fruit and spicy flavours, fresh acidity and well integrated tannins. Loads of energy and length on the finish with blueberry-plum puree fruit and spicy notes lingering. Les Champauvins 2010 is showing well right now, an easy drinking wine, made in a crowd pleasing style and at this price, a great value. Strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased February 2, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (76331) at $18.95

Poliziano Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2009, Docg, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of 85% Prugnolo Gentile (local clone of Sangiovese) with the remaining 15% a blend of Colorino, Canaiolo and Merlot with alcohol coming in at 14.5%.

This wine pours a beautifully dark ruby in color and opened up with aromas of black cherry, dark plums, blackcurrants, forest floor, sandalwood, tobacco and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, great flavours, beautifully structured, harmonious with fresh acidity and fined grained tannins. A great deal of finesse and elegance on the finish, with nice sweet and sour fruit flavours and savoury spices lingering. I love the seductive fruit and savoury personality of this Poliziano Vino Nobile and the great mouthfeel, well handled use of barrel fermentation, should age quite nicely over the next three to four years. Gorgeous wine, strongly recommended, score 91 points,

Purchased February 16, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (988055) at $25.95

Paul's Picks from the LCBO Vintages New Release of March 16, 2013 - California Icon and Innovators and My picks for...

Hello to all my wine friends, 


At first look this New Release (NR) should be called “Spend your tax refund here”, especially when you consider the main selection of California wines (more on that later). The second feature from this NR is “Classic Euro Whites”, only two wines out of six made the cut for my recommended buys. Included in this release, the 2009 Bordeaux wines that are starting to arrive in our stores, are very well represented in this NR, five of those wines made my recommended list. An interesting mature Shiraz from South Africa will be released, Vergenoegd Estate Shiraz 2003 from South Africa (954537) at $22.95, the review quoted in the vintages catalogue reads “More masculine with leathery, smoky notes", scored 41/2 stars, the date reviewed was 2008. This is where we need to pay attention, we are talking about a ten years old wine, the review date was from 5 years ago, not helpful if not completely useless. I am sure they used this review to highlight the 41/2 stars.  This Shiraz has received mix reviews, I would file this wine under “interesting purchase”, if you do decide to purchase this Shiraz don’t wait too long, it should be opened over the next year. Now my favourite question, if you were allowed to buy only one wine from this NR, which one would that be? My answer would be; Château De La Dauphine 2009 from France (193144) at $29.85. 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;

• Looking for an interesting off the beaten track white wine to serve with white fish?  Here is a suggestion, Loimer Grûner Veltliner 2011 from Austria (142240) at $19.95.
• If you didn’t receive a tax refund and had to pay! Here is an interesting and versatile wine which over delivered for $13.95, Cantine Riondo Vinea Garganega 2011 from Italy (230656).

Now with the red wines;

Here is my pick for best value wine in this NR, from the very good 2010 Rhône vintage, Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Côtes Du Rhône-Villages 2010 from France (277038) at $15.95.


For fans of Spanish Grenache, here is a very good value wine and ready to go, Menguante Selección Garnacha 2007 from Spain (313833) at $16.95.


• My top pick from this release, Antinori Guado Al Tasso 2008 from Italy (986380) at $99.95. I had the opportunity to taste this wine in Vancouver last week, the 2008 vintage is just as delicious as the 2007 vintage and worth the $100.00 price tag.
  
  

California Icon and Innovators – As a follow up to last week NR, Vintages is keeping the focus on California, but this time it is taking it up a notch, in a big way; 18 wines with an average price of...a little over .$71.00. I can only assume that the fine employees of the LCBO were thinking that their customers would be receiving tax refunds and needed ideas as to where they should spend it. There is a lot of big names wineries featured in this section; Chateau Montelena, Ravenswood, Duckhorn Vineyards, Dunn Vineyards, Inglenook and Shafer Vineyards to name a few. I am not going to spend too much time on this feature selection has most of us can’t afford these wines, we can only dream of them. It’s funny, in my last newsletter I was hoping for Shafer Merlot which makes for a nice splurge at around $50.00 but instead Vintages is releasing Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 at $84.95 and Shafer Relentless 2009 at $82.95. OK enough already, here are three wines which for their price represent value;

·         Decoy Chardonnay 2011 from Sonoma (311555) at $24.95 – Made by Duckhorn (love this vineyard), this wine is 100% Chardonnay, a cooler climate wine, multi vineyards blended with maturation in a combination of 30% oak barrels and 70% stainless steel with alcohol coming in at 13.8%. Would be lovely paired with roast chicken or pork.

·         Inglenook Edizione Pennino Zinfandel 2009 from California (136374) at $54.95 – When I look in my cellar I have no Zinfandel, I love a nice Zin with BBQsteak so this is my splurge for this NR. The alcohol content is listed has 14.1% which is reasonable for a Zin from California.

·         Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (718452) at $58.95 – I had the opportunity to enjoy this Cabernet Sauvignon in Montréal last October. This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc (the information in the NR booklet is incorrect, the blend info is for the 2010 vintage) and alcohol comes in at a reasonable 13.8%. Unfortunately the price in Ontario is $6.45 more than at the SAQ in Québec. Follow the link to see my review;

http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.ca/2012/10/chateau-montelena-cabernet-sauvignon.html

 

My picks for...; I thought that I might give you my picks by these predominant grapes or blend or region;

·         My local white pick; Creekside Laura’s White 2010 from Niagara Peninsula in Ontario (121764) at $18.95 – An interesting blend of all these grapes; Chardonnay, Chardonnay Musque, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, alcohol comes in at 13%. Suggestive pairing, roast chicken or seafood.

·         My Riesling pick; Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Kabinett 2011 from Germany (735241) at $17.95 – This is a great value Riesling Kabinett which would be lovely paired with Easter Ham or as an aperitif, sugar content is medium and alcohol comes in at 10%.

·         My Bordeaux red pick; Château De La Dauphine 2009 from Fronsac, France (193144) at $29.85 – From the very good 2009 Bordeaux vintage, this wine is mostly Merlot (around 80%) with the remaining Cabernet Franc, alcohol comes in at 13%. To enjoy now or over the next five years with salty protein.

·         My Tuscany pick; Tenuta Di Ghizzano Veneroso 2009 from Italy (103218) at $29.95 – This wine is a blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon with 16 months maturation in French oak (third and fourth use, oak casks) and alcohol coming in at 13.5%. This is a complex and structured blend which would benefit from 2-3 years of additional cellar time or decant before serving.

·         My mature red pick; Ontañón Reserva 2004 from Spain (725895) at $24.95 – Another great value from Spain, this wine is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano with maturation in 60% American oak and 40% in French oak (a combination of used and new oak for both) for 12 months plus a further 24 months in bottle before release, alcohol comes in at 13.5%.

 

My top three wines from this release; 

1- Antinori Guado Al Tasso 2008 from Italy (986380) at $99.95 – Cellar Candidate

2- Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from California (296707) at $99.95

3- Château Haut-Bages Libéral 2009 from France (197640) at $64.85 – Cellar Candidate

 

My top three wines for value; 

1- Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Côtes Du Rhône-Villages 2010 from France (277038) at $15.95

2- Cantine Riondo Vinea Garganega 2011 from Italy (230656) at $13.95

3- Menguante Selección Garnacha 2007 from Spain (313833) at $16.95

 

My wine picks from this New Release for your considerations;

 

Red Wines; 

1- Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (718452) at $58.95

2- Calera Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009 from California (058966) at $49.95

3- Duckhorn Merlot 2010 from California (992529) at $56.95

4- Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from California (296707) at $99.95

5- Inglenook Edizione Pennino Zinfandel 2009 from California (136374) at $54.95

6- Anvers Brabo Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2010 from Australia (311654) at $19.95

7- Château Belgrave 2019 from France (193995) at $43.85

8- Château Haut-Bages Libéral 2009 from France (197640) at $64.85

9- Château De La Dauphine 2009 from France (193144) at $29.85

10- Château Rolland-Maillet 2008 from France (035881) at $39.95

11- E. Guigal Saint-Joseph 2009 from France (030031) at $31.95

12- Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Côtes Du Rhône-Villages 2010 from France (277038) at $15.95

13- Paolo Conterno Riva Del Bric Barolo 2008 from Italy (172783) at $36.95

14- Antinori Guado Al Tasso 2008 from Italy (986380) at $99.95

15- Cellole Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 from Italy (056945) at $26.95

16- Tenuta Di Ghizzano Veneroso 2009 from Italy (103218) at $29.95

17- Menguante Selección Garnacha 2007 from Spain (313833) at $16.95

18- Ontañón Reserva 2004 from Spain (725895) at $24.95

 

White Wines; 

1- Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2010 from California (701748) at $57.95

2- Decoy Chardonnay 2011 from California (311555) at $24.95

3- Creekside Laura’s White 2010 from Ontario (121764) at $18.95

4- Loimer Grûner Veltliner 2011 from Austria (142240) at $19.95

5- Anne Boecklin Lieu-Dit-Altenbourg Old Vines Pinot Gris 2010 from France (315085) at $19.95

6- Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Kabinett 2011 from Germany (735241) at $17.95

7- Cantine Riondo Vinea Garganega 2011 from Italy (230656) at $13.95

8- Muga Barrel Fermented White 2011 from Spain (958736) at $15.95

 

Fortified Wines and Liqueur; 

1- Dalva Colheita Port 1997 from Portugal (169045) at $27.95

2- Fonseca Late Bottled Vintage Port 2007 from Portugal (087551) at $23.95

3- Williams & Humbert Walnut Brown Rare Old Brown Oloroso from Spain (437467) at $13.95

4- Sortilège Prestige from Canada (317206) at $49.95

 

That is all for me and my team. We will be back for the New Release of March 30, 2013 (yes there are three NR this month) where the featured segments are “Ontario wines for Easter feasting” and “Signatures of Southern France”

 

Cheers

Paul YWG