Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2011, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

This wine is 100% Pinot Noir from 5 to 27 year old vines.  Over 50% of this vintage was fermented with wild yeast, with maturation in new to three year old French oak for 10 months and alcohol commes in at 12.5%

This wine opened up with a sumptuous bouquet of ripe berry fruit, red currants, savoury spices, light floral and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied with a silky smooth texture, a delicious spicy, sweet and sour fruit profile, fresh acidity and fine grained tannins. Very nice finish on this Pinot, quite consistent, smooth with spicy fruit flavours and an underlying minerality. This is a very elegant Pinot Noir, loved the low alcohol, minimum amount of oak, very feminine and pretty. Gorgeous, score 93 points. 

Purchased at the Vancouver International Wine Festival February 28, 2013 at $24.90

Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Merlot 2008, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

This Merlot opened up with aromas of cherry, plum, herbal, baking spices, tobacco leaf and light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, fruity and spicy with balanced acidity and fined grained tannins. The finish is short but pleasant. The challenging 2008 vintage is showing in this wine, not as ripe or concentrated and savoury as there very good Qwam Qwmt Merlot 2006 and 2007 vintage, score 88 points.

Purchased July 18, 2011 at the Wine Barrel in Victoria, BC at $30.10

Erasmo 2006, Maule Valley, Chile

This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, dry farmed and all hand harvested, with ageing taking place in French oak for 18 months. This wine was bottled, unfiltered, in February 2008 and alcohol comes in at 14.5%.

This wine opened up with a lovely bouquet of ripe berry fruit, stewed plums, fresh herbs, tobacco leaf, vanilla and toasty cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with rich and concentrated flavours, fresh acidity and firm, dusty tannins. This wine's finish is long, robust with great depth of flavours. I love the intensity and texture of this Bordeaux blend. The oak is well integrated at this stage and the flavours are maturing nicely. Ready to go with any red meat off the BBQ, a very good value and strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased March 30, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (311837) at $21.95

Domaine de la Charbonnière Les Hautes Brusquières Cuvée Spéciale Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007, AC Rhône, France

From the very good 2007 vintage, this wine is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. Each varietal is aged separately before blending and alcohol comes in at 15%.

This wine opened up with aromas of blackberry, plum, cherry, light licorice, fresh herbs, floral, earthy and sandalwood notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with delicious soft seductive fruit, herbs and spices flavours, mild acidity and fined grained tannins. Good length on the finish with flavours of sweet berry fruit, gentle wood spices, fine tannins but the last thing lingering is some hot alcohol heat. I enjoyed this wine with friends and we were all unanimous on the verdict, exquisite aromatics, great almost silky and spicy texture in the mouth but hot alcohol finish that was a real bummer. Just enough to score 90 points, but can’t see myself matching Robert Parker Jr. 95+ given in October 2009.

Purchased from the LCBO Classics Collection February 2011 (579581) at $54.00

Domaine Tournon Shay’s Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2010, Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia

Deep opaque purple in color, the majority of these Shiraz grapes was aged in French oak for 12 months with a small portion of the remaining wine aged in tanks; alcohol comes in at 14%.

This wine opened up with aromas of blackberry, exotic spices, forest floor, saddle leather and gamey notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with layered dark fruit and peppery flavours, rich almost creamy texture, fresh acidity and light tannins. Excellent depth of flavours on the finish with loads of dark fruit with leathery, earthy and peppery notes lingering. This is a flavourful and complex cool climate Aussie Shiraz, closer in style to a northern Rhône Syrah. Quite compelling, love the texture of this Shiraz, score 91 points.

Purchased January 19, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (311480) at $29.95

Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

This wine is made with 100% hand harvested Sauvignon Blanc, with maturation in stainless steel tanks (no oak) and alcohol coming in at 13.5%.

Greeny yellow in color, this wine opened up with a very intense bouquet of passion fruit, fresh squeezed grapefruit/lime fruit with a stony mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with an intense citrus/lemonade flavours and lively acidity. This Sauvignon Blanc finish is long, edgy, clean and refreshing. It is best enjoyed with food like chicken, pasta in a cream sauce or a nice summer salad. Just as enjoyable as their 2011 vintage, strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased April 13, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (677450) at $22.95

Paul's Picks from the LCBO Vintages New Release of June 8, 2013 - Wine gifts for dad and My top three picks for value

Hello to all my wine friends,

       

Looking at this New Release (NR) I see a better selection than usual of wines under $20.00, which I know will please many of you, with few high price temptations and a few off the beaten path options. If you are a fan of Australian wines this NR is not for you, with only one OZ wine being released, a Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2011 vintage, a baby straight out of the barrels, which means a cellar candidate. 

Now my favourite question;  If I were allowed to buy only one wine from this NR, which one would that be? Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2011 from Italy (134551) at $13.95. With summer approaching ever so slowly, we will have more opportunities to drink white wine over the next 3-4 months. But Soave? Yes, give it a try, a beautiful complex and refreshing wine for $13.95. Here are a few wines I would like to bring to your attention;

 

Starting with white wines;

• For fans of classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc; Astrolabe Province Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from New Zealand (10421) at $21.95.

  
  

  
  
• Here is a fine Italian Pinot Grigio for summer patio sipping, Istituto Agrario San Michele All’Adige Pinot Grigio 2011 from Italy (249540) at $17.95.

 

Now for the red wines;

• Here are two BBQ options, first a Zinfandel from California, DeLoach Zinfandel 2010 from California (149237) at $29.95 and a full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile, Urraca Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Argentina (271080) at $19.95. In the summer don’t forget to serve slightly chilled around 16 °C to 18 °C, this will bring out the fruit and tame the alcohol and tannins.

  
  

  
  
• Lately I have enjoyed discovering red wines from Portugal and this one is highly recommended, Quinta De Lubazim Grande Reserva 2008 from Portugal (317073) at $28.95. Now let's get started; 

 

My Father's Day wine gift ideas;  With Fathers Day fast approaching (June 16), if you are looking for a fine bottle of wine to show your appreciation to your father, here are a few recommendations. Most men that I know prefer a full bodied red wine, I have four of those wines for you to consider and I will try to cover all the bases with these three picks; a full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon blend from California; two wines from Italy; an Amarone and a Brunello. My suggestion, if your father prefers a white, how about this full bodied Chardonnay from California, Grigich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2010 from California (346304) at $54.95.

 

• Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Cabernet/Merlot 2009 from California (89284) at $52.95 – For dad who likes them big, a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon at 77% and in a strong supporting role Merlot at 23%, ageing for 19 months in primarily used air-dried American oak barrels (only 15% new) and alcohol comes in at 13.5%.

  
  

  
  

• Tommasi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2009 from Italy (356220) at $49.95 – A few years back, I developed a slight addiction to Tommasi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2004. I keep going back to my dealer to repurchase, that wine was so good. Very consistent from vintage to vintage, as for this 2009 vintage, a blend of 50% Corvina Veronese, 30% Rondinella, 15% Corvinone and 5% Molinara, ageing took place in Slavonian oak casks and alcohol comes in at 15%.
  
  

   

• Poggiotondo Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (276576) at $34.95 – If dad prefers a mature old world type of wine, here is a elegant, classic Brunello (100% Sangiovese), which I had the opportunity to enjoy last November. This Brunello, six months later, should be even smoother but I still recommend decanting before serving, follow the link below for the review. 

http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.ca/2012/11/poggiotondo-brunello-di-montalcino-2006.html

 

My top three picks for value; I have often been asked to recommend wines under $20.00. Well in this NR, there are many wines of great value and worth stocking up, that I decided to elaborate on three of these wines. These wines should offer enjoyable drinking pleasure, delivering quality well above their asking price and not likely to disappoint.

 

• Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2011 from Italy (134551) at $13.95 – I know that Soave can be a hard sell but when in good hands and not over cropped, you get a great wine like this one. This wine is from a single vineyard, hand harvested blend of 70% Garganega and 30% Trebbiano, ageing took place in ox tanks (no oak) and alcohol comes in at 12.5%. Food pairing suggestions; ideal as aperitif, hors d’oeuvres, vegetarian meal and white fish dish.

• Les Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône 2010 from France (276956) at $17.95 – I had the opportunity to visit this winery both at the Vancouver International Wine Festival this year and tasted all four of their wines. I am not a fan of their Rasteau and Gigongas 2010, but loved their Châteauneuf-du-Pape and this Côtes du Rhône 2010. A full bodied and easy drinking blend of mostly Grenache at 85% with Syrah at 10% and Mourvèdre at 5% with alcohol coming in at 15%. Now here is the kicker, this wine is sold in British Columbia for $24.99 and here in Ontario for $17.95. At $17.95, I feel it represents an awesome value.
  

• Lealtanza Crianza 2009 from Spain (114835) at $16.95 – For fans Spanish Rioja wines, here is a not to be missed, a red Rioja, made with 100% estate grown Tempranillo. Maturation taking place in French oak for 12 months plus an additional 12 months in bottle before release, alcohol coming in at a moderate 13.3%. Pairing suggestions; beef, lamb, game, grilled pork or chicken, cheese or tapas.

 

My top three wines from this release;

1- Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Cabernet/Merlot 2009 from California (89284) at $52.95

2- Poggiotondo Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (276576) at $34.95

3- Altamira De Los Andes Navigato Family Selection Grand Reserve 2008 from Argentina (314872) at $46.95

 

My top three wines for value;

1- Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2011 from Italy (134551) at $13.95

2- Les Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône 2010 from France (276956) at $17.95

3- Lealtanza Crianza 2009 from Spain (114835) at $16.95

 

My wine picks from this New Release for your consideration;

Red Wines;

1- Chakana Estate Selection Red 2011 from Argentina (322602) at $29.95

2- Altamira De Los Andes Navigato Family Selection Grand Reserve 2008 from Argentina (314872) at $46.95

3- Urraca Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Argentina (271080) at $19.95

4- DeLoach Zinfandel 2010 from California (149237) at $29.95

5- Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Cabernet/Merlot 2009 from California (89284) at $52.95

6- Sileni The Triangle Merlot 2010 from New Zealand (586081) at $16.95

7- Château Cap de Faugères 2010 from France (321372) at $34.95

8- Château La Clare 2009 from France (331751) at $29.95

9- Les Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône 2010 from France (276956) at $17.95

10-Paitin Sori’ Paitin Barbaresco 2008 from Italy (106591) at $32.95

11-Leone De Castris Riserva Salice Salentino 2009 from Italy (597534) at $18.95

12-Poggiotondo Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 from Italy (276576) at $34.95

13-Masi Brolo Campofiorin Oro Appaxximento 2009 from Italy (976092) at $24.95

14-Tommasi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2009 from Italy (356220) at $49.95

15-Quinta De Lubazim Grande Reserva 2008 from Portugal (317073) at $28.95

16-Lealtanza Crianza 2009 from Spain (114835) at $16.95

 

White Wines;

1- Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2012 from Ontario (43281) at $16.95

2- Grigich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2010 from California (346304) at $54.95

3- Cooper Mountain Reserve Pinot Gris 2011 from Oregon (324491) at $20.95

4- Astrolabe Province Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from New Zealand (10421) at $21.95

5- Domaine Raoul Gautherin & Fils Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru 2010 from France (159236) at $28.95

6- Château de la Gravelle Muscadet Sèvre & Maine Gorges 2006 from France (656736) at $15.95

7- Istituto Agrario San Michele All’Adige Pinot Grigio 2011 from Italy (249540) at $17.95

8- Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2011 from Italy (134551) at $13.95

 

That is all for me and my team. We will be back for the next New Release of June 22, 2013 where the featured segments are “Southern Rhône: the 2009, ’10 and ’11 vintages” and “Modern South Africa wines” 

 

Cheers

Paul YWG