Giuseppe Campagnola Le Bine Monte Foscarino Soave Classico 2009, Veneto, Italy

I have this love and hate thing with Soave, sometime its quite delicious and complex, then there are times where its just dull and bitter. I think it is a wine most enjoyed with food. What do I think about this Soave?  I think that it is a very well made wine, a blend of 70% Garganega and 30% Trebbiano, complex aromatics of citrus fruit, pear, melon and almonds. A medium bodied wine, fresh, almost piquant acidity, refreshing citrus flavours and long finish. I think that this is a great value, a superb wine at $14.00 for sure. I had this wine with a Cajun Chicken Alfredo and it worked very well. I can see this wine served with a Grilled Chicken Salad or White Fish. Strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased on June 11, 2011 LCBO New Release at $13.95

Quinta Do Crasto Old Vines Reserva 2007, Douro, Portugal

I was introduced to this wine when they captured the number three spot on Wine Spectator top 100 of 2008 (for there 2005 vintage).Which means that this is the third vintage of this wine that I have enjoyed. The Quinta Do Crasto Reserva 2007 was made from mixed varietal planting of 70 year old low yielding old vines from a single vineyard, then spent 16 months ageing in French and American oak barrels. This wine opens up with a solid core of ripe blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, spices and vanilla. This full bodied red has rich mouthfeel, balance acidity and integrated tannins. The finish is long, tasty and savoury. But this wine sure has gone up in price over the last three years since their top 100 moment, not the great value it use to be, but a very good wine none the less.

This wine was purchased September 18, 2010 LCBO New Release at $34.95.

Descendientes De J. Palacios Pétalos 2008, Bierzo, Spain

The fruit used to make this wine is the Mencia grape from three old vines parcels, aged between 60-100 years old. The nose opened up with fresh fruit; plums, raspberries, black cherries and licorice. The palate was sweet with balance acidity and soft tannins. The finish, medium length, with flavours of raisins, smoke and minerals. An easy drinking wine, doesn’t have great complexity, but it is delicious and fun to drink.

This wine was purchased September 18, 2010 LCBO New Release at $21.95

Baron De Ley Reserva 2005, Rioja, Spain

It was with great anticipation that I opened this bottle. First I still remember, how beautiful Baron De Ley Grand Reserva 2001 was last December 2010, then to compare this wine from another Tempranillo wine in the last LCBO New Release, Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2008. First how about this Baron De Ley Reserva 2005? Just by smelling this wine, I got excited. With complex aromas of cherry, black currant, dried figs, leather and tobacco leaf. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, fruity with good acidity and dusty tannins. The finish is smoky and smooth with ripe tannins. Now comparing Baron De Ley 2005 and Zuccardi Q 2008, both Tempranillo grape, both aged in American oak, same price but the difference is country of origin and vintage year 2005 vs 2008. Well it makes a difference in this case having a wine which is three years more mature. The Rioja flavours are better integrated and you get a smoother, more elegant wine for it. The Zuccardi Tempranillo is younger, the structure is a little tight and needs to shed some of its oak. In conclusion Baron De Ley 2005 has cellared the wine for you, this wine is more elegant, ready to enjoy and a much better value.

This wine was purchased on June 25, 2011 LCBO New Release at $19.95.

Paul Picks from the LCBO New Release of June 25, 2011 - Aromatics and Refreshing Whites and Zuccardi Q Tempranillo

Hello to all my wine friends,

Looking at this New Release (NR), there is a good selection of red wine around $20.00 for summer entertaining. My top red pick for both quality and value is Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2008 at $19.95, it is definitely worth buying a few. Also, there are numerous aromatics and refreshing whites, most under $20.00 and three reds worth considering for your cellar.

Aromatics and Refreshing Whites: With summer now officially here, this is when people rediscover how refreshing and enjoyable white wines can be. The white wines I prefer during summer months, are thirst quenchers that are lower alcohol, good acidity, aromatic and with minimum use of oak. In this release there are three of these refreshing whites Albarino, Grüner Veltliner and Torrontés) which are unusual grape varieties, not often seen in our LCBO stores and can be a great way to excite your taste buds and expand your wine knowledge. Albarino is the most distinctive white grape in Spain, and is often match with tapas and fish. Good quality Albarino wines are intensely aromatic with peaches, apricots and almonds on the palate. An Albarino to consider in this NR is Salterio Albarino 2010 from Spain (002774) at $17.95. Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s most famous grape variety usually pale green in colour and display fruit notes of grapefruits, limes, pears and white pepper with strong acidity. This grape is better suited at the dinner table and one Grüner Veltliner to consider is Salomon-Undhof Wieden & Berg Grüner Veltliner 2009 from Austria (670513) at $19.95.Torrentés is the most distinctive white grape in Argentina, another very fresh and aromatic grape with aromas of citrus, peach, spices, straw and floral. A Torrentés to consider is Familia Zuccardi Organica Torrontés 2010 from Argentina (232694) at $13.95. Finally for my last two feature whites, the usual suspects are Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, here are my recommendation; Dr. H. Thanish Riesling Kabinett 2008 from Germany (214635) at $18.95 and Sileni Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from New Zealand (662882) at $15.95, which I think is the best buy of this NR.

Zuccardi Q Tempranillo: The Tempranillo grape is grown all over Spain and is specially know as the main grape in the making of Rioja wines. Tempranillo based wines tend to produce complex and rich wines which have herbal, spicy, leather and tobacco like characteristics with fruit flavours of dark cherries, plums and wild strawberries. A few other countries are experimenting with this grape and a good fit seems to be Argentina. If you want to try a Tempranillo outside of Spain, I have a recommendation for you; Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2008 from Argentina (973503) at $19.95. I am enjoying this wine as I write this email and you can find my review here on my blog.

If you want to try another quality Tempranillo at the same price and from its home base of Spain, from a very good producer is Baron De Ley Reserva 2005 (958868) at $19.95.

My top three wines of this release: All Cellar Candidate

1-Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from California (071407) at $69.95

2-Château La Croix St. Georges 2007 from France (098681) at $77.00

3-Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione 2007 from Italy (719872) at $58.95

My top three wines for value:

1-Sileni Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from New Zealand (662882) at $15.95

2-Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2008 from Australia (433060) at $19.95

3-Terrazas De Los Andes Reserva Malbec 2008 from Argentina (029280) at $17.95

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

Red Wines:

1-BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Argentina (232637) at $16.95

2-Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Argentina (140855) at $19.95

3-Terrazas De Los Andes Reserva Malbec 2008 from Argentina (029280) at $17.95

4-Sebastiani Zinfandel 2008 from California (672667) at $17.95

5-Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from California (071407) at $69.95

6-Rupert & Rothschild Classique 2008 from South Africa (717991) at $19.95

7-Château La Croix St. Georges 2007 from France (098681) at $77.00

8-Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione 2007 from Italy (719872) at $58.95

9-Santa Margherita Chianti Classico 2007 from Italy (091694) at $19.95

White Wines:

1-Familia Zuccardi Organica Torrontés 2010 from Argentina (232694) at $13.95

2-Salterio Albarino 2010 from Spain (002774) at $17.95

3-Salomon-Undhof Wieden & Berg Grüner Veltliner 2009 from Austria (670513) at $19.95

4-Sterling Vineyards Chardonnay 2007 from California (330233) at $21.95

My team and I will be back for the next New Release of July 9, 2011.
Cheers
Paul YWG

Familia Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

An interesting Tempranillo outside of its home base of Spain. This wine opened up with black cherry, plum, vanilla, Asian spices, tobacco and earthiness. The mouthfeel is rich and savoury, with dusty and chewy tannins and a good lift of acidity. This finish is long with cherry, cedar and grainy tannins. Drink or hold for 2-3 years. Quite enjoyable, a muscular wine with lots of character.

This wine is part of the LCBO New Release of June 25, 2011 at $19.95

  

Bindella Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2006, Tuscany, Italy

Wow! This is what I like about Italian wines and the Sangiovese grape. The nose is just incredible and complex; sour cherry, blackberry, plums, earthy and soft leather. The palate as, lively sweet and sour flavours, crisp acidity and dusty tannins. This is not a wine for everyone, as it is not very fruity with noticeable acidity, but served with food, especially a tomato based pasta dish. it is very enjoyable. I will lay my remaining bottle for a year, I feel the wine mouthfeel will be better for it. Fans of Italian wines should like this wine, it is well made.

This wine was purchased June 11, 2011 LCBO New Release at $22.95