Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepluciano 2007, Tuscany, Italy

From the very successful 2007 Tuscan vintage, classic Sangiovese aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, forest floor, mushroom, damp earth and savoury. On the palate, this wine is medium to full body (14.5% alcohol) and offers a good contrast between rich and concentrated fruit and earthy notes, with balanced acidity and firm tannins. The opening aromas continue through, with a smokey, earthy and dark fruit  through a long and dry finish.  If you drink now, this wine should be decanted for about one hour, or keep it in the bottle for one or two years, this will allow for greater integration of the flavours. Great Value and strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased October 15, 2011 LCBO New Release at $25.95.

Carlos Serres Gran Reserva 2001, Rioja, Spain

This Gran Reserva is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo which spent 36 months in a combination of American and French oak barrels, then a further 36 months ageing in the bottle. This Rioja is very aromatic with plums, vanilla, cinnamon and minerals on the nose. The palate is smooth, elegant with well integrated tannins. The finish as medium length with light berries, vanilla and sweet spices. Definitely a mature wine which has started to lose some of its fruit and structure and should be drank over the next year. Enjoyable when paired with the right food. 

This wine was purchased October 1, 2011 LCBO New Release at $27.95.

Caymus Vineyards Zinfandel 2007, Napa Valley, California, USA

My first experience with Caymus Vineyards Zinfandel 2007 was at the Keg Restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, last May 2011. This is one of those fantastic pairings, great steak and juicy full bodied Zin. Now,  This wine was not available in Ontario from the LCBO, but living close to the Quebec border gives more choice and another market to shop in. I was lucky to find this wine in a special release in that province (Quebec).

The aromas are classic Zin,  blackberry jam, crush raspberries, peppery, fruit cake and cedar. A rich, sensuous and full bodied mouthfeel, generous alcohol at 15.5% but well balanced by sweet ripe fruit, surprisingly good acidity for a Napa Valley wine with chewy tannins. The finish is long, peppery and slightly drying tannins. The sign of a great wine is that each glass gets better and better. Gorgeous wine amd I will keep my last bottle of this vintage for next fall. I couldn't afford the more pricey, Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, but for $40.00 I got to enjoy there great Zinfandel. Life is good.

This wine was purchased July 5, 2011 at the SAQ in Gatineau, Quebec.

Michele Castellani Cinque Stelle Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2005, Veneto, Italy

The suggested pairing for our pasta dinner was a Ripasso or an Amarone. Since I didn’t have a Ripossa I opened one of only two Amarone in my cellar. Isn't this a good excuse for opening an Amarone? I think so!  A classic version of Amarone with aromas of prune, fig, dates, dried raisins, stewed fruits, chocolate and leather. This full body mouthfeel of 15.5% alcohol has rich and sweet texture, low acidity and well integrated tannins. Great length and velvet on the finish. The exact blend for this Amarone is 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Molinara. Strongly recommended for fans Amarone and full bodied red. 

This wine was purchased November 27, 2010 LCBO New Release at $54.95.

Paul Picks from the LCBO New Release of October 15, 2011 - Tuscan vs. Piedmont and Pazzo Call Me Crazy

Hello to all my wine friends,

As a big fan of Italian wines, what grabbed my attention while looking at this New Release (NR) is the solid selection from Tuscany. I was also excited about a trio of wines from California; Peju Merlot 2006, Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and Pazzo, Call Me Crazy Proprietary Red 2007 (more on this one latter). Fans of Luigi Bosca should look for their good valued Reserva 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Next up an Australian blend; Elderton Ode To Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot 2008 from Barossa Valley (976423). This wine was originally released last December 11, 2011 and is being released again this week. A wine I happened to have enjoyed this past week, you can see my review here; http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/10/elderton-ode-to-lorraine-2008-barossa.html     So let’s get started.

Tuscan vs. Piedmont; The main feature of this NR are these two regions of Italy. Incidentally, there are only 5 wines from Piedmont and 11 from Tuscany. With the exception of Giacomo Fenocchio Bussia Barolo 2005 (232421) at $42.95, which should be strongly considered by fans of Barolo, the selection from Tuscany is far superior. Here are my top three Tuscan wines from the NR, now if you only buy one wine from this NR it should be this first one;

• Poliziano Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2007 (988055) at $25.95. From the superb 2007 Tuscan vintage and a very good producer (never had a bottle from them which I did not enjoy) Poliziano wines have lots of class, elegance, well balance and a good value, drink now or over the next 5-6 years.
• Tenuta di Nozzole La Forra Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 (177279) at $29.95 A classic Italian table wine with Sangiovese grape aged in French oak and unfiltered. Drink now or over the next 10 years.
• Poggio Verrano Chance 2005 (239707) at $33.95 a Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from warmer region of Tuscany call Maremma. You should expect a wine style between Italy and California. This wine is already 6 years old, drink now or over the next little while.

Pazzo Call Me Crazy; I have enjoyed the last two or three vintages of this California – Italian inspired blend, Pazzo Call Me Crazy Proprietary Red. Pazzo means crazy in Italian, and this blend is definitely a bit crazy. A blend of 74% Sangiovese, 8% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Syrah and 6% Viognier. All wines were aged in new and older French Oak barrels for 21 months. This wine is meant to be consumed sooner rather then later, in the first 2 or three years after it is released, this will emphasize the fruity characteristic of this blend. I have to be honest here, this is not a wine that will appeal to everyone, not everyone likes big fruity wine with high alcohol (16%), what it lacks for in elegance it more then makes up for in great aromatics, loads of flavour and a great mouthfeel. Pair with strong flavoured dishes like slow cooked stew, lamb shank and some pasta dishes. If you enjoy big, fruity new world wines but with an Italian twist try Pazzo Call Me Crazy Proprietary Red 2007 from Bacio Divino Cellars (677708) at $31.95.

My top three wines of this release;

1-Poliziano Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2007 from Italy (988055) at $25.95

2-Elderton Ode To Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot 2008 from Australia (976423) at $39.95

3-Michele Castellani Cinque Stelle Amaronne Della Valpolicella Classico 2006 from Italy (075127) at $52.95

My top three wines for value;

1-Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenère 2010 from Chile (016071) at $14.95

2-Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from California (104240) at $17.95

3-Marchesi De’ Frescobaldi Terre More Dell’ Ammiraglia 2009 from Italy (239889) at $19.95

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

Red Wines;

1-Giacomo Fenecchio Bussia Barolo 2005 from Italy (232421) at $42.95

2-Volpaia Chianti Classico 2008 from Italy (953828) at $21.95

3-Marchesi De’ Frescobaldi Terre More Dell’ Ammiraglia 2009 from Italy (239889) at $19.95

4-Catena Alta Malbec 2008 from Argentina (982355) at $49.95

5-Peju Merlot 2006 from California (147322) at $44.95

6-Luigi Bosca Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Argentina (128629) at $17.95

7-Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenère 2010 from Chile (016071) at $14.95

8-Elderton Ode To Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot 2008 from Australia (976423) at $39.95

White Wines;

1-Santa Barbara Wine Company Chardonnay 2009 from California (235937) at $19.95

2-Penfolds Thomas Hyland Riesling 2008 from Australia (146746) at $19.95

3-Kumeu River Village Chardonnay 2008 from New Zealand (247171) at $18.95

4-Iona Vineyards Chardonnay 2009 from South Africa (236026) at $24.95

5-Maculan Pinot Grigio 2010 from Italy (734921) at $13.95

My team and I will be back for next New Release October 29, 2011 that will feature the wines of Sonama, California and highlight great value party wines.
 
Cheers
Paul YWG

Elderton Ode To Lorraine 2008, Barossa Valley, Australia

I loved this blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Shiraz and 8% Merlot, with maturation taking place in 80% French oak and 20% American Oak.. On the nose this wine opened up with ripe plums, black fruit, cassis, mint, vanilla and toasty oak. The palate was rich, smooth and well structured with good acidity and silky tannins. Medium to full body and great length. This blend finished long smooth, savoury and comforting. I first tasted this 2008 Ode to Lorraine last January, it was very enjoyable then, drinking beautifully right now and will only get better over the next 4-5 years. When done right, this is the kind of wine you expect from Barossa Valley. A big juice red (but not jammy), with high alcohol (14.5%) with rich and complex structure. My only negative comment, what is with the heavy bottle?  This wine is very good and can stand on its own without a hefty bottle. In this age of concern for the environment and our expanding carbon foot print, and the cost of moving heavy bottles around the world we should use regular bottles and pass on the savings to the customer, which may help sell more wine.
I have been purchasing Ode To Lorraine for 3 or 4 years now and reviewed their 2006 vintage on my blog on June 5, 2011. This wine was originally released December 11, 2010, it will be re-released, Saturday October 15, 2011. Strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased December 11, 2010 LCBO New Release at $39.95.

Chateau Haut-Marbuzet 2002, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

Having my brothers family over for dinner this Thanksgiving I thought I would open something special and that special something was a Bordeaux that I purchased in France this summer. Once I pulled the cork I knew that this was going to be a memorable evening. An explosion of aromas from this nine year old wine; cherry, dark fruit, red currants, soft leather and tobacco leaf aromas. Incredible smooth mouthfeel with soft seductive fruit, fine ripe tannins and fresh acidity. More of the same on the finish, smooth, fresh with all elements of this wine well integrated. A little research on the web was not helpful, I coud not find the exact blend of this Saint-Estèphe wine. Finding the blend of a Bordeaux is sometimes as impossible as finding the most secret recipes (aka the Colonel's blend), my guess is mostly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc rounding out this blend. Lovely wine to smell, well balanced, elegant and drinking beautifully, right now.

This wine was purchased in Ajaccio on the Island of Corsica in France.