August 3, 2013 VINTAGES release
In this August 3, 2013 VINTAGES release, the features include:
- fresh from France - refreshing whites
- Syrah & Shiraz - one grape, 2 names, many styles
- local talent: visit the Niagara Escarpment
The price point of new releases is
somewhat higher so I'm changing my focus for my selections. In the
past, I made a list of those most likely to make it into my bag but
that leaves many intriguing choices out. As always, my picks usually
sway towards something I haven't tried before - I always like to expand
my sommelier horizons. Having said that I'm a sucker for a good wine
for sipping so I might go back to a past favourite. Bolded text continues to indicate what caught my
eye. An → signifies that it is most likely going in my shopping bag.
Please follow along as I go page by page.
My picks include ...
→ a Kacaba I have not yet tried ... KACABA SUMMER SERIES REBECCA ROSÉ 2012 VINTAGES 227025 | 750 mL bottle Price $14.95 - Rosé Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: "Aromas of watermelon, red peppery jelly, red apple, strawberry, garden herbs and maraschino cherry. The palate is a lesson in how awesome it is when sweet flavours meet savoury. Tremendous ripe red fruit and a refreshing acidity. Pair with grilled bell peppers or turkey burgers. (VINTAGES panel, June 2013)"
out of my price range but I'd like to try it ... CADE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 VINTAGES 325027 | 750 mL bottle Price $104.95 - Red Wine, 15.2% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a fascinating wine. Some of the rougher, wilder edges that are present in the 2008 are smoothed out here. Layers of expressive dark fruit, licorice, mint and new leather wrap around the palate in this deep, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Score - 94. (Antonio Galloni, erobertparker.com, Dec. 2011)"
Oregon continues to wow with the quality of its Pinot Noir ... CLOUDLINE PINOT NOIR 2009 VINTAGES 159970 | 750 mL bottle Price $23.95 - Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: Oregon continues to wow with the quality of its Pinot Noir, and this one, loaded with aromas and flavours of crushed berry and ripe red fruit, shows why. Dry and balanced, with superbly integrated acids and tannins working seamlessly with the rich fruit, this is just a delight to drink. Pair this with cedar-planked salmon, and the sky's the limit. This is an impressive effort, and then some. (VINTAGES panel, March 2011)
→ LA POSTA ESTELA ARMANDO VINEYARD BONARDA 2011 VINTAGES 261586 | 750 mL bottle Price $14.95 - Red Wine, 13.9% Alcohol/Vol; LCBO Tasting Note: (no new oak): Bright ruby-red. Smoky, slightly porty aromas of black raspberry and black cherry. Sweet, pliant and generous, with lovely depth of dark berry and chocolate flavors. Pretty for bonarda and not a bit rustic. A big mouthful of wine, kept lively by brisk acidity. Finishes with substantial fine-grained tannins and an impression of seamlessness. Score - 89. (Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, March/April 2013)
→ a Kacaba I have not yet tried ... KACABA SUMMER SERIES REBECCA ROSÉ 2012 VINTAGES 227025 | 750 mL bottle Price $14.95 - Rosé Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: "Aromas of watermelon, red peppery jelly, red apple, strawberry, garden herbs and maraschino cherry. The palate is a lesson in how awesome it is when sweet flavours meet savoury. Tremendous ripe red fruit and a refreshing acidity. Pair with grilled bell peppers or turkey burgers. (VINTAGES panel, June 2013)"
out of my price range but I'd like to try it ... CADE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 VINTAGES 325027 | 750 mL bottle Price $104.95 - Red Wine, 15.2% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a fascinating wine. Some of the rougher, wilder edges that are present in the 2008 are smoothed out here. Layers of expressive dark fruit, licorice, mint and new leather wrap around the palate in this deep, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Score - 94. (Antonio Galloni, erobertparker.com, Dec. 2011)"
Oregon continues to wow with the quality of its Pinot Noir ... CLOUDLINE PINOT NOIR 2009 VINTAGES 159970 | 750 mL bottle Price $23.95 - Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: Oregon continues to wow with the quality of its Pinot Noir, and this one, loaded with aromas and flavours of crushed berry and ripe red fruit, shows why. Dry and balanced, with superbly integrated acids and tannins working seamlessly with the rich fruit, this is just a delight to drink. Pair this with cedar-planked salmon, and the sky's the limit. This is an impressive effort, and then some. (VINTAGES panel, March 2011)
→ LA POSTA ESTELA ARMANDO VINEYARD BONARDA 2011 VINTAGES 261586 | 750 mL bottle Price $14.95 - Red Wine, 13.9% Alcohol/Vol; LCBO Tasting Note: (no new oak): Bright ruby-red. Smoky, slightly porty aromas of black raspberry and black cherry. Sweet, pliant and generous, with lovely depth of dark berry and chocolate flavors. Pretty for bonarda and not a bit rustic. A big mouthful of wine, kept lively by brisk acidity. Finishes with substantial fine-grained tannins and an impression of seamlessness. Score - 89. (Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, March/April 2013)
PERRIN NATURE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2011 VINTAGES 948059 | 750 mL bottle Price $16.95 - Red Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: "Juicy with purple plum aromas wrapped in cedar smoke. Full-bodied, rustic and meaty. This organic wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes made by the Perrin brothers of Château de Beaucastel renown. Accented blackberry flavours on the palate give way to corpulent blueberry spin on the finish. Mouth-filling, corpulent and hedonistic. Great for hearty meat dishes. Bring it! Pair with: grilled Angus beef steak. Drink: 2012-2015. Score - 91. (Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.com, Feb. 17, 2013)"
COEUR CLEMENTINE CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ 2012 VINTAGES 326603 | 750 mL bottle Price $14.95 - Rosé Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Tasting Note: "The blend here is 30% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 30% Tibouren and 10% Syrah. The resulting wine offers substantial notes of tangerine, clementine, apricot and garrigue. Balanced and dry in the mouth it delivers a hefty whack of flavour. The finish adds a pleasing savoury note of orange-peel. Try this with grilled paprika chicken skewers. (VINTAGES panel, June 2013)"
CHÂTEAU DE TRINQUEVEDEL TAVEL ROSÉ 2012 VINTAGES 729947 | 750 mL bottle Price $18.95 - Rosé Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Description: "The rosés from Tavel are known generally for their remarkable depth of flavour due to the region's unique microclimate that almost effortlessly produces fully ripened, beautifully generous fruit. For those history buffs out there, Tavel rosés were a favourite of King Louis XIV as well as the writers Balzac and Mistral. Enjoy this with a kingly meal of grilled salmon or lamb."
→ MONTE ZOVO SA' SOLIN RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA 2011 VINTAGES 650713 | 750 mL bottle Price $17.95 - Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.; LCBO Description: "This superb Ripasso is a perennial favourite with Vintages customers. Fruit-forward, with complex notes of cherry, herbs, and cranberry masterfully integrated with spicy pepper and meat notes. Dry and medium-full bodied with a flavourful and lingering finish. The upfront style makes this a very pleasant sipping wine, but it will also work splendidly with grilled lamb, or a gourmet pizza with the works."
there you have it ... my picks from August 3, 2013 VINTAGES release. bottoms up!
sit. sip. savour.
Éva Nagy - accredited sommelier & yummy food enthusiast
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