April 26, 2014 VINTAGES release
In this release, April 26, 2014, VINTAGES release features:
- Bordeaux that won't break the bank
- bubbly personality
- local find: MALIVOIRE MUSQUÉ SPRITZ 2013 VINTAGES 189670 | 750 mL bottle Price $19.95
My picks include ...
7 year old 100% rye whisky + maple syprup = yummy ... SORTILÈGE PRESTIGE VINTAGES 317206 | 750 mL bottle Price $49.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: The coming of spring brings in the year's first harvest: maple syrup. Sugar shacks will be opening and the sap running this March. Bring the fun home with a bottle of Sortilege Prestige, a uniquely Canadian blend of 100 per cent rye whisky aged seven years in white oak barrels mixed with first run Quebec maple syrup (category one, extra clear, considered the finest). From Maison des Futailles, it's sweet, but not too, with true maple syrup flavours balanced by good whisky power throughout. Score - 91. (Margaret Swaine, winealign.com, March 11, 2013)
FLEURY BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT CHAMPAGNE VINTAGES 368761 | 750 mL bottle Price $54.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: This has a notably deep golden colour and even lightly pinkish-grey tinge, displaying considerable evolution. The nose is likewise intensely rich and toasty and wonderfully mature, fully focused on toasted almonds and hazelnuts, dried fruit -apples, pears and nectarines - [and] dried cherries, alongside plenty of toasted wheat bread with honey and apple turnover-type aromatics. The palate is linear and firm, very dry, braced by riveting acids and very good to excellent length. This is a champagne for fans of a mature and toasty style, suitable for sipping but even better for the table, and, say, a hazelnut-encrusted sea bass. Score - 92. (John Szabo, M.S., winealign.com, Dec. 13, 2013)
6 varietals ... MOUTARD PÈRE & FILS CUVÉE DES 6 CÉPAGES BRUT CHAMPAGNE LCBO 185595 | 750 mL bottle Price $87.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: A rich and expressive style, offering ripe peach and currant fruit, with notes of toasted brioche, honey, lemon curd, ground anise and espresso and a hint of toasted almond. Fine-grained, creamy and mouthwatering, this displays focus and integration throughout. Chardonnay, Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged October 2012. Drink now through 2028. Score - 93. (Alison Napjus, winespectator.com, July 31, 2013)
TAWSE SPARK LIMESTONE RIDGE RIESLING SPARKLING WINE 2012 VINTAGES 370361 | 750 mL bottle Price $19.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: ... when you taste a riesling sparkling wine like this one, you'd like to see more. The acidity is terrific: bright, zesty, vibrant, but also manageable, not hard-edged or tart. It carries the well-defined and nuanced fruit effectively, and is punctuated by a very good volume of small bubbles. Score - 4 1/2 Stars (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, winealign.com, Oct. 10, 2013)
DOMAINE J. LAURENS LE MOULIN BRUT BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX VINTAGES 180323 | 750 mL bottle Price $17.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Nice bit of development. Very fresh and really quite special for the money. Quite delicate on the palate. Good Value. Drink: 2013-2015. Score - 16 (out of 20 (Distinguished)). (Jancis Robinson, MW, jancisrobinson.com, Nov. 19, 2013)
LA MARCA PROSECCO VINTAGES 287987 | 750 mL bottle Price $17.95 - LCBO
| Description: Ranked #75 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2007, with a score of 90. (Jo Cooke, winespectator.com, April 30, 2007); LCBO Tasting Note: La Marca offers a bit of citrus and is - somewhat surprisingly -
slightly tart with a nice light and dry finish. The easy-drinking
crowd-pleaser can be a wonderful option for friends who aren't into
higher-priced bottles that impart a yeasty, bone-dry flavor that many
sparklers or Champagne often have ... It's made from glera grapes. (Marc
Bona, cleveland.com, Dec. 23, 2013)
→ MALIVOIRE MUSQUÉ SPRITZ 2013 VINTAGES 189670 | 750 mL bottle Price $19.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Like a Moscato d'Asti with a bit of extra zip, this lovely take on Chardonnay Musqué opens with bountiful aromas of honeysuckle, citrus zest and angel food cake. The eponymous spritz is quite delicate and, along with brilliantly fresh acidity, adds dimension to the sweet citrus fruit. Crisp, tangy finish. Pair with spicy foods, soft blue cheeses or fresh fruit. (VINTAGES panel, Feb. 2014) MALIVOIRE RIESLING 2012 VINTAGES 277483 | 750 mL bottle Price $15.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Sweet-kissed Riesling gushing with lemon, lime, grapefruit, pear and mineral oil with a suggestion of wet stones. A great choice for sushi or spicy pad Thai. (VINTAGES panel, March 2014) → KEINT-HE VOYAGEUR PINOT NOIR 2012 VINTAGES 373407 | 750 mL bottle Price $17.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: An absolute steal at this price -- your palate will be convinced your pocketbook is playing a late April Fool's joke. Opens with classic Pinot Noir aromas of plum, cherry stone, red beets, earth and a pretty notion of rose petal. Elegant and expressive in the mouth with good complexity and a long finish. Bravo. Enjoy with roast beef, mushroom kebabs or steak sliders. (VINTAGES panel, March 2014) BERINGER CHARDONNAY 2012 VINTAGES 84988 | 750 mL bottle Price $19.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Fans of this wine will recognize the value here, and that is something for everyone to be excited about. Big, full throttle aromas of buttered toast, grilled pineapple, peach and firewood all getting a look-in. Round, juicy and packed with fruit flavours. Smoky and toasty on the finish. Pair with roast chicken or grilled pork. (VINTAGES panel, March 2014) ATREA OLD SOUL RED 2009 VINTAGES 214825 | 750 mL bottle Price $33.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Jammy and appealingly briary, with raspberry and fresh sassafras aromas, offering zesty black cherry jam and spice notes that finish with ripe tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Malbec. Drink now through 2018. Score - 91. (Tim Fish, winespectator.com, April 30, 2013) CAYMUS SPECIAL SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 VINTAGES 711663 | 750 mL bottle Price $138.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: A brilliant wine, and one of the stars of the vintage, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection boasts aromas of blueberry pie, blackberries, cassis and white flowers. This full-bodied, velvety textured, delicious 2011 is already drinking well, and should continue to do so for 10-12 years. It is a terrific success for the vintage. Score - 95. (Robert Parker Jr., erobertparker.com, Oct. 2013) CATENA CHARDONNAY 2012 VINTAGES 918805 | 750 mL bottle Price $19.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: The 2012 Catena Chardonnay brings aromas and flavors of ripe melon, pears and tropical fruits along with vanilla and warm toasty notes. On the palate this is fresh and crisp leaving behind notes of mineral and spicy pears. The fruit was aged for 10 months, sur lies, prior to spending 12 month in bottle. Drink: 2013-2017. Score - 90. (Joe D'Angelo, internationalwinereport.com, June 2013) → ALAMOS SYRAH 2012 VINTAGES 183848 | 750 mL bottle Price $13.95 - LCBO Description: Best known for deep and spicy Malbec, Mendoza also produces deep and spicy Syrah, such as this astoundingly well-priced version from leading producer Catena. Look for ripe, dark berry fruit and peppercorn notions. A winner with pepper steaks or grilled burgers. CASARENA RAMANEGRA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 VINTAGES 366138 | 750 mL bottle Price $18.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: (all from 82-year-old vines): Bright medium ruby. Restrained but pure aromas of blackcurrant, bitter chocolate, mocha and peppery herbs. Dense, sappy and deep, boasting a seamlessness in spite of its musky dark berry flavors accented by pepper and herbs. Classic, satisfying and complete cabernet, with a lush, round texture, excellent breadth and length, and very suave, fine-grained tannins. This could do some damage in a blind flight of top Napa cabernets. Score - 92. (Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, March/April 2013) YALUMBA VIOGNIER 2012 VINTAGES 954644 | 750 mL bottle Price $24.95 - LCBO Description: Winner of a Gold Medal at the 2013 International Wine Challenge; LCBO Tasting Note: (made entirely with indigenous yeasts): Light, bright yellow. Sexy, energetic aromas and flavors of white peach, pear, melon and tangerine, with an intense floral overtone. Juicy, focused and palate-staining, with a suave interplay of richness and vivacity. Shows excellent power and depth on the chewy finish, which is firm and sharply focused but not at all hard. It's my contention that Louisa Rose, the person behind this and all of Yalumba's viogniers for over two decades now, handles viognier with as much skill as any winemaker in the New World and more than most in the Rhone Valley. She's also responsible for a boatload of it every year, which makes the wines, most of which are ridiculously underpriced, all the more impressive. Rose is the chief winemaker for all of Yalumba's production now, by the way, and I hope they don't forget that it's viognier that brought her to the dance. Score - 91. (Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, July/Aug. 2013) MOMO PINOT NOIR 2011 VINTAGES 163972 | 750 mL bottle Price $19.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Big and juicy, with pleasingly tart and vibrant cherry aromas and flavours in this kiwi pinot noir. Mouth-watering acidity is fantastic for a range of dishes, from planked salmon to roast chicken. Smooth and medium- to full-bodied. Very tasty. Made by the film director of many famous movies, including several of the Harry Potter series. This red wine is bio-gro certified and the grapes came from three vineyard sites. The wine was fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged 11 months in old French barrels. Pair with: salad, mushroom risotto, planked salmon, frittata, coq au vin. Drink: 2013-2018. Score - 92. (Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.com, Dec. 26, 2013) DOMAINE DU TREMBLAY VIN NOBLE QUINCY 2012 VINTAGES 375659 | 750 mL bottle Price $20.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Fragrant, with a fresh, lemony and grassy nose, loads of chalky and stony minerality, and lovely complexity on the palate. Subtle Loire gooseberry juciness, fresh kiwi and elderflower notes. Quincy doesn't get better than this. Score - 5 Stars (out of 5). (Decanter World Wine Awards, 2013) → CHÂTEAU PUECH-HAUT PRESTIGE SAINT-DRÉZÉRY 2011 VINTAGES 237289 | 750 mL bottle Price $29.95 - LCBO Description: In The Oxford Companion to Wine, Jancis Robinson, MW, indicates that Saint-Drézéry is the smallest named terroir in the Coteaux du Languedoc; LCBO Tasting Note: A sensational offering from proprietor Gerard Bru, the 2011 Prestige is the estate's least expensive wine. Readers may remember the fabulous review the 2010 Prestige received, and the 2011 is just as special. With Bru's top Reserve wine selling for nearly $100 a bottle, the Prestige cuvee is an outstanding value. Interestingly, Bru has had three of the greatest winemaking consultants on Planet Earth working for him, first Michel Rolland, followed by Claude Gros and now Philippe Cambie. A blend of 60-75-year-old vine Grenache (55%) and 40-year old Syrah (45%), all grown on limestone soils dominated by the famous large rocks (galets roules) also found in parts of Chateauneuf du Pape. The wine is aged in concrete tanks prior to being bottled unfiltered. Some of the vineyards are farmed organically and others biodynamically. The wine exhibits a tremendous perfume of sweet raspberries, spring flowers, forest floor, truffles and lavender as well as a beautiful texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning velvety tannins and purity, and a long finish. This is the 'real deal.' Drink it over the next 4-6 years. Score - 91. (Robert Parker Jr., erobertparker.com, Dec. 2012) → CASCINA DEL POZZO ROERO ARNEIS 2012 VINTAGES 368506 | 750 mL bottle Price $18.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Lively aromas of honeysuckle, key lime and mineral/slate notes open this beautifully balanced mouthful of flavour and charm. A stylish wash of grilled pineapple, white peach and crisp Granny Smith apple ripple over the palate persisting through the lengthy lip-smacking finish. It's mid weight with considerable texture and notions of honeyed fruit peeking through on the aftertaste. Pour alongside roast pork and veggie risotto. Special designation: Exceptional Value. Score - 4 1/2 Stars (out of 5 (Excellent)). (Vic Harradine, winecurrent.com, Aug. 28, 2013) ASCHERI PISAPOLA BAROLO 2010 VINTAGES 739920 | 750 mL bottle Price $44.95 - LCBO Description: The Ascheri Family has owned the Rivalta vineyard, where the Nebbiolo for this wine is sourced, since 1700.; LCBO Tasting Note: Some cellar time and decanting will help this full-bodied D.O.C.G. red wine. Black as night with tarry, dark fruit, smoke aromas. The grapes for this wine come from two of Ascheri's best vineyards: Pisapola and Verduno. Some leather and violets on the finish. Pair with: anchovy pizza, porcini mushrooms, prime rib beef. Drink: 2015-2020. Score - 91. (Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.com, Dec. 26, 2013) VILLA CAFAGGIO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 VINTAGES 176776 | 750 mL bottle Price $19.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: This is a beautiful wine from a great vintage. It has a rich fragrance of underbrush, mushroom and truffle, with ripe black-cherry, mint and rosemary accents. It's still young with exuberant but supple tannins and racy acidity. Drink 2016-2025. Score - 92. (Kerin O'Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, Oct. 2013) VALPANTENA TORRE DEL FALASCO RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA 2011 VINTAGES 642421 | 750 mL bottle Price $17.95 - LCBO Description: Fans of Amarone often look to Ripasso wines for a lighter take on the signature wine styles of Veneto. Valpantena's Torre del Falasco makes a great introduction to Ripasso - but really, at this price, even seasoned Veneto lovers shouldn't miss this one. Look for dark cherry fruit framed by silky tannins, milk chocolate and baking spices. A natural with meaty pasta, grilled beef or flavourful cheeses. MURALHAS DE MONÇÃO VINHO VERDE 2012 VINTAGES 80374 | 750 mL bottle Price $14.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: Piercing and expressive aromatics with impressive citrus, melon and crisp apple notes. Tangy grapefruit shines on the palate along with a tasty mineral streak. A crisp, satisfying finish. Enjoy this with grilled calamari or steamed mussels. (VINTAGES panel, March 2014) from DOCa Priorat ... ALVARO PALACIOS VELLES VINYES LES TERRASSES 2011 VINTAGES 977843 | 750 mL bottle Price $46.95 - LCBO Description: Ranked #26 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2013.; Tasting Note: A light texture carries racy, intense flavors in this expressive red, with bright cherry, licorice, mineral, garrigue and spice notes mingling over light tannins and buoyed by lively acidity. Balanced, focused and elegant, with a lingering finish. Drink now through 2021. Special designation: Highly Recommended. Score - 93. (Thomas Matthews, winespectator.com, Sept. 2013) FAUSTINO I GRAN RESERVA 2001 VINTAGES 976662 | 750 mL bottle Price $32.95 - LCBO Description: After tasting more than 3,200 wines from all over the world, the judging panel of Decanter magazine proclaimed the Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001 their Top Wine of the Year for 2013.; LCBO Tasting Note: Deliciously decadent, with extraordinary vitality on the palate and a long, unique finish. A jewel at this price. Score - 100. (Pedro Ballesteros Torres, MW, decanter.com, May 23, 2013) MAETIERRA DOMINUM QP 2006 VINTAGES 246660 | 750 mL bottle Price $22.95 - LCBO Tasting Note: The 2006 Maetierra Dominum QP is a blend of four estates (QP standing for 'Quatro Pagos') whose fruit complements each other. It is a blend of 93% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 3% Garnacha from 50- to 105-year-old vines and matured in French oak for 16 months. It has a lifted bouquet of red currant and fresh strawberry with a veneer of creamy oak that is in synch with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry, soft tannins and a pure, rounded, sensual Morello and lemon peel finish. This is very seductive! Drink now-2018. Score - 90. (Neal Martin, erobertparker.com, Aug. 2012) So there you have my very long list of VINTAGES releases that caught my eye. It really is tough to choose which ones will come home with me. Decisions, decisions, decisions, ... Bottoms up! Éva Nagy - accredited sommelier & yummy food enthusiast sit. sip. savour. | |||||
