Ahh two weeks in God's country gives one a whole new perception of the LCBO when it comes to wine pricing, especially when you see some of the prices in the sale that started on Saturday!
We enjoyed some superb BC wines, Kettle Valley Pinot Gris, Quail's Gate Rose and JT's Sun Rock Vineyard Shiraz jump to mind but I wasn't about to duplicate last year's 'wine in the suitcase' fiasco so not much made the return trip to the east.
So back to the business at hand, some good ones in this past weekend's release:
Three from South America
ALAMOS MALBEC 2008 Mendoza - Great value, I’m not sure it’s an 89 but …. Score - 89. (Bruce Stephen, North Shore Outlook (B.C.), $13.95
SANTA JULIA SYRAH ROSÉ 2008 Mendoza- a great buy for a late summer rose $11.95
APALTAGUA ENVERO GRAN RESERVA 2007 Colchagua Valley, Apalta Vineyard Selection This wine earned Gold Medals this year at both the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and Monde Selection International Wine Contest. Made with Carmenère and a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon, $15.95
Three from OZ
BALLAST STONE MERLOT 2006 – One of Gord Stimmel’s weekend picks - $16.95
BRANSON COACH HOUSE GREENOCK BLOCK SHIRAZ 2005 Barossa Valley, South AustraliaCould be an Ebeneezer at 15 bucks less – might be worth it to buy a box (of 6) if you can find it!. Score - 93. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com) $24.95
ROLF BINDER HEINRICH SHIRAZ/MATARO/GRENACHE 2006 – It’ll be interesting to compare this to the ChateauNeuf du PApes - $29.95
One lonely Italian
CECCHI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2004 another One of Gord Stimmel’s weekend picks - $24.95
Two from Spain
ÈTIM SELECCIÓN 2006 – a 90 pointer at $15 bucks. Gotta be worth a buy!The 2006 Etim Seleccion is a blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Carinena, [Carignan] and 10% Syrah aged for 6 months in seasoned French and American oak. If you want to experience Priorat without paying the price, this is the way to go. Score - 91. (Jay Miller, erobertparker.com,) $15
LAN GRAN RESERVA . Score - 90. (Thomas Matthews, www.winespectator.com,) $24.95
And three from the Rhone
LES GALETS ROUGES CHÂTEAU MOURGUES DU GRÈS 2007 $14.95
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE HAUTE PIERRE 2007 DELAS – ageworthy $ 35.95 - 91 from WS and 92 from Parker.
VACQUEYRAS DOMAINE SAINT-PIERRE 2005 (91-93). (R. Parker erobertparker.com) $24.95
For now, I'll go for the Branson Coach House and go looking through the weekend sale list too.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
August 15th Release - Not too much but to get excited about
Upon seeing the cover of the latest Vintages catalogue, " Chile's Brilliant Showstoppers", I thought OH BOY a batch of Smoking Wines , available in big quantities! But No, Marketing strikes again! What they meant to say was " These 3 Chilean varieties of grapes can sometimes result in making "Chile's Brilliant Showstoppers" but not in this Vintages catalogue! Ah well, there are a few good picks...
Chile focus
Santa Rita ‘Medalla Real’ Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Maipo Valley, Chile $19.95 – Always a favourite – let it breathe for a while and have a big slab of something red!
Laura Hartwig Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Colchagua Valley, Chile $13.95 – Well priced!Tabalí Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $14.95
Two nice chard’s, expensive for Chile, but s.b. good.Cono Sur ‘20 Barrels’ Chardonnay 2007 Chile $24.95 –Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2007 Chile $22.95
Best of the Rest!Burrowing Owl Syrah 2005 VQA Okanagan Valley $48.95 – AS close to a cult wine as we get here in the GWN – buy one for a special occasion or if you want to impress a visitor with our wines. Just don’t tell them what you paid…the Ebeneezer is more wine for less.
Barossa Valley Estate ‘Ebenezer’ Shiraz 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia $39.95 Stupendous wine, always a real mouthful!
Kendall-Jackson ‘Vintner’s Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 California $24.95 – Always tasty
Barossa Valley Estate ‘Ebenezer’ Cabernet – almost as good for you Cab fans. Definitely a Barossa cab!
George Wyndham ‘Founder’s Reserve’ Shiraz 2005 $22.95 Lots of medals-well priced
Château Roquetaillade ‘La Grange Vielles Vignes’ 2005 $21.95 Always a 90 pointer in WS. At this price, I’d buy one…me, a Bordeaux? I must need a break!
Frescobaldi 'Tenuta di Castiglioni' Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese 2006 IGT Toscana $21.95 Take off another couple of $$’s and it’ll be priced right. Otherwise, stick to the Chilean Cabs.Chile focus
Chile focus
Santa Rita ‘Medalla Real’ Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Maipo Valley, Chile $19.95 – Always a favourite – let it breathe for a while and have a big slab of something red!
Laura Hartwig Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Colchagua Valley, Chile $13.95 – Well priced!Tabalí Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $14.95
Two nice chard’s, expensive for Chile, but s.b. good.Cono Sur ‘20 Barrels’ Chardonnay 2007 Chile $24.95 –Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2007 Chile $22.95
Best of the Rest!Burrowing Owl Syrah 2005 VQA Okanagan Valley $48.95 – AS close to a cult wine as we get here in the GWN – buy one for a special occasion or if you want to impress a visitor with our wines. Just don’t tell them what you paid…the Ebeneezer is more wine for less.
Barossa Valley Estate ‘Ebenezer’ Shiraz 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia $39.95 Stupendous wine, always a real mouthful!
Kendall-Jackson ‘Vintner’s Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 California $24.95 – Always tasty
Barossa Valley Estate ‘Ebenezer’ Cabernet – almost as good for you Cab fans. Definitely a Barossa cab!
George Wyndham ‘Founder’s Reserve’ Shiraz 2005 $22.95 Lots of medals-well priced
Château Roquetaillade ‘La Grange Vielles Vignes’ 2005 $21.95 Always a 90 pointer in WS. At this price, I’d buy one…me, a Bordeaux? I must need a break!
Frescobaldi 'Tenuta di Castiglioni' Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese 2006 IGT Toscana $21.95 Take off another couple of $$’s and it’ll be priced right. Otherwise, stick to the Chilean Cabs.Chile focus
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