Tuesday, August 31, 2010

September 4th - The ISD's - call it the sequel if you like.

And now for the Big Ticket ISD's for the September 4th release - some smokin' wines in very small quantities! If you like those big Aussies or those Brunellos, get there early!

Here they are in all their glory! Oh and I left off a $90 Cali Cab - just too much!

BRANSON COACH HOUSE GREENOCK BLOCK SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2004 $27.95
ST.HALLETT OLD BLOCK SHIRAZ 2006 $59.95
THORN-CLARKE WILLIAM RANDELL SHIRAZ 2005 $46.95
ALTESINO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 $51.95
ARGIANO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2005 $53.95
CIACCI PICCOLOMINI D'ARAGONA VIGNA DI PIANROSSO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004
Score: 94+ (Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com, April 2010) $63.95
IL MARRONETO MADONNA DELLE GRAZIE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2005 $78.95
LA LECCIAIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 Score: 93 (James Suckling, www.winespectator.com, April 30, 2009) $49.95
LA SERENA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 Score:94(James Suckling, www.winespectator.com) $68.95
SAN FILIPPO LE LUCÉRE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2005 $49.95
VERBENA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2005 $39.95

Monday, August 30, 2010

September 4th - Non Cottage Owners get their revenge!

If you don't own a cottage it means you're probably stuck in the city for the Labour Day weekend. The good news is all your cottage owning buddies are out of town, missing out on all the LCBO locations that the city has to offer.
This is a superior release, overall the best one in some time by our friends at the monopoly. I’ve listed my selections geographically, in order of preference for each region, not in order of preference overall. Why? Because I am completely at a loss to pick MY top 5 or even 10 from this release! It looks to be just that good.
It’s full of bargains for the short term, interesting well priced big boys for the midterm and excluding the ISD's even the top priced wines are not bank breakers but are built for the long term. The Southern Rhone 2007 focus has at the very least a half a dozen very good wines; there are three from BC that would be good picks for an East vs. West Canada Showdown and may show Ontarians what to expect from the 2009 Ontario vintage if it continues; OZ has a quartet of dandies between $16 and $24, and Italy has 5 beauties that almost get lost among the many choices available!
That’s 18 already and I haven’t mentioned the ones-y's from Argentina, Chile, NZ, SA, and a not bad Spanish duet! And I have not listed the In Store Discoveries…they’ll rate their own little epistle! Some great wines among the ISDs, but $KA-CHING$! Where’s my piggy bank?!!!?


Focus on the Southern Rhone

PERRIN & FILS PEYRE BLANCHE CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES CAIRANNE 2007 $17.95

PROMENADE DES PRINCES CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES PLAN DE DIEU 2007 $12.95 – just north from CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE and look at the price!

PIERRE AMADIEU ROMANE MACHOTTE GIGONDAS 2007 $22.95

LES HAUTS DE CASTELLAS VACQUEYRAS 2007 $18.95
VIGNERONS DE GIGONDAS LA FONT DES GRIÈRES GIGONDAS 2007 $21.95

LES VIGNERONS DE VISAN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES VISAN 2007 $12.95

GRANDES SERRES CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES SIGNARGUES 2007 $14.95

CHÂTEAU SAINT MAURICE LES GRÈS CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES LAUDUN 2007 $`14.95

RÉSERVE DES ARMOIRIES CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2007 $12.95

CUVÉE DU COMTE CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2007 $15.95

DOMAINE DE L’ECHEVIN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGEs SAINT MAURICE 2007 $16.95

DOMAINE ROCHE-AUDRAN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES VISAN 2007 $15.95


The Big $ ones from the RhoneDOMAINE DU HAUT DES TERRES BLANCHES CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2007 $36.95

PERRIN & FILS LES SINARDS CHÂTEAUNEUF DU- PAPE 2007 $19.95 – remember this is the half bottle size!

DOMAINE DU VIEUX LAZARET CHÂTEAUNEUF DU-PAPE 2007 $32.95

Canada Okanagan
SANDHILL SMALL LOTS ONE 2007 $34.95 – I really enjoy the Sandhill wines Small Lots Bordeaux blends. I like them as well as Osoyoos Larose or Nota Bene and would match this against any Meritage blend from Ontario - bar none.

CEDAR CREEK ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT 2007 $23.95 - Almost as good as the Sandhill at less $$$'s - worth hunting down!

SANDHILL CABERNET/MERLOT 2008 $19.95


Niagara
MALIVOIRE GUILTY MEN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 $19.95

USA
HESS ALLOMI VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 $33.95

Argentina
FAMIGLIA BIANCHI MALBEC 2007
San Rafael, Mendoza $14.95

Chile
CHATEAU LOS BOLDOS VIEILLES VIGNES MERLOT 2007 $18.95

OZ
GEORGE WYNDHAM FOUNDER’S RESERVE SHIRAZ 2005 $23.95
YALUMBA BUSH VINE GRENACHE 2008 $19.95
THORN-CLARKE TERRA BAROSSA CUVÉE 2007 Barossa, South Australia
A Gold Medal winner at the 2009 Mundus Vini International Wine Awards.
THORN-CLARKE TERRA BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2008 - Both at $15.95


NZ
SILENI CELLAR SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 $15.95 – probably a better buy than Guilty Men.

SA
RUSTENBERG BRAMPTON SHIRAZ 2007 $15.95 – Well priced now.
Bordeaux
CHÂTEAU LILIAN LADOUYS 2006 $21.95

Northern Rhone
DELAS DOMAINE DES GRANDS CHEMINS CROZES-HERMITAGE 2007 $21.95 – not highlighted in the Southern Rhone part of the release, this should be a terrific syrah from the Northern Rhone.

Italy
Some fantastic wines here - the WS Top 100 #5 and #46 (at less than half the price of #5!)


BARONE RICASOLI CASTELLO DI BROLIO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 $54.95

I GREPPI GREPPICANTE BOLGHERI 2007 #46 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2009. $23.95

DA VINCI CHIANTI 2007 $16.95

TENIMENTI ANGELINI TRE ROSE VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2006 $21.95

MARZIANO ABBONA TERLO RAVERA BAROLO 2005 $36.95 – Good price for a Barolo – we have to get our heads around the strength of the Cdn $ versus the Euro!

Spain
BERONIA ELABORACIÓN ESPECIAL TEMPRANILLO 2008 $15.95
TORRES CELESTE 2006 DOC Ribera del Duero $19.95

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

August 21st release - take a week off and wait for Sept 04th

There’s not a lot to get me excited this release. I would wait for the next one unless you see something that really catches your tastebuds. We truly are in the dog days of summer at the LCBO!

Argentina – Red
Alamos 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($13.95) – Always a good price for the quality that’s in the bottle.
Finca el Origen Reserva Malbec @14.95 and the Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec @$19.95 are both terrific examples of Malbec, but I'm malbec'd out. Don't let that stop you though.

Argentina – White …
Accuro 2009 Torrentes ($14.95) – Bored with Chards and Sauv Blancs? Argentina’s signature white wine – try it you might like it.

Australia – Red …
Two Hands 2008 Brave Face Shiraz/Grenache/Mataro ($24.95) – Big Alcohol, but usually a terrific producer.’08 was a difficult year in Oz but I would expect dark fruits, hints of pepper on the finish and perhaps some coffee and raspberry ganache after it’s open for a while. All that said, you might be better off to try to find the Rolf Binder Halliwell 2007 Shiraz Grenache that recently went on sale at $20.20 – a better vintage and less $$’s. I tried a bottle last weekend and there was a lot going on - initial hit was currants, licorice, spice then a subtle meaty, almost sausagey taste on the back of the palate. That left with air to be replaced with vanilla, blackberries and more spices.


There are a few good Aussie entries this week, just nothing that really turned my crank.

France – the Rhone
Chateau de Beaucastel
2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($84.95) – Massive, cellar worthy, make that cellar necessary!!! wine. Wait for as many years as you can – tremendous vintage – too bad it’s too expensive.

Perrin & Fils 2007 L’Andeol Rasteau ($19.95) – if you liked the Vinsobres, you’ll like this!
From the Midi, a couple a cheap and cheerful ones, Domaine La Paraza Minervois 2007 and the Chateau Auzias Petits Messieurs CAbardes 2008 at $13.95 and $14.95 each.

The Cotes Du Rhone - Yes it's an '07, but I read Michael Pinkus's review that indicated one bottle was terrible while a second was terrific. To quote him, "look for the one with the winery name stacked on the label, not the words all in a row. Juicy and intense with lots of black fruit and licorice."

Italy
Rendola 2004 Brunello di Montalcino ($36.95 - #0181412) – ’04 Brunellos under $40 – try one. If you must open, decant it.

There is a rerelease of the '06 Monte Antico - these rereleases are always buyer beware, as you may not be getting the real good stuff any longer. But, that said, this was a WS Top 100 wine and for $15, it's worth a try.

Friday, August 6, 2010

August 06 Release - Southern Italy that should be Californian

An interesting release. Once again the LCBO Marketers have missed the mark or is that confused the marks? Based on the pricing, The Southern Italian release that they have come up with is better suited to an early January timeframe although perhaps they're aiming for the summer BBQ and dock sitters. The pinkies in this one cover that well though. Content wise, this struck me more as a California red release.

Southern Italy – bargoons abound!
Apollonio Copertino Rosso 2004 DOC Copertino Rosso $16.95 – Baby brother to the Apollonio that I highly praised some months back, this is worth a try.
Francesco Minini ‘Corte Dei Mori Nero d’Avola’ 2008 IGT Sicilia $13.95 – A Sicilian worth trying, especially for their signature red grape, Nero D’Avola.
Francesco Minini ‘Terre Avare’ Primitivo di Manduria 2008 DOC Primitivo di Manduria $12.95 – Zin fans, give this one a shot.
Rocca Delle Macie ‘Rubizzo’ Sangiovese Di Toscana 2008 IGT Toscana $14.95 – Just a nice simple red. Pizza, spaghetti, quaffer.
CaliforniaAs usual, the California selections all come in from $30 and up to just under $100
Kenwood ‘Jack London Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
J. Lohr ‘Hilltop Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 

Shafer ‘One Point Five’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Stolpman Estates Syrah 2007 – a new opportunity to try this Californian syrah. If it was from OZ it’d be a few bucks less probably, but hang the expense!
ChileConcha Y Toro ‘Trio Reserva’ Cabernet Sauvignon/ Shiraz/Cabernet Franc 2008 Maipo Valley $14.95

Oz
Shingleback Shiraz 2007 McLaren Vale, South Australia $23.95. There are some good Shiraz in the release, this is the one I think’ll be the best.
France
Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007
AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape $39.95 – I’m sure we’re starting to get near to the end of the releases of the terrific ’07 CNdPs. This’ll be a good one for the cellar or if you must drink it, decant this for a long time and try to avoid it whispering “Try me now, try me now” over and over to you!
Spain
Torres ‘San Valentín’ Garnacha 2008 DO Viñedos de España $13.95 – Cheap and Cheerful for Grenache fans.