Wednesday, June 22, 2011

June 25th Vintages release – Some terrific bargains and one or two bigger buck highlights.

School is out and as if on cue the LCBO makes at least two bargain priced (for them) high quality wines available for summer quaffing. Whether you’re at the cottage, around the pool, or just when the kids become too much these wines’ll provide inexpensive ‘go to’ enjoyment. The best of these cheap and cheerful wines are sophisticated, somewhat complex, and only $15.  Even better, it appears the LCBO has purchased  the wines in industrial quantities so there’ll be no shortage of them for quite some time. You might consider case lots anyway though!
I had been looking forward to the Argentina focus in this release but it is a bit of a disappointment. Completely overshadowed  by  the quality bargains in the  balance of the release, it seems to be  a rehash of almost ‘general list’  type wines. The wines presented from Argentina are all good wines  but  when the LCBO puts a region in focus, they should be striving to present  good,  better,  and  best.  And they should strive to present  regional greatness, not just more of the same. Oh, and price them competitively with the best of the pricing that is available less than an hour away.  From the LCBO HQ -  take the Gardner/QEW combo, drive west, then  south, then east, across the bridge over the Niagara river if you need to find pricing samples.  Is this asking too much? Rhetorical, I know.
In this release there is also a July 1st Canada Day focus. Nationalists might find pleasure in one of two Ontario white wines:  the Gretzky Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara or the Huff chardonnay from the cool climate PEC.

The Best for the Least 
Perrin Vinsobres Les Cornuds 2009– $15. A high quality Cotes du Rhone Villages from the excellent 2009 vintage, this wine is a blend of Syrah and Grenache and annually rates around 90 points from all the reviewers. The 2009 vintage should be that good or better and provide drinking enjoyment for a few years. The hard part will be letting it age that long.  Unlike my next recommended wine you can serve this with anything from grilled lamb chops to roasted or  rotissereed chicken. A food match  here if you have a Starsky’s nearby. Stop in for their vacuum packed sun dried tomato and basil flattened chicken. Amazingly good on the ‘Q and I think it’ll pair nicely with this wine.
Marquis Phillips Shiraz 2008 – This time from Oz, another $15 beauty for those who like to get their new world fruit via viscose, teeth staining, palate coating,  almost black, purple  fluids. Great around the BBQ, it’ll stand up to anything grilled, spicey  and smoky but is also an easy quaffer.  Quaffers  beware though. This is a 16% alchoholic exocet.  Is that a hole in your hull or have you had too many glasses of this wine?  Ahhh, it’s  an Argentina theme this week so  what would these  wine reviews be without at least one Falklands war reference – even if the wine in question  isn’t Argentinian? 
Mulderbosch Rose – A Cab Sauv rose for $12.95. Annually, one of my favourite roses.  Great on a sunny deck with seafood antipasto, grilled shrimp, chicken satays, soft cheeses or just by itself. Serve nicely chilled and buy lots.
Gladiator Primitivo – Cousin (uncle?  grandfather?) to zinfandel, this is annually a very good primitivo and available for a not too bad price of  $15.95. Another wine to be enjoyed in the presence of charred meat  or while fighting Goths, or both.
2007 Cotes Du Rhone Visan Garde des Lions – From the terrific 2007 Vintage, this just sneaks in under $15 but should be right in its drinking window now.
A Spanish equivalent from  TORRES,  GRAN SANGRE DE TORO RESERVA 2007 at $ 15.95 should be a not bad Spanish take on a Southern Rhone blend
2007 MALBEC CARLA CHIARO $14.95 – Ready to drink and a buy at under $15.
Ben Marco Cabernet Sauvignon and the Zuccardi Q are OK. The Ben Marco might be the better buy at $16.95
Altocedro’s Tempranillo will be a good choice for something a little different.  Might provide an opportunity for a new world vs old world tempranillo throwdown $16.95
Cheap Whites?
Alamos Chardonnay at 13.95
SOLAR DAS BOUÇAS LOUREIRO VINHO VERDE – if you’re looking for something white,  light and refreshing, with just a hint o’ frizzante, try this vinho verde from Portugal. $13.95
So there they are, 11 wines all under $17.
The Big Buck Wines
There aren’t many that stood out but there is a pair of Italians that caught my eye.
The Viticcio Chianti Classico reserva 2007 is my first choice. The ’06 was super, and the ’07 should be even better. Worth picking some up and leaving them for a while in a cool dark place. Open with some friends who’ll appreciate them.
Strap on your helmet if you’re going after the POGGIO SCALETTE IL CARBONAIONE 2007. It appears to be almost 10 bucks less than the ’06 for perhaps a slightly better vintage. Even at almost 60 bucks the 97 points will have the door crashers out to load up.  I’d let them battle for it and grab a few of the Chianti above instead.

If you like OLD…
MONTIVERDI VIGNETO CIPRESSONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 1998 $ 24.95 – If you want to see how some of the ’06 or ’07 Chianti Classicos will age, the LCBO has a ’98 available in this release for under $25. Nice for those who like some maturity in your wines.

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