Vintages last release of the summer aka pages and pages of nothing to buy!

The first release of September  heralds the coming of fall, something we all know that the LCBO prices will never do. This release features Ontario wines, and oh what a feature it is! 18 pages of text before we see our first bottle of wine.  Wine must (See what I did there? I do love a good double entendre.) be a long way behind pulp and paper in the Ontario economy!  As well, this week has a tiny feature on  Vino Nobile de Montepulciano.  A somewhat underappreciated Tuscan village, Montepulciano   produces some very good wines, some amazing views, and some very full Canadian tourists. (Still sorry we missed that one!)

An interesting side note, the best Montepulciano in the release might not be a Vino Nobile but rather one from Abruzzo. No they are not the same wines nor are they from the same village.

The release itself has a few standouts especially if hunting down Top 100 wines is your thing.

In no particular order, here are my picks:

OZ

PIRRAMIMMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011   511 cases $24.95 –Among the better Aussie Cabs we see each year. This vintage wasn’t great but the winemaker’s talent shines through.

CHILE

NINQUÉN ANTU CHILEAN MOUNTAIN VINEYARD SYRAH 2012 651 cases $17.95 Big chocolate and black fruit flavours – every year a good buy. Needs a bit of time to integrate the oak though.

 RHÔNE

DOMAINE GRANDY VACQUEYRAS 2012   299 cases $19.95 Well priced for a Vacqueyras. Buy it and leave it for 6 months to a year.

PUGLIA

COPPI  PEUCETICO PRIMITIVO 2007 - $13.95 – Looking for a bargain? Here’s the one I’d pick from the release. Well aged, it’ll be soft, fruity and good to go with any casual Italian meal.

ABRUZZO

BARBA I VASARI Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2009- $19.95 - 3 of 3 from Gambero Rosso. Hard to beat that rating and that price!
TUSCANY
ANTICO COLLE VINO NOBILE DE MONTEPULCIANO 2010- $26.95- Ranked in the Wine Enthusiast  Top 100 last year, this wine will provide a tasty counterpoint to tagliata. Give it some time to come around.

PICCINI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2007 699 cases $19.95 Right in its drinking window now, this one is from a very good vintage and is well priced as well.

WASHINGTON STATE

 REININGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012   167 cases $21.95  To quote the winemaker ”This cab is not the boisterous seat at the dinner party. Rather it is the captivating, intriguing, humble guest that you want to stay the night.” Sounds good to me. Look for aromas of cassis, chocolate and some sandalwood that’ll evolve on the palate into cassis and cherry flavours.

Ontario - PEC

ROSEHALL RUN 2011 COUNTY CHARDONNAY 111 cases $21.95. Norman Hardie is just up Greer Rd and his impact is felt stylistically here. You can expect bracing acidity and a real Chablis style. Need something to kickstart  your saliva glands? Here it is.

SPAIN

DOMINIO DE TARES CEPAS VIEJAS MENCIA 2009   238 cases $29.95 – Number 8 among the Decanter Top 50 wines of the year for 2013. The growth of the Mencia grape is pretty much restricted to one small D.O. in Spain called Bierzo.  Bierzo comprises a tiny 3000 sq. Kms of Spain’s total of just over 505,000sq.Kms. Past reviews have seen me describe the grape as Pinacherah. (Hints of Pinot Noir, Grenache and Syrah). YMMV.

Big Bucks

MANUS DEI DU CHÂTEAU SIXTINE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2011   149 cases $39.95  - Just because.

VILLA I CIPRESSI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007   169 cases $51.95 Another Tuscan from a terrific vintage – not cheap though.

LA RIOJA ALTA VIÑA ARDANZA RESERVA 2004 218 cases $39.95 Very well produced. Lots of age on it already too.  #22 in the WS Top 100 last year.