Vintages Labour Day Release

Labour Day Weekend signals that the end of summer is almost upon us. For the LCBO it usually signals the beginning of better Vintages releases as we get into autumn. Remember that better is generally accompanied by ‘lots more expensive’ with the LCBO. Check the prices to see.

An interesting side note, there is only one wine from Australia in this release and it’s a white. This may have happened in the recent past but I can’t remember when. On to the picks!

SOUTH AFRICA

MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2012 222 cases of 12 $20.95 – Excellent, very well done in a juicy, albeit tannic Bordeaux style. I know that contradicts, but the wine is fruity and tannic so they’re the descriptors I’ve got. Best laid down for a year or so based on past vintages.

SPAIN

OLARRA CLÁSICO RESERVA 2009 501 cases of 12 $18.95  - Let the battles begin! A score of 97 points combined with a sub $20 price point almost guarantees fisticuffs. Schedule your Saturday accordingly!

CHILE

MONTGRAS ANTU SYRAH 2012    2199 cases of 12 $17.00  - A full bodied if somewhat oaky syrah. Look for black fruits, vanilla notes and hints of dark chocolate. While a nice wine this is really no bargain considering how many cases are being bought by the LCBO. For quite some time the 2013 Vintage has also been available at Vintages for 95 cents more. (Update - Now I'm confused! The 2013 and the 2012 are both priced at $17 on the vintages website and as of Sept. 2, all the inventory in store was applied to the 2013, not the 2012. Seems ironic that the Vintages folks can't seem to keep track of different, wait for it, vintages! Shop accordingly.)

MIDI

DOMAINE LAFAGE TESSELLAE CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON OLD VINES 2013  3494 cases of 12 $17.00 . Think of this Domaine Lafage/ Eric Solomon coproduction as an upper price point Cotes du Rhone Villages and don’t forget that you can oft times get a CdR-V of equivalent quality for under $15.  The Tessellae was designed and built for American tastes (Solomon is the American importer) and is the other Food and Drink Special. It was available at some small Mom and Pop stores south of the border for less than $12. so to call it a ‘special’ might be stretching advertising credibility.  

RHÔNE

LE GRAVILLAS GIGONDAS 2013   448 cases of 12 $22.95 – well priced for a Gigondas,  about the same as 2012, but remember there was a poor grenache vintage in the Southern Rhone in 2013 so you may find a different flavor profile than in the past.

TUSCANY

BRANCAIA TRE 2012 476 cases of 12  $23.95  - This scores like mad but like so many Italian wines, it shows its best when  served with food.

CASTELLO DI QUERCETO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2011 235 cases of 12  $29.95 

PICCINI SASSO AL POGGIO 2009   795 cases of 12  $19.95  

VIGNAMAGGIO GHERARDINO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2012   243 cases of 12  $24.95

SPAIN

BODEGAS ALTANZA HACIENDA VALVARÉS 2011 471 cases of 12  $19.95  - OK

ABAD DOM BUENO MENCÍA 2008 698 cases of 12  $15.95  - Another Mencia for those seeking a red that’s a little different.

WASHINGTON STATE

SAGELANDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013   299 cases of 12 $18.95  - Nice black cherry attack, loamy mid-palate with a moderately long finish. $9.99, yes $9.99, on Amazon.com  

CALIFORNIA – all three of the cabs below finish a close second to Sagelands in my opinion.

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER'S RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 616 cases of 12  $22.95  

IRONY SMALL LOT RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 1958 cases of 12 $21.95  

HESS SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 782 cases of 12 $24.95  

BIG BUCKS

J.L. CHAVE SELECTION SILÈNE CROZES-HERMITAGE 2013   75 cases of 12  $33.00 – Rack of lamb anyone? Maybe have a J.L. Chave/ Fess Parker syrah off with the winner getting a coon skin cap.

FESS PARKER THE BIG EASY SYRAH 2012 193 cases of 6 $35.95 Best served with beef jerky while  watching black and white reruns of Disney’s Davey Crocket or Daniel Boone. Or if you’re feeling up to colour, go for Old Yeller. Although I usually reserve a Chardonnay (yellow dog after all) and a box of Kleenex for that one.

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIRECTOR'S CUT CABERNET 446 cases of 12 $34.95  - Among if not my favourite Alexander Valley/ Sonoma  cabs and priced where it was last year.
CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 110 cases of 12 $70.95 –Kaching.

 GALLO SIGNATURE SERIES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012   223 cases of 6 $49.95  

TENUTA DEGLI DEI CAVALLI 2010   240 cases of 6  $49.95

INSPIRACIÓN VALDEMAR GRACIANO 2005 375 cases of 6 $34.95  - Ten years on, this is ready to rock!

VERBENA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009 247 cases of 12 $39.95

TIGNANELLO 2011   601 cases of 6 $102.95

PATRICK LESEC GALETS BLONDS CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012   108 cases of 12  $56.95  

FERDINANDO PRINCIPIANO DEL COMUNE DI SERRALUNGA D'ALBA   192 cases of 12  $44.95 

August 22nd Vintages - there goes another month!

August 22^nd brings us another Vintages release, this one featuring ‘Top Scoring’ Wines. Scoring can be a subjective thing so try to find reviewers whose palates match your own and read their notes, don’t just go by the numbers. Also, I am not casting aspersions on their character, but not all taste wine simply to taste it, some may be promoting their own agenda (hidden or otherwise). Ahhh BP, so little faith!
On to the wines!
My opinion is the two WOMs are worth buying especially if you're a fan of steaks on the BarB or rare roasts of beef or lamb (or even a well roasted chicken) come winter time.

SOUTH AFRICA (WHITE WINES)

FREE RUN STEEN CHENIN BLANC - $13.95 – A tasty, sophisticated change from Chards and Pinot Grigios especially if oysters are on the menu. YTMV.

LIMESTONE HILL Chardonnay - $15.95 – Unoaked and pretty classy for the price.

RED WINES
ARGENTINA

TRIVENTO GOLDEN RESERVE MALBEC 2012 – 1500 cases  - $19.95 – Three reviews from respected journals – consistent notes – 1 - Lush and intense, 2 - Ripe and rich, 3 - Dark and dense. All over 90 points, you will be getting a real mouthful to go with that steak.

FRANCE

GÉRARD BERTRAND GRAND TERROIR LA CLAPE 1499 cases of 12 $18.95 – Should be good.  I measure all Bertrand wines by  l’Hospitalet from the 2005 and ’07 vintages. Back then at $17.95 that wine was a screaming bargain. Also, if ever presented with an opportunity to try an older vintage (say 2007) L’Hosptalitas do so. It’s almost as good as any Chateauneuf du Pape. The downside is that it is priced accordingly.
AUSTRALIA

TWO HANDS BRAVE FACES GRENACHE/MATARO/SHIRAZ 2012   406 cases of 12  $24.95  - A superior wine especially for fans of GSMs – count me in.
TURKEY FLAT GSM - Five bucks less than the Two Hands and close to if not as good.

WAKEFIELD SHIRAZ 2014   1023 cases of 12 $17.95 – With all the medals festooning this bottle, all it requires is a chrome twist cap and it would look like George C Scott in Patton. Well priced for what you get but this is a common shiraz often carried in Vintages. No big rush to buy here.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

BLACK SAGE VINEYARD MERLOT 2012   335 cases of 6 $22.95 – Time for a little Western Canada wine history here. Harry McWatters was among the pioneers of fine wines in BC and as owner of Sumac Ridge Winery was among the earliest to plant vinifera grapes in the Okanagan.  (Side note: My wife and I took my parents to Sumac Ridge for a wine tasting presided over by the legend himself and it was a memorable occasion). Back to the lesson, Harry bought and turned what was once a golf course into the The Black Sage Vineyard and it became the site of premium grapes grown for Sumac Ridge’s upper tier of wines. Success attracts interest and Sumac Ridge was purchased, first by Vincor, then by Constellation Brands (when they purchased Vincor) but Harry always retained ownership of 50 % of the Black Sage Vineyard. When Harry retired from Constellation a few years back the vineyard was divided into two parts. Harry kept his half and Constellation theirs. They also kept the rights to the name. This has led to a rebranding by Constellation to identify wines from this site as they split Black Sage off from the Sumac Ridge line of wines. The loftily priced Sumac Ridge Pinnacle wine failed to make the cut and was dropped as part of this rebranding.  In case you wondered, the popular Stellers Jay sparkling wine did make the cut and I think is now is a brand unto itself.  As for Harry, I think he’s opened his own winery on his half of the old Black Sage Vineyard.

Wine wise, expect black fruit and mocha/ espresso notes here – try a $20 Ontario merlot heads up to see what a difference longer summer days and a desert environment can make.

ITALY

MICHELE SATTA BOLGHERI ROSSO 2012   299 cases of 12  $22.95 . Good producer, nice wine. Speaking of Michele Satta, my wish is for the LCBO to get the 2006, 2007 or 2010 Piastraia or Il Cavaliere and price them properly (both Satta productions were available earlier this year at the SAQ). That would give us some wines to get really excited about. Dream on, BP!

SPAIN

BALBAS RESERVA 2005   1189 cases of 12 $20.95  - 10 years old, well stored and now ready to be consumed. Tapas time!

WASHINGTON STATE

CHARLES SMITH BOOM BOOM! SYRAH 2013   221 cases of 12  $24.95  - Another of Charles Smith’s very good midrange wines. It requires a certain level of confidence to order this wine from a snooty sommelier in a ‘serious’ restaurant but don’t let that stop you! Also, for any backyard bbq it’s right at home. Black fruits, white pepper, not OZ nor the Rhone but hints of both.

PENDULUM RED 2011   111 cases of 12   $27.95 – A bit of a kichen sink blend, one review for it indicates it’ll be really oaky, so if you’re susceptible to that, be warned.

BIG BUCKS

DOMAINE DURIEU LUCILE AVRIL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012   199 cases of 12 $47.95  - Consistently excellent producer, expect a terrific, ageworthy wine. Not cheap but what is?

MOCALI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009   167 cases of 12 $44.95 – Another Brunello that’s ready to drink or hold.

CASTELLO DI GABBIANO BELLEZZA CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE  2010 - 223 cases of 6  $39.95  - Another Brunello in Chianti Classico Clothing?

ROCCA DI FRASSINELLO ORNELLO 2010   199 cases of 6  $37.95 – Label pays homage to the cowboys of the area so I suggest you might serve with rare beef.  

August 8 Vintages - Yes it is August but this is not an august release.

Another  HoHum release. The nicest thing I can say is it’s mediocre. The Pacific Northwest is featured. There could be and should be some terrific wines available but they’re not here.  I suppose our weaker dollar combined with the LCBO’s inability to go outside their comfort zone left me with nothing to say except that there might be a few more labels available than past features of this region. How’s that for a glowing endorsement? Oregon, Washington State and BC all get at least a few entries.

Also included is the Loire Region of France. One QPR option to try methinks.
WHITES
MULDERBOSCH CHENIN BLANC $14.95 - Terrific on its own or better with shellfish.Chalky, mineraly yet with enough fruit to keep you interested.
CLOS LES MONTYS MUSCADET  SEVRE ET MAIN SUR LIE - $13.95 - Terrific value for sipping with cold cuts or seafood or just on its own on a dock. Think Chardonnay, but not quite, and as an added bonus, it's a little frizzante! 

AUSTRALIA

ROLF BINDER HALES SHIRAZ 2012   798 cases of 12 $19.95  -  Good shiraz, OK priced and lots of it.

WASHINGTON STATE

CHARLES SMITH WINES WINES OF SUBSTANCE CABERNET   448 cases of 12 $24.95  -   Cassis, a hint of herbyness that borders on tobacco, and a soupcon of oak. Smith’s marketing thrust continues with the stark black and white label this time mimicking a periodic table entry. 

MILBRANDT TRADITIONS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012   192 cases of 12  $24.95  - $16.99 US from the winery – this is a fine example of Washington State cabernet but like the other Washington St. wines here, it’s no longer a bargain.

 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012   1511 cases of 12 $19.95  - Solid, oaky Washington St. sample. While this wine includes fruit from their Indian Wells and Canoe Ridge vineyards as well as others, one must wonder why one of those specific vineyard offerings did not make the release. This would be the logical release for them, wouldn’t it?

 COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012   616 cases of 12 $17.95  - Just below the H3 on the CC totem pole,  this is always a solid performer especially well suited to summer time bbq’s but also winter time roasts.

SEVEN FALLS MERLOT 2012 279 cases of 12 $19.95  - The Seven Falls cab was quite nice. No reason to expect less of the Merlot.

LONE BIRCH SYRAH 2013   179 cases of 12 $18.95  - New one for me…in general Washington likes syrah and syrah really likes the soil and climate there.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

 SANDHILL VANESSA VINEYARD CABERNET/MERLOT 2012   111 cases of 12 $19.95  - From a single vineyard in the Similkameen Valley (parallel to the southern Okanangan), Sandhill works with the vineyard to produce this wine.

 MISSION HILL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012  322 cases of 12  $26.95 – Among the most successful of the BC producers so they must be doing something right.

FRANCE

Both these wines will probably taste different than what you are used to simply due to the reduced Grenache yields in the 2013 vintage in the Southern Rhone. Look for more syrah in both cases - if you try one of these against a 2012  I’m sure you’ll taste quite a difference.

ORTAS CAVE DE RASTEAU LA DOMELIÈRE RASTEAU 2013 cases of 12 798 $15.95

FAMILLE PERRIN L'ANDÉOL RASTEAU 2013   499 cases of 12 $19.95  

AUSTRALIA

ROLF BINDER HALES SHIRAZ 2012   798 cases of 12 $19.95  -  Good shiraz, OK priced and lots of it.
PUGLIA

ANTICA MASSERIA JORCHE PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2011   249 cases of 12 $21.95 - Match with beef or lamb burgers. 

TUSCANY

MARIA CATERINA DEI DEI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2011   246 cases of 12 $27.95  

ROSÉS

CHÂTEAU VAL JOANIS TRADITION ROSÉ 2014 563 cases of 12  $15.95

 LES VIGNERONS DE TAVEL DOMAINE DES CARTERESSES TAVEL   545 cases of 12  $17.95  

JORGE ORDOÑEZ RIO MADRE GRACIANO ROSÉ 2014   399 cases of 12 $13.95  

BOUVET-LADUBAY BOUVET BRUT EXCELLENCE CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX   351 cases of 12  $17.95  

BIG BUCKS

BALNAVES SHIRAZ 2009   127 cases of 12 $33.95  - Cote Rotie meets Coonawarra. Or is that Cote Rotie meats Coonawarra? A very bad play on words to highlight the meaty aromas from the shiraz. A well respected Aussie producer, Balnaves Coonawarra shiraz is very good. Most,if not all years, it contains a small amount of viognier as well.

COURTIL - THIBAUT CLOS DES BRUSQUIÈRES CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU- PAPE 111 cases of 12 $47.95  - A small family run operation producing a more traditional style of CdP.

PAOLO CONTERNO RIVA DEL BRIC BAROLO 2010   248 cases of 12 $39.95 – Not unlike Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo can be a love it or leave it wine and certainly one that will age. This is a well priced effort from a great vintage and a good producer if you’re looking for a cellar starter.

VILLA MANGIACANE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2009   197 cases of 6 $48.95