It’s a Tuscan release so let us commence with a Tuscan wine
question. “Why is the Pian delle Vigne 2010 a full $16 more expensive here than
in Quebec?” I’ll await your response
Shari Mogk-Edwards but I won’t hold my breath. That question asked, I now have
to take my hat off to the Vintages team for this release. As you can tell from
my notes below, this has something for everyone.
Chile plays second fiddle in this release and while it is overshadowed
by the bold Italians there are some worthy options.
TUSCANY Picks
– Four that look excellent, two under $20 and two under $25.
BORGO SCOPETO BORGONERO 2011 998 cases
of 12 $19.95 – The Borgo Scopeto Chianti was a beaut
and Yes, I should have bought more! I
expect more of the same with this well priced Tuscan/ Bordeaux blend. It might
need some time to get settled so don’t rush to serve it but the big number and
great price will have this one blowing out the door so do rush to buy it.
Frescobaldi CAMPO AI
SASSI Rosso di Montalcino 2013 - $21.95 – While this 2013 might be good
to age, it should also be ready for immediate consumption. Planted in the
southern half of the Castelgiocondo estate below Montalcino and aged for 12
months in Slavonian oak, this was unanimously given 95 by the Decanter tasting
panel.
CASTELLI DEL GREVEPESA CLEMENTE VII CHIANTI CLASSICO 2011 3498 cases
of 12 $17.00 -
Another of the Food and Drink specials (or is that F and D specials, or maybe
F’n D specials) , this garnered a 92 point score from Wine Spectator but be
careful to read the review. This is an old school chianti, so give it time and
food. It does not seem to be as universally well liked among the wine
cognoscenti.
CAFAGGIO CORTACCIO 2006
344 cases of 12 $24.95 – A 100%
Cabernet Sauv wine from a terrific Tuscan vintage. Now with almost 9 years on
it this one is ready for immediate consumption and I don’t expect it to get
better (I like my wines to exhibit some fresh as opposed to all dried fruit characteristics).
Are you ready for a Florentine steak hot off the grill?
OTHER PICKS
My first four picks outside Tuscany in the $15 -$30 range
are the CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE INDIAN WELLS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 279 cases of 12 at $26.95 will be spicy and
tasty with cloves and vanilla supporting the black currant fruit. Next is the CONCHA Y TORO TERRUNYO ANDES
PIRQUE VINEYARD CABERNET. In the medium term this’ll be as good as their
flagship Don Melchor. A bold statement but I really like this wine. Look for
the traditional Chilean profile of black currant, loam, just a hint of green
and mint and a long, full finish. Decant and serve with a rare roast of beef. 995
cases of 6 at $29.95. Third pick is the
Spanish MURIEL RESERVA VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA 2008. At $18.95 and with food this is among the
better QPR reds I’ve had in the last year or so. Last option is the SYRAH from
MONTES ALPHA. I find the wines from this producer lean more towards OZ than
Europe so this’ll be a pleasant softer mouthful. 650 or so cases of 12.
BACK to TUSCANY
POLIZIANO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2012 298 cases
of 12 $29.95 – Having visited Poliziano
I have to recommend this wine for no other reason than the professionalism of
their staff.
TENUTA SAN GUIDO LE DIFESE 2013 644 cases of 6 $29.95
- The Third wine to Sassicaia and
Guidalberto, this is made from younger estate vines. Expensive but …
LE VOLTE DELL'ORNELLAIA 2013 495 cases of 12 $29.95 – The third wine of the Ornellaia
estate.
RUFFINO MODUS 2011 676 cases of 12 $29.95 - James Suckling is a huge fan of this wine.
Me? I like it but I think there are many better places to spend your money in
this release.
SPAIN
MURIEL RESERVA
VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA 2008 997 cases of
12 $18.95 As mentioned above in my non Tuscan picks. Keep in mind this was in Decanter’s Top 10 Wines of 2013 but is the third
release of this vintage and wine by the Vintages team. Now, that said I always worry about rereleases so you can
bet I’m really worried about this rererelease! It might have been nice for the
LCBO to throw us a bone and make this one of the Food and Drink specials but
that was just too much to hope for.
BARÓN DE LEY RESERVA 2010
596 cases of 12 $19.95 – The
second of a couple of well priced and terrific
Spanish wines in this release. You better like oak for this one and do
open well before serving with food.
AUSTRALIA
WOLF BLASS GOLD LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 996 cases of 6 $23.95 – Another really solid new world
Cabernet.
RHÔNE
LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2012
358 cases of 12 $24.95 – Lavau is a solid if not spectacular producer
and you know I like wines from vineyards in the region of this Village.
UNDER $17
For you bargain hunters, there are a few goodies that just
squeak under the $17 mark. Three from Argentina, the two CRIOS offerings – a
Malbec and a red Blend should be very nice as well as the FAMIGLIA BIANCHI CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 599 cases of 12 $17.95 Any of these will be solid, great for
a Christmas open house, it you’re thinking ahead. Also worth considering are
the Brampton Cab from South Africa or the Xavier Cotes du Rhone 2012.
BIG BUCKS
ANTINORI PIAN DELLE VIGNE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2010 987
cases of 6 $69.95 – You’d laugh if you
weren’t crying, right? This is $53.75 in Quebec for the same Vintage so those
who have defended the LCBO by saying that it serves a purpose and funds things
like OHIP etc can look at Quebec. With the same health system and subsidized
daycare for young families (max cost $7.30 up to a max. of $20 per day) they still manage to sell this wine for $16.25
less than the LCBO – how does the LCBO get away with that? Anywhere else and it
would be called price gouging (or perhaps incompetence?).
PENFOLDS BIN 28
KALIMNA SHIRAZ 2012 155 cases of 6
$34.95
TWO HANDS LILY'S GARDEN SHIRAZ 2013 299 cases of 6 $54.95
E. GUIGAL GIGONDAS 2011 197 cases
of 12 $36.95
J. L. CHAVE SÉLECTION OFFERUS SAINT-JOSEPH
2012 71 cases of 12
$33.95 – Nice meaty peppery syrah
from a terrific producer. Lamb chops are calling its name.
BENI DI BATASIOLO BOSCARETO BAROLO 2009 199 cases
of 6 $67.95
FONTANAFREDDA LA ROSA BAROLO 2008 127 cases
of 6 $64.95
TENUTA SETTE PONTI ORENO 2012 246 cases of 6 $77.95 – This has come down a wee bit (maybe
to try to match Quebec?) and the 2004 was among my wines of the year last year but I
can’t justify it. Quebec has it at $73 for the 2011. Just sayin’.
POGGIOTONDO BRUNELLO
DI MONTALCINO 2010 592 cases of 12 $39.95
– An old style Brunello at a reasonable price. But this is ‘old style’ so fruit
will be reticent and food is recommended.
SAN FELICE IL GRIGIO DA SAN FELICE GRAN
SELEZIONE CHIANTI 247 cases of 6
$46.95 – A Chianti in Brunello
clothing.
