March 15th - a California gold rush and Hand Crafted wines

Saturday, March 15, 2014 – California wines and Hand Crafted wines are the features. That means grab your wallet, get there early and be ready to watch some wealthy guys whining!  You see, California means huge bucks and some cultish wines. Dominus scored 100 points, Pahlmeyer has a name, the Beringer in this release is renowned. But holy smokes, these are expensive wines and it’s not Christmas!  The Dominus order was reduced, the price was bumped up and there just won’t be enough! I’m going to see if I can get an empty Dominus box, close it up and just put it in a cart and walk around one of the big stores with it. What fun that'll be.

Without a winning lottery ticket I can ignore California completely so overall it’s a pretty unexciting release. It does have one must buy for me though along with one or two old favourites and perhaps a couple that are worth taking a flyer on.

 The VRSS is a deceptive 54. For me, there is only one ‘must buy’ but there are a few good wines to fill in holes in your cellar.

The Reds

Chile -  SANTA CAROLINA RESERVA DE FAMILIA CABERNET  SAUVIGNON 2010  949 cases of 6 $18.95 –the Santa Rita reserva/ this one/  the Marques de Casa Concha – the three Chilean Cabs are interchangeablely good. 

France Midi - MAS D'AUZIERÈS LES ÉCLATS 2009  545cases $18.95 – Right in its drinking window and a nice Southern Rhone blend from the Languedoc.

South Australia - THORN-CLARKE SHOTFIRE QUARTAGE 2011 334cases $21.95 – Use one word to describe it?  Ok, opaque.

South Australia - YALUMBA SHIRAZ 2012 571cases $19.95 – An Underappreciated vintner.

Spain – Senorio de los Baldos 2009 - $19.95 -  A more modern take on things from Ribera del Duero region of Spain.

Spain – Lacrimus Crianza 2009 -$18.95 – Rustic means tannic and drier.  This is a wine for laying down and avoiding.  Give it time.

South Africa - RUSTENBERG RM NICHOLSON 2010 237cases $19.95 – A nice SA take on a Bordeaux blend.

USA - RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009   798cases $21.95  - Solid Sonoma cab.

Whites and Fizzies

SOUTH AFRICA - MULDERBOSCH CHENIN BLANC 2011 281 cases $14.95 – I really enjoy Mulderbosch Sauv/ Blanc and Rose.  I also enjoy South African Chenin Blanc. So I figure this is a sure bet.

WASHINGTON STATE - CHARLES & CHARLES CHARDONNAY 2012 335cases $15.95 – A Tasty, well priced alternative.

ITALY - ROTARI ROSÉ   437cases of 6  $17.95

SOUTH AFRICA - GRAHAM BECK PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS 2009 239 cases of 6 $23.95

SPAIN - MONT MARÇAL EXTRAMARIUM RESERVA BRUT CAVA   396 cases of 6 $20.95

BIG BUCKS

TUSCANY - CASTELLO DI AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2009 200 cases  $35.95 – While visiting Italy last year  we enjoyed a bottle of the 2007 vintage of this wine. It was among the very best wines of our two weeks there, so good that I sought it out to be one of the wines that we brought back in our suitcases. As good as the ’07 was, I expect this vintage to be even better but not because ’09 was a better vintage to grow grapes. Rather it'll be better for the grapes that have gone into the bottle.  For the 2009 vintage, the Di Ama CCR  includes the grapes that would normally be used to produce their very expensive single vineyard bottlings. At $36 I know it seems expensive for a CCR but compared to the prices of their single vineyard options it's a screaming bargain. A bargain that I expect  to be every bit as good and as ageworthy as many a Brunello.  Give it some time in the dark - but if you must open it sooner, do aerate and decant.

Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - $60.95 – Too bad this one is over my own self imposed price point. $12 less and I’d buy a couple. By the way, it’s sold in Italy, France and Germany for $15 less than here! Don’t even look at the US prices.

Dominus, Beringer, Pahlmeyer – not a chance.

March 1 - Another Ho Hum release so I can sleep in this Saturday.

March 1, 2014 Vintages release.  Kosher and Cabernet. Ho-hum, Almost a "Wake me up when this one is over" release! The one wine that really interests me is the barely Big Buck rep from Washington State. Best nation overall in the release is Spain.

Whites

 MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE VIEILLES VIGNES BOURGOGNE   419 cases $18.95  

 RUSTENBERG CHARDONNAY 2012   167 cases $19.95  

REDS

The Cabs and blends…

 FINCA SOPHENIA 5 Reserve Cabernet - $17.00 – Another of the $17.00 Food and Drink Magazine wines. Well scored, burger wine.

 CICCHITTI GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004   277 cases $21.95  

ANGOVE VINEYARD SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010  255 cases $22.95 

CEDARCREEK ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT 2010  111 cases $24.95 – Not in the cab feature, but I like the producer.

SAN FABIANO CALCINAIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 218 cases $27.95 – Tuscan take on Cabernet

DRY CREEK VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010   279 cases $25.95 – Solid Sonoma cab.

The rest

OZ

JIM BARRY THE LODGE HILL SHIRAZ 2012 499 cases $26.95 - Coolish climate Shiraz. 

FRANCE-MIDI

HECHT & BANNIER CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2010 299 cases $23.95 – A rerelease methinks.

SPAIN   

BODEGAS OLARRA ANARES RESERVA 2006 $19.95 – A 7 years old Rioja Reserva at this price! Excellent food wine.

BODEGAS ARDAL CRIANZA 2005 -$17.95 – Another great deal, yes it’s a food wine too, but at 8 years old it should be right in its drinking window.

LAN CRIANZA 2010   1140 cases $15.95  The seemingly omnipresent  red label from LAN is always solid.

Big Bucks

ITALY - Barolo

G. D. VAJRA ALBE BAROLO 2008 219 cases – $39.95 – The LCBO marked the 2007 Vintage down to $26.85 – what a difference a year makes! This one’ll probably fly out due to its position in the top 20 of the WS Top 100 for 2013.   

HEDGES FAMILY ESTATE THREE VINEYARDS  RED 2011   111 cases $32.95  - My choice as the wine of the release.

Feb.15 - a ho hum French feature

February 15, 2014 LCBO Vintages release.  A few wines worthy of attention but this release is not nearly what it could be.   

Whites, from France, Greece

DOMAINE GAUTHERON CHABLIS 2012 279 cases $24.95 

 JOSEPH DROUHIN MÂCON-VILLAGES 2012     247 cases $17.95   

BOUTARI SANTORINI 2012   198 cases $17.95 

Reds, from the Rhone, Tuscany, California and Washington St.

From the Rhone, a few options. 219 cases of the 2010 DOMAINE DUSEIGNEUR ANTARÈS LIRAC  @ $25.95. An interesting Village, Lirac  flies under the Rhone Radar sometimes. If you can still find the Duvernay Vacqueyras marked down to just over $20, buy it instead.

 PIERRE AMADIEU DOMAINE GRAND ROMANE CUVÉE PRESTIGE  2011 Gigondas, features  198 cases @ $28.95. Not up to the standard set by the 2010 vintage but expect licorice, garrigues, spice and perhaps an earlier drinker.

 From Chianti, the 2010 BIBBIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 597 cases @ $19.95 has an unreal score  from Decanter. As a result it may be hard to find and probably will be one of those Saturday morning ‘arm wrestle’ opportunities. Don’t be too upset if you miss out. All the other reviews I’ve read come in about 10 points below this one so buyer beware.

2007 AMORINO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO $27.95. – New to me, this is an expensive wine for an LCBO offering from  Montepulciano  D’Abruzzo but as a Three of Three winner from Gambero Rosso it might be worth it. Certainly it’s got some age on it so should be more than ready to drink right now.

If you're feeling Italian, I'd also recommend you go back a release or two and find some Tassinaia if you're spending in this $$ region.

The omnipresent (well it seems that way) COLUMBIA CREST. This time it’s the  GRAND ESTATES CABERNET SAUVIGNON   447 cases @ $17.95.  Available for about  $10 in the States.  Between the H3 brand and their Grand Estates brand, Columbia Crest seems to appear once a month representing one of the three big red grapes (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah). Where are the Grand Reserve bottlings boys and girls?  Sure they’re bigger $’s but they’re as good or better than many Cali options offered at substantially more.    

Big Bucks

And speaking of Big Bucks,  Australia offers up a Big Buck Shiraz that I really like, the  THORN-CLARKE WILLIAM RANDELL SHIRAZ 2010   90 cases of 6 $43.95. The score is over the top and will attract point chasers but the wine is very good if you can afford it. 

From California, The Hess wines are quite expensive and a few years ago they were prone to price reductions. That said, I do like the Allomi Vineyard after a little rest in the dark. The wine, not me.  

HESS ALLOMI VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 335 cases $37.95      

Vintages heads to Australia for the first release of February.

Two features start off the February 1 release, Australia and something called new discoveries or some such thing. There’s a limited but good selection of mid priced Aussie standards  and not much in the new finds to tempt me .  Not a brilliant release by any stretch of the imagination but some good wines if you have some holes to fill.

There is some good news though. Jan 25 saw the start of a bin end sale. Among the items reduced in price were the leftover 1500 ML bottles from Christmas. Look for the big bottles of Chateauneuf du Pape, Chianti,  and  the Petalos Mencia to be the best of that lot. It’s a good time to buy them for a future Christmas/ New Year/ BBQ/ family  party.

Best Bets from this release

KATNOOK ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010    440 cases of 6 $29.95 – Among my favourite Australian cabernet sauvignons this one usually exhibits more currants and less mint than many Coonawarra cabs.  Looking forward to a few of these! 

SCHILD ESTATE OLD BUSH VINE GMS   299 cases  $19.95 – From a well known family producer  that seems to have recovered from some questionable conduct of  a few years back.   I like the Aussie takes on this southern Rhone blend and expect this to provide much pleasure.

 MONTIRIUS GARRIGUES VACQUEYRAS 2011     199 cases $27.95 – Clos Montirius is a biodynamic producer in the Southern Rhone. If you value care of the land as well as care in winemaking, this is a great selection.  Montirius is always a little expensive for this named CdR Village (Vacqueyras – Vah-kay-rahs, apparently the s is not silent.),  but the good news is you get what you pay for.  Garrrigues (Gah-reeg) refers to the aromas and flavours imparted by the plants of the Mediteranean basin.  Beneath the big fruit, think subtle rosemary, thyme, floral herbs de Provence type aromas and the same very slightly resinous flavours of the same herbs. This might not be quite as age worthy as their Vacqueyras ‘Le Clos’ but who can wait that long anyway? 

DANDELION LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2011  639 cases $19.95 – If you like the Lionheart of the Barossa, you’ll probably really enjoy Dandelion’s  take on Shiraz from the McLaren Vale. 

DANDELION VINEYARDS LIONHEART OF THE BAROSSA SHIRAZ   191 cases, half bottles-  $10.95 – Little bottles of what has become a Vintages regular. Solid and classy.  

CHÂTEAU TANUNDA GRAND BAROSSA CABERNET SAUVIGNON    1198 cases $19.95. Big numbers of this big wine.  Doug - This could be a substitute for the Elderton Cab. Partial fruit from vineyards in Eden Valley.

 MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011    1034 cases  $19.95 –Always  steady and rock solid.  

BENMARCO MALBEC 2012      400 cases $18.95 – If you missed out on the Norton in the previous release, this is not a bad alternative.

JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ 2011 – 505 cases $16.95 – Well priced Aussie option.

 CAVE DE RASTEAU ORTAS PRESTIGE RASTEAU 2009   299cases $19.95

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-    419 cases $15.95 

   

Big Bucks

Nothing this time around.

Vintages Jan 18 release - Spain and friends

It’s interesting to recall that last year there were many releases  featuring  other locales but the Spanish components of said releases  oft provided the best wine options.  The primary feature this week is Spain and it’s my opinion that The Vintages crew have done themselves proud with wines in this release. Certainly it seems superior to last year’s Spanish focus.  Also, while this release has a substantial number of tasty Spanish options your choices are not limited to that country. There are many other favourites from old and new world venues as well. 

My preliminary thoughts concerning this release are that it is very good. The VRSS comes in at 66 – 70 points. The QPR of many of the wines adds temptation too.  But, be aware the January sale that I mentioned in the Jan.04 release notes  is a reality beginning on the 25^th!

The Picks

Planets de Prior Pons 2009 - $24.95 – 239 cases -  Last year’s was a very tasty wine, a veritable kitchen sink blend but full bodied, fruity, tannins in place. I expect big things here. My premier pick in the release.

Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 - $19.95 – 556 cases-  A consistently pleasing wine that provides a consistently superior sophisticated flavour profile.

Norton Malbec 2010 - $17.95 – 558 cases - Well priced and great with anything grilled.

Sisters Run Bethlehem Block Cab Sauv 2011 - $16.95 – 639 cases - The Blue Gold Top 100 finish cinches it for me especially at this price point. Try a couple for sure if you can find them.

Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva 2005- $17.95 -  659 cases - Looking for a traditional Rioja style wine? Look no further and this one is right in its drinking window if you can’t wait!

Mas Perinet Perinet 2005 - $16.95 – 349 cases – A well priced option right in its drinking window.

The Cantele Salice Salentino Reserva 2009 at $14.95 from Italy  garnered 3 of 3 from Gambero Rosso. At that price it’s worth a flyer!  349 cases.

Finca El Encinal Crianza 2010 – $17.95 – 998 cases – Lots on hand and a big score.

Le Gravillas Vielle Vignes Gigondas 2011 - $24.95 - 329 cases - You just know the Gigondas will make the cut! 

Wakefield Jaraman Cab Sauv 2010 - $24.95 – 335 cases- Wakefield is a superior producer at the sub -$20 price point. That makes this one worth taking the step up to try it. It’s a blend of Clare Valley and Coonawarra fruit so as the review says, you can expect some cassis and some mint.

Cave les Coteaux du Rhone Panicaut Plan de Dieu 2012 at $15.95. 998 cases of 6.Very young but if you leave it alone for a year  you might be pretty happy you spent the bucks.

The Show - $17.95 – 836 cases - Less sophisticated than the H3 but lots of flavour and good with burgers or ribs.

Ontanon reserve 2004 - $25.95 –334 cases

Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico 2011 – $24.95 - 499 cases - A young chianti, fruit forward and ready to drink or hold.

Fattoria La Ripa Chianti Classico Riserva 2009 -$26.95 218 cases – I like the producer.

The Big Bucks

La Perla del Priorat Clos des Fites 2006 – $30.95- 149 cases- 93 points from Neal Martin this crianza should provide similar flavours to the Prior Pons above but be softened slightly by age. Just entering its drinking window.

PALAZZO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 $59.95 299 cases of 6 – 95 points is hard to ignore. ’06 was a superior vintage in the region and this one should just be coming into its own now.

January 4, 2014 - A good start to the year

After the big buck temptations of November and the bubblies of December, this first Vintages release of 2014 traditionally presents a truckload of cheap and cheerful wines which one hopes will provide some pleasure without breaking the bank.  This release also has me hoping for a bin end sale to accompany it. We always need one of those so watch for news about that possibility. Regardless of whether there is a bin end sale or not, there are some wines in the first release of 2014 worthy of consideration. Best of all, they shouldn’t cause your wallet too much undo stress. If you were lucky enough to get an LCBO gift card for Christmas use it on some of the bargains this week. Or perhaps wait for the Holiday 1500ml’s to go on sale? 

The VRSS merits 62- 66 points. Remember, the scoring system starts like Parker’s 100 point system. In his system, a wine gets 50 points for showing up. Well I give a release 50 points just for getting printed on that nice glossy paper. From there, if I ‘must buy’ a wine that wine adds points to the score of the release. if a wine must be bought, whites and bubblies score 3 points each, reds merit 4. Unlike Parker’s system, a release can score more than 100 points but I haven’t seen it happen yet.

The Picks

Chateau La Bastide 2010 - $13.95 – 900 cases- Three of Three from Guide Hachette is exceptional at any price but especially at this price.  Ready to drink with a meal or on its own.

Cusumano Noa 2010 - $19.95 –1999 cases- A  Sicilian equivalent to the Tuscan Terriccio in the Big Bucks section,   just substitute Nero d’Avola for Sangiovese and save $10! If you must drink it now, this one’ll  benefit from a short decant, methinks.

Pierre Amadieu Les Grangelieres Vacqueyras 2011 - $19.95 –499 cases-  Among the  better  wines in the release even though the vintage wasn’t stellar. It’ll need a few months to calm down.

Seven Falls Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - $18.95 – 167 cases – New to me, this one is from vineyards located on the Wahluke slope in the Columbia Valley. You know I like red wines from Washington St. This one is no different.  If you enjoy the  Columbia Crest H3 Cab, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Domaine Tournon Shiraz Mathilde 2011 - $19.95 – 489 cases-From the Australian winery of Chapoutier, stylistically this’ll exhibit as much southern Rhone syrah as Australian Shiraz.

Zonte’s Footstep Avalon Tree Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - $17.95 –255 cases- High quality juice from an Australian  winery with a silly name. All Zonte’s Footstep products seem to be well scored by North American critics.

Wakefield 2010 Shiraz -$17.00 – 4000 cases- Quality yes, but regardless of what the LCBO would have you believe, this really isn’t a bargain.

Geografico Montegiachi Chianti Classico Riserva 2009- $24.95 – 499 cases - This’ll need some time, but should be a smoking wine. Leave it in a cool, dark place for a year or so for it to begin to show its best.

Looking for a bargain cabernet? Try the St. Alicia from the Maipo valley in Chile. Maipo is home to many of the finest Cab Sauv’s coming from Chile, so this one at $14.95 is worth a shot. 419 cases.

Coppi Peucetico Primitivo 2007 – $13.95- 1000 cases- Looking for something inexpensive and  Zinfandel-esque  to accompany midwinter bbq’d burgers or ribs? This is always excellent and well priced.

Azul Portugal 2008 - $14.95 – 248 cases of 6-With the fanfare in this release it may go early but not to worry – any of the three from Portugal  will provide the same pleasure – but you have to like the Portuguese flavour profile.

The Bigger Bucks (comparatively speaking, that is.)

J.L. Chave Offerus St. Joseph – 2011 - $33.95 – 50 cases- An ISD or FSE  or perhaps make that a YCBI (you can’t buy it) so there’ll be very few and the few there are will be snapped up by the cognoscenti.

Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia 2006 - $29.95 – 399 cases- Among the more expensive bottles in the release  this is from a brilliant vintage in Tuscany. A Blend of 1/3^rd each Sangiovese, Merlot and Cab sauv, this should be an interesting wine and right in its drinking window.

La Pieve Barolo – 2009 $29.95 – 500 cases- Wonderful price for a food friendly wine. This will also benefit from a bit of aging  to soften the tannins.

Welcome to the new year boys and girls.

LCBO Gift Review - In a word, Wait!

LCBO Gift review

Every year at this time the LCBO promotes an array of gift products, many of which began to be highlighted in the Nov.09 Vintages catalogue.  Some of them are gag gifts, some are make you gag gifts and small number  are worth buying especially if and when they are marked down after Christmas. While the wines available are rarely serious collector items, some quite good ones are available especially in 1500 ml bottles. The combination of wine quality and large bottle size promotes graceful if slower ageing.  Perhaps the best news is that if they don’t sell out in the pre Christmas/ New Years frenzy and if the inventory quantities are right these big boys can be had for reduced prices early in the new year.  In the past I have purchased 1500ml bottles of very nice wines at or below the same price as Vintages was selling a 750 ml of the same wine. Yes you have to watch and be lucky but from time to time a bargain can be had at the monopoly. I’ll be tracking inventory in the following wines and recommend you do as well. They are my suggestions for the best wines among the gift items but best is a relative term here and I wouldn’t buy many, if any, at full price. The LCBO website will tell you what’s in the stores but once we get past Christmas and New Years it’s what’s in the warehouse that’ll really count.

The Frescobaldi Brunello Vertical is the only gift pack that I’d consider– one bottle of each of the 2005, 06 and 07 vintages packaged together. $149.95 it is a steep price to pay for this trio but you get a readymade mini vertical and at least two of the three years are superior vintages. Watch to be sure the ’06 and ‘07 bottles haven’t been switched out by other clever Vintages shoppers!

Of the big bottles, here are the ones to consider after Christmas.

Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf du Pape 2010- $74.95-This 1500ml bottle is from one of the better Southern Rhone vintages but the producer is not among my favourites. That said, if it becomes well priced it will age for 10-15 years and look like a screaming buy in five. Quantity wise, there are some but perhaps not enough of these to hit the post-Christmas mark down rack. What’s in the warehouse?

Rocco Guicciardo Chianti Classico Reserva 2010 – $49.95 – A personal favourite among  the Baron Ricassoli CCR offerings. This 1500 ml will be a great buy if it gets marked down to $40. but I don’t hold out much hope. There just don’t seem to be that many around. Again, what’s in the warehouse?

Descendientes de J. Palacios 2011 - $49.95 – Readers of the blog will recognize this wine as a perennial pick at 750 ml. Again, if it hits the mark down rack, this 1500ml is worth considering.

J. Lohr 7 Oaks Vineyard – $43.95 - Having a big group for dinner?  Can’t go wrong here.  Lots of stock but they do pretty much sell out in our market.

Marchesi di Barolo Cannubi Barolo 2008 - $129.95 – A 92 point gem that’ll age for two decades. It could outlast me but it’ll take a real price hit to get it low enough!

Stags Leap Artemis  Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 - $139.95 – There appears to be lots around and with it  being well over the $100 mark, there could be limited demand. The Stags Leap name holds some cachet though. It would take a serious price cut for this one to go below my self-imposed price ceiling per 750 ml bottle.

Any of  the Masi, Remo Farina and Tommasi Amarones will be OK if you’re a fan of the style. If you have a serious cellar and can find one marked down,  the 3000 ml Tommasi will provide a great looking accent bottle long after the contents have been enjoyed.

As for the rest of the offerings, I’ll take a pass.