My Picks? There are 9 from all over the map and I’ll change my mind to add or replace a few a number of times between now and the release. There are at least 5 more that are equally worthy of your consideration!
TESTAMATTA GRILLI DEL TESTAMATTA 2007
COLUMBIA CREST H3 MERLOT 2007
PIRRAMIMMA SHIRAZ 2006
LE CINCIOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007
BRANCAIA TRE 2007
LANGA CENTENARIA GARNACHA 2006
ABBONA LA PIEVE BAROLO 2005
DIEGO CONTERNO BALUMA NEBBIOLO D’ALBA 2008
THE GAME RESERVE
And another from Washington St. or some from the Southern Rhone, more from Spain…see? Can’t decide already!
TUSCANY FEATURE – 2007 was a terrific vintage!
LE CINCIOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 A layered and pretty wine, with berry and cherry character. Full-bodied, yet reserved and balanced. Best from 2011 through 2016. Score: 91 $19.95
TESTAMATTA GRILLI DEL TESTAMATTA 2007 from Bibi Graetz - One of my picks of the release. Should be terrific but not a huge number of cases and those in the know will be chasing this one down. Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino. Best after 2011. Score: 91 (James Suckling) A little upscale at$32.95
BRANCAIA TRE 2007 No. 10 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2009, scoring 93 points. The previous LCBO release of the ’07 was somewhat muted and thin. Is this more of that or is this what the WS had? Limited number of cases. Be ready to arm wrestle for it regardless. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Score: 90 (Antonio Galloni) $24.95
ISOLE E OLENA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 Galloni says Readers who enjoy the Burgundian side of Sangiovese will flip out over this wine but I always found the Nebiollos more Burgundian… something for you pinotphiles to watch for I suppose. Score: 90 Antonio Galloni $26.95
LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 This wine won a Gold Medal at the Berliner Wein Trophy competition in 2010 $15.95
RAVAZZI CHIANTI RISERVA 2007 $15.95 – Good price – but go for the gold above or below!
TENUTA MORAIA PIETRACUPA BOLGHERI 2007 Another Gold Medal Winner at the Berliner Wein Trophy competition in 2010. Pretty good buy at $18.95
CIACCI PICCOLOMINI D’ARAGONA ATEO 2007 – Originally he called this wine Ateo, ‘The Atheist’ because he contravened the local wine ‘religion’ and began making wine from nontraditional grapes in Tuscany. Not a wine for drinking on its own, this one will need food. Something bleeding on a plate would be best. My Expectation? Tight, dry and astringent but in a good way. Score: 91(Antonio Galloni) $24.95
AIA VECCHIA LAGONE 2007 Another new Bordeaux blend from Italy released to the LCBO. Availability may once again reflect the evaporation (for now) of the US market for Italian wines. Cab Sauv and Cab Franc. Best after 2011. Smart Buy. Score: 90 (James Suckling) $21.95
MASTROJANNI SAN PIO 2007 – Another super Tuscan from a good Brunello producer at $29.95
LA MADONNINA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA fresh, with rich cherry plum fruit supported more by iodine bitterness than acidity, and by smooth sweet tannins that flow into a decidedly bitter finish - oh yeah, suuuure, that’s what I look for in my wines! $22.95
WASHINGTON FEATURE- I’m a Big fan
COLUMBIA CREST H3 MERLOT 2007 Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard hence the H3. I had the 2008 and it was oaky as hell but still a very good wine from a great producer and location. The 2007 was ranked #43 in Wine Spectator’s 2010 Top 100 list – Harvey Steiman gave it 91 and said: Dark, supple blackberry and black currant flavors, playing against superfine tannins on an open-textured finish. Floral, savory overtones add depth. $19.95 - A great buy but only 200 cases so move fast or make friends!
CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE ETHOS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 Columbia Valley - drinking well from 2013 to 2026 says Jay Miller so if you must open one soon, decant it please. 92 (Jay Miller) $39.95
Washington St. has also been described as the best location outside of the Rhone Valley for Syrah. These two efforts will show you why.
COEUR D’ALENE CELLARS SYRAH Score: 92 (Harvey Steiman) $32.95
DUNHAM CELLARS SYRAH 2005 Score: 92 (Harvey Steiman) $44.95
MAIN RELEASE
California
HAWKES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 Alexander Valley, Sonoma $29.95 We have to assume this has been properly taken care of all this time but when the US reviewer calls it a 40 buck wine and the LCBO has it for $30, well, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I look out my upper floor office window to see the pigs hovering with the pigeons. Historically this just does not happen! So, if you buy more than one bottle, try one quickly so you can take the rest back if you’re not happy!
MCMANIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 Burst to prominence when Parker scored them a 90 some years ago – nonetheless not a bad price for a Cali cab as a summer BBQ wine.$19.95 Me? I’ll wait for the H3 Cab (brother to the merlot in this release) in the next release at the same price!
NEWMAN’S OWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 – When the profits from it go to charity, one has to try the wine! $17.95
RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 Rodney Strong wines are pretty well priced and seem to score well but I have yet to have one that makes me say “Wow! Score: 89 (Steve Heimoff) $22.95
Australia
PIRRAMIMMA SHIRAZ 2006 – McLaren Vale Shiraz with terrific layers of complexity but not over the top.
As it opens, expect to get notes of jerky, olive, nori, liquorice, strawberry, blackberry and espresso on both the nose and palate. I’m a fan. $23.95
GEORGE WYNDHAM FOUNDER’S RESERVE SHIRAZ 2007 This wine won a Gold Medal at the 2010 Perth Royal Wine Show. That's OK but more importantly how did it do at the Sharbot Lake Wine and Walleye Fest? What’s that? Oh, you meant the other Perth! Sorryyyy! In that case, at $19.95 this should be a no brainer.
RINGBOLT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 Margaret River, Western Oz – A first rate CAB done in a more Bordeaux style than most Aussies. This is always good quality for $19.95
ELDERTON SHIRAZ 2007 – Big bruisers usually and I’ve never had one I didn’t enjoy. These used to be $29.95 if I recall correctly. $32.95 now with a wine glut in Australia? Hmmmm, see my note on the Hawkes Cab.
HEARTLAND STICKLEBACK RED 2008 This poor guy should have been in the first or second release of the year! For now earns an honourable mention but should be a great buy at $14.95
TWO HANDS ANGELS’ SHARE SHIRAZ 2009 – Terrific producer, but for the $$’s there are better Aussie wines in the release. Score: 91 (Campbell Mattinson) $27.95
PENFOLDS BIN 2 SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2008 As I always say, this is a James Halliday score of 93 points – his and my palate do not always align. $21.95
South Africa
GRAHAM BECK THE GAME RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 – Very nice, full Cab from South Africa. Not terribly complex but none of that burnt rubber we sometimes find from SA. Very Well Priced $18.95
Rhône
DOMAINE LE GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2009 - In 2010, this wine won Gold Medals at both the Concours Général Agricole in Paris and the Concours des Vins in Orange. Terrific bargain wine for mid week quaffing or Friday pizzas, burgers. Not for long term ageing but great in the short term. $13.95
LES GRANDES SERRES PRESTIGE DES GRANDES SERRE 2009 AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages, Rasteau. This wine won a Gold Medal at the Concours des Vins in Orange, in 2010. Rasteau is a named appellation within CdR-V so it’s a slight step up from Cotes du Rhone Villages. Is it worth 3 bucks more than the Plan de Dieu? TBD. Still well priced at $16.95
MONTIRIUS GARRIGUES VACQUEYRAS 2009 AC – Montirius is a great biodynamic producer from the Rhone. Think of it as a little brother to the Montirius Le Clos and be prepared for excellence @ $23.95.
Other Italy
Piedmont
ABBONA LA PIEVE BAROLO 2005 DOCG Barolo wines rarely come at this fine a price, so this is the perfect opportunity to sample this Piedmontese classic. $26.95
DIEGO CONTERNO BALUMA NEBBIOLO D’ALBA 2008 DOC – Think of it as a baby Barolo $18.95
LA GIRONDA LA GENA BARBERA D’ASTI 2006 Another terrific food wine – 2 Glasses (out of 3) (Gambero Rosso)$16.95
Spain
LANGA CENTENARIA GARNACHA 2006 89 or 90 point Grenache for $13.95? My one concern is that I’ve been disappointed by a lot of the cheap and cheerful Spaniards with big scores.otherwise, Line up behind me! $13.95
MURUVE CRIANZA This polished, modern red delivers black cherry, dark chocolate, mineral and sanguine notes, firm and focused. Ripe, well-integrated tannins give way to a lingering floral and spicy finish. Drink now through 2014. Score: 91 (Thomas Matthews) $16.95
VIÑA VILANO RESERVA 2004 DO Ribera del Duero might also be worth a try at $22.95 but there are so many good ones in this release, you can wait to try it.
BODEGAS LAN VIÑA LANCIANO RESERVA 2004 DOCa Rioja TASTING NOTE: (80% tempranillo and 20% mazuelo) Key to the entire tasting note? This needs time. Missing from the tasting note? And Food. Score: 90+ (Josh Raynolds) $28.95. LAN is a very high quality producer - expect the best.
A few Big Bucks ones, but why spend so much?
DIRTY LAUNDRY BORDELLO 2008 - Dirty Laundry is a great BC producer. As for the Bordello, I used to know just the dining room to serve it in! Sometimes home reno’s ruin a good thing! $49.95
TRAPICHE VIÑA DOMINGO F. SARMIENTO SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC 2007 The third of three recent single vineyard releases from Trapiche. These single vineyard wines might offer more than the very popular Broquel series from Trapiche, but are 3 or 4 points worth $20? You could get two 90 point Malbecs from Luigi Bosca or Catena for one of these. It’s your call. Best from 2012 to 2022. Score: 93 (Jay Miller) $39.95
3 of the four from Washington St.
ROBERT MONDAVI OAKVILLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 $54.95 James Laube, in the Wine Spectator, rated this wine a 90, Parker a 91 and said licorice, spicebox, cedar, black cherries, and black currants. But at $39.95 the Ethos from Washington St. is a better buy.
TENUTA DI CASTELGIOCONDO LAMAIONE 2007 Always good but expensive and there are too many other good wines in this release for much less. $63.95
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