April 28 Preview - it's early, but here are the picks
The April 28th release features Veneto and New Zealand but the best choices might be from a number of other wine producing areas. There is some good news this week. There are quite a number of appealing under $17 wines in this release but as always with the LCBO, good news is offset with equally bad news. The bad news is that the recent Food and Drink $15 specials seem to have moved to the $17 price point. It’ll be interesting to see how long it’ll take to jump to $19. As it is, I’m into a bit of an austerity programme so while I’d love to buy any of the wines listed you’ll find my picks have been down-dollared a bit this week.
ARGENTINA
There’ve been lots of good Malbecs in recent previous releases. The two below will be good picks if you’re grilling something but neither one makes the top 5.
PASCUAL TOSO ALTA RESERVE MALBEC 2008 279 cases $31.95 – Expensive and should be in the big buck section but I’ll leave it here. You can find some malbecs from previous releases that are almost as good and $10 less.
SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC 2009 (Dominio del Plata) 971 cases $21.95 – like this one perhaps?
AUSTRALIA
(Pick #2 tie) LEASINGHAM BIN 61 SHIRAZ 2008 559 cases $24.95 – I have fond recollections of the 2000 vintage of this wine. It was one of my 'Ahah!' wines. That vintage was made with fruit from the Classic Clare Shiraz vineyards that had been damaged by hail. If you like the Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz (I do!) then try one or two of this one. Same region, similar cooler climate style, watch for pepper, black fruits, olive notes and licorice in a very nice wine. If you need another reason to buy it, this appears to be the penultimate vintage ("Or is it the last?" he asked, wiping away a tear.) for the Clare Valley Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz as we know it. Leasingham was owned by Constellation Brands and in 2009, under financial duress, Constellation closed the winery. Tim Adams had already purchased one of the Leasingham vineyards from Constellation and in 2010 he bought the winery as well. The sale did not include the Leasingham brand, just the winery and equipment . The Leasingham brand, among other Australian wine assets was later sold by Constellation to CHAMP, a private equity company. It’s a sad end for the iconic Classic Clare and Bin series brands and something to keep in mind if you ever begin to see bottles of them with a more recent (post 2010) vintage.
TWO HANDS GNARLY DUDES SHIRAZ 2010 399 cases $29.95 – From a quality and breadth of range of wines, you simply cannot beat Two Hands. If I wasn't down pricing this week, I'd buy some of this for sure!
SALTRAM MAMRE BROOK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 708 cases of 6 $24.95 – Very good Cab and age worthy in the short term
MAJELLA SHIRAZ 2008 399 cases $29.95 –Remember last release’s Katnook Estate? Well the Majella shiraz is also produced from grapes grown in the Coonawara. It’s probably not as famous for Shiraz as the Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale but good nonetheless and right in its drinking window.
CHILE
NINQUÉN ANTU CABERNET SAUVIGNON/CARMENÈRE 2010 504 cases of 6 $16.95 – Chocolate, coffee, smoke and black fruits but previous cabs and syrahs were heavily oaked so watch for some big creamsicle vanilla notes late on the palate.
France
ARNOUX ET FILS 2009 VACQUEYRAS $19.95 – Rare is the Vacqueyras that I don’t recommend! So here I am recommending another one!
(Pick #3 tie) LE GRAVILLAS PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2009 599 cases $14.95 – A very good producer of Southern Rhone blends (Vacqueyras, Gigondas among them) and this one from the village of Plan de Dieu should be no exception. Black berries should jump from the glass.
CHÂTEAU NOZIÈRES CUVÉE AMBROISE MALBEC CAHORS 2008 $15.95 – A French malbec from the Cahors region, a nice counterpoint to all those Argentinians we’ve had lately.
GREECE
TSELEPOS DRIOPI AGIORGITIKO 2008 139 cases $18.95 – take a step off the beaten grape path and try this with a homemade pork or lamb souvlaki.
ITALY
(Pick #1) CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA (CANONICA A CERRETO) 2007 $17.00 – Equal reasons to worry and to be happy here – does this seemingly late availability of gobs of an ’07 with a big Galloni (Parker) score mean we’ll get leftovers and dregs or will we get a wine that truly merits the 92 point score at $17? When this one is released, watch the local reviewers’ tasting notes or try one first. There will be oodles (+2000 cases) around and if it’s as good as the score, it might merit buying a case. ***Update*** Tried a bottle with a homemade spagehetti bolognese. It's good, but not 92 points good. I'd be happy at $15, I'm a little disappointed at $2 more. Also, all the boxes on the floor at Weston Rd. were marked as Lot 2011/04, but the bottles I could see in all the open cases were labelled 2011/11. What gives with that? If someone tries a bottle labelled with lot 2011/04, let me know how it is. Meantime, floral notes and red fruit on the nose, hints of vanilla yet woodsy (forest floor?). On the palate, more red fruit than black, hints of smoke, earthy, not full bodied and just a wee tad short on the finish.
Of the BRANCAIA TRE 2009, I've had past vintages which were very well scored by international critics and frankly, I found them not up to the marks. I was expecting full and rich. Maybe my palate isn’t so educated, maybe the ones I had were a little off, or maybe buyer beware on this one. Regardless, I dare say it’ll blow out on past reputation alone.
Of the BRANCAIA TRE 2009, I've had past vintages which were very well scored by international critics and frankly, I found them not up to the marks. I was expecting full and rich. Maybe my palate isn’t so educated, maybe the ones I had were a little off, or maybe buyer beware on this one. Regardless, I dare say it’ll blow out on past reputation alone.
ISOLE E OLENA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2008 199 cases $26.95 – In a normal week, I’d pick this Chianti Classico but the ’07 reserve above at $10 less is hard to resist!
(Pick #3 tie) TEDESCHI CAPITEL NICALÒ APPASSIMENTO VALPOLICELLA 2009 $15.95 - I enjoy this one annually but to some it is an acquired taste. Might need some time first and if you get a little hint of effervescence, don’t be too surprised.
(Pick#3 tie) MONTE DEL FRA TENUTA LENA DE MEZZO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2008 –$15.95 - Another age worthy, almost bargain priced, suggestion from the Veneto focus.
SPAIN
CONDADO DE HAZA TINTO 2008 179 cases $23.95 – I’m a fan of this Spaniard, more red than black fruit and have food handy.
BODEGAS OLARRA ANARES RESERVA 2005 - $17.95 – More traditional in style but still provides good fruit. Well priced.
(Pick #2 tie)BORSAO TRES PICOS GARNACHA 2009 - $19.95 – A very nice Grenache, excellent consistent producer. Gobs of fruit, hints of smoke.
MONTEBUENA 2009 - $12.95 – I’m not familiar with the wine, but 90 points from Suckling means it might be worth a shot, especially at that price.
CALIFORNIA
FREI BROTHERS CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE 2008, 1000 cases at $23.95. One of the Gallo brands from the Sonoma region of California. A WOM (Wine of the Month) so there’ll be lots initially.
IRONY MERLOT 2009 – The second of this month’s $17 specials, this is a nice, fruity, unassuming, summer ’burgers and buds’ type of BBQ wine. It’ll blow out as well, I’m sure.
BIG BUCKS
EBERLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 12 111 $43.95 – I presumed this was to be a re-release of the Eberle Vineyard Select product that I enjoyed so much a year or so ago until I saw the price! $43.95? I hope this is the Estate Cabernet at that price. The previous release of the Vineyard Select line was VERY GOOD but it was priced in the lower to mid twenties and I thought then that the LCBO should knock a buck or two off that! So buyer beware, if this has a VS watermark on the label, it’s the Vineyard Selection and we’re just really, really taking it in the ear again! At $23 it was an OK buy, at $44? Fahgedaboud –it! If it doesn’t have the VS and you’re looking for a splurge wine, you could try this one. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Actually, it’d be fun to compare this and the next one in a blind tasting.
STAGS' LEAP WINERY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 12 382 $49.95 – If you must spend $50 on a wine this week and you like Napa cabs, try this one.
MARZIANO ABBONA TERLO RAVERA BAROLO 2006 $42.95 – Look for lineups and foolishness for no other reason than the high score (96 pts) but be prepared to age it before you consider opening it.
VENTURINI CAMPOMASUA AMARONE CLASSICO 2005 gets 3 of 3 from Gambero Rosso and comes in at a cool $59.95
CABREO IL BORGO 2007 – If you’re looking for a bit of a rarity here’s this week’s ISD treasure. Coming in at a cool $34.95 for a 90 to 94 point wine, there will only be 79 cases of 6 delivered to the province. Cuddle up to your LCBO consultant at one of the ‘biggy’ stores if you hope to score any!
CHÂTEAU FORTIA CUVÉE DU BARON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2009 149 cases $35.95 – Fortia can be big, closed, and tannic but with lots of air or some time it’ll display good fruit too!
