Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat. Yes, this
release has the Brad and Angelina Miraval rosé from Provence. The LCBO, ever the celebrity stalker, managed
to buy 996 cases of it and will be making them available to the lucky Ontario
public for $24.95 per bottle. Expensive
as it is it’ll probably sell quickly for three reasons – the hype of the big
names, the curiousity factor, and it appears to be in a very different, stylish
bottle so it’ll stand out among the acres of rosés populating the shelves.
Reviews have been generally positive for it but…..
The Aug.17th release features ‘Off the beaten
track’ Italian wines. Certainly there are many that are made from red grapes
other than nebbiolo, sangiovese, and the international grapes like merlot or
cabernet sauvignon. As well, the whites are a departure from Chardonnay and
Pinot Grigio. It is nice to see Vintages try to push them a bit to expand their
merchandise lines and our palates. Also in this release are Australian whites.
Again, there are some unusual grapes and grape combinations (perhaps uncommon
is a better word than unusual) than the normal Aussie Chards. OK, ok there is a
chard too. As well there are a few new
to Vintages products, and new vintages
and rereleased vintages of old favourites.
The VRSS crawls into
the 62 point territory, mostly because I finished my last
H3 cab and my last Clos de Sixte in the last few weeks.
Top 3 Picks Under $25
Columbia Crest H3
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $19.95 – 1799 cases – This should
be $15 at the most (Google is your
friend, look it up!). Pricewise we’re
taking a real beating here but this wine is good enough to make you forget
about that! It’s a very good, very consistent wine and under $20. Consider a
case buy or perhaps try to find 6 Rust en Vrede’s marked down cab and go for 6
and 6.
Alain Jaume Domaine
Grand Veneur Clos De Sixte Lirac 2010
- $23.95 – 398 cases – Jaume’s Lirac is among my favourites of the
non-Gigondas/ Vacqueyras/ CdP Southern Rhone villages. For this wine the 2007 has been the benchmark
for me. I think the 2010 is not quite there but it is very, very good. Timing is everything, I finished my
last bottle of the previous release of this vintage just a week or so ago! And
yes it is a dollar more than last November.
Beronia Reserva 2008
- $18.95 – 1100 cases – Plenty of cases of this popular, high quality Spanish option. As in the printed review, the
’05 was my benchmark for this one – it’s fruit driven, smooth,
just tannic enough and a tasty accompaniment to any meal.
Top White
Fielding unoaked
Chardonnay 2012 279 cases -$14.95 – Pure,
tasty fruit for grilled fish or to accompany summer pasta salads. Take this one
over the rosés (one of Brad and Angelina’s excepted, perhaps).
An Easy Three from
The Italian Feature
Villa Mora – Montefalco
Sagrantino. $19.95 – 1299 cases - If only because it’s so close in name to
Villa Nora. Those of you who understand that joke will get this one!
Taurasi Villa Raiano
2008 $23.95- 249 cases An Aglianico, even though this one has some age, it
may be less approachable than the next from Puglia.
Girolamo Capo di
Gallo Aglianico 2011 – $18.95 - 298 cases- younger by three vintages than
the Taurasi, look for black fruits to dominate the palate but I think you’ll
find some licorice notes too. Decant it.
Big Bucks
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Canoe Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 $34.95 – 223 cases of 6– Overpriced in our market but a very
nice wine. From a specific vineyard in
the H3 region, this one’ll be an interesting counterpoint to the
recently released Ste. Michelle
Indian Wells and the CC H3. Given the
option, you can buy three CC H3’s for less than two of these.
Kenwood Jack London
Cabernet 2010 - $39.95 – 269 cases of 6 - Almost as good as the Ste
Michelle but even more expensive for what you get.
Chateau Fortia Cuvee
du Baron 2010 - $38.95 – 219 cases– Big, bold, but there have been as good CdP’s
this year for less.
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