Vintages May 24 Release - The Southern Rhone

It’s the real May Two Four weekend!  An auspicious date for a Vintages release and it’s a Southern Rhone release to boot. If the Southern Rhone feature had lots going for it, this could be a win streak for the LCBO (two releases  in a row, wow).  Sadly it doesn’t have much going for it so the Vintages streak is stopped at one and only if you’re a  Leaf fan  does that constitute a win streak!  

For the release and perhaps to add insult to injury,  the better wine price matchups (the best QPR ones) do come from a Southern Rhone producer but from his Languedoc enterprises.

This release, in spite of the main feature being for one of my favourite regions, has a VRSS score of 58 to 62 points.

MIDI

M. CHAPOUTIER LES VIGNES DE BILA-HAUT 2011 998 cases  $14.95 – The  bargain of the release. Think of it as a very  good Cotes du Rhone Villages. And looking at many of the prices of the CdRVs in this release it is well priced too.

DOMAINE DE BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2011 399 cases $25.95 – Annually a very well regarded wine from the Master of the Rhone Michel Chapoutier, who has become a global powerhouse. This is among his better Midi productions and is held in high esteem by everyone from Beppi  to  Parker to the WineAlign crowd to WS. Allowed to repose for a time in a dark cool place, it’ll really show its best.  

DOMAINE LES YEUSES LES ÉPICES SYRAH 2011 749cases  $14.95 – Mmmm as the name suggests, spicey!

 RHÔNE

All the Rhone wines are OK. None have me racing around trying to find them but this one should be a good buy:

DOMAINE LAFOND ROC-ÉPINE LIRAC 2011   999 cases $18.95 – Among the lesser known ‘named’ Cotes du Rhone Villages, Lirac is still somewhat undiscovered/ understood  in North America. As a result this one has held the price line nicely. You’ll get plenty of fruit and a pleasant wine for pizzas, burgers, saucisses, or charcuterie but the wine should have enough stuffing to drink and age nicely on its own.

And the following one is slightly overpriced for what you’ll get:

GABRIEL MEFFRE SAINTE-CATHERINE GIGONDAS 2011   199 cases $29.95- While the quality of the vintage may not be up to 2010 the price certainly is. I’d normally pick up a couple. This time round and at this price it’s a ‘maybe- maybe not’ proposition.

Argentina

LEO Premium Malbec 2011 $18.95  – Produced by Valentin Bianchi on behalf of and named for Argentina’s  Lionel Messi, this is a good wine to have on hand for burgers during the World Cup! And proceeds from the sale of this wine go to help underprivileged kids.

SOUTH AFRICA

THELEMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009   111 cases $28.95 – Not a huge number of cases but I expect this one to be among the better  choices in the release if you can find it. Big SA cabernet profile – means cassis, cedar and spice with perhaps a hint of tar ( or is that burnt rubber?).

Australia

ROLF BINDER ‘Hales’ – 2010 Shiraz – $18.95 - From the Barossa Valley, big bold, and a real mouthful for the price.

WASHINGTON STATE

CANOE RIDGE EXPEDITION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011   223 cases $19.95 – I was hoping for a Columbia Crest H3 clone but am not sure you’ll get all that from this one. Look for the H3 instead.

Big Bucks

LAZZERETTI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2007   238 cases $42.95 – A super year in Tuscany in general and Brunello in particular, this one should provide great food friendliness immediately and long into the future.

LA CRAU DE MA MÈRE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2011   139 cases $46.95

BOSQUET DES PAPES CUVÉE TRADITION CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE   149 cases $50.95

E. GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2007    199 cases  $59.95 – Great vintage with some age on it now so you can promote it in your cellar while waiting for the 2010’s to come around. Just over my price ceiling though. Perhaps I’ll drown my sorrows with some less expensive 2010’s,  if there are any around.

May 10th Vintages - Something for almost everyone.

May 10^th and we finally get a release with some quality and variety and thankfully also with wine prices that don’t break the bank. This time around the featured countries are Argentina and Chile backed up by two others, a Rosé feature and a look at Germany. The wine picks are global in scope.

As so often happens with Vintages featured countries, the wines presented are not really top notch but this time around a few are good enough to make it into my selections. I have also made some picks from the rosés. On a deck or patio on a hot summer day I quite like them. The nice thing about new rosés is they are versatile enough to accompany a lunch or a supper of grilled fish, chicken, or pork tenderloin.  I know it may seem early in the year but once many of these are gone, they’re gone until next year so pay attention!

This release scores 68 points on the VRSS and could make it into the 70’s. It’s been a long time since we reached that lofty height and you can thank the rosés this time around.

ARGENTINA

For me only a couple of wines make the grade among the reasonably priced offerings in the first feature of the release, (excluding that big buck Purple Angel). Both are malbecs. Is my predilection for rare, grilled beef showing?

ALTOS LAS HORMIGAS TERROIR MALBEC 2010   223 cases $19.95 – Almost a QPR winner. BBQ’d Burgers, lamb or beef and a glass or two of this. Hard to beat.

ACHÁVAL FERRER MALBEC 2012 400 cases $24.95 – Among my favourite Argentine producers. Santiago Achaval’s discussion of terroir and terrunyo on Wine Library TV is among my favourite wine clips on youtube. A-F’s malbec has gotten more pricey over the last few years but is worth it when served with a roast prime rib or a big hunk of grilled steak.

AUSTRALIA

FOWLES WINE THE EXCEPTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010   419 cases $24.95 – Fowles wines are on a successful run at the LCBO in both the general list and Vintages. Their Stone Dwellers Cab is very popular in the general list and the Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz has developed quite a following at a premium price. I expect the Exception to be a terrific wine. Last year the 2005 Vintage won the Chairman of Judges Award at the prestigious Sydney International wine competition. If nothing else, that proves the wine can age nicely in the medium term.  Look for this one.

SALTRAM MAMRE BROOK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011   497 cases  of 6 $26.95 – Always tasty.

CHILE

TABALÍ RESERVA ESPECIAL 2009   300 cases $22.95

FRANCE

MIDI

GÉRARD BERTRAND GRAND TERROIR LA CLAPE   399 cases $18.95 – This’ll be an interesting wine. Don’t expect to get quite a Gigondas or Vacqueyras profile as this is missing the raspberry provided by the Grenache, but it’ll be, at times, a smokey, meaty, peppery, licorice-y treat.

RHÔNE

DELAS FRÈRES LES LAUNES CROZES-HERMITAGE 2011  249 cases $22.95 – Think of it as a short lived Hermitage. Give it a year or two and really enjoy it then. If you can’t wait that long, your decanter is calling!

TUSCANY

MARCHESI DE' FRESCOBALDI TENUTA DI CASTIGLIONI 2011   700 cases $21.95 Annually a very good wine. Will age until at least 2018 -2020 or serve it tonight with a grilled bifteck fiorentina.

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2009   650 cases $21.95

RUFFINO MODUS 2009  299 cases $28.95 – Another high quality wine that is very good each year but I think  Suckling’s score of 95 points is way over the top. You’re probably better to save $7 and buy the Rocca Delle Macie 20009 CCR.

SPAIN

VALDEMAR INSPiRACION SELECCION 2010 3998 cases - $17 – One of the few Food and Drink $17 specials that merit the price.  A WS Top 100 choice (#34) that will blow out of the stores by the case load on that reputation alone. Made in a more modern style (for Spain), this one should exhibit plenty of berry fruit and spice with a nice long finish.

VIÑA HERMINIA VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA GRACIANO CRIANZA  298 cases of 6 $22.35

WASHINGTON STATE

HEDGES CELLARS CMS 2011  446 cases $19.95 – Another very pleasant solid wine from the Columbia Valley. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, and Syrah, this one’ll please a lot of palates.

ROSE  WINES

Rumour has it that summer will arrive sometime this year. In preparation, I’ve picked out a demidouzaine of the rosés in this release. They run the gamut from fruity to acidic so look for everything from watermelon, strawberry and raspberry through rhubarb and pink grapefruit notes. Served properly chilled all will work if you’re out on the deck with some charcuterie, breads, cheeses, pickles and olives or some grilled seafood, or tasty sausages hot off the grill.

SOUTH AFRICA

MULDERBOSCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSÉ 2013   503 cases $12.95 – Annually a fave especially if you’re overlooking Weller’s Bay with some nice charcuterie.  Very, very strawberry-rhubarb.

SPAIN

MUGA ROSÉ 2013   1200 cases $12.95 – Consistent, solid and well priced. A very pale coloured rosé that accompanies tapas so well.

ITALY

ZENATO BARDOLINO CHIARETTO ROSÉ 2013   419 cases    $14.95 – I’m expecting this to have some real nice cherry notes instead of berry notes. We shall see.

FRANCE

GÉRARD BERTRAND CÔTE DES ROSES ROSÉ 2013   511 cases of 6  $19.95 – I like Bertrand’s wines across the board so I’m going to pick this one in spite of the somewhat elevated price tag (for a rosé). Spiffy bottle and stopper too.

MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE TRADITION ROSÉ 2013   1100 cases $15.95

CHÂTEAU VAL JOANIS TRADITION SYRAH ROSÉ 2013  521 cases  $15.95

 Big Bucks

Two of the picks are just over my $50 ceiling – c’est la vie!

MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2011 200 cases of 6   $59.95 – A very good wine from a high quality Chilean producer. A smokey, fruity delight but outside my price ceiling.

FONTANAFREDDA SERRALUNGA D'ALBA BAROLO 2008  199 cases $39.95 – Consistently very good and well priced for a Barolo but will need some age or a decant.

TORBRECK THE STEADING 2009   38 cases of 6   $53.95 This one is a Flagship Store Exclusive.  That means it’ll be unavailable to the great, unwashed hordes outside of a few limited store locations in the Nation’s Capital and in the area of the Big Smoke.  Fans of Big Oz, take note.

What might I buy?

Inspiracion	17	4	68
Altos Las H	20	3	60
A-F malbec	25	1	25
Fowles Exception	25	3	75
CMS	20	1	20
Mulderbosch	13	4	52
Muga	13	3	39
Chiaretto	14	2	28
		21	367