Thanks to all the readers out there. This week we surpassed the 50,000 visitors mark.
Here we are – the final Vintages release of the year. The previous release
had some very tempting entries and if you broke your bank to buy some of them you
may be disappointed in yourself this time around. I must say it was almost
worth a paid admission last week to see the folks lined up at 9:00 am on a Saturday
morning for the 2010 Pontet Canet @ $250 and the Faustino 1 at about $40! Ahhhh, first world problems, aren’t they grand?
Back to this release, there are some well priced wines in
this one. Argentina and South Africa lead the charge among the reds. Two
malbecs - One under $20 and the other at almost $40 look very good as do the
two South African blends. After that,
I’ll leave the selections to your palate. Any and all of the wines listed below
should bring you pleasure.
REDS
ARGENTINA – Bring on the medium rare prime rib for any of
the following 4 – if you’re in the market for a malbec, this is the order I’d
pick them in
SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE MALBEC 2012 1199 $19.95 – Balbo has been a fave for
quite some time and a real rarity in the macho world of Argentina winemaking.
TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2011 647 cases $18.95
CLOS DE LOS SIETE 2011
630 cases $21.95 – Michel Rolland’s (and 6 others ) investment has taken
on some age now.
CICCHITTI GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2004 300 cases $22.95 – Note the year, this has
some age on it now and an old review from the no longer active Jay Miller.
SOUTH AFRICA
MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2011 167
cases $19.95 – A WS Top 100 Pick this year, this is always a pleasant
wine. A fine Bordeaux blend for prime rib, there are so many from which to
choose this week but this was among my top picks.
ERNIE ELS BIG EASY 2012 279 cases $19.95 – A kitchen sink
blend with Rhone varieties sharing centre stage with Cabernet Sauvignon.
MIDI
DOMAINE DE BILA-HAUT OCCULTUM LAPIDEM 2012 (M.
Chapoutier) 913 cases $24.95- Lots
going on here. Black fruit, licorice,
some herbiness. Needs some time to let it all settle down and then will
be excellent . It’ll age like a Gigondas given the right cellar climate.
AUSTRALIA
DOMAINE TERLATO & CHAPOUTIER SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER 2012 1199 cases
$23.95 – Another of Chapoutier’s global wine holdings, not so in your face as
the Dandelion.
DANDELION VINEYARDS LIONESS OF MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2012 1198 cases
$19.95 – A big, black fruited, peppery mouthful.
WAKEFIELD JARAMAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 383 cases
$24.95 - The bottle image has the look
of Idi Amin with all those medals but
Wakefield is a terrific producer of well priced wines.
TUSCANY
IL MOLINO DI GRACE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 997 cases
$23.95 – Nicely aged and from a terrific vintage. With food, excellent.
SPAIN
In the mood for a Spanish wine? Try some of the Finca El
Encinal 2010 from last release. And Doug says if you can find the Bordon
from Oct.25th, buy it.
CALIFORNIA
RUTHERFORD RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 1299 cases
$22.95 – A very pleasant unpretentious cabernet.
WASHINGTON STATE
POMUM SHYA RED 2008 209 cases
$24.95 - New to me. I might have to try
one.
WHITES and
BUBBLIES
Lots of inexpensive bubbles this time around! Try the Mumm
Napa from the general list too – very good around $26.
JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT 2011 239 cases
of 6 $22.95
PIERRE SPARR BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT D'ALSACE 151 cases $17.95
CAVE DE RIBEAUVILLÉ GIERSBERGER BRUT CRÉMANT D'ALSACE 648 cases $19.95
ALBERT BICHOT BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE 359 cases
of 6 $21.95
FREIXENET ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA 489 cases
of 6 $19.95
MOUNTADAM ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2009 611 cases
$21.95
JACKSON-TRIGGS
DELAINE CHARDONNAY 2012 55 cases of 6
$24.95
DOMAINE LOUIS MOREAU CHABLIS 2013 399 cases $24.95
BIG BUCKS
TRAPICHE VINA JORGE MIRALLES TERROIR SERIES SINGLE VINEYARD 497 cases
of 6 $39.95 – Within a release or two this seems to be the annual spot
for this wine. A single vineyard wine,
very well made, for that special prime rib roast or steak. The same vintage was
available last year at the same price. It would have been nice to try one of
the other of Trapiche’s single vineyard releases but that would necessitate
some work by the LCBO buyer I guess. Too much to hope for? Apparently.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIRECTOR'S CUT CABERNET 449 cases $36.95 – I like this wine but it’s
too much this time around.
ELDERTON ODE TO LORRAINE CABERNET 467 cases
of 6 $39.95 -Last release was a
disappointment. Very thin, I almost thought I was pouring an old world Bordeaux
blend.
LADIES WHO SHOOT THEIR LUNCH SHIRAZ 2012 (Fowles Wines) 479 of 6 $35.95 – Well marketed, well made.
Want a Canuck Christmas wine? Try either of these –
LAUGHING STOCK BLIND TRUST RED 2012 110 cases $37.95
BURROWING OWL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 167 cases $44.95
MONTES PURPLE ANGEL 2011 249 cases of 6 $62.95 - What was an annual treat for me is over my
price threshold now.
BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 501 cases
$49.95 - Good wine, bad vintage.
CORTE PAVONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008 398 cases of 6 $49.95
CAPRILI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009 209
cases $44.95
CHÂTEAU MONT-REDON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2011 199 cases
$44.95
CHÂTEAU DE LA GARDINE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2012 300 cases
$39.95
DOMAINE DU GRAND TINEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010 199 cases
$49.95
