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

April 12th and April 26th Vintages releases - One wine for collectors but not much else.

With their April 12^th release Vintages does little to change the LCBO’s 2014 record as one of the world’s largest purveyors of often overpriced, often poor quality wines. To say that there is a dearth of vinous options in this release is a fair assessment methinks. The big features are appassimento wines and Easter wines, so if you are a fan of Amarone or Riesling you might be very happy. While there is nothing in the release that I absolutely have to buy, the  Catena’s Cabernet (in spite of the over blown review),  Zonte’s Footsteps Baron van Nemesis Single Site  (in spite of the dumb name) and Jim Barry’s the Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 are my only recommendations.   In the past I have been a proponent of  l’Ecole 41 wines but this time around I have to issue a  buyer beware.  I haven’t seen any glowing reviews of the one in this release and at this price, the reviews should be glowing.  If you can drop by a local LCBO that has a tasting bar do so before spending your hard earned cash on this one. The big buck Amarones from the Feature don’t hold much allure but In the past I have recommended a couple of the more reasonably priced  ripasso wines  - The Zenato Ripasso and the Capitel Dei Nicalo are both always quite solid .  

So what will I be doing this weekend? Probably  ignoring this release and picking up ones and  twos of  recommended wines  from previous releases that are still available .  If you can find the Tassinaia 2006  do so. To my palate it’s close to the Sette Ponti’s Oreno for about two fifths the price. I’m also thinking that the Castello di Ama 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva is a good option if a little expensive.   The 09 was a blend of grapes from their single vineyards blended with those usually used in their Riserva. With the next vintage being officially the first of the new  Grand Selezione category, positioned above the Chianti Classico Riserva, the 09 could actually be a Grand  Selezione  in Riserva’s clothing. Properly marketed I expect this new category of Chianti Classicos to edge into Brunello territory price wise going forward. Still another great option from a few weeks ago is the Montirius Gigondas 2007  if you can find any of them and if you like the Southern Rhone.

Looking ahead, the big features of the April 26^th release are B and B’s -  Bordeaux and Bubblies.  In general terms, I’m not a fan of Bordeaux. Tobacco and green flavours,  not enough fruit and of course  way over hyped and too often overpriced.  Surprisingly  the prices aren’t bad  for the Bordeaux  in this release and it is better than recent ones. But it’s still not a great release.

  My first recommendation is to shop the Spanish reds in this release. There are values at every price point from Spain including one that was the decanter number 1 wine of the year and which received  a 100 point score from one of their reviewers. With a trio of tasters the  I Faustino 2001 ended at 97 points  which means the other two scored it around 95 points. Not too shabby if you trust the decanter palates. Considering the price of the 100 point Dominus in a recent release, this one at $32.95 is a buy. Just be prepared to line up early and hope you like that old time Spanish profile.   

If you’re not a fan of Spain and you must shop the new release for a red, go to Washington St. or Argentina. From Washington, try the Three Rivers ‘Rivers Red’ 2011. The wine is slightly overpriced at $19.95 but should be good.  From Argentina, the best choice appears to be the Casarena Ramanegra Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, from 80 year old vines, this one should be a beaut. A third option might be the Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico 2010. All three of these choices are under $20 and should be good.

If you’re looking for whites, try one of the following chardonnays:

Gray Monk unwooded Chardonnay 2012 - $19.95 – A very good Okanagan producer. Remember we’re not going for the vanilla buttery notes here but rather all fruit.

From Burgundy, Roche de Bellene Montagny Premiere Cru 2011 – This should be very tasty but for $26.95 it ought to be. It is the midpriced option of three of the producer’s chardonnays that the LCBO has sold in the last few months.  A less pricey and perhaps less sophisticated sibling was released in February  this year and was very nice – green apple, some lemon-y acidity and quite vibrant. The more expensive (almost  $50)  bigger brother was in the March 29^th release.

Among the Big buck options, Les Terrasses from Priorat in Spain is often superb but also often ends up on the Bin End markdown sale list. Because it was #26 in the WS Top 100 last year, it should sell through this year. For those looking for something different the Mitolo Serpico is one  release late coming to the party. This is an Aussie Cab Sauv made in the Amarone style. Where was it last release?

Let’s all hope for continued improvement  and better things to come in May!

March 29th - Vintages 'Spring has sprung' release

The feature of this release is Thirty Reasons to love Vintages. Oh brother! So typical of a government operation to toot its own horn.  If they can give us thirty reasons to love them, they must be doing a good job, right?  Suuuure.  Reading through the thirty reasons my first thoughts were that the propaganda  ministry has been hard at work and that this might be the first Vintages catalogue that  could be considered a work of fiction.  Somehow I think it would be much easier for us to come up with more than thirty one reasons to not love the LCBO.  

This release comes hot on the heels of the previous ‘California release for the wealthy’.  This one could be California for the middle class.  Am I enthused?  Not especially by the release but for me there is one wine that I’ll buy.  It’s relatively well priced, has some age on it and comes in just under $25. OK ok, I have now found one reason to like Vintages this week.

The Reds

The wine that interests me the most in the release? Domaine Montirius Terre des Ainés Gigondas 2007 - $24.95 – This is the entry level Gigondas from Montirius.  A wonderful vintage, nicely aged, from a very good,  biodynamic producer. This should be everything you could want to accompany grilled or roasted fowl, lamb or beef. It’s in a perfect place right now and will be for another few years. On the nose it could be meaty and a little funky early on but that funk should blow off. On the palate expect dark fruits, lots of herby notes,  hints of licorice and a nice finish. 80%Grenache and 20%mourvedre, from vines at least forty years old but some that were planted as early as 1925.

The Black Chook 2012 -$17.95 – Shiraz viognier blend. Want  your wine bottles to be dressed up like Idi Amin or Augusto Pinochet?  Then this is the vino for you. The bottle image is sporting more medals than the leader of a third world military junta; this wine is probably terrific for the price but the medals are a bit much, aren’t they?  Especially if they’re for Kangaroo Crossing’s annual  Sheep Shearing and Wine Festival.  Tone ‘em down boys and girls. Yes the wine  scores 90’s from anyone who reviews it so, if you like the style,  you will get what you expect for your dollars. Fans of the Formula should step up for this Aussie take on a Cote Rotie blend.

Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 - $17.95 – Always high quality and very well priced. Decoration wise,  the bottle is not quite in the Pinochet range. 

Cathedral Cellars Shiraz 2009 - $15.95 – Think of this product line as a South African, slightly  less expensive, Wakefield.

Yalumba The Strapper GSM 2011-$19.95 – An Aussie GSM that’ll be tasty around the BBQ this spring.

Santa Rita Medalla Real Carmenere 2009 - $17.96 – Smokey, merlotesque wine from Chile. A nice departure from Cab Sauv if you’re grilling burgers or saucisses.

From California, a few sub $30 Cabernet options:

Chateau St. Jean at $29.95, Napa Cellars 2011 Cabernet at $25.95, Rutherford Ranch 2011 at $21.95 all are pleasant alternatives offering plenty of fruit including black cherry and cassis as well as some cedar nuances. All are ready for immediate consumption, the St.Jean will age.

The Whites and Rosés

Darenberg Hermit Crab Viognier/ Marsanne 2012 -  $19.95– an Aussie take on a white Rhone blend. It’s not as good as the written review, but it’ll be a nice change.

Jip Jip Rocks unoaked Chardonnay 2012 - $15.95– well priced, no butter, all fruit.

Kim Crawford 2013 Pansy – $17.95 - From the well known New Zealand  producer,  this rosé is just off   dry. It was originally developed for and targeted at the gay market in New Zealand and Australia -  hence the tongue in cheek name (oh what a bad pun that one is!). It’s a nice patio wine for those first warm days of spring when the sun is shining and this damn winter is but a fading memory. 

The Big Bucks

Beronia Gran Reserva 2006 - $34.95 – The delights of Spanish wines! If this was from Bordeaux it’d be twice the price. From a more modern than traditional producer, this one is almost eight years old and should be in a very nice place right now.  Serve with tapas, hard cheeses, or grilled anything.

Gemma Giblin Riserva Barolo 2006 - $40.95 – Superior review from Decanter, well aged already and not a bad price for a Barolo.

Ringbolt 21 Barriques Cabernet Sauvignon – 44.95 – The Ringbolt  $20 Cab is a  perennial Ontario favourite in the $20 and under  range and is from Yalumba’s Margaret River property. The 21 Barriques  might take them to another level  as their  top priced option . It’s named for a parcel of exceptional quality that produces about 21 Barriques annually. I suppose it might be worth a try  to see how it compares to their regular bottling but  two of their regular cuvée for the price of one of these makes it really hard to justify.   

March 15th - a California gold rush and Hand Crafted wines

Saturday, March 15, 2014 – California wines and Hand Crafted wines are the features. That means grab your wallet, get there early and be ready to watch some wealthy guys whining!  You see, California means huge bucks and some cultish wines. Dominus scored 100 points, Pahlmeyer has a name, the Beringer in this release is renowned. But holy smokes, these are expensive wines and it’s not Christmas!  The Dominus order was reduced, the price was bumped up and there just won’t be enough! I’m going to see if I can get an empty Dominus box, close it up and just put it in a cart and walk around one of the big stores with it. What fun that'll be.

Without a winning lottery ticket I can ignore California completely so overall it’s a pretty unexciting release. It does have one must buy for me though along with one or two old favourites and perhaps a couple that are worth taking a flyer on.

 The VRSS is a deceptive 54. For me, there is only one ‘must buy’ but there are a few good wines to fill in holes in your cellar.

The Reds

Chile -  SANTA CAROLINA RESERVA DE FAMILIA CABERNET  SAUVIGNON 2010  949 cases of 6 $18.95 –the Santa Rita reserva/ this one/  the Marques de Casa Concha – the three Chilean Cabs are interchangeablely good. 

France Midi - MAS D'AUZIERÈS LES ÉCLATS 2009  545cases $18.95 – Right in its drinking window and a nice Southern Rhone blend from the Languedoc.

South Australia - THORN-CLARKE SHOTFIRE QUARTAGE 2011 334cases $21.95 – Use one word to describe it?  Ok, opaque.

South Australia - YALUMBA SHIRAZ 2012 571cases $19.95 – An Underappreciated vintner.

Spain – Senorio de los Baldos 2009 - $19.95 -  A more modern take on things from Ribera del Duero region of Spain.

Spain – Lacrimus Crianza 2009 -$18.95 – Rustic means tannic and drier.  This is a wine for laying down and avoiding.  Give it time.

South Africa - RUSTENBERG RM NICHOLSON 2010 237cases $19.95 – A nice SA take on a Bordeaux blend.

USA - RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009   798cases $21.95  - Solid Sonoma cab.

Whites and Fizzies

SOUTH AFRICA - MULDERBOSCH CHENIN BLANC 2011 281 cases $14.95 – I really enjoy Mulderbosch Sauv/ Blanc and Rose.  I also enjoy South African Chenin Blanc. So I figure this is a sure bet.

WASHINGTON STATE - CHARLES & CHARLES CHARDONNAY 2012 335cases $15.95 – A Tasty, well priced alternative.

ITALY - ROTARI ROSÉ   437cases of 6  $17.95

SOUTH AFRICA - GRAHAM BECK PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS 2009 239 cases of 6 $23.95

SPAIN - MONT MARÇAL EXTRAMARIUM RESERVA BRUT CAVA   396 cases of 6 $20.95

BIG BUCKS

TUSCANY - CASTELLO DI AMA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2009 200 cases  $35.95 – While visiting Italy last year  we enjoyed a bottle of the 2007 vintage of this wine. It was among the very best wines of our two weeks there, so good that I sought it out to be one of the wines that we brought back in our suitcases. As good as the ’07 was, I expect this vintage to be even better but not because ’09 was a better vintage to grow grapes. Rather it'll be better for the grapes that have gone into the bottle.  For the 2009 vintage, the Di Ama CCR  includes the grapes that would normally be used to produce their very expensive single vineyard bottlings. At $36 I know it seems expensive for a CCR but compared to the prices of their single vineyard options it's a screaming bargain. A bargain that I expect  to be every bit as good and as ageworthy as many a Brunello.  Give it some time in the dark - but if you must open it sooner, do aerate and decant.

Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - $60.95 – Too bad this one is over my own self imposed price point. $12 less and I’d buy a couple. By the way, it’s sold in Italy, France and Germany for $15 less than here! Don’t even look at the US prices.

Dominus, Beringer, Pahlmeyer – not a chance.

March 1 - Another Ho Hum release so I can sleep in this Saturday.

March 1, 2014 Vintages release.  Kosher and Cabernet. Ho-hum, Almost a "Wake me up when this one is over" release! The one wine that really interests me is the barely Big Buck rep from Washington State. Best nation overall in the release is Spain.

Whites

 MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE VIEILLES VIGNES BOURGOGNE   419 cases $18.95  

 RUSTENBERG CHARDONNAY 2012   167 cases $19.95  

REDS

The Cabs and blends…

 FINCA SOPHENIA 5 Reserve Cabernet - $17.00 – Another of the $17.00 Food and Drink Magazine wines. Well scored, burger wine.

 CICCHITTI GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004   277 cases $21.95  

ANGOVE VINEYARD SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010  255 cases $22.95 

CEDARCREEK ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT 2010  111 cases $24.95 – Not in the cab feature, but I like the producer.

SAN FABIANO CALCINAIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 218 cases $27.95 – Tuscan take on Cabernet

DRY CREEK VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010   279 cases $25.95 – Solid Sonoma cab.

The rest

OZ

JIM BARRY THE LODGE HILL SHIRAZ 2012 499 cases $26.95 - Coolish climate Shiraz. 

FRANCE-MIDI

HECHT & BANNIER CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2010 299 cases $23.95 – A rerelease methinks.

SPAIN   

BODEGAS OLARRA ANARES RESERVA 2006 $19.95 – A 7 years old Rioja Reserva at this price! Excellent food wine.

BODEGAS ARDAL CRIANZA 2005 -$17.95 – Another great deal, yes it’s a food wine too, but at 8 years old it should be right in its drinking window.

LAN CRIANZA 2010   1140 cases $15.95  The seemingly omnipresent  red label from LAN is always solid.

Big Bucks

ITALY - Barolo

G. D. VAJRA ALBE BAROLO 2008 219 cases – $39.95 – The LCBO marked the 2007 Vintage down to $26.85 – what a difference a year makes! This one’ll probably fly out due to its position in the top 20 of the WS Top 100 for 2013.   

HEDGES FAMILY ESTATE THREE VINEYARDS  RED 2011   111 cases $32.95  - My choice as the wine of the release.

Feb.15 - a ho hum French feature

February 15, 2014 LCBO Vintages release.  A few wines worthy of attention but this release is not nearly what it could be.   

Whites, from France, Greece

DOMAINE GAUTHERON CHABLIS 2012 279 cases $24.95 

 JOSEPH DROUHIN MÂCON-VILLAGES 2012     247 cases $17.95   

BOUTARI SANTORINI 2012   198 cases $17.95 

Reds, from the Rhone, Tuscany, California and Washington St.

From the Rhone, a few options. 219 cases of the 2010 DOMAINE DUSEIGNEUR ANTARÈS LIRAC  @ $25.95. An interesting Village, Lirac  flies under the Rhone Radar sometimes. If you can still find the Duvernay Vacqueyras marked down to just over $20, buy it instead.

 PIERRE AMADIEU DOMAINE GRAND ROMANE CUVÉE PRESTIGE  2011 Gigondas, features  198 cases @ $28.95. Not up to the standard set by the 2010 vintage but expect licorice, garrigues, spice and perhaps an earlier drinker.

 From Chianti, the 2010 BIBBIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 597 cases @ $19.95 has an unreal score  from Decanter. As a result it may be hard to find and probably will be one of those Saturday morning ‘arm wrestle’ opportunities. Don’t be too upset if you miss out. All the other reviews I’ve read come in about 10 points below this one so buyer beware.

2007 AMORINO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO $27.95. – New to me, this is an expensive wine for an LCBO offering from  Montepulciano  D’Abruzzo but as a Three of Three winner from Gambero Rosso it might be worth it. Certainly it’s got some age on it so should be more than ready to drink right now.

If you're feeling Italian, I'd also recommend you go back a release or two and find some Tassinaia if you're spending in this $$ region.

The omnipresent (well it seems that way) COLUMBIA CREST. This time it’s the  GRAND ESTATES CABERNET SAUVIGNON   447 cases @ $17.95.  Available for about  $10 in the States.  Between the H3 brand and their Grand Estates brand, Columbia Crest seems to appear once a month representing one of the three big red grapes (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah). Where are the Grand Reserve bottlings boys and girls?  Sure they’re bigger $’s but they’re as good or better than many Cali options offered at substantially more.    

Big Bucks

And speaking of Big Bucks,  Australia offers up a Big Buck Shiraz that I really like, the  THORN-CLARKE WILLIAM RANDELL SHIRAZ 2010   90 cases of 6 $43.95. The score is over the top and will attract point chasers but the wine is very good if you can afford it. 

From California, The Hess wines are quite expensive and a few years ago they were prone to price reductions. That said, I do like the Allomi Vineyard after a little rest in the dark. The wine, not me.  

HESS ALLOMI VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 335 cases $37.95