All posts tagged Malivoire

LCBO Vintages Saturday March 19

by Kato on March 18, 2011 in Vintages Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: One great thing about Vintages is the opportunity to expand our repertoire of white wines – to experience ‘something different’ in the first bottle of the evening. Check out the trio below. My Bordeaux pair and Santa Barbara Pinot are red wine-styles not found at regular LCBOs. As is the Beaujolais. Many of my picks have a summer season feeling, so stock up!

lieraWHITES
Wine style: Fresh white
LEIRA 09 Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain 115816 $16.95
Refreshment plus. Lemon/lime flavours combined with spiciness and richness. Very appealing and complete without any oak influence. From Spain’s land of seafood.

varandaWine style: Fresh/Rich white
VARANDA do CONDE 09 Vinho Verde, Portugal 966663 $13.95
Great blast of lemony freshness. High spirited refresher. Needs hot weather to show its stuff – buy a stash for Summer afternoons or evenings. A classic Vinho Verde produced from Alvarinho (Albarino in Spain) and Trajadura grapes

monteroWine style: Rich white
SELLA & MOSCA 09 Vermentino di Gallura, ‘Monteoro’, Sardinia, Italy 203422 $16.95
Semi-rich with an appetizing, savoury character. Shades of Sem/Sauv. Low-keyed in a good way. Different. Really good all evening white. Vermentino is just one of Italy’s many wonderful indigenous white grape varieties.

malivoreOVFREDS
Wine style: Rustic red
MALIVOIRE 09 Old Vines Foch, VQA Ontario 551036 $19.95
This dark, hard and tart wine is not for everyone. But if you’re up for wine adventure and enjoy the back roads, Mr Foch will take you there. Needs food and should never be poured at a party – unless you’re pulling the plug on the event.

beaujVillagesWine style: Rustic red
VILLA PONCIAGO 09 Beaujolais-Villages, France 207449 $15.95
Fruity meets refreshment, meets rustic. While you get the lighthearted feeling of Beaujolais there is also character to grab on to. Interest to keep you drinking. And happy. One sip and you’ll be thinking French bistro. One glass and you’ll be there. Would be one hell of a great Summer red. Lightly chilled of course.
P.S. Produced by Bouchard Pere et Fils using traditional vinification as opposed to the normal carbonic maceration – hence the rustic edge and extra shot of character.

FontBordeauxstemilionWine style: Rustic reds
CH. de FONTENILLE 08 Bordeaux, France 199109 $14.95
CH. COTES de SAINT CLAIR 06 Bordeaux, France 199026 $14.95
It’s becoming rare to find traditional style Bordeaux at a reasonable price but here are two. Hurrah! Expect dusty dryness, herbaceous flavours and lots of vigor. Along with lower than normal alcohol levels and an invitation to gulp. Forget the Chateau designation and think gutsy, earthy, French Country wine. Fontenille is the lighter and the Saint Clair more hearty. Naturally both are food, not party, wines. These would be an eye opener for anyone who has never tasted Merlot/Cabernet in a pure form.

pomaresWine style: rustic red
QUINTA NOVA ‘Pomares’ 08 Douro, Portugal 214007 $16.95
Rustic with a capital R. As with many Douro reds there is a resemblance to the dry, rustic character of Bordeaux. Draws you in – engaging you and your appetite. Wonderful partner for red meats, a hearty appetite and earthy company. Or just a good friend.

pasquaRipassoWine style: Rich red
PASQUA 08 Valpolicella Ripasso ‘Black Label’, Italy 203968 $18.95
Warm, toasty Amarone-like feelings for less than $20! Rich, earthy,  late nigh supper wine. Pasqua is one of the great Valpolicella houses but this is the first time we’ve seen their Ripasso.

vinsobresWine style: rich red
PERRIN & FILS 08 Vinsobres ‘Les Cornuds’, Rhone, France 566844 $17.95
Perrin’s ‘Cru’ Rhone reds are among the most reliable wines in the world. Rich but never overbearing or overworked. Expect the peppery, spicy character of Rhone-Villages plus a little extra to engage the imagination with some mystery. Enjoy with almost any food. Could be cellared a year or two.

santabarbaraWine style: rich red
SANTA BARBARA 09 Pinot Noir, California 194332 $19.95
Californian Pinot that’s not too sweet nor pricey. Dry, lively in the Burgundy style. Very refreshing and fun to gulp. If you enjoy vitality in your reds, get this. Yummy, yummy stuff. Lightly chill.

LCBO Vintages Saturday October 2

by Kato on September 30, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: I found something to recommend in all three of the catalogue ‘features’ – Australia, Italy and Thanksgiving. Consider buying my Aussie reds for a snapshot of the four principal wine styles produced in that country.

Quintarelli is a wine folk hero and always worth the experience. You are sure to please putting Malivoire’s Rosé on the Thanksgiving table. (And any of my white picks would be popular too.) Chateau St. Jean is a must for Pinot addicts.

ladybugROSE
wine style: dry rosé
MALIVOIRE 09 Rosé ‘Ladybug’, VQA Niagara 559088 $15.95
Delicious fruitiness and some richness. Perfect for Thanksgiving and stock up for Christmas too. Dry Rosé is a great food wine in general.

lehmannWHITES
wine style: fresh white
PETER LEHMANN 08 Riesling, Eden Valley, Australia 186361 $14.95
Tart, super refreshing with a tease of citrusy flavours. Unusually understated and low alcohol for an Aussie. Aperitif.

soellerwine style: nice & easy white
SOELLNER ‘Toni’ Grüner Veltliner, Austria 184085 $14.95
Zippy, spicy with a gentle and friendly feeling. Better than a happy pill.

torreswine style: rich white
TORRES ‘Gran Vina Sol’ 08 Chardonnay, Penedes, Spain 171660 $14.95
Semi-rich Chardonnay with a refreshing tartness. And a solid earthy feeling. Built for food, not glamour. Good value.

yerlingREDS
wine style: rustic red
LITTLE YERING 08 Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Australia 188094 $14.95
A great buy for fans of ‘barnyard’ Pinots. Raunchy and very Burgundian. Needs food. Check out more value wines from this winery on the regular LCBO shelves.

stJEANwine style: rich red
CHATEAU ST. JEAN 07 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California 687970 $19.95
Big, lush and seductive. Very Californian. Would impress at a fancy dinner. St. Jean always does well with Pinot.
valpolicellawine style: rich red
QUINTARELLI 01 Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy 986117 $84.95
Vapolicella that thinks it’s Tawny Port. Lush, spicy, earthy and full of mystery. More exciting, and more rare, than most Amarones or any wine at this price. Quintarelli delivers the goods. Treat yourself, or gift a good friend. Sip after dinner.

visanwine style: rich red
LES COTEAUX 07 ‘Visan’, Cotes du Rhone-Village, France 179226 $13.95
A yummy, spicy, peppery, rich red for those who missed the Rhone special a few weeks ago.
chickywine style: rich red
CHARLES CIMICKY 06 Shiraz ‘Trumps’, Barossa Valley, Australia 07383 $24.95
Dark, dense and solid. With a plummy, Port-like warmth. I’d pour this after dinner.

wynnwine style: rich red
WYNNS 06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Australia 84996 $24.95
Wynns Coonawarra is an Australian classic. Modeled on Bordeaux, it combines boldness with some seriousness. As formal as it gets down under. Needs beef, of course.

fourroadswine style: rich red
MAXWELL 08 Shiraz/Grenache/Viognier ‘Four Roads’, McLaren Valley, Australia 57000 $19.95
Cotes du Rhone in style with extra ripeness and richness. Guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser with any hearty meal.

LCBO Vintages Saturday May 29

by Kato on May 27, 2010 in Vintages Picks with 1 Comment

THE LOW DOWN: Don’t miss this opportunity to experience wines from France’s Loire Valley. Red and  white with bright flavours and a pure, spring-like quality. And a sensational sweetie. There is nothing like these at regular LCBOs.

Niagara Riesling is back on form with the 08 vintage so it’s time to start buying again. I’m recommending a Malbec for all you fans of big reds.

P.S. DRY ROSÉ
Add to my previous list of recommended Rosés from Vintages May 15th release.
MALIVOIRE 09 Rosé ‘Ladybug’, VQA Niagara 559088 $15.95
More pleasant than refreshing. A little smokiness suggests pairing it with BBQ’d foods.

hopWHITES

wine style: fresh white
HENRY OF PELHAM 08 Reserve Riesling Off-Dry, VQA Short Hill Bench 557165 $15.95
Crisp with beautiful pure flavours and loaded with refreshment. Dancing lightly – a great tease for the palate. Almost bone dry. Age a year or two, or have with your next patio lunch.

stratuswine style: fresh white
STRATUS 08 Riesling, VQA Niagara 131011 $29.20
Already delivering the ‘petrol’ flavours so loved by some Riesling fans. Exuberant, confident and concentrated, with a perfect balance of zest and fruitiness. The austerity of Dry Riesling with a hit of glamour. Expensive but special.

sorbequincy

wine style: fresh white
JEAN-MICHEL SORBE 08 Reuilly, Loire, France 168898 $17.95
DOMAINE LECOMTE 08 Quincy, Loire, France 172528 $18.95
These Loire whites offer something different in Sauvignon Blanc – more grace than force. Refreshment with a gentle purr. And a classy feeling.

chinoREDS
wine style: lively red
DOMAINE DU CARROI 08 Chinon ‘Cuvée des Folies’, Loire, France 170241 $13.95
Very tart, very refreshing and a bit of a challenge. This is Cab Franc in its purest form – invigorating, lighthearted stuff for summer lunches and picnics.

fincawine style: rich red
FINCA EL ORIGEN 08 Malbec Gran Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina 65425 $19.95
Big, jammy, smooth and rich. Move over Merlot. Crowd-pleaser.

souchiereSWEET WHITE
CH. SOUCHERIE 02 Coteaux du Layon, Loire, France 952069 $18.95
Luscious, honeyed wine that feels both sweet and refreshing. Best value sweet wine in the world – a MUST buy. And get lots, because this Chenin Blanc wine ages beautifully – usually up to 30 to 50 years!


LCBO Vintages Saturday April 3

by Kato on April 1, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: Unfortunately, most of the Spanish reds offered in this release are super-rich/smooth – catering to the North American palate – but I did find some interesting and reasonable priced picks. France keeps giving us reasons to return to the motherland of wine: a white Burgundy, a red Bordeaux and a Côtes du Rhône are the star offerings in this release. Malivoire, Lailey and Southbrook deliver good reasons to buy local.

cord_pN
SPARKLING
Wine style: Fresh
CODORNIU Pinot Noir Rosé  Brut, Spain 665372 $16.95
Fruity, fun, friendly sparkling. Refreshing, but not austere. Sunday brunch.


vvilanoWHITES
Wine style: fresh white
VINA VILANO 08 Verdejo, Rueda, Spain 162719 $12.95
The Verdejo grape is Spain’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc. Zesty, herbaceous and perfect for the Summer season. This one is a very good allrounder – for food or just for fun.

monopoleWine style: fresh white
CVNE 08 ‘Monopole’, Rioja, Spain 66951  $13.95
Traditional very dry, tart, low-alcohol white. Good tangy refresher or seafood partner.
P.S. Wouldn’t this be the perfect flagship white for the LCBO ‘monopoly’.

abadWine style: nice ‘n easy white
ABAD DOM BUENO 08 ‘Godello’, Bierzo, Spain 154303 $14.95
Freshness combined with fruity flavours and a lighthearted feeling. Good everyday gulper.

jimjimwine style: nice ‘n easy white

HUGH HAMILTON 08 Unoaked Chardonnay ‘Jim Jim’, Australia 58537 $15.95
It doesn’t get much more crowdpleasing than this semi-rich, delicious gulper. A teasing mix of zest and slight sweetness.

southbrookwine style: rich white
SOUTHBROOK 08 Chardonnay ‘Triomphe’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 172338 $21.95
Tart, earthy Chardonnay in the Burgundian style. Feels rich but the alcohol is moderate. A wonderful partner for herb roasted/BBQ white meats. Should be even more characterful in a year or two.

bourgonewine style: rich white
MAISON FRANCOIS MARTENOT 07 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 159095 $16.95
Speaking of Burgundy, here’s a classic. Chardonnay the old way – tons of flavour but not heavy on alcohol. More earthy than fruity. A fab food wine. And an amazing value. Get some.

malivoireGamayREDS
Wine style: lively red
MALIVOIRE 08 GAMAY, VQA Niagara 591313 $17.95
Juicy, fruity and refreshing. Most local Gamays are earthy but this delivers the fun, gulp me character of Beaujolais. A bit pricy but guaranteed to delight at any Summer event. Lightly chilled of course.

oldvinesfochWine style: rustic red
MALIVOIRE OLD VINES 08 Foch, VQA Ontario 551036 $24.95
Bitter, earthy and challenging. That’s the Foch way. But there’s something exciting about drinking a local red from 34 year old vines. Perhaps with old cheddar, old Lightfoot and late night by the campfire. Expensive but original.

castillonWine style: rustic red
CHATEAU FONGABAN 05 Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux 165720 $17.95
Classic French bistro red. Rustic and a bit challenging. But wonderful with food because it invigorates and stimulates the palate. Red meats.

Wine style: rustic red
BODEGAS y VINEDOS NEO 07 ‘Vivir,Vivir’, Ribera del Duero, Spain 162693 $12.95
Rustic, gutsy and full of vigour. Heartwarming, old-style wine in the fashion of Tuscan or Abruzzi reds. Not anything like the description in the catalog.

laileywine style: rich red
LAILEY VINEYARD 07 Merlot, VQA Niagara River 591396 $25.00
The plummy character of Merlot along with some woodsy flavours. Good dinner partner because of the gutsy, refreshing edge. Lailey winery prices their premium wines lower than most.

artazuriWine style: rich red
VINEDOS ARTAZU 08 Garnacha ‘Artazuri’, Navarra, Spain 80812 $13.95
The strawberry-sweet character of Pinot Noir, along with a tangy bite. Charm meets earthiness. A wonderful drink. Lightly chill and let the evening unfold.

gabaWine style: rich red
GABA do XIL 08 Mencia, Valdeorras, Spain 166199 $15.95
A delicious gulper. Lively, fruity and fun. Shades of Valpolicella. Lighly chill and let the party begin. BBQed burgers would keep the vibe going.

riojaWine style: rich red
BODEGAS LAN 2004 Rioja Reserva, Spain 42929 $19.95
Classic Rioja Reserva – sweet/spicy flavours combined with a faded, old-world feeling. Light lots of candles.

latriaWine style: rich red
LATRIA 2006, Montsant, Spain 155424 $18.95
Here’s the bite and vitality often  lacking in Spanish reds. Charming, Merlot-style wine to partner with beef or lamb dishes.

croisettewine style/rich red
DOMAINE de la CROISETTE 07 Côtes du Rhône, France 155465 $13.95
Almost New World in richness but has the vitality of Cotes du Rhone. A wonderful combination of substance, charm and playfulness. And value. Get lots of this for summer BBQs.

LCBO Vintages Saturday Jan 23

by Kato on January 22, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with 2 Comments

THE LOW DOWN: Six picks ranging in price from $15 to $25. Blockbuster, crowd-pleasing Argentinan wines are the feature but they are outdone by my Cotes du Rhone pick. France also scores with a Sauv Blanc. Malivoire Gamay and Southbrook Chard are outstanding locals.

saintbresWHITES
wine style: fresh white
LA CHABLISIENNE 08 Sauvignon, Saint-Bris, France 641753 $14.95
Seriously dry and sharp Sauvignon. Edgy and super-refreshing – but needs a hot summer day.

southbrookwine style: rich white
SOUTHBROOK 07 Chardonnay ‘Triomphe’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 117572 $21.95
Solid, manly Chard in the Burgundian style. Deep, earthy flavours, rich and very luxurious. Needs a special event and well seasoned food. Or just sip and enjoy. A wonderful wine experience at a reasonable price. Could be aged a year or three.

alamoswine style: nice & easy white
ALAMOS  08 Torrontes, Argentina 81539 $13.95
Torrentes is South America’s Muscat or Gewuztraminer. Exotic and spicy with a suggestion of sweetness. Fun stuff to sip between meals and at parties. And a really good partner for Sunday eggs.

malivoireREDS
wine style: lively red
MALIVOIRE 08 Gamay VQA Niagara 591313 $17.95
A lively, fruity, earthy edition of the Beaujolais grape. Very refreshing, very gulpable and a wonderful local expression. A bit expensive but you’ll feel awfully good drinking this on a picnic this summer.

selwine style: rich red
CLOS de LOS SIETE 07, Mendoza, Argentina 622571 $23.95
Argentinean edition of Bordeaux. Solid, manly red for beef or lamb. Best partnered with a formal mood.

crozauwine style: super-rich red
LA RÉSERVE du CROUZAU ST. GERVAIS 07 Cotes du Rhône-Villages, France 142943 $14.95
A blockbuster for sure. Super-rich red for fireside sipping. If you like Amarone try this – at a quarter of the price.

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