All posts tagged Vintages Picks

LCBO Vintages Saturday September 18

by Kato on September 15, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: It’s Ontario month and I wish I could recommend more locals, but I think that wineries would rather sell their good stuff to their own customers than commit to (and wait for payment) from the the LCBO. I didn’t care for the jammy, chunky, overblown Douro wines either. Buy the Port instead. But as ever, there’s a sprinkling of treasures – at bargain prices.

georgiaWHITES
wine style: nice & easy white
TBILVINO TSINANDALI 08, Georgia 26658 $12.95
From the original home of wine and civilization! Soft, easy-drinking, non-oaked Chardonnay style. Worth a detour.

gaviwine style: fresh white
FONTANAFREDDA 09 Gavi, Piedmont, Italy 75440 $15.95
Gavi is Italy’s answer to Chablis. A low-flavoured white with mineral freshness and a classy feeling. The tease of fruit in this one reminds me of Dry Riesling. Lovely aperitif.

firstsightingwine style: fresh white
STRANDVELD VINEYARDS 09 Sauvignon Blanc ‘First Sighting’, Cape Agulhas, South Africa 18705 $14.95
Sauvignon with amazing purity and stone cold mineral freshness. Think about sea breezes. If you’re into the terroir thing this wine is the expression of a rocky outpost at the real foot of the African continent…where stubborn Dutch farmers dare to grow vines in windblown fields.

JTbubblySPARKLING
JACKSON-TRIGGS Method Classique Brut 05 ‘Proprietor’s Grand Reserve’, VQA Niagara 587691 $19.95
Bargain-priced Bollinger! Bottle age has created toasty richness and charm. Feels luxurious – very Old World. Sip before and with, a nice dinner. Or for parties and celebrations. At this price you can afford to be generous. Very impressive.

REDS

normanPINOTwine style: lively red
NORMAN HARDIE 08 County Pinot Noir Unfiltered, VQA Prince Edward County 125310 $35.20
This is about adventure. Experience the wine that closely resembles the Pinots of Burgundy. Light (11% alcohol), tart, and an earthy feeling of soils. Barnyard for sure. Roast a bird and celebrate Canada’s new wine region.

laileywine style: rustic red
LAILEY 08 Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara 591404 $25.00
It doesn’t get more rustic than this. And you’ll not find a better Burgundian-style Pinot for the price. Raunchy in a good way. But don’t keep it – drink it now. I always enjoy the earthiness in Lailey’s wine.

dolcettowine style: rustic red
PIETRO RINALDI 08 Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy 182261 $16.95
A great hit of Italy. Gutsy red wine with the feeling of old soils – and meals in rustic restaurants. The soulful life. Aussie Shiraz fans will hate the tangy dry edge in this wine.

florewine style: rustic red
JEAN-LUC BALDES 07 ‘Flore’, Cahors, France 176735 $13.95
Experience the original Malbec from the Cahors region in France. A gutsy, invigorating wine in the bistro style. Dry, low alcohol and sure to lead to a second bottle.

gervaiswine style: rich red
LA RESERVE DU CROUZAU 07 ‘St. Gervais’ Cotes du Rhone, France 142943 $13.95
A super-rich Rhone with enough warmth to get you through the coldest winter nights. Spicy flavours give energy to the lush, seductive feeling. A lot of action for the price.

portFerrerieaPORT
FERREIRA 2000 LBV Port, Portugal 675751 $18.95
Plan for winter with this very concentrated, characterful Port. There’s a refreshing edge that could easily lead to over consumption. Always a danger with Port.

LCBO Vintages Saturday April 17

by Kato on April 15, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with 1 Comment

LCBO Vintages Saturday April 17th Release

THE LOW DOWN: A few years ago I met the folks from Monte Del Ffra winery in Italy’s Veneto region and fell in love with their wines. Imagine my delight to see their Custoza, Bardolino and Valpolicello in this release. An opportunity to experience modern German Riesling and yet another fab Cotes du Rhone are a few more highlights.

WHITES
483wine style: fresh white
ST. ANTHONY 08 Riesling ’483′, Rheinhessen, Germany 160622 $16.95
Crisp, starched shirt feeling. Seriously dry and palate teasing with the hidden flavours that make Riesling so interesting. Excellent aperitif or appetizer wine. For those who are not afraid of a challenge on the first few sips, and who are looking for an alternative to  N.Z. Sauvignon.

tudernumwine style: fresh white
CANTINA TUDERNUM 08 Grechetto di Todi, Umbria, Italy 160275 $14.95
The Grechetto grape produces wines that combine mineral freshness with mild flavour and flesh. Shades of an upscale Pinot Grigio – and a white wine that keeps your interest through the entire bottle.
torreswine style: nice & easy white
MIGUEL TORRES 08 ‘Nerola’, Spain 680678 $16.95
Spain’s best known winery is going the organic route. This is a delicious fruity, spicy sipper. Yummy and charming. Shades of white wine with a dollop of Gewurztraminer. Brunch or the patio, or an Asian stir fry.

cadelmagro_montewine style: nice & easy white
MONTE del FRA 08 Custoza ‘Ca Del Magro’, Veneto, Italy 165670 $14.95
Welcome to a new level of niceness. This is the ‘cloud nine’ experience – freshness, a little spicy buzz in the flavour and drop-dead prettiness. Chill, open and they will come. Best ‘nice’ wine I’ve tasted in a long time.

rosewine style: nice & easy rosé
CANTINA di NEGRAR 09 ‘Via Rosé’, Veneto, Italy 165407 $10.95
The café wine comes to us. A perfect blend of fruitiness, freshness and fun. Simple, but honest and awfully good at hitting the spot in the Rosé season. Keep an open bottle in the fridge.
REDS
pepwine style: lively red
JOSEF CHROMY 09 Pinot Noir ‘Pepik’, Tasmania 162990 $21.95
Here’s a light, fruity, Beaujolais-style Pinot from one of the pioneers of Tasmanian winemaking. Read more about him in the catalog. Refreshing and charming – perfect for summer gulping. Lightly chill. Handy screw cap.
bardolinowine style: lively red
MONTE DEL FRA  08 Bardolino, Veneto, Italy 134544 $12.95
A tomato sauce seafood pasta lunch with chilled Bardolino on the shores of Lake Gorda is one of my favourite wine/food/place memories. A simple-but-great experiences. Check it out with this Bardolino – lighthearted, exuberant and joyful. Make it your summer red.
valLenawine style: lively red
MONTE DEL FRA 08 Valpolicella ‘Lena di Mezzo’, Vento, Italy 160226 $13.95
You’ll not meet a better example of Valpolicella. Juicy, furity flavours combined with high energy. A wow for the senses. Very invigorating and an invitation to get pasta on the table – and pour more wine.
brouillywine style: rustic red
CAVE de VIGNERONS de BEL-AIR 08 Brouilly, Beaujolais 159749 $17.95
Beaujolais usually falls into my Lively Red category, but this guy has an earthy feeling to partner the vibrant side. Nourishing and fun. The perfect summer partner for BBQ’d white meats.
closBoiswine style: rustic red
CLOS du BOIS 07 Pinot Noir, California 161273 $18.95Wow! An earthy, gutsy Pinot at a reasonable price. Drier and more real than most Californian Pinot. And the refreshing style will be ideal for summer meals. Clos du Bois is one of the few Californian wineries offering quality and value.
sabletwine style: rich red
CAVE de VIGNERONS a SABLET 07 Cotes du Rhone-Villages, France 78790 $15.00
Lush, red with delicious peppery flavours. And the heartwarming south of France feeling. Live it up for fifteen bucks.

LCBO Vintages Saturday March 6

by Kato on March 4, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: The feature wine country for the March 6th Vintages release is Chile – so it’s going to be a mixed feelings release due to the tragic earthquake. While there might not have been loss of life at the wineries, there is talk of substantial loss of wine stocks. This is an unfortunate set back for a country that is poised to become the most exciting New World producer.  My five recommendations are all stars for charm and value. Once again, the south of France steals the show in reds and Germany invites you to experience one of its white wine treasures.

connawaraWHITES
wine style: fresh white
WYNNS 08 Riesling, Coonawarra, Australia
528216 $16.95
Aussie Riesling is one of the most exciting Summer whites on the planet. Exhilarating, lemon fresh and thirstquenching. A great upper.

BURGwine style: fresh white
BURGERSPITAL 07 Silvaner, Wurzburger Pfaffenberg, Franken, Germany
944504 $19.95
Here’s something different to buy for the Summer season. German wine with the rasping dryness of NZ Sauvignon. But you’ll enjoy lovely delicate honey and lime flavours too. The Boecksbeutel (Mateus-shaped bottle) is fun to behold and hold. Overpriced but worth the splurge.

NOVASwine style: rich white
EMILIANA NOVAS 07 Chardonnay/Viognier/Marsanne, Chile
63909 $18.95
Meet the Amarone of white wine. Big, exotic flavours, super rich and high alcohol. Mind and palate blowing stuff to sip long after the kids go to bed. Organic wine.

FABREREDS
wine style: rich red
CHATEAU FABRE 07 Corbieres, France
148783 $13.95
Rich, earthy red with a lively spirit. All my favourite characteristics, and nice price tag too. Just add Herbs de Provence to whatever you’re cooking and enjoy the bistro experience. (Vintages ‘Wine of the Month’ Corbieres #148692 $19.95 is solemn, serious, expensive and not very bistro).

TABALIwine style: rich red
TABALI 08 Pinot Noir Reserva, Limari, Chile
47514 $19.95
Lively with delicious bright flavours. Refreshing and charming. My favourite, gulp me style Pinot. A not-to-be-missed wine by Pinot fans.

ALPHAwine style: rich red
MONTES ALPHA 07 Pinot Noir,  Leyda Valley, Chile
143214 $19.95
X-Rated Pinot. Lush, rich ‘n lovely. Your Hollywood idol in a bottle. Could be the most seductive $20 red on the planet.

CASAwine style: rich red
CASA LAPOSTOLLE 08 Merlot, Rapel Valley, Chile
405712 $16.95
New World richness in Old World clothing. Crowdpleaser meets classic. Beefeaters dream wine. Most would charge $50 for this.

montesalphawine style: rich red
MONTES ALPHA 07 Carmenere, Colchagua Valley, Chile
143230 $19.95
The ultimate hefty, manly red.  Feels like a perfect combination of  Cabernet and Shiraz


irishwhiskeyIRISH WHISKEY
GREEN SPOT, Mitchell & Son, Ireland
699827 $89.95
The four Irish whiskeys offered are good drinks but Green Spot is the most interesting. Very pure, Sauvignon Blanc-style flavours combined with a honeyed richness. I love the elusive character. A sippers delight. Only 6000 bottles produced annually, under contract for the wine merchants, Mitchell. Read more on Wikipedia.

LCBO Vintages Saturday Nov 7

by Kato on November 5, 2009 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

Vintages Saturday November 7th 2009

THE LOW DOWN: This is Vintages at its best. Offering wine styles not generally available. In whites there’s seductive Viognier, classy Quincy and an upscale Pinot Grigio. Those who share my fondness for rustic reds will have a field day with no less than six picks. I’m offering six rich reds too with Val Joanis Syrah leading the show for value.
quincyWHITES
Wine style: FRESH WHITE
Jean-Michel Sorbe 08 Quincy, Loire, France 608877 $18.95
If you share my fondness for slightly tart whites with crystal clear flavours here’s a must buy. Spring day freshness and a great lift for the senses. Jazzy aperitif – but needs the summer season. Stick a few bottles away till then.

stoccoWine style: NICE & EASY WHITE
Stocco 08 Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy
135558 $14.95
The zesty quality of PG combined with sweet kisses. Yummy, yummy stuff. Sip anytime. Would be a huge hit at holiday parties.

nordViognierWine style: RICH WHITE
Laurent Miguel 08 Viognier ‘Nord Sud’, Languedoc, France
673236 $16.95
Would be hard to find a prettier wine. Lush, lovely and slightly sweet. A lover’s kiss. Best with spicy/hot food. If you’ve never had Viognier this would be a good first date.

yulmbaViognWine style: RICH WHITE
Yalumba 08 Viognier, Eden Valley, Australia
954644 $22.95
Lush, exotic, glamorous and sure to seduce. Movie star edition of Viognier. A super-rich white to sip late evening on the couch.

edenvalleyWine style: RICH WHITE
Thorn-Clarke Eden-Valley 08 Chardonnay ‘Terra Barossa’, Australia
651349 $14.95
Well mannered Chard with lots of refreshment and a good-with-anything feeling. Upscale house wine.

REDS
Wine style: RUSTIC RED
Boeri 08 Dolcetto, Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy 134825 $13.95
Gutsy, tart, earthy red. Very local – add crusty bread and cheese and you’re in Italy. Wine this rustic is seldom exported. Not for the Shiraz drinker but a must for fans of traditional wines. You know who you are!

ascheriWine style: RUSTIC RED
Ascheri 07 Barbera d’Alba ‘Fontanelle’, Piedmont, Italy
982462 $17.95
Classic Barbera – rustic, invigorating and challenging. The feeling of stepping into an old country café filled with decades of history and local flavour. A bit scary at first but hang in and the rewards will be priceless. Drink with, and as you prepare an Italian supper.

gourgWine style: RUSTIC RED
Ch. de Gourgazaud 07 Minervois ‘Cuvée Mathilde’, France
958629 $14.95
Lots of bistro character here. Not for the timid. Gutsy wine to pair with hearty meals. You’ll that you’re in France.

coyotecab

Wine style: RUSTIC RED
Coyote’s Run 07 Cabernet Franc ‘Black Paw Vineyard’, VQA Four Mile Creek, Niagara 50450 $19.95
Seriously tart red that could be a Barbera. But what a wonderful expression of the lively Cab Franc grape. Invigorating stuff for early in the evening and to partner with traditional bistro foods.

lafaurieMonbWine style: RUSTIC RED
Ch. de Lafaurie–Monbadon 05 Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux
140012 $15.00
Take a trip to a French bistro with this rustic red. Refreshingly real. I love the backstreet character. Beef or lamb.

bruscoWine style: RUSTIC RED
Barbi 07 ‘Brusco dei Barbi’, Tuscany, Italy
673160 $14.95
Traditional Tuscan expression – lots of earthy flavours, even a little gamey. The tangy bite that gets the taste buds craving food.  If you’re a fan of late Fall this is your wine. Have with anything oven–roasted.

valjonaisWine style: RICH RED
Ch. Val Joanis 06 Syrah, Rhône, France
965616 $15.95
Wonderful earthy, peppery rich red. You can taste the south of France. Stock up for winter. What a great value.

vaceryaresWine style: RICH RED
Pierre Amadieu 07 Vacqueyras, Rhône, France
76398 $21.95
A mini Chateauneuf du Pape. Super rich, slightly sweet and very fireside. A winter warmer.

rochesWine style: RICH RED
Ch. Les Roches de Ferrand 05 Fronsac, Bordeaux, France
138669 $24.95
If you’re up for a traditional evening of Bordeaux and roast beef here’s a wine that won’t blow the budget. Dusty dry, appetizing and self assured. Best with people of similar character.

closdeBoisWine style: RICH RED
Clos du Bois 06 Merlot, Sonoma, California
34900 $19.95
The folks at Clos du Bois are really good at combining Californian richness and ripeness with some French elegance. And delivering it at a reasonable price. Guaranteed to impress.

eldestonFriendsWine style: RICH RED
Elderton 08 Shiraz ‘Friends’, Barossa Valley, Australia
660480 $15.00
Perfectly named! This is crowd-pleasing stuff that would work with ribs, turkey or for the weekend bash. Nothing dark or dense – more of the bright, lively spirit of Zin.

closWine style: RICH RED
Le Clos Jordanne 07 Pinot Noir, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara
33951 $40.00
Wonderful earthy, manly Pinot. A must buy for the fan, but it needs a year or two to really shine. Le Clos Jordanne is one of the top wineries in Canada for sure. You can find a selection of their wines at the better WineRack stores.

LCBO Vintages September 26, 2009

by Kato on September 23, 2009 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

Vintages, Saturday Sept 26

THE LOW DOWN: Three novel Italian whites are the hits of this release. All under $15. In reds, you’ll make a lot of people happy with my Côtes du Rhône or Napa Cab picks. I don’t usually recommend forty-five dollar wines but Foreign Affair Pinot is both novel and wonderfully satisfying if you enjoy traditional style red wine.

riffWHITES
ALOIS LAGEDER 08 Pinot Grigio ‘Riff’, Alto Adige, Italy 66415 $13.95
style: nice & easy white
Pinot grigio with zingy, mineral freshess and a little richness. Very pure with an elegant feeling, Classy white for a nice dinner.

pecoroniCANTINA TOLLO 08 Pecorino, Abruzzo, Italy 134510 $14.95
style: nice & easy white
Pecorino is a lesser known Italian grape that produces really good, general purpose white wine. Not too light not too rich – more herbal than fruity, and best of all – something different.

stocooSTOCCO 08 Friulano, Friuli, Italy 135525 $14.95
style: fresh white
Friulano is a zesty Sauv Blanc-style white produced in Italy’s Friuli region. There’s also some fullness but the overall feeling is high-spirited and refreshing. A lovely pure, spring day experience. Have with appetizers.


cardinREDS
TERRES d’AVIGNON 07 Côtes du Rhône ‘Cardinalices’, France 130294 $13.95
style: rich red
Super-rich and yummy – with dangerous drinkability. Charming and gentle so it works equally well with white or red meats.

avalonAVALON 06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 684399 $22.95
style: rich red
Solid Californian red that’s found a middle ground between heft and drinkabiltiy. Rich, but not overpowering. Steak wine that will let the meat and company shine.

beaverTHE FOREIGN AFFAIR 07 Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara 127332 $44.00
style: rich red
Foreign Affair is a new Niagara winery producing wines by the Appassimento technique (dried grapes as in Amarone) – hence the high cost of this wine. I’m recommending the Pinot because it delivers the goods – a really interesting red with some of the richness of Amarone and a lot of the earthy quality of Barolo. Feeling and flavours of the fall, the forest, the farm…all things woodsy. Quite refreshing and very together without trying too hard. Could be called the anti-wine in this era where smoothness rules. Have with simply roasted red meats or game – don’t forget to try and create your own farmhouse feeling.

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