Thursday, December 22, 2005
GPCI for Jan 7th, 2006 at the LCBO
Jan 2006 brings good value wines - don't miss ALL of the wines from Argentina and Chile - you'll not regret the experience and the value!!!.
There are also few "more-than-average-price" wines that seem to be worth trying. enjoy.
* * *
Spain (Red)
BODEGAS CASTAÑO ‘HÉCULA’ 2003 - $13.95
RP – 90; Inky ruby/purple to the rim, with a sweet bouquet of ripe plums, figs, raspberries, and cherries, it boasts a terrific texture, enviable purity, medium to full body, and a long, seamless finish. Drink this outstanding bargain over the next 2-3 years.
GPCI - if you're looking for a day-to-day wine, the wines from the Yecla area (south-east Spain) are a great value for a great taste.
Argentina (Red)
2004 Finca Flichman Reserve Malbec, Mendoza - $12.95
A deep violet, cherry flavoured, concentrated black fruit wine. Try with tomato-sauce pasta dishes. This wine has remarkable complexity and length due to the careful selection of grapes in the vineyard and on entry into the winery. Flichman have some superb sites around the city of Mendoza and get tremendous quality into the bottle.
2003 Catena Malbec - $19.95
Don't look for all the descriptions - JUST DO IT - excellent Malbec !!!
2004 Tamari reserva malbec - $11.95
Bright purple ruby, dense and almost opaque. Intense ripe black fruit framed by spicy notes such as cinnamon and vanilla. Dry with ripe black fruit, rich mouthfeel and ripe but modest tannins. Long and pleasant finish.
2004 Santa Julia malbec reserve - $14.95
WS-89 ; big and beefy wine with its bold aromas of dark fruit, smoked meat, spice and toasty oak. Enjoy with rich beef or lamb dishes.
GPCI- I bet you anything that at 10 am on Jan 7th, the shelves will be empty of this malbec.
Chile (red)
2004 Concha y Toro TRIVENTO RESERVE Syrah - $12.95
This wine has a vivid garnet red colour. The aroma is warm with notes of spices and mature fruit which combines with vanilla from the oak. It has a firm structured and harmonious body with a lingering finish.
Decanter - Pure, spicy, ripe. Drink now to 7 years
GPCI- I had this one about a week ago. It’s a medium body fruity red which goes nicely with steak and/or pasta.
2003 Clos De Los Siete - $23.95
WS-90 ; Dark and powerful, with layers of fleshy plum, boysenberry, black currant, cocoa and mineral. Lots of toast, too, but the impressive core of fruit is worth waiting out. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best from 2006 through 2008.
GPCI- Not the best index (only 2 more years In the cellar), but a good price for a WS of 90.
2004 La Mision Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva - $11.95
This full-bodied Cab is big and quite evolved for its age. Look for a lot of power with ripe black fruit, oak, smoked meat and olive aromas and flavours.
GPCI - Their Merlot (not in this release) also received “An elegant, generous, complex and fruity” review, I would not think twice to check the cab sauv with that price.
2003 MONTES ‘ALPHA' CABERNET SAUVIGNON – $22.95
WS–90 ; This delivers a solid beam of raspberry fruit, along with suave vanilla, toast and mineral notes. Fleshy and ripe through the finish. Delicious. Drink now through 2006.
GPCI - I tried it and it's an excellent Cab for a very resonable price. That's another one that will disappear quickly from the LCBO's shelves.
New Zealand (White)
2004 Sileni Estates CELLAR SELECTION Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough - $14.95
A crisp, light classic expression of Marlborough Sauvignon, with flavours of gooseberry, citrus, melon and capsicum. Dry with racy acidity, this wine is fresh with a long, clean finish. (everywine.co.uk)
Michael Cooper – 4 out of 5 - generous wine with rich gooseberryish flavours, crisp, punchy and lively.
GPCI - I've never tasted a bad Sauvignon Blanc from NZ and with these descriptions, I can see myself having a healthy-full glass in one of the winter nights with a nice cheese fondue beside the fireplace... mmm.. good!
France (Red)
CHÂTEAU LA GURGUE AC Margaux 2001 - $38.95
WS – 90 ; Very pretty aromas of crushed fruit and chocolate follow through to a full-bodied palate with supersoft tannins and a long finish. Better than the 2000. Best after 2007.
GPCI - it seems like a Ch. Margaux for beginners (at least price wise). I bet it can lay down until 2010-2012, therefore, worth its money.
Hungary (White)
1999 Royal Tokaji , Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos Red Label (500 ml) - $33.95
This is a blend of the best vineyards from Royal Tokaji's holdings. It has wonderful intensity, balanced by great acidity with flavors of honeyed apricots, fig and hints of orange peel. It represent tremendous value for a dessert wine of this quality.
Italy (Red)
1999 Principesco brunello di Montalcino - $37.95
A New World-styled, fruit-forward Brunello with aromas of dried black fruit, cherry, spice, leather, cedar and truffle. Dry, with very good fruit replays on the palate balanced by light tannins. Medium-bodied with a very long finish.
GPCI – it sounds like a bargain for Brunello I would try it now and try the 2nd bottle after 3-4 years.
2000 Farina Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - $36.95
This wine presents itself in a red garnet color with orange edges, and with an ethereal and spicy fragrance. In the mouth, it is warm, robust, full bodied, velvety, pleasantly bitter and harmonious. An excellent wine for game dishes and seasoned cheeses.
GPCI - I tried/have the Farina 1998 and it's a very good value Amarone. 2000 was an excellent year for Amarone. I say we buy 2-3 bottles.
There are also few "more-than-average-price" wines that seem to be worth trying. enjoy.
* * *
Spain (Red)
BODEGAS CASTAÑO ‘HÉCULA’ 2003 - $13.95
RP – 90; Inky ruby/purple to the rim, with a sweet bouquet of ripe plums, figs, raspberries, and cherries, it boasts a terrific texture, enviable purity, medium to full body, and a long, seamless finish. Drink this outstanding bargain over the next 2-3 years.
GPCI - if you're looking for a day-to-day wine, the wines from the Yecla area (south-east Spain) are a great value for a great taste.
Argentina (Red)
2004 Finca Flichman Reserve Malbec, Mendoza - $12.95
A deep violet, cherry flavoured, concentrated black fruit wine. Try with tomato-sauce pasta dishes. This wine has remarkable complexity and length due to the careful selection of grapes in the vineyard and on entry into the winery. Flichman have some superb sites around the city of Mendoza and get tremendous quality into the bottle.
2003 Catena Malbec - $19.95
Don't look for all the descriptions - JUST DO IT - excellent Malbec !!!
2004 Tamari reserva malbec - $11.95
Bright purple ruby, dense and almost opaque. Intense ripe black fruit framed by spicy notes such as cinnamon and vanilla. Dry with ripe black fruit, rich mouthfeel and ripe but modest tannins. Long and pleasant finish.
2004 Santa Julia malbec reserve - $14.95
WS-89 ; big and beefy wine with its bold aromas of dark fruit, smoked meat, spice and toasty oak. Enjoy with rich beef or lamb dishes.
GPCI- I bet you anything that at 10 am on Jan 7th, the shelves will be empty of this malbec.
Chile (red)
2004 Concha y Toro TRIVENTO RESERVE Syrah - $12.95
This wine has a vivid garnet red colour. The aroma is warm with notes of spices and mature fruit which combines with vanilla from the oak. It has a firm structured and harmonious body with a lingering finish.
Decanter - Pure, spicy, ripe. Drink now to 7 years
GPCI- I had this one about a week ago. It’s a medium body fruity red which goes nicely with steak and/or pasta.
2003 Clos De Los Siete - $23.95
WS-90 ; Dark and powerful, with layers of fleshy plum, boysenberry, black currant, cocoa and mineral. Lots of toast, too, but the impressive core of fruit is worth waiting out. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best from 2006 through 2008.
GPCI- Not the best index (only 2 more years In the cellar), but a good price for a WS of 90.
2004 La Mision Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva - $11.95
This full-bodied Cab is big and quite evolved for its age. Look for a lot of power with ripe black fruit, oak, smoked meat and olive aromas and flavours.
GPCI - Their Merlot (not in this release) also received “An elegant, generous, complex and fruity” review, I would not think twice to check the cab sauv with that price.
2003 MONTES ‘ALPHA' CABERNET SAUVIGNON – $22.95
WS–90 ; This delivers a solid beam of raspberry fruit, along with suave vanilla, toast and mineral notes. Fleshy and ripe through the finish. Delicious. Drink now through 2006.
GPCI - I tried it and it's an excellent Cab for a very resonable price. That's another one that will disappear quickly from the LCBO's shelves.
New Zealand (White)
2004 Sileni Estates CELLAR SELECTION Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough - $14.95
A crisp, light classic expression of Marlborough Sauvignon, with flavours of gooseberry, citrus, melon and capsicum. Dry with racy acidity, this wine is fresh with a long, clean finish. (everywine.co.uk)
Michael Cooper – 4 out of 5 - generous wine with rich gooseberryish flavours, crisp, punchy and lively.
GPCI - I've never tasted a bad Sauvignon Blanc from NZ and with these descriptions, I can see myself having a healthy-full glass in one of the winter nights with a nice cheese fondue beside the fireplace... mmm.. good!
France (Red)
CHÂTEAU LA GURGUE AC Margaux 2001 - $38.95
WS – 90 ; Very pretty aromas of crushed fruit and chocolate follow through to a full-bodied palate with supersoft tannins and a long finish. Better than the 2000. Best after 2007.
GPCI - it seems like a Ch. Margaux for beginners (at least price wise). I bet it can lay down until 2010-2012, therefore, worth its money.
Hungary (White)
1999 Royal Tokaji , Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos Red Label (500 ml) - $33.95
This is a blend of the best vineyards from Royal Tokaji's holdings. It has wonderful intensity, balanced by great acidity with flavors of honeyed apricots, fig and hints of orange peel. It represent tremendous value for a dessert wine of this quality.
Italy (Red)
1999 Principesco brunello di Montalcino - $37.95
A New World-styled, fruit-forward Brunello with aromas of dried black fruit, cherry, spice, leather, cedar and truffle. Dry, with very good fruit replays on the palate balanced by light tannins. Medium-bodied with a very long finish.
GPCI – it sounds like a bargain for Brunello I would try it now and try the 2nd bottle after 3-4 years.
2000 Farina Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - $36.95
This wine presents itself in a red garnet color with orange edges, and with an ethereal and spicy fragrance. In the mouth, it is warm, robust, full bodied, velvety, pleasantly bitter and harmonious. An excellent wine for game dishes and seasoned cheeses.
GPCI - I tried/have the Farina 1998 and it's a very good value Amarone. 2000 was an excellent year for Amarone. I say we buy 2-3 bottles.
