Monday, January 23, 2006
GPCI for Feb 4th 2006 release at the LCBO
Spain (Red)
2003 Capcanes 'Mas Donis' Barrica - $15.95
RP - 92 (14%) !!! Meium to ful body with long, concentrated, heady finish - drink 2010-2012
RP - 92 (14%) !!! Meium to ful body with long, concentrated, heady finish - drink 2010-2012
GPCI - this is what GPCI is all about - high quality, low price, good for the cellar - buy at least 5 bottles. However, I read some interesting article about the wines that the LCBO brings to Canada vs. the review some of the wines get... bottom line - some Spanish wines are branded the same but are modified to accommodate the American flavor, so what you review is not necessarily what you taste. http://www.vintageassessments.com/np-feb11-2006.html
I tasted this wine and it's good but not what I would expect from a RP=92 wine to be...
Australia (Red)
2003 Cardinham Clare Valley Cabernet Merlot - $18.95
75% Cabernet 25% Merlot
Bronze medal in the Brisbane Fine Wine Festival
Colour: Deep crimson/red colour.
Nose: A layered bouquet of mint, cherries and currents.
Palate: The wine has a beautifully integrated palate with rich berry fruit and soft lingering tannins. A lovely balance of mild smoky oak and ripe fruit flavours.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Ageing: This wine will age gracefully with careful cellaring for 5-7 years.
2003 Cardinham Clare Valley Cabernet Merlot - $18.95
75% Cabernet 25% Merlot
Bronze medal in the Brisbane Fine Wine Festival
Colour: Deep crimson/red colour.
Nose: A layered bouquet of mint, cherries and currents.
Palate: The wine has a beautifully integrated palate with rich berry fruit and soft lingering tannins. A lovely balance of mild smoky oak and ripe fruit flavours.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Ageing: This wine will age gracefully with careful cellaring for 5-7 years.
GPCI - Sounds like a good value candidate for the cellar. 2003 was a good year in the Clare Valley, so it's a safe bet.
2002 Chateau Reynella Cabernet Sauvignon – $29.95
Crimson in colour with brilliant clarity, the Chateau Reynella Cabernet delivers aromas of powerful spice, leather and blackberry. On the palate the wine starts with bright ripe and forward red fruit, the mid palate then develops into spicy notes and finally finishes with smooth velvety tannins to great length. http://www.drinksdirect.co.uk/
GPCI - I have had the 99' Reynella Shiraz and the 00' Reynella Cab Suav. and it is great! a very good powerful, yet elegant cab from this winery.
2002 Chateau Reynella Cabernet Sauvignon – $29.95
Crimson in colour with brilliant clarity, the Chateau Reynella Cabernet delivers aromas of powerful spice, leather and blackberry. On the palate the wine starts with bright ripe and forward red fruit, the mid palate then develops into spicy notes and finally finishes with smooth velvety tannins to great length. http://www.drinksdirect.co.uk/
GPCI - I have had the 99' Reynella Shiraz and the 00' Reynella Cab Suav. and it is great! a very good powerful, yet elegant cab from this winery.
2004 d'Arenberg 'Laughing Magpie' Shiraz / Viognier– $26.95
Vivid dark purple in colour. Perfume of flowers, nectarines, ginger & herbs. The Shiraz adds blackberry, blueberry & boysenberry. The structure has a gritty long fruit tannin. After time in bottle the flavours should intensify. Drinking well now or cellar for the next 3-15 years. Great with hearty stews, rich pasta dishes, roasted & grilled meats, hot or spicy dishes & hard pressed cheeses. http://www.intervino.com.au/
RP-92 : One of the most successful offerings in d'Arenberg's portfolio is the impressive 2004 The Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier (94% of the former and 6% of the latter). Not surprisingly, this is a flamboyant, exuberant, deep ruby/purple-colored effort exhibiting plenty of sweet blackberry and cassis intermixed with touches of marmalade and honeysuckle. Nearly over the top, it should drink well for 7-8 years.
GPCI - Laughing Magpie by d'Arenberg is a must for any cellar. It reminds some of the better Cote Rotie (Rhone, France) where they combine the Syrah and the white (yes white) grape Viognier. Excellent wine with great value for the cellar (a GPCI index of 1.8 !!!).
GPCI - Laughing Magpie by d'Arenberg is a must for any cellar. It reminds some of the better Cote Rotie (Rhone, France) where they combine the Syrah and the white (yes white) grape Viognier. Excellent wine with great value for the cellar (a GPCI index of 1.8 !!!).
France (Red)
2003 Chateau Fortia Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Baron - $38.95
RP – 92-94 : The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Baron boasts a gloriously perfumed nose of acacia flowers, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and hints of licorice as well as incense. Full-bodied, with tremendous intensity, purity, glycerin, and alcohol, it should drink well young (because of low acidity and high glycerin/ alcohol), but evolve for 10-15+ years.
GPCI - That's a must - a great review, a great vintage for Chateaneuf-du-Pape and the price per cellaring year... go and just buy. Save some for me... ;)
RP – 92-94 : The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Baron boasts a gloriously perfumed nose of acacia flowers, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and hints of licorice as well as incense. Full-bodied, with tremendous intensity, purity, glycerin, and alcohol, it should drink well young (because of low acidity and high glycerin/ alcohol), but evolve for 10-15+ years.
GPCI - That's a must - a great review, a great vintage for Chateaneuf-du-Pape and the price per cellaring year... go and just buy. Save some for me... ;)
France (White)
2001 CHÂTEAU DE STE HÉLENE SAUTERNES (375 ml) - $25.95
WS - 91 ; Tasting Note: Intense aromas of apple, honey and pecan pie. Yes, pecan pie. Full-bodied, very sweet and lively, with caramel and ripe fruit on the finish. Thick and delicious. I haven't tasted this before. Very good indeed. Best after 2006.
GPCI - it's not often that you can find a 2001 (excellent year!) Sauternes with such a WS review for that price (even for half a bottle). Buy at least 2.
Italy (Red)
2000 Ruffino LODOLA NUOVA Vino Nobile de Montepulciano – $24.95
Grape Variety: 90% SANGIOVESE and 10% CANAIOLO. Deep ruby red in colour with a magnificent bouquet of cherry and hints of sweet oak and tobacco. The wine is tightly structured and shows a balanced, supple finish with soft tannins and rich flavour. http://www.everywine.co.uk/
Really delicious, with pretty black cherry and berry fruit laced with mocha and soft spices. Lovely balance, acidity and tannins keep things lively through the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. http://www.wineskinny.com/reviews/italian_connection.htm
Grape Variety: 90% SANGIOVESE and 10% CANAIOLO. Deep ruby red in colour with a magnificent bouquet of cherry and hints of sweet oak and tobacco. The wine is tightly structured and shows a balanced, supple finish with soft tannins and rich flavour. http://www.everywine.co.uk/
Really delicious, with pretty black cherry and berry fruit laced with mocha and soft spices. Lovely balance, acidity and tannins keep things lively through the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. http://www.wineskinny.com/reviews/italian_connection.htm
2001 QUINTA DE VENTOZELO TINTA RORIZ - $19.95
Made exclusively with Tinta Roriz (a.k.a., Tempranillo), Ventozelo matures the wines for eight months in new American oak. The resulting wine is beautifully structured, suggesting ageing potential of 3-7+ years.
Made exclusively with Tinta Roriz (a.k.a., Tempranillo), Ventozelo matures the wines for eight months in new American oak. The resulting wine is beautifully structured, suggesting ageing potential of 3-7+ years.
GPCI - interesting. I love Tempranillo and it has good cellaring potential. worth trying - buy 3.
* * *
The following wines are in the $40+ range that if money is not an object for you, they are worth trying.
France (Red)
2001 Chateau La Vieille Cure, Fronsac – $45.95
RP - 90 Points. Over recent years, La Vieille Cure has become one of the leading estates of Fronsac. Its style is one of opulence, complexity, and sexy, up-front fruit, but with enough tannin and structure to age for a decade. The 2001 is a worthy successor to their brilliant 2000. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of incense, kirsch liqueur, black currants, and spice box. Low acidity, ripe tannin, and a plump, fleshy texture all add to the allure of this beautifully made, pure wine. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.
GPCI - Promising review by Parker, but an expensive wine for this region (Fronsac is north-west to St-Emilion on the Bordeaux's right bank area). Fronsac's wines, which usually are great value for quality, have a unique flavor that doesn't resemble to the rest of the neighbours in this side of the bank.
New Zealand (Red)
2003 Quartz Reef Pinot Noir – $39.95
WS - Central Otago Pinot Noirs are dramatic – they taste like no others. Compelling Pinot Noir is a matter of layered dimensionality, where you don't discover everything about a wine in one sip.
Jancis Robinson MW - Quartz Reef Pinot Noir 2003 Central Otago - 18.5/20 points. Drink 2006-12. Good deep colour. Very rich and broad yet confidence and well balanced, mainly from a new vineyard in the early-ripening Bendigo area. Very sweet and gentle with lots and lots of fruit with no excess of acid or tannin. Very well managed and harmonious although at 14.5 per cent quite big.
Winestate magazine – 5 stars - Very impressive. Some great Pinot fruit and Central Otago regional statement here, a well-spined wine with generous, bountiful fruit with depth in its breeding. Excellent drinking over five years with sensible cellaring.
GPCI - this wine is not in at the top of the GPCI list (expensive relatively to its cellaring potential), but the reviews are promising for the Pinot lovers.
RP - 90 Points. Over recent years, La Vieille Cure has become one of the leading estates of Fronsac. Its style is one of opulence, complexity, and sexy, up-front fruit, but with enough tannin and structure to age for a decade. The 2001 is a worthy successor to their brilliant 2000. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of incense, kirsch liqueur, black currants, and spice box. Low acidity, ripe tannin, and a plump, fleshy texture all add to the allure of this beautifully made, pure wine. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.
GPCI - Promising review by Parker, but an expensive wine for this region (Fronsac is north-west to St-Emilion on the Bordeaux's right bank area). Fronsac's wines, which usually are great value for quality, have a unique flavor that doesn't resemble to the rest of the neighbours in this side of the bank.
New Zealand (Red)
2003 Quartz Reef Pinot Noir – $39.95
WS - Central Otago Pinot Noirs are dramatic – they taste like no others. Compelling Pinot Noir is a matter of layered dimensionality, where you don't discover everything about a wine in one sip.
Jancis Robinson MW - Quartz Reef Pinot Noir 2003 Central Otago - 18.5/20 points. Drink 2006-12. Good deep colour. Very rich and broad yet confidence and well balanced, mainly from a new vineyard in the early-ripening Bendigo area. Very sweet and gentle with lots and lots of fruit with no excess of acid or tannin. Very well managed and harmonious although at 14.5 per cent quite big.
Winestate magazine – 5 stars - Very impressive. Some great Pinot fruit and Central Otago regional statement here, a well-spined wine with generous, bountiful fruit with depth in its breeding. Excellent drinking over five years with sensible cellaring.
GPCI - this wine is not in at the top of the GPCI list (expensive relatively to its cellaring potential), but the reviews are promising for the Pinot lovers.
