Friday, March 17, 2006
GPCI for April 1st 2006 release at the LCBO
Canada (White)
2002 KONZELMANN GEWÜRZTRAMINER RESERVE - $14.95
VQA Niagara Peninsula
Look for intense aromas of rose, lychee, honey, peach and cloves in this medium-bodied Gewürz from Niagara legend Herbert Konzelmann. An amazing value, it's just off-dry and would be a terrific match for butter chicken or spicy Thai cuisine.
GPCI - I love good gewurt and the price is right on - I'd buy 2.
New Zealand (White)
2005 Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – $16.95
Voted amongst the country's top 3 Sauvignons in Wine magazine
St Clair's track record makes it one of New Zealand's elite estates. Neil and Judy Ibbotson established their vineyards in Marlborough in 1978, well ahead of dozens of estates that popped up in the late '80s and '90s. Their faith in the region has paid dividends with a string of top awards over the years. St Clair Sauvignon 2004 is the next in line, winning Gold twice. We rate it as among the most dazzling and best value Sauvignons in the world. Explosive, racy, 'nervous', yet packed tight with ripe gooseberry, passion fruit and blackcurrant leaf characters, it's fabulous with shellfish, lobster and spicy stir-fries.
Winemaker notes: Perfect for drinking immediately, this Sauvignon Blanc will be at it’s best over the next 1 to 2 years. A full and crisp, powerful wine with intense flavours of passion fruit, blackcurrant, underlying gooseberry and herbal tones. Mouth-watering acidity is balanced by a full yet elegant palate that leads to a long lingering finish.
GPCI - a good value for an excellent vintage of Sauv Blanc in NZ. I'd buy 3 for the coming (I hope...) spring days.
Australia (White)
2004 Torbreck Woodcutters Semillon (Screw Cap) - $23.95
RP=90 ; "...a zesty, vibrant white revealing notes of waxy honeyed oranges and citrus, medium to full body, and a delightfully fresh, lively personality. This is an exciting effort to drink over the next several years."
GPCI - a bit more expensive from the NZ Sauv Blanc, but Semillon is a great treat if you like whites.
Australia (Red)
2002 Shingleback Cabernet Sauvignon - $23.95
Alcohol: 14.5 % . Deep vibrant red. Powerful blackberry fruit with hints of clove and dark chocolate dominate the aromas and flavors of the wine. A frame of fine grained French and American oak add complexities of cigar box and cashew to the flavor profile.( http://www.shingleback.com.au/wines/CabernetSauvignon02.php)
WS - 89 ; Supple and generous. A plush mouthful of spicy cherry and currant, with a hint of licorice. The flavors persist against firm tannins. Best from 2006 through 2012.
GPCI - tempting... Fair price for a powerful red.
2003 Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz Clare Valley, Australia - $24.95
WE (Wine Enthusiast) -91 ; WN (The Wine News) - 91
winemaker's notes: Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz is 100% Shiraz, deep red in color with purple hues. It is medium-full in body with moderate acidity and soft, ripe tannins. This bold red offers rich aromas and flavors of dark cherry plum, black cherry, pepper, leather, vanilla, spice and mint. Aged in French and American oak, 29% new, it is nicely balanced to enjoy now and over the next 7-8 years. Rich flavors linger on the finish.
GPCI - more than tempting - good reviews and can be cellared for up to 8 years. The only thing that holds me for recommending a "strong buy" is the fact that it is a "medium body Shiraz" - it is almost an oxymoron...
California (Red)
2002 Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon = $36.95
RP=90 ; A sleeper, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts wonderfully pure cassis fruit, less wood than its siblings, loads of concentration, and a long, heady finish with considerable purity, depth, and length. Drink this beauty during its first 15 years of life.
WS=88 ; Supple, with a mix of ripe currant, plum, herb, green olive, cedar and exotic spice. Well-focused, with a pleasant sense of harmony and finesse, it caresses the palate, ending on a ripe, complex note. Best of three bottles. Drink now through 2010. 53,000 cases made.
GPCI - if we go with RP recommendations, that's a definite buy (a GPCI of about 3). I'd buy 2.
2002 Adelaida Cellars SLO Syrah - $26.95
RP=87 ; The 2002 Syrah Glenrose/DeBro Vineyards is a straightforward, smoky, fruity, blackberry and plum-scented and flavored, medium-bodied wine with tangy acidity and a slightly herbaceous note. It represents California’s answer to a Crozes-Hermitage.
Drink it over the next 1-2 years.
GPCI - I shared this Parker review to tell you that I think we should skip this one - it has only an "OK" review and it's for immediate consumption - it's expensive for the "package".
2001 White Oak Napa Valley Merlot - $28.95
93% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon ; 14.5% alcohol. Dark, rich and chocolaty, with layers of mouth-coating mocha, currant, blackberry and coffee grounds, revealing extra dimensions of depth and complexity. Sharply focused, long and intense, with well-integrated tannins. (http://www.winespecialist.com/150059)
GPCI - If you're a Merlot fan (I'm not, sorry), it seems an interesting option although it's a "typical" high price Californian wine.
Chile (red)
2003 Calina Reserve Carmenere - $16.96
Winemaker notes: A deep purple wine. The nose is full of black fruit, blackberries and cherries, complex due to the sublte notes of mocha and butterscotch. The mouth is complex, with diverse sensations, strong body, velvety tannins of fresh fruit combined with hints of smoke and oak.
WS - "Shows the herb, bell pepper and plum profile typical for this grape, with a fleshy texture...."
GPCI - seems like a good day-to-day Carmenere (a Merlot close relative grape).
France - Rhone (Red)
2001 - Montirius - Clos Montirius, Vacqueyras - $25.95
RP-89 ; "The sexy, full-bodied 2001 Vacqueyras (a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsault) possesses a deep ruby / purple color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of black cherry liqueur, melted licorice, pepper, and spice box. Ripe, heady, and lush, it is best consumed over the next 5-6 years."
GPCI - if you don't have any 2001 Vacqueyras in your cellar, take 2 - these are great full bodied wines that can be drank with or without food.
Italy - Veneto (Red)
2000 Allegrini Verona Palazzo della Torre – $27.95
70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
WS – 91 #65 Wine Spectator 2004 Top 100
Lots of black fruit, violet and mineral character. Full-bodied, with densely packed fruit on a rounded, expansive palate, with well-integrated tannins and a long, fruity, minerally finish. Delicious now, but should open up even more. A great value at this score. Best after 2004. 22,500 cases made
GPCI - a relatively good price for a 6 years old wine from Veneto that received 91 by WS and is part of the top 100 list. I love the unique taste of the Corvina grape (used in Amarone as well). I would be tempted to buy a bottle for a nice Saturday dinner full of flavors.
Spain (Red)
2003 ‘VIÑA PEDROSA' - DO Ribera de Duero - $17.95
RP - 90 ; For value, it is hard to beat the 2003 Vina Pedrosa, an exuberant, deep ruby/purple-tinged wine displaying loads of cedar wood, creme de cassis, licorice, and spice box characteristics. Fleshy and opulent, with crisp, zesty acidity, this young vine cuvee is a terrific effort to drink over the next 5-6 years.
GPCI - I doubt if you find any if you're not an "early-bird". I'd buy 2-3 bottles.
2002 KONZELMANN GEWÜRZTRAMINER RESERVE - $14.95
VQA Niagara Peninsula
Look for intense aromas of rose, lychee, honey, peach and cloves in this medium-bodied Gewürz from Niagara legend Herbert Konzelmann. An amazing value, it's just off-dry and would be a terrific match for butter chicken or spicy Thai cuisine.
GPCI - I love good gewurt and the price is right on - I'd buy 2.
New Zealand (White)
2005 Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – $16.95
Voted amongst the country's top 3 Sauvignons in Wine magazine
St Clair's track record makes it one of New Zealand's elite estates. Neil and Judy Ibbotson established their vineyards in Marlborough in 1978, well ahead of dozens of estates that popped up in the late '80s and '90s. Their faith in the region has paid dividends with a string of top awards over the years. St Clair Sauvignon 2004 is the next in line, winning Gold twice. We rate it as among the most dazzling and best value Sauvignons in the world. Explosive, racy, 'nervous', yet packed tight with ripe gooseberry, passion fruit and blackcurrant leaf characters, it's fabulous with shellfish, lobster and spicy stir-fries.
Winemaker notes: Perfect for drinking immediately, this Sauvignon Blanc will be at it’s best over the next 1 to 2 years. A full and crisp, powerful wine with intense flavours of passion fruit, blackcurrant, underlying gooseberry and herbal tones. Mouth-watering acidity is balanced by a full yet elegant palate that leads to a long lingering finish.
GPCI - a good value for an excellent vintage of Sauv Blanc in NZ. I'd buy 3 for the coming (I hope...) spring days.
Australia (White)
2004 Torbreck Woodcutters Semillon (Screw Cap) - $23.95
RP=90 ; "...a zesty, vibrant white revealing notes of waxy honeyed oranges and citrus, medium to full body, and a delightfully fresh, lively personality. This is an exciting effort to drink over the next several years."
GPCI - a bit more expensive from the NZ Sauv Blanc, but Semillon is a great treat if you like whites.
Australia (Red)
2002 Shingleback Cabernet Sauvignon - $23.95
Alcohol: 14.5 % . Deep vibrant red. Powerful blackberry fruit with hints of clove and dark chocolate dominate the aromas and flavors of the wine. A frame of fine grained French and American oak add complexities of cigar box and cashew to the flavor profile.( http://www.shingleback.com.au/wines/CabernetSauvignon02.php)
WS - 89 ; Supple and generous. A plush mouthful of spicy cherry and currant, with a hint of licorice. The flavors persist against firm tannins. Best from 2006 through 2012.
GPCI - tempting... Fair price for a powerful red.
2003 Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz Clare Valley, Australia - $24.95
WE (Wine Enthusiast) -91 ; WN (The Wine News) - 91
winemaker's notes: Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz is 100% Shiraz, deep red in color with purple hues. It is medium-full in body with moderate acidity and soft, ripe tannins. This bold red offers rich aromas and flavors of dark cherry plum, black cherry, pepper, leather, vanilla, spice and mint. Aged in French and American oak, 29% new, it is nicely balanced to enjoy now and over the next 7-8 years. Rich flavors linger on the finish.
GPCI - more than tempting - good reviews and can be cellared for up to 8 years. The only thing that holds me for recommending a "strong buy" is the fact that it is a "medium body Shiraz" - it is almost an oxymoron...
California (Red)
2002 Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon = $36.95
RP=90 ; A sleeper, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts wonderfully pure cassis fruit, less wood than its siblings, loads of concentration, and a long, heady finish with considerable purity, depth, and length. Drink this beauty during its first 15 years of life.
WS=88 ; Supple, with a mix of ripe currant, plum, herb, green olive, cedar and exotic spice. Well-focused, with a pleasant sense of harmony and finesse, it caresses the palate, ending on a ripe, complex note. Best of three bottles. Drink now through 2010. 53,000 cases made.
GPCI - if we go with RP recommendations, that's a definite buy (a GPCI of about 3). I'd buy 2.
2002 Adelaida Cellars SLO Syrah - $26.95
RP=87 ; The 2002 Syrah Glenrose/DeBro Vineyards is a straightforward, smoky, fruity, blackberry and plum-scented and flavored, medium-bodied wine with tangy acidity and a slightly herbaceous note. It represents California’s answer to a Crozes-Hermitage.
Drink it over the next 1-2 years.
GPCI - I shared this Parker review to tell you that I think we should skip this one - it has only an "OK" review and it's for immediate consumption - it's expensive for the "package".
2001 White Oak Napa Valley Merlot - $28.95
93% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon ; 14.5% alcohol. Dark, rich and chocolaty, with layers of mouth-coating mocha, currant, blackberry and coffee grounds, revealing extra dimensions of depth and complexity. Sharply focused, long and intense, with well-integrated tannins. (http://www.winespecialist.com/150059)
GPCI - If you're a Merlot fan (I'm not, sorry), it seems an interesting option although it's a "typical" high price Californian wine.
Chile (red)
2003 Calina Reserve Carmenere - $16.96
Winemaker notes: A deep purple wine. The nose is full of black fruit, blackberries and cherries, complex due to the sublte notes of mocha and butterscotch. The mouth is complex, with diverse sensations, strong body, velvety tannins of fresh fruit combined with hints of smoke and oak.
WS - "Shows the herb, bell pepper and plum profile typical for this grape, with a fleshy texture...."
GPCI - seems like a good day-to-day Carmenere (a Merlot close relative grape).
France - Rhone (Red)
2001 - Montirius - Clos Montirius, Vacqueyras - $25.95
RP-89 ; "The sexy, full-bodied 2001 Vacqueyras (a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsault) possesses a deep ruby / purple color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of black cherry liqueur, melted licorice, pepper, and spice box. Ripe, heady, and lush, it is best consumed over the next 5-6 years."
GPCI - if you don't have any 2001 Vacqueyras in your cellar, take 2 - these are great full bodied wines that can be drank with or without food.
Italy - Veneto (Red)
2000 Allegrini Verona Palazzo della Torre – $27.95
70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
WS – 91 #65 Wine Spectator 2004 Top 100
Lots of black fruit, violet and mineral character. Full-bodied, with densely packed fruit on a rounded, expansive palate, with well-integrated tannins and a long, fruity, minerally finish. Delicious now, but should open up even more. A great value at this score. Best after 2004. 22,500 cases made
GPCI - a relatively good price for a 6 years old wine from Veneto that received 91 by WS and is part of the top 100 list. I love the unique taste of the Corvina grape (used in Amarone as well). I would be tempted to buy a bottle for a nice Saturday dinner full of flavors.
Spain (Red)
2003 ‘VIÑA PEDROSA' - DO Ribera de Duero - $17.95
RP - 90 ; For value, it is hard to beat the 2003 Vina Pedrosa, an exuberant, deep ruby/purple-tinged wine displaying loads of cedar wood, creme de cassis, licorice, and spice box characteristics. Fleshy and opulent, with crisp, zesty acidity, this young vine cuvee is a terrific effort to drink over the next 5-6 years.
GPCI - I doubt if you find any if you're not an "early-bird". I'd buy 2-3 bottles.
