Thursday, August 03, 2006
GPCI for Aug 19th 2006 release at the LCBO
Spain
2001 Baron De Ley - $18.95
Rioja
WS 91 - Lavish oak, ripe fruit, a plush texture and a long, lively floral and spicy finish give this red an international style. It's rich yet remains vibrant, complex and harmonious. Drink now through 2015. 7,500 cases made.
GPCI - if you like wines from the Rioja region from 100% Tempranillo grapes, this is a MUST - it's a great vintage and Baron Del Ley is good even in lesser succesful vintages (I had the 1998 and it was great). And the price, well, buy 5!
2001 Torres Gran Sangre de Toro reserva - $15.95
Catalunya
http://www.waitrosewine.com/ -Garnacha, Cariñena and Syrah make a potent blend in this rich dark wine.
Herbaceous, spicy, full of robust black cherry-like fruit, with superb tannins, wood vanillin's giving depth and complexity to the palate. A wonderful accompaniment to Beef Wellington or traditional farmhouse cheddar cheese.
GPCI - I had the 1998 (an OK vintage) and it was great - very smooth, mouth filling and round. Again, 2001 is a great vintage. These wines can lay down 7-12 years and for this price, I'd by 5 bottles (if not more....).
Chile
2005 CONO SUR ‘SINGLE VINEYARD VISION' SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.95
Loma Roja Vineyard, Casablanca Valley
Tasting Note: ... The cooling winds [off the Pacific Ocean] give the grapes a good level of acidity and the relatively late harvest in the region allows them to develop rich flavours. The result is in this screwcap-sealed bottle, which delivers racy crispness with concentrated grassy, grapefruit and lemon-lime flavours. It's finely balanced and great value. Pair it with grilled seafood or dense white fish with a squeeze of lemon. Score - **** (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, www.winecurrent.com, Jan. 2006)
GPCI - The Vision series by Cono Sur (nice name, eh?) is great quality and value! Their Chardonnay (not in this release.. :( ) is really nice. I'd buy 2-3 for these hot days...
Argentina
2004 CLOS DE LOS SIETE - $23.95
Mendoza, ‘Par Michel Rolland'
ST = 89+? ; Tasting Note: Good full ruby-red. Laid-back nose features black cherry, minerals, licorice and dark chocolate. Suave, silky and light on its feet, with claret-like black fruit, spice and menthol flavors. Very fine-grained in the middle palate and on the aftertaste. Finishes with ripe, pliant tannins and lingering black cherry and spice notes.
GPCI - the 2003 Clos De Los Siete got 90 by WS and it was a complex, intense, full-body wine.
2004 in Mendoza was a good vintage with age-worthy potential wines. These wines will easily age for 5-8 years (some say even 20 years). I'd buy 2-3 for the cellar.
New Zealand
2005 KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC - $19.95
Marlborough, South Island
WS = 90 ; Tasting Note: Tangy in style, with plenty of fresh green apple character adding depth to the grapefruit and guava flavors, lingering nicely. Drink now. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Nov. 30, 2005.
GPCI - They know their stuff at the Kim Crawford winery. If you haven't had the chance to try their Sauv Blanc, go for it - we don't have too many summer days left to enjoy these fresh wines.
Australia
2005 D'ARENBERG ‘THE STUMP JUMP' GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE -$13.95
South Australia
Vintages.com - Here's a really excellent quaffer from d'Arenberg. What sets it apart from other ‘value wines' is that, rather than being a simple affair, it's rich, savoury and brimming with flavour. Look for ripe plum and berry fruit, spice and vanilla flavours. The 2005 blend is comprised of 46% Grenache, 34% Shiraz and 20% Mourvèdre.
GPCI - I know many of you have tried the Stump Jump from 2003 and 2004 - these are great, balanced, day-to-day, summer-fun wines. And 2005 is no exception... enjoy another treat from d'Arenberg.
Other release highlights worth mentioning (although not my personal top prefernce from price-cellaring potential-reviews point of view):
Canada - 2005 PENINSULA RIDGE ‘INOX' RESERVE CHARDONNAY - $19.95
France - 2003 JOSEPH DROUHIN VOLNAY - WS=89 ; $49.95
France - 2003 CHÂTEAU CLARKE - WS = 88 ; $39.95
France - 2003 CHÂTEAU BERGAT - WS = 90 ; $48.95
France - 2004 LOUIS MOREAU CHABLIS 1ER CRU VAULIGNOT - burghound.com = 86-89 ; $26.95
Australia - 2003 HOPE ESTATE “THE RIPPER!” SHIRAZ - WE = 90 ; $17.95
Argentina - Catena: Chardonnay or Malbec or Cab Sauv - $19.95 (great wines that got my review and recommendation in the past)
2001 Baron De Ley - $18.95
Rioja
WS 91 - Lavish oak, ripe fruit, a plush texture and a long, lively floral and spicy finish give this red an international style. It's rich yet remains vibrant, complex and harmonious. Drink now through 2015. 7,500 cases made.
GPCI - if you like wines from the Rioja region from 100% Tempranillo grapes, this is a MUST - it's a great vintage and Baron Del Ley is good even in lesser succesful vintages (I had the 1998 and it was great). And the price, well, buy 5!
2001 Torres Gran Sangre de Toro reserva - $15.95
Catalunya
http://www.waitrosewine.com/ -Garnacha, Cariñena and Syrah make a potent blend in this rich dark wine.
Herbaceous, spicy, full of robust black cherry-like fruit, with superb tannins, wood vanillin's giving depth and complexity to the palate. A wonderful accompaniment to Beef Wellington or traditional farmhouse cheddar cheese.
GPCI - I had the 1998 (an OK vintage) and it was great - very smooth, mouth filling and round. Again, 2001 is a great vintage. These wines can lay down 7-12 years and for this price, I'd by 5 bottles (if not more....).
Chile
2005 CONO SUR ‘SINGLE VINEYARD VISION' SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.95
Loma Roja Vineyard, Casablanca Valley
Tasting Note: ... The cooling winds [off the Pacific Ocean] give the grapes a good level of acidity and the relatively late harvest in the region allows them to develop rich flavours. The result is in this screwcap-sealed bottle, which delivers racy crispness with concentrated grassy, grapefruit and lemon-lime flavours. It's finely balanced and great value. Pair it with grilled seafood or dense white fish with a squeeze of lemon. Score - **** (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, www.winecurrent.com, Jan. 2006)
GPCI - The Vision series by Cono Sur (nice name, eh?) is great quality and value! Their Chardonnay (not in this release.. :( ) is really nice. I'd buy 2-3 for these hot days...
Argentina
2004 CLOS DE LOS SIETE - $23.95
Mendoza, ‘Par Michel Rolland'
ST = 89+? ; Tasting Note: Good full ruby-red. Laid-back nose features black cherry, minerals, licorice and dark chocolate. Suave, silky and light on its feet, with claret-like black fruit, spice and menthol flavors. Very fine-grained in the middle palate and on the aftertaste. Finishes with ripe, pliant tannins and lingering black cherry and spice notes.
GPCI - the 2003 Clos De Los Siete got 90 by WS and it was a complex, intense, full-body wine.
2004 in Mendoza was a good vintage with age-worthy potential wines. These wines will easily age for 5-8 years (some say even 20 years). I'd buy 2-3 for the cellar.
New Zealand
2005 KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC - $19.95
Marlborough, South Island
WS = 90 ; Tasting Note: Tangy in style, with plenty of fresh green apple character adding depth to the grapefruit and guava flavors, lingering nicely. Drink now. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Nov. 30, 2005.
GPCI - They know their stuff at the Kim Crawford winery. If you haven't had the chance to try their Sauv Blanc, go for it - we don't have too many summer days left to enjoy these fresh wines.
Australia
2005 D'ARENBERG ‘THE STUMP JUMP' GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE -$13.95
South Australia
Vintages.com - Here's a really excellent quaffer from d'Arenberg. What sets it apart from other ‘value wines' is that, rather than being a simple affair, it's rich, savoury and brimming with flavour. Look for ripe plum and berry fruit, spice and vanilla flavours. The 2005 blend is comprised of 46% Grenache, 34% Shiraz and 20% Mourvèdre.
GPCI - I know many of you have tried the Stump Jump from 2003 and 2004 - these are great, balanced, day-to-day, summer-fun wines. And 2005 is no exception... enjoy another treat from d'Arenberg.
Other release highlights worth mentioning (although not my personal top prefernce from price-cellaring potential-reviews point of view):
Canada - 2005 PENINSULA RIDGE ‘INOX' RESERVE CHARDONNAY - $19.95
France - 2003 JOSEPH DROUHIN VOLNAY - WS=89 ; $49.95
France - 2003 CHÂTEAU CLARKE - WS = 88 ; $39.95
France - 2003 CHÂTEAU BERGAT - WS = 90 ; $48.95
France - 2004 LOUIS MOREAU CHABLIS 1ER CRU VAULIGNOT - burghound.com = 86-89 ; $26.95
Australia - 2003 HOPE ESTATE “THE RIPPER!” SHIRAZ - WE = 90 ; $17.95
Argentina - Catena: Chardonnay or Malbec or Cab Sauv - $19.95 (great wines that got my review and recommendation in the past)
