Saturday, October 21, 2006
GPCI for Oct 28th 2006 release at the LCBO
GPCI's choice
Argentina (red)
2003 ALTA VISTA GRANDE RESERVE MALBEC - $18.95
‘Terroir Selection', Estate Btld, Mendoza
WS = 91 : Structured Malbec, with lots of graphite and loam layered within the blackberry and black currant fruit. Thick, but ripe, with chocolate and espresso notes framing the finish. Nice mineral hint too. Best from 2006 through 2010.
GPCI - If you like Malbec, this is a great opportunity to fill your cellar with at least half a case if not more - this is a great value Malbec!
Australia (red)
2002 PETER LEHMANN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95
WS = 90 ; Lithe in texture, not a huge wine but beautifully focused, aglow with blueberry, currant and subtle bay leaf and spice flavors that persist with refinement through a long, harmonious finish. Drink now through 2010.
GPCI - great value for a very good Cab Sauv. but 2-3 bottles
2004 TORBRECK ‘OLD VINES' GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE - $19.95
WS = 91 ; Polished, generous and powerful, a racy mouthful of blackberry, licorice, plum and pepper flavors that zoom through the finish. Tannins are almost an afterthought. Designed to deepen with cellaring. Drink now through 2014.
GPCI - another great value. excellent GPCI. this one will be gone VERY fast on Saturday.
2004 YALUMBA ‘BUSH VINE' GRENACHE - $19.95
Barossa, South Australia
WS = 91 : Polished, generous and powerful, a racy mouthful of blackberry, licorice, plum and pepper flavors that zoom through the finish. Tannins are almost an afterthought. Designed to deepen with cellaring. Drink now through 2014.
GPCI - I had this Yalumba from previous vintages - excellent wine. Don't think twice - buy at least 3 bottles.
Australia (white)
2004 HOWARD PARK CHARDONNAY - $29.95
Western Australia
Aussie wine expert Jeremy Oliver (www.jeremyoliver.com.au, July 2006) awarded 95 points to this “…polished and beautifully integrated chardonnay whose crystal-bright flavours of grapefruit, pineapple and quince knit seamlessly… with dusty, nutty vanilla oak and refreshingly citrusy acids.”
GPCI - Oliver does not give 95 very often. I believe it can easily compete with the US$50+ Chardonnay from California for a cheaper price. I'd buy 1-2 bottles.
France (white)
2004 CHÂTEAU DE MALIGNY CHABLIS 1ER CRU VAU DE VEY - $31.95
AC
Decanter - recommended ; (Jean Durup Père et Fils) Tasting Note: Fresh, lively citric nose. Rich, juicy, a broad upfront style, concentrated, underlying minerality, persistent, classic Chablis with considerable elegance. [Cellar] 2-10 years.
GPCI - good GPCI. a good Chablis that will go nicely with Thai food.
France (red)
1998 VIÑA ALBALI GRAN RESERVA - $16.95
DO Valdepeñas Tasting Note: A great choice for roast leg of lamb, the lively aromas of strawberry jam, caramel, leather and new oak lead to a palate that is dry and velvety at the outset, but with a nice hint of tannin grip coming on to balance the finish. Medium-bodied, the finish is long.
GPCI - a Spanish 1998 Gran Reserva for $17 - NO BRAINER - if you like wines from that region, it would be wise to buy a case.
New Zealand (white)
2005 DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC- $19.95
Marlborough
WS=91 ; Bright, juicy and almost lacy in texture, letting the lime, apple and pineapple flavors shine through against a refreshing zing of acidity. Appealing for its subtlety and harmony. Drink now.
GPCI - Great Sauv Blanc for a reasonable price. I'd buy 4-5 bottles.
Worth mentioning:
2005 CASA LAPOSTOLLE ‘CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' CHARDONNAY - $33.95
2004 CASA LAPOSTOLLE ‘CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $34.95
2004 CASA LAPOSTOLLE 'CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' SYRAH - $35.95
GPCI - CASA LAPOSTOLLE ‘CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' is Casa Lapostolle high-end wines - I tried all of them and although they are a bit expensive (compare to Australian wines, for example), they are really great. If you need to chose between the 3 options above, I'd go with the Cab Sauv.
2004 PENFOLDS ‘BIN 128' SHIRAZ - $29.95 ; GPCI - A very safe Shiraz bet.
2004 CAVE DE TURCKHEIM GEWURZTRAMINER RÉSERVE - $19.95
2001 ZENATO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO (WS=92 ; 1000 cases) - $42.95
2001 RUFFINO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA ‘DUCALE' GOLD LABEL (WS=90) - $44.95
2003 BANFI ‘CUM LAUDE' - $33.95
2001 Barolos (Ken F - this list is for you...)
ANDREA OBERTO BAROLO (WS=91) - $49.95
AURELIO SETTIMO BAROLO ROCCHE (WS=92) - $49.95
AZELIA BAROLO (WS=92) - $49.95
CERETTO BAROLO ZONCHERA (WS=88) - $41.95
PAOLO SCAVINO BAROLO (WS=93) - $51.95
PIO CESARE BAROLO (WS=94) - $59.95 - I had and still have the 98. my personal favorite...
Argentina (red)
2003 ALTA VISTA GRANDE RESERVE MALBEC - $18.95
‘Terroir Selection', Estate Btld, Mendoza
WS = 91 : Structured Malbec, with lots of graphite and loam layered within the blackberry and black currant fruit. Thick, but ripe, with chocolate and espresso notes framing the finish. Nice mineral hint too. Best from 2006 through 2010.
GPCI - If you like Malbec, this is a great opportunity to fill your cellar with at least half a case if not more - this is a great value Malbec!
Australia (red)
2002 PETER LEHMANN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95
WS = 90 ; Lithe in texture, not a huge wine but beautifully focused, aglow with blueberry, currant and subtle bay leaf and spice flavors that persist with refinement through a long, harmonious finish. Drink now through 2010.
GPCI - great value for a very good Cab Sauv. but 2-3 bottles
2004 TORBRECK ‘OLD VINES' GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE - $19.95
WS = 91 ; Polished, generous and powerful, a racy mouthful of blackberry, licorice, plum and pepper flavors that zoom through the finish. Tannins are almost an afterthought. Designed to deepen with cellaring. Drink now through 2014.
GPCI - another great value. excellent GPCI. this one will be gone VERY fast on Saturday.
2004 YALUMBA ‘BUSH VINE' GRENACHE - $19.95
Barossa, South Australia
WS = 91 : Polished, generous and powerful, a racy mouthful of blackberry, licorice, plum and pepper flavors that zoom through the finish. Tannins are almost an afterthought. Designed to deepen with cellaring. Drink now through 2014.
GPCI - I had this Yalumba from previous vintages - excellent wine. Don't think twice - buy at least 3 bottles.
Australia (white)
2004 HOWARD PARK CHARDONNAY - $29.95
Western Australia
Aussie wine expert Jeremy Oliver (www.jeremyoliver.com.au, July 2006) awarded 95 points to this “…polished and beautifully integrated chardonnay whose crystal-bright flavours of grapefruit, pineapple and quince knit seamlessly… with dusty, nutty vanilla oak and refreshingly citrusy acids.”
GPCI - Oliver does not give 95 very often. I believe it can easily compete with the US$50+ Chardonnay from California for a cheaper price. I'd buy 1-2 bottles.
France (white)
2004 CHÂTEAU DE MALIGNY CHABLIS 1ER CRU VAU DE VEY - $31.95
AC
Decanter - recommended ; (Jean Durup Père et Fils) Tasting Note: Fresh, lively citric nose. Rich, juicy, a broad upfront style, concentrated, underlying minerality, persistent, classic Chablis with considerable elegance. [Cellar] 2-10 years.
GPCI - good GPCI. a good Chablis that will go nicely with Thai food.
France (red)
2003 FAIVELEY MERCUREY ‘LES MAUVARENNES' - $23.95
AC
Vintages.com: Classic Pinot Noir aromas of cherry, raspberry, beetroot, earth and wood spice. Indicative of the hot vintage, it is dry, intensely flavoured, supple and smooth. An excellent value.
AC
Vintages.com: Classic Pinot Noir aromas of cherry, raspberry, beetroot, earth and wood spice. Indicative of the hot vintage, it is dry, intensely flavoured, supple and smooth. An excellent value.
GPCI - a good Pinot from a good producer (like this one) for less than $25 is not something you see every day. buy 2-3 bottles.
1998 VIÑA ALBALI GRAN RESERVA - $16.95
DO Valdepeñas Tasting Note: A great choice for roast leg of lamb, the lively aromas of strawberry jam, caramel, leather and new oak lead to a palate that is dry and velvety at the outset, but with a nice hint of tannin grip coming on to balance the finish. Medium-bodied, the finish is long.
GPCI - a Spanish 1998 Gran Reserva for $17 - NO BRAINER - if you like wines from that region, it would be wise to buy a case.
New Zealand (white)
2005 DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC- $19.95
Marlborough
WS=91 ; Bright, juicy and almost lacy in texture, letting the lime, apple and pineapple flavors shine through against a refreshing zing of acidity. Appealing for its subtlety and harmony. Drink now.
GPCI - Great Sauv Blanc for a reasonable price. I'd buy 4-5 bottles.
Worth mentioning:
2005 CASA LAPOSTOLLE ‘CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' CHARDONNAY - $33.95
2004 CASA LAPOSTOLLE ‘CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $34.95
2004 CASA LAPOSTOLLE 'CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' SYRAH - $35.95
GPCI - CASA LAPOSTOLLE ‘CUVÉE ALEXANDRE' is Casa Lapostolle high-end wines - I tried all of them and although they are a bit expensive (compare to Australian wines, for example), they are really great. If you need to chose between the 3 options above, I'd go with the Cab Sauv.
2004 PENFOLDS ‘BIN 128' SHIRAZ - $29.95 ; GPCI - A very safe Shiraz bet.
2004 CAVE DE TURCKHEIM GEWURZTRAMINER RÉSERVE - $19.95
2001 ZENATO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO (WS=92 ; 1000 cases) - $42.95
2001 RUFFINO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA ‘DUCALE' GOLD LABEL (WS=90) - $44.95
2003 BANFI ‘CUM LAUDE' - $33.95
2001 Barolos (Ken F - this list is for you...)
ANDREA OBERTO BAROLO (WS=91) - $49.95
AURELIO SETTIMO BAROLO ROCCHE (WS=92) - $49.95
AZELIA BAROLO (WS=92) - $49.95
CERETTO BAROLO ZONCHERA (WS=88) - $41.95
PAOLO SCAVINO BAROLO (WS=93) - $51.95
PIO CESARE BAROLO (WS=94) - $59.95 - I had and still have the 98. my personal favorite...
