Saturday, November 04, 2006
GPCI for Nov 11th 2006 release at the LCBO
Chile (red)
2003 ECHEVERRIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVA - $14.95
Molina
Vintages.com - This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in American and French oak barrels for a year before bottling. A fantastic value, the aromas are of ripe berries with hints of dark chocolate and spices. This is a big and bold wine with bright fruit flavours and a long lingering finish.
GPCI - A great full body Cab for day-to-day for an amazing value. buy 2-5 bottles.
2003 SEGÚ CARMÉNÈRE RESERVE - $14.95
Unfiltered, Maule Valley
The Segú family has been making quality wines in Chile for more than 80 years. Here you will find aromas of smoke, chocolate and ripe red fruits in this savoury and supple Carmenere. A fantastic value!
GPCI - Carmenere, Chile's most famous grape (until 1994 was confused for Merlot). This grape is an "advanced Merolt". No doubt a great value for a great unfiltered wine. again, buy 2-5 bottles.
Australia (white)
2005 D'ARENBERG ‘THE MONEY SPIDER' ROUSSANNE - $19.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Jeremy Oliver = 89 ; At the 2006 Decanter World Wine Awards, this wine won the trophy for best International White Single Varietal wine Under 10 pounds ($22).
Tasting Note: Wild, reductive and savoury, this smoky and floral roussanne is packed by funky, spicy complexity. From its exotic, citrusy bouquet to its dry, slightly warm but assertively rich and meaty palate of melon and citrus fruit, it's uncompromisingly forward and impactful. No holding back here! (Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com, July 1, 2006)
GPCI - another gem from the great and consistent d'Arenberg.
Australia (red)
2004 KAESLER ‘STONEHORSE' GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE - $19.95
Barossa Valley, South Australia
WS = 91 : Smooth and polished, with a lovely core of black cherry and currant fruit, dripping with dark chocolate and smoky spice notes as the finish goes on. Impressive for its balance and length. Drink now through 2014. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Sept. 30, 2006).
GPCI - this is one of the release's "GPCI worthy" - a very good GSM under $20 that can be cellared for additional 8 years. if GSM is what you like, buy at least 5 bottles.
2003 PENFOLDS ‘BIN 407' CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $29.95
South Australia
WS = 90 : Ripe and rich, with a supple core of currant and dried blueberry flavor that lingers effectively against refined tannins. A hint of gaminess weaves around the edges, but the finish and the style has immense appeal. Best from 2008 through 2015. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Aug. 31, 2006).
GPCI - Bin 407 cab, is one of my personal Penfolds' favorite - you get a high-quality cab that can be nicely cellared for a very competative price (relatively to the very expensive cab from California at the same level). I'd buy 2-3 bottles.
2004 TWO HANDS ‘GNARLY DUDES' SHIRAZ - $27.95
Barossa Valley, South Australia
This finely crafted Shiraz is from Two Hands ‘Picture Series'. The ‘gnarly dudes' in question are the rather fierce and twisted looking old vines from which the wine's fruit is sourced. Winemaker Matt Wenk has a well-deserved reputation for creating a tightly focused Shiraz that emphasizes the fruit while perfectly integrating the oak and tannins. This dude is ready to be enjoyed anytime over the next five years.
GPCI - this one is for you John M - I know that you have tasted this wine and others from Two Hands. It is expensive from the average Australian Shiraz, but I since I was lucky enough to be invited and taste it on Sunday (Nov 5th) with John, I can tell you it's worth it! it's an "Australia meeting Chateauneuf-du-Pape" party in your mouth - one of the best Shiraz I had in the past year. it's balanced, smooth, silky with pepper and spices - multi layered with long finish. really good! I wonder if the wines we get to Ontario taste the same as the ones the UK gets - I know that Australia are making similar brands in a slightly different way, to meet the market taste (e.g. UK prefers "Dry" and the US prefers more fruit flavors).
Spain (red)
2001 MIGUEL TORRES ‘MAS LA PLANA' CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $39.95
DO Penedès (Also available in 1500 mL.)
WS = 90 : Plush in texture, elegant in structure, this red offers smoky berry, lead pencil and tobacco flavors, balanced and clean, with spices and berries on the finish. Not a blockbuster, but graceful. Drink now through 2010. (Thomas Matthews, www.winespectator.com, Nov. 30, 2005)
GPCI - well, I had the 1999 Mas La Plana and extremely enjoyed it - it's about a great mixture of berries and balance. I didn't try the 2001 (a great vintage in Spain), but it's supposed to be better than the 99', so I can't wait... Although it isn't cheap, I would definitely recommend to buy at least 2 bottles.
2003 ECHEVERRIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVA - $14.95
Molina
Vintages.com - This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in American and French oak barrels for a year before bottling. A fantastic value, the aromas are of ripe berries with hints of dark chocolate and spices. This is a big and bold wine with bright fruit flavours and a long lingering finish.
GPCI - A great full body Cab for day-to-day for an amazing value. buy 2-5 bottles.
2003 SEGÚ CARMÉNÈRE RESERVE - $14.95
Unfiltered, Maule Valley
The Segú family has been making quality wines in Chile for more than 80 years. Here you will find aromas of smoke, chocolate and ripe red fruits in this savoury and supple Carmenere. A fantastic value!
GPCI - Carmenere, Chile's most famous grape (until 1994 was confused for Merlot). This grape is an "advanced Merolt". No doubt a great value for a great unfiltered wine. again, buy 2-5 bottles.
Australia (white)
2005 D'ARENBERG ‘THE MONEY SPIDER' ROUSSANNE - $19.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Jeremy Oliver = 89 ; At the 2006 Decanter World Wine Awards, this wine won the trophy for best International White Single Varietal wine Under 10 pounds ($22).
Tasting Note: Wild, reductive and savoury, this smoky and floral roussanne is packed by funky, spicy complexity. From its exotic, citrusy bouquet to its dry, slightly warm but assertively rich and meaty palate of melon and citrus fruit, it's uncompromisingly forward and impactful. No holding back here! (Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com, July 1, 2006)
GPCI - another gem from the great and consistent d'Arenberg.
Australia (red)
2004 KAESLER ‘STONEHORSE' GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE - $19.95
Barossa Valley, South Australia
WS = 91 : Smooth and polished, with a lovely core of black cherry and currant fruit, dripping with dark chocolate and smoky spice notes as the finish goes on. Impressive for its balance and length. Drink now through 2014. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Sept. 30, 2006).
GPCI - this is one of the release's "GPCI worthy" - a very good GSM under $20 that can be cellared for additional 8 years. if GSM is what you like, buy at least 5 bottles.
2003 PENFOLDS ‘BIN 407' CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $29.95
South Australia
WS = 90 : Ripe and rich, with a supple core of currant and dried blueberry flavor that lingers effectively against refined tannins. A hint of gaminess weaves around the edges, but the finish and the style has immense appeal. Best from 2008 through 2015. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Aug. 31, 2006).
GPCI - Bin 407 cab, is one of my personal Penfolds' favorite - you get a high-quality cab that can be nicely cellared for a very competative price (relatively to the very expensive cab from California at the same level). I'd buy 2-3 bottles.
2004 TWO HANDS ‘GNARLY DUDES' SHIRAZ - $27.95
Barossa Valley, South Australia
This finely crafted Shiraz is from Two Hands ‘Picture Series'. The ‘gnarly dudes' in question are the rather fierce and twisted looking old vines from which the wine's fruit is sourced. Winemaker Matt Wenk has a well-deserved reputation for creating a tightly focused Shiraz that emphasizes the fruit while perfectly integrating the oak and tannins. This dude is ready to be enjoyed anytime over the next five years.
GPCI - this one is for you John M - I know that you have tasted this wine and others from Two Hands. It is expensive from the average Australian Shiraz, but I since I was lucky enough to be invited and taste it on Sunday (Nov 5th) with John, I can tell you it's worth it! it's an "Australia meeting Chateauneuf-du-Pape" party in your mouth - one of the best Shiraz I had in the past year. it's balanced, smooth, silky with pepper and spices - multi layered with long finish. really good! I wonder if the wines we get to Ontario taste the same as the ones the UK gets - I know that Australia are making similar brands in a slightly different way, to meet the market taste (e.g. UK prefers "Dry" and the US prefers more fruit flavors).
Spain (red)
2001 MIGUEL TORRES ‘MAS LA PLANA' CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $39.95
DO Penedès (Also available in 1500 mL.)
WS = 90 : Plush in texture, elegant in structure, this red offers smoky berry, lead pencil and tobacco flavors, balanced and clean, with spices and berries on the finish. Not a blockbuster, but graceful. Drink now through 2010. (Thomas Matthews, www.winespectator.com, Nov. 30, 2005)
GPCI - well, I had the 1999 Mas La Plana and extremely enjoyed it - it's about a great mixture of berries and balance. I didn't try the 2001 (a great vintage in Spain), but it's supposed to be better than the 99', so I can't wait... Although it isn't cheap, I would definitely recommend to buy at least 2 bottles.
