Friday, February 23, 2007
GPCi for March 3rd 2007 release at the LCBO
GPCi's top 3 picks of the release:
1 - 2003 CHÂTEAU CANTELYS, Pessac-Léognan - $36.95
2 - 2003 HOPE ESTATE THE RIPPER! SHIRAZ - $19.95
3 - 2004 PIERRE AMADIEU GIGONDAS ROMANE MACHOTTE - $23.95
Argentina Mendoza
2003 NAVARRO CORREAS GRAN RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $17.95
Decanter – 4* - Highly Recommended - Deep, concentrated dark fruit aromas. Still solid tannins but ripe and full. Oak is to the fore but there is sufficient depth of fruit to ensure another two years. Drink up to 2008.
GPCi - A great value full-body-concentrated wine for day-to-day. Buy 2-6 bottles.
2000 Weinert Malbec - $15.95
http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/ : Bodegas Weinert, one of the most renowned wine estates in Mendoza, can trace its history back to 1890. However, it is only since its purchase in 1975 by Brazilian businessman Bernado Weinert that the estate really came to prominence. Malbec is to Argentina what Shiraz is to Australia. Rich, intense, spicy this is the absolute best partner for beef. And the Argentines know a thing or two about beef!
GPCi - another Malbec for a great price. Expect spiciness and intensity AND for $16 ! buy 2-6 bottles.
Italy Veneto
2003 ALLEGRINI PALAZZO DELLA TORRE - $24.95
RP=88 ; intense herb-infused, black cherry fruit interwoven with notes of white chocolate, mocha, and almonds. Spicy, rich, medium to full-bodied, and dense with no hard edges
WS=87 ; Fresh, almost sweet blackberry and vanilla on the nose, following through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a cut-wood character. Balanced finish...Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
GPCi - Not one of Allegrini's high-end wines, but still a nice medium body not-too-expensive wine.
2003 VENEGAZZÙ DELLA CASA - $20.95
IGT Colli Trevigiani (Loredan Gasparini)
Vintages.com : Venegazzù della Casa is very unique for Veneto as it is a Bordeaux-style wine that has been produced in the region since the 1950s. Each vintage it is produced in very limited quantities from a scrupulous selection of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec.
GPCi - I like the wines from the IGT region/classification. It's Bordeaux blend with Italian style. good value!!! I'd buy 2-3 bottles.
Australia
2003 HOPE ESTATE THE RIPPER! SHIRAZ - $19.95
WS=89 : Has refined texture and claretlike tannins. Offers lovely blueberry, plum and spice flavors that last beautifully into the long finish. Best from 2008 through 2014.
GPCi - My #2 pick of the release. Beside the great taste for a good price and that can be cellared for 7 years, I love the name; can be a great wine gift for new beginnings... I'd buy 2-6 bottles.
2003 KATNOOK ESTATE SHIRAZ - $29.95
James Holiday = 94 (!) - Spice, cedar and polished leather aromas and flavours surround the core of black-fruit; a super-elegant style; very good length and mouthfeel. Both this wine and the deluxe Prodigy release affirm the quality of the base material.
http://www.winelistaustralia.com.au/ : Katnook Estate wines have an enviable record of awards. They will be found on some of the best wine lists and in some of the finest cellars in the world, often with several vintages of the same variety, representing the best from Australia's renowned Coonawarra wine district. The fruit for this wine 100% estate grown. The 2003 vintage in Coonawarra was similar to the '02, being a generally dry growing season with slightly below average temperatures. Yields were low and quality was excellent. A medium to long term cellaring wine to be enjoyed with game birds and red meats.
GPCi - My friend in Australia once told me that James Holiday 94 equals to about 92 by Winespectator... it's not often that you get a serious Shiraz that got such a high score for ~$30. It's not cheap, but seems very promising.
France
2003 CHÂTEAU CANTELYS, Pessac-Léognan - $36.95
WS = 92 ; Aromas of blackberry, meat and spice follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish of berry, orange peel and chocolate. Structured and complex. Superclean. Best ever from here. Best after 2009. 2,665 cases made.
GPCi - my #1 pick for this release. This is a typical 2003 great Bordeaux for a reasonable price - you won't find many 2003 Bordeaux that received 92 by WS and cost ~C$37. This wine will hold at least until 2015. I'd buy 4-8 bottles.
2004 PIERRE AMADIEU GIGONDAS ROMANE MACHOTTE - $23.95
RP = 89-91 : A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah grown in limestone-based hillside vineyards, the 2004 Gigondas Romane Machotte exhibits an impressive, fleshy, full-bodied, muscular personality with copious quantities of black cherry and berry fruit intermixed with flowers, crushed rocks, and pepper. It is a big, rich, dense Gigondas to drink over the next 7-8 years (2013-14).
GPCi - My #3 pick of this release. I love good Gigondas when they are full-body, powerful and concentrated like this one. I'd buy 2-6 bottles.
US California
2003 DOMINUS NAPANOOK - $43.95
Estate Bottled, Napa Valley
RP = 90 : The second wine[of Dominus], the 2003 Napanook is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot and Malbec. It offers a dark plum/garnet color as well as an evolved but intriguing nose of cedar, spice box, high quality cigar smoke, sweet currants, incense, red cherries, plums, and black currants. Complex with excellent concentration, beautiful balance, and sweet tannin, it can be drunk now or cellared until 2015-2020.
GPCi - Dominus for the "poor" - can be cellared for 13 years (which means a good GPCi index - 3.3). If you like Dominus, this is a VERY smart buy. So why pay so much for the "big Dominus brother", if you can get the Napanook quality for less then half?
Worth mentioning (where money is no object...)
Italy
2003 Sassicaia – $159.00
WS = 92 Lots of raspberry and cherry on the nose. Full-bodied and chunky with lots of fruit and a long, velvety finish. Hints of new wood. Big and juicy Sassicaia. Very well done for the vintage. Best after 2008. 15,000 cases made.
ST = 93 ; Appealing smoky, minerally aromas of red cherry, blackcurrant and plum, with a hint of truffle. Quite suave on entry, then smooth and fine-grained, with good mineral lift to the decidedly sweet red fruit flavors. This broad, rich and supple wine boasts tremendous length and silky-sweet tannins. A great Sassicaia that falls roughly between the '88 and the '85 in style at the similar stage of development
US California
2003 DOMINUS - $104.95
Estate Bottled, Napa Valley
RP = 95 : The 2003 Dominus has turned out even better than I thought from barrel. ... 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot blend. A big, sweet nose of roasted coffee, Provencal herbs, black currants, cherry jam, plums, allspice, and forest floor is followed by a spicy, rich, full-bodied, fragrant, intense wine. The tannins are sweet, but noticeable in this beautifully complex, strikingly aromatic 2003. It has much more similarity to a great Bordeaux than anything from Napa Valley. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.
1 - 2003 CHÂTEAU CANTELYS, Pessac-Léognan - $36.95
2 - 2003 HOPE ESTATE THE RIPPER! SHIRAZ - $19.95
3 - 2004 PIERRE AMADIEU GIGONDAS ROMANE MACHOTTE - $23.95
Argentina Mendoza
2003 NAVARRO CORREAS GRAN RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $17.95
Decanter – 4* - Highly Recommended - Deep, concentrated dark fruit aromas. Still solid tannins but ripe and full. Oak is to the fore but there is sufficient depth of fruit to ensure another two years. Drink up to 2008.
GPCi - A great value full-body-concentrated wine for day-to-day. Buy 2-6 bottles.
2000 Weinert Malbec - $15.95
http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/ : Bodegas Weinert, one of the most renowned wine estates in Mendoza, can trace its history back to 1890. However, it is only since its purchase in 1975 by Brazilian businessman Bernado Weinert that the estate really came to prominence. Malbec is to Argentina what Shiraz is to Australia. Rich, intense, spicy this is the absolute best partner for beef. And the Argentines know a thing or two about beef!
GPCi - another Malbec for a great price. Expect spiciness and intensity AND for $16 ! buy 2-6 bottles.
Italy Veneto
2003 ALLEGRINI PALAZZO DELLA TORRE - $24.95
RP=88 ; intense herb-infused, black cherry fruit interwoven with notes of white chocolate, mocha, and almonds. Spicy, rich, medium to full-bodied, and dense with no hard edges
WS=87 ; Fresh, almost sweet blackberry and vanilla on the nose, following through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a cut-wood character. Balanced finish...Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
GPCi - Not one of Allegrini's high-end wines, but still a nice medium body not-too-expensive wine.
2003 VENEGAZZÙ DELLA CASA - $20.95
IGT Colli Trevigiani (Loredan Gasparini)
Vintages.com : Venegazzù della Casa is very unique for Veneto as it is a Bordeaux-style wine that has been produced in the region since the 1950s. Each vintage it is produced in very limited quantities from a scrupulous selection of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec.
GPCi - I like the wines from the IGT region/classification. It's Bordeaux blend with Italian style. good value!!! I'd buy 2-3 bottles.
Australia
2003 HOPE ESTATE THE RIPPER! SHIRAZ - $19.95
WS=89 : Has refined texture and claretlike tannins. Offers lovely blueberry, plum and spice flavors that last beautifully into the long finish. Best from 2008 through 2014.
GPCi - My #2 pick of the release. Beside the great taste for a good price and that can be cellared for 7 years, I love the name; can be a great wine gift for new beginnings... I'd buy 2-6 bottles.
2003 KATNOOK ESTATE SHIRAZ - $29.95
James Holiday = 94 (!) - Spice, cedar and polished leather aromas and flavours surround the core of black-fruit; a super-elegant style; very good length and mouthfeel. Both this wine and the deluxe Prodigy release affirm the quality of the base material.
http://www.winelistaustralia.com.au/ : Katnook Estate wines have an enviable record of awards. They will be found on some of the best wine lists and in some of the finest cellars in the world, often with several vintages of the same variety, representing the best from Australia's renowned Coonawarra wine district. The fruit for this wine 100% estate grown. The 2003 vintage in Coonawarra was similar to the '02, being a generally dry growing season with slightly below average temperatures. Yields were low and quality was excellent. A medium to long term cellaring wine to be enjoyed with game birds and red meats.
GPCi - My friend in Australia once told me that James Holiday 94 equals to about 92 by Winespectator... it's not often that you get a serious Shiraz that got such a high score for ~$30. It's not cheap, but seems very promising.
France
2003 CHÂTEAU CANTELYS, Pessac-Léognan - $36.95
WS = 92 ; Aromas of blackberry, meat and spice follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish of berry, orange peel and chocolate. Structured and complex. Superclean. Best ever from here. Best after 2009. 2,665 cases made.
GPCi - my #1 pick for this release. This is a typical 2003 great Bordeaux for a reasonable price - you won't find many 2003 Bordeaux that received 92 by WS and cost ~C$37. This wine will hold at least until 2015. I'd buy 4-8 bottles.
2004 PIERRE AMADIEU GIGONDAS ROMANE MACHOTTE - $23.95
RP = 89-91 : A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah grown in limestone-based hillside vineyards, the 2004 Gigondas Romane Machotte exhibits an impressive, fleshy, full-bodied, muscular personality with copious quantities of black cherry and berry fruit intermixed with flowers, crushed rocks, and pepper. It is a big, rich, dense Gigondas to drink over the next 7-8 years (2013-14).
GPCi - My #3 pick of this release. I love good Gigondas when they are full-body, powerful and concentrated like this one. I'd buy 2-6 bottles.
US California
2003 DOMINUS NAPANOOK - $43.95
Estate Bottled, Napa Valley
RP = 90 : The second wine[of Dominus], the 2003 Napanook is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot and Malbec. It offers a dark plum/garnet color as well as an evolved but intriguing nose of cedar, spice box, high quality cigar smoke, sweet currants, incense, red cherries, plums, and black currants. Complex with excellent concentration, beautiful balance, and sweet tannin, it can be drunk now or cellared until 2015-2020.
GPCi - Dominus for the "poor" - can be cellared for 13 years (which means a good GPCi index - 3.3). If you like Dominus, this is a VERY smart buy. So why pay so much for the "big Dominus brother", if you can get the Napanook quality for less then half?
Worth mentioning (where money is no object...)
Italy
2003 Sassicaia – $159.00
WS = 92 Lots of raspberry and cherry on the nose. Full-bodied and chunky with lots of fruit and a long, velvety finish. Hints of new wood. Big and juicy Sassicaia. Very well done for the vintage. Best after 2008. 15,000 cases made.
ST = 93 ; Appealing smoky, minerally aromas of red cherry, blackcurrant and plum, with a hint of truffle. Quite suave on entry, then smooth and fine-grained, with good mineral lift to the decidedly sweet red fruit flavors. This broad, rich and supple wine boasts tremendous length and silky-sweet tannins. A great Sassicaia that falls roughly between the '88 and the '85 in style at the similar stage of development
US California
2003 DOMINUS - $104.95
Estate Bottled, Napa Valley
RP = 95 : The 2003 Dominus has turned out even better than I thought from barrel. ... 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot blend. A big, sweet nose of roasted coffee, Provencal herbs, black currants, cherry jam, plums, allspice, and forest floor is followed by a spicy, rich, full-bodied, fragrant, intense wine. The tannins are sweet, but noticeable in this beautifully complex, strikingly aromatic 2003. It has much more similarity to a great Bordeaux than anything from Napa Valley. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.
