Thursday, May 17, 2007
GPCi for May 26th 2007 release at the LCBO
GPCi Top 4 Picks of the release:
#1 - 2004 BODEGAS CASTANO HECULA - $15.95
#2 - 2003 D’ARENBERG THE COPPERMINE ROAD CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $49.95
#3 - 2004 THORN-CLARKE SHOTFIRE RIDGE QUARTAGE - $19.95
#4 - 2005 DOMAINE HUET LE HAUT LIEU SEC VOUVRAY - $28.95
Argentina
Great value from Argentina. both the Malbec and the Cab Sauv are great day-to-day wines!
2004 CHAKANA RESERVE MALBEC - $17.95
Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
Fragrant nose combining fruit and oak. Great weight, fine, juicy tannins, lovely, restrained, elegant finish. Excellent concentration and balanced. Score – Gold Medal. (Panel note, Decanter World Wine Awards 2006)
2005 DEL FIN DEL MUNDO CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVA - $13.95
Patagonia
There are exciting new appellations emerging from Argentina beyond Mendoza including the cool climate Patagonia region at the southern tip of the country. Bodega Del Fin Del Mundo is literally located at the end of the world and it produces wonderfully vibrant wines like this beautifully balanced Cab. The nose is fragrant with cassis, plum and mint notes. It’s dry, medium-full bodied with bright fruit, silky tannins and a bright core of acidity.
2004 MELIPAL MALBEC - $17.95
Mendoza
WS=89 : Really juicy, with raspberry, blackberry and briar notes, followed by well-integrated toast. Finish has lots of fruit driven by fresh acidity. Drink now through 2007.
Chile
2004 CARMEN RESERVE SYRAH/CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95
Maipo Valley
The grapes for this 50/50 blend were hand picked and sorted to ensure only the best quality fruit was used. Fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 10 months in both French and American oak barrels, this big, rich wine is packed with black fruit, spice, leather, floral and meaty characteristics. Ripe and concentrated with ample tannins, it’s built for steaks grilled rare or roasted game.
GPCi - Previous vintages were absolutely great for the money. very smooth and full.
2004 DE MARTINO LEGADO RESERVA SYRAH - $15.95
Choapa Valley
WS=88 : Juicy and focused, with ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit backed by nice hints of tobacco, tar and violet. Very tasty. Drink now.
GPCi - you cannot find a high quality Syrah at that price level. buy a case for day-to-day.
2004 WILLIAM COLE COLUMBINE RESERVE CARMENERE - $15.95
Casablanca Valley, Estate Btld.
William Cole’s wines always represent terrific value. The beautiful estate is located at the heart of the Casablanca Valley and consists of 130 hectares of vineyards, including 32 hectares of Carmenère. This savoury wine would be great around the grill this summer, matching everything from grilled stuffed peppers, to gourmet hamburgers to steaks.
GPCi - for all of you who appreciate an "upgraded Merlot", this one is for you! great for these spring days with or without food.
South Africa
2005 GOATS DO ROAM IN VILLAGES - $15.95
WO Coastal Region (The Goats do Roam Wine Company)
The name may be light-hearted, but the wine is a serious blend of Shiraz, Pinotage, Mourvedre and a touch of Viognier. Copying here the best of both the northern and southern Rhône, Goats do Roam In Villages, is a fruit-forward wine with a beautiful spine of tannin and crisp acidity. Try this with a grilled leg of lamb or braised beef dishes. It will also reward 2-4 years in a cellar.
GPCi - If you haven't tried it by now... well... where were you ?... :)
One of the better offerings and values from SA. It's the South African version for "Cotes-du-Rhone Village" (sounds the same, eh? just brilliant...) for half the price. Buy a case for day-to-day.
Italy (Tuscany)
2001 ANGELINI VINO NOBILE MONTEPULCIANO LA VILLA - $44.95
WE = 90 ; Weighty yet bright, with aromas of charred hamburger, leather and plum/berry jam. Complex and interwoven on the palate, with kirsch, cassis, red plum and chocolate flavors. Finishes smooth and stylish. Textbook stuff; hold until 2007.
GPCi - Tasting a few Vino Nobile while being in Montepulciano is an experience I encourage every wine lover to have at least once in her/his life. I had this Angelini and it was just great! it can be easily cellared for 5+ years or consumed now. decant it for at least 30 minutes. Buy 2-3 bottles.
2003 ANTINORI SOLAIA - $149.95
IGT Toscana
WS=95 : Fantastic aromas of crushed blackberry, licorice and strawberry. Full-bodied, with rich, velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. Fruit-forward and exciting. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2008.
GPCi - Only if you have really deep pockets... I tried it in Tuscany (only tasting sample) and I think you can get similar quality for a 1/3 of a price.
2003 POGGIO SALVI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO - $32.95
The blend here is 90% Prugnolo Gentile (a local name for Sangiovese), 5% Mammolo and 5% Canaiolo. Sangiovese gives the wine structure, finesse, cherry/berry fruitiness and an earthiness, the heavily perfumed red grape Mammolo brings a lovely aroma of violets to the finished wine and Canaiolo adds a certain softness to the final blend. The wines mature for 24 months in Slavonic 35 hectoliter barrels and then a further 6 months in bottle. It is fairly tannic, meaning it will definitely reward 3-5+ years in a cellar, or match it tonight to roast beef.
GPCi - another great Vino Nobile. Seems to need time to soften. Buy 2-3 bottles.
#1 - 2004 BODEGAS CASTANO HECULA - $15.95
#2 - 2003 D’ARENBERG THE COPPERMINE ROAD CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $49.95
#3 - 2004 THORN-CLARKE SHOTFIRE RIDGE QUARTAGE - $19.95
#4 - 2005 DOMAINE HUET LE HAUT LIEU SEC VOUVRAY - $28.95
Spain
DO Yecla
RP = 91 : The 2004 Hecula is a single vineyard selection of 100% Monastrell, 50% tank aged and 50% aged in French oak. It is slightly less ebullient but more serious than its younger sibling. Exhibiting aromas of toasty black fruits with milk chocolate in the background, this is a super-rich effort with terrific depth and concentration for its humble price. It is a remarkable value for drinking over the next few years.
GPCi - no doubt, my #1 pick of this release. I had previous vintages and the 2004 vintage is very promising. It's the best value money can buy - Monastrell at its best! Buy a 6-12 bottles.
Australia
McLaren Vale, South Australia
RP=94 : The spicy 2003 The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon (aged in equal parts new French and new American oak) reveals copious quantities of black currants, cedar, vanilla, and white chocolate aromas, followed by spicy, tannic, full-bodied, powerful, dense, well-structured flavors. It should drink well for 10-15+ years.
GPCi - one of the better wines from d'Arenberg. not cheap, BUT for the quality and the cellaring potential, I'd buy 2-3 bottles.
Barossa, South Australia
Jeremy Oliver = 90 : This Barossa blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot is a fine and harmonious wine that is clearly made to deliver plenty of flavour, but elegance and refinement. It offers a slightly meaty aroma of vibrant dark berry, plum and black olive-like fruit backed by dark chocolate/mocha oak, cloves, cinnamon and faint undertones of marzipan. Sumptuously flavoured yet smooth and silky, its deeply ripened dark berry and plum flavours reveal hints of treacle and a slightly herbal aspect. Framed by fine-grained tannins, it finishes with a touch of salty minerality.
GPCi - we had the 2004 SHOTFIRE RIDGE SHIRAZ back in Feb this year and it was outstanding. this time with a Bordeaux blend - seems like a great deal. Buy 3-5 bottles.
France
AC
WS = 91 : Taut and nervy, with a bony frame carrying fig, quince and persimmon notes through the chiseled, minerally finish. Fine balance and length. Very precise. Best from 2008 through 2015.
WS = 91 : Taut and nervy, with a bony frame carrying fig, quince and persimmon notes through the chiseled, minerally finish. Fine balance and length. Very precise. Best from 2008 through 2015.
GPCi - I have tried previous vintages of this Vouvray and it's outstanding - very complex with long finish. Buy 3-6 bottles.
WS = 89 ; Solid, with lots of black cherry, briar and tobacco, followed by a gutsy finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
GPCi - Ch. Fortia at CdP constantly produces high quality / fair priced CdP (most CdP at that level cost ~$50 or more). This wine would be approachable now and can be easily cellared for 8+ years. Buy 2-4 bottles.
Argentina
Great value from Argentina. both the Malbec and the Cab Sauv are great day-to-day wines!
2004 CHAKANA RESERVE MALBEC - $17.95
Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
Fragrant nose combining fruit and oak. Great weight, fine, juicy tannins, lovely, restrained, elegant finish. Excellent concentration and balanced. Score – Gold Medal. (Panel note, Decanter World Wine Awards 2006)
2005 DEL FIN DEL MUNDO CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVA - $13.95
Patagonia
There are exciting new appellations emerging from Argentina beyond Mendoza including the cool climate Patagonia region at the southern tip of the country. Bodega Del Fin Del Mundo is literally located at the end of the world and it produces wonderfully vibrant wines like this beautifully balanced Cab. The nose is fragrant with cassis, plum and mint notes. It’s dry, medium-full bodied with bright fruit, silky tannins and a bright core of acidity.
2004 MELIPAL MALBEC - $17.95
Mendoza
WS=89 : Really juicy, with raspberry, blackberry and briar notes, followed by well-integrated toast. Finish has lots of fruit driven by fresh acidity. Drink now through 2007.
Chile
2004 CARMEN RESERVE SYRAH/CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95
Maipo Valley
The grapes for this 50/50 blend were hand picked and sorted to ensure only the best quality fruit was used. Fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 10 months in both French and American oak barrels, this big, rich wine is packed with black fruit, spice, leather, floral and meaty characteristics. Ripe and concentrated with ample tannins, it’s built for steaks grilled rare or roasted game.
GPCi - Previous vintages were absolutely great for the money. very smooth and full.
2004 DE MARTINO LEGADO RESERVA SYRAH - $15.95
Choapa Valley
WS=88 : Juicy and focused, with ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit backed by nice hints of tobacco, tar and violet. Very tasty. Drink now.
GPCi - you cannot find a high quality Syrah at that price level. buy a case for day-to-day.
2004 WILLIAM COLE COLUMBINE RESERVE CARMENERE - $15.95
Casablanca Valley, Estate Btld.
William Cole’s wines always represent terrific value. The beautiful estate is located at the heart of the Casablanca Valley and consists of 130 hectares of vineyards, including 32 hectares of Carmenère. This savoury wine would be great around the grill this summer, matching everything from grilled stuffed peppers, to gourmet hamburgers to steaks.
GPCi - for all of you who appreciate an "upgraded Merlot", this one is for you! great for these spring days with or without food.
South Africa
2005 GOATS DO ROAM IN VILLAGES - $15.95
WO Coastal Region (The Goats do Roam Wine Company)
The name may be light-hearted, but the wine is a serious blend of Shiraz, Pinotage, Mourvedre and a touch of Viognier. Copying here the best of both the northern and southern Rhône, Goats do Roam In Villages, is a fruit-forward wine with a beautiful spine of tannin and crisp acidity. Try this with a grilled leg of lamb or braised beef dishes. It will also reward 2-4 years in a cellar.
GPCi - If you haven't tried it by now... well... where were you ?... :)
One of the better offerings and values from SA. It's the South African version for "Cotes-du-Rhone Village" (sounds the same, eh? just brilliant...) for half the price. Buy a case for day-to-day.
Italy (Tuscany)
2001 ANGELINI VINO NOBILE MONTEPULCIANO LA VILLA - $44.95
WE = 90 ; Weighty yet bright, with aromas of charred hamburger, leather and plum/berry jam. Complex and interwoven on the palate, with kirsch, cassis, red plum and chocolate flavors. Finishes smooth and stylish. Textbook stuff; hold until 2007.
GPCi - Tasting a few Vino Nobile while being in Montepulciano is an experience I encourage every wine lover to have at least once in her/his life. I had this Angelini and it was just great! it can be easily cellared for 5+ years or consumed now. decant it for at least 30 minutes. Buy 2-3 bottles.
2003 ANTINORI SOLAIA - $149.95
IGT Toscana
WS=95 : Fantastic aromas of crushed blackberry, licorice and strawberry. Full-bodied, with rich, velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. Fruit-forward and exciting. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2008.
GPCi - Only if you have really deep pockets... I tried it in Tuscany (only tasting sample) and I think you can get similar quality for a 1/3 of a price.
2003 POGGIO SALVI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO - $32.95
The blend here is 90% Prugnolo Gentile (a local name for Sangiovese), 5% Mammolo and 5% Canaiolo. Sangiovese gives the wine structure, finesse, cherry/berry fruitiness and an earthiness, the heavily perfumed red grape Mammolo brings a lovely aroma of violets to the finished wine and Canaiolo adds a certain softness to the final blend. The wines mature for 24 months in Slavonic 35 hectoliter barrels and then a further 6 months in bottle. It is fairly tannic, meaning it will definitely reward 3-5+ years in a cellar, or match it tonight to roast beef.
GPCi - another great Vino Nobile. Seems to need time to soften. Buy 2-3 bottles.
