Sunday, February 08, 2009
GPCi for Feb 14th 2009 release at the LCBO
California
2007 FOLIE À DEUX MÉNAGE À TROIS RED - $19.95
GPCi - I had their 1998 Zin that Todd R gave me and enjoyed it very much. It's a great Zin very a decent price. Buy 2-3 bottles.
Chile
2007 ALAMOS VIOGNIER (Catena) - $13.95
GPCi - Alamos is Catena entry level wines. For $14 you get much more than "entry level" viogner. A very good Viognier. Buy couple of bottles and serve them chilled.
Argentina
2006 TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $18.95
GPCi - hand-harvested grapes from top vineyard sites in the best areas of Mendoza. Terrazas de Los Andes are known in Argentina and I would expect this wine to offer lots of dark fruit and flavors. I'd buy 2-4 bottles.
2005 RENACER PUNTO FINAL RESERVA MALBEC - $23.95
GPCi - (WE=91). A bit more expensive for the typical Argentian Malbec. 2005 was an excellent vintage in Argentina (RP gave the vintage 93!). I'd buy one bottle to see if the difference between this $24 and the $14 "typical" Malbec is as significant.
2005 ODFJELL ARMADOR CARMENÈRE - $13.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - (Decanter =4/5). Carmenere for $14 with such a supporting review from Decanter. Buy, buy, buy...
Australia
2007 D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER/MARSANNE - $17.95
GPCi - (JM=90) - 58% Viognier and 42% Marsanne. I have tried this blend before and really liked it. Goes well with sea food (as simple as garlic, salt, butter and lemon). It's a great wine for the spring days...
2006 D'ARENBERG THE HIGH TRELLIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95
GPCi - (JM=90+ ; 2010-17). From a very consistent producer, this is a very good Cab Sauv for mid term+ cellaring. buy 2-6 bottles.
2006 MITOLO G.A.M. SHIRAZ - $54.95
GPCi - (JM=95 ; 2012-26). It's not very often that you see Jay Miller giving 95 to a wine. You see, I have come to realize that the once you get to the 90+ score range, it stops being linear. Every additional point is very hard to get. Usually, the wines that get this type of review cost much-much more. I have previously bought the wines from Mitolo and I think they are exceptionally outstanding. In these economical challenging days, I'd suggest to either buy 1 bottle or buy two bottles of the 2006 TEUSNER THE RIEBKE EBENEZER ROAD SHIRAZ (see below) instead.
2006 TEUSNER THE RIEBKE EBENEZER ROAD SHIRAZ - $23.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - (JM=93 ; now-2020). If you're looking for a very good Shiraz, definitely one of the release favorites - Outstanding review, great cellaring potential and for a fair price. If you're into collecting Shiraz, this one is for you. buy 6-12 bottles.
2007 WATER WHEEL MEMSIE - $13.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - from Victoria - 70% Shiraz, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, and 6% Petit Verdot. What got my attention is the fact that it's coming from Victoria (I had the chance to really quickly visit the area) and the fact that this is a special blend of grapes for Australia. An OK vintage but then again, the price... what's not to like...? Buy one to see if it's your style, and if it is, buy a case!
France (Bordeaux)
2006 CHÂTEAU DE PEZ - $48.95
GPCi - (WS=89-91) - from the different Bordeaux offerings in this release, I would choose Chateau de Pez. Not an amazing vintage, but for less than $50 you get a great opportunity to try a typical very good Bordeaux. It could be easily cellared for 10+ years, but you can try it after 5.
France (Rhone South)
2006 CHÂTEAU VESSIÈRE COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES - $15.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - A nice typical blend from one of my favorite areas in France. Expect blackberries and some herbs. And for such price, I'd buy a case for day-to-day consumption.
Italy (Veneto)
2006 ZENATO LUGANA RISERVA SERGIO ZENATO - $31.95
GPCi - I had this one (earlier vintage) at John M dinner. Barry, his brother, has generously brought it to a "white wines only" evening (a big challenge for a group of people who mostly like their wine to be red and powerful...). What an unbelievable wine! worth every dollar.
2004 I CASTEI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO - $44.95
GPCi - I had the Amarone I Castei since the outstanding 1997 vintage and it's one of the better Amarone out there. The price is high but more than fair compare to the other Amarone options today in the market. Mike G, this one is for you... if you know it, I believe you would agree and if you don't, I'm sure you would like it.
Italy (Campania)
2005 TERREDORA LACRYMA CHRISTI DEL VESUVIO ROSSO - $20.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - (RP=90 ; now 2012). 100% Piedirosso. dark cherries, plums, tobacco and wild herbs. Has several synonym names including Palombina, Pere'e Pallummo and Strepparossa.
I don't know this variety, and I'm sure going to try it for $21. If it's good as the review, I'll buy 3 bottles for short time cellaring.
Italy (Tuscany)
2004 BARONE RICASOLI CASALFERRO - $39.95
GPCi - (RP=90 ; 2010-24) a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot that spent 18 months in French oak. The IGT region usually produces high quality wines that cost more than the average Tuscan wines. Taking into account the positive review and the fact it can be cellared for additional 15 years, the GPCi is ~2.6, that's a great buy for the cellar. I'd buy 2-4 bottles.
2004 CASTELLANI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - $21.95
GPCi - A great vintage for a very good Chianti, what's not to like. Cathy C, this one is for you.
2007 FOLIE À DEUX MÉNAGE À TROIS RED - $19.95
GPCi - I had their 1998 Zin that Todd R gave me and enjoyed it very much. It's a great Zin very a decent price. Buy 2-3 bottles.
Chile
2007 ALAMOS VIOGNIER (Catena) - $13.95
GPCi - Alamos is Catena entry level wines. For $14 you get much more than "entry level" viogner. A very good Viognier. Buy couple of bottles and serve them chilled.
Argentina
2006 TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $18.95
GPCi - hand-harvested grapes from top vineyard sites in the best areas of Mendoza. Terrazas de Los Andes are known in Argentina and I would expect this wine to offer lots of dark fruit and flavors. I'd buy 2-4 bottles.
2005 RENACER PUNTO FINAL RESERVA MALBEC - $23.95
GPCi - (WE=91). A bit more expensive for the typical Argentian Malbec. 2005 was an excellent vintage in Argentina (RP gave the vintage 93!). I'd buy one bottle to see if the difference between this $24 and the $14 "typical" Malbec is as significant.
2005 ODFJELL ARMADOR CARMENÈRE - $13.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - (Decanter =4/5). Carmenere for $14 with such a supporting review from Decanter. Buy, buy, buy...
Australia
2007 D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER/MARSANNE - $17.95
GPCi - (JM=90) - 58% Viognier and 42% Marsanne. I have tried this blend before and really liked it. Goes well with sea food (as simple as garlic, salt, butter and lemon). It's a great wine for the spring days...
2006 D'ARENBERG THE HIGH TRELLIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95
GPCi - (JM=90+ ; 2010-17). From a very consistent producer, this is a very good Cab Sauv for mid term+ cellaring. buy 2-6 bottles.
2006 MITOLO G.A.M. SHIRAZ - $54.95
GPCi - (JM=95 ; 2012-26). It's not very often that you see Jay Miller giving 95 to a wine. You see, I have come to realize that the once you get to the 90+ score range, it stops being linear. Every additional point is very hard to get. Usually, the wines that get this type of review cost much-much more. I have previously bought the wines from Mitolo and I think they are exceptionally outstanding. In these economical challenging days, I'd suggest to either buy 1 bottle or buy two bottles of the 2006 TEUSNER THE RIEBKE EBENEZER ROAD SHIRAZ (see below) instead.
2006 TEUSNER THE RIEBKE EBENEZER ROAD SHIRAZ - $23.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - (JM=93 ; now-2020). If you're looking for a very good Shiraz, definitely one of the release favorites - Outstanding review, great cellaring potential and for a fair price. If you're into collecting Shiraz, this one is for you. buy 6-12 bottles.
2007 WATER WHEEL MEMSIE - $13.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - from Victoria - 70% Shiraz, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, and 6% Petit Verdot. What got my attention is the fact that it's coming from Victoria (I had the chance to really quickly visit the area) and the fact that this is a special blend of grapes for Australia. An OK vintage but then again, the price... what's not to like...? Buy one to see if it's your style, and if it is, buy a case!
France (Bordeaux)
2006 CHÂTEAU DE PEZ - $48.95
GPCi - (WS=89-91) - from the different Bordeaux offerings in this release, I would choose Chateau de Pez. Not an amazing vintage, but for less than $50 you get a great opportunity to try a typical very good Bordeaux. It could be easily cellared for 10+ years, but you can try it after 5.
France (Rhone South)
2006 CHÂTEAU VESSIÈRE COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES - $15.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - A nice typical blend from one of my favorite areas in France. Expect blackberries and some herbs. And for such price, I'd buy a case for day-to-day consumption.
Italy (Veneto)
2006 ZENATO LUGANA RISERVA SERGIO ZENATO - $31.95
GPCi - I had this one (earlier vintage) at John M dinner. Barry, his brother, has generously brought it to a "white wines only" evening (a big challenge for a group of people who mostly like their wine to be red and powerful...). What an unbelievable wine! worth every dollar.
2004 I CASTEI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO - $44.95
GPCi - I had the Amarone I Castei since the outstanding 1997 vintage and it's one of the better Amarone out there. The price is high but more than fair compare to the other Amarone options today in the market. Mike G, this one is for you... if you know it, I believe you would agree and if you don't, I'm sure you would like it.
Italy (Campania)
2005 TERREDORA LACRYMA CHRISTI DEL VESUVIO ROSSO - $20.95 (MUST TRY)
GPCi - (RP=90 ; now 2012). 100% Piedirosso. dark cherries, plums, tobacco and wild herbs. Has several synonym names including Palombina, Pere'e Pallummo and Strepparossa.
I don't know this variety, and I'm sure going to try it for $21. If it's good as the review, I'll buy 3 bottles for short time cellaring.
Italy (Tuscany)
2004 BARONE RICASOLI CASALFERRO - $39.95
GPCi - (RP=90 ; 2010-24) a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot that spent 18 months in French oak. The IGT region usually produces high quality wines that cost more than the average Tuscan wines. Taking into account the positive review and the fact it can be cellared for additional 15 years, the GPCi is ~2.6, that's a great buy for the cellar. I'd buy 2-4 bottles.
2004 CASTELLANI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - $21.95
GPCi - A great vintage for a very good Chianti, what's not to like. Cathy C, this one is for you.
