Saturday, March 21, 2009
GPCi for March 28th 2009 release at the LCBO
From some reason (I’m not sure how justified it is), some of the "more known Rioja" wineries in this release have increased their prices compared to last year. And in this economical era, it's just annoying... I'll try to "navigate" through the various offerings and come up with a "budget constraint" suggestions.
Spain (Rioja)
2005 FINCA ALLENDE ALLENDE - $32.95
JM=92
GPCi - I had previous vintages of this wine and it's a great Rioja. Not cheap but since it can be cellared for 10+ years, it's a good buy. If I need to choose one wine from the "more than $30 Spanish wine" category, that would be it.
2001 MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA - $39.95
WS=90
GPCi - We had a special dinner around old vintages of this bodega. It's one of my favorite Riojas from the very good 2001 vintage. YET expensive for these days. Skip.
2001 CONDE DE VALDEMAR GRAN RESERVA - $39.95
WS=90
GPCi - another great Rioja from the 2001 vintage. I have tried their 2001 Reserva. Their 2001 Gran Reserva should NOT cost $40. that's a great $25 wine not $40. Skip.
2004 LEALTANZA CRIANZA - $19.95 (MUST TRY)
JM=90 ; now-2015
GPCi - A very good review by Jay Miller. That's the one to try from a QPR point of view. For mid-term+ cellaring. Expect lots of "Rioja in a glass" and for an affordable price.
2001 ONTAÑÓN RESERVA - $24.95
GPCi - Another good Rioja for a little bit more (3 years older than the LEALTANZA). If you have extra to spend next Saturday, that's the second bottle to buy for the Riojas. This Rioja will offer you a bit more than the LEALTANZA CRIANZA, because it's a bit older and the reserva usually has the additional "it” factor that the Crianza lack.
2006 PARDEVALLES GAMONAL PRIETO PICUDO (DO Tierras de León) - $23.95
JM=90 ; now 2016.
This is a competition for the "second wine" to buy for under $25 from Spain. The advantage it has over the 2001 ONTAÑÓN RESERVA is its longer cellaring potential and a very good review from JM. The disadvantage is the 2006 vintage – an average vintage compare to the 2001.
Chile
2005 CONCHA Y TORO TERRUNYO CARMENÈRE - $29.95
JM=93 ; 2011-2023
GPCi - Never tasted a $30 Carmenere (The Tarapaca for $15 was outstanding!) with such a strong review by JM. And with such a long cellaring potential it’s hard to resist. Concha Y Toro know their stuff when it comes to producing wines. Very tempting. I may buy one and over analyze it with John M…
Australia
2005 SALTRAM OF BAROSSA MAMRE BROOK CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $21.95 (MUST TRY !!!)
JH=93 ; now-2020
GPCi - I've had SALTRAM for several years now and it's one of the better Cab Sauv QPR Barossa has to offer. That's a great Cab packed with everything full body Cab is all about and for an excellent price. Buy, buy, buy!
2006 BENWARIN SEMILLON - $17.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
JH = 93 ; now to 2016
GPCi - when it comes to white wines, it’s hard to compete with a good Semillon from the Hunter Valley in Australia for $18 !!!
John M - stock 'em up for the Spring/Summer days to come.
France (CdP)
2006 CUVÉE DU VATICAN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE - $37.95 (MUST BUY!!!)
WS=91 ; now-2023
GPCi - CdP for less than $40 and from CUVÉE DU VATICAN - a no brainer. If you haven't tried a CdP, this is one of the best QPR CdP wines you can find for that price. We had the 2001 (Reserve) about a month ago and it was absolutely divine! If there is any wine I'll need to spend almost $40 on a single bottle, it would be with this one.
Hungary
2003 PUKLUS TOKAJI ASZÚ 3 PUTTONYOS - $23.95
GPCi - an excellent sweet wine from Hungary. Goes well with dessert at the end of the meal or with a fatty foie gras as an appetizer (a good alternative for the expensive Sautern wines from France). If you're looking for some cheap-good alternatives, I would try the 2007 SAMOS VIN DOUX from Greece for $9.95 (375 ml).
Spain (Rioja)
2005 FINCA ALLENDE ALLENDE - $32.95
JM=92
GPCi - I had previous vintages of this wine and it's a great Rioja. Not cheap but since it can be cellared for 10+ years, it's a good buy. If I need to choose one wine from the "more than $30 Spanish wine" category, that would be it.
2001 MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA - $39.95
WS=90
GPCi - We had a special dinner around old vintages of this bodega. It's one of my favorite Riojas from the very good 2001 vintage. YET expensive for these days. Skip.
2001 CONDE DE VALDEMAR GRAN RESERVA - $39.95
WS=90
GPCi - another great Rioja from the 2001 vintage. I have tried their 2001 Reserva. Their 2001 Gran Reserva should NOT cost $40. that's a great $25 wine not $40. Skip.
2004 LEALTANZA CRIANZA - $19.95 (MUST TRY)
JM=90 ; now-2015
GPCi - A very good review by Jay Miller. That's the one to try from a QPR point of view. For mid-term+ cellaring. Expect lots of "Rioja in a glass" and for an affordable price.
2001 ONTAÑÓN RESERVA - $24.95
GPCi - Another good Rioja for a little bit more (3 years older than the LEALTANZA). If you have extra to spend next Saturday, that's the second bottle to buy for the Riojas. This Rioja will offer you a bit more than the LEALTANZA CRIANZA, because it's a bit older and the reserva usually has the additional "it” factor that the Crianza lack.
2006 PARDEVALLES GAMONAL PRIETO PICUDO (DO Tierras de León) - $23.95
JM=90 ; now 2016.
This is a competition for the "second wine" to buy for under $25 from Spain. The advantage it has over the 2001 ONTAÑÓN RESERVA is its longer cellaring potential and a very good review from JM. The disadvantage is the 2006 vintage – an average vintage compare to the 2001.
Chile
2005 CONCHA Y TORO TERRUNYO CARMENÈRE - $29.95
JM=93 ; 2011-2023
GPCi - Never tasted a $30 Carmenere (The Tarapaca for $15 was outstanding!) with such a strong review by JM. And with such a long cellaring potential it’s hard to resist. Concha Y Toro know their stuff when it comes to producing wines. Very tempting. I may buy one and over analyze it with John M…
Australia
2005 SALTRAM OF BAROSSA MAMRE BROOK CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $21.95 (MUST TRY !!!)
JH=93 ; now-2020
GPCi - I've had SALTRAM for several years now and it's one of the better Cab Sauv QPR Barossa has to offer. That's a great Cab packed with everything full body Cab is all about and for an excellent price. Buy, buy, buy!
2006 BENWARIN SEMILLON - $17.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
JH = 93 ; now to 2016
GPCi - when it comes to white wines, it’s hard to compete with a good Semillon from the Hunter Valley in Australia for $18 !!!
John M - stock 'em up for the Spring/Summer days to come.
France (CdP)
2006 CUVÉE DU VATICAN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE - $37.95 (MUST BUY!!!)
WS=91 ; now-2023
GPCi - CdP for less than $40 and from CUVÉE DU VATICAN - a no brainer. If you haven't tried a CdP, this is one of the best QPR CdP wines you can find for that price. We had the 2001 (Reserve) about a month ago and it was absolutely divine! If there is any wine I'll need to spend almost $40 on a single bottle, it would be with this one.
Hungary
2003 PUKLUS TOKAJI ASZÚ 3 PUTTONYOS - $23.95
GPCi - an excellent sweet wine from Hungary. Goes well with dessert at the end of the meal or with a fatty foie gras as an appetizer (a good alternative for the expensive Sautern wines from France). If you're looking for some cheap-good alternatives, I would try the 2007 SAMOS VIN DOUX from Greece for $9.95 (375 ml).
