Friday, July 24, 2009
GPCi for August 1st 2009 release at the LCBO
Argentina
2007 FINCA FLICHMAN EXPRESIONES RESERVE SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $15.95
GPCi - I don't recall trying any Shiraz blend from Argentina. This producer is a "safe bet" and for the price there is no risk. I would buy one and probably come back to buy more for day-to-day.
2005 SANTA JULIA MAGNA - $14.95
after a two-hour decant and on to 2014.
GPCi - Had previous vintages before. A very good $15 wine. it's for mid+ term cellaring which make it extremely attractive for a 6-12 bottles buy.
Chile
2006 DE MARTINO LEGADO RESERVA SYRAH - $16.95 (MUST TRY!)
WS=90
GPCi - no doubt, that's one of the wines to try from this release. Great review by WS and an excellent price for Syrah. BUY!!!
Australia
2007 D'ARENBERG THE MONEY SPIDER ROUSSANNE - $19.95
JM=91
GPCi - John M, this one is probably for you. Great review by Dr. J and we have experienced so many d'Arenberg wines by now that this one should not be any exception. Great as a starter with Shrip on the Barbi.
2006 GRANT BURGE BAROSSA VINES SHIRAZ - $17.95
JH = 92 ; until 2015
GPCi - One of the Shiraz wines to buy from this release (there are other good ones).
France (Rhone)
2007 E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC - $17.95 (MUST TRY !!!)
RP=90 ; a blend of 50% Viognier and the rest Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, and Bourboulenc.
GPCi - another one for you John M. E. Guigal is one of the top producer in the Rhone area (both north and south). even his "entry level", like this one, are very rewarding. Buy, Buy... love... :) (almost like the song)
2007 DOMAINE DU GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES - $11.95
GPCi - that definitely got my attention because of the very low price even for a Cote-du-Rhone-Villages (usually closer to $20). A very good day-to-day wine. Buy 3-12 bottles.
France (Bordeaux)
There are a few interesting options from the classic 2005 vintage in Bordeaux. I have chosen two wines from the expensive category and one from the "bargain" one. From the two more expensive ones, I would probably go with the Haut-Bergey because I usually prefer Cab-Sauv dominant Bordeuax and also because it seems to have longer shelf-life..
2005 CHÂTEAU D'AIGUILHE (AC Côtes de Castillon) - $48
RP = 92 ; blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (until 2018)
2005 CHÂTEAU HAUT-BERGEY - $49
RP=92 ; a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot ; 2010-2025
2005 CHÂTEAU LE CONSEILLER - $23.95
RP=91 ; until 2015
GPCi - If you like Bordeaux, which I do, buy 3-12 bottles of this excellent bargain.
Germany (Rheingau)
1992 HANS LANG RIESLING SPÄTLESE - $17.95 (MUST TRY !)
GPCi - Almost a $1 for every year this wine waited to be enjoyed. According to RP 1992 was a good vintage (but not outstanding). However, I'm sure it will be rewarding relatively to its very attractive price. I would serve it cold in the beginning of a dinner.
Spain
2005 MUGA RESERVA - $24.95
70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and small amounts of Mazuelo and Graciano.
GPCi - One of the safest bets from Spain. All of previous Muga Reserva's vintages were very good to outstanding. The 2005 is as good as the 2004 and this wine can be easily cellared for 10+ years, which makes it very tempting for $25. If you haven't tried it before, use the 2005 as a good starting point. In the future, I would probably skip the 2006 and buy more of the 2007.
When I was in Spain last year (to make Fusion Global Winery Spain), I tried some barrels from the 2006 and the 2007 vintages and found the 2007 to be a very interesting vintage worth buying wines from. so stay tune...
2006 BODEGAS CASTAÑO HÉCULA MONASTRELL - $13.95 (MUST TRY !!)
JM=90
GPCi - tried previous vintages from this bodegas and it was outstanding for the price. Buy, Buy!!!
2004 CERRO AÑON RESERVA - $18.95
GPCi - Never tried this one. Seems like a typical good Rioja from yet again, a great vintage for less than $20. what's not to like???
Italy
2007 ALTESINO ROSSO - $19.95
GPCi - This is "Brunello Di Montalcino" for beginners... A "Brunello Light"... and I don't mean it in a bad way... and since the 2007 was outstanding to classic in Tuscany (RP gave it 93), I would expect a lot of enjoyment in a $20 bottle from this great region.
2007 FINCA FLICHMAN EXPRESIONES RESERVE SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $15.95
GPCi - I don't recall trying any Shiraz blend from Argentina. This producer is a "safe bet" and for the price there is no risk. I would buy one and probably come back to buy more for day-to-day.
2005 SANTA JULIA MAGNA - $14.95
after a two-hour decant and on to 2014.
GPCi - Had previous vintages before. A very good $15 wine. it's for mid+ term cellaring which make it extremely attractive for a 6-12 bottles buy.
Chile
2006 DE MARTINO LEGADO RESERVA SYRAH - $16.95 (MUST TRY!)
WS=90
GPCi - no doubt, that's one of the wines to try from this release. Great review by WS and an excellent price for Syrah. BUY!!!
Australia
2007 D'ARENBERG THE MONEY SPIDER ROUSSANNE - $19.95
JM=91
GPCi - John M, this one is probably for you. Great review by Dr. J and we have experienced so many d'Arenberg wines by now that this one should not be any exception. Great as a starter with Shrip on the Barbi.
2006 GRANT BURGE BAROSSA VINES SHIRAZ - $17.95
JH = 92 ; until 2015
GPCi - One of the Shiraz wines to buy from this release (there are other good ones).
France (Rhone)
2007 E. GUIGAL CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC - $17.95 (MUST TRY !!!)
RP=90 ; a blend of 50% Viognier and the rest Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, and Bourboulenc.
GPCi - another one for you John M. E. Guigal is one of the top producer in the Rhone area (both north and south). even his "entry level", like this one, are very rewarding. Buy, Buy... love... :) (almost like the song)
2007 DOMAINE DU GRAND RETOUR PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES - $11.95
GPCi - that definitely got my attention because of the very low price even for a Cote-du-Rhone-Villages (usually closer to $20). A very good day-to-day wine. Buy 3-12 bottles.
France (Bordeaux)
There are a few interesting options from the classic 2005 vintage in Bordeaux. I have chosen two wines from the expensive category and one from the "bargain" one. From the two more expensive ones, I would probably go with the Haut-Bergey because I usually prefer Cab-Sauv dominant Bordeuax and also because it seems to have longer shelf-life..
2005 CHÂTEAU D'AIGUILHE (AC Côtes de Castillon) - $48
RP = 92 ; blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (until 2018)
2005 CHÂTEAU HAUT-BERGEY - $49
RP=92 ; a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot ; 2010-2025
2005 CHÂTEAU LE CONSEILLER - $23.95
RP=91 ; until 2015
GPCi - If you like Bordeaux, which I do, buy 3-12 bottles of this excellent bargain.
Germany (Rheingau)
1992 HANS LANG RIESLING SPÄTLESE - $17.95 (MUST TRY !)
GPCi - Almost a $1 for every year this wine waited to be enjoyed. According to RP 1992 was a good vintage (but not outstanding). However, I'm sure it will be rewarding relatively to its very attractive price. I would serve it cold in the beginning of a dinner.
Spain
2005 MUGA RESERVA - $24.95
70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and small amounts of Mazuelo and Graciano.
GPCi - One of the safest bets from Spain. All of previous Muga Reserva's vintages were very good to outstanding. The 2005 is as good as the 2004 and this wine can be easily cellared for 10+ years, which makes it very tempting for $25. If you haven't tried it before, use the 2005 as a good starting point. In the future, I would probably skip the 2006 and buy more of the 2007.
When I was in Spain last year (to make Fusion Global Winery Spain), I tried some barrels from the 2006 and the 2007 vintages and found the 2007 to be a very interesting vintage worth buying wines from. so stay tune...
2006 BODEGAS CASTAÑO HÉCULA MONASTRELL - $13.95 (MUST TRY !!)
JM=90
GPCi - tried previous vintages from this bodegas and it was outstanding for the price. Buy, Buy!!!
2004 CERRO AÑON RESERVA - $18.95
GPCi - Never tried this one. Seems like a typical good Rioja from yet again, a great vintage for less than $20. what's not to like???
Italy
2007 ALTESINO ROSSO - $19.95
GPCi - This is "Brunello Di Montalcino" for beginners... A "Brunello Light"... and I don't mean it in a bad way... and since the 2007 was outstanding to classic in Tuscany (RP gave it 93), I would expect a lot of enjoyment in a $20 bottle from this great region.
