Friday, July 03, 2009
GPCi for July 4th 2009 release at the LCBO
Chile
2006 MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $43.95 (1500 mL)
JM=90 ; 2009 to 2016
GPCi - a great wine (in magnum package) for a large group of people who can appreciate excellent Cab Sauv. Very consistent producer. Buy 1-2 bottles
Australia
2006 CORIOLE VINEYARDS ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $24.95
IWC = 90
GPCi - Had this wine since the 2000 vintage. Very good even in lesser vintages and this seems to be no different. I would love to compare it with the Montes Alpha from Chile. Buy 2-4 bottles.
2006 ROCKBARE SHIRAZ - $19.95
JM=90 ; 2010 to 2018
GPCi - good Shiraz for a great value for the money with another 9 years of potential cellaring (good GPCi index). If you're in the habit of buying Shiraz for now and for later, buy 2-12 bottles.
Austria
2007 SCHMELZ FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER - $20.95 (MUST TRY!)
IWC = 91 ; Drink now to 2013
GPCi - I've tried the GRÜNER VELTLINER variety from Austria (are known to make great wines from this white grape) before and loved it. For this great review and for short-mid term cellaring, I would buy 2-4 bottles and drink them with a nice shrimp on a hot day...
France - Alsace
2007 LUCIEN ALBRECHT RÉSERVE GEWURZTRAMINER - $21.95
GPCi - GEWURZTRAMINER from Alsace has never failed before. Expect Rose-water, Leechi and lots of good stuff from this amazing variety.
France - Rhone
2007 GRANDES SERRES LES PORTES DU CASTELAS CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC - $14.95 (MUST TRY!)
GPCi - According to RP, 2007 was the best (he ranked it 98!) vintage since 1998 in that part of France. For this price what's the risk? I would expect a nice wine for the summer. Buy 2-12 bottles.
2007 CHÂTEAU DE LA TUILERIE SYRAH/GRENACHE - $15.95 (MUST TRY!)
GPCi - another offer from this excellent vintage for a more than tempting price. Buy, buy, buy!
France - Bordeaux
2005 CHÂTEAU L'ENCLOS BONIS - $26.95
GPCi - Merlot-dominated wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. When it comes to 2005, I said it before, if the price is right (less than $30), I'd buy.
2005 CHÂTEAU MARJOSSE - $24.00
GPCi - a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% combined Cabernet Franc and Malbec. if I need to choose between this one and the CHÂTEAU L'ENCLOS BONIS, I would go with the MARJOSSE just because I prefer the blend better.
Italy - Piedmont
2007 FONTANAFREDDA BRICCOTONDO BARBERA - $15.95 (MUST TRY!)
WS=90
GPCi - Barbera from a classic vintage in Piedmont (RP gave it 93!) for $16 !!!
If you like this variety, stock it up.
Italy - Tuscany
2005 TORRI RISERVA CHIANTI COLLI SENESI - $16.95
93% Sangiovese and 7% Canaiolo Nero
GPCi - same recommendation as the Barbera.
Spain - Ribera del Duero
2005 CELESTE CRIANZA - $19.95
WS=90 ; 2008 through 2015
GPCi - tried previous vintage and loved it. I found it to be a more modern style of Ribera del Duero. Excellent value for the mid term cellaring.
Spain - Navarra
1999 FORTIUS GRAN RESERVA - $23.95
GPCi - I love the wines from Navara (near Rioja) and for a 10 year old Gran Reserva wine for $24, that's a no brainer. Buy!!!
Spain - Rioja
2004 LAN RESERVA - $23.95
WS=90 ; Ranked #52 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2008 list.
GPCi - Had this one (and have a few in the cellar). If you haven't tried it before, buy it. You won't regret it. A typical Rioja. Expect the dark dry fruit, leather and all the good things a good Rioja brings along.
2006 MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $43.95 (1500 mL)
JM=90 ; 2009 to 2016
GPCi - a great wine (in magnum package) for a large group of people who can appreciate excellent Cab Sauv. Very consistent producer. Buy 1-2 bottles
Australia
2006 CORIOLE VINEYARDS ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $24.95
IWC = 90
GPCi - Had this wine since the 2000 vintage. Very good even in lesser vintages and this seems to be no different. I would love to compare it with the Montes Alpha from Chile. Buy 2-4 bottles.
2006 ROCKBARE SHIRAZ - $19.95
JM=90 ; 2010 to 2018
GPCi - good Shiraz for a great value for the money with another 9 years of potential cellaring (good GPCi index). If you're in the habit of buying Shiraz for now and for later, buy 2-12 bottles.
Austria
2007 SCHMELZ FEDERSPIEL GRÜNER VELTLINER - $20.95 (MUST TRY!)
IWC = 91 ; Drink now to 2013
GPCi - I've tried the GRÜNER VELTLINER variety from Austria (are known to make great wines from this white grape) before and loved it. For this great review and for short-mid term cellaring, I would buy 2-4 bottles and drink them with a nice shrimp on a hot day...
France - Alsace
2007 LUCIEN ALBRECHT RÉSERVE GEWURZTRAMINER - $21.95
GPCi - GEWURZTRAMINER from Alsace has never failed before. Expect Rose-water, Leechi and lots of good stuff from this amazing variety.
France - Rhone
2007 GRANDES SERRES LES PORTES DU CASTELAS CÔTES DU RHÔNE BLANC - $14.95 (MUST TRY!)
GPCi - According to RP, 2007 was the best (he ranked it 98!) vintage since 1998 in that part of France. For this price what's the risk? I would expect a nice wine for the summer. Buy 2-12 bottles.
2007 CHÂTEAU DE LA TUILERIE SYRAH/GRENACHE - $15.95 (MUST TRY!)
GPCi - another offer from this excellent vintage for a more than tempting price. Buy, buy, buy!
France - Bordeaux
2005 CHÂTEAU L'ENCLOS BONIS - $26.95
GPCi - Merlot-dominated wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. When it comes to 2005, I said it before, if the price is right (less than $30), I'd buy.
2005 CHÂTEAU MARJOSSE - $24.00
GPCi - a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% combined Cabernet Franc and Malbec. if I need to choose between this one and the CHÂTEAU L'ENCLOS BONIS, I would go with the MARJOSSE just because I prefer the blend better.
Italy - Piedmont
2007 FONTANAFREDDA BRICCOTONDO BARBERA - $15.95 (MUST TRY!)
WS=90
GPCi - Barbera from a classic vintage in Piedmont (RP gave it 93!) for $16 !!!
If you like this variety, stock it up.
Italy - Tuscany
2005 TORRI RISERVA CHIANTI COLLI SENESI - $16.95
93% Sangiovese and 7% Canaiolo Nero
GPCi - same recommendation as the Barbera.
Spain - Ribera del Duero
2005 CELESTE CRIANZA - $19.95
WS=90 ; 2008 through 2015
GPCi - tried previous vintage and loved it. I found it to be a more modern style of Ribera del Duero. Excellent value for the mid term cellaring.
Spain - Navarra
1999 FORTIUS GRAN RESERVA - $23.95
GPCi - I love the wines from Navara (near Rioja) and for a 10 year old Gran Reserva wine for $24, that's a no brainer. Buy!!!
Spain - Rioja
2004 LAN RESERVA - $23.95
WS=90 ; Ranked #52 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2008 list.
GPCi - Had this one (and have a few in the cellar). If you haven't tried it before, buy it. You won't regret it. A typical Rioja. Expect the dark dry fruit, leather and all the good things a good Rioja brings along.
