Wednesday, August 26, 2009
GPCi for August 29th 2009 release at the LCBO
Spain (Rioja)
2001 LAN GRAN RESERVA - $24.95
WS=90
GPCi - had it before a few times. An excellent Rioja for a reasonable price. The LCBO has provided us with the 2001 Lan Reserva (which is good as well). The Gran Reserva is a traditional Rioja at its best. If you're into Rioja wines, you have to try this Gran Reserva and save a few for the cellar. Expect the mixture of dry fruit with leather and wonderful long finish.
Spain (Montsant)
2006 ÈTIM SELECCIÓN - $15 (MUST TRY!!!)
JM=91
60% Garnacha, 30% Carinena, [Carignan] and 10% Syrah
GPCi - with such review and such price, I'm in. It's always impresses me when wineries succeed to produce such great wines in very average vintages. That's on my buying list for sure. Buy 3-12 bottles.
PS - tried it. A very good blend, but I couldn't find the "91 Priorat wow" factor that JM talked about. I know many wines from Chile and Argentina that are at least as intersting and didn't get the desireable 91 rank.
Italy (Tuscany)
2004 CECCHI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO - $24.95
90 percent sangiovese, 10 per cent other grapes
GPCi - who ever follow my blog knows that I have a special feeling to this part in Tuscany and its wines. I've never had less than a good wine from MONTEPULCIANO from the 2004 vintage. Buy 1-3 bottles. Goes great with gourmet BBQed sausages.
Italy (Piedmont)
2004 PATRIZI BAROLO - $29.95
GPCi - Barolo for $30. second release in a row... interesting and tempting. 2004 in this region got 96 by RP, so what's the risk? Definitely worth a "one bottle" try.
Israel
2007 GOLAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $17.95
GPCi - One of the best wineries in Israel is The Golan-Heights Winery. This wine is their entry level wine. Expect a medium-body wine with nice fresh berries. Can be served as the first wine of the evening. I wish the LCBO would have brought the Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon (higher series). This wine can challenge many left-bank Bordeaux.
France (Bordeaux)
2005 CHÂTEAU ST. GEORGES - $34.95
GPCi - had the 2000 CHÂTEAU ST. GEORGES and enjoyed it a lot. A typical Saint Emilion wine for a relatively fair price (compare to most 2005 Bordeaux).
Expect a lot of excitement in a glass...
2005 CHÂTEAU DE MALLE (375 mL - white) - $38
WS=92
GPCi - One of the more affordable Sauternes with the quality of the more expensive ones. So yes, $38 for 375 mL is a lot of money, I agree. BUT if you want to buy something extremely good for a special occasion, that is definitely a good option. Just as a comparison, a 375 mL bottle of the famous 2005 Ch. d'Yquem costs about US$300+ and the difference won't be 10 times better...
Australia (Barossa Valley)
2005 BRANSON COACH HOUSE GREENOCK BLOCK SHIRAZ - $24.95
WS=93
2006 ROLF BINDER HEINRICH SHIRAZ/MATARO/GRENACHE - $29.95
JM=92 ; 2014-26
GPCi - Two great Shiraz options for this release. I would tend to go with the SMG blend mainly because of its longer cellaring potential. But again, both options seem very solid.
Australia (Central Victoria)
2007 MCPHERSON BASILISK MARSANNE/VIOGNIER - $19.95
JH=90 ; until 2013
GPCi - John M, this seems to be a great candidate for your continuous "great Australian whites" journey... Good review, decent price tag, short+ cellaring potential...
Chile (Colchagua Valley)
2007 APALTAGUA ENVERO GRAN RESERVA - $15.95
GPCi - Mainly Carmenere. Never fails for the buck. Seems like a great day-to-day wine or a nice companion for an afternoon BBQ.
France Rhone (South)
2007 DELAS HAUTE PIERRE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU PAPE - $35.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
RP=92-94 ; until 2023+
GPCi - I don't think I have ever seen CdP from 2007 that got such high mark by Parker and cost $36 !!! I say... "stock 'em up". Buy a case!
2005 DOMAINE SAINT-PIERRE VACQUEYRAS - $24.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
RP=91-93; until 2019
GPCi - I know someone who really likes VACQUEYRAS. This one has your name on it Mr. W. Excellent review for an outstanding wine. Buy, buy, buy.
Côtes du Rhône-Villages
2007 DOMAINE MONTMARTEL VISAN - $16.95
2007 LE GRAVILLAS SABLET - $17.95
GPCi - Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a higher classification than "just" Côtes du Rhône.
According to Parker, the 2007 vintage in this area, is one of the best vintages in the past 35 years. Therefore, any wine from that vintage for such an attractive price should be a no-brainer.
Costières de Nîmes
2007 CHÂTEAU MOURGUES DU GRÈS LES GALETS ROUGES - $14.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
RP=92
GPCi - same argument as the above, but stronger... :)
What a supportive review by Parker and for a $15 wine???
France Rhone (North)
2006 FERRATON PÈRE & FILS LA MATINIÈRE CROZES-HERMITAGE - $21.95
WS=91
GPCi - I had a few very good CROZES-HERMITAGE in the past. I found the northern part of the Rhone to be less "in your face" than the south CdP, for example, yet very enjoyable and rewarding. 2006 was a better year in this part of the Rhone (RP gave it 92) that in the south. The price is very tempting for the quality.
US (California)
2006 CLOS DU BOIS ZINFANDEL (North Coast) - $18.95
2005 HOWLING MOON OLD VINE ZINFANDEL - $18.95
2007 SEGHESIO SONOMA ZINFANDEL - $28.95
WS=93
GPCi - out of the broad selection, I chose the above Zins. The two first ones were chosen mainly because of the review-price ratio. I chose the SEGHESIO Zin because I think it's one of the better Zins out there. I have to warn you though - it's a bit different from the "cheaper" Zins, but in a good way. I had two other vintages and I think it's worth the expensive $29.
2001 LAN GRAN RESERVA - $24.95
WS=90
GPCi - had it before a few times. An excellent Rioja for a reasonable price. The LCBO has provided us with the 2001 Lan Reserva (which is good as well). The Gran Reserva is a traditional Rioja at its best. If you're into Rioja wines, you have to try this Gran Reserva and save a few for the cellar. Expect the mixture of dry fruit with leather and wonderful long finish.
Spain (Montsant)
2006 ÈTIM SELECCIÓN - $15 (MUST TRY!!!)
JM=91
60% Garnacha, 30% Carinena, [Carignan] and 10% Syrah
GPCi - with such review and such price, I'm in. It's always impresses me when wineries succeed to produce such great wines in very average vintages. That's on my buying list for sure. Buy 3-12 bottles.
PS - tried it. A very good blend, but I couldn't find the "91 Priorat wow" factor that JM talked about. I know many wines from Chile and Argentina that are at least as intersting and didn't get the desireable 91 rank.
Italy (Tuscany)
2004 CECCHI VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO - $24.95
90 percent sangiovese, 10 per cent other grapes
GPCi - who ever follow my blog knows that I have a special feeling to this part in Tuscany and its wines. I've never had less than a good wine from MONTEPULCIANO from the 2004 vintage. Buy 1-3 bottles. Goes great with gourmet BBQed sausages.
Italy (Piedmont)
2004 PATRIZI BAROLO - $29.95
GPCi - Barolo for $30. second release in a row... interesting and tempting. 2004 in this region got 96 by RP, so what's the risk? Definitely worth a "one bottle" try.
Israel
2007 GOLAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $17.95
GPCi - One of the best wineries in Israel is The Golan-Heights Winery. This wine is their entry level wine. Expect a medium-body wine with nice fresh berries. Can be served as the first wine of the evening. I wish the LCBO would have brought the Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon (higher series). This wine can challenge many left-bank Bordeaux.
France (Bordeaux)
2005 CHÂTEAU ST. GEORGES - $34.95
GPCi - had the 2000 CHÂTEAU ST. GEORGES and enjoyed it a lot. A typical Saint Emilion wine for a relatively fair price (compare to most 2005 Bordeaux).
Expect a lot of excitement in a glass...
2005 CHÂTEAU DE MALLE (375 mL - white) - $38
WS=92
GPCi - One of the more affordable Sauternes with the quality of the more expensive ones. So yes, $38 for 375 mL is a lot of money, I agree. BUT if you want to buy something extremely good for a special occasion, that is definitely a good option. Just as a comparison, a 375 mL bottle of the famous 2005 Ch. d'Yquem costs about US$300+ and the difference won't be 10 times better...
Australia (Barossa Valley)
2005 BRANSON COACH HOUSE GREENOCK BLOCK SHIRAZ - $24.95
WS=93
2006 ROLF BINDER HEINRICH SHIRAZ/MATARO/GRENACHE - $29.95
JM=92 ; 2014-26
GPCi - Two great Shiraz options for this release. I would tend to go with the SMG blend mainly because of its longer cellaring potential. But again, both options seem very solid.
Australia (Central Victoria)
2007 MCPHERSON BASILISK MARSANNE/VIOGNIER - $19.95
JH=90 ; until 2013
GPCi - John M, this seems to be a great candidate for your continuous "great Australian whites" journey... Good review, decent price tag, short+ cellaring potential...
Chile (Colchagua Valley)
2007 APALTAGUA ENVERO GRAN RESERVA - $15.95
GPCi - Mainly Carmenere. Never fails for the buck. Seems like a great day-to-day wine or a nice companion for an afternoon BBQ.
France Rhone (South)
2007 DELAS HAUTE PIERRE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU PAPE - $35.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
RP=92-94 ; until 2023+
GPCi - I don't think I have ever seen CdP from 2007 that got such high mark by Parker and cost $36 !!! I say... "stock 'em up". Buy a case!
2005 DOMAINE SAINT-PIERRE VACQUEYRAS - $24.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
RP=91-93; until 2019
GPCi - I know someone who really likes VACQUEYRAS. This one has your name on it Mr. W. Excellent review for an outstanding wine. Buy, buy, buy.
Côtes du Rhône-Villages
2007 DOMAINE MONTMARTEL VISAN - $16.95
2007 LE GRAVILLAS SABLET - $17.95
GPCi - Côtes du Rhône-Villages is a higher classification than "just" Côtes du Rhône.
According to Parker, the 2007 vintage in this area, is one of the best vintages in the past 35 years. Therefore, any wine from that vintage for such an attractive price should be a no-brainer.
Costières de Nîmes
2007 CHÂTEAU MOURGUES DU GRÈS LES GALETS ROUGES - $14.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
RP=92
GPCi - same argument as the above, but stronger... :)
What a supportive review by Parker and for a $15 wine???
France Rhone (North)
2006 FERRATON PÈRE & FILS LA MATINIÈRE CROZES-HERMITAGE - $21.95
WS=91
GPCi - I had a few very good CROZES-HERMITAGE in the past. I found the northern part of the Rhone to be less "in your face" than the south CdP, for example, yet very enjoyable and rewarding. 2006 was a better year in this part of the Rhone (RP gave it 92) that in the south. The price is very tempting for the quality.
US (California)
2006 CLOS DU BOIS ZINFANDEL (North Coast) - $18.95
2005 HOWLING MOON OLD VINE ZINFANDEL - $18.95
2007 SEGHESIO SONOMA ZINFANDEL - $28.95
WS=93
GPCi - out of the broad selection, I chose the above Zins. The two first ones were chosen mainly because of the review-price ratio. I chose the SEGHESIO Zin because I think it's one of the better Zins out there. I have to warn you though - it's a bit different from the "cheaper" Zins, but in a good way. I had two other vintages and I think it's worth the expensive $29.
