Saturday, September 19, 2009
GPCi for Sep 26th 2009 release at the LCBO
Canada (BC)
2006 JACKSON-TRIGGS OKANAGAN ESTATE PROPRIETORS' GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY - $19.95
GPCi - I find the JT wines from Okanagan, BC are superior from the JT wines from Ontario. Their high-end Grand Reserve Chardonnay are usually a very good value for money wines. If you're looking for a very good Canadian Chardonnay for $20, that's definitely one worth buying.
Argentina (Mendoza)
2007 CLOS DE LOS SIETE - $23.95
JM=91
GPCi - For the past 3-4 vintages this is a consistent 90+ wine by the WA. A very
interesting blend of 48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Syrah, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Expect lots of black fruits and over ripped fruits flavors. A great value wine. Buy 2-6 bottles with no hesitation.
2008 MAIPE MALBEC - $12.95 (MUST TRY!!)
JM=90
GPCi - that's one of my "must buy of the release". Great review, wonderful variety and excellent price. need we say more?
PS - tried it yesterday and it is one of the best $13 wine I tried in the past couple of years. It's rich, full with flavors. A long fulfilling finish. Lots of yummyness in a bottle. I'd buy a case for day-to-day with no hesitation. Excellent Malbec for the price.
2006 LUIGI BOSCA RESERVA MALBEC - $16.95
ST=90+
GPCi - Another Malbec I would try. It would be interesting to compare this one with the younger 2008 MAIPE MALBEC.
Chile
2008 MONTES LIMITED SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.95
JM=90
GPCi - Love Montes wines - excellent QPR wines with consistent good quality. A very good review by Dr. J. and the price is more than attractive. Excellent choice as a first wine of the evening with "shrip on the barbi". Buy 2-12 bottles.
New Zealand
2008 DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC - $19.95
GPCi - Had previous vintages of the "Dog" before and it's one of my favorite Sauv Blanc from NZ. A nice competition with the Montes.
France (Bordeaux)
2005 CHÂTEAU FONGABAN - $17.95
A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from Côtes de Castillon.
GPCi - When I visited Côtes de Castillon in 2004, everyone in the Bordeaux area was saying how this region is becoming more and more recognized by the quality of its wine and its competitive price. I found there a few outstanding wines (I love their Cab Franc). Enough said about the classic 2005 vintage, so if you're a Merlot fan and want to try a good Bordeaux for more than a reasonable price, I would definitely try this one.
France (Rhone South)
2006 DOMAINE DE LA CÔTE DE L'ANGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE - $34.95
WS=91 ; 2010-2025
GPCi - Not too many CdP are at the $35 price range. According to the WS review, the price and the cellaring potential it seems like a very good CdP deal. I'd buy 2-4 bottles.
2007 MAS DES BRESSADES CABERNET/SYRAH - $18.95
2007 MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE EXCELLENCE - $18.95
GPCi - I had both wines in the past with less successful vintages and it was still very rewarding. MAS DES BRESSADES delivers excellent QPR and usually get very high ranks by RP. It very well represents the Rhone valley flavors. Buy one bottle from each and see if it meets your palate's expectations.
2007 TERRES D'AVIGNON CARDINALICES CÔTES DU RHÔNE - $13.95 (MUST TRY!)
GPCi - a simple yet very good example of a Cote du Rhone. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsaut. Don't expect too much power here, but a nice day-to-day wine for the right amount of money.
Italy (Piedmont)
2003 TRAVAGLINI GATTINARA - $27.95
WS=91 ; after 2010
GPCi - If you haven't tried GATTINARA before, you have to. I find it very different from other wines. In the 2000 and the 2001 vintages that I tried this wine, it remind me a bit of a good Amarone (the dried fruit etc.) or a Port. Decanting this wine is something to consider. This wine can be cellared for 10 years and therefore the price seems more than fair.
Italy (Tuscany)
2007 FALCHINI TITOLATO COLOMBAIA CHIANTI COLLI SENESI - $15.95
GPCi - The 2007 vintage in the Chianti region has been highly ranked (RP gave it 93).
If you're looking for a medium body, day-to-day, "food friendly", fair price wine, this seems like a safe bet to me.
2004 SASSO AL POGGIO - $23.95
WS=90 ; after 2009
GPCi - Words like "jammy" describing the wine, always get my attention. This is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet (got to love the IGT clasification). A relatively good price for the IGT clasification. worth trying one bottle before you buy more...
2005 RUFFINO DUCALE ORO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - $43.95
GPCi - one of the better Chianti Classico Riserva in Tuscany. Tried this wine since the amazing 1997 vintage. It's expensive yet worth the $44. Save for special occasions. It can be cellared 10+ years with no problem.
Spain (Ribera del Duero)
2006 CONDADO DE HAZA CRIANZA - $27.95
WS=92
GPCi - If you haven't tried Haza before, you have to !!! This is their "simpler" version (Crianza means that the wine didn't stay in barrels for a long time), but don't expect anything simple in this wine. It's dark and complex and VERY rewarding -Ribera del Duero at its best. Buy 2-4 bottles.
CODORNÍU RESERVA SELECCIÓN RAVENTÓS BRUT CAVA - $14.95
www.dailymail.co.uk = 5 of 5
GPCi - The Spanish answer to the French Champaign for a fraction of the price - You cannot compete with $15 and deliver that quality in the French version. If you're into "bubblies", according to the review, you have to try this one.
2006 JACKSON-TRIGGS OKANAGAN ESTATE PROPRIETORS' GRAND RESERVE CHARDONNAY - $19.95
GPCi - I find the JT wines from Okanagan, BC are superior from the JT wines from Ontario. Their high-end Grand Reserve Chardonnay are usually a very good value for money wines. If you're looking for a very good Canadian Chardonnay for $20, that's definitely one worth buying.
Argentina (Mendoza)
2007 CLOS DE LOS SIETE - $23.95
JM=91
GPCi - For the past 3-4 vintages this is a consistent 90+ wine by the WA. A very
interesting blend of 48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Syrah, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Expect lots of black fruits and over ripped fruits flavors. A great value wine. Buy 2-6 bottles with no hesitation.
2008 MAIPE MALBEC - $12.95 (MUST TRY!!)
JM=90
GPCi - that's one of my "must buy of the release". Great review, wonderful variety and excellent price. need we say more?
PS - tried it yesterday and it is one of the best $13 wine I tried in the past couple of years. It's rich, full with flavors. A long fulfilling finish. Lots of yummyness in a bottle. I'd buy a case for day-to-day with no hesitation. Excellent Malbec for the price.
2006 LUIGI BOSCA RESERVA MALBEC - $16.95
ST=90+
GPCi - Another Malbec I would try. It would be interesting to compare this one with the younger 2008 MAIPE MALBEC.
Chile
2008 MONTES LIMITED SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.95
JM=90
GPCi - Love Montes wines - excellent QPR wines with consistent good quality. A very good review by Dr. J. and the price is more than attractive. Excellent choice as a first wine of the evening with "shrip on the barbi". Buy 2-12 bottles.
New Zealand
2008 DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC - $19.95
GPCi - Had previous vintages of the "Dog" before and it's one of my favorite Sauv Blanc from NZ. A nice competition with the Montes.
France (Bordeaux)
2005 CHÂTEAU FONGABAN - $17.95
A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from Côtes de Castillon.
GPCi - When I visited Côtes de Castillon in 2004, everyone in the Bordeaux area was saying how this region is becoming more and more recognized by the quality of its wine and its competitive price. I found there a few outstanding wines (I love their Cab Franc). Enough said about the classic 2005 vintage, so if you're a Merlot fan and want to try a good Bordeaux for more than a reasonable price, I would definitely try this one.
France (Rhone South)
2006 DOMAINE DE LA CÔTE DE L'ANGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE - $34.95
WS=91 ; 2010-2025
GPCi - Not too many CdP are at the $35 price range. According to the WS review, the price and the cellaring potential it seems like a very good CdP deal. I'd buy 2-4 bottles.
2007 MAS DES BRESSADES CABERNET/SYRAH - $18.95
2007 MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE EXCELLENCE - $18.95
GPCi - I had both wines in the past with less successful vintages and it was still very rewarding. MAS DES BRESSADES delivers excellent QPR and usually get very high ranks by RP. It very well represents the Rhone valley flavors. Buy one bottle from each and see if it meets your palate's expectations.
2007 TERRES D'AVIGNON CARDINALICES CÔTES DU RHÔNE - $13.95 (MUST TRY!)
GPCi - a simple yet very good example of a Cote du Rhone. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsaut. Don't expect too much power here, but a nice day-to-day wine for the right amount of money.
Italy (Piedmont)
2003 TRAVAGLINI GATTINARA - $27.95
WS=91 ; after 2010
GPCi - If you haven't tried GATTINARA before, you have to. I find it very different from other wines. In the 2000 and the 2001 vintages that I tried this wine, it remind me a bit of a good Amarone (the dried fruit etc.) or a Port. Decanting this wine is something to consider. This wine can be cellared for 10 years and therefore the price seems more than fair.
Italy (Tuscany)
2007 FALCHINI TITOLATO COLOMBAIA CHIANTI COLLI SENESI - $15.95
GPCi - The 2007 vintage in the Chianti region has been highly ranked (RP gave it 93).
If you're looking for a medium body, day-to-day, "food friendly", fair price wine, this seems like a safe bet to me.
2004 SASSO AL POGGIO - $23.95
WS=90 ; after 2009
GPCi - Words like "jammy" describing the wine, always get my attention. This is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet (got to love the IGT clasification). A relatively good price for the IGT clasification. worth trying one bottle before you buy more...
2005 RUFFINO DUCALE ORO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - $43.95
GPCi - one of the better Chianti Classico Riserva in Tuscany. Tried this wine since the amazing 1997 vintage. It's expensive yet worth the $44. Save for special occasions. It can be cellared 10+ years with no problem.
Spain (Ribera del Duero)
2006 CONDADO DE HAZA CRIANZA - $27.95
WS=92
GPCi - If you haven't tried Haza before, you have to !!! This is their "simpler" version (Crianza means that the wine didn't stay in barrels for a long time), but don't expect anything simple in this wine. It's dark and complex and VERY rewarding -Ribera del Duero at its best. Buy 2-4 bottles.
CODORNÍU RESERVA SELECCIÓN RAVENTÓS BRUT CAVA - $14.95
www.dailymail.co.uk = 5 of 5
GPCi - The Spanish answer to the French Champaign for a fraction of the price - You cannot compete with $15 and deliver that quality in the French version. If you're into "bubblies", according to the review, you have to try this one.
