Sunday, January 31, 2010
GPCi for Feb 6th 2010 release at the LCBO
Chile
2008 COUSIÑO-MACUL ANTIGUAS RESERVAS CHARDONNAY - $14.95
JM=89
GPCi - expect excellent QPR from this known producer from Chile. I didn't have their Reserva Chardonnay, but their wines are usually very good for the price.
2009 CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC - $13.95
GPCi - anything from Casa Lapostolle, even their entry level wines (like this one) is very rewarding. I like the Sauv Blanc from Chile. You can tell the difference with the New Zealand version. I guess here is where the terroir comes to play.
2007 CARMENERE RESERVA CASTILLO MOLINA - $14.95
GPCi - one of the first wines I've ever tasted from Chile was Castillo Molinda. Very consistently good day-to-day wine and for that price why not buy 6 bottles.
2006 CHOCALAN MALBEC GRAN RESERVA - $24.95
JM=91 2012 to 2021.
GPCi - Now Malbec from Chile is not something you find every day (it's the "Argentian grape"). Seems a bit expensive for Malbec but with nice aging potential (a very good GPCi !). I would try one and then decide whether to stock them in the cellar. definitely worth a try.
Argentina
2008 OPI A.K.A. RODOLFO SADLER MALBEC - $12.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
GPCi - It received a Trophy Winner in the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards.
Again, no brainer for that price and for such a complementing review.
Canada - Ontario
2007 KONZELMANN RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER - $17.95
GPCi - I liked the previous vintages of this Gewurz. 2007 is considered by everyone "THE" vintage in Ontario, so I'd buy 3-6 bottles. Great with so many different foods. John M - for you!
Australia
2006 D'ARENBERG THE TWENTYEIGHT ROAD MOURVÈDRE - $29.95
JM=92 ; 2013 to 2026
GPCi - I haven't had the chance to try this d'Arenberg. The 2005 wine received 93 by JM. If you like Mourvedre (a.k.a. Monastrell in Spain), which I very much do, it's seems like one of the best choices for the cellar from this release. I'd buy 2-6 bottles depends on your budget.
2007 THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $16.95 (MUST TRY!)
IWC=90
GPCi - I love this Northern-Rhone blend when it is done in Australia and for $17 !!! The review is great which encourages me to recommend buying 3-12 bottles. Great with any grilled meat.
2006 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE VINTAGE RELEASE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $24.95
JH=95
GPCi - I've had this wine since its 2001 vintage. I've recently tried the 2005 and the 2006 seems to be at the same high quality. Expect silky tannins, liquorish, tar, dark cherries, well integrated oak and long nice finish. Wine at this quality from the California costs twice if not more. I found them approachable yet age worthy. Decant the wine for 30 min prior to serving it.
US - California (Napa County/Sonoma County)
2006 GHOST PINES WINEMAKER’S BLEND CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95 (MUST TRY!)
RP=90
GPCi - So it is possible... A good Cab Sauv for this price definitely got my attention. I would compare this one with the Australian 2006 WYNNS COONAWARRA and the 2006 ZOLO from Argentina (received 88 by JM and costs $16.95).
France - Midi (Côtes du Roussillon-Villages)
2007 CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES - $19.95 (MUST TRY!)
David Schildknecht from www.erobertparker.com = 92 A blend of Grenache with
a bit of Carignan.
GPCi - Côtes du Roussillon is producing an increasingly noticeable great wines for a very reasonable price. This is another example. I like the blend - reminds me of the spices we get in southern part of the Rhone valley.
France – Bordeaux
GPCi - More wines from the 2006 Bordeaux vintage. I placed them in order of my personal preference. The first 3 wines are definitely worth buying for the cellar. I had the CLERC MILON and the CHÂTEAU DAUZAC from previous vintages and they are truly very good Bordeaux (even from an OK vintage like 2006).
2006 CHÂTEAU FLEUR CARDINALE - $55
RP=91-93 ; 2007-2022 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
2006 CHÂTEAU CLERC MILON - $62
RP=91 ; 2014-2028 ; WS=91 ; ST=90 full body Merlot (44%) combined with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc
2006 CHÂTEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE - $84
RP=93 ; 2012-2029+ full body
2006 CHÂTEAU DAUZAC - $49
WS=89-91 full body.
2006 CHÂTEAU MOULIN SAINT-GEORGES - $59
RP=90 ; until 2024
2006 CHÂTEAU CERTAN MARZELLE - $75
RP=91-93 ; until 2030 100% Merlot
2006 CHÂTEAU GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE - $85
RP=92 ; 2014-2027 ; medium-full body 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc
France – Rhone-South
2007 PERRIN & FILS LES CHRISTINS VACQUEYRAS - $22.95
RP=89 ; now-2019 ; WS=90 ; ST=90-92 ; 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah
GPCi - From some reason I'm expecting it to be more that "89", but I'll have to try it and report back. This wine from this producer is usually a safe buy. Add the fact that it's coming from the excellent 2007 vintage and it costs $23 - just buy, buy, buy.
2007 DELAS FRÈRES SAINT-ESPRIT CÔTES DU RHÔNE - $14.95 (MUST BUY!!!)
RP=90 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache
GPCi - That's number one on my list of buying because of the review, the price and the region/blend. If it's as good as the review, it's a wonderful day-to-day treat.
Italy - Piedmont
2005 RENATO RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO DOCG - $49.95
WS=96 ; number 7 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list of 2009
GPCi - how many wines that got such a remarkable review cost $50? almost non! surprisingly enough it cost less/similar that some of the major US stores (e.g. Zachy's sell it for $US 51 on sale!). I would definitely consider buying 2-6 bottles for the cellar.
Spain - Priorat
2006 BUIL & GINÉ GINÉ GINÉ - $17.95
Wine & Spirits = 92 ; garnacha-cariena blend
GPCi - A good Priorat wine for less than $20, what's not to like. No brainer at least to try one bottle before you buy more for day-to-day consumption.
2008 COUSIÑO-MACUL ANTIGUAS RESERVAS CHARDONNAY - $14.95
JM=89
GPCi - expect excellent QPR from this known producer from Chile. I didn't have their Reserva Chardonnay, but their wines are usually very good for the price.
2009 CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC - $13.95
GPCi - anything from Casa Lapostolle, even their entry level wines (like this one) is very rewarding. I like the Sauv Blanc from Chile. You can tell the difference with the New Zealand version. I guess here is where the terroir comes to play.
2007 CARMENERE RESERVA CASTILLO MOLINA - $14.95
GPCi - one of the first wines I've ever tasted from Chile was Castillo Molinda. Very consistently good day-to-day wine and for that price why not buy 6 bottles.
2006 CHOCALAN MALBEC GRAN RESERVA - $24.95
JM=91 2012 to 2021.
GPCi - Now Malbec from Chile is not something you find every day (it's the "Argentian grape"). Seems a bit expensive for Malbec but with nice aging potential (a very good GPCi !). I would try one and then decide whether to stock them in the cellar. definitely worth a try.
Argentina
2008 OPI A.K.A. RODOLFO SADLER MALBEC - $12.95 (MUST TRY!!!)
GPCi - It received a Trophy Winner in the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards.
Again, no brainer for that price and for such a complementing review.
Canada - Ontario
2007 KONZELMANN RESERVE GEWÜRZTRAMINER - $17.95
GPCi - I liked the previous vintages of this Gewurz. 2007 is considered by everyone "THE" vintage in Ontario, so I'd buy 3-6 bottles. Great with so many different foods. John M - for you!
Australia
2006 D'ARENBERG THE TWENTYEIGHT ROAD MOURVÈDRE - $29.95
JM=92 ; 2013 to 2026
GPCi - I haven't had the chance to try this d'Arenberg. The 2005 wine received 93 by JM. If you like Mourvedre (a.k.a. Monastrell in Spain), which I very much do, it's seems like one of the best choices for the cellar from this release. I'd buy 2-6 bottles depends on your budget.
2007 THE BLACK CHOOK SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $16.95 (MUST TRY!)
IWC=90
GPCi - I love this Northern-Rhone blend when it is done in Australia and for $17 !!! The review is great which encourages me to recommend buying 3-12 bottles. Great with any grilled meat.
2006 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE VINTAGE RELEASE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $24.95
JH=95
GPCi - I've had this wine since its 2001 vintage. I've recently tried the 2005 and the 2006 seems to be at the same high quality. Expect silky tannins, liquorish, tar, dark cherries, well integrated oak and long nice finish. Wine at this quality from the California costs twice if not more. I found them approachable yet age worthy. Decant the wine for 30 min prior to serving it.
US - California (Napa County/Sonoma County)
2006 GHOST PINES WINEMAKER’S BLEND CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $19.95 (MUST TRY!)
RP=90
GPCi - So it is possible... A good Cab Sauv for this price definitely got my attention. I would compare this one with the Australian 2006 WYNNS COONAWARRA and the 2006 ZOLO from Argentina (received 88 by JM and costs $16.95).
France - Midi (Côtes du Roussillon-Villages)
2007 CHÂTEAU SAINT-ROCH CHIMÈRES - $19.95 (MUST TRY!)
David Schildknecht from www.erobertparker.com = 92 A blend of Grenache with
a bit of Carignan.
GPCi - Côtes du Roussillon is producing an increasingly noticeable great wines for a very reasonable price. This is another example. I like the blend - reminds me of the spices we get in southern part of the Rhone valley.
France – Bordeaux
GPCi - More wines from the 2006 Bordeaux vintage. I placed them in order of my personal preference. The first 3 wines are definitely worth buying for the cellar. I had the CLERC MILON and the CHÂTEAU DAUZAC from previous vintages and they are truly very good Bordeaux (even from an OK vintage like 2006).
2006 CHÂTEAU FLEUR CARDINALE - $55
RP=91-93 ; 2007-2022 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
2006 CHÂTEAU CLERC MILON - $62
RP=91 ; 2014-2028 ; WS=91 ; ST=90 full body Merlot (44%) combined with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc
2006 CHÂTEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE - $84
RP=93 ; 2012-2029+ full body
2006 CHÂTEAU DAUZAC - $49
WS=89-91 full body.
2006 CHÂTEAU MOULIN SAINT-GEORGES - $59
RP=90 ; until 2024
2006 CHÂTEAU CERTAN MARZELLE - $75
RP=91-93 ; until 2030 100% Merlot
2006 CHÂTEAU GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE - $85
RP=92 ; 2014-2027 ; medium-full body 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc
France – Rhone-South
2007 PERRIN & FILS LES CHRISTINS VACQUEYRAS - $22.95
RP=89 ; now-2019 ; WS=90 ; ST=90-92 ; 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah
GPCi - From some reason I'm expecting it to be more that "89", but I'll have to try it and report back. This wine from this producer is usually a safe buy. Add the fact that it's coming from the excellent 2007 vintage and it costs $23 - just buy, buy, buy.
2007 DELAS FRÈRES SAINT-ESPRIT CÔTES DU RHÔNE - $14.95 (MUST BUY!!!)
RP=90 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache
GPCi - That's number one on my list of buying because of the review, the price and the region/blend. If it's as good as the review, it's a wonderful day-to-day treat.
Italy - Piedmont
2005 RENATO RATTI MARCENASCO BAROLO DOCG - $49.95
WS=96 ; number 7 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list of 2009
GPCi - how many wines that got such a remarkable review cost $50? almost non! surprisingly enough it cost less/similar that some of the major US stores (e.g. Zachy's sell it for $US 51 on sale!). I would definitely consider buying 2-6 bottles for the cellar.
Spain - Priorat
2006 BUIL & GINÉ GINÉ GINÉ - $17.95
Wine & Spirits = 92 ; garnacha-cariena blend
GPCi - A good Priorat wine for less than $20, what's not to like. No brainer at least to try one bottle before you buy more for day-to-day consumption.
