Cave de Roquebrun Soleil de Schiste 2022 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Syrah-based blend from Languedoc that newly arrived at the LCBO last weekend in the April 13th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It is included as part of the release's theme on Perfect Pairings for Spring Celebrations and will be a fine match for backyard BBQs.

It is produced by Cave de Roquebrun, a co-operative winery located in the Languedoc wine region of France. It was founded in 1967 in Haut-Languedoc Natural Regional Park, approximately 30 km north of Béziers, between Montpellier and Toulouse. More specifically, it is situated in the picturesque village of Roquebrun, which lies within the Saint-Chinian appellation of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region, and offers an exceptional, sunny microclimate for Mediterranean vegetation and the cultivation of fruit. Moreover, Cave de Roquebrun is located on schist terroir, which is typical of Languedoc, and allows Roquebrun to produce original and high-quality wines.

Today, Cave de Roquebrun is the largest wine producer within the Saint-Chinian appellation, consisting of 70 winegrowers who cultivate over 700 hectares of vines. With a team of professionals motivated by high standards, their philosophy is to create wines of originality, balance, and wealth.

In order to realize their philosophy, their schist terroir plays a very important role. The climate in Roquebrun is very mild and relatively arid, and when combined with schist soils, the development of the different grape varieties is very special and unique. The soils where the vines are planted are among the oldest in France, dating back to the Devonian, Ordovician, and Visean eras, which are more than 330 million years old. Schists are a brown, green, or sometimes red rock, with a flaky appearance that is fine-grained and includes tiny fragments of other minerals. These rocks are laminated and fragmented, allowing the roots of the vine to go deep into the ground in the search for naturally circulating rainwater. This mineral has two main virtues: it retains water, while also storing heat which is released slowly at night and, according to local winegrowers, allows the grapes to still grow at night.

This red wine is a blend of 65% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre that was grown on the clay-limestone slopes on the banks of the Orb River. The grapes were manually harvested at night to retain freshness, and upon arriving at the winery they were direct-pressed, cold settled, and underwent a long fermentation at a low temperature. To retain the full expression of the fruit, the wine was matured in stainless steel vats for at least a year in an insulated and air-conditioned cellar.

Despite spring frosts and summer hail which created uncertainty among growers, the 2022 vintage in Languedoc is said to be the best since 2011. While extreme weather patterns have become commonplace in the Languedoc region of France, summer brought sunshine and wind, reducing the risk of disease, while some grape varieties progressed rapidly. Timely rains in mid-August and at the beginning of September helped polish the tannins and polyphenols. From then on, the weather was idyllic, allowing producers to pick grapes at peak ripeness without any concern. Let's see how this 2022 Languedoc red is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN SOLEIL DE SCHISTE 2022 - AP, Languedoc, France (#35995) (XD) - $18.95
This unoaked blend of 65% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre has a fresh, lifted nose of medium-high intensity that offers generous and attractive aromas of ripe red & black fruits, blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, and black plum that mingles with earthy and stony minerality, plus touches of wild herbs. It's mid-weighted on the dry and very ripe palate with delicious flavours of wild berry, garrigue, blackberry, raspberry, peppery spice, stony mineral, and savoury earth. It has fresh acidity and supple, chalky textured, gently grippy, and well-structured tannins. Smoky mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, and well-structured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

A wine by Cave de Roquebrun will be available at the LCBO in a couple of weeks, while the entire can be ordered today through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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Château Maucoil Privilège Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the beautiful 2016 Château Maucoil Privilège Châteauneuf-du-Pape a few years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest edition of this terrific, certified organic red wine that arrived at the LCBO last month in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on December 16th - with plenty of bottles still available for purchase.

It is produced by Château Maucoil, an historic property that is situated in an area of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that has been occupied since Roman times when they set up a base for Caesar's legions. The Château Maucoil estate and castle was built in 1624 and inherited by Joseph de La Pise, Lord of Maucoil and archivist of the House of Orange-Nassau (the Dutch royal family). Winegrowing has been an intrinsic part of the property since the 17th century, with Château Maucoil possessing some of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's oldest vines, some of which are over 100 years old.

Château Maucoil has changed hands many times over the years, with a series of illustrious families taking over the reins to develop the estate and establish its reputation. Most recently, in late 2022, Château Maucoil was acquired by Bernard Duseigneur from Groupe Maucoil Lavau, which was owned jointly by the (65%) Lavau and (35%) Bonnet families.

Today, Château Maucoil has 45 hectares of vines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, all of which have been tended to organically since 2011. With the estate's privileged situation and unique terroir, the vines are allowed to grow at pace with care, precision, and patience. The soils are worked in the traditional method, without any chemical weed killers, while preferring the use of ancient methods such as furrowing, forming mounds, and ploughing. The vineyards are tended to with maximum respect for the people and the environment.

This cuvée marks a return to the traditions of Châteauneuf-du-Pape by using the original 13 grape varieties that were permitted within the AOC (in 2009 the list of permitted grape varieties was expanded). It is crafted with 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Cinsault, Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Counoise, Terret, Roussanne, Picpoul, and Picardan. All the grapes were hand-harvested from a plot of old vines that were planted on sand and large rounded stones. After meticulously sorting the grapes, it was vinified using traditional methods and represents a return to the origins of winemaking by co-fermenting the grapes and ageing for 18 months in larger demi-muids. It was then aged for several years in bottle prior to release.

The 2020 growing season in the Southern Rhône began with a mild winter, followed by a hot and dry summer, with slightly cooler nights, which led to wines with good freshness and balance. Conditions during harvest were ideal, resulting in a stress-free vintage with solid yields. Since 2020 lacked lengthier periods of extreme heat, Grenache took its time to ripen. Fortunately, some light rain arrived towards the end of September, and by early October all Grenache grapes were harvested. There is some variance in the quality of wines from 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but overall, the wines are harmonious, fresh, balanced, and engaging, with more delicate tannins and lower alcohol levels, and offer immediate drinkability.

It is also interesting that the 2016 I enjoyed in November 2020 retailed for $86, while this vintage is priced at more than 25% less, an unusual surprise in these highly inflationary times, although the ownership change may have been a factor. Let's see how this organic 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU MAUCOIL PRIVILÈGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2020 - AC, Rhône, France (#16210) (XD) - $62.95
Certified organic and a blend of 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Cinsault, Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Counoise, Terret, Roussanne, Picpoul, and Picardan. The highly aromatic nose is deep and complex with aromas of ripe, dark red & black fruits, black cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, stony mineral, garrigue, white pepper spice, kirsch, and smoke. On the dry, medium-full to full-bodied palate it is ripe, harmonious, gently spicy, and warming, but within balance, with lovely savoury, stony, black-blue fruits, peppery spice, garrigue, and meaty flavours with touches of violet. Acids are crisp, juicy, and succulent, while the ripe tannins are smooth and refined with good structure. Stony, smoky, meaty, and peppery spice notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Provides immense pleasure now, and will continue to do so over the next 10+ years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 94 pts

Other fine wines by Château Maucoil can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia / Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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El Petit Bonhomme 2020 (Spain) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2018 Les Vins Bonhomme El Petit Bonhomme nearly three years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this vegan-friendly wine from Spain that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the September 23 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Les Vins Bonhomme, a brand of wines that was established by Canadian-born winemaker Nathalie Bonhomme. She was born and raised in Quebec, then left to travel the world over 30 years ago and eventually settled in Spain. Inspired by Nathalie's last name - Bonhomme - which translates to "fellow or man", the label of each Les Vins Bonhomme wine is adorned with a distinctive stickman.

Today, Les Vins Bonhomme is a collaboration of wineries and small, family growers. They produce wines from across Spain with a team of winemakers using grapes from small, family growers, aiming to transport you with each sip to the most interesting corners of Spain. You can expect to discover some enticing vineyards - from the joyful and indigenous Monastrell of the sunny Mediterranean, to the southern version of Cabernet Sauvignon showing its Spanish colours, and to the traditional Tempranillo from the land of castles of Castilla y León. At Les Vins Bonhomme, the key to fabulous wines is picking the best grapes, while seeking to produce fun wines of value and quality.

Like the 2018, this vintage is also composed of 55% Monastrell from 30-year-old vines, 30% Garnacha, and 15% Syrah, and it was produced in collaboration with the prestigious Bodegas Juan Gil and their winemaker, Bartolome Abellán. The grapes were dry-farmed at an elevation of 2,300 feet above sea level, with the Monastrell planted on 5 hectares of calcareous and sandy loam soil. After hand-harvesting the grapes, they underwent cold maceration on the skins, followed by a temperature-controlled fermentation for 2 weeks in small, stainless-steel vats. Each individual wine underwent malolactic fermentation and ageing for 6 months in oak, with the Monastrell and Syrah in 225 L French oak barrels, while the Garnacha was in 300 L American oak, then blended together and bottled.

Monastrell was well-suited to the 2020 growing season, with the quality of the grapes described as "magnificent" by many. With generous yields, the harvest was the best in many years. Let's see how this 2020 red wine from Jumilla is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

EL PETIT BONHOMME 2020 - Vegan, DOP Jumilla, Spain (#16578) (XD) - $16.95
Enclosed by screw cap and a blend of 55% Monastrell from 30-year-old vines, 30% Garnacha, and 15% Syrah. The medium+ intensity nose offers pleasing, ripe, dark fruited, blackberry jam, peppery spice, black plum, and dried herb aromas with hints of rosemary and thyme. On the medium-full bodied palate it has deliciously ripe dark berry, blackberry, black cherry, cassis, currant, and sweet spice favours flecked with black pepper and dried herbs. Acids are juicy, fresh, and well-balanced, while the well-structured tannins are somewhat youthful and drying. Blackberry and black cherry notes taper off to a long, savoury, earthy, and mineral-tinged finish. Best enjoyed over the next 2-3 years. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other delicious wines by Les Vins Bonhomme can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Château de Tréviac Corbières 2020 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, unoaked blend of Syrah and Grenache from the Languedoc wine region in southern France that arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on September 9th.

It is produced by Arnaud Sié at Château Tréviac, a family-owned estate that was established in the early 20th century by Arnaud's grandfather, Fernand, and is located in the heart of the Corbières Massif, halfway between the cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne, in the Occitan region in the South of France.

The story of Château Tréviac begins when Fernand settled in the village of Talairan after World War I, as he was convinced that the wild and untapped terroir of the region was full of great potential. He built a house on an old priory and cleared the hillsides in order to build the vineyard that exists to this day. The next generation, Lucette and her husband Roger, owned a labour-horse and, against all odds, managed to remain independent and out of the co-operative system. The journey continued with their daughter, Ginette, and her husband, André Sié. Each generation of this family of winemakers brought great passion as they built the walls and cellars of the Château, stone by stone. Today, with the same passion and dedication as his ancestors, Arnaud Sié manages Château Tréviac and crafts his wines. The name Tréviac came to be over time and refers to the three old roads: the Trois Voies junction (or TRI-VIA) where traces of former construction and burial sites remain today.

The rugged and stony terroir in Corbières is not only shaped by the hot Mediterranean sun, but also by the terroir of garrigue and scrub that affords its wines such bold characters. Château Treviac extends over 36 hectares of vines, which are primarily planted with Syrah and Grenache, on the rolling hillsides of the Corbières Massif, in one of the wildest parts of France with its picturesque countryside and rich biodiversity. The soils in the area are rich in limestone and clay, with calcareous rocks on the surface, while the micro-climate offers good sun exposure and a high-altitude, which allows the vines to enjoy hot temperatures during the day, and cooler temperatures at night. With a commitment to the preservation of biodiversity and terroir, Arnaud Sié made the decision in 2019 to begin the conversion process towards organic farming.

I've enjoyed previous vintages of this terrific unoaked red, including most recently the 2019 Château de Tréviac Corbières last October. It continues to be a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was hand-harvested. The grapes were crushed and pressed immediately upon arriving at the cellar and macerated for 4 to 5 weeks with regular punch downs to extract the aromas while respecting the integrity of the berries. In order to preserve freshness, the wine is raised in thermo-regulated concrete vats.

The 2020 growing season in Languedoc delivered excellent quality, albeit with slightly lower yields. It began with generous autumn rains, followed by a very mild December and a warm February, which helped get the vines off to an early start. The warm conditions continued into April and May, although rain arrived in unusually copious amounts in May, which led to downy mildew. However, the damage was limited. Cool and stormy weather arrived at the beginning of June, but thereafter, summer was hot and dry, without any heatwaves. Harvest arrived earlier than normal and growers were generally happy with the average-to-good crop size of juicy grapes, resulting in wines that are elegant, fresh, and aromatic. Let's see how this 2020 Corbières from Languedoc is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2020 - AP, Languedoc, France (#670505) (XD) - $17.95
This blend of 60/40 Syrah and Grenache was aged in concrete vats and has a medium-high intensity nose that offers a complex and attractive mix of ripe dark berry, blackberry, plum, garrigue, black raspberry, stony mineral, pepper spice, and meaty aromas. It's medium+ to medium-full bodied on the dry, ripe palate with lovely dark berry, blackberry, garrigue, stony mineral, and spice flavours which are supported by fresh acidity and fine-grained, grippy tannins. The dark berry notes taper to smoky minerals on the very long, crisp, and savoury finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Arnaud Sié can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia / Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2019 (McLaren Vale) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious GSM blend from McLaren Vale in Australia that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the recent August 19th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by d'Arenberg, a well-known and highly regarded winery situated in McLaren Vale, South Australia. It was established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn when he planted his first eight acres of Shiraz vines on the property. The same year, Joseph was joined by his third child, Frank Osborn, who left university to take up life on the land. Joseph also sold his stable of prize winning horses to purchase the d'Arenberg property, which was originally named Bundarra.

In 1913, Frank Osborn harvested his first vintage at the Bundarra property in McLaren Vale, with grape prices reaching an unheard of price of £20 per tonne. After several years serving in the army, Frank married Helena d'Arenberg in 1920. A year later, Jane Antoinette (Toni) Osborn was born, followed by the birth of Rowen Frederick Osborn in 1924. In 1926, Helena Osborn died after giving birth to their third child, Francis d'Arenberg Osborn, who was also always known as d'Arry.

After encouragement from Sam Tolley, Frank's brother-in-law and wine industry mentor, in 1927 Frank decided to build a winery and produce his own wine. Frank spent some time learning about winemaking, while Sam was largely responsible for building the winery. In 1928, Frank Osborn produced his first wines, which were labelled "Bundarra Vineyards by F. E. Osborn & Sons". Production ceased in 1942 due to Frank's health, but resumed when d'Arry Osborn left school at the age of 16 to join the family business in 1943 and work at the winery full-time.

Modernization began during this period when the first tractor with rubber tires was purchased in 1946, followed by electricity and the electrification of the production area in 1951. In 1959, d'Arry Osborn launched his own wine label with a distinctive red stripe, while also designing the family crest that has the Latin words "Vinum vita est", which translates to "Wine is Life", and the fertility symbol in the top right corner of the crest, and grapes in the opposite corner.

On a day that was hailed as a good start to the financial year, Chester d'Arenberg Osborn was born on July 1, 1962. In 1963, they purchased their first hydraulic basket press and a year later they built their first tasting room. To this day, traditional winemaking methods are still used, with all of the wines basket pressed and all the red wine ferments foot trodden. In 1965, d'Arry received a letter from another well-established winery who had applied for trademark protection for the name "Bundarra", and by mutual agreement, d'Arry agreed to let the name go and stop using the Bundarra name.

The name change didn't hinder progress or success, as d'Arenberg had to build another tasting room to accommodate the ever increasing number of visitors. In 1971, they installed their own bottling line. Starting in the late 1960s, d'Arenberg was awarded many trophies and awards for their wines.

d'Arenberg's success continued when Chester Osborn, the fourth generation of the family, took over as Chief Winemaker, focusing his efforts on producing high quality and distinctive wines, while also reducing yields in the vineyards by eliminating fertilization and minimizing irrigation. d'Arenberg is also focused on natural and environmentally-friendly philosophies which encourage strong root systems that penetrate the soil, which in turn results in lively tannin structures, soil characters, and fine minerality. Moreover, all d'Arenberg estate owned and leased vineyards are NASAA Certified for organic and biodynamic processes. d'Arenberg is also a founding member of Australia's First Families of Wine.

This particular red wine is from d'Arenberg's "The Stump Jump" range of wines. The name comes from a rumour that the inventor of the Stump Jump plough, which enabled a ploughshare to jump over tree roots, had poor eyesight and required regular eye tests to ensure he could still operate machinery safely. The label design of The Stump Jump range is inspired by an optometrist's eye chart and serves as a
makeshift sobriety test - if you can hold the bottle at arm's length and still read the front label, you can enjoy another glass. There are half a dozen wines in the range, and this particular wine is a blend is approximately equal parts Grenache and Shiraz, with Mourvèdre completing the blend. The grapes used to craft this blend were mostly from very old bush vines that underwent gentle crushing and were fermented in traditional, open tank fermenters, followed by basket pressing and maturation in oak prior to bottling.

During the 2019 growing season, winter was quite dry with sporadic light showers that didn't penetrate the soil very deeply. Although bud burst was impacted, it was managed with irrigation. During spring, a strong wind event at the time of flowering upset some of the growth, especially in Shiraz, while summer was hot with an extreme heat wave and a record high temperature of 46.6°C. Yields were down on most varieties. However, the quality was excellent, with the grapes exhibiting very typical varietal characteristics. From what is classified as a good vintage, let's see how this 2019 McLaren Vale GSM is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

D'ARENBERG THE STUMP JUMP GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2019 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#173294) (XD) - $17.95
Enclosed by screw cap, this GSM blend has a fresh, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose that offers lovely black pepper, spice, raspberry and blackberry aromas layered over earthy and meaty notes. It's full-ish bodied, dry, and sweetly fruited with ripe dark red berry, blackberry, black raspberry, black pepper, oak spice, earth, and meaty flavours which are supported by fresh, well-balanced acidity and smooth, firm, and somewhat grippy tannins that are youthful. Some minty herbal notes on the mid-palate. Savoury with cedary wood spice and earth notes linger on the finish, with very good length. A solid, highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next few years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by d'Arenberg can be found at the LCBO (with some in very limited quantities), while the whole portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.

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Cellier des Dauphins Vinsobres 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2019 Cellier des Dauphins Réserve a couple of years ago, we move up a notch with tonight's red wine review that is a Cru wine from the same producer. It arrived at the LCBO as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on August 19.

Cellier des Dauphins is a co-operative winery that was founded in 1967 when the Union of Côtes du Rhône winegrowers (UVCDR) was established. The UVCDR brought together 2,300 winemaking families in the southern Rhône Valley, a territory that covered 2,500 hectares of vines and approximately 20 AOCs. As a co-operative, member growers pool their resources together to produce and market their wines. Additionally, they have also invested in modern winemaking techniques and facilities to ensure consistent quality across its range of wines, while also focusing on sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices.

Today, Cellier des Dauphins is the pride of UVCDR, and is particularly renowned for its Côtes du Rhône wines. The name "Cellier des Dauphins" translates to "Cellar of the Dolphins", and is an historical reference between the Dauphiné region, which is located in the southeastern part of France, and the dolphin emblem associated with the French royal family. The founding members of Cellier des Dauphins are proud of their terroir and driven by constant innovation, while preparing for the future and striving relentlessly to raise the quality from vine to glass. Cellier des Dauphins is committed to sustainable agriculture and has launched various eco-friendly initiatives, while also having over 1,000 hectares of organically farmed vines. While Cellier des Dauphins has a wide variety of soils and terroirs within their vineyards, offering oenologists a rich palette of grapes for blending, for this particular bottling they have decided to craft it as a Cru wine from Vinsobres.

This red wine is crafted using grapes grown in the Cru of Vinsobres, whose name is derived from the Latin word "vinsobrio", which means wine and work. It is a blend of primarily 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was grown in the hills of the Southern Rhône Cru of Vinsobres, at 500 metres above sea level, in a region that was historically part of the estates of the King of France's sons. The region experiences a sunny, Mediterranean climate that is cooled by Mistral winds. It has dry winters and summers, with particularly high temperatures in summer, while rainfall occurs primarily in autumn and spring. The soil in Vinsobres is covered in stones, which enables the heat of the day to be accumulated and encourages early ripening and concentration in the grapes. The wine was crafted with meticulous attention at every stage, culminating with it being aged in cask for 12 months to develop smoothness and suppleness in the tannins.

Like the wine I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this red is also from the same vintage in the Southern Rhône. The 2019 growing season was a swelteringly hot and very dry year that was surprisingly successful. Grenache excelled during this vintage, producing wines that are rich, ripe, and expressive, with refined textures. Let's see how this 2019 Rhône red from the Vinsobres Cru is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CELLIER DES DAUPHINS VINSOBRES 2019 - Cru des Côtes du Rhône, AC, France (#15448) (XD) - $19.95
Blend of mainly 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah, this has an enticing, medium-high nose that offers lovely aromas of black raspberry, licorice, garrigue, and baking spices with a touch of floral. It's medium-full bodied with velvety smooth, refined tannins and fresh, well-balanced acidity that supports the ripe black raspberry, red plum, baking spice, licorice, stony mineral, and meaty notes in a dry flavour profile. It's nicely balanced throughout, even showing some elegance, while stony mineral notes linger on the long, crisp, and very satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other delicious wines by Cellier des Dauphins are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Churchill Cellars Ltd.

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Zonte's Footstep Splitting Hares Tempranillo / Grenache 2021 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious and unique blend of Tempranillo and Grenache from... Australia! This vegan-friendly red wine is a new arrival at the LCBO that landed on shelves across Ontario as part of the recent July 22nd LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Zonte's Footstep, a proudly independent wine producer that was established in Australia in 2003. They produce their wines using grapes from their own vineyards, as well as from their mates' vineyards, from regions that produce the desired expressive and varietal characteristics of the grapes, which are grounded by the soil that they are planted in. While they don't take themselves seriously, they are serious about their vineyards and wine. Their goal is simple - produce wines from regions such as McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Adelaide Hills, and the Barossa, that reflect a sense of place, style and purpose. Their aim is to bottle wines with personality and expression, hence each wine at Zonte's Footstep has its own name and face.

When Zonte's Footstep made their first wine in 2003, they needed a name for the company and looked back into the history of the region for some inspiration. In 1893, there was a vineyard planted with Zante currant to produce table grapes for the growing population of Adelaide. In the 1920s, the vineyard was replanted with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, grapes which were eventually used to make their first wine. As a tribute to the journey of the grapes in the vineyard - and because one isn't legally allowed to mention a grape variety unless it's contained in the wine - it was decided to change the "A" to an "O" to form ZONTE'S. The other half of the company name came about when a group of friends gathered together in 1999 and purchased a vineyard to plant Viognier, Sangiovese, and other exciting varieties to experiment with. During the replanting of the vineyard, they discovered large boulders with footprints of the largest known marsupial to have ever lived: the Diprotodon. This unique, fossilized FOOTSTEP cemented the company's name and journey that they started just before the turn of the century and are continuing on as Zonte's Footstep today.

This red wine is a blend of Tempranillo and Grenache that was grown in the Fleurieu wine zone, south of Adelaide in South Australia. These two very different varieties were brought together by making small winemaking decisions that deliver a big impact and achieving perfect balance in the wine. To craft this wine, it came down to splitting hairs - hence the name of this wine - as they tweaked the proportions of the blend in tiny one percent increments until perfect balance was achieved. The final blend consists of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache and is the exact point at which the juicy, fragrant Grenache tames the savoury chewiness of the Tempranillo.

The grapes underwent alcoholic fermentation in 5 tonne open fermenters, then completed a natural malolactic fermentation in tank. The wine was then pressed off its skins and transferred into well-seasoned hogshead barrels and aged for up to 12 months, and then bottled with minimal filtration. Let's see how this unique 2021 Tempranillo / Grenache blend from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP SPLITTING HARES TEMPRANILLO / GRENACHE 2021 - Vegan, Fleurieu, South Australia (#30847) (XD) - $21.95
Screw cap. This blend of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache has intriguing, fragrant, and medium-high intensity aromatics offering black-purple-blue fruited aromas, plus floral and spice layered over wet earth notes. On the dry, medium+ to medium-full bodied palate it has a delicious savoury, dark fruited, and spicy core of flavours accented with blackberry, nut, cocoa, and clove spice notes. It has fresh, juicy acidity, while the firm, grainy tannins are slightly grippy. It's nicely balanced with savoury, spicy, and tangy dark fruit flavours lingering on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Many other delicious wines by Zonte's Footstep are widely available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Cru Wine Merchants.

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LAVAU Rasteau 2019 (Rhône) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Rhône red wine from the southern Rhône Valley Cru of Rasteau that arrived at the LCBO this weekend in the January 21 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Maison LAVAU was founded in 1965 after the Lavau family, who had been involved in winemaking for several generations, took charge of a small winemaking cellar a year earlier in Sablet, in the southern Rhône Valley. It was established by Jean-Guy Lavau, the third generation of the family, and his wife Anne-Marie as they returned to France from Tunisia. Together, Jean-Guy and Anne-Marie Lavau built a reputation as top quality winemakers in the region thanks to their dedication to high standards, attention to detail, and thirst for excellence. Recognized as a major local player, Maison LAVAU developed close ties to with other winegrowers, especially in the southern Rhône Valley.

Today, Maison LAVAU is run by their two sons - Frédéric and Benoît Lavau. After completing their studies in Canada, Frédéric joined the family business in 1995, and Benoît quickly followed in 1997. The Lavau brothers official took charge of the Maison in 2000 when their parents retired. Their youth, energy and adventurous spirit allowed them to further structure and develop the Maison, including building a new cellar in Violès, and investing in modern, high-performance cellar facilities. As talented winemakers and wine traders, the Lavau brothers also invested in vineyards to also become producers of wine. Maison LAVAU is today one of the last family-run and independent wine estates in the Rhône Valley. Their objective is to offer the very best of the Rhône Valley by producing top quality wines that are fine, generous, and affordable.

Like previous vintages, including the 2017 LAVAU Rasteau that I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this southern Rhône Valley red continues to be a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. The village of Rasteau is situated on the summit of a hill at an altitude of 200 metres. The grapes for this wine come from parcels located near the village, on east-facing, stony hillsides that have a Mediterranean climate and offer some protection from the Mistral wind. The vineyards are planted on fairly deep, fairly dry, and pebbly terrain, which results in low yields and late ripening grapes.

It was vinified by completely de-stemming the grapes and placing them in temperature-controlled vats to macerate for around 25 days with rack-and-return operations at the start of fermentation, followed by two pumping-over operations per day. The wine was then aged in barrels for 12 months, with half going into 450 L second- or third-use barrels.

The 2019 growing season began with a wet winter setting the table for the region's vineyards to get through the hot, dry growing season. Grenache, in particular, excelled this vintage as it coped well with the severely hot weather and cooler nights that helped it retain acidity and aromas. Overall, the excellent 2019 vintage is a powerful, ripe vintage with localized areas of greatness. Let's see how this 2019 southern Rhône Valley red from Rasteau is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU RASTEAU 2019 - AC, Rhône, France (#394650) (XD) - $23.95
Blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. The fragrant nose of medium-high intensity delivers lovely, perfumed aromas of dark berry, black cherry, black plum, peppery spice, and meaty notes with subtle whiffs of violet, floral, and oak. It's medium-full bodied with ripe, dark fruited flavours of black cherry, black plum, cassis, peppery spice, violet, meaty, and subtle wood. It's slightly spicy on the mid-palate and has fresh, lively acidity, along with smooth, ripe, refined, and lightly chewy and well-structured tannins. Lovely smoky mineral notes linger on the long-lasting, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Limited quantities of one other Maison LAVAU wine is available at the LCBO, while the rest of their portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah 2018 (Napa Valley) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is an excellent Petite Sirah, a distinct variety not to be confused with Syrah, from Napa Valley that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the January 7th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Established in 1893, Stags' Leap Winery is one of California's oldest wine estates. Their 240-acre property is situated on the watershed of the Stags Leap Palisades, nine miles north of the city of Napa, and is planted to 90 acres of vineyards. Situated in an intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, they have a unique terroir and ideal microclimate which supports a classical standard of viticulture, land use, and winemaking. Their goal is to convey the essence of their world-class terroir from grape to glass, and to create handcrafted wines that tell an authentic story of the land on which they are grown.

The Stags' Leap name originated in the late 1880s with the founding Chase family, and is attributed to a native Wappo legend of a stag leaping to escape hunters. The mountains behind the property on the eastern side came to be known as the Stags Leap Palisades.

The Stags Leap Palisades are a rock outcropping that forms the eastern boundary of the estate and sheds debris in the form of volcanic rhyolite and tuff, which is carried to the valley floor where it mingles with the deeper subsoil made up of Bale loam formed from ancient river sediment. Topographically, the slope of the palisades and its small valley are oriented to block early morning sun, retain afternoon heat, and funnel cooler marine air coming from the San Pablo Bay to the south. The sheer volume of rock has a direct impact on the local climate of the estate as the rock face of the palisades gives off stored warmth after sunset, radiating down over the entire ranch. Moreover, the high incidence of rock in the soil holds the heat of the sun into the early twilight hours, and then loses it rapidly, effectively slowing and prolonging the ripening process. With Napa Valley's long growing season combined with the accentuated warmth and cooling of the Stags Leap District, the result is an ideal balance of acid and sugar in the fruit that also gives the grapes more time to mature and develop.

This Petite Sirah is actually a blend that includes small amounts of Syrah, Grenache, and other Rhône varieties. The grapes that make up the backbone of this wine come from the estate's vineyards which have deep, rocky soils, while other carefully selected fruit also comes from Calistoga and St. Helena in the north, and Oakville, Oak Knoll and Coombsville in the south, as well as from their own Stags Leap District. Petite Sirah is a varietal that is enhanced by the deliberate diversity of their vineyard sites.

It was vinified by Winemaker Christophe Paubert using the same, time-honoured techniques - simple and traditional - that have made Petite Sirah one of the winery's staples, thereby showing the uniqueness of the Petite Sirah fruit. It underwent a relatively short maceration and fermentation, and was aged for approximately 15 months in mostly used American oak barrels.

The 2018 growing season in Napa Valley was stunning and near-perfect with good winter rains, mild spring weather, and steady temperatures throughout that allowed for even flowering and bud break. These ideal growing conditions were followed by a cool, even, and slow-paced harvest, which allowed Stags' Leap to vinify wines at a gentle pace. The result is that the wines of 2018 are of very high quality with lower alcohol, concentrated flavours, colour, and excellent acidity. Let's see how this 2018 Petite Sirah from Napa Valley is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

STAGS' LEAP WINERY PETITE SIRAH 2018 - Napa Valley, California, USA (#590356) (XD) - $60.95
Primarily Petite Sirah with a small amount of Syrah, Grenache, and other Rhône varieties completing the blend. Elegantly perfumed aromas of black and blue berry, dark plum, peppery spice, and cocoa, with some wood spice and reductive notes rise out of the glass. It's full-bodied and well-structured on the palate with juicy, ripe black and blue fruit, pepper, spices, and cocoa flavours with touches of smoky mineral and black raspberry adding further complexity. Acids are fresh, vibrant, and juicy, while the firm tannins are structured and grainy. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury, smoky mineral, and cocoa notes lingering on the very long finish. Enjoyable now, but will be better in a few years. Drink over the next 15 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Other excellent wines by Stags' Leap Winery are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

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Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône 2020 (France) - Wine Review (Nov. 2022)

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, organic red wine from Rhône that returned to LCBO VINTAGES shelves across Ontario just over a week ago as part of the recent November 19th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Xavier Vignon, a man who started out as an consultant oenologist in 1996 in a laboratory in Vaucluse in the Southern Rhône Valley for 30+ cellars, and three years later started crafted artisanal cuvees from his garage for his friends. After one of his friends secretly took his wines and submitted them to Guide Hachette where they received critical acclaim, Xavier started crafted his own wines under the Xavier Vins label. Today, with two fundamental values of a job well done and the capacity to transmit knowledge, Xavier bottles wines under his own name. He is known as a Terroir Hunter and Master Blender, while also having respect for the environment. The wines of Xavier Vignon are the result of a scientific background, great deal of experience, confidence in others, total involvement, exchange of knowledge, and shared pleasure.

I first enjoyed this organic 2020 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône six month ago when it showed up in VINTAGES in last spring. It is a blend of primarily Grenache from 80-year-old vines, plus Syrah from 45-year-old vines, and Mourvèdre from 60-year-old vines, all grown on Galets roulés (rolled pebbles), sands, clay, and limestone soils located mostly in the northern part of the Vaucluse and altitude parcels. The grapes were manually harvested, fermented at moderate temperatures, and aged in concrete tanks for a short period of time.

The 2020 vintage benefitted from a good amount of rain in late-autumn and the early winter of 2019, providing very good water stores that would help the vines stay hydrated later in the year. The mild and dry winter meant that flowering and bud break took place early, while the dry and hot summer resulted in a long ripening season with vines drawing water from their winter reserves. During the 2020 growing season, there were no sever heat spikes and night-time temperatures were much cooler, thus allowing the grapes to gently and gradually ripen. The Southern Rhône also benefitted from cool winds which refreshed the vines during the summer heat. Conditions were splendid during harvest as the pristine grapes were picked in warm, dry conditions. Wines from the 2020 Southern Rhône Valley are described as well-balanced with finesse and elegance. Let's see how this 2020 organic Côtes du Rhône tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2020 - AP, France (#297317) (XD) - $17.95
Aged in concrete, this is primarily Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. Lovely, elegant, and fragrant mix that is spicy and savoury, joined by ripe dark red cherry, raspberry, and red plum aromas, plus hints of white pepper spice and meaty notes. It's medium-full bodied with good concentration on the crunchy palate with spicy flavours of ripe dark red cherry, raspberry, and red plum that tapers to savoury, earthy, and meaty flavours. Saliva-inducing fresh and juicy acids. Supple, lightly grippy tannins. Nicely balanced throughout with lovely dark red cherry, raspberry, and mineral notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Highly recommended buy to enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Score: 89 pts

You can find other lovely wines by Xavier Vignon at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Château de Tréviac Corbières 2019 (Languedoc) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely unoaked red from the Corbières appellation in Languedoc that arrived at the LCBO this weekend as part of the October 8th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château Tréviac is located in the heart of the Corbières Massif, halfway between the cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne, in the Occitan region in the South of France. The name refers to three old roads: the « Trois Voies » junction (TRI-VIA), where traces of former constructions and burial sites still remain today. The family estate was established in the early 20th Century by the current owner's great grandfather, Fernand. After World War I, Fernand settled in the village of Talairan because he was convinced that such a wild and untapped terroir was full of potential. He built his house on an old priory and cleared the hillsides in order to build the vineyard as it exists today.

Lucette and her husband Roger were the next generation of the family to own the estate. They owned a labour-horse and managed to remain independent and out of the Cooperative system. Their daughter Ginette and her husband André Sié then took over the journey. In 2000, their son Arnaud Sié took over the family estate after completing his studies in history. As a young and dynamic winegrower, Arnaud continues the family's great passion and dedication to manage his estate and craft his wines.

Today, Château Tréviac has 20 hectares of vineyards, 14 hectares of which are in the Corbières appellation. Since taking over, Arnaud has done extensive work in the vineyards and worked tirelessly to modernize the wine cellars. The vineyards are situated at an altitude between 200 to 350 metres above sea-level, surrounded by garrigue, and on very rocky limestone-clay soils that are ideal for Syrah and Grenache.

With low yields, this wine is composed of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was hand-harvested. The grapes were crushed and pressed upon arrival at the cellar and underwent 4 to 5 weeks of maceration. In order to preserve freshness, the wine was aged completely in thermo-regulated concrete vats. After enjoying the 2017 Château de Tréviac Corbières in March of last year, let's see how this latest vintage is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE TRÉVIAC CORBIÈRES 2019 - AP, Languedoc, France (#670505) (XD) - $17.95
Blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was aged in thermo-regulated concrete vats. Gently smoky on the medium+ intensity nose that seems a bit shy with aromas of raspberry, black cherry, red plum, and spices. The medium to medium-full bodied is ripe with lovely black cherry, licorice, garrigue, raspberry, dark berry, and Damson plum flavours with smoky, scorched earth, spice, and meaty undertones adding complexity. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the ripe, supple tannins are smooth and refined. Raspberry, smoke, and scorched earth notes linger on the long, succulent finish. Very tasty and a highly recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Château de Tréviac and Arnaud Sié can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé 2021 (Provence) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé in Spring of last year when it made its debut at the LCBO, tonight's dry rosé wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific wine that comes to the LCBO this weekend in the September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Château des Ferrages, a domain cherry-picked by Mathilde Chapoutier Selection in 2016 that is located in the village of Pourcieux, halfway between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximin, in the prime, lowland plots of the Sainte-Victoire appellation. Previously, Château des Ferrages was owned winemaker Jose Garcia. His family had been running the 30 hectare domain for three generations, making primarily rosé wines since 1980. Today, Château des Ferrages is in the hands of legendary Rhône wine estate Maison M. Chapoutier and produces wines using the principles of biodynamic farming.

This dry rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Rolle (aka Vermentino) that was grown on shallow, well-draining, clay-limestone soils with varying amounts of sand. The parcels of grapes come from the villages of Pourcieux and Pourrières, at the feet of Mount Aurélien and Mount Sainte-Victoire, where the climate is Mediterranean. Harvest was carried out at night to preserve freshness and aromas. At the winery, the grapes were direct-pressed and underwent stabulation on fine lees. After temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine was aged for a short period in stainless steel vats.

2021 was a tough vintage in Provence with frost, fire, and hail all coming in to play, and Grenache taking the hardest hit. Yields were down on average of 30% and the quality of wines will vary depending on how hard the winegrower was affected by the weather, along with the competence of the winemaker to handle this difficult vintage. Given the name behind this wine, I fully expect very good results. Let's see how this 2021 rosé from Provence is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2021 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle. The enticing, medium+ intensity nose offers a lovely, complex mix of grapefruit, melon, orange, white peach, citrus, honeysuckle, and herbal aromas with an underlying minerality. It's medium+ bodied on the dry, ripe palate with appealing grapefruit, floral, white peach, melon, and citrus flavours that taper to herbal and mineral on the juicy mid-palate. Nicely balanced throughout with fresh acidity. Leesy mineral notes linger on the long, crisp finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Château des Ferrages can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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LAVAU Vacqueyras 2018 (Rhône) - Wine Review

For Rhône wine lovers (like me!), tonight's red wine review is this lovely Vacqueyras that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as part of the September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Maison LAVAU, one of my favourite Southen Rhône producers. Maison LAVAU was founded in the Rhône Valley in 1964 by the Lavau family that had been involved in winemaking from Bordeaux to Tunisia for several generations. The Lavau family decided to settle in the Rhône Valley after being seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soils. Today, Lavau is a renowned and respected name in Rhône Valley winemaking with brothers Benoit and Frédéric Lavau at the helm of the family business. Over the years, the Lavau brothers have enhanced their expertise by becoming creators of cuvées and producers. Not only do they own wine estates covering more than 180 hectares of vines across the Rhône Valley, but they also have long-running partnerships with more than 350 growers so that Maison LAVAU is able to select the best terroir and grapes in order to craft top quality wines.

This red wine is crafted with 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all grown in plots on the plain of Vacqueyras. The vines average 35 years old and are planted on alluvial and sandy, well-draining soils. Grenache is the emblematic variety of the Southern Rhône Valley, tolerating drought very well, while also providing juice that is very sweet, and often contributes power and volume to wine blends. Syrah is often trellised because it is not very resistant to the mistral winds, while adding a beautiful purple colour to the wines, along with intense fruit aromas and spices; Syrah also pairs very well with Grenache. Mourvèdre is the late-maturing variety that originated in Spain and produces intense and powerful wines with great finesse, and is particularly suited for ageing and ageing in wood. At the winery, the grapes for this wine were de-stemmed and placed in stainless steel, thermo-regulated vats for a 24-hour maceration, followed by fermentation. 60% of the cuvée is matured in vats, while the rest was aged in 450 L first and second-use barrels for a period of 12 months, before being blended together with the tank-aged portion.

The 2018 growing season in Rhône was a bit of a hit and miss. Winter and spring were wet and mild, but reasonably successful. In the Southern Rhône, there was unexpected rainfall in June that caused some difficulties with mildew and rot. The damp weather eventually dried up and gave way to a hot, dry summer. Despite a challenging growing season, the resulting wines were generally good with red wines more densely concentrated than typical with strong fruit flavours and structure. After enjoying the excellent 2017 LAVAU Vacqueyras in Spring of last year, let's see how this latest vintage is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2018 - AC, Rhône, France (#104927) (XD) - $26.95
Blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. The fragrant, medium-high intensity offers lovely perfumed, ripe dark berry, purple fruit, dark cherry, and floral aromas with swarthy, scorched earth undertones. The medium-full bodied palate is ripe with smooth, refined, subtly structured and grippy tannins that support the ripe dark berry-cherry, purple fruit, earthy, and smoky flavours with subtle spicy notes. Acids are fresh and lively, Nicely balanced throughout with lovely dark berry, subtle smoky earth, and spice notes linger on the long finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines by Maison LAVAU can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2018 (France) - Wine Review

After the enjoying the lovely 2017 Rémy Ferbras Terre de Mistral Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages in Spring of last year, for tonight's red wine review I'm delighted to see the next vintage come to the LCBO next weekend as part of the September 10th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Rémy Ferbras, a range of wines that pays tribute to the first cellar master of Maison Grandes Serres - a winery with deep roots in the Southern Rhône Valley at the heart of the presigious vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Rémy Ferbras is an iconic figure of the winery as he was a tireless advocate of the Rhône terroir and its grape varieties. He also contributed largely through his work and tenacity to the development and recognition of Grandes Serres. The Rémy Ferbras range is a result of strict selections, precise vinification and ageing, to produce rich, elegant, complex, and flavourful wines, just as Rémy Ferbras would have it.

This red wine from Rhône is a classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, or GSM for short. The grapes were grown within the Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellation on soils mostly composed of limestone pebbles and brown clay. After harvesting the grapes at optimum maturity, each variety was vinified separately and after alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, the wine was blended and bottled.

The 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhône was a bit of a hit and miss with humidity, mildew, and uneven ripening issues due to unexpected rainfall. However, despite a challenging growing season, the resulting wines were generally good and more densely concentrated that normal with strong fruit flavours and structure. Let's see how this 2018 Rhône wine from Plan de Dieu is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RÉMY FERBRAS TERRE DE MISTRAL PLAN DE DIEU CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2018 - AP, Rhône, France (#538009) (XD) - $15.95
This classic blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre has a fresh, perfumed, medium-high intensity nose with a lovely bouquet of ripe dark red cherry, floral, and spices with touches of red plum and subtle earthiness. On the medium to medium-full bodied palate it offers delicious red cherry and raspberry flavours in a slightly cooked profile, plus spices and earthy-stony-smoky minerality notes. Acids are fresh and well-balanced, while the tannins are smooth, refined, and lightly structured with a subtle grip on the back palate. Tangy with lovely stony mineral notes lingering on the very long aftertaste. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Rémy Ferbras are available through their Agent - DBINO David Beauroy Selections.

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Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun 2013 (Midi) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely GSM blend from Languedoc that I purchased from the February 6th LCBO VINTAGES Release back in 2016.

It is produced by Cave de Roquebrun with grapes from the Saint-Chinian sub-appellation of Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun in southern France. The blend consists of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that was grown 30 km north of Beziers on the schistous hillside of Roquebrun facing south-southeast. It was vinified by whole bunch maceration and fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.

As a perennial favourite of mine, I've enjoyed many previous vintages of this wine over the years, including most recently the 2015 Cave de Roquebrun La Grange des Combes Saint-Chinian-Roquebrun at the beginning of the year. The latest edition is available in LCBO VINTAGES now.

Tasting Note:

CAVE DE ROQUEBRUN LA GRANGE DES COMBES SAINT-CHINIAN-ROQUEBRUN 2013 - AC, Midi, France (#155804) (XD) - $18.95
Blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 20% Mourvèdre that was raised entirely in tank. Deep garnet colour. Intense, finely aromatic, and maturing notes of savoury, wet earth, dried florals, and dried dark berry. It's medium-full bodied and spicy with dried dark berry, savoury earth, dried spices, and hints of dried florals. Smooth, refined tannins have matured and integrated very nicely. Still has very good structure and juicy acidity. Well-balanced, slightly tangy, and tapering to a minerally, earthy, succulent, and long finish. Should continue to drink well for a few more years. Great buy! Score: 91 pts

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Torbreck Old Vines Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre 2018 (Barossa) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2017 Torbreck Old Vines Grenache / Shiraz / Mourvèdre last August, tonight's red wine review is the next vintage of this lovely GSM blend from Australia that is coming to the LCBO this weekend as part of the July 16 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in the Barossa Valley in 1994 by David Powell, Torbreck Vintners was named after a forest in Scotland where David worked as a lumberjack. After gaining his winemaking experience at various Barossa wineries, David was inspired to create his own label and began to share-farm vineyards in order to obtain fruit from some of the Barossa Valley's very best vineyards.

Torbreck Vintners is owned today by Proprietor Peter Kight with a continued focus on the classic Rhône (and Barossa) varieties - Shiraz (Syrah), Grenache and Mataró (Mourvèdre) - all three of which make up this red wine. Torbreck considers Barossa to be the most exciting place to make wine in the world with its gentle Mediterranean climate and 175 years of Silesian and English commitment to grape-growing and winemaking. Torbreck works with multi-generational winegrowers whose ancestors arrived here nearly two centuries ago and have great knowledge of the seasons and soils, while working the vineyards with minimal intervention and aiming to get the best out of each vineyard site.

Compared to the previous vintage, the 2018 edition of this wine contains a little bit less Grenache (59%) and Syrah (19%), and more Mourvèdre (22%). The grapes were hand harvested from vines as much as 100 years old from the red earth sub-regions of Marananga, Gomersal, and Ebenezer of the western Barossa Valley. It was fermented in a combination of open top cement and wooden vats, as well as stainless steel tanks, followed by aging in well-seasoned French oak hogsheads for 24 months. Each parcel of grapes was vinified separately until the final stage of blending and bottling.

The 2018 growing season started with above average winter rainfall, which led into below average spring and summer rainfall, producing small bunches and berries. In the Barossa it was reasonably hot and caused considerable heat stress to some vines. However, once temperatures eased off, the dry and mild conditions allowed the fruit to fully ripen slowly, with both Shiraz and Grenache showing some great potential. Overall, quality was particularly high amongst Torbreck's red varieties Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. Let's see how this 2018 GSM blend from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TORBRECK OLD VINES GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2018 - Barossa Valley, South Australia (#10223) (XD) - $24.95
Screw cap enclosure. This blend of 59% Grenache, 22% Mourvèdre, and 19% Syrah has a lovely, fragrant, intense nose of ripe raspberry and black cherry with underlying savoury, meaty, and wet earth aromas, plus with some black pepper spice and dried herb adding further complexity. The medium-full bodied is also quite ripe with more raspberry, black cherry, meaty, wet earth, and black pepper spice flavours. Acids are fresh, juicy, and well-balanced. Lightly structured tannins are smooth and refined. Savoury with smoky mineral notes linger on the long, lightly chalky textured finish. Highly recommended buy! Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines by Torbreck are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Rivarose Brut Prestige Sparkling Rosé (Provence) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely sparkling rosé from Provence that will be arriving at the LCBO next weekend as part of the July 16th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The history of Rivarose begins in 1909 when a renowned French economist, Edmond Thery, fell in love with sparkling wines. He created a wine house in the city of Rognac in Bouches-du-Rhône and created a cellar 10 metres underground below the rocks, which was unique for Provence. Until the 1930s, Edmond produced base wines for Champagne houses and had to stop when strict demarcation production areas came into effect. At this point, Edmond began producing his sparkling wines to order.

Moving to more recent history, a second production site was built in 1988 in Salon de Provence under the name of Auran and is dedicated to the production of sparkling wines using new techniques such as Charmat Method, carbonation, and the production of flavoured and alcohol-free sparkling products. In 1998, the wine house joins Famille Piffaut Vins et Domaines family to take the quality of the wines to the next level. In 2016, the production sites in Rognac and Salon de Provence were brought together on a new, larger site in Salon de Provence and Rivarose was borne to become the oldest and largest producer of sparkling wines in the Mediterranean.

This sparkling rosé wine is crafted using a blend of Syrah and Grenache grapes that were grown in the Vaucluse region in the southern Rhône Valley. The grapes were carefully harvested at night in order to retain maximum freshness. Upon arriving at the winery after harvest, skin maceration is carried out and followed by pressing to extract aromatic intensity from the fruit. Syrah adds vibrant red fruit aromas, while Grenache provides aromatic intensity. After initial fermentation, a second fermentation is carried out in temperature-controlled vats with frequent stirring of the lees over a period of one month. The wine is then aged on its lees for a minimum of 5 months. Let's see how this sparkling rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RIVAROSE BRUT PRESTIGE SPARKLING ROSÉ - Salon de Provence, IGP Mediterranean, Provence, France (#515288) (D) - $19.95
Crafted in the tank method, this blend of Syrah and Grenache has a generous, medium+ intensity nose with enticing aromas of grapefruit, strawberry, orange zest, citrus, raspberry, and leesy mineral with hints of floral. The medium+ bodied palate is essentially dry with delicious grapefruit, orange, citrus, and mineral replays with red berry fruited touches like strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. Fine, beady bubbles and fresh, juicy, thirst-quenching acidity carry through to the dry, minerally, floral, and lip-smacking finish, with very good length. Highly recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

Other delicious wines by Rivarose are available through their Agent - Sylvestre Wines & Spirits.

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Emerging California Master Class (Apr. 2022)

Last month was California Wine Month and one afternoon in April I had the pleasure of attending a virtual zoom Master Class on "Emerging California". This master class was put on by California Wines and led by leading wine critic, journalist, and educator Elaine Chukan Brown.

Winegrowing activities in California began in the mid-1800's. Since that time, California has emerged as one of the world's great wine producing regions most notable for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay from Napa Valley and Sonoma County. In this master class, which included 9 wine samples for us to taste along with Elaine, we learned about some of California's lesser-known wine regions, focusing mainly on areas in the Central Coast.

The wines were, for the most part, made with grape varieties one wouldn't normally associate with California - Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc were just some of the varietals we touched upon. Overall, I found the master class to be quite informative as a wealth of information was presented by Elaine. I was also very pleased with the quality of the wines. In the end, the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon were my definitive favourites, but there were also many other lovely wines. To purchase any of these wines, please contact each wine's Agent for availability and pricing as only a very small amount of the rosé is currently available at the LCBO.

Tasting Notes:

BONNY DOON VINEYARD LE CIGARE VOLANT 2020 - Central Coast, California, USA (#18516) (XD) - $20 CAD
Primarily from Monterey, this blend of 42% Grenache, 31% Cinsault, 24% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Counoise has a medium-high to highly aromatic nose that is fresh, ripe, plummy, red fruited with a subtle smokiness. It’s medium-full bodied with smooth, nicely textured tannins. Flavours are dry and nicely balanced with red fruits, currant, red cherry, and subtle wood. Fresh, balanced acids. Long, red fruited, cherry, and smoky finish. Agent: FWM Canada. Score: 90 pts

SCHUG CABERNET FRANC 2017 - Sonoma County, California, USA (XD) - $47 USD
Blend of 78% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. The lovely, medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers aromas of currant, cassis, red pepper, pretty florals, and herbaceous touches. It’s medium-full bodied and dry with lovely aroma replays with noted red pepper and smoky touches, along with tangy, juicy acidity. Structured and smooth with fine tannins. Red pepper, currant, and chocolate notes linger on the long, juicy finish. Agent: Lifford Wine and Spirits. Score: 91 pts

RIDGE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019 - Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast, California, USA (#89284) (XD) - $112 CAD
Composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, it has a lovely, highly aromatic nose featuring aromas of sweet cassis, floral, currant, red berry fruit, cherry, and sweet spices. It’s full-bodied, dry, and structured with elegant, slightly chalky tannins along with lovely aroma replays and fresh, tangy acidity lifting the palate. Red cherry, floral, and earthy with some stony mineral notes lingering on the very long, juicy finish. Agent: Rogers & Company. Score: 93 pts

CLINE ANCIENT VINES CARIGNANE 2019 - Contra Costa County, Central Coast, California, USA (#32177) (XD) - $33 CAD
From old vines, some more than 100 years old, grown in sandy soils in northwest Oakley near the San Joaquin River, the medium-high to highly aromatic nose offers lovely purple and black fruit, dark plum, and minty herbal aromas. It’s full-bodied with structured, slightly chalky tannins with lovely aroma replays on the flavour profile. Juicy acids with minty, dark berry notes, plus touches of smoke linger on the long finish. Agent: Vinexx. Score: 91 pts

OAK RIDGE MAGGIO PETITE SIRAH 2020 - Lodi, California, USA (D) - $12 USD
A blend of 90% Petite Sirah and 10% Zinfandel, the medium-high nose is very ripe, plummy, and fruit forward with dark berry and sweet oak aromas. The fleshy, full-bodied palate is juicy and fruit forward, dark berry, plum, tea leaf, and purple fruit flavours joined by subtle sweet spices and vanilla. Structured tannins have some grip. Juicy acids and ripe plum and berry notes linger on the finish, with very good length. Agent: Profile Wine Group. Score: 87 pts

DAOU DISCOVERY ROSÉ 2020 - Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, USA (#19527) (XD) - $29.95 CAD
This blend of 95% Grenache grown on limestone soils, plus 5% Sauvignon Blanc was barrel-aged on its lees. Aromas are fresh and bright with notions of grapefruit, citrus, and red berries, with herbally touches. It’s medium-bodied and dry with a pleasingly chalky textured mouthfeel to go along with very nice aroma replays on the palate, joined by touches of grassy notes. Somewhat fleshy on the mid-palate. Very good length on the slightly leesy finish. Only 10 bottles remain at LCBO, and at a big discount. Agent: Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits of Canada. Score: 90 pts

INGLENOOK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA (#17090) (XD) - $38 USD
A blend of 76% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Semillon that was aged for 8 months sur lie with 70% in stainless steel tanks, 19% in new French oak, and the rest in neutral French oak. The elegant, medium-high intensity nose is earthy-leesy in profile with pear, stone fruit, white peach, citrus, lemongrass, and herbs. On the medium+ bodied palate it is very textural and rich with pear, citrus, lemongrass, and white peach replays supported by juicy, balanced acidity. Citrus, pear, and subtle spices linger on the long, crisp, and tight finish. Agent: Noble Estates Wine & Spirits. Score: 91+ pts

BOGLE CHENIN BLANC 2020 - Clarksburg, California, USA (#704049) (D) - $21.95 CAD
Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted variety in the Clarksburg AVA, which has mostly alluvial soils mixed with clay and some sand. This Chenin has muted aromas of tropical fruit, honeyed, beeswax, floral, and honeysuckle. It’s medium-full bodied with appealing, off-dry aroma replays joined by spice notes. It has a viscous mouthfeel with lively acids, subtly spicy and tapering to a dry-ish, crisp finish, with very good length. Agent: Abcon Wine Merchants. Score: 88 pts

CALERA MT. HARLAN CHARDONNAY 2018 - Certified Organic Farmed Vineyards, Central Coast, California, USA (#16406) (XD) - $55 USD
Grown in limestone soils in the Gavilan Mountains at a high elevation of 2,200 feet and cooled by ocean breezes. The gorgeous, highly aromatic nose is rich and buttery with apple, pear, stone fruits, lemon citrus, and subtle smokiness aromas. It’s medium-full to full bodied with a lovely, rich, creamy mouthfeel and very nice, flavourful aroma replays, plus elegant oak spice and vanilla notes, all framed by lovely, racy acidity. Excellent length on the long, dry, leesy mineral finish. Agent: Rogers & Company. Score: 94 pts

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