LCBO / Vintages - July 23, 2011 New Wines Release

Ontario has been experiencing an unprecedented heat wave for the past three weeks and it is hard to stay comfortable without a refreshing drink to keep you cool. My favourite summer drink is Sangria. A few weeks ago we visited Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, in Essex County and they were gracious enough to share this wonderful Red Wine Sangria Recipe with us. We tried it out two weeks ago and our ten brunch guests declared it an unanimous winner!

P.S. The secret is to marinate the fruit for about 48 hours prior to serving …try it and enjoy!

The LCBO/Vintages has some great wines to be released again this weekend and I’ve highlighted my selections below:

Red Wines

Delas Frères Les Reinages Gigondas 2007, Ac; Rhone, France
LCBO #222604;  Rating – 92;  $29.95

The LCBO states; “The stunning 2007 Gigondas Les Reinages may be the finest wine Delas has yet made from this appellation.” It is a medium-full bodied delicious wine, that is dense, very well balanced and has excellent length. While this is more than my typical $20 limit, I believe that this is an incredible value that surpasses many wines for more than double the price. Drink it over the next 10 to 12 years.

Château Puech Haut Prestige 2009, Ac Coteaux Du Languedoc; Languedoc Roussillon (Midi), France
LCBO #237289; Rating – 92;  $26.95

This is a beautifully complex blend that is 55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 10% Carignan. It is well balanced and has an excellent finish that will last on your palate for over 30 seconds. Another wine priced over $20, but well worth the price.

Chàteau De Nages Jt Costiéres De Nîmes 2007, Ac; Rhone, France
LCBO #736876;  Rating – 91;  $20.95

Another ‘huge’ Rhone wine on this release.  It’s medium-full bodied, dense, full of flavour and has an excellent finish. Try this with a roasted leg of lamb on the BBQ.

Thatched Hut Pinot Noir 2010, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand
LCBO #242933;  Rating – 90;  $17.95

Very good pricing for a wine of this quality. It’s medium weight and elegant with good to excellent length.

Tabali Reserva Especial Syrah 2008, Limari Valley, Chile
LCBO #213538;  Rating – 90;  $19.95

From Wine Align’s David Lawrason; “The cooler, limestone-based Limari Valley is causing a stir with quite elegant chardonnays and syrahs. This has a riveting, complex, lifted nose of blackberry, smoked meat, dark chocolate and background evergreen. It's smooth and poised with a polished texture, still youthful, greenish tannin and a warm, rich finish. Certainly fine enough to drink now with venison, but it will run through most of the decade. Excellent length.”

Cantina Di Venosa Terre Di Orazio Aglianico Del Vulture 2007, Docg; Calabria, Italy
LCBO #247494;  Rating – 89;  $17.95

This is a lovely medium bodied Italian wine from the slopes of Mt. Vulture. It has very good length and is good value for the money.

La Castellina Chianti Classico 2007, Docg; Tuscany, Italy
LCBO #223313;  Rating – 89;  $18.95

An easy drinking mid-weight Chianti at a good price. Well balanced with good length. Drink now to 2013.

Éric Texier Vaison La Romaine Côtes De Rhône Villages 2007, Ac; Rhone, France
LCBO #226845;  Rating – 88;  $13.95

A wonderful well priced summer wine that will go well with a good burger or steak.

White Wines

Artesa Chardonnay 2009, Carneros; California, USA
LCBO #657585;  Rating – 90;  $19.95

A very rich chardonnay from the cooler Carneros area. A medium-full bodied wine with very good length. Pair with grilled salmon.

Clos Du Porteau Le Courlis Sauvignon Touraine 2009, Ac; Loire, France
LCBO #246041;  Rating – 89;  $14.95

A very nice vintage has produced a fun and lively wine with very good finish. A very good value, this is a wine that you could sip all afternoon. Chill well.

Trius White 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
LCBO #54957;  Rating – 89;  $19.95

A nice example of Niagara blends that is well balanced with excellent depth and length. Pair with Asian food.