Author Archives: Melissa

New Release!

Release Date:  April 28, 2012
Canonica Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Price: $17.00
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 275867

Tasting Note
The 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva opens with a warm,
radiant expression of fruit supported by deceptively firm
structural components. Freshly cut flowers add brightness
to the red fruit in this rich, polished wine. The Riserva is
85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot
aged predominantly in French oak barrels.
Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.
Score – 92. (Antonio Galloni, erobertparker.com, Aug. 2011

Additional Reviews
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New Release!

Release Date: April 28, 2012
Chateau Imperial Late Harvest Tokaji 2007
Country: Hungary
Region: Tokaji
Price: $15.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 261693

Description
Made with the same Furmint and Harslevelu grapes that
go into Hungary's great sweet wine, Tokaji Aszú, this late-
harvest wine is less about the dessert course and more
about richly flavoured entrees.

Tasting Note
Ripe, round and moderately sweet with peach, apricot,
applesauce and a drop of honey. Lovely smooth texture,
brilliant acidity and a layered finish. Savour with Szechuan
chicken, or grilled pork in a honey-garlic sauce.
(VINTAGES panel, April 2011)

New Release!

Release Date: March 31, 2012
Terre Nere Brunello Di Montalcino 2006
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Price: $35.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Find Inventory
Product Code: 208462

Tasting Note
Spicy and already showing some mushroomy and woodsy aromas,
this is complex and flavorful, with cherry and tobacco notes and a
touch of licorice. Tightly wound, with a lingering, savory aftertaste.
Best from 2013 through 2025. Score – 92.
(Bruce Sanderson, winespectator.com, June 30, 2011)

Additional Reviews
Reviewed by: John Szabo (WineAlign)
Mature, earthy, slightly brettanomyces-tinged (manure) with the vestiges
of significant oak; the palate is medium-bodied, very umami-driven
with dried mushroom and red berry flavours. Long, warm alcoholic finish.
intriguing, old school wine all in all, fairly priced.
Tasted February 2012. Score – 90

Reviewed by: David Lawrason (WineAlign)
Here’s a decent opportunity to drink mature Old World/Euro red. The colour
has evolved to garnet amber. It has a rich soft and complex nose of leather,
sundried tomato, kalamata olive and chestnut purée. It's medium-full bodied,
soft and warming with very good length. There is some alcohol heat. Decant
for sediment but it does not need heavy breathing.
Tasted March 2012. Score – 90

New Release!

Release Date: March 17, 2012
Vega Sauco Adoremus 2004
Country: Spain
Region: Toro
Price: $19.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 268813

Tasting Note
Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: spicy, creamy oak,
toasty. complex, characterful, elegant, fruit expression.
Palate: powerful, flavourful, toasty, round tannins.
Score – 91. (Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine, 2010)

Additional Reviews
Reviewed by: John Szabo (National Post) (WineAlign)
Intriguing, open, inviting Tempranillo-based wine here from
Toro, with evidently ripe but not jammy fruit character, pleasant
loam and wet earth undertones – excellent complexity for the
money. The palate is fullish, round, creamy, balanced, very
appealing, with long finish. Super value with wide appeal, if
not distinctive regional style.
Tasted February 2012. Score: 90

Reviewed by: David Lawrason (WineAlign)
This is a typical bullish and muscular Toro with a generous
nose of blackberry jam, granitic/ferrous earthiness typical of
the region, and well integrated oak spice. It's full bodied, broad,
warm and powerful with a very spicy finish and lots of dusty tannin.
Very good to excellent length. Grilled ribs strike a note here.
Tasted March 2012. Score: 88

Reviewed by: Julian Hitner (WineAlign)
Like the rest of Spain, 2004 made for some great wines in
Castile-León, with particularly good wines for value coming out
of Toro. Dark-opaque ruby in colour, the Adoremus is finely toasted
(also a little nutty), offering lovely aromas of mocha, baked plummy
currants, strawberries, coffee, cream, vanilla, and spice. Complex,
carrying impressively concentrated fruit, firm tannins, balanced acidity,
and a lingering, appetizing hint of ‘nutted’ black mocha and baked plums
on the finish. Splendidly integrated, balanced, and flavourful. Now-2019.
Score: 89

New Release!

Release Date: March 17, 2012
St. Gervais Réserve Du Crouzau 2009
Country: France
Region: Rhone
Price: $14.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 142943

Tasting Note
Youthful redcurrant fruit and a hint of fig on the nose.
Fruit has good pep in it alongside pebbly tannins and
high acidity. Drink 2010-13.

Additional Reviews
Reviewed by: John Szabo (National Post) (WineAlign)
Another fine value 2009 southern Rhône: full, dense, ripe
and characterful, delivering all one could hope for and more
at the price. Modest length, but I'm not complaining.
Tasted February 2012. Score: 88

Reviewed by: David Lawrason (WineAlign)
This offers great value at $15- another generous, smooth,
young 2009 Rhone with perfumed plummy fruit, licorice and
cedary flavours. Quite plush on the palate, and nicely focused.
Some dusty tannin on the finish, with very good length.
Tasted March 2012. Score: 89

Reviewed by: Natalie MacLean (NatalieMacLean)
An incredible wine for this price point! Rich, full-bodied, offering
generous layers of fleshy blackberries and dark fruit. Buy a case
while it lasts. Pair with: herb-encrusted lamb. Drink: 2012-2016. 
Score: 90/100. 2012 Best Value Red Wine

New Release!

Release Date: March 17, 2012
Chateau Le Peyrat 2009
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Price: $14.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 171090

Tasting Note
Essentially a geographical extension of St-Émilion, Côtes de Castillon
is a dynamic and exciting wine region. This example from the critically
acclaimed 2009 vintage offers aromas of black cherry, herbs and earth.
Dry and medium-full bodied with good depth and structure on the palate.
Lots of juicy fruit, sweet oak, plum and tobacco notes and a lovely texture.
Enjoy this with a simple potato-and-beef casserole.
(VINTAGES panel, June 2011)

New Release!

Release Date: February 18, 2012
Elvi Wines Vina Encina 2007
Country: Spain
Region: Ribera del Júcar
Price: $17.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 157271

Tasting Note
The 2007 Vina Encina is composed of 33% Bobal,
26% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Tempranillo
aged in French and American oak for 5 months. It sports
a fruity nose of cherry, strawberry, and black raspberry along
with spice and floral notes. Ripe, sweetly-fruited, and balanced,
this flavorful effort is likely to evolve for 1-2 years and can be
enjoyed over the next 5-6 years.
Score – 88. (Jay Miller, erobertparker.com, April 2010)

New Release!

Release Date:  February 18, 2012
Chuèrra Riserva Cannonau 2007
Country: Italy
Region: Sardegna
Price: $15.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 270272

Tasting Note
Cannonau (or Grenache in France) is well displayed here,
with aromas of plum, blackberry, tar, licorice, mint and fruit
leather. Dry and fairly fruity, with good moderate tannins and
a fine acid zip. Medium bodied with a fairly long and impressive
finish. Cellar it 2-3 years, or enjoy it tonight with grilled liver
and onions, or braised meat dishes. (VINTAGES panel, July 2011)

New Release!

Release Date: February 4, 2012
Lornano Chianti Classico 2007
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Price: $14.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 211599

Tasting Note
Amazing nose of pure red fruit, hay, bay leaf, mocha and
dried mushroom. It has a fleshy palate, but the balance is
in perfect tune showing nice blackcurrant, a pleasing sweetness
and just a faint layer of dusty tannin. Great price for a great wine.
(Alan Kerr, gangofpour.com, Feb. 4, 2011)

Additional Reviews
Reviewed by: Sara d'Amato (WineAlign)
Ripe, chocolately nose with fresh earth and prune. Palate shows
raisin, and lots of dried fruit, walnut, slightly drying tannins and a
plump mouthfeel. Would pair well with blue-veined cheese as it
exhibits very ripe, almost port-like flavours. Score: 86

New Release!

Release Date: January 7, 2012
Cappezzana Barco Reale Di Carmignano 2008
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Price: $15.95
LCBO Vintages Section – Inventory Search
Product Code: 508531

Tasting Note
A wine of finesse and elegance. Cherry, licorice and spice flavors,
with a saline element, combine seamlessly with the medium-bodied
frame and firm structure. The savory note continues on the lingering
finish. Drink now through 2020. Score – 92.
(Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator, Dec. 2011/Jan. 2012)

Additional Reviews
Reviewed by:  John Szabo (WineAlign)
A fine, mature, quite complex wine here for the money with an
intriguing mix of earth, red and black fruit flavour allied to dry herbs
and spice. The palate is firm and juicy, with terrific length,
depth and balance.