04
Jul
2017
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Category: Uncorked Tonight
(June 10, 2016) ... If you're a wine collector in any way you'll understand when I say, there are certain bottles you cherish so much in your cellar you're afraid to drink them ... This was one of those wines, it held a mythic nature because I had tried it in its youth and it was so yummy but "still needed time" - so you wait for just the right moment and hope that you get it right ... Which brings us to today ...
Crack the cap and away we go: mocha, white pepper, cassis, smoked-raspberry, subtle eucalyptus notes, some pine and a note of alcohol (not that surprising when a wine is 14.5%) ... But that was just the initial take away; as we delve deeper and time passes it smooths and the smoky black fruit and currants really starts to shine and then pepper settles in as a seam running right through the middle leading to a mocha - raspberry finish.
Whew, hit the right time, now I just wish I had more.
31
May
2017
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Category: Uncorked Tonight
Last year I had the opportunity to try a wine called Passo del Sud (read review here) – I was so impressed with it that I immediately put it on the website with a hope that it will come into the LCBO … well it seems I got my wish – the LCBO will be carrying Passo del Sud, but instead of the 2015 version 
(which I reviewed) they have opted for the newest vintage (2016). While here in Puglia I got a chance to sit down with Michele Lorusso (of Tagaro Winery) and his winemaker father and try the vintage the LCBO will be carrying.
This year the blend is slightly different: Negroamaro (30%), Montepulciano (20%), Primitivo (15%) and Nero di Troia making up the balance (35%) – the good news is the wine retains all the charm of the 2015: plum, black cherry, and hint of mocha on the nose, while the palate is supple with plum, white smoke, black cherry, subtle spices and an elegant mouthfeel with a long finish … when I asked Michele when the wine was bottled he said “May 10”, which means this wine is only going to get better once it gets out of its bottle shock phase (cause even now it is a tasty wine) – an hour after opening we re-tasted the wine and it proved that it is destined to be another fabulous bottling of Passo del Sud; all it needed was some oxygen to make it fully come alive.
For those interested: 25-30% of the wine sees time in oak for about 4 months … in my opinion this wine needs a year in bottle to real shine, the good news is that by the time the LCBO gets it onto their shelves it’ll be halfway there. (**** with the potential to go higher)
Now in the LCBO: $13.95 - #520254 ... find the closest store near you
Currently on Limited Time Offer for $11.95 till December 31, 2017
Now that the wine is in the LCBO, and in Ontario, I think this would be a great pick up for any restaurant for a by the glass pour.
