November 2021 - September 2021 Vintages Releases + Bonus Wines
15 Dec 2021- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
Since there are no Vintages tastings at the LCBO head office these days, I must rely on what comes to the door for my tasting notes … I found these notes on the floor of my office and realized they missed the last mass release, so these 14 wines are getting their own highlight page (I call it "My Lost Notes Finally Surface"): these are the bottles I recommend that were released, from November 2021 back to September 2021 ... plus there are a couple of General List offerings.
NOVEMBER 2021
Best's Great Western 2016 Shiraz Bin 1
$21.95 – Australia - LCBO 222323
A pretty friendly and juicy Shiraz with notes of plum and black cherry, plus a shake of black pepper on the finish. Very quaffable. (*** ½)
Chateau Vrai Caillou 2017 Bordeaux Superieur
$14.95 – France - LCBO 348292
This Merlot dominated Bordeaux-blend is friendly and drinks well now with enjoyable dark fruit (namely blackberry and cassis) with hints of mocha, a subtle earthiness and gentle tannins. The drinking window is relatively short and tops out at about 5 years. (*** ½+)
Gerard Bertrand 2020 Reserve Speciale Viognier
$14.95 – France - LCBO 147975
I still believe Viognier is still waiting for its day in the sun – though this kind of wine might just help it get there: nose shows signs of honeydew melon and pineapple with a little beeswax nipping around the edges. Palate drops the beeswax, keeps the melon, adds apple and a richness that fills the mouth ... The acidity is at a medium level so the richness persists throughout. (*** ½+)
OCTOBER 2021
Curvos 2020 Loureiro
$13.95 – Portugal - LCBO 471284
This is a fresh Vinho Verde (is there any other kind?) with lime, lemon, melon, rind and grapefruit notes - plus the acidity helps that freshness along. (*** ½)
Dievole 2016 Novecento Chianti Classico Riserva
$33.95 – Italy – LCBO 213926
My first tasting of this wine felt like it was a wine of excess: two big, too much; but then let it sit and relax a bit and you get some really nice cherry fruit (nose to palate) with blackberry, mocha, coffee bean, smoke and robust tannins (that's where the excess comes in); but this is "big boss”-style Chianti that needs time to settle down … way down. (****)
Luigi Bosca 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
$18.95 – Argentina - LCBO 128629
A well-made Argentinian Cabernet with notes of mocha, mint, blackberry, cassis and even a little herbal character. (*** ½)
SEPTEMBER 2021
Cusumano 2016 Noa
$31.95- Italy - LCBO 109512
Pure black and blue berries with notes of mocha and earthiness kicking around on the mid-palate before lapsing into coffee bean notes on the finish. (*** ½+)
Ferraton 2019 Cotes du Rhone "Samorens"
$16.95 - France - LCBO 168708
This wine has a big block of juicy red fruit that makes up its core: ripe raspberry and strawberry coat the tongue with flavor- but then in swings the acidity and tannins to balance out the big fruitiness, giving the wine a little grit to hold it together - then there's the next sip and in the sweeps the fruit and it starts all over again. Drink now and over the next 3 to 5 years. (****)
Lungarotti 2016 Montefalco Rosso
$26.95 – Italy - LCBO 577668
A juicy cherries-raspberry core with hints of mocha, blackberry, and a mix of vanilla-cherry and mocha-cherry ... Add in that ton of spice and tannin grip and you have yourself an age-able Montefalco Rosso (5 to 7+ years). (*** ½+)
Podere Brizio 2016 Rosso de Montalcino
$24.95- Italy - LCBO 17858
Starts with a little mocha and licorice, adds in some dried dark fruit then some smoky-oakiness and that's when things go a little too chalky and the wine starts to show its age. (***+)
Wakefield 2018 Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon
$24.95 – Australia - LCBO 142398
This has all that I expect from an Aussie Cab: eucalyptus and black cherry kick things off, then there's blackberry, some subtle coffee bean and a really juicy mid palate. (****)
Waterkloof 2017 Circle of Life White
$21.95 - South Africa - LCBO 284588
A blend of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (69/24/7%) - starts off slightly waxy with lanolin and melon before the lemon pith and melon rind kick in on the finish. (*** ½)
GENERAL LIST
Governo 2019. Chianti, duca di Saragnano 
$14.75 – Italy – LCBO 20710
This easy drinking Chianti has so much going for it: slightly smoky with balsamic, fig and blackberry ... The fruit becomes rich and round on the palate with a pseudo juiciness of blue and black fruit - namely plum and cassis - plus there's the addition of cocoa/mocha that brings it all home. (****)
Paso Creek 2020, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
$18.95 – California - LCBO 161141
Pretty standard Cali-Cab with its juicy black fruit and notes of chocolate. (***)
