Yes, it is the holly-jolly season, and the folks at the LCBO/Vintages are releasing some of the more glitzy bottles for wine lovers to put under the tree this Christmas.
Le Clos Jordanne has both of their top whites and reds in this release, set for Saturday, and Stratus chimes in with a pair of delicious wines, including a red from the fabulous 2007 vintage. There are some other treats to consider as well.
Here’s a look at the release from what I’ve tasted and reviewed:
Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2009 ($65, 92 points) — The nose offers up a good fruit attack from the get-go with tropical notes, lime-citrus, honey and bright fresh apples that’s neatly stitched together with soft spice, oak tones and chalky minerality. On the palate, this grandest of the Clos Chards, shows laser sharp acidity, exciting tension in the mouth, juicy fruits, chalky stone minerals, and vanilla-brioche flavours all bathed in fine oak that enhances, rather than smothers, the fruit. A very fine Chardy that will get even better with age.
Stratus Gewurztraminer 2009 ($32, 91 points) — A wonderful example of this beautiful, spicy white variety. The nose shows sweet grapefruit, cloves, nutmeg, honeysuckle, lychee nut and lemon cream. It’s round and voluptuous on the palate with an oily texture, ripe fruits and gingerbread-clove spices. Best of all, it has retained a healthy core of acidity that shows on the finish, inviting sip after sip.
13th Street Gamay Noir 2010 ($20, 87 points) — Gamay is at its best in a hot, ripe vintage such as 2010. The nose shows waves of raspberry, cassis, cherry, earth and light spice notes of cloves and cinnamon. This wine spends limited time in oak and the spices are complementary rather than dominant. It shows generous fruit (both red and black fruits) in the mouth with a decent core of acidity. Some interesting roasted herbs and spice on the finish.
Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2009 ($75, 93 points) – Fruit for this top Pinot in the portfolio is sourced from the best block of Pinot Noir located on the limestone-rich western side of the Le Clos Jordanne Estate Vineyard. It is much more classically Burgundian in style then, say, the Claystone, and shows more elegance through the profile. The nose displays ripe plum, cranberries, black cherries, loam, cassis, flinty minerality, violets, minty spices and toasted oak-vanilla. It is dry yet persistent on the palate, still super-tight and waiting to open up, but still delivers wonderful red and black fruit intensity and balanced with wonderful spice and the elegance of fine oak. Wait on this, and it will return huge dividends. Potential for seven or more years in the cellar.
Stratus Merlot 2007 ($42, 91 points) — This is only the third vintage for a 100% Merlot from Stratus. The nose reveals pretty cherry/ kirsch notes with vanilla toast and sweet spices. This has it all — complexity, flavour, defined tannins, elegance and wonderful mouthfeel. Should continue to develop nicely in the cellar.
And some other wines being released but not reviewed:
• Calamus Cosmic Red 2008 ($18)
• Equifera Vidal Icewine 2008 ($50 for 375)
• Inniskillin Riesling Icewine 2008 ($70 for 375)
• Reif Vidal Icewine 2008 ($25 for 200)
• Strewn Cabernet Franc Icewine 2008 ($60 for 375)
Comment here