The last release of August at Vintages features a sparse selection of Ontario wines as our government monopoly mega-retailer gears up for it largest promotion of Ontario wines coming in September.
The LCBO, along with Wine Country Ontario, will present Taste Local, at stores across the province from Sept. 14 to Oct. 11.
The campaign is backed by a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media campaign and will feature 173 wines from more than 30 Ontario wineries.
More on this later, for now, I’ve picked a few highlights from the Aug. 30 release plus a nice Pinot Noir from the Okanagan Valley made by Ann Sperling (also winemaker at Southbrook, and pictured in top photo) that you should take notice of. We don’t see a lot of B.C. wine, so it’s always a treat to compare our two major wine regions.
And a comment on one of my favourite wines that is being released again at Vintages: Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009.
I made note of this wine when the 2007 was released last October. This was the regular bottling of Heitz, not the Martha’s Vineyard, the simple estate cuvee Heitz that sells for around $40 in California.
At Vintages it was listed at $84 a bottle.
I looked around at other prices. K&L Wines in California ($39.99), Prestige Wines and Spirits in Buffalo ($39.99), Heitz online ($45), SAQ in Quebec, and some say the most expensive wines in the world, ($62) and at wine-searcher.com the low price is $31 and the high price is $44 in the U.S.
So, I asked myself why is the LCBO charging $84 for this wine? It seems inconceivable to me that the world’s largest wine buyer has the worst possible price of anywhere in the world (at least from my searches).
Well, guess what, folks? Heitz is back for more with this release. And, aren’t we lucky, the price has dropped to $80 for the 2009 vintage, a $4 savings from the 2007. Go get it, folks, or simply cross the border and buy two for the price of one in Ontario.
Here’s what to look for from Ontario wineries:
Foreign Affair Amarosé 2013 ($19, 89 points) — A complex and heady nose of strawberry short cake and raspberry pie that is bold, rich and inviting. It is textured and layered on the palate with concentrated and lush red fruits followed by a squirt of citrus on the finish. Just a little odd that the LCBO would choose to release this at the end of summer rather than at the beginning.
Fielding Estate Cabernet Franc 2912 ($22, 89 points) — A nice nose of cherry, bramble, violets, black fruits and just the right amount of herbs and spices. Quite balanced and nuanced with cherry-chocolate, herbs, ripe blueberry and spice that’s well integrated.
Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling 2013 ($17, Vintages, 89 points) — A consistently delightful Riesling from Featherstone with a nose of peach, lime, grapefruit and mineral notes. The palate reveals sweet-tart citrus fruit peach and a core of slate minerality. Love the mouthwatering verve and energy through the finish.
Chateau des Charmes Estate Bottled Old Vines Pinot Noir 2010 ($19, 90 points) — I love that Chateau des Charmes releases this Pinot always with a fair amount of bottle age so it’s ready to enjoy as soon as you guy it. It has a gorgeous nose of earthy red fruits, violets, oak spice, forest floor and cassis. The palate shows cherry, cassis, anise with gritty, but softening, tannins, lovely integrated spices and a long finish. Pair with wild mushroom risotto or herb-encrusted rack of lamb.
And one from the Okanagan Valley:
Sperling Vineyards Pinot Noir 2012, Okanagan ($28, 91 points) — I tasted this wine with winemaker Ann Sperling this summer at her winery in Kelowna. This is only the second vintage of Pinot made at the family estate. It has a nose of cherry, cassis and toasted spices on a tight frame. It’s concentrated and more open on the palate with black cherry and currants with interesting minerality and spices. It is a well-structured Pinot that should age nicely for five or more years.
Released by not reviewed:
• Henry of Pelham Estate Chardonnay 2013 ($20)
• Rosewood Select Series Pinot Noir 2012 ($22)
• Malivoire Albert’s Honour Old Vines Foch 2011 ($25)
• Stratus Red Icewine 2012 ($40 for 200 ml)
• Creekside Backyard Block Sauvignon Bland 2013 ($18)
New to Vintages Essential list:
Just added to the Vintages Essential List (means always available). Note: These wines are replenished when the current vintage runs out so no reviews.
• Hidden Bench Estate Pinot Noir ($30)
• Norman Hardie Unfiltered Pinot Noir ($40)
• The Foreign Affair The Conspiracy ($20)
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