488855 Tue Feb 12 07:38:14 -0800 2008 17 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 3389088 Hi, The LCBO has recently released some new wines for sale in Ontario. Has anyone sampled any? Last night I tried the Bubbles by Yellow Tail from Australia, somewhere around $13.85. It was delicious, for an inexpensive light sipping sparkling wine. Fruity and a little sweet in the mouth with a slightly dry aftertaste (Please note I am not a wine expert, just my thoughts!) Has anyone tried any of the other new Ontario releases? Tue Feb 12 07:38:14 -0800 2008 69220 FrenchSoda 1 3389907 ..thanks for the tip! I like the Wolf Blass one that sounds like that, but it is hard to find...I'll try that one... Tue Feb 12 10:52:02 -0800 2008 3389088 114516 Recyclor 2 3390045 I'm not sure what pricepoints you're looking at, but I've had a few fantastic wines from the February 2nd release: 2003 Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante Alouette ($75, #140541) - huge tropical fruit on the nose and palate, with fantastic texture and length. Expensive, but excellent. 2005 Perrin & Fils Vacqueyras Les Christins ($24, #973453) - loved this. Very elegant, with layers of complexity. If you're into big Aussie fruit bombs, this may not be your cup of tea, as it's more along the medium-full bodied tip with good fruit, structure, and garrigue. Would be a fantastic pairing with duck confit or something along those lines. NV Yves Lambert Cremant de Loire Rose ($17, #656488) - if you like bubbles, this is really fantastic stuff. Not Champagne by any stretch, but great texture that shows berries (strawberry and currant) as well as a touch of cocoa. Buy it! It doesn't hurt that on release, the LCBO messed up the CSPC pricing for a while and this wine was scanning in at about $9.50 instead of $17. I think they fixed that issue though. One wine I haven't tasted from the release that is pretty consistent from vintage to vintage is the 2005 Fairview Goats do Roam in Villages from South Africa ($16, 566851). I'd give that a crack as well. I could put some recommendations on wines from the Feb. 16th release in a separate post if anyone is interested. Tue Feb 12 11:25:57 -0800 2008 3389907 165187 futronic 3 3390447 Hey futronic, I also picked up some of the Cremant de Loire Rose and the pricing has been corrected. I was charged the full $17. I also bought one of the last bottles of Sieur d'Argues Cremant de Limoux (#52985) Billy Munnelly gave it very high praises. Act now, not many left in the GTA. Apparently it is a close to champagne as they come. Look forward to trying both. Tue Feb 12 12:55:38 -0800 2008 3390045 100701 millygirl 3 4544862 I have tried the Fairview Goats do Roam and I found it quite nice. I can't remember what we ate it with (I think a rack of lamb) and it was very complimentary. I'd have to get out my notebook to tell you more! Fri Mar 27 15:24:03 -0700 2009 3390045 233307 bacchus_is_watching 1 3390121 You might want to be a little more specific - the Yellow Tail sparkling concoction has been around for a few months at least. There have probably been hundreds of other new products (at least) in that time frame. The LCBO does regular bi-weekly Vintages releases of (mostly) new products, as well as frequent additions (not on a fixed schedule) to the General List and to Vintages Essentials. There are also a bunch of other programs, like the seasonal beer releases, and some spirits things. -Josh Tue Feb 12 11:42:18 -0800 2008 3389088 12197 detritus 1 3390225 If you mean Vintages, not yet. As for sparkling, I did try a new one at a store that had samples, but I can't remember the name. It was really good, I think had strawberries in it or something. Tue Feb 12 12:05:14 -0800 2008 3389088 165451 Frenko 1 3390468 I understood that there had been a larger than usual release this month - if not, then my mistake! Anything recently available to Ontario and interesting is fair game. Futronic - great tips, thanks. I'll definitely be trying some of those. Tue Feb 12 13:01:40 -0800 2008 3389088 69220 FrenchSoda 2 3390507 No problem. For those interested in the Feb. 16th release, there are plenty of well-priced, well made items available based on producer track record. Here's a good selection: 2005 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile ($22, #322586) 2005 Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina ($14, #677567) 2005 Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina, Italy ($14, 68163) 2005 Volpaia Chianti Classico, Italy ($23, 953828) 2005 Tedeschi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Capitel dei Nicalo, Italy ($17, #984997) There are other interesting bottles at a higher pricepoint as well, such as the 2002 Rosemount Traditional, 2005 Ridge Geyserville, 2004 Napanook, and 2004 Dominus. Tue Feb 12 13:11:57 -0800 2008 3390468 165187 futronic 3 3390646 I've tasted all the wines at the LCBO lab -- these are my picks: WHITE WINES ^^^^^^^^^^^ 1.13th Street Funk Vineyard Riesling 2005 Niagara: racy and MVC, some off-dry on the end palate. +56564, $18, QPR: 90. 2. Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay 2005 Sonoma: very MVC for the region, balanced with acid, fruit, toasted wood, butter. +421644, $19.95, QPR: 90. 2. St.Hallett Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Barossa: off-dry finish, twist top, useful drink. +57687, $14.90, QPR: 90. 3. Pierre Spann Pinot Gris Reserve 2005 Alsace: off-dry feel, lots of body and fruit. +983395, $18.85, QPR: 90. 4. Caves des Perrieres Pouilly-Fume 2006: MVC for the region, affordable, twist top. +61358, $19.95, QPR: 90. RED WINES ^^^^^^^^^ 1. Eral Bravo Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Mendoza: off-dry, ready, North American appeal. +58081, $18.55, QPR: 90. 2. Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Mendoza: sustainable winery, 14.5% ABV kick, heavy Bordeaux nose. +677567, $13.95, QPR: 93. 3. Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Colchagua: another thick and juicy mocha and tobacco toned wine. +322586, $21.80, QPR: 94 4. D’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 McLaren: delicious but some tart flavours, full profile for climbing. +943456, $20.95, QPR: 90. 5.Zilzie Shiraz 2006 South Eastern Australia: cloves and fruit, rich, thick, lovely, heavy-heavy, buy it all! +58016, $16.75, QPR: 94. 6. Chateau Lenormand 2005 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux: depth, but needs time to resolve finishing tannins, balanced already. +60913, $18.45, QPR: 90. 7. Domaine Laurent Mabileau St.Nicholas-de-Bourgueil 2005 Loire: MVC cab franc for the region, leafy, berryish. +61192, $14.55, QPR: 90. 8. Beronia Reserva 2001 Rioja: another must-by from Spain, a great Rioja at this price. +50203, $17.55, QPR: 93. 9. Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2005: North American in style and appeal, wood and fruity jam tones, thick. +606541, $19.95, QPR: 90. 10. Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina 2005: very intense and nervy, but getting better with airing. Value. +68163, $13.45, QPR: 91. At a higher price, there are some useful wines to take into a resto as a Bring Your Own: RESTAURANT READY WINES: to markup about $15, or for consumers to BYOW! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1. Chateau de Rully Blanc 2004 (+46714, $27.45 retail, on your wine card for $42?) is ageing very well, some butter and light oak. 2. Dominus 2004 Napa (+63057, $90.95 retail, but on your wine card for $99.99?) and its second wine, Dominus Estate Napanook 2004 Napa (+63065, $39.95 retail but on your wine card for $55?) form an interesting comparison. Both wines are ready to go now, but the Napanook is slightly more accessible and does not need food. 3. Ridge Geyserville 2005 Sonoma (+723072, $47.75 retail, but on your wine card for $62?) is largely zinfandel. Read Josh Raynolds notes in the Vintages catalogue, and you won’t even have to drink the wine. 4. Rosemount Traditional Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Petit Verdot 2002 South Australia (+484097, $35.20 retail, but on your wine card for $49?) is 82-10-8 in percentages, very mellow and ready now. Tue Feb 12 13:42:37 -0800 2008 3390507 75084 Dean Tudor 4 4544389 I had the St. Hallett Semillion-Sauv Blanc at Cowbell. The server recommended it to go along with their beef pot pie. I was skeptical at first...as someone still rather new to intentional food and wine pairings, I didn't think white wine would go with beef. I'm so glad I decided to trust him because it was seriously the most gorgeous food-wine pairing I've ever had. Every combined mouthful was so delcious...I can't fully remember the exact flavours now, but it was a revelation! Now I know what a good match can do...:) Fri Mar 27 13:10:59 -0700 2009 3390646 277074 TorontoTastress 3 3390673 gotta agree with jay on the perrin et fils, they have been releasing great vintages this past year and although i think they need some good cellaring it's well worth the $$$. i gotta bigup the 2004 zolo cab-sauv reserve, argentina. i think it comes in somewhere in or around $17 and is well worth it. approach it right now without hesitation, well structured and full of big blackberry and huge big boy tannins. Tue Feb 12 13:47:48 -0800 2008 3390507 123951 insideman 4 3390698 Sounds like someone knows me from another board. :p Tue Feb 12 13:54:32 -0800 2008 3390673 165187 futronic 3 3402572 I need to retract my recommendations of the 2005 Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina and 2005 Volpaia Chianti Classico. I had them (as well as the Vale do Bomfim from Portugal) last night and they were awful. Thin and overly acidic. Quite disappointing. Fri Feb 15 16:46:53 -0800 2008 3390507 165187 futronic 1 3390974 I bought into to Feb. 2 release, many of them sold out or hard to get now. I've only tried one: Pillar Box Red, Padthaway 2005. $17.40 It is deep purple, tannic and unyielding. Needs at least 2-3 years as Parker suggests. It's a Feb. wine of the month but not much is still left. Tue Feb 12 14:59:34 -0800 2008 3389088 56131 jayt90 2 3404524 If anyone is after the 2004 Dominus, they still have a couple of Magnums at the Manulife centre and a bunch of bottles at Dupont/Davenport (just ask a consultant - they're in the back). Summerhill sold out immediately this morning. Sat Feb 16 13:11:29 -0800 2008 3390974 68062 Matt416 1 4622710 Anyone find any good deals at LCBO lately? Mostly looking for the great value wines $10-15 and under. Recently bought the Marcus James Malbec on the recommendation of Tony Aspler, but haven't tried it yet. It's supposed to be a bit like the Fuzion, which I must admit, I didn't really like the new vintage they are selling now. The older one was the great one, I think. But has anyone tried any others? Thu Apr 23 13:26:02 -0700 2009 3389088 281630 FoodyGirly 2 4623141 I don't think it's a "new" release but for the past few weeks I've been drinking Mezzomondo pinot grigio/chardonnay because I noticed it as part of the lcbo's current Italian/Spanish/Porguese promotion Viva Vino event. At $9.35 it was a deal. Apparently others have come to the same conclusion. There were no more bottles to be found at three of the lcbo stores near me. http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=79301 Thu Apr 23 15:26:09 -0700 2009 4622710 98493 JamieK