Fall LCBO release

[atomeyes]

Some new releases for the fall.

Sadly, Belgium is poorly represented. Again.
Some interesting choices, though.
A complete list is found here: http://www.greatcanadianbeerblog.com/...

[Charles Yu]

A word of caution about LCBO releases!
They usually put the new release products on the shelves a day ahead of the release date. Most outlets start selling them rather than waiting for the official release date. By the time the day arrives, all the 'top rating' products could be sold out!! Casing point, the WS=96pts Simon Piersporter Goldtropfchen Rieling Spatlese 2009!

[dubchild]

The answer I have been given is that with the amount of product that needs to come out, it can only be done ahead of time. I have also been told that if they suspect there will be crazy demand for a specific product, it will be held back and released on the stated release date. Summerhill, which is the store I deal with, held back that riesling and I managed to get a bottle early saturday morning. The Kistler chardonnay and some viognier from Chile were also held back. What has worked for me is to ask ahead of time what is happening with a specific product. A side note, the product consultant mentioned that riesling is definitely worth the $20 but not deserving of such a high score. I still haven't tried it.

[Charles Yu]

Bayview Village did not and people were buying half a dozen per person at a time. 60 bottles all gone in a flash by saturday morning!
SkylineR33 and myself already tasted the Riesling. Very complex and floral. Definitely a 90+ wine, may be a 94 pts.
For a 96 pts Riesling, one would need to be the calibre of a 1996 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Auslese goldcap!

[skylineR33]

I think different LCBO location has different policy. But just as what Charles mentioned, I think many of them start to sell a day ahead of the release date. Hot items such as the Dominus 2007 (which you can actually found it cheaper here than the States) or the Jonata 2006 Todos are almost all gone before their official release date.

For that 96 pts Riesling, I pick up 12 bottles at the Bayview location on Friday, one day before the release date. I check some of the LCBO locations on Saturday which listed on-line they still have some stock, but when I called, they either said they are all gone or they can't find any.

[bogie]

I was extremely lucky to get 2 bottles of that 2006 Todos, can't wait to try it!

[skylineR33]

It is good, you should try it soon ! I finish all mine. There are 24 bottles of 2005 Jonata, el corazon de jonata (same, $59.99) at the Laird location a few week ago, but they are all gone now !

[dubchild]

So your feeling is this is ready to drink now. Without having tried it and given the Screaming Eagle connection, I thought this would have needed more cellaring. We have a BBQ coming up, maybe I should open it then.

[skylineR33]

You are right, it will improve with time. I decanted it for 2 hours, everyone at the BBQ party like it. I did not take note on that one, but from my memory, the aroma is complex quite open with good tannin level balancing it pretty good. For me, I like it better than the 2006 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cab which I think is not quite ready to drink...the tannin is killing me.

[jayt90]

I like your description of the wine. None of that flowery Parker stuff that strains the imagination.

[bogie]

Yes, anybody who thinks that because LCBO has "fair" business practices because it's a govt org is seriously deluding themselves. I distinctly remember becoming totally incensed one Friday night, because I saw a customer at the Dupont store walking out with a whole case of Opus One (to be released the next day and in very short supply) AND there was a memo for employees in the Vintages section specifically directing them to not sell or put out any of it until 9am Saturday!!! Of course, when I asked for one precious bottle they refused me.

[skylineR33]

A whole case of Opus One, wow. That wine is very seriously marked up by LCBO !! One can get it for less than $200 in the States.

[gregclow]

Hey, stop talking about wine in a beer thread!

Seriously, though - unlike the Vintages releases that have firm dates each 2 weeks that are (mostly) honoured, the LCBO is very loosey goosey when it comes to their specialty beer releases. I've never seen one where all of the beers in the release hit the shelves at the same time - they generally start trickling out a week or two before the "official" release date, and there's always one or two items that don't arrive until a month or more after the date. Very frustrating...

[tjr]

Hey, that's not actually that bad.

[aser]

Ayinger Celebrator

this is the shit, seriously, it's....classic material. Best dopplebock evar! Buy it, and buy it often.

I can't bad mouth lcbo for a few weeks.

Every signature series Les Trois Mousquetaires I've had has been excellent, the baltic porter will be stored for sure.

[elvisahmed]

Hmm somehow I can't find the stock in LCBO search engine for above two items.

[jayt90]

It is pre-released to critics/press. The rest of us will have to wait until the release date, Sept. 12.

[elvisahmed]

Thanks for the heads up I did buy the Dominus Vobiscum Blanche and Rosie Hibiscus last week though. Dominus was ok didn't think much the other. I picked them up from the new LCBO at Maple Leaf Square. I hope the Dominus triple is better (or I hope they bring La Fin Du Monde Back!!!)

[tjr]

You can buy La Fin du Monde at The Beer Store (eg: the one at Church & Wellesley). Most only carry it in a 6, but will honour the 12-pack price as well.

[elvisahmed]

Yeah I know but I prefer the 750 ml size as 1 bottle gives a perfect buzz (I know I know I can have 2 or 3 bottles get a similar effect::)) There is a beer store close to where I live but they don't carry it :(

[tjr]

Well that's just being picky!