Those that head to their local vintages corner on February 15th. will have a selection of regional French wines to choose from; sadly though, I can’t give too many recommendations on what to buy as the powers that be on the top floor of the LCBO were a bit stingy with what they sent out for sampling. However, as always, there are a couple of wines worth seeking out especially at the friendlier on the wallet pricing point.  (Click images to enlarge)

REGIONAL WINES OF FRANCE

356741 DOMAINE GÉRARD CHARVET LA RÉSERVE D’AMÉLIE MOULIN-À-VENT 2012 $20.90
Not being known to be a fan of Beaujolais, I must confess to finding this wine more than just a pleasant surprise. Its bright, fresh and perfumed nose emits aromas of lavender, blackberry, yellow plum and brandied cherries. It has black raspberry on the palate along with some peppery spice, dried cherry and clean acidity. Find this wine

309245 LA FERME DU MONT VENDANGE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2011 $46.95
Very fruit forward, dark jam aromas, not a lot of complexity, but some interesting hits of sweet spice and cola. At this point in time, the palate is lacklustre and one dimensional with an element of heat on the finish. Well reviewed by one of Parker’s peeps, so maybe my comments are a little harsh. Find this wine

283424 DOMAINE DES OUCHES IGORANDA BOURGUEIL 2011 $16.95
Cab Franc as cab Franc should be, at least if you make wine in this part of the world. It is very herbaceous, showing dill ferns, bell pepper and faint whiffs of dried red fruits. There is a dose of tannin on the finish that shuts down the miserly degree of fruit. Worth buying to see what happens with a year or so in the cellar. Find this wine

ONTARIO

149237 THE FOREIGN AFFAIR THE CONSPIRACY 2012 Niagara Peninsula $19.95
Tasting blind, I was pleasantly surprised to see the price of this wine; as I know many of Foreign Affairs wines command higher prices than this. It has plenty of jammy blackcurrant, plum and Kirsch aromas backed up by layers of chalk and mineral. The mouth feel is fulfilling, it has richness in the guise of dark and red fruits, black toffee, creamy mocha and bitter chocolate. Some tannin that needs to resolve, but that shouldn’t take long. Find this wine

WINES FROM THE USA

222877 CAYMUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Napa Valley $75.95

Lovely nose, albeit on the maximum level for my tolerance of oak. Pure fruit extraction, black fruit ripple, married with dried mint and Thai basil. Almost fifteen degrees of alcohol, yet it does not show, it is creamy on the palate, reminding me of Fry’s chocolate mint bars, some spicy dark fruit and tannins that are integrating nicely. Find this wine

719435 LA CREMA PINOT NOIR 2012 Sonoma Coast $31.95
Nice intensity, lots of bright cherry, cured meat, red berry compote and cake spice, run to a well-balanced palate showing dried raspberry, gentle tannins and a decent long lingering finish. Find this wine

303867 FREY MERLOT 2012 North Coast $19.95
A heady wine boasting notes of blackberry, balsamic, mocha and plum with a rich and ripe palate, rather chewy, cappuccino texture and a Tawny Port like finish make this an odd, but quite tasty wine. Find this wine

90216 CLOS DU VAL ZINFANDEL 2011 Napa Valley $24.95
A mix of sweet berries, red currant, milk chocolate, mocha and forest floor on the nose, with a solid blackcurrant focused palate, well balanced, great structure and overall, quite tasty. Find this wine

WINES FROM SOUTH AMERICA

030957 CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER’S LOT 148 CARMENÈRE 2011 Las Pataguas Vineyard, Rapel Valley $18.95

Dusty, dusty, sawdust, cedar, cake spice, chocolate, green tea and Maraschino cherry, tight on the palate, but interesting nonetheless showing dark fruit, sweet cherry and Middle Eastern spice. Find this wine

975359 NATIVA SINGLE VINEYARD GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Maipo Valley $17.95
Lots of bang for the buck, mint tea, sweet fruit, baker’s chocolate lead to a bold structured palate with plenty of tight tannins, vanilla and dark fruit. Find this wine

WINES FROM ITALY

933317 FONTODI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 $32.95

A gutsy wine muscling up with brawny notes of iron mineral, balsa, dark berry and tea, with chewy tannin, subdued fruit, red licorice and a long lip smacking finish. Find this wine

168286 BIBBIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2010 $19.95

If you have read this far, you are lucky. I am in awe that Chianti can be this good can sell, especially in Ontario, for less than twenty bucks. It teases with aromas of bay leaf, Asian spice, toffee, red jelly, dried raspberry and fennel seed. Much of the aroma is duplicated on the palate, acidity is spot on and the cola finish is quite splendid. Find this wine

WINES OF ESPANA

313809 OTAZU PREMIUM CUVÉE 2007 Navarra $17.95
Dark and earthy aromas, a discernible amount of heat, dark chocolate, dried fruit and mineral. It’s fleshy, vibrant, has good acidity and decent length on the finish. Find this wine

358770 LAR DE PAULA CRIANZA 2008 Rioja $16.95
Pleasing whiffs of blackcurrant, balsa, forest floor and blueberry, simple well balanced palate, minimal tannin, clean finish. Find this wine

082024 MONASTERIO DE LAS VIÑAS GRAN RESERVA 2005 Cariñena$16.95
Not too often one can buy a Gran Reserva, almost ten years old, for the price of a couple of pints in the pub. Those that take advantage of this will be thankful as they will have a wine that shows a beautiful bouquet of anise, dark cherry, blackberry, cherry and a faint note of coffee grounds. Super silky palate has lots of lovely ripe fruit, a touch of cedar, smoked meat and coffee. This is an exceedingly well priced wine that is borderline brilliant. Find this wine

001677 JUAN GIL MONASTRELL 2011 Jumilla $23.95
I think I was the only taster present not blown away with this wine. It is bloody, meaty, and full of sweet oak, smoked meat, cherry cola and caramelized beets. Its palate is chunky, bursting with sweet chocolate, blueberry, black raspberry and Lodi like Zinfandel fruit. Notwithstanding it is a tasty wine, the lack of its Spanish identity is somewhat bewildering to me. Find this wine

ONE FROM PORTUGAL

080606 ADEGA BORBA RESERVA 2008 Alentejo $24.95

Slate, smoky, super concentration of dark fruit kissed with a touch of wet soil. Its palate is tasty, although a little tight, yet it contains plenty of ripe fruit, some tannins, great acidity with lots of blackcurrant and damson on the finish. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

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