A summer evening of five wines of Italy and Chile. We are enticed and charmed!

A summer evening of five wines of Italy and Chile. We are enticed and charmed!

American Redstart, Watercolour on Rag-board, by Chris Bacon

The WineAndLeisure.com tasting panel was joined today by wildlife artist Chris Bacon (www.chrisbacon.com) as guest panelist. We set about to do an unrushed quality tasting of 3 Italian wines and two Chileans in one sitting. Following were our impressions on this warm and beautiful summer night on the patio.

Montressor Valpolicella Classico DOC 2010, (Italy) $12.99

Classically light in colour and body, this is a charmer. Cracked pepper notes with minerality, black cherry, and dusty dryness in a warm and inviting package. This complex and enjoyable wine has a long finish. Will pair well with roast beef and a wide variety of fare.

Montressor Valpolicella Ripasso 2009 DOC (Italy) 19.99

Light to medium in colour and body, it presents significant notes of spices and ripe fruit, with cedar chest and firm dry tannins. It is fragrant, flavourful and exotic. Pair it with beef stew and root vegetables or salmon pepper steak.

Cantine Ippolito Liber Pater Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore 2009 (Italy) 16.99

From Calabria. Galglioppo grape variety. This wine enticed us to be its soul-mate. And it won! A port-like nose started the process of friendship as it continued to win us with its medium-dark colour and juicy character. Hints of floral give way to black tea, wildberries and toasty spice. According to Chris, "the flavours dance in your mouth." Thoroughly satisfying, dry finish.

Valdivieso Malbec, Old Vines, Single Vineyard 2008 (Chile) 22.99 

An inky dark big wine with savoury notes of black currants, red pepper, blackberries, plums and dark chocolate in a dry yet sweet fruity, juicy package. Very firm tannins. 

Valdivieso Syrah Reserve 2009 (Chile) 17.99

Deep dark red. Complex and incredible. As we delved into it, we starting listing so many aromas and flavours we called this wine "crazy." In a very good way! It exudes a big bouquet of ripe red fruit, ripe strawberries, a myriad of herbs and spices, particularly rosemary, cardamom and eucalyptus. A very aromatic and beautiful big wine.

There was also one wine we wanted to taste again, but it's still on its way here. Following are my previous tasting notes of the VB Vizana Tempranillo:

Vizana Tempranillo Crianza 2008: Ribera del Guadiano (Spain) 15.99

A blockbuster affordable tempranillo crianza with minerality, spice, liqueur cherries, blackberries, currants, liquorice and a hint of dark cocoa. Firm tannins, full body, long finish. Big and powerful. It matches perfectly with New York Sirloin.

If you are a licensee establishment or a private buyer, you may contact us here to acquire any of these wines. paul (at) wineandleisure.com

 

Our favourite #lcbo #Vintages stores and why ...

The Vintages section of your local LCBO is a treasure trove of the most exciting wines at LCBO.

Vintages carries the world's best wines.  The Product Consultants (you'll recognize them by their white shirts) are truly expert in all things wine! Get them to point you to one of the Viewpointe wines pictured, or to any of the other stellar wines in their section!

Following are our 11 favourite Vintages stores, for selection, staff knowledge and layout.  These stores are all members of Viewpointe's "Go-To-Market" connection. We deliver directly-to-their-doors.

Photo: Viewpointe High Pointe Syrah and Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, stacked high and ready to wow your senses. These reserve wines do NOT take a back-seat to the Rhone or Burgundy!

BURLINGTON

LCBO Store # 481 :

FAIRVIEW AND MAPLE (MAPLE MEWS)

1235 FAIRVIEW STREET

MAPLE MEWS PLAZA

BURLINGTON, L7S 2H9

Telephone: 905-333-3111

Fax: 905-333-3218

GUELPH

LCBO Store # 495 :

SCOTTSDALE & STONE ROAD WEST

615 SCOTTSDALE DRIVE

GUELPH, N1G 3P4

Telephone: 519-823-5080

Fax: 519-823-2139

TORONTO - ETOBICOKE

LCBO Store # 149 :

BLOOR & ROYAL YORK (KINGSWAY)

2946 BLOOR STREET WEST

TORONTO-ETOBICOKE, M8X 1B7

Telephone: 416-239-3065

Fax: 416-239-5266

TORONTO

LCBO Store # 10 :

YONGE & SUMMERHILL

10 SCRIVENER SQUARE

SUMMERHILL SUBWAY

TORONTO-CENTRAL, M4W 3Y9

Telephone: 416-922-0403

Fax: 416-922-3104

LCBO Store # 217 :

QUEENS QUAY & YONGE

2 COOPER STREET

QUEEN'S QUAY

TORONTO-CENTRAL, M5E 1A4

Telephone: 416-864-6777

Fax: 416-864-6863

WATERLOO

LCBO Store # 115 :

KING S. & WILLIAM (WATERLOO TOWN SQ)

115 KING STREET SOUTH

WATERLOO, N2J 1P2

Telephone: 519-886-4970

Fax: 519-886-1572

WINDSOR

LCBO Store # 34 :

WALKER & OTTAWA

1320 WALKER ROAD

WINDSOR, N8Y 4T9

Telephone: 519-254-1543

Fax: 519-254-1291

LCBO Store # 153 :

HWY. 18 & ERIE STREET

16 SEACLIFF DR. EAST

LEAMINGTON, N8H 3C4

Telephone: 519-326-3481

Fax: 519-326-1645

LCBO Store # 278 :

E.C. ROW & MANNING

15 AMY CROFT

TECUMSEH, N9K 1C7

Telephone: 519-735-2661

Fax: 519-735-2310

LCBO Store # 367 :

HOWARD & E.C. ROW EXPWY (ROUNDHOUSE CTR)

3165 HOWARD AVENUE

THE ROUNDHOUSE CENTRE

WINDSOR, N8X 3Y9

Telephone: 519-972-1772

Fax: 519-250-1206

LCBO Store # 490 :

LAUZON PKWY & TECUMSEH (PARKWAY PLAZA)

7201 TECUMSEH RD. E.

WINDSOR, N8T 3K4

Telephone: 519-944-4014

Fax: 519-944-3527

Nat brought me a beautiful new Spanish wine for my birthday last week. Opened it just now. Planella by Cellers Joan d'Anguera...

This wine is from the wine region of Montsant, which was created in 2001. Located in the northeast of Spain near Barcelona, the region produces wines similar to its neighbour, Priorat. Upon tasting it, I thought it was a tempranillo, but it's actually of Mazuello, Syrah, Grenache & Cabernet Sauvignon.

These varietals certainly contribute to its wonderful complexity. The wine tastes truly Spanish, even with its unique blend of International grapes. It was aged about 10 + months in French oak barrels. A sophisticated wine of violets, blackberries, chocolate and cherry with a spicy finish. Dark, full-bodied, and sexy. A gorgeous wine! It paired very well with our Grade A BBQ'd steak, new potatoes and salad of fresh greens.