winefind.ca
If you want to buy a wine, just click on the wine name below and you will instantaneously connected with the LCBO database. The wine name will appear in blue and all you have to do is click on the name again and then the next screen will provide details along with the store search. Just click on the search. The number of bottles in each store is updated nightly. You should call the store first to see if stock still remains (each store phone number is provided).

Today’s Vintages release has 97 new items and some are just in time for the cooler weather. Kicking things off is a wonderful Spanish brandy Gonzalez Byass Soberano 5-Year Solera Reserva (903484) at bargain at $32.95 (700 ml). Weighing in with only 36% alcohol, it has a deep yellowing amber colour and spicy, caramel cone nose with vanilla notes. On the palate, its creamy, slightly peppery, plummy, caramel-marzipan flavours go on and on. In fact, everything about this brandy, which spent 5 years in American oak, is great - except perhaps for the plastic pour top. Only 120 cases of six are available, so you will have to rush.

Also from Spain, is one of those wonderful sweet Sherries that make for perfect after-dinner fireside sipping. Only 75 cases (24 bottles) of Emilio Lustau East India Solera (713636) at $15.95 (375 ml) are available. Deep yellowing amber in colour, this beauty has a sweet, complex, raisiny nose. It is sweet and mouth filling and yet not cloying with rich, crème brûlée and prune-chocolate flavours along with a faintly bitter walnut finish.

East India is essentially a cream sherry, which consists of two parts: first, a dry Palomino grape based Oloroso; and secondly, a very sweet Pedro Ximénez (or PX). The latter has been dried for about 10 days after harvest concentrating the sweetness prior to fermentation. The two components are separately aged for seven to nine years and are then drawn from their individual soleras for blending. The final blend is then aged a further year in American oak to harmonize and mellow the flavours.

If you like raisin tarts, you will love this sweet “sticky” from Australia’s Victoria region. It’s called Buller Premium Fine Old Tokay (730416 - $21.45) and was initially released in Vintages exactly a year ago at $17.95. Deep amber in colour, it has a very sweet, buckwheat honey, raisiny apricot jam nose followed up by creamy, viscous, raisin pie flavours. It is almost like drinking dessert.

My last recommended sweetie hails from Bordeaux. Be sure to check out the very tasty Sauternes 1999 Château Partarrieu (907121), which is well priced at $29.95. In this case, the taste is reminiscent of sweet Seville orange marmalade. It has a healthy 14% alcohol and the juicy, sweet, rounded flavours would be great with foie gras or a non-chocolate based dessert. It may not be as complex or lingering as the prestigious 1996 Château Guiraud 1er Cru (902437), but then again it doesn’t cost $72.50.

As now is the prime time for oysters, let me suggest a crisp, unoaked white, which is guaranteed to whet your whistle. From New Zealand’s Marlborough region on the South Island comes Forrest Estate 2002 Sauvignon Blanc (966820) at $19.95. Look for very dry, crisp, tangy, grassy, gooseberry flavours that will tame the creamiest of oysters.

Finally, here are three well-made Syrah based reds (all under $20) for robust fall fare. From South Africa’s Robertson area comes Graham Beck 2001 The Ridge Syrah (607812) at $19.95. It spent 14 months in American and French oak and offers good accessibility. Look for faintly smoky, well-balanced, medium-bodied, plummy, juicy, dried ripe cherry flavours.

Perhaps even better is the unfiltered TerraMater 2001 Shiraz Reserva (909507) at $19.50 from Chile’s Central Valley, which is now at its peak. The lovely, slightly cedary, smoky, ripe black cherry purée nose is followed up by delicious, juicy, plums and lingering vanilla-tinged notes.

Least expensive and most idiosyncratic is 2000 Château du Prieuré des Mourgues Grande Réserve (993642 - 17.95) comes from the Saint-Chinian region of the French Midi. This Rhone-inspired blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache is rich, complex and smoky with roasted plums and chocolate flavours. It would be perfection with lamb shanks.

Finally, those wishing to see the complete list of all 53 new items appearing in the Vintages November In-Store Discovery programme on sale as of October 31 should Click Here

Coming up

Tuesday, November 4 is a busy day. In the afternoon some nineteen winemakers from the Pays d'Oc region of France will be featuring 107 wines at an invitational trade tasting at the Design Exchange. The evening tasting event (7:30-10:30 pm) includes a fashion show and its all for free! Call Eza Boutique at 416-975-1388 for tickets. For details on the wines being featured Click Here

The same night (November 4) sees the wine dinner of the week:  Alberto Chiarlo winemaker's dinner in Truffles at the Four Seasons Hotel. Executive Chef Lynn Crawford marries seared ahi tuna, red mullet and roast loin of venison with soft truffle polenta will be paired with Moscato d'Asti “Nivole” 2001, Gavi 2000, Barbera d'Asti “Le Orme” 2001, Quorum 2000 and Barolo 1998. It starts at 6:30 pm and tickets are $120 per person. Call 416-928-7331 for reservations.