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 sees some 72 items being featured in the second part of October’s Vintages release. In some areas, it is pretty slim pickings. Of the 15 whites, for instance, I didn’t have a single recommendation. My best buy would be from the French Midi Domaine de La Baume 2002 Viognier (723916) at $14.85. It has a very pleasant, honeyed, faintly sweet, ripe lemon-tangerine citrus nose. On the palate it is rounded and yet still lively with medium-light bodied, stewed pear and ripe red apple flavours followed up by a faintly cedary finish. I think this is the first premium French white I have come across with a screw cap. Bravo!

Fortunately there are a number of decent reds to make up for the deficiency of whites. One of the best buys is a companion piece to the previous wine, Domaine de La Baume 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah (951434) at $19.95. Deep intense purple in colour, this fine effort has a cedary, ripe black cherry purée nose with some smoky, cedar-vanilla notes. It’s dry, very well structured and yet harmonious with plummy, ripe black cherry purée flavours. Accessible now, it will also evolve nicely over next 18 months. Only 60 cases of six were ordered by Vintages so you will have to move quickly to get this one.

The only other French recommendation is Domaine de Mourchon 1999 Seguret (915439)at $15.60. This Côtes du Rhône-Villages estate is the creation of Englishman, W. McKinley. This vibrant blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 5% Carignan is made in stainless steel without oak. It has a deep intense purple colour. The nose is gently spicy and cedary with fairly intense, plummy, red cherry fruit. Only medium bodied, the well balanced, harmonious, gently spicy, plummy, dried black raspberry flavours show fine length.

Those scouting around for good value will be pleased with William Cole Vineyards 2001 ‘Albamar’ Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (744771)at only $13.50. Originating in the Maipo Valley, it has a deep intense purple colour and 14.2% alcohol. The nose is rather spicy and cedary with lots of plummy, ripe raspberry fruit. Spicy, very pleasant and accessible the well integrated ripe plum, cherry and raspberry flavours along with some cedary notes are at their peak.

Italian reds captured the lion’s share of today’s recommendations. The best and priciest is the Castello Vicchiomaggio 1999 Ripa Delle More (983775) at $44.95. This 100% Sangiovese has a very deep, intense purple colour. The nose is rather smoky and perhaps somewhat rustic with spicy, lifted, baked cranberries and crème brulée notes. On the palate you will find that it is solid, dry but harmonious, smoky and complex with rich, plumy, chocolate-prune flavours on the lingering
finish.

The name Ripa delle More means ‘hill of the blackberries’. Under Chianti Classico rules the use of French barriques is not permitted, meaning that Vicchiomaggio had to designate this wine as an IGT (Indicazione geografica tipica), which means ‘typical of the geographical region’ as opposed to a Chianti.

Moving down in terms of prices, don’t miss a best buy from Sicily - Tasca d’Almerita 2001 Regaleali (482604) at $15.95. This blend of Perrione and Nero d’Avola has a deep purple colour. The nose is very fruity and cassis-driven with lots of Zinny-cherry notes. Medium to medium-light bodied, dry, and yet fairly well structured, it has rounded tannins and spicy, plummy, blueberry-red cherry flavours that show good balance. A charmer that is ready to enjoy.

At just a few dollars more, Tedeschi 1999 Capitel San Rocco Ripasso (719294 - $18.95) offers more complexity. This IGT Rosso del Veronese has a deep intense purple colour. The multifaceted nose shows leather, sandalwood, sun dried tomato and sweet prune. On the palate it is very solid, dry, and mouth filling with slightly smoky, leathery, ripe plum and prune flavours and a long, gamey finish. This blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara was refermented on Recioto lees, a process which is referred to as the ‘Ripasso’ method.

Finally, if you are looking for something different, don’t miss well Weingut Norbert Bauer 2001 St. Laurent (515742) $15.95 DAC Weinviertel Fairly deep purple colour. Very spicy, faintly sweetish, ripe blueberry nose. Dry but not austere, very lively, crisp, medium-light bodied, tangy, plummy, blueberry fruit flavours. Serve slightly chilled with schnitzel. 

Check out our winefind.ca tasting notes database

Our tasting note database goes back to January 1, 2001 and covers every Vintages release product for the past 31 months. There are approximately 5,000 notes in the database data. Just enter the name of the product, supplier name or CSPC number. Or you can search by type of wine, country of origin, even wine agent! Nothing could be easier. When you get your search results (starting with the most recent release), click on the item name and you will instantaneously connected to the FBTI Vintage Assessments database. You will see our tasting note along with the name of the agent. You can get information on the agent by clicking on the agent’s name. Also, you can check LCBO store inventory by clicking on Check LCBO Availability. It will automatically take you to the item you want to search.

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Check out the
October 2003 InStore Discovery

Copyright Food & Beverage Testing Institute of Canada 2004
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Contact Michael Vaughan at
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