Best 20 Wines of the July 25 Vintages Release

This week’s Vintages release at the LCBO is very impressive. Really interesting whites (Viura, Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc), under $25 Bordeaux (yay!), and one of our favourite sparklers all hit the shelves today. Happy shopping.

Bailly Lapierre Réserve Brut Crémant de Bourgogne, Burgundy, France NV
$19.95 Vintages 991562
We’re always a bit delighted when this deliciously elegant sparkler comes back into town. A blend of the four grapes of Burgundy: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligote and Gamay, it’s a golden sparkler with fine, pretty bubbles. Tinned apple juice, mineral, faint wild flower and raw pie dough on the nose that follow through to the palate, which is bright and tart with energetic bubbles. 90 points.

Charles Heidseck Brut Réserve Champagne, Champagne, France NV
$69.95 Vintages 36962
Nearly half of this classic bubbly comes from reserve wine dating back up to 10 years. Mineral-driven and fresh with notes of chalk, dusty rocks and green apple. Bright with vibrant acid, this is a versatile fizz for pairing with anything from seared scallops to grilled rack of lamb. 90 points,

Momo Pinot Gris, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2014
$19.95 Vintages 163535
Apricot, yellow apple, white flowers and candied grapefruit all come through on the surprisingly aromatic nose. Round, creamy and barely off-dry, with peach and stone fruit flavours, the oily texture is buoyed by a slash of acidity. An interesting and weighty Pinot Gris made for creamy, salty cheeses, mild Thai curries or Hawaiian pizza. 88 points.

Jean-Max Roger “Cuvée Les Caillottes” Sancerre, Loire, France 2013
$26.95 Vintages 65573
A focused and elegant Sauvignon Blanc that mixes aromas of beeswax and peach with a rocky mineral undertone. Peach and citrus flavours dominate the palate with balanced acid that offers freshness. A nice wine to pair with sushi or green pea risotto. 89 points.

Pascal Jolivet Sancerre, Loire, France 2014
$29.95 Vintages 264945
While mineral is definitely the dominating note here, with flint, wet rock and a bit of matchstick, there is very nice purity of fruit balancing peach, apricot and citrus. Almost oily in texture, there is vibrant acidity and a tangy finish to keep the wine lively and fresh. 88 points.

Domaine Saint Paul Viognier, Pays d’Oc, France 2013
$13.95 Vintages 414490
It seems there’s been a considerable marketing push in recent years to raise the image of Pays d’Oc from that of a lowly country wine, to a wine that’s demarcated (IGP) and crafted according to law. And truth be told, there are very nice values to be found in the (very) large Pays d’Oc region of southern France. Here is a pretty example with notes of mineral, peach and white flowers. The palate is creamy and rich but lifted by bright acid. 87 points.

Château Le Nerthe Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc, Rhône, France 2013
$44.95 Vintages 704429
Quite heady and indulgent on the nose with creamy, stone fruit – like peach jam on warm toast. Those notes follow through to the medium bodied palate that also has a marmalade-like bitterness and an interesting lilac element. 88 points.

Beronia “Fermentado en Barrica” Viura, Rioja, Spain 2014
$18.95 Vintages 422055
An expressive nose of pineapple, passionfruit and lychee. Creamy on the palate that’s weighty with tropical fruit flavours and subtle toast. While not every palate will be impressed by this aromatic wine, it is quite pretty and worth a try. 87 points.

Château Bel Air, Bordeaux, France 2011
$22.95 Vintages 416172
Deep, dense and fairly savoury with black earth, ripe blackberry and soy sauce on the nose, it’s smooth and silky on the palate with fine-firm tannin, rich dark fruit and black licorice flavours. It’s drinking well now, but should hold for a decade or more. 90 points.

Château Brandeau, Cotes de Bordeaux, France 2010
$17.95 Vintages 351973
Already pouring tawny-brick in colour, and showing signs of age, this has had all the aging it needs and is good to go now. And a ready-to-drink Bordeaux isn’t a bad thing. Earthy and rustic with stewed fruits, smoke and black cherry notes, the palate show firm tannin and balanced acidity. It would be lovely paired to a prime rib roast. 88 points.

Château la Grange Clinet Grand Réserve, Côtes de Bordeaux, France 2012
$19.95 Vintages 422386
Here we have a full bodied, masculine wine with firm structure. Black tea, red cherry and floral notes on the nose, while the palate is concentrated with savoury notes of leather, cured meat, peppercorn and a dark fruit. Fine-firm tannins and balanced acidity, this is a good buy for the cellar. Open it after it’s 5th birthday. 88 points.

Château Pesquié Terrassess, Rhône, France 2013
$17.95 Vintages 652313
Lots of spice and wild notes here: peppercorn, bay leaf, brining spice, cedar, humidor… the spicy/earthy elements belie the elegance of the wine. Round and soft, with fine-firm tannin and bright acidity, this is a great buy. 90 points.

Tessellae Vieilles Vignes Carignan, Côtes Catalans, Southwest, France 2013
$17.95 Vintages 343509
Top value here as this 100% Carignan hails from 70 year old vines. Showing a beautiful balance between fruit and earth, cassis, smoke, wet asphalt, spice and graphite all play nicely together in this complex and thoughtful wine. Rich and dense with fine-firm tannin and vibrant acid, this has the stuff to last for another 3-5 years, but very approachable now. 90 points.

Boutari “Naoussa,” Naoussa, Greece 2012
$13.95 Vintages 23218
There are so many exceptional deals to be found in Greece, it’s nearly embarrassing. Boutari is one of the country’s top producers, and has enjoyed global accolades in top wine publications for years (including this one). Made from 100% Xinomavro, look for fruit roll-up, black cherry nectar and an intriguing salty soy notes. Fierce tannin, this definitely needs some meat protein to soften it up. Try roast leg of lamb. 90 points.

Ktima Kir-Yianni, Macedonia, Greece 2011
$18.95 Vintages 419234
Adding Merlot to the normally powerful Xinomavro gives some silkiness to the normally fierce Xino. Full bodied with scorched earth, dried herbs, tart cherry and a bit of char, the tannins are grippy, but there is still an element of softness in the texture, which is quite appealing. 89 points.

Capezzana Carmignano, Tuscany, Italy 2010
$32.95 Vintages 344762
A blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese with aromas of macerated cherry and spice. Full bodied and plush on the palate with tannins that increase in intensity, there’s plenty of ripe dark fruit, fresh leather, black licorice and subtle barnyard notes for a rustic and old world style red with great structure. Bring on the braised meats. 88 points.

López de Haro Crianza, Rioja, Spain 2008
$14.95 Vintages 377481
For an inexpensive wine that’s already seven years old, this is remarkably fresh and bright. Toast, cassis nectar, and sweet oak spice show on the nose, while the ripe and round palate offers crushed peppercorn and rich, dark fruit flavours. Smooth, fine tannin and balanced acidity give this Spanish red blend new world appeal. 88 points.

Remuelluri “Lindes de Remlluelluri” Viñedos de Labastida, Rioja, Spain 2010
$22.95 Vintages 422030
Complex and intriguing with an earthy nose of spice, barnyard and leather, while the palate shows fresh elegance with savoury flavours of black licorice, dusty herbs and dark fruit. Smooth, with well integrated tannin and a nice seam of acidity. A good buy. 90 points.

Miraval Rosé, Côtes de Provence, France 2014
$22.95 Vintages 342584
The Brangelina wine that is made by the Perrin family, this is the third vintage for the pretty pink quaffer. Medium bodied and dry with zesty acidity and notes of strawberry and steely mineral this has a fresh, lasting finish that’s very pleasing indeed. 89 points.

Kir-Yianni “Akakies” Rosé, Amyndeon, Greece 2014
$12.95 Vintages 71050
Another great value from Greece, that would tickle any rose lover pink. Tart rhubarb and earth raspberry on the nose, the palate is medium bodied and dry with refreshingly bright acid. Notes of red berry, lime zest and fine, white pepper. Tangy, lip smacking finish. 88 points.