Our Top 20 Picks from the August 8 Vintages Release

Excellent finds under $20 and a handful of gems worth the investment. Here’s our top picks for this week’s Vintages release.

ONTARIO

Rosewood Süssreserve Riesling, VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario 2014
$14.95 Vintages 258806
Süssreserve means a bit of unfermented juice was added to the finished wine to add sweetness and depth. Don’t shy away from it, though, as it perfectly balances the crisp acidity in this wine. With lemon-lime, peach and that tell-tale petrol note this is quite enjoyable for salty proscuitto or spicy sushi. 88 points.

Inniskilllin Reserve Shiraz/Cabernet, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario 2012
$24.95 Vintages 225482
Another heavy hitter coming out of Ontario’s warm 2012 vintage. Lots of ripe dark fruits and spice on the nose, the palate is rich and powerful with cassis and plum mixing with a refreshingly tart red cherry and light herbal notes. Firm tannins are well integrated in the smooth and silky mouthfeel. 88 points

FRANCE

Rieflé Steinert Pinot Gris, Alsace 2010
$24.95 Vintages 408229
A deliciously intriguing wine of substance and class, with aromatic notes of apricot, honey and passionfruit puree. Sweet with a slick, oily mouthfeel and vibrant acid. This is drinking beautifully now, but could easily age a decade and increase in interest. 90 points.

Joseph Drouhin Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy 2013
$19.95 Vintages 356956
Here’s a terrific value offering from leading Burgundy producer, Drouhin. Mild on the nose with fresh mineral and tree fruit aromas that carry through to the palate which is medium bodied and creamy with bright, balanced acidity. Restrained and elegant, this is a bargain. 88 points.

Château Chantelys Medoc 2010
$21.95 Vintages 421214
The esteemed 2010 vintage is a great option for Bordeaux bargain hunters. Here we have a Cab-dominated savoury example filled with soy sauce, salted black licorice and cassis aromas. The palate is juicy with tart pomegranate, blackberry, crushed peppercorn and smoke notes surrounded by fine form tannin and vibrant acidity. 89 points.

Château Plaisance, Bordeaux Supérieur 2009
$19.95 Vintages 404285
Firm and powerful, this is a deeply concentrated wine brimming with ripe black fruits, stemmy herbs, a touch of bell pepper and uplifting notes of menthol and tart cherry. Solid in structure with firm tannins and balanced acidity, this could easily go another 4 years in the cellar, or decant it tonight and enjoy with rare red meat. 88 points.

Domaine Bonnard Sancerre Rouge, Loire 2013
$23.95 Vintages 65995
How often do you get a chance to try a red Sancerre? They don’t come through this market very often, so this bottle is a worth a try just for the novelty. Adventurers will be rewarded as this Pinot Noir has appealing notes of sweet red berry that almost come across as carbonic, black pepper and licorice. Juicy and fresh on the palate with sweet and sour cherries, fresh herbs, pomegranate and spice flavours with fine tannins and tangy acidity. Try this with bistro fare like roast chicken, steak frites or ratatouille. 87 points.

Ortas Cave de Rasteau “La Domlière” Rasteau, Rhône 2013
$15.95 Vintages 222927
Now here’s a French red that hits all the friendlies: food, crowd and wallet. Rich and concentrated with fresh raspberry, cedar and red and black cherry notes – there’s great spice to balance the rich fruit notes. Plush with fine tannin, this is terrific value, and will go with everything from gourmet burgers to elegant steak tartar. A great party wine so stock up for parties sure to come in the next few months. 89 points.

Château de Lancyre 2013 Esprit de Garrigue, Languedoc 2013
$15.95 Vintages 415695
A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, this pours pale ruby red turning slightly garnet. A nose of raspberry tea, baked rhubarb, brown sugar and sweet oak spice follow thorough to the palate which is juicy and fresh with fine tannin and light, bright acidity. Great value with lots of food flexibility, pair with anything from roast lamb to grilled vegetables or roast turkey. 89 points.

GERMANY

Wegeler 2012 Sweet Riesling, Gutswein 2012
$19.95 Vintages 409672
Hopefully the name won’t be a marketing misstep in this market, as many wine drinkers say they don’t like sweet wines. But they’re missing out. This one’s delicious and even the driest palate should give it a try, as the sweetness is beautifully balanced by tart, crisp acidity. With matchstick, flint, lime and green apple playing against honey and peach notes, there’s more to this sweetie than just, well… sweet. It would be dynamite with creamy, salty cheeses. 88 points.

ITALY

Contrade di Taurasi Grecomusc, Campania 2012
$32.95 Vintages 418715
This is made from the obscure Roviello grape that’s native to Campania, but nearly wiped out. Which is a shame if it produces wonderfully elegant wines like this bottle. Incense, mineral and dried floral notes on the nose, while the palate offers tangy citrus, vague spice and banana with a pleasing bitter finish. 88 points.

Malvirà 2013 Roero Arneis, Piedmont 2013
$17.95 Vintages 418814
A few summers ago, we were went on an arneis bender, as the plush wine was perfect for our warm weather sipping – and eating. But not easy to find in the LCBO, we eventually drifted away from this elegant white. So when an arneis poked its head up in this release, we were de-lighted.  As the white grape of Piedmont, arneis was sometimes added to nebbiolo (Barolo, Barbaresco, etc.) to tame its fierce tannins. Weighty with a wonderful creamy texture and crisp acidity, mild flavours of wild flowers, fresh fennel and vague tree fruit show through. Pair with veal scallopini, grilled seafood or simply roast chicken. 88 points.

Prunotto 2012 Barbaresco, Piedmont 2012
$47.95 Vintages 329938
Pouring pale, ruby red, with floral and red fruit aromas of violet, raspberry and wet rock, the palate is dense and rich with firm tannin and intriguing notes of smoke, graphite, red fruit and an underlying herbal note. 90 points.

Antica Masseria Jorche Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia 2011
$21.95 Vintages 417535
A really interesting and approachable wine, with dark aromas of black forest cake, rich soil, and a hint of plastic. The palate is equally dark with deep flavours of salted dark chocolate, cassis and a centre of bright red cherry. Great structure. 89 points.

Villa Mangiacane Riserva Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2009
$48.95 Vintages 413773
A slightly medicinal nose with stemmy herbs, red berries and toast, the palate is bright and juicy with with fine tannin and intriguing complexity. A very elegant and poised wine that would pair nicely with chicken cacciatore, seafood cioppino, or simply prepared meats. 89 points.

PORTUGAL

Donzel, Douro 2007
$15.95 Vintages 408104
A wonderfully structured wine that punches well above its weight for the price. An appealing nose of red fruits, earth and floral notes, the palate is fresh and classy with well integrated tannin, vibrant acidity and flavours of red and black cherries, black pepper and cedar. Great value. 89 points.

SPAIN

Espelt Viticultors “Old Vines” Garnacha, Rioja 2013
$14.95 Vintages 422469
A head turning wine full of complexity and depth, that will make you do a double take at the price. Made with fruit that’s coming from vines dating back to 1900, this 100% Granache has raspberry, red cherry pie filling, black pepper spice and black licorice. Fine-firm tannin and tangy acidity, this is a joy to drink. Excellent price. 91 points.

USA

Napa Cellars Merlot, Napa Valley 2012
$23.95 Vintages 161299
Round and rich with ripe dark fruits mixing with a touch of dark earth and mushroom, this is a crowd pleasing wine that’s smooth and generous. Perfect for grilled meat and hearty pasta sauces like bolognese. 88 points.

AUSTRALIA

Angove 2013 Vineyard Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawara 2012
$22.95 Vintages 361311
A gorgeously complex and intriguing Cab, that perfectly balances ripe fruit against savoury, herbal edge. Aromas of red cherry, cassis, and resinous herbs like rosemary, the palate is full and giving with fine-firm tannin and notes of olive, cherry and an interesting lime note. Try it with prime rib or roast leg of lamb. 88 points.

Robert Oatley 2012 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River 2012
$19.95 Vintages 323741
Elegant and refined, there’s lots of savoury richness here. Leather, smoke, charred herbs and bright cherry fill the nose, while the palate has a silky texture with fine, well integrated tannin and vibrant acidity. Quite nice. 89 points.