Our Top 20 Picks from the October 3rd Vintages Release

A selection of superb sparklings and beautiful Bordeaux for all budgets

The theme of this week’s Vintages release at the LCBO is Bordeaux – and specifically Bordeaux from the spectacular 2010 vintage, that many critics argue is the best of the century.

As we’ve talked about many, many times in the past, 2010 offers some real bargains for wine lovers, who might normally find quality Bordeaux out of their budgetary reach. Of course, the iconic wines of legend and lore are fetching breathtaking prices equal to some mortgage payments (if you can get your hands on them at all), but for us mere mortals, there’s gold to be found in them there côtes (côtes being the French word for slopes, or hills).

For the under $20 treasure hunters good places to look are in the Côtes de Bordeaux, which is a collective of four such areas peppered through out the Right Bank. Castillon, Cadillac, Francs and Bourg offer (mostly) red wines of substance and class, at shockingly good prices. Quality continues to improve, so many can age for the short term, but why wait? The wines are approachable upon release, for lots of joy.

This release also features a handful of investment bottles worthy of earning a spot in your cellar. While not cheap, these classy reds are still a bargain as far as Bordeaux goes, coming in at the $50 and $60 price points. If you’re looking for some great bottles for enjoying now and later, this is a good place to look.

As we inch closer and closer to the entertaining season (Thanksgiving is what, nine days away?) don’t miss out on the range of bubbly rolling this week. From well priced champers for $40 to the rich and intense Gloria Ferrer California Blanc de Noirs that is looking like a very worthy contender for one of our top wines of the year, these celebratory bubbles should make it into your shopping cart.

While a good portion of our Top 20 is dedicated to bubbles and Bordeaux, there’s an equally excellent selection of reds and whites from around the world in a range of prices. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have. Let us know which ones are your favourites.

AUSTRALIA

Jansz Premium Cuvee, Tasmania NV
$26.95 Vintages 566828
Soft citrus and peach aromas on the nose while the palate is dry with mineral, lemon and green apple flavours. Angular and bright with vibrant acid, this is a nice pick for lots of food pairings from warm crab dip to fruity jerk chicken. 88 points.

CANADA

Cave Spring Cabernet Franc, VQA Niagara Escarpment, ON 2013
$19.95 Vintages 391995
Cave Spring is consistently reliable vintage after vintage for great wines at terrific prices. We love Cabernet Franc from Ontario and here the winery strikes a great balance between rich black fruits and fresh herbal notes. The nose shows brining spice, cassis and fresh, resinous herbs, while the palate has considerable richness for the leaner 2013 vintage with notes of blackberry, peppercorn and an undercurrent of bell pepper. A great Tuesday night pizza wine. 88 points.

Henry of Pelham Reserve Baco Noir, VQA Ontario 2012
$24.95 Vintages 461699
Every time we try this we wonder why we don’t drink Baco more often. A flagship varietal of HOP, they really do an exceptional job with this grape which is reminiscent of rustic Italian varietals for its appealing, savoury, “wild” character. Notes of smoke, mocha, black fruit, earth and fresh herb on the nose and the palate, this is very good and offers lots of rugged appeal. 90 points.

Henry of Pelham “Speck Family Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, ON 2010
$39.95 Vintages 616433
Big and bold with aromas of blackberry, spice cupboard, bell pepper and salted licorice, this is a sexy and powerful wine. The palate is plush and dense showing ripe black cherry, currant and fresh thyme with vanilla and licorice on the finish. There’s already five years on this red, and while it’s drinking well now, you could get away with giving it another five in the cellar. 90 points.

CHILE

Santa Alicia Gran Reserva “De Los Andes” Chardonnay, Maipo Valley 2013
$18.95 Vintages 406991
Lovely aromatics of mixed white fruits, coconut and sweet oak spice. Powerful palate with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and flavours of eggnog spices, poached tree fruit and even a subtle touch of white pepper. Very nice. 89 points.

Errazuriz “The Blend Collection” Red, Aconcagua Valley 2011
$34.95 Vintages 418517
This Rhone blend has a little bit of everything: dominated by Grenache and Mourvedre, there’s also smaller percentages of Syrah, Carignan and a wink of Marsanne. It’s a gorgeously intriguing wine full of clean aromas of ripe raspberry, red cherry and black currant. Juicy on the palate with pure fruit and an undercurrent of wild lavender and resinous herb. Fine tannin with balanced, fresh acid. This is a very fine effort. 91 points.

FRANCE

Gardet Cuvee Saint Flavy Brut Tradition Champagne, NV
$41.95 Vintages 924654
Aromatic with notes of orchard fruit, talcum powder and yeast. Delicate on the palate but still fresh and jubilant with mouthwatering flavours of apple, lemon, white peach and sweet brioche. Bubbles are crisp and focused. 89 points.

Domaine Bonnard Pouilly-Fume, Loire 2014
$23.95 Vintages 65987
Restrained and elegant with aromas of peach and mineral, the palate offers tons of freshness with flavours of tangy green apple, lemon and a touch of fresh herbs. Try this with herb-basted roast chicken or fresh oysters. 89 points.

Chateau de Lisennes Cuvee Tradition, Bordeaux Superieur 2010
$16.95 Vintages 426171
Here’s a great wine that will make your dinner parties tastier – and more affordable. Solidly built with fresh red berries, spice and an interesting mincemeat high note. Expressive and generous, stock up and serve with prime rib, wild mushroom risotto or seared duck breast. 90 points.

Chateau La Fleur Peyrabon, Pauillac, Bordeaux 2010
$63.93 Vintages 425553
An elegant and powerful wine that’s still developing but has lots of appeal. Aromas of ripe dark fruit and some seductive low lights of dried earth. The palate shows fine/firm tannin and balanced acid with flavours of dark cherry, black berry and light char. 89 points.

Chateau les Tourelles, Bordeaux 2010
$14.95 Vintages 426247
Easy drinking with gentle complexity, the nose shows fresh earth and dark fruit that comes through on the medium bodied palate. Fine-firm tannin and tangy acid on this fruit-driven, value-driven Bordeaux. An affordable party wine that offers interest. 88 points.

Chateau Tourbadon, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux 2009
$27.95 Vintages 425470
Bright and inviting with aromas of fresh red cherries and spice, the palate offers the red fruit flavours along with cedar and wet clay. Firm-fat tannins and balanced acid. Quite good. 89 points.

Doudeau-Leger Sancerre, Loire 2014
$21.95 Vintages 426866
White rose, steel and herbal notes on the nose that follow through to the palate along with some sour lemon and bitter grapefruit. While firmly in the camp of mineral driven, fresh sauvies, lovers of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc will also find joy here. 89 points.

GREECE

Cavino Grande Reserve, Nemea 2008
$17.95 Vintages 295618
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know we are big fans of Nemea for the region’s ability to deliver robust, complex and intriguing wines that are exceptional value. Made with the Agiorgitiko grape, there’s aromas of resinous herbs, black fruit, forest floor and a touch of raisin on the nose. Bright, with uplifting herbal notes on the palate along with charming dark fruit, this has focus, depth and power. 90 points.

ITALY

Rocche Costamagna “Rocche Dell’Annunziata” Barolo, Piedmont 2010
$44.95 Vintages 413484
A very approachable Barolo that’s perfect for immediate consumption. Notes of earth, spice and red fruit on the nose, while the palate offers tons of appeal with fine tannin and deep flavours of raspberry tea, stemmy herbs and red fruit. 89 points.

Ruffino Tenuta Lodola Nuova Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2011
$24.95 Vintages 332411
Fresh and savoury with a lovely elegance. Earthy aromas of wild herbs, cherry and spice. The palate is full with fine tannin and flavours of warm spice, wild herb, ripe black cherry and a woodsy finish. 90 points.

Tenuta San Vincenti Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2011
$54.95 Vintages 414417
Gran Selezione is a relatively recent addition to the Chianti Classico laws denoting the very top wines produced in the region. This a beautiful wine full of juicy, ripe berry flavours and fine/firm tannin with a velvety mouthfeel. Lots of intrigue here. 89 points.

SPAIN

Finca Encanto Rufete, Rioja 2011
$32.95 Vintages 424697
Thoughtful and complex with aromas of soy sauce , tamarind, celery salt, mincemeat and some high toned notes of fresh rosemary. The palate shows the same hearty, savoury edge with beef bouillon, salt and pepper. Fine-firm tannin and bright acid. 89 points.

Vina Real Gran Reserva, Rioja 2008
$36.95 Vintages 280545
This is powerful and brooding, but still lively and fresh with vibrant acid, plush tannins and deep, dark flavours of black fruit, toasted spice, black licorice and a bloody, meat note. 89 points.

USA

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, Methode Traditionnelle, Carneros, California NV
$33.95 Vintages 925735
Slightly copper-tinged, this is a fabulously flavourful bubbly full of intensity and power. Fine, zesty bubbles with rich flavours of black and red berries and fresh acid, this is delicious! 92 points.