December 24, 2013 Newsletter
We’ve certainly enjoyed bringing you winecurrent in 2013 and wanted to send this edition along with our very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a safe, joyous holiday season surrounded by your family, friends and loved ones.
Dave Isaacs, Susan Desjardins and Vic Harradine
LCBO Christmas Hours
Many LCBO stores will be extending hours of operation this holiday season.
They will open at regular hours and close at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, and on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31.
All LCBO stores and head office will be closed on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26, and New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2014. LCBO stores, head office and the helloLCBO Contact Centre will re-open on Friday, December 27. LCBO agency stores must close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; however, some may choose to open on Boxing Day.
The California Wine Fair dates are always worth recording—it visits nine centres across Canada from coast to coast. Highly regarded as ‘the’ wine show of the year one does not miss; it’s often sold out. Purchase tickets @ www.calwine.ca on February 1, 2014 and have questions answered now via the California Wine Fair Hotline (905) 336-8932 or 1-800-558-CORK (2675).
There are NO tickets sold at the door.
The 34th annual California Wine Fair moves across Canada on the following dates:
Tuesday, April 1st: Quebec City, Espace Dalhousie
Wednesday, April 2nd: Montreal, Quebec, Le Centre Sheraton
Friday, April 4th: Ottawa, Ontario, Westin Ottawa
Monday, April 7th: Toronto, Ontario, The Fairmont Royal York
Tuesday, April 22nd: Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Convention Centre
Wednesday, April 23rd: Calgary, Alberta, Hotel Arts
Thursday, April 24th: Edmonton, Alberta, Shaw Conference Centre
Wednesday, May 7th: Moncton, New Brunswick, Casino New Brunswick
Thursday, May 8th: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Pier 21
Highlights in the following newsletter include:
- Exceptional value wines
– five of the wines sipped, spat and reviewed meet the strict, quality-price guidelines; all identified by the above icon. What are the quality-price guidelines? Go to www.winecurrent.com and click ‘Rating System’. - 5-star wines – one rang the 5-star bell. It’s under ‘Upstream in winecurrent’ slated for an April 26th Vintages Release. The Yalumba ‘Eden Valley’ Viognier 2012 @ $24.95 is outstanding.
Access the LCBO store nearest you with stock of any wine with an LCBO product number by clicking on the number shown in brackets in wine reviews. You can tighten your search criteria by using the drop-down box. You can also see the number of bottles available in each store. For Vintages Release wines, the stock should be showing on the site by the Friday before a Saturday release with some stores posting earlier. For LCBO Portfolio wines, it should closely reflect stock in stores, updated every 24 hours, best to phone first.
Upstream in winecurrent
Vintages Release: March 29, 2014
Yalumba ‘The Strapper’ Shiraz 2011
Barossa, South Australia $19.95 (295873) 14.0% alcohol
Yalumba sports two wines in the vaunted Langton’s Classification that identifies Australia’s most sought-after wines. This opens with roasted herb, briary berry and peppery spice aromas prior to bathing the palate with a structured, balanced wash of tangy black berry, ripe, juicy mulberry and spice cake. The lengthy finish layers on good moderating acidity and a truckload of lip-smacking charm. Pour with grilled rack of lamb and root veggies. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: April 26, 2014
Yalumba ‘Eden Valley’ Viognier 2012
Eden Valley, South Australia $24.95 (954644) 14.0% alcohol
You won’t find better Viognier from anywhere in the world at this price or from the new world at any price —it’s from an outstanding vintage and will improve in bottle over the next decade. An alluring nose of apricot and nectarine wreathed in floral notes opens this medium-bodied, creamy-smooth gem. Layered flavours of apricot and white peach mingle with racy lemon and hints of blood orange on the palate infusing the lengthy, balanced and beautiful aftertaste. It’s an outstanding wine with depth, elegance and great potential. (Vic Harradine)
Vintages Release: TBD
Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Viognier 2013
South Australia $16.95 (624502) 13.5% alcohol
Yalumba is a member of the exclusive Australia’s First Families of Wine that identifies Australian premiere family-owned producers. Lovely aromas of honeysuckle, pit fruit and mineral notes herald a clean, crisp and refreshing river of nectarine and apricot wreathed in minerality. It’s mid weight with good mouth feel and a delicious, lingering finish that’s on the hunt for a pan-seared fish or a bowl of steamed mussels. There’s good value here. (Vic Harradine)
New in Vintages
Both of the following are perennial favourites recently tasted and from the recent December 7, 2013 release with stock remaining in many stores.
Juan Gill ‘4 Meses’ 2012
DO Jumilla, Spain $15.95 (13656) 15.0% alcohol
Over 85% of the plantings in Jumilla are Monastrell a.k.a. Mourvèdre—this is 100% Monastrell. The warmer, often hot, climate is reflected in this fruit-laden beauty. Aromas of espresso roast, black plum and ripe, dark berry fruit peel from the nose. A well-textured wash of chocolate-dipped cherries, kirsch liqueur and a supple tannin underpinning wash over the palate in waves. It finishes with a gusher of über-ripe dark berry fruit and black plum compote. Pour alongside beef fajitas with plenty of spicy salsa. Good value. (Vic Harradine)
Small Gully ‘The Formula’ Robert’s Shiraz 2009
South Australia $18.95 (142935) 15.9% alcohol
This is a crowd-pleasing, single-vineyard red with rich, ripe, robust flavours. Toasty oak, extra-ripe, dark berry fruit and notions of roasted herbs herald a creamy smooth, medium-plus-bodied wash of sweet, ripe dark cherry and mulberry garnished with black plum compote and kirsch liqueur. The finish layers on more of the same. Pour with grilled, smoked back ribs mopped with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)
New in the LCBO Portfolio
14 Hands ‘Hot to Trot’ White Blend 2011
Washington State $15.70 (280859) 13.0% alcohol
This is an outstanding white blend with a beautifully perfumed nose, über-ripe fruit and a price-quality balance tipped well in your favour—loved this wine. Alluring aromas of pineapple, melon and other tropical fruits herald an delectable, off-dry river of creamy smooth flavours—lemon yoghurt, grilled pineapple and white nectarine galore. It’s mid weight with a lingering finish and aftertaste—difficult to resist once you start, each sip better than the previous. Pair with roast chicken, turkey or pork. (Vic Harradine)
Cattail Creek ‘Creek Series’ Cabernet/Merlot 2012
VQA Niagara Peninsula $14.95 (344135) 13.0% alcohol
This nifty red blend—42% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon—jumps from the glass with aromas of sprigs of savory herbs interwoven with field berry fruit and tobacco. Rich ripe fruit—black and red currant—coat the palate along with a lick of still-resolving tannin. There’s a solid line of acidity throughout and it ends with a flourish of red cherry and lip-smacking tang. (Vic Harradine)
New in Ontario Wineries
Cattail Creek ‘Small Lot Series’ Riesling Icewine 2012
VQA Four Mile Creek $59.95 11.5% alcohol
Liquid gold from one of Niagara’s premium, family-owned Riesling producers, it’s their first Riesling icewine. Fabulous and in limited supply; only 25 cases produced. Buckwheat honey, grilled pineapple and wisps of truffle on the nose, it bathes the palate with a glorious gusher of treacle-coated nectarine and lemon yoghurt garnished with good acidity. This is creamy, dreamy, fully flavoured and textured, balanced and beautiful. Not cloying, the warming, monumental finish is stunning. (Vic Harradine)
New in Private Order
Order the following wines by the case delivered to your home or office from Kylix Wines via phone in the GTA 905-882-1999 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
White Wine
Laurenz V. ‘Friendly’ Grüner Veltliner 2011
Qualitätswein Aus Österreich, Austria $19.95 12.5% alcohol
There are fragrant bouquets of wild flowers, lively lemony notes and notions of honeyed pit fruit on the nose. The palate’s treated to a lively, tangy line of lemon-lime, white grapefruit and undertones of minerality and wisps of green apple. This is nicely textured and good weight throughout with a zingy, refreshing finish and aftertaste. Pour with pan-seared fish under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)
Red Wine
Juan Gil ‘Selección Barrica’ Petit Verdot 2010
DO Jumilla, Spain $17.95 14.0% alcohol
Laced with spice, excellent acidity and still-resolving tannin, this’ll handsomely reward careful cellaring; pop corks 2016-2020. Aromas of charred toast, menthol and pipe tobacco presage a robust, rustic gusher of tangy red cherry and racy black currant wreathed in gamy notes and savory herbs. Pour alongside hearty stew like osso bucco or cassoulet. (Vic Harradine)
Carol Shelton ‘Lopez Vineyard - Monga Zin’ Zinfandel 2010
Cucamonga Valley, San Bernardino County, California $27.95 14.9% alcohol
This is just what you hope for in quality California Zin; it’s sourced from ancient, dry-farmed, single vineyard vines. There’s exotic spice galore on the nose along with dark berry fruit and mocha aromas. It spills over the palate in balanced and beautiful waves with ripe fruit—black plum, dark cherry and briary berry garnished with kirsch liqueur and notions of caramel and fig. It’s mid-full weight, generously textured and structured along with good depth and oodles of charm. The finish lingers with each sip better than the previous. (Vic Harradine)
Order the following by the case for home, restaurant or office (in Ontario) delivery from Nokhrin Wines or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; if in the GTA phone (416) 704-8617.
Fortified Wine
Contemporal Moscatel de Setúbal Non-Vintage
DO Moscatel de Setúbal, Portugal $13.25 17.5% alcohol
One of the wine world’s best kept secrets—this dishes up a perfumed glass of liquid ambrosia. Aromas of spice-laden caramel apple, candied orange and nutty nuances interweave with menthol and floral notes. It coats the palate with sweet nectar of the gods—raisin, piquant spice and warm pecan pie. This dessert wine goes well on its own or poured with spice cake, Christmas pudding or desserts with raisins. (Vic Harradine)
Contemporal 10-Year-Old Tawny Port Non-Vintage
DO Douro, Portugal $28.95 20.0% alcohol
Heady aromas of cherry, spice and sandalwood introduce a lively, balanced and beautiful wash of cherry cordial, spiced black plum and tangy red licorice. It’s creamy smooth and nicely textured with a finish and aftertaste that’s sweet and lingering. This is lovely now and unlike Vintage Port, this will not improve in bottle. Pour with chocolate dessert or a blue cheese like Stilton. Good value. (Vic Harradine)
White Wine
Vinha dos Ingleses ‘Vinho Verde’ Non-vintage
DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal $9.95 10.5% alcohol
This is balanced, flavourful and simply delicious. Minerality, floral notes and a salad bowl of orchard fruit aromas abound. It bathes the palate with nicely textured waves of racy, lemon citrus and pit fruit mingling with notions of orange zest and pineapple. There are plenty of options with this; sip on its own or pair with breaded and pan-seared calamari rings, grilled prawns or fish skewers. (Vic Harradine)
Contemporal ‘Vinho Branco’ 2012
Vinho Regional Península de Setúbal, Portugal $8.95 12.0% alcohol
Floral notes mingle with lively citrus and orchard fruit on the nose of this delightfully racy gem. It dishes up a crisp, refreshing mouthful of lemon and grapefruit tang interwoven with pineapple and wisps of nectarine. Mid weight, good texture, balance and charm abound. What’s not to like? (Vic Harradine)
Wyou ‘White’ Alentejano 2012
Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal $12.95 12.5% alcohol
Floral notes and honeyed pit fruit presage a ripe, delectable mouthful of tropical fruit, white peach and a nice underpinning of tangy citrus on the palate. Flavour replay of the finish. This is medium bodied with very good mouth feel and a balanced beautiful aftertaste. Lovely sipped on its own and versatile at the table—pour with roast chicken, slow-roast pork, fish or seafood. (Vic Harradine)
Wyou ‘Pont de Lima’ Vinho Verde 2011
DOC Vinho Verde, Portugal $11.95 10.5% alcohol
Honeysuckle and citrus aromas open this racy, well delineated, lo-alcohol white. A line of tangy lemon-lime and minerality race across the palate, crisp and refreshing, infusing the lip-smacking finish. Pour with pan-seared fish or prawns under a squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)
Red Wine
il Canovino Quarto Vecchio Valpolicella Ripasso ‘Classico Superiore’ 2009
DOC Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy 2011 $26.50 13.5% alcohol
Three years in the cellar will bump up this rating a couple of notches—there’s a gorgeous wine lurking beneath the tannin. Earthy tones, wood smoke and dark cherry herald a lovely wash of red and black cherry interweaving with black plum and spice before the tannins take a tight grip. Poured now alongside a robust stew or a fine-cut of grilled steak after a three-hour decant it’ll be good, with time in the bottle, could be great. (Vic Harradine)
Cheers, Vic and Susan