Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 - Executive Spirits & Wines

Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

apaulmitchell — Thu, 06 May 2021 00:23:00 +0000

Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

DESCRIPTION

This wine arrives by way of an organic and biodynamic winery in the middle of alluvial soils of Maipo Valley. From an acclaimed 2018 vintage, its cool-climate growth presents a medium body with bright, fresh red fruit, black current and hints of herbs and spice. Drink now with burgers and red meat off the barbeque.

Type

Medium, red wine blend made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.

Flavour

Fresh red fruit, black current, herbs, black cherry and blueberry
Medium body with good tannins, extra dry with medium-high alcohol (14.0%

Location

Maipo Valley, Chile

Wine value

Price: $$

Rating: High

Value: Great undervalued buy

Download wine profile

LCBO catalogue release summary, May 1, 2021

apaulmitchell — Thu, 06 May 2021 00:04:00 +0000

The dilemma of wine sales versus value

Ratings Yes, taste, and liking what you like, is subjective. What is not always appreciated is how finding great wines does not necessarily need to cost a lot. One of my favourite wines of all time, Featherstone’s Black Sheep Riesling (a vibrant, dry white with plenty of honey and acidic fresh apple flavour – perfect for Thai curries and pork dishes), is only $18.95. It’s local, delicious and a great price compared to many others of its quality. Separating out the wines that present the best value is the mission of Executive Spirits and Wine’s value index. We use an unbiased and brand-agnostic quant system to choose the best wines to drink for a reasonable price.

The folks at the LCBO must be in the mood for summer based on the number of rosé wines in this release. Certainly nothing wrong with that. The quality and popularity of rosé (best expressed through T-shirt slogans) should lead you to explore Provence, France (it’s ubiquitous there), although other regions in Italy and even Ontario are creating nice fruity and refreshing expressions without being cloyingly sweet. Unfortunately, none of them made our best value list.

Of the 124 wines released this time, 91 (or 73.4%) qualified for the value index. The average critic score rose from an average of 89.70 to 90.04 while the average retail price rose substantially (15.4%) to $35.45. Don’t worry, it’s not inflation. The LCBO release featured far fewer wines from Spain (known to produce mass quantities of good but cheap wine) and more from California, where their popular wines of craftsmanship fetch a premium. New world wines – and two Canadian wines of distinction – were well represented, showing once again how far some developing wine regions have come over the past few decades.

RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS BOTH THE VALUE AND OPULENCE OF CANADIAN WINES

Best deal of the release

Emiliana Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, CHILE ($15.95, 90.3 points)

This wine comes by way of an organic and biodynamic winery in the middle of the alluvial soils of Maipo Valley. From an acclaimed 2018 vintage, its cool-climate growth presents a medium body with bright, fresh red fruit, black current and hints of herbs and spice. Drink now with burgers and red meat off the barbeque. Read the profile.

Best value wines

New world wines continue to dominate our list of best values at the LCBO. The five selections – two whites from Canada and New Zealand and three reds from South America – create a pleasant yet diverse offering for every occasion. From the outdoor barbeque to drinks after a long work in front of the computer screen, you’ll find a great-tasting wine that suits your preference.

v Tawse Limestone Ridge-North Estate Bottled Riesling 2017 ($21.95) – Canadian

v The Hunting Lodge Expressions Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($19.95)

v Arboleda Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 ($19.95)

v Susana Balbo Signature Malbec 2018 ($20.95)

v Finca La Escuela La Grava Malbec 2017 ($24.95)

Smart luxuries

As a special bonus, this release offers six highly rated wines at reasonable prices to tuck away in the cellar for that special meal or occasion with friends once we’re all back together.

v Muddy Water Skin Ferment 2019 ($29.95)

v Quinta do Covão Reserva Touriga Nacional 2016 ($33.95)

v Tesch Karthäuser Riesling Trocken 2018 ($34.95)

v Hartford Court Chardonnay 2018 ($39.95)

v Brittan Vineyards Basalt Block Pinot Noir 2015 ($41.95)

v Blue Mountain Reserve Cuvée Pinot Noir 2017 ($48.95) – Canadian

A few more for the cellar

The three top-scoring wines (a tie at 93.67 points) were two reds from Portugal and California and a sparkling wine from Rheinhessen, Germany. Yes, the Germans make traditional method sparkling at a better price than French Champagne.

v Quinta do Covão Reserva Touriga Nacional 2016 ($33.95)

v Trefethen Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 ($68.95)

v Raumland Cuvée Marie-Luise Brut Sparkling 2013 ($69.95)

Bargain bin deals (great wines, low prices)

Other than the top value of the release from Chile, here’s a list of other well-rated wines under $18 that will help you restock your wine cabinet. Summer is not just for white wine anymore.

v Château Camplong Grande Réserve Corbières 2018 ($14.95)
v d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvèdre 2017 ($15.95)
v Escudo Rojo Reserva Chardonnay 2019 ($17.95)
v Sister's Run Old Testament Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 ($17.95)
v Hacienda López de Haro Crianza 2017 ($17.00)

Discover amazing wines from here in Canada

One Ontario white made our overall value and a red from B.C. made our list of smart luxuries. Amazing. Here’s a few more!

v Creekside Laura's Red 2017 ($25.00)

v Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Chardonnay 2019 ($29.95)

v Burrowing Owl Athene 2017 ($44.95)

Download the May 1, 2021 LCBO release summary PDF

LCBO catalogue release summary, March 20, 2021

apaulmitchell — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 21:30:41 +0000

Need proof that wine is subjective?

The LCBO buyers’ picks primarily fell into the $15 to $25 price range (a representative price for most people). Of the 115 wines that were released though the Vintages catalogue, about half were in this range. These prices are where our value index algorithm results really prove their worth – if the wine passes analysis. Each wine gets counted in the final aggregate if it has received scores from a minimum number of professional wine critics using Robert Parker’s infamous 100-point scoring system, Unfortunately, one of the challenges is most reviewers tend to ignore wines under the $17 mark. Although for that price, it’s a small enough risk and low enough investment to try a few of them on your own and judge for yourself. For our purposes, 13 wines under $17 and 29 in total were eliminated from analysis because of the lack of scores. The average rating fell to 89.7 from 90.1 while the average price unsurprisingly rose to $30.72 from $29.66. Having so many low-priced wines drop out will tend to have that impact.

Ratings must be viewed as merely a starting point. With wine (and by using savvy research and intelligent selection), you tend to get what you pay for. Cheap wine is not necessarily bad wine; however, well-scoring wines typically start at a certain price ($18) —and after a certain level, diminishing returns take effect. Professional scores serve to help guide purchases, otherwise it is truly a “buyer beware” market. Want proof? The top-scoring wine of the release was Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2016 from Tuscany ($57.95) with an average of 94.6. The lowest scoring wine of the release was Lapis Luna Zinfandel 2018 from North Coast ($19.95), California with an average score of 86.5 (the third release in a row a Californian wine has ended at the bottom). And to demonstrate how subjective ratings are, Bollina Josuè 2018 from Sicily ($24.95) scored both an 88 and a 99 (excluded from the algorithm for lack of available scores). Rating wines yields reliable results in aggregate – start with scores and then trust your palate!

HISPANIC COUNTRIES DOMINATE THE BEST VALUE-FOR-DOLLAR SELECTIONS

Best deal of the release

Signos de Origen Carmenère 2017, COLCHAGUA VALLEY, Chile ($19.95, 91.7 avg.)

Huge upfront ripened red fruit was developed from a warm growing season to deliver lively raspberry, cherry, green pepper and herbal notes without being flabby. Nice levels of tannin and acidity keep it fresh and ideally suited to chorizo or grilled game meats.

Best value wines

Four red wines and one white made our top-five list that delivers great scores at a reasonable price. Value doesn’t always have to come from Spain or new world locations: two picks are from France and one each from Chile, South Africa and Italy. With a smart search, great wines are everywhere!

v Vaucher Père & Fils Fleurie 2018 ($17.95)

v The Spotted Hound Red Blend 2018 ($19.95)

v Ventisquero Grey [Glacier] Longomilla Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($20.95)

v Mazzei Ser Lapo Riserva Chianti Classico 2017 ($23.95)

v Beaumirail Vacqueyras 2017 ($24.95)

Smart luxuries

In these days where we need to get our stay-at-home adventures where we can find them, these five selections feature fantastic, undervalued pleasure, even at higher prices.

v Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($27.95)

v Giant Steps LDR Yarra Valley Pinot Noir/Syrah 2018 (33.95)

v Remelluri Reserva 2013 ($44.95)

v Quails’ Gate Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay 2017 ($44.95)

v Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Gran Selezione Chianti Classico (57.95)

One more treat for the cellar

With an impressively high average score of 93.9, this full-bodied Chilean blend of mostly Carménère and Petit Verdot is a red wine to buy and store for the next two to three years.

v Montes Purple Angel 2017 ($69.95)

LCBO buyer recommendations:

v Of the 15 wines that made up the LCBO’s “wines of the month” and buyer recommendations, only seven made it into our analysis with enough scores. Three of those (Spotted Hound, Ventisquero Grey and Ser Lapo) were included in our best value wines list and two (The Winery of Good Hope and Weszeli Felix) ended up on our best bargain bin deals (under $18 wines). Only two of their recommendations (Fontanafredda Barbera d'Alba 2017 for $17.95 and Josh Cellars Pinot Noir 2018 for $22.95) qualified into the analysis but did not reach a high enough value index score to make our best buy list.

Bargain bin deals (great wines, low prices)

Here’s your list of well-rated wines that will help you restock your wine cabinet for under $18. Zuccardi wines never disappoint!

v Château Baracan 2015 ($17.95)

v The Winery of Good Hope Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2019 ($13.95)

v Weszeli Felix Grüner Veltliner 2019 ($17.95)

v Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés 2020 ($16.95)

v Covila Rioja Alavesa Crianza 2016 ($16.95)

Good things grow… in Ontario

We continue to support local with three Canadian wines that scored high in both ratings and value. Tawse offers a great tour!

v Henry of Pelham Estate Riesling 2019 ($19.95)

v Tawse Sketches of Niagara Riesling ($18.95)

v Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Brut Sparkling Riesling ($20.95)

Download the March 20, 2021 LCBO release summary PDF

Paradigm Spirits First Edition Whisky

apaulmitchell — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 23:41:01 +0000

Paradigm Spirits Deals a Solid Hand with their First Edition Whisky

People haven’t historically looked to London when looking for locally made craft spirits. The Southwestern Ontario city, dubbed the “forest city”, has a reputation as a beer town instead. With a population of about 380,000, London is the ancestral home to Labatt and Carling Breweries and to this day continues its beer-making tradition with a host of successful craft breweries (12 at the time of writing). Local spirits lovers have had to therefore accustom themselves to reading far-off city names on the labels of their favourite spirits, especially whisky. No longer! The fifth largest city in Ontario has become home to two proper distilleries, one of which is Paradigm Spirits Co., founded in 2019 by Irma Joeveer, Michelle Debus, Archie Leach and his daughter, Martha.

Located in a former Kellogg cereal plant that’s been since renovated into an entertainment and business complex, complete with a brewery called Powerhouse Brewing Company, aromas of malting barley and cooking grains have returned to the Old East part of the city. In so many ways, the two drink companies mark a return to the cereals that have long been a part of the city’s rich history.

“We live in a community that’s right smack dab in the middle of some of the most arable land in all of Canada,” explained Irma Joeveer in a recent interview. “The grain that we’re using today to produce our spirits and beers is a lot of the very same grain that was used when Kellogg was making cereal 50 years ago. That’s a remarkable thing.”

Paradigm produces what they call their “First Edition Whisky” ($59.95/750 ml). Made from a blend of four grains (corn, barley, wheat and rye), the blended Canadian whisky is double barrel-aged between 5 and 10 years in once-used Bourbon barrels before a second rest in small batch within new light-char oak. The bottle label notes the whisky is “polished copper and brilliant wheat in colour” and is “bold and complex”. The back label description is of “dark ripe fruit, creamy vanilla, shaved ginger and subtle oak. The palate offers hints of rye bread, honey, apricot and star anise before a warming black tea lingering finish.”

As is customary with new distilleries needing the necessary short-term revenue to support their considerable start-up capital equipment investment, Paradigm produces the obligatory vodka and gin in their copper continuous column stills. Surprisingly, adding a Canadian whisky to their product lineup was not far behind. Of course, it’s difficult for most entrepreneurs to wait the regulated three years for barrels to idly sit by and age when bills need to be paid so some purchased aged whiskies have come to the rescue. How else can a two-year old company bottle a whisky that’s stated as being aged between 5 and 10 years?

While my tasting didn’t end up with the exact same results as the bottle description, the whisky shows definite promise.

Colour: In bottle, the whisky is brilliantly clear with a vibrant orange-amber colour, almost reddish in hue depending on the light. Canadian whisky regulations allow blenders to add as much as 9% in other spirits (including wine) so learning the details of their blend would be interesting. Colour becomes much more bright gold once in the glass with good viscosity and pleasant tearing on the sides of the glass. A slight tilt shows the liquid to be less concentrated with a loss of intensity and a clear edge around the rim.

Aroma: Spicy with strong brown sugar and subtle tangerine zest aromas, your nose fills with welcome vanilla nuances so familiar to fans of Canadian whisky.

Taste/balance: The initial taste is immediate flavours of orange, brown sugar and cooking spices. The flavour is short, dissipating in the centre of the tongue and leaving a spicy hint (there’s the ginger they alluded to!) and quite a bit of heat at the sides of the mouth (partially due to the 42.9% ABV). Adding a little water or ice settles the heat to push the sweet honey flavour forward to create a creamy finish with a hint of bubble gum and a slight disappointing tinge of bitterness.

Overall: Paradigm’s First Edition Whisky is a good start. The flavour is not in-depth nor complicated enough yet shows the promise that future releases may bring once they are distilling 100% of their own grain spirit. At close to $60 a bottle, the product lies in the no man’s land of the marketplace: does not offer the complexity and structure for which aficionados are looking, but it’s too good (and too pricey) to be the weekday dram that gets mixed with cola.

First Edition is aptly named. It’s a great and welcoming kickoff to Paradigm Spirits whisky and is a nice, flavourful whisky that serves as a great base for classic whisky or rye cocktails. Breathe new life into your Old Fashioned and Manhattan recipes with this local blend.

“Our goal is to keep a pretty diverse product roadmap and to produce in very small quantities,” Joeveer explained in LondonInc business magazine. “And to keep things interesting as we grow.”

And that they’re doing. Paradigm is also selling a Heritage Collection 19-year-old single-grain cask-strength whisky with no colour or flavouring for $174.95 (750 ml at 67.9% ABV, limited to 2,500 bottles). Normally, people might consider these limited-edition releases as collectable but knowing where the aged whisky was sourced would be comforting. For comparison, the special 20-year release oof Canadian Club went for $69.00 per bottle and J.P. Wiser’s 18 Year is $79.95.

To their credit, the two managing owners have lofty ambitions that may serve the London distilling scene well. “We want to see Paradigm become one of Canada’s most renowned whiskey (sic) distilleries.” As with a good poker player, Paradigm’s plans for the other whiskies they’ll produce is a tightly guarded secret. Time will show what they have up their sleeve.

3.5 / 5 stars

Paradigm Spirits Co.

100 Kellogg Lane, Bldg 16, London, ON N5W 0B4

(519) 591-9410

paradigmspirits.com

3 Luxury Wines You Need to Buy (March 6 release)

apaulmitchell — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 20:54:20 +0000

3 Luxury Wines You Need to Buy from the LCBO

A recent email immediately caught my attention (to say the least). My jaw dropped to the floor and I thought for sure it had to be a phishing scam. A double 100-point Pauillac Bordeaux that Robert Parker describes as having “off-the-charts massiveness” and “simply remarkable to behold and experience” was available specially to me for 30% off retail with free shipping. Deal! Like most wine enthusiasts, I don’t have a huge budget for wine so if I can occasionally buy something special and save a few dollars, why not? Of course, it was too good to be true. Not a scam, it was a legitimate sales solicitation from an American supplier not available to me because I live in Ontario. Talk about quashing so much heightened expectations.

Instead of drowning in my own despair, as annoyed and disappointed as I felt, I instead turned to the March 6 wine index analysis to find the top-rated luxury wines available to buy at the LCBO. The mission at Executive Spirits & Wines is to sort through all the noise and use an objective and brand-agnostic analysis to narrow down the selections and help eliminate paradox of choice. In the dozens of magazines we study each week, the thousands of wines reviews and countless winery sales emails, we curate the most interesting and intelligent wines that are actually in stock in Ontario and available to you. Quantities and locations are limited but if you feel like splurging, or stocking up really early on holiday gifts, here are three strong recommendations.

The first suggestion, a Brunello from Tuscany, received the highest average score of 94.0 and is in plenty supply across Ontario cities, including a few bottles in London’s LCBO at Oxford and Wonderland. Wine descriptions are courtesy of the LCBO website.

La Torre Brunello di Montalcino 2015

$62.95, 750 mL bottle, VINTAGES#: 17626

If you love the traditional side of Montalcino, Luigi Ananìa's La Torre makes some of the best and most consistent wines you will find. Their 2015 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a quality of fruit that is both plump and succulent, and this is very much a characteristic of the 2015 vintage. However, the house style is extremely precise and focused. It starts off slowly, revealing itself in small steps before coming into full bloom. The wide aromatic span of the wine should become even more prominent with three or four more years of cellar age. This wine does a nice job of matching the acidity of Sangiovese to the generous fruit of the warm 2015 vintage. Drink date: 2021-2040. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Jan. 31, 2020)

No household should go without an adequate supply of champagne. Be ready for your next special celebration with an older wine from the “Sparkling Winemaker of the Year” according to the 2015 and 2016 International Wine Challenge. It’s exceptionally rare to find vintage champagnes in this province, especially after recent logistical difficulties due to the pandemic. About a dozen cases are available throughout the GTA area.

Henriot Brut Millésimé Champagne 2008

$121.95, 750 mL bottle, VINTAGES#: 18136

An undramatic, cloud-filled season came right in a late harvest in October. A textbook cool vintage of great ageing potential. The perfect 50/50 balance of mineral-stamped Chardonnay and powerful, masculine Pinot makes this a champagne for patient drinkers, as it will take time to reach its peak. Vibrant acidity is joined by notes of white flowers and that magnificent mineral structure. Drinking window: 2020-2035. (Michael Edwards, decanter.com, March 27, 2019)

And that wine that originally caught my attention? The 2010 Chateau Pontet-Canet Grand Cru Classe from Pauillac that received 100 points from James Suckling and Wine Advocate, a 98 Wine Enthusiast and 97 Wine Spectator? The LCBO does not have any. However, they do have 10 bottles of the 2012 vintage across four locations in Toronto (Mavis & Steeles, Brampton; Bloor & Royal York, Toronto-Etobicoke; Square One, Mississauga; and, Yonge & Stouffville Road, Richmond Hill). I called and checked. Don’t wait – go grab one if you’re in the GTA area. No shipping and no inter-store transfers due to COVID restrictions.

Château Pontet-Canet 2012

$222.00, 750 mL bottle, VINTAGES#: 349753

This impeccably run, biodynamically farmed estate of Alfred Tesseron goes from strength to strength. The 2012 triumphs once again with its notes of dark plum, blackcurrant, licorice and almost a hint of truffle, its full-bodied, supple tannins, and beautiful, expensive mouthfeel. Complex and deep, this dense ruby/purple-colored wine may not be at the level of the 2009 or 2010, but it is a successful wine in this vintage, and a significant wine in 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035. (Robert Parker Jr., robertparker.com, April 29, 2015)

Scores (not as high as with the 2010 vintage, but still very decent):

98 Wine Enthusiast

93 Robert Parker / Wine Advocate

93 Decanter

92 WineSpectator

LCBO catalogue release summary, March 6, 2021

apaulmitchell — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 19:28:02 +0000

My bet is to go with the Malbec

Argentina isn’t the only place to grow Malbec – but few others do it so well for such an affordable price. The country’s high elevation typically creates a full-bodied wine with high tannins and juicy red plum and blueberry flavours, making it a reasonably priced addition to any dinner table. Malbec’s versatility pairs well with everything from pasta to steak or is delicious on is own. It’s therefore no wonder that three out of our top value wines this period are Malbec wines.

Originally cultivated in the south-west of France, the thick-skinned, purple Malbec grape lost popularity after 75% of the European crop was lost to frost. Fortunately harvests in Argentina were unaffected and subsequent years of high-quality, but inexpensive, vintages helped revitalize the variety to regain popularity. The country now produces over 75% of the world’s Malbec wines, with most premium labels being produced in the high elevations of Uco Valley.

The March 6 Vintages catalogue focused on Argentina, so it’s not surprising that red wines dominated the LCBO release, both in the value and luxury categories. White and sparkling wines made their presence known (the best value for the release is a Sauvignon Blanc) along an impressive rosé wine (Delas Saint-Esprit Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2019 from France, $17.95).

The predominance of red wines (69.5% of selections, equally represented by blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Tempranillo), made a significant impact to release statistics. The average rating increased 55 basis points and the average retail price increased by $4.27 to $29.66 (16.8%). Thankfully, real inflation does not grow at that same rate! These increases were supported by an inclusion of many older vintages, such as a 2008 Champagne, Spanish Gran Rerservas from 2010, 2012 and 2014 and many Spanish and Italian wines from 2015. In total, the number of wines that passed into our index grew from 55 to 82 this month.

Considering the number of the low-priced wines from Chile, Spain and Argentina, the lowest score of the release went to Cannonball Chardonnay 2018 ($19.95) from California with an average of 86.50. It’s the second time in a row a Cali Chardonnay has ended on the bottom. Our analysis shows that lower-priced wines from emerging regions, such as Zuccardi Q Chardonnay 2019 ($19.95) from Mendoza, Argentina, provide a better value. Argentina wines just keep coming out on top! It was quite a release for the LCBO!

HISPANIC COUNTRIES DOMINATE THE BEST VALUE-FOR-DOLLAR SELECTIONS

Best deal of the release

Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Chile ($14.95)

A fresh lime, pear and gooseberry nose is met with similar flavours on the palate along with herbal tones. This crisp wine features high acidity paired with fruit-forward creaminess that’s ideal as an aperitif or to accompany fresh seafood.

Best value wines

Six wines (instead of the customary five) appear on our value list this time due to a tie. Two wines at $20.95 both scored the same on our value index, so I didn’t have the heart to eliminate another good deal. Four wines from Argentina made the list – a great country for producing top-quality Malbec, but they grow so much more.

v BenMarco Malbec 2018, Argentina ($19.95)

v El Pedrosal Crianza 2016, Spain ($18.95)

v La Chevalière Rasteau 2017, France ($20.95)

v Tonel 78 Barrel Select Malbec/Bonarda
2017, Argentina ($20.95)

v Catena Appellation San Carlos Cabernet
Franc 2018, Argentina ($19.95)

v Doña Paula 1350 2017, Argentina ($24.95)

Smart luxuries

v Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2016, South Africa ($24.95)

v Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling
Spätlese 2017, Germany ($34.95)

v Domäne Wachau Ried Achleiten Smaragd
Grüner Veltliner 2018, Austria ($38.95)

v Emina Reserva 2015, Spain ($47.95)

v Imperial Gran Reserva 2012, Spain ($56.95)

Other notable details from the catalogue analysis:

v Of the 112 wines that went through the algorithm, 30 were eliminated out due to lack of data or poor fit. This recent LCBO release included little known and local wines that did not get reviewed widely.

v Consistency among scores is very important. Some wines, such as Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2018 (Tuscany, Italy) did well with critic scores ranging between 90 and 93) – a true assessment of its 91.88 average. In comparison, Torres Salmos 2015 from Spain and Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shirazy 2019 from South Australia compiled scores with a wider range – from 88 to highs of 94. Although the overall average scores of 90.57 were similar, tasters might get less certainty as to what they should expect due to the wider margin. Tasting is definitely subjective and sometimes scores are not as helpful as we’d otherwise prefer.

Bargain bin deals (great wines, low prices)

Here’s your list of well-rated wines that will help you restock your wine cabinet for under $17.

v Romeo Selección Monastrell 2017, Spain ($16.95)

v Fin del Mundo Patagonia Malbec 2018, Argentina ($15.95)

v Cabriz Colheita Selecionada 2017, Portugal ($14.95)

v Los Haroldos Estate Bonarda 2018, Argentina ($14.95)

v Balbás Barrica 5 Tempranillo 2015, Spain ($15.95)

Good things grow… in Ontario

Let’s continue to support local. Here are three Canadian wines that scored high in both ratings and value.

v Hidden Bench Chardonnay 2018 ($29.95)

v Megalomaniac Sparkling Personality 2019 ($19.95)

v Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($22.95)

Download the March 6, 2021 LCBO release summary PDF

Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2019

apaulmitchell — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:44:21 +0000

Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2019

DESCRIPTION

A fresh lime, pear and gooseberry nose is met with similar flavours on the palate along with herbal tones. A fantastic value sauvignon blanc from Chile, this crisp wine features high acidity paired with fruit-forward creaminess that’s ideal as an aperitif or to accompany fresh seafood.

Type

Light, aromatic white wine made from Sauvignon grapes.

Flavour

Lime, Pear, Gooseberry, Melon, Grapefruit, Herbal tones
Lighter body with vibrant acidity, extra dry with medium-high alcohol (13.5%)

Location

Leyda Valley, Chile

Wine value

Price: $

Rating: High

Value: Undervalued buy

Download wine profile

5 Single-Malt Scotches to Try

apaulmitchell — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:21:05 +0000

Five Single-Malt Scotches to Try

People associate single-malt scotch with images of craggy highlands, misty moors and tartan-clad men tending to herds of hairy, long-horned “coos”. Little do they appreciate how equally well suited the drink is to be stretching out on a Muskoka chair overlooking the last clinging light of a beautiful Ontario summer sunset.

Imagine the sound of a solitary ice cube clinking against the side of a highball glass echoed by the cry of a loon. A long sip leads to a warming sensation of balanced tropical fruit, caramel and a hint of peat that calms and relaxes after a long week at the office.

Much more than a welcoming reward, good single-malt scotch can open up your senses to a wide array of flavours and nuances that don’t exist as generously in other spirits. Appreciating whisky (yes, no “e” when referring to Scottish-made products) is an art that’s subject to great complexity and staunch opinions. Maybe it relates to the country’s culture of pragmatic and hardy people or stems from its long, rich history and strong ties toward independence and stubbornness. Yet it is only fitting for a product that sits both unique and dominant atop the world of beverages.

Unlike its blended brethren that are produced to enhance consistency and smoothness, single-malt scotches are prized for their distinctiveness. Owing much to the water, the climate and the terroir of their unique place of origin, hundreds of different scotches are available to taste, each offering a distinct experience. For simplicity, scotch is grouped into five styles connected to the five generally accepted regions of production – the Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside, Western Islands (including Campbeltown), and Islay. These often inaccessibly remote locations are home to over 100 single-malt distilleries that create vastly differing styles and a staggering number of expressions and ages.

And while it may be somewhat unfair to categorize these five distinctive regions into broad swathes according to their one geographic characteristic, it does provide an appropriate start to a tasting journey that can last a lifetime. Certain practices are common, however. Distillers – by tradition and legal regulation – adhere to using copper pot stills and a set of exacting malting, fermenting, distilling and aging processes. Even so, their access to unique water sources, choices of yeast and different types of casks produce significantly different flavours. The following descriptions should therefore only be considered as general guidelines.

Lowland scotches, including Auchentoshan 12 year ($60.95) and Glenkinchie 12 year ($86.65), are light in body and clean tasting with modest fruit tones because they are typically triple distilled compared to the double distillation process used throughout the rest of country. With more distillation and filtering, characteristic flavours are removed in favour of smooth drinkability. Consider this fact in relation to flavor-neutral vodkas where companies are known to distill their product up to five times – eliminating any of the character that would make it distinctive and interesting.

Highland scotches, such as the tangerine-hinted Glenmorangie (I recommend their original, $69.70) and Dalwhinnie 15 year ($109.95), are fruitier and medium-bodied with greater flavor complexity. These easy-sipping varieties are a great introduction for novice single-malt whisky drinkers that offer many subtle differences between the northern and the western highland varieties.

Good single-malt scotch can open up your senses to a wide array of flavours and nuances that don’t exist as generously in other spirits.

- A. Paul MItchell

A personal favourite, the Speyside area along the North Sea coast is the heartland of scotch production, containing 50% of all distilleries. The area is built along the banks of the 15-mile wide river 'Spey' and home to some of the most famous single malts in the world (Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Glenfarclas and Balvenie). These smooth, fruiter-styled single-malts are typically rich with complex caramel and honey flavours, especially enjoyable in the summer. Aberlour’s 12-year-old scotch whisky ($65.95) is an ideal, affordable choice that represents the style well.

Strong westerly winds permeate the Island-area distilleries – ranging from the Orkneys in the north (Highland Park), to the Isle of Skye (Talisker), and the Islands of Mull and Arran off the south-west coast – helping to develop salty sea flavours, exacting oak and hints of iodine. While not as full-flavoured and peaty as scotches from the more famous Islay Island area, the assertiveness of these single-malt brands provides more full-bodied richness and complexity than the other previous areas.

If Scottish whisky’s reputation is notorious for flavours of heavy peat and smoke, then those produced in Islay, a relatively small and isolated island area off the western coast, deliver as promised. Arbeg, Bowmore and Lagavulin are all representative of what can be expected from the heavy, dominating smoky flavours derived from roasting malted barley over fires of peat. While hearty scotch drinkers are passionate for these super-rich and somewhat harsh nuances, these same traits can be instantly off-putting for those not accustomed to its deep aggressiveness.

Single malt scotch whisky is a welcome and well-received addition to any sophisticated liquor cabinet. The prices can be exorbitant but nestling these golden waters of life aside in American oak, port or sherry casks for 15 to 25 years (or more) is an expensive process – one that connoisseurs know all too well. Their vanilla, caramel and almond flavours can only be extracted from charred wood over time. So savouring scotch deserves your attention. Take a moment for quiet contemplation (or as a pleasant complement to good conversation) and give this drink your full consideration. And whether you enjoy it neat, with a few splashes of water (to bring out fruit flavours and dull the heat of alcohol) or with an ice cube (to help bring out more aromas), you can never go wrong. Escape your workday worries and absorb yourself in the Scottish tradition of delicious, sensuous single-malt scotch. The only thing you’ll be missing is highland peaks echoing with the sound of bagpipes.

Five Scottish Single-Malt Scotches to Try:

CARDHU 12 year, Speyside, 40%, $82.95, LCBO #289496

Charming and easy-going, Cardhu has been prominently used as the base for Johnnie Walker Blue blended whisky. As a single malt, it offers clean, crisp oak and sweet malt that evokes flavours of honey and caramel.

OBAN 14 year, Western Highlands, 43%, $124.95, LCBO #243824

Salty sea air aromas mingle with mineral notes and subtle peat to balance its mild malt flavour. The medium body spirit is delicate with a faint finish of smokiness.

TALISKER 10 year, Isle of Skye, 46%, $109.95, LCBO #249680

Bright medium amber in colour, strong essences of malt, iodine, white pepper and smoke linger alongside the creamy vanilla and an intensely smoky finish.

LAPHROAIG 10 year, Islay, 43%, $79.95, LCBO #248997

Malted barley is dried over a peat fire to provide huge smoke and peat notes that are distinctive to the area. Initial taste is very rich, dry and pungent ending with a hint of nuttiness and slight toffee.

HIGHLAND PARK 18 year, Orkney Islands, 43%, $199.95, LCBO #500231

Named “Best Spirit in the World” a decade ago, this well-aged single malt is incredibly smooth and balances dried fruit and toffee sweetness with a modestly smoky, rounded finish.

Introduction to Irish Whiskey

apaulmitchell — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:47:21 +0000

Introduction to Irish Whiskey

Scotland has over 150 distilleries, most of them long established for hundreds of years with a rich fascinating history that’s built into their product marketing. In stark contrast, by 2013 Ireland’s share of distilleries had dwindled due to neglect to a low of three major centres owned by large multi-national companies: New Midleton, Bushmills and Cooley. Fortunately, entrepreneurs have since entered the scene to create new production facilities, new tourist destinations and new brands on even distant shelves. Customers across Ontario now have a larger choice than just Bushmills or Jameson. And, in return, the faithful have responded by making Irish whiskey one of the fastest growing spirit segments.

The last five years has witnessed an immense resurgence in independently owned and distilled Irish whiskey brands, such as Tullamore Dew, and newer upstarts like Dingle, Writers’ Tears, The Sexton and Proper No. Twelve. Where the industry once teetered on the edge of survival, Ireland now boasts 32 distilleries (as of December 2019, according to the Irish Whiskey Association). Their products have gained hip status after being targeted to a younger drinker, which is helping to drive popularity for these smoother-tasting whiskeys, especially in Asia.

However, despite new brands entering the market, Jameson remains the best-selling Irish whiskey in the world. Tullamore Dew ranks second (based on sales volume), leapfrogging Bushmills, while MMA fighter Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve has risen to fourth, even over other more familiar brands, such as Kilbeggan, Powers, Teeling, Redbreast and The Dubliner.

Ireland’s producers are anticipating 6.3% annual worldwide growth until 2023 (according to IWSR drinks market analysis), compared to Scotch whisky’s annual forecasted growth of only 1.6%. Irish whiskey’s popularity is also almost doubling the Facebook-driven demand for U.S. bourbon (at 3.9% growth). With only a 2% share of the world whisky market, Ireland is well-suited for its huge potential for growth.

Irish whiskey’s easy-drinking style is derived from its production. Most Irish pot still whiskey is distilled three times, while most (but not all) Scotch whisky, is distilled twice. Peat is rarely used in the malting process, meaning Irish whiskey has a smoother finish as opposed to the smoky, earthy overtones common to notably Islay-area scotches. The notable exception is with Connemara Peated Irish Malt (double distilled) whiskey from the Cooley Distillery.

The whiskey-making process (covering the four main types of permitted Irish whiskey styles) is strictly regulated. Key laws defining Irish whiskey and its production were established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980 and are relatively simple compared to those for Scotch and Bourbon:

• The spirit must be distilled and aged in Ireland.

• It must be distilled to an alcohol-by-volume level of less than 94.8% from a yeast-fermented mash of cereal grains in such a way that the distillate has an aroma and flavour derived from the materials used.

• The product must be aged for at least three years in wooden casks.

• If the spirits comprise a blend of two or more such distillates, the product is referred to as a “blended” Irish whiskey.

As with other whiskies, the distilled product is initially clear and only attains its golden colour after being aged in one of a variety of wooden barrels (such as bourbon, sherry or port casks). The longer the aging, the darker the colour typically gets.

Several types of whiskey are common to Ireland, including those referred to as single pot still, single malt, single grain, and blended. The Irish Whiskey Act of 1980 does not actually contain a definition of the terms “single malt Irish whiskey” or “single grain” so the exact definitions between these terms may vary substantially between producers.

Although the taste of Irish whiskey can vary widely, attributable to the many variables involved with any form of spirits distillation and aging, the profile of Irish whiskey tends to be narrower than with scotch. In researching this piece, a group of four whisk(e)y enthusiasts sampled a range of brands and styles (via blind tasting) and ranked them in order of preference to help provide a better understanding of how some of the brands available in Ontario differ.

1. GREEN SPOT Single Pot Still
(Mitchell & Son) 40%, 750 mL bottle, $89.95
LCBO #667071 Triple Distilled

2. TULLAMORE DEW Blended (Grant & Sons) 40%, 750 mL bottle, $38.45 LCBO #71746

3. WRITER'S TEARS Copper Pot Still Blend (Writers’ Tears) 40%,
700 mL bottle, $52.95 LCBO #13057

4. BUSHMILLS MALT 10 YEAR
Single Malt (Diageo, Old Bushmills) 40%,
750 mL bottle, $50.75 LCBO #131870

5. BLACK BUSH Blended (Diageo, Old Bushmills) 40%, 750 mL bottle, $38.95
LCBO #61374

6. JAMESON Blended (Pernod-Ricard, Irish Distillers) 40%, 750 mL bottle, $36.95 LCBO #10157Triple Distilled

7. KILBEGGAN Blended (Beam, Cooley) 40%,
750 mL bottle, $36.95 LCBO #334048

Best of 2020 Canadian Whisky Honoured

apaulmitchell — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 20:54:39 +0000

Best of 2020 Canadian Whisky Honoured

The 11th annual Canadian Whisky Awards, like so many other prestigious events over the last year, was unlike previous editions. The awards were announced via a YouTube livestream on Thursday, February 25 rather than at the postponed Victoria Whisky Festival. Davin de Kergommeaux, head judge and founder of the awards, first thanked his nine judges (six men and three women) before awarding the bronze, silver and gold medalists and key excellence awards.

To very little surprise, the top honour went to Canadian Club 43-Year-Old Chronicles "The Speakeasy Connoisseur". One of the oldest domestic spirits available commercially in the country, it was also named Whisky of the Year Domestic Market and Best Blended Whisky. It would be the first of many Canadian whiskies to receive the recognition they deserve. The whisky segment has been growing steadily, especially overseas where a smoother, sweeter profile has been growing in popularity and finding a market as a base for prohibition cocktail recipes. In 2018, Canadian whisky in the domestic market accounted for 59.9% of sales, while scotch stood in second position representing 20.7%.

In 2021, more than 130 whiskies competed for the 26 awards, with some whiskies winning multiple awards. In addition, gold, silver and bronze medals were presented to those whiskies that exceeded minimum scores.

Canadian Club 43-Year-Old Chronicles "The Speakeasy Connoisseur" ultimately was named Whisky of the Year Domestic Market and Best Blended Whisky.

Other notable Canadian whisky winners (pictured at top) included:

• Gibson's Finest Venerable 18-Year-Old - Bronze Medal

• Forty Creek Barrel Select - Whisky Value Multi-market and Gold Medal

• Gibson's Finest Bold - Sippin' Whisky of the Year Domestic and Gold Medal

• Bearface Canadian Whisky Triple Oak 7-Year-Old - Silver Medal

• J.P. Wiser's 22-Year Oak Cask Strength Port Cask Finished - Best Blended Whisky Highly Commended and Gold Medal

• Forty Creek Three Grain - Bronze Medal

• Alberta Premium Cask Strength - Best All-Rye Whisky and Best Cask Strength Whisky and Gold Medal

• Alberta Premium (not pictured) - Whisky Value Domestic Market

• Canadian Club Classic 12-Year Old (not pictured) - Silver Medal

The full list of award winners is available at the CanadianWhisky.org site.