Vintages March 1st Recommendations

Michael Vaughan
Friday, February 29, 2008

Welcome to Friday First, here is an update for tomorrow’s March 1st Vintages release, which has a Burgundy theme featuring 20 selections. I will be discussing these selections in my Burgundy feature appearing next Friday (March 7th). Our Vintage Assessments biweekly publication has details on all 126 items, which includes 27 In-Store Discoveries (aka ISDs). As Vintages does not permit wine writers taste these ISD releases, I rely on agents to bring any worthy ISDs directly to my attention. If you have not seen my publication, as a courtesy you can download the February 16th Vintage Assessments by clicking here.

To see our Ratings, Drinkability & Cellaring Table click here
See LCBO store availability by clicking on the name of the wine

Best Buy Whites
From Ontario, the Chardonnays shine and I have two best buy whites. The first is Chateau des Charmes 2004 Paul Bosc Estate Chardonnay (287268) at $19.95, which is a VQA coming from the winery’s own St. David’s Bench vineyards. It scored **/**+ (out of three stars) and has a hefty 14% alcohol. Medium light yellow colour, the nose is quite complex with baked ripe lemon, cedar and buttery brioche notes. Dry, well structured and medium-full bodied with ripe lemon meringue flavours with a long, lingering, toasty, lime-tinged finish that has some faint hints of smoke. Drinkability: { N S SM m ml }

Le Clos Jordanne 2005 Village Reserve Chardonnay (33936) at $25.00 is better than last year’s inaugural release. It scored **+/*** (out of three stars). Vibrant fairly deep yellow colour with an intense, complex, spicy, slightly cedary, ripe lemon and key lime pie nose. On the palate it is intense, complex and medium-full bodied with well structured, ripe lemon and buttered toast flavours plus a long, lingering, citrusy finish with hints of cedar, pineapple and tropical fruit cocktail. Drinkability: { N S SM M ML l }

If you enjoy ripe, spicy, intense lychee flavours then René Muré 2006 Gewurztraminer (61218) at only $15.95 is for you. This somewhat idiosyncratic effort from Alsace scored ** (out of three stars), has 12% alcohol and fairly deep gold colour. It has an intense lychee-driven nose and dry, rounded, spicy, lychee flavours, which leave an impression of sweetness. Great with hot, ultra spicy cuisine. Drinkability: { N S SM }

Best Buy Reds
When I first tasted Le Clos Jordanne 2005 Village Reserve Pinot Noir (33894) at $25.00 I didn’t think that it was as good as the highly recommended 2004 release. In terms of what is coming out of Ontario, this 2005 is head and shoulders above most other releases, especially at the price. In fact, in the past, I have much preferred the Clos Jordanne over Norman Hardy’s pricier, albeit highly-regarded, Pinot Noir! Happily there are 335 cases of six available at Vintages. While I only scored it **/**+ (out of three stars), I think that it has a **+ potential and, as such, represents fine value. It is medium deep purple red in colour with 13.5% alcohol. The nose is quite tangy with slightly spicy, plummy, ripe cherries and hints of sandalwood. On the palate it is dry, fairly elegant, harmonious and medium bodied with ripe plum and dried ripe red cherry flavours and a lingering, crancherry-tinged, sandalwood finish. Overall: quite juicy, well balanced and ready to enjoy. Drinkability: { N S SM m ml }

Another ready-to-drink, very quaffable Pinot Noir is the Gallo’s MacMurray Ranch 2006 Pinot Noir (48207) at $21.95. I scored it ** (out of three stars). It has 13.5% alcohol and 700 cases are available. Fairly deep purple in colour, the nose is loaded with juicy, spicy, black cherries with some vanilla notes. On the palate it is dry, bright and medium bodied with fairly juicy, tangy, ripe plums and black cherry flavours. Drinkability: { N S SM }

My final recommended red is from the Swartland region of South Africa. Lammershoek 2004 Roulette (58164) at $19.95 was surprisingly solid & well structured. I scored it **/**+ (out of three stars). This blend of 74% Shiraz, 14% Carignan, 10% Grenache and 2% Viognier has an extremely deep intense purple colour and 14.5% alcohol. It has a complex, cedary, slightly smoky, stewed plum and mocha nose. On the palate it is dry, fairly tangy and well structured with ripe, plummy, cedary, slightly bitter mocha flavours with a long, lingering finish. Drinkability: { N S SM M ml }

Ontario Sweeties
The March 1st Vintages catalogue strongly recommends the Huff Estates 2006 First Frost Vidal (63842) at $18.95 for 500 mL. It apparently has been given a five star rating. There’s nothing wrong with this sweetish white - a pleasant,  rather light-bodied, quasi-dessert wine, which I rated *+ (out of three stars). Heralded as a VQA “Choice” Wine of the Month, it doesn’t give me enough flavours or sweetness.

However, if you are hankering for a terrific dessert wine, try Chateau des Charmes 2005 Late Harvest Riesling (432930) at only $19.95 for 375 mL. This reliable Niagara-on-the-Lake VQA winner scored **+/***(out of three stars). It has a lovely, gently honeyed, sweet, Seville orange marmalade nose with ripe lemon notes. On the palate it is sweet but balanced with some vibrant, intense, orange citrus acidity. The harmonious, Seville orange marmalade, fresh melon and ripe apple puree flavours go on and on. Released on October 13, 2007, it’s still available in over 30 stores. It is a Vintage Assessments Best Buy!