Tomorrow’s Vintages
Release Today!

Michael Vaughan
Friday, March 28, 2008

Welcome to Friday First. Tomorrow’s March 29th Vintages Release features 128 items, including 21 In-Store-Discoveries. None of the latter has been tasted because Vintages management refuses to let attending wine writers taste the opened, unfinished, samples. The thematic is Artisinal (14-items) and Organic (17 items). There are a number of best buys, which are featured below and can be purchased at many of the Vintages stores as of today. The following are some highlights. To get the complete list of exactly what’s worth buying (and avoiding) become an FBTI Supporter and have our March 29th issue of Vintage Assessments and my personal Shopping List sent to you TODAY (click here).

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

Spirits: A Scotch to Remember

Of all of tomorrow’s listings, this amazing Bowmore Single Malt at $117.95 topped the chart with *** out of ***! Don’t miss Bowmore 18-Years-Old Islay Single Malt (62331) with 43% alcohol, it has a fairly deep golden amber colour. The nose is stunning - intense, smoky and slightly spicy with honeyed caramel-plums. Dry, medium-full bodied but very harmonious with great structure, ripe plums and gently smoky flavours plus a long, lingering, gentle caramel finish. Only 600 bottles of Lot: L2410 (front label) are available.

Many Best Buy Whites
Recent Ontario whites seem to be better than ever. There are two top buys from Creekside Estate, which did extremely well at the recent Cuvée judging. Creekside 2006 Laura’s Blend White (53553) at $17.95 is a VQA from the Niagara Peninsula with 13% alcohol. This *+/** assemblage of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Muscat has a light yellow colour. The nose is intense, very spicy and pleasant with slightly honeyed, ripe melon and hints of buttered toast. Dry, crisp, medium to medium-light bodied, zesty, ripe-melon fruit with hints of honeyed, spicy, grapefruit on the lingering finish.

Also in a screwcap closure is the even better Creekside 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve (53371) at $18.95. This VQA Niagara Peninsula ** winner has 12.5% alcohol and a light straw colour. It has an intense, very spicy, slightly cedary, ripe lemon nose with some zesty, ruby grapefruit peel notes. On the palate it is very dry, zesty and medium to medium-light bodied with spicy, ripe lemon-melon flavours, hints of cedar and some white pepper, rhubarb and buttered toast on the lingering finish.

As an admitted Riesling addict, don’t miss my Release Highlight from the Coonawarra region of South Australia Wynns 2005 Riesling (528216) is an unbelievable **+ value at $14.95. It has a very intense, mineral tinged, schisty, ripe lemon nose with some key lime notes. Crisp, dry, bright and medium bodied with intense, ripe lime flavours and very fine length. With its screwcap closure, it is almost ready to drink – another 6-8 months will do. It should keep well for another 2-3 years!

From Austria is tasty unoaked white, which would be perfect with oysters and fresh fish. Laurenz V. 2006 Friendly Grüner Veltliner (66225) at $17.95 rated *+. It has a dry, slightly schisty, youthful, ripe lemon nose. On the palate it is spicy, dry and medium-light bodied - almost spritzy – with ripe apple-melon-lemon flavours and a very crisp, lingering, mineral tinged finish. It also comes with a convenient screwcap closure and is ready to enjoy.

Finally for lovers of lychees, Spy Valley 2006 Gewürztraminer (32870) at $18.95 – rated **/**+. It comes from the Marlborough region on the South Island and has an intense, very spicy, candied, floral lychee nose. On the palate it is very spicy, honeyed and intense with very slightly sweetish, lychee flavours and a lingering finish. Quite delicious but not for everyone. Ready to drink with a screwcap closure. Note that this 2006 is a repeat of the May 26, 2007 release (priced at $20.95).

A Destination Red
Perhaps the world’s most controversial wine is made from a unique South African grape called Pinotage. I have waxed poetic about its virtues in the past (to see click here), but admit that not everyone likes its distinctive flavours. I have tasted many off putting examples in the past, but this one today is extremely good. Lammershoek 2005 Pinotage Barrique (954594) at $18.95 comes from the Swartland and is complex and very well structured with 15% alcohol. It rates **/**+ Look for a cedary, spicy, plummy, ripe black cherry and vanilla stick nose. On the palate it is medium to medium-full bodied and plummy with spicy, dried cherry flavours and lingering, smoky, black cherry driven, spice box finish.

If you wish to receive the March 29th Edition of Vintage Assessments
click here and it will be sent to you today!