SOME NEW PRODUCTS TASTED THIS MONTH
1. Lammershoek Roulette 2006 WO Swartland South Africa, +58164
Vintages, $23.95: what a crafty blend of Rhone-type grapes. Carignan
(20%) and Grenache (13%) are co-fermented, Viognier skins are added to
Syrah (62%), and Mourvedre (4%) is kept separate. After the malolactic
there is aging in French oak (20% new) for a year. Only then is the
unfiltered wine blended (it will vary from year to year) and bottled.
14.5% ABV, spicy with red goodness and fruit, peppers, herbs, more a food
Vintages, $23.95: what a crafty blend of Rhone-type grapes. Carignan
(20%) and Grenache (13%) are co-fermented, Viognier skins are added to
Syrah (62%), and Mourvedre (4%) is kept separate. After the malolactic
there is aging in French oak (20% new) for a year. Only then is the
unfiltered wine blended (it will vary from year to year) and bottled.
14.5% ABV, spicy with red goodness and fruit, peppers, herbs, more a food
wine, like an elegant Gigondas. There is a white version at the
LCBO (2008 vintage, $16.95, +225458) with chenin blanc, chardonnay and
viognier juice (these viognier skins go to the red Roulette).
LCBO (2008 vintage, $16.95, +225458) with chenin blanc, chardonnay and
viognier juice (these viognier skins go to the red Roulette).
2. Rigal Les Terrasses Malbec 2009 Cahors, +245761 LCBO General,
$12.95: with grapes sourced from slopes exposed to sunshine, and over
10 months in French oak, this Malbec is taking on the Argentine
products. Cahors is the Old World home of Malbec, and this blend (with
20% merlot) is softly attractive in that North American style. 13.5%
ABV, but not your father's deep, dark and inky Cahors which took
decades to evolve. Expect fruit, balance, a velvety finish (merlot),
and some red fruit and toast notes. Twist top, winner of a Gold Medal.
$12.95: with grapes sourced from slopes exposed to sunshine, and over
10 months in French oak, this Malbec is taking on the Argentine
products. Cahors is the Old World home of Malbec, and this blend (with
20% merlot) is softly attractive in that North American style. 13.5%
ABV, but not your father's deep, dark and inky Cahors which took
decades to evolve. Expect fruit, balance, a velvety finish (merlot),
and some red fruit and toast notes. Twist top, winner of a Gold Medal.
3. Ogier Cotes du Rhone Heritages 2009, +535849 LCBO General, $14.95:
another entrant in the crowded GSM field, except this one is from the
Old World home of GSM, not Oz. With 70% grenache, 25% syrah, and 5%
mourvedre, expect both black and white pepper notes amongst the spices
and red fruit, some floral and toast tones, even some nutty complexity.
The 14.5% ABV is a whopper, slightly tamed by the year in French oak. A
"Best Value" wine and a Gold Medalist from a number of competitions.
Only made in better years (none in 2008).
another entrant in the crowded GSM field, except this one is from the
Old World home of GSM, not Oz. With 70% grenache, 25% syrah, and 5%
mourvedre, expect both black and white pepper notes amongst the spices
and red fruit, some floral and toast tones, even some nutty complexity.
The 14.5% ABV is a whopper, slightly tamed by the year in French oak. A
"Best Value" wine and a Gold Medalist from a number of competitions.
Only made in better years (none in 2008).
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