Here are highlights of the June 10 LCBO Release:

 Damien Laureau Le Bel Ouvrage Savennières 2005, Loire, France $54.00

Laureau’s 2005 Savennieres Le Bel Ouvrage offers a gorgeous aroma of diverse flowers, quince, pistachio and pralines. More powerful and less elegant and refined than the 2004, it nevertheless preserves bright citrus notes along with its voluminous peach and quince fruit and peach kernel and wet stone bitterness, finishing with superb brightness, density, grip, and over-arching floral perfume. Score – 91. (David Schildknecht, www.erobertparker.com, Aug. 2007)

Domaine De La Mordorée La Dame Rousse Rosé Tavel 2007, Rhône, France
$29.00

 Juicy and very focused, with mouthwatering cherry, watermelon and strawberry fruit backed by a rich but refreshing finish. Drink now. Score – 90. (James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com, Web Only, 2008)

Domaine Du Meix-Foulot Clos Du Château De Montaigu Mercurey 1er Cru 2005, Burgundy, France $35.00

Outstanding! A very mild touch of reduction detracts from the expressiveness of the otherwise pretty red berry fruit and subtle spice aromas that precede the rich, full and still tight big-bodied flavors that possess serious volume and plenty of underlying muscle, all wrapped in a textured and overtly structured finish that makes it quite clear that this is built to age. It will need at least a decade to be at its best and perhaps longer. A great Mercurey. Drink [until] 2015. Score – 92. (Allen Meadows, www.burghound.com, Oct.1, 2008)

Vignerons De Caractère L’Authentique Vacqueyras 2006, Rhône, France $29.00

Quite dark, with currant, coffee and fig notes at the core, surrounded by hints of mesquite and incense. The sleek, lengthy finish still has a touch of grip to shed. Best from 2009 through 2012. Score – 91. (James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com, Oct. 31, 2008)

Castello Di Meleto Rainero 2004, Tuscany, Italy $45.00

The estate’s 2004 Rainero is equal parts Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 14 months in new French oak. Nothing in particular stands out here, this is just one of those rare wines of outstanding balance and harmony where everything is in the right place. Medium in body, the wine offers a core of dark fruit beautifully framed by finessed, ripe tannins and beautifully-integrated oak. It is another outstanding effort from Castello di Meleto. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2019. Score – 92. (Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com, June 2008)

Altanza Seleccion Especial Reserva 2001, Rioja, Spain $59.00

The 2001 Altanza Reserva Seleccion Especial spent 18 months in new French oak. Dark ruby in color, it exhibits an enthralling bouquet of cedar, smoke, tobacco, leather, cherry, and black raspberry. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, plush, elegant wine with layers of fruit, lots of grip, and a long finish. Although it can be enjoyed now, it will certainly provide pleasure through 2020. Score – 92. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Feb. 2008)

Toronto Life has a list of bargain wines under $10. All are from Italy and represent a good bargian:

• Mezzomondo 2007 Salento Negroamaro
• Bosco Eclipse 2005 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
• Casal Thaulero 2007 Sangiovese
• Farnese 2007 Daunia Sangiovese
• Farnese 2007 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
• Mezzomondo 2008 Merlot Rosato
• Montalto 2007 Nero d’Avola Cabernet Sauvignon
• Ogio 2007 Primitivo

For a while now I have not republished the LCBO release list. It’s available to everyone on the LCBO site and wasn’t really adding much value. Instead, I’ve posted a list of products they chose to highlight. This more limited selection will probably be more interesting to you. This release’s highlights are all red old world wines:

• Château De Lancyre Vieilles Vignes Pic Saint-Loup 2006, Midi, France, $29.00, RP 91
• Domaine De Mourchon Grande Réserve Séguret 2006, Rhône, France, $29.00, RP 91
• Pelissero Piani Barbera D’Alba 2006, Piedmont, Italy, $25.00, RP 90
• Barone Ricasoli Casalferro 2001, Tuscany, Italy, $49.00, RP 92
• Cérvoles Celler Cérvoles 2005, Costers del Segre, Spain, $32.00, RP 91
• Cellers Sant Rafel Solpost 2004, Monsant, Spain, $29.00, WS 92

Yesterday was a perfect day to check out Caren’s back patio. With the cooler afternoon wind, the secluded patio offered us a respite from the gusts but still a nice outdoor patio scene. Caren’s is a small wine and cheese bar on the west part of Cumberland. The patio is nice and comfortable, and each table was decorated with nice, bright pillows and fabric giving a little life to the wood deck decor.

Caren’s offered a great wine selection (we had the Masi Ripasso) and a large selection of cheeses. The selection was a bit too big, so we chose the chef’s recommendation and were presented with three generous portions. The menu suggests wine pairings for each cheese platter.Caren’s also offers a full menu that can be taken advantage of.

Caren’s Wine and Cheese Bar
158 Cumberland St.
Toronto, ON
416.962.5158

I tried this Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva 2005 last night – a gift from a friend. It was a nice, good chaniti. Here’s how the LCBO describes it:

Bright ruby colour; dried cherry fruit, cinnamon spice, leather and floral notes on the nose; dry, medium to full bodied, dried cherry, earthy/mushroom and plum flavours with firm, chalky tannins and a a long spicy finish.

Over the weekend I got a chance to sample some of the wine I’ve been collecting over the winter months. This bottle was $22 at the LCBO. Scored a 92 by Wine & Spirits, the LCBO goes further to describe the Pio Cesare Barbera d’Alba 2006:

This is substantial barbera, boasting ripe, rich fruit and luxurious new oak flavors. It gains complexity with air, the oak receding into a supportive role. Elegantly composed and vinous, this lasts with flavors of cherries and plums. Decant a bottle for a steak tagliata.

Definitely let it air a bit before drinking and you’ll find it a nice enjoyable wine with a strong dinner. I had it with a nice hearty pasta dish and the wine stood up to the strong flavours of olives and tomatoes in the dish.

Here are some other comments from wine.com:

Pio’s Barbera is a wine quite different from many other Barbera. This is because the Barbera grapes are grown alongside the Nebbiolo grapes. This, combined with the extensive barrel ageing, results in a wine with the strength and wild energy of a Barbera, but the refined elegance of Barolo. This is a unique Barbera—full and brave, yet soft and supple.

Our Barbera has an intense ruby color with garnet reflections. The bouquet is distinguished and vital, with fresh, ripe fruit. The palate is clear and definite, with hints of ripe pulpy fruit, cherry, and notes of chocolate, frame with a long and pleasant finish.

I tried this wine over the weekend and it’s very good:

CHÂTEAU DE L’ESTANG 2004
VINTAGES 92809
750 mL bottle

Price: $ 17.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Bordeaux, France
By: Chateau De Roquefort

Release Date: Nov 8, 2008

Tasting Note
A close neighbour to the famous St. Émilion commune, Côtes de Castaillon is an appellation on the rise. This fine wine featuring the aromatic signatures of traditional Bordeaux. Blackcurrant, bell pepper, blueberry, toast and game dominate. Dry with rich mid-palate. Medium-bodied with a long, lush finish. A natural choice for game birds, bison steak or roast leg of lamb. (VINTAGES panel, June 2008)

In March, the Toronto Wine & Cheese Show starts. The Summerhill LCBO had a preview of some of the display wines there, along with some hors d’ouvres.

Things must be slow at the LCBO, because this week there was yet another sale on vintages. I managed to pick up two bottles in both of my last trips there. A full list of their sale items is online.

Toronto Life published a list of best wines under $10. Here are there choices:

• $9.55 LA PUERTA 2007 SHIRAZ (Famatina Valley, Argentina)
• $9.90 FINCA FLICHMAN 2007 MISTERIO MALBEC (Mendoza, Argentina)
• $7.80 ROCCA VENTOSA 2007 TREBBIANO (Abruzzi, Italy)
• $9.95 CONO SUR 2007 VIOGNIER (Chile)
• $9.95 MONTALTO 2007 PINOT GRIGIO (Sicily, Italy)
• $9.15 TOLLO 2005 COLLE SECCO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO (Abruzzi, Italy)
• $7.10 CASAL THAULERO 2007 SANGIOVESE (Abruzzi, Italy)
• $7.95 DUNAVÁR 2006 MUSCAT OTTONEL (Hungary)
• $9.95 CONO SUR 2007 MERLOT (Chile)
• $9.95 MASI 2007 MODELLO DELLE VENEZIE (Venetia, Italy)

A reader wrote into the Toronto Star asking why all the wine reviews were between 88 and 91 in a 100 point system. The Star’s wine critic replied he seldom will taste a wine below 86 and goes on to say that in the 88 or up range he tasted, “more than 100 wines and eliminated 80 per cent of them as not being either highly rated or great value. It sometimes comes as a shock to realize that most of the wines I taste – even those priced from $30 to $100 – simply are not good enough to review in print.”

I’m surprised that he doesn’t feel the need to tell his readers about wines that are not good enough for him, or wines that are a terrible value. I think many wine consumers would find this information highly valuable especially to beginners. This isn’t a problem just in the Star, but of wine reviews of read all over. Let’s get some negative wine reviews!