04
Mar
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(October 2023) … These guys carry some of the most iconic premium labels that come into the province of Ontario: from Champagne to Napa Valley Cabs, Rogers has the big names collectors want in their cellars. The iconic Cabs from Forman, O’Shaughnessy, Dominus, etc. don’t need my help to sell bottles of wine – but this agency also has an eye for other wines from around the world. I turned my main focus onto those wines.
Let’s take a look at those that impressed.
Three and a Half stars
Marques de Murrieta 2011 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial (Spain)
Tenute Orestiadi 2021 Nero d’Avola DOC (Sicily)
Vins Denuziere 2020 Cotes du Rhone (France)
Three and a Half Plus stars
Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta 2019 Crianza (Spain)
Buehler Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (California)
Calera 2021 Central Coast Chardonnay (California)
Duckhorn 2021 Decoy Limited Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Giovanni Rosso 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo (Piedmont)
Peay Vineyards 2020 Estate Pinot Noir (California)
Ponzi Vineyards 2021 Tavola Pinot Noir (Oregon)
Porter & Plot 2020 Chardonnay (California)
Vignole 2018 “Campicaia” Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (Tuscany)
Vins Denuziere 2020 Saint-Joseph (Rhone Valley)
Four stars
Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli (Tuscany)
Astrolabe 2020 Marlborough Pinot Noir (New Zealand)
Astrolabe 2022 Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
Bevan Cellars 2021 Tenah Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Duckhorn 2020 “Three Palms” Vineyard Napa Valley Merlot (California)
Shafer 2019 “Hillside Select” Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Four Plus stars
Avignonesi 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Tuscany)
Marques de Murrieta 2019 Dalmau (Spain)
Ridge Vineyards 2021 Lytton Springs (California)
Tenute Falezza 2019 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC (Veneto)
Vine Hill Ranch 2019 “VHR” Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Four and a Half Plus stars
Blue Mountain NV Brut (British Columbia)
Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta 2015 Campeador Reserva (Spain)
Peay Vineyard 2021 Pinot Noir “Pomariium” West Sonoma Coast (California)
21
Feb
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(September 2023) ... I have tasted wines from this winery before; that write-up can be found here. This is a tie-in piece for the podcast we did with Gottfried Moche, winemaker, which you can listen to here; there you will hear all about the winery, its initiatives and new wines in different sub-appellations. Below is a list of the wines we tried – reviewed and scored.
The Wolftrap 2022 White
This is a new offering exclusive to Canada, yes, there was already a Wolftrap white, but they decided to play with the blend, here it’s 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon. Citrus dominates the nose with its notes of grapefruit and grass - while the palate integrates the two grapes, giving it a round finish, that sports fresh grapefruit and guava. (*** 1/2)
The Chocolate Block 2021 - 20th edition (3349 barrels)
This is a wine that's been on the market countless times before. It's a kitchen sink blend dominated by Syrah (74%) with Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier also in the mix. It's the variety of great flavours and diverse brooding characteristics. (*** 1/2)
Boekenhoutskloof 2020 Syrah
Once again, this is one killer Syrah - I have talked about a past vintage on my YouTube channel ... The fruit is forward with notes of white pepper, cherry, raspberry and mocha. It's juicy, but with a lovely balancing acidity and long finish that has notes of mineral, earthy and black cherry. (**** 1/2)
Boekenhoutskloof 2020 Semillon
From vines planted between 1902 to 1942 ... This wine is fat in the mouth, but with a little spiciness that shows up along the sides of the tongue; there’s also some nice citrus qualities. (*** 1/2+)
Porcelainberg 2020 Syrah
Syrah from an older block of 38-year-old vines, offering up four tons to the hectare, it is then whole bunch pressed, aged and bottled. This is also an older clone of Syrah planted in South Africa, possibly the oldest. It's earthier, dryer and smokier here than the previous Syrah on this page. (*** 1/2)
Cap Maritime 2020 Chardonnay
A new project from the upper Hermel en Aarde Valley (meaning “Heaven on Earth”), it lies some of 3 km from the ocean and is perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay due to the diurnal temperatures. Wild fermented, 60% malalactic and 14 months in oak (60% new). It's a spicy version of Chardonnay with a nice fruit core ... There are some barrel notes and buttery richness, but also nice acidity helps balance with a minerality-chalkiness and hints of vanilla; what I also liked was the materialization of a creamy center. Quite yum. (****)
Cap Maritime 2020 Pinot Noir
This new project for Boekenhoutskloof is a piece of land 3 km from the ocean that boasts 15 hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, according to winemaker Gottfried Moche: “It is the perfect place to grow these varieties.” Tasting this wine makes me think he might be right. Spicy with lovely acidity, deep fruit character and some earthy notes (but they do not dominate). There are also notes of cran-black cherry and black currants. Nicest Pinot I've had out of South African in quite some time. (****+)