On the Road with the Grape Guy

The Stem Wine Group Wine Tasting 2024

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(October 2024) … So many wines, so little time – but I did my best to try most of the wines in the room. These were the wines that impressed the most, starting with the four-plus-star wines and moving to those that offer up good quality and flavour. Price does not come into play when rating these wines, though I have given the price in this report from the Stem catalogue. All wines are available through Stem Wine Group – unless otherwise noted with an LCBO number.

Let’s get to it …  

FOUR PLUS Stars
Castell D’Or NV Cava Brut ($17.95 - #32639)
- this 12 months on lees sparkling wine has lovely apple and pear notes with good acidity – this is pretty and worth the price (worth it at twice the price). Great value. And is available at the LCBO. A great, inexpensive bottle for your next gathering or celebration.

Corte Aura NV Franciacorta Pas Dose ($47.99)
- four years on lees and 80% Chardonnay, this very dry sparkler with notes of lemon curd and jumpy acid is pretty wonderful on the palate.

La Manufacture 2023 Forets – Chablis Premier Cru ($62.99)
- creamy-vanilla, white stone fruit, floral –this is pleasant and fruity with a beauty long finish.

Tome Wines 2020 Red Stake – Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.99)
- a Washinigton State Cab that is fresh and elegant with lots of fruit and super easy to drink. It has the same score as four other wines, but this was my favourite red of the show. This quality of Cab, out of Napa, would be double, if not triple, the price. Worth picking up.

FOUR Stars
Anno Domini 2021 Le Argille Cabernet di Cabernet ($62.99)
- late harvested Franc and Sauv that spends 12-18 months in concrete: this fruit forward wine has a black and red fruit core with a silky mouth feel and long finish.

Braida 2021 Montebruna Barbera d’Asti ($46.99)
- from 30-year-old vines; this dark, rich Barbera is full of blackberry and cassis.

Biaida 2020 Bricco dell’Uccellone Barbera d’Asti ($139.99)
- now with 66+ year old vines, this wine is big, bold and spicy; very much unlike Barbera, which is a welcome and fun change.

Ca’ del Baio 2023 Paolina Barbera D’Alba ($23.99)
- fresh, fruity and easy with pleasant cherry and raspberry fruit at its core.

Castell D’or NV Brut Rosat ($18.95)
- a twelve month on lees bubble: lovely cherry, raspberry with acidity that sings - easy and supple to drink.

Chateau du Val D’Or 2020 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($39.99)
- nice richness with good balance; lots of dark fruit, anise and even a drop of vanilla.

Corte Aura NV Franciacorta Brut ($39.99)
- mostly Chardonnay with a hint (10%) of Pinot Noir and 30+ months on lees; crisp with notes of lemon, lime and punchy acidity

Feudi di San Gregorio 2015 Serpico – Irpinia Aglianico ($109.99)
- smoky tobacco yet with juicy black fruit at the core; well-balanced wine with lots going for it.

Gaja 2021 Magari ($109.99)
- good balance of acidity, oak and dark fruit

Monteti 2018 Monteti Toscana ($69.99)
- nice and silky with smoky and black fruited notes, including black cherry and vanilla.

Precision Wine 2020 Windstorm Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.99)
- a character driven wine with concentrated dark fruit, vanilla, and cedar; a medium length acidity, pretty and pleasant.

Ronco del Gelso 2022 Siet Vignis Chardonnay ($36.99)
- lovely freshness is derived from using older oak and large barrels with one year on lees. Pretty, lively and fresh – a nice interpretation of Chardonnay from Italy.

Vina Chocalan 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva ($16.99)
- juicy and fruit forward black fruit leads with a lovely finish and good value.

Three-and-a-Half / Three-and-a-Half Plus Stars
(wines on this list are in alphabetical order)

Andeluna 2019 Pasionada Cuatro Cepas ($64.99)
+ Anno Domini NV Diamond Spumante Rosato ($19.99)
+ Anno Domini NV Moscato IGT ($14.99)
+ Argiolas 2020 Is Solinas – Carignano de Sulcis ($30.99)

+ Argiolas 2020 Korem – Isola dei Nuraghi ($64.99)
+ Arnaldo Rivera 2020 Rocche di Castiglione Barolo
+ Arnaldo Rivera 2019 Cannubi Barolo ($179.99)
+ Atkins Farm 2020 Shiraz – McLaren Vale ($22.99)
+ Ca’ del Baio 2021 Asili Barbaresco ($69.99)
Casina Bric 2017 Barolo ($59.99)
+ Chateau Les 5 Cles 2021 Bordeaux ($19.99)
+ Collemattoni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino ($84.99)
+ Collemattoni 2018 Vigna Fontelontano Brunello di Montalcino Riserva ($159.99)
+ Coppi 2020 Siniscalco Primitivo ($21.99)
+ Corte Aura NV Franciacorta Rose ($47.99)
Crowded House 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ($20.99)
Deltetto 2023 Daivej Roero Arneis ($24.99)
Deltetto 2022 I Lioni Nebbiolo D’Alba ($27.99)

+ Domaine de L’Amandine 2021 Seguret – Cotes du Rhone Villages ($24.99)
Feudi di San Gregorio 2023 Ros’Aura Irpinia Rosato ($19.99)
+ Feudi di San Gregorio 2022 Falanghina del Sannio ($20.99)
+ Feudi di San Gregorio 2019 Taurasi ($51.99)
Forchir 2023 Rosadis Pinot Grigio ($19.99)
+ Gaja 2021 Idda Etna Rosso ($79.99)
Giulia Negri 2022 Pian delle Mole Langhe Nebbiolo ($46.99)
Giulia Negri 2020 Serradenari Barolo ($129.99)

+ Il Borro 2020 Pian di Nova Toscana Rosso ($37.99)
Il Borro 2019 Polissena Valdarno di Sopra ($64.99)
La Manufacture 2022 Chablis ($46.99)
La Manufacture 2022 Blanchot – Chablis Grand Cru ($139.99)
+ Masciarelli 2022 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($20.99)
+ Masciarelli 2018 Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva ($109.99)
+ Grand Napa Vineyards 2020 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon ($144.99)
+ Precision Wine 2018 Hill & Blade Zinfandel ($19.99)
+ Ronco del Gelso 2022 Sottomonte Sauvignon ($39.99)
Sartarelli 2023 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi - Classico ($18.99)
+ Siro Pacenti 2022 Rosso di Montalcino ($56.99)
Tenuta Decugnano dei Barbi 2021 Battito Umbria Rosso ($24.99)
Tenuta Monteti 2018 Caburnio Toscana ($32.99)

+ Villa a Sesta 2019 Il Palei Chianti Classico ($29.99)
+ Villabella 2020 Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($32.99)
+ Villabella 2013 Fracastoro Riserva Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($89.99)
+ Woolshed 2022 Shiraz ($14.99)
Zyme 2020 Kairos IGP ($132.99)

Chilean Wine Tasting 2024

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(November 2024) … I have said much about Chilean wine on these pages of my website. It was my first real love in the wine world, mainly because it was wine I could afford easily and consistently when I was starting my wine education and cellar. Today, Chile still holds a special place in my heart; so when it is time for the annual Chilean Wine Fair I get excited to find out what great wines are coming from the long, thin, perfect-place-to-grow-grapes known as Chile; and what affordable gems will see my cellar (Or the video series).

(All wines in this report were tasted, but may not be available in Ontario)

Four Star Plus Wines

Montes 2020 Montes Wings
($67.95 - #33354) – a Carmenere / Cabernet Franc blend that really impresses: silky smooth, slightly earthy, with blue and black fruit and hints of pencil shavings on the finish.

Montes 2021 Purple Angel
($109.95 - #62364) – always a killer bottle with a deep dark fruit core with acidity for balance. This is a great age-able wine.

Montgras 2022 Intriga by Montgras – Cabernet Sauvignon
($23.95 – n/a) – consistently a good bottle of wine, each time I get to try it I’m impressed, vintage-to-vintage; and it is still great value at under-$25. Lots of dark fruit with hints of spice.

Montgras 2022 Rare Grenacha Handcraft 6
(no price – n/a) – this wine really floated my boat cause I love a good Garnache. Easy, fresh and clean – pure raspberry with notes of red licorice; super pleasant with a drink-all-day-ness to it.

Perez Cruz 2023 Pircas – Cabernet Sauvignon
(no price – n/a) – silky and smooth; lots of vanilla, black cherry and all with a good acid punch.

Vina Vik 2020 VIK
($250.00 – n/a) – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc well-structured with tobacco, spice and dark fruit – quite elegant.

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Four Star Wines

Concha y Toro 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon – Marques de Casa Concha
($19.95 - #337238) – lovely dark fruit with smoky and vanilla notes all wrapped up by good tannins structure.

Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay
($15.95 - #230565) – this Chard tastes premium, for a base model price: good acidity with lots of zip, zig and lemon pop.

Garces Silva 2022 Boya Cabernet Franc
($19.95 - #1162713) – fresh, clean and easy. A good fruit forward wine with notes of raspberry and strawberry. Not your average Cab Franc. Boo-ya.

Luis Felipe Edwards 2021 Marea Syrah
(no price - n/a) – silky and slightly meaty with a lovely black cherry seam on the mid-palate.

Montes 2022 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon
($22.95 - #322586) – has always been a good value, and age-worthy bottle at the LCBO; this year it is a tasty mix of blackberry and mint.

Perez Cruz 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Piedra Seca – Cabernet Sauvignon
($22.95 - #36167) – a little floral and good fruit that leans mostly red dominant.

Vina Las Ninas 2022 Casa Bollen Carignan
($15.95 – n/a) – not available in Ontario, but if you can put your hand on a bottle I thoroughly recommend it. Fresh and fruit driven with notes of blue and black berry, black cherry and spice.

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Three-and-a-Half / Three-and-a-Half Plus Stars
(wine without a sku number my or may not be available at a later date or through an agent)

+ Carmen 2020 Delanz Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Jahuel ($29.95 - #41879)
Concha y Toro 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon – Reserva Privada ($19.95 - #570754)
+ Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier ($11.65 - #64287)
Luis Felipe Edwards 2020 360 Cabernet Sauvignon (no price)
+ Luis Felipe Edwards 2020 Dona Bernarda Red Blend (no price)
+ Montgras 2022 Montgras ANTU – Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95)
Montgras 2022 Montgras Day One Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.75 - #35975)
+ Santa Carolina 2020 Reserve de Familia – Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 – #408658)
+ TerrAustral 2020 Santa Isle Selected Vineyards ($19.95)
Vina Las Ninas NV Las Ninas Traditional Method Sparkling ($19.95)
+ Vina Las Ninas 2022 Organic Las Ninas Ella Syrah ($13.95)
+ Vina Vik 2022 VIK A Cabernet Sauvignon ($48.00)
+ Vina Vik 2021 Milla Cala ($100.00)
VSPT Wine Group 2022 Leyda Reserva – Pinot Noir ($16.00)