Montecillo Gran Reserva 2005

SWIC Score: 91 (JMG)

Tasting notes: Thyme, bay leaf, full-bodied, elegant, long.

Available: QC (SAQ 00239277 - $ 33.50)

Winery: Bodegas Montecillo

Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja

Varieties: 100% Tempranillo

Ageing: 24 months in French oak barrel

Alcohol level: 13.0% alc./vol.

Bodegas Montecillo were born on 1874. Since then, they produced red Tempranillo wines, which are among the most well-known of Rioja. Their Gran Reserva is made with selected grapes from quite old vineyards. After an accurate vinification, the wine ages for 2 years in French oak barrels (handcrafted in the winery) and then matures 3 years more in the bottle before being sold. Montecillo Gran Reserva 2005 shows a great elegance as well as good extraction and body. It is the perfect pairing for game dishes, although you can also try it and enjoy it with greasy fishes as salmon.

Vintage tasted: 2005 (October 2012)

Manía Rueda Verdejo 2011

SWIC Score: 85 (JMG)

Tasting notes: Perfumed, peach, fennel, light, fresh.

Available: ON (LCBO 297135 - $ 13.95)

 

Winery: Bodegas Félix Lorenzo Cachazo

Region: D.O. Rueda (Castilla y León)

Varieties: 100% Verdejo

Alcohol level: 13.1% alc./vol.

Bodegas Félix Lorenzo Cachazo is a family owned and operated winery with several generations of tradition as white wine producers. They were among the 8 founders of Rueda D.O. in 1980 and control up to 25 acres of ancient prephylloxeric vineyards. Manía Rueda Verdejo comes from an accurate selection of grapes from one of the highest vineyards of Rueda, planted at 809 m. As a good example of Verdejo young wine, it shows a great fruity flavour with some herbal nuances. Fresh and delicious, it is a perfect match for summertime.

Vintage tasted: 2011 (October 2012)

Montecillo Gran Reserva Selección Especial 1981

SWIC Score: 90 (JMG)

Tasting notes: Cherry, anise, bay leaf, sharp, silky, pleasant.

Available:

QC (SAQ 10469339 - $ 73.50)

BC (BCLS 188300 - $ 73.95)

Winery: Bodegas Montecillo

Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja

Varieties: 100% Tempranillo

Ageing: at least 24 months in French oak barrel

Alcohol level: 12.5% alc./vol.

Yes, you have perfectly read: 1981 vintage. This 30 years old wine is made with selected Tempranillo grapes from the oldest vines of Rioja Alta area. Montecillo Gran Reserva Selección Especial is only produced when the winemaker considers that the vintage is outstanding. It ages for a very long time in French oak barrels, which have been handcrafted at the winery. The aim is getting a long-lasting wine, which has to be very full, robust and powerful in order to have a great evolution to the smoother features you can find now.

Vintage tasted: 1981 (October 2012)

Hermanos Lurton Verdejo 2011

SWIC Score: 89 (JMG)

Tasting notes: Perfumed, peach, pineapple, sharp, fresh.

Available: QC (SAQ 00727198 - $ 15.90)

Winery: Hermanos Lurton

Region: D.O. Rueda (Castilla y León)

Varieties: 85% Verdejo, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Viura

Alcohol level: 12.8% alc./vol.

The brothers Jacques and François Lurton created the winery Hermanos Lurton in 1992, aiming to explore the potential of Rueda region as an important white wine producer. They began making only Sauvignon Blanc, but quickly discovered the quality of the indigenous grape Verdejo. With it they produce this Hermanos Lurton Verdejo, using their long experience in the production of elegant whites in different parts of the world. Skin maceration and a brief ageing of 3 months with its lees in inox tanks give the particular features to this wine.

Vintage tasted: 2011 (October 2012)

Giné Giné 2009

SWIC Score: 86 (IFS)

Tasting notes: Blackberries, plums, liquorice, powerful, sharp, direct.

Available:

ON (VINTAGES 67843 – $ 17.95)

QC (SAQ 11337910 - $ 18.55)

Winery: Buil & Giné

Region: D.O.Q. Priorat (Catalunya)

Varieties: 60% Carinyena, 40% Garnatxa Negra

Alcohol level: 14.0% alc./vol.

Giné Giné was born on 1998 (vintage 1997) as something new and very different from everything else done in D.O.Q. Priorat until then. It was the way founded by the new Buil & Giné winery to state its intentions. A young wine dressing a modern presentation made for every drinker, instead of heavy oaked big wines made for the elite. This Giné Giné 2009 is still young, although really powerful and not really easy to drink. It needs a BBQ dinner or a meat receipt, it doesn’t matter if it’s a little bit spicy.

Vintage tasted: 2009 (October 2012)