Like Chardonnay? Look no further! Savvy Sommelier Susan Desjardins discovered this Chardonnay from Chile.  After one sip, she raves that this Chardonnay wine made by Cono Sur a great value for the price.  Here's her tasting notes:

Cono Sur ‘Reserva’ Chardonnay 2011

Casablanca Valley
$12.95
LCBO#270066
13.5% alcohol

Recently released in the LCBO, this wine is a steal. The grapes were harvested from select parcels, 15% of the wine aged 5 months in oak. The enticing nose offers aromas of pear, apple crisp, kitchen spice and a whiff of butterscotch. Medium bodied, fresh and fruity, the crisp apple and lemon/lime flavours carry through on a lengthy lively finish.

Enjoy!
- Susan

To kick off the new year, the first LCBO Vintages release on Saturday January 7th offers the opportunity to experiment with some relatively unknown European varietals and to re-stock your wine cabinet with some excellent well-priced values. Consider two whites, shoulder to shoulder in the Alpine regions of France, Roussette de Savoie, and Switzerland, the classic Chasselas (known locally as Fendant). Both offer lovely aromatics, good balance and texture, and under $20.  Among the reds, the little-known region of Irouléguy in southwestern France offers a powerful blend of Tannat and the Cabernet grape varieties, while Italy's Sicily wine region delivers a classic savoury wine just made for meaty pasta dishes called Nero d’Avola.

Among the ‘Smart Buys’, there’s great value in Konzelmann’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (just off-dry) and Sue-Ann Staff’s mouthwateringly delicious Semi-Dry Riesling – both under $15 and both wineries featured in our Savvy Selections. Among the red wines, Chile offers great value and powerful flavours in the Koyle Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  Argentina delivers loads of flavour with the Urban Uco Malbec/Tempranillo red wine blend while Australia’s award-winning Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz fills your mouth with full-bodied fruit. Italy's Tuscany offers the ripe yet dry Ripa delle Mandorle from Vicchiomaggio, a site with a historic castle where Leonardi da Vinci is reputed to have painted the Mona Lisa.

LCBO's general release (main shelves in the store) also offers some excellent values, including the rich round Bordeaux Supérieur, Château la Croix de Queynac and the outstanding full-bodied Sabor Real crafted from the fruit of 70+-year-old vines. And don’t miss Pondview’s Bella Terra Cabernet Franc, a wine that was featured in Savvy Selections in the spring of 2011.

Below is my shopping list for 6 good value wines at prices that will be kind to your wallet!

Cheers and Happy 2012,
Susan

If I only had $100, I would buy . . .
LCBO Vintages Release as of Saturday January 7, 2012

Sue-Ann Staff  Semi-Dry Riesling 2008
Niagara, Ontario
$14.95 (Vintages #258632) 10.0% alcohol
Produced from grapes harvested from 4 separate parcels, this is Sue-Ann Staff’s first wine as proprietor. Pale yellow-green, there’s a whiff of petrol over mineral notes and the aromas of zesty citrus, ripe stone fruit and fresh-picked apple. Light-medium bodied and off-dry, this wine displays a great balance of fresh acidity, underlying minerality and tangy fruit that persists through the lasting finish.

Domaine de Mignaberry 2008
AOC Irouléguy, France
$18.95 (Vintages #251611) 13.0% alcohol
Primarily Tannat blended with the Cabernets, this deep violet wine from southwestern France is dry, medium-full bodied, and loaded with flavours framed by a firm structure. There’s intriguing complexity on the nose—earthy herbal notes, a whiff of spicy flowers, an elusive gamey nuance and the richness of ripe dark berries. The tannins make their presence felt, the lush berry fruit balanced with fresh acidity, the herbal notes suffusing the palate and lingering on the extended dry finish. Choose a hearty stew to match this hearty wine or cellar mid-term.

Koyle ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Alto Colchagua, Chile
$15.95 (Vintages #256073) 14.0% alcohol
An outstanding value, this deep ruby Cab, hand harvested and aged in French oak, is refined and stylish. There’s beguiling complexity at first scent—minty herbal notes, spice, tobacco leaf, cedar and berries. Dry, medium-full bodied, the fresh texture and ripe tannins frame vibrant red fruit—raspberry and cherry—with hints of cedar and spice persisting on an extended dry savoury finish. Pick up a few bottles. Try a bottle with prime rib and cellar the remaining ones mid term.

Montes ‘Limited Selection’ Pinot Noir 2009
DO Casablanca Valley, Chile
$14.95 (Vintages #37937) 14.0% alcohol
Here’s another great value, a dry medium-bodied ruby Pinot that offers enticing aromas of earth, beetroot, red field berry and mineral. Dry, medium bodied, the silky texture is complemented by lively acidity and vivid red berries—strawberries, red currant, cranberries. Just lovely balance, the attractive notes of spice and white pepper carrying through the tantalizing vibrant finish. This is another multiple purchase that would pair well with duck confit on yam chips served with a cranberry-orange garnish.
 
Vicchiomaggio Ripa delle Mandorle 2009
IGT Toscana, Italy
$15.00 (Vintages #677930) 13.5% alcohol
From a storied Tuscan property, this blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet proffers a lovely nose—floral nuances, berry fruit, spice and vanilla captivate. Beautifully balanced, it’s dry yet silky, medium bodied, ripe berry fruit caressing the palate, the spice and vanilla replaying right through the scrumptious finish. Just delicious, it would be a good match for osso bucco.

Sabor Real 2008
DO Toro, Spain
$15.95 (Vintages #172932) 14.5% alcohol
The last release of October offered the Sabor Real Vignas Centenarias, and here is yet another great Tempranillo, produced from 70+-year-old vines. Inky purple, the plush aromas are of rich dark spiced fruit, exotic spice, cigar box and some elusive floral nuances. Subtly structured, it’s dry, full-bodied, velvety with great depth of flavour – just loaded with spicy dark fruit. Lingering notes of spice, vanilla and sweet toast persist on a warm finish. A candidate for medium-term cellaring, it’s a great value.

Grand Total: $95.75

If I only had $100, I would buy…

For the May 23, 2009 LCBO Vintages release

Fire up the BBQ, the summer weather is here. With so many wines to choose from, which ones to buy? 

Problem solved.  

I am part of a panel that samples the wines several weeks before they arrive on the store shelves at Vintages.  This means, I have made my list of ‘must buy wines’, weeks before the wines are in stock at your local LCBO.  To help you decide which wines to buy & serve with BBQ fare, here is my list if I only had $100, I would buy...

Worth every penny – Palliser Estate Pinot Noir, New Zealand

$28.95    Check Inventory at LCBO Vintages

New Zealand makes outstanding Pinots – this is my hands down favorite.  An elegant, medium bodied wine that with one swirl, smells like a bouquet of red roses. With one sip, tastes of red cherry & warm heat makes for a delicious wine that lingers forever.  Classic match for Pinot Noir is grilled salmon or serve this one with BBQ lamb chops & grilled portabello mushrooms.  Watch out, this wine will sell out fast!

Bring on the burgers – G7 Reserva Carmenère, Chile

$14.95    Check Inventory at LCBO Vintages

Carmenère is a crowd pleaser at a great price too! For the longest time, Chilean winemakers thought this grape variety was Merlot – until they put it under a microscope & discovered that it wasn’t.  Carmenère has become Chile’s signature grape variety. This wine is BIG, full bodied & ready to be paired with anything off the BBQ.  At this price…stock up for the summer!

Sip with sizzling steaks – Spellbound Old Vines Zinfandel, California

$20.95    Check Inventory at LCBO Vintages

This wine is not from Napa or Sonoma, rather from the small town of Lodi (a 40 minute drive from Napa) where vineyards look more like corn fields – rows upon rows that never seem to end.  Many vines are over 100 years old, looking more like little trees with dark bunches of grapes. Wines made with ‘old vines’ are full bodied intense & concentrated tastes of black plums, black cherry, molasses & dark chocolate.  Absolutely delicious!

Ribs are ready!  - Casa Santos Sousão, Portugal

$21.95    Check Inventory at LCBO Vintages

A BIG wine made with Portugal’s up & coming grape variety – Sousão.  The full bodied wine is deep purple in colour & loaded with tastes of black plums, figs, cedar & vanilla with a touch of smoke.  Can’t go wrong with this one!

GRAND TOTAL: $86.80

Can you spare $5?

This delicious white wine is worth adding to your shopping cart – Villa Giada Ceirole Moscato d’Asti, Italy

$18.95   Check Inventory at LCBO Vintages

Chill & sip during a picnic, before a BBQ feast or even with dessert.  The wine may smell sweet – but doesn’t taste sweet. Luscious flavours of honey, lime, mandarin will fill your glass with fine bubbles.  Lay out the cheese platter, or serve with summertime salads or BBQ pineapples & strawberries to enjoy with this wine. One word – DELICIOUS.

NEW GRAND TOTAL: $105.75

What about Rosé wines? 

I am in the midst of compiling a ‘Rosé Report’ of every Rosé wine that I have tried so far (hard work indeed!).  Email me to receive it directly or watch for my blog.

I went wine shopping with CTV Ottawa

Leanne Cusak (host of News at Noon), & I, roamed the aisles at the LCBO looking for wines that I consider ‘good buys’ priced under $15 and $20 bottle. 

Watch the TV segments

See our shopping list

Cheers & Enjoy!     
-Debbie

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/savvydebbie
Read more of my blogs: www.savvycompany.ca/debbie

When people select, drink and enjoy wines these days, the concept of 'style' plays a big role in the character, profile and experience of wine. It is a way of familiarizing the unknown. There are many ways of referencing style with wine as there is referencing style with people. One can talk about style with winemaking or growing or marketing or bottling or flavour...  just like you can with art or clothing or behaviour. Often, the concept of 'New' and 'Old' World styles run through discussions and pleasures that are a part of the wine experience too. There is no well-defined identity for one or the other, particularly now that vines and winemakers and techniques move from traditional Old World regions to New World regions and back again.

There is still value in referencing these styles because it helps to uncover the identities and assets of wines we might not be familiar with. In a way it is like discovering a tasting profile for wines. Here are some ideas that might clarify 'Old' from 'New' and "open up" some wines for you.

Old World:  These wines are usually wines that have a long, documented history and are primarily found in Europe and around the Mediterranean. Here the traditions of winemaking are very important to the production of wine. "Terroir" (the impact of soil, weather, nutrients, sunlight, agricultural method, etc.) also plays a large role in the way wine is made.

Austria, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland are wine regions with a long history of growing grapes for wine that would qualify as "Old World".

New World: These wines are grown outside of the traditional wine regions of Europe. Each of these countries has its own history with wine that often is about the importation of vines in many cases ( often by the Church for various rituals). The growers brought their grape growing and winemaking traditions with them, but had to modify some of their procedures (like irrigation) to accommodate the conditions and resources of their new sites.

Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico and the United States are the more notale examples.

Style: Knowing this information is helpful.

Old World wines because of their reliance on tradition and terroir will display more of the characteristics of the soils and climates they are in like the foods grown right along side them. Much Old World wine, to oversimplify, is intended as a food partner, a wine whose crop yields, alcohol levels, acid levels, aging processes and geographical boundaries are highly regulated. Filtering of many of these wines is done with natural products like clay or egg whites so sediment levels tend to be higher and the wines tend to absorb rather than reflect light. These wines often show a minerality, an earthiness and a flavour profile that leans towards barrel flavours like vanilla and smoke or wood and they show tannic characteristics more readily. Intended to be food partners, Old World often improves its impact with local fare as an accompaniment.

New World, on the other hand, is more winemaker driven. It is intended to be more a "cocktail" experience. It is designed for the consumer with its fruit forward, high sugar and alcohol profile. These wines are grown to be drunk now. Longer growing seasons, less regulations, controlled irrigation and fertilization render bountiful crops and copious supplies of wine that is brilliantly reflective because of the .005 gauge screening it goes through when it is filtered. Drinking wine on its own suits the New World very well.

That is not to say that these are hard and fast rules for "Old" and "New". Many is the Old World vintage that is tasty and sweet all by itself. Many is the New World vintage that marries very well with food. A lot of Old World wineries have New World winemakers and vice versa, but these characteristics are helpful in recognizing New and Old World 'Styles' of wine which may help you share your wine experiences with someone else or choose the right wine for someone you know. 

Cheers and Salute!
- Wayne

Do you have more ideas about styles of wine, New or Old World? Email me as I would like to hear from you.