Le Sommelier presents three unique wines in the February Classics Release…
February CLASSICS Release
We have an exciting lineup of classic wines of the world releasing this month, including stately Chianti Gran Selezione, pristine Premier Cru Chablis, and legendary Gran Reserva PX from 1990. Read below about these special releases, and reserve yours online via the LCBO’s Classics Collection, beginning Thursday, February 4 at 8:30am.
Bibbiano Chianti Gran Selezione Vigna Capannino 2016
Located on a side road near Lilliano in the commune of Castellina in Chianti, the 220 hectare Tenuta di Bibbiano is one of Chianti Classico’s historical wine properties. Bibbiano is an ancient estate, mentioned in an official document of 1089 as the Castello di Bibiune. Bibbiano entered into the possession of the Marzi family in 1865 and was subsequently expanded with the purchase of adjacent properties. Today, Tommaso Marrocchesi Marzi manages the estate and since 2006 has also served on the Board of Directors of the Consorzio. He owns the winery jointly with his brother Federico. They organically farm 27 ha of vines on slopes between 270-300m, across a range of soils including calcareous clays, alberese, and limestones.
“Restrained, fresh pomegranate fruit with slightly nutty character, earthy-strawberry depth and minerality. Bright acidity and savoury character, firm and chalky, with natural and integrated freshness.” – Aldo Fiordelli
“A gorgeously teased, poised aromatic ripeness here: subtle incense spice just hidden behind the refined, perfumed plums; a hint of orange peel. Shapely, fresh, vivid and vigorous: super purity, admirable finesse.” – Andrew Jefford
“Nose-tingling peppery notes; the fruit on the palate is slightly faded already, although the wine is by no means drying out. Drinking window: 2020-2028.” – Monty Waldin
95 points, Panel, Decanter.com, January 2020.
Appellation : DOCG Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Region: Toscana, Italy
Grape(s) : Sangiovese
Price : $59.00 for 750mL
LCBO# : 645002
Domaine Vrignaud Chablis 1er Cru
Fourchaume Les Vaupulans 2018
Guillaume joined his family’s domaine in 1999, and convinced his father to leave the co-op, build a cellar, and start their own label. They moved to organic viticulture in 2009. Vrignaud’s four hectare 1er Cru Fourchaume vineyard is situated in the north of Chablis near the commune of Fontenay-Près-Chablis on the eastern banks of the Serein river. 25-year-old vines on clay-limestone Kimmeridgian yield a concentrated and focused wine. After a native ferment in stainless, this remained in inox for 10 months on lees, without battonage.
“Guillaume Vrignaud is emerging not just as one of the top names in Fontenay but in the whole of Chablis, producing wines that are subtle explorations of their terroirs. This is stony, waxy and leesy with pear and citrus fruit, a dusting of cinnamon spice and considerable freshness and bite for the vintage. Superb winemaking. Drinking window: 2020-2028.” – 95 points, Tim Atkin, MW, Decanter.com, July 2019
Appellation : AOC Chablis Premier Cru
Region : Chablis, France
Grape(s) : Chardonnay
Price : $57.00 for 750mL
LCBO : 18349
Toro Albala Don Px Gran Reserva 1990
Bodegas Toro Albalá is one of the driving forces of DOP Montilla-Moriles, the neighbouring region of the DOP Jerez-Xérès-Sherry. Toro Albalá began here, in the heart of Southern Cordoba, in 1922 with small wine grower José María Toro Albalá. José had just restored the former electric power station of Aguilar de la Frontera, some 50 km from Córdoba. He purchased a small winery in a nearby village, and moved the entire operation to this newly restored facility. In the 1960s, José’s nephew, enologist Antonio Sánchez, joined the team, bringing his extensive wine training in France. Antonio rightly remains the iconic figure of the winery today (as does his omnipresent sunglasses), and this oenologist, alchemist, and inventor is the one responsible for directing the winery into its highly respected focus on the sweetest of wines, the unsurpassed Pedro Ximénez. Indeed, Toro Albalá was the first bodega to sell a sweet PX dessert wine, and continues to be seen as the foremost experts in vintage Pedro Ximénez. Their cellars contain more than 6,000 barrels, some of which house the oldest wines in Andalucía.
“The 1990 Don PX Gran Reserva has unusually high sugar, close to 400 grams (when this range is usually less than 360). Compared with the rest of wines, this feels like a very good value. These wines mature in old 550-liter American oak casks for decades, and the wines have great concentration. It felt unusually perfumed, a little spirity and with notes that made me think of Moscatel – notes of orange peel and flowers, and of course the raisin and dry dates and figs from these wines made with raisins. It’s sweet and dense like motor oil and leaves a combination of raisins and chocolate in the spicy and faintly warm finish. This was bottled in early 2019. Drink date: 2019-2026.” 93 points. Luis Gutiérrez, Robertparker.com, June 2019
Appellation : DOP Montilla-Moriles
Region : Cordoba, Spain
Grape(s) : Pedro Ximénez
Price : $63.00 for 750mL
LCBO : 10761
Most of our producers are small, independently owned and operated businesses, like ours. You can view our complete portfolio here. Thank you for letting us share these producers and wines with you.
Cheers,
Le Sommelier
416.603.7026
bernard@lesommelier.com
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MIXED CASES
Check out our website for our current selection of Mixed Cases. We are continually adding new selections for you. These limited edition cases of 6 or 12 bottles were intended for restaurants and special events, and filled with wines not found in the LCBO. We will arrange contactless delivery to your door, anywhere in Ontario.
View the current offerings here.
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