We have numerous special releases this month at the LCBO, including cult California Cabernets, stunning South African Chardonnay, collectable Champagnes, prized Chianti Classicos, and gems from the Loire and the Okanagan Valley.
Read below for more details about these special wines, along with the LCBO links to purchase them.
Champagne Gosset Grand Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
Founded in Aÿ in 1584 by Pierre Gosset, Champagne Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne. For 17 generations Gosset was family owned, but in 1993 it was sold to the Cointreau family from Charente, owners of Frappin Cognac.
“The most subtle lemony cloud hovers above a certain chalkiness on the nose. Utter subtlety also characterises the super-svelte palate that is as light as a feather, yet conveys great depth and creamy softness. The freshness seems buffered by chalk, the mousse serves to remind you that this is actually Champagne, so breezy, so light, so elegant is this. A wonderful combination of depth and weightlessness. Drinking window: 2020-2030.” 95 points, Anne Krebiehl, MW, Decanter
Read more about Champagne Gosset here.
Appellation : AOC Champagne
Country : France
Grape(s) : Chardonnay
Price : $100
LCBO : 484147
Champagne Gosset Celebris Rosé Brut 2008
Founded in Aÿ in 1584 by Pierre Gosset, Champagne Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne. For 17 generations Gosset was family owned, but in 1993 it was sold to the Cointreau family from Charente, owners of Frappin Cognac.
“Offering up aromas of honeycomb, warm biscuits, red berries and spices, the just-released 2008 Extra Brut Celebris Rosé is full-bodied, ample and layered, with a concentrated, even expansive mid-palate; but if this Celebris Rosé leads with its voluminous core of fruit, it’s its tangy spine of acidity and taut structure that dominate the bone-dry finish. That structure will demand a bit of patience, but this is an impressive effort from Gosset. Drink date: 2023-2040.” 94+ points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
Read more about Champagne Gosset here.
Appellation : AOC Champagne
Country : France
Grape(s) : Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Price : $310
LCBO : 13824
Restless River Ava Marie Chardonnay 2018
This Chardonnay bears the name of its single 2.06 hectare vineyard, named after their daughter. The slopes are south and east facing, with shallow top soils with iron-rich rocks and sandy gravels over decomposed granite clays. This was whole bunch pressed, settled overnight, and then native fermented into various sized French barrels (7% new) as well as two terracotta amphora, from Tuscany. Post ferment, this rested on lees for 11 months prior to moving to stainless for a 3 month tightening stint prior to bottling. Once in bottle, this rested for 18 months prior to release.
“‘It’s not the winemaker,’ says Craig Wessels, ‘I’ve just got great sites.’ His vineyards are certainly first class, but I think the man is being too modest here. Consistently one of the New World’s best Chardonnays, this is complex, balanced and judiciously wooded with 10% amphorae-fermented juice adding some va-va-voom. Drink date: 2019-2027.” 96 points, Tim Atkin, MW
Read more about Restless River here.
Region : Hemel-en-Aarde
Country : South Africa
Grape(s) : Chardonnay
Price : $58
LCBO : 30017
Adamvs Quintvs Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Quintvs is a cabernet sauvignon barrel selection from the five distinct soil types found at the winery’s Howell Mountain estate, including the region’s lauded iron-rich clays and powdery volcanic ash. Philippe Melka is the consultant winemaker, so you can imagine the league and profile they’re striving for with this bottle. This spent 22 months in 73% new French barrels.
“From a hot, extreme vintage, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon QUINTVS is one of the riper, sexier, more overt wines in the lineup. This deep purple/plum hued effort offers up tons of ripe blackberry and plum fruits as well as notes of smoke tobacco, crushed rock like minerality, licorice, and mountain herb aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with sweet tannins and plenty of mid-palate depth, it’s a rocking effort from this estate that’s already drinking nicely yet should evolve for 15-20 years. Maturity: 2020-2040.” 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Read more about Adamvs here.
Region : Napa Valley
Country : USA
Grape(s) : Cabernet Sauvignon
Price : $342
LCBO : 30655
Adamvs Téres Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Téres is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend, tipped with 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc from the winery’s Howell Mountain estate. Philippe Melka is the consultant winemaker, so you can imagine the league and profile they’re striving for. This spent 22 months in 70% new French barrels
“Starting with the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon TERES, this brilliant Cabernet saw a long 30- to 40-day maceration and was brought up in 70% new French oak. It has a huge perfume of blueberries and flowers, with an almost garrigue and dried herb quality coming through with time in the glass. Just about perfect on the palate, with a layered, full-bodied mouthfeel, impeccable balance, and ultra-fine tannins, this rock star of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows the sexy style of the 2015 vintage while staying balanced and elegant. It will keep for 2+ decades. Maturity: 2019-2039.” 97 points, Jeb Dunnuck.
Read more about Adamvs here.
Region : Napa Valley
Country : USA
Grape(s) : Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Price : $232
LCBO : 30837
Lanciola Chianti Classico Le Masse Di Greve Riserva 2016
Le Masse di Greve is a 70 year old, 10.8 ha single vineyard rooted in shale soils at 300-400m in Greve. This field blend is dominated by Sangiovese (over 90%), but also includes many other autochthonous varieties including Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, and Mamolo. The Riserva is a selection of the winery’s finest grapes. This wine was fermented in stainless over 3 weeks before 16-24 months’ rest in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year barriques, prior to 6 months in bottle before release.
“A pretty Chianti Classico Riserva that shows lilacs, rose petals, nutmeg and spices. Medium-bodied, tightly wound and quite taut on the palate. Refined and elegant. Drink now [through early 2030s].” 92 points, JamesSuckling.com
Read more about Lanciola here.
Region : Chianti Classico, Toscana
Country : Italy
Grape(s) : Sangiovese
Price : $49
LCBO : 110577
Lanciola Chianti Classico Le Masse Di Greve Gran Selezione 2016
Le Masse di Greve is a 70 year old, 10.8 ha single vineyard rooted in shale soils at 300-400m in Greve. This field blend is dominated by Sangiovese (over 90%), but also includes many other autochthonous varieties including Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera and Mamolo. The Gran Selezione is the winery’s most vigorous hand selection of their best grapes. It was native fermented in 2nd year oak barriques over a period of 4 weeks, and then aged in the same barrel for 24 months. It rested 6 months in bottle prior to release. Only 1500 bottles produced.
“A rich red, yet very poised and tight, with linear tannins and citrusy acidity running through it, melted nicely into the wine. It’s full-bodied, extremely polished and long. Very complete wine for this vintage. Give it a year or two to open. Drink after 2021 [into the mid 2030s+].” 94 points, JamesSuckling.com
Read more about Lanciola here.
Region : Chianti Classico, Toscana
Country : Italy
Grape(s) : Sangiovese
Price : $80
LCBO : 32328
JM Raffault Chinon Blanc 2016
“Only 2% of Chinon is planted to white, so when you find a Chinon Blanc, you know you’re in for a special chenin blanc experience. This organically farmed chenin comes mostly from Ligre’s chalky, limestone clay soils, and was native cool fermented in stainless, to preserve the bright, fresh, very special character of chenin on limestone. White florals, blossom honey, Bosc pear, quince, and green apple glide over a lightly waxed base of stones and gently expansive palate, finishing with that characteristic limestone shimmer.” [Drink through 2026+.] 90 points, Gismondionwine.com
Read more about JM Raffault here.
Region : Loire Valley
Country : France
Grape(s) : Chinon Blanc
Price : $24.95
LCBO : 29707
Haywire Pinot Noir 2020
The 2020 Pinot Noir comes from four Okanagan sites (Kelowna, Naramata, Summerland, and Oliver), with 30% whole clusters, and a native ferment in concrete tank and large format neutral oak. Post basket pressing, the wine rested for 10 months prior to bottling, without fining or filtration.
“Grapes were harvested from four sites in Kelowna, Naramata, Summerland and Oliver and placed in concrete tanks and large neutral oak casks. Fermentation was natural as was malolactic. Grapes grown in different regions of the Okanagan and fermented in different vessels delivered different wine characteristics and gave Winemaker Matt Dumayne plenty of options to compose the final blend. The Pinot Noir was aged on lees for 10 months before being bottled unfiltered and unfined. Outstanding.” 90 points, Richmond News
Read more about Haywire here.
Region : Okanagan Valley
Country : Canada
Grape(s) : Pinot Noir
Price : $34.95
LCBO : 30571
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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