In this Saturday’s VINTAGES release, you will find three wines of ours that will help you celebrate this wonderful Labour Day weekend. All three wines will require chilling, which works out since this weekend’s weather forecast is hot hot hot!!
Two wines on offer are from Italian superstar producer Schiopetto, which was recognized by Wine & Spirits Magazine as one of the 2013 Top 100 Wineries of the Year. As quoted by Wine & Spirits Magazine, “each year, our panels and critics blind taste more than 12,000 wines, to present the most compelling wines to our readers. We recognize brands with the most consistent performance and the highest scores as our Top 100 Wineries of the Year. Schiopetto’s range of exceptional wines makes it a great ambassador for Friuli.”
The two whites form Schiopetto featured in this release both rated 93 points by James Suckling. This winery is a small, family run operation, and because of its high scores, the demand for the wines internationally was high. Needless to say, we expect these wines to disappear off the shelves quite quickly.
The third wine of ours in this release is a perennial favourite, the Champagne Heidsieck & Co Monopole Brut Blue Top NV. Founded in 1785, Heidsieck remains one of the most recognizable names in Champagne. It sold out quickly when it was released around the same time last year, so be sure to include it with all of your celebrations! If you don’t celebrate “Champagne Thursdays” – here’s an opportunity to start… make every Thursday that special occasion!
Sincerely,
416.603.7026
TASTING NOTES
Schiopetto Bianco IGT Venezia Giulia 2009
Review:
“Green apple and pear character on the nose and palate. Full and fruity with lovely acidity and minerally undertones. Turns to pineapple and mango. Chardonnay and friulano. Drink or hold.” (JamesSuckling.com, Dec 20, 2013)
Score: 93
Varietal: Chardonnay & Friulano
Region: Friuli, Italy
Price: $41.95 (per bottle)
LCBO#: 382374
Schiopetto Blanc des Rosis Bianco IGT Venezia Giulia 2011
Review:
“A dense and fruity wine with dried apple, white pepper and melon character. Full body, fresh acidity and a minerally finish. Powerful white. Wonderful depth. A blend of friulano, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, malvasia and ribolla gialla. Drink or hold.” (JamesSuckling.com, Dec 20, 2013)
Score: 93
Varietal: 50% Friulano, 20% Pinot Grigio, 20% Malvasia, 10% Sauvignon
Region: Friuli, Italy
Price: $34.95 (per bottle)
LCBO#: 131532
Champagne Heidsieck & Co Monopole Brut Blue Top NV
Reviews:
“A rich, smoky base of roasted walnut and toasted coconut underscores this subtle version. Lightly creamy in texture and well-balanced, with juicy acidity backing hints of glazed apricot, crème de cassis and grated ginger. Drink now through 2018. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 8,000 cases imported. –AN” (Wine Spectator, Nov 15, 2013)
Score: 90
“This is a lighter bodied, quite fruity and tender style of Champagne, with ripe yellow apple/pear fruit, and fresh brioche/pastry. A bit honeyed as well, so I suspect this contains a good percentage of more mature reserve wine. It’s fleshy and fresh at the same time, with a slightly nutty finish. Very good to excellent length. Tasted August 2014” (David Lawrason, WineAlign.com, Aug 2014)
Score: 90
Varietals: 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier
Region: Champagne, France
Price: $49.95 (per bottle)
LCBO#: 68288
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