Wednesday, July 29th: At 2 pm a webinar on Chilean wines moderated by John Szabo MS, with panelists Viviana Navarrete, chief winemaker, Viña Leyda; Matías Cruzat, chief winemaker, 1865; and Gabriel Mustakis, chief winemaker for San Pedro Fine Wines.
Viña Leyda Single Vineyard Garuma Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Very pale straw colour; minerally, grassy, green bean bouquet; medium-bodied, crisply dry with gooseberry and lemon flavours with a long, tart, acidic finish. (89)
Viña Leyda Single Vineyard Kadun Sauvignon Gris 2016
Light straw colour; minerally, lightly floral, green plum and gooseberry nose with leafy, white pepper notes; medium-bodied, crisply dry, elegant. (90)
Viña Leyda Lot 21 Pinot Noir 2016
Deep ruby-purple in colour; rich, plum and oak spice on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, plum and cherry flavours. (88.5)
Viña San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Carmenère 2018
Purple-ruby colour; cedary, plum, toasty nose; medium to full-bodied, fruity and fleshy blackcurrant flavour with brisk acidity and well-integrated oak. (89)
Viña San Pedro 1865 Selected Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Deep ruby-purple in colour; plum, mocha chocolate nose with oaky notes; medium-bodied, dry, juicy, blackcurrant and black fruit flavours, well-balanced and firmly structured with ripe tannins. (90)
Viña San Pedro 1865 Desert Valley Selected Collection Syrah 2018
Dense purple in colour; spicy, herbal, blackberry and black olive nose with a smoky note; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury black fruit flavours; beautifully balanced with lively acidity with a firm round finish, (93)
Viña San Pedro Sideral 2018 (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Carmenère)
Deep purple-ruby colour; cedary, spicy, blackcurrant nose; medium-bodied, dry, ripe richly extracted blackcurrant flavour; elegant, lovely mouth-feel and firmly structured. (92)
Viña San Pedro Cabo de Hornos 2017
Deep ruby in colour; cedary, tobacco leaf and blackcurrant bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, beautifully balanced, red and blackcurrant flavours with ell-integrated oak. (92)
Viña San Pedro Altair 2016 (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 9% Syrah)
Deep ruby-purple in colour; spicy, cedary, vanilla, blackcurrant and licorice bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, well-extracted sweet blackcurrant flavour; beautifully balanced, great mouth-feel with ripe tannins on the finish. (93)
Other wines tasted this week:
Kacaba Reserve Riesling 2019 (Niagara Escarpment)
Bright, pale straw colour; a nose of lime with a honeyed note; medium-bodied, just off-dry with grapefruit, lime and honeyed flavours. A well-balanced wine. (89)
Kacaba Susan’s Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Very pale in colour; lightly grassy, green plum nose; medium-bodied, dry, crisp and lively gooseberry and lemon flavours. (89)
Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-fu-Pape 2016 (Rhône, $53.95, Vintages #959627, to be released Sept. 19)
Deep ruby in colour; spicy, cedary blackberry nose; full-bodied, dry, savoury, herbal, blackberry flavour with notes of blackcurrant. Rich mouth-feel. (93)
Henry of Pelham Classic Chardonnay 2019 (Niagara Peninsula, $14.95, LCBO #291211)
Straw colour; spicy, toasty, apple bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, apple and lemon flavours; medium-bodied, dry, apple and lemon flavours, beautifully balanced. Great value. (89)
