On November 17th, I participated in a Zoom webinar on the wines of the Médoc conducted by the Montreal sommelier Veronique Rivest, with one wine from each of the region’s eight appellations. (All the wines were deep ruby in colour.)
Château Fontis 2016 (Cru Bourgeois Médoc)
Cedary, spicy, blackberry and currant bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, blackcurrant and cherry flavours, well-structured and firm with lively acidity. (90)
Château Ducluzeau 2016 (Listrac-Médoc)
Cedary, lightly floral, tea leaf, licorice and red berry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, well-extracted cherry and plum flavour; rich mouth-feel finishing on chalky tannins. (89)
Château Sérilhan 2016 (Saint-Estèphe)
Spicy, fragrant of red fruits with a sous-bois note; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, quite forward for Saint-Estèphe, minerally with zesty acidity. (89–90)
Château de Lamarque 2016 (Haut-Médoc)
Cedary, cigar-box, floral nose; medium-bodied, dry, sweet black cherry flavour with bitter chocolate, spicy, cedary notes; firmly structured with earthy tannins. (90)
Château Moulin de la Rose 2014 (Saint-Julien)
Spicy, cedary nose with a toasty, floral note; medium-bodied, dry, mouth-filling, red berry fruit with evident but supple tannins. (89–90)
Château Mauvesin Barton 2015 (Moulis en Médoc)
Spicy, cedary nose with tobacco and toasty oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, elegant and well-balanced with a savoury flavour of red berries and blackcurrant leaf. (89)
Château Dauphin 2015 (second wine of Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac)
Earthy, minerally nose of cedar and black fruits with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, well-balanced and structured with grainy tannins. (89–90)
Château Deyrem Valentin Margaux 2015
Spicy, cedary nose of tobacco with a floral top note; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, beautifully balanced and firm; creamy mouthfeel, ending on chewy, ripe tannins. (91)
A highly entertaining and informative tasting facilitated by Sopexa.
Other wine tasted:
Malivoire Estate Grown Chardonnay 2018 (Vintages Essential currently $17.95 as a Limited Time Offer, reverting back to $19.95 after November 28th – Vintages #573147)
Straw colour; toasty, apple bouquet with undergrowth notes; medium-bodied, dry, apple and peach flavours; well-balanced, clean and true. (89)
Malivoire Wismer-Foxcroft Gamay 2019 (20 Mile Bench, Niagara – winery only, $27.95)
Ruby colour; earthy, peppery nose of ripe cherries; light to medium-bodied, dry, elegant, sour cherry flavour with palate-freshening acidity and a surprisingly firm finish. Lovely mouthfeel. (90)
Zonte’s Footstep Blackberry Patch Cabernet Tempranillo 2018 (Fleurieu, Australia –$19.95, Vintages #353193, to be released December 12th)
Opaque purple-black in colour; spicy, cedary, blackberry and vanilla oak on the nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, savoury-herbal, blackberry and plum flavours with green pepper notes; firmly structure and lively acidity. (89)
Zonte’s Footstep Hills Are Alive Shiraz 2017 (Adelaide Hills, South Australia – $23.95, Vintages #522342, to be released December 12th)
Deep purple in colour; spicy, lightly cedary nose of blackberries with a peppery, herbal, black olive note; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, black fruit flavours carried on lively acidity. (90)
Zonte’s Footstep Chocolate Factory Shiraz 2018 (McLaren Vale, South Australia, $19.95, Vintages #396481)
Deep purple colour; lightly floral, blackberry, black olive and vanilla oak notes on the nose; full-bodied, dry, juicy and savoury licorice and black fruit flavours. (90)
Monte Zovo Sa’Solin Valpolicella Ripasso 2017 (Veneto, $19.95, Limited Time Offer $2.00 off Nov. 29–Jan. 21, Vintages #650713)
Bright ruby colour; lightly cedary, woodsy, dried flowers, dried cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, cranberry and pomegranate flavours; fine mouthfeel with fresh acidity. (90)
Villa Annaberta Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017 (Veneto, $18.95, LCBO #378091, LTO $3.00 Nov. 29–Jan. 2)
Bright ruby colour; cherry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, just off dry, cherry and plum flavours with balancing acidity. (89)
Villa Annaberta Amarone della Valpolicella 2015 (Veneto, $38.95, Vintages #433961)
Deep ruby in colour; lightly cedary, spicy plum and dried cherry bouquet with a wisp of smoke; medium to full-bodied, rich and full on the palate with flavours of plum and raisin; well-balanced and firmly structured. (92–93)
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