14 Hands 2010 Hot to Trot Red
$15.35 | Columbia Valley, Washington | 87 points
Washington, the second-largest wine region in the U.S., is still deep in California’s shadow. This merlot is blended with cabernet, syrah and mourvèdre. It’s medium weight with rich cassis, herbs and cocoa. It’s a bit soft but finishes with a dry, green tension typical of the cooler climate. LCBO 226522
Amalaya 2011 Torrontés Riesling
$11 | Salta, Argentina | 87 points
Argentina’s aromatic torrontés, which thrives in the high-altitude Cafayate region, is gaining traction. This leading producer anchors torronté’s exuberance with riesling’s firm acidity and minerality. Expect complex citrus, lavender, green herbs and pear flavours in a solid, off-dry and refreshing style. Chill well.
LCBO 270470
Argento 2011 Bonarda
$10 | Mendoza, Argentina | 86 points
Bonarda is a high-volume Italian grape that, when produced at lower yields in Mendoza, makes quality, deeply coloured, blueberry pie–scented reds. This is the first bonarda at the LCBO. It’s a bit coarse and tart (it’s under $10), but it has youthful energy. Chill lightly. LCBO 292458
Brumont 2011 Gros Manseng Sauvignon
$13 | Côtes de Gascogne, France | 87 points
Gros manseng, from the Pyrenees, makes intense, perfumed and citric whites. It finds a natural partner with herbaceous sauvignon blanc in this blend, which is light yet full of lime, nettle, pine, fennel and guava flavours, with an almost salty tang on the finish. LCBO 297234
Castaño 2009 Monastrell
$11.80 | Yecla, Spain | 89 points
The monastrell grape (known as mourvèdre in French) can create fragrant but sinewy and tannic reds. However, hot Yecla, near Spain’s Mediterranean coast, produces softer, richer wines. This award-winning example has a terrific nose of blackberry pie, black tea, lavender, fine oak and vanilla. Best 2014 to 2017.
LCBO 300673
Clayhouse 2010 Adobe White
$16 | Paso Robles, California | 87 points
This is a creative five-grape blend, with spicy, floral viognier being the largest component (46 per cent) and nine per cent coming from a muscat-like table grape called princess. It’s clean and fresh, yet it shows California richness, with vibrant green plum and citrus flavours. Chill well. LCBO 297382
Domaine du Petit Clocher 2011 Anjou
$15 | Loire Valley, France | 88 points
This well-made red is the first estate-bottled Anjou on the LCBO general list. It sports a deep ruby colour, with classic sweet raspberry and tobacco flavours. It’s supple initially with tannin and cab franc greenness on the finish. Best 2013 to 2016. LCBO 293514
Mayor de Castilla 2011 Verdejo
$11 | Rueda, Spain | 87 points
The arid plateau around Rueda, northeast of Madrid, is an increasingly exciting source for whites from the verdejo grape, which combines herbs and citrus similar to sauvignon blanc and exotic tropicality like viognier. This new listing is a good example, with pepper and pineapple flavours and a fleshy, warm
texture. TBA.
The Wolftrap 2011 Red
$14 | South Africa | 88 points
South Africa produces good blends inspired by those of France’s Rhône Valley. This dark, rich syrah-mourvèdre-viognier combination is juicy and fleshy, with fragrant aromas of blueberry, black pepper, chocolate and a touch of rosemary. It’s loaded with fruit and finishes on a spicy, dusty note. Best 2013 to 2016.
LCBO 292557
Scores: David Lawrason assigns scores on a 100-point scale. They reflect a wine’s overall quality.
A rating of 95 to 100 is outstanding; 90 to 94 excellent; 85 to 89 very good; 80 to 84 good.
