Australian wines hit the spotlight in the LCBO Vintages Release February 1. We may think of red wines from Australia as being full-bodied, but there’s a wide range of styles now emerging from the various winemaking regions in the country.
Try cool, crisp whites and balanced, medium-bodied reds from Australia’s cooler regions. You’ll be surprised at how well these wines pair with various dishes, not just a big steak or hamburger.
This just a sampling of wine ratings, the most quoted Canadian source of reviews in the Vintages Magazine. VIP Members can access all 50 wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches and the stock for each bottle in their closest LCBO stores.
You can also add my wine picks to their custom shopping list with one click and access that list on their smartphone. This is one of the benefits of becoming a VIP Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. You can also take a sneak peak at my wine reviews for February 15.
Schild Estate Old Bush Vine Gms Grenache Mourvèdre Shiraz 2011 Barossa, South Australia. Oh yum. Comfort me with mourvèdre and other old vine grapes. Rich, complex and deep: exactly what you want in a partner (and a wine). Full-bodied and smooth and… Schild Estate Old Bush Vine Gms Grenache Mourvèdre Shiraz Review and Rating
Dominio Del Plata Crios De Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Mendoza, Argentina. An absolutely incredible wine for the money! Juicy, savoury and delicious: full-bodied with rich layers of ripe plums, blackberry and other dark fruits. Superb craftsmanship! Cabernet Sauvignon food… Dominio Del Plata Crios De Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Review and Rating
Ortas Prestige Rasteau, Cave De Rasteau 2009, A.C., Côtes-Du-Rhône-Villages, France. Savoury and tasty with dark red spicy fruit. Full-bodied, juicy and smooth. Good value. A terrific, long, dry finish that… Ortas Prestige Rasteau, Cave De Rasteau 2009 Review and Rating
Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2011 Padthaway, South Australia. Full-on, big red wine with glorious black cherry liqueur aromas. Rich, full-bodied and delicious. This wine has won multiple Gold and… Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2011 Review and Rating
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Colchagua Valley, Chile. A superb, full-bodied red wine with layers of hedonistic pleasure! The best of New World power, energy and black fruit concentration in great balance, depth and length on the finish. The Cabernet Sauvignon is blended…Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Review and Rating
Benmarco Dominio Del Plata Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina. A robust and vibrant red wine that offers lots of pleasure in every glass. Coffee, mocha and espresso on a black fruit layers of full-bodied goodness. Smoky to the finish. Try it with… Benmarco Dominio Del Plata Malbec 2012 Review and Rating
Villa Girardi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2009, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy. Classic amarone with gorgeous concentration: black cherry liqueur, smoke and dried herb aromas. Mouth-watering and complex with layers of depth and length. A wine to… Villa Girardi Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2009 Review and Rating
Posted with permission of the LCBO.
