August 2005 Vintages/LCBO Release

My advice (for what it's worth):

Back up the truck for the value-priced 2003 Thorn-Clarke 'Terra Barossa' Shiraz. Tough to beat a high quality Oz shiraz (with a score of RP89) for $15.95.

The D'Arenberg Stump Jump and Cape Mentelle Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc are both excellent summer white wines. Crisp and refreshing. The prices reflect the quality difference and my preference would be the Cape Mentelle.

The David Traeger shiraz is one of my all time favourites. 1999 wasn't a bad vinage.A warmish climate shiraz (Goulburn Valley is one of the warmer areas in Victoria) so it tends to be riper, rather than leaner. I've had this one a few months back and from memory would put it in the low 90s point range.

The wines that caught my attention are:

2002 Catena Malbec (finally)
2001 Chateau Calissanne 'Clos Victoire'
2001 Bailly Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne (a good everyday summer sparling)
2003 Cape Mentelle Chard or the 2004 Sauv Blanc/Semillon (I have liked all their whites)

Another one that I will try is the 2004 Gaia Estate Notios White from Greece. I tried their red Estate wine at a tasting when I was in Kefalari Greece in May and it was very good. If the white is comparable, I would buy it.

For me,
Catena Malbec
Cape Mentelle Chard & Sauv. Blanc/Semillon
maybe a few Thorn Clarke Shiraz
That's it

Catena Malbec only

I've had a few vintages of the Thorn Clarke and found it too fruity.

Funny, baird, I've always enjoyed it. I'd characterize it more as jammy, but I see your point. Bman would no doubt love it, as it's a pretty stereotypical oz shiraz.

Slan, I will be backing up the truck, but it will be for the 2002 Catena Malbec.

Pauly,

Does the David Traeger shiraz have a taste profile similar to Paul Osicka?

There are a bunch of rieslings from Germany that I'm interested in. Also one from Alsace.
Catena Malbec.
And I'll probably buy a few 2003 Thorn Clarke.

quote:

Originally posted by on the wine:
Pauly,

Does the David Traeger shiraz have a taste profile similar to Paul Osicka?

Traeger and Osicka are about 20 minutes drive from each other so the climatic factors are very similar. Traeger's stuff tends to be a little warmer because he's in a river valley, but he also sources fruit from some outside vineyards as well. The soil is different (Paul Osicka is grouped in the Heathcote region but I don't know if he is on the cambrian soil that is reputed to make Heathcote such a good area for shiraz) and David tends to be a little more aggressive with his use of oak.

If I was forced to choose, I'd take Osicka, but happily i don't have to choose between them as I can have both.

Thanks

otw,

The short answer would have been if you like Paul Osicka you'll like David Traeger. They're 2 of my 3 favourite small wineries in Victoria (the other being Warrabilla, which has made it's Petit Sirah [Durif] at up to 17.5% alcohol).

That list of my favourite small wineries in Victoria is limited because I haven't made my way to Mornington Peninsula or Yarra Valley yet.

I thought the long answer was good.

And yes, I really like Paul Osicka shiraz!

When did everyone stop loving the Dog Point sb and Dr. Loosen L riesling? Or am I confusing these with others of similar names?

Like everyone else, I'll be looking for at least a case of the Catena Zapata Malbec. For those looking for a good QPR everyday drinker, the 2003 Dino Illuminati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riparosso is coming out. Great stuff, year in, year out. I'll be buying at least a case, probably more at $12.95 per.

Al - you'll love this stuff! Bob - it'll be too light for you, knowing your palate.

quote:

Originally posted by bman:
When did everyone stop loving the Dog Point sb and Dr. Loosen L riesling? Or am I confusing these with others of similar names?

Being new to the whole wine scene I have no idea about the Dog Point but I am pretty sure you are confusing the German Dr. loosen with the Washington State Chateau Ste. Michelle "Eroica" Dr. Loosen reisling.

Bman,

Just a note, the "Dog Point Vineyard" Sauv. Blanc is different from the old "Goldwater Estates Dog Point" Sauv. Blanc. However, I had a chance to taste the former at the NZ wine tasting here in Toronto and it is an excellent Sauv Blanc. I liked it as much as the Cloudy Bay, rated both a 90.

I'm going to pick up some...

Agree the Catena Malbec is buy for sure. Thanks Pauly for the comments on the Traeger Shiraz, I'll be sure to taste this.

quote:

Originally posted by bman:
When did everyone stop loving the Dog Point sb and Dr. Loosen L riesling? Or am I confusing these with others of similar names?

With the LCBO's recent focus on Southern Hemisphere wines, followed up with its recent ABC promotion, I'm 'up to here' with whites. And I still have all those German Spatlese and Auslese that I loaded up on in the latter half of last year.

Serendipitously, I can live without any of these wines (except perhaps the Catena malbec) being released while I'll be out of the country.

Welcome, bbtoyman!

Dr. Loosen's "L" is a good value QbA year in and year out.

I think many of us have bought so much 2001/2002/2003 Rieslings that we don't need more regardless of the price.

I'll second what Baird said. And for me to pass up some German Riesling, I must have bought enough.

quote:

Originally posted by Slan:
Welcome, bbtoyman!

Thanks for the welcome Slan.

Catena Malbec..... 02 or 03 ???

The vintages website shows it as the 2002 Product# 478727, but when I do a search on the LCBO website they list it as a 2003.

I hope its the 02.

It is 2002 all right. Their system is showing 03, however, when I have opened the case - it is 2002. Had a bottle this Saturday - very impressed.

Good to hear, thanks Dmytro.

I too, had a bottle this Saturday and was also impressed.

I should have access to 2-3 cases tomorrow if anyone can't get the Catena at their local LCBO. I want to keep 12-18 bottles for me, but will share the remaining bottles.

Lemme know....

I'd take 6 bottles of you baird. Not sure what I'll be able to get here.

carriedca,

I will grab at least 2 cases tomorrow/Friday prior to the release and email you when I get them.

Make sure you rent a U-Haul truck the next time you come to Toronto as you are going to have lots of wine to bring home.

Thanks for the offier Baird - I may need to ask as well, if you have some left, as my wife may not be able to make the release on Saturday and big point/low score wines tend to fly off the shelves in Our Nation's Capital....

I'll speak with her next week to see if she got some, but if not I'd appreciate 6.

Thanks!

I just picked up 30 bottles. I got some for Carriedca, Basecadet, a friend and for me.

Bman, I will try to get you 6 from a different store tomorrow as I cleaned out the one by my house. I will let you know by tomorrow afternoon if I was sucessful.

This looks like another wine that will be sold out on Saturday morning. 91 points and $20CAD.

Baird, I'll take as many as you can afford to spare. I'll try my local store Saturday, but a bird in the hand.....

DoktaP,

Try in your area just in case. I think all 3 stores in my area are cleaned out.

I ended up getting 54 bottles of the Catena for me, a couple of non-TWC friends and for those that asked (those credit cards do come in handy from time to time!)....

6 bottles each....
DoktaP
Basecadet
Futronic
Carriedca
Bman

I will keep them in my cellar until I see each of you. If I missed someone that asked for some, let me know....

For Bman and Carriedca, we will figure something out. I will be in Ottawa August 17-19 and Sept 15-17 so I will be able to bring some of the bottles (not a dozen, though)

I think there are going to be some pi$$ed off people in my area tomorrow morning as I cleaned out 4 stores.

I will send a seperate bill to each of you for my expenses. Gas, time, etc.

Baird, I'm happy you don't live in the west end. Maybe I'll actually have a chance to pick up a few.

I love the buying power of the TWC, keep up the good work!

Mwaters,

Hopefully you get as many as you want.

Remember, I work in Mississauga. Maybe next time I should expand my geographical horizons.

P.S. I just checked online and there is TONS of this in the system.

quote:

Originally posted by mwaters:
Baird, I'm happy you don't live in the west end. Maybe I'll actually have a chance to pick up a few.

I love the buying power of the TWC, keep up the good work!

mwaters, don't forget you are in oakville_al's territory....