Today on CFRA News Talk Radio, CFRA Patricia Boal and Sommelier Matt Steeves showcased some great wines and spirits for gifting this season as well as enjoying with family and friends over the holidays. These options will suit every palate and budget, including white, red, and sparkling wines too.
May 2024 Matt's review: M de Minuty Rosé, from the picturesque Cotes de Provence in the south of France, beside the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, is a delightful ode to the region's sun-drenched terroir and centuries-old winemaking heritage. A blend of... Continue Reading →
Ilatium Morini's 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG "Campo Leon" pre-release sample tasted during Anteprima Amarone in Verona. The wine is anticipated to be released in January 2025 when the winemaker deems it ready for commercial release. Ruby red colour, the nose shows dried dark fruit, plum, fig, tobacco, and incense. Super refreshing, with cherry, tart dark fruits, black tea, salted dark chocolate, and youthful fine grained tannins persisting on the long textured finish. A complex and well structured Amarone which will pair beautifully with braised dishes, creamy risotto, and aged cheese. Enjoy 2026-2036+. Tasted February 2024. 94+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
Matt's review: The pre-release preview of Santi's 2019 "Carlo Santi 1843" Amarone showed great harmony, complexity, and overall potential from this five star vintage. Ruby with a slight garnet hue, the nose shows dried plum, cherry, orange peel, herbs, and expressive spice notes. Great intensity, beautifully balanced with loads of dried fruit, spice, and herbs on the long finish. Santi's Carlo Santi Amarone is anticipated to be released to market in fall 2024. Enjoy 2025-2040. Tasted February 2024. 94+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
Torre di Terzolan's Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019 caught my attention at Anteprima Amarone this year. In a flight of 72 Amarones from 2019, Torre di Terzolan's was a star. While the 2019 vintage is anticipated to be released to market only in 2026, it was showing beautifully already and merits top accolades. This is a wine you should seek out and stock up on.
The 2023 vintage of Nova 7 shows great finesse, harmony, and balance. Another impressive vintage! The most elegant vintage I recall.
Coming to LCBO on April 13th, Staete Landt State of Grace Pinot Noir from the Rapaura & Brancott sub appellations of Marlborough, NZ. Light ruby, the nose shows cherry, plum, herbs, rose petals, earthy notes, and minerality. The palate reveals the refreshing tart fruit, fine grained tannins, and harmonious balance. A serious Pinot with its impressive structure and complexity, a fantastic expression of this top of the line State of Grace label Pinot. Enjoy over the next five years with grilled lamb or pork tenderloin. Tasted April 2024. 93 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca
Ottawa, ON February 2024 Matt’s review: Situated in breathtaking Okanagan Falls, Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery offers unparalleled views of the iconic Mount McLellan and Peach Cliff, which define the southern edge of the Okanagan Valley Sub-GI. The terroir of... Continue Reading →
Let me introduce you to Contrada Palui, a relatively new Valpolicella producer that has entered the market with one of the most elegant and expressive terroir-focused wines you'll find in all of Valpolicella, and it's an Amarone!
Renowned Valpolicella producer, Tommasi, launched an ultra-premium label after two decades in the making. It's called De Buris (shown as DE BVRIS on the label), and they produce one single vineyard riserva Amarone from the La Groletta vineyard in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella.
This family run winery is situated minutes north of Verona in the heart of Valpolicella's Valpantena Valley. It's here where the winemaking team of Mauro (father) and Sofia (daughter) produce their impressive Brolo (wall) del Figaretto Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Valpantena. This wine caught my attention a few years ago with its super approachable, ripe, balanced, and complex profile. Each vintage I've tasted since has impressed so when I visited Verona this winter it was first winery I visited, and as expected, it impressed.
2019 Secondo Marco Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG (barrel sample) – While winemaker Marco Speri plans to let this wine rest for another three years in barrel before bottling, it is already showing beautifully and is expected to gain further integration and complexity leading up to its release in 2027. This is a wine worthy of investment, one that will show beautifully upon release and over the next three decades. Anticipated optimal drinking window: 2027-2050. Score: 96+ points.
2019 Zýmē Amarone showcases the excellence of the 2019 vintage and demonstrates what is possible with this iconic winery. Celestino Gaspari, the winemaker behind Zýmē, is now one of the most renowned names in Valpolicella winemaking. His journey began alongside the iconic Giuseppe Quintarelli, arguably the most revered producer in Valpolicella history. These formative years working with Quintarelli laid the foundation for Gaspari's progressive and curious approach, which has led Zýmē to become one of the most respected ultra-premium wineries in Valpolicella.
An impressive single vineyard Riserva Amarone with decades of age ahead of it.
La Fabriseria Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva (and the associated single vineyard Valpolicella Classico Superiore) is a fantastic example of the world-class wines being produced in Valpolicella and the potential its wines have for decades of cellaring. Highly recommend La Fabriseria vineyard wines and enjoying them over decades.
Impressive 94 point wine coming to LCBO on February 3, 2024
Quercus Vino 