Weekly offerings - Page 2 of 11 - The Small Winemakers Collection

Exceptional Southern Rhône from Renowned Vidal Fleury

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment September 19, 2022June 5, 2018

2014 Vidal Flaury Cairanne $25.95 btl / $155.70 cs (case of 6 x 750ml) The 2014 Vidal-Fleury Cairanne is a perfect red for the season because it pairs very well with BBQ and over delivers at this price point. Produced in very limited quantities with only 1,200 cases made this is a beautifully, well-made wine and is one of the greatest values and most reliable Rhône villages. The high percentage of Grenache delivers bright red fruit and freshness, while Syrah and Mourvèdre contribute some punch with black pepper and structure. Overall, offers bright yet bold and dense cherry red, with an aromatic nose of sweet prunes, raspberry compote and hints of toast. The palate is equally fruit-driven, with robust tannins and a peppery finish. Vidal-Fleury is one of the oldest firms in the Rhône Valley and is well regarded amongst the top wine critics. If you are familiar with the Côtes du Rhône you have probably come across this highly reputable Rhône house. Vidal-Fleury has been in the business for centuries and is considered one of the greatest wineries in the region with an impressive portfolio spanning from north to south. Cairanne is a hillside village in Southern Rhône, formerly part of the Côtes du Rhône appellation. Recognized for their superior quality, the wines are now labelled with the village name, setting them apart from lesser wines from the rest of the region. Price: Case of 6 at $155.70 ($25.95 per bottle)Drink: Drink now or over the next 4 years Variety: 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre Service: Best served at a temperature of 18°C. Decant 1 hour before tasting Reviews: 16.5 out of 20, Jancis Robinson “Dark dark crimson. Well balanced. Not overdramatic. Fully ripe but not overripe fruit. Well balanced. Not the most quirky wine but very competent. Quite early maturing for this appellation.” 88 points, Jeb Dunnuck for RobertParker.com: “The 2014 Cairanne shows what this village does so well—delivering tons of upfront charm and appeal right out of the gate. Notes of herbes de Provence, ripe black cherries and saddle leather all emerge from this medium-bodied, elegant, supple and undeniably delicious 2014 that’s ideal for drinking over the coming 3-4 years.” Food Pairing: Lamb or roasted duck, meaty pizza, barbecue, hearty pasta dishes, cheeses and charcuterie

The Aussies turned Chardonnay into a full-on party!

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment December 6, 2019May 23, 2018

2017 Kingston Estate Chardonnay $17.90 btl / $214.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Leave it to the Aussies to take the noble French grape and turn it into the wine equivalent of a full-on party. Diversity in both terroir and wine making particularly in Australia’s cool-climate regions is resulting in an exciting spectrum of premium Chardonnays. Chardonnay first came to Australia in the 1920s but didn’t find popularity until the 1970s. It is planted in virtually every region and makes a wide variety of wine styles from light-bodied, crisp and unoaked through to full-bodied, buttery, complex barrel matured versions. Premium Australian Chardonnay has evolved dramatically from the rich, ripe, full flavoured versions of the 80s and ’90s. The sourcing of fruit from cooler climate areas combined with a more gentle touch with oak use, lees contact and malolactic conversion has led to a more restrained balanced, age-worthy style. Renowned for its cool-climate Chardonnay, Padthaway lies in the Limestone Coast, enjoying maritime influences keeping the region cool in summer and producing distinct regional characteristics. The 2017 Kingston Estate Chardonnay is an exceptional value just like the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a crisp, vibrant Chardonnay exhibiting the classic regional qualities and elegant structure typical of the cool climate Padthaway. Upfront white fleshy peach and stone-fruit with light creamy vanilla oak. Medium to full bodied stone fruits, including peach and nectarine, with a subtle creamy oak middle palate and long fruit driven zesty finish. Price: Case of 12 at $214.80 ($17.90 per bottle) Drink: Now or cellar over the next 7 years Blend/Body: 100% Chardonnay, Medium-full bodied Food Pairing: Grilled chicken, fish, seafood, summer salads and cream-sauce pasta

Kicking off Rosé Season with this New Spanish Pink

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 13, 2023May 17, 2018

2017 Raimat Rosada $16.80 btl / $201.60 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Rosé is supposed to be an uncomplicated, hot-weather pleasure that is easy and simple to understand and enjoy. We’ve added this new Spanish rosé to the portfolio because it is simply delicious. The 2017 Raimat Rosada is a Cabernet/Tempranillo blend, brilliant pale pink with supple aromas of elegant strawberry and cherry, flowers and hints of grapefruit. On the palate, it’s fresh and long-lasting with a touch of red berries and aniseed. A perfect wine for pool time sipping, grilling with friends and the cottage life. Believed to be the oldest style of wine in the world, pink wines were the drink of the rich, the powerful and the aristocracy in the late 18th century. Recently, rosé has resurfaced in North American exploding onto the scene in the past decade. In France, it now surpasses the sale of white wine and in the US it is no longer considered a season wine with sales going strong all year long. Price: Case of 12 at $201.60 ($16.80 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next year Blend/Body: Cabernet/Tempranillo blend, Light-bodied Food Pairing: Oily fish such as salmon, tuna or sardines, seafood paella, grilled shrips, jamón, chorizo, mild cheeses, salty tapas

Luigi Righetti’s Stellar Ripasso from a Great Vintage

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 13, 2023May 9, 2018

2015 Luigi Righetti Campolieti Valpolicella $20.80 btl / $249.60 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Located in Valgatara, in the heart of Valpolicella Classico, the Luigi Righetti estate is a small to mid-sized family run winey once led by Angelo Righetti who first earned a reputation as an outstanding winemaker in 1909. The family has always focused on producing quality wines offering extremely good value, and is now run by Gianni, Angelo’s grandson. It was my first time there a few weeks back when we were in the area for Vinitlay. For many decades the Thursday after the Vinitlay fair is “Canada Day” at the Luigi Righetti winery. It’s an opportunity for the SWC team to catch up with Gianni and the Luigi Righetti family over a long lunch including many of the beautiful Righetti wines. The Luigi Righetti Campolieti Valpolicella is always at the table, as it is the perfect table wine for any Italian meal and gathering. Today we are offering the 2015 vintage, which was an excellent vintage for Veneto reds. The hot summer produced deliciously ripe grapes that translated very well to the bottle. Medium ruby, intensely aromatic nose with strawberry, dried cherry, currants and hints of leather, autumn leaves and asian spice. Dry, medium-bodied with classic ripasso flavours, a ripe, round palate and some wood tannins bringing complexity to the long and satisfying finish. Righetti’s take on ripasso is a conventional one; the grapes are crushed and fermented at the end of the harvest and the wine is stored in steel vats where it rests until the springtime awaiting the Amarone to finish its fermentation. When the fermentation is complete the Amarone is taken off its skins and transferred to casks for ageing, it is replaced by a future Campolieti, the wine is enriched a little to get the fermentation going again and this draws some of the lovely flavours that remain in the Amarone skins and adds a little more alcohol. The finished wine is transferred to a mixture of large oak casks and some barrique for 8 to 12 month stint of maturation before being transferred to steel tanks prior to bottling. Last year the Luigi Righetti Campolieti Valpolicella was SWC’s top selling wine amongst both private clients and restaurants because it offers ultimate bang for your buck! Price: Case of 12 at $249.60 ($20.80 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 3 years Type/Variety/Body: Dry red, traditional blend of the Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, medium-body Food Pairing: Roast or stewed red meat, a variety of pasta dishes, mushroom risotto, fried calamari and antipasto

Organic Pinot Noir Perfect for the Spring Season

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 13, 2023May 1, 2018

2016 Te Mania Pinot Noir $22.95 btl / $275.40 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) An elegant red perfect for the transitioning season. The 2016 Te Mania Pinot Noir is certified organic, vegan friendly (no animal-derived fining agents used), and can certainly be enjoyed young but will benefit from a little cellaring allowing it to develop more complexity. Lovely lifted nose with red fruit and mocha notes combined with savoury and spicy aromas. The palate is full of red cherries and raspberries along with savoury, gamey flavours with hints of leather balanced with elegant tannins which adds complexity to this wine and delivers a long finish. This Pinot will continue to develop complexity over the next couple of years. Not an easy grape to grow, Pinot Noir is the red wine grape of Burgundy and is the second most widely planted and picked grape variety in New Zealand, predominantly grown in the cooler southerly wine regions. Te Mania is a family-owned, award winning Nelson winery located near the beautiful coastline of Tasman Bay. The vineyards flourish on the ancient alluvial terraces through which rivers flow from the mountains to the sea. These stony soils, combined with Nelson’s cool maritime climate and high sunshine hours, produce grapes and wines of the finest quality. A range of Pinot Noir clones were hand harvested then crushed and put into open tanks and fermented with wild and inoculated yeasts. The fermenting wine and skins were hand plunged for 8–10 days. After ferment the wine was left on skins for 14 to 19 days before being pressed, settled and racked to tank. The wine was then aged in French oak barrels for 10 months. Price: Case of 12 at $275.40 ($22.95 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 3 years Blend/Body: 100% Pinot Noir, Medium-bodied Food Pairing: Roast chicken or quail, honey-glazed salmon, garlic rubbed pork shoulder, mushroom pasta or risotto Third Party Reviews: “The attractively fragrant bouquet shows ripe strawberry, mixed spice, cured meat and dried herb characters. It is smooth and gentle on the palate, displaying delicate fruit intensity and fine tannins. The wine nicely combines sweet berry flavours with earthy, savoury notes.” 4 stars (out of 5) Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Aug 2017

Great-Value Tempranillo — 90 pts from Wine Spectator

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 13, 2023April 26, 2018

2014 Viña Pomal Crianza $18.55 btl / $111.30 cs (case of 6 x 750ml) Richer than the classic Rioja with opulent color, generous fruit and lush on the palate, Viña Pomal wines represent exceptional value. Now offered in a 6 pack, the 2014 Viña Pomal Crianza shows its ability to make an excellent younger wine with a balance between the classical Rioja character and a more noteworthy presence of fruit flavors. The wine is ruby with violet hues, with an intense nose, dominated by floral and black fruity aromas with notes of liquorice, vanilla and toasted flavours. The palate is balanced, soft and fresh. Shows good structure and soft tannins. 100% Tempranillo from 90 hectares of vineyards located in the town of Haro, the vineyards are planted between 380 and 500 meters above sea level, providing grapes ideal sun exposure. The climate in this area is moderately continental with a very subtle Cantabrian influence as the Sierra de Cantabria acts as a natural barrier against the cold north winds. Viña Pomal Crianza is made with a traditional wine making process where it spends 12 months in American oak barrels and a minimum of 6 months in the bottle before it is released. Produced in Rioja, Spain for over 100 years and is the flagship wine of Bodegas Bilbaínas. The winery had a bottling plant near London’s Charing Cross in the 1940’s, and Viña Pomal was reputed to be a favourite of Winston Churchill. The Bilbaínas Bodegas winery was founded in 1901, thanks to a group of Bilbao businessmen. Price: Case of 6 at $111.30 ($18.55 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 8 years Type/Variety: Dry red, 100% Tempranillo Food Pairing: Grilled red meats, hearty rice dishes such as paella, cheese and charcuterie Third Party Reviews: “This red shows balance and depth, with black cherry, leafy, licorice and mineral flavors mingling in a silky texture, supported by well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity. A bit reserved, but harmonious.” Drink now through 2026. Score 90, Wine Spectator, Jan 2018

The Best Primitivo We’ve Ever Tasted

Richard Godin Weekly offerings 3 Comments November 21, 2019April 11, 2018

2016 Schola Sarmenti Primitivo Critera $20.60 btl / $247.20 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) This week, our team is in Verona at Vinitaly, which is an opportunity for us to connect with our Italian wineries, taste the current vintages and scour the show floor in search of new gems to bring back to Ontario. These international wine shows are massive, with over 3,000 exhibitors and up to 50,000 industry professionals attending from all corners of the globe. 4 days is sometimes is not enough time to find exactly what we are looking for. This is where our `diggers` come into play. We have a few trusted counterparts that sometimes do the scouring for us. We give them parameters and they send us the best samples they find and then we decide if they are good enough for our customers. This is how the Schola Sarmenti Primitivo from Puglia, Italy was discovered. We gave Fabio our `digger` in Italy a tough task to find a Primitivo that over delivers on all levels. The team had searched for years to find a balanced, well-structured Primitivo, and when Fabio sent us a sample of the Schola Sarmenti’s Primitivo we had that “aha moment” because it had been THE ONE we`d been searching for all this time. The 2016 Schola Sarmenti Primitivo Critera is made from 30-year-old vines that yield few, small and highly-concentrated Primitivo grapes that are harvested by hand. The ripe fruit character reflects the hot climate in Puglia and despite its youth, this wine really delivers on the palate, bursting with sumptuous fresh dark cherry and blackberry fruit as well as hints of espresso and spice. The mouth-feel is rich, round, juicy, and expressive with a silky edged finish. Drink now, but be sure to save a few bottles to see how it develops over time. Price: Case of 12 at $247.20 ($20.60 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 10 years Type/Variety/Body: Dry red, 100% Primitivo, full-body Food Pairing: Roasted or grilled red meats, robust tomato based pasta dishes and stinky cheeses More about Primitivo In the early 1990s when DNA profiling was used to analyze the genetic relationships between different grape varieties, it was established that Zinfandel was inexplicably identical to a then-obscure grape variety called Primitivo, from the heel of Italy. Much skepticism brewed within the industry because Primitivo from Italy has a history that can be traced back thousands of years and Californian Zinfandel was considered less than 200 years old. The breakthrough came when it was established that Zinfandel and Primitivo are both clones of a Croatian grape called Crljenak, with molecular marker close enough to deem them identical. Today, European wineries may call Primitivo Zinfandel and vice versa, and have been capitalized on this new found discovery since the 90s, but American wineries still do not allow the names to be interchanged. With that said, if you like Californian Zinfandel you will love this Primitivo on offer today.

World-Class Cabernet Sauvignon at Superb Value from Coonawarra, Australia

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment August 13, 2021April 4, 2018

2016 Kingston Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $17.90 btl / $214.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Kingston Estate is quickly becoming one of our top selling estates, not only because the wines are delicious, but because they offer exceptional value. The new 2016 vintage of the Cabernet Sauvignon embodies accessible luxury that can be enjoyed at any occasion. For full-bodied red wine drinkers this is one we recommend having on hand for everyday enjoyment. This single varietal wine is made from carefully selected Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon delivering a bouquet of intense dark fruits, complemented by rich cassis aromas, blackcurrant and layers of sweet vanillin oak. Expect a matching palate of elegant full-bodied flavours of blackcurrant, quince and cassis that are enhanced by classic undertones of mint and tobacco characters. Located in south-west Australia, Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa soils are Australian’s most famous terroir and are synonymous for producing rich, firmly structured red wines that are renowned around the world. The soils help contribute to the concentration of flavour and distinctiveness of the wines. Coonawarra is often referred to as Australia’s answer to Bordeaux with a similar climate of hot, dry and dusty summers, bracingly crisp winters and abundant sunshine provide ideal conditions for slow, even grape ripening. The focus for many winemakers is quality over quantity with the objective of delivering vibrant yet elegant wines. Price: Case of 12 at $214.80 ($17.90 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 5 years Blend/Body: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Full-bodied Awards: GOLD 2017 Sydney International Wine Competition GOLD 2017 New Zealand International Wine Show Food Pairing: Grilled steak with rosemary potatoes, roast leg of lamb with garlic and herbs, cured meats, hard cheeses, dark chocolate More about Kingston Estate Bill Moularadellis emigrated from Greece to Australia in the 1960s and started Kingston Estate in the Riverland district shortly thereafter. Production grew steadily thanks to Bill’s business acumen and keen sense of the wine market. Today it is the largest family-owned winery in Australia, though most of what they produce is wine for the bulk market, the Riverland being a source of ripe and clean, but not necessarily complex or interesting, fruit. However, Bill’s activity in the bulk wine market subsidized his passion for premium wine making, which he undertakes through his small-production Kingston Estate label. Initially these wines were made from the best grapes grown on the family’s Riverland vineyards, but as he sought to improve quality he began to acquire vineyards in cooler climate areas. The wines began to show increasing complexity and structure. And best of all they stayed almost the same price. The financial crisis of 2008, coupled with a long term increase in the value of the Australian dollar, had a devastating impact on the wine industry in Australia. An industry built on low cost exports to North America had serious existential challenges, and Bill, ever the canny businessman, bought up as much in the well-known Coonawarra region as he could. Coonawarra ,located about four hours south of Adelaide, is one …

Next Level Spanish Wine from Oldest Winery in Priorat

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 13, 2023March 27, 2018

2016 Scala Dei Garnatxa $26.90 btl / $322.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Many of us have had a glass or has heard of Rioja. Wines from Rioja are typically made in a subtle, elegant style with maturation in American Oak. Priorat, on the other hand, offers those who wish to take the next step in Spanish wine, to something a little more complex. Located just south of Barcelona, this tiny mountainous and remote region is known for producing intense, mineral reds. Many wine writers and collectors consider Priorat to be Spain’s most elite wines which has sparked a surge in popularity for this region in recent years. Unsuitable for any other crop, except for wine grapes and olives, the dominant vineyard plantings are Garnatxa (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan). These two grape varieties provide the backbone of nearly all Priorat reds. Add the intense dry Mediterranean sun and Priorat rises to the top of the rich, ripe red wine obsession. Today’s offer is a treat for Spanish wine lovers. Coming from Scala Dei, the oldest winery in Priorat, this winery was established by Carthusian monks in the year 1163 and today still conserves the same hand-crafted, traditional spirit of its origin. Scala Dei wines capture the essence of the abrupt landscape, intense climate and old vines – resulting in wines with exceptional flavor and depth. The wines are hand crafted, which means that production is very limited. The 2016 Scala Dei Garnatxa is an approachable Priorat red made to be enjoyed young, sourced from 15-25 year-old Grenache vines. Fermented in stainless steel vats with the purpose to preserving the fresh, fruit forward characteristic of Grenache. Hillside vines are planted on terraces, also known as costers – composed primarily of limestone and slate soils. Due to the intense landscape and desire to obtain only the finest grapes, harvesting is carried out solely by hand. Grapes are selected based on fresh fruit concentration, maturity of tannins and bright acidity. This is a fresh wine dominated by red fruit notes. Cherry red in color with bluish hues that denote its youth. Aromas of ripe red berries with underlying mineral hints from the licorella terrior. Red berries reappear on the palate with a rounded mouthfeel. A balanced wine with lots of fresh fruit. Price: Case of 12 at $322.80 ($26.90 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 5 years Blend/Body: 100% Grenache, Medium-bodied Food Pairing: Grilled meats, cheeses, cured ham and other charcuterie. Ideal for tapas and all kinds of pastas

New Wine from Luigi Righetti Worth Checking Out!

Richard Godin Weekly offerings Leave a comment January 13, 2023March 21, 2018

2016 Luigi Righetti Campo Tordi IGT $15.65 btl / $187.80 cs (case of 12 x 750ml) Luigi Righetti is an important winery for us, not only because it was the first winery that The Small Winemakers Collection represented 26 years ago, but because the family has continued to focus on producing quality wines offering extremely good value. Operating for over 100 years, located in the heart of Valpolicella Classico, the Luigi Righetti estate is small to mid-sized, family run winery that has earned a reputation as an outstanding winemaker. In recent years there has been a trend toward changing IGT wines to DOC and DOC wines to DOCG, which theoretically provides more of a guarantee in the origins of a wine. However, the paperwork and expense associated with producing an appellation wine (either DOC or DOCG) is significant and it often increases the cost of a wine without any corresponding increase in quality. There has been some discussion about tightening the production rules for Valpolicella Classico, which will eventually make this everyday wine more expensive to consumers. In typical Italian fashion, producers have responded by working outside the wine laws. Luigi Righetti decided to make the 2016 Luigi Righetti Campo Tordi with 100% Covina, the highest quality grape in the Valpolicella Classico and Amarone della Valpolicella blend, which falls under IGT status which helps keep quality high and price low. As with the famed Super Tuscans, top producers in Valpolicella have not let this put them off making quality wines with Corvina, and many top Corvina-based wines are labeled IGT. We have recently added to the Campo Tordi to the portfolio, and is the first time we are offering it to private clients. Unlike these traditional wines, Campo Tordi is fermented in temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks as opposed to neutral Slovanian oak barrels. The result is a fresher more fruit driven expression of the Corvina grape. Look for notes of bright, red cherry fruit with a subtle bitter almond on the finish. Light tannins, balanced acidity. Serve lightly chilled. Price: Case of 12 at $187.80 ($15.65 per bottle) Drink: Now or over the next 2 years Blend/Body: 100% Corvina, Light/Medium-Bodied Food Pairing: Pizzas, pasta dishes with tomato sauce, fish stew and white meats, charcuterie and cheese