April 2023 Releases at the LCBO

Apr 14

We have a few special releases this month at the LCBO, including a biodynamic Grüner Veltliner from Fred Loimer, and two masterful ports from Niepoort Vinhos.

Read below for more details about these special wines, along with the LCBO links to purchase them.

Weingut Loimer Kamptal Grüner Veltliner 2021

Carrying on his family's winemaking tradition, after studying oenology at Austria’s Klosterneuburg University and working in Germany and Napa, Fred Loimer took over the winery from his father in 1997. His 80 hectares of vineyards began conversion to biodynamics in 2006, and all are certified today. Unlike most of his peers, Fred vinifies his wine to dryness, like this concentrated, stony, older vine grüner from vineyard around Langenlois, growing on loess and gneiss soils at 200-400m. Predominantly fermented and aged in large stainless tanks (5% in large oak barrels), this rested 4 months on lees before blending and bottling. Wet rock rules this bright, shining GV, with green apple, Asian pear, lemon rind streaming along the palate. Ample white pepper infiltrates the palate, already buzzing with soils.

Read more about Weingut Loimer here.

Appellation : DAC Kamptal
Country : Austria
Grape(s) : Grüner Veltliner
Price : $24.95
LCBO : 142240

Niepoort Vintage Port 2015

If one had to pick the winemaker that has had the greatest impact on not only Douro wines, but Portuguese wines in general, it would be Dirk Niepoort. Easily one of the world’s top winemakers, Dirk’s insight extends beyond soils, grapes and blends, and into humans, predicting and driving the wines that today’s wine lovers, of all ages and backgrounds, are interested in drinking. While upholding his family’s history in Port wine, dating back to 1842, this fifth generation Niepoort has led the path for future generations to follow in both dry and Port wines. Independent, low-interventionist winemaking (biodynamic practices since 2012), earlier picking times, and clever marketing has created fresh wines both inside and outside of the bottle.

2015 was a fantastic year for Vintage Port, and this wine is elegant proof. These old vines was based on their Pisca vineyard (40%) with the rest coming from various small parcels, all over 80 years old. The grapes were foot trodden and made in lagares in Vale de Mendiz, with 100% of the stems. After racking the wines aged in tonéis in the Douro over the winter, and then moved to Vila Nova de Gaia, in April 2016. The final blend then matured further in tonéis at their lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia, prior to bottling. This is an incredible Port with an unusual dimension, impressive structure, with fine and intense tannins, great concentration, and always accompanied by balance and harmony.

Read more about Niepoort Vinhos here.

"The 2015 Vintage Port is a field blend from old vines (80 to 100 years old). It comes in with 104 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is another gorgeous Vintage Port from Niepoort this issue, elegant, but very powerful and focused. I may have a minor preference for the Bioma this issue, but reasonable minds might differ and this is very fine. The tightly wound precision and serious backbone make this a 2015 with plenty of room to grow in the cellar, but that's not all. It has fine intensity of flavor and freshness to go with the big tannins here, making this a very serious Port on all fronts. It is impressive overall. It was a tank sample when seen, but it was the final blend and due to be bottled in two weeks when tasted. It should be in the marketplace by the time this article appears. Drink date: 2030-2070." 94-96 points, Mark Squires, robertparker.com

Region : Douro Valley
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Roriz, and others
Price : $141
LCBO : 30892

Niepoort 10 Years Old Tawny Port

This 10-year-old Tawny Port is a blend of numerous wines averaging 10 years in age. This comes from vines over 30 years from the schist soils of Vinha da Pisca, Vale do Pinhão, and Ferrão, and blends Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Roriz and others. It was foot-trodden and fermented in lagares before ageing in small oak casks. Pouring an amber hue, this carries brown sugar, marmalade, burnished orange peel, roasted chestnuts, roasted Kona, and old paper along a silken smooth palate, finishing with a bright, frizzed orange peel note. Much less fiery and more sophisticated than most 10-year-old Tawny.

"The NV 10 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with a long cork. This is a lovely 10 Year Tawny, elegant in the mid-palate, but complex, precise and focused. There's a bit of a bite on the finish, giving it some length to go with the flavor. The next day it was more about power, with considerable intensity of old-tawny flavor as well, more than I normally see in a 10 Year Old. This is a fine one for the category. It showed best around 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't drink it too warm.” 91 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, February 28. 2017.

Read more about Niepoort Vinhos here.

Region : Douro Valley
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Roriz, and others
Price : $48.95
LCBO : 26959 *arriving in LCBO stores this week

Most of our producers are small, independently owned and operated businesses, like ours. You can view our complete portfolio here. Thank you for letting us share these producers and wines with you.

Cheers,