August CLASSICS Release: California Classics, 1er Cru Chablis + KOVAL Organic Single Barrel Bourbon is Back
This month we have three wines released in LCBO CLASSICS, and online ordering starts this Thursday, August 5 at 8:30am. We are also thrilled to welcome the KOVAL Organic Single Barrel Bourbon back to Whiskey Shop. All are drinking smartly now, but will certainly reward with time in your cellar.
Domaine Vrignaud Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Côtes de Fontenay 2017
The Vrignaud family, settled in the village of Fontenay-près-Chablis, have been growing vines for 5 generations. Guillaume Vrignaud started to bottle his first wines in 1999, and became certified organic in 2009. They have 28 hectares today. Vrignaud's four hectare vineyard in the 1er Cru Fourchaume is planted to 30 year-old vines, rooted in the climat's brown clay and Kimmeridgian soils.
"Guillaume Vrignaud's top wine comes from the Côte de Fontenay - a sub-appellation within the larger Fourchaume premier cru. It has old-vine concentration with notes of gunflint and honey, and an undertone of iodine. Classic Chablis. Drinking window: 2019-2028." 94 points, Tim Atkin, MW, decanter.com.
Appellation : AOC Chablis 1er Cru
Region: Bourgogne, France
Grape(s) : Chardonnay
Price : $68.00 for 750mL
LCBO : 20382
PharaohMoans Syrah Paso Robles 2018
"Lots of spiced plums, orange blossom, spring flowers, peach (I'd swear there was Viognier in this blend) and peppery notes emerge from the 2018 Syrah. An exotic, full-bodied, seamless Syrah with ripe yet present tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish, it's truly brilliant and the finest I've tasted from this estate. All Syrah from a mix of sites on the westside of Paso Robles, brought up in 60% new oak, it's going to keep for 10-15 years. Maturity: 2020-2035". 98 points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com.
Appellation : AVA Paso Robles
Region: California, USA
Grape(s) : Syrah
Price : $170.00 for 750mL
LCBO : 20638
Barrett & Barrett Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015
"The same 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc from their estate vineyard in Calistoga, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon has a similar bouquet of blackcurrants, toasted spices, smoke tobacco, and lead pencil, and despite coming from a hotter vintage than 2014, it has a slightly more Bordeaux'ish (Pauillac even) bouquet. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and layered on the palate, it has good acidity, notable tannic structure, and a great finish. A more classic, focused, structured wine than the more opulent 2014, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will shine over the following two decades." 97 points,Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com.
Appellation : AVA Napa Valley
Region: California, USA
Grape(s) : Cabernet Sauvignon
Price : $585.00 for 750mL
LCBO : 444463
Koval Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
KOVAL Distillery’s organic, single barrel bourbon has the requisite mash bill of at least 51% corn, but instead of the usual rye or wheat supplement, they have included one of the main cereals of Asia and Africa. Millet is a gluten-free ancient sustenance grain, and like corn, has a history of working in the spirits industry, albeit in Nepal, where it has long been celebrated as a libation of choice.
Tucked away in a charred new American oak barrel to age, millet and corn learn to complement each other, neither taking the lead. Out of the bottle, this duet opens with notes of mango chutney, while the millet renders a soft whisper of vanilla throughout. Then harmonizing, the grains sing with the sweetness of apricot custard. This pair finishes with peppery caramel, a diminuendo into a wisp of clove-spiked tobacco lingering on the tongue.
Single Barrel. Unfiltered. Heart cut. Organic & Kosher.
Read about Koval here.
Appellation : Chicago
Region: Illinois, USA
Grain(s) : Corn, Millet
Price : $105.75 for 750mL
LCBO : 423368
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,
Le Sommelier
416.603.7026
bernard@lesommelier.com
Inaugural Grapes for Climate Change Auction
Grapes for Humanity is holding three provincial wine auctions this fall in Ontario, BC, and Alberta to raise funds to aid in the battle against the threat of Climate Change, and to support global communities in need.
These Grapes for Humanity charity wine auctions will be held October 12-18, 2021 in partnership with Irongate Auctions and the Vancouver Club in BC. They are also participating in the Grapes for Humanity Global partnership with Christie’s Auction House to produce a New York City auction later this fall.
Proceeds from these charitable, virtual wine auctions will support national and global organizations in the battle against the Climate Crisis alongside our long-standing support of global humanitarian projects to address poverty, and improve education, and health.
If you are interested in donating fine wine to these important auction events, please email me directly, and I will put you in touch with the committee. All donations will be eligible for a tax receipt for the appraised value of the lot.
To learn more about us, our producers, and our wine professional tools, visit our website.
