Grange of Prince Edward Estate Gamay VQA Prince Edward County 2013

Grange of Prince Edward Estate Gamay VQA Prince Edward County 2013 

Publishing tasting notes on Gamay wines without having one from Grange of Prince Edward would have been a non-sense. So here is one!

Light ruby color. Nose of berries, earth, spices and some notes of flowers and minerals. Bright acidity on the palate that leads to flavors of red berries like cranberries and raspberries, sweet spices and just a hint of oak ageing related notes. Just light enough while having a touch of seriousness and lots of enjoyability. Very good+ (89)

Made of Gamay. Aged 18 months in neutral oak barrels. Alcohol level of 12%

Grange of Prince Edward’s website : grangeofprinceedward.com

The Facebook page of Bambara Selection, the agency that represents Grange in Québec : Bambara Selection

Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette 2014

Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette 2014 

Clear and foggy ruby color. Verybarny” at bottle opening, it did disapeared with some air, thankfully!. Then came the berry notes with spices, earth, inviting and fresh. Flavors of red berries, earth, flowers, there is acidity but also a texture to the wine. It’s tasty and long. This is again a good wine from Foillard, but still youn and reserved with, for my taste, too much barnyard for now. A few years of cellaring shall take care of that! Very good + (90)

Made of Gamay. Natural winemaking. Aged in large oak barrels. Alcohol level of 12,7%

Available at the SAQ for 38,75$ (Code SAQ :  12201643)

Rézin Sélection represents the wines of Jean Foillard in Québec: rezin.com

Jean Foillard Morgon Corcelette 2014

Georges Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2013

Georges Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2013

Georges Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2013

Dark ruby color. Nose of red berries, flowers, smooth spices, then earth and tobacco. Explosive sweet red fruits on the palate with cranberries, dried flowers, spices, it’s intense, chewy, there is acidity, lenght and so enjoyable. When Gamay grapes are shaking you, it’s because it’s that type of wine! Excellent (91)

Made of Gamay planted on granit soils. Natural winemaking, no sulfur added. Aged in large oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

More on Georges Descombes by La Revue du Vin de France (French only)

Rézin Sélection is the agency representing Georges Descombes in Québec: rezin.com

Georges Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2013

Tsantali Pathos Agiorgitiko 2014

Tsantali Pathos Agiorgitiko 2014

Tsantali Pathos Agiorgitiko 2014

Dark red cherry color. Nose of red berries, pepper, wet earth, flowers. That is quite pretty. Flavors of red fruits, spices, there is in this wine a good acidity level and just a touch of bitterness. Could be paired with many types of dishes. Impressive for the price and a solid QPR. Good (88)

Made of 100% Agiorgitiko. Fermente in tanks and aged in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 12,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 11,20$ (Code SAQ : 12698531)

The producer’s website: tsantali.com

Represented in Québec by Amphora Vins Fins et Spiritueux: vinsamphora.com

Château Bujan Côtes de Bourg 2014

Château Bujan Côtes de Bourg 2014

Château Bujan Côtes de Bourg 2014

Dark ruby color. Nose of spices, wild berries and some leather, oak and smoke notes. Thank you Bordeaux for letting us have that type of wine in our glass! Medium strenght on the palate with chewy fruit notes then a long spicy and smoky finish. This wine have what it takes to cellar and could also pair perfectly with roasted and comforting dishes that we all will need as the cold season begins! Very good (89) 

Blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 month in aok barrels. Alcohol level of 13.5%

Available in SAQ stores for 22,45$ (Code SAQ : 00862086)

Château Bujan’s website: chateau-bujan.com

Represented in Québec by Rézin Sélection: rezin.com

Ampeleia Unlitro Costa Toscana 2015

Ampeleia Unlitro Costa Toscana 2015

Ampeleia Unlitro Costa Toscana 2015

Foggy ruby color. Nose of red berries, earth, spices and aromatic herbs. On the palate there is fruit, good acidity, just a touch of bitteness on the finish, a great drinkability and that special twit that some Italian have (despite the not so traditionnal blend) this freshnessthat calls for food! Very good (89)

Blend of 35% Grenache, 35% Carignan and 30% dAlicante Bouschet. 1L bottle size. Aged 6 months in concrete tanks. Certified organic. Alcohol level of 12,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 24,75$ (Code SAQ : 12767532)

Represented in Québec by Oenopole: oenopole.ca

Ampeleia Unlitro Costa Toscana 2015

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

François Villard Comme une Évidence Crozes-Hermitage 2014

 

Dark purple color. Nose of crushed rock, flowers and black berries in an expressive and fine way. On the palate though, this was serious! Flavors of bacon fat, warm spices, black berries, have a good lenght but ends in a round finish. A beautiful Syrah wine, perfect candidate for cellaring! Very good+ (90)

Made of Syrah. Aged 15 months in 3 to 5 years old oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 35,25$  (Code SAQ : 12474019)

Domaine François Villard’s website: domainevillard.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2009

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2009

Dark color with light purple hue. Nose of black berries, olives, warm spices, just a hint of black pepper and meat. Silky tannins are paired with black fruit richness on the palate, then came flavors of bacon, spices, earth, olives, humus and red meat. Medium long finish, the acidity mostly shows on the finish. Good and ready to drink. Very good (89)

Made of  100% Syrah. The grape bunch were partially destemmed. Aged 12 month in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Alain Graillot’s wines are represented in Québec by Maitre de Chai: maitredechai.ca

Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2009

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015

McManis Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015

Dark color. Nose of ripe berries, spices and a hint of brown sugar. There is no doubt, this wine charms “à la Californienne” with its perfume. On the palate the fruit feels ripe also (but the wine is completly dry), follows sweet spice flavors and a welcomed bitterness appeared on the finish paired with a good acidity. Good choice of wine, especially if you’re going see friends or family. Good (87) 

Blend of 95% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Have less than  3g/l of residual sugar. Aged 6 months in a blend of new and used French and American oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 19,95$ (Code SAQ : 13088101)

McManis Family Vineyards website: mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com

Sample proposed by Trialto: trialto.com

Caliterra Reserva Carmenere Cabernet-Sauvignon Colchagua 2015

Caliterra Reserva Carmenere Cabernet-Sauvignon Colchagua 2015

Caliterra Reserva Carmenere Cabernet-Sauvignon Colchagua 2015

Dark garnet color with purple hue. Typical nose of cabernet wines with balck fruit, spices, leather, then the carmenere kicks in with its nice green notes (far from the Quebec’s too often term of tomoto leaves!). Dry on the palate with a little bite from the tannins, this is quite enjoyable, especially for the price! Long and wide on the palate, balanced, not heavy at all and pretty tasty. Good+ (88) 

Made of 58% Carmenère and 42% Cabernet-Sauvignon. 30% of the wine was aged 6 to 9 months in 2-3 wines old French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 12,95$ (Code SAQ : 12560523)

Caliterra’s website: caliterra.com

Represented in Québec by LCC Vins et Spiritueux: lccvins.com