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Lawrason On Wine

June Archive

Chilean Cellar Surprises

Posted on June 5, 2007

Wine of the Week
Cousiňo-Macul 2005 Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.15, 89 points, LCBO 212993)
Maipo Valley, Chile
Cellaring a $15 Chilean cabernet is likely not an idea that has occurred to many people this week. But if building a cellar on a shoestring budget don’t miss this 100% cabernet from one of Chile’s oldest estate wineries. They’ve been making this wine since 1927 and a recent tasting of the 1979 vintage shows it has the stuffing to last. It’s full bodied, surprisingly dense, rich and smooth for the money, with well-integrated tannin. Aromatically complex as well, with classic Chilean cabernet cassis, eucalyptus, generous wood spice from American oak barrels. There is a meaty, leathery note that runs through all the Cousiňo Macul reds, which some like and some don’t. So take a test drive before going for a case or two. But do take that first spin.

Ontario’s Big Week

Posted on June 12, 2007

Grange of Prince Edward Trumpour’s Mill 2006 Pinot Gris ($16.95, 86 points, winery only)
Prince Edward County
Look closely at the fine print. This is among the first labels bearing the name of the world’s newest wine region—Prince Edward County. On Monday, the county’s VQA status became official at ceremonies held at Waupoos Estate Winery. This recently released gris from young vines in the Grange’s Isabel Vineyard needs another three to six months bottle aging, but is showing typical Alsatian (not Italian) style peach, almond, musk and lemon pinot gris aromas. Its light, crisp mineral-driven frame is typical of county wines—promising gris indeed. This wine will be coming to Vintages in September, and is, in the meantime, available at the winery.

Alsace Weekend

Posted on June 19, 2007

Wine of the Week
Paul Zinck 2005 Riesling (89 points, $19.95, www.liffordwineagency.com)
Alsace, France
This is a fulsome, fruity, dry riesling from a warm vintage in Alsace, showing all the expected attributes of apple, with a touch of honey and petrol. Nicely fleshy, with a ripe-fruited sweetness on the palate, refreshing acidity and a dry finish. Only available by the case from Lifford Agencies, but visit the site and ask about other Zinck wines as well. This producer has always impressed.

1,000 Wines of the Week

Posted on June 27, 2007

I’ve tasted so many wines this past week that I can’t pick one to feature. Furthermore I don’t have tasting notes (yet) on any single one of them, because I don’t know exactly which wines I tasted.

David Lawrason

David Lawrason

David Lawrason has worked full time as one of Canada's leading, independent wine writers and educators for over 20 years. He was the founder of Wine Access magazine and Globe and Mail wine columnist for 13 years before becoming resident wine guy at Toronto Life, where he pens a monthly column and writes an exhaustive review of LCBO general listings for the annual Food and Wine Guide. As a wine educator he has taught sommelier programs at George Brown, Humber and Niagara Colleges, and has run popular public courses in Toronto since 1988. He has visited every major wine major producing country in the world, while focusing recently on the booming Canadian wine scene, as founder of the Canadian Wine Awards program, and Canadian wine columnist for Wine Access.

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