February Cellar Feature
| Product Name | LCBO# | Region | Score | mL | $/btl. | Qty. Avail. | Qty |
| Argentina |
Riglos Gran Corte 2019
Riglos Gran Corte 2019Tupungato, Valle de Uco, Mendoza 0033504 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $45.00 TASTING NOTE : Gran Corte is a more or less equal blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, all sourced from Riglos' estate in the lower part of Gualtallary. Balanced, seamless and harmonious, this is another superb red from José Hernández Toso, with fine-grained tannins, bright acidity and flavours of coffee bean, blackberry and cassis. Drink date: 2025-2035. Score - 94. (timatkin.com, Argentina Special Report 2022)
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0033504
| Mendoza | 94 (TAT) | 750 | $45.00 | 198 |
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| Australia |
Angove The Medhyk Old Vine Shiraz 2018
Angove The Medhyk Old Vine Shiraz 2018McLaren Vale, South Australia 0437749 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $65.00 TASTING NOTE : From 55yo estate vines; fermented and matured 17 months in new and used French oak. The bouquet has the inimitable McLaren Vale fusion of plum and dark chocolate, the palate wonderfully light on its feet thanks to controlled alcohol and oak letting the terroir speak. Score - 97. (James Halliday, The Weekend Australian Magazine, Sept. 2021)
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0437749
| South Australia | 97 | 750 | $65.00 | 81 |
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Peter Lehmann Mentor Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Peter Lehmann Mentor Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2014Barossa 0481903 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $35.00 TASTING NOTE : PL was a mentor to so many people in the Barossa and this excellent cabernet is a worthy testament to him with structure, poise and presence. There is loads of Barossa blackcurrant and dark plum fruit plus a chocolaty edge. There's also earthy and slightly library book savoury characters emerging which suggest this will continue to evolve into something special. Drink: 2020-2035. Score - 95. (Ray Jordan, winepilot.com, Dec. 2020)
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0481903
| South Australia | 95 | 750 | $35.00 | 0 |
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The Ironstone Pressings Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvèdre 2018
The Ironstone Pressings Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvèdre 2018McLaren Vale, South Australia 0033694 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $68.00 TASTING NOTE : This is a blend of 75% grenache, 20% shiraz and 5% mourvedre with the shiraz component selected for its spicy and lively style. Grenache is the star here, holding a very fresh and spicy edge to the nose with some fresh, earthy elements, too. On the palate there's plenty of raspberries, blueberries and blue plums, carried on long, sheet-like tannins. Detailed and pure. Drink over the next decade. Score - 96. (jamessuckling.com, Oct. 26, 2022)
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0033694
| South Australia | 96 (JS) | 750 | $68.00 | 0 |
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Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2019
Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2019McLaren Vale, South Australia 0443770 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $55.00 TASTING NOTE : Gorgeously ripe and enticing, showing black/purple berry, rich floral, toasty oak, warm spice and dark chocolate aromas, it's concentrated and plump in the mouth displaying excellent depth and richness, beautifully framed by velvety texture and rounded tannins. Mouthfilling and opulent with structure and persistency. At its best: now to 2037. Score - 96. (Sam Kim, wineorbit.co.nz, July 2023)
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0443770
| South Australia | 96 (WO) | 750 | $55.00 | 40 |
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| Canada |
Black Hills Alibi 2022
Black Hills Alibi 2022BC VQA Okanagan Valley 0025699 (XD) 13% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $38.00 TASTING NOTE : After a tricky growing season in 2022, this aromatic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon is sure to dazzle with its intensely perfumed nose and complex flavour profile. A bouquet of fresh-cut grass, beeswax and hints of lilac are contrasted by notes of white peach, gooseberry and baking spices with a brisk minerality on the lengthy finish.
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0025699
| British Columbia | | 750 | $38.00 | 0 |
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CheckMate Attack Chardonnay 2019
CheckMate Attack Chardonnay 2019BC VQA Okanagan Valley 0029083 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $107.00 TASTING NOTE : A foudre is a large oval cask. The fruit for this wine is 67% from the Jagged Rock Vineyard and 33% from the Border Vista Vineyard. The wine was aged 16 months in oak foudres, one of which was new. The size of the casks means that this is the most fruit-forward of the Chardonnays. The wine begins with aromas of citrus leading to flavours of peach, pear and mandarin orange with notes of honey and spice on the finish. The texture of this wine shows a seamless polish. Score - 97. (johnschreiner.blogspot.com, Feb. 7, 2022)
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0029083
| British Columbia | 97 (JSC) | 750 | $107.00 | 0 |
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CheckMate End Game Merlot 2019
CheckMate End Game Merlot 2019BC VQA Okanagan Valley 0029084 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $102.00 TASTING NOTE : The fruit for this wine is from vineyards on the Osoyoos Lake Bench and Black Sage Bench. Fermentation was 100% wild with extended (about 50 days) of skin contact. The wine was aged 21 months in new French oak. The wine begins with aromas of cassis, black cherry and raspberry. On the palate, there are flavours of cherry, raspberry and chocolate. Score - 98. (johnschreiner.blogspot.com, Feb. 7, 2022)
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0029084
| British Columbia | 98 (JSC) | 750 | $102.00 | 0 |
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CheckMate Fool's Mate Chardonnay 2019
CheckMate Fool's Mate Chardonnay 2019BC VQA Okanagan Valley 0574202 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $102.00 TASTING NOTE : Fruit comes principally from Jagged Rock (42%) and Sunset (34%) vineyards, with the rest from three other sites in Golden Mile Bench and Osoyoos East Bench. Aged in French oak and concrete (9%), it's an aromatic tour de force, with notes of cardamom, spice and fresh peach. Full bodied, highly textured stone fruit and mineral flavors follow. It's a swoonworthy statement wine. Editors' Choice. [Has the potential to drink into early 2030s.] Score - 93. (Sean P. Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast, Dec. 31, 2022)
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0574202
| British Columbia | 93 (WE) | 750 | $102.00 | 0 |
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CheckMate Knight's Challenge Chardonnay 2019
CheckMate Knight's Challenge Chardonnay 2019Sunset Vineyard, BC VQA Okanagan Valley 0020335 (XD) 13% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $102.00 TASTING NOTE : The grapes are from the Sunset Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench, which shares some of the qualities of Jagged Rock. The wine was fermented entirely with wild yeast and was aged in French oak (47% new) for 16 months. The wine is complex, with aromas of lychee and sagebrush. The wine delivers rich layers of fruit including ripe peach and lime with a long, honeyed finish. Score - 99. (johnschreiner.blogspot.com, Feb. 7, 2022)
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0020335
| British Columbia | 99 (JSC) | 750 | $102.00 | 0 |
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| Chile |
Encierra Carmenère 2020
Encierra Carmenère 2020Peralillo, Valle de Colchagua 0019560 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $40.00 TASTING NOTE : Intense and super smooth, as it always is, the Encierra Carmenère is made in a ripe, textured, fleshy style, with ample perfume, stylish vanilla-scented oak and glossy tannins. Rich and complete with plenty of body, mulberry and blackberry fruit and a supple, caressing finish. Drink date: 2023-2027. Score - 93. (timatkin.com, Chile Special Report 2022)
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0019560
| Colchagua Valley | 93 (TAT) | 750 | $40.00 | 142 |
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| France |
Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 2015
Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 20155e cru, AC Pauillac 0033911 (XD) 13% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $100.00 TASTING NOTE : This generous, ripe wine is filled with fine tannins as well as juicy black-currant fruits. It is approachable in the sense that the fruit is so delicious. However, watch for those tannins that are firm and dense and will allow the wine to age. Best to wait until 2024 [and will hold until 2035]. Score - 94. (Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, Feb. 1, 2018)
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0033911
| Bordeaux | 94 (WE) | 750 | $100.00 | 10 |
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Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard Vaulorent Chablis 1er Cru 2021
Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard Vaulorent Chablis 1er Cru 2021AC 0581710 (XD) 13% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $74.00 TASTING NOTE : A fine, impressive Vaulorent which shows the very high quality of this premier cru. With plenty of weight and concentration Brocard's Vaulorent is an amalgam of all the best of the rest of the premiers crus - mineral, powerful and rich, with warm, ripe fruit on the palate and notable concentration. Very much like a grand cru, this will keep for many years. Drinking window: 2026-2032. Score - 94. (Andy Howard, MW, decanter.com, Nov. 28, 2022)
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0581710
| Burgundy | 94 (DEC) | 750 | $74.00 | 0 |
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Émile Beyer Lieu Dit Saint Jacques Riesling 2016
Émile Beyer Lieu Dit Saint Jacques Riesling 2016AC Alsace 0034171 (XD) 13% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $50.00 TASTING NOTE : Faint hints of orange zest on the nose become fuller on the juicy palate. A wonderful apple tartness veers between ripe, juicy fruit and lip-smacking refreshment. This wine offers a lovely, dry, concentrated mouthful of fruit on a lithe body. Score - 93. (Anne Krebiehl, MW, Wine Enthusiast, Aug. 1, 2018)
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0034171
| Alsace | 93 (WE) | 750 | $50.00 | 7 |
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Gabriel Meffre Saint-Theodoric Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021
Gabriel Meffre Saint-Theodoric Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021AP 0033914 (XD) 15% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $51.00 TASTING NOTE : Silky and smoky, this floral version has incense and red tea notes infusing a base of red fruit, all on a medium-weight frame. Pretty and unencumbered, with charred sandalwood and forest floor accents. Elegant. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2030. Score - 91. (Kristen Bieler, winespectator.com, Nov. 15, 2023)
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0033914
| Rhône | 91 (WS) | 750 | $51.00 | 234 |
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Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021
Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021AC 0025013 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $62.00 TASTING NOTE : Moving to the two Châteauneuf du Papes, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the remainder Mourvèdre that was raised in one- and two-year-old French oak Burgundy demi muids. Perfumed black raspberries, flowery incense, sandalwood, and spice give way to a medium-bodied, round, supple, and layered 2021 with ripe tannins and outstanding length. Score - 91. (jebdunnuck.com, Oct. 30, 2023)
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0025013
| Rhône | 91 (JD) | 750 | $62.00 | 0 |
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| Italy |
Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari Tenuta di Nozzole La Forra Riserva Chianti Classico 2019
Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari Tenuta di Nozzole La Forra Riserva Chianti Classico 2019DOCG 0032308 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $45.00 TASTING NOTE : Notes of dried cherries and red plums with hints of cured meat, walnuts, a little bit of leather and moist earth. Full-bodied and structured with fine, polished tannins. Wide and generous and very refined. Complete and focused wine with a broad and lingering finish. Drink or hold [into the early 2030s]. Score - 94. (jamessuckling.com, Aug. 7, 2023)
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0032308
| Tuscany | 94 (JS) | 750 | $45.00 | 0 |
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Badia a Coltibuono Cultus Riserva Chianti Classico 2018
Badia a Coltibuono Cultus Riserva Chianti Classico 2018DOCG 0032316 (XD) 15% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $55.00 TASTING NOTE : Notes of dried strawberries and cherries with hints of chocolate and sweet spices. Dry and polished with firm tannins. Medium body. Structured and complete. Juicy and fruit-forward on the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold [into early 2030s]. Score - 93. (jamessuckling.com, Aug. 7, 2023)
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0032316
| Tuscany | 93 (JS) | 750 | $55.00 | 44 |
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Castello di Cacchiano Riserva Chianti Classico 2018
Castello di Cacchiano Riserva Chianti Classico 2018DOCG 0032301 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $60.00 TASTING NOTE : Savory plums, dark grilled spices and dried herbs on the nose, showing some good intensity and focus. A crunchy, medium-bodied Chianti Classico that has excellent crunch and flavor intensity and is rounded by a firm, juicy tannin frame. Drink now [to 2028+]. Score - 92. (jamessuckling.com, Aug. 8, 2022)
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0032301
| Tuscany | 92 (JS) | 750 | $60.00 | 64 |
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Castello di Meleto Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2019
Castello di Meleto Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2019DOCG 0032389 (XD) 14% Alc./Vol. 750 mL $60.00 TASTING NOTE : A balanced nose features sweet cherries, orange blossoms and vanilla, but also sanguine aromas of meat, bricks, pennies and tar. On the palate, that equilibrium continues, and a new tension also emerges as severe tannins and searing acid push up against a polished, silky mouthfeel. Score - 94. (Wine Enthusiast, Dec. 31, 2023)
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0032389
| Tuscany | 94 (WE) | 750 | $60.00 | 0 |
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