Closson Chase 2019 Pinot Noir Stirling Barrique (Ontario Wine)

I spoke about this wine in its first release, now here we are again, and this one might be even better: 

 

Closson Chase 2019 Pinot Noir Stirling Barrique

 

 --- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---

This is the second iteration of this less than 100-mile wine ... Everything is not just Canadian (grapes, barrels, winemaker) but they are all within a short sip of the winery. This year the juice is 50% pressed and 50% free run and 100% from the Churchside vineyard. It spends 18 months in these barrels from Sterling Ontario - 3rd and 4th fill (two each) - so the fruit is what really shines here: violets, black cherry, smoke, sour cherry, cranberry with a nice tannin punch, while the acidity is on-point. And the finish goes on and on and on. This just might be even be better than the first time.  (****+)

 

Novaripa 2020 Sotto il Cielo, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Italian Wine)

Simple, elegance and really tasty. 

That can describe the wines from D'Abruzzo and this one fits the bill nicely

 

Novaripa 2020 Sotto il Cielo, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

 

 

--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---

 

Novaripa 2020 Sotto di Ciele. Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ...

 
Seems like a simple version of Montepulciano, but then you realize how much it is over delivering for a wine that's just kissed by oak. Look this is a drink now wine but it's got lots of dark fruit and spice with blackberry, black cherry and spiced plum. It's absolutely delicious and worth every penny. It's what you want your Montepulciano to be. (****)

 

 

Gianni Gagliardo 2017 Barolo (Italian Wine)

This is not a single vineyard Barolo, nor a special selection Barolo, but it is a damn good Barolo

 

Gianni Gagliardo 2017 Barolo

 

 

--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---

 
A 30,000 bottle production where all crus contribute to the blend; it's a majority of La Morra, admits Stefano, and it is a wine released “ready to drink, but will age as well.” Lovely red and black fruit notes with strawberry, cherry, floral and menthol aromas ... Palate is all about freshness; but also with dark and red fruit, subtle pepper and other spices - shows more elegance than power and it's incredibly drinkable the moment the cork is popped. The finish has a lovely linger with balsamic and herbs.  (****+)

 

Leaning Post 2017 Merlot (Ontario Wine)

Is Merlot Ontario's red grape? No. 

But in the right hands it can be made into some beautiful wines - like this 

 

Leaning Post 2017 Merlot

 

 

--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW --- 

 

Combine Ontario's miracle vintage with a grape that miraculously survived certain death at the hands of a popular movie, and you've got yourself something special. This Merlot saw 18 months in a mix of American and French (new) oak barrels with 20% going into neutral barrels. Surprisingly the nose is shy, but the palate more than makes up for it: blackberry, cassis, smoke, spice and even some vanilla notes give the palate a nice warm hug as the black cherry and black raspberry lingering on the finish. A super expressive, super complex wine that shows what Merlot, done well, can be in Ontario.  Rating: ****+

 

Cesari 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (Italian Wine)

Fattoria dei Barbi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna del Fiore

Brunello is a special wine unto itself, add in a single plot or single vineyard and you just up the ante

 

Fattoria Barbi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna del Fiore

 

 

 

--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---

The first vintage of this single vineyard offering was in 1981 - it's a southeast facing vineyard that sits at 250 meters above sea level and the oldest vines within the vineyard are between 20 to 25 years old. The wine spends one year in older barriques of three to five years of age; then another two years in 500-liter Slavonian oak (aka tonneau) ... Only 5,000 bottles are produced - so quite a small lot. Nice concentration and depth, yet subtle in so many ways ... Red fruit: cherry, red currant, strawberries and that oak is hidden so well behind a wall of spice and red fruit; there's even a floral aspect to this wine. It totally delivers on what single vineyard wines should be.  (**** ½)