Rogers & Company Chateau, Villa and Estate Wines

An Award Winning Catalogue

July 2014

Each year the LCBO recognizes its trade partners with a Gala event and awards category winners with an "Elsie" (as in LC - BO). This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Elsie's and Rogers and Company was awarded the prestigious "Vintages Portfolio of Excellence". This is our second win in 3 years!

This award speaks to more than just the wines that LCBO selects to put on their shelves, but to the overall quality of the wineries and wines that we choose to carry in our catalogue. Not all wineries have the third-party international press or volumes necessary to compete in all markets, but you can be assured that if we've chosen to represent the winery and to make it available in Ontario, we feel that the quality and value is there and that we're proud to be their voice here.

We couldn't have achieved this award without the fabulous wines made by our wineries, and so, with that in mind here is a selection of wines that we know would make for beautiful drinking over the summer.

As always, prices here are per-bottle, exclusive of the $0.20 container deposits, and we sell only by the unmixed case.

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All my best,

Chris.

Belle Glos
"Oeil de Perdrix" Rosé (of Pinot Noir) 2013
$26.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

What differentiates a rosé of Pinot Noir from a rosé of Zinfandel - delicacy. This wine, produced by Joseph Wagner of Caymus fame, has a lovely wild strawberry and a gently minerally mouthfeel. There is a hint of spice, but nothing obvious. A citric lift makes you crave another sip.

In case you're wondering, Oeil de Perdrix means "Eye of Partridge" and references the pale salmon colour of a rosé of Pinot Noir. We receive very little of this lovely wine every year and our stock will soon be gone. Get yours while the weather is hot!

Chateau Montelena
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2011
$68.95 per bottle, 6 bottles per case

Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay is a reference point for non-malolactic Napa Valley Chards. By not manipulating the wine much in barrel and blocking the malolactic fermentation (which makes wines "creamy"), they produce a rich and complex, yet bright and lively wine that ages impeccably for over 10 years.

"The 2011 Chardonnay appears to have more richness and body than the 2010, which is counterintuitive considering the cool year, but in 2011 Bo Barrett and his team had to wait until the end of October for this fruit to fully ripen, which, needless to say, is highly unusual. The characteristic Montelena Chardonnay aromas and flavours come through, but in a slightly richer style than normal. Hints of lemon oil, crushed rocks and flowers meld together beautifully on the resonant finish. Barrett adds that the 2011 was the first wine made in the new cellar, which is set up to handle small-lot fermentations. Whatever the reasons, the 2011 is striking in every way. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025."

93 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Dec 2012

O'Shaughnessy
Oakville Chardonnay 2012
$75.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

A rare treat for us every year is our single shipment of O'Shaughnessy Chardonnay. The winery is well known for their amazing Cabernet Sauvignons from Howell Mountain and Mt. Veeder, but this wine is sourced at owner Betty O'Shaughnessy's home vineyard right in the heart of Oakville. Winemaker Sean Capiaux seems to have a midas-touch with this varietal as well. It is a delicious, luxurious wine that will reward cellaring for up to 5 years, however it is so good now, why wait?

"The 2012 Chardonnay is gorgeous. White flowers, mint, apricots and lemon oil all meld together in the glass. The style is bright and floral, with lovely depth and no sense of heaviness. The 2012 does a great job of capturing Napa Valley richness while maintaining a gorgeous sense of poise and balance. The 2012 is done in a combination of oak and steel, with native fermentations but blocked malolactics."

92 points, Antonio Galloni, Nov 2013

Maison Alex Gambal
Chambolle-Musigny 2012
$110.95 per bottle, 6 bottles per case
only 8 cases in stock!!

Among the communes of the Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny is considered to produce the most feminine, perfumed and delicate wines. But that's not to say that the wines are light or thin. In fact a richness of fruit is on display, however light on the palate it may present itself.

The foremost expert of Burgundy, Allan Meadows at burghound.com says, "This possesses an aromatic elegance with its relatively high-toned nose of raspberry, cherry, rose petal and spiced herbal tea scents. There is a lovely sense of verve and detail to the lightly mineral-inflected flavours that possess a supple mid-palate contrasted against a moderately firm and mouth coating finish. Like many of these 2012s this should drink well young but should reward 4 to 7 years of cellar time too."

Hunter's Marlborough Pinot Noir 2011
$23.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

Hunter's is the oldest family-owned winery operating in Marlborough, and produces a Pinot Noir that leans toward the old world in its fruit presentation. A gently tannic wine that displays dried cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate flavours, it then cascades spices through the finish. This is a super wine for drinking now with or without food, but should you wish to pair it, I would suggest roasted chicken enhanced by sweet, roasted garlic or dry rubbed baby back ribs.

Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards

Domaine Henry Pellé
Menetou-Salon Rouge "Les Bornés" 2012
$27.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

Menetou-Salon is one of the Loire's great "sommeliers' secret" appellations for high-end wines at modest prices, and Henry Pellé is widely regarded as the leading producer.

Centrally located and neighbouring Sancerre, it is a source of rare and flavourful Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs. "Les Bornés" is a full bodied Pinot Noir, fermented in stainless steel thermo-regulated tanks with naturally occuring yeasts and then aged in wooden vats. This couldn't be more "old-world". There is nothing flashy or paradigm-shifting about the process.

That said, it is a blend of two parcels, both with soils composed of kimmeridgian marl (which is found prominently in Chablis), and the wine is all about terroir.

Rich and textured, the wine has a satiny pull on the palate. Succulently tart cherry flavours are bouyed by earthiness and savouriness. This wine is built to cellar and will reward ageing of 4-8 years.

It is a real value in the increasingly over-priced French Pinot market. The richness of Pommard or Gevrey comes to mind, and the least that one could hope to pay to play with those is $50, and they would be village-level, not lieu-dit, like Les Bornés.

Falchini
Chianti Colli Senesi 2011 "Titolato Colombaia"
$19.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

Chianti Colli Senesi deserves more respect. The hills around Sienna produce a lighter style of Chianti than one finds in the Classico zone, and unfortunately, "quality" is often aligned to power. But the soft, dried cherry, herbal freshness and gentle tannic pull of good Sangiovese is very special. This is distinctly dry. There is a balancing acidic tanginess to Sangiovese and that is why Chianti and tomato based dishes work so well together.

This wine is very drinkable young, no ageing is required, although this will certainly grow more complex over 3-4 years.

The "Titolato" is a group of "enlightened producers" who push the appellation into the future through innovation and very high standards. Falchini's consulting enologist is the legendary Giacomo Tachis, creator of Tignanello, Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Solaia, and other great Italian wines. Working with him, the late Riccardo Falchini's sons Michael and Christopher continue to maintain their father's legacy.

Frog's Leap Napa Valley Zinfandel 2011
$41.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

This is quite simply one of my favourite wineries, and their Zin is a throw-back, old-school, juicy Napa Valley country wine that couldn't be easier to appreciate and simply gulp.

You shouldn't be afraid that your Zin will burst into flames if it comes too close to your barbecue and this one comes in below most Cabernets' alcohol levels. 13.8!! That's fantastic! The fruit flavours are pure, expressive and juicy, and the balance is gorgeous. I really respect Dan Berger's writing (below) and he just nails it with this review.

"A press release accompanying this wine spoke of its parallel to Chianti. I was skeptical until I tried it. The amazing aroma is more of huckleberries and loganberries and actually smells tart! There is also a light hit of American oak (coconut?) and the entry is a revelation with a sour-cherry entry and a crispness on the tongue that seems to call for the same sort of foods a Chianti would enhance: tomato-based meats. And who says a great Zinfandel needs massive alcohol? This wine is 13.8% (!) It takes courage to make wine like this. John Williams and Paula Moschetti are to be commended for their continuing quest for balance and food-friendly wines!"

"A Truly Distinctive Wine", Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences, April 2013

Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

MAGNUMS! MAGNUMS!!

$48.95 per magnum, 6 bottles per case

Sometimes size does matter. ;)

I just think it's cool when friends are over to pull out magnums. Just imagine a beautiful late summer night, steaks on the grill and a picnic table beautifully decorated and lined with these big bottles. Quite simply though, this wine is fantastic!

The fruit comes from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties and the 2010 is aromatic and beautiful. 2010, although a small crop in northern California was one of very good quality, and this wine reflects that!

The entire Cannonball lineup, which includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot as well, offers outstanding quality for the price.

In fact the 2011 just received a 90+ score and "Excellent and Highly Recommended" designation at the Ultimate Wine Challenge 2014, which is a who's who panel of US wine experts.

The 2011 750ml bottles hit LCBO shelves on July 5th (#291666), but these magnums won't last long!

Ralph Fowler Mt. Benson Shiraz 2010
$26.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

This is one of our favourite "outside the box" wines to recommend. What makes it special is that it's grown on Mt. Benson, a cold, windy and rather miserable part of southern Australia, that overlooks the Great Australian Bight. The fruit presentation is totally different than most you've ever had. It's certainly dark in flavour spectrum, but it almost has a Crozes-Hermitage-like, "medium-plus" mouthfeel.

It is exotically aromatic, almost salty in its minerality, and finely balanced. Every time we pour this wine, we surprise many, many people. I think this is a tremendous value.

Santa Barbara Syrah 2011 Santa Ynez Valley
$25.95 per bottle, 12 bottles per case

Syrah is one varietal that really can grow anywhere. When it's grown in cool vineyards the flavour profile becomes floral, white peppery; when grown in a hot vineyard the wine becomes jammier and meatier. In blending wines from 5 different vineyards along the west-east corridor of the Santa Ynez Valley, winemaker Bruce McGuire crafts a complex, balanced, full bodied and juicy wine.

The fruit flavours are almost vibrantly blue and purple, there is a wildness to it, we would use the term "animale", meaning it has a meaty, or iron-like tanginess to it. This is typical of good Syrah (although the descriptors leave something to be desired). Think of a "black and blue" Filet Mignon if it helps.

Established in 1962, long before Sideways brought Santa Barbara County into the mainstream, Santa Barbara Winery was producing value-priced artisan Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. There are only 1,000 cases of this wine produced in a good year.

I love this! Most value-focused wineries would ramp up production. SBW has remained small and specialized. Their wines always over-deliver and I think this Syrah would really excite your palate.

Chris McLean

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