NEW March Releases at the LCBO

Mar 19

Feels like spring is right around the corner, and we have two special gems from France (Jura and Normandy), as well as a red wine from Portugal's iconic Niepoort (pictured above) to welcome back the sunshine.

Read below for details, along with link to purchase.

Domaine Rolet Crémant du Jura Rosé Brut NV

This NV Crémant Rosé was sourced entirely from the 2022 vintage, and spent 18 months on lees before disgorge, with 3 g/L. The 90% Pinot Noir / 10% Poulsard blend streams wild strawberries, pomegranate, blood orange, and persimmon along the crisp, lively palate.

Roger Groult Calvados Pays D'Auge 3 Year Old

This artisanal eau de vie uses cider apples from the Pays d’Auge area. This was double distilled over a wood fire before perpetually aging 3 years in old oak casks. 40% alcohol.

Niepoort Vertente 2020

Vertente means aspect or hillside, well named for the vineyards of the Douro. 50 to 80 year old vines are sourced from all of the vineyards Dirk works with, with a traditional blend of several grape varieties predominatnly based on Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Rufete, and Tinta Amarela. After a native ferment in stainless, this was aged in French oak for 22 months. Fragrant rockrose, scrubby herbs, wild blackberries, and black plum flood a juicy palate, with a fine, schistous, structural brace of tannins that guide this 13% red to a lingering stony finish. Still so much energy in this wine, and time ahead.

"The 2020 Tinto Vertente combines Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and others from the DOC Douro and was aged 18 months in French oak barrels. Garnet in color, it offers aromas of ripe plum and blackberry fruit, along with wild herbs and an oaky layer. Dry, rich and juicy, it offers firm tannins as the palate lingers on its dark fruit tones. Drinking window: 2024-2036." 92 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous