I am using a 5-star rating system, which appears at the end of each review; here’s the key to the stars:
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
Today’s release celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the unification of Italy (IT), and looks at a number of Blends from Around the World (BAW) … there are also some excellent wines in the Best Buy section and in the wines I'll be lining up for…
Argentina …
White –
Zolo 2010 Torrontes ($12.95 - #0183913) – lighter than your usual Torrontes which usually screams Gewurztraminer to me, this one is on the mellower side and might have more mass-appeal; at a price that won’t scare people away from trying something new. (*** ½)
Red -
Lamadrid 2008 Single Vineyard Reserva Malbec ($15.00 - #0234492) – plumy dark fruit and nice cherry notes that follows all the way through to the finish. (*** ½+)
Vina Alicia 2008 Paso de Piedra Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #0177980) – sweet black fruit with a hint of mint. (****)
Australia …
Red –
Dark Side of the Moon 2009 Shiraz ($27.95 - #0072652) – juicy, juicy, juicy ... with lots of sweet fruit. (*** ½+)
Kaesler 2007 The Bogan Shiraz ($54.95 - #0004234) – rich jammy and juicy flavours with chocolate, spice; big 15.5% alcohol. (****+)
Yalumba 2006 The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz ($51.95 - #0528356) – lots of lovely big flavour with a black cherry and chocolate finish. (*** ½+)
Canada …
Red -
(British Columbia)
Inniskillin 2007 Dark Horse Estate Vineyard Meritage ($23.95 - #0597039) – rich dark fruit throughout, it has texture across the tongue with smoked chocolate and blackberry fruit. (****) - BAW
(Ontario)
Henry of Pelham 2007 Reserve Cabernet/Merlot ($24.95 - #0395855) - BAW
White –
(British Columbia)
Road 13 Winery 2009 Honest John’s White ($25.95 - #0248559) – the nose is like a Del-Monte fruit cup, minus the cherries; palate is an intriguing mix of sweet exotic fruit and sour citrus. (*** ½+)
(Ontario)
Inniskillin 2009 Barrel Aged Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #0177766)
Jackson Triggs 2009 Silver Series Gewurztraminer ($19.95 - #0247767)
Lailey 2009 Chardonnnay ($19.95 - #0193482)
Chile …
Red -
Luis Felipe Edwards 2009 Reserva Merlot ($14.95 - #0250340) – nice blueberry, blackberry notes with chocolate raspberry on the finish. (****)
White –
Ventisquero 2010 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($12.95 - #0211904) – sweet with grass with grapefruit cocktail; a pleasant summer sipper. (*** ½+)
France …
Red –
(Bordeaux)
Chateau la Maisonette 2008 ($14.95 - #0226191) – nicely grounded because of the earthy and dark fruit quality. (*** ½)
Chateau Valrose 2005 Cuvee Alienor ($38.95 - #0710517) – deep, dark, rich and at times juicy with dark fruit and tannins dominating, odd to say it’s juicy but it's there. (*** ½+) - BAW
(Burgundy)
Maison Roche de Bellene 2009 Cotes du Nuits-Villages ($19.95 - #0240473) – nice black plum and berry notes with spice and earth characteristics. (*** ½+)
(Rhone)
Domaine Chante Cigale 2007 Tradition Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($37.95 - #0194993) – coffee, mocha, plum and blackberry; dark and delicious on many levels. (****)
Sparkling –
Monmousseau Brut Rose Cremant de Loire ($16.95 - #0226233) – dusting of peach and apple with a hint of raspberry with a nice creamy finish. (****)
White –
(Alsace)
Domaines Schlumberger 2006 Grand Cru Kessler Pinot Gris ($25.95 - #0249623) – a sweet gris with lots of mouth feel. (*** ½+)
(Loire)
Domaine de Cray 2009 Montlouis White ($14.95 - #0226589) – sweet little Chenin that delivers mineral with apple and pear notes along with good acidity. (****)
(Rhone)
Domaine des Bernardins 2009 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise ($16.95 / 375ml - #0129999) – lovely spiced character with cinnamon and peaches, there’s also a nice floral note. (****+)
Germany …
White –
St. Urbans-Hof 2009 Riesling Kabinett ($21.95 - #0216622) – mineral, peach and apple, beautiful German classic style Riesling with its balance of acid and sweetness. (****+)
Italy …
Red –
(Basilicata)
Gricos 2008 Aglianico del Vulture ($14.95 - #0233833) – plum, black cherry, licorice with good stuffing; slightly leathery on the finish. (****)
(Puglia)
Girolamo 2008 Negroamaro ($18.95 - #0232736) – nicely dark fruited and enjoyably sippable. (*** ½+) - IT
Pepe Nero 2009 Primitivo Salento ($17.95 - #0230730) – think Zin with extra vanilla, plum and cherry. (****+) - IT
(Tuscany)
Fattoria le Pupille 2007 Saffredi ($99.95 - #0074435) – quite nice and very pricey. (****)
Lornano 2007 Le Bandite Chianti Classico Riserva ($19.95 - #0230672) – nice easy sipping Chianti, this should come wrapped in a wicker basket. (*** ½+) - IT
San Filippo Lo Scorno Rossi di Montalcino 2008 ($19.95 - #0232397) – lots of cherry and nice spice. (*** ½+)
(Veneto)
Brigaldara Case Vecie Amarone Della Valpolicella 2006 ($49.95 - #0247502) – oooo mama this one has some nice kick with spice and plum dominant. (****) – BAW
Corte Majoli 2007 Amarone Della Valpolicella ($33.95 - #0081943) – sweet fruit, very sippable and enjoyable now with a touch of oxidation that comes across as chocolate and cherry notes. (****+)
Tommasi 2009 Sestante Ripasso Valpolicella ($18.95 - #018719) – easy drinking with sweet plum and a backing of chocolate. (****)
White –
(Sicily)
Castello D’Albola Butara Insolia 2009 ($15.95 - #0229765) – mineral, citrus, pear and melon rind. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Red –
Coopers Creek 2009 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #0057802) – sweeter than the usual bone dry Pinots from New Zealand, think Kiwi meets Cali with juicy fruit, both red and black, with good cinnamon and clove spice. (****+)
White –
Coopers Creek 2009 Select Vineyards The Pointer Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #0236042) – apple and pear along with lemon/lime pith; pretty finish. (*** ½)
Delta 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #0236125) – big on gooseberry and grapefruit cocktail. (*** ½)
Giesen 2009 The Brothers Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #0247213) – grassy, yet with sweetness of fruit, think grapefruit with sugar on top, yet with really good acidity that cleans the palate which then helps to lengthen its finish. (****+)
Portugal …
Dessert –
Dow’s 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($16.95 - #0613927) – the spice, the black cherry, the chocolate, the acidity and the wow yum; great winter warmer. (****+)
South Africa …
Red –
Lammershoek 2006 Roulette ($25.95 - #0058164) – lush and plush with black raspberry, plum and a hint of mocha with sweet spice; nice bite back on the finish. (****+) - BAW
Rust en Vrede Estate 2007 ($37.95 - #0997742) – nice flavour which saves this wine, the nose has that earthy-tar South Africa note, but a real lovely palate. (*** ½+) - BAW
White –
Springfield Estate 2006 Wild Yeast Chardonnay ($24.95 - #0694646) – sweet vanilla on the great nose and it follows on the palate too; nice creamy finish. (****)
Spain …
Dessert –
Osbourne 10 RF Premium Oloroso Medium ($15.95 - #0087536) – orange blossom with cinnamon-spice and nutty as hell, also look for the dried cherries. (*** ½+)
United States …
Red –
(California)
Cline 2009 Ancient Vines Carignane ($19.95 - #0032177) – this is a kick ass wine full of plum, chocolate, blackberry, cherry and vanilla. (**** ½)
Quintessa 2006 ($99.95 - #0238279) – this one is not just big on price but big on flavour too. (****+) - BAW
Rutherford Ranch 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #0073817) – nice Cali-Cab that’ll have people coming back for more. (*** ½+)
Saldo 2009 Zinfandel ($39.95 - #0235903) – this is a very flavourful Zin. (****+)
Stonehedge 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #0025122) – juicy black fruit with just the right hint of red. (*** ½+)
Summers 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($45.95 - #0226597) – super juicy and fruity with lots of black cherry and hit of spice. (****)
(Oregon)
A to Z Wineworks 2006 Chemin de Terre ($14.95 - #0234724) – I’ve had this one many times and have enjoyed it each and every time, don’t pass up this excellent 7 grape blend. (****+) - BAW
(Washington)
Coeur D’Alene 2006 Boushey Vineyard Syrah ($42.95 - #0227579) – nicely balanced meaty Syrah with lots of flavour. (****)
White –
(California)
L’Avion 2008 Rousanne ($46.95 - #0225391) – ballsy wine with a firm structure, almost Chardonnay-like. (*** ½)
Best Buys (wine(s) that over deliver at their price) …
Domaine de Cray 2009 Montlouis White ($14.95 - #0226589)
A to Z Wineworks 2006 Chemin de Terre ($14.95 - #0234724)
Ventisquero 2010 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($12.95 - #0211904)
Gricos 2008 Aglianico del Vulture ($14.95 - #0233833)
Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on September 3, 2011:
Monmousseau Brut Rose Cremant de Loire ($16.95 - #0226233) - France
Cline 2009 Ancient Vines Carignane ($19.95 - #0032177) - USA
Lailey 2009 Chardonnnay ($19.95 - #0193482) - CanadaHappy Shopping
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