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
This release looks at California Cabs (CABS), Greek wines (GREC) and wines for Valentine's Day (LOVE) ... I have to be honest, I don't know whay constitutes a valentine's day wine but that's what the board called them so we'll have to go with it. Plus there's a More for Less (MOL) offering on Ontario wines, previously released wines that the LCBO has put on sale, I'm sure the wineries are getting screwed somehow on this one. And there are a number of wines worth lining up for, so I expanded the What I'm Buying section. So let's see what's on the menu this release ...
Argentina ...
Decero Remolinos Vineyard 2008 Malbec ($22.95 - #247304) - touch of minty with blackberry and plum. (****)
Don Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor Malbec 2008 ($17.95 - #178657) - if colour equaled price this would be double or triple what it is selling for: dark fruit, plum, blackberry, cassis, mocha and black cherry ... good spice and really flavourful with plenty of complexity. (**** 1/2)
La Posta 2008 Angel Paulucci Vineyard Malbec ($15.95 - #75515) - raspberry and chocolate dominate, well integrated and easy to drink. (****+)
Vina Cobos 2010 Felino Merlot ($19.95 - #248492) - black fruit, herbal quality, smooth and lush in the mouth with a blueberry-chocolate finish. (****+)
Australia ...
Epsilon 2009 Shiraz ($24.95 - #39552) - big fruit, big flavour ... takes away the pepper but add lots of raspberry jam. (*** 1/2+)
Kilikanoon 2007 Testament Shiraz ($39.95 - #50047) - dark chocolate, plum, cherry and blackberry on the mid-palate with a licorice and cocoa finish. (****)
S D.O.V. Grenache 2008 ($22.95 - #267963) - sweet, sweet fruit, very seductive with plum and cherry all the way through. (****)
Tapestry BG & V Shiraz 2009 ($17.95 - #247155) - this is a real finesse-filled Shiraz, and ballsy to boot and that's saying something ... great spice on the palate along with raspberry and sour cherry, there's even a hint of violets. (**** 1/2)
Canada …
(British Columbia)
See Ya Later Ranch 2009 Pinot Gris ($18.95 - #263699) - deep hue, almost peachy colour with good flavour and a nice weight in the mouth; a good winter white. (*** 1/2)
(Ontario) - visit OntarioWineReview.com for full review
Cattail Creek 2007 Reserve Cabernet Merlot ($24.95 - #271825)
G Marquis 2009 The Silver Line Vidal Icewine ($27.95 - #262477) - LOVE
Henry of Pelham 2010 Pinot Blanc ($12.95 - #618827) - MOL
Jackson-Triggs 2006 Entourage Silver Series Brut Methode Classique ($22.95 - #234161)
Kacaba 2009 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay ($22.95 - #262436)
Reif Estate 2007 Reserve Merlot ($16.95 - #935676) - MOL
Ridgepoint 2009 Cabernet Franc ($14.95 - #245639) - MOL
Rosewood 2009 Pinot Noir ($18.00 - #112177) - MOL
Stratus 2008 Chardonnay ($42.20 - #267856) - LOVE
Chile …
Maycas del Limari 2007 Especial Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - 256701) - finesse and elegance in the glass, a must purchase, and in quantity. (**** 1/2)
France …
(Alsace)
Vieil Armand 2009 Medaille Gewurztraminer ($16.95 - #260158) - check this one out for its spicy rose petal, creamy yet spicy in the mouth with a wonderful linger. (****)
(Bordeaux)
Chateau Haut Canteloup 2009 ($13.95 - #264747) - great for the price, it's an easy drinking, easy-to-get-acquainted with red Bordeaux for novices. (*** 1/2)
(Loire)
Domaine Fouassier 2009 Les Grands Groux Sancerre ($24.95 - #267948) - lovely grapefruit nose which leads to the same flavour on the tongue; you'll also find a slight minerality here, delicious. (****)
(Midi)
Domaine Boudau 2009 Tradition Cotes du Rousillon-Villages ($17.95 - #264622) - juicy black fruit and spice. (*** 1/2)
Domaine J. Laurens 2009 Les Grainenous Brut Cremant de Limoux ($18.95 - #183608) - a lemon meringue nose with a creamy, biscuity, lemon pith palate. (*** 1/2)
(Rhone)
Lavau 2009 Vacqueyras ($18.95 - #104927) - tobacco and spice with dark berry backing ... quite nice on the palate. (****)
Olivier Ravoire 2009 Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages ($15.95 - #252171) - I've had better from the region but this is a juicy red-fruited number with hints of chocolate on the finish, for the price worth picking up. (*** 1/2)
Xavier 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape ($39.95 - #244814) - bold yet pretty with lots of dark fruit and chocolate. (****) - LOVE
Germany ...
Dr Loosen 2010 Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett ($19.95 - #160846) - lovely minerality, nice fruit, hint of sweetness, pretty finish; what more could you want? (****+)
Greece ...
Kir-Yianni 2008 Ramnista Xinomavro ($19.95 - #178020) - rustic yet tasty, full of earthy, blambly notes and cassis with a spice licorice finish ... age 5+ years. (*** 1/2+) - GREC
Limnos Winery 2010 Muscat of Limnos ($13.95 - #268029) - this is muscat with bite, a real interesting sweetie. (*** 1/2) - GREC
Sigalas 2010 Assyrtiko Santorini ($21.95 - #74781) - powerful ballsy white, very interesting ... serve cold. (*** 1/2) - GREC
Tsantali 2007 Reserve Rapsani ($15.95 - #734855) - sour red fruit and spice; drinkable now. (****) - GREC
Italy …
(Abruzzo)
Cuore 2008 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo ($14.95 - #230631) - lots of dark fruit, mocha notes and smooth; very drinkable. (****)
(Piedmont)
Bricchi Astigiani 2008 Bricco del Perg Barbera D'Asti Superiore ($16.95 - #234922) - minerally raspberry and cherry, takes a few sips to get into. (*** 1/2)
(Tuscany)
Amantis 2006 Sangiovese Montecucco ($29.95 - #234930) - the ribbed label I am sure adds a few dollars but it's a nice wine none the less with lots of black fruited juiciness. (*** 1/2+)
Fontodi 2008 Chianti Classico ($29.95 - #933317) - decent Chianti that brings the rustic into the present with tannins, acidity and fruit. (*** 1/2)
(Veneto)
Albino Armani Egle Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore 2008 ($15.95 - #247916) - vanilla, cocoa and cherry, drinks smooth with a mocha finish. (*** 1/2+)
Maculan 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95 - #987701) - it's an Italian take on the classic cab, juicy yet rustic. (*** 1/2+)
Mexico ...
LA Cetto 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.95 - #114066) - it's quite simple but you just can't beat the price. (*** 1/2)
New Zealand ...
Oyster Bay 2010 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #590414) - nice earthy sour cherry and cranberry with a little green vegetation. (*** 1/2)
Thatched Hut 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #262782) - grassy, grapefruit and goosy on the palate. (*** 1/2+)
Portugal ...
Cortes de Cima 2010 Chamine ($15.95 - #650291) - juicy dark fruit: blackberry, blueberry and plum, nice blueberry and vanilla finish. (*** 1/2+)
Fita Preta Tinto 2008 ($19.95 - #244764) - cherry, coffee, vanilla, spice, and plum. (*** 1/2+)
South Africa ...
Barista 2010 Pinotage ($15.95 - #172585) - the South Africans are really playing up the coffee aspect in Pinotage, this one is more cafe mocha then espresso. (*** 1/2+)
Muratie 2007 Shiraz ($24.95 - #663278) - tobacco spice and dark fruit with hints of tar on the finish. (*** 1/2)
Spain ...
Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut Cava ($14.95 - #521773) - lovely lemony-apple nose with a bready-lemony palate, a real bargain. (*** 1/2+)
Finca Nueva Reserva 2004 ($19.95 - #268425) - good mix of new world fruit and rustic charm. (*** 1/2+)
Maetierra Dominum Quatro Pagos ($19.95 - #246660) - great nose which lures you in with black cherry, plum and cocoa; the palate is dark fruit driven and follows the nose. (****+)
United States …
(California)
Dry Creek Vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #642207) - nice fruit, some complexity found mainly on the palate. (*** 1/2) - CABS
Duckhorn 2009 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon ($32.95 - #186171) - juicy fruit and easy to drink. (*** 1/2+) - CABS
Francis Coppola 2008 Diamond Collection Blue Label Merlot ($12.95 - #250001) - sweet and fruity, a real quaffer. (*** 1/2)
Landmark 2008 Damaris Reserve Chardonnay ($45.95 - #356519) - quite a woodsy Chardonnay, but it does have nicely resolved fruit amongst all that vanilla and caramel in the mouth. (*** 1/2+)
MacMurray Ranch 2009 Chardonnay ($21.95 - #262063) - this is one surprisingly good Chardonnay, there is some seriously sweet fruit on the palate, which is in juxtapositions with the rich vanilla-caramel you find on the nose. (****)
Ravenswood 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel ($19.95 - #942599) - full of vanilla-cola, plum, cherry, chocolate and balancing acidity; here's one for ribs around the BBQ this summer ... surprisingly not too heavy considering the 14.5% alcohol. (****+)
(Oregon)
A to Z 2009 Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #258145) - light, refreshing and easy to drink. (*** 1/2)
If You Can Afford It ...
Beaulieu Vineyard 2007 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.95 - #80218) - **** 1/2+ ... CABS
Caymus 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($69.95 - #222877) - ****+ ... CABS
Dunn Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($87.95 - #193854) - **** ... CABS
Hall 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.95 - #273391) - **** ... CABS
Robert Mondavi 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($139.95 - #670463) - **** 1/2+ ... CABS
Warre's 1983 Vintage Port ($89.95 - #161877) - ****+ ... Portugal
Grape Guy Top 5 … what I’ll be lining up for on February 4, 2012:
Don Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor Malbec 2008 ($17.95 - #178657) - Argentina
Tapestry BG & V Shiraz 2009 ($17.95 - #247155) - Australia
Maycas del Limari 2007 Especial Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - 256701) – Chile
Dr Loosen 2010 Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett ($19.95 - #160846) – Germany
Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut Cava ($14.95 - #521773) - Spain
Happy Shopping
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