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
Key: Wine colour indicators - Red are red wines, Yellow are whites, etc.
On the agenda this release is Australia (OZ) and the Loire Valley (LV), but I think the best wines come from Spain and another part of France - let's take a look:
Argentina ...
Altocedro 2009 Reserva Malbec ($24.95 - #187880) - very vanilla-smoke and quite spicy with brambly black fruit (*** 1/2)
Clos de los Siete 2009 ($21.95 - #622571) - best in a few years, cedar smoke and black fruit very appealing (****+)
Australia ...
Buller Victoria Tawny ($18.95 - #271403) - nice version of a Tawny, there's more chocolate and caramel than fruit, but there's also really good spice (****+) - OZ
Caledonia 2008 Astralis Reserve Chardonnay ($39.95 - #284935) - best of the Aussies chards on offer, but know right now you gotta love oak (*** 1/2) - OZ
De Bortoli 2008 Melba Lucia ($28.95 - #238022) - odd combination for Australia, Cab and Sangiovese, usually an Italian blend, but this works in the heat with spiced earthy blackberries. (*** 1/2) - OZ
Domaine Portet Fontaine Shiraz/Cabernet/Merlot ($19.95 - #281410) - nice blend, good balance; sour cherry and spice with a little sandlewood and an elegance (*** 1/2+) -OZ
Pyrenees Ridge 2009 Shiraz ($20.95 - #661918) - black pepper, chocolate, rich plum, toasted cinnamon, licorice, mineral and spice (****+) - OZ
Rutherglen Estates 2008 Petite Sirah ($20.95 - #179127) - spicy first and foremost, the fruit comes in much later (*** 1/2) - OZ
Tahbilk 2008 Shiraz ($20.95 - #214742) - nice white pepper, plum, chocolate and spice ... good lingering finish (****) - OZ
Austria ...
Hiedler 2010 Gruner Veltliner Trocken Langenlois Thal 1er Cru ($23.95 - #285056) - herbal and floral notes in the mouth, sweet pea and mineral sensation; this wine requires additional sips (*** 1/2+)
Canada ... (Ontario) - click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #89011) - ****+
Fielding 2010 Viognier ($25.95 - #142323) - *** 1/2
Malivoire 2010 Gewurztraminer ($24.95 - #542522) - ****
Chile ...
Arboleda 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #606764) - minty blueberry and blackberry; supple and sweet (*** 1/2+)
France ... (Bordeaux)
Domaine de Viaud 2001 ($26.95 - #282475) - get an aged Bordeaux without having to lie it down yourself (*** 1/2)
France ... (Loire)
Bernard Reverdy & Fils 2010 Sancerre ($22.95 - #200055) - nice grassyness with hints of grapefruit (*** 1/2) - LV
Vincent Raimbault 2010 Les Terrages Demi Sec Vouvray ($17.95 - #271973) - pleasant and easy to drink with lime rickey and floral notes (*** 1/2) - LV
France ... (Midi)
Gerard Bertrand 2008 Grand Terroir Tautavel Grenache/Syrah/Carignan ($17.95 - #272575) - smooth, juicy yet spicy, a lovely blend and will priced (****)
Le Cirque 2010 Carignan/Mourvedre/Syrah ($14.95 - #277079) - the circus is in town and its as far and enjoyable as you think it can be: vanilla, smoky, blackberry, black cherry and cocoa (****+)
France ... (Rhone)
Clos des Cazaux Cuvee St. Roch Vacqueyras ($18.95 - #279513) - lots of lovely red fruit with sweet spiced meat, Montreal style (****)
Delas Haute Pierre Chateauneuf du Pape 2009 ($37.95 - #74195) - well-balanced oak spice, vanilla, blackberry, tobacco and plum (****+)
Italy ... (Tuscany)
Carpineto 2010 Chianti Classico ($18.95 - #356048) - red cherries, cinnamon, interesting wood spice mixed with good fruit (*** 1/2+)
Rocca Delle Macie 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva ($21.95 - #930966) - wood smoke, vanilla, blue and black berries, and oak spice with great persistence on the palate (****+)
Italy ... (Veneto)
Monte Vicario 2010 Soave Classico ($13.95 - #282087) - dry entry with a sweet melon core; refreshing and tasty (*** 1/2+)
Tenuta S. Anna Prosecco Superiore de Valdobbiadene ($18.95 - 281386) - pretty floral notes with sweet pear, pineapple along for the ride; a really good summer bubbly (*** 1/2)
Portugal ...
Casa de Santa 2011 Vitoria Rose ($12.95 - #273797) - lots of raspberry (*** 1/2)
Fado 2009 ($13.95 - #283135) - not a fan of the music but the wine is tasty with sweet supple fruit (*** 1/2+)
Morgadio da Torre 2011 Alvarinho Vinho Verde ($17.95 - 960955) - mineral and lime pith (*** 1/2)
Newman's Celebrated Port ($14.95 - #134908) - there's a fun playfulness about this Port amongst the sweet cherry and chocolate notes, there's even an interesting Canadian spin (****+)
Quinta do Cachao 2009 Reserva Tinto ($18.95 - #280396) - black cherry with a seam of chocolate and hint of cafe mocha on the finish (****)
New Zealand ...
Clos Henri Bel Echo Terroir Greywacke Pinot Noir 2010 ($18.95 - #159137) - fig, black cherry, spice, sour cherry and a hint of spiced plum (*** 1/2+)
Sileni 2010 The Lodge Chardonnay ($18.95 - #278549) - has both fruit and barrel notes, creamy with good acidity, very well balanced (*** 1/2+)
Two Tracks 2010 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #269274) - earthy-raspberry and spice with hints of beet root (*** 1/2)
Whitehaven 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #278556) - very grassy with gooseberry notes, there's a bit of creaminess along with decent acidity on the tongue (*** 1/2+)
South Africa ...
Cathedral Cellar 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - 662718) - pleasant, easy drinking, full of grapefruit cocktail (*** 1/2)
Spain ...
Castano 2009 Solanera Vinas Viejas ($15.95 - #276162) - sweet black fruit with a vanilla seam, well priced for a drink now wine for the BBQ (****+)
Martin Codax 2010 Albarino ($16.95 - #984906) - lemon and peach pit, a little fuller than the Portuguese version but equally tasty (*** 1/2)
United States ... (California)
De Loach 2009 OFS Chardonnay ($37.95 - #729343) - soft on smell, big on taste (****)
Fog Head 2010 Highland Series Reserve Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #212944) - fruit driven with enough acidity, good earthy-spicy not to make it interesting (****)
Quivira 2009 Zinfandel ($29.95 - #249250) - ripe, rich raspberry with cola, plum and chocolate with a hint of spice (*** 1/2+)
Rodney Strong 2009 Knotty Vines Zinfandel ($22.95 - #363358) - plum, white pepper and cherry (*** 1/2)
Sonoma-Cutrer 2008 Grower-Vintner Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #140723) - fruit driven, very red oriented: cherry, licorice with vanilla and smoke (*** 1/2+)
The Show 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #140715) - juicy wine that should be received at your next get together this summer ($17.95 - #140715)
United States ... (Oregon)
Longplay 2009 Lia's Vineyard Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #267344) - smooth, clean, sour raspberry, cherry and sweet cranberry (*** 1/2)
United States ... (Washington)
Kung Fu Girl 2010 Riesling ($18.95 - #273953) - nice lime zing with a whisp of minerality and hint of sweetness; it really comes together on the finish (*** 1/2)
Uruguay ...
Pisano 2008 Rio de los Pajaros Reserve Merlot/Tannat ($15.95 - #269506) - highly coffee-d but with balancing black fruit; this shows real promise for Uruguay (*** 1/2)
If You Can Afford It ... wines that deliver even for their high price
Hewitt Vineyards 2008 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon ($69.95) - ****
What I'll Be Lining Up For - July 21, 2012 ...
Castano 2009 Solanera Vinas Viejas ($15.95 - #276162) - Spain
Le Cirque 2010 Carignan/Mourvedre/Syrah ($14.95 - #277079) - France
Happy Shopping
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