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.
Foci (plural of focus): Pacific North West (PNW) and Rhone Valley (RHO)
Highlights: a Rhone white of some note plus real winners from Washington, Spain and Australia.
Argentina ...
Chakana 2010 Reserve Malbec ($15.95 - #18671) - nice, juicy blackberry, black cherry, plum, vanilla and spice. (****)
Australia ...
Evans & Tate 2009 Metricup Road Shiraz ($19.95 - #606905) - there's a juicy complexity to this wine that's quite appealing which is enhanced by the peppery finish. (****+)
Small Gully 2008 Mr. Black's Concoction Shiraz ($24.95 - #222059) - menthol, smoke and black cherry sweetness. (*** 1/2+)
Three Pond 2011 Semillon ($19.95 - #285049) - lemongrass, citrus, earthy with a refreshingly long finish. (*** 1/2+)
Torbreck 2010 Woodcutter's Shiraz ($27.95 - #927533) - dark fruit, cassis, black pepper, cocoa, with licorice on the finish. (****)
Wakefield 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #744235) - a beauty: tasty dark fruit, juicy with eucalyptus notes. (****+)
Zonte's Footstep Lake Doctor Shiraz 2009 ($16.95 - #72975) - cherry, raspberry and plum; a real fruit bomb. (*** 1/2+)
Canada - (British Columbia) ...
Mission Hill 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #545012) - black cherry, anise seed, raspberry-cherry with a little earthiness. (*** 1/2) - PNW
Quails' Gate 2010 Chardonnay ($21.95 - #377770) - soft and subtle, with buttery, vanilla, lemon and peach. (** 1/2+) - PNW
Canada - (Ontario) ... for full review click on wine name
Calmus 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #285809) - ****
Calamus 2010 Riesling ($16.95 - #158642) - *** 1/2
Fielding 2011 Pinot Gris ($21.95 - #251108) - ****
Southbrook 2010 Triomphe Cabernet Franc ($21.95 - #275958) - *** 1/2+
Union 2010 Squared Red ($17.95 - #292359) - *** 1/2+
Chile ...
Anakena 2011 Lilen Single Vineyard Viognier ($14.95 - #45138) - spiced finish, hints of tropical on the mid with a intense citrus start. (*** 1/2)
San Pedro 1865 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 ($19.95 - #37911) - minty-black fruit, typical and tasty. (****)
France - (Beaujolais) ...
Domaine Ruet 2010 La Fontenelle Chiroubles ($16.95 - #282095) - very cherry and mineral. (*** 1/2)
France - (Burgundy) ...
Cave de Lugny 2009 Cuvee Millesime Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($18.95 - #183764) - creamy yet with nice acidity and good citrus. (*** 1/2+)
Domaine Chevallier 2009 Chablis ($19.95 - #112227) - nice mineral note and mixes well with the fruit. (*** 1/2)
France - (Loire) ...
Domaine du haut Bourg 2010 Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu ($15.95 - #289363) - tangy grapefruit with good acidity. (*** 1/2)
Guy Saget 2010 Sancerre Blanc ($19.95 - #287078) - grassy, hay and pink grapefruit cocktail. (*** 1/2)
France - (Midi) ...
Chateau Paul Mas 2010 Clos des Mures ($18.95 - #286393) - sweet and spicy, nice dark fruit with toasty-oaky-spice. (*** 1/2+)
France - (Rhone) ...
Bosquet des Papes 2010 Cuvee Tradition Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($42.95 - #726687) - full on flavour of plum, cherry, licorice, chocolate, raspberry and cassis. (****+) - RHO
Domaine Grandy 2010 Vacqueyras ($18.95 - #287532) - thick and dark with flavourful fruit, hint of spice and chocolate add to the enjoyment. (****) - RHO
Domaine les Grands Bois 2010 Cuvee les Trois Soeurs Cotes du Rhone ($16.95 - #281147) - plum, stawberry, sweet cherry ... big fruited. (****+) - RHO
E. Guigal 2011 Cotes du Rhone Blanc ($15.95 - #290296) - honeysuckle, floral, pineapple, apricot; good value for a nice wine. (****)
Famille Perrin 2010 Les Cornuds Vinsobres ($17.95 - #566844) - delicate cherry, spice, licorice with a hint of floral undertones. (*** 1/2) - RHO
Gonnet 2010 Selection L'Olivia Gigondas ($23.95 - #289306) - nicely spiced, licorice with herbal notes. (*** 1/2) - RHO
Les Halos de Jupiter 2010 Cotes du Rhone ($17.95 - #276956) - leaner than one would expect from a Rhone wine, but still very flavourful. (*** 1/2) - RHO
Italy - (Calabria) ...
Ippolito 1845 Liber Pater Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore 2009 ($13.95 - #121061) - simple yet fruity; fresh and dried cherries, plum, cocoa and herbs. (****)
Italy - (Friuli) ...
Stocco 2009 Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso ($14.95 - #289561) - lovely floral and red fruit, hints of leather on the smoky finish. (*** 1/2)
Italy - (Molise) ...
Di Majo Norante Contado Riserva Aglianico del Molise 2009 ($15.95 - #967208) - smoky black fruit, tobacco and raspberry, especially on the finish. (*** 1/2+)
Italy - (Piedmont) ...
La Casa in Collina Barbaresco 2008 ($29.95 - #968974) - gentle spice with sweet and sour cranberry and red cherry. (****)
Italy - (Puglia) ...
Cantine due Palme 2009 Primitivo ($15.95 - #658351) - primer for those who want to get into Zinfandel. (*** 1/2)
Italy - (Sicily) ...
Villa Tonino 2010 Grillo ($13.95 - #289579) - apple, citrus peel with a pith finish. (*** 1/2)
Italy - (Tuscany) ...
Altesino 2009 Rosso di Altesino ($18.95 - #658369) - dried cherry, plum, raspberry with a long spiced finish including white pepper. (****)
Italy - (Veneto) ...
Angelo Bortolin 2010 Extra Dry Prosecco Superiore ($17.95 - #282616) - lively and lemony, a real mouth-wakener; this even shows a little minerality. (****)
Verbena 2007 Brunello di Montalcino ($37.95 - #165126) - sweet spice, nice fruit, sweet mid-palate, vanilla-tobacco with a dry finish. (****+)
Lebanon ...
Elias Tanios Touma 2008 Le Fleuron Heritage ($N/A - #307793) - sweet cherries and spice with hints of pepper and sweet tobacco. (*** 1/2)
New Zealand ...
Delta 2010 Pinot Noir ($23.95 - 675231) - cran-raspberry with a nice earthy component. (*** 1/2)
Southbank 2010 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #278523) - melon, tangerine with a nice toasty-buttery finish. (*** 1/2)
Portugal ...
Messias 10 Anos Tawny Port ($23.95 - #87205) - orange peel, cinnamon, creme-brulee, caramel, marmalade, nutty, fig jam and with a bit of a salt lick note on the finish; nice long finish. (****)
South Africa ...
Bellingham 2009 Shiraz with a Dash of Viognier ($14.95 - #278739) - very smoky and mocha oriented, good dark fruit and big tannins. (****)
Flagstone 2005 The Treaty Tree Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot ($14.95 - #278382) - smoky and tarry with an interesting fruit-spice; interesting smoky tobacco finish ... wait 2-3 years. (*** 1/2+)
Spain ...
Buil & Gine Gine Gine 2009 ($17.95 - #67843) - good fruit to spice ratio, fresh and lively fruit, quite juicy; now under screwcap. (****)
Cellar Besllum Besllum 2008 ($15.95 - #283515) - vanilla, plum, black cherry with sweet herbs and silky tannins. (*** 1/2+)
Ribota 2009 ($15.95 - #280628) - juicy dark fruit, mocha, vanilla, milk chocolate and black licorice. (*** 1/2+)
United States - (California) ...
Bommarito 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #213918) - simple, approachable and chocolatey. (*** 1/2)
Calera 2009 Pinot Noir ($31.95 - #933044) - lots of fruit, juicy cherry, strawberry and sweet spices. (****+)
Chamisal 2011 Unoaked Stainless Chardonnay ($25.95 - #289223) - tropically tinged with nice acidity. (*** 1/2+)
Geyser Peak 2007 Block Collection Walking Tree Cabernet Sauvignon ($28.95 - #161323) - juicy and spicy, black fruited with nice spice on the finish. (****)
Kenwood 2010 Chardonnay ($17.95 -- #158790) - delicate pineapple, vanilla, lightly buttered toast; a nice balance of fruit and oak. (*** 1/2+)
Mer Soleil 2009 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay ($34.95 - #958975) - sweet oak, sweet fruit with a nice mouthfeel, heavy weight oak. (****)
Paso Creek 2009 Zinfandel ($19.95 - #279810) - simple and juicy, plum, cherry, cola, vanilla and chocolate. (*** 1/2+)
Seghesio 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel ($49.95 - #56879) - if this were cheaper I'd buy it by the barrel; pure Zin for Zin-fans ... bring on the BBQ ribs. (****+)
St. Supery 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #339663) - hits you over the head with tropical, limeade and melon. (*** 1/2+)
Summers 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #279398) - raspberry, cherry with hints of white pepper. (*** 1/2+)
United States - (Washington) ...
Columbia Crest 2009 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #210047) - currants, plum, black cherry, and mocha; a lovely wine. (****+) - PNW
What I'll Be Lining Up For - August 18, 2012 ...
Wakefield 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #744235) - Australia
E. Guigal 2011 Cotes du Rhone Blanc ($15.95 - #290296) - France
Buil & Gine Gine Gine 2009 ($17.95 - #67843) - Spain
Columbia Crest 2009 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #210047) - United States
Happy Shopping
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