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.
The Focus: Ontario
The Highlights: Italian wines amaze plus stunners from both Rhone and Washington
The Skinny: lots of corked bottles at this release ... are we seeing an influx of bad cork again?
Argentina ...
Luca 2010 G Lot Chardonnay ($27.95 - #167338) - full flavoured Chardonnay with a very silent nose. (*** 1/2+)
Luigi Bosca 2009 Single Vineyard Malbec ($21.95 - #74922) - brambly, blackberry and cocoa. (*** 1/2)
Maipe 2010 Reserve Malbec ($17.95 - #247320) - sweet cedar with cherry and spice. (*** 1/2)
Australia ...
Charles Cimicky 2008 The Autograph Shiraz ($34.95 - #27326) - nicely fruited and spiced. (*** 1/2+
Formby
& Adams 2007 Leading Horse Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 -
#287508) - chocolate, anise, dark berries, vanilla and spiced fruit.
(*** 1/2+)
Penfolds 2009 Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz ($34.95 - #422782) - good dark fruit, peppery and pleasant. (*** 1/2+)
Pirramimma
2008 Old Bush Vine Grenache ($24.95 - #108068) - intensity of flavour:
coffee, mocha, dark berries, all-spice and licorice. (****)
The Black Chook 2010 Shiraz/Viognier ($17.95 - #66738) - good vaue in this Aussie-style blend. (*** 1/2+)
Canada - (Ontario) ...
2027 2011 Falls Vineyard Riesling ($18.95 - #294041) - ****+
Bachelder 2010 Niagara Chardonnay ($29.95 - #302083) - ****+
Chateau des Charmes 2009 Vidal Icewine ($25.95 / 200ml - #565861) - ****
Closson Chase 2009 Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay ($29.95 - #148866) - ****+
Coffin Ridge 2011 Bone Dry Riesling ($17.00 - #232744) - ****
Colio Estate 2007 CEV Reserve Cabenet Franc ($20.95 - #432096) - ****+
Featherstone 2010 Cabernet Franc ($16.95 - #64618) - **** 1/2+
Flat Rock Cellars 2010 Gravity Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #001560) - *** 1/2+
Henry of Pelham 2010 Reserve Baco Noir ($24.95 - #461699) - ****
Henry of Pelham 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #268391) - ****+
Inniskillin 2008 Riesling Icewine ($69.95 / 375ml - #558288) - ****+
Inniskillin 2011 Vidal Sparkling Icewine ($79.95 - #560367) - ****
Jackson-Triggs 2011 Delaine Chardonnay ($24.95 - #623454) - *** 1/2+
Lakeview Cellars 2011 Reserve Riesling ($16.95 - #294074) - *** 1/2
Norman Hardie 2010 County Unfiltered Pinot Noir ($35.00 - #125310) - **** 1/2
Peller Estates NV Ice Cuvee ($34.95 - #113035) - *** 1/2
Vineland Estates 2011 Elevation Riesling ($19.95 - #38117) - *** 1/2+
Chile ...
Concha
y Toro 2011 Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Chardonnay ($16.00 - #287995) -
retains fruit, some smoke along with apple skin notes. (*** 1/2+)
Cono
Sur 2008 20 Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.95 - #94128) - just black
fruit, currants, mocha, slight tobacco note with spiced blackberry
finish. (****)
Koyle 2009 Reserva Syrah ($15.95 - #273961) - smoky, black pepper, meaty and blackberry. (*** 1/2+)
Sol de Andes 2009 Reserva Especial Chardonnay ($17.95 - #254326) - crisp of fruit with mineral complexity. (*** 1/2+)
France - (Alsace) ...
Cave
de Hoen Mausberg Blanc de Blancs Brut Cremant D'Alsace ($17.95 -
#171785) - creamy with a raciness mid-palate to finish and nice
tangerine flavour. (*** 1/2+)
France - (Beaujolais) ...
Domaine
de la Chanaise 2010 Morgon ($18.95 - #288068) - lots of dark cherry
fruit with mineral undertones and a good long finish; the only question
her is to chill or not to chill. (****+)
France - (Bordeaux) ...
Chateau D'Argadens 2008 ($16.95 - #681643) - delivers a punch of fruit nicely wound in spice. (*** 1/2+)
Christian Moueix 2009 Saint-Emilion ($19.95 - #979955) - soft cherry, cedar, spice and nicely balanced. (*** 1/2)
France - (Burgundy) ...
Chateau
Philippe-le-Hardi 2009 Mercurey Les Puillets 1er Cru ($29.95 - #295071)
- rich, bold, mainly fruit driven with spice and toast. (****)
Domaine
la Soufrandise 2010 Clos Marie Pouilly-Fuisse ($27.95 - #42622) - a
yummy blend of floral, butter and orange peel. (*** 1/2)
France - (Loire) ...
Domaine
Jacky Marteau 2011 Sauvignon Touraine ($12.95 - #745349) - citrus peel,
grapefruit pith with a touch of grass on the finish; very well priced.
(*** 1/2)
France - (Midi) ...
Chateau de Millegrand 2010
Minervois ($16.95 - #288944) - spice, leather, meaty, smoky, licorice
with medium tannins; shows finesse. (****)
France - (Rhone) ...
Famille
Perrin 2010 Peyre Blanche Cairanne Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($17.95 -
#650960) - intensity of smoked meat and blackberries. (*** 1/2+)
La
Font des Grieres 2009 Gigondas ($19.95 - #175729) - intense red fruit,
well integrated wood, fruit and alcohol (15%); the finish of spicy
berries makes this a real beauty. (**** 1/2)
Germany ...
Loosen Bros. 2011 Dr. L Riesling ($13.95 - #599274) - mellower than usual, drier not as acidic as previous vintages. (*** 1/2)
Italy - (Abruzzo) ...
D'Angelo
2009 Aglianico del Vulture ($18.95 - #971689) - sweetly herbed and
spiced with smoky, meaty, clove and cherry. (*** 1/2+)
Italy - (Piedmont) ...
Gemma 2007 Barolo ($29.95 - #285502) - earthy and spicy, sour cherry and cranberry fruit with a touch of cinnamon. (*** 1/2+)
Italy - (Puglia) ...
Li Veli Montecoco Primitivo 2009 ($18.95 - #281436) - dark and red fruit with good plum and spice. (*** 1/2+)
Italy - (Sardinia) ...
Argiolas 2009 Perdera ($17.95 - #297556) - juicy of dark fruit, sweet spices and herbs with a lovely finish. (****+)
Italy - (Sicily) ...
Morgante
2010 Nero D'avola ($14.95 - #40816) - sweet blackberry and chocolate,
plum, cherry, almost Zin-like with intense cherry finish; good value.
(****+)
Italy - (Tuscany) ...
Collosorbo 2006 Brunello di Montalcino ($49.95 - #285742) - sweet tar and spice with smoke and dark cherries. (****)
Le
Fonti 2009 Chianti Classico ($19.95 - #295162) - coffe and licorice,
black cherry with a hint of floral and mineral along with a spiced
finish; good stuffing. (****+)
Marchesi de Frescobaldi 2009 Tenuta
di Castiglioni ($21.95 - #145920) - still delivers the good with
herbal, spice, blackberry and cherry; firm yet approachable. (****+)
Ruffino
2007 Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Riserva ($43.95 - #353201) - dark
fruit and spice lead the charge, dry finish with plenty of cedar. (***
1/2)
Italy - (Veneto) ...
Adalia Singat 2011 Soave ($13.95 - #289603) - lime zest and tangerine. (*** 1/2)
Tommasi 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($49.95 - #356220) - fruit driven, sweet spice and big cherry. (****)
Portugal ...
Azul Portugal 2007 Vinho Tinto ($12.95 - #292060) - earthy-blackberry, black cherry, smoky and toasty. (*** 1/2+)
Quinta
de Ventozelo 2002 Vintage Port ($42.95 - #286419) - the fruit and spice
mingle well in the wine with a bite from the acidity on the finish.
(****+)
South Africa ...
Ataraxia 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #282814) - pretty with floral and grassy notes with a grapefruit pith finish. (*** 1/2+)
Spain ...
Bodegas
Lan 2007 Reserva ($21.95 - #42929) - earthy, blackberry, plum, cocoa
and spice, with hints of tobacco, floral and meat notes; nice
complexity. (****)
Peique 2010 Tinto Mencia ($14.95 - #219204) - interesting spice and sweet berries. (*** 1/2)
United States - (California) ...
Eberle
2007 Steinbeck & Wine-Bush Vineyards Zinfandel ($29.95 -
#279851) - a juicy Zin with lots of raspberry, blackberry and cherry,
gently spiced. (*** 1/2)
Napa Cellars 2010 Chardonnay ($23.95 -
#225342) - big and ballsy with oak tones along with nuts, caramel, baked
peach, pear and a nice spice on the finish. (****)
Roederer
Estate 2003 L'ermitage Brut Sparkling Wine ($54.95 - #183392) - lovely,
fresh, and biscuity with good lemon, lime notes and big acid bite.
(****)
Rutherford Ranch 2008 Zinfandel (~$20.00 - #279828) - spicy Zin with menthol, vanilla-cola and cherry. (****)
Sebastiani
2010 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #30791) - soft, supple, juicy; toasty with
melon and peach notes, good value in a Cali-Chard. (****)
Signorello 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($62.95 - #60152) - big, bold and black fruited, tarry yet juicy; smoky and meaty. (*** 1/2+)
Stonestreet
Alexander Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ($29.95 - #004002) -
cocoa core with blackberries and smoke. (*** 1/2+)
Summers Ranch 2008 Reserve Merlot ($34.95 - #279372) - juicy and full of fruit with a coffee backing. (*** 1/2+)
United States - (Oregon) ...
Cristom
Sommers 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir ($43.00 - #942490) - lovely spicebox
and sandalwood which hides a layer of black fruit. (****+)
United States - (Washington) ...
Columbia
Crest 2009 H3 Les Chevaux ($20.95 - 287425) - another beauty from the
H3 line of wine: cocoa, mocha, and dark berries; a must buy. (**** 1/2)
If You Can Afford It ... wines that deliver even for their high price
Joseph Phelps 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($79.95 - #189795) - ****+
Pahlmeyer 2008 Proprietary Red ($149.95 - #967992) - **** +
Two Hands 2010 Lily's Garden Shiraz ($62.95 - #683086) - ****+
What I'll Be Lining Up For - September 15, 2012 ... wines not to miss
Domaine de la Chanaise 2010 Morgon ($18.95 - #288068) - France
Chateau de Millegrand 2010 Minervois ($16.95 - #288944) - France
La Font des Grieres 2009 Gigondas ($19.95 - #175729) - France
Morgante 2010 Nero D'avola ($14.95 - #40816) - Italy
Columbia Crest 2009 H3 Les Chevaux ($20.95 - 287425) - United States
Happy Shopping
