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 Foci … Oh look, it’s another California release (CALI) and an odd “Terroir Talk of Piedmont and Burgundy (TT)
The Skinny … a disappointing white line up but there are some really good Spanish offerings in the red department
Australia …
Chambers Rosewood Rutherglen Muscat ($19.95 / 375ml - #711622) – distinctly sherry-esque with honey, hazelnut and spice. (****+)
Chapel Hill 2011 Parson’s Nose Shiraz ($19.95 - #339705) – nice fruit and gentle spice. (*** ½+)
Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2010 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.95 - #084996) – juicy dark fruit, good spice with black currant with 70% cocoa and spice. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Coffin Ridge 2011 Marquette ($27.00 - #359463) … ****
Featherstone 2011 Cabernet Franc ($16.95 - #064618) … ****
Georgian Hills 2010 Ida Red Frozen to the Core ($19.95 / 375ml - #359380) … *** ½
Peninsula Ridge 2011 Reserve Meritage ($18.95 - #299180) … *** ½
WildAss 2011 Red ($19.95 - #086363) … ****+
Chile …
Cono Sur 2011 20 Barrels Limited Edition Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #684530) – pretty with floral and sweet and dark fruit, namely raspberry with a light touch of cherry and herbal notes; nice long finish. (****)
France (Alsace) …
Charles Sparr Cuvee Renaissance Brut Rose Cremant d’Alsace ($19.95 - #350306) – pleasantly cherry and raspberry with citrus and lemon. (****)
France (Beaujolais) …
Chateau de Saint-Lager 2011 Brouilly ($19.95 - #330027) – hello black cherry with hints of anise. (*** ½+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Haut Daugay 2006 ($22.95 - #348268) – smoky tobacco and cranberry with hints of dried cherry. (*** ½+)
Chateau Pedesclaux 2009 ($46.85 - #192104) – dark cocoa, blackberry, vanilla oak and black cherry, nice spicy finish. (****)
France (Burgundy) …
Aurelien Verdet 2010 Morey-Saint-Denis ($44.95 - #354316) – cranberry, cherry elegance with an herbal backdrop. (****) - TT
France (Loire) …
Henri Bourgeois 2012 Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #672345) – more goosy than grassy, but both are there. (*** ½+)
Paul Prieur et Fils 2011 Sancerre ($25.95 - #350421) – herbal sweetness with a touch of wild flower honey and grapefruit pulp. (****)
France (Midi) …
Domaine Lafage 2011 Cuvee Centenaire ($17.95 - #343491) – floral, grapefruit cocktail, a soft, supple texture with hints of citrus acidity on the finish. (*** ½+)
Mont Tauch Le Tauch Fitou 2010 ($19.95 - #272484) – dark fruit and nicely spiced. (*** ½+)
Tessellae 2011 Carignan Old Vines Cotes du Roussillon ($18.95 - #343517) – dark raspberry and cherry, hints of violets and plums; quite tasty. (****)
France (Rhone) …
Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes-du-Rhone 2011 ($29.95 - #048884) – smooth and silky with plenty of red and black fruit. (****+)
Domaine la Fourmone 2010 Tresor du Poete Vacqueyras ($22.95 - #194704) – nice rich herbal quality with pipe tobacco and dried cherry. (*** ½+)
Domaine Les Aphillanthes 2010 Cuvee Les Galets Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($19.95 - #252270) – nice balance of smoke to fruit, dark and red with plenty of spice to keep it honest. (****)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Bocchino Giuseppi Arduine Barbera D’Asti 2011 ($16.95 - #975136) – very cherry, red berry and juicy. (*** 1/2)
Giacosa 2008 Bussia Barolo ($39.95 - #344721) – pleasant herbal, easy drinking with the right amount of tannin/oak combo. (****) – TT
Pertinance 2009 Nervo Barbaresco ($39.95 - #344705) – oak and herbal but with great cranberry notes. (*** ½+) - TT
Italy (Tuscany) …
Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei 2009 ($49.95 - #350405) – shows potential for the future but drinks well now; silky tannins with the right amount of umph. (****)
Lamole di Lamole 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva ($37.95 - #231241) – time should mellow and bring out the fruit nose it’s pretty oak and licorice driven with red fruit hanging around the background. (****)
Le Volte dell’Ornellaia 2011 ($29.95 - #964221) – nice dark fruit with chocolate nuances, hints of tobacco on the mid-palate and sweet fruited with oak vanilla backing; nicely balanced. (****+)
San Lorenzo Bramante Brunello di Montalcino 2007 ($47.95 - #350264) – nice bit of sweet oak amongst the clove, cinnamon and herbs, tobacco also shows up. (****+)
Ser Dante 2009 Riserva Chianti ($20.95 - #350280) – fruit leather and spice with tobacco tones on the finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Tommasi 2011 Arele Parziale Appassimento ($17.95 - #224188) – smoky cocoa and black cherry. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Dog Point 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($22.95 - #677450) – plenty of grassy and grapefruit all passed over a stone. (****)
Spain …
Borsao 2011 Tres Picos Garnacha ($19.95 - #273748) – plush, silky smooth with big alcohol (15%), plumy and chocolaty with black cherry. (****)
Finca Valdelroble 2009 ($20.95 - #344291) – nice balance of fruit, vanilla, cocoa provides finish and black licorice on the mid-palate. (****)
Luis Canas Seleccion de la Familia Reserva 2005 ($34.95 - #334102) – really rich nose leads to a dark fruit driven palate all with good spice. (****)
Monteabellon 5 Meses en Barrica ($19.95 - #338871) – vanilla oak, blackberry and cocoa, sweet cherry, black raspberry nice backbone of tannin and spice. (****+)
Osborne Pedro Ximenez 1827 Premium Sweet Sherry ($17.95 - #47944) – pecan and caramel, a sweetie that good for those cold winter nights to come. (**** ½)
Pinyolet 2010 Seleccion ($25.95 - #338897) – pretty full with plum and blackberry and hints of cassis. (*** ½+)
Torres 2010 Salmos ($36.95 - #060772) – lots of lovely fruit and smoke, plus vanilla, cinnamon and tea leaves. (****+)
United States (California) …
Hall 2009 Merlot ($39.95 - #904532) – juicy Merlot with mocha, blueberry and pleasant spice. (*** ½+) - CALI
Kendall Jackson 2012 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay ($19.95 - #369686) – nice vanilla buttery-ness with caramelized peach. (*** ½+)
Louis M. Martini 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #232371) – juicy raspberry and cherry with hints of cedar and vanilla. (****) - CALI
Napa Cellars 2011 Zinfandel ($21.95 - #126607) – sweet fruited and juicy with touches of cherry cola, vanilla and raspberry. (*** ½+) - CALI
William Hill 2012 Chardonnay ($27.95 - #988840) – some might consider this bland but that’s because the oak does not scream out at you, instead the balance of fruit and oak is so delicate you barely notice it. (****+) - CALI
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Barlow 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($62.95 - #147637) – CALI – ****+
Chateau Haut-Bergey 2009 ($51.85 - #194563) - *** ½+
Chateau Tronquoy-Lalande 2009 ($59.85 - #195602) - ****
Corison 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($113.95 - #333328) – CALI – ****
Faiveley 2010 Nuits-Saint-Georges ($53.95 - #344903) – TT – ****
Heitz Cellar 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($83.95 - #642124) – CALI – ****
Sette Ponti 2010 Oreno ($71.95 - #735597) - ****+
Shafer 2011 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay ($67.95 - #045583) – CALI – ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – October 12, 2013 …
Monteabellon 5 Meses en Barrica ($19.95 - #338871) – Spain
Happy Shopping
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