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: Easter (EAST) and Southern France (SF)
The Skinny: Look for an easy drinking California Cab and some really nice Ontario reds.
Argentina …
Angulo Innocenti 2010 Malbec ($18.95 - #305813) – cherry, cola, black fruits; starts out juicy and ends with a spicy tang. (****)
La Puerta 2009 Reserva Bonarda ($18.95 - #067801) – nice juicy red fruit and slightly spiced Bonarda that’s very much worth trying; tasty and delicious. (****)
Trivento 2010 Amado Sur Malbec/Bonarda/Syrah ($16.95 - #037036) – another juicy wine from Argentina with lovely cherry, anise and chocolate character. (****)
Australia …
Hickinbotham 2009 Shiraz/Cabernet ($16.95 - #159632) – dark fruit, smoky, tobacco, white pepper, good pleasure in the glass. (*** ½+)
Kilikanoon 2008 The Medley GSM ($27.95 - #675256) – a bounty of flavour from dark fruit to chocolate and spice. (****+)
Mitolo 2010 Jester Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #043224) – juicy, juicy, juicy. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click wine name for full review
13th Street 2008 Premier Cuvee ($34.95 - #142679) - ****+ (EAST)
Bachelder 2010 Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay ($44.95 - #324103) - **** (EAST)
Chateau des Charmes 2010 Old Vines Riesling ($16.95 - #277228) - *** ½+
Featherstone 2011 Cabernet Franc ($16.95 - #064618) - **** (EAST)
Le Clos Jordanne 2009 La Petite Colline Pinot Noir ($40.00 - #033944) - *** ½+ (EAST)
Peninsula Ridge 2010 McNally Vineyards Proprietor’s Reserve Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #257543) - ****
The Good Earth 2010 Dry Riesling ($19.95 - #324244) - *** ½
Chile …
Erasmo 2006 ($21.95 - #311837) – lots of mintyness here, good acidity and spice, nice blackberry and black cherry. (*** ½+)
France (Alsace) …
Vieil Armand 2009 Grand Cru Ollwiller Riesling ($20.95 - #315135) – complexity of sweetness with balanced acidity; apricot, poached pear, and beeswax all with a dry finish. (*** ½+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Senjac 2009 ($28.85 - #193037) – delightful, the nose and the palate is starting to follow: anise, cassis, spice and more. (****+)
France (Loire) …
Chavet & Fils 2011 La Dame de Jacques Coeur Menetou-Salon Blanc ($19.95 - #525048) – a light grassy version of Sauvignon Blanc where what you expect appears on the finish instead of up-front. (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Calmel + J Joseph 2009 Faugeres ($16.95 - #310193) – juicy blackberry, black currant, cherry and chocolate; well-priced. (****+) – SF
Chateau de Treviac 2010 ($15.95 - #670505) – nice easy drinking red. (*** ½+) – SF
Chateau Haut-Montplaisir 2006 Prestige Cahors Malbec ($21.95 - #936542) – a peppery, spicier, earthier version of Malbec. (*** ½+)
Chateau Saint-Roch 2010 Chimeres ($18.95 - #119354) – raspberry, plenty of plum and baking spice. (****) – SF
Chateau Tour Boisee a Marie-Claude Minervois 2007 ($21.95 - #309179) – lots of dark fruit and tannins, there’s also an herbal quality that some will like and others find off-putting. (*** ½+) – SF
Mont Tauch 2011 Les Garrigues Grande Reserve Marselan ($14.95 - #309146) – soft, velvety mouthfeel, dark fruit and plenty of spice. (*** ½+) – SF
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Barville 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($41.95 - #148841) – chocolate dark berries, hints of violet/floral and spice. (****)
Les Grandes Serres 2010 Rasteau ($16.95 - #313254) – good value with lots of fruit. (****)
Italy (Abruzzo) …
Rocca dei Bottari 2009 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($17.95 - #311605) – dark berries, coffee, mocha and anise. (*** ½+)
Italy (Sicily) …
Colosi 2010 Rosso ($14.95 - #316075) – juicy red berries; simple, supple and yummy. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Tenuta S. Anna Extra Dry Prosecco ($16.95 - #169128) – nice apple, lemon drop and a touch of vanilla. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Konrad 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #616243) – gooseberry, grassy, grapefruit pith and a pleasantly bitter note on the finish. (****)
Two Paddocks 2008 Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #301283) – black cherry, plum and spice; sweet red fruit entry, darker fruit middle with a nice acid/tannin punch on the finish. (****)
Portugal …
Herdade Penedo Gordo Vinho Tinto 2010 ($13.95 - #218339) – gentle easy drinking, lots of red berries and baking spice. (****)
Quinta do Penedo 2009 ($18.95 - #313676) – lovely rich dark fruit, hints of plum and cocoa. (****+)
Varanda do Conde 2011 Alvarinho/Trajadura Vinho Verde ($13.95 - #966663) – refreshing lime and pea pod notes. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Beronia 2005 Gran Reserva ($32.95 - #940965) – a ready to go Rioja, sure you can still age it but it’s quite lovely now. (*** ½+)
Gomez Cruzado 2007 Reserva ($26.95 - #315507) – nice dark fruit and spice, a little licorice, vanilla and cinnamon. (****)
Otazu 2007 Premium Cuvee ($16.95 - #313809) – a little lean in the mouth, nice nose though. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Calera 2011 Chardonnay ($24.95 - #713313) – nice refined use of cork, buttery, vanilla, caramel-apple, toasted pear with a nice spice on the finish. (****)
Candor Lot 3 Zinfandel ($21.95 - #133389) – cherry, blueberry, raspberry, cherry-cola, vanilla; the best Candor I’ve tried to date. (****)
Irony 2010 Small Lot Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #025106) – nice, easy drinking Cali-Cab with dark chocolate, blackberry and vanilla. (****)
La Crema 2011 Pinot Noir ($31.95 - #719435) – juicy raspberry with strawberry and the right amount of balancing bitterness. Also available in 375ml. (*** ½+)
Lander-Jenkins 2010 Spirit Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #161398) – lovely juicy red and black fruit, great palate appeal and drinkability; herbal with a touch of mineral; subtle, doesn’t hit you over the head. (****+)
The Seventy Five Wine Company 2010 The Sum ($27.95 - #293324) – nice intensity of fruit with back up flavours that enhance. (*** ½+)
If You Can Afford It … wines that are worth their high price:
Beaulieu Vineyard 2009 Tapestry Reserve ($59.95 - #050393) – United States ****
Chateau Grand Mayne 2009 ($67.85 - #197848) – France ****
Kistler 2009 Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay ($89.95 - #120311) – United States ****+
L’Aventure 2010 Optimus ($58.95 - #683409) – United States ****+
Quintarelli 2003 Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($97.95 - #986117) – Italy ****
Versado 2009 Reserva Malbec ($59.95 - #316984) – Argentina ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For on March 30, 2013 …
Lander-Jenkins 2010 Spirit Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #161398) – United States
Happy Shopping
