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 – Appassimento (APS) and Organic (ORG)
The Skinny – there are some real value wines from almost every country this release: France, Chile, and Spain lead the charge.
Argentina …
Susana Balbo 2011 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #260919) – finally a Balbo worth crowing about; luscious dark fruit, chocolate, dark raspberry and really juicy throughout. (****)
Austria …
Durnberg 2011 Gruner Veltliner ($15.95 - #320374) – grapefruit and pea pod. (*** ½)
Australia …
Gotham 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #311464) – smoked-eucalyptus and plummy-vanilla. (****)
Stalking Horse 2010 Shiraz ($18.95 - #251215) – once again the horse delivers. (*** ½+)
Wakefield 2011 Chardonnay ($14.95 - #711556) – hint of melon along with apple, peach pit and lemon rind. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) …
Angels Gate 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($13.95 - #277590) - *** ½+
Burning Kiln 2011 Strip Room Merlot/Cabernet Franc ($24.95 - #327700) - **** (APS)
Featherstone 2012 Gewurztraminer ($19.95 - #064592) - ****
Smoke & Gamble 2010 Reserve Cabernet/Merlot ($18.95 - #332825) - *** ½
Stoney Ridge 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95 - #327809) - *** ½
WildAss 2011 Red ($19.95 - #086363) - ****+
Chile …
Chilcas 2009 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #309757) – sprig of mint, herbs and blackberry with spice. (****)
Maycas del Limari 2009 Reserva Especial Syrah ($19.95 - #269423) – nuances of wood and spice along with mocha, smoky and black fruit; violets and sweet bacon jam also appear with a nice chocolate finish. (**** ½)
Miguel Torres 2011 Santa Digna Estelado Sparkling Brut Rose ($19.95 - #317669) – pretty bity with lots of acidity, touches of raspberry and blood orange fruit. (****)
France (Alsace) …
Domaine Saint-Remy 2011 Reserve Gewurztraminer ($18.95 - #061150) – does just what you want in an Alsatian Gewurzt: honey, peachy, lychee, spicy; tasty. (****+) – ORG
J. Geiler 2011 Medaille Pinot Gris ($18.95 - #315119) – nice sweet peach mid along with good floral notes. (*** ½+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Bellevue 2010 ($15.95 - #206649) – a decent Bordeaux with plenty of smoky notes, cassis and blackberry. (*** ½+)
Chateau Haut-Plaisance 2010 ($17.00 - #326587) – very approachable with fruit, smoke, coffee and tannins; there’s also dark plum and leather also appears. (****)
Clos du Roy 2010 ($22.95 - #321307) – very fruit forward: dark, smoky and licorice but always with heavy dark black fruit. (****+)
France (Burgundy) …
Jean-Marc Brocard 2010 Mont de Millieu Chablis 1er Cru ($27.95 - #265348) – nice minerality with a lemon quality and lots of intense flavours. (****)
France (Loire) …
Henri Bourgeois 2010 La Chapelle des Augustins Sancerre ($29.95 - #322628) – great aromatics which leads to a tropical, citrus blended palate. (****+)
France (Midi) …
Mas Janeil 2008 Cotes du Roussillon-Villages ($19.95 - #992800) – spiced cherry and red licorice with a plum finish. (****)
Domaine La Florane 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Visan ($18.95 - #320176) – thick red fruit, figs and chocolate. (****)
France (Southwest) …
Lionel Osmin Mon Adour Madiran 2009 ($17.95 - #246850) – another fruit forward French wine with great spice on the mid-to-back palate. (****)
Italy (Calabria) …
Du Cropio Serra Sanguigna 2008 ($19.95 – 320457) – mocha, coffee, tea leaves, minty-cherry and a touch of new leather. (****)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Fontanafredda 2007 Serralunga D’Alba Barolo ($39.95 - #943290) – label bringsme back to watching prison movies; nicely spiced, good sour cherry and herbal notes. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Apollonio Terragnolo Negroamaro 2007 ($18.95 - #211821) – chocolate, mocha, blackberry and vanilla; nice lingering sweet vanilla-cassis finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Marchesi de’Frescobaldi 2010 Tenuta di Castiglioni ($21.95 - #145920) – dark and smoky, nicely spiced with good tannins. (****+)
Vicchiomaggio San Jacopo Chianti Classico ($19.95 - #710194) – straddles the line between old world rustic and new world fruity. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Antolini 2009 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico ($28.95/500ml - #135533) – sweet raisins, plums and chocolate, a delicious dessert wine. (****) - APS
Casa Vinironia 2011 Appassionato Edizione Oro ($16.95 - #320713) – too much coffee at the beginning but it soon mellows out with sweet cherry and plum, when finally it becomes deliciously smooth on the palate. Good intro wine to the style. (****) - APS
Masi 2009 Grandarella ($25.95 - #606921) – dark fruited, herbal and smoky. (****) – APS
Prevedello Asolo Superiore Extra Dry Prosecco 2011 ($17.95 - #262881) – sweet delicious apple mixed with lemon for kick. (*** ½)
Remo Farina 2010 Montecorna Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($19.95 - #056267) – licorice notes with mocha and cherry. (*** ½+) – APS
New Zealand …
Clifford Bay 2010 Pinot Noir ($19.95 – #309500) – earthy and spicy with black cherry notes. (*** ½+)
Mud House 2010 The Woodshed Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($20.95 - #312744) – grassy, grapefruit, gooseberry; just what you expect from a Marlborough Savvy B. (*** ½)
Waimea 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #714295) – a softer, gentler version of Sauvignon Blanc, a lovely grapefruit cocktail with a nice long finish. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Lammershoek 2010 Roulette Blanc ($21.95 - #225458) – exotically spiced, lanolin, pineapple skin, herbal and very interesting. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Langa 2008 Tradicion Centenaria Garnacha 2008 ($14.95 - #194795) – sweet cherry fruit, red berries, plum, chocolate, vanilla, pretty nose, great sipper, great price. (****+)
United States (California) …
Champ de Reves 2010 Pinot Noir ($46.95 - #317883) – lots of big black cherry and licorice flavours with a spiced / herbal finish. (*** ½+)
Cosentino 2009 Cigarzin Zinfandel ($19.95 - #269340) – vanilla, plum, sweet cherry, chocolate; this one’s sweet fruited and smooth. (*** ½+)
EOS Estate 2009 Petite Sirah ($19.95 - #317677) – nice sweet spice with a raspberry finish. (*** ½+)
Frei Brothers 2010 Reserve Chardonnay ($23.95 - #317891) – more balanced and approachable than other Cali-Chards in this release; good fruit like lemon pith and rind, peach skin and delicious apple to go along with the spicy finish and good acid finish. (****+)
Hartley-Ostini 2009 Hitching Post Hometown Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #256644) – well balanced between the fruit and the peppery with hints of vanilla and black cherry; this one shows good finesse.(****+)
J. Lohr 2010 Los Osos Merlot ($19.95 - #027516) – juicy with blueberries and chocolate. (*** ½+)
Napa Cellars 2010 Zinfandel ($24.95 - #126607) – one of the better Napa Cellars Zins I have tried, sweet smooth and plummy. (*** ½)
St. Francis 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #671164) – chocolate, strawberry and blackberry, smooth and easy drinking. (*** ½+)
Talbott 2010 Kali Hart Pinot Noir ($25.95 - #317693) – juicy black cherry with hints of spiced plum and a gentle spiciness; this one is very pretty. (****)
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price point …
Miguel Torres 2008 Mas la Plana Cabernet Sauvignon ($54.95 - #129676) – Spain (****)
Vaona Pegrandi 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($53.95 - #325191) – Italy (****+) - APS
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – Saturday April 27, 2013 …
Casa Vinironia 2011 Appassionato Edizione Oro ($16.95 - #320713) - Italy
Domaine Saint-Remy 2011 Reserve Gewurztraminer ($18.95 - #061150) – France
Langa 2008 Tradicion Centenaria Garnacha 2008 ($14.95 - #194795) - Spain
Marchesi de’Frescobaldi 2010 Tenuta di Castiglioni ($21.95 - #145920) – Italy
Maycas del Limari 2009 Reserva Especial Syrah ($19.95 - #269423) – Chile
Happy Shopping
For more wine reviews and related articles go to www.ontariowinereview.com,
while there sign up for Michael's free bi-weekly newsletter.
