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 … Sparkling Wine (SpWi) and Bordeaux (BOR)
The Skinny … This is the release for bubbly and there are quite a few sparklers coming out this week you’ll want to line your cellar walls with for a celebratory occasion, heck that could be on any given Wednesday.
Argentina …
Alta Vista 2011 Atemporal ($19.95 - #144352) – dark fruited and juicy with enough acid and spice to keep it honest. (*** ½+)
Catena 2012 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #918805) – pleasant vanilla with hints of butterscotch and touches of grilled peach. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Yalumba 2012 Viognier ($24.95 - #954644) – lovely tropical notes with pineapple and melon. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Gray Monk 2012 Unwooded Chardonnay ($19.95 - #303743) – light and refreshing apple/pear combo. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Keint-he 2012 Voyageur Pinot Noir ($17.95 - #373407) - *** ½
Malivoire 2013 Musque Spritz ($19.95 - #189670) - ****
Malivoire 2012 Riesling ($15.95 - #277483) - *** ½
Tawse 2012 Spark Limestone Ridge Sparkling Wine ($19.95 - #370361) - **** ½+ (SpWi)
Croatia …
Ilocki Podrumi Premium Grasevina 2011 ($23.95 - #369421) – honey, tropical, melon, mineral and hay; this one seems to be better at room temperature. (*** ½)
France (Beaujolais) …
Manoir du Carra 2010 Fleurie ($24.95 - #364992) – hello sweet fruit, black cherry Beaujolais; something to sit and lovingly enjoy with a chill. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau de Monbadon 2010 ($18.95 - #365882) – good smoky vanilla, blackberry, black cherry, fruit forward with gentle spices; approachable with good tannin structure. (****) – BOR
Chateau Haut Selve 2010 ($21.95 - #738120) – lots of dark berry fruit with anise, nice tannins along with chocolate blackberries. (****) – BOR
Chateau La Croix Chantecaille 2009 ($29.95 - #349936) – there’s a pleasant smoothness and approachability here with plenty of dark fruit and herbal notes. (*** ½+) – BOR
Chateau Lamartine 2010 ($16.95 - #368159) – mocha, herbal, touch of cherry, new leather and nice finish. (****) – BOR
Chateau L’Argenteyre 2010 ($21.95 - #226217) – cocoa, cassis, roasted lamb and currants. (*** ½+) – BOR
Chateau Le Bourdieu 2010 ($20.95 - #085084) – anise and red currant, cassis and some pleasant spice. (*** ½+) - BOR
France (Burgundy) …
Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #991562) – apple, pear and lemon; pretty, pleasant just enough dryness versus sweetness to keep you coming back. (****+)
- SpWi
Domaine Jean Collet & Fils 2011 Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru ($31.95 - #650804) – pleasant, easy drinking with nice weight and not overloaded with oak, good apple-peach finish. (****)
France (Loire) …
Domaine de Riaux 2012 Pouilly Fume ($25.95 - #200063) – lovely summery juicy grapefruit along with hay and grass; a pure sipping summer pleasure. (****)
Domaine du Tremblay 2012 Cuvee Vin Noble Quincy ($20.95 - #375659) – soft citrus with lively yet juicy qualities all with a grapefruit cocktail finish. (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Chateau Puech-Haut 2011 Prestige Saint-Drezery ($29.95 - #237289) – really full of fruit, touch of spice, plum, chocolate, black cherry and white pepper. (****+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Poderi Elia 2012 Moscato D’Asti ($15.95 - #211664) – love a good Asti with its sweet peachy pleasantries. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Mocali 2008 Brunello di Montalcino ($47.95 - #064956) – sweet dried cherries, herbal, smoke and spice with a full mouth feel. (****+)
Rocca Delle Macie 2008 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($24.95 - #232488) – dried dark fruit and lots of spice, tannins still pack a punch. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
La Marca NV Prosecco ($17.95 - #287987) – nice hint of summery sweetness for the patio. (*** ½) - SpWi
Valpantena 2011 Torre del Falasco Ripasso Valpolicella ($17.95 - #642421) – sweet cherry and chocolate with hints of strawberry. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Delaforce 2011 Touriga Nacional ($20.95 - #324517) – dark, inky and very drinkable: vanilla, strawberry with peppery spice. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Conde de Haro 2010 Brut Cava ($19.95 - #168559) – man is this ever tasty with its apple, yeasty bits folded in with good acidity. (****+) – SpWi
Elias Mora 2009 Crianza ($22.95 - #366815) – blackberry, black cherry and cocoa; plenty of sweet flavourful fruit with a cocoa core. (****+)
United States (California) …
Atrea 2009 Old Soul Red ($33.95 - #214825) – pretty nose offering up plum, vanilla and cherry with sweet fruit on the palate. (*** ½+)
J. Lohr 2011 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #361717) – it’s wine but it’s not very Pinot-esque; fruit is sweetly spiced with raspberry and cherry fruit, hints of white pepper and plum on the finish. (*** ½+)
McManis 2012 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #265983) – plenty of vanilla, peach and pear, definitely a Chardonnay with nice acidity on the finish. (****)
United States (Oregon) …
Argyle 2012 Pinot Noir ($31.95 – 909499) – cherry and herbal notes taking center stage, good acidity on the long spiced finish. (****)
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In-Store Discoveries – wines that just appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Giacomo Fenocchio 2009 Cannubi Barolo ($54.95 - #373399) – Piedmont - ****+
Jean-Claude Bessin 2011 La Foret Chablis 1er Cru ($37.95 - #373431) – Burgundy - ****
Merum Priorati Osmin 2006 ($74.95 - #357202) – Spain - ****+
Oldenburg 2011 Chardonnay ($22.95 - #374645) – South Africa - ****
Pascal Bouchard 2011 Montmains Vieilles Vignes Chablis 1er Cru ($37.95 - #374181) – Burgundy - ****
Spottswoode 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($40.95 - #313593) – California - *** ½+
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Caymus 2011 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($138.95 - #711663) – California - ****
Charles de Cazanove Brut Rosé Champagne ($54.95 - #369108) – France - ****+ (SpWi)
Fleury Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne ($54.95 - #368761) – France - *** ½+ (SpWi)
Kopke 20 Years Old Tawny Port ($56.95 - #368340) – Portugal - ****+
Mitolo 2009 Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon ($52.95 - #656599) – Spain - (****)
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – April 26, 2014 …
Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #991562) – France
Conde de Haro 2010 Brut Cava ($19.95 - #168559) – Spain
Elias Mora 2009 Crianza ($22.95 - #366815) – Spain
Tawse 2012 Spark Limestone Ridge Sparkling Wine ($19.95 - #370361) – Ontario
Happy Shopping
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