They’re always available at a Vintages location near you. They represent some of the best products and the most popular year after year. Some are new to the list and some perennial favourites. Here I break down the best of the best based on two simple criteria, taste and price. (NB. I have put year in where I was able to note it, the Essentials catalogue does not specify year, vintages can change without notice, so if you like a wine make sure to buy a quantity that suits your needs because once it’s gone it’s gone).
Top 5 Best Value – Whites (Under $25) …
Flat Rock Cellars 2008 Twisted ($16.95 - #0001578 … Ontario)
Malivoire 2008 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #0573147 … Ontario)
Toasted Head 2008 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #0594341 … U.S.) – this Cali-Chard has plenty of big sweet fruit namely pineapple and peach with a nice hit of vanilla. (****)
Kim Crawford 2008 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #0035386 … New Zealand) – softer fruit than what you might be used to from New Zealand Sauv Blanc, but still plenty of fruit flavour, nice acidity and a long grassy finish. (****)
Henri Bourgeois 2008 Les Baronnes Sancerre ($24.95 - #0542548 … France) – this Sauvignon Blanc has the three ‘G’s’ in spades: gooseberry, grass and grapefruit; fresh and lively, more New Zealand in style than New Zealand Savvy B above. (****)
Top 5 Best Value – Reds (Under $20) ...
Ravenswood 2007 Vintners Blend Zinfandel ($17.95 - #0359257 … U.S.) – this is a much better version than the 2006 Zin that came through the market last year; this one has everything Zin fans crave: juicy plum, raspberry, vanilla, slight hints of spice and a great long finish. If your idea of Zinfandel is pink I suggest you pick this up and taste the real thing. (****½)
Catena 2007 Malbec ($19.95 - #0478727 … Argentina) – this is one serious Malbec: smoky, minty, blackberry and juicy; one sip and you too will say, “wow”. (****½)
Kaiken 2008 Malbec ($14.95 - #0058339 … Argentina) – a new and very welcome addition to the Essentials collection. This has blackberry, cassis and spice, juicy palate with a long tasty finish. Haven’t tried Malbec yet? This is a good introduction. (****½)
Louis Jadot 2008 Beaujolais-Villages ($16.95 - #0365924 … France) – get the thought out of your mind that Beaujolais is a sweet and simple wine, that’s nouveau you’re thinking about. This wine has great cherry and red berries, a touch of tannin and a little spice. Try chilling about 30 minutes before opening. (****½)
Torres 2005 Gran Coronas Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva ($18.95 - #0036483 … Spain) – Spain is a great place for value and this is no exception. Already 4 years old this beauty has lots of herbs and spice, lots of black fruit, pencil lead aromas, tannin heft on the tongue and a real good bit of spice – this one will not disappoint. (****½)
In Short - Other Recommendable Essentials … (six words or less)
White:
Mission Hill 2007 Chardonnay Reserve ($19.95 – #0545004 … British Columbia) – caramel, butterscotch, big oak, long finish. (***½)
Sonoma-Cutrer 2007 Russian River Ranches Chardonnay ($24.95 - #0608653) – full fruit, vanilla nuances, balanced. (****)
Red :
Hillebrand 2007 Trius Red ($21.95 - #0303800 … Ontario) – ’07 is fantastic (*****)
Mission Hill 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.95 - #0553321) – black fruit, sweet licorice, spicy. (****)
Cline 2007 Syrah ($14.95 - #0733758 … U.S.) – as always, good value Syrah (****)
J. Lohr 2007 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon ($20.95 - #0656561 … U.S.) – sweet juicy fruit, long finish. (****½)
Rodney Strong Estate 2007 Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #0954834 … U.S.) – big fruit, nice tannins and acidity. (****½)
Perez Cruz 2007 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95- #0694208 … Chile) – minty black fruit, decently priced. (****)
D’Arenberg 2006 D’Arry’s Original ($19.95 – 0942904 … Australia) – peppery, eucalyptus, juicy black fruit. (****)
Mitolo 2007 Jester Shiraz ($21.95 - #0659607 … Australia) – sweet black fruit, chocolate cherries. (****)
Penfolds Thomas Hyland Shiraz ($19.95 - #0611210 … Australia) – good price, good mouth feel. (****)
Chateau Pey La Tour 2006 ($21.95 - #0925859 … France) – spice, blackberry, cassis and tannins. (****)
Perrin 2007 Reserve ($14.95 – #0363457 … France) – sweet black cherry and plumy. (****)
FontanaFredda 2008 Briccotondo Barbera ($15.95 - #0072348 … Italy) – spiced black fruit, Christmas cake aroma. (****)
Esporao 2006 Reserve Red ($24.95 – #0606590 … Spain) – red/black fruit, spiced plum and cinnamon. (****½)
Quinta dos Carvalhais Duque de Viseu Red 2006 ($13.95 - #0546309 … Portugal) – plumy red fruit, smooth mouth feel. (****)
Bodegas Castano 2006 Hecula Monastrell ($13.95 - #0718999 … Spain) – licorice, spice, and a little leather. (****)
Top 5 Best Value – Whites (Under $25) …
Flat Rock Cellars 2008 Twisted ($16.95 - #0001578 … Ontario)
Malivoire 2008 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #0573147 … Ontario)
Toasted Head 2008 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #0594341 … U.S.) – this Cali-Chard has plenty of big sweet fruit namely pineapple and peach with a nice hit of vanilla. (****)
Kim Crawford 2008 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #0035386 … New Zealand) – softer fruit than what you might be used to from New Zealand Sauv Blanc, but still plenty of fruit flavour, nice acidity and a long grassy finish. (****)
Henri Bourgeois 2008 Les Baronnes Sancerre ($24.95 - #0542548 … France) – this Sauvignon Blanc has the three ‘G’s’ in spades: gooseberry, grass and grapefruit; fresh and lively, more New Zealand in style than New Zealand Savvy B above. (****)
Top 5 Best Value – Reds (Under $20) ...
Ravenswood 2007 Vintners Blend Zinfandel ($17.95 - #0359257 … U.S.) – this is a much better version than the 2006 Zin that came through the market last year; this one has everything Zin fans crave: juicy plum, raspberry, vanilla, slight hints of spice and a great long finish. If your idea of Zinfandel is pink I suggest you pick this up and taste the real thing. (****½)
Catena 2007 Malbec ($19.95 - #0478727 … Argentina) – this is one serious Malbec: smoky, minty, blackberry and juicy; one sip and you too will say, “wow”. (****½)
Kaiken 2008 Malbec ($14.95 - #0058339 … Argentina) – a new and very welcome addition to the Essentials collection. This has blackberry, cassis and spice, juicy palate with a long tasty finish. Haven’t tried Malbec yet? This is a good introduction. (****½)
Louis Jadot 2008 Beaujolais-Villages ($16.95 - #0365924 … France) – get the thought out of your mind that Beaujolais is a sweet and simple wine, that’s nouveau you’re thinking about. This wine has great cherry and red berries, a touch of tannin and a little spice. Try chilling about 30 minutes before opening. (****½)
Torres 2005 Gran Coronas Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva ($18.95 - #0036483 … Spain) – Spain is a great place for value and this is no exception. Already 4 years old this beauty has lots of herbs and spice, lots of black fruit, pencil lead aromas, tannin heft on the tongue and a real good bit of spice – this one will not disappoint. (****½)
In Short - Other Recommendable Essentials … (six words or less)
White:
Mission Hill 2007 Chardonnay Reserve ($19.95 – #0545004 … British Columbia) – caramel, butterscotch, big oak, long finish. (***½)
Sonoma-Cutrer 2007 Russian River Ranches Chardonnay ($24.95 - #0608653) – full fruit, vanilla nuances, balanced. (****)
Red :
Hillebrand 2007 Trius Red ($21.95 - #0303800 … Ontario) – ’07 is fantastic (*****)
Mission Hill 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.95 - #0553321) – black fruit, sweet licorice, spicy. (****)
Cline 2007 Syrah ($14.95 - #0733758 … U.S.) – as always, good value Syrah (****)
J. Lohr 2007 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon ($20.95 - #0656561 … U.S.) – sweet juicy fruit, long finish. (****½)
Rodney Strong Estate 2007 Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #0954834 … U.S.) – big fruit, nice tannins and acidity. (****½)
Perez Cruz 2007 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95- #0694208 … Chile) – minty black fruit, decently priced. (****)
D’Arenberg 2006 D’Arry’s Original ($19.95 – 0942904 … Australia) – peppery, eucalyptus, juicy black fruit. (****)
Mitolo 2007 Jester Shiraz ($21.95 - #0659607 … Australia) – sweet black fruit, chocolate cherries. (****)
Penfolds Thomas Hyland Shiraz ($19.95 - #0611210 … Australia) – good price, good mouth feel. (****)
Chateau Pey La Tour 2006 ($21.95 - #0925859 … France) – spice, blackberry, cassis and tannins. (****)
Perrin 2007 Reserve ($14.95 – #0363457 … France) – sweet black cherry and plumy. (****)
FontanaFredda 2008 Briccotondo Barbera ($15.95 - #0072348 … Italy) – spiced black fruit, Christmas cake aroma. (****)
Esporao 2006 Reserve Red ($24.95 – #0606590 … Spain) – red/black fruit, spiced plum and cinnamon. (****½)
Quinta dos Carvalhais Duque de Viseu Red 2006 ($13.95 - #0546309 … Portugal) – plumy red fruit, smooth mouth feel. (****)
Bodegas Castano 2006 Hecula Monastrell ($13.95 - #0718999 … Spain) – licorice, spice, and a little leather. (****)
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