I am now using a 5-star rating system, which appears at the end of each review; here’s the key to those stars:
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good …
3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
I’m always looking for good value and I’m not afraid to give or take away a half mark for it – I’ll let you know when I’ve done so.The two focuses for this release are Chile and St. Patrick’s Day – not a Whiskey guy so you are on your own there, but I do like Chilean wine so I got ya covered:
Is it Chile in here …
We start with the Emiliana Novas Winemaker’s Selection 2007 Chardonnay / Viognier / Marsanne ($18.95 - #063909), now I remember this one was a star at this year’s Chilean preview tasting, but 6 months of age has taken the oomph out of this wine. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still very good but it’s lost a little of its freshness. Silky smooth, spicy, floral, lots of tree fruit and vanilla (****). Errazuriz 2008 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc ($13.95/375ml - #427054), is a tasty dessert-style wine, and not too sweet, with light yet sweetened Sauvignon Blanc flavours (****). Another from Errazuriz, 2008 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #143198), citrus, melon, mac apple and crisp acidity (****). Moving on to the reds, there’s the Casa Lapostolle 2008 Merlot ($16.95 - #405712) that’s everything you like in your Chilean Merlot: blackberry, plum and chocolate; juicy and supple (****). One of my top Chilean picks is from Errazuriz, 2008 Single Vineyard Don Maximiano Estate Carmenere ($18.95 - #143180), it kicks off with vanilla and chocolate, two of the world’s two great food groups, then there’s some juicy blackberry bringing it all together – succulent and tasty (****½). Montes Alpha Carmenere 2007 ($19.95 - #143230) has smoky violet notes on the nose with black fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and a toasty structure in the mouth, the finish is full of blackberry and chocolate (****). Then there’s the Tabali 2008 Reserve Especial Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #047514) good flavour with licorice and spice (****). Finally, there’s my second top-rated Chilean: Tabali 2006 Reserva Merlot ($14.95 - #093740), chocolate, black cherry with a hint of mint – rich, supple, juicy and tasty (****½). One thing’s for sure, Chilean wines will shake, rattle and roll your world.
Argentina – Red …
Chakana 2009 Yaguarete Collection Malbec ($12.95 - #003509) – Juicy black fruit on both the nose and palate all at a great price, an extra half mark for value. (****½)
Kaiken 2007 Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #135202) – sweet blackberry and plum with chocolate and spice. (****)
La Posta Angel Paulucci Vineyard 2007 Malbec ($15.95 - #075515) – sweet chocolate, black cherry with hints of pepper and spice. (****)
Australia – Red …
Ferngrove 2007 Shiraz ($19.95 - #090282) – this Aussie Shiraz shows elegance over the usual heavy-handed fruit bombiness. Lovely with dark fruit and chocolate. (****½)
Piping Shrike 2007 Shiraz ($18.95 - #048504) – black in colour while being jammy and chocolaty – not a bad combination at all. (****)
Rosemount Estate 2006 Show Reserve GSM ($34.95) – GSM is Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, and this is a good one: vanilla and cherry take the lead with hints of mocha and spiced pepper on the finish. (****)
Stonier 2008 Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #025338) – sour cherry and sweet cherry meet full fruit flavour. (****)
Australia – White …
Ingoldby 2008 Chardonnay ($14.95 - #047647) – nice fruit with hints of vanilla, this one shows a deft hand with its restrained use of oak. Good price too. (****)
France – Red …
(Bordeaux)
Chateau Lilian Ladouys 2004 ($29.95 - #162578) – full bodies black fruit, spice and cocoa – tough tannins could see this one age nicely over the next few years. (****)
(Midi)
Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvee Renaissance 2006 ($19.95 - #148692) – red cherries, mint, violets, sweet fruit and some elegance in the glass. (****)
(Rhone)
Domaine Galeva Paroles de Femme Cotes du Rhone 2007 ($15.00 - #125930) – a good deal for a Rhone wine, lots of sweet cherry fruit, juicy and imminently sippable. (****)
France – White …
(Loire)
Lacheteau les Loges Vouvray 2008 ($14.95 - #525105) – peach, apple and pear’s sweet fruit flavours; very easy to sip on. (****)
Germany – Sparkling …
Deinhard Lila Brut Riesling Sekt ($13.95 - #160648) – dry and tasty, crisp with a touches of apple lemon and lime. Ask for “sekt” and see what you get, either way you can’t go wrong. (****)
Germany – White …
Burgenspital 2007 Silvaner Kabinett Trocken ($19.95 - #944504) – what a horrible name for wine, doesn’t exactly sound like something you’d want to put in your mouth, but it is very tasty none-the-less, peach blossom, citrus, and drier than you’d expect. (****)
Italy – Red …
(Puglia)
Torrevento 2006 Torre del Falco ($15.95 - #161414) – oh what an interesting wine, spiced plum, cinnamon, vanilla, nicely black fruited with big taste; juicy and supple with a nice long finish. Good tannins, great value this one’s lots of fun. (****½)
(Veneto)
I Castei Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2005 ($38.95 - #739979) – good fruit and chocolate notes, nice spice, good price. (****)
Italy – White …
(Sicily)
Cusumano Angimbe Insolia / Chardonnay 2008 ($14.95 - #606350) – surprising peach and floral nose with pear and peach on the finish, which turns out to be long and pleasant. (****)
New Zealand – White …
Coopers Creek Select Vineyards 2008 The Little Rascal Arneis ($19.95 - #071308) – quite dry, refreshing and tasty with brilliant acidity – quite the oddity from New Zealand but well worth picking up. (****)
Portugal – Red …
Encostas de Estremoz Quinta da Esperanca 2005 ($14.95 - #160465) – red licorice, chocolate, plum, white pepper and cinnamon with a spicy finish. (****)
Quinta da Fata Classico 2007 ($16.95 - #148544) – nice black and red fruit, new leather, cranberry and quite smooth; good value for this kind of complexity. (****½)
Redondo Reserva ACR 2007 ($17.95 - #162347) – plum, sour cherry, and spicy blackberry. (****)
Spain – After Dinner …
Emilio Lustau East India Solera Sherry ($16.95/375ml - #713636) – a nose of toffee, raisin and caramel and a palate full of raisins, nuts and caramel there’s even a hint of spice on the finish making this one extra special. (****½)
United States – Red …
(California)
La Crema 2008 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #719435) – this is always recommendable, cherry with a touch of earth and a taste of sour red cherries – this is a Cali-Pinot with a great combination of oomph and yum. (****½)
Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on March 6, 2010:
Emilio Lustau East India Solera Sherry ($16.95/375ml - #713636) – Spain
Torrevento 2006 Torre del Falco ($15.95 - #161414) – Italy
Ferngrove 2007 Shiraz ($19.95 - #090282) – Australia
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