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
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
Today’s release is all about “Smart Buys”, wines that offer good value for under $20 … the wines that are spotlighted are marked with as ‘SB’:
Argentina – Red …
Altocedro La Consulta Reserva Malbec 2007 ($23.95 - #0187880) – powerful and delicious: black fruit, licorice, cassis, raspberry, black cherry and chocolate … sweet and juicy. (**** ½)
La Posta Pizzella Family Vineyard 2008 Malbec ($15.00 - #0166298) – now this is really lovely, full of fruit and lots of enjoyment; a real winner. (**** ½) – (SB)
Australia – Red …
Majella 2008 The Musician Cabernet/Shiraz ($19.95 - #0142018) – lovely chocolate notes in the mouth with really nice black cherry; juicy palate with just a bit of tannins. (****)
Thorn-Clarke 2008 Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95 - #0203158) – as a liker of Thorn-Clarke wines I try not to be bias when I taste them, this one is juicy and flavourful, cherry jam nose followed by a wonderful red berry palate, the price is respectable and worthy of a multiple purchase. (**** ½)
Torbreck 2008 Woodcutter’s Shiraz ($27.95 - #0927533) – when this wine first hit the market it was under twenty-bucks, and it’s been creeping up ever since: blueberry, blackberry, pepper and chocolate … still very good. (****)
Canada – Red …
(Ontario)
Chateau des Charmes 2007 Old Vines Estate Bottled Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #0256834)
Henry of Pelham 2007 Merlot ($17.95 - #0091165)
Canada – White …
(Ontario)
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2009 Silver Series Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #0209577) – (SB)
Thirteenth Street 2009 White Palette ($14.95 - #0207340) – (SB)
Chile – Red …
Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere 2008 ($14.95 - #0016071) – I have bought a bottle of this every year since the 2004 vintage … and I’ll do it again: mint, black fruit and raspberry, can be aged 5 years easy. (****) – (SB)
France – Red …
(Bordeaux)
Chateau La Fleur Terrien 2008 ($15.00 - #0199059) – smooth easy drinking Bordeaux red, with lots of pepper within. (****) – (SB)
(Beaujolais)
Domaine Andre Cologne & Fils 2009 Beaujolais-Villages ($13.95 - #0187591) – strawberry and cherry take up residence on the nose, there’s a little bit of grip on the palate, just give it a year to mellow out and drink to your heart’s content, nice acidity on the finish. (****)
France – White …
(Alsace)
Jean Geiler 2009 Chasselas ($12.95 - #0141150) – this is not a grape you see very often so here is a cheap and cheerful way to give it a try, there’s a sweetness of fruit here that is worth checking out. (*** ½)
(Burgundy)
Roux Pere & Fils 2009 Les Murelles Chardonnay Bourgogne ($14.95 - #0156455) – fruit, finesse and nice mineral notes; crisp, clean and delicious. Nice intensity for the price point. (*** ½+)
(Loire)
Domaine Bellevue 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Touraine ($12.95 - #0082305) – this is the anti-New Zealand Savvy-B, peach and pear with a hint of lime cordial. (****)
Germany – White …
Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt 2007 Riesling Kabinett ($19.95 - #0189654) – intense minerality here along with apple, peach, pear and citrus notes, good acidity on the palate prickles at the tongue … balanced with some nice sweetness. (**** ½)
Geil 2009 Riesling Kabinett ($15.95 - #0994764) – minerally yet with good sweetness, there is also some floral and pear notes; good value. (****)
Italy – Red …
(Puglia)
Cantele 2007 Riserva Salice Salentino ($13.95 - #0724328) – lots of fruit on the nose, the palate delivers lots of fruit, strawberry dominates with a hint of cassis; very tasty. (****)
(Sicily)
Baglio di Pianetto Y Nero D’Avola ($14.95 - #0207423) – black raspberry and strawberry take the nose for a ride, while lovely strawberry fruit finds its way to the palate, ends with a linger-long-time finish. (****½)
(Tuscany)
Compagnia di Volpaia Citto 2008 ($14.95 - #0134817) – nice raspberry with a touch of cherry on the nose, black cherry toasted with cinnamon on the palate, quite enjoyable. (*** ½+)
Piccini Villa Al Cortile Riserva Brunello di Montalcino 2004 ($42.95 - #0205724) – nice black fruit, licorice root and a touch of earth and some dried fruit sweetness. (****)
New Zealand – White …
Sileni Cellar Selection 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($15.95 - #0662882) – this one hits all the sweets spots of a Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc without going overboard or breaking the bank. (****½)
Portugal – Dessert …
Portal Fine Ruby Port ($15.95 - #0087254) – for a simple ruby this has some punch, lots of cherry and chocolate with a spiced kick. (****) – (SB)
Portugal – White …
Passaros 2009 Vinho Verde ($12.95 - #0190546) – tropical, citrus and mineral all come through in this tasty crisp white. (****)
South Africa – Red …
Flagstone 2007 The Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #0205245) – plenty of spice with a touch of earth and dark berries; sit for a couple of years to let that earthiness mellow and then this one should be music to your palate. (****)
Guardian Peak 2008 Shiraz ($11.95 - #0652602) – smooth, clean and easy drinking, this wine will take away those winter blues with its tasty playfulness. (*** ½)
Spain – Red …
Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Crianza 2006 ($15.95 - #0340844) – toasted raspberry coffee bean nose leads to a very fruit driven palate. (****) – (SB)
United States – Red …
(California)
A By Acacia 2009 Pinot Noir ($17.95 - #0118927) – black cherry, cranberry and dirty strawberries take charge of this wine, full of tannins on the palate, but not so many as to make them intrusive. (****)
Folie a Deux 2009 Menage a Trois Red ($17.95 - #0665158) – I still like this sweet fruited, juicy and friendly blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, though I think it overpriced here in Ontario. (*** ½)
Sumptuary 2007 Zinfandel ($15.95 - #0203869) – a decent Zin that hits all the high notes of spice, plum, vanilla with a touch of chocolate covered cherries; ready to drink now. (****)
United States – White …
(California)
Cline 2008 Viognier ($14.95 - #0128421) – peaches and clove on the nose, tasty on the tongue with topical fruit, great value. (****+)
(Oregon)
King Estate Signature Collection 2009 Pinot Gris ($17.95 - #0983627) – flavourful and fun, nice to see something other than Pinot Noir from Oregon, this wine shows that they make good Gris too. (****)
Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on January 8, 2011:
Cline 2008 Viognier ($14.95 - #0128421) – United States
La Posta Pizzella Family Vineyard 2008 Malbec ($15.00 - #0166298) - Argentina
Thorn-Clarke 2008 Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95 - #0203158) - Australia
Happy Shopping
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