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
We got another two things to focus on in this release: Wines from the Iberian Peninsula, Spain and Portugal (IB) and some Californian Icon wines (CALI) … The wines that are part of the spotlight are labeled as such:
Argentina – Red …
Colome Estate 2008 Malbec ($34.95 - #0194308) – dark fruit and chocolate with black cherry; this is one tasty sucker. (*** ½+)
Weinert 2005 Malbec ($15.95 - #0556795) – juicy red fruit nose with a dark fruited palate, decent amount of acidity, drink over the next 2-3 years. (*** ½)
Australia – Red …
Giant Steps 2008 Harry’s Monster ($39.95 - #0221846) – lots of big black flavour, dark fruit and spice, real tasty and real boozy. (****+)
Penfolds 2007 Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz ($34.95 - #0422782) – pure blackberry deliciousness with a touch of black licorice on the finish. (****)
The Watcher 2008 ($19.95 - #0219196) – big nose with plum and black cherry, nice palate with 14.5% alcohol, big fruit bomb, ready to drink flavours. (****)
Canada – Red …
(Ontario)
Calamus 2007 Reserve Red ($19.95 - #0223990)
Inniskillin 2007 Winemaker’s Series Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #0997353)
Chile – Red …
Altair 2005 Sideral ($24.95 - #0660837) – minty, blackberry and spice, good flavour profile. (*** ½)
France – Red …
(Bordeaux)
Chateau Castaing 2008 ($17.95 - #0206631) – nice solid black fruit core here with spice and vanilla notes to back it up. (****)
(Rhone)
Cave de Monterail 2009 Seguret ($13.95 - #0195065) – quite the value in a ready to drink Cote du Rhone red, lots of raspberry, plum and chocolate notes; a steal for the upcoming BBQ season. (****+)
La Crau de Ma Mere 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($46.95 - #0941740) – lots of fruit here, raspberry, strawberry and licorice, nice dry tannins with ageing potential to spare (****)
France – Sparkling …
Domaine Roger Luquet Blanc de Blancs Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #0957894) – crisp, moussy with green apple tartness. (****+)
France – White …
(Loire)
Caves de la Tourangelle 2009 Grande Reserve Touraine ($14.95 - #0196733) – nice little Sauvignon Blanc here, while the nose is a bit subdued the palate sings. (****)
Germany – White …
Studert-Prum 2009 Riesling Kabinett ($18.95 - #0970129) – subtle bit of mineral and apple on the nose, delicious apple, mineral and talc burst on the palate; nice finish. (****)
Lingenfelder 2009 Bird Label Riesling ($13.95 - #0568634) – simplicity is best here and the bird delivers with talc, peach and hints of pear puree. (*** ½+)
Italy – Red …
(Abruzzo)
Tre Saggi 2006 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($15.95 - #0204016) – chocolate and dark fruit on the nose leads to chocolate and dark fruit on the palate. Ends with licorice, spice and cocoa (**** ½)
(Piedmont)
Brezza 2006 Barolo ($37.95 - #0711788) – spicy dried fruit with lovely seam of dried cherry and acidity on the finish. (****+)
Gaja 2008 Sito Moresco ($53.95 - #0976043) – meaty red with dark fruit, big wood and dryingly big tannins; with time should turn into something even more delicious. (****)
(Puglia)
Vinosia 2008 Primitivo ($14.95 - #0203950) – the nose is lackluster but the palate is lively with plum, cherry and chocolate, there's also a vanilla backing … one of the better Prims I have tasted in quite some time it doesn’t hide the jammy sweet quality of this variety or its relation to California Zin. (****+)
(Tuscany)
Spiaggiole Morellino di Scansano ($15.95 - #0203398) – pretty simple sipper with heaps of fruit. (***+)
Tenuta di Capraia 2007 Chianti Classico ($18.95 - #0135277) – flowery, plum, chocolate and cedar all hit the mouth, in that order. (****)
(Veneto)
Pasqua 2008 Black Label Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($18.95 - #0203968) – licorice and wood spice, chocolate, spiced cherry with a long persistent finish. (*** ½)
New Zealand – White …
Auntsfield 2009 Long Cow Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #0663286) – big nose with a more subtle palate, there’s herbs amongst the grapefruit/citrus, very nice. (****+)
Lone Kauri 2009 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #0138974) – very tropical, good gooseberry and grassy nose with a grassy palate and a nice finish. (*** ½)
Portugal – Dessert …
Quinta da Romaneira 2004 Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port ($19.95 - #0196758) – lovely nose of plum, cherry and chocolate; big bite of acidity with dark plum, chocolate, black cherry, clean quick finish keeps it from getting a higher mark, I want my port to linger a little longer. (****+) – (IB)
Portugal- Red …
Cistus 2007 Reserva ($18.95 - #0145052) – minty nose with red cherry and plum; nice and smooth. (*** ½) – (IB)
Herdade Penedo Gordo Vinho Tinto ($13.95 - #0218339) – plum, chocolate and red cherry. (*** ½) – (IB)
Quinta Nova Pomares 2008 ($16.95 - #0214007) – pretty floral nose, decent palate that shows mostly cherry fruit. (****) – (IB)
Portugal – White …
Adega Vila Real 2009 Reserva Branco ($14.95 - #0218289) – nice nose, palate is soft with vanilla cream and mac apple; good acidity with longevity on the finish. (*** ½) – (IB)
Varanda Do Conde 2009 Alvarinho/Trajadura Vinho Verde ($13.95 - #0966663) – grapefruit and lots of it, hint of lime, good finish. (*** ½) – (IB)
Spain – Red …
El Cotto 2006 Crianza ($14.95 - #0190504) – delicate nose and flavour profile, light yet easy drinking, oaky and spicy finish with mocha, vanilla and dried cherry through the palate. (****+) – (IB)
Eternum Viti 2008 ($18.95 - #0210963) – plum, mint, cherry, sweet coffee/mocha notes on the mid-palate; good acid balance on the finish. (****) – (IB)
Finca Sobreno Crianza 2007 ($17.95 - #0040360) – lots of dark fruit and tannins backed by mocha and violets. (*** ½+) – (IB)
Spain – White …
Leira 2009 Albarino ($16.95 - #0115816) – a little pear, a little citrus, nice taste. (*** ½) – (IB)
United States – Red …
(California)
Beringer 2005 Bancroft Ranch Single Vineyard Merlot ($69.95 - #0340497) – cassis, chocolate nose lovely and tasty, smooth and supple. (****+) – (CALI)
Caymus 2008 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($119.95 - #0711663) – lots of chocolate, blackberry and blueberry notes, big 15.4% alcohol, really delicious. (**** ½) – (CALI)
Jonata 2005 El Corazon de Jonata ($59.95 - #0218917) – sexy, supple and delicious. (****+)
Jonata 2006 Todos ($59.95 - #0218941) – lovely fruit, another version of supple and delicious from this winery, good tannins, very nice. (**** ½)
Pahlmeyer 2006 Proprietary Red ($119.95 - #0967992) – lots of yummy dark fruit, high alcohol (15.2%) but very tasty. (**** ½) – (CALI)
Santa Barbara Wine Company 2009 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #0194332) – cherry fruit, a touch of smoke and earth, but the fruit really lifts this one, good finish. (*** ½+)
United States – White …
(California)
Kendall-Jackson 2008 Jackson Hills Chardonnay ($34.95 - #0210146) – now there’s something here, something exotic: fruit wrapped in almond and hazelnut topped with caramel, yup I think that’s it, oh, plus the spice on the finish. (****+)
Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on March 19, 2011:
Vinosia 2008 Primitivo ($14.95 - #0203950) – Italy
Tre Saggi 2006 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($15.95 - #0204016) – Italy
Cave de Monterail 2009 Seguret ($13.95 - #0195065) – France
Happy Shopping.
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