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 (plural of focus): Germany (GER) and Customer Favourites (CF)
Highlights: 2 of the Best Buy wines come from Spain and a Chilean Malbec with real elegance and charm
Argentina ...
Pacual Toso Reserve Malbec 2009 ($19.95 - #183897) - spiced-cherry, vanilla and chocolate and sweet spice. (****)
Australia ...
Bleasdale 2011 Potts' Catch Verdelho ($15.95 - #280933) - light, refreshing lemon and lime notes with nice acidity. (*** 1/2+)
Coriole Vineyards Estate Grown Shiraz 2009 ($26.95 - #931600) - nice wine with gentle spice and white pepper, fruit is plum and black cherry with nice bite on the finish. (*** 1/2+)
Peter Lehmann 2010 Layers Shiraz/Tempranillo/Mourvedre/Grenache ($17.95 - #138883) - layers of interesting fruit and spice, pepper and smoky red fruit. (*** 1/2)
Pirramimma 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #730374) - rich, juicy, plummy, black cherry; a real full flavoured Cab. (****) - CS
Schild Estate 2010 Old Bush Vine GMS Grenache/Mourvedre/Shiraz ($21.95 - #108183) - starts off slow and builds to an interesting, smooth, supple finish. (*** 1/2+
Thorn-Clarke Pinot Noir/Chardonnay Brut Reserve Sparkling Wine ($19.95 - #280925) - slightly pinky-salmon colour with strawberry, lemon and biscotti finish; quite decent. (*** 1/2+)
Thorn-Clarke 2008 St. Kitts Vineyard Malbec ($29.95 - #280891) - full-fruited, lots of spiced chocolate and black fruit, vanilla, sweetly alcoholic with big 15.5%. (****)
Wits End 2010 Luna Chardonnay ($16.95 - #285882) - shows a deft hand with nice full fruit and touch of oak. (****)
Austria ...
Steininger 2010 Gruner Veltliner ($14.95 - #280842) - pea pod, asparagus and lemonade. (*** 1/2)
Canada - (British Columbia) ...
Sandhill 2008 Small Lots One ($36.95 - #186536) - rich fruit core with lots going on like black cherry and cafe mocha on the finish. (****+)
Canada - (Nova Scotia) ...
Benjamin Bridge 2011 Nova 2011 ($25.95 - #256289) - aromatic with good acidic bite and some exotic fruit and floral notes; asti-esque. (*** 1/2)
Canada - (Ontario) ...
Fielding Estate 2010 Cabernet Franc ($21.95 - #36194) - *** 1/2
Inniskillin 2010 Winemaker's Series Montague Vineyard Chardonnay ($18.95 - #586347) - ****
Pillitteri 2010 Antagonist ($15.95 - #291948) - *** 1/2
Chile ...
Concha y Toro 2009 Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Carmenere ($16.95 - #274043) - lovely spiced black fruit, hint of leather, plum, black cherry, vanilla and mint. (****+)
Valdivieso 2009 Single Vineyard Old Vines Malbec ($19.95 - #273987) - minty, cedar with ballsy black fruit, coffee on the mid-palate with elegance and finesse on the finish. (**** 1/2)
France - (Burgundy) ...
Domaine des Malandes 2010 Chablis ($18.95 - #111658) - mineral, mac apple and floral with some weightiness on the palate, but not too much with a nice pear-mineral finish. (*** 1/2+)
France - (Rhone) ...
Domaine du Grapillon 2010 D'or Gigondas ($28.95 - #981787) - rich plum and dark cherries, lovely dark fruit with the right amount of spice and a delicious strawberry-cocoa finish. (****+) - CS
Germany ...
Konigschaffhausen 2011 Trocken Pinot Gris ($13.95 - #597500) - good if a little sweet with a lengthy pleasant finish. (*** 1/2) - GER
Reinhold Haart 2009 Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett ($19.95 - #282335) - exotic with fleshy peach. (*** 1/2+) - GER
Darting 2011 Durkheimer Nonnengerten Gewurztraminer Kabinett ($16.95 - #944181) - real nice hint of spice right from the start and it continues tobe lovely through to the end. (****) - GER
Schloss Reinhartshausen 2009 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Kabinett ($17.95 - #114801) - nice hit of acidity with tart lemon and hint of sweet peach and lemon candy. (****+) - GER
Greece ...
Lyrarakis 2009 Okto ($15.95 - #279737) - surprisingly delicious with tart blackberries and hints of spiced chocolate. (*** 1/2+)
Italy - (Piedmont) ...
Dezzani Morelli 2010 Moscato D'Asti ($14.95 - #187997) - fun and fruit, a perfect summer sipper at ony 5% alcohol: pear, peach, pineapple, floral; this one is full of yummy. (*** 1/2+)
Italy - (Puglia) ...
Cantele 2008 Riserva Salice Salentino ($13.95 - #724328) - lot of spiced-raspberry and oak notes; there's also some black pepper on the finish. (*** 1/2)
Italy - (Tuscany) ...
La Velona 2009 Rosso di Montalcino ($17.95 - #285429) - white pepper, strawberry which is carried on oak-spice. (*** 1/2)
Italy - (Veneto) ...
Bertani 2008 Villa Arvedi Amarone della Valpolicella ($38.95 - #13417) - an Amarone to drink now with lovely plum and cherry with a hint of chocolate. (*** 1/2+)
Carpene Malvolti Cuvee Brut Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ($14.95 - #727438) - fresh, fruity and enjoyable at a good price. (*** 1/2)
Due Torri 2009 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($17.95 - #159400) - stylish and supple with good fruit and chocolate notes and a cherry-chocolate finish. (*** 1/2+) - CS
Zenato 2011 Pinot Grigio (13.95 - #37648) - refreshingly crisp with a lemon pith finish. (*** 1/2)
New Zealand ...
Clos Marguerite 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #281014) - really has the 3 G's of Sauv Blanc: grapefruit, grass and gooseberry, heavy on the grass and herbaceousness. (*** 1/2)
Little Beauty 2010 Limited Edition Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #290346) - nice earthy, cherry with hints of bacon, quite pleasant with a spicy herb to the finish. (*** 1/2+)
Spinyback 2010 Pinot Gris ($16.95 - #214569) - interesting full flavored wine with mineral intensity, more fruit skin than fresh fruit, mostly apple and pear. (*** 1/2+)
Portugal ...
Quinta de Ventozelo 2008 Touriga Nacional ($18.95 - #657452) - rich of fruit with lovely hints of sweet spice and vanilla undertones. (*** 1/2+) - CS
Spain ...
Escondido 2009 Tempranillo ($14.95 - #132597) - mineral and blackberry (*** 1/2)
Filon 2010 Garnacha ($14.95 - #280602) - label might look like bathroom wallpaper from the 70's but this is another amazing value from Spain: ripe cherry, plum and sweet spice; exceptional value. (**** 1/2)
Vina Aljibes 2009 Petit Verdot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Tempranillo ($13.95 - #276212) - rich in plum with violet notes, gentle spice and sweet fruit; lush and plush ... drink now. (****+)
USA - (California) ...
Beaulieu Vineyard 2008 Tapestry Reserve ($34.95 - #50393) - smooth, serious and intense with lovely fruit. (*** 1/2+)
DeLoach 2010 Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #119024) - fruit driven Cali-Pinot with strawberry and white pepper. (*** 1/2+)
Frank Family 2009 Zinfandel ($33.95 - #278283) - plum, chocolate, cherry and vanilla with sweet oak. (****)
Ironstone 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #537597) - all cherry and strawberry all the time. (*** 1/2) - CS
La Crema 2010 Chardonnay ($28.95 - #962886) - supple with bright lemon zest, tropical, pineapple and vanilla. (****) - CS
McManis Family Vineyards 2011 Viognier ($18.95 - #658112) - nice Chardonnay alternative that's citrus fruit driven with hints of floral. (*** 1/2) - CS
Pedroncelli 2009 Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel ($22.95 - #463026) - no razzle-dazzle here just straight forward spiced red fruit and plum with a slight spiced-mocha note on the finish. (****)
What I'll Be Lining Up For - August 4, 2012 ...
Concha y Toro 2009 Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Carmenere ($16.95 - #274043) - Chile
Valdivieso 2009 Single Vineyard Old Vines Malbec ($19.95 - #273987) - Chile
Filon 2010 Garnacha ($14.95 - #280602) - Spain
Happy Shopping
1 comment:
My take...
======>>>> ** BEST WINE OF THE RELEASE *UNDER* $20
Ciderie St-Nicolas Pom’Or Tradition Crackling Cider Quebec: once again
it is cider time in the blazing Ontario summer of 2012. Off-dry or off-
sweet (medium?) apple tones, with spritz. Sipper for BBQ, 7% ABV, and
affordable. +179473, $13.95, QPR: 91.
RED: Domaine Les Yeuses Les Epices Syrah 2009 IGP Pays d’Oc: rich,
smoky, garrigue, blackberries, like a North Rhone but less expensive.
13.5% ABV. +177584, 13.95, QPR: 92.
======>>>> ** BEST WINE OF THE RELEASE *OVER* $20
Burgo Viejo Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja, +190611, $21.95.
TOP VALUE WHITE WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Inniskillin Winemaker’s Series Montague Vineyard Chardonnay 2010 VQA
Four Mile Creek: balanced components (buttery, apple-y, vanilla,
cloves) at 13.9% ABV. Gold Medalist at Ontario Wine Awards. +58647,
$18.95, QPR: 90.
2. Edna Valley Paragon Chardonnay 2009 San Luis Obispo County: aromatic
tones with a longer, compelling finish, 14% ABV. +984153, $19.95, QPR:
89.
3. Waimea Estates Spinyback Pinot Gris 2010 Nelson NZ: tasty orchard
fruit, slightly off-dry in finish, 14% ABV, sip or food. +214569,
$16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Tormentoso Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2011 WO Paarl: like a sauvignon
blanc without the kiwi component of excessive herbaceousness. Partial
Barrel Fermentation, 13.5% ABV. 30 year old vines. +278366, $14.95,
QPR: 90.
5. Steininger Gruner Veltliner 2010 Kamptal: exceptional summery
orchard fruit, 12.5%, nice price. +280842, $14.95, QPR: 89.
6. Andre Blanck Altenbourg Gewurztraminer 2011 Alsace: delicious off-
sweet dessert style, 13.5% ABV, god body, characteristic aftertaste.
+168906, $17.95, QPR: 90.
7. Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Schwarzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2006:
summery delight, off-dry, food or sip, 8% ABV. +282343, $7.95, QPR: 89.
8. Abad Dom Bueno Godello 2010 DO Bierzo Spain: another nice, pleasant
summery aromatic minerally wine, chill well, 12.5% ABV. +154302,
$14.95, QPR: 89.
TOP VALUE RED WINES under $20 or so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Ksana Malbec 2009 Mendoza: MVC plumminess, 1% ABV, BBQ all the way.
Old vines. +287441, $15.95, QPR: 89.
2. Bosman Family Adama Red 2009 WO Wellington SA: blend of syrah (81%),
mourvedre, primitivo, cinsault, viognier (2%). Heavy-heavy dense BBQ
wine with oak component. 14% AV. +279844, $18.95, QPR: 89.
3. Chateau Lamothe de Haux 2009 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux: basic MVC,
affordable value. 13% ABV> +641555, $16.95, QPR: 89.
4. Chateau D’Angles La Clape Classique Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre 2007
Languedoc: blend of 50% syrah, 30% grenache, 20% mourvedre (according
to the label), good aging and development. +286484, $14.95, QPR: 89.
5. Due Torri Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore 2009: LCBO Ripasso of the
Month, 13.5% ABV. +159400, $17.95, QPR: 89.
6. Aviva Filon Garnacha 2010 DO Calatayud Spain: delicious, done up
with North American appeal of oaky vanilla tones, fruit, and aging.
14.5% ABV. +280602, $14.95 QPR: 90.
VALUE: “RESTAURANT READY” or “BRING YOUR OWN WINE BOTTLE” over $20
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Restaurants should consider offering these FINE VALUE wines at a $10
markup over retail; the wines are READY to enjoy right NOW. Consumers
should buy these wines to bring to restaurants with corkage programs.
1. Jean-Marc Brocard Vaucopin Chablis 1er Cru 2010, +288019, $29.95
retail.
2. Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese 2009,
+284422, $21.95.
3. Sandhill Small Lots One 2008 VQA Okanagan Phantom Creek, +186536,
$36.95.
4. Barlow Barrouge Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Napa Unfiltered, +147603,
$47.95.
5. Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve 2008 Napa, +50393, $34.95.
6. Markham Merlot 2009 Napa, +738740, $31.95.
7. Rocca delle Macie Riserva di Fizzano Chianti Classico Riserva 2007,
+699454, $26.95.
Chimo! www.deantudor.com
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