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.
Foci ... Chile (CH) and Australia (AUS)
The Skinny ... some good stuff from Italy (again), and the closer we get to Christmas the more the expensive wines start to rear their necks and corks.
Australia ...
John Duval 2008 Entity Shiraz ($49.95 - #73056) - deep, dark and delicious with a chocolate seam that delights. (**** 1/2) - AUS
Kellermeister 2010 Boots Shiraz ($19.95 - #297093) - all jammy red fruit. (*** 1/2)
Oakridge 2010 Pinot Noir ($38.95 - #284059) - nicely balanced with good full-bodied pinot character, jammy with a touch of the lean red berries and spice. (*** 1/2+) - AUS
Paxton 2010 AAA Shiraz/Grenache ($19.95 - #149898) - good fruit with licorice, blackberry and a touch of mocha. (****) - AUS
Spinifex 2010 Bete Noir Shiraz ($49.95 - #284141) - good red fruit smokiness. (*** 1/2) - AUS
Spinifex 2010 Papillon Grenache/Cinsault/Carignan/Shiraz ($29.95 - #285205) - lovely blend full of rich dark fruit and boysenberry jam; dry finish. (****) - AUS
Canada (Ontario) ...
Henry of Pelham 2010 Gamay ($14.95 - #291112) - *** 1/2
Reif 2010 Vidal Icewine ($24.95 / 200ml - #544791) - *** 1/2+
Stratus 2009 Semillon ($32.20 - #306027) - *** 1/2+
Chile ...
Augustinos 2010 Gran Terroir Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #296616) - pretty nose of violets, raspberry and strawberry which follows onto the palate with touch of white pepper and wood spice. (****+) - CH
Korta 2010 Barrel Selection Reserve Petit Verdot ($14.95 - #296608) - lots of peppery notes with brambly berry dark fruit. (*** 1/2) - CH
Leyda 2011 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #99309) - grass dominates here though it is fresh and lingering. (*** 1/2+) - CH
Miguel Torres 2011 Cordillera de los Andes Chardonnay ($18.95 - #296624) - vanilla, apple, pleasant fruitiness with a touch of wood notes, creamy and nicely textured, good acidity on the finish. (****) - CH
Tres Palacios 2008 Family Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #299743) - minty with sweet cran-raspberry; smooth and supple. (*** 1/2) - CH
France (Bordeaux) ...
Chateau Bonnin Pichon 2008 ($16.95 - #280008) - plum, cherry, smoke, mocha and licorice; a good combination. (*** 1/2+)
France (Burgundy) ...
Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($17.95 - #991562) - delicate fizz with lively bubbles on the tongue, juicy yet crisp, quaffable in that sparkling wine kinda way with a long biscuity finish. (****+)
Maison Roche de Bellene 2010 Vieilles Vignes Gevrey-Chambertin ($44.95 - #240424) - red fruit and nicely spiced cranberry-cocktail. (*** 1/2)
France (Rhone) ...
Cave de Rasteau 2009 La Domeliere Rasteau ($15.95 - #222927) - red berry, touch of smoke, quite lush. (*** 1/2)
Cave de Rasteau 2007 Ortas Prestige Rasteau ($19.95 - #985929) - peppered-mocha. (*** 1/2)
Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2010 ($29.95 - #48884) - violets, plum, cherry, nicely spiced, easy drinking; the smells and flavours are top-notch. (****+)
Germany ...
H. Thanisch Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Spatlese 2010 ($24.95 - #295667) - very pretty Riesling: limestone, melon. poached pear sweetness with acid balance. (*** 1/2)
Italy (Abruzzo) ...
Terra D'Aligi 2007 Tolos Montepulciano D'Abruzzo ($29.95 - #19166) - dark as night, rich as good coffee. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Piedmont) ...
Marchesi di Barolo 2006 Barolo ($34.95 - #168179) - lightly spiced tobacco with a nice cherry note. (*** 1/2)
Sobrero Ciabot Tanasio Barolo 2007 ($39.95 - #286070) - nice dried red berries, tree bark and cedar-vanilla. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Puglia) ...
Gladiator 2010 Primitivo di Manduria ($16.95 - #23119) - plummy, raspberry, sweet cherry and vanilla. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Tuscany) ...
Frascole 2009 Chianti Rufina ($16.95 - #85167) - sweet red fruit and herbs. (*** 1/2)
Ornellaia 2010 Le Volte ($29.95 - #964221) - juicy and fruity, nice tannins, black cherry, coffee and cedar. (****)
Italy (Veneto) ...
Masi 2008 Grandarella ($24.95 - #606921) - very well spiced mocha/coffee; very tasty. (****)
Paladin Tondo Dry Prosecco ($17.95 - #299834) - pleasant, almost sweet fruited with apples, pears and lemonade notes. (*** 1/2)
Pra 2011 Soave Classico ($19.95 - #74534) - refreshing with nice citrus zest. (*** 1/2)
Tedeschi 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($20.95 / 375ml - #695395) - mocha, blackberry, tobacco and black currants. (****)
Zenato 2009 Sergio Zenato Lugana ($26.95 -- #928218) - rich in the mouth with nice texture, nice touch with the flint and apple. (****)
Japan ...
Green River Sparkling Star Sake ($16.95 / 500ml - #273359) - crisp entry with a creamy texture all with an underlying taste of sticky rice. (*** 1/2)
New Zealand ...
Giesen 2010 The Brothers Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #247213) - nice and tangy with orange zest and grapefruit pith. (*** 1/2+)
Seresin 2008 Raupo Creek Single Vineyard Pinot Noir ($45.95 - #285379) - pretty wine with mocha, spice, cranberry, raspberry and strawberry all leading to a lovely smoky finish. (****)
Sileni 2009 The Triangle Merlot ($18.95 - #586081) - nice fruitness here, a subtle mix of red berries and herbs with a hint of chocolate for good measure. (****)
Wither Hills 2011 Single Vineyard Raranngi Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #288134) - toned back New Zealand-style, quite pleasant. (*** 1/2)
Portugal ...
Pocas Special Reserve Tawny Port ($15.95 - #286229) - nicely spice tawny that retains a lot of red fruit action while still doling out spiced caramel and orange peel notes. (****)
Quinta de Baixo 2008 Tinto ($14.95 - #293415) - coffee, plum, sour cherry, hint of mocha; nice wine for the price. (*** 1/2+)
Quinta dos Roques Vinho Tinto ($15.95 - #986075) - plum, black cherry, gentle cedar and some cocoa. (*** 1/2+)
South Africa ...
Goats do Roam 2011 The Goatfather ($14.95 - #0011072) - best Goatfather in a long while, smooth and supple, easy drinking with herbed dark and red fruit and only a touch of tar on the finish; well-priced. (****)
Spice Route 2009 Chakalaka ($24.95 - #160481) - not overly spicy just darn good; nice black currant, blackberry, licorice and mocha. (*** 1/2+)
Spain ...
Bula 2009 ($17.95 - #292094) - nice peppery-chocolate, plum, black cherry, with a moch/coffee finish. (****)
Cal Blanca 2009 ($18.95 - #292003) - mocha, licorice, pepper and spice, along with dark fruit and power on the palate. (****)
Lan 2004 Gran Reserva ($27.95 - #928622) - tobacco leaf, cherry and all-spice. (*** 1/2+)
Mania 2011 Verdejo ($13.95 - #297135) - tastes like a cross between the grapefruit pith of Sauvignon Blanc and the pea pod affect of Gruner, quite refreshing. (*** 1/2+)
Osborne Pedro Ximenez 1827 Premium Sweet Sherry ($17.95 - #47944) - I know it says "Sherry" on the label but this is not your Grandma's sipping Sherry, this is a sweet raisin pie inspired treat with amber honey note; creamy and delicious. (**** 1/2)
Palacios de Sada 2008 Crianza ($13.95 - #246736) - spiced plum and raspberry. (*** 1/2+)
Pedro Martinez 2006 Alexanco Reserva ($17.95 - #170092) - mocha, raspberry and vanilla-spice. (****)
United States (California) ...
Belle Glos 2010 Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #652883) - with a richness of fruit, namely blackberry and raspberry, and some tautness on the palate this is one great Cab, I mean Pinot. (****+)
Cannonball 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #291666) - big, juicy number with good herbal notes. (*** 1/2)
Frank Family Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay ($33.95 - #289140) - buttery and soft with some toffee, apricot and peach notes; nice Cali-Chard here. (*** 1/2+)
Hess Collection 2008 19-Block Cuvee ($44.95 - #18879) - chocolate, cherry and white pepper. (*** 1/2+)
La Crema 2010 Pinot Noir ($31.95 - #719435) - a loveliness of fruit, red licorice, raspberry, cherry and strawberry with hints of pepper on the finish. Also available in half bottles. (****)
Ravenswood 2008 Teldeschi Single Vineyard Zinfandel ($44.95 - #684589) - plum, vanilla and cherry; big and juicy with good spice notes. (****+)
Terra Valentine 2009 Spring Mountain District Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon ($47.95 - #269431) - juicy wine bursting with blackberries, plum, chocolate and other ripe dark fruit. (*** 1/2+)
United States (Oregon) ...
Brandberg 2008 Bench Lands Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #295238) - gently spiced; nice sour black sour on both nose and palate. (*** 1/2+)
Sokol Blosser 2010 Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #748434) - 100-times better than the Blosser that was introduced to the General List; light strawberry and nicely herba. (*** 1/2)
United States (Washington) ...
Three Rivers 2009 River's Red ($19.95 - #287433) - juicy of fruit, gentle of spice, tasty all over. (*** 1/2+)
If You Can Afford It - wines that deliver, even for their high price ..
Bollinger Brut Special Cuvee ($69.95 - #384529) - ****
E. Guigal 2006 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($51.95 - #727503) - ****+
Grgich Hills Estate 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($74.95 - #0071407) - *** 1/2+
Michele Castellani 2007 Cinque Stelle Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($54.95 - #75127) - ****+
Silver Oak 2007 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($85-95 - #943472) - ****
What I'll Be Lining Up For - October 13, 2012 ...
Osborne Pedro Ximenez 1827 Premium Sweet Sherry ($17.95 - #47944) - Spain
Goats do Roam 2011 The Goatfather ($14.95 - #0011072) - South Africa
Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($17.95 - #991562) - France
Miguel Torres 2011 Cordillera de los Andes Chardonnay ($18.95 - #296624) - Chile
Happy Shopping
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