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 ... California (CAL) and Bordeaux (BOR), plus some large format gifting (GIFT) wines.
The Skinny ... sad to say that the Bordeaux wines offered better value than their US counterparts.
Argentina ...
Clos de los Siete 2009 ($21.95 - #622571) - delivers on fruit, spice and vanilla and there seems to be a juiciness developing. (****)
Lindaflor 2007 Malbec ($42.95 - #109322) - inky black in colur, violet aromas with black cherry, blackberry, cassis and spice. (*** 1/2+)
Trapiche 2007 Fincas Las Palmas Malbec ($17.95 - #186668) - lovely cherry and spice, hints of chocolate and vanilla with a raspberry linger. (****+)
Australia ...
Langmeil Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($24.95 - #644039) - chocolate, plum, black cherry with good spice, full in the mouth. (****+)
Canada (Ontario) ...
Coyote's Run 2011 Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Gris ($17.95 - #116582) - ****+
Lailey 2010 Merlot ($25.00 - #591396) - *** 1/2+
Malivoire 2010 Albert's Honour Old Vines Foch ($24.95 - #551036) - *** 1/2
Mike Weir 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #686972) - *** 1/2+
Peninsula Ridge 2010 AJ Lepp Vineyards Reserve Merlot ($19.95 - #299222) - ****+
Stratus 2007 Red ($99.95 / 1500ml - #291088) - **** 1/2 - GIFT
Chile ...
Concha y Toro 2009 Terrunyo Block 27 Vineyard Selection Carmenere ($29.95 - #562892) - fruit and chocolate mix with sweet blackberry jam and cassis; real silky smoothness on the palate. (*** 1/2+)
Santa Carolina 2009 Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #684597) - minty dark fruit, chocolate, cassis, and framboise, but you can't get away from that minty character. (*** 1/2+)
France (Beaujolais) ...
Louis Jadot 2009 Chateau des Jacques Morgon ($23.95 - #653584) - good black cherry with nice acidity and mild tannins. (*** 1/2+)
France (Bordeaux) ...
Chateau de L'Estang 2009 ($18.95 - #0191551) - quite a lovely easy drinking Bordeaux with vanilla and cherry; smooth and satisfyingly simple. (****+) - BOR
Chateau la Croix Chaigneau 2009 ($23.95 - #173278) - nice flavour with decent tannins, dark cherry, spice and smoke with a wooden-cherry finish. (****) - BOR
Chateau la Gravette Lacombe 2009 ($19.95 - #295808) - smoky and licorice notes, more intense than others at this price point. (****) - BOR
Chateau Larose Trintaudon 2009 ($24.95 - #297945) - licorice, blackberry and cherry. (****) - BOR
Chateau Lestruelle 2009 ($18.95 - #295840) - vanilla, cinnamon, cherry, blackberry and really nice spice. (****+) - BOR
Chateau Toumilon Blanc 2009 ($16.95 - #314864) - fresh and clean with hints of lime and peach pit. (*** 1/2) - BOR
Chateau Teyssier 2009 ($39.95 - #303784) - nicely spiced, fruit, garigue, coffee, mocha and a spicy finish. (****) - BOR
France (Burgundy) ...
Jean-Marc Brocard 2008 Kimmeridgian Chardonnay ($17.95 - #290049) - mineral, apple core and lemon zest. (*** 1/2+)
Roger Belland 2009 Santenay-Commes 1er Cru ($33.95 - #725549) - smoky cigar, smoked meat, cinnamon and plenty of tannin. (*** 1/2+)
France (Midi) ...
Domaine Puig-Parahy 2010 Cuvee Georges ($15.95 - #171025) - funny aromas of spice, but the palate is very satisfying with herbs and spice amongst plum and blackberry. (****)
Hecht & Bannier 2010 Minervois ($19.95 - #17764) - lots of dark fruit and chocolate, the 14.5% alcohol makes it smooth across the palate. (****)
France (Rhone) ...
Delas Freres Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone 2010 ($15.95 - #729962) - nicely layered with chocolate, plum, licorice and oak. (****)
Domaine Cros de Romet Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010 ($21.95 - #42986) - there's a sweetness on the mid palate that's rather appealing. (****)
Mas des Bressades 2011 Cuvee Tradition Blanc ($14.95 - #701094) - you gotta like citrus to like this one, especially the rind. (*** 1/2)
Germany ...
Dr. Loosen 2011 Red Slate Riesling Dry ($19.95 - #295923) - and the good doctor means dry, very dry; mineral dominates here with spice and hints of green apple; not your usual German Riesling here. (****)
Italy (Piedmont) ...
Demaria 2007 Barbera D'alba Superiore ($15.95 - #290098) - flavourful dark fruited Barbera with smoky-cigar box notes. (*** 1/2+)
Marchesi di Barolo 2011 Gavi di Gavi ($19.95 - #155382) - grapefruit rind with good acidity. (*** 1/2)
Poderi Colla Dardi 2007 Le Rose Bussia Barolo ($49.95 - #596890) - nice dried cherry and spice with white pepper backing. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Puglia) ...
Solantico 2009 Riserva Salice Salentino ($14.95 - #289694) - plum and dark berries, really nice fruit here. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Tuscany) ...
Antinori 2008 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva ($29.95 - #512384) - pretty hefty and smoky wine with licorice, herbs, dark fruit and plenty of tannins. (****)
Fattoi 2007 Brunello di Montalcino ($34.95 - #33498) - while it starts dry it does have a plump fruit finish. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Veneto) ...
Bisol Crede Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore ($19.95 - #297242) - crisp and refreshing with a touch of sweetness; easy to drink. (*** 1/2)
Lena di Mezzo 2009 Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($17.00 - #165662) - juicy and fruit Ripasso with lots of flavour to spare; sitting and sipping will not be a problem with this cherry and plum number. (****)
Tedeschi 2011 Filadonna Pinot Grigio ($15.95 - #295881) - pith-based flavours: lemon and grapefruit. (*** 1/2)
New Zealand ...
Jules Taylor 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #224428) - restraint New Zealand-style, has gooseberry and some tropical notes of pineapple and passion-fruit. (****+)
Seresin 2009 Chardonnay ($24.95 - #19190) - keeps its fruit with enough barrel notes to make it seem elegant on the palate, plus there's the long lasting vanilla / toffee finish. (****)
Portugal ...
Meandro do Vale Meao 2009 ($22.95 - #244731) - it'll be worth it after a few years of cellaring, the plum and black cherry will come around; needs decanting now. (****)
Vidigal 2007 Reserva Touriga Nacional ($16.95 - #293456) - plenty of blackberry and plum with a touch of herbal essence. (*** 1/2+)
South Africa ...
Melk's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.95 - #294306) - fruit drive with black cherry and plum leading the charge. (*** 1/2)
Spain ...
Senda 2008 66 Tempranillo ($13.95 - #296475) - dark and brooding fruit with nice coffee and chocolate notes. (*** 1/2+)
United States (California) ...
Beringer 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($39.95 - #91058) - blackberry, cassis and chocolate, a real mosaic of flavours. (****)
Brazin (B)old Vine Zinfandel ($19.95 - #256750) - nice plum, cherry, spice, vanilla and licorice. (****)
Conundrum 2010 Red ($23.95 - #294298) - plum, cherry, and other sweet fruits of the red persuasion, simplistic and over-priced but tasty. (*** 1/2)
Emmolo 2008 Merlot ($35.95 - #96024) - chocolate, blueberry and spice with hints of mocha on the finish. (****) - CAL
Fess Parker 2010 Viognier ($24.95 - #297523) - exotic and fleshy, floral, tropical with a touch of sweetness. (*** 1/2+)
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Sparkling Wine ($26.95 - #192898) - has a nice peach skin taste with balancing acidity. (*** 1/2+)
Ironstone 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #537597) - raspberry, blackberry, vanilla and cherry; a real every day pleaser. (****) - CAL
Melville 2010 Verna's Estate Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #291021) - juicy raspberry, cherry, bright red fruit with good acidity on the finish; contagiously drinkable. (****) - CAL
United States (Oregon) ...
Chehalem 2009 3-Vineyard Pinot Noir ($31.95 - #949909) - juicy sour cherry, cranberry and raspberry. (****)
If You Can Afford It ... wines worthy their lofty price tag
Antinori 2009 Solaia ($251.95 - #987586) - **** 1/2+
Chateau Montelena Estate 20008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($144.95 - #709881) - ****+ - CAL
Far Niente 2010 Chardonnay ($74.95 - #539130) - *** 1/2+
Goldeneye 2009 Pinot Noir ($59.95 - #659854) - *** 1/2+ - CAL
Hauts de Pontet-Canet 2009 ($54.85 - #194548) - ****+ - BOR
Moet & Chandon 2002 Grand Vintage Brut Champagne ($81.95 - #69773) - ****+
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 2008 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon ($51.95 - #708982) - **** - CAL
What I'll Be Lining Up For - October 27, 2012 ...
Dr. Loosen 2011 Red Slate Riesling Dry ($19.95 - #295923) – Germany
Chateau Lestruelle 2009 ($18.95 - #295840) – France
Langmeil Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($24.95 - #644039) - Australia
Happy Shopping
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