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 ... Piedmont (PIE) and Festive Finds (FF)
The Skinny ... Festive Finds means 'expensive', this is the time of year when the LCBO want you to spend dough and some of these wines are dang worth it. Also look for a great find from Piedmont with an unusual grape.
Argentina ...
Cicchitti 2007 Aniversario Merlot ($17.95 - #288167) - smooth, easy drinking, black cherry, raspberry and chocolate. (****)
Kaiken 2009 Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #135202) - blackberry, chocolate, dark berries, nice tannins with vanilla, smoke and spearmint. (****)
Australia ...
Saltram 2010 Mamre Shiraz ($24.95 - #32227) - inky black, rich and spicy, packs a wallop of flavour. (**** 1/2)
Thorn-Clarke 2010 Shotfire Shiraz ($21.95 - #18796) - lovely as usual, chocolate, spice, raspberry with a big dose of pepper on the finish. (****+)
Wakefield 2010 Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon ($25.95 - #142398) - mocha, blackberry, tobacco, cassis, chocolate and blueberry. (****+)
Austria ...
Munzenrieder 2010 Classic Zweigelt ($12.95 - #298174) - nice red berry notes with nice spice and herbal appeal; well priced to give Zweigelt a try from its homeland. (*** 1/2+)
Chile ...
Montes 2010 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #322586) - typically good for Montes: mint, dark fruit, subtle spice and lots of fruit. (****)
Montgras 2011 Quatro ($14.95 - #50641) - minty-blackberry, cherry, blueberry and chocolate. (*** 1/2+)
Canada (Ontario) ...
13th Street 2010 Sandstone Old Vines Gamay Noir ($29.95 - #130195) - **** (FF)
Coyote's Run 2009 Black Paw Vineyard Pinot Noir ($35.95 - #116442) - ****+
Coyote's Run 2010 Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #79228) - ****+
Henry of Pelham 2010 Family Tree Red ($18.95 - #247882) - ****
Henry of Pelham 2010 Family Tree White ($17.95 - #251116) - *** 1/2+
Jackson-Triggs 2010 Delaine Cabernet/Merlot ($29.95 - #989269) - ****+
Le Clos Jordanne 2010 Village Reserve Chardonnay ($30.00 - #33936) - **** (FF)
Rosewood 2008 Mead Royale ($14.95 / 500ml - #296178) - ****
France (Burgundy) ...
Cave de la Vigne 2010 Blanche Macon-Villages ($15.95 - #284034) - while the nose is dull the palate is alive with fruit and flowers. (*** 1/2)
Cave de Lugny Brut Rose Cremant de Bourgogne ($16.95 - #297846) - pretty in pink with good acidity and a hint of raspberry. (*** 1/2+)
La Chablisienne 2010 Fourchaume Chablis 1er Cru ($29.95 - #656835) - nice oak treatment here, the fruit will shine in 2-3 years. (*** 1/2+) - FF
France (Rhone) ...
Domaine de Longue 2010 Toque Gigondas ($29.95 - #121327) - a very Canadian name; lots of dark brooding fruit, smooth, supple with a sexy allure in the mouth, lots of pepper and spice on the finish. (****)
Domaine de Vieux Telegraphe 2010 Telegramme Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($46.95 - #292722) - absolutely delicious, a real winner with red berries, delicate spice and sweet fruit finish. (****+)
La Ferme du Mont Premiere Cote Cotes du Rhone 2009 ($15.95 - #251645) - rich red fruit, ultimately sippable with a good peppered finish. (*** 1/2+)
France (Southwest) ...
Clos la Coutale 2010 Cahors ($15.95 - #286385) - smoother than I would expect but still rich in fruit and chewy tannins. (****)
Germany ...
Markus Molitor 2003 Edition No. 3 Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Spatlese ($29.95 - #298000) - for an almost 10 year old Riesling it shows very well: apple and lemon skin with hints of petrol and honeyed macs. (****)
Schloss Schonborn Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Kabinett 2010 ($18.95 - #70946) - talcum powder minerality with lemonade notes and lime zest, hints of peach also seams their way through. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Abruzzo) ...
Talamonti Tre Saggi Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2008 ($15.95 - #204016) - plum, black cherry and cassis with cocoa powder backing; good for every day enjoyment. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Piedmont) ...
Abbona Papa Celso 2010 ($21.95 - #193730) - a pleasant version of my nemesis - Dolchetto - with nice red fruit and good acidity. (*** 1/2) - PIE
Regali La Lus Albarosa 2008 ($24.95 - #291575) - fantastic version of the crossed grape Albarossa - Nebbiolo and Barbera - lovely raspberry and strawberry with a little cherry and tobacco spice. (****+) - PIE
Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo 2007 ($49.95 - #713479) - a lovely example of Barolo, red cherry, spice, white pepper, balsamic notes and some dried plum. (****) - PIE
Italy (Tuscany) ...
Da Vinci 2010 Chianti ($16.95 - #171389) - a good price for this fruit and spice driven number though both fight for supremacy on the palate; a nice peppered-strawberry finish. (*** 1/2+)
Italy (Veneto) ...
Belcanto di Bellussi Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore ($17.95 - #53215) - lemony, apple with a nice dollop of sweetness. (*** 1/2)
New Zealand ...
Eradus 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #22557) - nice structure with mineral and grapefruit pith; subtle and delicious. (****)
Jackson Estate 2011 Stich Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #963124) - nice gooseberry and grapefruit zest with a touch of wild floral honey. (****)
Kim Crawford 2007 Small Parcel Rise-and-Shine Creek Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #35337) - shiny happy fruit, cranberry, black cherry, blueberry and spice. (****)
Portugal ...
Croft Pink Port ($19.95 - #140871) - red fruit driven with a sweet nose and palate, it's fun for those who have yet to migrate to serious port. (*** 1/2)
Pocas 1994 Colheita Port ($27.95 - #216424) - big on the spiced orange. (****+)
Quinta dos Quatros 2008 Ventos Colheita ($24.95 - #902742) - wood spice and dark fruit with a nice linger on the palate. (*** 1/2+)
South Africa ...
Julian Schaal 2011 Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay ($19.95 - #295402) - quite lovely with peach and wold flowers, nice vanilla and honey notes. (****)
Spain ...
Martinez Corta Cepas Antiguas Seleccion Privada 2010 ($15.95 - #305359) - good from its nose to its toes - as it will warm them. (*** 1/2+)
Nekeas el Chaparral de Vega Sindoa Old Vines Grenacha 2010 ($18.95 - #291997) - lots of raspberry and plum makes this wine quite appealing with hints of chocolate on the finish. (****+)
Tosalet 2009 Old Vines ($19.95 - #292078) - great nose of blackberry and cocoa that follows on the palate with graphite, black raspberries and chocolate. (****)
United States (California) ...
J. Lohr 2010 Los Osos Merlot ($19.95 - #27516) - plush and easy drinking, nice Cali-Merlot. (*** 1/2+)
La Crema 2009 Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #72199) - sweet cherry, big spice and big alcohol, 14.5%. (*** 1/2+) - FF
United States (Washington) ...
Hogue 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #301358) - plum, herbal, vanilla and cedar. (*** 1/2+)
If You Can Afford It ... wines that deliver even for their high price
Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier 2010 Lieu Dit Malakoff Shiraz ($51.95 - #290874) ... ****+ (FF)
Fonseca 2005 Guimarens Vintage Port ($73.95 - #123695) ... **** (FF)
Inglenook 2009 Cask Cabernet Sauvignon ($89.95 - #29553) ... **** (FF)
Le Vieux Donjon 2010 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($53.95 - #700922) ... **** (FF)
Masi 2005 Serego Alighieri Vaio Armaron Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($69.95 - #462812) ... ****+ (FF)
Moet & Chandon 2002 Grand Vintage Brut Rose Champagne ($87.95 - #69831) ... **** (FF)
Newton 2008 Unfiltered Chardonnay ($65.95 - #0001537) ... ****+
Ornellaia 2010 La Serre Nuove Dell'Ornellaia ($59.95 - #606194) ... ****+ (FF)
Paul Hobbs 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($79.95 - #119065) ... ****+ (FF)
What I'll Be Lining Up For - November 10, 2012 ...
Regali La Lus Albarosa 2008 ($24.95 - #291575) - Italy
Saltram 2010 Mamre Shiraz ($24.95 - #32227) - Australia
Nekeas el Chaparral de Vega Sindoa Old Vines Grenacha 2010 ($18.95 - #291997) - Spain
Happy Shopping
