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: Father’s Day (FD) and Argentina (ARG)
The Skinny: Sadly not a fantastic release for dad, and I never understand what constitutes a “father’s day” wine selection.
Argentina …
Alamos 2010 Seleccion Malbec ($16.95 - #322800) – serious Malbec with a touch of elegance: dark fruit/berries with hints of violet and smoke. (****) – ARG
Algodon 2010 Private Collection Estate Bonarda ($19.95 - #327932) – soft, juicy and easy drinking: lots of cherry with hints of spice. (*** ½) – ARG
Altamira de Los Andes Navigato Family Selection Grand Reserve 2008 ($46.95 - #314872) – impressive dark fruit and chocolate with a spiced-peppered finish. (*** ½+) – ARG
Graffigna 2010 Grand Reserve Malbec ($17.95 - #162149) – blackberry and violets with just the right touch of spice to keep it interesting. (*** ½+) – ARG
Urraca 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #271080) – spicy chocolate, plum, black cherry all layered between fruit and spice. (****+) - ARG
Canada (Ontario) … click wine for full review
Chateau des Charmes 2012 Cuvee D’Andree Rosé ($14.95 - #333260) - ****+
Coyote’s Run 2011 Red Paw Vineyard Chardonnay ($19.95 - #336115) - _____
Fielding 2010 Gewurztraminer ($15.95 - #146753) - *** ½+
Flat Rock Cellars 2012 Riesling ($16.95 - #043281) - ____
Inniskillin 2012 Pinot Noir Rosé ($14.95 - #336461) - *** 1/2_+
The Foreign Affair 2011 The Conspiracy ($19.95 - #149237) - **** (FD)
Chile …
Concha y Toro 2012 Trio Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #678656) – refreshingly grassy and citrus pith driven. (*** ½+)
Santa Carolina 2011 Barrica Selection Petit Verdot ($14.95 - #007484) – silky smooth with plum and pepper. (*** ½+)
France (Alsace)…
Louis Hauller 2011 Gewurztraminer ($19.95 - #141754) – off-dry style with oily, rosy and apricot notes, look for the spicy replaying finish. (****)
France (Beaujolais) …
Chateau de la Pierre 2011 Brouilly ($17.95 - #320879) – pleasantly dark cherry with spice and acidity all fighting it out on your tongue. (*** ½+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Coucy 2009 ($21.95 - #321406) – mocha, blackberry, cassis and chocolate with nice spice and hearty tannins; all for the mid-term haul. (****)
Chateau La Clare 2009 ($29.95 - #331751) – smoky, spicy with a really dark core. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils 2010 Les Clous Meursault ($44.95 - #661322) – nicely robust and minerally with white peach, apple and a hint of creamed butter and grapefruit. (****)
Roland Lavantureux 2010 Chablis ($19.95) – light mineral with apple and white fruit; delicate with hints of light lime. (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Chateau la Gravelle 2006 Muscadet Sevre & Maine Gorges ($15.95 - #656736) – light, crisp and flinty with a citrus wind finish. (*** 1/2+)
Donatien Bahuaud 2012 Les Grands Mortiers Vouvray ($15.95 - #140889) – nice bit of sweetness; a perfect patio sipper. (***1/2)
France (Midi) …
Les Vignes Bila-Haut du Roussillon-Villages 2011 ($14.95 - #168716) – lush and luscious with good dark fruit, good tannin structure along with enough spice and acidity; there’s also some chocolate on the front and mid-palate. Good value. (****+)
France (Provence) …
Gassier Sables D’Azur Rosé 2012 ($13.95 - #033621) – entry is raspberry and strawberry;dry and summer food ready. (****)
France (Rhone) …
Gigonda 2012 La Cave Signature Rosé ($19.95 - #323493) – electric pink in colour with a ripe red berry notes and a dry finish; this screams salad or fish. (****)
Les Halos de Jupiter Cotes du Rhone 2010 ($17.95 - #276956) – lovely mocha, blackberries and cassis along with black cherry; nice juiciness. (****+)
Greece …
Estate Papaioannou 2007 Single Vineyard Agiorgitiko ($19.95 - #047977) – easy drinking, light style, already has six years on it and it’s ready to drink now. (*** ½+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Paitin Sori’ Paitin Barbaresco 2008 ($32.95 - #106591) – nice fruit with cinnamon and dried strawberries, good spiced finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Umbria) …
Villa Mora 2006 Montefalco Rosso ($15.95 - #331785) – lovely dried, smoked fruit and occasionally it shows some fresh fruit: cinnamon, baking spice and mocha also appear. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Due Torri 2009 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($38.95 - #724740) – spiced plum and lots of dark berries. (****)
Lena di Mezzo 2009 Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($17.95 - #165662) – lots of plum, strawberry fruit and white pepper. (****)
Masi 2009 Brolo Campofiorin Oro Appaxximento ($24.95 - #976092) - mocha, spice and ballsy black fruit. (****)
New Zealand …
Astrolabe 2012 Province Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #010421) – typically New Zealand with lots of white grapefruit and hints of sweet gooseberry; good intensity. (****)
Gibbston 2011 Highgate Estate Soultaker Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #055814) – black cherry, earthy and smoky with spicy finish and good acidity. (****)
Sileni 2010 The Triangle Merlot ($16.95 - #585081) – nice structure with some good complexity, not your juicy American style but one that’s quite enjoyable with meats. (****)
Waipara 2011 West Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #309518) – soft and tropical with the intensity we’ve come to expect from New Zealand Sauv Blanc. (****)
Portugal …
Quinta de Santa Eufemia 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($18.95 - #332346) – very pleasant; full of spiced red fruit along with supple and sexy plum and cherry with a chocolate backing. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Herencia Altes Garnatxa Negra ($25.95 - #332353) – very dark fruit driven. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Decoy 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #186171) – one word best describes this wine: juicy; quite enjoyable. (****)
Deloach 2010 Zinfandel ($29.95 - #980573) – plum and vanilla with a sweet cherry syrup and chocolate note, you’ll also find sweet fruit and cola notes with a butterscotch finale; make sure you have plenty of sauce soaked ribs on hand. (****) – FD
Gallo Family 2010 Frei Ranch Vineyard Zinfandel ($19.95 - #555599) – juicy and generous fruit with vanilla, plum, cola and cherry; it’s a monster at 16%, but quite delicious. (****)
Girard 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.95 - #231712) – chocolate, dark berries and spice; there’s a complexity here that’s quite appealing. (****)
Ironstone 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #537597) – pleasant and easy sipping Cali-Cab. (*** ½)
Macrostie 2010 Chardonnay ($30.95 - #244467) – good fruit with touches of vanilla. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Blue Pirate 2009 Pinot Noir ($21.95- #333294) – lots of earthy character with juicy raspberry and strawberry backing it up. (****)
Cooper Mountain 2011 Reserve Pinot Gris ($20.95 - #324491) – crisp mac apple with lemonade and a pear finish. (*** ½+)
If You Can Afford It – (wine worth their high price tag) …
Lail Vineyards 2010 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon ($69.95 - #060251) - ****
Ridge Estate 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($52.95 - #089284) - ****+ (FD)
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – June 8, 2013 …
Les Halos de Jupiter Cotes du Rhone 2010 ($17.95 - #276956) – France
Les Vignes Bila-Haut du Roussillon-Villages 2011 ($14.95 - #168716) – France
Urraca 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #271080) – Argentina
Happy Shopping
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