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 … Thanksgiving (THX); Premium Chile (PCh); and Tuscany (TUS)
The Skinny … Lots of good French wines being released and some nice wines in the Tuscan release, plus a really tasty Portuguese wine from Duorum.
Argentina …
Catena 2010 Alta Malbec ($49.95 - #982355) – rich, intense and hedodistic. (****+)
Graffigna 2012 Centenario Late Harvest Malbec ($14.95 / 500ml - #322719) – ripe, rich raspberry sweetness. (*** ½+)
Paiman 2011 Reserva Tannat ($19.95 - #342048) – nice dark fruit with licorice notes. (****)
La Posta 2011 Pizzella Family Vineyard Malbec ($15.95 - #166298) – good value Malbec with blueberry, spice, vanilla and chocolate could swear it was Merlot if not for the herbal and spice. (****)
Australia …
D’Arenberg 2010 D’Arry’s Original Shiraz/Grenache ($19.95 - #942904) – always and interesting blend; there’s a violet note on the nose with blackberry, plum and pepper on the palate. (****)
Mollydooker 2010 Two Left Feet ($29.95 - #327106) – lots of spice, pepper and dark, dark brooding fruit. (****+)
Pirramimma 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #730374) – rich dark fruit and chocolate, touches of smoke play in the background. (****)
Sister’s Run 2011 Cow’s Corner Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro ($15.95 - #346510) – has a lot going for it, and the nice part is that it’s not all about the fruit here. (*** ½+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2009 Merlot ($41.95 - #585737) – chocolate mixed with plum and raspberry along with touches of vanilla and smoke. (****)
Sumac Ridge 2008 Steller’s Jay Brut Sparkling Wine ($25.95 - #264879) – dry with pear, apple and nice minerality; there’s also a nice biscotti finish. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Angels Gate 2011 Mountainview Merlot ($18.95 - #299172) - *** ½+ (THX)
Bachelder 2011 Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay ($44.95 - #324103) - **** ½
Chateau des Charmes 2009 Vidal Icewine ($25.95/200ml - #565861) - **** (THX)
Inniskillin 2012 Reserve Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #177766) - *** ½
Tawse 2012 Sketches of Niagara Riesling ($17.95 - #089029) - *** ½+ (THX)
Chile …
Matetic Corralillo Sauvignon Blanc 2012 ($13.95 - #347740) – grassy and hay focused with plenty of grapefruit. (*** ½+)
France (Alsace) …
Cave de Beblenheim 2011 Heimberger Gewurztaminer ($19.95 - #196642) – spicy with mellowed rose petal, delicate and delicious with a white pepper finish. (****)
Joseph Cattin Cremant D’Alsace Brut ($16.95 - #281329) – fresh, light and full of apple-y goodness; crisp and lovely. (****)
France (Beaujolais) …
Pascal Aufranc Vignes de 1939 Chenas 2011 ($17.95 - #329987) – lovely black cherry aromas and flavours; good acidity and chalkiness on the finish. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Ampelia 2009 ($21.85 - #191171) – nice bit of juicy black fruit with nary a thing to get in the way along with mocha/coffee on the finish. (****)
Chateau les Hauts de Palette 2010 ($18.95 - #297267) – raspberry, strawberry and herbal. (*** ½+)
Les Parcelles de Stephane Derenoncourt 2010 ($26.95 - #339192) – steady mocha seam along with black cherry and cassis. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Faiveley 2010 Mercurey ($22.95 - #341925) – still crazy ‘bout a Mercurey, and this one is real good. (****+) - THX
France (Champagne) …
Gonet-Medeville Tradition 1er Cru Brut Champagne ($49.95 - #340117) – almond, hazelnut with bready and biscuit notes. (****)
Moutard Pere et Fils Rosé de Cuvaison Brut Champagne ($47.95 - #340091) – nice bit of strawberry amongst the citrus and acidity. (****)
France (Midi) …
Chateau Maris 2009 Las Combes Minervois Cru La Liviniere ($25.95 - #341958) – seductive with its 16% alcohol, lots of dark fruit and vanilla, hints of smoke; this beauty could be your downfall. (****)
Lacroix-Vanel Fine Amor Pezenas 2008 ($19.95 - #343418) – lots of raspberry and strawberry with a kirsch-like finish. (*** ½+)
France (Southwest) …
Chateau du Cedre 2009 Cahors ($21.95 - #969212) – smoky, rich fruit with plenty of tannin structure; a balancing act here between the new and old world Cahors; hold 5+ years. (****)
Lionel Osmin & Cie 2010 Cami Salie ($18.95 - #328633) – interesting blend of white grapes and there’s a little bit of everything but mainly apple with muted tropical notes. (*** ½+)
Tessellae 2011 Vieilles Vignes Carignan ($16.95 - #343509) – blue and black berry with hints of raspberry and dark chocolate all with a touch of spice; good value. (****+)
Germany …
Lingenfelder 2012 Bird Label Riesling ($13.95 - #568634) – slight sweetness which plays off the minerality; nice, easy sipper. (*** ½+)
Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt 2008 Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett ($20.95 - #282343) – balance is the name of the game here, plus the ability to let it linger on the palate. (****) - THX
Italy (Tuscany) …
Argiano 2011 Non Confunditur ($24.95 - #072397) – rich of dark fruit with coffee bean and vanilla. (****) – TUS
Brancaia 2011 Tre ($23.95 - #164715) – pretty, light and easy drinking, loaded with fruit and hints of spice. (*** ½+) – TUS
Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($29.95 - #996553) – rich and pretty with smoked meat and blackberry spice. (****) – TUS
Palazzo Vechio 2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($23.95 - #348532) – herbal, smoked and roasted cherry with a coffee-like finish. (*** ½+) –TUS
Rocca di Frassinello 2010 Le Sughere di Frassinello ($29.95 - #025700) – smoky mocha with dried cherry and strawberry. (****) – TUS
Ruffino 2010 Modus ($28.95 - #912956) – herbal and mocha with spiced dark fruit and roasted coffee bean finish. (****) – TUS
San Felice 2009 Il Grigio Chianti Classico Reserva ($26.95 - #716266) – rustic beginning yet it has a fruit driven mid with hints of herbal. (*** ½+) – TUS
Vicciomaggio 2012 Ripa delle Madorle ($15.95 - #677930) – light and friendly with plenty of raspberry and strawberry, some plum and the merest hint of spice. (****) - TUS
Italy (Veneto) …
Feudi San Pio Valpolicella Classico Ripasso Superiore 2011 ($16.95 - #181446) – silky smooth with round plum, chocolate cherry and a mocha finish. (*** ½+)
Rubinelli Vajol Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2008 ($49.95 - #268821) – almost port-like in flavour this is big, brawny and delicious with a wowsa 16.5%. (****)
New Zealand …
Churton 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($23.95 - #159244) – hints of lemon and lime pith with a decent amount of acidity holding it together and touches of peach pit on the finish. (*** ½+)
Momo 2010 Marlborough Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #163972) – juicy with floral, cherry and plum notes followed by a nice peppery finish. (*** ½+) – THX
Seresin 2009 Leah Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #655167) – very intense with dark fruit and spice but still that earthy quality Pinot is known for. (****)
Portugal …
Croft 2008 Late Bottle Vintage Port ($18.95 - #087601) – don’t think about it, just buy it. Rich dark cherry with plum and chocolate; not as opulent as the 2007 but very good. (****)
Duorum 2010 Tinto ($18.95 - #215699) – more delicate than past bottlings which have been bruisers about alcohol, nice balance of 13.5%, fruit acid and spice all mix together. (****+)
Herdade das Servas 2009 Tinto ($18.95 - #336081) – nicely smoked raspberry and chocolate. (*** ½+)
Messias 10-Year-Old Tawny Port ($24.95 - #087205) – orange peel, Christmas spice and knock your socks off acidity along with the spice. (****)
Spain …
Luis Canas 2009 Crianza Rioja ($17.95 - #336719) – nicely balanced and fruit driven. (****)
Maria Alvarez Serrano Abadia de Gomariz 2010 ($20.95 - #34477) – this one takes a few sips then it kicks in with smoky and rich of dark fruit with a blueberry-cassis finish. (****)
Paco & Lola 2011 Albarino ($17.95 - #350041) – nice soft white that shows grapefruit zest and pith and lots of pulp within. (*** ½+)
Ramon Bilbao 2004 Tempranillo Gran Reserva ($27.95 - #244715) – herbal and mineral with tobacco and cassis. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Estancia 2009 Benchmark Vineyard Pinot Noir ($36.95 - #327049) – nice bit of plum amongst the black cherry and hints of cinnamon-pepper, finishes quite dry. (****)
Fog Head 2011 Reserve Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #212944) – juicy and very cherry/strawberry dominated; nice acidity on the finish. (*** ½+)
Francis Ford Coppola 2011 Director’s Cut Zinfandel ($34.95 - #203208) – nice simple Zin that shows delicacy instead of weight. (*** ½+)
Gallo Family 2009 Frei Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #555607) – herbal, blackberry, plum and chocolate. (****)
Kenwood 2012 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #158790) – juicy character with a nice oak / fruit mix. (*** ½+)
MacMurray Ranch 2011 Chardonnay ($22.95 - #26263) – a little vanilla, a little butterscotch, a little pineapple and a little peach; all with a nice little finish. (*** ½+)
Paul Hobbs 2011 Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon ($47.95 - #118695) – really hedonistic with all that fruit; lush, plush and very delicious. (**** ½)
United States (Oregon) ...
Bachelder 2011 Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #333278) - has nice fruit on
the nose while the palate proves to have mineral and earthy notes along
with cranberry and strawberry. (*** ½+)
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Chateau Montelena 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($147.95 - #709881) - ****+
Chateau Sociando-Mallet 2009 ($68.85 - #3339192) - ****+
Concha y Toro 2008 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon ($79.95 - #315176) - **** (PCh)
Two Hands 2011 Lily’s Garden Shiraz ($59.95 - #683086) - ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – September 28, 2013 …
Domaine Faiveley 2010 Mercurey ($22.95 - #341925) – Burgundy, France
Duorum 2010 Tinto ($18.95 - #215699) – Portugal
Tessellae 2011 Vieilles Vignes Carignan ($16.95 - #343509) – Southwest, France
Happy Shopping
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