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
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
I am working on a new scoring system based on school grading system of A+ thru D- ... would love to hear your feedback on the new system as you folks who read my Vintages blog are my Guinea Pigs.please send your feedback to me at michael@ontariowinereview.com - thanks
We got another three things to focus on in this release: Cabernets (C), Kosher Wines (K) and some stuff from Ontario (O) … The wines that are part of the spotlight are labeled as such:
Argentina – Red …
Luigi Bosca 2008 Reserva Malbec ($17.95 - #0079293) – juicy black fruit with a touch of eucalyptus. (**** or B)
Australia – Red …
Jim Jim (The Down Underdog) 2008 Shiraz ($15.95 - #0682005) – a friendly, playful and tasty Shiraz, just like the dog it’s named after. (*** ½+ or B-)
Nashwauk 2007 Shiraz ($19.95 - #0221788) – chocolate and pepper up-front, blackberry and cherry backing, more than a decent Shiraz. (**** or B)
Tait 2006 Basket Pressed Shiraz ($44.95 - #0138339) – stunning nose, peppery and dark fruit palate, massive alcohol appeal (16.3%) very concentrated flavour and smells. (**** or B)
Canada – Dessert …
(Ontario)
Featherstone 2008 Select Late Harvest Cabernet Franc ($18.95 / 375ml - #0210757) – (O)
Canada – Red …
(Ontario)
13th Street 2008 Gamay Noir ($17.95 - #0177824) – (O)
Rosehall Run 2008 Cuvee Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #0225748) – (O)
Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Estate Series 2007 Cabernet / Merlot ($19.95 - #0128652) – (O)
Canada – White …
(Ontario)
Fielding 2009 Lot No. 17 Riesling ($25.95 - #0203521) – (O)
Lailey Vineyard 2009 Canadian Oak Chardonnay ($24.95 – 0225474)
Chile – Red …
Arboleda 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #0606764) – lots of mint and blackberry with spicy tannins on the finish. (*** ½ or C+) – (C)
Terra Vega 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva ($16.95 - #0218057) – nice nose and although the flavours seem slightly striped there is enough cherry and milk chocolate to make this worthwhile. (*** ½+ or B-) – (K)
Veramonte 2008 Reserva Pinot Noir (#15.95 - #0134973) – drinks more like a Merlot than a Pinot Noir, spiced-mint-cherry with better acidity. (*** ½ - C+)
France – Red …
(Bordeaux)
Hauts de Pontet-Canet 2007 ($36.00 - #0100735) – this one is simply appealing on the nose, the blackberry, the tannins and the spice, very nice. (**** or B) – (C)
(Burgundy)
Nicolas Potel 2007 Les Greves Beaune 1er Cru ($29.95 - #0196899) – very flavourful, good spice, nice wood texture, enough fruit to drink now or wait a couple of years to enjoy. (**** or B)
Rene Bouvier 2008 Le Chapitre Bourgogne ($19.95 - #0209601) – deep cherry, rich nose, spiced wood and dark berries. (*** ½ or C+)
(Midi)
Chateau Saint-Roche 2008 Chimeres ($18.95 - #0119354) – nice and plum with dark fruits, just a hint of spice and supple tannins. (****+ or B+)
(Rhone)
Chateau Goudray 2009 Cuvee Excellence Rasteau ($15.95 - #0195032) – closed nose but the lovely sweet cherry fruit on the palate makes this one worth buying. (**** or B)
Vignobles David le Mourre de L’isle Cotes du Rhone 2009 ($15.95 - #0128124) – good spicy cherry with nice tannins. (**** or B)
France – Sparkling …
(Burgundy)
Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($17.95 - #0991562) – light, lively and lemony; nice minerality on the palate. (**** or B)
France – White …
(Alsace)
Domaine Saint-Remy 2008 Reserve Gewurztraminer ($18.95 - #0061150) – floral, soapy, spicy, delicious; love this kind of Gewurzt, perfect for Thai food or sipping, spicy finish that really wakes up the mouth. (**** ½ or A-)
(Burgundy)
Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet 2007 Les Poruzots Meursault 1er Cru ($79.95 - #0021675) – soft mid-palate, delicate mineral on the finish. (*** ½ or B-)
Israel – Red …
Dalton 2009 Shiraz ($19.95 - #0217349) – nice blackberry liqueur notes, plums, pepper and a touch of spice. (**** or B) – (K)
Galil Mountain 2006 Yiron ($33.95 - #0095075) – best of the Israeli wine in this release, full flavoured, dark fruit, plum, chocolate with a lovely spiced finish … screw it being a kosher wine this one is just a good wine plain and simple. (****+ or B+) – (K)
Italy – Red …
(Piedmont)
Abbona Papa Celso 2008 ($19.95 - #0193730) – made from 100% Dolcetto with sweet cherry and raspberry notes with good tannins. (*** ½ or C+)
(Puglia)
Borgo Reale 2008 Primitivo ($19.95 - #0218081) – a little plum, some vanilla, very nice kosher wine. (*** ½ or C+) – (K)
(Tuscany)
Marchesi de’Fescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni ($21.95 - #0145920) – lots of fruit and tannins with good spice, a real favourite. (**** ½ or A-)
Pinino 2005 Brunello di Montalcino ($33.95 - #0032508) – juicy, sweet black fruit, touch of leather, and a little dried raspberry / strawberry. (**** or B)
(Veneto)
Zenato 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($47.95 - #0413179) – lots of plum, chocolate, spice and cherry … good Amarone. (****+ or B+)
New Zealand – Red …
Pond Paddock 2008 Te Muna Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #0205435) – fruit forward attack on both the nose and palate with cherry all the way through, delicious. (**** + or B+)
New Zealand – White …
Spy Valley 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($15.95 - #0686675) – typical nose of grapefruit and grass, the grass comes through in the mouth with a taste of grapefruit cocktail on the long finish. (**** or B)
Portugal – Dessert …
Justino’s 5 Years Old Reserve Fine Rich Madeira ($18.95 - #0196840) – orange peel dipped in honey and vanilla crème brulee. (**** or B)
Delaforce 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($15.95 - #0140897) – sweet plum, cherry chocolate with some typical spice appeal and a nicely spiced finish. (**** or B)
Hutcheson 1999 Colheita Port ($29.95 - #0196832) – nutty, cherry, plum, orange-spice and wood notes. (**** ½ or A-)
Spain – Red …
Bodegas Olarra Cerro Anon Gran Reserva 2002 ($22.95 - #0190827) – darkly spiced with dried fruit, silky mouthfeel. (**** or B)
United States – Red …
(California)
Ironstone 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #0537597) – lots of raspberry and cherry, easy drinking. (*** ½ or C+) – (C)
Sonoma-Cutrer 2007 Pinot Noir ($32.95 - #0140723) – fruit forward with cherry and raspberry with decent spice on the finish. (**** or B)
(Washington)
Columbia Crest 2007 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #0210047) – a very pleasant nose leads to a palate that is silky smooth with lovely blackberry and vanilla; quite nice. (****+ or B+) – (C)
United States – Sparkling …
(California)
Gloria Ferrer 2005 Blanc de Blancs ($24.95 - #0223792) – baked apple and some spice, toasted notes with nutty-vanilla flavours. (**** or B)
United States – White …
(California)
Liberty School 2008 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #0960120) – buttery and vanilla notes on palate, basic and tasty with a long finish. (*** ½ or C+)
Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on February 19, 2011:
Marchesi de’Fescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni ($21.95 - #0145920) – Italy
Columbia Crest 2007 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #0210047) – United States
13th Street 2008 Gamay Noir ($17.95 - #0177824) – Ontario Happy Shopping.
