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 … Where the LCBO should be all the time, Ontario (ONT)
The Skinny … The LCBO is calling it “Shine On”, their annual Ontario spotlight, yet at the tasting half of the wines weren’t available for tasting – can’t blame this one on the overseas shipping. Look for a couple of delightful Beaujolais wines.
Argentina …
Zuccardi 2011 Santa Julia Magna ($14.95 - #093799) – lovely bit of blackberry and mocha with hints of blueberry and mocha on the finish. (****)
Zuccardi 2011 Serie A Malbec ($15.95 - #167619) - pleasant and easy drinking, a good introduction to the grape with a nice spiced finish. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Penfolds 2010 Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz ($34.95 - #422782) – nice mocha and spice with hints of black pepper, blackberry and a meaty undertone. (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Bachelder 2011 Niagara Chardonnay ($29.95 - #302083) - **** (ONT)
Coyote’s Run 2011 Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Noir ($22.95 - #079228) - **** (ONT)
Daniel Lenko 2009 Gewurztraminer ($24.95 – 356832) - ****+ (ONT)
Featherstone 2012 Black Sheep Riesling ($16.95 - #080234) - **** ½+ (ONT)
Flat Rock 2012 Riesling ($16.95 - #043281) - **** (ONT)
Henry of Pelham 2007 Cuvee Catharine Blanc de Blanc “Carte Blanche” ($44.95 - #315200) - **** ½ (ONT)
Le Clos Jordanne 2010 Village Reserve Pinot Noir ($30.00 - #033894) - *** ½+ (ONT)
Norman Hardie 2010 Unfiltered County Chardonnay ($35.00 - #184432) - ****+ (ONT)
Reif 2011 Vidal Icewine ($24.95 - #544791) - **** ½ (ONT)
Tawse 2010 Growers Blend Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #130989) - ****+ (ONT)
The Foreign Affair 2011 The Conspiracy ($19.95 - #149237) - ****+ (ONT)
The Organized Crime 2011 Pipe Down ($22.20 - #356865) - **** (ONT)
Vintage Ink 2010 Mark of Passion Merlot / Cabernet ($17.95 - #250209) - **** (ONT)
France (Beaujolais) …
Collin Bourisset 2011 Douce Folie Saint-Amour ($19.95 - #330118) – nice cherry, raspberry notes with full on fruit and some nice spice. (****)
Collin Bourisset 2011 Les Terres Bleues Brouilly ($16.95 - #330100) – ripe cherries that demand attention, fresh and lively, chill and enjoy; pure Gamay magic. (****+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau d’Aiguilhe 2009 ($44.85 - #194092) – intensely spiced with robust fruit. (****+)
Chateau Preuillac 2009 ($32.95 - #713925) – dusty blueberry, mocha and spice. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Bernard Defaix 2010 Cote de Lechet Reserve Chablis 1er Cru ($33.95 - #017541) – nice mineral with pineapple, pear and mineral on the finish. (*** ½+)
Domaine Raphael Sallet 2011 Macon Uchizy ($15.95 - #130450) – hints of butter with apple, lemon zest and touches of sweet fruit on the finish. (*** ½+)
Maison Roche de Bellene 2010 Savigny-les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes ($22.95 - #344283) – the cherry and strawberry notes in this wine really sing, there’s also nice mineral and earthy notes as backdrop. (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Chateau Gaudrelle Brut Cremant de Loire ($19.95 - #339986) – floral and lemon notes along with some honey and breadiness. (*** ½+)
Couly-Dutheil 2010 La Baronne Madeleine Chinon ($21.95 - #057059) – blackberry and smoke with smooth tannins, easy drinking. (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Nostre Pais 2011 Costieres de Nimes ($19.95 - #295410) – chocolate, cherry and raspberry with vanilla and spice mid-palate. (****+)
France (Rhone) …
M. Chapoutier 2010 La Bernardine Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($49.95 - #972331) – balanced of fruit, spice and oak; quite flavourful. (****)
France (Southwest) …
Aydie L’Origine 2010 ($15.95 - #343566) – lots of red berry flavour. (*** ½+)
Chateau Spencer La Pujade 2011 le P’tit Spencer Corbieres ($14.95 - #348821) – full of fruit and gentle of spice, with licorice and floral notes. (*** ½+)
Greece …
Kourtaki Muscat of Samos ($14.95 - #938407) – there’s a hint of ginger and spice on this sweetie with exotic fruit backing it up. (****+)
Italy (Abruzzo) …
Bucaro 2011 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($15.95 - #277491) – mocha with red and black berries with a black cherry finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Clavesana 2010 Il Clou Dogliani Superiore ($16.95 - #344747) – sour cherry, hint of spiced blackberry and some smoky notes. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Resta Squinzano Rosso 2009 ($15.95 - #338996) – mocha, black cherry, vanilla, tobacco and spice; complex wine especially for the price. (****)
Italy (Sicily) …
Orestiadi 2011 Grillo ($13.95 - #348698) – charred pineapple and grilled peaches. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Fattoria Le Fonti 2010 Chianti Classico ($19.95 - #292162) – chocolate and oak, raspberry-earthiness with vanilla and cedar; it’s takes a glass of two to figure this one out, but it’s worth it. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Belcanto di Bellusi Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore ($17.95 - #053215) – light and frothy bubbly with hints of apple sweetness. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Amisfield 2009 Pinot Noir ($36.95 - #179754) – smoky, oaky, vanilla, mocha along with a hint of pomegranate; this is some interesting stuff. (****)
Mount Riley 2011 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #060137) – cherry, raspberry and strawberry; good fruit bowl of flavours. (*** ½+)
Thatched Hut 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #262782) – tangy grapefruit with definite grassy notes. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
False Bay 2012 Peacock Ridge Chenin Blanc ($14.95 - #337576) – pleasant, fresh and fruit with lanolin, peach and lemon; nice length to the finish. (****)
Spain …
Alvaro Palacios 2011 Camins del Priorat ($22.95 - #216291) – nice floral, bright berry flavour and pretty aromas. (****)
Bodegas Vizcarra JC Vicarra 2010 ($28.95 - #214650) – sweet dark berries flavours along with alluring aromas of black cherry and spice. (****)
Celler de Capcanes 2009 Costers de Gravet ($19.95 - #707059) – very flavourful with red and black fruit. (*** ½+)
Lan 2005 Gran Reserva ($27.95 - #928622) – cedary and smoky with layers of dried and fresh red berries. (****+)
United States (California) …
La Crema 2011 Pinot Noir ($31.95 - #719435) – juicy California version of Pinot with plenty of red fruit. (****)
McManis Family Vineyards 2011 Syrah ($19.95 - #658104) – very floral with sweet cherry and red licorice. (*** ½+)
Mer Soleil 2011 Silver Unoaked Chardonnay ($28.95 - #220343) – funky clay bottle, very tasty unoaked Chardonnay, but a gimmicky bottle. (*** ½)
Rodney Strong 2010 Chalk Hill Chardonnay ($24.95 - #275552) – big, fully realized Chard with lots of buttery, oaky and vanilla flavours with a touch of citrus zest. (****)
United States (Washington) …
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2008 Ethos Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($44.95 - #209866) – earthy, mocha and plum with vanilla and cherry. (*** ½+)
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Chateau Fleur Cardinale 2009 ($64.85 - #197541) - ****+
Pahlmeyer 2010 Pinot Noir ($94.95 - #148536) - ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – September 14, 2013 …
Collin Bourisset 2011 Les Terres Bleues Brouilly ($16.95 - #330100) – France
False Bay 2012 Peacock Ridge Chenin Blanc ($14.95 - #337576) – South Africa
Kourtaki Muscat of Samos ($14.95 - #938407) – Greece
Nostre Pais 2011 Costieres de Nimes ($19.95 - #295410) – France
Happy Shopping
