Dec06/08 - Top Import Wine Picks in Canada

86 Terra Sparkling Malbec 2007
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
ON $13.85
Spicy, black cherry, plum, licorice, tobacco leaf, mineral nose. Dry, fresh, somewhat tart palate with cherry, licorice, resin, smoky, peppery flavours. More of a frizzante style but has some decent fruit if the finish is quite dry. (AG-ST)

86 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Sparkling Brut Non Vintage N/V Chardonnay - Pinot Noir
South Australia, Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.50, MB $14.50 private wine shops, NS $20.00, ON $18.00, QC $18.00
Light, fine mousse with floral, citrus, pear, green apple aromas with a nutty edge. Round, fresh, slightly sweet and crisp palate with green apple, citrus, mineral, floral flavours. Simple, easy, elegant style. (AG-ST)

88 Cono Sur Gewurztraminer Limited Release 2007
Bio-Bio Valley, Chile
BC $11.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine stores
Much like last year the '07 made with fruit from cold Bio Bio opens with big floral orange peel notes with bits of honey and spice. The flavours are fruit forward with ginger, orange, nectarine and grapefruit all with a splash of minerality. Perfect with Indian or Thai food. (AG)

88 Quintay Clava Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Tasted several times this year and it remains fresh and delicious. Floral, grapefruit rind, mineral, passion fruit aromas with a touch of lemon. Round, ripe, elegant and fresh with grapefruit, dried herbs, pepper, grassy, passion fruit and light asparagus flavours. Bright and fresh with finesse and balance. Terrific value at this price. (AG-ST)

88 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2008
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, ON $13.95, QC $14.25
Look for a an ultra crisp, juicy, grassy gooseberry nose with bits of green peach and apple. On the palate it clean, mouth-watering style offers up cool kiwi fruit, with melon and dried herbs. Bring on the shellfish or chicken dishes. Great value here and another dimension under screwcap. (AG)

87 Blue Nun Riesling 2007
Rheinhessen, Germany
BC $11.00 specialty listing, NS $11.00, ON $11.00 LCBO
Back in stock and just a crazy value is the Blue Nun 2007 Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany. This wine over delivers to say the least with its bright fruit and zingy acidity. Do not confuse this wine with the sweet original Liebfraumilch and do not underestimate its price quality ratio. Simply pick up a bottle or 12 and order in some Thai or Chinese food and you tell me. (AG-ST)

87 Carmen Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $13.50 private wine shops, NB $12.99, NF $12.00, NS $11.50, PEI $12.98
Always intense, the latest Carmen Sauvignon offers up all the fresh, fruity hallmarks of this variety. Pineapple and gooseberry fruit dominates with bits of lemon and bitter lime rind in the finish. Simple affordable, seafood-friendly white. (AG-ST)

87 Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2007
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $11.50, MB $10.95, NF $11.57, NS $12.95, SK $13.10
Cool green apple, light garlic lees, vanilla, nectarine skin, floral, citrus rind nose. Round, elegant, fresh palate with a bit of oiliness. Green apple, grapefruit, garlic, vanilla, buttery, honey flavours. Finish is a bit sour with lime rind notes. Solid value, best with food. (AG)

87 Cono Sur Viognier Limited Release 2007
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $11.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine stores, MB $12.00, NS $12.00, ON $11.00
Spicy, citrus, honeysuckle, mineral, butter, orange blossom and sausage nose. Fresh, crisp, round palate with good finesse. Juicy green apple, peach, ginger, citrus, honeysuckle, butter flavours. Good intensity in a more delicate style. Continued great value and now in Stelvin. (ST)

87 Deinhard Riesling Classic 2006
Rheinhessen, Germany
BC $14.00 specialty listing, NS $11.00
Floral, peach, red apple, guava, mineral aromas. Fresh, crisp, round, light, off dry palate. Nice citrus, slate, peach, red apple skin, orange, pineapple and mineral flavours. Good finesse with juicy fruit. Good value, fruity style for food. (AG-ST)

87 Guntrum Niersteiner Rehbach Riesling Spatlese 2005
Rheinhessen, Germany
Quince, citrus, petrol, baked green apple skin, mineral and grassy aromas. Fresh, elegant, round palate but moderately sweet. Buttery, petrol, quince, citrus, grassy, apple skin flavours. Simpler spätlese with decent acidity balance to keep for 1-3 years. (AG-ST)

87 Raimat Albarino Chardonnay 2005 Albariño - Chardonnay
Costers del Segre, Catalunya, Spain
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $12.99 private wine shops, ON $16.00, QC $14.00
Spicy, ginger, peach, floral, lemon and ginger aromas. Dry, crisp, round, full bodied but slightly juicy. Ginger, green apple, ginger, nectarine skin, spicy, mineral and butter flavours. Good solid seafood and turkey wine for any occasion. Highly underrated and would likely sell even better given a fresher looking label and a Stelvin screwcap closure. Fine turkey wine. (AG-ST)

87 Veramonte Chardonnay Reserva 2007
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.00 speculative listing - Vincor Canada, US $11.00 srp
Chardonnay may be the best grape variety grown in Chile's Casablanca Valley especially if it is lightly treated with oak. With only twenty five per cent new oak in the mix Veramonte jumps from the glass with clean fresh fruit flavours of nectarine and melon all with a light twist of minerality and lees. Modern, stylish and again affordable. (AG)

86 Borges Meia Encosta Dão Vinho Branco 2007 Encruzado - Assario - Borrado-das-Moscas (Bical)
Dão, Northern Portugal, Portugal
BC $12.00 specialty listing
Floral, spicy, ginger, lemon, nectarine, buttery, mineral nose. Dry, elegant, crisp, tight palate with butter, ginger, lemon, spicy, nectarine skin, green apple and mineral flavours. A bit lighter and crisper than the prior vintage but good food wine and value. (AG-ST)

86 Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay 2007
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $13.50 specialty listing, AB $18.00 fine wine boutiques, NS $19.00
Light lees, butter, citrus, garlic, peach and green apple aromas. Round, full, crisp and dry with mineral, chalky, citrus, butter, peach pit, green apple skin flavours. Very solid food style wine. (AG-ST)

86 Gabbiano Pinot Grigio 2007
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
BC $11.00, AB $13.00, MB $15.00, NB $14.00, ON $13.00
The Gabbiano grigio fits the stereotype: light citrus and honey with bits of citrus and mineral. The entry is smooth and round, the fruit soft with hints of pear and melon and grass. Straight-up spaghetti white for pasta primavera or pesto linguine. Good value. (AG-ST)

86 Gatao Vinho Verde N/V Azal - Pedernã - Trajadura - Avesso
Vinhos Verde, Northern Portugal, Portugal
BC $11.00 specialty listing
A second look at this wine, now under screwcap. Super fresh light floral nose with a touch of fizz. Intense lemon apple, mineral, citrus flavours with bits of mineral and chalk. Delicate, easy-sipping, summer, patio white. Good value in non-New World style white. (AG-ST)

86 Golden Kaan Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Western Cape, South Africa
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $12.25, MB $11.95, NB $11.95, SK $12.95
Struck matchstick, canned artichoke, grassy, asparagus aromas with a bit of melon. Tart, round, slightly oily texture with grassy, grapefruit rind, asparagus, lemon and butter flavours. Solid if a bit clumsy. Needs drinking. (AG-ST)

86 Les Jamelles Naturelles Chardonnay 2007
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $15.00
Les Jamelles Naturelles is fresh and that is always a great start for organically grown grapes across the southern Languedoc. There's a bit of new oak mix with one year old for ageing. The goal is Burgundy the output is something less but not disappointing. Lemon and green apples dominate the palate and aftertaste with just a hint of nuttiness. Solid effort should be fun with food. (AG-ST)

86 Les Meridiennes 2007 Grenache Blanc - Bourboulenc - Ugni Blanc - Roussanne
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $12.99 specialty listing
Slate, mineral, floral, quince, spicy nose with a touch of honey. Dry, light, fresh palate and a bit austere. Butter, melon rind, ginger, slate, floral, spicy, quince flavours. Solid food wine for the summer. (AG-ST)

86 Melini Orvieto Classico Secco 2006 Procanico - Verdello - Malvasia - Grechetto - Drupeggio
Umbria, Italy
BC $10.00 general listing, AB $9.50 private wine shop, QC $11.65
Nutty, quince, peach, almond, floral nose. Dry, round, crisp, chalky style with almond, red apple, nectarine skin, buttery, quince and mineral flavours. Somewhat austere but good juicy fruit and acidity to go with seafood. Good value. (AG)

86 Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc 2007
South Australia, Australia
BC $11.50 specialty listing, AB $9.99, MB $11.99 Private Wine Shops, NS $12.99 Private Wine Shops, ON $10.30 Consignment - Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
Oxford Landing takes its name from a mooring along the flat Murray River district but the fruit for this wine comes from a much wider area. Generally crisp in style with mouth-watering acidity, obvious grassy notes and clean in the finish. Friendly and affordable summer sipper for potato salads, cold chicken and seafood. (AG-ST)

86 Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Western Cape, South Africa
BC $11.00 specialty listing, AB $9.25 private wine shops, MB $8.49, NS $9.99, ON $8.50 general listing, SK $10.99 Spring 2004
Grassy, gooseberry, grapefruit rind, mineral aromas. Fresh, round, elegant style that is just off dry but good acidity. Grapefruit, green melon, butter, grassy, gooseberry flavours. A touch rind-y on the finish but good solid varietal character at a great price. (AG-ST)

86 St. Hallett Poacher's Blend Semillon Sauvignon 2007 Sémillon - Sauvignon Blanc
Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $11.95 private wine shops, MB $11.95, NS $15.00, ON $14.15, QC $15.10
Grassy, spicy, ginger, melon rind, fig, grapefruit, jalapeno aromas. Fresh, round, crisp, slightly sweet entry and lighter style. Grapefruit rind, grassy, butter, gooseberry, ginger flavours. Easy going food style. (AG-ST)

86 Santa Julia Viognier 2008
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $12.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine stores
Ginger, floral, spicy, light honey, sausage, butter aromas. Crisp, round, dry and elegant palate with juicy pear, peach skin, ginger, butter, lemon and orange flavours. Simple, fresh style with good acidity. Continued good value here. (AG-ST)

86 Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio 2007
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $12.99 specialty listing
Some Yellow Tail labels can really surprise and this pinot grigio is one of them. Clean fresh, crisp and DRY, with just a dusting of lime rind and passion fruit make it tropical but in the end more grigio than you might think. More subtle and citrus than you might expect for price. The synthetic cork is a pain to pull out of the bottle but if they ever have the guts to go screwcap they could sell a lot of this wine. (AG)

86 Zonin Prosecco Brut N/V
Veneto, Italy
BC $15.00 speculative listing - The Bacchus Group, AB $14.00 private wine stores, MB $12.00
Good fine mousse. Very floral, earthy, nutty, pear, grapefruit, mineral aromas. Fresh, crisp, slightly sweet entry but very delicate with foamy mousse. Red apple, peach, pear, floral, mineral flavours. Simple, easy going and fun with some decent flavour intensity. Fine value here. (AG)

85 Carabas Chardonnay 2006
France
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Somewhat old-fashioned Languedoc style of chardonnay with its sweet, floral ripe fruit nose and heavy mid-palate tropical fruit flavours. The finish is a bit sweet and sour. Simple straight-up chardonnay from the warm south of France. (AG-ST)

85 De Bortoli Traminer Riesling 2007 Traminer - Riesling
New South Wales, Australia
BC $13.00 specialty listing
Spicy, ginger, lemon oil, nectarine skin, perfumed nose with a grassy note. Sweet, fresh, elegant palate with ginger, lemon oil, grapefruit rind, grassy flavours with a touch of honey and apple skin. Good nose if a bit too sweet. Serve well chilled on the patio or with spicy ribs or Indian food. (AG)

85 Oxford Landing Chardonnay 2007
South Australia, Australia
BC $12.99 General, AB $9.99, MB $11.99 Private Wine Shops, NS $12.99 Private Wine Shops, ON $11.95 Vintages
Light floral, grapefruit, green apple skin, peach pit, leesy, vanilla nose. Round, somewhat soft palate with a bit of sweet and sour. Buttery, leesy, grapefruit, canned peach, vanilla flavours. Finish is warm, tart and zesty. Fair value. (AG-ST)

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ROSÉ

87 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rosé 2007 Grenache - Shiraz - Mourvèdre - Cinsault
Côtes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00, ON $10.95 general listing, QC $13.90
The Perrin folks have hit the nail on the head with this rosé now solid each year. The nose is bright and fresh with citrus/mineral, red fruit notes. Not too dry, the entry is crisp and lip smacking with more mineral, raspberry, floral fruit and a clean finish. A winner under screwcap all you need is a picnic basket and a blanket. Good value too. (AG-ST)

88 Toro Tinta de Toro 2006
Toro, Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $15.00 speculative listing - Saverio Schiralli
The grape is one hundred per cent local tinta de Toro or tempranillo. Typically soft and fruity this red can be tight early on but simply decant vigorously and get some air on it. In fact decanting all of today's picks will simply enhance them in the glass. The Toro is mix of berries earth and spice with just the right twist of rusticity and a glossy, smooth, dry finish. Think flank steak or burgers. (AG-ST)

88 Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2006
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing
The move to warmer Colchagua has completely revamped this cabernet. Gone is the green. The fruit is riper and juicier, with warm smoky tobacco flavours and a hint of creamy vanilla and chocolate. The finish is structured, with good acidity and firm tannins. This is the perfect steak wine and a bargain at the price. (AG-ST)

87 Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap 2007 Syrah - Mourvedre - Viognier
Western Cape, South Africa
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine shops, NF $14.00, NS $14.00, ON $14.50, QC $16.00
Big smoky, meaty, saddle leather, peppery, resin, prune and black berry nose. Soft, round, supple palate with smoked meat, lychee, peppery, rooty, prune plum, tobacco, licorice and resin flavours. Good textures and balance if somewhat rustic on the nose. (AG-ST)

87 Borges Meia Encosta Dão Vinho Branco 2006 Encruzado - Assario - Borrado-das-Moscas (Bical)
Dão, Northern Portugal, Portugal
BC $12.00 speculative listing - Vinterra Wine Merchants
Spicy, ginger, smoky, melon rind, lemon, cooked nectarine aromas. Dry, round, elegant, fresh palate with ginger, lemon oil, nectarine, quince and butter flavours with a muscat note. Crisp, dry style with some intensity. Will go well with Asian food or fresh seafood. Good value. (AG-ST)

87 Deen De Bortoli Vat 1 Petite Sirah 2007
South Eastern Australia, Australia
AB $16.99
Previously labelled Durif look for black cherry, plum, peppery, spicy, tobacco notes with floral, meaty undertones. Dry, slightly tart and tannic palate. Spicy, peppery, smoky, tea, licorice, black cherry and beef flavours. A bit warm and rustic but good for a steak. (AG-ST)

87 Diego Murillo Malbec 2007
Alto Valle del Río Negro, Patagonia, Southern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $10.00 specialty listing
Peppery, savoury, licorice, meaty, black olive, cherry and herb nose. Round, dry, supple palate with black cherry, resin, meaty, licorice, savoury, tobacco, spicy, plum flavours. Good fruit in an easy going style. Back on track and great value. (AG)

87 Flor de Crasto Douro Vinho Tinto 2006 Tinta Roriz - Tinta Barroca - Touriga Nacional
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, Portugal
BC $14.49 specialty listing, ON $10.00, QC $13.00
Flor de Crasto is the red equivalent of the Branco: fresh, fruit driven and made with no oak. The flavours stony floral mineral with just a hint of fruit reflect the schist the grapes are grown on. The blend is a mix of eight to ten year tinta roriz, touriga Franca, touriga nacional. The fruit is bright with a wild edge but the styling is cool and restrained the finish dusty. An intellectual, mid-week Douro red for the adventurous oenophile. Good value. (AG-ST)

87 Finca Los Primos Malbec 2007
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $10.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine shops, MB $10.95
A perennial star in this market it was equally comfortable in the competition with its showy black fruit, liquorice and savoury undercurrent. The tannins are soft the texture supple. This red has ribs written all over it and at $10 that's a lot of writing. (AG)

87 Old Vines Garnacha de Fuego 2006
Calatayud, Aragon, Spain
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Big black pepper, spicy, black cherry jam, orange, leather, tobacco aromas. Soft, round, supple palate but very warm with orange peel, black cherry jam, licorice root, peppery, tobacco, prune and savoury flavours. Warm but good solid fruit for lamb or pork. (AG-ST)

87 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rouge 2006 Grenache - Shiraz - Mourvèdre - Cinsault
Côtes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $13.99 specialty listing, AB $12.00, MB $12.75, NF $14.00, ON $11.30 LCBO, QC $13.50, QC $13.30
The Perrin Cotes du Ventoux is mostly grenache with small percentages of syrah, mourvèdre and cinsault. Look for a dry, spicy earthy red with bits of black cherry, licorice and pepper. The fruit is well managed and seemingly brighter under screw cap and the tannins are nicely fine-grained. It all finishes dry with a twist of acidity that shouts cassoulet or lamb stew. Stupid, as my kids would say, value. Drink all winter. (AG-ST)

87 Palo Alto Reserva 2007
Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.00
This is screamingly fresh and super dry sauvignon with a strong citrus bent on the nose and palate. Lip smacking is the best descriptor for this white that needs goat cheese or a vegetarian pizza to tame its big acidity. If you like your sauvignon dry and crisp this is it. (AG-ST)

87 Terramater Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sangiovese 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - Sangiovese
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $13.00 private wine shops
Spicy, black cherry, cassis, plum, smoky, peppery, rooty tobacco nose. Ripe, round, dry and chunky with youthful tannins. Big cassis jam, black cherry, spicy, peppery, mineral, licorice flavours with some olive, herbal, tobacco notes on the finish. Young and fresh, needs food to tame the tannins or a year in bottle. (AG-ST)

86 Brotte Côtes du Rhone Les Brottiers 2006
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France
BC $13.87 specialty listing
Peppery, black cherry jam, meaty, smoky, resin, spicy nose with a touch of coffee. Round, supple, easy style if a bit sweet and sour. Spicy, coffee, tobacco, earthy, black cherry, smoky, spicy flavours. Simple, somewhat easy-drinking style made for meat. (AG)

6 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.00 general listing, AB $11.95, MB $10.95, NB $12.40, NF $11.64, NS $12.95, ON $11.85, PE $14.90, QC $13.15, SK $13.10
Smoky, spicy, peppery, tobacco, sappy cassis, minty, black cherry aromas. Ripe, round, supple palate with light tannins. Fresh cassis, spicy, cedar bark, minty, black olive, cherry, coffee and root flavours. Solid effort but a bit press-y with the cedar bark tannins and taste on the finish. (AG-ST)

86 Castillo de Monséran Garnacha 2006
Cariñena, Aragon, Spain
BC $11.00 specialty listing, AB $11.00, MB $11.00, QC $9.05
Much like the previous version this grapey garnacha with the aromatic nose makes the most of its 50 to 100 year-old fruit, from Cariñena, Spain. Soft fruity meaty spicy black fruit flavours come with a dash of acidity at the end. This is an easy sipping red made for hamburgers, beef ribs, and or chicken. (AG-ST)

86 Chat-en-Oeuf Côtes du Ventoux 2006 Grenache - Syrah
Côtes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $13.99 specialty listing, MB $14.00, ON $13.00
The second edition in this market of this popular red comes with a floral, grapey cherry nose streaked with pepper, liquorice root and incense nose. Soft, round, supple and dry with raspberry, licorice, peppery, cedar, rooty, mineral, coffee flavours. Good solid red for the barbequed meat. Ready to drink now. (AG-ST)

86 Collazzi I Bastoni Chianti Classico 2005
Tuscany, Italy
AB $22.00
Meaty, peppery, smoky sausage, floral, sweaty saddle, black cherry nose. Dry, round, warm palate with light tannins but good intensity. Chocolate, tobacco, peppery, meaty, smoky, spicy, resin, dried mushroom, cherry and licorice root flavours. Good solid meat wine. Needs a year or two in bottle. (AG-ST)

86 Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2007
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $11.00 general listing, AB $13.00, NS $11.99, ON $10.45
Nothing much changes here; except possibly there is a bit more competition at this level and thus more bottles of this budget pinot to go around. Look for a spicy earthy forest floor nose with bits of liquorice root and pepper. Expect a tart, black cherry fruit flavour mid-palate with more spice and mushroom in the finish. A turkey wine for sure and one you can afford. (AG)

86 Deakin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Victoria, Australia
BC $14.99 specialty listing, NF $13.00, PEI $13.00
Clearly among the best cheap reds coming out of Oz by virtue of its ability to avoid the super acidic and the super sweet monikers. The nose is an inviting black fruit mix of liquorice and spice with a touch of earthy compost notes. The palate is soft; it is a simple sipper but with a touch of style. Think ribs or spaghetti here. (AG-ST)

86 Melini Chianti 2006
Tuscany, Italy
BC $13.00 general listing, AB $12.25 private wine shop, ON $12.85, QC $15.00
A fine improvement over the previous edition in what is a true, if simple normale. Look for a pleasant floral fragrant nose with hints of cherries and almonds with just a dusting of mushrooms in the back end. Dry and slightly acidic it calls for a mushroom ravioli dish or spaghetti Bolognese. (AG)

86 Pascual Toso Malbec 2007
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine shops, ON $13.00
Classic Toso. Rich and savoury with bags of sweet black fruit wrapped in liquorice with just a touch of acidity and pepper poking through on the back end. Big spearmint menthol palate with warm dark fruit peppery finish. A big showy red for the money. Bring on the steaks. (AG-ST)

86 Trivento Cabernet Malbec Reserve 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $11.25, MB $10.95, NF $14.68
Spicy, savoury, sage, floral, black cherry, cassis, licorice aromas. Dry, round, slightly fresh palate with light, cedar-y tannins. Cassis, peppery, cedar bark, earthy, black cherry, rooty, vanilla spice flavours. A bit more tart than previous editions but consistent. (AG-ST)

86 Trivento Reserve Syrah 2006
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $13.00 specialty listing, NF $15.95
Spicy, savoury, tobacco ash, peppery, black berry jam and resin aromas. Soft, supple, forward palate but rich and warm. Meaty, earthy, spicy, peppery, black plum, smoky, coffee, savoury flavours with a licorice and mace finish. Good solid wine and value. (AG)

86 Trivento Amado Sur Malbec Bonarda Syrah 2006 Malbec - Shiraz
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Smoky, meaty, savoury, floral, black cherry, plum, coffee, tobacco aromas. Ripe, round, smooth, slightly sweet and sour palate. Cherry, plum, coffee, herbal, tobacco, savoury, vanilla pudding flavours with some black olive and licorice on the finish. Good solid wine for the grill. (AG-ST)

86 Trivento Reserve Syrah 2006
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $13.00 specialty listing, NF $15.95
Spicy, savoury, tobacco ash, peppery, black berry jam and resin aromas. Soft, supple, forward palate but rich and warm. Meaty, earthy, spicy, peppery, black plum, smoky, coffee, savoury flavours with a licorice and mace finish. Good solid wine and value. (AG)

85 Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon N/V
Sonoma County, California, United States
BC $12.99 specialty listing
Reasonably consistent fresh fruity style red with black fruit undertones and leafy cassis highlights. Simple, soft and easy-sipping red with spicy black fruit and cedar on the palate. Light, fruit-driven simple, straight-up cabernet. (AG-ST)

85 Bouchard Aîné & Fils Pinossimo Pinot Noir 2006
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.99 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops
Floral, cherry, spicy, compost, rooty aromas. Dry, light, supple palate with a bit of acidity and sweetness. Cranberry, candied cherry, compost, tobacco leaf, herbal flavours. Finish is lemony and warm. Basic south of France. (AG-ST)
85 Carmen Merlot 2006
Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $13.50, NB $12.99, NF $12.98, NS $10.99, ON $11.00, PEI $13.98, QC $13.20, SK $12.99
Almost a carbon copy of last year. With its big leafy cedar scented nose flecked with olives and mint. The palate is soft if a bit acidic with green olive, pepper and sour cherry flavours. Herbal Chilean merlot that needs some charred beef to tame it. (AG-ST)

85 Casillero del Diablo Merlot 2007
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $11.95, MB $11.39, NB $12.49, NF $11.64, NS $12.95, ON $11.85, SK $13.10
Peppery, menthol, rooty, cedar, tobacco leaf, coffee, green olive aromas. Soft, round, dry palate with light tannins. Cedar bark, peppery, olive brine, coffee, vanilla, sappy, spicy flavours. Not much concentration and a touch green. Not quite up to previous versions. (AG-ST)

85 Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec 2007
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine shops, ON $13.00
Peppery, tobacco, black cherry, rooty, licorice, savoury nose. Round, medium bodied, slightly tannic palate and dry with spicy vanilla, clove, coffee, pudding, and tobacco leaf, rooty, meaty, peppery flavours. Tart, somewhat green finish. Lacks the usual plush textures. (AG)

85 Golden Kaan Shiraz 2006
Western Cape, South Africa
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $12.25, MB $11.95, NB $11.95, SK $12.95
The nose is a mix of red fruits, resin and rubber, not really dirty but muddled. The entry is very smooth and almost sweet with soft, meaty, black fruit and a fair bit of alcohol. The finish is round and warm. (AG-ST)

85 Nederburg Shiraz Winemaster's Reserve 2006
Western Cape, South Africa
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $11.86, NF $14.38, NS $13.85, ON $12.45 consignment - Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
Smoky, saddle leather, tobacco, resin, rooty, black cherry, meaty, floral peppery nose. Round, supple and dry palate but warm with a tart edge. Black berry, black cherry, smoky, leather, tobacco, resin, coffee flavours with a very meaty, smoked leather finish. The flavour has a fruit core but it is dominated by the smoked meat. (AG)

85 Nuviana Tinto 2005 Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah
Huesca, Somontano, Aragon, Spain
BC $10.00 specialty listing
Spicy, meaty, peppery, resin, smoky leather, tobacco aromas. Soft, round, dry palate with fresh acidity. Cherry, smoky, peppery, meaty, leather flavours. Simple, easy food wine for any time. Good value. (ST)

85 Oracle Shiraz 2007
South Africa
BC $13.00
Meaty, smoky sausage, saddle leather, tobacco, prune, roasted pepper aromas. Round, supple, slightly flat and sweet palate with light tannins. Bacon, smoky, resin, saddle leather, tobacco, compost, cooked prune flavours. Tart edge on the finish with a bit of cranberry. (AG-ST)

85 Penascal Tempranillo 2005
Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $13.00 general listing, AB $12.00 private wine shops, ON $13.00, QC $14.00
Typically dry, gamy and touch rubbery. Make sure you get some extra air on this before serving. Look for floral black cherry, smoky leather aromas underneath that preview its soft, round, supple mouthfeel and spicy, earthy, cherry fruit flavours. Your basic pizza red, that delivers for the price. (AG-ST)

85 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2006
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $12.00 General Listing, AB $9.75, MB $10.19, ON $9.45, SK $11.94
Very peppery, spicy, sappy, cassis, tobacco leaf, minty, cedar aromas. Dry, full bodied style with some grainy tannins. Cassis, peppery, tobacco leaf, menthol, cedar bark, licorice and coffee flavours. Warm and chunky for any meat dish. Good value in an introductory style cabernet. (AG-ST)

85 Yalumba Merlot Y Series 2004
South Australia, Australia
NS $22.00 fine wine shops, ON $14.00
The Y series merlot offers up lifted aromas of plum and raspberries on the nose with minty, herbal, spicy red fruits on the palate. The entry is soft but the finish is dry and slightly acidic with a warm, spicy aftertaste. Best with grilled chicken or pork. (AG)