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WHITE 89 Torres Vina Esmeralda 2006 Moscatel - Gewürztraminer Catalunya, Spain BC $14.49 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, MB $14.00, ON $11.95 Vintages, QC $15.00 Perhaps the best Esmeralda since it was first released in 1961.
WHITE
89 Torres Vina Esmeralda 2006 Moscatel - Gewürztraminer
Catalunya, Spain
BC $14.49 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, MB $14.00, ON $11.95 Vintages, QC $15.00
Perhaps the best Esmeralda since it was first released in 1961. The Upper Penedès white is a delicious 85/15 mix of moscatel/gewürztraminer. Now under screwcap it has an even brighter level of minerality with intense floral, lemon oil and spicy, nectarine skin aromas. A bright, zesty, white with lychee, green apple, lemon lime notes. Delicate styling yet perfectly able to stand up to powerful spicy dishes. Try with calamari or mussels or light curry dishes. (AG-ST)
88 Torres Gran Vina Sol Chardonnay 2005
Catalunya, Spain
AB $17.00 private wine shops, ON $11.00, QC $18.00, SK $18.00
This highly modern Spanish chardonnay blends 85 per cent chardonnay with 15 per cent parellada and the result is a very sophisticated fresh white wine. The oak has been reined in over the years leaving the aromatic white to show off its peachy, buttery, nutty, floral fruit flavours. After crushing, pressing and cold settling, 70% of the juice is vinified in stainless steel tanks, the remainder in new French oak barrels. Only 40 per cent of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation placing this chardonnay in the modern, cool-climate, fresh style. (AG)
87 Arrogant Frog Ribet White 2006
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.99 specialty listing, ON $13.00 consignment - The Yorkville Wine Company
The last time I wrote about this wine, I suggested Paul Mas had the pulse of the wine public and he's not from Australia. Turns out the wine was only available in private wine shops and not easy to find. Well now it's in government stores, the price is cheaper and you should know the former Domaine Virginie winemaker is making wine far more serious than his Arrogant Frog moniker. This is a crisp, light, mineral, citrus, grassy white with freshness in the mouth that cries out for oysters or shellfish. Really, it represents killer value in a non aggressive easy-sipping made for food sauvignon. (AG-ST)
87 Cockfighter's Ghost Semillon 2007
Hunter, New South Wales, Australia
US $12.00 estimated retail
Semillon on sandy loam is the genesis for this super fresh, Hunter Valley white. A high quality low yielding harvest delivered pristine fruit to the press where it was simply crushed fermented and bottled by June. Look for a screamingly fresh white with lemon lime and tropical fruits throughout. Perfect for oysters. (AG-ST)
87 Domaine du Clos du Bourg Sauvignon Touraine 2006
Touraine, Loire, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Ripe kiwi, floral, chalky, slate, butter, light passion fruit aromas. Dry, round, elegant, full palate with gooseberry, butter, ripe fig, chalky, citrus flavours. Fresh, round, ripe grapefruit finish. Good intensity and solid value. Great Holiday entertaining wine. (AG-ST)
87 Paul Mas Viognier 2006
l'Hérault, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.99 speculative listing - Charton-Hobbs
Jean Claude Mas blends viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines and relatively low yields at 52hl/ha. Only 15 per cent of the wine is barrel fermented in new oak the remaining 85 per cent is aged only in stainless steel tanks. Look for a bright, floral nose that mixes nectarines and dried fruits and with honey/lees aromas. Much like the previous edition it has a wealth of peachy apricot, ginger fruit with a mineral, honey, butter finish. A versatile food wine, not to mention a fabulous bargain. Buy it by the case. Farming is performed to maximize the respect and preservation of the environment and nature as much as possible. They call it "agriculture raisonnée". (AG)
87 Raimat Albarino Chardonnay 2005 Albarino - Chardonnay
Costers del Segre, Catalunya, Spain
BC $12.99 specialty listing, AB $12.99 private wine shops
Medium gold colour. Floral, butter, peach, anise, mineral aromas. Round, fresh, elegant, dry palate with some viscosity. Butter, peach, orange, passion fruit, mineral, ginger flavours. Good solid white at a bargain price. Would be even better under Stelvin. (AG-ST)
87 Serame Viognier 2006
Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine shops, MB $12.00
Each year this wine impresses us and the '06 is no different. Look for plenty of the fresh mineral honey notes on the nose spikes with bits of ginger and apricot skin. The palate is relatively weighty for such a straight -up style with more honey mineral ginger notes and a refreshing clean light finish. Terrific value and perfect for roasted birds and or Pan Asian foods. (AG-ST)
87 Tormaresca Chardonnay 2005
Apulia, Italy
BC $13.99 specialty listing, AB $12.99 private wine shop, SK $14.19
Tormaresca chardonnay blends fruit from both key Tormaresca estates: Bocca di Lupo in Murgia, and Masseria Maime in Salento. It's partially barrel fermented which accounts for its buttery peach aromas and flavours, but you can also taste the minerals and the nearby sea influence on the nose and palate. A soft, fresh, ripe apple/citrus chardonnay with an elegant demeanour that reflects its European origins in flavour and style. Try with sole or other light, simply prepared fish dishes. (AG)
RED
88 Emiliana Orgánico Adobe Syrah 2005
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00, AB $12.00 private wine shops
Very spicy, peppery, smoky, chocolate, sausage, black cherry jam, vanilla aromas with some barnyard notes. Round, dry, elegant palate with barnyard, resin, peppery, smoky, bay, chocolate, vanilla, bay leaf flavours. Good finesse if a bit tight now. Good solid value. (AG-ST)
87 Les Cazalets Syrah 2005
Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.00 speculative listing - Free House Wine & Spirits
Peppery, sausage, chocolate, licorice, barnyard, black cherry nose. Dry, round, elegant, slightly tight palate with earthy, cherry, smoky, chocolate, licorice root, sausage and cardamom flavours. Good solid food style. Les Trois Terroirs is a leading co-operatives in the Languedoc employing a price/quality reward system that encourages the co-ops members - all independent growers - to adopt modern vineyard practices. It seems to be working. (AG-ST)
87 Arrogant Frog Ribet Red 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.99 specialty listing
The not so arrogant frog is going organic mixing 55 per cent cabernet sauvignon with 45 per cent merlot grown between the Mediterranean Sea and the Hérault Valley. Ribet Red is just that and it has a snappy red screw cap and label to boot. Look for a fragrant, balanced, sensible red wine with more than just fruit. Only a quarter of the wine sees oak to help fill out the mid-palate. After that it's simply delicious drop of inexpensive cabernet merlot and that's not easy to accomplish. A barbecue red with frog's legs. Ribet ribet. (AG-ST)
87 Les Hauts de Peyruse Côtes du Ventoux 2006 Grenache - Syrah
Côtes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $15.00 estimated Canadian retail
This is a delicious little French red under screwcap. The nose is fragrant; the fruit subdued but very much in place with classic peppery plum fruit flecked with Asian spice. Clean, fresh, and lively it I sunder screwcap which no doubt adds to its clean appeal in the glass. Great value too. (AG-ST)
87 Montalto Nero d'Avola Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Nero d'Avola - Cabernet Sauvignon
Sicily, Italy
BC $10.95 specialty listing, ON $9.15
This is your basic, updated, spaghetti red from Sicily that mixes cabernet sauvignon with néro d'Avola. Look for a slightly over ripe cherry fruit and chocolate flavoured red spiked with leather and spice. Impressive value and coming under screwcap seals the deal. Think pizza chicken pasta and party. Great value. (AG-ST)
87 Marrenon Premices Organic Cotes du Luberon 2006 Grenache - Syrah
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, South of France, France
BC $14.99 specialty listing
Spicy, gamey, barnyard, meaty, licorice root, black cherry aromas mark this 65/35 grenache syrah blend with some black cherry jam. Round, warm, slightly tannic, rustic palate with some grip and acidity. Good black cherry, plum, peppery, meaty, smoky tobacco leaf flavours. A bit warm and chunky on the finish but with some intensity. Good value. (AG-ST)
87 Redbank Long Paddock Shiraz Victoria 2004
Victoria, Australia
AB $16.50 private wine shops
Old barrels, ripe fruit and cool vineyards all add up to a peppery, meaty blackberry nose with a touch of compost. On the palate it's dry and mouth-filling with ripe black fruit and resiny black licorice flavours. The finish is big, warm and spicy. Good value. (AG-ST)
87 Tormaresca Neprica 2004 Negroamaro - Primitivo - Cabernet Sauvignon
Apulia, Italy
BC $14.99 specialty listing, AB $12.95 private wine shop, SK $14.97
The clever Neprica blends ne-groamaro, pr-imitivo and ca-bernet sauvignon to capture the warm, almost tropical essence of southern Italy. Chocolate, licorice and black fruit with flecks of mineral and anise make this a perfect introduction to the New South wrapped in an earthy, inviting style. A solid performer spaghetti Bolognese, grilled sausages and flank steak. (AG-ST)
87 Trivento Amado Sur Malbec Bonarda Syrah 2005 Malbec - Shiraz
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing
A new listing form Trivento now well established as a quality for money producer. This is a big rich savoury malbec, further bolster by a 30 per cent mix of bonarda and syrah. The entry is sweet and spicy with peppery mid-palate tones and ripe plummy dark fruit flavours. Lots of smoke and vanilla. Good if a bit-like an Australia wannabe. (AG-ST)
