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RED 88 Rigal The Original Malbec 2009 Cahors, Sud-Ouest, France BC $15.00 specialty listing What was a bit rustic in 2008 has really up the ante in 2009.
RED
88 Rigal The Original Malbec 2009
Cahors, Sud-Ouest, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing
What was a bit rustic in 2008 has really up the ante in 2009. Malbec from Argentina seldom displays this finesse in the bottle, especially at this price. Expect a spicy floral mineral nose. The entry is soft and supple with cedar, white pepper, resin, cherry flavours. The finish is polished with light tannins. Excellent value. (AG-ST)
87 Barbera de Vine 2007
Piedmont, Italy
BC $15.00
Smoky, peppery, black cherry, almond, meaty, tobacco, resin, dried herb aromas. Ripe, round, fresh, supple, slightly tannic palate with cherry jam, orange peel, coffee, earthy, tobacco, liquorice root, floral flavours. A bit warm with that barbera acidity but with the right dishes such as roast lamb or steak tartare it will be fine. (AG-ST)
87 Caliterra Bio Sur Carmenère 2009
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 speculative listing - The Bacchus Group, ON $13.00
Classic carmenère with a richly spiced nose of cinnamon and cloves with bright red fruit. The entry is dry and fruity with black cherry fruit and medium structured tannins. It was a fabulous vintage to boot. Bio-Sur is made using organic grapes. Good value. (AG-ST)
87 Castaño Hécula 2006
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $16.00 private wine stores, NB $17.50, ON $14.00, YK $17.00
Another interesting meaty, floral, chocolate, peppery nose with earthy, tobacco, plum and smoke undertones. Ripe, round, fresh, slightly tannic palate. Tobacco, peppery, smoky, meaty, chocolate, black cherry, liquorice root. A touch rustic on the finish but has good concentration and represents solid value. (AG)
87 Emiliana Adobe Carmenère Reserva Orgánico 2009
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine shops
Very spicy, meaty, peppery nose with plum, menthol and sappy cassis notes. Ripe, round, supple entry, if slightly flat on the palate, with dried herb, menthol, peppery, cassis, minty, bay leaf, tobacco leaf and prune flavours. Solid styling for a T-bone or rib-eye steak. (AG-ST)
87 Errazuriz Estate Merlot 2008
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00, ON $13.00, QC $15.00, SK $15.00
The '08 is 85/15 blend of merlot /carmenère grown in the Curicó Valley. The nose is fresh and fruity with strong brambleberry, pepper and cedar notes. On the palate bay leaf, pepper and minty cassis flavours shape the mouth with equally fresh acidity and light round tannins. Serve with grilled meats, stews and chicken for best results. (AG-ST)
87 Falernia Syrah 2008
Limari Valley, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Beautiful fragrant sweet chocolate appealing style of syrah. The entry is fresh, clean and round with chalky tannins, fine structure and rich chocolate, meaty, black fruit flavours flecked with pepper. The philosophy at Falernia is to make an all local (Limari) wine made by local people. A good value syrah made with organic fruit. (AG-ST)
87 Loma Larga Unfiltered Merlot 2008
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
ON $16.00
Minty, peppery, spicy, herbal, cherry, rooty, tobacco, barnyard, resin, meaty, soupy prune aromas. Dry, round, supple, fresh palate with light tannins. Savory, cherry, cranberry, barnyard, meaty, Band-Aid, orange peel, dried dill, leafy flavours. Solid but a bit too rustic and herbaceous in the finish. (AG-ST)
87 MontGras Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2008
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Big cedar plummy, black currant nose with a dollop of vanilla. The palate is fresh with more cedar, cassis and pencil lead, bay leaf flavours with a smoky herbal, toasted oak and vanilla finish. Tannins are light. It's 100 percent Colchagua cabernet sauvignon. Try this with grilled meats form the barbecue. (AG-ST)
WHITE
88 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2008
Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Off dry and fresh with surprising balance and elegance propelled this wine to a major win at the IVWA. Expect a floral peachy nose with ripe red apple flavours and of course refreshing acidity. Washington State has the largest riesling plantings outside of Germany which explains the moderate price. Think spicy Pan Asian foods as the match. (AG)
89 Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay 2009
Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.50 retail
New, organic un-oaked chardonnay under screwcap that is ridiculously tasty for the price. Look for gooseberry, and spicy aromas. The entry is fresh, crisp and just off-dry with nettle, lemon, grapefruit, gooseberry, passion fruit flavours and a touch of grass. Love the juicy mineral, green guava finish. Buy this one buy the truckload. (AG-ST)
88 Errazuriz Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Aconcagua Costa, Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.00 general listing, AB $14.00 private wine stores, NS $14.00, ON $11.00, SK $14.00
The new cool, coastal Aconcagua Costa vineyard is home to this delicious, fresh, cutting edge sauvignon blanc that is a cross between the Loire and Marlborough at about half the price. Expect a healthy citrus/gooseberry nose and palate with bits of melon, lime rind and jalapeno. Mussels, clams, chickens you decide they all work. Terrific value. (AG-ST)
88 Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2010
Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $12.00 specialty listing, AB $11.75 private wine shop, MB $11.26, NF $11.11, ON $11.95
I really liked this wine last year but the 2010 is better. The nose is so fresh and inviting with grapefruit, lemon and light lees notes. The palate is juicy and round with ripe guava, melon and light smoky jalapeno flavours. Fine intensity for the price. Another fine effort from Santa Carolina delivering a modern, important single appellation wine at great value. (AG)
87 Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
BC $15.00
Lemon grass, light smoked jalapeno, grapefruit, gooseberry, grassy aromas. Soft, round, fresh, easy palate with gooseberry, grapefruit, smoked jalapeno and baked apple flavours. Finish is somewhat sweet but balanced. Fun to drink and very good value for New Zealand. (AG-ST)
87 Lamberti Santepietre Pinot Grigio 2009
Veneto, Italy
BC $13.50 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine stores, NB $15.00, NS $18.00, ON $12.00, QC $14.50
Similar to last edition with a nutty, lemon oil, pear skin, green apple, leesy nose. Round, fresh, off dry palate with almond, honey, baked pear, lees, and nutty, citrus flavours. Finish is a bit soft but solid value here for current drinking. (AG-ST)
87 Lomas del Valle Chardonnay 2009
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 Estimated Retail
This brand is unoaked and used to show the pure cool climate fruit. Passion fruit, honey, grapefruit, green apple, citrus, pea shoot, grassy, peach pit nose. Round, fresh, elegant and delicate with a hint of sweetness. Honey, butter, grapefruit, mineral, citrus, green apple and peach skin flavours. Simple but juicy and delicate. (AG-ST)
87 Lomas del Valle Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 Estimated Retail
Melon, passion fruit, lime, floral, grapefruit, gooseberry aromas. Round, delicate, slightly viscous palate with a touch of fruit sweetness. Fresh lime, grapefruit, green melon, passion fruit flavours with a bit of lemon grass at the end. Good finesse and fruit. (AG-ST)
87 Quintay Clava Coastal Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine stores
Gooseberry, zesty grapefruit, nettle, lemon herb aromas. Fresh, crisp, juicy but slightly austere entry. Nettle, lemon grass, herbal, sweaty grapefruit rind flavours. Pure and correct with a bit of lime and herb on the finish. Delicious drinking now. (AG-ST)
DESSERT
89 Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest 2007
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.95 fine wine boutiques, QC $14.00 (375 ml)
I'm thinking it is the 15 per cent gewürztraminer in the blend that pulls this late harvest sauvignon out of the realm of the ordinary. Expect a fairly crisp wine with aromatic floral/citrus notes and ripe apricot honey, egg yolk and mineral flavours and a refreshing finish. Light and elegant you can serve this solo or with fresh fruit. Interestingly some of the grapes are dehydrated, others frozen while a portion is fermented in used French barrels; another part is kept sur-lie in tank. Good value and it won the LH category at the 2010 IVWA. (AG-ST)
