December 5, 2013 -Top Import Wine under $15 in Canada

87 FreixenetCordon Rosado Cava Seleccion N/V Trepat - Garnacha - Monastrell

Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya, Spain

BC $15.00 specialty listing, MB $15.00, NB $15.00, NF$16.50, NS $15.50, ON $13.00

Attractive salmon coloured fizz with a fresh floral, redberry and bay leaf nose. The flavours are similar, crisp with a strong mineralthread throughout. As always an impressive dry sparkler that is as versatilewith food as any in its price field. (AG)

White Wines

89 M. ChapoutierDomaine de Bila-Haut Blanc 2012 Grenache Blanc - Grenache Gris - Maccabeu

Côtes du Roussillon, Roussillon, South of France, France

BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00

Seemingly consistent each year the latest Bila Haut hasthe customary citrus aromas of grapefruit and lemons flecked with honey, bakedpear and quince. The attack is round with juicy, fruity citrus, ginger, spicyand orange peel notes. It finishes with a hint wet stone and saltiness. Grilledsquid would be a great match with this grenache blanc, grenache gris andmacabeu blend. (AG-ST)

88 PoggiotondoToscana Bianco 2012 Vermentino - Ansonica - Malvasia

Florence, Tuscany, Italy

BC $15.00 speculative listing - Trialto Wine Group, AB$13.00 private wine stores, ON $14.00 consignment - Trialto Wine Group, QC$15.00 Private Import - Winspeer Altovin

Winemaker Alberto Antonini loves the lean, fruity, leesy,chalky style in this case spiced with lemon zest, floral and almond aromas. Theattack is dry and tight with a fresh, juicy palate and grapefruit rind, quince,pear, floral, ginger and lemon oil flavours all with a touch of fresheningsquirt of CO2. A crisp almost austere style with plenty of flavour and lengthfor seafood pasta dishes and grilled calamari. Good value. (AG-ST)

88 Trivento AmadoSur Torrontes Viognier 2012 Torrontes - Viognier - Chardonnay

Mendoza, Argentina

BC $15.00 specialty listing, MB $16.00

A 25 percent mix of viognier and chardonnay joins 75percent torrontés to shape a refreshing blend form Mendoza. The nose and palateis a mix of citrus sorbet and fresh grapefruit. The mid-palate is airy andlight but with some complexity you don't see at this price point and itfinishes clean. You could serve this with a wide variety of chicken and seafooddishes and throw in some sushi too. (AG-ST)

88 TorresellaPinot Grigio 2012

Veneto, Italy

BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private winestores, ON $16.00

A wonderful expression of the best of eastern Veneto.Expect a delicate nose of floral, nutty, mineral, earthy aromas with just thefaintest hint of honey. The attack is dry with excellent acidity a touch ofgrass and more minerals. Delicate seafood dishes, seafood pasta, and sashimiwould all be excellent pairings. (AG)

88 Torres VinaEsmeralda 2012 Moscatel - Gewürztraminer

Catalunya, Spain

BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $16.00 private wineshops, MB $14.00, ON $14.00 Vintages, QC $15.00, YK $17.00

The 2012 reminds of the delicious 2006. The Upper Penedèswhite is the usual 85/15 mix of moscatel/gewürztraminer but the aromas are justthat much brighter with an intense spicy, floral, lemon oil (Alsace) characterwith some mineral notes too. The flavours match the nose with green apple,lemon lime and litchi fruit. Fresh delicate, juicy, ripe and all underscrewcap. Food friendly and a versatile sushi wine. (AG-ST)

87 La VieilleFerme Côtes du Luberon Blanc 2011 Grenache Blanc - Bourboulenc - Ugni Blanc - Roussanne

Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, South of France, France

BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00, MB $14.00, NS$11.66, ON $11.30, ON $20.00, QC $13.30

Floral, quince, pear, lemon oil, baked green apple,ginger and slate aromas. Fresh, round, juicy off-dry palate with a creamytexture and similar flavours. Well balanced, easy drinking style with somecomplexity. Solid value here. (AG-ST)

87 Lindemans Bin65 Chardonnay 2012

South Eastern Australia, Australia

BC $12.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wineshops, MB $12.00, NB $13.00, NF $13.25, NS $12.00, ON $10.00, PEI $14.50, QC$12.00, SK $12.50

You can't really expect more than you get here for $13.The style is fresh and perfectly leaned out for food with light aromatic peachand citrus notes. There's a touch of butter to smooth out the fresh peach andlight lemon and lees flavours that coat the palate. A touch watery (juicy) in agood way in the finish. Simple, well-made, fresh atypical cheap chardonnaythat' sis perfect with chicken or seafood. Good value. Has Yattarna reshapedevery chardonnay at Treasury? (AG-ST)

87 PezoulesSauvignon Blanc Assyrtiko 2011 Sauvignon Blanc - Carmenere

Makedonia, Greece

BC $14.00 specialty listing

This is a fresh little number with a bony, citrus coreand a hit of C02 to further enliven the mid-palate and finish. Simple crispbright with a touch of dried herbs and more citrus in the finish. Ready to takeon a sushi roll or even some sashimi. Super value. (AG-ST)

87 Spier CheninBlanc 2012

Western Cape, South Africa

BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00 private order

This Stellenbosch-based chenin comes with spicy pear,green apple skin, grapefruit and light honey aromas. Fresh, delicate, juicy,creamy, off dry palate with grapefruit, gooseberry, green apple, spiced pearflavours. Good balance and finesse at this value and a versatile food wine.(AG-ST)

87 False BaySauvignon Blanc 2012

Western Cape, South Africa

BC $15.00 speculative listing - Summit Fine Wines, AB$14.00 private wine shops

Gooseberry, jalapeno, grapefruit, grassy, floral aromas.Fresh, crisp, juicy palate with grapefruit, passion fruit, grassy, granny smithapple and nettle flavours. A bit simple but good intensity and texture andsolid value. (AG-ST)

87 Castaño MacabeoChardonnay 2011 Macabeo - Chardonnay

Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain

BC $14.00 Everything Wine, AB $12.00 private wine stores,NB $12.00, QC $13.65

Gooseberry, grapefruit, green apple, fig, floral, nutty,lime rind aromas. Fresh, juicy, light, elegant palate with a hint of sweetness.Red apple, passion fruit, grassy, grapefruit, honey, floral flavours with a bitof lime and marzipan on the finish. Clean, fruity, elegant style for seafood.Consistently fine value every vintage. (AG-ST)

87 Moillard Huguesle Juste Viognier 2012

Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France

BC $15.00 specialty listing, YK $17.10

Typical Moillard. Light lean, floral fresh with litchi,pear and citrus notes. The attack is dry and fresh with a juicy, citrus, greenapple flavour. Love the value especially when compared to most New Worldexamples. (AG-ST)

Rosé Wines

Rose Wines

88 Angove's NineVines Rosé 2012 Grenache - Syrah

South Australia, Australia

BC $15.00 specialty

Grenache and shiraz (70/30) from an almost perfect vintagehave shape this delicious, fresh rosé. The fruit spends some 24hrs on its skinsbefore its pressed off and fermented. The nose is a burst of fresh red fruits,the palate similar with black cherry/raspberry flavours spiked with citrus. Thefinish is fresh and dry. Perfect for an heirloom tomato sandwich or pastatossed with olive oil and tomatoes. Good value. (AG-ST)

Red Wines

88 Santa JuliaReserva Malbec Etiqueta Blanca 2011

Mendoza, Argentina

BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00 private wine stores,ON $14.00, QC $15.00

This red will have a lot of curbside appeal with itsrich, soft styling and peppery, red fruit nose and flavours. It spends justunder a year French oak giving its plummy fruit a spicy smoky finish and lighttannin. Good value here you can pour liberally around the barbecue. (AG-ST)

88 Borsão GarnachaSelección 2011 Garnacha - Tempranillo - Cabernet

Campo de Borja, Aragon, Spain

BC $14.99 specialty listing

Peppery, rooty, black raspberry, earthy, liquorice,meaty, cassis aromas mark this mostly garnacha, with tempranillo and cabernetsauvignon, blend from North of Spain. Ripe, round, smooth palate with freshacidity and light tannins. Big peppery, smoky, meaty, black raspberry jam,orange peel, spicy flavours. A tad tart on the finish but good fruity, juicystyle with good intensity for barbecue. Good value here. (AG-ST)

87 Santa RitaCabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2010

Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile

BC $15.00 general listing, AB $13.90 private wine shops,MB $15.00, ON $14.00

Open rich sappy, cassis/menthol/bay leaf with earthy,chocolate aromas. The attack is dry and fresh the tannins light withblackcurrant, tobacco, dill, cedar, coffee smoky notes. A solid weekend red fora variety of grilled items on the barbecue. (AG-ST)

87 Dominio dePunctum Tempranillo - Petit Verdot 2011 Tempranillo - Petit Verdot

La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

BC $14.00 speculative listing - Renaissance Wine Merchants

Interesting 70/30 mix of tempranillo/petit verdot that isnow bio-dynamically grown on sandy loam over limestone that spends about sixmonths in older American oak barrels after ferment. The pv appears to smoothout the mid-palate with obvious dark cherry fruit and just a hint of milkchocolate. Round soft supple tasty and certainly impressive for the price.(AG-ST)

87 La VieilleFerme Côtes du Ventoux Rouge 2011 Grenache - Shiraz - Mourvèdre - Cinsault

Côtes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France

BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private winestores, MB $12.75, NF $14.00, ON $11.30 LCBO, QC $13.50, QC $13.30

It is scary what you can get from the Rhone for less than$13 in British Columbia. Perrin offers up a peppery version of its latest LaVieille Ferme with hints of ripe black cherries. The attack is soft and roundwith black raspberry, pepper and liquorice root flecked with mineral, spice andorange peels. You can drink this now or hold it for a year or two. The blend ismostly grenache with small percentages of syrah, mourvèdre and cinsault. Supervalue. (AG-ST)

87 Louis BernardChateau Noel Saint Laurent Rouge 2011 Grenache - Syrah - Mourvèdre - Cinsault

Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France

BC $14.00 specialty listing

Big meaty, garrigue, peppery, tobacco, ash, blackberryaromas. Soft, round, dry, easy-sipping style with peppery black raspberry fruitand savoury, dried herb and tobacco flavours. Well balanced wine for currentconsumption. Solid value here. Try with grilled meat. (AG-ST)

87 Trivento PinotNoir Reserva 2012

Mendoza, Argentina

BC $15.00 specialty listing

Meaty, smoky, cola, black cherry, roasted coffee, leesaromas. Round, smooth, soft palate with smoky herb, coffee, plum, cherry jam,tobacco flavours. Finish is warm with light herb notes. Easy, attractive style.(AG)

87 El PetitBonhomme 2012 Monastrell - Garnacha - Syrah

Jumilla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain

BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops

Peppery, liquorice, orange peel, black cherry jam andsavoury aromas. Round, ripe, suave, warm and juicy palate with clove, peppery,licorice, black cherry, orange peel and coffee flavours. Good fruit with a verywarm finish. Try with grilled ribs or lamb. Solid value. (AG-ST)

87 Finca LosPrimos Malbec Bianchi 2012

San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza,Argentina

BC $12.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wineshops, MB $10.95

Slightly reduced upon opening but once in the glass for aminute or two expect it to open up offering fresh, juicy, raspberry/blackcherry fruit with flecks of chocolate and dried herbs. The textures are soft,the tannins light and the fruit flavours persist through the finish. A perfectred for pizza or pasta dishes. (AG)

87 Arc Du RhoneCôtes du Rhone Villages 2011 Grenache - Syrah - Carignan

Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley,France

BC $15.00 specialty listing, NS $13.50

Black cherry, meaty, liquorice, peppery, savoury aromas.Fresh, juicy, light bodied but round palate with licorice, black cherry, resin,spicy, peppery, rosemary flavours. Good fruit and balance at a great price.Consistent label. (AG-ST)

87 Lomas del VallePinot Noir 2012

Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile

BC $15.00 specialty listing, ON $17.00

Other than a slightly reduced nose (screwcap and sulphur)on opening this is a pure expression of the variety and its Casablanca site. Itis a pretty' pinot treading on the soft, sippable side with just a bit ofspice, a bit of black cherry, and a lot of juicy, ripe fruit that slides downeffortlessly. This is a super little red wine bargain. Be sure to aerate in theglass or a decanter before drinking. Good value. (AG-ST)

87 Lovico SuhindolGamza 2008

Bulgaria

BC $12.96 speculative - Radev Trade

Cedar, carrot top, rooty, black cherry, resin, smoky,black olive and sage aromas. Dry, round, full and smooth palate with coffee,peppery, savoury, herbal, tobacco, liquorice, black cherry and resin flavours.Good concentration and intensity if a bit rustic. All in all a very good valuehamburger red. (AG-ST)

87 Goats do Roam(Red) 2012 Syrah - Cinsault - Mourvèdre - Carignan - Grenache

South Africa

BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private winestores, NS $14.30, ON $13.00, SK $13.30

Goats do Roam the clever play on southern French regionopen with a smoky, meaty, leather nose with bits of red fruits, compost andcrushed coffee bean. The attack is lighter than you might expect almostelegant. The blend is a 63 percent shiraz mix with cinsault, mourvèdre,grenache, durif and carignan all grown over decomposed granite soils. Againlight to medium body making it more palatable with soft juicy berry flavours.Best with grilled meats off the barbecue. Somewhat reduced under screwcap butthis will blow off with ten minutes of air. (AG-ST)