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SPARKLING 86 Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava Selección N/V Macabeo - Xarello - Parellada Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya, Spain BC $15.00 general listing, AB $15.00, BC $29.00 (1500 ml) specialty listing, MB $14.00, NB $15.00, NF $16.00, NS $16.00, ON $14.00, PEI $13.95, QC $14.00, SK $14.85 Fresh floral nutty mushroom fruity aromas with a citrus undercurrent.
SPARKLING
86 Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava Selección N/V Macabeo - Xarello - Parellada
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya, Spain
BC $15.00 general listing, AB $15.00, BC $29.00 (1500 ml) specialty listing, MB $14.00, NB $15.00, NF $16.00, NS $16.00, ON $14.00, PEI $13.95, QC $14.00, SK $14.85
Fresh floral nutty mushroom fruity aromas with a citrus undercurrent. Similar dry nutty citrus mineral flavours that cleanse the palate. Classic cava, dry, fresh and ready for an assortment of appetizers and or taps. (AG)
86 Freixenet Carta Nevada Brut N/V Macabeo - Xarello - Parellada
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Penedès, Catalunya, Spain
BC $14.50 specialty listing, AB $12.75, MB $10.45, NB $14.00, NS $13.48, ON $11.00, PEI $12.00, QC $13.00, SK $11.98
A dusting of residual sugar seems to lift the fruit component in this simple straight up dry (Brut) bubble. The nose is fresh and bright, the mid-palate clean and fruity with nectarine skin notes; the finish dry with a touch of spicy almonds. Perfect with tapas style appetizers. (AG)
86 Seaview Sparkling Shiraz N/V
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $15.00 general listing, AB $14.00 private wine shops, MB $14.00, NF $14.50, NS $13.29, ON $15.00, QC $14.00, SK $16.00
It's easy to see why this style of sparkling is so popular in Australia at Christmas time. Look for black cherry fruit with bits of plums, liquorice and vanilla. The palate is fresh and rich and it should easily subdue a turkey and all the trimmings. Despite a sweetish entry it finishes reasonably clean and dry. (AG)
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)
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 Chamdeville Blancs de Blancs - Brut N/V Sémillon - Ugni Blanc - Muscadelle
France
BC $11.49 specialty listing, MB $12.00
Dry, toasty classic French sparkling wine. Impressively consistent from year to year with its fresh green apple skin aromas and toasted nutty honey flinty flavours and dry finish. Great value and perfectly suited to early morning additions like orange juice or crème de cassis for a late afternoon/early evening apéritif. Good value. (AG-ST)
85 Marquis de la Tour Vin Mousseaux N/V Chenin Blanc - Sauvignon Blanc - Muscadet
Loire, France
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine stores, MB $12.25 private wine shops, QC $13.00, SK $12.65
A Loire Valley 50/25/25 blend of chenin blanc / chardonnay / sauvignon blanc that opens with a dry nose reminiscent of almonds and peach skin notes. The entry is soft and round with leesy baked apple, more almonds and touch of quince. An easy sipping style you can serve straight up or does with some kirsch and make the classic kir royale. (AG-ST)
85 Pink by Yellowglen N/V Pinot Noir - Chardonnay
Australia
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops, MB $13.00, NS $15.50, ON $13.00, SK $15.50
Much like our last encounter this pink cherry coloured, strawberry and earthy scented bubble attracts in the glass. It is just sweet enough to take the edge off the acidity and appeal to a wide section of sippers. Fun pink and affordable, you can serve this one solo. Yellowglen has always been a fine bubble maker in Oz and it shows in this entry level blend of pinot noir and chardonnay. (AG-ST)
WHITE
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 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 Michel Torino Cuma Organic Torrontés 2008
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Northern Region, Argentina
BC $12.00 speculative listing - Libations, MB $12.00, NF $12.00, NS $12.00
Cuma means "clean and pure" in the language of the Aymara the pre-Incan inhabitants of Cafayate and other highly elevated plains in Argentina. Both viticulture and winemaking at CUMA meet certified organic guidelines. It's hard not to be impressed with the over powering florals that mark the nose of this exotic varietal. Roses, jasmine, nectarine skins all assault the senses as does the orange, green peach and oily fruit. Young bright aromatic and fresh bring on the spicy dishes and or the roasted birds. Good value. (AG-ST)
87 Raimat Albariño 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 Adobe Chardonnay Reserva Orgánico 2008
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Big grapefruit, green apple skin, floral, pear nose with some butter in the background. Crisp, fresh, round, elegant style with a touch of sweetness but balanced. Light butter, peach skin, green apple, baked pear, grapefruit, grassy, melon flavours. Simple but elegant and fresh with good texture. Solid value here for consumers as a sipper or with food. VOE Vinedos Orgánicos Emiliana is an independent company within the Concha y Toro group. (AG-ST)
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 Viña Chocalán Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $13.00 speculative listing - Saverio Schiralli
Lots of grapefruit, gooseberry, lime, green passion fruit aromas. Crisp, round, slightly fat entry with grapefruit rind, passion fruit sorbet, gooseberry, smoky apple flavours. Good citrus intensity and balance if a bit one dimensional. Good value. (AG-ST)
86 Lyngrove Collection Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
BC $14.50 speculative listing - Freehouse Wines & Spirits
Intense roasted bell pepper, canned jalapeno, grassy, grapefruit rind aromas, very herbaceous style. Crisp, round, elegant, fresh palate with a hint of sweetness. Smoky, canned jalapeno, bell pepper, canned grapefruit rind, mineral flavours with a touch of green melon. Good textures and balance but a very herbaceous style. Solid value. (AG-ST)
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 Rosemount Diamond Cellars Traminer Riesling 2008 Traminer - Riesling
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $13.50 specialty listing, AB $12.50 fine wine boutiques, MB $13.00, ON $12.00, SK $14.00
Much like the well made previous edition this curious blend of traminer and riesling offer sup a fresh floral, spicy, orange scented nose with bits of mineral, lemon oil and petrol. The entry is fresh (it is now under screwcap) and off dry with more mineral, baked apple and lychee fruit flavours. The finish is spicy. A no-brainer for roast turkey. (AG)
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)
85 Fuzion Chenin Torrontés 2008 Chenin Blanc - Torrontés
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $9.00 specialty listing, MB $8.49, QC $8.20
What happens when you blend two very aromatic grapes? Fuzion I guess. The mix is chenin blanc and torrontés the result a fresh, aromatic, slightly oily white wine with bit of character and attitude. The price is delightful. More aperitif style but it will do for sushi. A real bargain for white wine drinkers. (AG-ST)
85 Michel Torino Cuma Organic Malbec 2008
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Northern Region, Argentina
BC $12.00 specialty listing, AB $11.50 private wine stores, MB $12.00, NF $12.00, NS $12.00
Big tobacco leaf, peppery, celery salt, black cherry, floral, dried herb, savoury aromas. Fresh, supple, round, ripe palate. Plum, cherry, poultry spice, tobacco leaf, cedar, riparian, mushroom, herbal flavours. Solid "food" wine, for the money, as in its needs a bit of protein to smooth out the edges. (AG-ST)
85 Penascal Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $13.00 specialty listing
Floral, mineral, grapefruit, almond, passion fruit aromas with a touch of cooked lemon. Fresh, crisp, dry, elegant palate with canned grapefruit, mineral, gooseberry, lees, nutty lemon flavours. (AG-ST)
85 Voga Pinot Grigio 2007
Veneto, Italy
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00 private wine stores, MB $15.00, NS $16.00, ON $14.00, QC $16.00
Almond, lemon, mineral, earthy aromas. Soft, round, somewhat fat style with a bit of sweetness. Lemon, floral, almond flavours with an earthy, slightly bitter finish. (AG-ST)
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)
RED
88 Graham Beck Shiraz Viognier 2006 Syrah - Viognier
Coastal Region, South Africa
BC $15.00 specialty listing
The shiraz and viognier are co-fermented to heighten the spice and floral notes in the front end by winemaker Pieter Ferreira, in essence making it a bit more approachable. The nose is a mix of smoked meat and white pepper with a barnyard, cigar, savoury undercurrent. Super soft, round, ripe, slightly sweet and hot palate with more smoky, resin, peppery, sausage meat, saddle leather flavours with some very ripe fruit. Extremely warm and slightly tart finish flecked with liquorice violets and dried fruit flavours. Ageing takes place in a combination of 30% new French and American oak barrels for 13 months. Very new world style. (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 Castillo de Monséran Old Vine Garnacha 2005
Cariñena, Aragon, Spain
BC $14.00 speculative listing - Mark Anthony Brands, AB $17.00 private wine stores
Open spicy floral peppery nose with a strong raspberry and compost component. The entry is ripe and sweet, the textures slippery and the flavour components jacked sweet plums, white pepper, raspberry, and orange flecks with bits of acidity and barnyard poking through at the end. Plenty of fun here for the money and well suited to food. Try with duck, pork or lighter meats. 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 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 Talamonti Moda Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Abruzzo, Italy
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Licorice, spicy, resin, floral, cherry, meaty, peppery, saddle leather nose. Round, supple, full bodied style with good acidity. Bright cherry, plum, spicy, licorice, rooty, smoky, meaty, peppery flavours. Good solid fruit core if a bit rustic but has good intensity to go with food. Very solid effort and value. (AG-ST)
87 Sainte - Croix Syrah - Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc 2006 Shiraz - Merlot
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.00 specialty listing
Pruny, peppery, cooked raspberry, cinnamon, tobacco, roasted meat aromas. Ripe, round, supple, fresh palate with light tannins. Raspberry jam, peppery, spicy, clove, cinnamon, meaty, licorice root and vanilla flavours. A bit warm but with some finesse. An affordable, good value food wine. (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)
86 Casa Silva Doña Dominga Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmenère
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops, MB $11.00
A nice bump up in flavour and quality for '07. Typically peppery with menthol and tobacco leaf notes but the palate is soft and round and flavour development more ripe. Soft black cherry fruit with dried leaf and pepper notes in the finish. Well made and exceptionally priced for all those summer backyard barbecues. Old vines 80 to 100 years old, handpicked, 15 per cent is aged in one year old French oak, for $13. Do you need another reason to spend your money here? (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 Viña Chocalán Carmenère 2007
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $13.00 speculative listing - Saverio Schiralli
Typical carmenère with its leafy dried herb nose and black fruit. The palate is soft the fruit sweet and the finish supple with dusty chalky tannins and a slight touch of cigarette ash. Certainly fine with grilled meat. (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 Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmenère
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.49 specialty listing, AB $13.50 private wine stores, ON $13.85, QC $14.50
Cono Sur tries to over-deliver and usually they do. This organic red blend from Colchagua is a good deal. The cabernet sauvignon really benefits from the dried herbs, chocolate and sweet fruit flavours of the carmenère. It's a bit of fruit bomb and its warm but with enough spice and dried herbs to hold your interest. Best with grilled meat. (AG)
86 El Burro Kickass Shiraz 2006
Bullas, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $15.00 speculative listing - Diamond Estates, NS $13.00, ON $13.00
Meaty, gamey, peppery, rooty, licorice, blackberry jam, tobacco and smoky mineral aromas. Ripe, round, dry, full-bodied style but very warm with light tannins. Big black cherry jam, plum, licorice, peppery, rooty, meaty, chocolate flavours. A bit tart and hot on the finish but has lots of fruit and stuffing to take a the lamb or beef stew. Like its grenache mate, good value. (AG-ST)
86 Las Moras Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - Shiraz
Valle del Tulum, San Juan, Argentina
BC $14.00 speculative listing - Diamond Estate
Spicy, cassis, peppery, black olive, black berry, chocolate, tobacco, earthy nose with a savoury, meaty streak. Round, dry, supple palate with light tannins and fresh acidity. Chalky, cassis, black cherry, peppery, spicy, licorice, black olive and tobacco flavours. A bit dry and tart on the finish but has good intensity. Needs a year in bottle or try with roast beef or stews. (AG-ST)
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 Protocolo Tinto 2006
Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain
BC $13.00 speculative listing - Christopher Stewart Wines
One of tempranillo's more enduring qualities is its soft, textures and reserved fruit. This wine over-delivers for the rice offering up a mix of raspberry and strawberry fruit with vanilla, peppery notes and bits of earth. Certainly this wine delivers for the price offering an easy-drinking, medium-dry, fruit flavours with just a dusting of dry tannins in the finish. Made with 100 per cent high-altitude tempranillo, grown in central Spain. (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)
