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ROSÉ 88 Torres De Casta Rosé 2010 Garnacha - Cariñena Catalunya, Spain BC $13.00 specialty listing, SK $13.00 I have a soft spot for the Torres rosé, garnacha/cariñena blend that has been around for an astounding 70 years.
ROSÉ
88 Torres De Casta Rosé 2010 Garnacha - Cariñena
Catalunya, Spain
BC $13.00 specialty listing, SK $13.00
I have a soft spot for the Torres rosé, garnacha/cariñena blend that has been around for an astounding 70 years. Expect a clean fresh nose with hint of citrus and earthy, black cherry and fresh raspberry aromas. Equally bright and fresh on the palate it has a ripe candied cherry palate with minerality, citrus and a fresh watery thirst quenching aftertaste. Any summer salad, corn on the cob, charcuterie or even cold fired chicken this is the answer. A crazy bargain. (AG-ST)
87 Olivares Jumilla Rosado 2010 Monastrell - Syrah
Jumilla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $13.00 speculative listing - Christopher Stewart
Fresh cut watermelon, candied citrus rind, cherry, earthy, mineral aromas. Fresh, crisp, round palate with a touch of sweetness. Sour cherry, rhubarb, almond, citrus, mineral, floral, apple flavours. Solid value here in a clean, fresh rosé style. (AG-ST)
RED
88 Frescobaldi Remole Chianti 2009
Tuscany, Italy
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, NS $17.00, ON $12.45
Peppery, spicy, meaty, black cherry, tobacco, cassis aromas. Dry, round, supple, slightly tannic palate with black cherry, cassis, peppery, spicy, meaty, tobacco and earth flavours. A bit fresh and rustic but has very good fruit and solid balance that offers fine value. (AG-ST)
88 M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut 2009 Syrah - Grenache - Carignan
Côtes du Roussillon, Roussillon, South of France, France
BC $15.00 speculative listing - Pacific Wines & Spirits
Spicy, peppery, black licorice, leather, black plum and smoke aromas with a floral note. Dry, slightly tannic, full palate but a bit austere with good acidity from the carignan. Black plum, dark chocolate, meaty, peppery, earthy, spicy flavours. Good youthful, tight style for drinking with rabbit or lamb or keep a year or two. Excellent value here. (AG-ST)
87 Argento Reserva Bonarda 2010
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Bonarda always has plenty of colour. In this case it comes with a fresh, floral raspberry scent. The flavour is similar with a savoury note and jammy texture. The finish shows a touch of vanilla from its ageing in American oak. The fruit is grown at Rivadavia, Mendoza at 600-700m above sea level. (AG)
87 Chateau de Cabriac 2008 Syrah - Grenache - Carignan - Mourvèdre
Corbières, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine shops
Cabriac has little less influence from the sea making its syrah mourvèdre, grenache and carignan a little riper on the nose and the palate. The style is smooth and rich with black raspberry, black cherry and smoky liquorice notes. An impressive red wine for the price that is ready to drink with barbecue favourites especially grilled sausages. (AG-ST)
87 Finca Los Primos Malbec 2010
San Rafael, General Alvear, Southern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $11.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine shops, MB $10.95
Big black cherry jam, spicy, peppery, tobacco aromas with a touch of barnyard and compost. Full, round, dry, slightly chunky palate. Cherry, plum, tobacco, vanilla, rooty, tobacco, spicy flavours. Simple but offers a full palate with solid fruit and continued fine value. (AG)
87 Frescobaldi Remole Chianti 2008
Tuscany, Italy
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $13.50 private wine shops, ON $12.40
An all estate fruit blend that is primarily sangiovese with a bit of cabernet sauvignon added. Peppery, earthy, spicy, leather, cassis aromas mix with black cherry, barnyard and smoke. The palate is round, supple and forward with cherry, leather, tobacco, cassis, meaty flavours. Good solid value in amid-week spaghetti red. (AG-ST)
87 Little Yering Pinot Noir 2008
Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing, ON $18.95 Vintages
Strawberry, liquorice, smoky, black pepper, tobacco, celery root nose with a touch of barnyard. Soft, round, easy palate with juicy strawberry, spicy, liquorice, orange, dried herb flavours. Solid, forward style with fruit for immediate appeal. A value proposition that is ready to drink all summer. Try it with salmon. (AG-ST)
87 Pavillon Arnaud Minervois 2008 Syrah - Grenache
Minervois, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.00
Nice spicy, liquorice nose with black cherry, floral, rooty, clove and cardamom aromas. Ripe, round, full, fresh palate with ripe tannins. Big black raspberry, plum, spicy, peppery, licorice, orange peel flavours with a touch of olive. Great fruit intensity if a bit too fresh. Will go well with pork or turkey dishes. Solid value here. What a steal. (AG-ST)
87 Rilento Nerello Mascalese 2009
Sicily, Italy
BC $14.00
Only grown in Sicily on Mt. Etna, this offers a very spicy, peppery, black cherry, red plum, licorice, meaty, savoury aromas. The palate is round, dry, fresh and elegant with juicy acidity. Black cherry, clove, licorice, peppery, smoky, cedar, rhubarb flavours. Good juicy style with some finesse and fruit. Great value too. (AG-ST)
87 Saint Saturnin Le Clocher 2009 Syrah - Grenache - Carignan
Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $15.00
Plenty has been written about the terrific 2009 vintage in the nearby Rhone so why not take a chance on a $15 red blend from the south of France. Dry and fresh with earthy fruit flavours with mostly soft textures and a pinch of tannin in the finish. Fire up the barbecue, grill some beef and serve this red all summer long. (AG-ST)
SPARKLING
87 Pierre Sparr Crémant Brut Rosé N/V
Alsace, France
AB $32.00 private wine shops, ON $19.00
Pale strawberry colour. Fine mousse with nutty, spicy, strawberry, citrus aromas. Crisp, juicy, dry palate with green apple, pear, strawberry, citrus, honey and almond flavours. Well balanced if a bit austere to go with duck salad. (AG-ST)
WHITE
88 McWilliams Hanwood Estate Moscato N/V Muscat - Riesling - Pinot Gris
Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing
I'm not sure who is behind the big moscato push in the US and apparently according to some it is heading for Canada. Given the obscure nature of the grape I'm guessing the big attraction is sugar. Don't get me wrong it's not sickly sweet in fact this example is delicate, sweet, aromatic white that is fun to sip. Look for orange, guava, red apple, honey, lime flavours. All you need is a hot day and an even warmer patio. Pour this one by the tumbler and if you must have food make sure it is spicy. Fresh, light, breezy and good value. (AG-ST)
88 Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet 2010
Picpoul de Pinet, Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.00, QC $12.55
Meyer lemon, honey, spicy, slate, light petrol, quince, ginger aromas. Fresh, crisp, dry, slightly oily texture with juicy lemon oil, honey, quince, grapefruit, ginger and pear skin flavours. Good intensity and length at a great price for bouillabaisse. (AG-ST)
87 Armonia Verdejo-Viura 2010 Verdejo - Viura
Rueda, Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $14.00
The mix of verdejo and viura seems to be the ticket to this fresh floral white with lemon, melon, butter, and grassy apple notes. There's elegance and a touch of sweetness that draws you into a fresh mix of nectarine and grapefruit flavours flecked with citrus and honey notes. A fine value summer sipper that will impress your patio friends. (AG-ST)
87 Danzante Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2009
Veneto, Italy
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 fine wine shops, NF $17.00, ON $14.45, QC $15.50
Open pear, floral, red apple aromas with light lees and grapefruit notes. Fresh, juicy, creamy palate with a touch of sweetness. Grapefruit, honey, pear, quince and spice flavours. A good fruity, creamy style with nice freshness. A new label, new packaging and now under Stelvin this is well worth investigating. (AG-ST)
87 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2009 Grenache Blanc - Bourboulenc - Marsanne - Roussanne - Viognier
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing, ON $11.65 LCBO
Like the last edition, this has floral, honey, apricot, lemon, quince aromas with a bit of slate. Fresh, juicy, round, slightly fat palate with honey, pear, floral, apricot and butter flavours. A bit austere at the end but offers good fruit and balance for seafood with some uniqueness. Again, a well-made wine that offers fine value. (AG-ST)
87 M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Blanc 2010 Grenache Blanc - Grenache Gris - Maccabeu
Côtes du Roussillon, Roussillon, South of France, France
BC $15.00 special order - Pacific Wines & Spirits
Spicy, floral, pear, honey, ginger, lemon, melon aromas. Dry, fresh, full, round palate with juicy acidity. Lemon grass, grapefruit, honey, ginger, floral, almond flavours. Very crisp, spicy finish. Good solid summer seafood wine and fine value. (AG-ST)
87 Raimat Abadia Blanc de Blancs 2009 Albariño - Chardonnay
Costers del Segre, Catalunya, Spain
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $12.99 private wine shops, ON $16.00, QC $14.00
A stunning spicy, ginger scented albariño chardonnay blend awash in peachy citrus fruit. So fresh and crisp it represents ridiculous value. Each year there is the perfect mix of green apple, ginger and nectarine skin flavours with just a hint of butter and minerality in the finish. A wonderful summer seafood wine or simply entertain with this bargain on the patio all summer long. (AG-ST)
87 Smart Grasshopper Grüner Veltliner 2010
Niederösterreich, Weinland Österreich, Austria
BC $13.00 specialty listing
A fun little wine with great story. First off grüner is for wine aficionados, meaning its bone dry and fairly austere, but the minerality and mere whiff of stony fruit makes it fun to drink with oysters and shell fish. The grasshopper is clever enough to select some leaves to eat and leave others alone. In this case they do not like grüner veltliner leaves. (AG-ST)
