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SPARKLING 87 Real de Aragon Cava N/V Macabeo - Parellada - Xarello Penedès, Catalunya, Spain BC $15.00 specialty listing, MB $15.00, NF $15.00, QC $14.00 Medium fine mousse with lemon, almond, quince, floral, nutty aromas.
SPARKLING
87 Real de Aragon Cava N/V Macabeo - Parellada - Xarello
Penedès, Catalunya, Spain
BC $15.00 specialty listing, MB $15.00, NF $15.00, QC $14.00
Medium fine mousse with lemon, almond, quince, floral, nutty aromas. Fresh, crisp, juicy, off dry palate with slightly foamy mousse. Peach, honey, nutty, lemon, quince and red apple flavours. A bit tart on the finish but has good fruit intensity and length, more so than one would expect from the nose and the price. Enjoy this with tapas. (AG-ST)
WHITE
88 Paul Mas Viognier 2010
l'Hérault, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.00 specialty listing
Spicy, ginger, honey, floral, guava, apricot aromas. The attack is fresh with juicy, leesy crisp, slightly austere flavours of lemon, ginger, and spicy, green apple fruit with a touch of pineapple. A bit rind-y on the finish but offers solid fruit and balance for the money. Jean Claude Mas blends viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines and relatively low yields at 52hl/ha. (AG)
88 O. Fournier B Crux Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Vista Flores, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, Argentina
ON $13.00 LCBO
The fruit is grown at Vista Flores, Mendoza at 1100 meters and the harvest normally gets underway in Mid-February. There is an 8-hour maceration followed by a cold ferment in stainless steel. Look for a spicy, nutty, grassy, grapefruit, gooseberry, nettle nose with hints of artichoke. The attack is dry and fresh and crisp but with a slightly austere palate. Grapefruit, gooseberry, lemon, grassy, jalapeno, herbal flavours. The style is juicy, tart and austere and needs another year to round out. (AG-ST)
88 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2011
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops, MB $13.00, NB $17.00, NF $16.00, ON $12.00
The Santa Rita reserva sauvignon is half pungent Marlborough and half Casablanca cool with its intense gooseberry and lime rind nose flecked with green leaf aromas. The palate is similar with musky lemon and lime rind fruit flavours. Serve is with grilled seafood or spaghetti vongole. Good value. (AG-ST)
88 Terrazas de los Andes Torrontés Reserva 2010
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, Argentina
AB $16.00 private wine shop, ON $15.00
Big spicy, ginger, honey, floral, lemon, grassy, mineral aromas with a nectarine note. Dry, round, juicy, creamy palate with ginger, honey, lemon, lime, guava flavours. Good juicy style with a mineral, austere finish. Great value here. (AG-ST)
88 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Riesling 2008
Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00 private wine shops, MB $15.00, NB $19.00, ON $17.00
Big petrol, slate, lime rind, green apple skin, mineral aromas. Fresh, crisp, dry, slightly austere style with a touch of spritz. Juicy green apple, petrol, lime, slate, spicy, nectarine skin flavours. Very fresh, austere style but good flavours. Best with smoked salmon or mussels. (AG-ST)
87 Astrolabe Voyage Pinot Gris 2010
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
NZ $19.99 estimated retail
I must confess, I've never been a big fan of New Zealand pinot gris mostly because I find it to be too sweet and overbearing in the way Alsace can be. Expect a spicy, peachy, ripe stone fruit nose and a flavour pattern with bits of pear, lime rind and touch of vanilla. There is some minerality here that helps but we would like to see a leaner, fresher style before we are totally convinced. (AG-ST)
87 Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2011
Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine stores, MB $12.00, NB $14.00, NF $13.00, NS $14.25, ON $13.00, QC $13.00, SK $14.00
Grapefruit, sweaty, passion fruit, floral, lemon grass aromas. Fresh, crisp, drier style but creamy and elegant with grassy, nettle, grapefruit, jalapeno, lemon, granny smith flavours. Good food style with freshness. (AG)
87 Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay 2011
Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing
This line of organically grown fruit has spawned some terrific value white wines. The chardonnay is ripe and juicy with fine underlying tropical fruit flavours. Clean and light it has a touch of butter and oak to flesh out the finish. (AG-ST)
87 Cono Sur Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $13.49 Specialty
Not quite as sensational as last year this edition is more along the Kiwi lime rind and gooseberry path with canned jalapeno with fine acidity. The attack is juicy and vibrant with more pungent, smoky jalapeno and passion fruit flavours. Excellent concentration for the price all in a cool coastal style. A blend of three pickings and three Sancerre clones all grown organically. (AG-ST)
87 Fazi Battaglia Titulus Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2010
Marche, Italy
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine stores, NB $15.00, ON $11.00, QC $13.00
Nutty, lemon oil, spicy, baked pear aromas. Dry, fresh, round, slightly austere palate with lemon, cashew, citrus, quince, pear and anise flavours. Juicy, fresh finish to go with any seafood. Solid value and consistent from year to year too. (AG-ST)
87 Graffigna Centenario Torrontés Reserve 2011
Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, North, Argentina
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $13.50 private wine stores, MB $14.25, NB $15.00, NF $15.00, ON $13.00, SK $15.00
Floral, honey, ginger, spicy, ripe nectarine aromas. Round, fresh, juicy palate with a touch of sweetness. Nectarine, floral, apricot, lemon, spicy flavours. Good finesse and fruit if a bit oily on the finish. Terrific value here from 40-year old vines. (AG-ST)
87 Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops
Black olive, peppery, savoury, cassis, tobacco and bay leaf aromas. Round, full, slightly tannic palate with peppery, blackberry, cassis, tobacco leaf, minty, olive, leather and vanilla flavours. A bit rustic but offers solid cab character with some intensity and ripeness. Drink now through 2015. (AG-ST)
87 Mount Fishtail Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
BC $15.00 specialty listing, MB $15.00
Lemon, nettle, grassy, gooseberry, light asparagus, canned jalapeno aromas. Fresh, juicy, slightly sweet and sour palate with lemon peel, jalapeno, bell pepper, gooseberry, grapefruit flavours. Very juicy, grapefruit and lemon finish. Try this with mussels, clams or oysters. Good value (AG)
87 Obikwa Chardonnay 2010
Western Cape, South Africa
BC $9.99 specialty listing
Honey, mango, citrus, apple aromas. Light, fresh, off dry palate with lemon, red apple, honey, butter and peach flavours. Fresh, fruity, juicy style that offers great value now. Amazing for the price. (AG-ST)
87 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc 120 2011
Valle del Lontué, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $13.00 general listing, AB $11.00 private wine shops, NF $12.00, ON $11.00, QC $11.00
This is always a sure bet for the price. Lemon lime grass and guava mark the nose with herbal, citrus, chalky grapefruit flavours on the palate. There is less acid this year but that will only add to its appeal at the price point. Super value for an everyday sauvignon blanc. (AG)
87 Tilia The Wines of Catena Torrontés 2010
Salta, North, Argentina
ON $13.00 LCBO
Very spicy, floral, ginger, lychee, nectarine aromas with a touch of lemon oil. Fresh, round, slightly creamy and soft palate with ginger, lychee, grapefruit and lemon rind flavours. Good overall intensity and finesse that offers solid value. (AG-ST)
87 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2010
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, NB $15.00, NS $15.00, ON $13.95, QC $14.25
The Veramonte style is always ultra-crisp previewed by a juicy gooseberry/lemongrass nose. The attack is similarly fresh and mouth-watering style with grassy, melon, kiwi fruit all with a hit of dried herbs. Perfect for west coast mussels or whole roasted chicken. Love the value too. (AG)
ROSÉ
87 Torres De Casta Rosé 2011 Garnacha - Cariñena
Catalunya, Spain
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00, SK $13.00
Six years under screwcap the 40th edition of the de Casta Rosé looks a solid as ever. The blend is garnacha tinta and cariñena similar to the Vina Sole rosé but in slightly sweeter style. Expect a lot of cherry colour with a fresh mineral, cherry/black raspberry and almond flecked nose. Ripe, crisp and balanced with a touch of sweetness in the finish. Try it with spicy tapas, salmon and assorted vegetable dishes. (AG-ST)
RED
88 Estampa Estate Malbec Petite Syrah 2010 Malbec - Petite Syrah
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.00 speculative listing - Freehouse Wines & Spirits, AB $13.00 private wine shops, ON $13.00
Very spicy, black pepper, sausage meat, espresso, bay leaf, tobacco, black cherry aromas. Dry, full, ripe, round, slightly chunky palate. Smoky, meaty, chocolate, peppery, black cherry jam, liquorice, garrigue flavours. Good intensity and balance with solid fruit. Excellent value, again. (AG-ST)
88 Los Hormigas Malbec Reserva 2009
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $19.00 private wine shops, ON $14.00, QC $13.00
Savoury, spicy, black cherry, herbal, tobacco, peppery, roast mushroom aromas. Fresh, dry, juicy palate with very light tannins. Cedar, black cherry, cassis, spicy, smoky, savoury, meaty flavours. Good solid balance and fruit at a fair price. (AG)
88 Laya Garnacha Monastrell 2009 Garnacha - Monastrell
Almansa, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
BC $14.00 Everything Wine
The mix here is 70/30 garnacha tintorera and monastrell and it over delivers for the price. Give me a savoury fruit nose and flavour with some soft chalky tannins and I'm happy at this price. There a touch of oak to balance the liquorice and black fruit and the coffee notes. Perfect for grilled meats and again the price is terrific. (AG-ST)
87 Cono Sur Organic Pinot Noir 2010
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 retail
Good medium dark colour but suitably pinot. On the nose look for sweet cherry fruit with a touch of mushroom. The palate is soft round and easy drinking with strawberries plums and dried cherries. Just about all you could ask for given its modest price. Great with cheese pizzas. (ST)
87 Graffigna Centenario Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2008
San Juan, Argentina
BC $12.00 speculative listing - Corby Pernod Ricard, AB $13.50 private wine stores, MB $14.25, NB $20.00, NF $15.00, NS $16.00, ON $15.00
Peppery, smoky, cassis, black licorice, barnyard, leather aromas. Round, full, dry, fresh palate but somewhat tannic and hard. Smoky, peppery, tobacco, rooty, earthy, cassis, coffee and vanilla flavours. Solid fruit but this needs a few years or rare beef to tame its somewhat hard tannins. (AG-ST)
87 Alamos Malbec 2010
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $11.00 fine wine boutiques, NFLB $15.00, NS $15.00, ON $12.00
A blend of Mendoza fruit picked at La Consulta, Tupungato, Lunlunta, and Agrelo that spend about nine months in 50/50 French and American oak. Expect a soft, round warm spicy fruit entry with earthy black fruit flavours mixed with black liquorice undertones in the finish. A soft, fleshy, simple malbec best served with meat. (AG)
87 Cabriz Colheita Seleccionada 2008 Touriga Nacional - Alfrocheiro - Tinta Roriz
Dão, Northern Portugal, Portugal
ON $15.00
Earthy, meaty, liquorice, floral, black cherry, peppery, prune aromas. Dry, light, tight palate with fresh acidity and light tannins. Cedar, tobacco, meaty, liquorice, peppery, spicy, black cherry and leather flavours. A fresh but traditional style with a slightly austere finish to go with beef or lamb dishes. Solid value. (AG-ST)
87 Errazuriz Estate Reserva Pinot Noir 2010
Valle de Aconcagua, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
NS $20.00
Floral, rhubarb, strawberry, compost, dill, spicy aromas. Fresh, round, dry, elegant palate with candied cherry, strawberry jam, smoky, spicy, orange and chocolate flavours. Nice juicy fruit if a bit candied. (AG)
87 Chateau du Moulin Terres de Grés 2009 Grenache - Syrah - Carignan
Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $15.00
Spicy, garrigue, peppery, meaty, black cherry, liquorice, floral, chocolate, earthy aromas. Round, dry, full, supple palate with peppery, black cherry jam, smoky, meaty, garrigue, and liquorice root flavours. Good juicy, fruity finish with very light tannins. Solid value here to go with grilled lamb or duck. (AG-ST)
87 El Petit Bonhomme 2010 Monastrell - Garnacha - Syrah
Jumilla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops
Meaty, peppery, black cherry, black raspberry, tobacco, floral and cedar aromas. Dry, fresh, slightly lean palate with light dry tannins but juicy. Liquorice, smoky, peppery, meaty, black cherry and cassis flavours with a warm, savoury finish. Warm and fruity offers solid value for grilled meats. (AG-ST)
87 Estampa Assemblage Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère Petit Verdot 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmenère - Syrah
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
MB $16.00, ON $15.00
Big sappy cassis, minty, tobacco leaf, cherry, bay leaf, sage, dry cedar aromas. Dry, full, round, slightly chunky palate with fresh acidity. Menthol, peppery, bay leaf, cassis, sappy, riparian, black cherry, cedar and black tea flavours. (AG-ST)
87 Goats do Roam (Red) 2010 Syrah - Cinsault - Mourvèdre - Carignan - Grenache
South Africa
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine stores, SK $13.30
Smoky, meaty, earthy, saddle leather, tobacco, coffee, black cherry, barnyard aromas. Soft, round, easy palate with fresh acidity. Spicy, meaty, cherry, coffee, smoky, saddle leather flavours with earthy, orange peel flavours. It finishes warm and a bit tart but would be fine with stews or grilled meats. (AG-ST)
87 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2009 Grenache - Syrah - Mourvèdre
Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing, ON $12.00 LCBO, QC $15.00
On the lighter side of most '09s with soft, plummy black fruit aromas and flavours all with a touch of dried herbs and tannin in the back end. A simple straightforward red you can serve with hamburgers or grilled chicken. The blend is roughly 65 percent grenache and 35 percent syrah. Ready to drink. (AG-ST)
87 Raccolto Nero d'Avola Syrah 2010 Nero d'Avola - Shiraz
Salento, Puglia, Italy
BC $13.00 speculative listing - The Thomas Robert Agency
This is quintessential southern Italian red that is astonishing sleek and satiny with a rich, peppery black fruit nose and palate stuffed with blueberries and black cherries with a savoury dried herb pepper finish. There is a touch of dryness in the finish but nothing a piece of barbecued beef wouldn't subdue. Terrific value here Buy this one by the case. (AG-ST)
87 Pascual Toso Malbec 2010
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops, ON $13.00, QC $14.00
The fruit is a mix of 20-year old massal selection malbec. Some 40 percent is aged in two three and four year old oak. Look for a peppery, savoury, black cherry jam, tobacco leaf nose with supple, sweet fruit on the mid-palate. Round, supple and easy sipping with peppery, black cherry, tobacco, earthy, prune flavours. Ready to drink. (AG-ST)
87 Wine Men of Gotham 2008
South Australia, Australia
BC $15.00
The nose is heady with loads of rich chocolate all with a savoury notes. The palate is rich and soft with sweet chocolaty flavours lined with spice and oak. A bit on the sweet, dense, soft fruit side but with enough savoury elements to provide some balance. (AG-ST)
