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WHITES 89 Paul Mas Viognier 2008 L'Hérault, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France BC $14.00 specialty listing Jean Claude Mas blends viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines and relatively low yields at 52hl/ha.
WHITES
89 Paul Mas Viognier 2008
L'Hérault, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.00 specialty listing
Jean Claude Mas blends viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines and relatively low yields at 52hl/ha. Look for a fresh aromatic floral nose that mixes nectarines and dried fruits. On the palate, peach and honey mix effortlessly with a creamy lees character. Very serious value here. A small percentage is barrel fermented in new oak but the bulk is aged only in stainless steel tanks to retain maximum freshness and finesse. (AG)
88 Cono Sur Viognier Limited Release 2008
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, nectarine, honey, grapefruit, orange, grassy aromas. Fresh, crisp, round palate with a touch of sweetness. Honey, spicy, floral, ginger, orange, juicy melon flavours. Elegant and fun with lots of fruit. Consistently fine and this is one of the best yet. (AG-ST)
88 Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon 2008
Gascony, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine stores, QC $15.00
The Grassa family reputation was built in Armagnac but how can you ignore this perfect little white wine. Under screwcap this refreshing stylish sauvignon is all but recession-proof bottle at $15. Love the big fresh nose of passion fruit, lemons and limes with a touch of asparagus and crisp acidity. I love this with oysters or chicken curries but you can serve it just about anywhere. Huge value in an inexpensive classy white wine. (AG-ST)
88 Stork's Tower Sauvignon Blanc - Verdejo 2008 Sauvignon Blanc - Viognier
Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Spain is getting in on the fresh white wine kick with this interesting blend of sauvignon and verdejo creating an aromatic wine with a sense of harmony and balance. The entry is a mix of grassy peachy fruit with bits of citrus rind and green apple skin in the finish. I served this with a grilled chicken salad and it was perfect. The sauvignon and verdejo fruit comes off several sites including some in Rueda. Good value. The Diam cork assures the wine will never be musty but it's a drag to extract. A screwcap would double sales next year. (AG-ST)
88 Torres Vina Esmeralda 2008 Moscatel - Gewürztraminer
Catalunya, Spain
BC $14.49 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, MB $14.00, ON $11.95 Vintages, QC $15.00
Esmeralda has really elevated its game under screwcap. The Upper Penedès white blend of 85/15 gewürztraminer/moscatel jumps out of your glass with bright fresh aromatic fruit that is alive. Expect a zesty, bright super fruited wine with bits of lychee, green apple, lemon lime and tropical melons. You can serve it solo but it will really brighten up your sushi, Thai, or Indian dishes. It is a personal favourite with curry. Great value in most of Canada and a ridiculous buy in Ontario. (AG-ST)
87 Deinhard Riesling Classic 2007
Rheinhessen, Germany
BC $13.00 specialty listing, NS $11.00
Take a great vintage, add a well made wine and sell it for next to nothing and you have a bargain. Check out the bright fresh ripe peachy fruit with bits of red apple and citrus on the nose and palate. More finesse than its price would suggest. Serve all summer solo or with light foods. (AG-ST)
87 Devil's Rock Pfalz Riesling 2007
Pfalz, Germany
BC $12.00 specialty listing
Clean fresh, bright, fruit nose with bits of petrol, green apple skin and fresh lemon. The entry is tart with dry citrus, mineral, slate, butter/lemon notes and a medium long finish. Zesty upbeat and finished under screwcap. This is a bargain you should purchase by the case. Serve whenever you want to have fun. (AG-ST)
87 Doña Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Tupungato, Central Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $14.00 speculative listing - Mark Anthony Brands, AB $15.00 private wine shops, NF $15.00
This 100 percent sauvignon comes from the high altitude Tupungato area of Mendoza's Uco Valley. Look for green hues in this otherwise pale white wine. The nose is an herbal leafy mix of gooseberry and grapefruit. On the palate the same them continues with more gooseberry nectarine skin and passion fruit flavours. Stark fresh and food friendly. This wine is getting better each harvest. (AG-ST)
87 Emiliana Adobe Sauvignon Blanc Reserva Orgánico 2009
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $13.50 specialty listing
Wow. Fresh clean, bright, fruity, organic and tasty. Look for an enticing nose of citrus fruits and grapefruit. Similar flavours mark the palate with refreshing acidity and a crisp finish. Really, what more can you ask for the price. There is great value here that should terrify most of New Zealand. (AG-ST)
87 Fazi Battaglia Titulus Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2007
Marche, Italy
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine stores, ON $11.00, QC $13.00
Nutty, green apple skin, lees, light dried herb aromas. Round, full, elegant body with good acidity balance. Nutty, herbal, gooseberry, green apple, lemon flavours. Good vibrancy will go well with grilled fish. Would be even better under screwcap. Good value. (AG-ST)
87 Ketu Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
BC $15.00
New Zealand sauvignon blanc is delicious but expensive for what it is and given our dollar it's time we had a wine like this. Ketu Bay is made by the folks at Konrad and while it may not be their finest juice it over delivers for $14 with its bits of passion fruit and melon and gobs of citrus. Fresh and drinkable bring on the prawns or the mussels or the clams or the oysters. (AG-ST)
87 Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay 2007
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $12.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine shops, MB $11.50, NB $12.00, NF $13.00, NS $12.50, ON $11.00, PEI $14.00, QC $12.00, SK $13.00
This wine is pretty much dialled in these days with its fresh green apple aromas and buttery grapefruit tones. The entry is lean with a bit of citrus bite. On the palate it remains elegant with just a touch of sweet fruit marked by green apple pear lime rind flavours. Simple straight-up chardonnay made for seafood salads and light summer fare. (AG-ST)
87 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2007 Grenache Blanc - Bourboulenc - Marsanne - Roussanne - Viognier
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $14.00 specialty listing, ON $11.00
Floral, spicy, pear, apple skin, slate and citrus aromas. Ripe, round, fresh palate with good acidity and richness. Pear, citrus, butter, slate, quince, floral apple flavours. Good finesse, attractive style for food. Very good value. Exciting value/real wine. (AG-ST)
87 Louis Latour Ardèche Chardonnay 2006
France
BC $13.49 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops, NF $14.00, ON $12.00 general listing, PEI $14.00, QC $13.00
Grassy, butter, dried herb, mineral, pear skin aromas. Dry, crisp, slightly austere palate with mineral, lime, apple skin, pear, butter, herbal flavours. Good solid food wine if a bit austere on the finish. Solid value. (AG-ST)
87 Bodega Lurton Pinot Gris 2008
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $12.50 specialty listing
Floral, gooseberry, passion fruit, nutty, citrus nose. Round, fresh, slightly oily texture with a hint of sweetness. Passion fruit, gooseberry, grassy, grapefruit, butter flavours. A riper style but good for seafood. Year after year, this presents continued good value. (AG)
87 Viu Manent Malbec 2008
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.00 specialty listing
Sweet spicy sappy red with intense black plums with bits of tobacco smoke and gamey notes. The entry is and smooth with spicy black pepper and plum fruit notes and a savoury licorice grilled mushrooms flavours. Smooth, silky peppery finish. Amazing quality for Chilean malbec and good value to boot. (AG-ST)
RED
89 Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap 2008 Syrah - Mourvèdre - Viognier
Western Cape, South Africa
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, MB $15.00, NF $14.00, NS $14.00, ON $14.00, QC $16.00
Tasted twice this year and we must say this wine goes from strength to strength. Love the wild smoky meaty notes on the nose with plenty of ripe blackberry/blueberry fruit and spicy liquorice flavours. Outstanding value red wine that should stand up to a series of robust fall and winter menu items. Well done. (AG-ST)
88 Emiliana Adobe Syrah Reserva Orgánico 2007
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine shops
This wine has been impressive from its first release and the latest is no exception. Look for smoky blue and black fruits with peppery, spicy, mineral, notes on the nose and in the mouth. The palate is slippery with a lush dense weight New World syrah finish. Great value here in a wine made from organically grown grapes. (AG-ST)
88 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2007 Grenache - Syrah - Mourvèdre
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing, QC $15.00
Peppery, smoky, dried herb, garrigue, licorice, black cherry, plum jam aromas. Ripe, round, supple and smooth palate with good richness and acidity. Big black cherry, plum spicy, floral, licorice, peppery, mineral, rooty flavours. Warm finish with great fruit and flavours concentration. An outstanding vintage and great value here, buy by the case. (AG-ST)
87 Castillo de Almansa Reserva 2005 Monastrell - Tempranillo - Cabernet Sauvignon
Almansa, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
BC $13.00 specialty listing, AB $12.99 private wine shops, NS $14.00, ON $11.10, QC $12.45
The Castillo de Almansa Reserva is a 70/30 blend of tempranillo and monastrell all matured in American oak casks for one year. Smooth seductive supple textures match the smoky, spicy, plummy fruit aromas and flavours. Best of all it is clean albeit warm in the finish. Good value here. (AG-ST)
87 Chakana Syrah 2008
Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing, NS $16.00
The Chakana estate is at Agrelo in the Luján de Cuyo district of Mendoza/ the wine is 100% syrah from young five-year-old vines. Only ten percent of the wine sees oak, which allows its strong black fruit flavours to pervade the wine. A rich, spicy, mineral-scented, exotic red with a long, ripe, warm finish. New World syrah The classic red: for beef grilled or roasted. (AG-ST)
87 Chono Reserva Carmenère Syrah 2007 Carmenère - Syrah
Elqui Valley, Chile
BC $0.00 specialty listing
Tobacco leaf, menthol, sweaty saddle, barnyard, peppery, meaty, clove, smoky cassis, sappy, herbal aromas. Round, dry, smooth, rich palate with some finesse. Warm with plum, black pepper, tobacco leaf, saddle leather, herbal, smoky tomato leaf, garrigue flavours. Well balanced and smooth but on the strong barnyard-herbaceous side. (AG-ST)
87 La Mano Mencia Roble 2007
Bierzo, Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $14.00 specialty listing
A new label to BC from Castillo y Leon. The grape is mencia, certainly well known in the Bierzo region. Look for smoky, tobacco, peppery, cherry jam nose with bits of cranberry and dried meat. Round, dry, slightly tannic palate with peppery, meaty, smoky, garrigue, dried cherry and tobacco leaf flavours. Solid, Euro-style food wine. (AG-ST)
87 Mad Housewife Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
California, United States
BC $14.00
Pale red colour. Soft, sweet entry with bright cherry fruit marked bits of milk chocolate and mint without any searing acidity in the finish. Standard fare, no rough edges, friendly-style California cabernet that over delivers for the price. (AG-ST)
87 Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 fine wine shops, MB $12.00 private wine shops
Peppery, smoky, spicy, meaty, cassis, floral, earthy, tobacco aromas. Smooth, round, easy style with cassis, smoky, peppery, earthy, licorice, spicy flavours. Good solid, forward style to drink now for general consumers. Solid value. (AG-ST)
87 Pascual Toso Malbec 2008
Maipú, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $14.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops, ON $13.00, QC $14.00
Consistently well made is the story of Toso. Always rich and savoury it offers plenty of liquorice and sweet black fruit up front and a warm, minty, peppery, smooth back end. A crowd pleaser without a lot of complexity but plenty of long showy fruit. Steaks anyone. (AG-ST)
87 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2007
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $12.00 general listing, AB $9.75, MB $10.19, ON $9.45, SK $11.94
A soft, silky, cedar-y blend of Maipo minty/bay leaf black fruits with a soft mid-palate. Look for bits of earth mushrooms spice and leather in the back end of this easy to drink red. A touch of French oak rounds out the palate. Serve with barbecue meats or hard cheese. Crazy value. (AG-ST)
87 St. Hallett Gamekeeper's Reserve 2007 Shiraz - Grenache
Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
BC $14.50 specialty, ON $14.90 LCBO
Re-tasted recently and much like the first version with a touch more softness. Look for spicy earthy tea aromas with bits of warm black fruit and raspberry. The entry is soft with pronounced acidity throughout. The flavours combine blueberries, licorice root and smoky, lifted black raspberry notes. Simple straight ahead red wine blend for immediate consumption. (AG)
87 Trivento Amado Sur Malbec Bonarda Syrah 2006 Malbec - Shiraz
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $17.00, NF $17.00, NS $20.00
Open smoky, meaty, savoury, floral, black cherry, plum, coffee, tobacco aromas. Ripe, round, smooth, slightly sweet and sour palate. Cherry, plum, coffee, herbal, tobacco, savoury, vanilla pudding flavours with some black olive and licorice on the finish. Good solid wine for the grill. (AG-ST)
