November 19/07 - Top Import Wine Picks in Canada

WHITES

88 Castaño Macabeo Chardonnay 2006 Chardonnay - Macabeo
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $9.99 speculative listing - Next Beverage
Floral, honeysuckle, spicy, peach, almond, red apple and honey aromas. Ripe, round, fresh palate that is a tad fat but is well balanced. Mineral, citrus, honey, passion fruit, ginger and apple skin flavours. Fine seafood or turkey wine, has a bit of Albariño like characters. Incredible value. What more can you ask for at this price? A 50/50 blend of macabeo and chardonnay. (AG-ST)

88 Torres Gran Vina Sol Chardonnay 2005
Catalunya, Spain
AB $16.00 private wine shops, ON $11.00, QC $18.00
This highly modern Spanish chardonnay blends 85 per cent chardonnay with 15 per cent parellada and the result is a very sophisticated fresh white wine. The oak has been reined in over the years leaving the aromatic white to show off its peachy, buttery, nutty, floral fruit flavours. After crushing, pressing and cold settling, 70% of the juice is vinified in stainless steel tanks, the remainder in new French oak barrels. Only 40 per cent of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation placing this chardonnay in the modern, cool-climate, fresh style. (AG)

87 Arrogant Frog Ribet White 2006
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.99 specialty listing, ON $13.00 consignment - The Yorkville Wine Company
The last time I wrote about this wine, I suggested Paul Mas had the pulse of the wine public and he's not from Australia. Turned out the wine was only available in private wine shops and not easy to find. Well now it is in government stores, the price is cheaper and you should know the former Domaine Virginie winemaker is making wine far more serious than his Arrogant Frog moniker. This is a crisp, light, mineral, citrus, grassy white with freshness in the mouth that cries out for oysters or shellfish. Really, it represents killer value in a non-aggressive easy sipping made for food sauvignon. (AG-ST)

87 Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2006
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $14.00 private wine shops, MB $15.00, NB $15.23, NF $15.00, NS $13.50, ON $14.15, QC $16.00, SK $16.00
The chardonnay in Koonunga Hill is still sourced from multiple districts with significant contributions from South Australia GIs Clare and Padthaway. The nose is open the entry is soft with tart apples and citrus aromas, it's all good. On the palate, the fruit is bright with peachy, buttery, melon flavours with creamy, oily textures in the finish. A very solid performer. (AG-ST)

87 Miguel Torres Santa Digna Selección Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
ON $12.95 Vintages
The '06 Reserve is a super fresh statement of citrus, mineral and lime rind with flecks of gooseberry and melon. Light airy and clean on entry the mix of grapefruit and mineral, gooseberries and green apples benefit form no wood. A fun oyster wine but will be just as effective with an array of seafood. Great value. Should be listed across the country. (AG-ST)

87 Paul Mas Viognier 2006
l'Hérault, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.99 speculative listing - Charton-Hobbs
Jean Claude Mas blends viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines and relatively low yields at 52hl/ha. Only 15 per cent of the wine is barrel fermented in new oak the remaining 85 per cent is aged only in stainless steel tanks. Look for a bright, floral nose that mixes nectarines and dried fruits and with honey/lees aromas. Much like the previous edition it has a wealth of peachy apricot, ginger fruit with a mineral, honey, butter finish. A versatile food wine, not to mention a fabulous bargain. Buy it by the case. Farming is performed to maximize the respect and preservation of the environment and nature as much as possible. They call it "agriculture raisonnée". (AG)

87 Santa Cristina Antinori Pinot Grigio 2006
Tuscany, Italy
BC $14.99 specialty listing
New from Antinori and this Sicilian pinot grigio is a winner. Look for a bright fresh, citrus floral nose that follows through on the palate. Snappy fresh and affordable this is grigio that works for the price, and screams Italy too. Good value. (AG)

87 Tormaresca Chardonnay 2005
Apulia, Italy
BC $13.99 specialty listing, AB $12.99 private wine shop, SK $14.19
Tormaresca chardonnay blends fruit from both key Tormaresca estates: Bocca di Lupo in Murgia, and Masseria Maime in Salento. It's partially barrel fermented which accounts for its buttery peach aromas and flavours, but you can also taste the minerals and the nearby sea influence on the nose and palate. A soft, fresh, ripe apple/citrus chardonnay with an elegant demeanour that reflects its European origins in flavour and style. Try with sole or other light, simply prepared fish dishes. (AG)

89 Torres Vina Esmeralda 2006 Moscatel - Gewürztraminer
Catalunya, Spain
BC $14.49 specialty listing, MB $14.00, ON $11.95 Vintages, QC $15.00
Perhaps the best Esmeralda since it was first released in 1961. The Upper Penedès white is a delicious 85/15 mix of moscatel/gewürztraminer. Now under screwcap it has an even brighter level of minerality with intense floral, lemon oil and spicy, nectarine skin aromas. A bright, zesty, white with lychee, green apple, lemon lime notes. Delicate styling yet perfectly able to stand up to powerful spicy dishes. Try with calamari or mussels or light curry dishes. (AG-ST)

REDS

87 Arrogant Frog Ribet Red 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $13.99 specialty listing
The not so arrogant frog is going organic mixing 55 per cent cabernet sauvignon with 45 per cent merlot grown between the Mediterranean Sea and the Hérault Valley. Ribet Red is just that and it has a snappy red screw cap and label to boot. Look for a fragrant, balanced, sensible red wine with more than just fruit. Only a quarter of the wine sees oak to help fill out the mid-palate. After that it's simply delicious drop of inexpensive cabernet merlot and that's not easy to accomplish. A barbecue red with frog's legs. Ribet ribet. (AG-ST)

88 Bisquertt Casa La Joya Reserve Carmenère 2004
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $14.95 estimated price
The La Joya Reserve has fine intensity moving everything up a notch form the regular. Look for intense herbal smoky peppery black fruit, with a touch of jalapeño and smooth silky tannins. Well constructed for grilled meats or pork. Drink or hold for three to five years. (AG-ST)

87 Casillero del Diablo Shiraz 2006
Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $12.95 specialty listing, AB $12.25, MB $11.95, NF $12.29, SK $13.10
It's hard to believe this wine could be so consistent year after year, but it is. Always peppery, it has just enough smoky meaty notes grab your attention before the cherry and chocolate kicks in. This is outstanding for the price and pretty much in a field of its own at $13. (AG-ST)

87 Bodega Lurton Malbec 2006
Medrano, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
BC $13.49 specialty listing, NS $13.00, ON $11.15 Vintages
Lurton manages to suppress the savoury earthy characters of Mendoza, pushing them into the background in favour of a slightly cleaner, fruiter style. Look for more black fruit flavours with a smooth, supple palate. It has impressive texture and weight and should be a big hit for the price. (AG)

87 Marrenon Premices Organic Cotes du Luberon 2006 Grenache - Syrah
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, South of France, France
BC $14.99 specialty listing
Spicy, gamey, barnyard, meaty, licorice root, black cherry aromas mark this 65/35 grenache syrah blend with some black cherry jam. Round, warm, slightly tannic, rustic palate with some grip and acidity. Good black cherry, plum, peppery, meaty, smoky tobacco leaf flavours. A bit warm and chunky on the finish but with some intensity. Good value. (AG-ST)

87 Morandé Carmenère 2005
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $12.99 speculative listing - Stile Wines
Another stylish effort form Morandé deliver all you could ask for at this price level. Unabashedly carmenère with is herbaceous leafy nose but with a soft peppery fruity demeanour flecked with chocolate. Fine value for carmenère freaks. Serve liberally around the barbecue. (AG-ST)

89 Santa Rita Reserva Pinot Noir 2006
Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.99 specialty
The first 100% Leyda bottling from 8 and 9 year-old vines. Look for an enticing spicy, licorice, black cherry, rootsy, smoky nose with vanilla, orange peel and floral aromas. Ripe, round, supple and fresh and all with elegance. There is fine acidity balance and the alcohol is managed quite well. Big black cherry jam, orange peel, compost, celery salt, licorice, and caraway flavours. Very New World but very pinot. Good concentration and finish with great fruit. The is terrific value pinot for current drinking. Buy this one by the case. Coming in November 2007. (AG-ST)

87 Tormaresca Neprica 2004 Negroamaro - Primitivo - Cabernet Sauvignon
Apulia, Italy
BC $14.99 specialty listing, AB $12.95 private wine shop, SK $14.97
The clever Neprica blends ne-groamaro, pr-imitivo and ca-bernet sauvignon to capture the warm, almost tropical essence of southern Italy. Chocolate, licorice and black fruit with flecks of mineral and anise make this a perfect introduction to the New South wrapped in an earthy, inviting style. A solid performer spaghetti Bolognese, grilled sausages and flank steak. (AG-ST)

87 Trivento Amado Sur Malbec Bonarda Syrah 2005 Malbec - Shiraz
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing
A new listing form Trivento now well established as a quality for money producer. This is a big rich savoury malbec, further bolster by a 30 per cent mix of bonarda and syrah. The entry is sweet and spicy with peppery mid-palate tones and ripe plummy dark fruit flavours. Lots of smoke and vanilla. Good if a bit-like an Australia wannabe. (AG-ST)

87 Trivento Reserve Syrah 2005
Mendoza, Argentina2
BC $13.98 specialty listing, NF $15.95
Trivento has its eye on value and this Reserve syrah is likely as good as any label yet we've seen from this Concha y Toro property in Mendoza. Expect dense meaty peppery, black fruit with a twist of savoury Argentine spice. Warm rustic, and affordable it's the perfect antidote to a cool, autumn evening. (AG)