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SPARKLING 87 Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee N/V Chardonnay - Pinot Noir Australia BC $14.00 specialty listing New to the market and a fun addition for those of you who want a dry but fruity sparkler without the aggressive acidity.
SPARKLING
87 Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee N/V Chardonnay - Pinot Noir
Australia
BC $14.00 specialty listing
New to the market and a fun addition for those of you who want a dry but fruity sparkler without the aggressive acidity. The grape mix is chardonnay and pinot noir, the nose a citrus affair with soft red fruit flavours with a touch of yeast and crushed hazelnuts. The texture and finish is creamy and soft. (AG-ST)
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)
87 Pierre Sparr Crémant Brut Reserve N/V
Alsace, France
AB $32.00 private wine shops, ON $17.00, PEI $21.00
Clean correct fresh brut style with nectarine skin and peachy undertones. The attack is dry and fresh with citrus, creamy par fruit flavours. A spare style suited to pre-dinner appetizers with a citrus aftertaste. (AG-ST)
WHITE
88 Domaine du Clos du Bourg Chenin Blanc Demi-Sec 2010
Touraine, Loire, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Demi-sec is your clue that this red apple and honey-scented white is off-dry. The attack is warm and full with big floral, mineral, pear fruit flavours. There is enough acidity to carry the sweet, succulent character that shouts out spicy dishes. You could easily pair this with spicy curries and other Asian dishes or be a little more daring and try it with barbecued ribs. Good value. (AG-ST)
88 Errazuriz Estate Reserva Chardonnay 2010
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.00 speculative listing - Philippe Dandurand, AB $13.00 fine wine boutiques, MB $14.00, ON $11.00, QC $14.00
Light toasty lees, green apple skin, honey, citrus and pear skin aromas mark the nose of this terrific chardonnay value. The palate is dry, fresh and elegant with light honey, vanilla, green apple skin and bright floral flavours. Good delicacy in an exciting cool-climate style. Good value. (AG)
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, quince and ginger aromas and its fresh, alive, slightly oily textures that preview more juicy lemon oil, honey, quince, grapefruit, ginger and pear skin flavours. There is fine intensity and length all at a great price. Perfect with bouillabaisse but it is also a great summer sipper. Great value. Under screwcap it is now money in the bank for wine lists. (AG-ST)
88 Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2011
Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $12.00 specialty listing, AB $11.75 private wine shop, MB $11.26, NB $11.00, NF $11.11, ON $8.50
Tasted the 2011 during the heat wave in southern Ontario and did it ever deliver. Like the 2010, Santa Carolina has nailed the fresh, mineral aspects of this variety with light, seawater, grapefruit and watermelon flavours. The style is refreshing without the aggressive, bitter asparagus notes in the finish but rather light, smoky jalapeno and juicy guava notes. Extreme value. (AG)
88 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2010
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 style of Santa Rita sauvignon is all but locked down nowadays with its intense lime rind and gooseberry and cassis leaf aromas and flavours. Its Casablanca fruit shouts cool and clean and crisp with a citrus lime rind gooseberry undercurrent that persists through the finish. Serve is with grilled prawns or the Greek specialty saganaki. (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 Carmen Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
BC $14.00 general listing, AB $13.00 private wine shops, QC $13.00
Carmen has a long history of making excellent sauvignon and this Casablanca version is no exception. Expect an intense gooseberry and grassy experience with green fruit and asparagus undercurrents. The palate is fresh, clean and elegant. A terrific style that has finesse and elegance and intensity. Oysters. Clams and or mussels are the ticket here. (AG-ST)
87 Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
BC $15.00
Much like last year we enjoy this crisp lemony wine with the intense gooseberry, lemon grass and smoked jalapeno nose. The attack is fresh and well a balanced with grapefruit, baked apple and gooseberry flavours. Love the cleanliness and value of this sauvignon with a touch of Sancerre. (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 Domaine du Pioch d'Or 2009
Picpoul de Pinet, Coteaux du Languedoc, Languedoc, South of France, France
ON $14.00 LCBO
Picpoul makes a lot of sense in the summer heat. This '09 is getting long in the tooth but still offers up that wisp of Meyer lemon and honey with fresh minerality and a hint of ginger spice on the nose and palate. Good flavour intensity makes it one of few wines suited to soup such as bouillabaisse or simply pour freely on the patio. (AG-ST)
87 Est Est Est di Montefiascone 2010 Trebbiano - Malvasia
Lazio, Italy
BC $14.00 specialty listing
Some of you of a certain age will remember the Bigi Est Est Est that used to dominate the market prior to the explosion of New World wines. This edition from Falesco eschews the cardboard and flavourless aspects for a bright fresh, citrus, mineral, peachy white that represents some crazy value in this market. Simply prepared pasta or chicken would be a fine match. (AG-ST)
87 Farmer Dominque Torgan Grenache Blanc 2010
France
BC $15.00 specialty listing
There is something to be said for fresh, bright mouth-watering, citrus, herbal, mineral based white wines that do not pretend to be anything else but that. Love the fresh drinkability and balance. We tried it with guacamole and baby carrots but it would be equally at home with roasted chicken. Good value. (AG)
87 Fazi Battaglia Titulus Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2009
Marche, Italy
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $13.00 private wine stores, ON $11.00, QC $13.00
This wine is consistently fresh and clean nowadays although it could surely use a screwcap for ultimate reliability. Look for a nutty, green apple skin bouquet with bits for dried herbs for highlights. The body is round and supple but with enough acidity and herbal, gooseberry, green apple, citrus flavours to clean your palate after each bite. Grilled fish or simply prepared clams would be a perfect match. Good value. (AG-ST)
87 Foppiano Estate Chardonnay 2009
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States
CDN $30.00 estimated pricing
Peach, honey, leesy, grapefruit, nutty aromas with a touch of butter. Soft, round, easy palate with a bit of sweetness. Buttered popcorn, honey, nutty lees, baked apple and citrus flavours. A bit short and warm on the finish. (AG-ST)
87 Frisk Prickly Riesling 2010
Victoria, Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 specialty listing
Wait a minute didn't you just warn us about goofy names and labels. Yep, but sometimes the wine is better than the label and riesling gets the benefit of the doubt since we have so few to choose from. This one is simple, it's fresh, off-dry and the prickly thing is a bit of unfermented juice put back in the bottle to offer up some natural spritz. Nectarines, lemon sherbet, floral powder, limes you name it it's all here. Chill this down and order Thai food. Did I mention it is only 8 percent alcohol? (AG-ST)
87 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Luberon Blanc 2010 Grenache Blanc - Bourboulenc - Ugni Blanc - Roussanne
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, South of France, France
BC $14.00 Everything Wine, AB $13.00, MB $14.00, NS $11.66, ON $11.30, ON $20.00 (1500 ml), QC $13.30
Fresh, peachy ginger nose with bits of white flowers and lemon oil. The entry is dry and crisp with nectarine, baked pear, and almond, mineral and ginger flavours. There is fine intensity of flavours and it's persistent through the finish. Should be perfect with halibut and fruit salsa. (AG-ST)
87 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2009 Grenache Blanc - Bourboulenc - Marsanne - Rousanne - 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 Montes Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Valle del Curicó, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 speculative listing - Trialto Wine Group, NB $14.00, NS $15.00, ON $13.00
The Classic Series is exactly what you want for the price. Fresh lemons dried herbs a dash of green fruit and gooseberry but all in balance. The texture is soft but with fine acidity and crispness that invites another bite of food. Super value. (AG-ST)
87 Nollen Notorious Rooster Riesling QBA 2010
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
BC $14.00 specialty listing
Every once and a while an inexpensive Germany riesling, almost always from the Mosel, over delivers and that is the case with Notorious a delicious little$14 riesling. We love the fresh nectarine skin aromas and the peachy, watermelon fruit all with freshness and balance. Great value for $14. (AG-ST)
87 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2010
South Australia, Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing, AB $15.00 private wine shops, NB $16.00, NF $16.00, NS $15.00, ON $15.00, QC $16.00, SK $18.00
Citrus, green apple skin, pear, honey, light lees and butter aromas. Fresh, crisp, round, slightly soft and hot palate with baked pear, green apple skin, nectarine, butter and grapefruit flavours. A skinnier, cooler style chardonnay, Koonunga Hill is still sourced from multiple districts with significant contributions from South Australia GIs Clare and Padthaway. (AG-ST)
87 Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde 2010 Loureiro - Trajadura - Arinto - Azal
Vinhos Verde, Northern Portugal, Portugal
BC $14.00 Everything Wine, NF $12.00, NS $12.00, ON $10.00, PEI $14.00
Just the essence of the fruit here with light chalky, melon, lime rind and citrus aromas. The attack is similarly fresh and crisp with juicy mineral, green apple / green melon flavours with a citrus water finish. Classic summer sipper for light fare. Bring on the heat and a great try something different wine. (AG-ST)
87 Smart Grasshopper Gruner 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)
87 Three Winds Viognier 2010
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.00
Floral, honey, matchstick, popcorn, green pineapple, light lees aromas. Ripe, round, fresh, somewhat sweet palate with honey, citrus, baked pear, ginger, baked apple flavours. Simple, fresh, attractive consumer style for the money. (AG-ST)
ROSÉ
88 Mission Hill Rosé Five Vineyards 2010 Merlot - Pinot Noir
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Mission Hill's 'Five Vineyard' lineup continues to be consistent and really, for the money, very hard to beat. The rosé one of the best locally with its fresh, alive fruit aromas and flavours mixing citrus, watermelon and strawberries with a dash of minerality and just the right amount of residual sugar. Grilled chicken, potato salad, corn you name it this will work all summer. Good value in a merlot and pinot noir blend. (AG)
RED
88 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)
88 Domaine des Causses Lirac 2009 Grenache - Syrah
Lirac, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
QC $17.00
Big spicy, white pepper, black raspberry jam, smoky, floral, licorice, gamey aromas. Ripe, round, dry, slightly tannic palate but full and balanced. Plum jam, black cherry, peppery, spicy, savoury, gamey, licorice flavours. Finish is warm and juicy with good fruit intensity. Drink now or keep for a few years. Worth seeking out. (AG-ST)
88 Farmer Robert Grenache Noir 2010
France
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Farmer Robert is a bit kitschy for the French but make no mistake this grenache is a winner for the price. Ripe and round its intense raspberry fruit aromas and flavours lay over a rustic earthy tobacco scented red that will disappear if you leave it on the kitchen table at any house party. Try it with grilled meats for best effect. (AG)
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 Gabriel Meffre Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages Saint Mapalis 2009 Rhone Valley, France
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Another delicious '09 from the Rhone. Love the spicy red fruit nose with traces of dried herbs and pepper. The palate is similar with dense, rich fruit, bits of chocolate, rich but smooth tannins. Drink now with lamb chops or hold five years for even better results. Gabriel Meffre established his company in Gigondas in 1936 and has launched the Laurus, Louis Bernard, La Châsse, Fat Bastard and Wild Pig brands. They own over 2,000 acres in the southern Rhone along with numerous grower contracts. Plan de Dieu or literally the "Plain of God," has been planted since the late Middle-Ages and was recently restored by Meffre. In 2005 it was officially recognised with "AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages" classification. (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)
88 Mapema Malbec Tempranillo 2009 Malbec - Tempranillo
Mendoza, Argentina
BC $15.00 specialty listing
I have a feeling this super rich, dense, fruity red will be a big hit in BC. The result of two Argentine wine masters, Pepe Galante (nee Catena) and Mariano di Paola of la Rural/Rutini the pair has chosen a combination that could have legs, malbec and tempranillo. The tempranillo tempers the fat lush malbec fruit and the result is a delicious, smoky, jammy red with a savoury mineral finish. T-bones are the answer here. (AG-ST)
87 Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo Aged 7 Years 2003
Valdepeñas, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
BC $13.00 specialty listing
Expect a pleasant cedar, tobacco, black olive, savoury smoky nose. Fresh dry, round and elegant the palate is supple with earthy, tobacco, olive, peppery, spicy, sage, dried cherry and prune flavours. Good acidity and balance that is designed for food and drinking. Can't beat the quality and price. (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 Calcu Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmenère - Petit Verdot
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $15.00 estimated pricing
Cassis, blackberry, coffee, vanilla, tobacco, earthy, barnyard, bay leaf aromas. Soft, round, fresh palate with some light, tight tannins. Peppery, vanilla, coffee, herbal, cassis, sappy, spicy, black olive, leather flavours. Good flavours and concentration but needs food to balance youthful tannins and acidity. (AG-ST)
87 Castaño C Monastrell 2009
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $11.40 specialty listing, AB $12.00 private wine stores, NB $12.00
Very spicy, savoury, peppery, cedar, menthol, smoky, black cherry and tar aromas. Fresh, round, supple and juicy palate. Black cherry, plum, cedar, liquorice, tobacco, meaty, peppery flavours. A bit warm on the fin ish but has good fruit and textures. Continued good value. (AG-ST)
87 Cupcake Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Central Coast, California, United States
BC $15.00
I can't say a name like cupcake inspires me to taste a wine but to each his own I guess. Black cherry, cassis, minty, spicy, peppery cola aromas. This cabernet is surprisingly balanced and supple in the mouth with ripe black fruit flavours with some cassis, tobacco leaf, herbs and rooty, cola notes. A solid hamburger red for the summer, but serve the cupcakes for dessert. (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 Jacob's Creek St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia
AB $44.00 private wine shops, NF $30.00
Big black olive, smoky, coffee bean, tobacco leaf, peppery, green bean aromas. Dry, round, smooth but slightly tart and hollow palate. Vanilla, coffee, peppery, green olive, cassis, smoky, herbal, caraway, tobacco, resiny flavours. It's Coonawarra but it really needs a big juicy steak to balance out the cool, lean tart finish. (AG-ST)
87 La Casona de Castaño Old Vines G-S-M 2009 Grenache - Syrah - Mourvèdre
Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $9.50 speculative listing - Delf Group
Very spicy, floral, plum, cherry, savoury, celery salt aromas. Fresh, tight, somewhat lean palate with white pepper, orange, plum, rooty, savoury, mineral flavours. A bit tart but has good fruit and freshness with some persistence. Great value. (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 Morse Code Padthaway Shiraz 2008
Padthaway, South Australia, Australia
BC $15.00 specialty listing
Blueberry, prune, spicy, menthol, floral, liquorice, peppery, meaty aromas. Round, smooth, fresh, slightly sweet palate with black berry jam, blueberry, orange peel, chocolate flavours. Lots of fruit and intensity but pretty fresh finish. Try with duck in blueberry sauce. Solid value. (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)
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 Poggio Morino Maremma Toscana Rosso 2008 Sangiovese - Syrah
Maremma, Tuscany, Italy
BC $15.00
Leafy, tobacco, meaty, peppery, pruny, smoky, black cherry aromas. Soft, round, supple palate with spicy, meaty, peppery, savoury, smoky, black cherry flavours. Good solid barbecue red at a fair price. (AG-ST)
87 Portillo Malbec 2009
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, Argentina
BC $14.00 speculative listing - Diamond Estates
This is a very soft, easy-sipping malbec with ripe round dark fruit aromas and flavours. Look for plums and milk chocolate on what is a balanced if friendly commercial palate. (AG-ST)
87 Protocolo Tinto 2008
Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain
BC $13.00 speculative listing - Christopher Stewart Wines
Floral, savoury, meaty, tobacco, black cherry, carrot top, herbal aromas. Dry, round, supple palate with peppery, earthy, black olive, tobacco, leather, and prune and curry flavours. Good structure and intensity for food and a great price. Made with 100 per cent high-altitude tempranillo, grown in central Spain. (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)
87 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Organic 2009
Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
ON $14.00
Big sappy, cassis jam, black cherry, peppery, savoury, leather, tobacco leaf aromas. Dry, fresh, round, somewhat tannic palate with fresh acidity. Coffee, peppery, cassis, blackberry, olive, tobacco, minty, vanilla, coffee flavours. Good concentration if a bit stewed and leafy on the finish. It still needs two to three more years of bottle age or try it with a rare steak. (AG-ST)
87 Three Winds Syrah 2010
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
BC $14.00 specialty listing
Meaty, rooty, liquorice, gamey, leather, barnyard aromas. Round, dry, supple palate with fresh acidity. Liquorice, meaty, gamey, smoky, herbal, tobacco, black cherry flavours. Good intensity but somewhat reduced, give it a bit of air-time in a decanter to clean up the nose. Try this with lamb. (AG-ST)
