September 1/06 - Top Import Wine Picks in Canada

WHITES

87 Bouchard Aîné & Fils Chardonnay 2005
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
AB $11.99 private wine shops; BC $11.99 specialty
Ripe apple, lees, mineral, citrus skin, slightly floral nose. Round, dry, slightly tight but elegant style with green apple, smoky, mineral, light lees flavours with a touch of honey and a crisp finish. Good solid food wine that exhibits chardonnay character. Good value.

87 Cono Sur Viognier Limited Release 2005
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $10.99
This wine goes from strength to strength and the price must be embarrassing to many other wines. The nose is full, spicy open and brimming with orange citrus notes. Only 40 per cent of the wine sees wood the rest is kept in stainless steel. The palate is fresh and dry with honey and mineral flavours. Serve well chilled all summer this is patio superstar.

87 Jacques & Francois Lurton Fumées Blanches 2005
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
AB $10.99 private wine shops; BC $11.99 specialty listing; ON $10.95 general listing; QC $13.35
Clean mineral nose smoky citrus aromas with bits of gooseberry and green peach. Dry elegant mid-palate with green melon, mineral slate-y and grapefruit. Fresh clean and balanced and clean. Second year under screwcap and it all looks good.

87 Vina Chilcaya Chardonnay Reserva 2005
Valle del Colchagua, Valle del Rapel, Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $12.99
Viña Chilcaya or 'liquid gem' in native Mapuche is made by Viña Bisquertt for Gallo in Chile's Colchagua Valley. Look for a bright well made chardonnay with creamy pear and mineral flavours flecked with citrus and spice. Fine value.

86 Banfi Le Rime Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio 2004 Chardonnay - Pinot Grigio
Tuscany, Italy
BC $14.95 specialty listing; ON $12.95 Vintages
Grapefruit, mineral, smoky, floral, light melon nose. Crisp, round, dry style with red apple, grapefruit, mineral, almond flavours. Dryer style for grilled fish or shellfish.

86 Cono Sur Reserve Chardonnay 2005
Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile
CDN $15.00 retail; ON $13.95 Vintages
The Reserve is a blend of Casablanca estates fruit that gets a 60 40 wood versus stainless steel ferment where the wood is 90 new French oak. The style is softer and a bit more open showing ripe melon, mineral and citrus lime rind notes. Creamy but less well defined in the mouth and showing some dryness in the back end. Solid if unexciting compared to the aromatic varietals made at Cono Sur.

86 Cono Sur Riesling Limited Release 2005
Bio-Bio Valley, Chile
CDN $9.99 retail
Fresh bright simple fresh white wine that is stainless steel fermented. The Limited Release or entry level riesling boasts decent aromatics of fresh citrus fruit with alight mineral streak. Clean easy sipping white that delivers for the price. It's early days for Bio-Bio region but I'm sure you will hear more from this southern region.

86 Fazi Battaglia Titulus Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2004
Marche, Italy
BC $14.90 specialty listing
Consistently clean and fresh this verdicchio offers up the standard citrus, mineral almond notes on the nose and in the mouth with slightly oily textures at the back end. Dry, round, elegant. Its light, lemony mineral finish is just what the doctored order when you need a flavourful but light wine. Think clams and or mussels here.

86 Inniskillin Okanagan Pinot Grigio Reserve 2005
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
BC $14.99 specialty listing, private wine shops
Floral, grapefruit, apple skin, pear aromas. Round, soft, fresh, slightly sweet entry with red apple, citrus, mineral, floral, nutty pear flavours with a touch of bitterness at the end. Solid.

86 Langhorne Crossing Chardonnay Riesling Verdelho 2004 Chardonnay - Riesling - Verdelho
Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Australia
AB $10.99 private wine shops; BC $11.99 specialty listing; MB $11.99
Good value here in what is essentially a summer sipper. The Riesling and verdelho appears to lift the fruit in the glass. Bright crisp tropical fruit flavours with a touch o bitterness and alcohol in the finish. Simple straight-up white for a mid-week curry dish.

86 Long Flat White Semillon Sauvignon 2005 Sémillon - Sauvignon Blanc
South Eastern Australia, Australia
AB $9.99 private wine shops; BC $11.99 General; MB $10.15
Floral, peachy, buttery, lime rind, grapefruit aromas. Soft, round, slightly flat entry with a bit of residual sugar. Oily, grapefruit, lime, waxy, baked apple and mineral flavours. Try with seafood or serve solo on the deck.

86 Louis Latour Ardèche Chardonnay 2004
France
AB $11.50 private wine shops; BC $13.49 specialty listing; ON $10.95 general listing
Mineral, nutty, lees, spicy white floral nose. Elegant, dry, soft entry with buttery, leesy, mineral, apple skin flavours. Lean in a French way but solid and at a fair price.

86 Lurton Mendoza Pinot Gris 2005
Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Central Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $10.50 private wine shops; BC $11.49 specialty listing; ON $10.95 general listing; QC $15.35
Very floral, perfumed, ripe pear, red apple, mineral nose. Rich, round, fresh, slightly sweet entry with citrus, baked pear, apple flavours and nutty floral finish. Full, good fruit, slightly viscous style. Very good value when compare to B.C.

86 St. Hallett Poacher's Blend Semillon Sauvignon 2005 Sémillon - Sauvignon Blanc
Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
AB $11.95 private wine shops; BC $12.95 specialty; MB $11.95; ON $14.15
Floral, sulphur, fig, grapefruit, peachy, honey nose. Very soft, flat, somewhat sweet entry with canned grapefruit, honey, buttery, lime and butter flavours. Solid, zesty finish. A bit sweeter than the past edition but good fruit.

86 Yellow Tail Chardonnay 2005
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $12.99
Yellowtail continues to fluster the sceptics by delivering a tasty floral, peach-scented buttery white wine with a dusting of vanilla. The entry is round, soft warm and full of sweet, ripe fruit. Look for baked spiced apple, honeydew melon and citrus flavours. The finish is balanced with creamy fresh acidity. Solid value.

ROSÉ

87 Zunio Rose 2005 Pinot Noir - Syrah - Zinfandel
California, United States
AB $12.99 private wine shops; BC $13.87 specialty listing
Bright orange/cherry red colour. Dry appealing earthy undertones with a soft-ish under belly and a crisp clean finish. This stylish rose does not depend on sugar to make the grade. Certainly capable of accompanying a wide range of food. A pleasant dry rosé in a sea of sweet pink wines. Good value.

86 Château la Tour d'Aigues Poeme Rosé 2005 Syrah - Grenache
Côtes du Lubéron, Provence, South of France, France
BC $12.90 specialty listing
This is Euro-style rose made from grenache and syrah. Lean fresh citrus cherry tones with a leafy undercurrent. The entry is dry and crisp with more mineral, earthy citrus flavours. A bit skinny for sipping but perfect for grilled chicken or pork. The price is very attractive.

REDS

88 Finca Luzon Jumilla Organic 2005 Monastrell - Syrah - Cabernet Sauvignon - Tempranillo
Jumilla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain
BC $14.99
One of the best (and most affordable organic wines in the market) is back and the '05 vintage is even better. Love the rich gamey savoury chocolate, black fruit nose. Ripe and round on entry the textures are supple but with just enough acidity. Long warm, peppery, fruit flavours with more cherry chocolate and earth in the finish.

87 Borsão Selección Tinto Joven 2005
Campo de Borja, Aragon, Spain
BC $14.99 specialty listing, Marquis Wine Cellars
A mix of mostly garnacha with tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon from Campo de Borja in the North of Spain. Much riper nose and far better fruit than the '04. The winery move form natural cork in '04 to synthetic in '05 and it looks like a good move. Black fruit dominates the mid-palate with licorice and spicy undertones and good acidity and an almost youthful grapey finish. Should be very appealing to that consumer moving away from the simple, sweet, introductory reds.

87 Castillo de Monseran Garnacha 2005
Cariñena, Aragon, Spain
BC $9.85 specialty listing; QC $9.05
Monseran is made with 100 per cent garnacha grapes that are 50 to 100 years old. Look for a fruity aromatic nose with spiked with meaty, spicy, floral hints. The textures are soft and supple making this an easy sipping red with black cherry, plum and licorice flavours. Traffic value in a workhorse hamburger red.

87 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais 2005
Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
BC $14.95 general listing; QC $13.95
This is certainly one of the darkest coloured Beaujolais we've seen in years. The much heralded 2005 vintage in France has given this modest fruity quaffer a definite lift. Look for increased intensity and a bit spicier, cherry, floral fruit flavours. There is refreshing acidity throughout to remind you that this is French with juicy black fruit in the finish. It begs for food. Quail would be perfect.

87 Painter Bridge Zinfandel 2005
California, United States
BC $13.99 specialty listing
Fruity blackberry, blueberry fruit with mocha oak and peppery, meaty aromas. The entry is soft and round with mostly supple tannins. On the palate, the fruit is a mix of juicy cedar-y blackberry plum with hints of coal and licorice. A better than average, easy-sipping barbecue red at a fair price.

87 Pepperwood Grove Syrah 2004
California, United States
AB $12.95 private wine shops; BC $14.95 specialty listing
Smoky, rootsy, peppery, meaty, black berry nose. Round, soft, slightly sweet entry with ripe tannins. Juicy plum, black cherry, peppery, spicy, licorice flavours. A bit tart and warm but has very good fruit and intensity for the money. Solid value.

87 Vina Casablanca Syrah Coleccion Privada 2004
Valle del Maipo, Region del Valle Central, Chile
BC $13.99 specialty listing
Peppery, spicy, black berry, prune, smoky, roasted pepper aromas. Round, soft, dry, supple palate with minty, smoky, plum, peppery, earthy, meaty flavours with a touch of vanilla and clove. Good solid red for the richer dishes of fall and winter. Great value.

86 Bajoz Cano Tinto de Toro 2004 Tempranillo - Garnacha
Toro, Castilla-Leon, Spain
BC $12.49
Tinta de Toro means tempranillo and it makes up roughly 75 per cent of this blend the remainder is garnacha. We love the fragrant floral nose and its fresh, bright demeanour. Bajoz is repeatedly mentioned to be at the leading edge of quality in Toro. Its savoury fragrant plummy black cherry fruit flavours with a spicy licorice spin are worth getting to know. Solid red that would be great with sausages. Good value.

86 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Region del Valle Central, Chile
AB $11.95; BC $13.95 general listing; MB $10.95; NB $12.40; NF $11.64; NS $12.95; ON $11.85; PE $14.90; QC $13.15; SK $13.10
Peppery, leafy, cassis, smoky leather, coffee grind nose. Dry, round, fresh palate with light tannins. Coffee, cedar, mint, cassis, clove flavours. Solid value.

86 Dancing Bull Zinfandel 2004
Sonoma County, California, United States
BC $14.99 specialty listing; ON $15.95 Vintages
Soft smoky, briary, stewed blackberry nose. The entry is very soft and round with stewed plummy fruit flecked with licorice. This is simple everyday zin you can serve liberally around the barbecue. Ready to drink.

86 Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz 2005
South Eastern Australia, Australia
AB $11.95 private wine shops; BC $12.99 Specialty; MB $11.99; NB $12.99; NF $13.48; NS $13.49; ON $11.95; PEI $14.98; SK $13.48
Spicy, blackberry, black cherry aromas with some licorice. Warm, round, soft and ripe with licorice, blackberry, plum and pudding flavours. Fresh, easy style with good fruit and a touch of sweetness.

86 Los Cardos Malbec 2005
Ugarteche District, Luján de Cuyo, Northern Region, Mendoza, Argentina2
AB $12.95 private wine shops; BC $13.85 specialty listing
Very peppery, smoky leather, tobacco, clove, dark chocolate nose. Dry, round, supple style with spicy, clove, peppery, cherry, tobacco, roasted mushroom flavours with a savoury note. Good easy style for food.

86 Montresor Nero del Nago 2003 Corvina - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon
Veneto, Italy
BC $13.99 speculative listing - The Seacove Group
Cedar, earthy, spicy, chocolate, black cherry, tobacco leaf nose. Soft, round, dry, fresh palate with light tannins. The flavours mix spicy, cedar and cherry, tobacco with peppery, meaty notes. Solid food style wine.

86 Rocca della Macìe Vernaiolo Chianti 2004
Tuscany, Italy
AB $11.50 private wine shops; BC $13.95 specialty listing; ON $10.55 specialty listing; QC $13.60
The blend is 85/15 sangiovese/canaiolo. Typically gamey, peppery, spicy, leather nose with some floral red licorice notes. Smooth entry with medium weight and floral smoky, peppery, licorice tobacco flavours. Straight-up, savoury red for the likes of spaghetti Bolognese.

86 Yellow Tail Cabernet - Merlot 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot
South Eastern Australia, Australia
BC $12.95 specialty listing
Open spicy, menthol/mineral nose with chocolate tobacco, earthy, gamey vanilla notes flecked with garrigue and blueberry. Floral raspberry/cassis cough syrup fruit flavours with an oaky warm peppery finish. Soft round, ripe and easy to sip all add up to the Yellowtail style. Consistent style and value.