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Wine Picks July 6, 2011

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Note: This batch of wine reviews is not part of the bi-weekly Vintages Releases. Instead, it's a collection of wines outside the Vintages section in store (general list) or wines sent to me directly from wineries that may not yet be available in liquor stores. Click on the Winery or Wine Agency link to get more info.

Red Wine

McWilliams Wines Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2009, South Eastern Australia, Australia: Vibrant juicy plum aromas wrapped in smoky oak. Supple and medium- to full-bodied. Absolutely delicious and a phenomenal price! Drink: 2010 - 2013 610683 13.5% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Peninsula Ridge Syrah Reserve 2007, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Syrah Reserve food pairings: lamb kebabs, roast duck, veal chops from the grill. 230896 12.5% D 750 mL $39.95 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Corison Winery Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Napa Valley, California, United States Drink: 2004 - 2020 18036 14% XD 750 mL $100.00 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Pasqua Villa Borghetti Passimento Fratelli Pasqua S.A.S. Regional Blended Red 2008, Venezie, Italy: A robust but smooth blend of the traditional grapes Corvina and Croatina. This red is amazing for the price point: rich dar red and black berries with a pleasant kick on the finish. Balanced and mouth-watering. Very food-friendly for hearty dishes and tomato sauce. Drink: 2009 - 2014 141952 14% XD 750 mL $11.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Lizard Flat Heath Wines Pty Ltd Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008, I.G.T., Veneto, Australia: A terrific price for the smooth, full-bodied red with a cool minty aroma that wraps around blackberries. Balnced acidity. Drink: 2008 - 2012 195776 14.5% D 750 mL $9.95 Score: 84/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Lenswood Hills Pikes Vintners Wines Pinot Noir 2010, Adelaide Hills, Australia: Attractive sour cherry and beetroot with mouth-watering acidity. Tart and refreshing. Cries out for food: feed this wine! Pinot Noir food pairings: roast chicken, salmon. Drink: 2010 - 2014 215095 14% XD 750 mL $17.35 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Peter Lehmann Weighbridge Shiraz 2008, South Australia, Australia: Fantastic price for this juicy, mouth-watering, full-bocied, lip-smaking tasty red! Aromas of fleshy dark berries and plums, with a nice smoky finish. Drink: 2010 - 2014 219170 14.5% D 750 mL $15.10 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Label Barwick Estates Terravintner Pinot Noir 2009, Pemberton, Australia: Minty tart cherries with a lovely mouth-watering juiciness. Medium-bodied and satin smooth, this is an extrordinary price for a wine of this quality. Drink: 2009 - 2014 215194 14% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2009, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: Mouth-watering acidity with tart, wake-up-your-mouth cherries and blackberries. Full-bodied and smooth. Great price. Drink: 2011 - 2014 173294 14.4% XD 750 mL $15.15 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Evans & Tate Margaret River Shiraz 2008, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia Drink: 2011 - 2013 606905 14.5% D 750 mL $22.00 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Fort Berens Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2009, British Columbia, BC V.Q.A., Canada 36301 14.2% D 750 mL $33.25 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Rosés

Sangre De Toro Miguel Torres S.A. Rose 2013, Catalunya, Spain Drink: 2010 - 2013 233437 13.5% XD 750 mL $11.95 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Flourish Wines Rose 2010, V.Q.A. Ontario, Canada: Field-ripe strawberries with a fleshy touch of sweetness. Juicy and refreshing. Perfect for the deck or dock. Rose food pairings: salmon, roast chicken. Drink: 2010 - 2012 234872 11.7% MD 750 mL $10.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sangre De Toro Miguel Torres S.A. Rose 2010, Catalunya, Spain: Very robust rose with aromas dark raspberries and field berries. Nicely balanced, great quaffing wine. Drink: 2010 - 2013 233437 13.5% XD 750 mL $11.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Terres De Saint Louis Cercle Des Vignerons Provence Rosé 2010, Coteaux Varois, Provence, France: Lovely summer sunshine in a bottle with field strawberries and raspberries. Good mouth-watering action. Perfect picnic wine. Drink: 2010 - 2013 234575 12.5% XD 750 mL $10.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Villa Maria Estates Private Bin Rose 2010, East Coast, New Zealand: Fragrant strawberries and raspberries with some field flowers. Zippy, mouth-watering juiciness with terrific refreshment. Rose food pairings: pate, grilled veggies. Drink: 2010 - 2012 234377 13% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Fat Cat Cat Amongst The Pigeons, Rosedale Wines Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: Deep ruby in the glass with big, rich aromas of bumbleberry pie, chocolate, Indian tea and black cherry. Dry and full bodied, this blend of 55% Shiraz and 45% Cab with its opulent dark fruit and chocolate notes is certainly not shy. A good seam of acidity keeps everything in check. Cellar 2-4 years or enjoy tonight. My note: Big and fleshy with blueberries and blackberries in a jumble of hedonistic happiness. Full-bodied and smooth. Pair it with catnip. Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé food pairings: beef brisket, juicy barbecued steak. 222042 14.6% XD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 89/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sparkling Wine

Banrock Station Pink Constellation Wines Moscato Rosé 2011, South Australia, Australia Drink: 2010 - 2012 170134 5.5% MD 750 mL $10.95 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Banrock Station Pink Constellation Wines Moscato Rosé 2010, Australia: Delightful fleshy sweet strawberries with a light effervecence. Perfect aperitif for a summer's day, or even a light after-dinner drink, with or with some fresh fruit or berries. Lovely. Drink: 2010 - 2012 170134 5.5% MD 750 mL $10.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

La Puerta Valle De La Puerta S.A. Torrontes 2012, Argentina, Argentina Drink: 2010 - 2013 197970 13% D 750 mL $8.95 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay 2010, Prince Edward County, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Chardonnay food pairings: ravioli served with Alfredo sauce, lobster in butter sauce, fish tacos, gougère. Drink: 2012 - 2024 148866 12.5% D 750 mL $29.00 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Domaine De Vedilhan Etablissements Paul Boutinot Viognier 2013, Languedoc, France Drink: 2008 - 2013 162081 13.5% D 750 mL $10.50 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Domaine De Vedilhan Etablissements Paul Boutinot Viognier 2015, Languedoc, France Drink: 2008 - 2013 162081 13.5% D 750 mL $10.50 July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Loios J Portugal Ramos, S.A. 2009, Alentejano, Portugal: If you like Pinot Grigio, you'll like this: crisp, cool, refreshing. No heavy oak, mostly lime and green apple aroma. Very mouth-watering. Nice aperitif or food companion. Drink: 2009 - 2013 92114 12.5% XD 750 mL $10.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sonoma Vineyards Chardonnay 2009, Sonoma County, California, United States: A lovely surprise at this price point! Vibrant with ripe green apples and white peach with just the right amount of oak, vanilla and butterscortch. Classic Chardonnay, but not heavy. Drink: 2009 - 2014 60624 13.6% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sokol Blosser Winery Evolution Lucky No 9 White Blend 2019, Oregon, United States: A lovely profusion of white field flowers, white peach and lychee. Reminds me of Conumdrum and Irstone's Symphony. So exotic yet ultimately pleasing. Drink: 2021 - 2023 206870 12% MD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 89/100. July 2011. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

La Puerta Valle De La Puerta S.A. Torrontes 2010, Argentina, Argentina: You'll be absolutely blown away at how pretty and tasty this wine is for the price point. Floral with mouth-watering juiciness. Buy three cases for your summer parties: your friends will think you're brilliant rather than cheap. Drink: 2010 - 2013 197970 13% D 750 mL $8.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Grooner Weingut Forstreiter Gmbtt Gruner Veltliner 2009, Austria, Austria: The Platonic ideal of refreshment. Pure lime loveliness in a galss wioth grapefruit bite on the finish that keeps you coming back for more. Drink: 2009 - 2014 168625 12.1% XD 750 mL $12.90 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Longue Dog Etablissements Paul Boutinot Colombard Chardonnay 2010, D.O.C., Languedoc, France: A very pleasant white that delivers the Chardonnay fruit flavours of green apple and peach with not a lot of oak. Very refreshing. Medium- to full-bodied. Terrific price. Drink: 2010 - 2014 210161 12.5% XD 750 mL $11.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Legends Estates Gewurztraminer 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: Not type gewurz but I really like it! Baked apples with cinnamon and baking spices, though it's dry. Terrific with Asian and curries but I'm not getting the typical lychee and rose petal. Delightful! Drink: 2007 - 2014 390211 12.1% D 750 mL $12.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Domaine De Vedilhan Etablissements Paul Boutinot Viognier 2008, Languedoc, France: Very plesant sipper with light Viognier aromas such as white flowers, white peach and baking spices. Nice for the price. Drink: 2008 - 2013 162081 13.5% D 750 mL $10.50 Score: 86/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Lightly Wooded Chardonnay 2009, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, Australia: I love this style of Chardonnay because it's freshing, not heavy yet delivers lots of green apple and Asian pear flavour. Full-bodied and ziipy. Fantastic price. Drink: 2010 - 2013 173302 13.5% XD 750 mL $13.95 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Crush Barwick Wines Terravintner Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009, West Australia, Australia: Refreshing, grassy and herbal with some lemon zest on the finish. Good value. Drink: 2009 - 2013 215673 13.1% XD 750 mL $13.95 Score: 86/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Peter Lehmann Wines Blonde 2009, Barossa, Australia: Lovely green refreshment! Lines, green apple and grapefruit without any heavy oak. Clean,crisp lines to pleasure. Drink: 2009 - 2014 197871 11% XD 750 mL $13.45 Score: 88/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

The Knappstein Insider White Lion Nathan Wine Group 2010, Clare Valley, Australia: Crisp, dry and refreshing with lime and herbal notes. Very clean. Drink: 2010 - 2013 212746 12% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Xanadu Next Of Kin, Yalumba Chardonnay 2009, Margaret River, Australia: Nice and crisp with green apple, peach and just a kiss of oak. Beautfilly balanced and wonderfully priced. Yum! Drink: 2009 - 2014 212647 13.5% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

C.H. Berres Stefan Ress Riesling Kabinett 2007, Q.M.P., Urziger Wurzgarten, Mosel, Germany: I realized that I was purring when I tasted this wine. Others were staring. I love it! White peach, petrol (that’s good) and a deep, long satisfying vein of acidity and minerality. This is a gorgeous wine that will reward you for stepping out of your usual white wine boundaries. Drink: 2008 - 2015 207274 9% S 750 mL $24.95 Score: 90/100. July 2011. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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