Values Wine Picks May 8, 2011

by Natalie MacLean


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Note: I publish batches of reviews that I call Good Values Wine Picks. These are from the regular section of the liquor store rather than the Vintages section, and tend to be lower priced and the most widely available of all wines. The last four reviews I did were: March 7, January 4, December 16 and November 20.

[ Compress ] White Wine

Casella Wines - makers of [yellow tail] and Lucky Penny Lucky Penny Chardonnay Viognier Pinot Grigio 2010, South Eastern Australia, Australia: Delightful! Lovely floral aromas followed by a bloom of melon and lychee notes from the glass. Perfect as an aperitif, or accompaniment to salads and seafood. Drink: 2010-2013.  110536  11.50%  D  750 mL  $17.99  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Yabby Lake Vineyard Cooralook Pinot Gris 2008, Mornington Peninsula, Australia: Bright melon aromas and a crisp, refreshing zest. There's some white pear and lime on the finish. Lovely aperitif or versatile companion to many dishes. Drink: 2011-2015.  212712  14%  XD  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Yalumba Y Series Riesling 2010, Barossa, South Australia, Australia: A zesty white with notes of lime and grapefruit. Mouth-watering: it cries out for food from shellfish to salads to quiche. Drink: 2010-2014.  212753  12%  D  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay 2010, South Australia, Australia: A buttery, tasty Chardonnay with generous layers of peach and toasty oak. Full-bodied with a refreshing green apple finish. Drink: 2010-2013.  226860  13%  D  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Equifera Estate Chardonnay 2007, V.Q.A, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada: Mouth-watering notes of white peach and green apple wrapped in vanilla smoke. Medium- to full-bodied. Perfect for a corn on the cob and lobster in butter feast. Drink: 2011-2013.  00057496 002797  12.80%    750 mL  $18.30  Score: 86/100. May 8, 2011
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Trove Winery Riesling Moscato, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada: A delightful, zippy wine with aromas of melon, white peach and summer-dappled pear. The lightest touch of sweetness means that you can drink this wine with so many dishes, from seafood to Asian curries to glazed ham. Incredible price! Drink: 2011-2013.  0248872  11.50%  M  750 mL  $12.95  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Inniskillin Wines Legacy Pinot Gris 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Canada: And now for something completely different and lovely: aromas of melon and exotic white flowers with a little honeysuckle blowing in the breeze from your glass. Great mouth-watering action in this medium- to full-bodied white. Drink: 2010-2013.  80002627  14%  D  750 mL  $34.95  Score: 90/100. May 8, 2011
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Lulu B. Chardonnay 2008, Pays d'OC, France: Bright green apple notes and a kiss of toasty oak on this medium- to full-bodied, round white. Drink: 2008-2012.  00057496 002674  13.50%  D  750 mL  $13.95  Score: 85/100. May 8, 2011
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Laurent Miquel Pere Et Fils Chardonnay 2009, Languedoc, France: Did someone make a typo in pricing this wine because it seems incredibly low for the terrific quality?! Hazelnut-almond richness wraps itself around a core of green apple and white peach vibrancy. Stock up for all your upcoming parties. Drink: 2009-2014.  157909  13%  XD  750 mL  $11.75  Score: 88/100. May 8, 2011
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Louis Jadot Chardonnay 2009, Macon Villages, Burgundy, France: Fresh, tart and tasty with green apple aromas. Not heavily oaked. Medium-bodied and pleasant to drink. Nice price! Drink: 2009-2013.  164145  13.50%  XD  750 mL  $14.70  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Gabbiano Pinot Grigio 2009, Trentino, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy: A crisp, clean, refreshing wine that will cut through the richness of a cream sauce or soft cheese like a knife. This is your wine when you don't want heavy oak or alcohol, just pure refreshment. Notes of lime, grapefruit and lemon zest. Top me up! Drink: 2009-2014.  77990  12.50%  XD  750 mL  $12.95  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards Old Schoolhouse Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand: Terrific lime-zestiness in this citrus-herbal Sauvignon Blanc. Refreshing and zippy: class New Zealand style. Top me up! Drink: 2010-2012.  178319  13%  D  750 mL  $16.95  Score: 90/100. May 8, 2011
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[ Compress ] Red Wine

Casella Wines - makers of [yellow tail] and Lucky Penny Lucky Penny Shiraz Cabernet Merlot 2009, South Eastern Australia, Australia: A juicy red with fleshy ripe purple plums. Smooth and medium-bodied with lots of pleasure. Drink: 2009-2013.  112219  13.50%  D  750 mL  $17.99  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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Plunkett Fowles Stone Dwellers Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Strathbogie Ranges, Australia: Plush black plums waft out of the glass wrapped in a subtle smoky spice. This is pure liquid luxury. Full-bodied and smooth with aromas of blackcurrant and cassis. Beautifully structured and balanced. An amazing dinner party wine. Drink: 2011-2019.  212761  15%  XD  750 mL  $19.95  Score: 92/100. May 8, 2011
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Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia: Meaty, juicy and savoury with aromas of plush plums and want-to-squeeze-them fleshy dark blackberries. This full-bodied, supple Shiraz delivers some kind of wonderful for your senses. Drink: 2008-2014.  659607  13.50%  D  750 mL  $21.95  Score: 91/100. May 8, 2011
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Trove Winery Shiraz Cabernet, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada: Medium- to full-bodied with a smooth, generous texture. Mouth-watering and tasty with aromas of blackberries. Perfect party wine! Drink: 2011-2013.  0248880  12.50%  MD  750 mL  $12.95  Score: 86/100. May 8, 2011
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Reif Estate The Magician Shiraz Pinot Noir 2009, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada: Enticing peppery cherry notes on the nose with dried herbs and raspberries on the palate. This delightful wine is smooth, and medium-bodied. It was aged for one year in French oak. Drink: 2011-2017.  779320001720  14%  XD  750 mL  $19.95  Score: 88/100. May 8, 2011
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Lulu B Pinot Noir 2008, Languedoc, France: Bright cherry and raspberry notes with wisp of vanilla smoke running through it. Medium-bodied and silky. This is a terrific wine for potlucks and informal get-togethers with good friends. Drink: 2011-2016.  00057496 002681  13%  D  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 86/100. May 8, 2011
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Rigal The Original Malbec 2008, Cahors, France: Juicy, plummy, fleshy, round and full-bodied. Terrific party wine, especially at this knock-out price. Drink: 2008-2012.  159178  12%  XD  750 mL  $11.95  Score: 87/100. May 8, 2011
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J.P. Chenet Founder's Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Limoux, Southern France, France: A pleasant, smooth and full-bodied red at a great price. Aromas of dark fruit, with a round texture. Good party wine. Drink: 2007-2012.  485557  13.50%  D  750 mL  $11.99  Score: 85/100. May 8, 2011
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Gabbiano 2007, Chianti Classico, Tuscany D.O.C.G., Italy: Rich, deep and full-bodied with gorgeous lifted notes of black cherry and violets. The velvet, supple texture of this wine is balanced by mouth-watering juiciness. This is an incredible wine for the price point: stock up! Drink: 2009-2016.  219808  14%  XD  750 mL  $15.95  Score: 90/100. May 8, 2011
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Gabbiano 2009, Chianti Classico, Tuscany D.O.C.G., Italy: A robust, black-cherry rich wine with a savoury underlay of sun-dried tomatoes and toast. Full-bodied and smooth, this red delivers incredible quality and pleasure for the money. Drink: 2010-2014.  78006  12.50%  XD  750 mL  $13.95  Score: 88/100. May 8, 2011
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Sebastiani Pinot Noir 2006, Sonoma Coast, California, United States: A juicy, ripe Pinot bursting with rich jammy cherry aromas. Robust and succulent with a satin texture. This wine spent seven months in oak. It's drinking deliciously well now, though will keep for a several years in the cellar. But really, why wait? This wine will be available in Vintages October 29, 2011. Drink: 2008-2015.  14233  13%  D  750 mL  $23.95  Score: 90/100. May 8, 2011
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181 Merlot 2008, Lodi, California, United States: This Bordeaux-style Merlot offers lovely aromas of black cherry, plums and vanilla smoke. There's a sumptuous, full-bodied weight and texture on the palate that finishes with lovely spicy cedar. The clone for this wine originates in the Pomerol region of Bordeaux, but it's thriving in its Lodi, California Clay Station Vineyard, where the soils are also red and produce extravagantly luscious Merlots. Perfect for barbecues and potluck gatherings. This wine will be available via Vintages in August 2011. Drink: 2009-2015.  226530  14%  XD  750 mL  $16.95  Score: 89/100. May 8, 2011
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Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir 2007, Willamette Valley, USA: A nervy acidity and tart cherries make this a wake-up wine for your mouth. The wine also cries out for food. There's a bit of green-stemminess on the mid-palate, but nonetheless is it a lively wine. Drink: 2007-2014.  124594  13%  XD  750 mL  $23.95  Score: 88/100. May 8, 2011
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Gallo Family Vineyards Frei Ranch Zinfandel 2007, California, USA: This hedonistic red brims with aromas of blackberries, dark spices and fleshy dark plums. It's smooth and full-bodied, with classic Californian Zinfandel charms. Splash it around in your glass then knock it back and have fun! Killer hamburger wine. One bottle isn't enough. Drink: 2011-2014.  555599  14.50%  XD  750 mL  $34.95  Score: 92/100. May 8, 2011
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[ Compress ] Sparkling Wine

Mumm Napa Brut Prestige, Napa Valley, California, United States: Bright green apple aromas wake up the senses in this bubbly that blends primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. There's a lifted white peach note in the middle and then a crisp, refreshing finish. Perfect for all your celebrations, especially at such a great price. Drink: 2010-2014.  265678  12.50%  XD  750 mL  $28.25  Score: 89/100. May 8, 2011
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