Vintages Wine Picks June 21, 2008

by Natalie MacLean


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[ Compress ] White Wine

Boyar Estates Blueridge X.R. Chardonnay 2004, Bulgaria: Vintages Wine Panel: Since the collapse of the Soviet union, Boyar Estates has grown into one of the most dynamic, quality-focused wineries in southeastern Europe. This barrel-aged Chardonnay offers terrific value with ripe pear, apple, vanilla and toast flavors and aromas. Dry, soft and creamy. My note: A fantastic value. Simple but pleasant but not too oaky. Ripe pear fruit notes.  73197  D  750 mL  $11.95  Score: 86/100. June 21, 2008 Best Value White Wine.
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Mission Hill Family Estate Select Lot Collection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2005, V.Q.A. Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: A blend of 79% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Semillon. Two-thirds fermented in barrel and aged sur lies for 3 1/2 months in French oak. A dry mouth-watering style with intriguing melon and grapefruit notes.  68361  D  750 mL  $29.95  Score: 87/100. June 21, 2008
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Antonin Rodet Meursault 2005, A.C. Côtes de Beaune, Burgundy, France: Vintages Wine Panel: The well-respected Nadine Gublin has been cellar master at Antonin Rodet since 1990. She and her team made this lovely Meursault from the impressive 2005 vintage. It displays a pale gold color with silver-grey tints, aromas of toast and vanilla with lemony notes, and flavors of toast, brioche, and white/dried fruits. My note: A lovely white with amazing balance. Chardonnay at its best.  963470  12%  XD  750 mL  $42.95  Score: 91/100. June 21, 2008
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Zilliken Riesling Kabinett 2002, QmP, Ockfener Bockstein, Estate Btld., Germany: Absolutely lovely and soft with floral and pear notes. Drink: 2008-2010.  71241  8%  MD  750 mL  $19.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: A herbal classic with lovely mid-palate refreshment. Closed with a screwcap.  304469  XD  750 mL  $34.95  Score: 91/100. June 21, 2008 Favorite White Wine.
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Waimea Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Nelson, South Island, New Zealand: A tart, mouth-watering white with grassy and herbal flavors.  714295  XD  750 mL  $17.95  Score: 87/100. June 21, 2008
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Delciato Loredona Riesling 2006, Monterey, California, United States: A terrific zippy white with lovely floral notes.  59782  D  750 mL  $16.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Kendall-Jackson Camelot Chardonnay 2005, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: The Camelot Chardonnay is a fantastic value and, hosts take note, it’s very food-friendly. This dry, medium full-bodied white offers a bouquet of ripe apple, pear and tropical fruit, good aroma replays and judicious use of oak. My note: A simple but pleasant chardonnay.  60319  D  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 86/100. June 21, 2008
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Zenato Pinot Grigio 2007, I.G.T. delle Venezie, Veneto, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: By embracing a variety of modern techniques, Alberto and Silvano Zenato have taken Pinot Grigio in exciting new directions, pushing its intensity and body to levels hitherto not achieved in the region. My note: A refreshing and zippy white with lovely citrus and grapefruit notes.  37648  XD  750 mL  $15.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Masi Colbaraca Soave Classico 2007, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: Masi proudly embraces the Soave DOC (while others have abandoned it) as they have found ways, within the rules, to make wines of distinction and impact. The Classico zone has a well-deserved reputation for superior Soave. Masi’s single vineyard Soave Classico is a crisp, flavorful wine that makes a great aperitif. My note: An aromatic white with vibrant citrus notes.  724161  13%  XD  750 mL  $16.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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[ Compress ] Red Wine

Torbeck Old Vines Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2005, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: The fruit for this wine was hand-picked, gently pressed with a traditional basket press and aged for 12 months in seasoned hogsheads and French oak. The finished wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined to preserve its complex character. Rich and luxurious, it features flavors of red cherry, plum, spice and earth wrapped in supple tannins. A pleasing, easy-drinking wine. My note: I love those grenache-based reds. Gorgeous depth and suppleness. Beautiful red fruit flavors. Closed with a screwcap. Drink: 2008-2012.  10223  D  750 mL  $22.95  Score: 91/100. June 21, 2008 Favorite Red Wine.
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Hollick Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia: A lovely enveloping red with ripe black cherry and mocha aromas.  20131  14%  XD  750 mL  $26.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Wakefield Merlot 2005, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia: A red that possesses rich plum fruit notes with some hints of smoke.  683201  D  750 mL  $17.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Barossa Valley Estate E Minor Shiraz 2005, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: Known the world over for its legendary E&E Black Pepper Shiraz and Ebenezer Shiraz, Barossa Valley Estate is proud to announce this new addition to the family. Deep ruby in color, this Shiraz exhibits intense aromas of blueberry, raspberry, plum, cocoa and spicy oak. It’s dry, medium to full-bodied with its juicy fruit flavors kept in harmony with lively acidity and user-friendly tannins, culminating in a lingering, lip-smacking finish. My note: Wow! A second label for an incredible price. This shiraz is loaded with black fruit notes.  71043  D  750 mL  $17.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Escarpment Gamay 2006, V.Q.A. Niagara, Ontario, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel: Malivoire consistently crafts exceptional wines using their estate-grown Gamay vines. They make a convincing case for this too-often-overlooked variety. This wine has a generously fragrant nose of ripe cherry and brambleberry fruit, with some interesting spicy notes. It’s dry, medium- bodied and well-balanced by ripe tannins and lively acidity. My note: A peppery, cherry-noted number. Lovely! Drink: 2008-2011.  591313  13%  D  750 mL  $17.00  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Mission Hill Family Estate Select Lot Collection Merlot 2004, V.Q.A. Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel: The ultra-premium Select Lot Collection represents the pinnacle of the winemaking craft at Mission Hill. Carefully selected grapes, which are sourced from select vineyard lots, are barrel-aged in French oak to produce complex, balanced, age-worthy wines. My note: A red with plummy fruit notes with a hint of smoke.  68353  14%  XD  750 mL  $39.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Mike Weir Wine Pinot Noir 2006, V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel: Winemaking team Rob Power and Craig MacDonald were named Winemakers of the Year at the 2008 Ontario Wine Awards. My note: A simple and refreshing red with bright cherry notes.  75  13%  D  750 mL  $22.20  Score: 87/100. June 21, 2008
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De Martino Legado Merlot Reserva 2005, Maipo Valley, Chile: Vintages Wine Panel: For their Legado series, De Martino’s winemakers focus on highlighting the natural qualities of each grape variety and encouraging the wine to express a keen sense of place. Grapes for this Merlot are grown in the alluvial soils of the Santa Inés Vineyards in the picturesque Maipo Valley. With lush black cherry and vanilla notes and deliciously smooth tannins. My note: Incredible depth and concentration. Aromas of black fruit and a velvet texture.  59345  D  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Viñedos Emiliana Orgánico Novas Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Colchagua Valley, Chile: Good balance with this full-bodied red. Great Length with aromas black fruit.  66746  XD  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 88/100. June 21, 2008
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Ninquen Antu Syrah 2006, Colchagua Valley, Chile: Vintages Wine Panel: Viña Ninquén is amongst a number of Chilean producers now realizing the potential of planting at higher elevations. Ninquén’s mountain vineyards have produced a Syrah that is rich with layers of plush blackberry, plum and black cherry fruit flavors and aromas along with notes of mocha, earth and smoke. My note: A lip-smacking delicious red with dark red fruit notes.  675371  15%  XD  750 mL  $15.95  Score: 88/100. June 21, 2008
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Château Haut-Vigneau Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005, AC Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France: Vintages Wine Panel: Pessac-Léognan was separated from the larger Graves AC in 1987. Its distinctive soils, principally fine-draining gravel, are also assisted by its proximity to the moderating Garonne River. In fact, it is believed that the AC’s soils are pulverized rocks from when, eons ago, the river covered a much larger area. So the river not only affects the wines today, it also had an influence on the soils of the region. My note: A full-bodied, classic Bordeaux nose of cassis, blackcurrants and a touch of smoke. Drink: 2008-2012.  29678  XD  750 mL  $27.95  Score: 88/100. June 21, 2008
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Raymond Julien Château Mirausse Le Grand Penchant Minervois 2006, A.C. Minervoi, Midi, France: Vintages Wine Panel: Minervois AC takes its name from the nearby town of Minerve, scene of one of the worst sieges in the 13th century between the Catholic Church and the Cathar sect. Archaeological evidence indicates that winemaking has been ongoing in this region since the time of the Romans. My note: A big black wine with smoky notes. Decant for 2 hours. Drink: 2008-2012.  61267  14%  D  750 mL  $18.95  Score: 88/100. June 21, 2008
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Tohu Wines Pinot Noir 2006, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: A full-bodied red. Juicy cherry fruit bursts through this bright, happy wine. Closed with a screwcap.  58156  13%  XD  750 mL  $29.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Torlesse Pinot Noir 2004, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand: Lovely, generous cherry fruit and dried herbs. Closed with a screwcap.  699330  XD  750 mL  $20.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Fonseca Quinta De Camarate Touriga Nacional Aragonez Castelão 2005, Vinho Regional Terras do Sado, Portugal: Vintages Wine Panel: An excellent value, this red is a blend of local grape varieties, namely Touriga Nacional, Aragonez and Castelão. It uses grapes grown along the alluvial Sado River, famed as a habitat for river dolphins. You can use your ‘bottle nose’ to appreciate the unique qualities the territory imparts to this exotic, plum- and coffee-scented wine. My note: A smooth, lovely textured red with plum fruit notes. A medium- to full-bodied red.  357962  D  750 mL  $15.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Mas Des Bressades Cabernet/Syrah 2006, Vin de Pays du Gard, Rhone, France: Vintages Wine Panel: This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah offers exceptional value year after year. Rich and concentrated, this wine is packed with cassis, blackberry, earth and spice notes with ripe tannins and acidity providing structure. My note: A terrific full-bodied, balanced wine with ripe red fruit and cedar.  712174  XD  750 mL  $18.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Guyot Crozes-Hermitage Le Millepertuis 2005, AC, Rhone, France: Vintages Wine Panel: In Northern Rhône, the Rhône River is narrow, steep-banked and moves rapidly; in the southern Rhône, the river widens, the banks flatten out and the current slows. It is in the north that the Rhône’s most noble grape, Syrah, thrives. Growers have been known to plant their grapes in whatever superior nooks and crannies they can find along the river in this spectacular landscape. My note: A cedary black cherry wonder. Full-bodied and balanced.  73890  XD  750 mL  $21.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Les Vignobles Elie Jeune Domaine Du Grand Tinel Châteauneuf-Du-Pape 2004, AC, Rhone, France: A big, hulking, oaky red with black fruit and a long finish.  993964  XD  750 mL  $37.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Douglas Green St Augustine 2005, WO Western Cape, South Africa: Vintages Wine Panel: St. Augustine is a proprietary red that is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz and is the most popular South African red since the 1940s. Named for the first Saint of Africa, this full-bodied wine is ripe and round and packed with juicy berry fruit and notes of toasty oak. My note: Bordeaux-style at a fraction of the price.  652628  14%  D  750 mL  $13.95  Score: 88/100. June 21, 2008 Best Value Red Wine.
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Los 800 2003, D.O.C.A. Priorat, Spain: A terrific, delicious and unusual red, packed with bright red fruit. Full-bodied.  75150  14%  XD  750 mL  $19.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Frei Brothers Reserve Syrah 2005, Russian River Valley, Northern Sonoma, California, United States: Packed with black brooding fruit and layers of flavor.  60426  XD  750 mL  $25.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Café Culture Merlot 2005, Sonoma County, California, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: Founded in 1973, Chateau St. Jean is one of the pioneers of fine winemaking in Sonoma County. This Merlot is a gem with attractive aromas of ripe black cherry, plum and spice notes. It’s dry and supple with rich plum flavors as well as some cedar notes all leading to a racy finish. My note: A classic merlot with plummy fruit notes. Terrific balance.  67926  D  750 mL  $35.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Erath Winery Pinot Noir 2006, Oregon, United States: Vintages Wine Panel: This is a great value for a classic Pinot Noir from Oregon. This solid wine, with its cherry, tobacco leaf and earthy aromas and flavors, would be a great house red to keep around all summer long. Dry, medium-bodied and supple. My note: A medium-bodied red with notes of dried herbs and cherry. Well-balanced with a long finish. Closed with a screwcap.  932541  Xd  750 mL  $24.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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Zenato Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2004, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: This Amarone is a consistent favourite among critics. Massive, full-bodied and complex, it is awash with ripe black fruit, licorice, leather and chocolate. My note: A full-bodied but balanced red with baked cherry aromas. Drink: 2008-2013.  413179  D  750 mL  $52.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Michele Castellani Amarone Delle Valpolicella Cinque Stelle 2003, Veneto, Italy: A full-bodied red bursting with cherry liqueur, fruit and black plums.  75127  D  750 mL  $64.95  Score: 90/100. June 21, 2008
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Zenato Valpolicella Superiore 2006, D.O.C., Veneto, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: Zenato’s 2006 Valpolicella Superiore is a blend of Corvina and Rondinella. Medium-bodied with delicious blackcurrant fruit and an undertone of mocha and roasted almond. My note: Move on from merlot with this silky, medium-bodied red that has delicious plummy depths.  995704  D  750 mL  $17.95  Score: 88/100. June 21, 2008
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[ Compress ] Rosés

Bodega Francois Lurton Bodega Lurton Rosado Bonardo Malbec 2007, Mendoza, Argentina: Vintages Wine Panel: This thirst-quenching rosé comes from the Argentine outpost of the Lurton wine empire. A blend of Bonarda and Malbec, this dazzling pink wine is bursting with berry fruit flavors balanced by a lively seam of acidity. It’s a superb summer sipper. My note: A bone-dry rosé with notes of tart raspberries. Medium-bodied.  999839  D  750 mL  $11.95  Score: 86/100. June 21, 2008
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Salena Estate Winery Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Rosé 2007, Riverland, South Australia, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: Salena’s family-owned estate winery modified their vineyard practices and launched a range of certified organic wines including this rosé blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre. The 2007 growing season was very warm and dry in Riverland so the bright fruity flavors of strawberry and raspberry are very ripe. It’s dry, medium-bodied and soft-textured with a crisp fruity finish you can enjoy all summer long. My note: A soft and dry rosé with lovely notes of strawberries. Full-bodied.  68908  D  750 mL  $18.95  Score: 88/100. June 21, 2008
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Laurence, Jean-François et Dominique Vaillant, Prop.-Vitic. Domaine Les Grandes Vignes Cabernet D'anjou Rosé 2007, A.C. Loire, France: A very soft, smooth, simple rosé with sweet raspberry notes.  71076  11%  D  750 mL  $13.95  Score: 86/100. June 21, 2008
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[ Compress ] Other Wines/Drinks

Rossignol Estate Iced Liberty Blossom 2006, Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Island, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel: Think Icewine made from apples. This unique, sweet treat combines McIntosh, Courtland and Red Delicious apples freeze-concentrated to produce a nectar-like fruit wine. A sinfully delicious dessert on its own. My note: A delicious wine with lovely notes of apple.  69476  11%  S  375 mL  $22.95  Score: 89/100. June 21, 2008
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La Face Cachée De La Pomme Neige Ice Cider, Quebec, Quebec, Canada: Fun! Essence of apple: the platonic ideal of apples. A delicious cider of green tart apples.  39305  12%  MS  375 mL  $29.95  Score: 93/100. June 21, 2008
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