Vintages Wine Picks May 22, 2007

by Natalie MacLean


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[ Compress ] White Wine

Dopff & Irion Gewurztraminer La Cuvée Rene Dopff 2004, Alsace, France: Lovely balance and packed with flavor but not heavy. Exotic aromas of rose petal, lychee nuts and mango.  21352  13%    750 mL  $25.95  Score: 90/100. May 22, 2007
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Voga Pinot Grigio 2004, Veneto, Italy: This funky bottle looks like the designer bottle water Voss. This is a good, refreshing white with aromas of lime and other citrus.  669226  12%    750 mL  $13.85  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Nobilo Fall Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2006, New Zealand: A refreshing white with zippy notes of citrus, grapefruit.  554444  12%    750 mL  $16.05  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007 Favorite White Wine.
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2006, New Zealand: A lovely, mouth-watering and refreshing white with notes of citrus, lime and grapefruit.  619452  13%    750 mL  $16.15  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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The Grange Of Prince Edward County Riesling Trumpour's Mill 2005, Ontario, Canada: A lovely off-dry, simple and refreshing white. Light-bodied and as free-spirited as the summer breeze. This winery opened in 2002 in what is one of Canada's emerging wine regions with lots of potential.  28258  11%    750 mL  $16.30  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Beringer Stone Cellars Chardonnay 2005, California, USA: Round, smooth and full-bodied with buttery and green apple notes.  606806    750 mL  $14.15  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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[ Compress ] Red Wine

Trapiche Reserve Malbec 2004, Mendozza, Argentina: Delicious with vibrant ripe red fruit. Aged nine months in oak. Full-bodied.  614651    750 mL  $12.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Palandri Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Western Australia, Australia: Classic blackcurrant, cassis and blueberry aromas. A touch tannic so decant for an hour or two.  23614    750 mL  $18.95  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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Long Flat Merlot 2004, South Eastern Australia, Australia: Simple but delicious with aromas of ripe red fruity. The tetrapak makes it convenient for camping and poolside.  24802  13%  1000 mL  $13.15  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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Rosemount Diamond Shiraz 2005, South Australia, Australia: Ripe dark plums and berries with smoky oak notes. Matured in oak for 10 months. Full-bodied.  302349  13%    750 mL  $14.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Rosemount Diamond Grenache Shiraz 2005, New South Wales, Australia: Juicy and plump plum aromas with a hint of spice. The grenache gives the wine a generous roundness in the mouth. Full-bodied.  476838    750 mL  $13.25  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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Mcwilliams Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2004, Australia: Mouth-watering with purple-red ripe fruit. Cries out for barbecued hamburgers and other meats. Aromas of dark cherries.  610683    750 mL  $14.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Grant Burge Barossa Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006, South Australia, Australia: Great price for this robust, delicious red with aromas of black cherries, mint and smoky oak.  619379  14%    750 mL  $16.15  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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Inniskillin Pinot Noir V.Q.A. 2004, Canada: A smooth, medium-bodied red with aromas of vibrant ripe cherries. Lovely balance, plush and supple. Nice mouth-watering acidity for food.  261099  12%    750 mL  $14.65  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Errazuriz Max Reserva Merlot 2005, Chile: Rich and complex aromas of cassis, black plums and raspberries. A touch tannic so decant for an hour or two. Full-bodied. Aged 12 months in French and American oak.  16170  14%    750 mL  $18.15  Score: 90/100. May 22, 2007
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2004, Chile: Made from grapes grown on the slopes of the Macul Vineyard. I recommend this wine year after year: it's a consistently great wine. It's a full-bodied, well-structured wine with aromas of black fruit, smoke, chocolate and oak.  212993  12%    750 mL  $15.15  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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Santa Alicia Carmenere Reserve 2005, Chile: A juicy, plummy wine with lip-smacking ripe black cherry aromas. Smooth, plush and full-bodied.  309302  14%    750 mL  $10.80  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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Errazuriz Don Maximiano Cab Sauv 2005, Chile: Aromas of cassis and blackcurrant. Elegant Old World structure with New World fruit and power. Aged 12 months in American and French oak. A superb dinner party wine or gift.  335174    750 mL  $18.20  Score: 91/100. May 22, 2007 Favorite Red Wine.
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Errazuriz Max Reserve Shiraz 2005, Chile: Aged 12 months in French and American oak. Aromas of black fruit, juicy and a touch tannic. Full-bodied.  614750  14%    750 mL  $18.15  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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Punta Nogal Shiraz 2006, Rapel Valley, Chile: An oaky, jammy, full-bodied red that's perfect for casual barbecues. Great value.  619197  14%    750 mL  $10.15  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere 2005, Chile: Delicious jammy red fruit aromas. Round and full-bodied.  620666  13%    750 mL  $12.65  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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Sincerity Merlo-Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Colchagua, Chile: This producer makes wines from certified organically-grown grapes. A solid, robust red with dark plum notes.  9050  14%  2  750 mL  $20.95  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Chateau De Gourgazaud Minervois 2004, Languedoc, France: Balanced with Old World elegance. Medium-bodied and not fruit forward. Great value. A meditative wine.  22384  13%    750 mL  $12.85  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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La Vieille Ferme Cotes Du Ventoux 2005, Rhone, France: Grapes are grown on the slopes of Mount Ventoux by the Perrin family, famous for their line of wines including Chateau Beaucastel. This is a gorgeous wine for the money, with ripe red cherry and plum notes, cedar and spice. Full-bodied and balanced.  263640    750 mL  $10.30  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007 Best Value Red Wine.
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Domaine De Lathevalle Morgon 2005, Burgundy, France: Lovely and lively medium-bodied red with ripe cherries.  420257    750 mL  $18.95  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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JP Chenet Founders Reserve Merlot/Cabernet 2005, Languedoc, France: Aromas of dark red fruit and chocolate. Full-bodied.  621995  13%    750 mL  $10.65  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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Cesari Mara Vino Di Ripasso Valpolicella 2005, Veneto, Italy: Notes of chocolate, plums and other dark fruit. Round with a velvety texture and medium-bodied. The grape for this wine are dried on grates and then fermented on amarone lees for added richness. It's aged in oak for 6-12 months.  506519    750 mL  $15.20  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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Roy's Hill Cabernet Merlot CJ Pask, Hawke's Bay 2004, New Zealand: Medium-bodied with bright red fruit and mouth-watering acidity. Spicy notes. Bottled with a screwcap, yay.  24760  13%    750 mL  $15.95  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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2004, New Zealand: A full-bodied, juicy wine with pleasant aromas of sour cherries. Mouth-watering, needs food.  610964  13%    750 mL  $16.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Merlot 2005, Penedes, Spain: Full-bodied and a touch tannic so decant for an hour or two. Gorgeous aromas of black cherries and chocolate. Well-structured.  621755  14%    750 mL  $16.15  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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Durbanville Hills Shiraz 2004, South Africa: Oaky, smoky, and juicy with aromas of bright red cherries. French oak aging. Full-bodied.  22269    750 mL  $13.15  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, South Africa: Great wine for the price. Redolent of ripe red fruit. Simple, full-bodied and delicious.  665273  13%    750 mL  $12.35  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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Castillo De Almansa Reserva 2003, Almansa, Spain: A blend of tempranillo, monastrell, granche grapes. Aged 12 months in oak. Delicious, robust with red fruit notes and smoky oak. Balanced.  270363    750 mL  $11.10  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Penascal Tempranillo Castilla Y Leon 2004, Rueda, Spain: Medium- to full-bodied with a round texture. Balanced with lovely dark fruit notes and plum aromas.  349795  13%    1500 mL  $17.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Osborne Solaz 2004, Spain: A blend of cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo. Mouth-watering acidity, needs food. Full-bodied with aromas of cherries and plums.  610188    750 mL  $10.25  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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Los Molinos Crianza 2001, Spain: Made from the tempranillo grape and aged 6 months in oak. Notes of bright red fruit. Full-bodied.  620047  13%    750 mL  $10.65  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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Tempranillo Riscal 2005, Spain: Notes of chocolate and black plums. Full-bodied and a touch tannic.  620898  14%    750 mL  $11.80  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005, Oregon, USA: An elegant pinot with spicy notes and black cherry aromas. Medium-bodied and balanced.  124594  13%    750 mL  $28.10  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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Napa Valley Vineyards Merlot 2002, California, USA: Medium-bodied and balanced with notes of chocolate, plums and black cherries. A soft jazz kind of wine and an incredible price for a Napa merlot.  29983  750 mL  $17.95  Score: 88/100. May 22, 2007
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Ferrari-Carano Merlot 2003, California, USA: Gorgeous! All that merlot should be from this region. Smooth, velvety with rich plum and berry notes. It's worth visiting this lovely winery in Sonoma.  325597  14%    750 mL  $39.95  Score: 92/100. May 22, 2007
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Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Columbia Valley, USA: Full-bodied and round with ripe dark red fruit aromas of black cherry and vanilla and toasty oak.  332320  13%    750 mL  $16.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Fish Eye Shiraz 2004, California, USA: Simple and delicious with aromas of dark cherries and other berries and chocolate.  35113  12%    750 mL  $10.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Stone Cellars Merlot 2003, California, USA: A simple, pleasant red like mellow jazz. Red fruit aromas.  462473  13%    750 mL  $14.15  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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King Fish Merlot 2005, California, USA: Juicy, plummy and purply. Simple but satisfying. Can't beat the price.  620807  13%    750 mL  $10.15  Score: 86/100. May 22, 2007
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[ Compress ] Rosés

Cave Spring Dry Rosé V.Q.A. 2006, Ontario - Niagara, Canada: Lovely, mouth-watering rosé with aromas of sweet raspberries and strawberries.  295006  12%    750 mL  $13.15  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007
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Julian Chivite Gran Feudo Reserva 2001, Navarra Province, Spain: Tasty black fruit fruit aromas. Full-bodied with a real grip. A blend of tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.  479014  12%    750 mL  $15.95  Score: 87/100. May 22, 2007
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Torres De Casta Rosado 2006, Penedes, Spain: Full-bodied with rich red fruit aromas. Dry rose that you should serve chilled at 10 degrees Celcius for maximum refreshment.  619916  13%    750 mL  $11.15  Score: 89/100. May 22, 2007 Favorite Rosé.
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