Vintages Wine Picks June 6, 2011

by Natalie MacLean

Please login to see Natalie's scores and notes

[ Compress ] White Wine

Jacob's Creek Riesling 2010, Barossa, Australia: This lemony-floral crisp white is a breath of spring sunshine breaking through the clouds. It's bone-dry and mouth-watering which makes it perfect for cutting through the cheese on pizza or the cream in a pasta sauce. There's a zesty lime-citrus finish. Delicious! Drink: 2010-2015. 212704 12.50% XD 750 mL $16.95 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Pikes Wines Riesling 2009, Clare Valley, Australia: Lime blossom freshness and mouth-watering vibrancy! This lovely riesling cries out for food, and will partner with a wide range of dishes. The cool climate has preserved its zesty come-alive character. Drink: 2009-2014. 215111 12% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Open Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, VQA, Canada: A lovely, subtly flavoured Sauvignon Blanc with white melon and lime notes. Not grassy and there's no aggressive acidity here. Very pleasant aperitif. Top me up! Drink: 2009-2013. 178681 11.90% D 750 mL $11.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Prospect Winery Census Count Oaked Chardonnay 2009, Okanagan Valley, BC, VQA, Canada: A buttery, green apple number that's rich and full-bodied but not too heavy. Good use of oak brings together the package in a creamy, toasty, tasty quaff. Drink: 2011-2014. 776545400024 13.50% XD 750 mL $12.99 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Inniskillin Wines East West Series Riesling Gewurztraminer 2009, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, VQA, Canada: So very pretty! Floral loveliness wafts up from the glass in a profusion of lime blossoms and lemon zest. Light- to medium-bodied. Terrific aperitif or companion to many dishes. Drink: 2010-2013. 988344 12.50% D 750 mL $16.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

35 South Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Curico And Elqui Valley, Chile: A laser-sharp, refreshingly crisp white wine with zesty aromas of grapefruit, lime and chives. Mouth-watering and clean with no heavy oak. Terrific aperitif or companion to many dishes. Incredible price. 170001 13% XD 750 mL $12.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Emiliana Adobe Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Casablanca Valley, Chile: This wine is made from organically grown grapes. It offers lovely notes of melon, guava and lemon zest. It's not grassy, just crisp and refreshing. 211912 13% XD 750 mL $12.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay 2010, Casablanca Valley, Chile: The buttery richness of the Santa Carolina Chardonnay sinks into creamy cheeses. There are lip-smacking delicious notes of toffee and vanilla that will make your brie and camembert melt in your mouth. Drink: 2010-2014. 304022 14% XD 750 mL $11.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Yealands Estate Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: A zesty, refreshing, mouth-watering white with lime, herbal and chive notes. This wine cries out for food so don't deprive it, or yourself. Terrific! Drink: 2011-2013. 199935 13% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Sebastiani Reserve Chardonnay 2007, Sonoma County, California, United States: Absolutely lovely! Buttery and round with luxurious aromas of ripe Asian pear, green apple and creme brulee. This wine spent seven months in oak, which gives it gorgeous aromatics of toasted hazelnut and butterscotch. It won a Gold Medal (Best in Class) at the 2009 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. What more could you ask of a Chardonnay? Yum! Drink: 2007-2014. 30791 13.50% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 90/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Bonterra Chardonnay 2009, California, USA: Toasted almond and hazelnut goodness, with rich, generous layers of peach, pear and green apple. Lovely depth and length. Yes, it's organic so you can feel terrific about your hedonistic desires toward this wine. Drink: 2009-2015. 342436 13.60% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

[ Compress ] Red Wine

Graffigna Centenario Grand Reserve Malbec 2008, San Juan, Argentina: Vintages Wine Panel: A more restrained, refreshing style of Malbec from Argentina’s San Juan province. Deep ruby, with spicy plum, menthol, sour cherry, a hint of vanilla and coffee bean on the nose. Despite its elegance and fine tannins, it’s nonetheless substantial on the palate, with a medium-full body and good acidity, leading to a spicy, finessed finish. This intriguing style of Malbec still makes a fine partner for full-flavoured steaks and other red meat dishes, though it will also show nicely with somewhat lighter fare, such as grilled eggplant or sliced roast beef. My note: Juicy and generous with lovely aromas and flavours of rich fleshy black plums and berries. Love the texture on this wine! Drink: 2008-2013. 162149 14.50% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 90/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Mitolo Junior Shiraz 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia: Minty blackberry richness on the nose with the signature style and structure of Mitolo's flagship wine. Full-bodied and supple with lots of fleshy dark fruit. This is an exceptional value for the price point. Drink: 2008-2014. 183947 14.50% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Henry's Drive Morse Code Shiraz 2008, Padthaway, Australia: Wonderfully plush and juicy with delicious aromas and flavours of fleshy dark plums and berries. Smooth and full-bodied. This is an incredible price for this wine: stock up for your parties and summer barbecues. Drink: 2010-2012. 207399 14.70% XD 750 mL $12.95 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Fifth Leg Shiraz Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Western Australia, Australia: A savoury, meaty, juicy red that's bursting with black plums and berries. There's a little mint on the nose which gives the wine a pleasant lift. Darkly concentrated, this is a terrific party wine. Start a party just by opening it. Drink: 2011-2014. 212605 14% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Kangarilla Road Vineyard & Winery Charlie's Blend Shiraz Cabernet 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia: Wonderfully dark, fleshy blackberries and plums with lip-smacking, full-bodied weight and a smooth texture. Some lifted dark berries and spices on the finish. Incredible quality and value for this price point! Drink: 2011-2013. 212720 14.50% D 750 mL $12.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Kangarilla Road Vineyard & Winery Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia: Spectacular richness and depth with savoury blackberries and meaty texture. Luscious, full-bodied flavours of black cherries, coffee and a whiff of vanilla smoke on the finish. This is definitely a second or third date wine when you know it's worth opening something special. Drink: 2011-2016. 212738 14.50% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 90/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Angus The Bull Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Australia: Big ripe blackberries and cassis in this powerful, full-bodied red. Loaded with black plum pleasure and a kiss of oak. Perfect for movie night. 602615 14.50% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Red Knot Shingleback Shiraz 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia: Big, black, ripe fruit with generous toasty oak. A smoky, brooding wine that is ultimately satisfying, full-bodied and smooth. Perfect for pizza night, poker night, movie night or a night on your own. Drink: 2011-2014. 619395 14% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Equifera Estate Pinot Noir 2007, V.Q.A, Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario, Canada: Lovely lifted cherry aromas surrounded by a field of violets and truffles. I love the sensual, silky texture of this wine with its flavour-packed medium body. I even put it through the torture test of leaving it open for a week, and it still tasted terrific. Yum! Drink: 2007-2015. 134163 12.70% D 750 mL $16.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Prospect Winery Haynes Barn Merlot Cabernet 2008, Okanagan Valley, BC, VQA, Canada: Juicy and mouth-filling with a supple, full-bodied texture and weight. Bursting with ripe blackberries and black cherries. Drink: 2011-2013. 776545400086 13.50% XD 750 mL $14.99. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Flourish Wines Merlot Pinot Noir 2010, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Bursting with juicy purple plums and blueberries. Tasty and plush with a smooth, medium body. Terrific wine for parties and barbecues. Drink: 2011-2013. 988260 11.80% XD 750 mL $10.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Errazuriz Reserva Carmenere 2010, Chile: Herbal, cedar and blackberry-rich. Full-bodied and smooth with a savoury, chewy note for hearty meat dishes. Think of this as merlot-plus. 16238 13.50% D 750 mL $12.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Montgras Reserva Carmenere 2009, Chile: Terrific value for this full-bodied red. Loaded with black plums, berries and some smoke. Evenly oaked with a robust, satisfying weight. Yum! 178624 14.50% XD 750 mL $11.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2008, Burgundy, France: Round, smooth and medium-bodied with a satin texture. Terrific mouth-watering action makes you want to eat many things with this wine. Beautifully balanced, and a bargain for Burgundy. Drink: 2008-2014. 162073 13% XD 750 mL $19.60 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Michel Picard Mercurey Vignes Blanches Domaine Voarick 2007, Burgundy, France: Lovely aromas of apple, pear, and baking spices. Full-bodied yet balanced and elegant with great length. Vanilla smoke and hazelnut on the finish. Opulent and satisfying. Drink: 2007-2016. 197335 13% XD 750 mL $23.95. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Mud House Wines Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand: Vibrant with bright, tart cherry aromas. Lively and mouth-watering with a medium-body and satin-smooth texture. Some cranberry and dark cherry on this finish. A terrific pinot for this price point! Drink: 2011-2014. 190462 14% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Las Rocas San Alejandro Garnacha 2009, D.O., Calatayud, Spain: Lovely peppery, black cherry nose with savoury, mouth-watering goodness on the palate. Full-bodied, supple and smooth. Great party wine. Drink: 2010-2015. 95190 14.10% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011 Best Value Red Wine Tied.
Add My Review

Irony Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Napa Valley, California, United States: There's no irony about this wine in terms of its price in relation to its quality: It's absolutely phenominally well-made! This easy-drinking Cabernet is ready to drink now, but will also do well in the cellar for a few years. It's loaded with fleshy ripe blackberries, raspberries, plums and just a hint of red licorice and rose petal. Yep, all that and it adds up to tasty-great. There's a wisp a vanilla smoke on the finish. Top me up! This wine will be available in Vintages July 23, 2011. Drink: 2010-2016. 25106 14.50% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Fetzer Vineyards Merlot 2008, California, United States: Supple and easy-drinking with aromas of plush plums and dark berries. Lovely mocha-infused finish with some black cherry. Yum. Drink: 2009-2013. 341131 13.50% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Menage A Trois Red 2009, Napa Valley, California, United States: You gotta love the name of this wine. It actually refers to the three grapes in the blend: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. There's even more to love inside the bottle: lusciously ripe dark plums and berries with some black raspberry on the finish. Rich flavours and firm tannins give this wine heft and grip. It's full-bodied yet supple. Rich and decadent. This wine will be back in stock July 9, 2011. Terrific value: top me up! 665158 13% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 88/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Kenwood Vineyards Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Sonoma Valley, California, United States: The wolf head icon on the Jack London wines comes from the cover of the novel, The Call of the Wild, written by former owner of this vineyard and California author, Jack London. This Cabernet has fiercely attractive black cherry, dark spices, dried herbs, and yes, a savagely good finish. It's got a grip from robust tannins so age it or decant for two hours if you can't. Plush dark fleshy berries but solid structure and balance. Drink at your next book club meeting. This will will come out in Vintages October 19, 2011. Drink: 2010-2018. 944843 14% XD 750 mL $34.95 Score: 92/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, California, USA: This is a long-time favourite wine of mine, and the bonus is that it's organic. Well-crafted with terrific structure and balance. Attractive aromas of cassis, blackberry and vanilla smoke. Terrific! Drink: 2010-2015. 342428 12.09% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 89/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Little Black Dress Merlot 2008, California, USA: Juicy cherry and blackberry aromas in this playful Merlot. Medium- to full-bodied with a supple texture and a knock-it-back tastiness. Top me up! Drink: 2008-2013. 72769 14% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

[ Compress ] Rosés

Open Rose 2009, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, VQA, Canada: A delightful rose with a field of fresh strawberries and raspberries wafting up from the glass. So pretty! Medium-bodied. A real crowd pleaser, though you should also drink it on your own on the patio or deck: it pairs perfectly with that novel you've been wanting to read. Drink: 2009-2012. 175349 11.30% D 750 mL $10.95 Score: 87/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Mumm Napa Pinot Noir Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California, United States: This wine is a blend of 85% Pinot Noir 15% Chardonnay grapes. It's a terrific bubbly that delivers lovely aromas of wild strawberries and bing cherries. Perfect as a pre-dinner drink or keep sipping it throughout the meal. Drink: 2009-2014. 205641 12.50% XD 750 mL $29.95 Score: 91/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

[ Compress ] Dessert Wine

Reif Estate First Growth, Totally Botrytis Affected Riesling 2009, V.Q.A., Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada: Incredible balance and elegance in this gorgeous dessert wine! It's not too sweet, yet satisfying so with ripe, fleshy apricot and honeysuckle notes. It's voluptuous and layered with maximum hedonistic pleasure. As the winemaker notes, "Botrytis is naturally occurring 'noble rot' that has a beautiful effect on grapes however its presence is totally dependent on weather conditions, so we can never be sure which vineyards, if any, will produce botrytis wines in a given year. In 2009 winemakers Klaus W. Reif and Roberto DiDomenico selectively harvested grapes that had been naturally affected with Botrytis and then placed them in customized kilns so that the grapes became totally botrytis affected(TBA). The grapes were harvested Nov. 20, 2009 at 20.0 °Brix and were kiln dried until Dec. 2, 2009; at pressing grapes were 35.7° Brix. Translation: a deliciously rich elixir! Drink: 2011-2016. 8% S 200 mL $50.00 Score: 92/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Flourish Wines Vidal Icewine 2007, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A gorgeous apricot, honeyed dessert wine with lovely layers of hedonistically ripe peach preserves. Walk your senses through a tropical fruit grove on a summer's day. Liquid lovely! Drink: 2011-2016. 222356 9.50% S 375 mL $18.95 Score: 90/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Inniskillin Wines Vidal Icewine 2007, V.Q,A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: A rich, honeyed nectar of ripe apricots and peach preserves. A mouth-filling definition of delectable. Drink: 2010-2015. 551085 9.50% S 375 mL $49.95 Score: 91/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Jackson-Triggs Proprietors' Grand Reserve Gewurztraminer Icewine 2007, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada: A terrific dessert wine that will cap a wonderful meal. Redolent of ripe apricot, peach and pear preserves. Lovely honey-infused finish. Bring it on! Drink: 2011-2020. 593954 12.50% S 750 mL $64.95 Score: 93/100. June 6, 2011
Add My Review

Vintages Wine Picks June 6, 2011

Natalie's Wine Reviews...

About Natalie...

Natalie's Website...

Email:
Password:
	Remember Me