Values Wine Picks January 6, 2010

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: May 22, March 7, January 4 and December 16.

[ Compress ] White Wine

Prospect Winery Larch Tree Hill Riesling 2008, Okanagan Valley, Canada: A pech and apricot delight! Works as a lively aperitif to get conversation going or as a versatile food companion. Light-bodied with tantalizing floral and pear aromas on the finish. Great price!  145136  13%  D  750 mL  $13.95  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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Creekside Estate Winery Life Is Good Chardonnay 2008, Niagara Escarpment, Canada: Nice for the price! This lovely Chard offers pleasant notes of green apples and butterscotch. tasty and balanced. A terrific party wine. Drink: 2009-2012.  146852  12.50%  MD  750 mL  $12.95. January 6, 2010
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Black Prince Winery Terroir Elite Black Prince/Wicked Point Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, VQA Prince Edward County, Canada: Creamy and full-bodied with gorgeous layers of honeysuckle, green apple, Asian pear and peaches. Luscious with a toasty, buttery finish. It's great to know how lovely an Ontario Chardonnay can be! Drink: 2009-2015.  661825000127  12%  D  750 mL  $29.75  Score: 89/100. January 6, 2010
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Tantalus Vineyards Estate Grown Tantalus Riesling 2008, VQA Okanagan Valley, Canada: Superb and enticing aromas of lime, hazelnut, cornmeal and green apples. Fantastic balance and persistence of flavours. Quivering delight in its lovely suspension between mouth-watering acidity and ripe fruit flavours. Drink: 2009-2014.  802280  13%  MD  750 mL  $22.90  Score: 88/100. January 6, 2010
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Caliterra Caliterra Vineyard, Estate Grown Caliterra Reserva Chardonnay 2008, Casablanca Valley, Chile: A lovely, buttery Chardonnay with tasty notes of Granny Smith apples, green melon and freshly buttered warm toast. Yum!  257147  13.50%  D  750 mL  $8.95  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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Caliterra Caliterra Vineyard, Estate Grown Caliterra Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Curicó Valley, Chile: Loaded with fresh mango and tropical fruit notes. This is exceptional value and quality for the price. Some pink grapefruit and green melon on the finish. Mouth-watering a dn delicious as an aperitif or versatile food companion. Drink: 2009-0.  275909  13%  D  750 mL  $8.95  Score: 88/100. January 6, 2010
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Willm Riesling 2008, Alsace AOC, France: Mouth-watering notes of lime and green melon. A soft, fragrant Riesling that's lovely as an aperitif or varsatile food companion. Some light floral notes on the finish. Terrific balance. Drink: 2010-2015.  11452  12%  D  750 mL  $16.75  Score: 88/100. January 6, 2010
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Beringer Vineyards Stone Cellars Chardonnay 2007, California, United States: Wonderfully well-made for the money! Balaned, round and rich with aromas of green apple, melon and buttered toast. Mouth-filling and satisfying. A lick of vanilla spice on the finish.  606806  13%  D  750 mL  $13.95  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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[ Compress ] Red Wine

Prospect Winery Haynes Barn Merlot Cabernet 2007, Okanagan Valley, Canada: An espresso-mocha invitation on the nose draws you in for more hedonistic pleasure on the palate. Rich aromas of blackberry and plums. Full-bodied with pleasing mouth-watering acidity for food. Great value.  145144  13.50%  D  750 mL  $15.95  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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Creekside Estate Winery Life Is Good Cabernet Merlot 2007, Niagara Escarpment, Canada: Bursting with black cherry-plum goodness, this smooth, full-bodied is a pleasant quaff. It's terrific for the price. Drink: 2009-2012.  146860  12.50%  MD  750 mL  $12.95  Score: 86/100. January 6, 2010
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Château des Charmes Estate Bottled Cabernet Merlot 2006, V.Q.A, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: A juicy wine with fleshy red and black berries and plums.Medium- to full-bodied with a judicious use of oak. terrific balance. Mouth-wateringly tasty! Drink: 2009-2014.  454991  12.50%  XD  750 mL  $14.45  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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Reif Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: Cassis and blackberry richness on the nose followed by terrific depth and richness of flavour on the palate. This wine was aged in French and Hungarian oak for 21 months, which adds more depth and dimension to the wine. Full-bodied. Drink: 2010-2017.  779320001102  13%  XD  750 mL  $24.95  Score: 88/100. January 6, 2010
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Reif Estate Reserve Merlot 2007, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: Juicy, plummy and tasty! Medium- to full-bodied with a velvet smooth texture. Fleshy plums and dark berries are lovely. This wine was aged in French and American oak for 21 months. Soft, smoky notes on the finish. Drink: 2010-2015.  779320001201  13%  XD  750 mL  $24.95  Score: 88/100. January 6, 2010
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Caliterra Caliterra Vineyard, Estate Grown Caliterra Bio Sur Carmenere Reserva Especial 2008, Chile: An incredible value for the price! This tasty red bursts with juicy ripe berries and plums. Some dark spices on the finish. It's rich, smooth and full-bodied. This would be a "wow" party wine and you won't break the bank.  142711  13.50%  D  750 mL  $12.95  Score: 89/100. January 6, 2010
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Caliterra Caliterra Vineyard, Estate Grown Caliterra Reserva Cabernet 2008, Colchagua Valley, Chile: A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon with 7% Shiraz. Terrific dark notes of blackberry, cassis, blackcurrant and dark spices all wrapped in a warm and comforting smoky blanket. Perfect for movie night!  257329  13.50%  D  750 mL  $8.95  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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Vigne dei Mastri Arturo 2007, Barbera d'Asti DOC, Italy: A supple, full-bodied red with attractive aromas of black cherries and a strong element of earthiness. Balanced and tasty, this red is definitely Old World style, meaning that earthy components, rather than fruitness lead. Drink: 2010-2012.  301191  14.50%  D  750 mL  $18.95  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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L.A. Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Baja California, Mexico: Mouth-filling ripe blackberry, cassis and black plums infused with toasty oak. Full-bodied and smooth with terrific concentration and depth. A great price for this wine. Buy a case!  114066  13.50%  D  750 mL  $10.45  Score: 88/100. January 6, 2010
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Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, California, United States: A tasty red from a very dependable producer. This Cab features notes of juicy plums, blueberries and a lovely smoky finish. Full-bodied, but supple. Goes down very quickly. Nice for the price, too!  48611  13%    750 mL  $13.95  Score: 87/100. January 6, 2010
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[ Compress ] Sparkling Wine

Château des Charmes Estate Bottled Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: Toasty and vibrant, this bubbly will add sparkle to any evening. Bursting with fresh lime and grapefruit notes. You can't beat the price. Drink: 2009-2015.  145409  12%  D  750 mL  $22.95  Score: 88/100. January 6, 2010
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[ Compress ] Dessert Wine

Château des Charmes Estate Bottled Vidal Icewine 2006, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: A gorgeous elixir of apricots, honeysuckle and peach perserves. Lovely balance and extraordinary length and persistence of flavours. Treat yourself to this wine soon. Drink: 2009-2012.  565861  9.50%  S  200 mL  $25.95  Score: 91/100. January 6, 2010
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