Values Wine Picks November 2, 2009

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.

White Wine

Reif Estate Estate Bottled Kerner 2008, Niagara-River, Canada: A remarkable wine for the price! Vibrant, surprising and intriguing with lovely notes of rose petal and white peach. Reminds me a little of gewurztraminer. Give it a try. Drink: 2009-2011.  779320000501  13%  MD  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 89/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Creekside Estate Winery Laura White 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada: A lovely white with refreshing notes of melon, grapefruit and green apple. No heavy oak tones. Great aperitif.  121764  13%  D  750 mL  $17.95. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Robertson Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Robertson Wine of Origin, South Africa: Fantastic value, quality and taste for the money! One of the most consistently good producers from South Africa. Terrific note of lime zest and chives, not too herbal. Mouth-watering and tasty. Drink: 2009-2010.  129684  12.50%  D  750 mL  $10.75  Score: 87/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Closson Chase South Clos Chardonnay 2007, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada: A gorgeously round, supple and full-boided Chardonnay with classic aromas of green apple, cedar, toffee, hazelnut, orange zest and freshly baked bread. This wine was aged for 18 months in oak barrels, which contributes to its toasty goodness and creamy texture. Only 265 cases were produced so contact the winery to order.  13%  XD  750 mL  $39.75  Score: 93/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Inniskillin Wines Select Vineyards Pinot Gris, Winemaker's Series Vqa 2008, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada Drink: 2009-2013.  981415  12%  D  750 mL  $19.95. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Non-Estate Gewurtztraminer 2007, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: A delightful and spicy white with classic aromas of lychee, rose petal and Asian pear.  2911400004  12%  MD  750 mL  $22.00  Score: 88/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Creekside Estate Winery Butler's Grant Riesling 2007, V.Q.A., Jordan Station, Ontario, Canada: Bursting with lovely apricot and peach notes,fragrant and pretty with a starfruit-infused finish. Makes a terrific aperitif as well as a companion to many dishes. Drink: 2007-2010.  80267  11.50%  MD  750 mL  $15.95  Score: 89/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Organic One Organic One Chardonnay 2007, New South Whales, Australia: Nicely balanced and not too oaky. Lovely notes of green apples and white peach.  426577  14%    750 mL  $16.45  Score: 88/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Reif Estate Estate Bottled Chenin Blanc 2008, VQA Niagara River, Canada: Lovely floral and jasmine notes with some white melon highlights. Refreshing and pretty! Terrific aperitif and food companion. Drink: 2009-2012.  779320000419  12%  D  750 mL  $18.95  Score: 87/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Red Wine

Altaïr Sideral 2004, Cachapoal, Chile: Gorgeous long layers of blackcurrant and blackberry flavor: fleshy, full-bodied goodness. A saucy slap of licorice on the finish. Yum!  660837  14.70%    750 mL  $24.95  Score: 90/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Malivoire Wine Company Moira Pinot Noir 2004, V.Q.A. Beamsville Bench, Canada: Mouth-watering acidity makes this silky red a terrific food companion. Bursting with pit fruit, damson plum and black raspberries.  13%  D  750 mL  $42.00  Score: 90/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Tinhorn Creek & Diamondback Oldfield Series Merlot 2006, South Okanagan Valley, BC VQA, Canada: Lifted black fruit flavours are both elegant and downright tasty! This is one of Canada's best Merlot producers, if not the best. Mouth-watering acidity makes this wine a fantastic food companion. The blend is 93% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Syrah. The fruit is 100% estate-grown South Okanagan fruit from the Black Sage (Diamondback) and Golden Mile Bench vineyards. The wine was aged 18 months in new French and American oak. Oh la la! Drink: 2009-2018.  153213  14.60%  D  750 mL  $28.00  Score: 91/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery Shiraz 2008, Niagara Peninsula VQA, Canada: Plummy rich and tasty! Full-bodied goodness with lots of hearty blackberry flavors. Top me up! Drink: 2009-2011.  70052  12.50%  XD  750 mL  $14.75  Score: 86/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Malivoire Wine Company Courtney Gamay 2003, V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula, Canada: Surprisingly terrific: This wine has opened my eyes to the potential of Gamay in Niagara. It's nothing like Beaujolais. Try it and you'll be hooked. Lovely aromas of black raspberry, blackcurrant and some pepper notes. Stunning!  13.50%  D  750 mL  $26.95  Score: 92/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Le Clos Jordanne Le Clos Jordanne Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008, Niagara, Twenty Mile Bench, Canada: This gorgeously supple Pinot has all the delicacy and finesse of the Old World, but a core of New World concentration and vibrancy. Notes of violets, fresh earth and fleshy cherries. Lovely! Drink: 2011-2015.  33902  13%  D  750 mL  $40.00  Score: 92/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Mission Hill Family Estate Oliver and Osoyoos Vineyards Quatrain 2006, Okanagan Valley, Canada: A towering, massively structured red with gorgeous depth and full-bodied aromas of blackberry, black cherry, dark spices, espresso and dried herbs. A magnificent effort to make Canada proud. Drink: 2009-2013.  220045  13%    750 mL  $45.00  Score: 92/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Featherstone Winery & Vineyard Featherstone Cabernet Franc 2008, Niagara Escarpment, Canada Drink: 2010-2012.  016  12.50%  D  750 mL  $16.95. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Tinhorn Creek & Diamondback Pinot Noir 2007, South Okanagan Valley, BC VQA, Canada: Lovely ripe cherries and black raspberries. Terrific acidity makes it both refreshing and mouth-watering. Silky with a medium-body. Drink: 2009-2014.  53079  13.50%  D  250 mL  $18.99  Score: 88/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Malivoire Wine Company Moira Pinot Noir 2007, V.Q.A. Beamsville Bench, Canada: A big smoky red that needs another two to three years of aging to show its full glory. Terrific dark berry flavours and mouth-awakening acidity.  004  14%    750 mL  $0.00  Score: 92/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Palazzo Alcineo Toscana 2001, I.G.T., Tuscany, Italy: A complex weave of flavor, aroma and sheer winemaking mastery! Stunning depth and length with enticing aromas of black cherry and smoke. A keeper for the cellar. Drink: 2009-2012.  683136  14%    750 mL  $45.00  Score: 92/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Malivoire Wine Company Pinot Noir Estate 2008, V.Q.A. Beamsville Bench, Canada: Creamy texture with a lovely earthy essence and dark berries. Silky smooth. Yum!  005  13%  D  750 mL  $25.00  Score: 89/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Le Clos Jordanne Talon Ridge Pinot Noir 2008, Niagara Escarpment, Canada: I tasted this wine in the barrel during a recent visit, and it's already showing remarkable potential. Aromas of black cherries and a whiff of toasty oak. I look forward to further tastings of this wine as it matures. Drink: 2010-2014.  33894  13%  D  750 mL  $30.00  Score: 91/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Inniskillin Wines Select Vineyards Shiraz-Cabernet, Winemaker's Series 2007, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada Drink: 2009-2014.  988130  13%  D  750 mL  $242.75. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006, Chile: A well-structured, elegant and balanced Cabernet. Supple and full-bodied. Classic notes of cassis and blackberries. Lovely anise and leather on the finish. Drink: 2009-2013.  177451  14%  D  750 mL  $14.95  Score: 89/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Ravine Estate Vineyard Reserve Merlot 2007, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada: A deep rich red from a fabulous vintage! Notes of black plum, blackberry and kirsch. Supple layers of flavour. Wonderful!  2911400013  12.20%  D  750 mL  $55.00  Score: 90/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Malivoire Wine Company Courtney Gamay 2007, V.Q.A. Beamsville Bench, Canada: Gamay could be Niagara's sleeper red: terrific berry-laden flavour with some pepper and cedar notes. Deliciously mouth-filling without being being and not a furry tannin in sight. Absolutely lovely!  14%    750 mL  $29.95  Score: 90/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2008, Niagara, Twenty Mile Bench, Canada: The flagship wine for this winery makes a grand statement: power, balance and elegance all meet at its centre. Enticing aromas of back raspberry and cherry, violets and rose petal. This pinot shows what Canada can do now, and even more excitingly, it also points to what the country is capable of in the future. Drink: 2012-2018.  34553  13%  D  750 mL  $60.00  Score: 93/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review


Sparkling Wine

Barefoot Cellars Barefoot Bubbly Pinot Grigio, California, USA: Fresh green apple aromas on the nose with some refreshing grapefruit and citrus notes. A good bubbly bubbly for large gatherings.  106088  12.20%  M  750 mL  $12.95  Score: 85/100. November 2, 2009 Full Review