Wine Picks

Values Wine Picks July 11, 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: May 22, March 7, January 4 and December 16.

White Wine

Strut Riesling Gewürztraminer 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: A pretty, floral wine with notes of melon and pineapple. This wine is a blend of 70% Riesling and 30% Gewurztraminer. It's a lovely apertif. Closed with a screwcap. Available at Wine Rack stores. 11% MD 750 mL $11.95 Score: 86/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

McWilliams Chardonnay 2007, Australia: A voluptuously layered, full-bodied Chardonnay with delicious notes of ripe peach, butterscotch and melon. Nicely balanced. This is an incredible price for a wine of this quality. Top me up! 91744 14% D 750 mL $9.95 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Best Value White Wine. Full Review

Peller Estates Private Reserve Riesling 2008, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: A lovely light-bodied white sipper with generous notes of lime, lemongrass, white peach and melon. Perfect as an aperitif or with many light fare dishes. 641969 10% D 750 mL $15.95 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Open Riesling Gewürztraminer 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: An exuberant, zesty wine that wakes up the tastebuds then tickles them with lovely lush pineapple, lychee and white peach notes. Light-bodied but not wimpy: packed with expressive tropical and citrus fruit. Perfect as an aperitif or the glass of wine at 5 p.m. that I call "Mommy's little helper." 134965 11% MD 750 mL $11.95 Score: 89/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Wayne Gretzky Estate Estate Series Chardonnay 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: A round and balanced Chardonnay with enticing notes of green apples, pears and vanilla-spice. Very satisfying. 129049 13% D 750 mL $16.95 Score: 88/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Prospect Winery Ogopogo's Lair Pinot Grigio 2008, V.Q.A., Okanagan, B.C., Canada: Lovely ripe melon, peach and floral notes. Clean and refreshing, this makes a terrific aperitif or an accompaniment to a wide variety of dishes. A papaya-infused finish. Lovely! Closed with a screwcap. 13% S 750 mL $29.95 Score: 89/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Malivoire Wine Company Chardonnay 2006, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: A luxurious Chardonnay with voluptuous layers of ripe peaches, pears, honeysuckle, fig and cinnamon. A long, toffee-infused finish. The Moira Vineyard on the Beamsville Bench has calciferous clay soils suited to Burgundian grapes such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. (This winery makes spectacular Pinot too.) It was certified as organic in 2004 and is lovingly tended. The wine was aged in Burgundian barrels for 8 months on the lees and underwent a full malolactic fermentation to give it that rich, creamy texture. Enjoy! 573154 13% D 750 mL $37.00 Score: 92/100. July 11, 2009 Favorite White Wine. Full Review

Monkey Bay Pinot Grigio 2008, New Zealand: Vibrant and refreshing with notes of white melon, grapefruit, granny smith apple and lime. Closed with a screwcap. 93666 13% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Red Wine

Ruffino Fonte Al Sole Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Tuscany, Italy: The grapes are grown in sun-drenched Tuscany. Sole means "sourced from the sun." Lovely berry ripeness with a tangy finish. A blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon to produce a medium-bodied supple wine. Terrific value for the money. 18994 750 mL $12.95 Score: 86/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Patriarche Pinot Noir 2006, V.D.P., Languedoc, Roussilon, France: A fantastic value for this lovely, medium-bodied Pinot with tart cherries and some spice. Supple and mouth-watering. 522649 12% D 750 mL $9.90 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Open Merlot 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: A resolutely delicious wine that delivers a core of plushy ripe plums and berries. The texture is so supple and slippery good. This versatile, switch-hitter wine is perfect for parties when you're not sure of everyone's taste in vino. It's also excellent for movie night, except of course, if you're watching Sideways. Miles obviously didn't try this wine. 140129 12% D 750 mL $11.95 Score: 88/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant Grenache Mouvedre 2004, California, United States: A spectacularly rich and deep red with fragrant peppery blackberries and black raspberries. Savory, meaty notes with a lip-smacking delicious finish. This wine is a blend of 38% grenache, 35% syrah, 12% mouvedre, 8% carignane and 7% cinsault. It was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. 975847 14% D 750 mL $36.95 Score: 92/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Canaletto Casa Girelli Primitivo 2008, Puglia, Italy: A wonderful quaffer with black cherries and some smoky notes. Perfect for barbecues and casual potluck gatherings. 94565 14% D 750 mL $11.95 Score: 86/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Beringer Vineyards California Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, United States: An incredible price for this tasty, plummy, supple red! Layers of flavor and goodness make you come back for more. A sure-fire party pleaser. 113001 12% D 750 mL $9.95 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Wayne Gretzky Estate Estate Series Cabernet Merlot 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: This gorgeously rich red blend comes from the clay soils of Niagara, wich give it a lovely depth and texture. A robust but supple wine, it dispays dazzling aromas of fleshy plums and blackberries on the nose with hedonistically rich dark fruit flavors on the palate. Perfect for dinner parties and gifts. The wine is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc. It was aged 18 months in American and French oak barrels. Lovely! 128652 13% D 750 mL $18.95 Score: 90/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Masi Tupungato Corvina Malbec 2007, Tupungato Valley, Argentina: A sublime wine of incredible depth and dimension. On the nose, blackberry, cassis, black cherry and mocha. This wine is a blend of 70% Corvina and 30% Malbec grapes. It was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Lovely length. You do need to decant this wine for 1-2 hours: I left it open overnight and it was fabulous the next day. 79095 14% 750 mL $29.95 Score: 90/100. July 11, 2009 Favorite Red Wine. Full Review

Gran Feudo Reserva Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2001, Navarra, Spain: A juicy red with enticing aromas of dark plums and vanilla-spice. Aged 18 months in French and American oak. This wine is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. 479017 13% D 750 mL $15.95 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Prospect Winery Fats Johnson Pinot Noir 2007, V.Q.A, British Columbia, Canada: Floods the sense with mocha and dark cherries. Rich and supple on the palate with a spice-infused finish. Medium-bodied and silky. A superb effort! 92304 13% S 750 mL $29.95 Score: 89/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Open Cab2-Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007, V.Q.A., Niagara, Ontario, Canada: A mouth-filling red with layers of fleshy blackberries, blackcurrant and a lick of vanilla spice. This full-bodied number delivers lots of hedonistic pleasure for those who enjoy instant gratification. (Translation: You don't need to cellar this bottle!) The price is amazing for such a well-made wine. Perfect for potluck gatherings, book clubs and evenings when you want to wear your faded jeans. 134957 12% D 750 mL $11.95 Score: 89/100. July 11, 2009 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review

Masi Tupungato Passo Doble Malbec Corvina 2007, Tupungato Valley, Argentina: Love it! Pleasantly tart cherries, blackcurrant and blackberries in this full-bodied wonder. The vineyards are at an altitude of 950-1050 meters above sea level. The wine is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% semi-dried Corvina grapes and uses a double fermentation technique for extra richness. Terrific balance and acidity. Great food companion to many robust and meaty dishes. 620880 14% 750 mL $13.95 Score: 88/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Cookoothama Cabernet Merlot 2007, New South Wales, Australia: Terrific balance in this full-bodied, tasty red with rich, fleshy notes of plums and black raspberries. Great mouth-watering acidity for food. Aged in French and American oak, it offers notes of dark spices, smoke and mocha. 91660 14% D 750 mL $13.95 Score: 88/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Tapena Tempranillo 2008, Tierra de Castilla, Spain: Made from 100% Tempranillo grapes. The quintessential red wine grape of Spain, Tempranillo (temp-rah-NEE-yo) is a perfect blend of fruit, earth and structure, rounded out by a deliciously soft mouthfeel. Tempranillo is Pinot Noir in blue jeans. Intense ruby red color with violet-blue undertones characteristic of young red wines. A plush, luscious wine that rolls with ripe black plum flavor. Lovely notes of dark chocolate on the end. Full-bodied. 72553 13% D 750 mL $13.95 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Canaletto Merlot Nero D'avola 2008, I.G.T., Sicily, Italy: A gorgeously plummy-rich wine with supple layers of blackberries and dark spices. Full-bodied and balanced with a savory note on the finish. Closed with a screwcap. 29421 13% D 750 mL $11.95 Score: 89/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Rosés

Stoneleigh Pinot Noir Rosé 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand: A wonderfully vibrant wine with aromas of fresh field strawberries. Zippy and refreshing with lovely lifted notes of raspberries and red plums on the palate. 122275 13% D 750 mL $16.95 Score: 89/100. July 11, 2009 Best Value Rosé. Full Review

Bonny Doon Vineyard Grenache Cinsault Rosé 2008, California, United States: One of my favorite rosés year after year. Old World balance and length with New World vitality and fruit. Ripe raspberries and earth. Lovely aperitif. A blend of 58% Grenache, 18% Cinsault, 10% Roussane, 7% Mouvedre, 4% Syrah and 3% Grenache Blanc. Closed with a screwcap. 707018 14% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 91/100. July 11, 2009 Favorite Rosé. Full Review

Sparkling Wine

Seaview Sparkling Shiraz 2008, Australia: Wow, deep, rich flavours of dark plums and black cherries. This is perfect for those who love full-bodied red wines like Shiraz but want a fizzy version. 644054 13% 750 mL $13.65 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Seaview Brut Methode Champenoise Sparkling Wine 2008, Australia: You can't beat this price! Lots of fruity, bubbly fun in a bottle. 216333 12% 750 mL $11.65 Score: 86/100. July 11, 2009 Best Value Sparkling Wine. Full Review

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava 2008, Spain: Deep and toasty with delicious notes of ripe pears. Creamy layers of flavor and zippy finish make this bubbly perfect for a cocktail party. 88591 12% 750 mL $12.65 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Astoria Prosecco 2008, Italy: A simple but tasty bubbly that's easy on the budget. 593855 11% 750 mL $12.70 Score: 85/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Codorniu Clasico Brut Cava 2008, Spain: Lovely golden colour sparkles in the candle light as gorgeously ripe pears and toasty oak waft up from the glass. Clean, crisp and medium-bodied, this Spanish sparkler is perfect for casual get-togethers. 6262 12% 750 mL $12.40 Score: 85/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene Prosecco 2008, Italy: Fresh ripe pears and a touch of spice make this bubbly terrific for cocktail parties: It’ll go beautifully with all the hors d’oeuvres and nibbles on the table. 340570 11% 750 mL $16.55 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Chateau De Montgueret Cremant De Loire Brut 2008, Loire Valley, France: Lovely green apples with a toasty finish. Lots to enjoy here. 621896 12% 750 mL $19.40 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review

Araldica Asti Sparkling Wine 2008, Italy: Just a touch of sweetly ripe fruit in this sparkler makes it a wonderful accompaniment to movie classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life. Aromas of ripe green apples and grapes with some ripe apricot blended in. Light and zesty. 94573 7% 750 mL $12.75 Score: 87/100. July 11, 2009 Full Review