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Wine Picks January 10, 2017

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Note: This batch of wine reviews is not part of the bi-weekly Vintages Releases. Instead, it's a collection of wines outside the Vintages section in store (general list) or wines sent to me directly from wineries that may not yet be available in liquor stores. Click on the Winery or Wine Agency link to get more info.

Red Wine

Backsberg Pumphouse Shiraz 2011, Paarl, South Africa Drink: 2012 - 2016 438423 14% D 750 mL $22.25 January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Provolo Gino 2014, Veneto Igt, Italy: This northern Italian red wine from Mezzane di Sotto is charred wood, smoke and blackened cassis on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and fairly smoke. Pair with darkly grilled meats. Food pairings: roasted or grilled meats. Drink: 2016 - 2019 13.5% D 750 mL $20.00 Score: 87/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Provolo Amarone Della Valpolicella 2010, Veneto Docg, Italy: This robust Italian red wine from Provolo-Mezzane di Sotto is a rich and layered Amarone with aromas of black cherry liqueur and smoke. Pair with hearty meat dishes. Amarone Della Valpolicella food pairings: braised and grilled meats, steak florentine, sweet and sour dishes, Asian dishes, ripened cheese. Drink: 2015 - 2025 15.5% D 750 mL $35.00 Score: 92/100. January 2017. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Mascarello Barolo 2011, Piedmont Docg, Italy: This nobust northern Italian red wine is made from the Nebbiolo grape grown in the villages of La Morra (Torriglione Vineyard) and Barolo (Volta Vineyard). Lots of acidity for tangy dishes. Not fruity, more leather, dust and earth. Pair with juicy meat dishes. Barolo food pairings: roasted, braised and boiled red meat and game dishes; first courses served with Alba white truffle. Drink: 2018 - 2022 14.5% D 750 mL $40.00 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Mascarello Dal 1927 Nebbiolo D’Alba 2011, Piedmont D.O.C., Italy: Wild truffle and tart cherry on this nose of this robust northern Italian red wine that has been produced since 1927. Pair with risotto and wild boar. Nebbiolo D’Alba food pairings: red meat-based dishes, especially braised beef, game and mature cheeses. Drink: 2016 - 2020 14% D 750 mL $20.00 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Mascarello Grandeur Barbera D'alba 2012, Piedmont D.O.C., Italy: A robust northern Italian red wine with aromas of black cherry and smoke on the nose and palate. Polished tannins. Serve with grilled meats. Barbera D'alba food pairings: braised, boiled and stewed meats, game and very strongly-flavoured cheeses. Drink: 2016 - 2020 13.5% D 750 mL $20.00 Score: 89/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Mascarello Nebbiolo D'alba 2012, Piedmont Doc, Italy: Tart cherry and smoke on the nose and palate of this robust northern Italian red wine. Firm tannins that will smooth out with 2 hours decanting. Pair with grilled lamb. Nebbiolo D'alba food pairings: red meats, grilled, steak tartare, ragout and feathered game, meat-based starters and dishes enhanced with a grating of Alba white truffle; medium/mature cheeses. Drink: 2017 - 2020 13.5% D 750 mL $25.00 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Roscato Rosso Dolce, Italy Drink: 2016 - 2018 7% MS 750 mL $16.88 January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Backsberg Pumphouse Shiraz 2012, Coastal Region Wo, South Africa: Smoky campfire aromas on the nose with toasty oak and black fruit. Full-bodied and supple. Pair with grilled meats. Shiraz food pairings: steak, lamb, venison, chili, cheesy dishes, Parmesan, Asiago, Gorgonzola, bleu cheese with Prosciutto. Drink: 2012 - 2017 652651 14% XD 750 mL $24.05 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

D'antiche Terre Coriliano Aglianico 2012, Campania I.G.T., Italy: Love that smoky, meaty, sizzling bacon nose! Aromas of black fruit with great depths of flavour and concentration on the palate. A pleasant finish with some notes of tar and smoke. Awesome price! Pair with grilled meats. Aglianico food pairings: roast venison, roast crown pork, roast leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary. Drink: 2014 - 2018 456137 14% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 89/100. January 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Montresor Amarone Della Valpolicella 2013, Veneto Docg, Italy: Black cherry liqueur and dark spice on the nose and palate of this attractive Italian Amarone. Made using the traditional method of appassimento: dry the grapes before fermentation to concentrate their flavours and the body of the wine. Pleasantly bitter finish. Pair with roast beef. Drink: 2014 - 2020 240416 15% D 750 mL $38.50 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Thymiopoulos Young Vines Xinomavro 2013, Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece: This medium-bodied Greek wine from Young Vines offers red florals and cherry on the nose and palate. The vines are 15 years old for these Xinomavro grapes. Pair with grilled pork chops. Xinomavro food pairings: grilled rare steaks, blackened ribs with BBQ sauce, coq au vin, Cornish game hen, tomato tarte. Drink: 2016 - 2020 466474 14.5% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Casa Vinicola Zonin Rosé Prosecco 2016, Veneto, Italy: A zesty Italian sparkling wine with notes of tart field strawberries. Racy acidity for seafood. Drink: 2016 - 2018 13% D 750 mL $15.00 Score: 87/100. January 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Blue Mountain Gamay Noir 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: A plush, richly-layered, berry-forward BC red wine made from the Gamay Noir grape, which has greater depth than Gamay alone. This wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks then aged for 10 months in four-year-old French oak barrels. Pair with grilled pork chops. Drink: 2014 - 2019 389882 13.5% XD 750 mL $399.85 Score: 90/100. January 2017. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Deakin Estate Shiraz 2015, Murray Darling, North West Victoria, Australia: Lots of acidity and juicy black fruit flavours for grilled meats. Aromas of dark plums, toasty oak and blackberries. Smooth and full-bodied. Shiraz food pairings: beef brisket with barbecue sauce, short ribs. Drink: 2015 - 2018 560821 13.5% D 750 mL $9.95 Score: 87/100. January 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Babich Winemaker's Reserve Syrah 2014, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand: Smooth, rich and voluptuous. Aromas of fleshy black plum and toasty smoke. Pair with grilled meats. Drink: 2014 - 2021 998484 14% D 750 mL $36.95 Score: 93/100. January 2017. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sandhill Gamay Noir 2014, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2014 - 2019 13% D 750 mL $15.11 January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Cantine Giacomo Montresor Amarone Della Valpolicella D.O.C.G. Corvina Blend 2014, Veneto D.O.C.G., Italy Drink: 2014 - 2020 240416 15% D 750 mL $31.75 January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sparkling Wine

Salon Le Mesnil Blanc De Blancs Brut Champagne 1995, Champagne Aoc, France: A crisp, elegant Champagne with notes of toast and green apple. So elegant with a long finish. Drink: 1997 - 212 12% XD 750 mL $630.00 Score: 95/100. January 2017. Top Rated Sparkling Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

EastDell Pinot Grigio 2016, Niagara, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: This is the small format bottle (200 ml) of this light-bodied, off-dry white wine from Niagara made from the Pinot Grigio grape. Notes of white peach and melon. Pair with seafood. Drink: 2017 - 2018 296640 12.5% MD 200 mL $4.95 Score: 86/100. January 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

EastDell Pinot Grigio 2015, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: This light-bodied, off-dry white wine from Niagara is made from the Pinot Grigio grape. Notes of white peach and melon. Pair with seafood. Drink: 2016 - 2017 65367 12.5% MD 750 mL $12.95 Score: 87/100. January 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

EastDell Pinot Grigio, Niagara, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2017 - 2018 296640 12.5% MD 200 mL $4.95 January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Gris 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2017 - 2020 329458 13.5% XD 750 mL $24.95 January 2017. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Graffigna Centenario Reserve Pinot Grigio 2016, San Juan, Argentina Pinot Grigio food pairings: light fish, chicken dishes. Drink: 2018 - 2019 164756 13.5% D 750 mL $13.05 January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Graffigna Centenario Reserve Pinot Grigio 2014, San Juan, Argentina Pinot Grigio food pairings: light fish, chicken dishes. Drink: 2015 - 2017 164756 13.5% D 750 mL $12.95 January 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Gris 2004, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2017 - 2020 329458 13.5% XD 750 mL $24.95 January 2017. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Grand Sud Chardonnay 2015, Pays D'oc, France: Cheap and cheerful southern French white wine made from the Chardonnay grape. This is a litre bottle, larger than the standard 750 ml. Pair with tight budgets. Drink: 2015 - 2016 462085 12.5% D 1000 mL $15.60 Score: 82/100. January 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Pinot Gris 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: Flavourful and viscous: this is no boring-beige Pinot Gris! Mouth-filling texture is what comes across most in this gorgeous white wine. The Pinot Gris is 60% fermented and aged in stainless steel, and the remaining 40% fermented and aged in two and three year old French oak barrels for 6 months. What a deft touch that wraps this package in richness. Drink: 2017 - 2020 329458 13.5% XD 750 mL $24.95 Score: 92/100. January 2017. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

The Hatch Screaming Frenzy Chardonnay 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: A lovely BC white wine made from the classic Chardonnay grape. Rich and round, yet also fresh and vibrant with aromas of golden apple and a touch of vanilla. Screaming Frenzy is named for the Black Swift birds that mysteriously, and perhaps only once a year, congregate in the skies over the winery's vineyards. Pair with this roast chicken (or four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie). Chardonnay food pairings: creamy pasta, ice cream, popcorn. Drink: 2016 - 2018 13.5% D 750 mL $24.99 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Graffigna Centenario Reserve Pinot Grigio 2015, San Juan, Argentina: Fresh and crisp with aromas of melon. Racy acidity for seafood. Medium-bodied. Chill for a refreshing aperitif. Pinot Grigio food pairings: light fish, chicken dishes. Drink: 2016 - 2018 164756 13.5% D 750 mL $13.05 Score: 88/100. January 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Jean Claude Mas Martinolles Origines Chardonnay 2015, Midi Igp, France: A medium-bodied white wine from southern France from the Chardonnay grape. Aromas of toast and apple. Pair with roast chicken. Drink: 2015 - 2018 469999 13.5% XD 750 mL $13.95 Score: 86/100. January 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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