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Wine Picks June 14, 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

Clos De Lolol 2012, Lolol Valley, Colchagua Valley, Chile: Rustic, robust and ready when you are. This Chilean red wine offer aromas of blackened fruit and toasty oak. Pair with grilled meats. Food pairings: hearty meat dish, chicken, braised lamb. Drink: 2014 - 2018 464362 14.5% XD 750 mL $29.95 Score: 88/100. June 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Konzelmann Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2015, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A supple, smooth, medium-bodied Niagara Pinot Noir with fleshy dark cherries and a lick of spice. Round and voluptuous. Pair with veal. Pinot Noir food pairings: veal, fowl, tomato sauce dishes. Drink: 2015 - 2019 200584 13% XD 750 mL $13.05 Score: 89/100. June 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Teoria Vinhos Superior 2014, Douro D.O.C., Portugal: This full-bodied Portuguese red wine is a blend of native grapes grown in Celeiros do Douro and Sabrosa. Juicy and full-bodied with enticing aromas of dark fleshy ripe black plums and dark spice. Pair with grilled meats. Food pairings: grilled meats and game and pastas in red sauce. Drink: 2017 - 2023 13% 750 mL $19.50 Score: 89/100. June 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Trovisco Vinhos 2009, Tras-Os-Montes, Portugal: A robust Portuguese red wine blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cao grapes. Aged in oak barrels for 10 months. Robust with a firm tannic grip on the palate. Attractive black fruit, tar, toasty oak and smoke. Decant 1-2 hours. Pair with rare meats. Food pairings: grilled red meats and game dishes, red sauced pastas. Drink: 2016 - 2020 11371255 14.5% XD 750 mL $26.00 Score: 88/100. June 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Morgan Cotes Du Crow's 2015, Santa Lucia Highlands, California, United States: A gorgeous, supple, velvet-textured California red wine blend of 52% Grenache, 44% Syrah and 4% Tempranillo grapes. Aromas of fleshy black plum and smoke. Thank-you Steve Beckta, at Gezellig restaurant in Ottawa for introducing this wine to me. Pair with hearty meat dishes and wide restaurant owners. Drink: 2017 - 2021 13% D 750 mL $30.00 Score: 93/100. June 2017. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Quails' Gate Estate Winery Gamay Nouveau 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: Bubblegum and cherry candy drops on the nose and palate of this nouveau-style wine. Cailleteau means a baby quail. This baby wine is best consumed very, very young and very, very chilled. Drink: 2016 - 2017 14% D 750 mL $15.00 Score: 84/100. June 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Don David Reserve Syrah 2015, Cafayate Valley, Salta, Argentina: A robust, layered Argentine red wine made from the velvet-textured Syrah grape. Aromas of dark fruit, toasty oak and smoke. Pair with grilled meats. Drink: 2016 - 2020 13.5% D 750 mL $16.00 Score: 89/100. June 2017. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Kacaba Vineyards Sustainable Cabernet 2015, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Cedar brush and herbal notes on the nose of this rustic, tannic Niagara Cabernet. Mocha and chalky dry with lots of toasty oak. A full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of cassis and blackcurrant. Firm tannic grip on the palate. Decant 1 hour and pair with a juicy steak. Cabernet food pairings: venison meatballs and sauce, bobotie, wild game chili bites. Drink: 2017 - 2019 499384 13% XD 750 mL $24.95 Score: 88/100. June 2017. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Rosés

Black Hills Estate Winery Rose 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: A lovely, aromatic British Columbia Rosé made from Pinot Noir grapes. Delicate aromas of ripe cherry and wild strawberry. Perfect as a chilled aperitif or companion to shellfish. Drink: 2016 - 2018 13% D 750 mL $24.95 Score: 91/100. June 2017. Top Rated Rosé Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Creekside Pinot Noir Rosé 2016, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A lovely, delicate Niagara rosé that's packed with wild strawberry flavour. Dry and refreshing, yet so mouth-wateringly juicy. Serve as a chilled aperitif or companion to fresh seafood. Pinot Noir Rosé food pairings: salmon steaks, sausages, lightly savoury cheeses like white cheddar or smoked provolone.. Drink: 2016 - 2018 13.5% XD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 90/100. June 2017. Best Value Rosé Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

Konzelmann Estate Winery Pinot Blanc 2015, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Crisp, fresh and mouth-watering Niagara Pinot Blanc with aromas of white melon. Perfect as a chilled aperitif or companion to light seafood dishes. Drink: 2015 - 2018 219279 13% XD 750 mL $12.95 Score: 88/100. June 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Brickyard Riesling 2015, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Lots of mouth-watering acidity and sweetness in this medium-bodied white. Lovely pear and peach notes. Cries out for food such as seafood. This wine is named for the original pioneers in this region who were the only ones to see value in the rugged clay landscape: brick producers. The clay would often break farmng equipment. Grapevines however love clay soils as they love to suffer. Drink: 2015 - 2019 346866 10% M 750 mL $13.95 Score: 88/100. June 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Konzelmann Estate Winery Reserve Chardonnay 2015, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Peach and melon aromas on the nose and palate of this medium-bodied, juicy Niagara Chardonnay. Caramel and butterscotch with rich layers of ripe pear in this oaked white. Pair with roast chicken. Chardonnay food pairings: herbed chicken, lobster bisque, spicy popcorn. Drink: 2015 - 2018 364869 13% D 750 mL $14.20 Score: 87/100. June 2017. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Creekside Estate Winery Chardonnay 2015, Niagara, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A buttery, rich, full-bodied Niagara Chardonnay with aromas of toffee, butterscotch, toasted almond and golden apple. Pair with roast chicken. Drink: 2015 - 2020 13% XD 750 mL $25.00 Score: 90/100. June 2017. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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