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Wine Picks November 26, 2019

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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.

Argentina

Piattelli Vineyards Grand Reserve Trinita 2015, Mendoza, Argentina: A robust Argentine blend of 72% Malbec, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Merlot grapes. Aromas of black fruit, toasty oak and smoke. Pair with hearty meat dishes. Drink: 2018 - 2022 14.9% D 750 mL $30.00 Score: 89/100. November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Piattelli Vineyards Tres Cruces Limited Edition Ancellotta 2016, Mendoza, Argentina Drink: 2018 - 2026 15.3% XD 750 mL $29.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Piattelli Vineyards Premium Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Mendoza, Argentina Drink: 2019 - 2026 14% XD 750 mL $29.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Canada

Stag's Hollow Winery & Vineyard Amalia Vineyard Syrah 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2018 - 2024 13.5% XD 750 mL $35.00 November 2019. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Mission Hill Family Estate Five Vineyards Pinot Noir 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Pinot Noir food pairings: grilled wild salmon, Portobello mushrooms, roasted duck or pork, olive bread, or toasted walnuts. Drink: 2018 - 2022 145128 13% XD 750 mL $18.45 November 2019. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Dirty Laundry Vineyard Kay-Syrah Syrah 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2018 - 2022 437111 13.2% XD 750 mL $25.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Young & Wyse Collection Merlot 2013, Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada Drink: 2015 - 2020 13% D 750 mL $27.00 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Cidrerie St-Nicolas Crackling Cider Rosé, Quebec, Canada: Absolutely lovely! More than just a sunny orchard of freshly picked apples: this cider also has rose petal and wild raspberry notes. It's a blend of 80% apples and 20% strawberries, with low alcohol at 7% alcohol. Perfect for parties, patio sipping and enjoying summer. Drink: 2013 - 2020 275362 7% M 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Malivoire Ladybug Rose 2017, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada 559088 13% D 750 mL $17.95 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Township 7 Vineyards & Winery Seven Stars Equinox Sparkling Rosé 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: A spectacular BC sparkling wine made using the Champagne method. This is the first vintage for this wine, and it's stunning. It's created from 100% Pinot Noir grapes grown in a single vineyard from Sperling Vineyards. Aromas of small field strawberries and happiness. Pair with roast chicken or turkey. Drink: 2018 - 2023 13% XD 750 mL $35.00 Score: 95/100. November 2019. Top Rated Sparkling Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Hester Creek Estate Winery Block 2 Reserve Merlot 2015, Okanagan, British Columbia, BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2017 - 2022 14.2% D 750 mL $28.95 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Deep Roots Winery Parentage Red 2016, Okanagan, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2018 - 2022 14.5% D 750 mL $28.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Domaine de Grand Pré Ortega 2017, Grand Pre, Annapolis Valley, Canada Ortega food pairings: summer greens, fish, poultry, cheese. Drink: 2018 - 2021 12% D 750 mL $20.00 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

River Stone Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2016, Okanagan, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2018 - 2022 13.9% D 750 mL $31.90 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Hester Creek Estate Winery Selected Barrels Cabernet Merlot 2017, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2019 - 2022 14% D 750 mL $17.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sage Hill Vineyard & Winery Aft - Merlot 2016, Okanagan, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2018 - 2025 18% S 375 mL $40.45 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

CedarCreek Estate Winery Platinum Block 2 Pinot Noir 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: The 2016 vintage of Cedarcreek Estate Winery’s Platinum “Block 2” is created from 100% Pinot Noir from a single vineyard (Block 2) and are 24 years old with grapes cropped to one cluster per shoot giving them the greatest chance of producing optimal yields of quality fruit. Aromas of dark red fruit and spice. Pir with roast chicken and veal. Drink: 2018 - 2024 13.6% XD 750 mL $50.00 Score: 93/100. November 2019. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

CedarCreek Estate Winery Platinum Block 4 Pinot Noir 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada: A stunning, silky smooth BC Pinot Noir with aroms of ripe dark cherry and spice. Perfect for roast chicken or turkey. Celebrate! Drink: 2018 - 2024 753962 13.7% XD 750 mL $45.00 Score: 93/100. November 2019. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Cottage Block Riesling 2016, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A.., Canada Drink: 2017 - 2020 346601 11.7% MD 750 mL $12.95 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Planters Ridge Winery Elevation Frissante 2016, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada Drink: 2018 - 2024 10.5% D 750 mL $23.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Bonamici Cellars Belviaggio 2014, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2017 - 2023 14.7% XD 750 mL $34.90 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Fairview Cellars Premier Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada Drink: 2019 - 2027 15.3% XD 750 mL $49.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Monte Creek Ranch and Winery Sparkling Rosé Reserve 2018, British Columbia, Canada Drink: 2019 - 2021 11% M 750 mL $23.00 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Kitsch Pinot Noir Rose 2018, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, BC V.Q.A., Canada Drink: 2019 - 2022 D 750 mL $21.00 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Chile

Cono Sur Bicicleta Reserva Shiraz 2018, Colchagua Valley, Chile: A full-bodied Chilean Shiraz with aromas of black plums and toasty oak. Pair with a rare steak. Drink: 2020 - 2022 64295 13.5% D 750 mL $12.95 Score: 86/100. November 2019. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Greece

Gavalas Fragospito Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Crete, Greece Drink: 2019 - 2022 727007 14% D 750 mL $30.00 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Italy

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio 2016, Alto Adige Trentino Doc, Italy: Beautifully balanced and refreshing Italian Pinot Grigio from one of the country's best-known producers of this wine. Santa Margherita was, in fact, the first to make Pinot Grigio back in 1961, and has led the way ever since. Crisp and lively with racy acidity for seafood and shellfish. Also works on its own as a chilled aperitif. Pinot Grigio food pairings: pasta with cream sauce, grilled chicken breast, summer salads, pork burgers, oysters on the half-shell. Drink: 2017 - 2021 106450 12.5% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 91/100. November 2019. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Casello Bondoni Trebbiano 2016, Lugana Doc, Italy Drink: 2017 - 2022 13% XD 750 mL $19.99 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

New Zealand

Oyster Bay Pinot Grigio 2018, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand Pinot Grigio food pairings: grilled lake fish, garden salad, shellfish, chicken cacciatore. Drink: 2019 - 2022 326090 12% XD 750 mL $19.95 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

South Africa

Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc 2017, South Africa, South Africa Drink: 2018 - 2019 340380 12% D 750 mL $11.95 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Spain

Torres Viña Esmeralda White 2017, Catalunya D.O., Spain: A barely off-dry aromatic blend of Moscatel and Gewürztraminer so fragrant and pretty with white florals and soft citrus aromas. Love the fresh grapey, lychee, soft spice, vanilla and mineral flavours on the palate. Chill and pair with mildly spiced curries. White food pairings: grilled shrimp, fish tacos, crab cakes. Drink: 2019 - 2021 113696 11.5% M 750 mL $14.95 Score: 90/100. November 2019. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Marqués de Cáceres Gran Reserva 2011, Rioja D.O.C.A., Spain: A savoury, smoky red wine is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano grapes with dark plum, pepper and anise spicy flavours on the palate. The wine was aged for more than 2 years in French oak barrels and then one year in bottle prior to its release. Food pairings: herbed steaks, Portobello mushroom, chili, soup, Papas con chorizo. Drink: 2019 - 2024 976670 14% XD 750 mL $29.95 Score: 91/100. November 2019. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Cune Gran Reserva 2012, Rioja D.O.C.A., Spain: A Rioja Gran Reserva red wine blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo with ripe red fruit, ferrous and meaty flavours. Tannins are rounded, very approachable now. Food pairings: hard cheeses, pork roast, grilled game sausages. Drink: 2019 - 2023 393553 13.5% XD 750 mL $28.95 November 2019. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Marqués de Cáceres Gran Reserva Tempranillo 2015, Rioja D.O.C.A., Spain Tempranillo food pairings: herbed steaks, Portobello mushroom, chili, soup, Papas con chorizo. Drink: 2019 - 2024 976670 14% XD 750 mL $29.95 November 2019. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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