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Wine Picks August 22, 2007

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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

Tarapaca Terroir La Cuesta Cabernet/Syrah 2005, Maipo Valley, Chile: A juicy and generous wine with aromas of sweet plums and chocolate. Full-bodied. It is a combination of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% syrah. 571349 13% 0 750 mL $13.99 Score: 87/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Babich East Coast Pinot Noir 2005, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: A soft and supple wine. This pinot has aromas of sweet cherries, strawberries and plums. Aged several months in French oak. Babich East Coast Pinot Noir food pairings: salmon, roast chicken, lamb fillets. 790675 13% 0 750 mL $17.99 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Castiglioni 2005, Tuscany, Italy: A classic chianti. Full-bodied and well-balanced. It has pleasant aromas of dried plum, sage and black, bitter cherry notes but too fruit forward. 545319 13% 0 750 mL $15.15 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Nero D'avola 2004, Sicily, Italy: A simple, rustic and full-bodied wine. Has aromas of black cherry and smoky oak. Nero D'avola food pairings: pizza. 503334 13% 0 750 mL $13.99 Score: 86/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Marchesi De Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni 2005, Tuscany, Italy: A full-bodied wine with great acidity and balance. Shows great aromas of sweet fruit and some chocolate. Marchesi De Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni food pairings: roast meats, pizza. 380824 12% 0 750 mL $22.95 Score: 89/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Joanne Bordeaux Sangiovese 2005, Mendoza, Argentina: A great value wine with smooth texture, aromas of bright cherry fruit and oak. Full-bodied. This winery has been making wine since 1895 in the high regions of the Mendoza River Valley in the foothills of the Andes. Sangiovese food pairings: pizza, lasagna. 496216 13% 0 750 mL $124.85 Score: 87/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Artezin Zinfandel 2005, Napa Valley, United States: A gorgeous wine with excellent balance, especially for a zinfandel. It is full-bodied with fruit notes of blackberry, raspberry, pepper and currants. 75390 14% 0 750 mL $24.99 Score: 90/100. August 2007. Favorite Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Bodegas Piqueras Castillo De Almansa Reserva 2003, Almansa, Spain: A balanced and full bodied wine. It has old world finesse with lovely aromas of smokey oak, blackcurrants and cassis while not being too fruit forward. It is a great blend of tempranillo, monastrell and garnacha grapes aged in American oak. 270363 13.5% 0 750 mL $11.10 Score: 89/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Tarapaca Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Maipo Valley, Chile: Full-bodied with aroma notes of chocolate, black plums and black cherries. Drink: 2007 - 2010 249599 13.5% D 750 mL $9.70 Score: 87/100. August 2007. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

De Bortoli Petite Sirah 2006, New South Wales, Australia: A full-bodied and juicy wine that displays notes of plum and oak. Closed with a screwcap. Underwent 100% malolactic fermentation. 336750 13% 0 750 mL $11.99 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Chateau De Cabriac 2004, A.O.C. Corbieres, France: A terrific value wine. Lovely notes of spice, pepper and cedar. Full-bodied, supple and smooth in texture. Chateau De Cabriac food pairings: stews, roast meats, burgers, lasagna. 315119 13% XD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 89/100. August 2007. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Pascual Toso Pascual Toso Merlot 2004, Mendoza, Argentina: A full-bodied wine with good acidity. It has aromas of vanilla, plums, red and black berries. Pascual Toso Merlot food pairings: roast lamb. 35188 14% 0 750 mL $12.95 Score: 87/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Pascual Toso Pascual Toso Malbec 2004, Mendoza, Argentina: A wine with lovely aromas of coffee, black plums and currants. Full-bodied. Pascual Toso Malbec food pairings: hearty meat dishes. 35170 14% 0 750 mL $12.95 Score: 87/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Patriarche Pinot Noir Bourgogne 2003, France, France: A simple, silky, refreshing wine with pleasant aromas of cherries. The grapes have been sourced from all over Burgundy, many from the Patriarche vineyards in Beaune and Pommard. The wine is aged 50% in French oak barrles and the other half in stainless steel vats. Patriarche Pinot Noir Bourgogne food pairings: creamy cheeses, cold cuts, roast pork, poultry. 23903 12% 0 750 mL $15.95 Score: 87/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Alianca Foral Reserva 2003, Douro, Portugal: A smooth, full-bodied wine displaying aromas of plummy fruit. This cabernet sauvignon has been aged in oak barrels for 12 months. Alianca Foral Reserva food pairings: pepper steak, hearty meat dishes. 239046 12% D 750 mL $8.15 Score: 87/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sandhill Merlot 2005, Bc, Canada: A gorgeous merlot with silky texture and plummy depths. Full-bodied. Sandhill Merlot food pairings: grilled meats. 576751 14% 0 750 mL $19.99 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

E. & J. Gallo Winery Napa Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Napa Valley, United States: A full-bodied and tannic wine that will benefit from decanting . 29975 13.5% 0 750 mL $17.95 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Jackson-Triggs Delaine Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005, Niagara, Canada: A lovely wine with aromas of sweet cherries, and raspberries with a generous fruit finish. The grapes for this pinot were cold soaked for 4 days and then cold fermented on the skins. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentations followed by 18 months of barrel aging in French oak barriques. Delaine Vineyard Pinot Noir food pairings: beef wellington, roast veal, turkey, chicken, baked ham, barbecued swordfish or salmon, duck a l'orange, firm cheeses. 989277 13.5% XD 750 mL $25.30 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

Beringer Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay 2005, Napa Valley, United States: A rich, buttery chardonnay with aromatic notes of pear and apple. Full-bodied. Done using a mix of barrel and steel fermentation and aged for 10 months in French oak. 348342 13% 0 750 mL $28.15 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Babich Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Winner of the Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge in the UK for 2006, this refreshing wine has a grassy herbal aroma with notes of passion fruit, pineapple and gooseberry. 9142 13% 0 750 mL $14.00 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Jackson-Triggs Proprietors' Grand Reserve Riesling 2006, Niagara, Canada: A lively and vibrant wine with refreshing aromas of grapefuit and lime. The grapes for this vintage were crushed and cold settled in stainless steel tanks. Proprietors' Grand Reserve Riesling food pairings: Oriental stir-frys, maple glazed ham, grilled seafood, curried chicken, pork dishes, beef dishes, roast pork with applesauce, Emmentaler or Edam cheese. 593988 12% 750 mL $17.30 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Jackson-Triggs Delaine Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2006, Niagara, Canada: A luscious wine with mouthfilling texture and aromas of mango and citrus. The grapes for this vintage were crushed and cold soaked on the skins for 12 hours prior to the start of fermentations to extract the rich flavors and characteristics of this varietal. The wine was then fermented at 14 degrees Celsius to further develop the spicy character of the wine. Delaine Vineyard Gewurztraminer food pairings: Asian dishes, roast pork, turkey with sage dressing, spinach and mandarin salad. 989350 13% 750 mL $22.80 Score: 88/100. August 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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