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Halfway though
August and barely a decent tomato in sight! It has not been the
best of summers, but at least there is always good wine to fall back
upon. Although I did not get to taste too much from the annual Chile
section of the release, I did sip a couple of nice wines from California
and a tasty bottle or two from the South of France. Do read on.
065458 SANTA RITA RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2006 Leyda Valley $14.95
Interesting aromas of spicy arugula, rhubarb, black cherry, cinnamon
candy and a trace of grapefruit zest. It carries a clean palate with
solid fruit, black licorice, refreshing acidity and a touch of silky
tannin. At this price, it is worth buying a few. Find this wine
061861 VISTAMAR RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2006 Casablanca Valley $17.95
Oh dear. This is dirty, showing notes of nettle, parsley stem and black
cherry. A swirl or two brings out a pronounced layer of pink grapefruit
juice. Furthermore, the undesirable citrus fruit shows its presence on
the palate as well. Not a wine for me. Find this wine
018721 VIÑA TARAPACÁ GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 Maipo
Valley $15.95
Rather one dimensional nose, blasting wave after wave of pure cassis and
blackcurrant. There is more to this wine though as the palate is full of
spice, black berry, mineral and of course, heaps of sweet blackcurrant
coulis. Clearly it should be worth cellaring and trying in a year or so
down the road. Find this wine
 079228
COYOTE'S RUN RED PAW VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2006 Four Mile Creek, Niagara
Peninsula $23.95
The nose reveals pure sweet aromas of lovely Pinot fruit. It is lighter
in style, elegant in fact and very well crafted. It features cranberry,
rhubarb, a touch of beet and black cherry leading to a well balanced
palate along with a nice note of sweet strawberry that hangs on the
finish. Find this wine |
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067280 ARTESA RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004
Napa Valley $39.95
Good depth showing notes of coffee, cocoa, allspice, nutmeg,
blackcurrant and raspberry. It has a balanced palate; a medium body,
some dusty chocolate tannin and a decent finish. It is nice, but is it
nice enough to warrant the asking price? Find this wine
067215 BENZIGER SYRAH 2004 North Coast $18.95
I have always had a fondness for Benziger’s wines. The quality is
generally decent and the prices are more than fair. This wine is no
exception. Perhaps there is a little too much creamy sweet oak on the
nose, but the concentrated palate shows layer after layer of back and
red berries, mocha, vanilla and Moroccan spice. Drink it now and it
needs large amounts of grilled rare meat. Lay it down for a year or two
and it should soften out nicely. Find this wine
001602 FREEMARK ABBEY MERLOT 2002 Rutherford, Napa Valley $31.95
Mineral and underbrush take centre stage until the black raspberry,
chocolate and blackberry aromas battle through. Nicely balanced, it is
shedding the last of its tannin and opening into a wine that drinks well
and is quite tasty. Find this wine
 550533
MONTEVINA TERRA D'ORO SHR FIELD BLEND ZINFANDEL 2005 Amador County
$39.95
A sweet monster, albeit as far from grace and elegance as one can
imagine, filled with blackberry, blueberry, plum, sweet cherry cola,
spice and wood flavours. All the fruit is super ripe, almost raisiny yet
the alcohol, 14.5% is controlled. For me it is a touch over the top.
Nevertheless, this is one wine I do need to try again; maybe with time
in a decanter and some Rosemary crusted lamb racks hot off the Weber. Find this wine
919662 PARADUXX, Duckhorn, 2005 Napa Valley $58.95
I am surprised to find this wine is 60% Zinfandel, the remainder being
32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and a splattering of Cabernet Franc.
It is filled with ample blackberry fruit, blackcurrant and toasty oak.
The Zin flavours are neutralized by the presence of the Cabernet. The
mid palate seems hollow, yet the finish is tasty and quite long. Pricy
though. Find this wine
715979 RAYMOND RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Napa Valley $34.95
Plenty of the expected blackcurrant, black fruit, sweet cherry, spice
and toasty oak flavours in this powerful, yet graceful wine. Everything
comes together very well. It has acids to counter the rich fruit;
tannins still hang around, but with minimal interference. All the fruit
combines on the finish and is in no hurry to leave. I like this.
Find this wine
 79939
BROTHERHOOD PINOT NOIR, Hudson Valley, New York 2005 $18.95
It is not too often one finds Pinot from New York State in Ontario’s
liquor stores. This one starts out with some medicinal notes, a hint of
cinnamon and stewed fruit followed by some pretty strawberry and red
fruit aromas. It is light with a touch of tannin on the finish. Find this wine
 067801
LA PUERTA BONARDA RESERVA 2005 Famatina Valley, Argentina $13.95
For fourteen bucks, one can acquire a wine that reeks of swamp water,
moss, mineral, cherry and plum. It has lively acids, great fruit on the
palate and a balanced finish. Find this wine
622571 CLOS DE LOS SIETE 2006 Mendoza, Argentina $24.95
Big, full blown, low in acid and quite disjointed. There is fruit
indeed, lots of plum, blueberry and currant, although, not as expressive
as earlier vintages that I recall.
Find this wine
085290 CHÂTEAU FONRÉAUD 2003 Listrac, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur $33.95
Dark and inky, the nose gives out layers of dark fruit, mocha, Thai
basil, blackberry and dark chocolate. Don’t be in a rush to drink this,
it is packed with flavour, but so tightly wound with tannin right now it
makes my mouth pucker. Find this wine
 952804
GÉRARD BERTRAND TERROIR SYRAH/CARIGNAN 2005 Minervois 15.95
A young, meaty and clumsy wine full of black pepper, new leather, fleshy
fruit and sweet oak. Open, decant and be patient. It should be fun with
a late night Barbie.
Find this wine
 080697
LE PETIT ROUGE DE SAINT ROCH 2007 Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes,
$15.95
Solid and profound, a blend of Syrah and Merlot laden with notes of
iron, mineral, lavender, blackcurrant, blueberry and floral aromas.
Hardly what I would call a “Petit Rouge”. It is a little rough around
the edges, but give the tannin time to subside and it will reward. Find this wine
 959999
CHÂTEAU FORTIA CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE DU BARON 2005
Layers of black fruit, thyme, slate, sweet spice and cocoa on the nose.
The black fruit combines with plum and raspberry on the palate, the
fifteen degrees of alcohol shows on the mid palate. It finishes with
bitter chocolate, fruit and lots of tight tannin. It will need much time
sleeping in the cellar. Find this wine
 076562
LES TRUFFIERS VACQUEYRAS 2005 $17.95
Not expensive for decent Vacqueyras, one that shows rich black fruit
mingling with herb and gamy qualities on the nose. It is well balanced,
medium bodied and tasty. Find this wine
023135 FONTANAFREDDA BARBERA D'ALBA RAIMONDA 2005 $16.95
A perfumed nose of black toffee, pepper, floral notes and green tea.
Medium bodied, nice fruit and mineral flavours, a clean finish with good
acidity. Find this wine
730952 VILLA SANTERA PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2006 $17.95
More notes of green tea along with sweet plum, black raspberry,
cinnamon, sage and milk chocolate. It sits fleshy on the palate, having
plenty of fruit combined with earthy notes and a desirable bitter note
on the close.
Find this wine
917864 BRIGALDARA VALPOLICELLA 2006 $15.95
Sweet, cooked fruit, red currant jam, strawberry and light bodied. Find this wine
 076588
MONTGÓ MONASTRELL/SHIRAZ 2004 Yecla $14.95
Lots of spicy New World oak along with black fruit, blueberry liqueur
and pepper. The low acid fruit sits well on the palate, tannins are rich
and chewy. There is a touch of heat on the finish. Find this wine
Cheers
CZ
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