66605 ADAMAS NUITS-ST-GEORGES 2005 $44.95
There seems to be plenty happening here with a mix of beet, red fruit,
clove, forest floor and tobacco leaf. Red fruit conquers the palate, but
it is hot and clumsy right now. The acids are discernable on the finish.
Not sure what to make of this one to be honest. The heat is just too
overpowering. Find this wine
Côte d'Or/Côte de Beaune
67124 DUVERGEY-TABOUREAU MEURSAULT 2005 $39.95
A Californian style Meursault delivering layers of sweet baked apple,
Meyer lemon. Japanese pear and rich vanilla ice cream. Although it is a
full-bodied wine, the words elegant and graceful are apropos. I really
like this. Find this wine
66530 DOMAINE DOUDET ALOXE-CORTON LES GUÉRETS 2005, 1er Cru, $44.95
A tightly wound bottle full of porcini, rhubarb and blackberry fruit.
The palate delivers both red and dark fruit tamed by a high dose of
chewy tannin and spice. I think it has potential to do great things, but
not for a while. Find this wine
66472 DOMAINE VINCENT SAUVESTRE CORTON-MARÉCHAUDES 2005
Grand Cru $57.95
I once read that one should be leery of cut price Burgundy. This is a
Grand Cru? Good grief. The pinky red colour is the first clue that this
may not be of the caliber of wine depicted on the label. The nose offers
pretty notes of red currant jelly, sweet spice, with a touch of plum and
vanilla. The palate is hot, a little creamy and the finish is redolent
of red cherry candy. Find this wine
66431 ANTONIN GUYON CHOREY-LÈS-BEAUNE 2005 $29.95
A youthful purple rim that has good depth and colour. Nice notes of
blackberry, red raspberry, red liquorish and wet black earth. The palate
is sweet and silky, that carries a note of heat, but not overpoweringly
so. It finishes well with enough chewy tannin to carry it forward for a
number of years. Find this wine
901207 DOMAINE BOUCHARD PÈRE & FILS BEAUNE DU CHÂTEAU 2005
AC, 1er Cru $41.95
This starts out promising, plenty of dark fruit, a touch of mineral and
vanilla. The balance is ok, the palate is creamy, but the finish fades
way too soon. Find this wine
Côte Chalonnaise
65045 PAUL JACQUESON RULLY 2005 $27.95
Often an underrated region, Jacqueson’s Rully delivers with this
beautifully balanced wine showing notes of lime zest, lemon grass, guava
and vanilla from the start through to the finish. Find this wine
66365 CHÂTEAU PHILIPPE-LE-HARDI MERCUREY 2005 $21.95
Lots of upfront jammy fruit, geranium and sweet oak. It has fullness on
the palate, with plenty of earthy, mushroom and damson notes. Given the
price it is possibly the deal of the release. Find this wine
Mâconnais
66639 PAUL AND MALLORY TALMARD MÂCON-UCHIZY 2006 $15.95
This is so yeasty and hoppy it smells like a beer. The palate does show
some Chardonnay fruit in the form of tangerine, canned pineapple and
white tree fruit. However, it still really smells like a beer.
Find this wine
Other wines in the release
Canada
33936 LE CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2005, Niagara
Peninsula $25
The latest release of Niagara’s highly touted Clos Jordan presents a
dense yellow coloured wine boasting rich tropical fruit aromas, a smooth
and creamy texture and plenty of toasty oak. Find this wine
662841 TAWSE ROBYN'S BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2004, Niagara Peninsula, Twenty
Mile Bench $48
Plenty of power here, but elegance plays a key role too. It exudes
aromas of tangerine peel, nutmeg, vanilla, stony mineral, lemon grass
and white tree fruit. The perfectly aligned degree of acid brings all
the flavours together on the palate. This not cheap compared to many
Ontario wines, but it is well worth seeking out. Find this wine
 57950 BLASTED CHURCH
SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006, Okanagan Valley British Columbia $23.95
A bottle with one of the more interesting labels I have seen of late,
houses a wine with pretty aromas of lime leaves, kiwi and canned
tropical fruit. It leans towards the lighter side of Sauvignon Blanc.
Although listed as now being sold out on the web site, the regular list
is five bucks less than what Vintages is asking. Find this wine
33894 LE CLOS JORDANNE VILLAGE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2005, Niagara
Peninsula $25
On previous releases of this wine, it has flown off the shelf minutes
after the stores are open. I am sure public anticipation will make that
happen again. It is after all really tasty Pinot. The nose shows layers
of dark cherry, rhubarb, beet and Thai basil. Sweet red berries dominate
the palate while the chocolaty chewy texture on the finish palate
suggests some time away will reward. Find this wine
545012 MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2005, Okanagan
Valley $29.95
This too is tasty with its heady nose and plumy flavours. The tannins
are firmer, but the fruit is solid and it is drinking well. A good
choice if the Clos Jordan is done. Find this wine
530725 TINHORN CREEK MERLOT 2004, Okanagan Valley $19.95
The funky aromas of wet horse and damp potato overpower. There are
traces of chocolate, beet and vegetal notes lurking and what fruit can
be found is drying out. I went back to try again and this time the fruit
shows better, but it finishes with a note of astringency. Bad bottle
perhaps as I have drank many good wines from this West Coast producer.
Find this wine
USA
48207 MACMURRAY RANCH PINOT NOIR 2006, Sonoma Coast $21.95
Having being privy to many great Sonoma Coast wines, possibly my
expectations are high. It starts out showing bright strawberry, damson
and cranberry fruit. There is a touch of iron/mineral on the nose, but
when it hits the palate the sweet and creamy texture totally overpowers,
at least for my tastes. Find this wine
434605 RANCHO ZABACO, Sonoma, HERITAGE VINES ZINFANDEL 2004
Sonoma $19.95
Lots of blackberry and raspberry notes with a blast of liquorish, coffee
and toasty oak. The palate is pleasing, well balanced, no residual
sweetness or over ripeness. It finishes softly with plenty of fruit and
gentle tannin. I like it a lot. Find this wine
 652875 RIDGE THREE VALLEYS 2005, Sonoma County $25.95
Many wine prices have finally dropped in Ontario due to the parity of
the US dollar. The price of Ridge wines here in the LCBO is now quite
close to the cost, south of the border. I missed tasting the Lytton
Springs and Geyserville last month, but I am glad I had the chance to
sample their little cousin. The fruit harvested for the Three Valleys
cuvee is not of the same quality as the brawnier boys of the family, yet
for the money, this is a bloody good Zin. After all it is produced from
younger vines on the Lytton Springs Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley that
provided over half the fruit; a third came from Geyserville, Mazzoni,
and Stone Ranch Vineyards in Alexander Valley and the balance is from
Pagani Ranch in Sonoma Valley. It is spicy, toasty, and full of
raspberry, blueberry and sweet black cherry fruit aromas backed up with
a hit of dill and sweet black liquorish. Worth putting a couple down,
but opening one now will not disappoint. Find this wine
31773 ROSENBLUM APPELLATION SERIES ZINFANDEL 2005, North Coast $22.95
Sweet plushy and rather hot with a palate brimming with sweet creamy red
fruit and little else. Not my style of Zinfandel. Find this wine
640573 SEBASTIANI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, Sonoma County $20.95
A Sonoma Cabernet with plenty of nice blackcurrant notes with some dusty
cocoa and plum, a high degree of vanilla and gentle tannins. It too has
sweetness on the finish only this time it does not overpower. Find this wine
68155 TANGLEY OAKS MERLOT 2003, Napa Valley, Lot 7 $17.95
This Rutherford sourced wine shows lots of red cherry and plum fruit
flavours, with plenty of American oak to beef up the profile. It carries
some dried currant and mocha notes through to the finish. I would maybe
have preferred this wine a year or so ago when the fruit might have
outweighed the tannins, but for the price, it should be worth trying
again. Find this wine
60467 WINE BY JOE REALLY GOOD PINOT NOIR 2006, Oregon $22.95
The aromas of blackberry, plum, red cherry, pepper, black olive and
earthy moss are enticing. It has a red berry coulis texture on the
palate, giving hints of maraschino. The streak of red fruit acidity does
its best to counter, but it finishes a bit sweet for me. Sorry Joe, no
go for me. Find this wine
Chile
670539 PÉREZ CRUZ RESERVA CARMENERE 2005, Maipo Valley, Limited
Edition $24.95
A singular blast of Ribena leads to a palate of pure silky cassis. There
is enough acid to balance, but at this stage in its evolvement,
one-dimensional is the only descriptor I can find to use. Find this wine
Australia
731620 BAROSSA VALLEY ESTATE E & E BLACK PEPPER SHIRAZ 2003
Barossa Valley $99.95
Tasting blind, I thought this to be a nicely crafted, well-balanced and
tasty wine. Had I not grabbed a second glass, I might have been
disappointed when I sourced the price. It just keeps getting better as
it opens to reveal a huge powerhouse of a wine that is intense and well
focused. It has dark fruit, geranium, liquorish and mocha all bound with
ripe chewy chocolate tannin. It is good now, but should reach greatness
given time. If you open this now, do decant (and call me). Find this wine
6551 KAESLER STONEHORSE GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2005
Barossa Valley $21.95
There has been several really good QPR wines released from down under in
the past couple of releases and this one continues the spree. It is full
of dark fruit essence, thyme, sweet milk chocolate a long balanced
finish. Find this wine
21360 PLANTAGENET OMRAH SHIRAZ 2004, Western Australia $16.95
Being the Wine of the Month, there should be plenty to go around. A few
bottles tucked away for warmer times will be a smart investment. Once
the layer of black fruit subsides, aromas of cinnamon, cardamom,
butterscotch and toffee stroll through. It is a little tight, the
tannins are silky and the blueberry fruit on the finish hangs long. Find this wine
661991 ROCKBARE SHIRAZ 2006, McLaren Vale $20.95
Another blockbuster that explodes with blueberry preserve, spice, a
touch of leather and maybe more oak than I need in a wine. It does have
great structure and time spent in a decanter might restrain the oak. Find this wine
58131 SKUTTLEBUTT SHIRAZ/CABERNET 2005, Margaret River Australia
$16.95
Notes of sweet pastry, milk chocolate, some red berry, yet the
bitterness on the palate spoils.
Find this wine
58164 LAMMERSHOEK ROULETTE 2004, Swartland, South Africa $19.95
An interesting floral powered wine featuring notes of lavender,
geranium, blackberry and spice. It has an earthy note on the palate,
good acidity and plenty of flesh fruit. Find this wine
France
65656 ZEYSSOLFF KLEVENER DE HEILIGENSTEIN 2005, Alsace $17.95
Klevener is a new experience for me. It can also be found under the
guise of Savagnin Rosé, a pink rendition the Traminer grape. What a
pleasure to drink something so unique and so different. It is like a
combination of Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Semillon. There are aromas
of lychee, butter roasted pear, lamp oil and honey. It is so balanced,
just a touch of residual sweetness and the right degree of acidity. Good
stuff and fun to drink. Find this wine
663948 CHÂTEAU DE LA RIVIÈRE 2004, Fronsac $29.95
Hints of cigar leaf, black soil, wet horse fur with a solid underlay of
currant and black fruit. The tannins are not unfriendly. It is a
well-made wine, but nothing to write home about. Find this wine
708594 CHÂTEAU LA GASPARDE 2005, Côtes de Castillon $14.95
Funky aromas of wet leaves and carbolic soap, plenty of fruit, but the
strong bite of tannin commands the finish. Find this wine
65581 FORT MÉDOC 2000, Haut-Médoc $17.95
Worth trying as the vintage is solid, the price is right and there is
plenty of fruit and nice mature sweet spice and secondary flavours still
to be found. Find this wine
61721 LES GARTIEUX DE PICHON LALANDE 2001, Pauillac $34.95
A nicely polished nose, lots of dark fruit, lead pencil, nutmeg and
vanilla.
The finish shows little fruit and gripping tannins. Maybe it will come
around. It is not cheap considering it the third wine from this esteemed
estate in Pauillac. Find this wine
 711317 CHÂTEAU DE BEAUCASTEL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2005 $89.95
The words monster, tight, backward, tannic and mineral are all appropriate. It should be a great wine, but it will need time. Find this wine
Spain
67397 CAN BLAU MONTSANT 2006 $20.95
A lovely wine full of cocoa, cheese rind, smoke, blueberry, blackberry,
thyme and mint. It is creamy on the palate; the spice shows up on the
finish as does the fruit. The acids are in harmony and the label is so
cool. Find this wine
902916 MARQUÉS DE VITORIA GRAN RESERVA 1996, Rioja $30.95
According to the catalogue, Marques de Vitoria is made with only
Tempranillo and aged in French oak casks for 24 months plus six years in
bottle before it is released. It shows notes of Szechwan peppercorn,
dried berry, coffee and red currant. The palate shows no sign of
deterioration, the fruit has a slight raisin character and the subtle
tannins are dusty. Good price for a well made twelve year old wine. Find this wine
Cheers
CZ
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66480 FRÉDÉRIC MAGNIEN CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY VIEILLES VIGNES 2005 $55.95
