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Not a lot of wines to
review for this release as the board was rather stingy with the amount of
wines it shipped to preview. Featured wines this time around are from Italy’s
big three, Tuscany, Veneto and Piedmont. Few wines wowed me, but as always,
there are one or two bottles that are worth seeking out.
Piedmont
4275 MALGRÀ FORNACE DI CERRETO BARBERA D'ASTI SUPERIORE 2006 $17.95
Lots of muddy underbrush aromas with a good support of black fruit, chocolate
and mushroom. It shows nicely on the palate, lively acidity and some dusty
tannin on the close.
Find
this wine
134726 LA SPINONA BRICCO FASET BARBARESCO 2004 $38.95
Dried porcini mushrooms, cola, underbrush and cherry lead to a palate of cooked
red fruit with plenty of spicy notes. The fruit does not stick around as long as
I would like and it pales too soon. There are lots of tannins that maybe mask
the fruit, but I think it lacks the oomph required to excite down the road.
Find
this wine
712273 FENOCCHIO BUSSIA BAROLO 2004 $41.95
Initial aromas are of sweet red fruit, rhubarb, plum and a medicinal trait.
Underneath there is a layer of pure blackberry with plenty of spicy black pepper
notes. The palate has plenty of punch, a fair degree of tannin and well balanced
fruit and acid. Find
this wine
Veneto
134601 ZIRONDA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2006 $36.95
The Port like aromas of sweet blueberry, caramel, mocha and dark chocolate are
at first enticing. The palate however is fat and spicy, more like pepperoni than
Amarone. It finishes hot, the fruit fades allowing the 15 degrees of alcohol to
overpower. Find
this wine |
134544 MONTE DEL FRÀ BARDOLINO 2008 $13.95
A light fresh and nicely balanced wine showing notes of smoke, black cherry and
plum. Black fruit acids on the palate are appealing; it has a souring note on
the finish making it perfect for tomato based pasta. Find
this wine
Tuscany
963199 TREROSE VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2006 $24.95
A meaty game laden nose supported by nice red currant and raspberry with a touch
of cola, anise and fennel seed. Good structure on the palate, a solid layer of
fruit, some mineral and iron with just enough silky tannin to make this wine
last at least three to five years. Find
this wine
947440 BANFI CENTINE 2007 $16.95
A fruit based wine with a note of raisin, a touch of mineral and good
concentration on the palate. The touch of tannin on the finish does not
overpower. Find
this wine
33498 FATTOI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 $38.95
This is a beautiful nose of black fruit, a note of fresh picked herbs, clay,
mineral and barnyard. The fruit has a good level of concentration on the palate,
but falls short on the finish. The acids are lively and balanced. Find
this wine
135277 TENUTA DI CAPRAIA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 $19.95
Comforting aromas of mincemeat pie and sweet black raspberry dominate the nose.
A secondary layer of earthy mineral elements combine well with the touch of
sweet Mediterranean spice. There are tannins, but the fruit is focused and shows
well. It finishes showing the terroir of its native land and although tasty now,
it will only get better. Find
this wine
716266 IL GRIGIO DA SAN FELICE CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2005 $28.95
This raw and rustic wine features a strong earthy streak of barnyard earth that
is perhaps too powerful as it overshadows everything else. A few more swirls
show hints of Basset’s licorice sticks with damson and black fruit. The mid
palate is thin and shows little then tannin overpowers the finish. Find
this wine
72306 CASTELLO DI NIPOZZANO MORMORETO 2006, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi
$29.95
Highly polished and dense, showing layers of blackcurrant, blackberry, milk
chocolate, underbrush and prune. The mouth feel is thick and leathery with lots
of ripe dark fruit, a note of thyme, solid tannin and plenty of spicy oak. This
is a wine that will reward the patient collector after several years in the
cellar. Find
this wine
656538 COLLAZZI 2005 $46.95
Wow, a stellar New World styled wine highlighting blackcurrant, minty dark
chocolate, vanilla and Asian spice. It coats the palate with its silky layers of
fruit. It has impeccable balance and its long spicy finish has plenty of fruit
and gripping tannin. Another wine best destined for the cellar for at least two
years. Find
this wine
135640 BASILE CARTACANTA Montecucco 2007 $18.95
For those that love wines with aromas of pig farm, earthy and mineral, this is
one for you. Its organic components blend nicely with notes of almond, black
cherry and a touch of vanilla. Acids are fine; the finish is decent although
right now, it carries a layer of astringent tannin that an hour in a decanter or
a year in the cellar should soften. Find
this wine
134817 VOLPAIA CITTO 2007 $13.95
No oak treatment whatsoever results in a fruit driven wine showing damson,
blueberry, with just a hint of tobacco leaf and walnut. The palate is nicely
balanced, has good structure and a lovely Old World fruit and mineral driven
finish. Well priced and well worth seeking out. Find
this wine
The rest of the pack
British Columbia
143792 INNISKILLIN DISCOVERY SERIES MALBEC 2007 Okanagan Valley $23.95
Inniskillin's West Coast Malbec has aromas of grape, herbs and sawdust. It has
sweet blueberry on palate and little else. Find
this wine
143784 SUMAC RIDGE BLACK SAGE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 Okanagan
Valley $23.95
A wine with plenty of spicy mint, plum, black cherry and coffee aromas. There is
good fruit on the palate, but a green note does show through. The finish has
cherry and currant with powdery dusty chocolate tannin. Find
this wine
The one and only French wine
138792 CHÂTEAU THÉBOT 2005 Bordeaux $16.95
Vintage’s panel wrote; “A terrific value-priced Bordeaux from the great 2005
vintage” and I couldn’t agree more. It carries subtle notes of lead pencil, wet
soil and dried herb that subside to let the plum, currant and vanilla come
forth. One of the best Bordeaux wines I have tasted at this price in a long long
time. Find
this wine
Germany
140756 STUDERT-PRÜM RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2004 Wehlener Sonnenuhr,
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer $23.95
Baked Northern Spy apple aromas couple with lemon grass, honeycomb and guava. It
has an oily texture, a pleasing sweetness tamed by bright acidity and good
balance. Find
this wine
129536 SCHLOSS REINHARTSHAUSEN RIESLING SPÄTLESE, Rheingau 2007 $23.95
This Schloss Reinhartshausen estate Late Harvest Riesling has aromas of
lemon/lime, lemon balm and pink grapefruit. It has a full fat mouth feel, a
lower degree of acidity and a surprising dryness on the finish. Find
this wine
341461 BODEGAS ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ TINTO PESQUERA CRIANZA 2006 Ribera
del Duero $29.95
A tightly wound wine exuding aromas of plum, black cherry, sandalwood, coffee,
mineral and dusty tannin. The palate is fleshy, full and silky. It needs years
to really come around and show its best. Find
this wine
323345 BODEGAS ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ TINTO PESQUERA RESERVA 2005 Ribera del
Duero $47.95
A mixture of red and black fruit, smoked meat, mineral, leather, black olive and
creamy oak. It is both a monster and an elegant wine that is fruit and mineral
laden, racy and rich. The palate is packed with powerful cassis and dark fruit
flavours. A cut above the delightful Pesquera Crianza, this wine is made to age,
and age it will. Don’t be in a rush; I have tasted older vintages of this wine
that have been exceptional after passing their twentieth year. Find
this wine
129676 MIGUEL TORRES MAS LA PLANA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 Penedès $44.95
Intense New World crafted wine bursting with toasty oak, red and black berry coulis, forceful tannins and mocha. It has a rich, but tight texture on the
palate where blackcurrant and black berry fight for supremacy. It has a creamy
sweet black licorice note on the finish along with tons of silky dark tannins.
Again, being patient is the key. Find
this wine
Cheers
CZ
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