2009 Fontamara Pinot Grigio IGT (Italy) - Review

FONTAMARA PINOT GRIGIO TERRE DI CHIETI 2009 - IGT, Italy - $????

Tasting Note:
Received this one over Easter long weekend. Chilled the wine too much Friday evening, so had to wait for it to warm up. Once at a more optimal temperature, this wine showed aromas of apple, pear and light smokiness. Apple, pear, pale straw, gooseberry, nettle on the palate. Light oak evident. Dry and very straightforward. Having this tonight with spinach.

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2007 Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Estate Series Cabernet/Merlot - Review

Purchased this gem from fabulous Ontario Strikes Gold Release back in February.

WAYNE GRETZKY NO. 99 ESTATE SERIES CABERNET/MERLOT 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#128652) - $19.95

Tasting Note:
VERY good offering from #99 himself. Lead/pencil/graphite, smoke aromas. All remain on the palate + cassis notes and blackberry. Medium-full bodied with a long finish. Chalky tannins that would have rewarded 2-3 years in the cellar, but definitely enjoyable now with a full flavoured dish - as I did last night.

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2002 Strewn Vidal Icewine - Review

Bought this one in 2007 and only realized during the Easter long weekend that I should have opened it sometime in 2009. Oops! Let's see how the extra ageing affected this Icewine.

STREWN VIDAL ICEWINE 2002 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#467746) - $24.95 (200 mL)

Tasting Note:
Honey, peach and toast aromas. On the palate it's Syrupy honey, peach, toast (butter). Creamy texture and sweet. Looks like the extra time in bottle did not hurt at all! I enjoyed this with a triple-berry cream cake from Longo's. Yum!

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Southern Italy and Families of Australia - April 30 Vintages Release

This Saturday's Vintages Release at the LCBO focuses on the wine-making families of Australia and highlights some of Italy's southern regions. Good quality in this release, but the prices seem to be edging ever closely to $20. All 4 of my Whites picked below look fantastic - it will be a tough choice which one(s) to purchase. Enjoy making the decision!

Red Wine:

• NATIVA SINGLE VINEYARD GRAN RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 - Organically Grown, Maipo Valley, Chile (#975359) - $19.95
• VALLE REALE MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2007 - DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (#216408) - $17.95
• FIRRIATO ETNA ROSSO 2008 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#219592) - $16.95
• LEONE DE CASTRIS SALICE SALENTINO ROSSO RISERVA 2006 - DOC, 50th Vintage, Puglia, Italy (#597534) - $16.95
• CHÂTEAU DE FONTENELLES CUVÉE RENAISSANCE 2006 - AC Corbières, Midi, France (#148692) - $18.95

White Wine:

• NAIA VERDEJO 2009 - DO Rueda, Spain (#211045) - $18.95
• McWILLIAM'S MOUNT PLEASANT ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 - Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia (#225441) - $19.95
• BÉRES PREMIUM SELECTION LÖCSE TOKAJI FURMINT 2007 - Hungary (#200154) - $18.95
• MEINHARDT HUBE STEINBACH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Südsteiermark, Austria (#211094) - $19.95

Dessert Wine:

• CAMPBELLS RUTHERGLEN MUSCAT - Victoria, Australia (#225425) - $19.95 (375 mL)

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2010 Featherstone Black Sheep Riesling, Niagara - Review

Tonight's wine is a local Riesling from the Niagara Peninsula. It's also from the latest Vintages Release that partly focused on food & wine pairings for Easter dinners.

FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2010 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#080234) - $16.95

Tasting Note:
Mineral, flowers, and honey aromas all follow through on the palate. Dry, soft, ripe and focused. Gorgeous with lots of flavour, and not over-bearing with sweetness. Had this tonight with chicken meatballs in curry.

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2009 Cave des Vignerons de Bel Air Beaujolais-Villages - Review

Opened this light, easy drinking Beaujolais - which was purchased from the latest LCBO Vintages Release - last night for guests who prefer red wines with little-to-no oak.

CAVE DES VIGNERONS DE BEL AIR BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES 2009 - AC, Beaujolais, France (#208058) - $13.95

Tasting Note:

Cherry, strawberry aromas and flavours. Some pepper notes. Finishes a touch smoky. Light-medium bodied with a medium-long finish. A lighter style of wine that appears unoaked and ready to drink now. Tasty!

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2008 Joseph Cattin Pinot Gris (Alsace, France) - Review

Purchased this one from the February 5th Vintages Release.

JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#196956) - $18.95

Tasting Note:
Subdued orange, melon aromas. Definitely didn't expect the peach, apple, spiced pear, fennel/licorice, and oak flavours. Intense spicy start, finishes smooth. Delicious! Having this tonight with one of my favourite Indian dishes: spinach. Yum!

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