2008 Chateau d'Argan AC Medoc: Review

Opened this Bronze Medal winner on Saturday evening: CHÂTEAU D'ARGAN 2008 - AC Medoc, Bordeaux, France (#199018) - $16.95 Tasting Note: Cassis, blackberry and black cherry notes. Some fine tannins remain, could have been aged for 1-2 years, but definitely enjoyable now. Dry, medium-bodied. Very go...

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Scheid Vineyards Odd Lot White 2008: Review

Tonight's wine is a 2008 white from Scheid Vineyards. Not really sure how this landed in my cellar, but here goes: SCHEID VINEYARDS ODD LOT WHITE 2008 - Monterey, California, USA Review: Butter, mineral/slate aromas definitely do not forewarn of the sweet flavours to follow. Off-dry style with creamy peach, lime notes. Quite nice, pleasant to drink if you like white wines...

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Spain & Portugal - Rivers of Gold. March 19 Release

This week's Vintages Release has a special feature on wines from Portugal and Spain. As such, I've chosen a few Spanish and Portuguese wines. A few wines from other parts of the world also stood out. Without further ado, here are my top Vintages Wine Picks from this latest release. Enjoy! Red Wine: ETERNUM VITI 2008 - DO Toro, Spain (#210963) - $18.95 FINCA SOBREÑO CRIANZA 2007 - DO Toro, Spain (#040360) - $17.95 COLUMBIA CREST GRAND...

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Argentina, Chile, Northern Italy - March 5th Vintages Release

Here are my picks for the Vintages Release on Saturday, March 5th. If you will be trying any of these, let me know. I'd love to hear your review! Cheers! Red Wine: TERRE DI RUBINORO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2006 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#206862) - $17.95 BODEGAS CALLIA MAGNA SHIRAZ 2008 - Tulum Valley, San Juan, Argentina (#218818) - $15.95 PISONI TEROLDEGO 2008 - IGT Vigneti Delle Dolomiti, Alta Adige/Trentino, Italy (#209353) - $14.95 ELDERTON...

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13th Street Gamay Noir 2008 VQA Niagara Peninsula - Review

Just purchased this last week from the latest Vintages Release (see post from February 19th for my full list picks). Normally I shy away from Gamay's - they taste different, but this one got a good review. 13TH STREET GAMAY NOIR 2008 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#177824) - $17.95 Tasting Note: Black cherry, burnt toast, smoke, raspberry and some vanilla...

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The Oenophile's Guide to Grape Sex

Wine grapes have been sex-starved for centuries to satisfy our palates. So keep that stem to yourself, Mr. Merlot. Only viticulturists get to touch the likes of luscious Ruby Cabernet. Otherwise, a wine’s flavour can be dramatically altered when plant nookie occurs naturally in fields from Bordeaux to the Niagara region. That abstinence has been great for the discriminating...

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Review: Magnotta Oak Aged Cabernet Sauvignon, Ontario, Canada

Tonight's wine is from Magnotta (Ontario, Canada) - the Oak Aged Cabernet Sauvignon. There was no vintage on the label, so I'm not sure how old it is. Tasting Note: Strong raisin and plum aromas follow through on the palate. Very lightly oaked, slightly tannic. Light- to Medium-bodied. Normally, I enjoy wines from Magnotta, but this one I did not really enjoy. This...

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