February & Valentine's Day Release - Vintages Wine Picks

Here are my top picks from the today's Vintages Release. The release has a sub-theme on Tuscany, Valentine's Day, and has a spotlight on Washington State - I have chosen at least one from each.

Red Wine:

• COLUMBIA CREST H3 MERLOT 2007 - Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, USA (#209874) - $19.95
• LORNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#211599) - $15.95
• LE CINCIOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#207795) - $19.95
• RINGBOLT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 - Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia (#606624) - $19.95
• LANGA CENTENARIA GARNACHA 2006 - DO Calatayud, Spain (#194795) - $13.95
• CHÂTEAU LE GRAND MOULIN 2008 - Cuvée Grande Réserve, AC Premières Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux, France (#198994) - $15.95
• GEORGE WYNDHAM FOUNDER'S RESERVE SHIRAZ 2007 - Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Australia (#107904) - $19.95
• L.A. CETTO PETITE SIRAH 2008 - Guadalupe Valley, Baja California, Mexico (#983742) - $11.95

Previous vintages of the Ringbolt from Australia and L.A. Cetto from Mexico are a couple of my favourites. I recall the Mexican wine used to cost $9.95 - and was a steal!

White Wine:

• JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT GRIS 2008 - AC Alsace, France (#196956) - $18.95
• YEALANDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#199935) - $17.95

Rose Wine:

• DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER ROSÉ DE CHEVALIER 2009 - AC Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France (#209734) - $18.95

Icewine:

• FLOURISH VIDAL ICEWINE 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#222356) - $18.95 (200 mL)
• RED LEAF VIDAL ICEWINE 2006 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#179705) - $17.95 (200 mL)
• FLAT ROCK CELLARS SWEET REVENGE VIDAL ICEWINE 2007 - VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#047803) - $34.95 (375 mL)

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Review: CASTELLARI BERGAGLIO SALLUVII GAVI 2009 - Piedmont, Italy

Tonight's wine is a lovely white from the Piedmont region of Italy.

CASTELLARI BERGAGLIO SALLUVII GAVI 2009 - Piedmont, Italy (#185033) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
This Gavi has fresh lime/citrus, apple, pear aromas. All the aromas follow through on the palate. Crisp. Some oak ageing evident. Dry style that is very similar to a Chardonnay. First time trying a Gavi and I wouldn't hesitate to try another in the future.

Stay tuned for my next Vintage Wine Picks which will be published this Saturday.

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Review: Chakana Bonarda 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina

Got this one back in January 2008 and let it sit in the basement until this evening.

CHAKANA BONARDA 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina (#003525) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
Made with 'Bonarda' grapes, this wine has sweet, ripe, dark fruit, earth and light oak aromas. Raspberry, milk chocolate flavours. Light-medium bodied. Ripe. Starts off extremely dry, and fruit comes forward at mid-length. Very dry and tasty. Would go well with lighter fare - I'll be having it with Jhura (sp?) Chicken tonight.

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Vintage Wine Picks for Mid-January Release

Here are my top picks from the January 22 Release. Some very good wines that offer great value.

Red Wines:

• CHÂTEAU D'ARGAN 2008 - AC Medoc, Bordeaux, France (#199018) - $16.95
• J. BOUCHON LAS MERCEDES RESERVA ESPECIAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - Maule Valley, Chile (#208348) - $14.95
• CHILENSIS RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2008 - Maule Valley, Chile (#657981) - $12.95
• CAPITOLIUM 2007 - AC Fronton, Southwest, France (#200022) - $14.95
• CASA DE ILLANA TRESDECINCO 2004 - DO Ribera del Júcar, Spain (#190702) - $15.95
• SUR DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina (#208322) - $13.95
• STREWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#529693) - $19.95
• VINOS SIN-LEY TRAZA GRA 2 2008 - DOCa Rioja, Graciano, Spain (#190819) - $16.95

White Wines:

• KRUGER-RUMPF RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2006 - QmP, Münsterer Dautenpflänzer, Nahe, Germany (MD) #189662 - $16.95
• CREEKSIDE ESTATE BUTLER'S GRANT RIESLING 2008 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) #220293 - $15.95

Let me know if you try any of these. Cheers!

The next release, in 2 weeks, will contain some delicious Icewine. Stay tuned. ;)  

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Review: Fuzion Alta Torrontes Pinot Grigio 2010 - Mendoza, Argentina

This is the 2nd bottle (the other being the Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009, reviewed on Jan 6) that was given as a part of a 2-bottle gift set during the holidays.

Review:
Stone, lemon peel aromas. Lemon, citrus, grapefruit, mineral, herbs on the palate. Spritzy start and finishes dry. It's quite nice, made in a dry-style and I do enjoy this much more than the Malbec. Can't go wrong for $8.95! It should pair well with the Chicken Quesadilla's we're having tonight.

Cheers!

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Review - Yellow Tail Shiraz 2009

I am sure many of you have tried this one before, so I was hesitant to include a review of this bottle that I just opened a few minutes ago.

YELLOW TAIL SHIRAZ 2009 - South Australia, Australia (#624544)

Review:
Dark ruby purple colour. Mulberry, violet aromas and flavours. Plus blackberry and ripe fruit centre. Medium-full bodied.

Overall impression: Smooth and goes down easy. Quite nice and very drinkable, but lacks a bit of body and structure for my taste. A good wine that appeals to many and great for get-togethers.

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Smart Vintage Wine Buys in January 2011

Here are My Top 5 Wine Picks for the January 8 Release.

1. CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS ALLEY CAT SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2008 - South Australia, Australia (#127621) - $15.95
2. FLAGSTONE THE MUSIC ROOM CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - South Africa (#205245) - $17.95
3. CAVE DE QUINSAC L'HERMITAGE DE PRANZAC 2005 - Bordeaux, France (#190975) - $16.95 (Red)
4. GEHRINGER BROTHERS DRY ROCK VINEYARDS UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2009 - British Columbia, Canada (#219642) - $18.95
5. PFEFFINGEN GEWURZTRAMINER SPÄTLESE 2008 - Pfalz, Germany (#211417) - $19.95 

To view the full aroma and flavour profile of each wine, click on the item code (#xxxxxx).

Other Wine Picks from this Release:
Whites -
13TH STREET WHITE PALETTE 2009 - Ontario, Canada (#207340) - $14.95
MAN VINTNERS CHENIN BLANC 2010 - South Africa (#126847) - $12.95
CAVE VINICOLE DU VIEIL ARMAND RIESLING 2007 - Alsace, France (#205807) - $15.95
THE ORGANIZED CRIME UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2008 - Ontario, Canada (#214098) - $19.20

Reds -
CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR TERRIEN 2008 - Bordeaux, France (#199059) - $15.00
DOMAINE AUTRAND CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2007 - Rhone, France (#200030) - $14.95
SUMPTUARY ZINFANDEL 2007 - California, United States (#203869) - $15.95

All of these can be found in the Vintages section at your LCBO.

If you try any of these, let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

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