While Chile is happy that we’re buying their wine, they’re less happy about giving it away for low prices. But such is the nature of the worldwide wine surplus. Enjoy the bargains while they last.

Santa Rita Chardonnay is certainly a big babe. Hollywood-style show of richness and glam – nicely balanced with an earthy tang. Wonderful stuff that’s been in almost every edition of my book. An excellent partner for grilled/roasted white meats. Must admit I end up drinking most of the bottle before food. An LCBO best buy.

SANTA RITA 09 CHARDONNAY RESERVA, Chile 348359 $13.75

FRANCE in PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Closson Chase has just released two very stylish wines. An elegant, mid-range Chardonnay with the refreshing feeling of Chablis. Smart aperitif/first course wine. A great ambassador for the County.

The Pinot Noir is also very French. Bone dry, lightish and tart with wonderful earthy realness. A Fall day feeling. Age a year.

I really like the clear focus at Closson Chase – high quality Chard and Pinot Noir. There is a strong connection between the sensibility displayed at the winery – the arty/rustic barn and the garden – and what’s in the bottle. Understated but self assured. Makes you feel like you’re in the French Countryside.

CLOSSON CHASE ‘CCV’ 09 CHARDONNAY, VQA County $24.95

CLOSSON CHASE ‘CCV’ 09 PINOT NOIR, VQA COUNTY $39.95

LORON 09 Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 167155 12.95

Carmenere and Ripasso are the best bets in red but you must have at least one summer supper with Moulin-a-Vent, the queen of Beaujolais.

SPARKLING
wine style: dry sparkling
MUMM NAPA Rosé Sparkling, Napa Valley, California 205641 $29.95
Champagne-style wine and quality at half the price. Elegant and exciting way to start an event. Best sparkling I’ve tasted in a long time.

WHITES
wine style: fresh white
MIKE WEIR 08 Riesling, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 229286 $14.95
Mike scores with a classic local Riesling. Fruity, spicy and dancing its feet off. Dry with a sweet kiss. Delicious summer drink.

wine style: rich white
KENNETH VOLK 07 Chardonnay, Santa Maria Cuvée, California 233981 $19.95
Chardonnay doesn’t get much more glamorous and rich. Quite the wow for twenty dollars. BBQ white or late evening sipper.

wine style: nice & easy white
THE WINERY OF GOOD HOPE 09 Chenin Blanc, South Africa 158121 $11.95
Fruity, slightly sweet and very crowd-pleasing. Check out this popular South African party sipper, or BBQ white.

wine style: fresh white
MICHEL DELHOMMEAU 09 Muscadet ‘Harmonie’, Loire, France 164624 $12.95
Not your usual plain Muscadet but an elegant wine with delicate flavours and wonderful freshness. To start the evening with appetizers. Note: this is a previous release.

wine style: fresh white
MEINKLANG 09 Gruner Veltliner, Austria 219014 $15.95
More flavourful and yummy than most Gruners, but zesty and refreshing too. Delicious stuff. And organic too. Would be a lovely treat with an alfresco lunch.

wine style: fresh white
BODEGAS GARCIAREVALO 09 Verdejo ‘Tres Olmos’, Rueda, Spain 218354 $13.95
Verdejo is Spain’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc. But not as brash. I like the mix of earthy and fresh feelings. Very characterful and dying for a food partner.

REDS
wine style: rich red
PAHLMEYER 08 Pinot Noir, Sonoma, California148536 $79.95
I seldom recommend wine over $25 but this would blow some people’s minds. Or other bodily parts! Red wine doesn’t come more charming and seductive. Bear skin rug material for sure.

wine style: rich red
ARESTI 08 Carmenere Reserva, Chile 93773 $12.95
Here’s a big bruiser. Heavy rocker. Rich and manly with an attitude. The Aresti style. Steak wine at pork chop price.

wine style: rich red
LUIGI BOSCA 08 Pinot Noir Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina 143420 $17.95
Pinot with a little macho Argentinian tang. Could be related to Pinotage. Perfect for BBQ’d red meats.

wine style: rustic red
DOMAINE DE SAINT ENNEMOND 09 Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais, France 207910 $17.95
Cru-Beaujolais with the more solid personality of Pinot Noir. But at a lower price. Check out this guy with grilled salmon.

wine style: rustic red
ANTICHE TERRE 08 Valpolicella Ripasso, Veneto, Italy 178459 $14.95
A solid Ripasso. Italian gusto along with a hit of nourishment. Classic Ripasso. Italian red wine at its best.

ROSÉ
wine style: dry Rosé
EMILIANA 2010 Rosé Syrah, ‘Adobe’, Chile 229690 $11.95
Drier than most Chilean Rosés. Good mix of freshness and fruitiness. Nice price, and it’s organic too.

wine style: dry Rosé
FEATHERSTONE 2010 Rosé, VQA Niagara 117861 $14.95
Best Rosé yet from Featherstone. A cross between the berry flavours of Rioja and the richer Provence style. And packing a ton of freshness. Sort of perfect!

wine style: dry Rosé
SOUTHBROOK 2010 Organic  Rosé ‘Connect’, VQA Niagara 168492 $18.95
Another excellent local dry Rosé in the mid-range between refreshment and mealtime nourishment. Very French café-ish, but will work on your patio too. Organic.

This is a repeat recommendation as the price has dropped and the wine is now at peak. Excuse me quoting from my book but the description is perfect for what’s in my glass right now. “Chard with the poise of an athlete and the purity of a saint. But there’s also a twinkle in the eye. Initial bracing refreshments evolves into pleasantness and charm. Even a little richness. An amazing spectrum of experiences – hits all three of my wine categories.”

Just a great drink. And an amazing price.

Please check it out. A flurry of interest in this wine would let the LCBO know we’re capable of enjoying something other than trendy stuff.

LAURENT MIQUEL 09 Chardonnay, VDP d’Oc France 157909 $11.95

The sparkling is Champagne-like – good enough for the wino, but also fun enough for all the gang. Best sparkling wine value in the world. Get a case. I’ve previously recommended the invigorating, herbaceous Sem/Sauv and check-out the Chardonnay for party gulping. The Shiraz is less sweet than most and well priced. You’ll find delicious spicy/exotic flavours and a fireside, warmhearted feeling in the Reserve Shiraz. A quietly confident Aussie.

And congrats to the Jacob’s Creek on the innovative TO transit/billboard advertising campaign.

JACOB’S CREEK Sparkling Brut, Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, Australia 562991 $13.95
JACOB’S CREEK 09 Semillon/Chardonnay, Australia 219105 $11.25
JACOB’S CREEK 09 Chardonnay, Australia 286898 $11.25
JACOB’S CREEK 08 Shiraz, Australia 548644 $12.25
JACOB’S CREEK 07 Shiraz Reserve, Barossa, Australia 66547 $16.95

I’ve included a few semi-expensive picks for Holiday treats, or gifts. And a few wines from the November 13 release. Along with my usual bargains.

Enjoy.

P.S. Keep checking here for lots of Holiday picks at regular LCBOs.

WHITES

wine style: fresh white
SOLIGO 09 Pinot Grigio, Piave, Italy 181560 $13.95
The fresh, fruity and fun character of good PInot Grigio. Ideal Holiday season house white.

wine style: fresh white
FLATROCK 09 Riesling ‘Nadja’s Vineyard, VQA 20 Mile Bench 578625 $19.95 (Nov 13)
One of Ontario’s best dry Rieslings. Very sharp, very pure and very good for aperitif.

wine style: nice & easy white
ZENATO 09 Lugana, Lombardy, Italy 707158 $13.95
Zenato’s Lugana is the Michael Buble of white wine. One of the nicest drinks on the planet. Shades of non-oaked Chard.

wine style: rich white
HIDDEN BENCH 07 Chardonnay, VQA Beamsville Bench 68817 $35.20
Super lush, rich, exotic. Glam local Chardonnay in HD. Fireside sipper.

wine style: rich white
STRATUS 07 White, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 660704 $44.20 (Nov 13)
A multi grape blend with amazing flavour concentration. The hit of a big Chardonnay but with a greater variety of flavours. Vibrant and refreshing too. Something special for sure.

wine style: rich white
SANTA RITA 08 Chardonnay ‘Medalla Real’, Limari Valley, Chile 303628 $17.95
Santa Rita is the master of blockbuster wines at Honest Ed prices. Get the rich Chardonnay experience for less than twenty bucks.

SPARKLING

wine style: sparkling Rosé
MUMM NAPA Brut Rosé, California 205641 $29.95
Tart, with a delicious tease of berry flavours. Classic and classy aperitif. Treat yourself and your best friends.

REDS

wine style: rustic red
GEMMA 09 Dolcetto D’Alba ‘Madonna Della Neve’, Piedmont, Italy 185017 $13.95
Tart, vigorous, earthy – pure Italian. Lasagna or burgers.
wine style: rustic red
TENUTA di CAPRAIA 06 Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany, Italy 23374 $28.95
Hail to the original Chianti. Earthy, rustic and challenging. Next best thing to being at a farm house in Tuscany. Wild boar on the spit? Enjoy with any grilled red meat.

wine style: rich red
MacROSTIE 07 Pinot Noir, Carneros, California 674911 $24.95
Rich, spicy sweet, Californian Pinot. Very seductive, very pretty, very easy. The mood for cuddles.

wine style: rich red
DOMAINE GALEVAN 07 Cotes du Rhone ‘Paroles de Femme’, France 125930 $15.00
The French edition of Shiraz – spicy sweet, nourishing and very yummy. Perfect for Holiday entertaining.

wine style: rich red
CLOS DU VAL 08 Zinfandel, Napa Valley, California 590216 $22.95
Zin in a pure, Pinot Noir style. Bright flavours and invigorating personality. Refreshing and charming. My favourite combination in red wine.

wine style: rich red
STRATUS 07 Red, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 131037 $44.20
Niagara’s edition of traditional red Bordeaux – solid and serious. A bit tight and tuxedo-ish right now, but would be perfect for a formal event in 3-5 years. Start planning! The perfect gift for a wine geek.

wine style: rich red
TORRES 05 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Mas La Plana’. Penedes, Spain 129676 $44.95 (Nov 13)
Wonderful solid Cabernet expression. But not taking itself too seriously. Enjoy now or could be aged. This is the wine that beat the Bordeaux boys in a famous tasting several years ago.

SWEET WINE, PORT & BOOZE

QUADY 07 Orange Muscat ‘Essensia’, California 299552 375ml/$13.95 (Nov 13)
A huge blast of delicious apricot and orange sweetness. But not sticky. You’ll not find a more crowdpleasing and value priced sweet wine. Great to see Essensia back on the shelf.

DELAFORCE Vintage Port 1994, Portugal 163063 $69.95
Huge flavour concentration and sweetness. Late evening sipper, solo or with aged cheddar. Decant. Great value for the Port lover.

ST. GERMAIN Delice De Sureau, France 180695 $49.95
An elderflower infused eau-de-vie in one of the most beautiful bottles I’ve ever seen. Fruity herbal flavours combine with a mix of freshness and sweetness. Very delicate, very delicious. On the rocks or mix with sparkling wine or mineral water. Something new and different for the Holidays. For cocktail recipes visit www.stgermain.fr

GREEN SPOT, IRISH WHISKEY 699827 $84.95
For those who enjoy a dry, earthy style whiskey. Unique and very nourishing. A very pleasant way to support the struggling Irish economy.

Quintarelli is a wine folk hero and always worth the experience. You are sure to please putting Malivoire’s Rosé on the Thanksgiving table. (And any of my white picks would be popular too.) Chateau St. Jean is a must for Pinot addicts.

ROSE
wine style: dry rosé
MALIVOIRE 09 Rosé ‘Ladybug’, VQA Niagara 559088 $15.95
Delicious fruitiness and some richness. Perfect for Thanksgiving and stock up for Christmas too. Dry Rosé is a great food wine in general.

WHITES
wine style: fresh white
PETER LEHMANN 08 Riesling, Eden Valley, Australia 186361 $14.95
Tart, super refreshing with a tease of citrusy flavours. Unusually understated and low alcohol for an Aussie. Aperitif.

wine style: nice & easy white
SOELLNER ‘Toni’ Grüner Veltliner, Austria 184085 $14.95
Zippy, spicy with a gentle and friendly feeling. Better than a happy pill.

wine style: rich white
TORRES ‘Gran Vina Sol’ 08 Chardonnay, Penedes, Spain 171660 $14.95
Semi-rich Chardonnay with a refreshing tartness. And a solid earthy feeling. Built for food, not glamour. Good value.

REDS
wine style: rustic red
LITTLE YERING 08 Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Australia 188094 $14.95
A great buy for fans of ‘barnyard’ Pinots. Raunchy and very Burgundian. Needs food. Check out more value wines from this winery on the regular LCBO shelves.

wine style: rich red
CHATEAU ST. JEAN 07 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California 687970 $19.95
Big, lush and seductive. Very Californian. Would impress at a fancy dinner. St. Jean always does well with Pinot.
wine style: rich red
QUINTARELLI 01 Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy 986117 $84.95
Vapolicella that thinks it’s Tawny Port. Lush, spicy, earthy and full of mystery. More exciting, and more rare, than most Amarones or any wine at this price. Quintarelli delivers the goods. Treat yourself, or gift a good friend. Sip after dinner.

wine style: rich red
LES COTEAUX 07 ‘Visan’, Cotes du Rhone-Village, France 179226 $13.95
A yummy, spicy, peppery, rich red for those who missed the Rhone special a few weeks ago.
wine style: rich red
CHARLES CIMICKY 06 Shiraz ‘Trumps’, Barossa Valley, Australia 07383 $24.95
Dark, dense and solid. With a plummy, Port-like warmth. I’d pour this after dinner.

wine style: rich red
WYNNS 06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Australia 84996 $24.95
Wynns Coonawarra is an Australian classic. Modeled on Bordeaux, it combines boldness with some seriousness. As formal as it gets down under. Needs beef, of course.

wine style: rich red
MAXWELL 08 Shiraz/Grenache/Viognier ‘Four Roads’, McLaren Valley, Australia 57000 $19.95
Cotes du Rhone in style with extra ripeness and richness. Guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser with any hearty meal.

WHITES
Wine style: fresh white
BLACK PRINCE 08 Riesling, VQA Prince Edward County 164236 $18.95
Classic dry Riesling – super refreshing, tart and low in alcohol. Perfect summer patio aperitif. Riesling fans should age this for a year or three.

Wine style: nice & easy white
GUIGAL 08 Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France 290296 $16.95
A lovely glass of wine. Mid-range everything and understated with delightful hints of this and that. Lots of charm from the Viognier grape. Enjoy with grilled white meats.
Wine style: nice & easy white
SHEPHERDS RIDGE ‘Kapuka’ 09 Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 163576 $14.95
Mild mannered for a New Zealand Sauvignon, but a wonderful general-purpose summer drink. Think high octane Pinot Grigio. Refreshment and crowd appeal. Pretty package too.
Wine style: rich white
CLOSSON CHASE 07 Chardonnay, VQA Prince Edward County 148866 $29.95
Deborah Paskus makes very seductive wines. Such as this silky smooth, exotic, tropical fruit flavoured Chardonnay. Lush, lovely and almost too nice to partner with food.

REDS
Wine style: rustic red
THE GRANGE ‘Trumpour’s Mill’ 07 Cabernet Franc, VQA Prince Edward County 173187 $17.95
Those with a European palate will understand and enjoy this wine. Feels light, tart and refreshing. Inviting food. On the second glass, woodsy Fall-day flavours unfold. Very suggestive of something you once enjoyed at a county café in France. Or maybe it was Italy.

Wine style: lively red
DOMAINE de GRAND GARANT 08 Moulin-a-Vent ‘Les Thorins’, Beaujolais, France 160168 $16.95
Moulin-a-Vent is usually the big daddy of the Beaujolais-Villages clan but this is mainly about refreshment. Along with charm – along with some of the sexy nature of Pinot Noir. I can’t imagine a better partner for BBQ’d salmon. Or any summer patio meal. Lightly chilled, of course.
Wine style: rich red
DOMAINE PUIG-PARAHY 07 ‘Georges’, Cotes du Roussillon, France 171025 $13.95
Shiraz fans will love this smooth, jammy-sweet wine. All things nice at a reasonable price.

Wine style: rich red
TRUCHARD 07 Zinfandel, Carneros/Napa, California 54858 $21.95
Solid, earthy Zin. Very concentrated, very manly and not unlike a Californian Cabernet. Needs the beef.

Wine style: rich red
EDMEADS 07 Zinfandel, Mendocino, California 105924 $24.95
Super rich, Port-like and mighty seductive. Heft meets charm. Could be likened to a fifty dollar Amarone. After dinner sipping for sure.

At the end of May, in conjunction with the London Wine Fair, twenty of Ontario’s best Chardonnays will be poured for the English press. Bill believes that Chardonnay is Ontario’s ace card. Something we do well, and different. Because it’s an internationally recognized wine the world is interested in up-and-coming stars. Success with Chardonnay could make us a player on the world stage.

Last week I had the opportunity to the taste the Chards going to London and I think we can make an impression. Hopefully a WOW, but at least an impression. We have quality for sure, but I think it’s the diversity that makes Ontario unique. Or confusing.

I’ll report on how the London event goes, but meanwhile here’s my list of favourite local Chardonnays going to London. Most of which are available at the wineries. Prices range from $25 to $35.

COLIO ESTATE 07 Musque . . . herbaceous, citrussy, refresher
HUFF ESTATE 07 South Bay . . . solid, mid-range
CLOSSON CHASE 07 Kocis Vineyard . . . lush, very sexy
LAILEY VINEYARD 08 Old Vines . . . pretty, charming
PELLER ESTATES 07 Signature Series . . . big, bold, down ‘n dirty, very Burgundian
RAVINE VINEYARD 07 Rowan Vineyard . . . pure, lots of mineral, Chablis-style
HILLEBRAND 07 Showcase Wild Ferment . . . lean, tart, novel
SOUTHBROOK VINEYARDS 07 Triomphe . . . earthy, Burgundian-style
LE CLOS JORDANNE 07 Talon Ridge . . . big, bold, manly
TAWSE WINERY 07 Quarry Road Vineyard . . . power combined with charm
HIDDEN BENCH 07 Estate . . . tight now but very concentrated
PENINSULA RIDGE 07 Reserve . . . solid, earthy

Chateau des Charmes 07 Chardonnay is a lovely mix of charm (honest) and refreshment. No heavy perfume, tiring richness or posing. Instead expect a composed and polite wine. Canadian excellence.

There’s some richness in Henry’s wine but it’s also understated. Shades of the delicious everyday Chardonnays of the Macon region in France. A delightful anytime drink.

CHATEAU des CHARMES 07 Chardonnay ‘Estate’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 81653 $13.95 (shown)

HENRY of PELHAM 07 Chardonnay ‘Reserve’, VQA Niagara 252833 $14.95

SPARKLING
Wine style: Fresh
CODORNIU Pinot Noir Rosé  Brut, Spain 665372 $16.95
Fruity, fun, friendly sparkling. Refreshing, but not austere. Sunday brunch.

WHITES
Wine style: fresh white
VINA VILANO 08 Verdejo, Rueda, Spain 162719 $12.95
The Verdejo grape is Spain’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc. Zesty, herbaceous and perfect for the Summer season. This one is a very good allrounder – for food or just for fun.

Wine style: fresh white
CVNE 08 ‘Monopole’, Rioja, Spain 66951  $13.95
Traditional very dry, tart, low-alcohol white. Good tangy refresher or seafood partner.
P.S. Wouldn’t this be the perfect flagship white for the LCBO ‘monopoly’.

Wine style: nice ‘n easy white
ABAD DOM BUENO 08 ‘Godello’, Bierzo, Spain 154303 $14.95
Freshness combined with fruity flavours and a lighthearted feeling. Good everyday gulper.

wine style: nice ‘n easy white

HUGH HAMILTON 08 Unoaked Chardonnay ‘Jim Jim’, Australia 58537 $15.95
It doesn’t get much more crowdpleasing than this semi-rich, delicious gulper. A teasing mix of zest and slight sweetness.

wine style: rich white
SOUTHBROOK 08 Chardonnay ‘Triomphe’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 172338 $21.95
Tart, earthy Chardonnay in the Burgundian style. Feels rich but the alcohol is moderate. A wonderful partner for herb roasted/BBQ white meats. Should be even more characterful in a year or two.

wine style: rich white
MAISON FRANCOIS MARTENOT 07 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 159095 $16.95
Speaking of Burgundy, here’s a classic. Chardonnay the old way – tons of flavour but not heavy on alcohol. More earthy than fruity. A fab food wine. And an amazing value. Get some.

REDS
Wine style: lively red
MALIVOIRE 08 GAMAY, VQA Niagara 591313 $17.95
Juicy, fruity and refreshing. Most local Gamays are earthy but this delivers the fun, gulp me character of Beaujolais. A bit pricy but guaranteed to delight at any Summer event. Lightly chilled of course.

Wine style: rustic red
MALIVOIRE OLD VINES 08 Foch, VQA Ontario 551036 $24.95
Bitter, earthy and challenging. That’s the Foch way. But there’s something exciting about drinking a local red from 34 year old vines. Perhaps with old cheddar, old Lightfoot and late night by the campfire. Expensive but original.

Wine style: rustic red
CHATEAU FONGABAN 05 Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux 165720 $17.95
Classic French bistro red. Rustic and a bit challenging. But wonderful with food because it invigorates and stimulates the palate. Red meats.

Wine style: rustic red
BODEGAS y VINEDOS NEO 07 ‘Vivir,Vivir’, Ribera del Duero, Spain 162693 $12.95
Rustic, gutsy and full of vigour. Heartwarming, old-style wine in the fashion of Tuscan or Abruzzi reds. Not anything like the description in the catalog.

wine style: rich red
LAILEY VINEYARD 07 Merlot, VQA Niagara River 591396 $25.00
The plummy character of Merlot along with some woodsy flavours. Good dinner partner because of the gutsy, refreshing edge. Lailey winery prices their premium wines lower than most.

Wine style: rich red
VINEDOS ARTAZU 08 Garnacha ‘Artazuri’, Navarra, Spain 80812 $13.95
The strawberry-sweet character of Pinot Noir, along with a tangy bite. Charm meets earthiness. A wonderful drink. Lightly chill and let the evening unfold.

Wine style: rich red
GABA do XIL 08 Mencia, Valdeorras, Spain 166199 $15.95
A delicious gulper. Lively, fruity and fun. Shades of Valpolicella. Lighly chill and let the party begin. BBQed burgers would keep the vibe going.

Wine style: rich red
BODEGAS LAN 2004 Rioja Reserva, Spain 42929 $19.95
Classic Rioja Reserva – sweet/spicy flavours combined with a faded, old-world feeling. Light lots of candles.

Wine style: rich red
LATRIA 2006, Montsant, Spain 155424 $18.95
Here’s the bite and vitality often  lacking in Spanish reds. Charming, Merlot-style wine to partner with beef or lamb dishes.

wine style/rich red
DOMAINE de la CROISETTE 07 Côtes du Rhône, France 155465 $13.95
Almost New World in richness but has the vitality of Cotes du Rhone. A wonderful combination of substance, charm and playfulness. And value. Get lots of this for summer BBQs.

I’m also recommending a pair of New World rich reds that are crafted with the northern Rhône Grape, the Syrah. From the Kosher feature there’s a lovely, mid-range, South African Chardonnay, and a superb Cava from Spain.

WHITES
wine style: fresh, sparkling white
ELVI WINES Cava ‘Adar’, Spain 156737 $17.95
Classic Champagne-style sparkling at a bargain price. Yeasty and super refreshing. A super wine to kick-off any event. Kosher.

wine style: fresh white
MASSERIA ALTEMURA 08 Fiano, Puglia, Italy 159475 $13.95
Lovely mineral freshness, pure, delicate flavours and gulpability. The Fiano grape is an Italian original. Ideal summer house wine.

wine style: fresh white
PLANALTO 08 Douro, Portugal
586420 $13.95
Here’s a crisp refresher to bring out on a summer’s evening. Shades of Sauvignon Blanc, but different.

wine style: nice ‘n easy white
VINELAND ESTATES 07 Riesling ‘St. Urban’, VQA Twenty Mile Bench 38117 $20.00
Dry Riesling that feels a touch sweet because the flavours are honeyed and delicious. Spring-like purity and a carefree feeling. Low alcohol. An afternoon, or anytime sipper.

wine style: fresh/nice n’easy white
BACKSBERG 09 Chardonnay, Paarl, South Africa 156661 $16.95
This non-oaked Chardonnay delivers freshness, fruitiness and friendliness. Feels classy too. Just a lovely glass of wine. Kosher.

wine style: rich white
CHRISTOBAL 09 Chardonnay ‘1492’ Mendoza, Argentina 144402 $11.95
A real crowdpleaser. Fruity, spicy and slightly sweet – yummy. Partygoers delight.

wine style: rich white
MARGAN 08 Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, Australia 141986 $15.95
Aussie Chard with a down to earth feeling. Refreshing too. A good drink and, a good food partner. Very bistro.

wine style: rich white
PELLER ESTATES 07 Chardonnay ‘Private Reserve’, VQA Okanagan Valley 618298 $17.95
Super, super rich Chard for a lot less than twenty dollars. Huge concentrated, vanilla sweet flavours – the Jack Daniels of white wine. A sipper.

REDS
wine style: rustic red
ASCHERI 08 Barbera d’Alba ‘Fontanelle’, Piedmont, Italy 982462 $17.95
The vigour and vitality of Italy. Gutsy, up-and-at-them wine. To start your evening and to partner with traditional tomato sauced foods.

wine style: rich red
DOMAINE de DIEUMERCY 07 Côtes du Rhône, France 155507 $12.95
Warm feelings combined with spicy, peppery, earthy flavours. Very nourishing. A lot of wine character for the price. Any food, anytime.

wine style: rich red
LES VIGNERONS de ROAIX 07 Côtes du Rhône Villages, France 156000 $13.95
Rich, lush and concentrated. A best friend on Winter nights. Luxury at an everyday price.

wine style: rich red
TERRES d’AVIGNON 07 Côtes du Rhône ‘Les Cardinalices’, France 155473 $14.95
All the lovely Rhone features with a lively, gutsy feeling. Dangerously gulpable.  Get two bottles, cook dinner and live the bistro life.

wine style: rich red
DOMAINE SAINT-PIERRE 06 Vacqueyras, Côtes du Rhône Villages, France 130013 $25.95
A whopper of richness, spicy flavours and charm. Deep, dark and mysterious. Be prepared to be seduced. A Middle Eastern style lamb dish would be heavenly. Or just hit the couch.

wine style: rich red
CAVE de RASTEAU 07 Gigondas ‘Ortas’, Côtes du Rhône Villages, France 155440 $23.95
Here’s another couch red. Smooth, super rich and yummy. Fireside in a glass.

wine style: rich red
CONO SUR 07 Syrah ‘Vision’, Chile
24661 $15.95
Rich meets rustic. Chile meets France. Big wine with an earthy tang. Rich wine that’s good with food. Cono Sur scores again.

wine style: rich red
LOMOND ESTATE 08 Syrah, Cape Agulhas, South Africa 146464 $19.95
Another New World red with a French feeling. There’s vitality to partner the dark, earthy flavours. Could be aged a year or two.

anytime sipper
wine style: fresh white
RAPAURA SPRINGS 08 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, N.Z. 142919 $14.95 New Zealand Sauv in a mellow mood. Well, almost. The usual exuberance is tempered with fruitiness and a little richness. Gentle refreshment. An anytime sipper.

yummy white
wine style: nice & easy white
ANAKENA 09 Viognier, Chile 45138 $12.95 Zesty, fruity and pleasant. All in moderation. The nice guy/girl. The perfect party pleaser. Yummy champion for the month.

great value Chard
wine style: rich white
DONA PAULA 08 Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina 93898 $12.95 Rich, exotic flavoured Chard. Manages to feel both citrussy dry and seductively rich – with charm to burn. Go get it.

rich Chardonnay alternative
wine style: rich white
MICHEL GASSIER 08 Viognier ‘Les Piliers’, VDP d’Oc, France 669531 $16.95 A whopper! Super rich white wine in the Chardonnay style. Warming, spicy and quite seductive. White meats or fish with lots of herbs.

seafood partner
wine style: fresh white
DOM de la SEIGNEURIE des TOURNELLES 08 Saumur Blanc, Loire, France 141879 $12.95 Wow! Takes your breath away – seriously tart and dry along with an earthy sense of place. A great example of cool climate wine. Challenging, a bit raunchy and in need of a platter of seafood. Produced from the Chenin Blanc grape.

buy for summer
wine style: fresh white
QUINTA de AZEVEDO 08 Vinho Verde, Portugal 727115 $11.95 White wine doesn’t get more refreshing and exuberant. Low alcohol, lighthearted and dying for seafood on a hot summer evening. Worth the wait.

buy for summer
wine style: fresh white
PACO de TEIXEIRO 08, Minho, Portugal 21469 $12.95 Vinho Verde style – light and tart with the herbaceous flavours of Sauvignon Blanc. Another wine to buy for summer guzzling.

winter warmer
wine style: rich red
TERRA d’ALIGI 06 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ‘Tatone’, Abruzzo, Italy 994616 $15.95 A blockbuster. Deep and hearty with an old world, rustic feeling.

bistro red
wine style: rich red
Ch. de VAUGELAS 07 Corbieres ‘Le Prieuré’, France 154617 $12.95 Lots of warmth and richness, backed up with a rustic tang. Bistro wine. Enjoy with hearty winter foods.

vive la France!
wine style: rich red
CAVE de RASTEAU 08 Rasteau ‘Ortas’, Cotes du Rhône-Villages’, France 998716 $15.00 Plush and lush. Lots of comfort, peppery flavours and a warmhearted feeling. Chateauneuf-style wine at a THIRD of the price. Wonderful stuff. You may never buy another Aussie Shiraz. (**Kato’s favourite pick!)

The Robyn’s Block 2007 ($42 winery only – new release) is very French. You can feel the richness and specialness right away but the flavour show is orchestrated to happen later. A brisk, tart freshness gets the show off to a good start. I’d have white meat dishes with this. Tawse ‘Quarry Road’ ($35 winery only, and also very limited future distribution at a few select LCBOs) is more earthy and tangy dry. There’s an edge and mineral quality that suggests Grand Cru Chablis. A classic wine partner for seafood.

FYI: 2006 Robyn’s Block Chard will soon be released through Vintages (only 28 cases) and everything else is sold out.

P.S. Tawse vineyards are organic and biodynamic. While the place is a bit formal, there’s no denying the stunning quality achieved in a relatively short period.

www.tawsewinery.ca

Niagara’s  Daniel Lenko winery has released a special edition ‘Rainbow’ label of his 07 Unoaked Chardonnay $19.95 (called Chardonngay). A great everyday white that spans the refreshment and easy sipping categories. A dollar from each bottle goes to AIDS research.

The Lenko family were one of the first to plant vinifera grapes in Beamsville so all of their wines are full of character. And premium priced. Old Vines 06 Merlot $29.95 is rustic, earthy and very French Bistro. Two stunning whites are the exotic, powerfully flavoured 07 Gewurztraminer  $29.95, and the rich and charming 07 Viognier $39.95.

Today some good wine producers are deliberately selling low. Large wineries from countries short on prestige have no option but to sell at everyday prices. For them, their small margin per bottle ends being worthwhile because of volume sales. Owners of small wineries often admit to me that the competition’s ten dollar Chardonnay is as good as their fifteen dollar wine, but they “can’t match that price”.

The best example of selling low is Chile. Almost every Chilean wine on our shelves is under priced. The really good stuff is way under-priced, for example, the following pair from Carmen. Carmen 08 Chardonnay not only feels rich and luxurious but is also full of vitality. Glamour combined with a pure, fresh feeling. The Nicole Kidman of Chardonnay, and a great date for ten bucks. Pair it with a roast chicken from the Chalet and you’re all set.

Carmen’s Cab is also star quality. Immediately you’ll sense its rich and warmhearted nature, and as you engage it, a dry, French styling unfolds. Cabernet is, after all, a French grape variety. An air of formality makes it feel classier than most everyday priced reds from warm climates. I suggest steak frites, or le hamburger. Complete the Bistro feeling with a checkered tablecloth. Santé.

CARMEN 08 Chardonnay, Chile  235663 $9.90
CARMEN 06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile 78980 $10.75

My list is short but it contains a candidate for red wine value of the year in Santa Julia Cabernet from Argentina. The style is perfect for summer events. As are my two French Rosé picks. Southbrook Sauvignon is a wonderfully distinctive local expression. And I’m offering a Chablis for anyone up for adventure, if somewhat expensive.

Enjoy!
Billy

RICH ROSÉ
CH. VAL JOANIS 08 Syrah Rosé, Luberon, France 707281 $15.95
The pale and deceptively rich Provence-style dry Rosé. Delicate, pretty flavours and just enough freshness to carry the show. Rosé for a weekend lunch that might run into dinner.

FRESH ROSÉ
PIERRE SPARR Brut Rosé, Cremant d’Alsace, France 39016 $19.95
Bone dry Rosé with two great features. Super refreshing and the perfect partner to cut the richness in seafood. Shrimp or calamari on the deck!

FRESH WHITE
SOUTHBROOK 07 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Triomphe’, VQA Niagara 117556 $18.95
You gotta try this wonderful local expression of Sauvignon. Fresh, pungent and a little more earthy than most. Reminds me of traditional French wine that feels of a place rather than of fruits.Calls for food to complete the picture – such as a seafood appetizer or grilled chicken mains.

RICH WHITE
DOM. BERNARD DEFAIX 06 Chablis 1er Cru, Burgundy, France 17541 $36.95
A very pure, delicate and elegant Chablis that will seduce you with French charm. And an opportunity to experience how Chablis differs from most other Chardonnays. And you must read the pretentious wine description in the LCBO catalogue (page 38)…too ridiculous for words.

RUSTIC RED
SANTA JULIA 07 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina 93781 $13.95
Invigorating Cab that hits a middle ground between gutsy and yummy. New World ripe flavours with the refreshing character of a Chianti. The perfect candidate – style and price – for your house summer BBQ red. Don’t miss this one.
P.S. Produced by the Zuccardi family, the creators of ‘Fuzion’ at regular LCBO stores.

Mission Hill Winery has been our main provider of BC wines and here’s a new pair worth exploring. They’re bottled under the label, Prospect Winery, ‘Ganton & Lardon’, who were two of the Okanagan Valley’s original grape growing families. Each wine has a folk tale about the region and they’re good – the tales and the wines.

The Chardonnay is rich, lush and in the sunny Californian style. A pleasant wine to partner charred/spicy flavored foods. The Pinot is light, earthy and charming. Lightly chill and think about striking up the BBQ. Perhaps salmon fillets with asparagus.

Prospect Winery 07 Chardonnay ‘The Census Count’, VQA Okanagan, BC 419296 $14.95
Prospect Winery 06 Pinot Noir ‘Fats Johnson’, VQA Okanagan, BC 92304 $15.95