DRINKABILITY, SATISFACTION & VALUE IN WHITES
Sauvignon is one of life’s great aperitif wines. So much energy and vitality. But some warm climate regions are crafting Sauvignon in richer style – charming and seductive too. Delicious stuff to sip anytime. Check out Errazuriz for your Holiday parties.
ERRAZURIZ 10 Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 263574 $11.95
You may not be thinking of this style of wine in December but a blast of refreshment is an all-season necessity. To kick-start an event or to have with everyone’s favourite holiday appetizer – the shrimp ring.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are the go-to for spring-breeze-style wine so lets look at a couple of recommendations. New arrival, Kato is crafted in an elegant, French style – not too loud, shades of Sancerre. Not surprising as the winemaker is Bernard Portet of Clos du Val fame. Kato is a Maori word for ‘to harvest’. And the name of my partner, who’s thrilled to have her own house wine.
Another new Kiwi Sauvignon is Silver Point from the Cooper’s Creek Winery. This is mild mannered with a good, everyday refresher quality. And an everyday price.
KATO 08 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 184598 $16.95
SILVER POINT 09 Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 187013 $12.95
THE LOW DOWN: It’s Ontario month and I wish I could recommend more locals, but I think that wineries would rather sell their good stuff to their own customers than commit to (and wait for payment) from the the LCBO. I didn’t care for the jammy, chunky, overblown Douro wines either. Buy the Port instead. But as ever, there’s a sprinkling of treasures – at bargain prices.
WHITES
wine style: nice & easy white
TBILVINO TSINANDALI 08, Georgia 26658 $12.95
From the original home of wine and civilization! Soft, easy-drinking, non-oaked Chardonnay style. Worth a detour.
wine style: fresh white
FONTANAFREDDA 09 Gavi, Piedmont, Italy 75440 $15.95
Gavi is Italy’s answer to Chablis. A low-flavoured white with mineral freshness and a classy feeling. The tease of fruit in this one reminds me of Dry Riesling. Lovely aperitif.
wine style: fresh white
STRANDVELD VINEYARDS 09 Sauvignon Blanc ‘First Sighting’, Cape Agulhas, South Africa 18705 $14.95
Sauvignon with amazing purity and stone cold mineral freshness. Think about sea breezes. If you’re into the terroir thing this wine is the expression of a rocky outpost at the real foot of the African continent…where stubborn Dutch farmers dare to grow vines in windblown fields.
SPARKLING
JACKSON-TRIGGS Method Classique Brut 05 ‘Proprietor’s Grand Reserve’, VQA Niagara 587691 $19.95
Bargain-priced Bollinger! Bottle age has created toasty richness and charm. Feels luxurious – very Old World. Sip before and with, a nice dinner. Or for parties and celebrations. At this price you can afford to be generous. Very impressive.
REDS
wine style: lively red
NORMAN HARDIE 08 County Pinot Noir Unfiltered, VQA Prince Edward County 125310 $35.20
This is about adventure. Experience the wine that closely resembles the Pinots of Burgundy. Light (11% alcohol), tart, and an earthy feeling of soils. Barnyard for sure. Roast a bird and celebrate Canada’s new wine region.
wine style: rustic red
LAILEY 08 Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara 591404 $25.00
It doesn’t get more rustic than this. And you’ll not find a better Burgundian-style Pinot for the price. Raunchy in a good way. But don’t keep it – drink it now. I always enjoy the earthiness in Lailey’s wine.
wine style: rustic red
PIETRO RINALDI 08 Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy 182261 $16.95
A great hit of Italy. Gutsy red wine with the feeling of old soils – and meals in rustic restaurants. The soulful life. Aussie Shiraz fans will hate the tangy dry edge in this wine.
wine style: rustic red
JEAN-LUC BALDES 07 ‘Flore’, Cahors, France 176735 $13.95
Experience the original Malbec from the Cahors region in France. A gutsy, invigorating wine in the bistro style. Dry, low alcohol and sure to lead to a second bottle.
wine style: rich red
LA RESERVE DU CROUZAU 07 ‘St. Gervais’ Cotes du Rhone, France 142943 $13.95
A super-rich Rhone with enough warmth to get you through the coldest winter nights. Spicy flavours give energy to the lush, seductive feeling. A lot of action for the price.
PORT
FERREIRA 2000 LBV Port, Portugal 675751 $18.95
Plan for winter with this very concentrated, characterful Port. There’s a refreshing edge that could easily lead to over consumption. Always a danger with Port.
Vintages Sat May 1/2010
THE LOW DOWN: Lacks the outstanding values of recent releases but there’s some good explorer wines. Such as a couple of heavy hitting Zinfandels, and a bargain priced red from the south of France. Guigal’s white Rhone and the Moulin-a-Vent would be a delightful French pairing for a summer dinner party. Prince Edward County wines are not values but offer good local expression. I hope to be featuring lots of local from the next few Vintages releases.
Enjoy!
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.
THE LOW DOWN: Best Vintages release in a long time. Lots of great tasting and distinctive wines for only $12.95. But you must try the Rasteau for $15.
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!)
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