Pink wines take centre stage in this month’s release. There are several that I like, but one in particular is very tasty and priced right. It is going to be one hot summer and these are the type of coolants I enjoy. Do read on.

34322 FAMILIA ZUCCARDI SANTA JULIA SYRAH ROSÉ Argentina 2006 $11.95
This starts out somewhat mundane offering up sweet flavours of red fruit and strawberry soda. It needs a kick of acidity to counter the cloying texture on the finish.  Find this wine

25478 SELAKS PREMIUM SELECTION MERLOT ROSÉ, NZ 2006 $17.95
There are lots of pretty plum, berry and leafy notes. A little hit of red currant jam and cranberry on the palate leads to a nice crisp clean cherry laden finish. Find this wine

35196 BERGWATER ROSÉ RESERVE 2005, Prince Albert Valley South Africa $15.95
This carries a strange, but pleasant, mix of earthy and green onion notes along with plenty of strawberry and raspberry aromas. The palate shows balanced fruit and acidity. Find this wine

655225 GOATS DO ROAM ROSÉ 2006 Coastal Region, South Africa $13.95
An herbaceous nose of tobacco, dried thyme, wet stone, and mineral gives way to a layer of sweet red fruit and chocolate. A medium body, a nice degree of acidity and a pleasing finish. Find this wine

999821 MULDERBOSCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSÉ 2006 Stellenbosch $12.95
Well for $12.95, this is going to top my list of things to quaff during the summer of 07. It has notes of red Gatorade, blackcurrant, blueberry and red fruit acidity. It lingers long and is refreshingly clean. Find this wine

319368 CHÂTEAU D'AQUERIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2006, Rhone Valley $19.95
This wine has been in Vintages for as long as I can recall and it rarely disappoints. The perfumed nose depicts crushed raspberry and strawberry coulis, some lime stone, a hint of mineral and lilac. It is very focused and true on the palate; the finish is bold and solid. Good stuff. Find this wine

1578 FLAT ROCK CELLARS TWISTED 2006 Niagara Peninsula $16.95
I have tasted this wine a couple of times from previous vintages and I always thought it to be a decent wine, but the 06 really is most impressive. This alternative to the blah blah generic whites and whatever is composed of Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay. It has a nose of floral notes, candied grapefruit, green apple and a trace of butterscotch. The acidity is spot on and the finish is viscous and clean. Find this wine

626325 OSOYOOS LAROSE LE GRAND VIN 2003, Okanagan Valley $39.95
The third vintage of this West Coast Meritage is also quite delicious. It seems to be more approachable in its youth than earlier vintages. The nose gives off aromas of tar, leather, black fruit, mineral, toffee and pea shoots. It is well extracted, with a layer of blackberry and black raspberry fruit that hangs long. It has nuances of lead pencil and mineral, along with the fruit, on the finish. Perhaps a little time in the cellar is appropriate. Find this wine

651174 CRANEFORD ALLYSON PARSONS SEMILLON 2005, Barossa Valley, South Australia $15.95
A nose that centers on crème brulee, honeydew, grapefruit zest and mineral. The mid palate shows plenty of the citrus notes, but it is balanced by a lovely creamy mouth feel. The “eggy” character of the wine seems to carry on through to the finish. All in all it is a tasty alternative to the many run of the mill Chardonnays that one can find on the shelves. Find this wine

937219 TALTARNI SHIRAZ 2002, Pyrenees, Victoria $25.95
At first this appears over the top, but the jam and cream soda notes tone down to show some spicy pepper, leather and dried mint. The acidity is fine, the fruit plays nicely right through to the finish. Find this wine

33241 JACKSON-TRIGGS PROPRIETORS'GRAND RESERVE SHIRAZ, Okanagan Valley 2003 $23.95
I was impressed with Jackson Triggs’ west coast wines when I was in Okanagan a couple of years ago. I do know several people that would be surprised by the intensity this wine carries. It is fruit laden wine that features dusty red fruit, blackberry coulis and fresh red strawberry. However, it is not just another fruit bomb; it is backed by layers of green peppercorn, coffee grounds and dark chocolate. It is so ripe and creamy on the palate and the finish is extensive. The structure is fine and it contains the right degree of acidity to keep it interesting. Not your average bottle of Canadian wine.
Find this wine

650028 PETER LEHMANN GSM GRENACHE / SHIRAZ / MOURVÈDRE 2003 Barossa, South Australia $18.95
A dusty cloak of red fruit, forest floor, clove, cedar and smoke. The palate is fruit driven showing maraschino cherry, rhubarb and toasty oak. Find this wine

25072 BILLY GOAT HILL CABERNET/MERLOT 2005 Western Australia $18.95
A sweet nose of black raspberry, plastic, chocolate, dried mint and blueberry. The sweetness arrives on the palate in the form of blackberry pie filling, plum and vanilla crème. There is a mineral quality that is pleasant on the close. Find this wine

684019 JUNIPER CROSSING CABERNET SAUVIGNON/MERLOT 2004 Margaret River, Western Australia $18.95
This multilayered nose shows off blackcurrant, blackberry, Turkish Delight, and sage. The mid palate is rounding out nicely with plenty of clean red fruit acids. The finish is balanced save for a touch of tannin.  Find this wine

29488 SEPPELT CHALAMBAR SHIRAZ 2004, Grampians Bendigo, Victoria $25.95
A dark and intense wine showing an initial layer of black fruit backed up by aromas of herb stuffing, violet, coal dust and milk chocolate. It is full bodied, well rounded; coating the palate with plenty of flavour and silky tannin. Find this wine

 

720177 FATTORIA DEI BARBI MORELLINO DI SCANSANO, Tuscany 2004 $17.95
Morellino is the local lingo for Sangiovese. The wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, a touch of Alicante, and Merlot. Sweet, herbaceous and hot best describes the nose. The palate is ripe and creamy with layers of blueberry, liquorish, cream soda and slate. An interesting wine. Find this wine

27441 MORTON ESTATE STONE CREEK PINOT NOIR 2002, Marlborough, South Island, NZ $32.95
The nose has an intriguing earthy quality with mineral, plenty of black cherry, plum, raspberry and liquorish. It is pleasant, but it does not stick around too long on the finish. Find this wine


712273 GIACOMO FENOCCHIO BAROLO BUSSIA 2001, Piedmont $37.95
A funky Barolo with a heady nose of hops, malt beer, iodine, cola, straw, vanilla and barnyard. The palate focuses on a layer of red fruit, with a backdrop of toffee, clove and powdery tannin. Find this wine

413179 ZENATO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2003 $48.95
Not the best bottling of Zenato’s Valpolicella that I have tasted. It starts out with the familiar leathery, fuzzy, creamy blueberry and plum aromas, but the palate seems to pale in comparison. Find this wine

 

11254 BOWMORE 16 YEARS OLD SHERRY MATURED ISLAY SINGLE MALT 1990 Limited Edition, Btld. 2006 $127.95
Oh my God, this Scotch reeks of Olorosa, peat, iodine, tangerine peel, oats and hay. It is forceful, yet at the same time quite refined. The burning sensation in my mouth is perhaps due to the whopping fifty-eight degrees of alcohol. I still struggle with this whole Scotch thing, but in a weird sort of way, I quite like this.

Cheers
CZ

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