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Browsing through
the bulky mass of junk mail and fliers that were stuffed in my
mail box today, I think to myself that it's too bad the LCBO does not
carry back to school bargains like every major retailer does in this
part of the world. Well that’s not going to happen, so in the meantime,
here are some notes on a few really good wines from the Spanish release,
along with several good wines from the regular section of the catalogue.
 001677
JUAN GIL TINTO 2006 Jumilla $21.95
This 100% Monastrell, or Mourvèdre as we know it, is solid, ripe and
creamy. The nose has a sleek streak of pure currant. The palate has
fruit, spicy notes and dried herbs. Nicely balanced, time will help, but
I like it now. Find this wine
082214 PIEDRA AZUL 2005 Toro $15.95
Plummy fruit and a touch of cured meat on the nose, this Tempranillo has
solid flavours on the palate, some tannin, but none so much as to
interfere with the pleasure it delivers now. It finishes with a lively
band of black fruit acid. Price wise, it is a good deal, it will hold
for a year, or drink it now, it is fun.
Find this wine
060772 TORRES SALMOS 2005 Priorat $32.95
A New World, well sort of, blend of Garnacha, Syrah, Carinena, and
Cabernet Sauvignon. It starts out with a forceful layer of creamy sweet
black cherry and blackberry fruit, followed up with licorice, lavender,
dried herb and lime zest. It is tight on the palate, but beneath the
layer of dark bitter chocolate tannin there is plenty of tasty fruit
just waiting to be revealed. Not a wine for the impatient. Find this wine
067066 EMINA PRESTIGIO 2005 Ribera del Duero
$24.95
Dark and enticing, here is a mineral laden wine bursting with black
fruit, prune and Middle Eastern spice. It carries this intensity through
to the palate. The oak is creamy, the black berry shines, but the
tannins all of a sudden come out from nowhere and just go wild. Leave it
for a couple of years and it should show well. Find this wine |
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082180 VIÑA VILANO CRIANZA 2004 Ribera del
Duero $20.95
Not a wine that is approachable right now. It has loads of dark rich
berries; a touch of tobacco, tar mocha and a good dose of mineral. It is
made with 100% Tempranillo, aged for 14 months in both French and
Hungarian oak. Find this wine
Other stuff
071712 WILDASS ROSÉ 2006 Niagara Peninsula $18.95
A Rose wine with a solid core of clean red fruit, some spice, plenty of
sweet strawberry, ripe raspberry and mineral notes too. Powerful and
very tasty for a Rose, I might hold onto a bottle until next year and
see what happens. Find this wine
709881 CHATEAU MONTELENA THE MONTELENA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004
Calistoga, Napa Valley $132.95
$132.95 gets one a glass of pure classic Napa Valley Cabernet that with
time, should deliver an astonishing bottle of wine. It still carries a
deep purple opaque colour. The foundation is blackcurrant, then all of a
sudden, all sorts of fun things start to leap out in all directions like
licorice, mint, Thai basil, and Asian spice. Although far from being at
its best, the mouth feel is orgasmic, so rich and complex. Having had
older vintages of Montelena on several occasions, this will be tough to
turn down especially when the price is comparable to what can be found
south of the border. Find this wine
067785 GNARLIER HEAD OLD VINE ZIN 2005 Dry Creek Valley, Sommer's
Vineyard $27.95
A little uncouth at first showing with bold ripe aromas of sweet
blueberry, blackberry and just crushed black pepper. It does settle down
to show some complex flavours of stewed plum, black raspberry, dried
orange and spicy oak. I will buy some. Find this wine
 090365 WATERBROOK RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Columbia Valley
$27.95
This Walla Walla Cabernet is full bodied and shows lots of blackcurrant,
a touch of mineral, plum and a nice earthy note. The palate is pure,
there are tannins, but they soon dissipate with a swift swirl or two.
Nice wine.
Find this wine
070607
WATERBROOK SYRAH 2005 Columbia Valley $28.95
A little spicier than the Cabernet and it shows much more of the local
terrior. It boasts aromas of iron, mineral, loads of appealing black
fruit, damson and plum. The palate has brilliant acidity and just the
right amount of oak to furnish a lovely creamy texture. Find this wine
 079293
LUIGI BOSCA RESERVA MALBEC 2005 Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza $15.00
A smoky meaty wine showing layers of fig, rhubarb, coffee and salty
Dutch licorice that is funky and not for the faint of heart. It shows
some astringency now; there is loads of mineral and an odd metallic note
on the finish. It may not appeal to the masses, but for me it will be
worth sticking a couple away. Find this wine
606764 ARBOLEDA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 Aconcagua Valley, Chile $19.95
Well made, with distinctive aromas of blackcurrant, dried thyme, bakers
chocolate and mineral. It has good balance, it drinks well and has a
long tasty finish. Find this wine
 068643
YSERN BLEND OF REGIONS TANNAT 2004 Cerro Chapeu/Las Violetas $13.95
It is rare to see wines from Uruguay hit the shelves of the L.C.B.O. If
this is an illustration of the quality of wine in this country, we need
more. This Tannat, a grape originally from southwestern France, is bold,
smoky and full of black fruit, cocoa and chocolate. The palate is
balanced; it has a touch of mineral, a hint of tannin, hence the name of
the grape, and really good structure. Hey, it’s worth trying, great QPR
and a classic ringer at a tasting. Find this wine
 068692
BELLINGHAM DRAGON'S LAIR 2005 Coastal Region, South Africa $19.95
I am impressed with this assemblage of 88% Shiraz, 10% Mourvedre and 2%
Viognier. The nose is fruit laden without being sugary sweet. The acids
are lively and enhance the dark fruit and restrained coconut notes. It
is nice and creamy on the palate and finishes in harmony. Find this wine
594739 CHÂTEAU PIBRAN 2003 Paulliac, Bordeaux $49.95
A good wine from a classic vintage. It has great depth, the layers of
balsa, oak, morel mushroom, cigar and cassis just keep on coming. Lush
best describes the palate. It is chewy, well balanced, fruit laden and
it finishes with a nice refreshing streak of black fruit acidity. Find this wine
714998 BOUCHARD PÈRE & FILS CÔTE DE BEAUNE-VILLAGES 2005, Burgundy
$24.95
Right now, this wine is sharp, acidic and quite bitter. There is some
red fruit, but it is not showing well.
Find this wine
069138 DOMAINE HENRI DELAGRANGE VOLNAY 2005 Vieilles Vignes $42.95
The nose evolves to show plum, mushroom powder and black raspberry. The
relatively spicy medium bodied palate conjures flavours of milky
chocolate and red fruit. There is an earthy note, decent acidity; it
just doesn’t taste, to me at least, like a Volnay. Find this wine
 992800
MAS JANEIL CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON-VILLAGES 2005 $15.95
I do find the wines of the Midi, and Roussillon in particular, to be
exciting. This blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignane displays aromas of
rich sweet blueberry, raspberry, black fruit jam and hay. The palate
does not disappoint, instead it shows good sweet fruit, clean acids,
chocolate and pepper. This is very good juice to drink now, or let it
rest awhile. Find this wine
 078808
LE GRAVILLAS GIGONDAS 2005 $25.95
This is a dark and enticing wine with a strong fragrant nose of briar,
mineral, nutshell, blackberry and currant. The palate is not as
friendly, simply because it is tight. Soon it will allow the pure fruit
and mineral flavours to rise above the tannin. It will be worth waiting
for I think. Find this wine
673244 MAS DES AVEYLANS SYRAH CUVÉE PRESTIGE
2005, Vin de Pays d’Oc $21.95
Very ripe and raisiny with whiffs of dark chocolate, red cherry and
cherry cola. It has lots of sweet vanilla on the palate, decent fruit
and spicy pepper; all of which need time to settle and integrate. The
raisiny sweetness is somewhat reminiscent of an Amarone. Find this wine
 928721
PRUNOTTO BAROLO, Piedmont 2004 $49.95
Brilliantly constructed Barolo, laced with anise, plum skin, fresh
thyme, coal dust and ripe red berries. The palate is full, very tight,
quite spicy and fun. This has potential to be a great wine, only give it
a chance to show what it can do.
Find this wine 073486 LA CIARLIANA VINO NOBILE DI
MONTEPULCIANO, Tuscany 2004 $32.95
Coffee grounds and back cherry lead the way on the nose. Its palate has
the dark cherry flavours, but it is mouth puckering and dry. Lots of
gripping tannins, too many perhaps, only time will tell. Find this wine
 551507
CAMPO AL SORBO CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA, Tuscany 1997 $33.95
The rim of the glass shows its age, it has a ruby-brick edge to it.
Fruit, no worries, plenty of blackberry, sweet plum and sweet currant.
There are some nice secondary notes of leather, coal dust, licorice and
spice developing. The finish however, proves shorter than I might like,
it has a nice creamy note, but the fruit fades fast. All in all it is a
decent bottle of Chianti from a highly touted vintage.
Find this wine
013599 SANTA BRIGIDA COLLI DELLA TOSCANA CENTRALE 2003 $24.95
A full and spicy nose of red fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove with
subtle aromas of dried tree leaves. The palate picks up on the red
fruit, has great acidity and good length on the finish. Although tasty
now, there is a note of tannin that might, after a couple of years,
fall, to let this wine show its full potential. Find this wine Cheers
CZ
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