Alan’s November 22, 2008 Vintages Release Tasting Notes

304469 CLOUDY BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007 Marlborough, South Island $33.95
I first tasted Cloudy Bay about a dozen or so years ago and I still recall the explosion of flavours and acids that bounced around my unsuspecting palate. Now things are different, Cloudy bay is still a full bodied wine, but it has been really toned down in comparison to its former self. It has lots of ripe white tree fruit, a little raspy citrus and a touch of tropical fruit. As good as it is, there is other Sauvignon Blanc that sells for less and delivers similar qualities. Find this wine

566026 CAVE SPRING CSV RIESLING 2006, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula $29.95
Preserved lemon, a nice dose of mineral, white peach, crisp apple and a faint little petrol note on the nose. The slight degree of sweetness on the palate is most welcome. The acids are racy and the fruit is sublime. It is a great bottle of wine. Find this wine

661322 BOUCHARD PERE & FILS MEURSAULT LES CLOUS 2006 $52.95
Full of almond, ripe pear, wet stone and spice. It has great balance and a fabulous mouth feel. The finish is long and laden with fruit. Find this wine

340497 BERINGER HOWELL MOUNTAIN BANCROFT RANCH MERLOT 1996 Napa Valley $98.95
The aromas of smoky bacon, raisins, maltezers, milk chocolate and dried red fruit sound more like a description wandering down the aisles of a bulk barn than a wine. However, beyond all those sweet and smoky attributes lies some seriously good wine. The palate has the smoky meat character along with pure black fruit, a little silky tannin and a nice creamy cappuccino texture. It is a twelve year old wine that shows no sign whatsoever of being in decline. Hundred bucks though! Find this wine

268235 CLOS PEGASE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 Napa Valley $50.95
A robust wine full of dark Napa fruit backed by notes of eucalyptus, clay, mocha and spice. The palate is full, 14.8%, creamy and chock-full of blackcurrant and black raspberry flavours. The finish could show better, it seems to fade too soon.
Find this wine

189795 JOSEPH PHELPS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Napa Valley $73.95
Dark and perfumed, lots of sweet oak, a palate loaded with blackcurrant and other juicy fruits. The fruit is competing with layers of thyme, mocha and chocolate on the palate. Not sure about that oak though. Find this wine

024190 DUCKHORN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Napa Valley $78.95
Another enticing nose laden with black fruit, coal dust, slate, mint and dried herbs. Layers of sweet ripe fruit hit the palate and refuse to stop. It has a creamy note on the finish, the balance is spot on. Find this wine

700922 LE VIEUX DONJON CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2006 $61.95
Not cheap for the appellation, but oh wow, there is some serious juice in this bottle. It shows tons of black fruit, star anise, cake spice, Szechwan peppercorn and cocoa. The wine bites and grips tightly to the palate; there is a lot of fruit, but there are also layers of dark bitter chocolate, leather, cocoa powder and tannins. There is enough tannin to shut the wine down, at least for now, but it is serious stuff and when it awakes, it will reward the patient collector. Find this wine

079095 MASI TUPUNGATO CORBEC CORVINA/MALBEC APPASSIMENTO 2006 La Arboleda, Mendoza, Argentina $29.95
Masi’s fusion wine emits aromas of sweet blueberry, sweet spice, licorice, coconut cream and black fruit cream soda. It has a ripe sweet palate with plenty of fruit, a touch of prune and nice lively acids. A really fun wine and well worth trying. Find this wine

 

088740 DOMAINE DE LA VOUGERAIE GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN LA JUSTICE 2005 $61.95
Hearty and rustic, what I really want in a burgundy. It is earthy, full of minerals, underbrush, mushroom and pure dark fruit. The palate is lively with plum, dark cherry and cola flavours. Presently it is disjointed and a little tannic, but just wait and see what will happen after a year or two. Find this wine

091413 CHÂTEAU TAILLEFER 2005, Pomerol $59.95
A New world style of Bordeaux showing aromas of eucalyptus, mint, mocha, cake spice and red cherry. The palate focuses more on dark fruit, there are some hefty tannins, a little heat, but given time, it does have potential to be good. Find this wine

087023 DOMAINE TAUPENOT-MERME GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN 2005 $66.95
Lavender and violet, some red fruit, plum, blackberry and cedar. The palate has a layer of stewed fruit, a note of sour cherry and dusty earthy note on the finish. Find this wine
 

088732 DOMAINE DE LA VOUGERAIE GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN LES EVOCELLES 2005 $63.95
There are more floral aromas on the nose of the Evocelles than that of the La Justice. This also shows nice hints of cherry and a touch of beet. There are lively acids on the palate and slightly harsher tannins. Find this wine



707364 CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO BAROLO MONFALLETTO 2004 $51.95
Sweet cherry, coffee, damson and Moroccan spice. The palate is very tight; there are notes of iron and mineral. Good fruit, lively acidity, but gripping tannins suggest time away. Find this wine

988808 FULIGNI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2003 $75.95
This wine has that certain polished wood, nutshell note that in small amounts has much appeal. As well, there is black fruit, a hint of green tea, cracked mixed pepper and licorice root on the nose. The palate is round, full bodied and silky. It will age, but I could crack a bottle of this anytime. Find this wine



716050 BRIGALDARA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA 2005 $50.95
Intense aromas of fresh cut flowers, lavender, blueberry, red licorice and Indian Chi tea. A little chocolate drifts across the palate combining nicely with the red fruit and dried cranberry. It has a touch of tannin and the 16 degrees of alcohol is discernable on the finish. Find this wine

 

085217 SARTORI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2004 $55.95
An Amarone that bursts with sweet spice, red fruit, cardamom seed, almond and prune, it has great balance and a super long tasty finish. Find this wine



707166 ALION 2004 Ribera del Duero, Spain $80.95
A monstrous wine that explodes with blueberry, blackberry, cake spice, mocha, sun baked earth and mineral aromas. It is power packed with fruit, shows lots of spice, a little heat and some dusty tannin. Find this wine

 

082164 HERMANOS PECINA SENORIO DE P. PECINA GRAN RESERVA, Rioja 1998 $55.95
Another ultra ripe wine showing off aromas of cedar, smoked meat, mocha, raspberry, balsa, plum skin, molasses and black olive curing barrels. The main emphasis on the palate is the savoury notes, the dried meat and leathery textures over power and right now the fruit is struggling to surface. Find this wine

088195 TAYLOR FLADGATE ESTATES COLLECTION VINTAGE PORTS 2005 $82.95
Quote from the catalogue. “Taylor Fladgate owns two of the most famous estates of the Douro Valley, Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta de Terra Feita. The Estates
collection offers a half bottle of Port from each of these acclaimed properties from the impressive 2005 vintage.” The Terra Feita is a powerful blend of chocolate, red berry, blueberry, tightly wound, rich and punchy with a depth of sweetness. The Vargellas is spicier showing notes of nutmeg, plum, milk chocolate that creates pleasant memories of UK’s Fry’s Chocolate Coconut bar. Both are great, this one, for me has better balance. Find this wine

And now, the wines from the regular section of the release

660704 STRATUS WHITE 2005, Niagara Peninsula $44.00
Stratus’s blends are unique. The 05 unites Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Semillon and Riesling resulting in wonderful aromas that leap from the glass. Most noteworthy are dried coconut, tangerine, vanilla, dried banana, pea shoots, white tree fruit and fresh cut flowers. The mouth feel is exquisite, creamy and rich and its finish lasts long. Find this wine

85092 STRATUS RED 2005 Niagara Peninsula $44.00
Stratus produces a true five card blend of Meritage with the addition of Gamay and Syrah. These wines are built for the long haul and this vintage teases, emitting whiffs of black berry, blackcurrant and wild strawberry all bound with a gentle core of vanilla. It is deftly balanced, full of fruit and built to last. Good now, but with time in the cellar, it will be great. A wine to impress the skeptical American guests!Find this wine

47720 FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION SILVER LABEL PINOT NOIR 2006 Monterey County $29.95
The nose is closed, the fruit on the palate is clean, but there is little to excite. Find this wine

933424 MULDERBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC Western Cape, South Africa 2007 $18.95
Always a favourite of mine and this vintage does not disappoint. Dollar for dollar it is tough to find a better Sauvignon Blanc at an equal price. It has all the classics of the varietal, the grassiness, the feline pee, the tart apple and citrus notes without any of the aforementioned dominating. Find this wine

500876 CHÂTEAU BEAUREGARD 2005 Pomerol, Bordeaux $67.95
Nice, refined notes of sweet cherry, red berry, sweet spice, tobacco and a dusting of cocoa powder. The mouth feel is sublime balanced and full of dark fruits, mocha, licorice and chocolate. Finish is long; there is little sign of tannin at this point. Perhaps it will shut down, but right now it is tasty. Find this wine

88203 CHÂTEAU LARROQUE WINTER LABEL 2005 Bordeaux $16.95
Sweet perfume, red currant, fennel seed and thyme control the nose. The palate, primarily blackcurrant, is clean and well constructed. At seventeen bucks, for a 2005 vintage Bordeaux, try a bottle, if you like, buy more and see what happens. Find this wine

90167 HAUTS DE PONTET-CANET 2005, Paulliac, Second Wine of Château Pontet-Canet $69.00
Forest floor, mixed dried herbs, sweet spice, black fruit and stone on the nose. The palate is punchy; it has nice caramel notes, plenty of red berries and a touch of dusty tannin. Let’s not forget however, it is still a second wine of a fifth growth Bordeaux and seventy bucks is a lot of money. Find this wine



19166 TERRA D'ALIGI TOLOS MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2004 $29.95
The bottle weighs a ton and sadly many will end up in a land fill site, but what is inside the bottle is really sensational. Black fruit takes the lead on the nose, but it is closely followed by aromas of juniper, balsa, moss, white pepper and sweet spice. The palate is huge, although a trifle clumsy. It is full of black fruit and chocolate, quite spicy and full of promise. Find this wine






747030 LA VITE LUCENTE 2005 $39.95
Leathery and spicy, the nose shows black fruit, milk chocolate and toasty vanilla. It is tannic on the palate, there is a bitterness that distracts. I believe it needs time. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

BACK TO THE TOP