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Having missed the last
Vintage’s tasting due to a busy summer schedule, I am happy to report
that I was able to get up to London to sample some of the wines being released
on August 15th.
The feature of this release focuses on the wines of Chile. I chose to leave
those wines until the end, then as I was about to embark on the flight, my
palate crashed and all the wines started to taste the same. However, much of
what I tasted prior to that tragic occurrence was decent and there are some good
value wines to be found.
 235051
CAVE SPRING MERLOT 2006, Niagara Escarpment $16.95
The 2006 vintage in Ontario was bloody horrible with all the rain at harvest and
consequently I must confess to having a tendency to avoid local reds from this
year. So why is this wine showing so well right now? It has lovely aromas of
black fruit, dried herbs, mocha, mineral and forest floor. The palate is
elegant, well balanced offering flavours of red fruit laced with a touch of
anise.
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122283 TRUMPOUR'S MILL PINOT NOIR 2007, Prince Edward County $19.95
This is one of the wines featured as “Wine of the Month.” It has a nose of
strawberry Jelly and sweet red fruit. The palate carries much of the same
nuances, with a faint touch of stony mineral in the background. Very one
dimensional and it does little to stimulate any interest.
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000612 MONTES ALPHA SYRAH 2007 Colchagua Valley, Apalta Vineyard, Chile,
$22.95
Always a winner with me, this Chilean Syrah has big toasty notes of blackberry
ripple, mocha, cherry and sweet oak. A little clumsy now on the palate, but it
has plenty of black fruit acidity that refreshes nicely.
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 73072
BURROWING OWL SYRAH 2005, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia $48.95
Having tasted several older vintages of Syrah from this winery, located in the
heart and heat of Okanagan’s veritable desert, I think the potential for
greatness in this wine, several years down the road, is dead certain. The power
of the nose is second to none. It oozes intense aromas of black berry fruit,
black cherry, coal dust, black liquorish toffee, Szechwan peppercorn and cedar.
The palate is luscious, full of ripe, but not over the top, sweet fruit. The
texture is chewy, the acids refresh and the mineral earthy notes deliver a
pleasing secondary note. The tannins are there and although it is years away
from being at its best, I would have no problem popping the cork tonight.
Stellar stuff.
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 971705 BAROSSA VALLEY ESTATE EBENEZER SHIRAZ 2004, Barossa Valley, South
Australia $39.95
Full of eucalyptus and dried herb, this Shiraz, at first, is reluctant to show
its wares. The polished aromas of blackberry and black cherry show themselves as
they break through the layer of toasty vanilla and oak. After a while in the
glass, I find aromas of violet, lavender and underbrush starting to appear. The
palate has a jammy consistency and there is a touch of heat in the finish.
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71043 BAROSSA VALLEY ESTATE E-MINOR SHIRAZ 2007, Barossa Valley, South
Australia $17.95
This mini me rendition of the previous wine shows more chocolate, dark fruit,
wet soil and earthy notes on the nose. It has nice blackberry and blue berry
fruit flavours, a creamy texture and gentle tannins. A similar style, but built
for current consumption.
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 93138 CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS NINE LIVES SHIRAZ 2006, Barossa Valley,
South Australia $21.95
I like this wine a lot. The fruit is pure and unadulterated. It has a secondary
layer of Middle Eastern spice and a barely noticeable touch of sweet oak. The
palate has impeccable balance; there is a lovely note of soil that blends with
the super fruit flavours on the finish. A great bottle of wine.
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107904 GEORGE WYNDHAM FOUNDER'S RESERVE SHIRAZ 2005, South Australia,
Cuvée du Maître $22.95
This wine has a strange plasticine and clay note on the aroma that eventually
gives way revealing a hefty dose of pure black fruit essence and sweet oak. For
me, the palate is too sweet and cloying.
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501437 CHÂTEAU LA SERRE 2005, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux $58
This darkly coloured wine offers a nose of sweet new world fruit, with a hefty
dose of oak and milk chocolate. The palate is full bodied and laden with
minerality and some pretty fruit flavours that soon are subdued by the onslaught
of tight and astringent tannins. The finish shows some blackberry flavours, the
acids are very low and that tannin is going to need plenty of time to resolve.
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125666 CHÂTEAU ROQUETAILLADE LA GRANGE VIEILLES VIGNES 2005, Graves,
Bordeaux $21.95
A simple wine showing plenty of pleasing fruit, some mineral notes and a touch
of wet earth. It too is tannic now, but those tannins are silky and the wine is
not meant for the long haul. Try after a year or two and it should reward well.
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 76299 CHÂTEAU DE L'ENGARRAN GRÉS DE MONTPELLIER 2006 Côteaux du
Languedoc $18.95
Enticing aromas show plenty of ripe plum, with just the right amount of prune
character, some dried herb and stony mineral. The blackcurrant and black
liquorish flavours meld beautifully on the palate. It’s tannic, but the tannins
are soft and I think it can be drunk and enjoyed now or it will hold for a few
years to come. Best thing is the price; it is good value for the buck.
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724674 COPPI PEUCETICO PRIMITIVO 2001, Puglia $13.95
A simple wine full of sweet black raspberry and white pepper aromas with lots of
chewy dark fruit, tangy acids and floral flavours on the palate. The finish is
sweet, but has enough acidity to please. Good for simple summer barbeques, if
and when summer arrives.
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 119677 CASA VINICOLA CORTESE BAROLO, Piedmont 2004 $31.95
Bargain basement Barolo that is tasty, well balanced and ready to drink is a
rarity at Vintages. This bottle is more fruit forward than traditional Barolo,
but the layer of Mediterranean spice beneath the fruit is quite charming. The
palate is focused on plum and decidedly heavy with the flavour of cardamom.
Tannins hang around a little, but they do not interfere with the fruit or
enjoyment of the wine.
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974394 MARCHESI DE' FRESCOBALDI TENUTA DI CASTIGLIONI 2006, Tuscany
$21.95
Earthy and full of sweet Moroccan spice, black fruit and milk chocolate.
Blackcurrant hits the palate first followed by a layer of spicy and some tannin.
Should be quite tasty in a year or two.
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969469 RENZO MASI CHIANTI RISERVA 2005, Tuscany $15.95
Unlike the Barolo, this Chianti, although designated a Riserva, just doesn’t
quite make the grade. It is has some damson, black cherry and tomato nuances.
The palate is clean, but very light bodied.
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650713 CORTE ZOVO SA' SOLIN RIPASSO 2007, Valpolicella, Veneto $17.95
Smoky, full of tar, pepper and leather until a swirl or two of the glass
releases the layers of black fruit and herb aromas. It is nicely balanced with
just the right degree of sweetness. There is little if any tannin and the finish
does have decent length.
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117242 VILLALTA RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA 2006 Veneto $14.95
Another good Ripasso laden with notes of green tea, black cherry, forest floor
and mushroom. Cherry and blackberry flavours race across the palate and are
balanced by a streak of pure black fruit acidity. I like this a lot!
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 40360 FINCA SOBREÑO CRIANZA 2005, Toro, Spain $18.95
This other “Wine of the Month”, aged in American oak is also very good. It has
that appealing bouquet of cedar, coconut dried fruit and black olives that only
Spanish wines can do. The palate shows a chocolate and spicy component with
plenty of fruit and powdery cocoa on the finish.
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The next release features wines from the Cote Du Rhone most of which were quite
spectacular. There are several Zinfandels in the release as well.
Please stay
tuned.
Cheers
CZ
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