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It has been a while
since I had the chance to drive to London, taste the new release
and put pen to paper. Having a full time job can be disadvantageous to
ones outside ventures at times. However, summer school is less demanding
and I was able to hit the road and taste some of the wines slotted for
the May and early June releases and here are some of my observations.
 68817 HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2006 Beamsville Bench, Niagara
Peninsula $29.95
Judging from this powerful, but well balanced Chardonnay, 2006 seems to
have favoured Niagara’s white wines more than its reds. The ripeness is
superb allowing the apple and pear flavours to pour through. The oak
needs time to integrate, but it is by no means in excess. It keeps
delivering layer after layer of pure Chardonnay magic. Find this wine
919837 CARRICK PINOT NOIR 2006 Central Otago, South Island $39.95
This Pinot from one of the most southerly growing regions expresses the
complexity of cool climate viticulture. It has good extraction of both
red and dark fruit. It has plenty of spicy nuances with a note of
leather. The palate is fruit driven, but there are some mineral and
earthy notes to add. Good finish, with great acidity and plenty of lip
smacking dark fruit. Find this wine
120790 NEUDORF TOM'S BLOCK PINOT NOIR 2007 Nelson, South Island
$26.95
Strawberry and plum combine nicely with a backdrop of clove and bay
leaf. Cherry and strawberry are focused on the palate, there is a little
spicy note, the finish is balanced, but it falls away too soon.
Find this wine
107870 HEWITSON MISS HARRY 2006 Barossa Valley, South Australia
$19.95
I am hit and miss with many of the Australian wines that hit our shelves
lately, but this one I think might be worth putting a bottle or two
away. It has the right balance between sweet red fruit, dried mint,
blueberry, blackberry and toasty oak. Find this wine |
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104166 BIG ASS CAB CABERNET
SAUVIGNON 2005 Napa Valley $28.95
It is what it is. Fleshy aromas of blackberry, red liquorice and mint
leap from the glass, followed by layers of chocolate and cedar. There is
fourteen degrees of alcohol, but to the wine's credit, it hides well. The
palate is dark berry and blackcurrant with enough acidity to counter the
sweetness. Find this wine
 104703 CLOS LA CHANCE ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Central Coast
$44.95
A beautiful deep ruby garnet coloured wine with concentrated layers ripe
blackcurrant, toasty oak and black cherry. The mouth feel is delicious,
there are some dusty tannins, but they do not distract. It has a core of
mineral, pure black fruit and plenty of ripe acidity. Although perhaps a
little pricey for a Central Coast wine, give it a year or two to let the
tannin integrate and one will enjoy a stellar bottle of wine. Find this wine
 346262 SHAFER VINEYARDS MERLOT 2006 Napa Valley $72.95
The glass boasts an opaque centre with a purple mauve rim. It oozes
creamy sweet black cherry-reminding me of a “Fry’s chocolate cream” bar-
along with plum and black fruit. It is full, but balanced on palate
showing flavours of rhubarb, raspberry and currant. The oak is spot on;
the finish is long and very tasty. Find this wine
107060 PIERRE-LUC BOUCHARD MUSCADET SÈVRE ET MAINE 2007 $16.95
Beneath the fine layer of lime zest/lemon grass and citrus acidity is
dry wine with plenty of apple, lemon and mineral notes. There is a
lovely flinty, almost bitter note on the mid palate. The finish is long
carrying the fruit and adding a touch of fennel frond. Try with an
oyster or two. Find this wine
45682 CHÂTEAU LE CAILLOU Pomerol 1998 $48.95
The aromas are showing lead pencil, black earth and dark fruit. There is
a little note of sweet oak, the fruit has a cooked feel on the palate,
and a touch of dark chocolate appears. The palate drops off to show
acidity on the finish. The tannins are mellow. Find this wine
125286 CHÂTEAU VERDIGNAN Haut-Médoc 1999 $29.95
Upfront this shows nice blackcurrant and underbrush aromas. The fruit
comes through on the palate, yet sadly it soon parts to leave a wine
with acidity and little else.
Find this wine
 110353 VINCENT GIRARDIN LES VERGELESSES SAVIGNY-LES-BEAUNES 1ER
CRU 2006 $44.95
A back to the basics Burgundy showing a purple garnet coloured wine
laden with aromas of creamy black fruit toffee, lavender, tar and a
touch of caramel. The texture on the palate is velvet; the flavours of
raspberry and damson are supported by a gentile note of earthy beet. It
is dense, well balanced and downright tasty now and will only get better
with time. Find this wine
 989061 DOMAINE GRAND VENEUR CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2006 $47.95
A full bodied wine offering a perfumed nose of spice, tar, leather,
olive and pure black fruit. The palate is ripe, rich and full of fruit.
There are lots of tannins, but they will be softened in time. Find this wine
983965 ENZO MECELLA I LAVI ROSSO CÒNERO Marche 2005 $17.95
There are plenty of sweet floral aromas along with damson, blueberry,
lavender, hay and forest floor. Although a little clumsy on the palate
right now, this blend of 85% Montepulciano and 15% Sangiovese has good
concentration and plenty of dusty tannins to allow it time to settle
down. Good bang for the buck. Find this wine
101188 ANTICHI VIGNETI DI CANTALUPO GHEMME, Piedmont 2004 $39.95
A trifle gamey at first with a smoked meat note that eventually allows
the red currant, dried black mushroom, thyme and aniseed aromas to come
forth. There is a stewed fruit note on the palate along with dark
chocolate that renders the wine dusty and dry, yet a sweet note of
treacle appears on the finish. It is interesting to drink now, but the
tannins are in control. Time is of essence. Find this wine
10330 SPADINA UNA ROSA SIGNATURE NERO D'AVOLA Sicilia 2003 $19.95
Full of sweet fruit and toasty notes supported by a little note of tree
bark, leaf and lavender. The fruit on the palate is plumy and there is
an herbaceous edge. Its finish carries black cherry, black berry and
chocolate. Find this wine
 23523 MONTE ZOVO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE RIPASSO 2006 $19.95
This is closed down and hard to decipherer. After a few spins it shows
notes of barnyard and black liquorice. There is a pleasing sweetness on
the palate, brought out by the dark ripe fruit. The finish has a mineral
and metallic note. Find this wine
106633 PLANTAŽE PERLA NERA 2005 Lake Skadar Valley, Montenegro $11.95
Interesting aromas of burnt match and bacon give way to gentle aromas of
red fruit. The palate is light and the finish quickly fades. Find this wine
 972976 PLANTAŽE PRO CORDE RESERVE VRANAC 2006 Lake Skadar Valley,
Montenegro $15.95
Vranac is a grape highly prized in Montenegro and it is rumoured to be a
cousin to Primitivo. There are pleasing dark fruit aromas, some wet
earthy notes, a touch of clove and wet tobacco. The palate shows the
dark fruit, but there is a note of greenness similar to parsley stem.
There is a hit of bitter chocolate on the finish. Find this wine
107177 CASA SANTOS LIMA SOUSÃO 2006 Portugal $21.95
A deep darkly coloured wine loaded with floral, balsa, mineral, wet moss
and tons of dark fruit aromas. The palate shows a delightful meld of
black cherry, blueberry and plum. Its finish is surprisingly long
featuring all the aforementioned fruit combined with a trace of iron and
mineral. Find this wine
 958868 BARÓN DE LEY RESERVA 2004 Rioja, Spain $21.95
If I was to only buy one wine, this would be the candidate. The whiffs
of black fruit, cedar and bacon are seductive. There is even a faint
note of compost/underbrush that rounds out the multidimensional nose.
The palate is full and well balanced while the finish has great length
along with a soft milk chocolate note. Enjoyable now, but it will only
get better with time. Find this wine
Cheers
CZ
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