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129700 WILDASS RIESLING 2007 Niagara Peninsula $17.95
Unusually plump for Riesling, delivering nice mineral notes, plenty of green
apple, nectarine and white peach. Surprising enough, beneath the fruit, there is
already a layer of petrol and perfume aromas that usually only begin to show
after a several years in the bottle. It is a full bodied wine, ripe and lower in
acid that one generally expects. Enjoy now or wait a year or two, but this is
not meant for long term cellaring.
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068817 HIDDEN BENCH ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2007 Beamsville Bench, Niagara
Peninsula $35.20
Hidden bench’s 2007 Chardonnay is as far from being a cool climate wine as I
have tasted. Pure intensity, a big bold and smoky wine loaded with perfumed
sweet oak, nutmeg, lime leaf, dried banana chips and a faint tinge of tobacco.
The palate is viscous; it carries the fruit flavours of baked pear tart, super
ripe Canary melon and tropical fruit through to the finish. It has wonderful
acidity, that discernable Beamsville Bench mineral element and a healthy dose of
oak that is already integrating nicely. If one opens this now, it needs foods of
a rich and bold nature like Chicken in a mustard cream sauce or char grilled sea
bass laden with Beurre Blanc. Other than making the hair on the back of a French
sommelier’s neck stand up, I see nothing wrong with serving this with a buttery
well marbled medium rare rib eye.
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130195 13th STREET WINERY GAMAY NOIR 2007 Niagara Peninsula $18.00
A nose of vanilla, anise, plum, raspberry and lively red currant. Red fruit
shines across the palate, in the form of rhubarb and cranberry flavours that
lead to a fruit driven, and refreshingly acidulated finish.
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001560 FLAT ROCK CELLARS GRAVITY PINOT NOIR 2007 Twenty Mile Bench,
Niagara Peninsula $29.95
A gutsy wine laced with floral notes, cherry, blueberry and lavender. Tannins
are tight on the palate; there is a slate/mineral note that combined with the
tannin, tones down the fruit. However, a second taste after two hours, the plum
and raspberry flavours come forth to show the potential this wine carries to be
very good once mature.
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058354 FROGPOND FARM ORGANIC CABERNET/MERLOT 2007 Niagara-on-the-Lake $15.95 (500 ml)
Initial aromas of dill and dried herb subside to show blackcurrant, black
raspberry, nutmeg and cola. It carries lots of blackcurrant on the palate, a
slight sweetness and a soda pop tingle. There is a mineral note on the finish
with a touch of dusty chocolate.
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591404 LAILEY PINOT NOIR 2007 Niagara River $24.95
Winemaker Derek Barnett has produced a Pinot from the “Niagara River” VQA
berries that is creamy, full of black berry fruit ripple, rose petal, rhubarb,
cedar and thyme. The palate is “gravelly;” it has a wonderful layer of sweet
strawberry, plenty of spice, hints of vanilla and dusty tannin. Tasty now, but
it will age well for the enduring collector.
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 143545 LE CLOS JORDANNE TALON RIDGE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2007 Niagara
Peninsula, Vinemount Ridge $37.00
The first of Clos Jordan’s Pinot to hit the shelf, Talon Ridge is the youngest
and largest of the estates four single vineyards. These young vines have
produced a wine that is bursting with fully ripened fruit, enhanced with subtle
oak and a back drop of thyme, lavender and Asian spice. The palate has pleasing
black cherry and blackberry flavours, some punchy tannin and a fruit driven
creamy/chewy finish.
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 129809 SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE SYRAH 2007 Niagara Peninsula $24.95
Lots of spicy peppery notes with a touch of coconut, dark berry and an aroma of
burnt match stick. Its palate delivers cherry and blackberry tailored with
lively black fruit acidity, a note of iron and plenty of tannin on the finish.
It is a little clumsy at this stage, but it should tone down and settle after
some time in the bottle.
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000588 STONEY RIDGE FOUNDER’S SIGNATURE COLLECTION PINOT NOIR 2007 $14.95
A nose of mocha, pepper, black raspberry and a soapy floral note; the palate has
red berry, a touch of caramel and an odd musty note.
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 053389 THIRTY BENCH RED 2007 Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula $24.20
Sweet red fruit coulis, black cherry and mint dominate the nose at first, until
after a few more swirls, funky earthy/Portobello mushrooms aromas appear and
combine with sage and lavender. The palate of this Estate blend of 55% Cabernet
Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot leads in with plenty of fleshy red
fruit, cake spice, subtle oak and nice black fruit acid.
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 130252 TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA MERLOT/CABERNET 2007 Niagara Peninsula
$19.95
Tawse’s track record so far is almost seamless. I recently tasted a Tawse Pinot
Noir from 2004, a moderate vintage at best, that was showing beautifully. It had
lovely red mature fruit, outstanding balance, a touch of vanilla and a creamy
finish. Their 2007’s are going to be superb judging from tasting this wine from
the Sketches serious, their second label wines. This Cab Merlot is full of ripe
black fruit, a cedar note with mineral and coal dust. The palate is ripe,
balanced and full of plum and back fruit. It may get better with time, although
it is tasty now and at under twenty bucks, it is a good price.
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Wines of California
925727 BELLE GLOS WEIR VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2006 Yorkville Highlands,
Mendocino County $49.95
I tasted this wine at the same time as the Belle Glos Pinot from Santa Barbara
country, due for release at the end of the month. This is the more sophisticated
of the two. It has a nose of lovely dark and red fruit, a touch of mocha,
leather, milk chocolate and mushroom. Layers of blueberry and chocolate drift
across the palate, it is well balanced, powerful, yet at the same time elegant.
I was surprised when I found out the asking price; not cheap for sure, but one
tasty wine.
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135327 STONEHEDGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 California $14.95
This “easy-drinking” Cabernet is simply not that easy drinking. The nose shows
little fruit, but has lots of earthy clay aromas. The palate is sweet, spritzy
and yeasty.
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Argentina
068999 FINCA FLICHMAN GESTOS MALBEC 2007 Mendoza $15.95
Earthy, coal dust, smoke, tar, plum, damson and pepper combine to stimulate lots
of interest. The palate is full of creamy dark fruit, great acidity, a touch of
dark chocolate and just a wisp of star anise.
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066837 FINCA SOPHENIA RESERVE MALBEC 2008 Tupungato, Mendoza $17.95
A well balanced wine that features both aromas and flavours of blueberry, red
licorice, fig and cherry; simple, but very tasty.
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One wine from Chile
134973 VERAMONTE RESERVA PINOT NOIR 2008 Casablanca Valley $15.95
A disappointing wine, given the praiseworthy accolade from Mr. P’s side man, Jay
Miller. I find it lackluster; yes the nose has pretty notes of dark chocolate
and sweet spice, but the palate has red cherry, some cola and little else.
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A couple from down under
 127548 KANGARILLA ROAD SHIRAZ VIOGNIER 2006 McLaren Vale, South
Australia $27.95
A blend of Shiraz –Viognier (8%), Kangarilla Road is a stunning bottle of wine.
Right from the nose of pure hedonistic dark fruit bolstered with notes of
leather, milk chocolate, mocha and Moroccan spice through to the powerful palate
and its velvety mouth feel. Acids are low, but do manage to keep the wine
steady. It finishes with pure black fruit and a note of sage and lavender.
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077883 TWO HANDS LUCKY COUNTRY SHIRAZ 2007 Barossa Valley, South
Australia $18.95
Another good wine for less than $20.00, this has a cedar note with cake spice,
hay, blackberry and blackcurrant. It has sweetness on the palate, acids are at
the right level and the finish is decent.
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Some wines from France
 501866 CHÂTEAU CLOS DE SARPE 2005 St-Émilion Grand Cru $155.00
This is a monster. It has so much going on now, starting with gorgeous layers of
blackcurrant, black cherry, Dutch licorice, lavender and leather. Black
raspberry and the licorice are prominent on the palate and meld with milk
chocolate and powdery tannin. There is a streak of blackcurrant purity in the
finish. A great wine that that needs years in the cellar.
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 501965 CHÂTEAU BARDE-HAUT 2005 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru $69.00
A bouquet of licorice, nutshell, plum, blackberry and earthy terrior. Fruit is
dominating the palate. Blueberry and black cherry are both noteworthy and
chocolate rounds the finish nicely. It clearly needs time, but a few hours in
the decanter and it could be enjoyed tonight.
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 500959 CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR DE BOÜARD 2005 Lalande-de-Pomerol
$60.00
A quintessential Bordeaux nose, full of moss, mud, dried herb, lead pencil
followed by blackberry fruit and toffee. Plum and damson govern the palate,
while tannins linger very close behind. A big and fleshy wine that is best left
to tame for several years.
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125690 CHÂTEAU RAUZAN DESPAGNE RÉSERVE 2006 Bordeaux
$18.95
Simple Bordeaux showing red cherry and plum without giving much from the soil it
was produce in. The palate is fruity, has a good core of blackcurrant and a
touch of chocolate on the close.
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 128660 DOMAINE LAFOND ROC-EPINE LIRAC Rhone Valley 2007 $19.95
There is a little hint of blueberry on the nose, but the underbrush, sage,
seaweed and cedar tower above. The fruit presence on the palate is powerful,
showcasing the blueberry and adding some fleshy plum and cherry flavours. Again
the finish carries the mineral and earthy elements with a touch of lead pencil
too. An interesting wine well worth trying.
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Italian wines
119420 PERTINACE MARCARINI BARBARESCO 2005 Piedmont $42.95
The nose shows rose petal, red aniseed ball, red currant and a touch of caramel.
Light red fruit on the palate, a touch of spice, integrated tannin with a touch
of heat on the finish.
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125070 CANALICCHIO DI SOPRA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, Tuscany 2003 $57.95
Red currant and red cherry blend harmoniously with Moroccan spice and a hint of
caramel. Its palate focuses on cherry and ripe red fruit combined with dusty
tannin and a touch of mocha.
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685107 TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO SELEZIONE ANTONIO CASTAGNEDI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA, Veneto 2004
$44.95
A light ruby robed wine with aromas of Ribena, prune, arugula and pepper. The
palate seems very disjointed at this stage; it carries heat, dried fruit and a
peppery note on the finish.
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Spanish wines
 673483 MIGUEL TORRES MAS BORRÀS PINOT NOIR 2007 Penedès
$29.95
A solid, well constructed wine, although not a typical Pinot, at least for me,
that has a nose of sandalwood, plum and raspberry, and a full blown polished palate
of plum and raspberry. Oak is full, but not over zealously so, acidity is
focused and the tannins are silky.
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 076588 MONTGÓ 2004 Yecla $14.95
Ignore the initial earthy sewer aromas, spin the glass and enjoy the aromas of
dark fruit, blackcurrant and plum that quickly evolve. The palate has a sweet
red cherry nuance along with blueberry and dried herb. It is wonderfully
balanced, silky smooth, rich and exciting to drink and look at the price.
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Portugal is the second featured region of the release, but only a couple of
their wines were shipped.
579862 SYMINGTON FAMILY ESTATES ALTANO 2007 Douro $11.95
Blueberry, coal dust and floral aromas on the nose lead to a chewy palate full
of red fruit, earthy and dried herb flavours. Price is right for a fall
barbequing quaffer.
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050930 QUINTA DAS SETENCOSTAS 2007 Alenquer $12.95
Another bargain basement wine that is ripe, carries plenty of sweet spice,
damson jam and blackberry jello aromas. The palate has a medium body and the
finish is a good, albeit a trifle sweet.
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Cheers
CZ
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