Release date July 7, 2001

Although July doesn’t tender a host of great wines to be lining up outside your local store at the crack of dawn to secure, there are a few wines worth seeking out. Once again the white wine of the month, 98 Pierre Spar Reserve Riesling, never made its way into my glass as the bottle was drained before I arrived. I was told it was unexciting and a little flabby for a Riesling. Empty bottle, mediocre wine, hmmm makes me wonder if I missed something here! However I did taste the red, Rocca della Macie Chianti Classico, and I liked it. Then again, the Chianti Rufina Riserva 97 from Fattoria Basciano is a buck cheaper and offers so much more complex and concentrated fruit flavours. Unfortunately the L.C.B.O. neglected to send many of the wines scheduled to be released including virtually all of the high-end whites, all of the Zinfandels and the David Brice Petite Syrah, which I was really excited about tasting.

355784 ‘OBSESSION’ SYMPHONY 1999 $ 13.70 California Ironstone Vineyards
Symphony is the name of a grape developed by the white-coated lab types at the University of Davis in California. It is a merge between Grenache Gris and Muscat of Alexandria. It’s slightly sweet composure offers fruity and slightly spicy summer afternoon sipper. There is an enjoyable lick of effervescence to the tongue that keeps it refreshing and interesting.

534248 SAUVIGNON BLANC 1999 $ 18.75 ‘Founders’ Estate’, California, Beringer
Lots of unique flavour elements but none of them reminded me of Sauvignon Blanc. It is light bodied, very soft, lacking acid and falls flat. The short finish leaves a simple taste of simple syrup, melon and spice.

708602 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2000 $ 16.85 Martinborough, Palliser Estate.N.Z
Major hits of tart gooseberry, citric acid and grass aromas tease the nose. Good solid fruit and herbaceous flavours that are a little youthful and need a while to fully harmonize. I found the finish did not comply was not on par with the rest of the wine.

933184 CHABLIS 1999 $ 21.50 Domaine Louis Michel et Fils
Truly enjoyed this wine and I have to confess to not drinking enough Chablis previously to compare it to others. Nonetheless I found it to be a lovely change from the all to "plastic" Chardonnays that I have tried recently. An alluring scent of Barnyard floor, lime peel, lamp oil and ripe pear is evident in the nose. Beautiful balance and good concentration all come together in the long silky long finish.

944579 VIOGNIER 1999 $ 9.95 Vin de Pays d’Oc Jean d’Alibert
I found this to be exactly as the Vintages catalogue quotes " Honeyed peach, mineral, apple and floral notes on the nose. Dry and medium-bodied. Good value summer sipper.

953703 MOSCATO D’ASTI 2000 $ 16.95 ‘Bricco Quaglia’, Az. Agric. La Spinetta – G. Rivetti, Vitic
I loved this wine but then again I am a sucker for the sublime and sensual aromas of the Muscat grape. I adore that extraordinary degree of perfect sweetness, fresh crushed fruit mouth-feel and the clean refreshing effervescent tingle that Piedmonts Moscato’s can exhibit in their youth. Good stuff!

332247 POMINO ‘BENEFIZIO’ 1997 $ 23.85 Marchesi de Frescobaldi
This is the first time I have tried this Tuscan blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Trebbiano. It has a dark straw-yellow colour that has a golden tinge to it. The vanilla on the nose is not flashy or overblown but more like balsa or resin. One of the consultants detected an element similar to that of root beer. Honey, banana, juniper and a buttery crème brulee feel were some of the flavours I could detect. I also noted a slight raisin maderized tone to the wine but as I said, I was a Pomino virgin and have no prior experience with wines of this caliber.

943944 CABERNET FRANC 1999 $ 15.95 Niagara, Peninsula Ridge, Ontario
This wine is pretty but that is about as far as it goes. There is very little character or depth to it other than some spicy pepper and fresh strawberry on both the nose and palate. Pleasant but that’s about it.

969444 MARECHAL FOCH 1999 $ 12.95 Old Vine, Ontario Thomas & Vaughan
I have a history of picking up some weird and funky aromas in wines and the whiff of smoked trout I detected in this Marechal Foch might top the list. I went back to re taste this after I had finished all the wines to reconsider my notation. It was still noticeable. It is a wine on its own, I liked it and most of the folks present had positive things to say as well. Underneath that blast of smoke one finds aa fairly full bodied wine rich with perfumed scents of plum, red currant, coffee and lavender.

411330 PINOT NOIR 1998 $ 16.70 ‘Limited Release’ Okanagan Valley, Quail’s Gate
Fairly straightforward and somewhat lackluster Pinot that captures some nice underbrush tones, simple black cherry, strawberry and blackberry flavours.

727511 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1998 $ 17.95 California, Glass Mountain
A mild mannered wine, low in Cabernet Sauvignon nuances, offing mellow tones of plush red berry fruit with a touch of milk chocolate in its finish

191791 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1998 $ 23.90 California, Estancia
This is a pleasant surprise. It bears heaps of rich ripe cherry and blackcurrant fruit, solid colour and lovely silky finish. Drinking well as it but a year or two will be a benefit to the owner.

967893 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1998 $ 19.95 Monterey County, Jekel Vineyards
This is tannic but also it includes enough power packed fruit beneath the cloak to make it currently enjoyable. Plum and blackcurrants, a touch of bell pepper and sweet chocolate all wind up together in a tightly wound finish.

943142 ‘ANCIENT VINES’ CARIGNANE 1997 $ 22.90 Contra Costa County, Cline
Loved this! Rich ripe and opulent. It is just brimming with black summer fruits, leather, licorice and a core of anise and spice. Very chewy with a long alluring finish

704353 MERLOT 1998 $ 16.80 Sierra Foothills Ironstone Vineyards
Very light, sugar syrup character with minimal fruit flavours and some herbal notes

465559 MERLOT 1998 $ 19.95 Fries’ Family Cellars Desert Wind Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope, Duck Pond
I was surprised at the degree of tannic considering the grape. It is a hard line merlot full of attitude but there is a softer side that show signs of chocolate, black raspberry and blackberry fruit. Overall it’s a rich chewy wine with a pleasing and extended finish. Maybe a little muddled but time should settle that down. One of my favourites of the release.

948893 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1998 $ 22.50, ‘Tintara’, South Australia, Hardy
This has a shiny dark inky colour, nice balance of fruit and good use of wood. This has that big Ozzie ripe nose with lots of blackcurrant, fleshy plum, oak and hints of mint. Lovely finish with combines the fruit with dark chocolate tannins

723668 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1998 $ 23.55 Clare Valley, South Australia, Eldredge
I like this wine but I got the impression I was standing alone with this opinion. It is not overblown but instead offers nice solid flavours of dark fruit, just the right amount of pleasurable sweetness, a kiss of mint and a dab of eucalyptus. The fruit flavours were typical, mostly dark berry and blackcurrant. A luscious silky finish that lingers pleasantly for sometime.

567933 SHIRAZ 1998 $ 15.85 ‘South Eastern’ Australia, Amberton Wines
Didn’t have the chance to taste this but I understand it was a popular pour.

714253 PINOTAGE 1999 $ 16.85 Stellenbosch WO Delheim, South Africa
This is a funky somewhat clumsy wine furnishing massive amounts of leather and tar aromas. I also found some burnt matchstick on the nose but it was not noticeable on the palate. Good raspberry and cherry fruit flavours lurking but more than just a trace of smoky bacon chips, overpowered it for me. Could be worth trying in a year or two to see if it has settled down and harmonized

467951 MALBEC 1998 $ 13.90 ‘Alamos Ridge’, Mendoza, Nicolas Catena
Great Q.P.R wine here showing lots of licorice, coffee and a strong streak of refreshing blackberry fruit. More than just a quaffer, I think this could happily rest for a year or two.

740977 SANTENAY 1999 $ 34.95, Beauregard, 1er Cru, Domaine Roux Père et Fils
Deep ruby colour, touch of pepper, barnyard and saddle leather on the rich and complex nose. The catalogue "it is reminiscent of smoky cherry pits and partridgeberry". Having never sampled either, I couldn’t agree or disagree but it also stated "beetroot tones" and these are certainly evident. It is a keeper and the $35.00 spent now should show handsome dividends after several years of cellaring. I really enjoyed it!

971630 CROZES-HERMITAGE 1999 $ 17.85 ‘La Matinière’Ferraton Père et Fils
This is a creamy ripe Crozes Hermitage with elements of licorice and red candy. Although it is pleasant and reasonably priced, the flood of great wines from the Rhone in previous releases may over shadow it.

748947 DOMAINE DE L’OISELET 1999 $ 14.50 Vacqueyras, Du Peloux
I think this is a better choice, given the price, than the Crozes Hermitage. Its chunky character exhibits a hefty dosage of cooked fruit, rhubarb compote, combined with fresh black fruit and a kiss of mineral. Good length on the spicy finish.

948729 DOMAINE TERRES DE SOLENCE 1999 $ 12.35 Vieilles Vignes, Côtes du Ventoux, Povidis
This organic fruit bomb shows Ribena, blackberry and lots of earthy flavour blended with cinnamon and an intense spicy finish. Really good deal for the price.

721076 DOMAINE CHEMIN NEUF 1997 $ 13.45 Madiran, Pierre Dabadie
Inky black colour reveals a myriad of flavours that focus on fruit. It features a solid core of blueberry, blackberry and After Eight Dinner Mints. There is a lovely outline of dusty Herbes de Provence with a little manure/hay thing going on in the background. It’s herbaceous tone plays second fiddle to the concentration of fruit. Well worth buying to enjoy now but should age well for several years to come.

713354 GATTINARA 1996 $ 27.85, Giancarlo Travaglini
The nose has a slight aroma of burnt wood, tannin and tanned leathery components. The tannin hides the subtle cooked strawberry and raspberry flavours and the finish is dominated by earthy tastes of leather and mineral. Maybe in the fall with some roasted game, yes, this will be a fine match.

741769 CHIANTI CLASSICO 1997 $ 14.85, Rocca delle Macìe
Medium ruby colour. Nice sweet black cherry, redcurrants and anise aromas. Lively mouth feel, clean and enjoyable.

969469 CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA 1997 $ 13.80 ‘Renzo Masi’, Fattoria di Basciano
Save a buck and buy this. It is a much better deal than the wine of the month. Solid black cherry, coffee, mineral and licorice aromas. Chewy rich fruit, spice and chocolate combine with silky tannin. Really good juice!

710988 ‘COLVECCHIO’ 1997 $ 29.95 Syrah, Sant’Antimo, Castello Banfi
Interesting nose rich with berries, sour cherries, leaf tobacco, raspberry and licorice. It is full-bodied and quite delicious. Tannins suggest a little aging time but it’s enjoyable now. Dark chocolate and fruit linger long in the finish.

961342 ‘CONDADO DE EGUREN’ 1998 $ 11.75 Vino de la Tierra Manchuela Bodegas Eguren
Nice clean, easy sipping quaffer. Strawberry, whiff of coconut and baking spice. Nice wine for under $12.00.

Cheers
CZ

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