Release date May 5, 2001

This release is far better than what was offered in the March and April releases. It has wines for aging and plenty to enjoy now or over the next couple of years.

As far as the wines of the month go, unfortunately I did not have the chance to taste the Henry of Pelham Rose. Too bad as I very much enjoyed the 1999 when it was released.

I tried the Beringer Zinfandel California Zinfandel 1999, red wine of the month, and I was disappointed. Maybe it’s because I love my Zinfandels to jump out and whack me in the face. I just found it unexciting and too clean. Yes it had a nice balance of blackberry fruit and acid but it was lacking substance. The price is right and I don’t expect much from a Zin at $14.95 but this release offers wines with more complexity for less money.

While on the topic of Zinfandel, there are three other Zinfandels in the scheduled release:

964601 OLD VINES ZINFANDEL 1998 $33.95 Sonoma County, Ravenswood
A bit on the pricey side. Very spicy and the alcohol was maybe too obvious on the nose. Lots of concentrated berry and chocolate flavours to keep you interested. Good clean acidity and currently plenty of tannin that remains long after the fruit had faded. It is a young wine and hopefully the fruit will survive. Possibly some barbecued protein might make it more approachable and soften it up.

719211 ZINFANDEL 1998 $27.90‘Ancient Vines’, California, Cline Cellars
My favourite of the Zinfandels. Bordering on the monster with lots of bramble, white pepper and vigor. The spicy fruit finish is long and integrates nicely with an alluring mix balsamic vinegar (not meant as a negative comment) and toasty oak. The chocolate leathery tannins are chewy and delicious

942151 ZINFANDEL 1998 $23.85 Sonoma, Seghesio
A jammier style of Zinfandel with a rich deep vibrant bluish-purple colour. Nice pleasant berry flavours, slight sweet kick to the finish. Nothing too exciting.

503383 CHARDONNAY 1999 $11.95 ‘CEV’, Aged Without Oak Lake Erie North Shore, Colio Estate Wines, Ontario
This wine impressed me so much especially for the price. It does not bowl you over and neither should it. I was surprised at the depth of the yellow colour. It has everything one would expect in Chardonnays price significantly higher. Good concentration of apple and pear flavours, a touch of spice all united by a crisp clean fruit driven finish.

314666 RIESLING RESERVE 1999 $13.95 Niagara Peninsula, Stoney Ridge, Ontario
I liked this wine and Riesling is not some thing I try to seek out. It has lots of body and a lot of interesting flavours. A burst of petrol and lime peel in the nose. Mouth filling flavours of canned tropical fruit with honey and ginger. Good refreshing finish. I honestly do not know if this is what an ardent Riesling fan might look for but it is worth trying.

432948 VIOGNIER 1999 $14.95 St. David’s Bench Niagara Peninsula, Château des Charmes, Ontario
As far as I know Niagara is the only region of Ontario that grows Viognier. The colour is a bold straw to deep yellow. Initially I really noticed a weird, but very pleasant funky terroir aroma on the nose. An earthy potato peel, mineral, lime oil and peach. The fruit was the evident flavour on the palate and the solid crisp finish is dominated by pear and peach. Nice wine but I think it is a wine I would prefer with food!

342436 CHARDONNAY 1999 $19.95 Mendocino County, California, Bonterra (Independently-operated Certified Organic winery of Fetzer)
Most of the people present at this tasting raved about this wine. The varietal characteristics were present but once I hit the dominating candy apple flavours and oak, that is all I could taste.

988261 CHARDONNAY 1998 $32.95 Carneros, California, Cuvaison
Pricey but I am a sucker for Carneros fruit. The apple and honeydew flavours appear immediately and the touch of creamy cappuccino that lingers with the fruit is so delicious. Good stuff.

317131 CHARDONNAY 1999 $24.00 Sonoma, California, St Francis
I have a problem with this wine because I know what I have paid for it in the States. For me this is over the top with apple, cinnamon and oak. It is like paying a lot of money for a slice of apple strudel. It did finish with a nice streak of acid that cut the upfront flavours!

950261 BOURGOGNE 1999 $19.90 Burgundy, Domaine Bruno Clair
This is a wine that I loved. It is not huge but it contains lots of really pleasant fruit. A balance of ultra ripe honeydew melon and tart green apple with a kiss of mineral. Nice wine.

950667 CHABLIS PREMIER CRU 1999 $23.55 Côte de Lechet, Burgundy, Domaine Bernard Defaix
This is what is printed in the Vintages flyer and they have nailed this on the head: Lively aromas of anise, hazelnut, floral tones, apples and minerals. Dry, crisp, balanced with a medium body. Nice wine and a reasonable price.

960153 CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE 1999 $13.85 ‘Belleruche’, M. Chapoutier
Another great QPR wine with lots to offer, especially with food. There were lots of zesty aromas jumping out from the glass, quite viscous with a creamy buttery texture. Nice long finish of cooked pear and pepper.

959031 TOKAJI ASZÚ 1996 $29.95 5 Puttonyos, ‘Red Label’ Hungary
Again people loved this wine but it is not my style. The hint of oxidization in the nose turns me off. By contrast, the palate is medium bodied offering a pleasant blend of ripe apricot and raisin flavours. Acidity level was surprisingly high rendering the wine clean and refreshing.

582312 CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE 1999 $16.95 Barrel Aged, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Konzelmann
Lovely deep ruby colour. Lots of fresh fruit aromas of currants, spicy berries, vanilla, and a hint of lead pencil. Texture is creamy and pleasant but the fruit is shut down and it will need time in the bottle. Good finish that leaves a pleasing note of mint.

726794 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1996 $66.95 "Unfiltered’ Oakville District, Napa, California, Mondavi
Lovely deep garnet colour. Nose gives out lots of black cherry, currant and Herbs de Provence. Very chewy structure and tightly wound. It is tannic and will need lots of cellar time. All I could taste in the finish was the tannin and a kiss of spice!

222877 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1997 $99.95 Napa, California, Caymus Vineyards
Picked up a medicinal aroma initially in the nose but it gave way to spice, dark chocolate, Some sweet berry, oak and dusty cocoa in the glass. It is a medium bodied wine with tasty tannins and dark, ripe fruit flavours with a dose of oak. It starts out showing oak and stays that way.

955617 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1996 $32.70 Canoe Ridge Estate Vineyard (XD) (Prod. & Btld. Château Ste. Michelle)
This stood out from the previous two Napa Cabernets. Possibly because it is more approachable right now and considerably cheaper too. It is full of nice plumy and cherry fruit flavours. Nice spice in the finish. Nice wine

PINOT NOIR 1998 $28.95 Willamette Valley, Oregon, Amity Vineyards
I did not see this wine until I had sampled the Zinfandels, duh! Its colour is light and delicate. Lots of sweet fruit and a touch of lilac on the nose. Nice fruit flavors of cherry, black raspberry and a sweet smooth finish. 

731638 ‘CRICKET PITCH’ 1998 $22.90 New South Wales, Oz, Brokenwood
This is the style of wine that reaches out, grabs your face and says drink me baby! It is pure unadulterated nose candy at its best! It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, and Shiraz. Dark purple, slight smoky, bacon, dark roasted coffee, plums and tons of pure black fruit. It has fabulous structure, great length and finish. One of my favourites of the entire release.

565119 CABERNET/SHIRAZ/MERLOT 1998 $14.95 South Eastern Oz, Thomas Hardy 
Another great QPR wine which I would take this over the Beringer Zinfandel any day. It smelled like roasted turkey to me, which I suspect, comes from the sage and other herbaceous aromas on this multidimensional nose. There is plenty of fruit and eucalyptus to balance it and the finish is chocolate and sweet oak.

575704 SHIRAZ 1998 $25.95 ‘Tintara’, South Oz, Thomas Hardy
If I could only buy one wine from this release, this might just be the one. It is a monster that bites through the enamel of your teeth! It’s smoky, chock full of fruit and splendidly balanced. The acidity is gripping but it integrates with the bold flavours beautifully. Love it!

459206 MERLOT 1999 $29.90 ‘Cuvée Alexandre’, Rapel Valley Casa Lapostolle, Chile
Lovely aromas of black fruit, lead pencil and blackberry combined with lots of earthy terroir. Currently it is really tight but the fruit is there behind the wall of dusty chocolate tannin. Think this will go for a while. Nice wine

987560 BOURGOGNE HAUTE CÔTES-DE-NUITS 1997 
$21.95 Cuvée des Dames de Vergy Domaine Dominique Guyon, Burgundy
Inky with anise. Deep rich ruby red colour to this interesting pinot. A waft of anise, raspberries, beetroot and Burgundian soil that all harmonize nicely.

733337 NUITS-SAINT-GEORGE 1998 $44.95 Domaine du Clos Frantin, Burgundy
I liked this until I saw the price. Take two of the Hautes Cote de Nuit

747998 SYRAH 1998 $15.95 Chevalière Grande Réserve Vin de Pays d’Oc, Domaine la Chevalière
This is a great wine at a good price. It is laden with funky fruit and vegetal flavours. Only problem is the winery uses those oversized *&^%$bottles that will not fit in my cellar and all my extra space is occupied by my Turley collection. Yeh right!

981571 CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE-VILLAGES 1999 $12.80 Unfiltered, Domaine La Montagnette
Lots of creamy coffee and chocolate, very clean with a luscious fruit finish. For under thirteen bucks, a great buy.

703090 CROZES-HERMITAGE 1998 $21.95 Les Meysonniers, M. Chapoutier
This is an investment, an RRSP, something to lay down for retirement. Maybe not that long but it will need time. Although it is so tightly wound right now, there are hints of white pepper, smoke, dry cured ham and concentrated fruit that still manage to peep through. It will be a thrill to taste this in its peak!

711242 ‘CONDE DE NAVASQUES’ 1997 $10.35 Navarra, Bodega del Hdro. del Conde de Navasques
I put this wine last on the list cause I want to make sure there is ample left in the store for me. An exciting fusion of Grenache, Tempranillo, merlot and cabernet that results in a fairly medium to full bodied wine that is spicy, fruit loaded and simply delicious. At this price it is a quaffer but a quaffer with attitude. Best QPR of the release.

Cheers
CZ

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