JUSTIN'S WINE PICKS,
APRIL 23, 2013
Wines
go on sale in Ontario on Saturday, April 27.
A
good friend recently asked me why I wasn't reviewing any wines that
she could afford? Afford, to most of us, usually revolves around the
$10.00 mark. Occasionally we will splurge to about 15 bucks.
The
short answer regarding the Vintage Releases ( translation: wines in
limited supply) that are my regular subject is wines at that price
point are pretty well extinct. You can still find some on the general
stock shelves, although they are getting sparser. Be thankful that
your taste doesn't run to fine Bordeaux or Burgundy! Ch. Latour was
$770.00 per bottle last time I checked. Burgundy's Romanee Conti will
set you back a cool $1500.00, good vintage or bad!
Blame
our monopoly supply chain with mandated base prices or inflation or
all those rich Chinese and Japanese who are in the market.
In
the next couple of weeks I will send out a top ten of both reds and
whites in the best price range I can find at the LCBO, with a few
McHenry house wines thrown in. I hope that will help.
In
the meantime here are the newest taste treats!
There
are two groups of wines from New Zealand and Alsace, two areas that
are in the fight for the World's best white wines nomination. (
Ontario and BC would be in the same battle ).
New
Zealand:
Eradus
Sauvignon Blanc 2011 $17.00. “excellent freshness and intensity.”
Mud
House The Woolshed Sauvignon Blanc 2010 $20.95. “grapefruit, green
apple, passion fruit.”
Waimea
Sauvignon Blanc 2011 $17.95. “strong, melon, lime & slight
spice flavours.”
Alsace:
Cave
De Turckheim Riesling 2009 $19.95. Classic varietal character!
Domaine
Saint-Remy Reserve Gewurztraminer 2011 $18.95 “apricot, lychee,
peach, ginger.”
J.
Geiler Medaille Pinot Gris 2011 $18.95. Try this with shrimp.
5
Star Quality Whites.
Prevedello
Asolo Superiore Extra Dry Prosecco 2011 Italy $17.95. Seriously fine
bubbly!
Featherstone
Gewurztraminer 2012 Niagara $19.95. “ Juicy and appealing.”
Jean-Marc
Brocard Mont De Milieu Chablis 1er Cru 2010 $27.95. Beautifully dry!
Clos
De Nouys Demi-Sec Vouvray 2011 $19.95. Try with a Stilton cheese.
Great
Value Whites:
Loan
Wines Unwooded Special Reserve Semillon 2004 $15.95. Well aged for
you!
Wakefield
Chardonnay 2011 $14.95. Refreshing, full flavour, pear on the nose.
Lammershoek
Roulette Blanc 2010 South Africa $21.95. Stunning Blend!
Durnberg
Gruner Veltliner 2011 Austria $15.95. Memories of Danube cruising.
Domaine
De La Grenaudiere Muscadet Sevre & Maine 2011 $14.95. Shellfish
match!
Domaine
Des Aspes Viognier 2011 $15.95. Great Winery!
5
Star Quality Reds:
Quails's
Gate Merlot 2010 B.C. $26.95. Classic Merlot that has to age for 6
years at least.
Susana
Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Argentina $19.95. “Bold &
Luscious flavours.”
Ch.
Haut-Plaisance 2010 Bordeaux $17.00. Very good wine that needs about
3 years ageing.
Domaine
La Florane Cotes Du Rhone Villages Visan 2010 $18.95. BEST BUY!!!
Il
Marroneto Brunello Di Montalcino 2007 $46.95. Spectacular would
describe it! Alas I am too old to buy it for personal consumption.
Put it down for at least 10 years.
Great
Value Reds:
Southbrook
Triomphe Cabernet Franc 2011 Niagara $21.95. Lovely wine, completely
organic.
Familia
Zuccardi Organica Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Argentina $13.95. “juicy,
ripe, smooth.”
Stalking
Horse Shiraz 2010 Australia $18.95. “blackberry, vanilla, earth,
spice.”
Vicchiomaggio
San Jacopo Chianti Classico 2011 $19.95. A taste delight.
Great
Books to Read!
Curse
of The Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill. Another in the Dr. Suri series
starring Laos' only coroner, a veteran of the Pathet Lao. Great
Characters & stories.
How
To Mellify A Corpse by Vicki Leon. Human Stories of Ancient Science
and Superstition.
This
is a ton of fun info!
Thanks,
Justin
