JUSTIN'S WINE PICKS
APRIL 9, 2013
Wines
released for sale in Ontario on Saturday, April 13.
Just
back from sunny, warm, enchanting Mexico, another enlightened country
where you can buy your liquor, wine and beer with the rest of your
groceries. We had a superb holiday and hope to extend it by a couple
of weeks next year. By the way what's wrong with you people? It was
supposed to be spring when we returned! Thanks to all our Mexican
amigos, especially Aunt Marilyn for making it so much fun.
The
LCBO continues it's wine buying despite our absence and this crop has
some good buys. There are mini-releases of New Zealand and Portugese
treats and the Southern Rhone offers some delicious bargains.
Best
White Wine: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2012 N.Z. $29.95 This is as
good as Sauvignon Blanc gets! Stunning citrus fruit with
extraordinary balance. To their credit the winemakers have kept this
price for a real cult wine for years. If you order it in advance you
will probably be limited to 3 per customer or less, it is that
popular.
New
Zealand special wines.
Dog
Point Sauvignon Blanc 2012 $22.95. Delicious, full grapefruit,
lemony apple notes.
Oyster
Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2012 $18.95 and Oyster Bay Merlot 2012 $18.95.
These are simply great wines that are really under-appreciated! Year
after year they provide wonderful taste experiences.
Portugal
Bargains.
Delaforce
Touriga Nacional 2009 $18.95. “A dense, well structured red, with
powerful flavors of iron, dark plum and dried berry that feature
plenty of smoke and spice.
Lua
Nova Em Vinhas Velhas 2010 $14.95. “Dark & concentrated...dense
structure. BARGAIN!
Quinta
De Ventozelo Reserva 2009 $21.95. I buy this Winery every time.
Consistently fine wines that rival great Bordeaux.
Quinta
Do Portal Frontaria 2009 $13.95. Lush and smooth. BEST BUY!
Vinhos
Barbeito 5 Year Old Boal Madiera $15.95. “Nose laced with vanilla,
almonds, spices. Sweet.”
Prince
Edward County Wines.
Hinterland
Whitecap Bubbly 2012 $22.00. It is extra neat to have a sparkling
wine specialist within an hour's drive. They make superb wines in
both the Charmat and Methode Champenoise styles.
Rosehall
Run Cuvee County Chardonnay 2010 $21.95. Winemaker Dan Sullivan just
gets better and better with each vintage. I would love to throw this
into a blind tasting of good burgundies!
Interesting
Whites.
Langlois-Chateau
Brut Cremant De Loire $18.95. Extremely fine, dry bubbly.
Chateau-Carre
La Griffe Bernard Chereau Muscadet Sevre & Maine 2011 $14.95.
Extremely dry, tangy. Seafood's friend!
Dr.
Hermann Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2007 $16.95. Picture a
warm evening with you and your loved one watching the sun set slowly
as you sip this complex but refreshing delight!
Concilio
Conoidi Gewurztraminer 2011 $16.95. N. Italy. I love a wine
described as “White roses, sweet grapefruit and ginger beer on the
nose.”
Domaine
Des Malandes Chablis 2011 $20.95. Dry, palate cleansing, zippy,
taste treat!
Greenlane
Estate Riesling 2011 $15.95. Niagara. “Juicy, sweet and tangy
lime. VERY GOOD!
Best
Red Wine: Domaine De La Tete Vaqueyras Rhone 2010 $25.95.
Concentrated and Intense!
Enticing
Reds.
Le
Cirque Carignan/Mourvedre/ Syrah 2011 Midi $15.95. “Powerful,
unoaked, mouth-saturating.”
Balma
Venitia Terrasse Pavee Seguret Cotes Du Rhone-Villages 2010 $16.95. I
find myself ignoring fleshy Aussie Shiraz' more and more and
replacing them with better balanced Rhone reds.
Domaine
Durieu Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2010 $35.95. Age at least 9 years.
Beaulieu
BV Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa $25.95. Wonderful, classic-cab nose,
beautifully balanced with a gorgeous finish!
Estancia
Pinot Noir 2011 Monterey County $19.95. I have been buying this for
20 years and never been disappointed. A Wow!
Bodega
Septima Septimo Dia Malbec 2011 Argentina $15.95.Rich & deep
flavours.
Brampton
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 S. Africa $15.95. “concentrated and
layered flavour.”
Domaine
Des Marrans Fleurie 2011 $19.95 Wonderful Cru Beaujolais! This one is
for you Henry!
Ferdinando
Principiano Serralunga Barolo 2007 $41.95. This is one of the new
generation of Barolos that don't have to be aged forever. Drink
around 2016/17.
Great
Books To Read: The Watchers by Stephen Alford. Great history of Queen
Elizabeth the First's spies and plotters such as Francis Walsingham,
who did their best to keep her alive.
Layer
Cake by J.J. Connolly is a wickedly fast paced mystery/crime novel
about the drug trade in London. Very Violent! But a great story.
Thanks,
Justin
