Wines
Released for sale in Ontario on Saturday, July 19.
It
appears that the LCBO will be running out of Riesling this weekend,
as the German supporters celebrate their World Cup Victory!
Not
to worry however, as our beloved monopoly seems to be stocking up the
shelves for the summer.
The
Release Magazine is titled BEST BARBECUE WINES.
Normally
when I see wines advertised as perfect barbecue matches I run away
FAST! It usually means that the super-strong flavours of burnt meat
and over-cooked veg will hide the glaring defects in the wine.
This
time the title really is a misnomer! There are a lot of superb wines
on offer.
Standout
Cabernet Sauvignons and several great buys from Spain lead the way.
Therefore
use that cooking timer so as not to incinerate the food and enjoy it
( especially beef ) with these fine wines.
My
pick for BEST WHITE: Cave Spring CSV Riesling 2011 $29.95. This is
what Niagara Wines are all about! Outstanding fruit and varietal
character from start to LONG Finish.
Superb
White Wines.
Niro
Pecorino 2012 Abruzzo $15.95. Apple, pear, melon and peach.
Lemonde
Pinot Bianco 2012 Friuli 2012 $17.95 Enticing, mineral notes,
refreshing!
Louis
Bouillot Perle D'Ivoire Cremant De Bourgogne $19.95. Exhilarating
bubbly!
Gray
Monk Pinot Blanc 2012 B.C. $20.95. A great Vintner!!
Nadine
Ferrand Lis-Marie Pouilly-Fuisse 2011 Burgundy $29.95. Amazing
Bouquet!
Cave
De Saumer Muscadet Sevre & Maine Sur Lie 2012 $16.95. Quite rich
for the grape.
Code
Inspiration Viognier 2013 Pays d'Oc $14.95. Just needs a simple piece
of fish.
Rabl
Lengenlois Gruner Veltliner 2012 $16.95. BARGAIN!!!
Bird
Sauvignon Blanc 2013 N.Z. $18.95. Kinky, off the wall vino!
Zuccardi
Serie A Chardonnay/Viognier 2012 Argentina $14.95. Rich, citrus
character.
Dr.
Pauly-Bergweiler Riesling 2012 Mosel $13.95. “White peach, melon
and spice.”
Fattoria
Il Palagio Vernaccia Di San Gimignano 2012 $13.95. Zesty, refreshing
acidity.
Best
Red Available: Valpantena Torre Del Falasco Amarone 2010 $44.95. # 76
on Wine Spectator's Top 100 for 2012. Cherry, spice, and deep
flavours. A wow!
The
Spain/Portugal offerings deserve a space of their own. You NEED to
buy the following wines!
Conceito
Contraste 2011 Portugal $16.95. “Graceful and charming, crisp &
flavourful, perfectly balanced. “
Herdade
Do Sobroso 2012 Portugal $14.95. “Loaded with earthy, dark fruit
tones.”
Abad
Dom Bueno Crianza 2006 Spain $14.95. Wonderful price for a very good
wine!
Vina
Real Plata Crianza 2009 Rioja $18.95. “Exceptionally ripe!”
Montebuena
Cuvee KPF 2012 Rioja $14.95. BARGAIN!!
Tamaral
Roble Tempranillo 2011 Ribera del Douro $16.95 “Intriguing
character.”
Several
outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons also deserve a special mention.
Black
Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Napa. $29.95. “Dry, full-bodied
and rich”
Hahn
Cab/Sauv 2012 California $18.95. Superb with a leg of lamb!
Ridge
Monte Bello Cab/Sauv California $159.95. A cult wine but I have had
varying experiences with it in the past. Altogether too much money!
Two
Hands Sexy Beast Cab/Sauv McLaren Vale $25.95. Deep raspberry and
black cherry fruit!
Ch
Chasse-Spleen Bordeaux 2010 $49.85. Cab/Sauv/Merlot blend.”Fleshy,
Succulent.”
Super
Reds
Brazin
Old Wine Zinfandel California 2011 $19.95 “Nose is redolent of
raspberry jam!”
Macmurray
Ranch Pinot Noir 2011 $24.95. Yes it is approved by My Three Sons. I
buy it every year.
Rancho
Zabacco Heritage Wines Zinfandel 2012 $19.95. “A sensational
bargain!”
Vina
Cobos Felino Malbec 2012 Argentina $19.95. An amazing Malbec!
Vina
Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere 2011 Chile $17.95. “Very good
concentration.”
Ch.
Saint-Roche Chimeres 2011 Midi $18.95 “Marjoran, fennel &
Sage.”
Domaine
Barville Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2010 $44.95. “Fleshy, full and
classic.”
Les
Trois Oratoires Cotes Du Rhone 2012 $15.95. “Big bang for the
buck!”
Talamonti
Tre Saggi Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2011 $15.95. Super-Smooth!!!
Great
Books To Read!
The
Best American Travel Writing 2013 edited by Elizabeth Gilbert. Highly
interesting travel tales!
Fear
Itself by Andrew Rosenheim. A neat thriller set in the USA in the
late thirties. Well drawn characters and Nasty Nazis.
Thanks,
Justin
PS The next "Wine Picks" will be posted on or before July 30, 2014