Dessert Wine
Trentham Estate La Famiglia Moscato 2006, New South Wales, Australia: Vintages Wine Panel: This Moscato is light and aromatic with lifted fruit characters and balanced sweetness. My note: A sweet, light wine with pleasing aromas of orange blossom. Trentham Estate La Famiglia Moscato food pairings: roast pork, fruit based desserts. 43968 6.5% MS 750 mL $15.95 Score: 87/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Red Wine
Willow Heights Tresette Meritage Reserve 2005, V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel:The term meritage refers to the use of Bordeaux varietals. Willow Heights' Tresette is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (66%) with Cabernet Franc (24%) and Merlot (10%). It has classic aromas of dark fruits, with accents of licorice and cedar. The palate is round with soft tannins and a long silky finish. My note: Fantastically rich red with aromatic notes of chocolate and black plums. Oh yes! Willow Heights Tresette Meritage Reserve food pairings: cheese. 49973 12.5% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Clos Du Val Oak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Estate Btld., Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, United States: Gorgeous, balanced and rich, full-bodied wine. Gives aromas of plums and cassis. Drink: 2007 - 2012 720961 14% XD 750 mL $126.00 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Los Vascos Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Colchagua Valley, Chile: Wow! Old World elegance with New World fruit. It is a full-bodied wine with aromas of chocolate and cassis. 32078 14% XD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Viña Tabali Carménère Reserva 2005, Limari Valley, Chile: Vintages Wine Panel: A Silver Medal winner at the 2007 Wines of Chile International Wine Challenge. Here's a little gem from a lesser-known Chilean producer. This elegant Carménère offers a palate that is smooth and rich. My note: This is a great value wine! Gives the consumer luscious aromas of dark plums. Decant for 2 hours. Viña Tabali Carménère Reserva food pairings: roast rack of lamb, duck breast. 569681 14% D 750 mL $19.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Sileni Estates Sileni Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2006, Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand: A pinot with vibrant cherry aromas and refreshing acidity. Sealed with a screwcap. Sileni Cellar Selection Pinot Noir food pairings: game. 694901 12.5% D 750 mL $16.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Château La Croix St-Georges 2000, Ac St-Georges St-Émilion, France: Vintages Wine Panel: St-Georges St-Émilion is a satellite appellation of the prestigious St-Émilion. In great vintages, such as 2000, they offer excellent value for money. This Bordeaux will now be showing some maturing so you can expect developed aromas of wet earth and dried leaves. Bottled without filtration, this wine will throw some sediment. Stand it upright for an hour or two before serving, then decant it, if you do not like sediment in your glass. My note: A rustic and tannic wine that still has Old World depth, length and balance. 45187 12.5% XD 750 mL $26.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Bernard Magrez Château Les Grands Chênes Rouge 2004, Bordeaux, France: A full-bodied and tight Bordeaux with rich aromas of chocolate and cassis. Decant for 1-2 hours. Château Les Grands Chênes Rouge food pairings: steak, stew. Drink: 2007 - 2012 43836 14.5% XD 750 mL $36.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
P. Haverlan Tentation Du Château Le Bourdillot 2003, Ac Graves, France: Vintages Wine Panel: Tentation translates as 'temptation'. In order to retain the bright fruit flavors, the Château does not wood age this wine. My note: A rich, full-bodied wine unburdened by oak. Tentation Du Château Le Bourdillot food pairings: grilled steaks. 43661 13% D 750 mL $21.95 Score: 88/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Abbotts Turrilite 2005, Ac Minervois, France: Vintages Wine Panel: A blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache, the majority of the wines are matured in stainless steel, while a small portion is aged in seasoned barriques. As a result, the wine is quite fruit-forward with soft tannins. Raspberry and plum aromas and flavors dominate this pretty wine. My note: A simple, one-note wine that's great for quaffing. Full-bodied. Abbotts Turrilite food pairings: grilled gourmet sausages, lamb chops. 43042 13% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 86/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Domaine Pradelle Crozes-Hermitage 2004, Ac, France: Vintages Wine Panel: A small domaine (20 ha) now run by the brothers Jacques and Jean-Louis Pradelle, they produce only 8,500 cases a year of beautifully crafted, deeply colored, rich Syrahs. To add layers of flavor, they mature the wines for nine months in a combination of new and seasoned French barriques. The wine is cherry, plum, leather and smoke-scented with a soft, well-balanced finish. My note: Full-bodied with lively aromas of cherries and plums. Domaine Pradelle Crozes-Hermitage food pairings: grilled steaks. 674192 13% XD 750 mL $21.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Fumanelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore Squarano 2000, Doc, Italy: Big Bordeaux-Style wine. It has austere tannins and oak with notes of cassis and blackcurrant. Decant for 1-2 hours. Fumanelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore Squarano food pairings: braised oxtail risotto, truffles. Drink: 2007 - 2015 28944 13% D 750 mL $26.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Farina Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2003, Doc, Italy: Vintages Wine Panel: A ripe, jammy, forcefully flavorful amarone with aromas of raspberry, cocoa, plum and blackberry. Dry, plump and generous. My note: Full-bodied with aromas of cherry liqueur. Farina Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico food pairings: lamb with wine sauce. 995910 14.5% XD 750 mL $38.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Sogrape Sogrape Callabriga Tinto 2003, Doc Douro, Portugal: Vintages Wine Panel: Sogrape's Callabriga is produced from mostly Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) with Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional in a supporting role. The wine is designed to demonstrate New World winemaking styles using the grapes and vineyards that reflect the best of Portugal. My note: A lovely, mind-awakening red with aromas of ripe plums and black-currant. Full-bodied. Sogrape Callabriga Tinto food pairings: grilled backribs. 682591 13.5% XD 750 mL $18.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Bodegas Castano Bodegas Castaño Hecula 2004, Do Yecla, Spain: A full-bodied offering with aromas of black plums. 718999 14% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Real Sitio de Ventosilla Prado Rey Roble 2005, Do Ribera Del Duero, Spain: Vintages Wine Panel: This great valued Ribera del Duero has plenty of ripe black fruit flavours with hints of black pepper and vanilla. It is medium- to full-bodied with soft tannins and a long, even finish. A great all-purpose wine that would be equally at home at dinner parties with good friends or romantic meals with loved ones. My note: A delicious, simple wine with bright plum notes. If you like merlot, you'll love this one. Full-bodied. 674465 13.5% XD 750 mL $16.95 Score: 88/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Rosés
Ridgepoint Wines Pinot Noir Rosé 2006, V.Q.A. Niagara Escarpment, Canada: Vintages Wine Panel: Special care was taken with this rosé to capture the character of Pinot Noir. The grapes were hand harvested and the juice was inoculated with a special yeast designed to bring out the red fruit flavors of the variety. Loads of red cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors are backed up by a refreshing vein of acidity. My note: This rosé reminds me of Tavel. Aromas of baskets of cherries and field flowers. Ridgepoint Wines Pinot Noir Rosé food pairings: grilled pork chops with herbs. 50021 12% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
White Wine
Macrostie Chardonnay 2005, Carneros, United States: A round, buttery and rich flavored chardonnay. Also offered in 375mL for $16.95 product # 674937 663054 14% D 750 mL $27.95 Score: 90/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Anakena Single Vineyard Viognier 2006, Rapel Valley, Chile: Vintages Wine Panel: This crisp, well-balanced Viognier has intense citrus and apricot aromas with subtle hints of tropical fruit. My note: Gorgeous Viognier! A vibrant wine with mouthfilling flavors of guava and citrus. Anakena Single Vineyard Viognier food pairings: seared duck breast, Asian dishes. 45138 13.5% D 750 mL $15.95 Score: 89/100. September 2007. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Gunn Estate Unoaked Chardonnay 2006, Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand: Vintages Wine Panel: A long, warm and dry summer has blessed this Chardonnay with wonderfully ripe fruit, great intensity and structure. Fresh and well-balanced, this white delivers succulent peach and citrus blossom aromas and flavors with hints of dried pineapple. My note: I'm not usually a fan of unoaked chardonnay since it's often like Coke without the caffeine, but this one is great. It displays lovely aromas of green apples and citrus. Gunn Estate Unoaked Chardonnay food pairings: Thai dishes. 694885 13% D 750 mL $17.95 Score: 88/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Maculan Pinot Grigio 2006, Doc Breganze, Italy: One of the most consistently good producers of pinot grigio. Refreshing acidity and aromas of green apples. Maculan Pinot Grigio food pairings: seafood pasta, salad, vegetarian dishes. 734921 13% XD 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. September 2007. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart