Natalie MacLean - delicious wine picks and pairings
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jayne oct 27 2016

Bill Wright Sommelier

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Pascual Toso Reserve Malbec 2012, Barrancas Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina: Lovely freshness on the nose of this full-bodied Argentine red wine made from the country's flagship red grape, Malbec. This wine offers generous aromas of wild blackberry, toasty oak and cedar forest. Full-bodied and smooth. Decant 2 hours. Pair with grilled pork chops. Drink: 2012-2017. 183897 14% D 750 mL  $20.95 Score: 90/100. August 8, 2015 Remarkable Roast Chicken Wine Full Review
Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2014, Geographe, Western Australia, Australia: Lemon zest and smoke -- so seductive. Amazing price. Zesty with mouth-watering juiciness for seafood and smoked fish. Oh yeah. Drink: 2014-2017. 418368 12.30% XD 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 93/100. August 22, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Tawse Winery Inc. Limestone Ridge Riesling Sparkling Wine 2014, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Bright and zesty with lime-alive aromas and toasty bread. Great value and quality for the price of this Ontario sparkling wine. Finishes with a lick lemon zest. This Niagara bubbly is made from Riesling from the winery's Limestone Ridge Estate Vineyard. This is a great gift wine or pair it with shellfish. Drink: 2014-2018. 370361 12% D 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 91/100. June 11, 2016 Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Featherstone Winery Black Sheep Riesling 2014, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Featherstone's Black Sheep Riesling stands shoulder to shoulder (ear to ear) with the best of Niagara Rieslings. This is one of my favourite Niagara Rieslings: delightful every vintage. The 2014 vintage is no exceptional with lovely bright notes of lime blossom, lemon zest and flint. Pair with fresh seafood and vegetarian dishes. This Ontario white wine offers great refreshment in the glass. Featherstone's Black Sheep Riesling stands shoulder to shoulder (ear to ear) with the best of Niagara Rieslings. Mouth-watering juiciness with vibrant notes of tropical tree fruit. Off-dry and ready from a range of dishes from glazed ham to chutney. Drink: 2014-2019. 80234 10% M 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 92/100. January 11, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Plush Pork Wine Full Review
Tawse Brut Sparkling 2012, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Tastes like ocean spray on a late September afternoon: refreshment on your palate while the sun warms your shoulders with slanted amber rays. Drink: 2014-2018. 384966 12.50% D 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 91/100. September 19, 2015 Best Value Sparkling Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review
Henry of Pelham Riesling 2012, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Off-dry but not cloying or sweet, like fresh ripe peach. Melon and sunshine loveliness. Soft and light-bodied. Perfect aperitif. Drink: 2013-2018. 557165 11.50% M 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 90/100. April 2, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Plush Pork Wine Full Review
Flat Rock Riddled Sparkling 2009, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Clean, crisp Ontario sparkling wine with a refreshing finish. Notes of green apple and stone fruit. The beer-bottle crown cap allows the bubbly to continue to develop flavours and bubbles (just as they do in Champagne before finally sealing it with the mushroom-shaped large cork). Pair with fried chicken. Drink: 2013-2017. 383315 12.50% D 750 mL  $29.95 Score: 90/100. November 26, 2016 Top Rated Sparkling Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review
Flat Rock Riesling 2014, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: The winery sent me the 2014 vintage of this lovely riesling to taste and evaluate, which is fortunate since it was the 2013 vintage at the LCBO tasting. Green apple and white pear. Love it. Building an inukskuk is now a ritual at the end of harvest for this winery: lifting the heavy stones requires a team effort. Pair with roast turkey and fun. The winery does whole cluster pressing to extract pure flavour, and only of the first 600 litres per tonne of fruit. Ed allows the juice to settle during a long, slow fermentation. The 2014 vintage is a blend of two distinct blocks of 21B clone vines nowin their early teens as the winery describes them. Finishes with fresh pink grapefruit notes. Drink: 2014-2019. 43281 11% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 91/100. September 17, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Casas del Bosque Pequenas Producciones Syrah 2014, Casablanca Valley, Chile: A superb Chilean Syrah with great textural richness on the palate. The grapes for this wine enjoyed a long Indian summer during the fall harvest and as a result ripened to great depth and concentration of flavour. Aromas of black plum and spice. This is an elegant coastal cool-climate Syrah made from grapes that grow on 11-year-old vines planted on well-drained hillsides. Pair with rack of lamb. Drink: 2015-2021. 13.70% D 750 mL  $22.00 Score: 94/100. August 27, 2016 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review
Casas del Bosque Pequenas Producciones Syrah 2012, Casablanca Valley, Chile: This voluptuous Chilean Syrah hails from the strong 2012 vintage. Winemaker Grant Phelps allows the grapes to dry natural in perforated cases in the vineyard a day then leaves the grapes on their skins for 16 days for a rich, long maceration to soak up the wickedly deep colour and flavour. Surprisingly, the wine ferments to complete dryness in just 1 day. It's lush and has the textural richness of a warm climate even though the Casablanca region is a decidedly cool climate. Pair with lamb shank. Drink: 2014-2020. 13.70% D 750 mL  $22.00 Score: 93/100. August 27, 2016 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Vina Maipo Gran Devoción Carmenère Syrah 2013, Maule Valley, Chile: A full-bodied Chilean red wine with typical aromas of black fruit, herbs and spice. This is a red wine blend of Carmenere and Syrah grapes. A dark ruby in the glass with violet tints. Finishes with black liquorice, dark plum and sage. Pair with meat lovers' pizza. Drink: 2016-2019. 274100 14.50% XD 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 91/100. October 15, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Magnificent Meat Pizza Wine Full Review
Reserva Syrah 2014, Aconcagua Valley, Chile: This lovely, medium-bodied Chilean Syrah tastes more like an elegant Pinot Noir. I don't mind at all. Nervy acidity and tart cherry notes. Pair with roasted chicken. Drink: 2016-2020. 662817 14% D 750 mL  $15.95 Score: 90/100. August 20, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Plush Pork Wine Full Review
Bastide Miraflors Vielles Vignes Syrah Grenache 2014, Côtes Catalanes, Midi, Roussillon I.G.P., France: A towering southern French red wine blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache grapes. The Grenache component of the wine was aged for 1 year in 80% concrete tanks while the Syrah was matured in 500-litre demi-muids (large barrels). Purple plums and blueberry pie on the nose and palate of this robust, smooth, juicy French red wine. Pair with hamburgers and relish with salsa on the side. Drink: 2016-2020. 320499 14.50% D 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. October 15, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review
Tessellae Old Vines Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre 2013, Côtes Du Roussillon, Midi A.P, France: The 2013 vintage of Tessellae Old Vines Cotes du Roussillon is fresh and intriguing on the nose with fleshy purple plums, black fruit and some toast. Perfect for grilled meats. Finishes with pepper and dark spice. Highly recommended. Drink: 2015-2019. 343517 14% XD 750 mL  $17.00 Score: 93/100. September 5, 2015 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Roger & Didier Raimbault Sancerre 2014, Loire A.C., France: Lemon zest on the nose and palate of this delightful French white wine. Lovely balance and acidity here in a sun-dappled Old World Sauvignon Blanc. Pure expression of fruit, great mineral intensity. Drink: 2015-2018. 82255 12.50% XD 750 mL  $39.95 Score: 90/100. July 23, 2016 Top Rated White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Gérard Bertrand Syrah Grenache 2013, Languedoc, Midi A.P., France: Savoury and juicy with meaty, dark spice character. Amazing QPR: quality price ratio. Pair with prime rib. Drink: 2017-2020. 413237 14.50% D 750 mL  $18.95 Score: 91/100. September 16, 2017 Best Value Red. Voluptuous Veal Wine Full Review
Château Vincens Origine Malbec 2013, Cahors, Southwest A.C., France: Smooth and juicy with campfre aromas on the nose. Very black in colour with high-toned acidity. A full-bodied southern French red wine from the region of Cahors and made from the Malbec grape, with mocha-dark chocolate aromas from oak aging, and fleshy black fruit. Great for pizza. Finishes with dark spices. Pair with meat lovers' pizza tonight. This robust Cahors red wine almost has some leanings toward Californian Zinfandel, but still is dark and smoky in a Cahors sort of way. Densely tannic and brooding: decant for 2 hours. Concentrated, powerful and highly extracted in flavour and colour. Drink: 2015-2018. 343400 13.50% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. September 3, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Château Eugénie Cuvée Réservée De L'aïeul Cahors Couture, Vign. Malbec 2008, A.C., Southwest, France: Toasty oak and bandaid, very nice! Full-bodied, brooding black fruit and mystery. Decant 2 hours if you don't want a metaphorical black eye on your palate. Drink: 2013-2016. 295949 13.50% XD 750 mL  $22.95 Score: 92/100. November 9, 2013 Best Beef Wine Full Review
Domaine Des Malandes Chablis 2012, Burgundy A.C., France: This vibrant, unoaked chardonnay is ideal as an aperitif or companion to shellfish. Crisp notes of green apple and grapefruit. Naked chardonnay in all its unadorned glory. Drink: 2014-2019. 111658 12.50% XD 750 mL  $23.95 Score: 91/100. May 10, 2014 Top Rated White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Domaine des Malandes Lyne Marchive, Vign. Chablis 2010, A.C., Burgundy, France: Pure freshness: liquid essence of green apple tartness and early summer morning. Lovely, no oak. Drink: 2012-2017. 111658 12.50% XD 750 mL  $19.75 Score: 91/100. August 4, 2012 Full Review
Château Eugénie Cuvée Réservée De L'aïeul, Couture, Vign. Malbec 2008, A.C., Cahors, Southwest, France: Blackberry jam wrapped in smoky, toasty oak. Big, black and brooding with layers of full-bodied pleasure. Great price. Tannic grip: decant 2 hours. Drink: 2012-2017. 295949 13.50% XD 750 mL  $22.95 Score: 90/100. December 8, 2012 Full Review
Clos Troteligotte K-Or Malbec 2012, Cahors, Southwest A.C., France: A vibrant and full-bodied southern French red wine made from Malbec grapes. There's a very firm tannic grip on the palate here so decant 1-2 hours and enjoy with a protein rich hearty dish. Drink: 2014-2019. 299982 14% D 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 91/100. May 16, 2015 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Gérard Bertrand Grand Terroir Syrah Carignan Mourvèdre 2011, La Clape, Languedoc, France: The grapes for this French red wine blend are planted closer to the Mediterranean sea and therefore there are more spice accents in the finished wine along with red fruits, lavender and pepper. The vines are planted at an altitude of 200 metres above sea level, which preserves their freshness with cool nights. The soils consist of limestone plateau that's thousands of years old. The finish has moorland accents. Pair with rosemary lamb. Although the Languedoc is the world's largest wine region with 235,000 acres, it is not one homogenous mass or style wine-wise. There are actually 5 sub-climates and more than 50 different grapes used in varying blends. Compare that to the 5 grapes used in Bordeaux. There are also 8 different and distinctive winds that blow through the vines here as compared to one in the Rhone, the Mistral. Drink: 2015-2019. 370262 14% XD 750 mL  $20.95 Score: 93/100. April 2, 2016 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Castello di Gabbiano Sangiovese 2007, Chianti Classico, Tuscany D.O.C.G., Italy: Rich, deep and full-bodied with gorgeous lifted notes of black cherry and violets. The velvet, supple texture of this wine is balanced by mouth-watering juiciness. This is an incredible wine for the price point: stock up! Drink: 2009-2016. 219808 13% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. May 8, 2011 Smart Buy Wine Full Review
Ruffino Prosecco, Tuscany, Italy: A fresh, crisp, vibrant Italian sparkling wine with attractive aromas of freshly cut lemon and lime. This Prosecco makes for a wonderful aperitif or pair it with seafood, shellfish and friend chicken. Drink: 2016-2019. 467811 13.50% D 750 mL  $16.95 Score: 91/100. January 8, 2017 Best Value Sparkling Wine. Full Review
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Marlborough, New Zealand: A vibrant Sauvignon Blanc with a crisp, lime-fresh nose and racy acidity on the palate that's perfect for seafood. Notes of grapefruit and fresh herbs on the finish makes this a terrific chilled aperitif as well. Highly recommended. Drink: 2015-2017. 426601 12.50% XD 750 mL  $20.00 Score: 90/100. October 10, 2016 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Eradus Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand: Vibrant, herbal and zesty with a terrific lime lift through the mid-palate. Clean and refreshing on the finish. Perfect for fresh seafood and shellfish with its mouth-watering acidity. Drink: 2015-2017. 225557 13% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 91/100. March 18, 2017 Best Value White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Taylor's Fladgate LBV, Portugal  1000536 20% S. March 1, 2012 Full Review
Barahonda Barrica Monastrell Syrah 2012, Yecla D.O., Spain: Pure blackberry liqueur on the nose and palate of this towering Spanish red wine. Notes of spice and dark pepper and smoke. This is huge and has high alcohol. Pair with brontosaurus burgers. Drink: 2014-2020. 378869 14.50% XD 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 90/100. October 1, 2016 Best Value Red Wine. Glorious Game Wine Full Review
Buena Vista Chardonnay 2014, Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United States: This Californian winery is part of the Boisset Collection. Jean-Charles Boisset, of the famous French winemaking family (and married to Gina Gallo), now guides operations. Buttery, round, balanced and amazing for the price! This full-bodied, classic Californian Chardonnay features aromas of green apple and butterscotch yet it's not heavy. Pair with roasted chicken or turkey. Drink: 2016-2020. 67405 13.50% XD 750 mL  $28.00 Score: 93/100. October 15, 2016 Top Rated White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Cosentino Cigarzin Old Vine Zinfandel 2014, California, United States: Surprisingly low in alcohol for such a full-bodied, full-flavoured Californian zinfandel. Pure delicious! Smoky with fleshy black fruit. Complex zinfandel in all its glory. Yahoo! Old vines truly do make a difference to the complexity and concentration of flavour, especially in zinfandel. Finishes with dark spice, smoke and pepper. Pair with spaghetti and meat balls. Drink: 2016-2018. 269340 13.50% XD 750 mL  $21.95 Score: 93/100. July 23, 2016 Top Rated Red Wine. Best Beef Wine Full Review
Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah 2013, Columbia Valley, Washington, United States: A luxurious black cherry-kirsch liqueur aroma on the nose and palate with jammy raspberry notes yet dry and elegant. Perfect for prime rib. Drink: 2014-2020. 949651 14% XD 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 91/100. September 2, 2017 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review
Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc 2013, Napa Valley, California, United States: Crisp, dry and fresh with a lemon-lime lift through the core of this California Sauvignon Banc. Robert Mondavi devised the name Fume Blanc for Sauvignon Blanc. Very deft/light use of oak preserves the refreshment of this wine and its versatility with food. This wine is mostly Sauvignon Blanc and with a splash of Semillon. Sixty percent of the wine is barrel fermented, and then it's all aged on its own yeast (sûr lie) in French oak for 9 months to add extra richness, creaminess and lovely dimension. The grapes are grown in the Stags Leap and Oakville vineyards. Try this wine with pasta or seafood in a cream sauce. Drink: 2014-2016. 221887 14.50% XD 750 mL  $39.95 Score: 91/100. October 31, 2015 Top Rated White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc 2014, Napa Valley, California, United States: Lemon smoke seduction on the nose. Crisp and vibrant on the palate. Long finish. Medium-bodied. Perfect for halibut in a beure blanc sauce. Drink: 2016-2018. 221887 13.50% XD 750 mL  $39.95 Score: 91/100. August 5, 2017 Top Rated White Wine. Scrumptious Seafood Wine Full Review
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2014, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States: This vines for this lovely Washington Chardonnay are planted at 200 feet above sea level which is ideal for achieving a silky texture from the grapes rather than an oak barrel. Rich and full-bodied with luscious layers of fleshy ripe peach, pear and butterscotch. This Washington Chardonnay has great finesse and styling: French spirit with Washington DNA. It was barrel fermented without a lot of lees stirring to preserve it's zesty character. Finishes with apple and citrus notes. Pair with roast chicken or veal. Drink: 2014-2019. 232439 13.50% XD 750 mL  $20.95 Score: 92/100. October 29, 2016 Top Rated White Wine. Charming Grilled Chicken Wine Full Review

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