MORE INTERESTING WINES RECENTLY TASTED...
9. Tokaji Yellow Muscat 2010 Puklus Cellars Hungary (+46508 Vintages,
$14.95 retail, 750 mL, Vintages January): related to Muscat Blanc, from
older vines, done up in Late Harvest style, with that peachy
complexity, medium-bodied, but with lemons and pineapple acidity on the
longer finish. Floral aromatics. 12% ABV, a bit less this year. Serve
with later courses (fruity mains, salads, cheeses, off-dry desserts).
$14.95 retail, 750 mL, Vintages January): related to Muscat Blanc, from
older vines, done up in Late Harvest style, with that peachy
complexity, medium-bodied, but with lemons and pineapple acidity on the
longer finish. Floral aromatics. 12% ABV, a bit less this year. Serve
with later courses (fruity mains, salads, cheeses, off-dry desserts).
10, Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Maipo
(+275594 Vintages, $19.95 retail): offers immense value, with its deep
black fruit (cherry-berry), vanilla, toast, some anise, very French
like. 5% Cabernet Franc added, 14.5% ABV, aged 14 months in mixed-use
oak barrels, ready to consume now. All the grapes come form 15-year-old
low yield vines of Alto Jahuel in Maipo.
(+275594 Vintages, $19.95 retail): offers immense value, with its deep
black fruit (cherry-berry), vanilla, toast, some anise, very French
like. 5% Cabernet Franc added, 14.5% ABV, aged 14 months in mixed-use
oak barrels, ready to consume now. All the grapes come form 15-year-old
low yield vines of Alto Jahuel in Maipo.
11. Rodney Strong Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve Russian River Valley
Sonoma 2009 ($34.95 b consignment, Mark Anthony): with 14.5% ABV, this
baked apple and vanilla-driven white leaves a long, buttery finish.
Lees stirring has promoted creaminess. There is something here for all
Chardonnay lovers, or at least for those who dislike stainless steel.
Barrel fermentation in French oak (one-quarter new), all malolactic,
and 13 months aging.
Sonoma 2009 ($34.95 b consignment, Mark Anthony): with 14.5% ABV, this
baked apple and vanilla-driven white leaves a long, buttery finish.
Lees stirring has promoted creaminess. There is something here for all
Chardonnay lovers, or at least for those who dislike stainless steel.
Barrel fermentation in French oak (one-quarter new), all malolactic,
and 13 months aging.
12. Rodney Strong Vineyards Chardonnay Sonoma County 2009 ($20.95
Vintages, +226936): not quite as intense as the Reserve, but then not
quite as expensive. Only 60% has been barrel fermented, and then aged 4
months in US and French oak. Balance is stainless fermentation; 70% of
finished wine undergoes malolactic. There's orchard fruit and some
sprightly wood tones of vanilla and spices. 13.5% ABV, good first
course wine. 560 cases available.
Vintages, +226936): not quite as intense as the Reserve, but then not
quite as expensive. Only 60% has been barrel fermented, and then aged 4
months in US and French oak. Balance is stainless fermentation; 70% of
finished wine undergoes malolactic. There's orchard fruit and some
sprightly wood tones of vanilla and spices. 13.5% ABV, good first
course wine. 560 cases available.
13. Rodney Strong Vineyards Merlot Sonoma County 2009 ($19.95, Vintages
+497933): one of Rodney Young's Sonoma County series, line priced at
about $20. Two years in French and US oak barrels leans to sufficient
levels of dark fruit (plums, blueberries, black currants) but also some
herbiness to pique the inevitable Merlot softness. Another good first
course wine. 600 cases available.
+497933): one of Rodney Young's Sonoma County series, line priced at
about $20. Two years in French and US oak barrels leans to sufficient
levels of dark fruit (plums, blueberries, black currants) but also some
herbiness to pique the inevitable Merlot softness. Another good first
course wine. 600 cases available.
14. Tyrrell's Wines Rufus Stone McLaren Vale Shiraz 2009 ($19.95,
+542100 Vintages): excellent, graceful shiraz, aged in US oak (30% new)
for a year and a half. 14.5% ABV, twist top. "Rufus Stone" is the name
Tyrrell's uses for its non-Hunter Valley wines. Here, their Willunga
Vineyard has 35-year old shiraz vines. A good mix of fruit (ripe
cherries, plums) with vanilla and chocolate tones. The tannins suggest
more aging, but currently give it structure and length for a main
course. 560 cases available.
+542100 Vintages): excellent, graceful shiraz, aged in US oak (30% new)
for a year and a half. 14.5% ABV, twist top. "Rufus Stone" is the name
Tyrrell's uses for its non-Hunter Valley wines. Here, their Willunga
Vineyard has 35-year old shiraz vines. A good mix of fruit (ripe
cherries, plums) with vanilla and chocolate tones. The tannins suggest
more aging, but currently give it structure and length for a main
course. 560 cases available.
15. A. Metz Helfrich Gewurztraminer 2010 Alsace ($18.95, +169748
Vintages): balancing acidity is the key here, with MVC touches of
roses, mango, spicy finish, and fruit on the mid-palate. At 12.5% ABV,
it is versatile, a bit lighter than other contemporary Gewurztraminers,
but more off-dry and ideal with suggested curries and tagines. Twist
top. 220 cases available.
Vintages): balancing acidity is the key here, with MVC touches of
roses, mango, spicy finish, and fruit on the mid-palate. At 12.5% ABV,
it is versatile, a bit lighter than other contemporary Gewurztraminers,
but more off-dry and ideal with suggested curries and tagines. Twist
top. 220 cases available.
16. [yellow tail] Shiraz Reserva Limited Release 2006 Barossa: created
in celebration of the company's tenth anniversary in 2011, now
available in a few cases in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland. Multiple gold winner, 13.5% ABV. The commemorative bottle
version, which I served to a large dinner party for comment, was in a
nice presentation package. The regular bottling runs about $35 – 45
outside Ontario. Expect a whack of fruit and the Barossa tarriness,
needs more time but came around after an hour of being opened and
swirled.
in celebration of the company's tenth anniversary in 2011, now
available in a few cases in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland. Multiple gold winner, 13.5% ABV. The commemorative bottle
version, which I served to a large dinner party for comment, was in a
nice presentation package. The regular bottling runs about $35 – 45
outside Ontario. Expect a whack of fruit and the Barossa tarriness,
needs more time but came around after an hour of being opened and
swirled.
No comments:
Post a Comment