Vintages Value List for Saturday February 16, 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon is being featured this weekend. VINTAGES touts Cab Sauv as the "king" of red wine grapes and they are right on the money there. Cabernet Sauvignon takes on very different characteristics depending on where the grapes are grown. The typical Cab Sauv will feature berry fruits like blackcurrants and cassis, good structure and full-bodied flavour. It is a classic red wine and this week's offerings do not disappoint.

Here is this week's line-up:

White Wine

983395 Pierre Sparr Pinot Gris Réserve 2005 (France - Alsace) $18.85

Luscious aromas and flavours of peach, apple and almond with nice acidity. Full bodied and well balanced.

9937666 Prinz Salm Schloss Wallhausen Riesling Kabinett 2006 (Nahe, Germany) $21.75

This Riesling is awesome with nice aromas of lime, tangerine and some mineral. It is off dry and fruity.

Red Wine

704353 Ironstone Vineyards Merlot 2005 (California) $14.75

Nice aromas of ripe plum and licorice, with flavours of plum, juicy cherries and blackberries with a hint of spice finishing soft and round.

943456 D'Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (South, Australia) $20.95

Mouth filling of sweet blackberries, plums and blackcurrant flavours. Well structured fruit and oak with a nice long tangy finish.

675223 Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (South Australia) $19.90

Dark and inky with loads of ripe cherries, green pepper and some black olive. Soft and chewy with bright acidity.

060970 Rosell Mir Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Spain) $18.45

Cherry and red fruit with nice toasty notes, medium bodied with a lingering finish.

727511 Glass Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (California) $12.75

Easy drinking, well priced quaffer that is big on fruit with some earth in there.

683797 Brokenwood Sangiovese 2005 (South Australia) $20.85

New world meets old world on this Tuscan classic. Aromas of cherry and vanilla, with a healthy dose of cherry flavour and soft tannins.

060780 Botter Carlo Primitivo Doppo Passo 2005 (Italy) $14.45

Wow, intense aromas of dry fig and white pepper. Jamarama, nice and chewy dried fruit and loads of dark fruit with a lingering, medium dry finish. Doppio Passo is similar to the Ripasso method used in the vinting of Amarone or Valpolicella. Give it a whirl, bet you'll go back for more.

061986 Saurus Patagonia Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Argentina) $13.85

Yum, loads of dark fruit aromas and flavours with chocolate, coffee and some mineral. Excellent value, buy a case.

061192 Laurent Mabileau St-Nicolas-De-Bourgueil 2005 (France – Loire) $14.55

100% Cabernet Franc fruit forward with subtle herbs and spice, fresh and earthy.