Hello there!
Vintages has uncannily hit the mark once again with the upcoming release focusing on white wine. The sweltering weather of late calls for leisure – be it lounging on your deck, dock or boat or staying cool by the pool. All of the above activities go well with fresh, crisp, chilled white wine, friends/family and scrumptious snacks that completely hit the hunger mark. If extreme leisure isn't in the cards – what better than a chilled bottle of white beckoning from the fridge after a sweaty commute from the office?
Without further adieu, here are our picks:
WHITE WINE
76570 Domaine des Lauriers Picpoul de Pinet (Midi, FR) $14.95
This white is best served with flavourful, rich foods like grilled veggie pasta & chevre or seafood. It is more herbaceous than fruity – an overall good food-wine.
27409 Irony Chardonnay 2005 (Napa, CA) $19.95
We saw the label and looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Napa - $19.95 – NO WAY! Let's give it a whirl. We nosed and caught lees, spice, and hints of new oak – definitely a Chard. The wine is quite elegant with interesting structure. Lots of spice and grapefruit, apple is absent.
948182 La Griffe Bernard Chéreau Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2006 (Loire, FR) $15.95
This one is fresh and luscious. There's a touch of apple and good fruit in this wine.
43281 Flat Rock Cellars Riesling 2007 (VQA) $16.95
The bottle was empty but we have been loving another Flat Rock white - a relatively new addition to the Essentials portfolio – so we were initially disappointed that we couldn't taste their Riesling. A few of the product consultants said it was great, so there you go! That and the fact that 2007 was a stellar vintage for Ontario make it a safe bet.
996017 Pfaffenheim Gewuzstraminer Cuvée Bacchus 2006 (Alsace, Fr) $19.95
Brimming with lush tropical fruit and spice, excellent as an aperitif or served with dessert.
ROSE
59147 Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2007 (Chile) $10.95
This must be well-chilled – but even warm in the tasting room, the flavor belied an excellent value. Full-flavoured.
RED WINE
683110 Lockwood Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Monterey, CA) $14.95
Fruit forward but not over the top, very well balanced, dry with loads of dark fruit and toast. This is an excellent value for a Cali Cab.
361782 Firesteed Pinot Noir 2006 (Oregon) $17.95
Wow what an awesome value for a Pinot from Oregon. This number has flavours of black cherry and raspberry, well rounded with a seam of acidity and a hint of oak.
3509 Chakana Malbec 2007 (Mendoza, Argentina) $13.95
Big and inky, with loads of black fruit, cocoa and toasty oak. Quaff this down with casual fare al fresco.
960542 Montgras Reserva Carmenère (Colchagua Valley, Chile) $12.95
A good quaff for your buck, flavours of plum and black cherry and a lingering tobacco finish.
363358 Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel 2005 (Sonoma, CA) $24.95
Oh those knotty vines of Rodney Strong produced sheer elegance in this Zin, featuring blackberry a seam of acidity, soft tannins and some spice.
Jean-Luc Baldès Le Petit Clos Cahors 2005 (Southwest, Fr) $17.95
A blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot, featuring aromas and flavours of licorice, dark fruit and cedar. This gem will develop beautifully over the next 3-5 years.
FRUIT WINE
117366 Mariandl Sparkling Apricot (Austria) $9.95
This is a zany wine – fizzy, sweet, fruity, 7% alcohol – FUN! If you're in a silly mood – try it, you'll smile. (This one's for you Punkass!)
ALP
Rose & Karen
NB – We generally do not recommend that you NOT purchase a product on release – but this time we are compelled to do so. DO NOT BUY Megalomaniac Pink Slip Rose fr. Ontario. The bottle sports a very compelling label and the name is catchy, fun & enticing. The wine is absolutely vile – this product was produced by marketers not winemakers.
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