V V List Release Saturday July 19, 2008

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.