Recently Tasted

EMILIANA NOVAS WINEMAKER'S SELECTION CHARDONNAY/VIOGNIER/MARSANNE 2007, Casablanca Valley (Chile); #63909; Price: $18.95; 15.0% ABV

This is like a trip to a tropical island. Brilliant yellow, aromas of pineapple, mango, pear and ripe peach along with honeysuckle and oaky aromas of almond, butter, and toffee. Full-bodied, it’s luscious, full, and round but not quite enough acidity to balance the richness of the same tropical and oak flavours. Good length, the pineapple and pear flavours dominate through the finish. It’s Chardonnay (65%) with a couple of Southern Rhone varietals, Viognier (20%) and Marsanne (15%).

FROGPOND FARM ORGANIC CABERNET FRANC 2007, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake (Ontario); #157479; Price: $17.00; 12.9% ABV

Surprising combination of herbaceousness and earthiness with hints of red fruits. Another surprise on the palate, with a spritzy sensation. The green and red pepper flavour is there on the palate. It’s medium-bodied with smooth tannins and moderate acidity. Good length. Better with food, it’s a good match with a vegetarian dish. Definitely different and worth trying. The grapes are certified by Pro-Cert Organic Systems and are handpicked.

ALDO MARENCO PIRUN 2008, DOCG Dolcetto di Dogliani, Piedmont (Italy); #161729; Price: $17.95; 12.7% ABV

Ruby with some purplish hue. Aromas of plum and red current, liquorice, and a bit of pepper. Plum and currant show up on the palate. The acidity is typically light, with some almost chalky tannins. Medium-bodied, its length is moderate with a food friendly bitterness at the finish. The Associazione Italiana per l’Agricoltura Biologica certifies these Dolcetto grapes.

BÜRGERSPITAL SILVANER KABINETT TROCKEN 2007, QmP Wuerzburger Pfaffenberg, Franken (Germany); #944504; Price: $19.95; 10.0% ABV

A wine that surpassed my expectations. Aromas of red apple and white peach, it reveals mango and honey as it becomes warmer in the glass; there’s minerality as well. Red apple and minerality dominate on the palate. Light-bodied, crisp acidity. Longish finish with an especially good balance. Worked very well with spicy shrimps.

LENTO LAMEZIA RISERVA 2004, DOC Calabria (Italy); #972208; Price: $18.95; 12.6% ABV

A wonderful find. Brick colour. Sour cherry and raspberry, leather, bacon, dried herbs, savoury spice, and minerality on the nose. The sour cherry and dried herbs dominate on the palate. Medium acidity and dusty, drying tannins. Medium-bodied, good length. The sour cherry and drying tannins define the finish. Definitely a wine made for food: try it with pizza or pasta with tomato sauce. A blend of 3 indigenous varietals: Magliocco, Nerello, and Greco Nero.

DOMAINE FERRER-RIBIÈRE TRADITION 2007, AC Cotes du Roussillon (France); #148627; Price: $16.95; 13.5% ABV

Port-like aromas of cooked fruit as well as fresh blackberry, cassis, and plum along with earthiness, dried herbs, and liquorice. On the palate, it’s medium acidity and tannins, with the cooked fruit and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, it’s smooth, a bit drying on the finish with the cooked fruit dominating. Organic. A blend of Syrah (40%), Grenache (30%), Carignan (20%) and Mourvèdre (10%).

LA PIEVE CHIANTI 2007, DOCG Chianti (Italy); #161851; Price: $15.95; 13.5% ABV

A classic Chianti but not a Chianti Classico. Aromas of red cherry, plum, dried herbs and earthiness. Good acidity with moderate tannins. Flavours of cherry and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, a moderate length with the cherry and acidity right there through the finish. A blend of Sangiovese (80%), Canaiolo (15%) and Malvasia (5%). Organic.

Subscribing to this blog through RSS or email is easy! Just click on the subscribe link to the left ←