Dark ruby red in color with a great nose of plum, tar, earth and dark fruit. A full mouth of spices, plums and cherries with a long balanced peppery finish. Truly a great wine. The only Chateau Neuf still made from all 13 variatals allowed. Number 8 of 2008.
Red Wine
Name: Chateau de Beaucastel
Grape: 13 varieties including mourvedre, grenache, sinsaut and others
Region: France
Maker: Chateau de Beaucastel
Price: $92
Alcohol: 14%
Ruby in color with fresh fruit, cherry and plum aromas. Flavors of black cherry, plum, tobacco and spices. A good smooth finish. A pleasant wine to have with light meat, cheese and poultry dishes.
Red Wine
Name: La Domeliere Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Villages
Grape: Old vine Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre
Region: France
Maker: Cave De Rasteau
Price: $19
Alcohol: 14.5%
Served chilled this is a great VQA Canadian white wine for summer. Notes of fresh fruit, lychee and some edge from the chardonnay.
White Wine
Name: Union White
Grape: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtraminer, Chardonnay
Region: Niagara, Canada
Maker: Sandhill
Price: $15
Alcohol: 12%
Named after the trays used for drying the grapes before pressing, this easy drinking red wine with a fruity, berry nose and sweet flavors of berry and fresh fruit is an easy favorite with pasta on hot summer days. Very good.
Red Wine
Name: Arele Parziale Appassimento Vino Roso
Grape: Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Oseleta, Merlot
Region: Italy
Maker: Tommasi Viticoltori
Price: $22
Alcohol: 13%
Clear golden yellow in color with a full nose of grapefruit and citrus fruits. A soft mouthful of citrus, apple and white fruits with a well rounded finish. A good French style chardonnay, best served chilled.
White Wine
Name: Bourgogne
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Cote D’Or, Bourgogne, France
Maker: Philipe Bouchard
Price: $29
Alcohol: 12.5%
Named after the Yarra Valley diva Dame Nellie Melba, whose performances in the opera Lucia Di Lammermoor made her famous in the 1860’s when cuttings for these wines were first planted. Oak and caramel fill the nose and a full palate of fruit, molasses and caramel. Medium bodied with a disappointing finish for the age of the vines it comes from. Must try other years.
Red Wine
Name: Melba Lucia Yarra Valley
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 91%, Sangiovese 9%
Region: Yarra Valley, Australia
Maker: De Bortoli Wines
Price: $12
Alcohol: 13%
One of the best finds of the year! Named after Richard Tarlton who was a court jester to Queen Elizabeth1. Dark black in color with a nose of mocha, fruit, euculyptis and leather. A great mouthful of dark fruit, jam, mocha and licorice with a solid peppery spice finish. A great wine at any price and at this price an outstanding buy!
Red Wine
Year: 2009
Name: Jester 2009 Vintage Shiraz
Grape: Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale, Australia
Maker: Mitolo
Price: $23
Alcohol: 14.59%
A fine nose of oak, tobacco and mocha greet you and lead to a mouthful of plum, dark fruit and cocoa flavours. A long dry finish. Very good. A tribute to Luis Felipe Edwards’ wife from handpicked grapes blended from the outstanding grapes of each vintage then aged 18 months in French oak.
Red Wine
Year: 2007
Name: Dona Bernarda
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile.
Maker: Luis Felipe Edwards
Price: $36
Alcohol: 14%
Light honey colored with flowers, fruit and grapefruit nose. Spicy grapefruit taste. A great wine chilled. It would be good as an apperatif or with white fish dishes. This wine is made in the Danube Valley. Gruner Veltliner is the number one grape varietal produced in Austria. A good table wine.
White Wine
Name: Grunerveltliner Wachau
Grape: Gruner Veltliner
Region: Austria
Maker: Domaine Wachau
Price: $15
Alcohol: 12.1%
Translucent pinky red in color with plum, fresh fruit and mild floral aroma. Creamy palate of cherries, licorice and black tea. Nice finish. Not a bad New Zealand Pinot.
Red Wine
Year: 2010
Name: Spy Valley
Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: Malborough, New Zealand
Maker: Spy Valley Wines
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14%