This vineyard has been active in making wine since the 1300’s. Dark red in color with a nose of licorice, tar, plums and dark cherry. A plump full mouth of licorice, spice, coffee and chocolate. Best to decant as this wine had lots of sediment. Good for aging. Very nice. 91 to 93 pts depending on the year.
Red Wine
Name: Chateau de la Gardine 2004 Chateau Neuf du Pape
Grape: Grenache, Mourvedre, and others
Region: France
Maker: Chateau de la Gardine
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14%
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%
During the long hot summer days, nothing is as refreshing as a properly chilled white wine. While red wines go well with meat and can cut through a heavy meal, their high alcohol content and thick body can tire one on a hot day. A crisp white wine with its lower alcohol content has less pucker and more cooling sparkle to help beat the heat. Some of this year’s recent favorites are:
From Austria:
Gruner Veltliner with its crisp white fruit flavours. 12% alcohol $16
From Italy:
Piemonte Moscato Pelassa with 5.5% alcohol and fizzante sparkle has apple and orange flavours. $21
Martini Asti – a full sparkling wine in the classic style with peach, pear and apple flavors. 7%alcohol $15
From Germany:
Relax Riesling with sweet flavors of white fruit and apple. 9% alcohol $12
From New Zealand:
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc. Great star fruit and grapefruit notes. 90 pts. 12.5% alcohol $18
From the U.S.A.:
Bokisch Granacha Blanca a full grapefruit and green apple flavor in a great wine made from a Spanish grape varietal grown in California. 12.5% alcohol $22
From Canada:
Union White a well round white with flavors coming from four different grape varietals. Apple, pear, grapefruit and lychee. 12% alcohol $15
Remember to properly chill these wines, serve cold and Enjoy!
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%
A medium red wine with a nose of stewed fruit with a taste of mild fruit, cherries and raspberry. Soft finish.
Red Wine
Name: Panarroz Jumilla
Grape: Monastrell
Region: Jumilla, Spain
Maker: Panarroz
Price: $15
Alcohol: 14%
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%
Dark black in color with a nose of plum, oak and the floral notes fom the viognier. A full mouth of cherry, plum, violets and spice. Good finish. Another good wine from D’Arenberg.
Red Wine
Name: The Laughing Magpie
Grape: Shiraz 93%, Viognier 7%
Region: McLaren Vale, Australia
Maker: D’Arenberg
Price: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
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%
This Bordeaux styled wine is a blend of wines that have been aged 16 months in French and American oak. Complex in smell this dark red wine exudes the aromas of blackberries, plums and spice. A full mouthful of dark spices, pepper, plum and oak finish in a long smooth fashion. An ageable wine from the small lots program. Very good stuff here.
Red Wine
Name: Sandhill 2005 Two
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon 53%, Merlot 33%, Cabernet Franc 14%
Region: Okanagan, Canada
Maker: Sandhill
Price: $39
Alcohol: 14%
Transparent yellow color with good citrus notes on the nose. A semi-sweet wine with grapefruit and lemon tart taste with a tart finish. Best chilled.
White Wine
Name: V
Grape: Gewurtztraminer
Region: Germany
Maker: P.J. Vakkenberg G.M.B.H.
Price: $12
Alcohol: 10.5%