Canadian Wine Guy

This is a smooth elegant wine with absolutely nothing distinctive going on. If your looking for a non-descriptive wine that will definitely offend no one (although it won’t please anyone either) this is the wine for you. The finish is very short. There’s some fruit flavors, with little to no oak. This wine given how bland it is would go with just about anything. I was underwhelmed as you likely have already gathered Won’t be running out to get more of this one.

CAVE DE SAUMUR RÉSERVE DES VIGNERONS SAUMUR  2005 AC  
TASTING NOTE: Very pure and elegant, showing purple flower and blue and black fruit notes, with a long, finely tuned, mineral finish. Deceptively concentrated. Drink now through 2008. Score – 90. (James Molesworth,www.winespectator.com, May 15, 2007) 
LCBO 750 mL    $15.95

The Primitovo grape has been genetically linked to the Zinfandel. So the principle difference between the Italian Primitivo and the Californian Zinfandel is one of style. In California the Zinfandels are field blended with a number of other grapes giving deep rich, widely varying flavor and finish. In this Primitivo for the price you have a lovely wine. The finish is not particularly long and the oak is very well in check. You get the lovely Zinfandel fruit, but no jamminess and no Oak. I enjoyed the wine enough to go back and grab a few more. But don’t be expecting complexity as this is very much a simple wine. Also don’t expect this one to age well (I would guess, as there are little tannins to be found).

ANGIÒ ARCHEO PRIMITIVO 2006
IGT Salento

Primitivo’s renaissance is largely due to the discovery that it is identical to California’s popular Zinfandel. Primitivo, which means ‘first to ripen’, acquired its name when an observant 18th-century Puglian monk discovered that the grapes matured before other varieties. Primitivo and Zinfandel may share the same genes but they certainly have distinct personalities. This one has all the charisma of a southern Italian red: it’s mildly spicy, full-bodied, dry, balanced, and full of fruit. Delicious with steak frites or aged cheddar.

LCBO 750 mL $12.95

This is a lovely wine with a good bit of acidity, some green apple flavors, and some oak. The wine for my tastes is more like a Sauvigon Blanc than a Pinot Gris. No real peach in the taste with a hint of an orange peal tangy/bitterness to it. I enjoyed the wine. Not bad at all! I wouldn’t run out and buy a case but I wouldn’t be rushing to take back any more of it I had either. This is the kind of wine you could easily serve to non wine lovers and would go well with a lot of different foods … 

SILENI CELLAR SELECTION PINOT GRIS  2008
Hawke’s Bay, North Island  

This Pinot Gris from the warm Hawkes Bay region is another notable bargain. The nose features lovely peach, pear and apple aromas. It’s just off-dry with a round texture and juicy fruit flavours beautifully balanced by a bright seam of acidity. Try it with Asian noodle dishes.

LCBO 750 mL    $15.95

This is a lovely smack on varietal Chenin. This one is a mild flavored one with a bit of sweetness and a bit of crispness.  I get a bit of that “Sauterne” like flavor. I had it with a nice peice of pan fried Cod and went well. Kanu  is still my fav Chenin but you can’t get that one anymore. I had been looking forward to a Loire Valley Chenin and I was not disappointed. I would recommend this one. Delicious. I will be grabbing a few more of this one for sure.

DONATIEN BAHUAUD MAISON DES PRINCES VOUVRAY DEMI-SEC 2007 AC TASTING NOTE: This Chenin Blanc has an impressive array of aromas including candied apple Asian pear melon and a chalky minerality characteristic of Vouvray. Off-dry with a medium full-body lovely aroma replays on the palate impressive length and a crisp balancing acidity on the finish. Off-dry Vouvrays are highly versatile food wines from cold cuts to white meat dishes to bloomy soft rind cheeses like Brie and Camembert. (VINTAGES panel Oct. 2008) 80499 $16.95
Featured 1/9/2009 Check LCBO Stock show image of bottle

Sometimes terroir can be so dominant in the flavors of the wine. This is definitely the case here. The wine tastes more like their Zinfandel and little like a Merlot. It’s not a bad wine, don’t get me wrong, just don’t expect it to have varietal tastes …

Description from Winecurrent.com

This is quite flavourful round and ready to drink. The aromas are expressive with spiced dark berry predominant along with nuances of lilac. The palate is treated to layers of sweet ripe fruit, black cherry mulberry and black currant. The tannins are plush and the tang from ripe pomegranate is evident and welcomed on the persistent finish. It’s one smooth number offering good value. (VH)  (89235) $15.95

A lovely middle of the road chard with some butteryness, some oak and some green apple minerality as you would expect from New Zealand. Quite a good wine with nice complexity. The winecurrent descrption below I found pretty accurate. I would buy it again. Right now, for the money, my favorite Chard is Kendall Jackson Vintner’s reserve. Yumm Kendall Jackson  

Description from Winecurrent.com:

OYSTER BAY CHARDONNAY (V)   Marlborough  South Island  This elegant Chardonnay shows varietal intensity and the distinct qualities of the Marlborough region with aromas and flavours of melon  apple  pear  citrus and subtle buttery oak for balance. It has a lingering  crisp and refreshing finish  326728 $17.95 Check LCBO Stock

This wine has a dominant taste and bouqet of vanilla. There is a fair bit of oak in the taste and there is a distinctive bouqet of earthy tones. There is little to no fruit flavors left. Some smokeyness as well. This wine is not bad, I’d say an 88. Quite pleasant to drink. A while back I read a book that talked about Parkerization. It referred to making wines explicitly for ratings. Parker seems to like big Oak. I would say this one was Parkerized … For my money I’m not sure I’d run out and buy more …

KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC  2006
Mendoza  

The producer recommends decanting this wine 30 minutes before drinking.

TASTING NOTE: Inky hue with a fuchsia rim. Fresh aromas of plum and blueberry with a note of charcoal. Lively black cherry fruit with a smoky oak nuance threaded throughout. The close is youthful, tannic and acidic with plenty of peppery black fruit. Score – 91. (Tasting panel,www.thewinenews.com, Aug./Sept. 2008) 

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=50849     (D)            750 mL    $22.95   

D’arenberg are always known for big bruisers and this one is no exception. In this case they have a pretty good varital Shiraz. Lots of Oak, (almost too much), reasonable pepper on the finish with a medium finish. This is by no means the best Shiraz I’ve ever had but quite good none the less. I won’t be rushing out to grab a wack of these, but then again I don’t tend to store Shiraz’s, they don’t improve, just keep … So why bother. So many wines, so little space to keep em … That’s why if you look at my inventory it’s biased by aging wines! http://jgalea.com/wine.htm

D’ARENBERG THE FOOTBOLT SHIRAZ  2005
McLaren Vale, South Australia  

TASTING NOTE: … The Footbolt shiraz is quite dense and tasty. Good expression on the nose with black cherry, plum, chocolate cream and spicy overtones. A full throttle combo of dark fruit and spice on the palate with enough acidity and balance to keep things moving. Good length. Best 2008-2013. Score – 89. (Jeff Davis, Wine Access ‘First In Line E-Report’, April 12, 2008) 

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=984021 (XD)            750 mL    $19.95 

I’m on a roll for big bruisers! This is another big wine. Once again I’m not impressed. This wine is better than the TALTARNI I last went on about which was more like sucking on a peice of oak. This wine has a real bitter tanic taste on the finish that overwhelms everything. Gone are the subtle Cab flavors and what is left is carefully crafty over massaged wine. If I were you I’d skip this wine. Not worth the money. If you do go for it try a min of 2-3 hours breathing and drink it with food. So not impressed …

KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN CABERNET SAUVIGNON  2006
South Australia  http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=675223    (D)            750 mL    $20.95   

TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon “Killerman’s Run” was aged in seasoned French oak hogsheads for 15 months and was bottled without fining or filtration. Purple-colored, it offers enticing aromas of cedar, tar, black currant, and blackberry. Layered on the palate with spicy black fruit flavors and sweet tannins, it will offer solid drinking over the next decade. Score – 90. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2007) 

Winecurrent.com’s thoughts on this wine:

Complex, structured and intensely flavoured, this punches well above the price. There are dusty, earthy, mixed spice and mixed field berry fruit aromas on the nose before bathing the palate with spiced zesty red cherry, boysenberry and ripe black Damson plum flavours. It’s medium bodied with a plush mouth feel and a persistent well-balanced finish that layers on an interesting hint of minty chocolate. Drink now to 2016 alongside smoked and bar b cued back ribs slathered in spicy red sauce. (VH)