Cambria Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008, Santa Maria Valley, California, USA

This lovely medium ruby in color Pinot Noir opens up with sweet and sour cherry, plums, strawberry, cola, cinnamon and sweet oak. The mouthfeel is lively with fresh acidity, generous alcohol at 14.5% and silky smooth tannins. The finish is medium length with flavours of vanilla, sweet oak and crush strawberry. A Pinot Noir that is lacking finesse and complexity at this price, but the aromatics and mouthfeel are very pleasant. Enjoyable but not memorable.

This wine was purchased April 16, 2011 LCBO New Release at $ 29.95.

Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc 2010, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

I wish we could find BC Pinot Blanc in our store here in Ontario. While living in BC, I had the opportunity to discover BC Pinot Blanc (PB) and I truly enjoyed the flavours of this grape; I would describe it as a fruit salad with refreshing acidity. My favourite were from the Wild Goose Vineyards, Blue Mountain Vineyards and this wine from Lake Breeze. I have been a regular buyer of this Pinot Blanc, having purchased the last four or five vintage of there PB. All except one vintage were outstanding, now how about this 2010 vintage.

This wine opens with  aromas of citrus fruit, white flowers and hints of minerality. The mouthfeel was good weight but racy acidity. The finish is long and acidic. It is hard to enjoy a glass of wine when the acidity is this sharp. An unbalanced wine in my book, not enough fruit to balance all that acidity. I am not afraid of acidity, I enjoy drinking grapefruit juice, so I know acidity and this PB is undrinkable. Very disappointing.

This wine was purchased at Spinnakers Spirit Merchants in Victoria BC July 18, 2011 at $17.72.

Caparzo Brunello Di Montalcino 2005, Tuscany, Italy

My first observation I had while pouring this Brunello was the colour, a pale ruby, much lighter than most Brunello. What it lacked in colour it more than made up in aromas. This had a pure Sangiovese nose of  wild ripe berries, sour cherries, baking spices, soft leather and tobacco leaf. The entry is fresh with lively acidity, chalky tannins with sweet and sour notes. This medium bodied wine finish is long, fresh, spicy with sweet and sour notes lingering. Very elegant style, ready to enjoy now or over the next two or three years. This Brunello was paired with slow-cooked, spiced lamb shanks and it worked beautifully. Strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased October 1, 2011 LCBO New Release at $39.95.

Chalone Vineyard Monterey County Chardonnay 2009, Monterey County, California, USA

It has been a while since I have enjoyed a Chardonnay this much. For my palate, this Chardonnay was able to strike the right balance of oak, to give it a nice creamy buttery texture, good fruit and acidity. This flavourful Chardonnay opens up with citrus fruit, pear, butter and roasted nuts. The mouthfeel is rich, creamy/buttery with citrus and apple flavours and crisp acidity with a finish that is long, buttery texture with smoke and pears lingering. Well made, elegant and well priced. Highly recommended.


This wine was purchased August 20. 2011 LCBO New Release at $ 16.95.

My top three enjoyed wines for September 2011

This is a month which some of the more expensive choices did not deliver the enjoyment they should have. A total of 16 wines :)) to consider, number 3 spot was very hard to nail down. An honorable mention to Telmo Rodriguez Lanzaga 2007, Rioja, Spain who could have been in that #3 spot. All 3 wines are under $25.00.

My top three enjoyed wines in September;

1-Lammershoek Roulette 2006, Swartland, South Africa
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/09/lammershoek-roulette-2006-swartland.html

   An easy pick here, this red blend has it all going on; great aromatics and mouthfeel. This wine was a  great surprise and very high on the enjoyment factor. Still have one left in my cellar and looking forward to it.


2-Balthasar Ress Riesling Spätlese 1998, Rheingau, Germany
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/09/balthasar-ress-riesling-spatlese-1998.html

A seriously under valued ten year old beauty here. Very versatile wine, to enjoy with spicy food, dessert or on its own.

3-Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005, Tuscany, Italy
http://paulnjoywine.blogspot.com/2011/09/salcheto-vino-nobile-di-montepulciano.html

Securing the # 3 spot because of high quality, well integrated and mature, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a wine that over delivers at a great price.

Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is officially released here in Ontario tomorrow (01OCT11) , but some smaller stores have a practice of stocking the shelves a day early, so I thought I would give it a try and write up a review for people who may be thinking of purchasing it. Now I have to say that Luigi Bosca Reserva Malbec has been a favourite of mine for some time, very consistent from year to year. I have never tried this Single Vineyard ( in Lujan de Cuyo in Mendoza) Malbec, but I had read only good reviews that got me excited to try this wine.

This wine opens up with ripe plums, fresh cherries, spices, red currants, light cedar and slight floral tones. Rich and vibrant mouthfeel with fresh acidity, velvet tannins and noticeable alcohol. It states 14.4% on the label but to me, it does feel higher. This Malbec finish is long with Cherry, sweet spices and mocha, leaving a good impression. This wine has so much potential, each glass was getting better and better. Overall great aromatics, very good value, this is a lot of wine for $22, drink now or hold for 4-5 years.

This wine is part of the LCBO New Release of October 1, 2011 at $21.95.

Emiliana Winemaker's Selection Syrah Mourvedre 2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile

 My first observation was the appearance of this wine, a deep purple colour. The nose is a little funky with sweaty feet, earthy, sage, stewed plums and blueberry. On the palate, the elements are well balanced, acidity, tannins, alcohol with good weight as well. Concentrated fruit flavours, fresh acidity and roasted spices on the finish. I am not usually a fan of Mourvedre except when it is  a minor player  as part of a blend, such as a Châteauneuf-Du-Pape. There is nothing wrong with this wine, no wine faults for sure. But an important part of enjoying wine is the aromatics and this one is not doing it for me, not enough fruit and to much funk. Not a wine which I would buy again.

This wine was purchased September 17, 2011 LCBO New Release at $18.95