W & J. Graham's Quinta Dos Malvedos Vintage Port 2001, Douro, Portugal

I love Port, especially in the winter, but I do have a hard time finding Ports I like. When I do, I tend to stay with them and repurchase often. In the past I have enjoyed the Smith Woodhouse Late bottled 2001 and the always reliable Taylor Fladgate 10 year old Tawny Port, and on rare occasion the much better 20 year old. This is the third time I have opened this Port in the last couple months and this is the first opportunity I had to take a picture of the moment. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the sensuous and warm aromatics of this port with flavours of dark plums, currants, raisins, dates, fruitcake and baking spices. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with the 20% alc. It is well balanced by fresh acidity, well integrated tannins and complex flavours. This Port has great energy on the finish with fruitcake, spiced dark plums and raisin flavours followed with some alcoholic heat. This is my kind of Port, awesome stuff, score 91 points.

This Port was purchased October 1, 2011 LCBO (New Release) at $25.95 for a 375 ml bottle.     

Cedar Creek Estate Winery Platinum Merlot 2007, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

This is Cedar Creek's premium Merlot, the blend is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 20 months in French oak with the alcohol at 14.6% , slightly high for a BC Merlot.  On the nose it is what you would expect from a good quality Merlot with complex aromas of red cherry, raspberry, blueberry, vanilla and spice notes. On the mouthfeel, dry, medium bodied, racy acidity and soft tannins. Medium length on the finish with red cherry, plums and vanilla flavours lingering. This wine has great aromatics, but at this price, I would have preferred a little more toasty oak to add more structure and beef up flavours which would have elevated the score into the 90’s. Overall very enjoyable, score 89 points. 

 

This wine was purchased July 18, 2011 at the Wine Barrel in Victoria, BC for $35.00    

Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2005, Barossa Valley, Australia

I opened this bottle last February, it was nice then, but I thought to wait another year before opening my last bottle. Patience certainly provides its rewards. This wine is rich, concentrated and robust, yet approachable. On the nose this wine opens up with aromas of black fruit, plums, menthol, leather, chocolate, earthy and savoury notes. This blend has a full bodied mouthfeel (14.5% alc.) is rich with creamy but well integrated flavours, balanced acidity and velvet tannins. Great energy and length on the finish with chocolate, black fruit and wood spice flavours. This wine is drinking well now, but there is still a lot of life left in this bottle with its best days still years away. The wine maturation took place in a combination of old and new American, French and Hungarian oak barrels. Strongly recommended, score 92 points. 

This wine was purchased February 19, 2011 LCBO New Release at $ 51.95

Tenuta Di Ghizzano Veneroso 2007, Tuscany, Italy

This Super Tuscan is a blend of 80% Sangiovese with the remaining 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, all grapes are organically grown. The nose on this wine was a little funky at first, which cleared away  after 10 minutes or so.  On the nose, strongly varietal Sangiovese aromas of black plum, cherry, stewed rhubarb, cedar, leather, dusty and spicy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full body (with alcohol at 13.5%), fresh acidity, muscular tannins and excellent dept of flavours. This blend's finish is medium length with soft fruit and fine dusty tannins. Should be served slightly chilled around 16-17°C. A very nice wine here, where each glass improved as the evening provgressed, great structure on the palate and lovely finish. Strongly recommended, score 90 points.  

This wine was purchased July 9, 2011 LCBO New Release at $29.95

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2009, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia

The grapes which went into this bottle were 100% estate grown Shiraz from low-yielding vines, aged for 15 months in 20% American and 80% French oak. A beautiful deep violet-purple colour with aromas of red and black berries, chocolate, mint, vanilla, savoury and smoky notes. On the palate, rich and generous fruit flavours, medium to full bodied with alcohol feeling higher than the 14.5% described on the label, with lively acidity and fine grainy tannins. This Shiraz has great length on the finish with a creamy texture and flavours of ripe fruit, chocolate and savoury notes. Definitely enjoyable for those who enjoy a big and rich style of Shiraz. Score 90 points.

This wine was purchased January 21, 2012 LCBO New Release at $24.95

Torres Salmos 2007, Priorat Spain

Full disclosure here, I have always enjoyed the wines from Torres and this one is no exception. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Carinana and Syrah with a fantastic and very inviting bouquet of strawberry, cherry pie flavour, vanilla bean and toasty notes. Medium to full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 15%), flavours of strawberry jam and minerals notes on the mouthfeel, balanced acidity and silky tannins. Medium length on the finish, fruit driven, well integrated oak flavours and drinking at its best. You can add me as one of those who give this wine a score of 90 points. 

This wine was purchased October 16, 2010 LCBO New Release at $33.95

Morgenhof Chenin Blanc 2010 Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine is a product of 100% Chenin Blanc grapes from old vines, maturation took place for 10 months in French oak with alcohol coming in at 14%. Attractive and complex bouquet of apple, grapefruit, lemon zest, honey, floral and herbaceous notes. On the palate, medium body, more citrus flavour than sweet fruit flavour and lively acidity. The finish is long, refreshing with citrus fruit and a touch of honey which makes it almost creamy. Very enjoyable and good value, score 88 points.

This wine was purchased January 21, 2012 LCBO New Release at $16.95