Château Le Castelot 2006, AC St-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

This Merlot has very intense and masculine aromatics, with aromas of dark fruit, spice box, cedar, underbrush and leather. Medium to full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 13%), dry, finely textured with fresh acidity and firm tannins. The finish is medium length, savoury spices and leather notes with fine grained tannins. A very serious and enjoyable Merlot, to drink now or cellar mid-term 1-2 years. Score 89 points.

Purchased January 21, 2012 (245472) at $34.95

Orin Swift The Prisoner 2009, Napa Valley, California, USA

This is one of those wines which became a luxury treat for me back when I was living in British Columbia. I simply have naught seen it for sale either in Ontario or Québec. A delicious blend here with Zinfandel at 51%, Cabernet Sauvignon at 19%, Syrah at 18%, Petit Sirah at 7%, Charbono (also know as Bonarda) at 3%, finally the Grenache and Malbec with 1% each. This wine opens up with sensuous aromas of blackberry, wild berries, plum, black currant, cedar, vanilla and sweet and savoury spices. On the mouthfeel, OMG, this wine is so smooth, well balanced with soft seductive ripe fruit, fine acidity and velvety tannins. A tasty, aromatic, savoury style red blend. Needless to say, very enjoyable and strongly recommended. Score 91 points.

Purchased April 2, 2011 BC Liquor Store at $ 49.99

Domaine Les Aphillanthes Plan de Dieu Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2009, Rhône, France

From the very good 2009 Rhône vintage, this wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre. A beautiful lively violet in colour with aromas of red plums, blueberry, white pepper, violets, underbrush, incense and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium to full bodied, bright and spicy flavours, fresh acidity, fine grained tannins but the surprising alcohol at 15% dominates everything else. A good length on the finish with spicy red fruit flavours and chest warming heat. An enjoyable wine overall, however I wish that the alcohol would have been about 1% less, it would have made this wine more balanced, more elegant. Recommended, score 88 points.

Purchased on February 18, 2012 LCBO New Release (252270) at $22.95

Muratie Shiraz 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine arrives somewhere between a Rhône Syrah and Australian Shiraz, with aromas of black fruit, cocoa, tobacco, spices, meaty and floral notes.  This medium to full bodied Shiraz mouthfeel is rich, dry, intense with concentrated flavours, lively acidity and smooth ripe tannins. This wine finish is long with excellent depth of flavours, savoury and meaty style of Shiraz. On a more technical note, this wine is 100% Shiraz, aging took place in 90% French oak and 10% American oak with alcohol coming in at 14.5%. I am no longer surprised by the quality of South African wines around the $25.00 price range. Very enjoyable and strongly recommended, score 91 points.

Purchased February 4, 2012 LCBO New Release (663278) at $24.95

Duckhorn Merlot 2009, Napa Valley, California, USA

This past weekend friends invited us for an evening of socializing and dinner. My friend Roger had decided to treat all of us with a Duckhorn Merlot 2009. He had read about Duckhorn on this blog. A wine I had recommended in the New Release posting in February (posted below). Nice, since this wine wasn’t on my shopping list. I do like Merlot and it gave me the opportunity to review it.

A blend of mostly Merlot at 84%, Cabernet Sauvignon at 10% and 6 % Cabernet Franc, adding texture and complexity to the overall package. Ageing took place in 100% French oak barrels (25% new and 75% second vintage) for 15 months. This Merlot opened up with very sensuous aromas of blackberry, cherry, red plum, sage, licorice, earthy and vanilla notes. Dry, medium to full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 14.5%) with exquisite balance between soft seductive fruit and savoury flavours, fine acidity and framed by silky tannins.  The wine finish is very enjoyable, with lots of finesse, sweet and sour fruit, vanilla and fine grained tannins. This wine is better served with food now, or give it 1 or 2 years in your cellar for all the elements of this wine to come together.  It is always very nice to catch up with friends, enjoy a nice meal over a great bottle of wine. Thank you Michel and Roger.  An awesome wine with lots of sophistication and elegance, score 91 points.

LCBO New Release of February 18, 2012 (992529) at $56.95

Kim Crawford SP Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

This Sauvignon Blanc from Kim Crawford is a definite step up in quality compared to there regular offering and well worth the extra dollars. On the nose, a very fresh and intense aromatics with aromas of grapefruit, passion  fruit, sweet tropical fruit, minerals and hints of fresh herbs. The mouthfeel is almost creamy (partly barrel fermented?) with loads of energy, refreshing and food friendly acid with flavours of citrus and sweet tropical fruit flavours and minerals notes. This Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc finish is fresh and lively, very refreshing. A definite food wine, score 90 points.   

  

This wine was purchased February 4, 2012 LCBO New Release (038240) at $24.95

Bodegas El Nido 2002, Jumilla, Murcia, Spain

A big wine in every sense of the word, a big package (very heavy bottle), with loads of flavours, structure, substantial price tag but high on the enjoyment factor. I had purchased this wine while living in Victoria, BC, around Christmas in December of 2008. This wine opens up with aromas of sweet cherry and wild strawberry, stewed rhubarb, spices, cedar and floral notes. On the mouthfeel, full body with alcohol coming in at 15.5% but well balanced by massive fruit, almost too sweet, fine acidity and now, well integrated tannins. An explosion of sweet ripe fruit on the finish with fine grained tannins. On a more technical note, this wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Mourvedre aged for 26 months in 100% new French and American oak. Very nice and comforting wine here, score 93 points.