Happy New Year and welcome to Vintage’s “Smart Buys” issue, one that puts affordable wines on the shelf to help relieve the stress after buying all those high end wines from previous releases. Is quality a factor with these bargain basement prices? In many cases yes, but nonetheless, trust me; there are a few gems that will make the trip to your local store on Saturday morning worthwhile.

Wines from the “Smart Buys” release.

467951 ALAMOS MALBEC 2009 Mendoza, Argentina $13.95
Always a bargain, no complexity, but plenty of black fruit flavours, a touch of mineral and gentle tannins. Acidity is lively and the finish is clean. Find this wine

016071 MONTES LIMITED SELECTION CABERNET SAUVIGNON/CARMENÈRE 2008 Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile $14.95
Sweet aromas combine with Moroccan spice, black cherry, currant and dried herbs. Nice oomph on the palate, some tannin, but none to offensive and a balanced and juicy finish. Find this wine

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340844 BODEGAS PALACIO GLORIOSO CRIANZA 2006 Rioja Spain $15.95
Aromas of roasted meat sprinkled with thyme, plus lots of enticing dark fruit, wet moss and plum. Plum is echoed on the palate along with black cherry, anise and mocha. It is lighter bodied than the aromas suggest, but it is a rewarding wine. Find this wine

189803 CIGLIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 Tuscany, Italy $18.95
Black fruit preserve, a note of fennel, mineral and sweet spice lead to a clean, light and orthodox palate that is well balanced and tasty. Find this wine

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119503 PRODUTTORI DI GOVONE BARBARESCO 2006 Piedmont, Italy $19.95
Having never seen a Barbaresco with a twenty dollar price tag, at least not in the LCBO, I must confess to being more than just a little apprehensive. Much to my surprise, Govone’s Nebbiolo is a fine wine that delivers a power driven nose of cassis, cake spice, candy floss, lavender and chocolate. It is youthful, as the dusty tannin confirms, but much flavour lies beneath and although tight, the finish has plenty of sweet medicinal fruit. Find this wine

994327 NEIRANO BAROLO 2005 Piedmont, Italy $25.95
This bargain basement Barolo has a caramel and minty note, with clove and red fruit. The palate is juicy, there is some tannin, but overall it’s far from excitable. Find this wine

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190694 REAL COMPANHIA VELHA EVEL TINTO 2007 Douro Portugal $14.95
Blueberry and blackberry ripple with a backdrop of coal dust, lavender and sweet oak. A note of green peppercorn on the palate blends well with red cherry and milk chocolate. There is a touch of mineral too on this out of the ordinary wine. Find this wine

106518 CHÂTEAU DE FONTENELLES CUVÉE NOTRE DAME 2008 Corbières, Midi, France $16.95
This Syrah based wine, a clear candidate for best of the release, sits like ink in the glass. The nose bellows cassis, blackberry, dried blueberry, star anise, mineral and chalk. The palate has uber concentration, deftly balanced sweet and sour flavours, a chalky dusty texture and great intensity to the finish. Find this wine

200030 DOMAINE AUTRAND CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2007 Rhône, France $14.95
Textbook Syrah, lots of sweet dark fruit and a twist of ground pepper. Similar notes are found on the palate, it is wonderfully balanced, chewy, elegant and cheap. Find this wine

200071 CHÂTEAU LE PEY 2008 Médoc, France $17.95
Most impressive, just a touch of earthy barnyard, lead pencil, briar and plum skin with a gentle note of tar. The youthful palate has sweet oak, Ribena fruit, and dusty tannin. Give it a year or two to lie down and this will thrill. Find this wine

199059 CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR TERRIEN 2008 Lussac-Saint-Émilion, France $15.00
New World style, sweet fruit, vanilla backed up by aromas of cake spice, lavender and sage. The palate is a little cloying at this moment in time, but again a year or so away and it should show nicely. Find this wine

199943 YEALANDS ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2008 Central Otago, South Island, NZ $20.95
Disappointing, the floral and perfume notes have promise and are supported by a whiff of cedar and black cherry, but the lackluster palate carries only sweet red fruit and a high degree of acidity both leading to a short finish. Find this wine

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127621 CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS ALLEY CAT SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2008 Barossa Valley, South Australia $15.95
A fine bottle of wine that pleases from start to finish. It opens with balsa, toffee and solid layers of dark fruit and wet earth/mineral. It’s ripe and chewy on the palate, well balanced with a lively finish of red fruit and sweet spice. Tasty stuff and very good value. Find this wine

The remaining wines from the release

091165 HENRY OF PELHAM MERLOT 2007 Niagara Peninsula $17.95
Cigar leaf, dusty cocoa powder, coconut shell and briar show first, but layers of black and red raspberry soon shine through. The palate echoes the fruit and throws mineral, chocolate, and sweet spice into the equation. There is a little tannin, but the fruit is solid and will last for a year or two at least and given that there are not too many 2007 reds to be found anymore, this a must buy wine for those wish to have some of this fine vintage in their cellars. Find this wine

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207332 ALVENTO SONDRA 2006 Niagara Peninsula $23.95
Bruno Moos, the owner of Niagara’s Alvento winery has been making wine here since 2001, but believes his 06 wines were the first wines he made to appeal to the serious collector. “Sondra” is an east bank blend of ninety percent Merlot and ten percent Cabernet Franc. It has aromas of red fruit, dill, mineral and a touch of creamy toffee. The palate has plumy fruit, good acidity, gentle oak and a note of licorice on the finish. Find this wine

665158 FOLIE À DEUX MÉNAGE À TROIS RED 2009 California $17.95
Intensely sweet with aromas of ripple ice cream, topped sweet cherry and blueberry syrup that doubles on the cloying palate. Find this wine

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134585 UMANI RONCHI MONTIPAGANO MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO 2009 $12.95
An organic wine showing sweet dark fruit, black cherry, cola notes and spice. It has plenty of dark fruit on the palate all balanced perfectly by a streak of acidity and a decent finish. This should be on the “Smart Buys” list. Find this wine

193441 TOLLOY PINOT NOIR 2008 ALTO ADIGE $15.95
There are traces or red fruit and rhubarb that blend nicely with aromas of dried herb and cinnamon. It is very light on the palate but has proper Pinot characteristics. Find this wine

724674 COPPI PEUCETICO PRIMITIVO 2006 Gioia Del Colle $13.95
Paint thinner, honey bran cereal and blueberry crème brulee follow through to a dusty, sweet dark fruit laden and syrupy palate. Find this wine

056267 REMO FARINA MONTECORNA RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE 2007, Veneto $19.95
Leather and shoe polish aromas settle down to reveal notes of dark fruit, bitter chocolate and mocha. It’s clean and bright on the palate, with a touch of chocolate sweetness on the finish. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

Related posts:

1. Alan Kerr’s January 23rd, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
2. Alan Kerr’s January 9th, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
3. Alan Kerr’s July 10th, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
4. Alan Kerr’s June 26th, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
5. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s December 11th Release – Tasting Notes

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