When I realized the focus of June’s latest release is to be wines from Argentina, I was not overly thrilled, not that I don’t like the odd bottle of Argentinean wine now and then mind you, but drinking a flight had little appeal for me. However, much to my delight, I am able to report the release offers many solid wines, which are well priced and several are drinking nicely now. Please read on……………….

WINES FROM THE “HEAT IS ON RELEASE”.

232678 ALTOCEDRO AÑO CERO TEMPRANILLO 2009 La Consulta, Mendoza $16.95
Lots of mocha with whiffs of balsa, underbrush, milk chocolate, dark fruit and funk, a little chewy on the palate, notes of blueberry and currant, plenty of teeth coating tannin, but not much length on the finish. Find this wine

233973 ANTUCURA CALVULCURA 2005 Uco Valley, Mendoza $23.95
This blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon has some smoky meaty notes, layers of blackcurrant, chocolate, mineral and slate, plenty of tasty dark fruit, some red currant and still some tannin to resolve. Find this wine

232637 BENMARCO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 Mendoza $16.95
Blackcurrant laden aromas with a dose of sweet oak, a floral note, carrying an enjoyable texture on the palate; it is balanced nicely with just a few soft tannins appearing on the finish. Find this wine

235085 CARLA CHIARO RESERVE MALBEC 2007 Mendoza $14.95
Sweet Moroccan spice, some dark chocolate, mint and lovely black raspberry and blackcurrant aromas run through to the juicy palate, laden with refreshing black fruit acidity and a touch of dusty tannin. Find this wine

640854 SALENTEIN RESERVE MALBEC 2009 Uco Valley, Mendoza $19.95
A spicy peppery wine showing nice black fruit, a touch of wet earth, a lively palate, black and blue berry fruit bound by chewy tannins. Find this wine
029280 TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2008 Mendoza $17.95
Sweet blueberry jam and damson give way to a charred/smoky note coupled with pleasing mineral and wet stone aromas. Low acid and a little cloying on the palate, although there are plenty of black fruit flavours, a nice touch of black licorice, but it is dull on the finish. Find this wine

081091 ZOLO RESERVE MALBEC 2008 Mendoza $16.95
Simple, pleasing aromas of sweet fruit, slate, mineral and leather; palate has good concentration of sweet fruit, some spice and a little heat on the finish. Find this wine

140855 ZUCCARDI Q CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 La Consulta/Tupungato Vineyards, Mendoza $19.95
Lovely scent of thyme flowers, cinnamon, blackcurrant and mocha, tons of nice sweet fruit on the palate, the right degree of acidity, but gripping tannins suggest a little time in the cellar. Find this wine

973503 ZUCCARDI Q TEMPRANILLO 2008 Santa Rosa Vineyards, Mendoza $19.95
Blueberry, Asian spice, plum, mineral and slate lead to a plush, slightly sweet palate with clean acidity, chewy tannins and a note of dried herbs on the finish. Find this wine

ONTARIO

230771 NO. 99 WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES ESTATE SERIES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008 Ontario $15.95
Grassy, some mineral, citrus, lime leaf and creamy oak. Very soft on the palate, low acidity, nice flavours of apple and Meyer lemon. Find this wine

129742 HUFF ESTATES CHARDONNAY 2008 Ontario $16.95
Tight nose, palate has an apple juice note and a surprising high degree of powdery acidity. Find this wine

230359 INNISKILLIN CANADIAN OAK AGED RIESLING ICEWINE 2006 Niagara Peninsula $79.95
Excellently balanced wine, showing layers of creamy citrus, white tree fruit, apple blossom and superb acidity, without the cloying finish one can find in Ice Wine. Find this wine

230912 CLOSSON CHASE K.J. WATSON VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2008 Niagara River $39.95
Absolutely superb; if I tasted this blind, my inferences would lead to a fine Burgundy. It is laden with notes of dried banana, baked pear, stone, shingle, mineral and touch of vanilla from the deftly administered oak. Closson Chase is a Prince Edward County winery, but this is made using Niagara fruit. Find this wine

QUEBEC

179473 CIDRERIE ST-NICOLAS POM’OR TRADITION CRACKLING CIDER Quebec $12.95
I consumed barrel loads of this last year and fully intend to take the same path again this year. One of the nicest ciders I have tasted, full of crisp apple flavours, a lovely zing and just enough alcohol to allow one to enjoy this beverage in larger than normal quantities.

USA

672667 SEBASTIANI ZINFANDEL 2008 Sonoma County, California $17.95
Sweet oak and zinberry, some forest floor notes, coal dust and a faint note of rubber. Plenty of chewy fleshy fruit, acids are jumping all over the place, a pleasant Zin for warm summer evenings and barbecued meat. Find this wine

229781 A TO Z PINOT NOIR 2008 Oregon $21.95
Plum, blueberry, raspberry, rhubarb and lavender; impressive palate, nice chewy fruit, some sweet cherry with a slight cloying texture on the finish. Find this wine

222331 LACHINI VINEYARDS LACHINI FAMILY ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2007 Chehalem Mountains $39.95
Sweet and spicy, buttery notes, cherry and plum aromas; nice presence on the palate, where Asian spice and cardamom are noted; nicely balanced. Find this wine

AUSTRALIA

017475 MARQUIS PHILIPS SHIRAZ 2008 McLaren Vale, South Australia $15.00
Jay Miller touts this highly. I have to wonder if we are drinking the same wine. It has some funky, mocha, coffee grounds, pleasant dark fruit, but then it hit me; the palate is intensely sweet, very cloying, tasting like black fruit candy and syrup. Find this wine

005199 KILIKANOON THE LACKEY SHIRAZ 2008 South Australia $17.95
Lots of sweet blueberry and blackberry aromas, additional layers of mineral, mint and chocolate stimulate interest. Palate has fleshy fruit, nice lively acidity and a clean tasty finish. Find this wine

606780 PETER LEHMANN THE FUTURES SHIRAZ 2007 Barossa, South Australia $29.95
Intense, lots of blackberry with a kick of forest floor, leather and dried herbs. Showing nicely on the palate, fruit focused, but well balanced with a tasty note of Fry’s chocolate cream on the finish. Find this wine

BORDEAUX

244640 CHÂTEAU BERTINERIE CRU RÉSERVE 2006 $17.95
Mocha and sweet fruit abound, a little note of anise and dried cherry comes to the surface. Sweet, but lackluster on the palate with little, if any finish. Find this wine

098566 CHÂTEAU KIRWAN 2007 Margaux, 3e Cru $65.00
A wine that needs time, the blackcurrant and dark fruit nose is backed up with dried mint and mocha. It has a creamy texture at first and then layers of tannin roll across the palate to shut the party down. Find this wine

226043 CHÂTEAU RAHOUL 2005 AC Graves $29.95
Nice ripeness, terrior focused, with a note of funky barnyard. Tight on the palate, but blackcurrant and cherry fruit shows through as does a touch of sweet dark licorice. Find this wine

241604 PERRIN ET FILS COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES VINSOBRES LES CORNUDS 2009 $15.00
Plumy, wisps of lavender, fresh cut flowers, dark chocolate and slate; great texture and structure on the palate, lots of plum and dark cherry, low acid and good length. Find this wine

PROVENCE

071084 LA BASTIDE BLANCHE BANDOL ROSÉ 2010 $21.95
Great expression of granite and minerality, plenty of peach, red fruit and rose petal aromas; excellent mix of fruit and mineral on the palate, good acidity and a long tasty finish. Find this wine

ITALY

023119 GLADIATOR PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA 2008 $15.95
I have friends who will be happy to read that, in my humble opinion, this is one tasty lip smacking wine. Previously released Primitivo’s have lacked balance, but the Gladiator is spot on. It oozes aromas of Ribena, balsa, plum and sweet cake spice. Juicy and ripe, full of lovely plum and blackberry flavours, a note of chocolate shavings and precise acidity. Find this wine

212456 LAZZERETTI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2003 $36.95
Dark, with aromas of thyme, pepper, sweet spice and earth. The fruit is drying and the wine is seriously astringent. Fruit is buried or long passed its best. Find this wine

211789 MICHELETTI BOLGHERI 2008 $19.95
Funky, some lead pencil, dried coffee urn, seaweed and a musty note. Pleasant fruit on the palate until that musty note surfaces again. Could be an off bottle. Find this wine

091694 SANTA MARGHERITA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007 $19.95
Pretty aromas of Middle Eastern spice box, blackberry, black raspberry and flowers. Nice balance of fruit, earthiness and oak, touch of spice on the finish. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

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