It has been a while since I was able to venture to London to sample some of the liquid goods soon to arrive at your local vintages store, but the wine gods were with me and I was able, and willing to sip a few of the wines slotted for release on the 31st of the month. Here is my take on a few of them.

302059 CAVE SPRING ESTATE BOTTLED GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2010 Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Cave Spring Vineyard $17.95
Great typicity, exuding pleasing whiffs of almond cookie, lychee, a soothing layer of honey and some floral aromas. It carries the perfect amount of sweetness, gentle acidity and shows good length on the finish. Find this wine

256834 CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES OLD VINES PINOT NOIR 2007 Niagara-on-the-Lake
This Pinot has some nice plumy and red fruit notes, a touch of mineral and dried herb, but the tannins are so overpowering, the fruit struggles to surface on the palate. Find this wine

250209 VINTAGE INK MARK OF PASSION MERLOT/CABERNET 2009 Niagara Peninsula $17.95
A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon showing good ripeness, nice brambly currant, cedar and wet soil aromas with a nice balance of sweetness and acidity on the palate. There are hints of chocolate and mocha on the finish. Find this wine

273482 CEDARCREEK PINOT NOIR 2008 Okanagan Valley $31.95
A perfumed, complex and enticing nose, showing cigar leaf, chocolate, pure dark fruit and layers of plum, black cherry and sweet spice. The texture is silky, it has a little bite, but the balance is spot on. Find this wine

272641 SODARO FELICITY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 Napa Valley $43.95
Rich and viscous, with notes of blood, blackcurrant, mocha, mineral and iron that lead to a palate of dark fruit, spice and a chewy texture. Find this wine

229781 A TO Z WINEWORKS PINOT NOIR 2009 Oregon $23.95
Redolent of sweet jammy aromas, red jello, plum, clove and Moroccan spice. Lean at first on the palate, but it does open to show good structure, with fruit and mocha notes, some astringency, with a creamy textured finish. Find this wine

238675 LACHINI VINEYARDS ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2008 Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon $43.95
Nice aromas of earth, wet moss and mineral give way to a core of dense blackberry fruit, vanilla and sweet spice. It is fairly muscular on the palate, nicely balanced with a sweet note on the finish. Find this wine

408864 CHATEAU STE MICHELLE INDIAN WELLS MERLOT 2008 Columbia Valley, Washington $25.95
An almost Port like sweetness leaps from the glass mixing with aromas of dark chocolate, hay, wet earth and mocha. Good concentration of blackcurrant fruit on the palate, albeit a bit one dimensional. Find this wine

273425 TAMARÍ AR MALBEC 2007 $21.95
Strong aromas of soy (perhaps subliminal suggestion at play) with black raspberry, mineral oak and spice, lots of enjoyable juicy fruit, great acidity and great length on the finish. Find this wine

269183 ANAKENA ONA PINOT NOIR 2010 Leyda Valley $19.95
Aromas of dried lime dust, cherry and caramel are prominent supported with a floral note and dried cherry. It has a lighter styled palate; it is clean and balanced with pretty red fruit flavours that linger on the finish. Find this wine

GOTHAM OLD VINE SALMAGUNDI 2008 Barossa Valley, South Australia $29.95
Imagine a black fruit pie, fresh out of the oven, heady aromas of buttery pastry and dark fruit. It also carries notes of lavender and vanilla and the palate bursts with sweetness, maraschino cherry, a creamy texture and teeth coating tannins. Acidity tames the sweetness; a minty note appears on the finish. Find this wine

636407 TWO HANDS BELLA’S GARDEN SHIRAZ 2009 Barossa Valley, South Australia $64.95
This untamed inky toned monster abounds with essence of blueberry, cherry, and plum with a light dusting of cocoa and tea. It has amazing concentration, perfectly tuned and laden with pure fruit and sweet spice. Its tannins are robust, but silky. Not a wine for the faint of heart. Find this wine

155119 BARON-FUENTÉ GRAND MILLÉSIME BRUT CHAMPAGNE 1998 $51.95
Nice price for an aged bubbly, lovely yeasty aromas mingle with the almond, marzipan, caramel and over ripe apples. Tasty palate shows its age, great structure and a there is a lovely caramel toffee note on the close. Find this wine

259770 JOSEPH CATTIN GEWURZTRAMINER HATSCHBOURG 2009 $19.95n Alsace Grand Cru
Believe it or not, I lost my notes on this wine, but all I can say is I remember being truly impressed with its structure and wonderful flavours and at less than twenty bucks, this is on my list of things to buy on Saturday. Find this wine

199059 CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR TERRIEN 2009 Lussac Saint-Émilion $14.95
The wine, a blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon is meaty full of dark berry and thyme aromas with a balanced palate of well ripened fruit, a touch of earthiness and gentle tannin. Not bad for $15.00! Find this wine

271999 LES DOLIA LAUDUN CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2009 $18.95
Floral, super ripe dark fruit, ground black pepper smoky meat, coal dust and slate, it sits nicely on the palate, although it is tannic and needs some time away, an hour in the decanter should allow it to blossom. Find this wine

251603 GALÉVAN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2009 $41.95
Odd aromas of balsamic and dark treacle do give way to show blackberry and blueberry fruit aromas seasoned with a little sage and thyme. The palate is dusted with white pepper, it has some cherry, bitter chocolate and spice flavours, but it is tightly wound and the fruit exits too soon on the finish. Find this wine

259762 ALPHA ESTATE HEDGEHOG VINEYARD XINOMAVRO 2007 $18.95
Fennel and stewed fruit aromas with a touch of cinnamon lead to a strawberry jam and a low acid palate with funky note on the finish that leaves one wondering exactly what do those hedgehogs do in the vineyard. Find this wine

114777 STUDERT-PRÜM WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2007 $17.95
A lovely nose featuring kiwi, pea shoots, marzipan, wet stone and peach. The palate is lush; it carries the low level of sweetness with ease, thanks to the layer of lime acidity and a finish that leaves one wanting more. Find this wine

208462 TERRE NERE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2006 $35.95
A multidimensional nose of earth, barnyard, mushroom, anise and caramel which keeps getting better swirl after swirl. The palate pales a little in comparison, but the tannins are tight and are maybe keeping everything under lock and key. It is rich and spicy, it has that desirable note of terroir and dark cherry and I think it will only get better with time. Find this wine

084061 CORTE MAJOLI RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2008 $16.95
A fun wine loaded with mocha, balsa, prune and cola notes with dollops of plum, cherry and sweet spice. A ripe and chewy palate with little if any sweetness and gentle chewy chocolate tannins on the close. Find this wine

040360 FINCA SOBREÑO CRIANZA 2008 Toro $17.95
Funky whiffs of sewer, instant coffee granules, Dutch liquorice and black fruit candy do harmonize nicely. Great balance and structure on the palate, fruit is mature and the acids blend well. No evidence of tannins and rather enjoyable right now. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

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4. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 24th Release – Tasting Notes
5. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s June 25 Release – Tasting Notes

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