It's definitely still spring rather than summer, but the Vintages team have chosen to feature wines that come from hot, sunny areas.
The featured areas include "the Mediterranean," California and Australia. Hmmm. More or less where most wines are from anyway. But hey, you've got to have some kind of a theme. Lots more reds than whites on my recommended list though...
A pricing note: with few exceptions this week, my picks are $20 and higher. You can splash out for terrific Bordeaux or Burgundy if "wines in the $30s" and "good value" are phrases you can see fitting together...
>>> Featured Producer - D'Arenburg <<<
One of Australia's most reliable and high-quality producers, D'Arenburg pretty much always have something at Vintages. Right now, there's a bumper crop. Best known in haute wine circles for their impressive shiraz The Dead Arm, D'Arenburg also produce a wide range of other wines, all with interesting names and, increasingly, interesting blends of grapes - like, who else blends white viognier with red shiraz?
Whenever you see their signature red diagonal slash across a white label - reminiscent of the road signs at the outbound edge of French villages and towns to indicate you are leaving a particular municipality - you can buy with confidence. They're not a low end producer, but D'Arenburg always delivers great value, and even their high end flagship The Dead Arm is reasonably priced for the quality. Here are three good ones available right now:
D'Arenberg The Last Ditch Viognier 2006. $19.95 ** GOOD VALUE **
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Nose not the expected aromatic - and some darker notes can be teased out. Rich and full on the palate with indeterminate white fruit with nice complement from the oak - some cedar. Not characteristic of viognier but very good. 89 points.
D'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2005. $21.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Beautiful smooth classic Aussie shiraz – lots of fruit, some peppery notes and some spice. Very smooth on the palate, with a great finish including nice earthy secondary notes. 89 points.
D'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz/Viognier 2006. $27.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Rich Aussie shiraz tempered just so – maybe it’s the 6% viognier at work. Super smooth, nicely fruity, tobacco secondary notes and a lingering finish. 90 points.
Sparkling Wine
Antech Limoux Cuvee Xpression Cremant de Limoux Brut 2005. $17.95
Languedoc, France
This cremant from the sunny Languedoc has a boldly fruity nose with some nice aromas - apples, floral notes and a bit of bread. It's dry but there's lots of fruit and a definite hint of sweetness towards the finish, which is just slightly cloying. 87 points.
The Whites
Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling 2007. $17.95
VQA Niagara
Rich and fruity nose on this kookily named riesling - which apparently has less to do with the producer than with riesling's reputation for reflecting characteristics of the soil. It's got a rich and fruity nose, but no petrol on it. There are peach notes and even a hint of grapeyness. Fresh acidity on the palate and lots of good fruit. There could be a bit more complexity, but there is a nice finish. 88 points.
Mike Weir Sauvignon Blanc 2006. $15.95
VQA Niagara
The golfing great has turned out an interesting sauv blanc - not the most reliable grape for Niagara, but it can work well. Rather muted nose, more mineral than herbaceous. Lots of fresh lemon on the palate and a hint of tropical fruit. Good acidity and an OK finish. 87 points.
Peninsula Ridge Dubois Vineyard Reserve Inox Chardonnay 2006. $19.95
VQA Niagara
Very powerful nose that's not obviously chardonnay - there's white fruit and even a bit of tropical fruit. Smooth and fresh on the palate and with good body. This is unoaked, so it's all about the fruit. Great finish with some sweet lemon. An unusual chard from the ex-Burgundian Jean-Pierre Colas - very interesting. 88 points.
La Crema Chardonnay 2006. $29.95
Sonoma, California
Lovely and elegant nose of fresh citrus and floral notes. Also fresh on the palate, with muted fruit and very gentle oaky notes of smoke and some floral too: lots of complexity here. Pleasantly ripe California fruit aside, this could be a Burgundy. 90 points.
Mer Soleil Chardonnay 2005. $40.95
Central Coast, California
Fresh yet ripe nose. Rich, full and honeyed palate with great acidity. Deftly oaked, but there is a hint of that vanilla sweetness that California seems to like. Rich finish. 89 points.
Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay 2006. $17.95 ** TOP VALUE PICK ** ** BEST VALUE **
Santa Barbara, California
Here's the Cali value proposition: great price for a muted nose followed by a blast of fruit on the palate. Very full bodied with sweet citrus notes - very much a California chard, but without the over-oaking part. Nice finish. Overlook the discount store calendar-style label and buy some. 89 points.
West Cape Howe Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2006. $19.95 ** GOOD VALUE **
Western Australia
Nice rich example of a Bordeaux white blend. A lot of sauvignon blanc characteristics - grassy and herbaceous. Lemon fruit, but rounded out and enriched from the semillon giving a full, rich palate with some tropical fruit too. Nice fresh kick of acid on the lingering finish. 89 points
Thornbury Sauvignon Blanc 2006. $18.95
Marlborough, New Zealand
Very rich and fruity nose, not characteristic, rich and fruity on the palate with good grassy notes, nice tropical fruit too - guava and papaya: both sides of the sauv blanc coin, though more on the tropical side. Good finish. 88 points.
Torlesse Chardonnay 2006. $19.95
Waipara Valley, New Zealand
Fresh and fruity apple nose. richer on palate. Good apple and lemon notes. Nice long finish. 88 points.
Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Chardonnay 2004. $19.95
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Nice butterscotch/oaky nose with a bit of apple under. Fresh and lemony on the palate with nice smoky/oaky notes. Smooth and fresh. (nice oak treatment) 87/88 points.
Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis 2006. $19.95
Chablis, France
Very fresh nose showing the light white fruit of chardonnay - is malolactic rounding things out? Smooth, dry and fresh on the palate, this is a fine quality Chablis at a good price. Great acid kick of lemon on the long finish. 89 points.
Domaine de Valmont Grand Cru Morges 2006. $17.95
Vaud, Switzerland
Very interesting muted and reserved white made from the chasselas grape. Decent acidity. Nicely smooth and muted on the palate, there is a bit caramel - some oak there? Interesting. 88 points.
The Reds
Megalomaniac Vainglorious Cabernet/Merlot 2006. $24.95
VQA Niagara
Fruity nose, but with some definite greenness. However, this seems to dissipate fairly quickly. Also some darker secondary notes like iodine. Less fruity on the palate than expected after that nose, but smooth. Good acidity, medium tannins and an interesting finish with a pleasing sour note to the fruit. Likely to improve with age. 88 points.
Casa Silva Quinta Generacion 2004. $19.95
Colchagua Valley, Chile
Very bold nose of dark red fruit. Smooth and rich on the palate with a hint of iodine. Nice cherry fruit so rich it almost comes across as sweet. Very New World feel and a nice finish too. 89 points.
La Mision Reserva Carmenere 2006. $12.95 ** TOP VALUE PICK **
Central Valley, Chile
Here’s a nice example of carmenere at a good price. Bold nose of dark red fruit with a definite – and rather sharp – carmenere edge. Full and fruity on the palate with some dark secondary notes including pencil lead. Slight sweet note on the OK finish. 87 points.
Los Vascos Grande Reserve 2006. $15.95
Colchagua Valley, Chile
Rich nose of cherry fruit with lots of beefy secondary notes. Acidity and tannins are still very high, but there’s nice fruit there and it should come to the fore as it ages, and the secondary notes, including cigar box, should get more pronounced. Good finish too and good value. Members of the family that owns Chateau Lafite Rothschild are the proprietors. 88 points.
Syan Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. $26.95
Victoria, Australia
Super rich and smooth Aussie cab here – lots of good dark fruit with a hint of iodine under. It would be nicer to have more in the way of secondary notes, but these may come with time as it’s still young. 89 points.
Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion 2001. $71.95
Bordeaux (Pessac-Leognan), France
Rich and complex nose – more secondary notes than fruit now that the age is really starting to kick in: cigar box, iodine, dark cassis. Smooth and remarkably fresh on the palate. Some cherry notes and a lovely lingering finish. Smooth. 91 points.
Chateau Le Carillon 2004. $30.95
Bordeaux (Pomerol), France
Nice medium Bordeaux nose of dark red fruit and a hint of iodine. Super smooth and elegant on the palate. Acidity medium and tannins are still higher, but very soft for a Bordeaux. Great finish. 89 points.
Chateau Pipeau 2003. $39.95
Bordeaux (St. Emilion Grand Cru), France
Rich nose of dark red fruit and pencil lead. Pleasing fruitiness on the palate, balanced with good acidity and tannins. Red berry fruit and a nice hint of wood. Good lingering finish. 90 points.
Nocolas Potel Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2004. $31.95
Burgundy, France
Lovely lighter ruby colour, muted but fruity nose with some complexity. Beautifully smooth on the palate, with lots of cherry fruit and nice secondary notes of earthiness adding complexity. Acidity levels very good, great finish. A fine burgundy from Volnay, one of the better sub-districts. 91 points.
Chateau de Gourgazaud Cuvee Mathilde 2006. $13.95 ** TOP VALUE PICK ** ** BEST VALUE **
Minervois, France
Rich nose of dark red fruit with nice secondary notes. A little lighter than expected on the palate, but great red fruit, including some cherries and red plum. Tannins are still elevated, but there’s a good finish. 88 points
Chateau de Trignon Gigondas 2004. $27.95
Cotes du Rhone, France
Rich nose with classic Rhone aromas of dark red fruit, including blackberries and raspberries. Rich, smooth and fruity on the palate, but there’s also great secondary notes giving good complexity. Lingering fruity finish. 90 points
Perrin & Fils Vigsobres Les Cornuds 2005. $17.95
Cotes du Rhone, France
Appealing light ruby in colour. Fresh fruity nose with some secondary notes. Smooth on the palate, where some red currant fruit emerges. Very good acidity keeps it fresh. Lingering, subtle finish. 89 points
Monte Antico Sangiovese/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. $14.95 ** TOP VALUE PICK **
Tuscany, Italy
Fresh and lively nose of dark red fruit on this extremely well priced Italian. Very smooth and moderately fruity on the palate with nice oaky notes too - a further bonus at the price. OK finish. 88 points
San Jacopo da Vicchiomaggio Chianti Classico 2006. $17.95
Chianti, Italy
Checked table cloth, a dripping candle on the table and a rich red-sauced pasta spring to mind for this classic Chianti. Mellow fruity nose, smooth on the palate, but good acidity. Lots of fruit too, maybe blackberries and cherries. Nice finish. Good. 88 points
Sensi Sangiovese Gramole 2004. $18.95
Tuscany, Italy
Rich nose of dark red fruit - richer than a typical sangiovese for sure. Some nice spicy notes too. Good fruit on the palate and a good finish of ripe fruit. 88 points
Dal Bello Cabernet Sauvignon Feudo Della Regina 2005. $15.95 ** GOOD VALUE **
Veneto, Italy
At the risk of both dating and localizing myself, this ain't no so so singer who - rumour had it - only got a contract because her dad bought her a state-of-the-art studio. It is boldly demanding in that it insists on using a French grape in the Veneto, and it's a good thing that it does. Here's a nice Old World cab with good fruit and great secondary notes including a hint of iodine. It's smooth on the palate, with a decent amount of dark red fruit, and supple tannins. Good finish. 88 points
Muga Reserva 2004. $23.95
Rioja, Spain
Rich nose of cherries and some nice oaky notes - this one spent two year in barrel and it shows. Lost of cherry fruit on the palate, good acidity, bold tannins. The nice chewy cherry finish I look for in a Rioja too. Well done. 88 points
Vina Real Crianza 2004. $17.95 ** GOOD VALUE **
Rioja, Spain
Good Rioja at a better price here. Rich and fruity nose with dark notes of blackberry and cough syrup. All change on the juicy, mouth-filling palate, which offers fresh light cherries: a nice surpise after the nose. Good acidity. This one's drinking well now, but should darken nicely on the palate over the next few years. 88 points
