Summer Whites and Sundry Others
Here are my top picks of this week's release.
The Wines
White
Kim Crawford SP Boyszone Pinot Gris 2006 $29.95
Fresh fruity nose with several flavours battling to get through. Very smooth and moderately fruity on palate. The fruit is light, yet rich and with tropical notes. Great finish. 90 points.
Kim Crawford SP Tietjen Chardonnay 2006. $31.95
Woody nose but some fruit under. Acid medium, smooth on palate with nice butterscotch and vanilla, a little heavy on the oak, but stops short of excessive. Fuller bodied as a result and good finish. 89 points.
Albert Bichot Pouilly Fuisse Le Clos 2005. $27.95
Nice nose with a bit of anise and cedar. Acid +, discreet butterscotch and vanilla hints. Some lemon zest and nicely balanced finish of fruit and wood. A fine French chardonnay. 89 points.
Coyote's Run Reserve Chardonnay 2005. $21.95
Bit of a cardboard nose, but some apple fruit under. Acid+ but still a certain roundness that adds body. Better on palate than nose - this one grows on you. Nice butterscotch. Nice finish. 88 points.
Koura Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006. $20.95
Very typical NZ nose - herbaceous and grassy. Acid +, bit of a bug spray hint. Quite sharp on the palate, but leads to a nice finish of tropical fruit. 88 points.
Cave Spring Riesling Reserve. $18.15
Fruity nose with petrol hint. Fresh, acid medium so a bit round on palate, but a nice fresh finish. 87 points.
Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc Reserve 2005 $13.95 ** GOOD VALUE **
Very muted nose - it's a reserve in more senses than one. It's not too flavourful but there are some citrus notes if you work at it. A bit of an undertone, but OK finish. Worth trying as a rare example of one of Alsace's lesser known varietals. 86 points.
Sparkling
Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé Brut. $17.95
Very pale pink, red fruit on nose. Red fruit follows though on palate, but a bit cloying on finish, though that eases up to a nice aftertaste. 87 points.
Santa Margherita Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Brut. $17.95
A little pricey, but a pretty good example of Italy's most fun bubbly. Candied nose. Llight, fresh, peachy tones on the palate, nice body. OK finish. 87 points.
Rosé
Chateau Val Joanis Cotes du Luberon Rose 2006. $14.95
Elegantly pale colour, bold nose of rich red fruit, medium acidity. Not overly fruity on palate: understated and elegant like a good Provencal rosé made of grenache, syrah and cinsault should be. Nice finish. 88 points.
Sables D'Azur Rose 2006. $14.95
Lovely colour and fun bottle. Moderately appealing nose and fresh on the palate even though the acidity feels only about medium. Very dry. Nice crisp finish. 87 points.
Red
Chateau Langoa Barton 2002. $57.95
Very dark ruby colour edging to an orange rim show the aging on this one. Closed nose still, but classic Bordeaux notes of cigar, pencil and dark red fruit. Acidity medium, tannins firm - but smooth and elegant on the palate. Nice fruit but there's a slight sour note, however this disappears into a good finish. Drinkable now, but will still improve if you want to lay it down for a few years. A fine Bordeaux, not even overpriced. 89 points.
Coyote's Run Pinot Noir 2005. $29.95
Niagara turns it out! Excellent classic pinot nose of cherries and "barnyard" (i.e., earthy) undertones. Acid +, tannins +. Fairly restrained on palate - not over fruity. Nice finish of cherries. Beyond most people's price pain-point for Ontario, but in fact well worth it. 89 points.
Ramos-Pinto Duas Quintas Tinto 2004. $15.95 ** BEST VALUE **
Old World meets Easy Drinking New. Lots of great red fruit give this Portuguese entry a New World feel. Acidity is medium, as are the tannins, giving it a nice balance. Fuller bodied with a good finish. Fire up the barbecue and uncork this terrific value red. 88 points.
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