Mike de Maria

Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate Grand Reserve Shiraz 2010, Niagara Peninsula

Highly drinkable is a good way to describe this wine. Smoke, tar, dark fruits, chocolate and warm spices with a dense, plush, velvety mouthfeel without being jammy or over the top. Balancing acidity keeps things fresh. This might be the best $20 Canadian Red I've ever had.

Uvaggio Secco Moscato 2010, Lodi, California

This was my first go at a dry Moscato (Muscat). On the nose it's quite fragrant with meyer lemon, white flowers, peach, and lychee. The aromas are replayed on the palate, but it dies on the finish and there's an off-putting bitter note as well. The bitter note was less noticeable with food, but both before and after dinner it was ever present. Overall, nice to try a different grape/style, but for $20, it's a pass.

Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Igt Toscana

Intensely flavoured, and very much Italian in style. Bright food friendly acids, rich, and very complex. Fresh and dried fruits balanced by spice, earthy truffle, some dark chocolate and leather.

$30 well spent if you're into old world style wines that have that wonderful, complex mix of funk and fruit.

Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard Malbec 2008, Luján De Cuyo, Mendoza

I've found that over the past 2 years, we've been inundated with many "good but not great" Malbecs. Most are inexpensive and for the price, usually good value. The regular Luigi Bosca Malbec is one of the better examples I find of these types of wines. This single vineyard version is definitely a step above and well worth the $20+ price. It is full bodied, juicy and fruity (but not jammy or over the top), very well balanced. Layers of berries (I get more red than black), nice (and subtle) oak influences, and some spice notes.

Pierre Amadieu Romane Machotte Gigondas 2010, Ac

Both John Szabo's and David Lawrason's review are bang on (other than DLs 'firm and tannic' comment) with this one.

The nose is fairly muted, not showing a whole lot, but it's a complete head fake 'once it hits your lips.' It's quite rich, yet fresh and focused, with red berry fruits and plum flavours, with some garrigue, a little minerality, and as DL says an animal note at the end. Lovely balance, and a velvety smooth mouthfeel. Would score higher if the nose was more expressive.

Pierre Luneau Papin Clos Des Allees Muscadet Sevre Et Maine 2012, Sur Lie, Ap

Dry, minerally, steely, with some citrus. Beautiful acidity, nice round mouthfeel, and no sharp or bitter edges. A really nice wine to drink with or without food.

Aliança Quinta Dos Quatro Ventos 2008

I didn't find this wine to be all that dense or rich. It was balanced and fresh, with black fruits, plum, and an almost meaty/dried herb finish. I found the fruit opened up a little more after 30 minutes in the glass, and it became a little more complex, but not much.

I almost want to say the bottle might have had a fault based on some of the other very good reviews, but I couldn't detect anything.

This was just ok to me. Not worth $25...more in line with what I'd expect from a $17 dollar bottle.

Sasso Al Poggio 2006, Igt Toscana

I tend to agree with Blair's review for the most part. It's not all that good right out of the bottle. It's fairly closed and tight with sour black cherry dominating the palate. After a few hours it opened up, turned to ripe black cherry and I did get the chocolate, but think bitter dark chocolate not milk chocolate. It's quite juicy and fresh despite the age. Overall, you can do better for $19 but it's not bad after a few hours of breathing.

Mazzei Castello Di Fonterutoli Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva 2007

Wonderful balance in this wine. It's red fruit dominated with some complex savoury flavours, elegant, juicy and full of flavour. When really trying I think I got what John Szabo refers to as "oyster shell minerality." There's something to that, although I'd never be able to come up with such a description.

It was delicious with a Garlic and Sage Marinated Berkshire Pork Chop cooked medium rare, but I think it has the stuff to go well with beef dishes as well.

Really nice wine, well worth the $25.

Mendel Malbec 2010, Mendoza

Certainly elegant, refined, and balanced. Juicy acidity, red fruits, potpourri, a little vanilla. Very solid.