Barry McLarnon
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Reviews (172)
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Reviews
Hubert Brochard Les Carisannes Pinot Noir 2014, Igp Vins De Pays Du Val De Loire
Loire, France$14.25
Most of my red wine drinking acquaintances would turn their noses up at this thin stuff and go back to their shirazes and malbecs. Their loss. I like the delicacy, the purity of fruit, and the subtle floral hints. Sure, one could wish for a bit more flesh on the bones, but at this price point, you can't have everything.
3.5 Stars
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Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2015, Swartland
Swartland, South Africa$12.95
Meaty, beaty, big and bouncy... not much subtlety or finesse here, but pretty hard to beat for the price, especially when it was on sale a few months back.
3.5 Stars
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St Hubertus Riesling 2014, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$13.75
Not unlike many of its Ontario brethren, laden with limey acidity and minerality, but there's a savoury note that sets this BC riesling apart. Not sure if it's sagebrush, as JS suggests, but whatever it is, I like it.
3.5 Stars
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Dirty Laundry Woo Woo Vines Gewürztraminer 2015, BC VQA Okanagan Valley
British Columbia, Canada$15.75
A blowsy gewurz with some decent varietal characteristics and apricoty fruit. Off-dry, despite the rather hefty 13.8% alcohol level. Could use a little more acidity for better balance - might have benefited from earlier picking, perhaps?
3.5 Stars
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Saint Roch Vielles Vignes Grenache Blanc/Marsanne 2015, Côtes Du Roussillon
Languedoc, France$15.95
I had trouble finding this wine here on WA, since the page incorrectly describes it as a grenache/marsanne blend rather than grenache/roussanne. The pictured bottle is wrong too, since the wine has a cork closure, not screwcap. The reviews from the gurus are bang on, though - this is a fine value, reminiscent of some similar white blends from South Africa.
3.5 Stars
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Douloufakis Femina 2015, Aegean Islands
Greece$12.75
Reading all of the critic's reviews gives a good idea of how complex and unusual this wine is, but I think David's review pretty much nails it. Certainly not an everyday sipper, but a fascinating and affordable side trip for the adventurous wine lover.
3.5 Stars
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A To Z Wineworks Pinot Noir 2014, Oregon
Oregon, Usa$24.95
The back label announces "the essence of Oregon", and this description doesn't seem overblown when you taste the wine. This pinot strikes a nice balance between cool and warm climate characteristics, with attractive fruit, fairly deep colour, good varietal typicity, and minimal oak influence. Food-friendly, smooth, and very pleasant to sip - what's not to like?
3.5 Stars
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Flat Rock Chardonnay 2015, VQA Twenty Mile Bench
Ontario, Canada$19.95
Can't add much to the descriptions provided by the pros, except to say that this is yet another example of how world-class chardonnay is being produced here in Ontario, and being marketed at a very reasonable and competitive price.
3.5 Stars
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Parker Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay 2015, South Australia
South Australia, Australia$19.95
If your concept of Aussie chardonnay was based upon Lindeman's Bin 65 of ten years ago or more, this would be quite the eye-opener. Fresh, clean, very food-friendly, with pear-ish fruit that is reminiscent of pinot gris, and virtually no detectable oak influence. Representing the new wave of chardonnay down under, and that's a good thing.
3.5 Stars
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Jardin Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2015, Wo Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, South Africa$21.95
This ticks all the right boxes for chardonnay: creamy, luscious citrusy fruit, a dash of butterscotch, a touch of toasty oak, and finishing with a dollop of Cape minerality. Nicely done.
3.5 Stars
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