Michael Egerton

Château Prieure Canteloup 2009, Ac Côtes De Bordeaux

Produttori Del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2009, Docg

Torrevento Vigna Pedale Riserva 2008, Doc Castel Del Monte

Nice ruby colour with a slightly watery rim. Incredible aroma with huge hints of earth, smoke and herbaceousness. Almost a touch of smouldering campfire. It's medium bodied with mouth watering acid and dry tannins with the finish lingering for a minute plus. Seemed very complex and a great value at under 20 dollars.

Coyote's Run Pinot Noir Black Paw 2010, Four Mile Creek

A lovely Niagara Pinot with a slight brick hue. The nose reveals fresh berry fruit and hint of spice. Completely in balance with a nice long finish. The best Niagara wine I've tasted thus far.

Dante Rivetti Bricco Riserva Barbaresco 2004, Docg

Good Barbaresco with a lightly garnet colour. Plesently rustic nose with a big note of anise. Mid-weight with mouth puckering tannins and a long, solid finish. This wine demands to be enjoyed with a hearty meal.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Napa Valley

Castello Di Neive Barbaresco 2009, Docg

A personal favorite at this price point. Slightly garnet in colour, this medium light bodied wine shows hints of ripe red berried fruit, black cherry and woodsy spice. Surprisingly complex with balanced medium plus acidity and dry dusty tannins.great lingering finish.

Château Senejac 2009, Ac Haut Médoc

Dark opaque ruby in colour with strong notes of cedar and ripe berried fruit. This medium-full bodied wine is fairly complex with grippy tannins and a nice long finish. Still a bit tightly wound and would think a few more years in the cellar would do it some good.

E. Guigal Gigondas 2009, Ac

Couldn't disagree more with the respected critics on this one. Elegant nose of jammy fruits and a hint of spice, but this wine ends there. At 14.5% alcohol I found this to be suprisingly light in weight without the umph of many côte du Rhones retailing at half the price. Very dry with weak tannins and a finish that drops off almost immediately. This was the third bottle I tasted and all disappointed especially at this price point for the region.

Domaine Les Grands Bois Cuvée Philippine Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2010, Ac

This is a beautiful Côtes du Rhone. Dark opaque ruby in colour. Full and lush showing intense aromas of dark ripe berries and an earthy undertone with a kick of pepper. Nice acidity, grippy tannins and enjoyable long finish. Very complex and savory, definitely one of the best tasted at this price point. Looking forward to see how this develops over time.