It's only wine but I like it
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Following (3)
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Reviews (1266)
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Reviews
Boutari Grande Reserve Xinomavro 2008, Pdo Naoussa
Naoussa, Greece$18.95
Once again, Boutari has crafted a lovely old-world red. Dried red fruits, hints of leather, fine tannin and crisp acidity bring to mind Barolo/Barbaresco. Perhaps a bit more oak noted compared to the '07, but the wood is still a bit player. Rustic? Perhaps, but in the best sense of the word. Up a buck in price, but still a steal. Fine drinking now but I suspect this should keep nicely for several years. Tasted July 2015.
3.5 Stars
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Tselepos Classique Mantinia Moschofilero 2013, Mantinia
Greece$14.75
An aromatic white from Greece. A mix of flavours, citrus and orchard fruit to my palate. Ripe, with well-judged acidity and no decernible oak to my taste. Worked well with seafood-based pasted. Tasted Dec 2014.
3.5 Stars
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Montirius Terre Des Aînés Gigondas 2007
Rhône, France$24.95
From one of my favourite producers, this Gigondas is at its peak. Medium bodied, with dominant notes of ripe red fruits, hints of herbs and black pepper. I like this wine to be sure, but I prefer Montirius' Vacqueryas bottlings which seem to be more distinctive (perhaps owing to their high content of Syrah, which is absent here). Still, this is a fine bottle to be sure and not badly priced by LCBO standards. Tasted April 2014.
3.5 Stars
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Cave Spring Estate Riesling 2012, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$17.95
Certainly the warm '12 vintage has given this wine a more exotic, tropical fruit flavor profile. Acidity seems a tad lower than in previous years but this is by no means flabby. Has a nice backbone of minerality. Very good concentration and complexity. I don't recall ever having a mediocre Riesling from CS, they have this down to fine art. I would nominate this wine as THE benchmark in moderately priced Niagara Rieslings. Drink or hold several years. Tasted April 2014.
3.5 Stars
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Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Pinot Noir 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$30.00
A bit difficult to judge at this point as I found that the tannin to still be a bit firm. Quite close on the nose, this took some time to open up (and never really did, aromatically). On the palate, fairly complex flavours of red cherries, tart cranberries with a hint of some from the barrel ageing. A bitter note also crept in. A bit of over-extraction? A well-made cool-climate pinot, but I'd suggest another 12-18months in bottle. Taste May 2015.
3.5 Stars
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Montirius Garrigues Vacqueyras 2011
Rhône, France$22.90
Seems quite light and simple in this vintage. Little structure or complexity. More like a decent Cote du Rhone than a Vacqueyras. Would have scored it even lower but the wine showed much better with food. Aug 2015.
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Tournon Mathilda Shiraz 2011, Victoria
Victoria, Australia$19.95
A medium-bodied, leaner Shiraz which has much more in common with the syrahs of the North Rhone than most Shiraz I have ever tasted. Dark berry fruit, with notes of black olives, dried meat and black pepper. It does have a hard to place, odd taste (think bug spray, though I have never actually tasted that!) that is a bit distracting (again, like north Rhone syrah). Despite that, a fine wine. Tasted April 2014.
3.5 Stars
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Domaine Saint Pierre Vacqueyras 2010
Rhône, France$25.95
A mellowing Vacqueyras, quite deeply coloured and densely flavoured. Very ripe dark berry fruit, almost pruney/jammy almost veering into overripe territory. Hints of spice and herbs on the finish. The dry finish and good acidity keep it it from becoming a Barossa Valley red. Very enjoyable. Tasted March 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Maria Alvarez Serrano Abadía De Gomariz 2010, Do Ribeiro
Spain$14.75
Still fresh and lively, with vibrant acidity and fine tannin. Dense ripe fruit bolstered by spice and pepper. This actually seemed to get better with each sip. My second encounter with this wine and I remain very impressed. Second bottle purchased on sale at<$15, almost criminal at this quality level. Tasted March 2016.
3.5 Stars
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Alvaro Palacios Camins Del Priorat 2011, Doca Priorat
Priorat, Spain$25.95
A very ripe Priorat, with blackberry fruits, hints of prunes and pepper and spice. Manages to keep from being cloying thanks to reasonable acidity and a solid structure. Nice, lingering finish. Has similarities to a fine CdR Villages or Gigondas. Fine stuff. Drink now or can hold a few more years. Tasted Dec 2014.
3.5 Stars
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