Bères Tokaji 2008 (LCBO product No. 200147)
Reviewed by: John Szabo (WineAlign)
This violently aromatic wine won't be for everyone, but it's pretty spot on region/variety. The nose is fresh, very fragrant, with classic muscat florality, lemon grass, lychee and white pepper aromas. The palate is dry and crisp, salty, mineral as is normal in Tokaj, with decent length for the money. Tasted January 2011. Value Rating: **1/2 87 points
Reviewed by: Sara D’Amato
Big, overwhelmingly floral nose of rose petal, white geranium, honeysuckle, blueberry and white tea. Palate is a little less opulent but still showing perfumed notes as well as cutting acids as well as some briny character. Light and simple with some lingering floral notes. 85 points
Pierre Gaillard Saint-Joseph 2007 (LCBO product No. 194928)
Reviewed by: David Lawrason (Wine Align)
This is a classic northern Rhone syrah just entering prime time. It shows fairly generous textbook aromas of dark cherry/olive fruit with smoked meat, licorice and pepper. It's medium weight and generous with effortless mid-palate richness and a dry, even not the least austere finish. Very good to excellent length as well. One bottle tried was corked but the second was clean. I would buy one bottle, drink it right away and go back for more if all is well. Tasted February 2011. 91 points
Reviewed by: Julian Hitner (Hitner Wine)
Quite possibly the silkiest St-Joseph I have ever tasted, yet one that still carries all the hallmarks of a ‘finely knit,’ appropriately reserved Old World (Rhône) wine. Brilliant, dark-opaque ruby in colour, the 2008 Pierre Gaillard offers truly beautiful aromas of delicate peppery brambleberries, blackberries, plums, cloves, lavender, spicebox, and charcoal. Complex and extremely well integrated, carrying superb
‘regional’ fruit, firm tannins, balanced acidity, and an elegant hint of subtle, peppery plums (very silky) on the finish. A collector’s wine, to be sure, yet one well-priced for those that might wantto procure more than just one case. Now-2016++. 91 points
Reviewed by: Natalie MacLean (NatDecants)
Savoury, delicious and superbly balanced… in fact, fine-tuned for your drinking pleasure. Full-bodied and smooth with seductive black raspberries and cedar. This is a wine that slips onto your radar and then you find yourself buying it again and again until the store runs out of stock. 91 points
Lornano Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 (LCBO product No. 208447)
Reviewed by: John Szabo (Wine Align)
Ripe, clean, modern, stylish and inviting, with plenty of sweet spice, licorice, black cherry fruit and an intriguing medicinal edge. The palate is ripe, fullish firm but not hard, with great structure and above average length and complexity. Nicely done. Tasted January 2011. 89 points
Reviewed by: Decanter Magazine May 2010 issue (Decanter)
Herbal notes at first, locking in sweet cherry jam. Sweet, opulent cherry, cut through by lively acidity and crunchy tannins . Very good length . From 2010 (WS) 17.5 points (out of 20) Awarded 4 stars and highly recommended.
Saint Serge Réserve 2009 (LCBO product No. 219741)
Reviewed by: John Szabo (Wine Align)
Pleasant, spicy, dark fruit, licorice, integrated wood on the nose. The palate is full, fleshy, densely packed and well-structured, offering quite serious flavour for the money. Ready to enjoy. Tasted January 2011. Value Rating: *** 88 points
Elvi Wines Adar Brut 2008, $17.95 (LCBO product No. 156737)
Reviewed by: Jay Miller (Robert Parker)
The 2008 Adar Brut, bottled in November 2009, is medium straw coloured with bright aromatics of mineral, brioche, apple, and floral notes. Crisp, lively, and vibrant on the palate, this lengthy offering will brighten the spirits of those at a Kosher tableElvi wines is a family company founded by Dr. Moises and Anne Cohen to produce Kosher wines from several Spanish DOs. The Adar brand of Cavas is the first of it's kind in Spain. 87 points
Casa De Illana Tresdecinco 2004, $15.95 (LCBO product No. 190702)
Reviewed by: Gord Stimmell (The Toronto Star)
A syrah, cab sauv and merlot winner from the Ribera del Jucar region. Aromas of mocha, smoked meat, blackberry and cedar, with rich flavours of smoky mocha and blackberry. Still young for a 2004. 90+ points
2006 Seigneurs D'Aiguilhe ($19.95, product No. 195172)
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Robert Parker)
Medium to deep garnet. An alluring nose of ripe plums, blackberries, dark chocolate and cloves plus a faint waft of cedar. The palate is equally decadent with a medium level of velvety tannins and medium to high acidity giving some backbone to the juicy dark berry and spiced plum fruit. Long finish. Drink now to 2012. 90 points
2006 Chateau Le Peyrat ($14.95, product No. 171090)
Reviewed by: Tony Aspler (The Wine Guy)
Château Le Peyrat is a small winery in the Côtes de Castillon, one of the lesser-appreciated satellite regions of Bordeaux. Which means their prices are not as elevated as the neighbouring St. Emilion. This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc is worth cellaring for a year or two – especially since its price at Vintages is $14.95 a bottle. The wine has that characteristic cedar, red berry and vanilla oak nose. The flavour is dry with well extracted fruit and gripping tannins. When you get around to opening it, give it an hour or two in the decanter and serve it with a leg of lamb.
Reviewed by: Natalie MacLean (NatDecants)
Rustic, robust and tasty with notes of cassis and blackberry. Decant for 1-2 hours. Balanced with an Old World style; not overly fruity with some cedar notes. Smooth. 86 points
2007 Foncalieu La Reserve de Crouzau ($13.95, product No. 142943)
Review by: Beppi Crosariol, The Globe and Mail
2006 Casa de Illana Seleccion ($35.00, product No. 168781)
Review by: ROBERT PARKER (Robert Parker)
The 2006 Casa de Illana Seleccion is a blend of 50% Petit Verdot and 50% Syrah aged for 18 months in 300-liter French oak. It exhibits a smoky, toasty, blackberry, and blueberry bouquet leading to a ripe, sweet, layered, pleasure-bent wine. Dense, concentrated, and easy-to-understand, this forward effort is for hedonists only. Enjoy it over the next six years. 92 points
2006 Casa de Illana Tradicion ($12.95, product No. 168799)
Review by: ROBERT PARKER (Robert Parker)
A Dry Red Table wine from Ribera del Jucar, Spain. Red values under $25. Recommended and tasted, but no tasting note given. 89 points
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