February 5 - Vintages

OUR DAILY RED 2009
California, No Sulphites Detected,
Organic
This wine has been in production since 1998
and is now the number-one-selling organic wine
in North America. The ’09 had not yet been
reviewed at press time, but this dry and fruity
blend of Syrah, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon
demonstrated unequivocally to our panel the
quality and structure that has earned Orleans Hill
considerable national and international accolades.
Our Quality Assurance Laboratory has determined
that this wine contains 6 mg/L of free sulphur.
203851 (XD)
4 Organic Product
750 mL $14.95 2
RIDGE THREE VALLEYS 2008
Sonoma County
TASTING NOTE: Hitting all the classic varietal
field-blend bases, but still convincingly defined as
Zinfandel, this temperate, well-balanced bottling
pulls back from the brink of high-ripeness and
aims for a structured, claret-like style. Its precise,
berry-like fruit comes with no chocolaty extras
but hints of briar and tea-leaf do show here and
there. First and foremost, it is a wine that is made
to accompany food. Score: 88 (Connoisseurs’
Guide to California Wines, May 2010)
652875 (XD) 750 mL $29.95 2
ROBERT MONDAVI OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006
Oakville District, Napa Valley
James Laube, in the Wine Spectator, rated this
wine a 90 (Nov. 15, 2009).
TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville reveals more licorice, spice, box,
cedar, black cherries, and black currants in its
complex, moderately intense aromatics. Fullbodied
with outstanding concentration and
moderate tannin, it displays the potential to
improve for a decade, and last for 15-20 years
thereafter. Score: 91 (Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com, Dec. 2008)
029207 (D) 750 mL $54.95 2
DISCOVER OUR LATEST • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2011
RODNEY STRONG
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007
Sonoma County
TASTING NOTE: Brings a welcome restraint to
Cabernet, offering a dry, somewhat tannic wine
of great elegance. Easy to like for its balanced
flavors of blackberries and black currants, with
gentle influences of oak. Pretty good price for a
wine of polish and sophistication. Score: 89
(Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, April 1, 2010)
226944 (D) 750 mL $22.95 1
SEGHESIO SONOMA ZINFANDEL 2009
Sonoma County
The Seghesio name has been a part of Sonoma’s
Zinfandel story since 1895. Today, sourcing
grapes from vines averaging 25-30 years in age,
they produce some of the best Zins going. Their
2007 was no.10 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list
of 2008 – certainly no fluke. Their 2009 shows
notes of raspberry, blackberry and subtle spice.
Demonstrating great structure, this is an elegant
Zin that will pair scrumptiously with ribs in a
zesty barbecue sauce.
942151 (D) 750 mL $29.95 2
MEXICO – RED WINE
L.A. CETTO PETITE SIRAH 2008
Guadalupe Valley, Baja California
Widely produced in California and usually
blended with Zinfandel to add structure, Petite
Sirah does very well as a stand-alone variety
in Mexico; L.A. Cetto, in particular, has been
extremely successful with the variety. Dense
purple in colour, it offers black pepper and tea
notes leading to an impressive, well-rounded
finish. Pair this with spicy black bean dishes or
steak-and-cheese enchiladas.
983742 (XD) 750 mL $11.95 2
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2011 VINTAGES 33