January 22 - Vintages

DISCOVER OUR LATEST • SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2011
USA – WHITE WINE CONT’D
CALIFORNIA
MER SOLEIL SILVER
UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2008
Santa Lucia Highlands
Mer Soleil is owned by the Wagner clan of Caymus
fame. Their Silver wines aim to unite the crisp
minerality of a classic Chablis with the tropical fruit
demonstrated by Pacific coastline Chardonnay. To
achieve this they forgo oak treatment or malolactic
fermentation, thereby allowing the core expression
of the grape to shine through. The results are
magical. Notes of honeydew melon, apples and
pineapple entreat the nose, while the palate shows
exquisite tropical fruit and certainly delivers on the
mineral front. Enjoy this with a grilled-shrimp salad.
220343 (D) 750 mL $24.95 1
USA – RED WINE
CALIFORNIA
BERINGER PINOT NOIR 2007
Napa Valley
TASTING NOTE: Floral, spicy, medium-bodied
and delicate, with fragrant black cherry, herb, spice
and blackberry fruit that gains depth and
complexity. Young and tight. Drink now through
2012. Score: 89 (James Laube, www.winespectator.com,
Sept. 30, 2010)
718668 (D) 750 mL $29.95 1
BLACKSTONE WINESMAKER’S SELECT
MERLOT 2008
California
TASTING NOTE: Inky, almost opaque, rich and
luscious, this will bowl you over with its deft
balance and concentrated fruit flavours. Delectable
aromas and flavours – black plum, dark, ripe
cherry and spicy pomegranate – are consistent
throughout gliding along on a bed of ripe tannin
and wonderful moderating tang. It’s structured,
medium bodied with a lengthy finish. This punches
well above the price with the price-quality ratio
skewed in your favour. Score: HHHHK (Vic
Harradine, www.winecurrent.com, Nov. 11, 2010)
606327 (D) 750 mL $15.95 2
36 VINTAGES SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2011
CHATEAU ST. JEAN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009
California
TASTING NOTE: Chateau St. Jean has long
been recognized for producing quality Cabernet
Sauvignon, and this superbly priced version is
no exception. Ripe cassis, raspberry and woodsmoke
are front and centre. Dry, rich, ripe and
forward, with the fruit nicely balanced by mid-palate
tannins. Enjoy it tonight with a rich meat-based
pasta dish. (VINTAGES panel, April 2009)
038034 (D) 750 mL $19.95 1
CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
The Alexander Valley is known for producing
voluptuous wines, and the 2007 Clos du Bois
Cabernet certainly lives up to the region’s
reputation. This wine is a sense-captivating treat.
Teeming with blackberry, black cherry, currants,
smoke and chocolate, with supple tannins and
great structure, it shows all of the hallmarks that
have brought the Alexander Valley to the world’s
attention. Pair this with grilled beef, or enjoy it
with a bar of dark chocolate.
054080 (D) 750 mL $24.95 2
EARTHQUAKE ZINFANDEL 2007
Lodi
(Michael and David Phillips)
This wine won Double Gold at the San Francisco
Chronicle Wine Competition in 2010.
TASTING NOTE: When you nose this wine you
might want to hold onto something – the aromas
of this aptly named wine tip the Richter scale.
Gorgeous notes of bright raspberry, rhubarb,
mocha, oak, bacon and blackberry all make an
impact. The palate echoes (or should that be
aftershocks?) the aromas nicely. Dry, with a classic
Zin texture and a medium-long finish. This bold
wine will match well with savoury pasta or a slowcooked
roast beef. (VINTAGES panel, May 2010)
059717 (D) 750 mL $39.95 1