For the 2nd time in 2 weeks I find myself at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts for a wine tasting ... this is another agent portfolio tasting, but this time it's 52 wines from Churchill Cellars; below is a list of my top 10 wines tasted (with selected notes) ...
*** 1/2 (good) ...
Pisse Dru 2009 Beaujolais ($12.25 - General List)
- serve chilled and you'll find lots of cherry and raspberry fruit.
Patriarch 2009 Pinot Noir ($10.25 - General List)
- dark berries, juicy and enjoyable
**** (very good) ...
Wente 2009 Morning Fog Chardonnay ($16.75 - General List)
- still a lovely Chard, better acidity than in previous vintages
Wente Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.75 - General List)
- juicy red fruit with hints of vanilla
Grove Street 2008 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.80 - Vintages)
- plum, red berry, cherry, quite a bit of peppery-spice on the finish
D'Arenberg 2008 The Stump Jump Lightly Wooded Chardonnay ($13.75 - General List)
- nice tropical fruit: pineapple, mango, pear with a light vanilla tinge
Navajas 2005 Tinto Reserva ($16.75 - Vintages)
- very cherry with good spice notes
****+ (very good +) ...
D'Arenberg 2006 d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache ($19.75 - Vintages Essential)
- red licorice, anise, red fruit, hint of herbed-spice ... one of the nicest wines of the afternoon, can't wait to try this one out at a summer BBQ.
Chivite 2005 Gran Feudo Vinas Viejas Reserva ($19.75 - Vintages)
- another sip of deliciousness; a Tempranillo/Grenache blend with lovely spice/pepper, blackberry and cassis
Pol Roger Brut Champagne ($59.75 - General List)
- always lovely, toasty and baked apple notes
*** 1/2 (good) ...
Pisse Dru 2009 Beaujolais ($12.25 - General List)
- serve chilled and you'll find lots of cherry and raspberry fruit.
Patriarch 2009 Pinot Noir ($10.25 - General List)
- dark berries, juicy and enjoyable
**** (very good) ...
Wente 2009 Morning Fog Chardonnay ($16.75 - General List)
- still a lovely Chard, better acidity than in previous vintages
Wente Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.75 - General List)
- juicy red fruit with hints of vanilla
Grove Street 2008 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.80 - Vintages)
- plum, red berry, cherry, quite a bit of peppery-spice on the finish
D'Arenberg 2008 The Stump Jump Lightly Wooded Chardonnay ($13.75 - General List)
- nice tropical fruit: pineapple, mango, pear with a light vanilla tinge
Navajas 2005 Tinto Reserva ($16.75 - Vintages)
- very cherry with good spice notes
****+ (very good +) ...
D'Arenberg 2006 d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache ($19.75 - Vintages Essential)
- red licorice, anise, red fruit, hint of herbed-spice ... one of the nicest wines of the afternoon, can't wait to try this one out at a summer BBQ.
Chivite 2005 Gran Feudo Vinas Viejas Reserva ($19.75 - Vintages)
- another sip of deliciousness; a Tempranillo/Grenache blend with lovely spice/pepper, blackberry and cassis
Pol Roger Brut Champagne ($59.75 - General List)
- always lovely, toasty and baked apple notes
My take...
ReplyDelete**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava, $14.35
-Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2008, $24.75
-Vina El Principal Memorias 2007 Chile, $35 private order
-Pol Roger Brut Champagne, $59.75
-Chivite Gran Feudo Vinas Viejas Reserva Navarra 2005, $19.75
-Willm Pinot Gris Alsace Kosher 2008, $22.75
***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Peninsula Ridge Sauvignon Blanc Niagara VQA, $13.75
-Peninsula Ridge Reserve Chardonnay 2008 VQA, $24.75 Vintages
-Peninsula Ridge Meritage 2009 VQA, $21.95
-Peninsula Ridge Barrel Aged Chardonnay 2009 VQA, $14.75
-Chateau de Gourgazaud Cuvee Mathilde Minervois 2008, $14.75
-Robertson Winery Sauvignon Blanc South Africa, $10.75
-Wente Vineyards Morning Fog Chardonnay, $16.75
-Wente Vineyards Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, $16.75
-Grove Street Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, $14.80
-Casa Silva Los Lingues Gran Reserva Carmenere 2008 Chile, $17.75
-Casa Silva Colchagua Valley Quinta Generacion Red 2007 Chile, $24.75
-d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache 2008, $19.75
-Chivite Gran Feudo Reserva Navarra 2005, $15.75
-Navajas Tinto Reserva Rioja 2005, $16.75
*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Peninsula Ridge INOX Chardonnay VQA, $13.75
-Peninsula Ridge Merlot VQA, $14.75
-Peninsula Ridge Shiraz VQA, $14.75
-Peninsula Ridge Cabernet VQA, $12.75
-Peninsula Ridge Fume Blanc 2008 VQA, $24.75
-Chateau de Gourgazaud Minervois 2008, $12.75
-Domaine de Gourgazaud Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $11.75
-Chateau de Gourgazaud Minervois Reserve 2006, $17.75
-Robertson Winery Shiraz South Africa, $11.75
-d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Lightly Wooded Chardonnay 2008, $13.75
-d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2008, $13.75
-d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $19.75
-Willm Riesling Reserve Alsace 2008, $16.75
-August Kesseler R Riesling 2008 QbA Germany, $15.75