April 26th Vintages Best Buys

Michael Vaughan
Friday, April 25, 2008

Welcome to Friday First
Tomorrow’s Vintages April 26th Release a Tasting California - Napa/Sonoma Wine Trip thematic featuring 30 selections. The 117-items include 17 In-Store Discoveries, which are coded as ISD – note that Vintages does not permit wine writers to taste these ISD releases). All recommended wine have been tasted twice.

To see our Ratings, Drinkability & Cellaring Table click here
See LCBO store availability by clicking on the name of the wine

Best Buy Whites
There are a number of destination Chardonnays in this release. One of the best values is Henry of Pelham 2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (V 268342) at $19.95 which a VQA designation from the Niagara Escarpment. It rated **+ out of three stars and weighs in with13.5% alcohol. Very light yellow colour, it has a complex, intense, rather toasty, ripe lemon-melon purée nose. On the palate it is dry, well structured and medium-full bodied with toasty, ripe lemon-melon flavours along with some key lime notes on the fine, long, lingering, slightly cedary, pineapple-tinged finish.

From California’s Sonoma County, the best buy is Dry Creek Vineyard 2006 Fumé Blanc (V 277715) at only $14.95. It rated a respectable *+/** and has 13.5% alcohol. Light straw in colour, it has fresh, lively, grassy, yellow grapefruit aromas. This Sauvignon Blanc is very crisp and medium to medium-light-bodied  on the palate with slightly grassy, yellow grapefruit flavours accompanied by lingering, very tangy finish. Note that the last time it appeared in Vintages was on July 26, 2003 at $25.95 for the 2001 vintage.

Another rendition of Sauvignon Blanc, this time from the Loire, is Domaine Bonnard 2006 Pouilly Fumé (V 65987) at $21.95 with a very respectable rating of **/**+. It has 12.5% alcohol and an extremely pale straw colour. The message here is delicate - a very slightly honeyed, ripe lemon-melon nose and crisp, medium-light bodied, slightly spicy, very gently grassy, ripe lemon-melon flavours. A great oyster wine and perfection with fresh fish.

There are two great In Store Discoveries in this release. The first is the delicious Marchesi di Frescobaldi 2006 Benefizio Pomino Bianco (ISD 332247) at $35.95. It always sells out immediately and I am disappointed that it didn’t appear in Vintages last year and with the minuscule order of only 50 cases of six bottles. It scores **+/*** and seems to be getting better each year. The 13.5% alcohol is quite seamless - dry, harmonious and well structured with lovely, lingering, dried ripe Anjou pear flavours. Move quickly on this one. I love it with poultry, especially roast chicken.
 
With the upcoming German Wine Fair – Wines with Jazz set for Tuesday, May 6th at Roy Thomson Hall (click here for information), nothing beats the Spring-like quality of a great Riesling. For fans, make a beeline to this oldie but goldie. There are only 75 cases of the *** ISD Schloss Schonborn 1997 Riesling Kabinett Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg (ISD 70946) at $17.95 available. It’s sweet, lively and delicious with mineral tinged, lingering, melon-lime flavours. With only 10% alcohol, still lively acidity and fresh fruit flavours, it is a makes for a perfect, gently sweet aperitif.

Best Buy Reds
Forget the overpriced 2001 Solaia (**+) at $154.95, the best buy red is my *** release highlight Caymus 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (222877) at $79.95. It weighs in at 14.5% with an extremely deep intense purple colour. The nose is very attractive with plums, ripe cherries and dark chocolat notes. On the palate it is intense, medium-full bodied and extracty with fairly juicy, dried black cherry, cassis and chocolate flavours and a long, expansive, cedary finish. Decant if you plan to drink soon. I would much prefer to have two bottles of this as compared to a single bottle of the Camus 2005 Special Select, which at $155.95 (***) is almost twice the price.

Another reliable ** buy from Spain is Miguel Torres 2004 Selección de Torres Celeste (672691) at $19.95. It comes from Torres vineyards in Ribera del Duero and is 100% Tempranillo. This is the third Vintages release of the 2004. It has a very deep intense purple colour and complex, slightly cedary, warm, baked plum and ripe black cherry nose. On the palate it is dry, quite well structured and medium to medium-full-bodied with harmonious, ripe plum and baked black cherry flavours and a lingering finish. It offers great versatility and is ready to enjoy with grilled meats.

Finally, from the last release don’t miss this great Rioja - Muga 2004 Reserva (177345) at $23.95. There is an extensive inventory still available. It shows lots of **+ class. It weighs in with 14% alcohol and has a very deep intense purple colour. The nose is intense, complex and cedary with lots of baked plums. On the palate, it is dry, harmonious, medium to medium-full bodied and fairly extracty with cedary, ripe plum and mocha flavours along with a lingering, balanced finish. It is even a bit better than the recommended 2003 released on September 1, 2007.

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