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From Sparklers to Reds©
The Scoop on Today's Vintages Release
By Michael Vaughan
Saturday, December 1, 2001
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
958413 ‘Millesimato Talento’ Brut
1996
$ 14.60
 Metodo
Classico, Veneto Fruity &
Balanced **
(Carpené Malvolti) (320 Cases) (12.5%) [Cip Win]
Medium light yellow colour.
Clean, fresh, crisp, lemon-apricot fruit on the nose.
Good mousse. Bright, dry,
medium bodied, pleasing orange citrus flavours with excellent balanced and a
lingering, gently toasty finish. A Best Buy
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
725747 Alianca Reserva Bruto 1998
$ 13.80
 Metodo Classico Ruby
Grapefruit *+/**
Bairrada DOC, Portugal
(Caves Alianca) (270 Cases) (12.5%)
[Cor Dis]
Deep yellow colour.
Distinctive, attractive, slightly spicy, baked ruby grapefruit nose.
Fairly good mousse. Crisp,
dry but not austere, tangy, bright, ruby grapefruit flavours.
Lots of fruity flavours which would go well with seafood and appetizers.
Somewhat distinctive style which I found surprisingly appealing.
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
551036 OLD VINES FOCH 1999
$ 19.95
 Well
Structured & Flavourful **/**+
VQA - Ontario
(Malivoire Wine) (392 Cs) (13.5%)
[Mal Win]
Intense, deep purple colour.
Rather concentrated, spicy, vanilla-driven, sweet plum purée with some
Kir and black raspberry notes. Complex,
dry, rather rich and creamy on the palate.
Spicy baked plums, Kir, vanilla and
sundried tomato flavours predominate.
A tangy, slightly smoky, lingering finish.
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
938670 PINOT NOIR 1999
$ 44.60
 Carneros District Black Cherry Purée **+
Napa Valley (Acacia)
(112 Cases) (14.7%)
[Rog Com]
Forward medium red colour.
Nice, rather spicy, cedary, lifted, bright, black cherry purée fruit on
the nose with some buttered toast notes. Fine,
bright, zesty, ripe black cherry purée flavours with nice buttery, toasty notes
on the lingering finish. Not overly
rich but very pleasant and nicely rounded - at peak!
Unfortunately, it costs!
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
727354 MALBEC 1997
$ 12.45
 Mendoza
Bright & Lively *+/**
(Bodegas y Viñedos Crotta )
(500 Cases)
(13.5%)
Medium deep purple red colour.
Attractive, very spicy, rather cedary, bright, red cherry purée nose.
Spicy, tangy, plummy, red pepper purée flavours with a slightly cedary
finish. The Vintages Catalogue
suggests that this is somewhat light bodied and “soft”
which is not my impression at all. It’s
surprisingly solid and well structured. [Edw Win]
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
718924 CHÂTEAU SAINT-GERMAIN 1995
$ 15.85
Coteaux du Languedoc AC
Well Structured *+/**
(E.A.R.L. St. Germain) (500 Cases)
(13.5%) [Vin Pas]
Deep purple colour.
Fine, complex, gently earthy, herbal, leathery, prune-plum nose with some
hints of lime zest. Very dry,
fairly solid, mouthfilling, medium-full bodied, dusty plum and red apple
flavours with a touch of caraway on the lingering finish.
A fine food wine that would match steak and frites.
This blend of 75% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre from the 62 acre
vineyard was macerated for 40 days and bottled unfiltered. The second bottle was badly corked.
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
711143 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1999
$ 12.45
‘Cuvée Angeline’ Vin de Pays du
Sandalwood *+
Périgord (V. Barde) (500 Cases) (12.5%)
[Mih Sel]
Fairly deep purple colour.
Tangy, bright, sandalwood, chocolate and sundried tomatoes on the nose.
Crisp, firm, dry, well balanced, solid, ripe dried plum flavours which
exhibit some style and good length. A
good, fairly versatile, by-the-glass red for food.
Second bottle was somewhat lighter */*+.
Recommended by Vintage Assessments!
237834 ‘COSME PALACIO Y HERMANOS’
1998
$ 17.80
 Rioja DOC
Bright, Ripe & Cedary *+
(Bod. Palacio) (210 Cs) (12.5%)
[Atl Win]
Maturing medium red colour.
Spicy, earthy, sweetish, mushroomy, ripe baked plum nose.
Spicy, medium bodied, tangy, sundried tomato and dried red cherry
flavours. Ripe and ready to enjoy.
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scoop on the December 1st Vintages Release Click
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