Cali QPR's

I feel guilty when I don't keep up on my Blog. It is odd because the commitment is to myself and it is usually because I am distracted by living life (beyond the computer). One of these distractions was the California Wine Fair where I tasted some marvellous wine. These ones were excellent QPR's...

Bogle Vineyards - Petite Sirah, 2009 California - 16.95

Lovely full-bodied wine with a nose of black currants and plums with hints of leather and cocoa
http://www.boglewinery.com/ourwines_petitesirah.php

If you run a search on Pine Ridge Vineyards on this blog, it will be no surprise to you that I am a fan, but I even surprised myself when I was so impressed I made notes to re-review!

The new vintages of the following are also fantastic:

Pine Ridge Vineyards - Chenin Blanc & Viognier 2011, California

Pine Ridge Vineyards - Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Napa Valley

Pine Ridge Vineyards - Dijon Clones Chardonnay, Carneros

http://www.pineridgevineyards.com/wines

http://www.liffordwine.com/our_wines/wines.php?q=pine+ridge&price_filter=price_zero

Vina Robles - Red4 - GSM Blend 2009, Paso Robles - $17.95

Yum! Full-bodied, black cherry & prunes on the nose with a touch of clove. Wonderful spicy ripe fruit on palate.

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=vina+robles&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

http://vinarobles.com/wine_store/detail/2009_REDsup4sup_Blend_of_Syrah_Petite_Sirah_Grenache_and_Mourvdre

Southern Hemisphere pleasers - Under $20

With the weather vacillating between Spring and Winter, so do my wine cravings. On colder days you can't go wrong with a rich, warm, full-bodied wine. They are especially pleasing when they are good quality and easy on the budget. I decided to share two such wines before I started moving to lighter Spring/Summer fare.

GOATS DO ROAM - THE GOATFATHER - 2009, South Africa - $14.95

Smoky, toasty, leather, cedar, tomato-leaf, choke-cherry and spice on the palate. Much going on at this price with this Italian-style blend of Sangiovese, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Good value!

http://goatsdoroam.com/wines/the-goatfather-2009/

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=GOATS+DO+ROAM+THE+GOATFATHER+200&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

TRIVENTO - GOLDEN RESERVE, MALBEC - 2008, Argentina - $ 19.95
Very complex; plum, damson fruit, blueberry, roast coffee - rich and mouth-filling. A tasty treat!

http://trivento.com/site.php

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=TRIVENTO+GOLDEN+RESERVE+MALBEC+2&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

Great Value from Southern Europe

ULISSE - UNICO - PECORINO, 2010 - Abruzzo, Italy - $17.95

Well integrated wine with notes of apple, grapefruit, lime and a hint of vanilla. Each time I tried it, I liked it more.
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=249128

LEONE DE CASTRIS - RISERVA SALICE SALENTINO, 2007 -Puglia, Italy - $17.95

Rich black fruit, earthy, smoky with a hint of anise. Well integrated and beautifully balanced.

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do ITEM_NAME=LEONE+DE+CASTRIS+RISERVA+SALICE+&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN
 http://www.vendemmia.ca/our-wines/wineries/leonedecastris/

CAVINO - NEMEA RESERVE, 2006 - Nemea, Greece $14.95

Dried cherry, chocolate, prune, leather, earthy. Complex and impressive for the price.

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=245787
http://www.casss.gr/Kiosk.aspx?ID=60

Ode to Ontario Pinot

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the Expert's Tasting at Brock University. This year's theme was Pinot Noir and relatives. There were so many fabulous wines I wasn't sure how to choose what to write about but then the theme of my blog came to me and in this case it was freeing rather than restricting. I would write about the wines I thought were exceptionally good for their price and affordable for most wine budgets.

Malivoire - Pinot Gris - 2010, Beamsville Bench - $19.95
Well-integrated wine with apple, melon, mineral and lime on the nose. Long citrus finish.

http://www.malivoire.com/index.php?page=wine-detail&productID=81



Flat Rock Cellars - Pinot Noir - 2007, 20 Mile Bench - $29.95
Great nose of strawberries and cherries with a touch of minerality. Great balance! Long earthy, cherry finish.

Flat Rock Cellars - Pinot Noir - 2010, Niagara Peninsula - $19.95
Flint, red cherries and slight earthiness on the nose. Lovely evolving layers of fruit on the finish.

http://flatrockcellars.com/products/category/red-wine/63
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=1545

Hinterbrook - Pinot Noir - 2010, Lincoln Lakeshore - $25.00

Complex nose of mineral & red fruit. Almost compote. Mineral and fruit components follow through on palate. Elegant!

http://www.hinterbrook.com/page/the-wine

The Good Earth - Pinot Noir - 2009, Niagara Peninsula - $25.00

Nose of ripe cherry and strawberry, with a slight hint of minerality. Beautifully integrated wine.

http://www.goodearthfoodandwine.com/goodwine

Inniskillin - Three Vineyards, Pinot Noir - 2009, Niagara Peninsula - $19.95

Earthy, nose with bold red fruit and a hint of tobacco leaf. Nicely integrated & complex, especially for the price!

http://www.inniskillin.com/contentmanager/ViewObject.aspx?sys-Portal=55&sys-Class=Wine&sys-ID=462