Wines tasted recently:
Erasmus Family Reserve 2015 (Swartland, South Africa, $52.00, Vintages #13759)
50% Carignan, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, 10% Shiraz. Deep ruby in colour; savoury, herbal, nose of black fruits’ full-bodied (14.5% alcohol), dry, juicy plum and blackberry flavours carried on racy acidity. (92)
Dievole Poggio Landi Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (Tuscany, $49.95, Vintages #573980)
Ruby colour; cedary, black cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, firmly structured, beautifully balanced with lively acidity. (90)
Henry of Pelham, Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir 2018 (Ontario, $24.95, Vintages #461699)
Opaque purple in colour; cedary, spicy, black plum nose; full-bodied, dry, licorice and black plum flavours with fresh acidity. (90)
Henry of Pelham Three of Hearts Rosé 2018 (Ontario, $19.95, Vintages #552562)
Pale salmon in colour; cranberry and wild strawberry bouquet; dry, light to medium-bodied, with tangy flavours of rhubarb and strawberry. Good length. (88)
Pelee Island Winery Pinot Grigio 2018 (Ontario, $14.95, LCBO #10485)
Pale straw colour; minerally, peach pit nose with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, white peach and Meyer lemon flavours. Sustains well on the palate. (89)
Pelee Island Winery Lola Chardonnay 2016 (Ontario, $14.95, LCBO #148830)
Very pale in colour with a lime tint; minerally, apple nose with light minty and floral notes; medium-bodied, dry, pear and citrus flavours. (88)
Victoria Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (South Australia, $14.95, LCBO #11939)
Deep purple in colour; cedary, lightly floral, spicy nose of plum; medium-bodied, dry, slightly sweet and jammy with plum and blackberry flavours. (88)
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo Reserva Carmenere 2018 (Chile, $17, Vintages #14058 – to be released April 18)
Dense purple colour that stains the glass; cedary, toasty, blackcurrant bouquet; medium to full-bodied, juicy and fruity blackcurrant and black plum flavours with well-integrated oak and ripe tannins. Great value. (93)
Ca’ del Sette Vini Appassionante Rosso 2016 (Veneto, $19.95, Vintages #12837)
Deep ruby in colour with a tawny hue; perfumed blackberry and plum nose, medium-bodied, sweet black fruit flavour. (Appassionante is play on the term Appassimento – the drying of harvested grapes before fermentation as in Amarone, although this wine with its sweetness tends to taste more in the Recioto della Valpolicella spectrum.) (89)
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