Vintages May 02 Release - very nice!

This is the best release in a while. When I first read through it, I thought ‘3 or 4 perhaps’ – now I’ve reviewed it more closely and I’m hard pressed to stop at 8 different wines!...Gotta keep telling myself, “Relax BP, LCBO is a monopoly but they're in retail and they’re way overstocked. WHEN YOU’RE IN RETAIL AND YOU’RE WAY OVERSTOCKED, prices will drop!”
Prompted by those two hot days in the last week or so, I’ve started with a couple of fizzies. LET ME ASSURE EVERYONE this is not the first step to “Desperate Housewife Sunday Nights”! I can Just taste them ( the fizzies, not the wives), on a sunny deck out by the pool - or by the Bay - with some mezes, Tapas, antipasto.

So what do I figure to be buying? MANGA DEL BRUJO 2006, MULDERBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008, CENNATOIO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006, or maybe a GIGONDAS, and a COLONIAL ESTATE ENVOY GRENACHE/ SHIRAZ/ MOURVÈDRE 2006

Two Sparklers
PIERRE SPARR BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT Mmmm, grilled shrimp or inch wide strips of planked salmon on the Bar BQ! $19.95
From April 11th another Sparkler that you also might enjoy
MARQUES DE GELIDA EXCLUSIVE BRUT RESERVA CAVA 2004 Spain - Looks like a wine bottle designed by 16 year olds…but could be very nice! $19.95
A white!
MULDERBOSCH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008 – one of my Annual Sauv/Blanc favourites – great with anything from the Sea $18.95

The Release
SANTA JULIA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 – Zuccardi Family – quality producer at a great price- $13.95

CONO SUR CABERNET SAUVIGNON/CARMENÈRE 2008 – A terrific value blend - should be fruity and juicy and only $13.95
ALKOOMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Frankland River, Western OZ is always more Bordeaux than Barossa ( well, to my palate anyway). Should be good. Taste it, let it breath a bit, then taste it again. $17.95
RICHARD HAMILTON LOT 148 MERLOT 2006 McLaren Vale, South Australia – Interesting to compare a California Merlot with this one… Score - 90. $19.95
EBERLE WINERY STEINBECK VINEYARD SYRAH 2005 The 2005 Eberle Syrah should be very nice $28.95
THE COLONIAL ESTATE ENVOY GRENACHE/SHIRAZ/MOURVÈDRE 2006 Barossa Australia I expect a Rosemount GSM in Colonial Estate clothing. This should be a very nice wine if you can leave it for a bit in the sous-sol $29.95
PERRIN & FILS LA GILLE GIGONDAS 2006 AC -The ’05 made the WS Top 100 – 89 points seems too low a score for the wine and the vintage. Might try one. but let it sleep beside the GSM for a while $29.95
MANGA DEL BRUJO 2006 DO Calatayud (San Gregorio) – A Spanish take on the GSM (OK, technically it’s a GSTMM but I hate the GST)and I quote…exhibits an expressive bouquet of cedar, tobacco, earth, vanilla, black cherry, and blueberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, ripe, intensely flavored wine with excellent depth, balance, and length. Another 2-3 years in the cellar should yield additional complexity. Drink this tasty effort through 2020. All this for under $18 bucks? Hurry, only 250 cases and if you don’t like it you can return it! Score - 90+. $17.95

Tuscany Focus Release – some real beauts, Sangiovese fans rejoice. A word of warning though – decant any of them for an hour, you’ll be glad you did.

BARONE RICASOLI ROCCA GUICCIARDA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA 2005 DOCG TASTING NOTE: Complex and intriguing: cherry, tobacco and oak/vanilla scents, with flavours integrating nicely. Drink 2010-20. Score - 4 Stars (out of 5). 24.95
CASA EMMA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 DOCG TASTING NOTE: …penetrating aromas of cherry, cola, almond and spice. Should be great with any pasta Score - 88. (Monica Larner, Wine Enthusiast,Sept. 1, 2008) $19.95
CENNATOIO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 DOCG TASTING NOTE: Dried flowers, with blackberry and dried cherry, lead to a full body, with chewy tannins and a long, rich finish. Needs time to open. Best after 2009. Score - 90. (James Suckling, www.winespectator.com, Sept. 30, 2008) $24.95
ROCCA DELLE MACÌE CAMPOMACCIONE MORELLINO DI SCANSANO 2006. A well made wine. But will need food and open it early.$18.95
FATTORIA DI MAGLIANO HEBA MORELLINO DI SCANSANO 2006 – should be good too. $27.95
FASSATI PASITEO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2005 should be good $24.95
CASTELLANI POGGIO AL CASONE LA CATTURA 2006- IGT Toscana A very Interesting review 90points $19.95

California Focus – Lots of big buck wines and a few gems, but overall, better wines for less bucks elsewhere in the world.

SANCTUARY USIBELLI VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004 something drier and earthier than the usual Napa Cab, should be good with red meat especially. Score - 90. I’d love to serve this blind against the Alkoomi.$34.95
ARTEZIN ZINFANDEL 2006 – of the three Zin’s this’d be my pick – the others should be good as well. $26.95
RUTHERFORD HILL MERLOT 2004 Napa Valley my pick of the Napa Merlots $34.95

The Big Bucks Buys

MARCHESI DE' FRESCOBALDI MONTESODI CHIANTI RÚFINA RISERVA 2005 DOCG, - Should be superb! Castello di Nipozzano Score - 90. (James Suckling,) $59.95
LEONARDO DA VINCI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2004 DOCG $59.95
FATTORIA LA LECCIAIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2003 DOCG Score - 91. (Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com,) $48.95
COL D'ORCIA NEARCO 2003 DOC Sant'Antimo TASTING NOTE: Thick in extraction, Nearco is a ripe and meaty red with thick layers of blueberry, blackberry, coffee, tobacco, ink, vanilla, spice and cigar box that peel off one solid layer after the other. Nothing is understated here and the wine hits the palate with determined tannins. Score - 92. (Monica Larner, Wine Enthusiast, April 1, 2008) $37.95
FATTORIA LE PUPILLE SAFFREDI 2004 Well it’s $115 but it’s a rare 97 pointer! Score - 97. (James Suckling, www.winespectator.com, Oct. 31, 2007 $114.95
CAYMUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006 Napa Valley . Score - 92. (James Laube, www.winespectator.com, Dec. 31, 2008) $89.95
DOMINUS ESTATE NAPANOOK 2005 $53.95
PAUL HOBBS CROSSBARN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Napa Valley . Score - 90. (Tom Cannavan, $69.95
DUCKHORN MERLOT 2006 Napa Valley a memorable, prototype Merlot. Score - 96. If this was a Napa Cab getting this score it would be a hundred dollars more! $63.95
MITOLO G.A.M. SHIRAZ 2007. Score - 90. (Harvey Steiman,)