Vintages June 20th Release - Dad's Day and Malbecs

My Picks:
If I buy nothing else, I’ll buy the Concha y Toro Terrunyo. And I’ll buy as much as I can afford.
2005 Concha y Toro Terrunyo Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon - $29.95 – If you like The Vintages Essential Marques de Casa Concha and especially if you like Concha Y Toro’s now exorbitantly priced Don Melchor, buy this up! It is the best QPR cab coming out of Chile and maybe the best cab period in my opinion. If the label said Napa, it’d be $75 minimum!
2007 Dominio del Plata Susana Balbo Signature Malbec - $27.95 WS90 – Fabulous winemaker, gets the best from her grapes. Always full bodied, ripe and intense – the wines, not her.
2006 Kaiken Ultra Malbec - $19.95 – Probably the best buy QPR wise among the Malbecs, should be lots of it.
2008 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose - $12.95 An annual favourite rose. I’ll buy more than a few.
2007 Domaine Galevan-Paroles de Femme Cotes du Rhone - $15.00 – Lots of it and well priced. Parker says 89 -90…might only be 86 but a terrific summer sipper with char-B-Q! (Not burnt Barbq but rather Charcouterie and or BarBQ – ahhh, BP you are so continental!)
2006 Valpantena Terre di Verona Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso - $17.95 – My sleeper pick, I’m going to try one and if I like it go back for more.

And as always, keep your eyes open for the biweekly Vintages sleeper sales. Anything that has not sold a certain % after so many weeks goes on markdown. Some substantial MD%’s for very good, but under appreciated wines!

ARGENTINA MALBEC SPOTLIGHT
2008 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec - $14.95 WS87 – The best bargain.
2006 Kaiken Ultra Malbec - $19.95 – Probably the best buy QPR wise among the Malbecs, should be lots of it.
2007 Dominio del Plata Susana Balbo Signature Malbec - $27.95 WS90 – Fabulous winemaker, gets the best from her grapes. Always full bodied, ripe and intense – the wines, not her.
2006 Vina Cobos Bramare Malbec - $39.95- RP94 – Hobbs in Napa, Vina Cobos in Argentina. Should be huge but give me 3 Susanas for two of these.
2006 Trapiche Broquel Malbec - $15.95– A toss up with the Altos las Hormigas for Best bargain.
2006 Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec - $24.95 –WS88
2006 Navarro Correas Alegoria Gran Reserva Malbec - $18.95 – IWC88
2008 Chakana Malbec - $13.95 – Always good.
2007 Michel Torino Estate Don David Reserve Malbec - $12.95 – Don’t know it, so a sleeper in the release. Might be the wine to have if you’re going to watch Clint in Gran …ahhh couldn’t resist…
Canada Day Feature
Gotta wave the flag! But where are the BC wines? Last time I looked, Ontario was NOT Canada, it was just part of Canada.
2006 Hidden Bench Terroir Cache Meritage - $34.00
2008 Henry of Pelham Cabernet Sauvignon Rose - $14.95
FATHER’S DAY FEATURE – Just get me a gift certificate and let me pick my wines.
MAIN RELEASE
2005 Concha y Toro Terrunyo Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon - $29.95 see my picks!
2007 Domaine Galevan-Paroles de Femme Cotes du Rhone - $15.00 – see my picks
2006 Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Cabernet Sauvignon - $19.95 – always very good
2005 Echevverria Family Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - $21.95 WS89 – always very good
2005 Greg Norman California Estates Cabernet Sauvignon - $24.95
2006 Clayhouse Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - $18.95
2004 Evans & Tate Shiraz - $19.95 WS88;
2005 Pierre Sourdais Cuvee Tradition Chinon - $20.95 DEC4
2005 Tenuta Cocci Grifoni Le Torri - $18.95 RP88
2006 Firriato Chiaramonte Nero d’Avola - $18.95 (1) WS88
2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico - $28.95 (1) RP91
2006 Valpantena Terre di Verona Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso - $17.95
The two Rose Picks:
2008 Peter Lehmann Rose - $15.95
2008 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose - $12.95 My annual favourite rose. I’ll buy more than a few.
IN STORE DISCOVERIES
2005 Planeta Syrah - $39.00 90 plus points…terrific wine but it'll be hard to find.
The Big Buck Entries including a few ex VSO opportunities
2003 Clarendon Hills Moritz Syrah - $65.00 RP95; WS93; WE93; NW99;
2006 Petaluma Shiraz - $48.00
2005 Vina Cobos Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon - $39.95 RP92;
2006 Vina Cobos Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon - $39.95 RP93; - see the Vina Cobos Malbec note earlier on…These would also be over $70 out of Napa. And a few years after the world economy turns around, they probably will be.
Ojai Thompson Vineyard Syrah - RP93+
J.J. Hahn 1928 Shiraz - $38.95 – RP91-93;
2004 John’s Blend Individual Selection No. 31 Cabernet Sauvignon - $39.95
2005 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon - $39.95
2003 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino - $59.95 –RP92