June Release Recommendations

By Natalie MacLean   


June 7: Highly Recommended White Wines


586347 Inniskillin Montague Estate Chardonnay 2001, Niagara $16.95: Beautifully balanced, round, tree fruit, kiss of oak. 90


990580 Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc 2002, Marlborough, NZ $19.95: Major lawn-mowers, herbal, zesty, great seafood wine, classic SB. 89


713487 Saint Clair Estate Tuatara Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2002, Marlborough, NZ $17.95: More herbal zestiness, gooseberry, refreshing. 88


801571 Bodegas Esmeralda Alamos Ridge Chardonnay 2001, Argentina $14.95: nice big buttery, oaky chard, good value. 87


701219 Lyne et Jean-Bernard Marchine Domaine des Malandes Chablis Premier Cru 2002, Burgundy $27.95: typical pear fruit and mineral notes in this French chardonnay. Won a gold medal at the 2002 Concours des Burgondia d'Or. 89.5


979922 Joseph Mellot La Graveliere Sancerre 2001, Loire, France $24.95: want to try something different from chard or even SB? try this: zesty, citrus, tree fruit. 88


991315 Winegut Dr Burklin-Wolf Burklin Estate Riesling 2001, Pfalz, Germany $21.95: Pear, tangerine, grapefruit, great food wine. 88


988527 Weingut Reichscrat von Buhl Riesling Kabinett 2001, Pfalz, Germany $19.95: gorgeous peach and sweet apricot notes, good acidity. 91


976803 Schloss Reinhartshausen Riesling Spatlese 1990, Rheingau $21.95: one of my favourite German producers, consistently great year after year. Peach, pear, mandarine and spice. 93 My Favourite White Wine


June 7: Highly Recommended Red Wines


222372 Chateau des Charmes Cabernet/Merlot 1999, Niagara $19.25: nicely balanced, ripe red fruit, touch of oak. 89


518068 Lakeview Cellars Merlot 2000, Niagara $17.95: big oaky merlot with dark fruit. 82


726794 Robert Mondavi Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1999, California $77.95: gorgeous wine with cassis, juicy dark fruit, and perfect balance. 93


959338 Rutherford Hill Merlot 2000, Napa, California $35.95: also comes in the half bottle, smooth, easy-drinking wine. 88


Beringer Carneros Pinot Noir 2000, California $34.95: beautiful, stinky (earthy) pinot, sour cherries, lovely. 90


110478 Angove's Classic Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, Southwestern Australia $12.95: terrific party wine -- good fruit, not too oaky, stock up for summer sipping. 82 Best Value Red Wine


713040 d'Arenberg The Custodian Grenache 1999, McLaren Vale, Australia $22.95: spicy dark fruit, cedar, plums. 90


600122 Hamilton Wine Gumprs Block Shiraz 2000, McLaren Vale, Australia $20.95: Easy-drinking, plush wine. 86


976761 Albert Morot Les Cent-Vignes Beaune 1er Cru 1999, Burgundy $59.95: earthy, mushroomy, bright cherries. 90


721100 Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine Korae 2001, Veneto, Italy $11.95: another easy-drinking party wine. 82


717611 Kenwood Old Vine Zinfandel 2000, Lodi, California $21.95: spicy, kiss of oak, ripe. 88


747824 Murphy-Goode Liar's Dice Zinfandel 2000, Sonoma, California $31.95: my favourite zin in this release, juicy, ripe, bursting with flavour. 93


952168 Round Hill Zinfandel 2000, California $15.45: smooth, medium-bodied wine with berries. 88


284653 Rosenblum Zinfandel 2000, California $19.95: sweet plums and blackberries, spice. 90.


936633 Edmeades Zinfandel 1999, Mendocino, California $35.95: velvet textures, plush dark red fruit. 91


953414 Meridian Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel 1999, Paso Robles, California $19.95: juicy plums, brambleberries. 89


June 21: Highly Recommended White Wines


310979 Caymus Conundrum 2001, California: better than Chanel #5 -- exotic perfume and floral notes. 89


948737 Ca' del Solo Malvasia Bianca 20002, California $21.95: lovely floral notes and tree fruit. 88


986463 Hogue Cellars Genesis Chardonnay 2000, Columbia Valley, Washington $26.95: pear and citrus. 89.5


983395 Domaine Pierre Sparr Pinot Gris Reserve 2001, Alsace, France $17.95: great value for this wine, peach, pear and apricot. 87


722363 Weingut Balthasar Riesling Kabinett 2001, Rheingau, Germany $16.95: beautifully balanced food wine, with great fruit and refreshin acidity. 91


13242 Santa Margherita Chardonnay 2002, Italy $14.95: great value, easy drinking. 84


973529 Quinta la Lixa Vinho Verde 2001, Portugal $9.45: normally I find this type of too green, but this is terrific-- there is good acidity but it's balanced by the fruit, excellent party wine. 82 Best Value White Wine


June 21: Highly Recommended Red Wines


970509 Rosabrook Shiraz 2001, Margaret River, Australia $29.95: blockbuster wine, black pepper, fruit that knows no end. 96 My Favourite Red Wine


960823 Kies Family Klauber Block Shiraz 2001, Barossa Valley, Australia $23.95: huge rich dark fruit wine with chocolate. 91


939272 Palliser Pinot Noir 2001, Martinborough, New Zealand $29.95: NZ is making some marvelous PNs with its ideal cool climate, fulll-bodied but not heavy, cherries. 90


433912 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, Chile $12.95: fantatsic value, ripe and round and ready to drink. 83


982678 Domaine de Saint-Siffrein Chateaunuef-du-Pape 1999, Rhone,France $33.95: ripe and cedary -- a walk through a spring forest on a summer day. 90


948059 Domaines Perrin Nature Cotes-du-Rhones 2000, France $14.00: fanastic value, cedary and ripe. 89


744243 Torri Chianti Colli Sensei Riserva 1998, Italy $14.95: terrific value, sour cherries and berries. 87


933317 Tenuta Fontodi Cianti Classico 2000, Italy $27.95: typical chianti, sour cherries, a touch tannic. 89


977447 Bodegas Leganza Condesa de Leganza Crianza 1999, Spain $11.95: another great party wine, ripe fruit, a touch tannic.