September Release Recommendations

By Natalie MacLean   


Sept 6: Highly Recommended White & Sweet Wines


956136 House of Sandeman Character Medium Dry Amontillado Sherry, Spain $14.90: I'll say it again: sherry is one of the most under-rated wines going. This one is beautiful, with almond golden goodness and a touch of sweetness. Lovely for after dinner, with walnuts and cheese. 90


384529 Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvee, France $63.95: one of the big boys, this one delivers lots of yeasty crisp fruit and loooong finish. 90


287268 Chateau des Charmes Paul Bosc Chardonnay 1999, Niagara $18.95: lovely spicy fruit, balanced. 88


355784 Ironstone Obsession Symphony 2002, California $14.95: a blend of muscat and grenache gris that creates a floral, lychee nut sipper with good acidity. 86


614792 Rosemount Hill of Gold Chardonnay 2001, Australia $21.55: easy-drinking, well balanced, ripe tree fruit. 86


991950 Kim Crawford Chardonnay Unoaked 2002, Marlborough, New Zealand $18.95: gorgeous apple and pear fruit. 87


993394 Sacred Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2002, Marlborough, New Zealand $19.95: not too aggressive on the acidity but wonderfully refreshing, great food wine with herbal character, classic NZ SB. 87


903500 Weingut Studert-Prum Riesling Auslese 2001, Germany $28.95: lively riesling with terrific tree fruit and acidity. 88


480517 Gunderloch Riesling Kabinett 2001, Germany $14.95: marvelous value, great food wine. 87 Best Value White Wine


Sept 6: Highly Recommended Red Wines


352682 Marynissen Cabernet/Merlot 2000, Niagara $12.95: stunningly great value, spicy, dark and ripe. 86 Best Value Red Wine


255513 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 1999, Napa Valley, California $39.95: I hope more California winemakers follow Mondavi's lead in making wines of elegance, finesse and balance. (He also seems to be lowering his prices into a near-reasonable range.) 90


903252 Bonny Doon Cardinal Zin Zinfandel 2001, California $27.95: buy it for the label alone (cartoonist Ralph Steadman)... a wine bursting with ripe fruit and good balance. 88


953216 ForestVille Merlot Reserve 2000, California $16.95: lovely plush wine with chocolate aromas (not sweet though, it's a dry wine). 89


938092 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Red 2000, California $46.95: pricey but stunning, huge, extracted, big everything. 92


614800 Rosemount Hill of Gold Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, Australia $25.50: awesome, big but balanced, I'll bet this one will be limited to one bottle per person (that is per person who line up at 8:30 am) 93 Favourite Red Wine


452508 Cape Mentelle Trinders Cabernet/Merlot 2001, Australia $21.95: very pleasant, easy-drinking red, minty, ripe dark fruit. 87


614784 Rosemount Hill of Gold Shiraz 2001, Australia $25.50: like their cab better but this is a very good shiraz, ripe. 88


701334 De Meye Shiraz 2001, South Africa $14.95: excellent value, South Africa will become known for its shiraz and sauvignon blanc. 86


951079 Calina Carmenere Reserve 2001, Chile $16.95: really love it, brooding, dark, ripe. 89


902379 Chateau Lalande-Borie 1995, Bordeaux $49.95: terrific Old World style red, a touch tannic now, could use at least 3-5 years aging. 88


702159 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 1999, Italy $23.95: big, full-bodied Italian red, black fruit. 89


955245 Sogrape Vinhos de Portugal Reserva Alentejo 2000, Portugal $18.95: plenty big but not too extracted, gorgeous depth of flavour. 90


Sept 20: Highly Recommended Ports


726877 Kopke Colheita Port 1984, Portugal $38.95: matured in wood, this nutty, tawny port is lovely. 91


167353 Dow's Vintage Port 1983, Portugal $66.45: it's strong and a touch medicinal but I like it. 89



Sept 20: Highly Recommended White Wines


297499 Clos du Val Chardonnay 2000, California $26.95: oaky, spicy, warm, ripe and balanced. 86


518944 Tyrell's Moore's Creek Chardonnay 2002, Australia $13.90: great party wine, will please everyone. 82


735043 Seresin Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2002, Marlborough, New Zealand $21.90: classic NZ SB but not too aggressive on the acidity, I love it! 89 Favourite White Wine


966010 Chateau de Cruzeau 1999, Bordeaux $19.95: intriguing wine that's oaky, spicy and lemony. 89


Sept 20: Highly Recommended Red Wines


319525 Chateau des Charmes Equuleus 1998, Niagara $24.95: a solid producer with a very good line-up of wines in this release, this one has a warm kiss of oak and lovely balance, touch tannic so age it at least 2 years. 89


904466 Huntington Merlot 1999, California $24.95: one of those wines to take to your hosts when you're not sure what style of wine they like... plus, ripe, easy-drinking. 89


583146 Rosemount GSM 2000, Australia $34.95: a blockbuster blend of grenache, shiraz and mouvedre. 90


510628 Walter Reynell Basket Pressed Shiraz 2000, Australia $29.95: elegant, smooth and lots of red/black fruit. 89


981399 Agr. Terra d'Aligi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2000, Italy $11.90: fantastic party wine, likeable fruit and texture. 82


717306 Empson Merlot 2001, Italy $14.45: another terrific value, smooth and ripe. 85