Lots of turkey-friendly wines in this release! See which turkey wine Scored 98 points at a Decanter blind tasting and only costs $20.95!
White Wines
AUNTSFIELD SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2016 ( Marlborough, New Zealand)
#663286 Score 98 @ $20.95
I had to investigate this score.... Melanie Brown, Bob Campbell and Cameron Douglas are New Zealand wine specialists who judged the the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc over 12.99 pounds category for the respected Decanter magazine's August, 2017 edition. (Tasted April 2017) Of the 93 wines tasted this wine tied for top score. So I think we are fortunate to be able to access this gem in Canada just in time for Thanksgiving! Did I mention that Sauvignon Blanc goes very well with turkey and all the herbal trimmings??
Canadian reviewers have not rated the 2016 specifically but previous vintages get consistent 90s scores and high value ratings. So.. if you are a fan of Sauvignon Blanc click here and enter 663286 in the search field, then your postal code on the next screen to find the nearest LCBOs that has it in stock. (Stock may not show up until the time of the actual release or after if the stores are behind in logging their inventory.)
Tasting notes from the judges:
- BC: ' A weighty wine with quite intense red capsicum, gooseberry and nectarine flavours. It’s also showing impressive purity and length.'
- MB: 'Beautifully poised and extravagant, with Sauvignon personality; grass, gooseberry and elderflower, crunchy acid and good length. Yum!;
- CD: 'Classic mix of fresh and dried herbs fine citrus and tropical passionfruit and peach hints. Balanced and fresh, lively and lengthy, a nice wine overall.'
GORGO SAN MICHELIN CUSTOZA 2015 (Italy)
Decanter World Wine Awards, 2016 notes indicate: Attractive and precise nose of white flowers, white peach, lychee, finger lime and confit lemon peel. Viscous and concentrated mouthfeel, yet retaining a nice line of acidity, with grapefruit and sage characters and a long tangy, exotic finish. Delectable.' This would be my pick for my Turkey-wine if I was serving a crowd....
#428045 Score 94 $15.95
DEUX ROCHES VIEILLES VIGNES POUILLY-FUISSÉ 2014 (Burgundy, France)
#488825 Score 93 @ $31.95
Sara D'Amato of winealign.com calls this 'A special treat – this bright chardonnay offers impressive depth with whirlwind of flavours of great complexity on the palate. Lemon and butter are notably apparent and the oak is so well integrated that its flavours are felt but not tasted.' She goes on to describe it as rich, vibrant yet surprisingly light with a concentration of flavour and excellent length.
CAVE SPRING ESTATE BOTTLED CHARDONNAY MUSQUÉ 2015 (Niagara Escarpment, Canada)
#246579 Score 90 @ $16.95
The 'musque' descriptor for this Chardonnay clone and the classification as Aromatic and Flavourful are your clues that this is going to on the fruity, floral side. Vintage Panel notes describe "Great value in a very fine example of musque, with the florality of this chardonnay clone nicely contained and layered. It’s mid-weight, balanced, just barely off-dry. Love the restrained vanillin, green banana, peachy fruit. This very elegant wine, with very good to excellent length.'
TE PA PINOT GRIS 2015 (Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand)
#519884 Score 90 @ 17.95
Decanter tasting notes indicate 'Very big fleshy style with a bouquet of poached pears, apples and honey, with a nice light touch on the palate with some acidity lifting the fruit. Decent length. Plenty of wine.'
Red Wines
ACCORNERO GIULIN BARBERA DEL MONFERRATO 2013 (Piedmont, Italy)
496885 Score 93 @ 21.95
Antonio Galloni or vinous.com describes 'Black cherry, smoke, mocha, lavender, licorice, menthol and dark spices are some of the scents that emerge ... another wine that boasts notable depth and resonance yet does so while maintaining remarkable balance. This extroverted Barbera should drink well for at least a handful of years.'
TERRA D’URO FINCA LA RANA TORO 2012 (Spain)
#424135 Score 92 $18.95
This wine gets consistently high scores around the web. Luis Gutierrez of robertparker.com calls this very good value...' some aromas of peat, earth, wet slate, ripe blackberries, and also Mediterranean herbs and licorice. It reminded me of a Douro red with a lighter palate, very fine tannins and lively acidity that make it refreshing, almost effervescent.'
YALUMBA THE STRAPPER GSM 2014 (Barossa Valley, South Australia)
#295873 Score 90 $19.95
John Szabo of winealign.com says 'This is a lovely, fragrant, peppery-strawberry scented grenache blend, with silky-firm texture and savoury finish, with minimal wood influence. ... Fine complexity and depth overall.'
CIRRO PINOT NOIR 2013 (Marlborough, New Zealand)
493122 Decanter Silver Asia Wine Award 2015 @ $26.95
Tasting notes describe it as 'Richly imposing, the palate soars with ripe raspberry, juicy cherry and a smattering of plump, brooding dark berries. Lifted with a light floral undertone and a pleasing mineral streak, this is weighty and expansive Pinot.'
Fortified
QUINTA DO CRASTO LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT 2012 (Portugal)
This is a half bottle but a little of this goes a long way so it is still good value. Vintage tasting notes describe 'sweet cherry, plum, raisin and fig notes with a long, complex finish.'
515536 375 mL @ $13.95
Cellar Suggestion
KWV THE MENTORS CANVAS 2014 (O Coastal Region, South Africa)
348839 Score 89-92 $24.95
This Shiraz, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah blend is rating well among various reviewers. Tasting notes from Decanter indicate 'Complex clove, spice and black fruit aromas are layered by sweet coconut oak. Earthy and rich on the palate, with plush plum, cherry and glossy, new oak.' Suggested drinking window is 2020-2025.
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