Reported by Dawn Harvie and Joe Hatz

Quick Picks

• Gunderloch ‘Jean-Baptiste’ Riesling Kabinett
• Trivento Syrah Reserve
• Jose Maria da Fonseca ‘Primum’ Tinto
• Catena Malbec
• Cremaschi Furlotti Carmenere Reserve
• Nido de Aguila Armonia Reserva
• Montes ‘Alpha’ Cabernet Sauvignon
  

This was an evening featuring some great value wines!

Whites! The Cave Spring Pinot Gris was the second favourite of the flight with a melon, mineral, and slightly oily nose. On the palate, it was very light, with some mineral and lemon. The Pfaffenheim Pinot Gris had some melon and pear on the nose, while melon, honey, and mineral came through on the palate. The Gunderloch ‘Jean-Baptiste’ Riesling Kabinett was the favourite of the flight. The floral nose convinced some people that this was a Gewurtz, but so what if it lacked typicity. It was nice to drink and reasonably priced. The Jardin Chardonnay had a nose of vanilla, butterscotch, and melon. It had good structure, like a French Chardonnay, with nice toasty oak and a creamy mouthfeel.

The Perrin & Fils Cairanne ‘Peyre Blanche’ was the first red wine of flight two. It was not a big hit. It was rather stinky, and too acidic with a bitter finish. The Lucky Country GSM was the second favourite of the flight with its dried cedar and black fruit. The group favourite was the Trivento Syrah Reserve. It had a big, jammy nose with some spice. In the mouth, there was a big burst of sweet jammy fruit with some vanilla oak. An excellent value for a “drink now” wine. The Farina Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico was earthy and smoky on the nose with some medicinal and lead pencil notes. In the mouth, it was rather austere, with choke cherry and medicinal flavours.

The next flight featured the Jose Maria da Fonseca ‘Primum’ Tinto with its a slightly muted nose from which you could get hints of fruit and licorice. The fruit and licorice came through on the palate along with some soft tannins. The Bodegas Castaño ‘Hecula’ had only one fan in the group. Dark fruit, smoky notes, and a slight hint of rose on the nose was promising, but the wine was unbalanced in the mouth and had a short finish. The Catena Malbec was one of the favourite red wines of the evening. Someone described it as “New World sophisticated”. Wonderful rich notes of sweet vanilla oak, dark fruit, and spice on the nose that followed through on the palate. A complex, well structured wine, it should cellar nicely. The Cremaschi Furlotti Carmenere Reserve was a nice blend of sweet jammy fruit, vanilla, cedar, and tobacco. An excellent buy at $13.

The last flight featured three more reds. The Nido de Aguila Armonia Reserva was a nicely executed Bordeaux blend at a budget price. It was the second favourite of the flight. It had lots of sweet vanilla oak and big black fruit, however, it was not very complex nor completely balanced. The Gran Lurton Cabernet Sauvignon was grapey and green on the nose, and unfortunately, it did not improve in the mouth with too much tannin, little acid, and a short finish. The Montes ‘Alpha’ Cabernet Sauvignon was the favourite of the flight. It had aromas of nice dark fruit, sweet vanilla oak and cedar. On the palate, it was an amazing mouth-full of dark fruit, cedar, dark chocolate, and spice, but unfortunately, it did not seem to have the structure for long-term cellaring.

Thanks, Joe, for a very interesting tasting featuring lots of great value wines!

Here’s the line-up.

Flight 1

Cave Spring Pinot Gris, 2004, VQA Niagara, Canada 621086 $16.95

Pfaffenheim (Tokay) Pinot Gris, 2004, Alsace, France 999342 $19.95

Gunderloch ‘Jean-Baptiste’ Riesling Kabinett, 2003, Rhine, Germany 480517 $14.95

Jardin Chardonnay, 2003, Stellenbosch, South Africa 663336 $18.95

Flight 2

Perrin & Fils, Cairanne ‘Peyre Blanche’, 2001, Cotes du Rhone, France 650960 $16.95

The Lucky Country GSM, 2003, Barossa Valley, South Australia 661827 $14.95

Trivento Syrah Reserve, 2004, Mendoza, Argentina 663112 $12.95

Farina Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico, 2000, Italy 995910 $36.95

Flight 3

Jose Maria da Fonseca ‘Primum’ Tinto, 2001, Portugal 694026 $13.95

Bodegas Castaño ‘Hecula’, 2003, Spain 718999 $13.95

Catena Malbec, 2003, Mendoza, Argentina 478727 $19.95

Cremaschi Furlotti Carmenere Reserve, 2004, Maule Valley, Chile 641019 $12.95

Flight 4

Nido de Aguila Armonia Reserva, 2003, Maipo Valley, Chile 663146 $15.95

Gran Lurton Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003, Mendoza, Chile 980334 $17.95

Montes ‘Alpha’ Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003, Colchagua Valley, Chile 322586 $22.95