Casa Ferreirinha 2017 Planalto Reserva - 87pts

Casa Ferreirinha 2017 Planalto Reserva 4U (Douro DOC) Portugal

Availability: Private wine shops like Everything Wine
Cost: $15.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: February 14th, 2019

Tasting Notes: An early candidate for the best valued wine of the year, the Planalto is a refreshing, dry blend of native Portugese grapes: 35% Viosinho; 15% each of Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, Códega and Arinto; and 5% Moscatel. Clean, crisp and, admittedly, conservative, this reserved blend is anything but flashy with a good balance of mineral, acid and orchard fruit characters. An inexpensive, food-friendly wine to pair with seafood salads, sushi or light, whipped cheeses. Drink now-2021.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2009 Portfolio - 91-93pts

Laughing Stock Vineyards 2009 Portfolio (Naramata Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here. Private and VQA stores
Cost: $42
Alcohol: 14.4%
Production: 1990 cases
Date Tasted: October 28th, 2011

Tasting Notes: A stellar example of a Bordeaux inspired Okanagan blend that boasts a dense nose of blackberry and cassis fruit, anise and clove spices followed by an exquisite, powerful, full-bodied palate of similar flavours with added savoury elements of coffee grinds, toasted oak and fresh tobacco leaf.

The final blend of 36% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 14% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot was aged in French oak (60% new) for 19 months prior to bottling resulting in a structured wine with big, coarse tannins and loads of character. The raw youthfulness is begging for another year of bottle aging and should integrate sublimely creating a gorgeous, complex and rounded wine. Pair with a great cut of fatty beef slightly charred on the outside and juicy on the inside. Drink late-2012-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca