Chateau D'Aqueria 2016 Rosé - 91pts

Chateau D'Aqueria 2016 Rosé (Tavel AOC) Rhone Valley - France

Availability: Costco
Cost: $14.99-17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: February 23rd, 2018

Tasting Notes: A 'pretty' rosé with an attractive, strawberry-orange colour and an abundance of strawberry-cola and floral aromas on the medium intense nose and a blend of similar flavours with lifted cran-watermelon notes adding freshness to the spice-infused palate. A long, citrus'n'spice kissed finish lingers. So refreshing. Drink now-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Domaine Saint-Damien 2011 Vieilles Vignes - 89pts

Domaine Saint-Damien 2011 Vieilles Vignes (Côtes du Rhône) Rhône Valley - France

Availability: Limited availability. Private wine stores.
Cost: $21-25
Alcohol: 15%
Date Tasted: June 15th, 2014

Tasting Notes: This blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 5% Mourvèdre opens with a dense, meaty nose of dark fruit, forest floor, cedar, coffee grinds, dry herbs and violet aromas. Similar flavours follow on the dry palate where the 15% alcohol is impressively masked by the concentration of the dark fruit and savoury elements. While, medium-plus acidity and tannins keep the wine balanced and structured beautifully through to the moderate, spicy finish. Seek-out this expressive and moderately priced Côtes du Rhône charmer at your local French wine speciality store. Drink one now and put another away for another 2-3 years of further development. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Xavier Vins 2010 Gigondas - 88pts

Xavier Vins 2010 Gigondas (Southern Rhone) France

Availability: Limited. Private wine shops
Cost: $32-36
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: December 7th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Overall, great continuity from the excellent 2009 edition is on offer here, though, the intensity on the nose and palate is simply dialled down, resulting in a paler version of the spicy garrigue, herbs cedar and dried berry fruit Gigondas blend. Masculine from beginning to end with mineral notes throughout and meaty, well-structured tannins. Should hold well for another 3-4 years.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Xavier Vins 2009 Gigondas - 90pts

Xavier Vins 2009 Gigondas (Southern Rhone) France

Availability: Limited. Private wine shops
Cost: $32-36
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: September 13th, 2013

Tasting Notes: A masculine Gigondas with spicy garrigue, cedar, dried plum, berry fruit and loads of river stone mineral aromas. The mouth-watering, concentrated, dry palate offers a generous blend of fleshy, berry fruits and savoury, herbal flavours supported by well-structured, mannered tannins with the continuity of mineral notes from the nose.

Gigondas, from the wine buyer's expectations perspective, should fit somewhere between quality Côtes du Rhône and entry-level Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the Xavier offering fits the bill. Better structure and balance than CDR, without the complexity or price tag of CDP.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca