Montes 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere - 89pts

Montes 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere (Apalta Vineyard) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $19.90

Alcohol: 14.5%

Date Tasted: January 21st, 2010

Tasting Notes: Loads of fruit concentration in this dark-ruby wine from top Chilean producer Montes. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carmenere this read-to-drink pleaser has a medium intense nose of toasted oak, cassis and warm spice aromas with mineral notes.

The full-bodied palate offers flavours of concentrated cassis from the Cabernet with underlying spice from the Carmenere. Lovely texture from integrated tannins and good acidity makes this wine very easy to drink solo or match with BBQ'd red meats. Very balanced medium finish. Drink now through 2012. - LC

Sandhill 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah - 90-91pts

Sandhill 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery. VQA Stores

Cost: $29.99

Alcohol: 14.5%

Date Tasted: January 28th, 2010

Tasting Notes: From Kelowna producer Sandhill's small lots program comes this fantastic and expressive Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah blend (69% and 31% respectively). The intense nose of this inky-ruby coloured wine starts with Cabernet-cassis and finishes with Syrah-spice aromas with notes of smoky-oak . With 20 months of aging in American and French oak, the warm, full-bodied palate offers concentrated flavours of dark berries, vanilla and pepper with a long, balanced finish and excellent mouth feel.

This is a wine that can be enjoyed on its own but would pair nicely with either a savory, slightly sweet steak or with a desert course of peppered dark chocolate. Excellent tannin structure and good acidity will allow this wine to improve over the next two years, peaking in 2012. Enjoy now through 2016.
 - Liam Carrier
http://www.sandhillwines.ca/

Domaine Francois Villard 2005 Grande Grue Glacée - 87-88pts

Domaine Francois Villard 2005 Grand Grue Glacée (Vin De Pays Des Collines Rhodaniennes) Rhone Valley - France

Availability: Limited. Select fine wine shops. Marquis Wine Cellars (Vancouver)

Cost: $22

Alcohol: 13%

Date Tasted: January 26th, 2010

Tasting Notes: The name "Grande Grue Glacée" is a play on words and a bit of a slight to the ruling Rhone Valley AOC that does not allow the inclusion of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon into its "Grand Cru Clacée" wines.

This tasty, inky-viloet wine is full of old-world charm with smokey-oak, leather and dark-berry aromas. The full-bodied palate offers flavours of blackberries, cassis, toasted-oak and a touch of spice with powerful acid and tannins that could use another year or two to mellow. Drink now through 2014. - LC

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2007 Chardonnay - 87pts

Cedar Creek Estate Winery 2007 Chardonnay (Kelowna) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: BCLDB stores, VQA stores

Cost: $17

Alcohol: 13.8%

Date Tasted: January 9th, 2010

Tasting Notes: I was happily surprised by this tasty Chardonnay from Kelowna producer Cedar Creek Estate Winery. I enjoyed the intense nose which was full of orchard fruits, vanilla and oak aromas. The palate offered good fruit concentration with creamy butter, citrus and melon flavours.

The "Estate Select" series is Cedar Creek's entry-level wines, but there really was nothing low-end about this Chardonnay. It doesn't show the complexity or individuality that a top single-vineyard or reserve Chardonnay can offer when done right but it is a solid wine for the price. Look for the 2008 vintage to be available soon. Drink 2010-2011. - LC

Innocent Bystander 2006 Shiraz-Viognier - 89pts

Innocent Bystander 2006 Shiraz-Viognier (Victoria) Australia

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $23.99

Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: January 9th, 2010

Tasting Notes: Select grapes from five Victorian vineyards were used to create this excellent Australian wine. A blend of 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier (whose characteristics primarily show-up in the profile of aromas on the nose), this inky-garnet coloured wine is full of flavour and character.

Aromas of chocolate, dried fruit, dark berries with floral perfume notes on the nose. The palate offers good fruit concentration of mixed berries with medium-plus tannins and medium acidity. The finish is balanced but a bit short for such a fine wine. Drink 2010-2013. - LC