Vintages Release - July 24, 2010

The July 24 release features Australian whites and Southern French reds. It’s a good combination, and hard to go wrong with some of these wines.

ROSĖS

There are three good rosés in this release - the Bieler Pere et Fils Sabine Rosé 2009 ($12.95) and the Domaine Des CarteressesTavel Rosé ($15.95), both from the Rhone, and the La Cadierenne Cuvée Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé 2009 ($17.95) from Bandol (admittedly also part of the Rhone). All three are very pleasant, and, in terms of quality, the prices are pretty good indicator. My suggestion – go for the Bieler, not because it’s the best quality, but because it’s the best value. I’m still not a huge fan of roses, but they have their place as hot weather sippers as long as they are dry, with reasonable structure. This wine fits that bill, with a minty/strawberry nose, and notes of fresh red fruit (cranberry, plum, red cherry and a touch of rhubarb) on the palate. It is dry and refreshing, and will drink well on its own or with a green salad or cold chicken dish.

WHITE WINES

My favourite white from this release was the Highfield Estate Paua Sauvignon Blanc 2009 ($14.95) from New Zealand. You are unlikely to find a sauvignon blanc this good, and at this price, for a good long while. Expect gooseberry to dominate with flavours of tropical fruit, and a touch of fresh mown grass, on this well integrated wine, that typifies what New Zealand does best. Drink on its own, or (if you can get them) with green mussels. A soft, flavoured cheese or a salad or pan fried tilapia would work well too. Buy this wine.

The Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Chardonnay 2009 ($15.95) from Australia will also appeal and represents really good value. This is a leaner style chardonnay, with lime, vanilla, and a touch of oak and pineapple, rather than a California style wine featuring butterscotch, but it’s well worth trying. It’s very nicely structured, with a long finish, and a refreshing , satisfying mouth feel. Try with any chicken dish.

The Henschke Tilly’s Vineyard 2008 ($19.95) from Australia is an unusual mixture of four varietals – semillion, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot gris. It comes across as a bit of a aromatic with a slightly floral nose and a touch of diesel and black licorice on the finish. But there’s also a lot of pear, some peach, and a touch of mineral, that works really well with chicken or pork (barbecued skewers might be nice) or cheese. You can drink this wine on its own, but I think it’s better with food.

RED WINE

The south of France produces a ton of good reds, and I’ll happily recommend any of these (in order):

- The Chateau de Beaucastel Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2007 ($29.95) comes from the most storied house in the Rhone’s most storied region (Chateauneuf-du-Pape). It costs more than your basic Rhone, but that’s because, year after year, this chateau delivers some of the best (if not the best) wine in the region. The Coudoulet is the second wine (or third) wine from this house, but it carries with it a lot of the flavours of its much more expensive siblings – well integrated leather, chewy black fruit, spice, vanilla, black licorice, herbs and smoked meat – and is approachable now (with an hour or more of aeration). You can cellar it for up to 10 years if that’s what you want, but you don’t have to. The older siblings won’t be ready for at least five, and perhaps as many as 15 years. You won’t regret buying this wine.

- the Cave de Roqubrun Roches Noires Maceration 2007 ($17.95) represents incredible value. This wine shows well with a nose of black licorice and equally black fruit, with cocoa, spice, licorice, ripe plum, black pepper and earth on the palate. This is a very well structured wine, that will work very well with any barbecued red meat.

- I liked both the Chateau du Pena 2006 ($13.95) and the Domaines des Aires Hautes Minervois la Liviniere 2007 ($19.95). Both wines had tons of flavour and come from a very good vintage, The Pena is a great burger wine with layers of rich black plum, spice and a touch of cherry cola preceding a medium finish. The Minervois is very rich, with layers of sweet black plum, cassis, cocoa, spice, earth and glycerine. If you like a really rich red, say to go with a beef stew, this would be a good choice.

Bordeaux lovers will know that 2006 was far from the best year that the region ever had, but that doesn’t mean that every 2006 bordeaux is inferior, although it does mean that prices are down. The Chateaux Robin 2006 ($17.95) is a lighter style, very drinkable wine from a region that rarely sees the south side of $20. This is a well made, well balanced offering, with notes of vanilla, smoke, herbs, and sweet oak. It would complement a lean cut of roast beef or steak, hard cheese, or dark chocolate with dried fruit and nuts.

Surprise, Surprise. Not every good, red wine comes from France. Thus, two others which you should seriously consider:

- The Luigi Bosca Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($17.95) from Argentina. This is a great, hot weather cabernet, with sweet oak, vanilla, and black fruit flavours, all wrapped up in great structure and balance. But, unlike most hot weather cabernets, this is no fruit bomb. It has enough savoury flavours to balance the sweeter fruit, with soft tannins and a long finish. Vintages suggests laying this wine down for a period of time, but I think it’s perfectly drinkable now with an hour or two of aeration. Serve with cheese or rare beef.

The Pirramimma Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ($23.95) from Australia is also very much worth having. It’s a tasty combination of silky black fruit, mocha and spice, with a medium body and a medium finish. Many red wines need food. This one doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t benefit from an hour’s aeration and some fresh paté and fresh bread (or a good steak).