Dense purple in colour (that speaks to a warm year); spicy, cedary nose of red berries and vanilla oak; medium-bodied, dry, juicy red and blackcurrant flavours held in check by a firm tannic structure.
Clear, very deep browning garnet. Nose of prunes, blueberries, sweet black licorice and a hint of sage from the Cabernet Franc in the blend. Soft and warm on the palate, medium-bodied with appropriate acid and tannin levels, sour cherry flavours leading to a long finish. Drink today, perfect with the Sunday joint.
Equal blend of four Rhone varietals: Grenache Blanc, Rousanne, Clairette and (my favorite grape name) Bourboulenc. Medium-deep gold. Medium-intensity nose of cantaloupe, pineapple and lime. Light bodied. A bone-dry food wine despite the sweetness of the aromas. Tastes of apple, pear and grapefruit with grapefruit pith bitterness on the long finish. Powerful flavors do well with full-flavoured foods. Pricey but worth it as a treat. Drink now.
Rich, powerful and concentrated with loads of dark fruit, earth, spice, licorice and mineral, slightly smoky, firmly tannic and bold with a long, big finish.
Intense and complex nose of ripe red and black fruits, fresh and inviting. Supple attack, fruity taste; thick texture of smooth, fatty tannins turning firm in the finish. A keeper for 5 to 7 years at an attractive price.
Partially oak aged (15%). Vanilla and citrus up front, followed by vibrant fresh lemon lime underpinned by juicy acidity, with creamy and mineral notes that carry through to a zesty luscious close.
In the same way as its companion white, this full-bodied red is buried in oak for an entire year in the vineyard where the grapes were grown. Scientifically minded winemaker Mike Mainguy is skeptical about the process, but admits the wine emerges with additional complexity. This one shows developed dark fruit, coffee, chocolate and a whiff of dried herb on the nose. Bitter cherry, plum and dark chocolate flavours have a slightly smoky accent, somewhat aggressive acidity and dark fruit and chocolate on the long finish. Not everyone’s buried treasure, but worth a try.