Merry Christmas!
Here are some recent arrivals to consider for the upcoming holiday season.
De Bortoli Vat 4 Petit Verdot, 2002 from South Australia. Aromas of
violets. concentrated plum and savoury fruit flavors, lifted oak and firm
structure. Enjoy with quail, veal or smoked meats. (I like it just by itself.)
This wine just won a Gold Medal at the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Show in
Calgary. A comment from a customer..."unbelievable value!" $14
www.debortoli.com.au
Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Reserva 2002 from Tuscany. No. 86 on
Wine Spectator's Top 100 list for 2005! Comes from Montesodi and Mormoreto
Estates, which normally yield eponymous wines costing three times as much. This
turbo-charged wine is richly-colored and layered with flavors of blackberry,
plum and chocolate, with a nice kick of acidity at the end. Mainly Sangiovese
grape with some cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Wine Spectator scored it at 90
points. Ideal with meats, past or pizza. You won't believe it's a Chianti, and
that it can be enjoyed by itself.
$20 www.frescobaldi.it
McWilliams Hanwood Estate Chardonnay 2004 from South East Australia. Rich
with fruit and subtle oak complexity. It offers a crisp finish that pairs
especially well with grilled salmon. Silver Medal winner in San Fransisco. Just
over $13. www.mcwilliamswines.com
Taylor Flatgate Vintage Port 2003. 98+ points by Robert Parker. Highest score
for this vintage! Black color and salty, graphite-laced nose packed with
sweet black fruits that is reminiscent of a stellar vintage of Chateau Latour!
With air, notes of molasses, burnt sugar, spices and jammy plums emanate. Full
bodied, hugely dense, immensely rich, as well as thick, this behemoth is also
amazingly balanced and harmonius. Raisins, molasses, licorice, black, cherries,
plums and a distinctive note of violets are found in its complex, seamless
character. It has an extremely long finish that reveals chocolate, kirsch, black
currants, black cherries and even rose blossoms. Has exceptional power, depth
and purity. Ranks with the finesst ever produced by Taylor Flatgate. (All this
from Robert Parker.) Just over $100.
Rancho Zabaco Heritage Vines Zinfandel 2003, from Sonoma, California.
Balanced flavors of juicy ripe blackberries and boysenberries, with a hint of
pepper. Pairs well with dishes that range from simple grilled meats and roast
chicken or turkey with sage, to more exotically-spiced Mediteranean cuisine. $17
- $18. www.ranchozabaco.com
Palandri Shiraz 2001 from Margaret River, West Australia. Pepper and
blackberry flavors combined with supple tannins from aging 12 months in American
and French oak. $18. www.palandri.biz
Red Bicyclette Merlot 2004 from France. Rich, full and fruity like
berries on the vine. Beautifully balanced and easy to enjoy--as easy as riding a
bicycle! $15. www.redbicyclette.com
Some other notes:
Seghesio Old Vines Zinfandel back in stock--$49.
Burrowing Owl Merlot in--$32
Penfolds Bin 389 2002 in--Under $33
No. 18 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 list for 2005? Thorn-Clarke Shiraz,
Barossa Valley Shotfire Ridge $20 in Room 6.
No. 78 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 list for 2005 is the Seghesio 2003 Zinfandel
from Sonoma County, California.
Don't forget to enter our draw for a Poker Set sponsored by Peter Lehmann wines
(display by the front counter).
These are just some of the new arrivals. Check them out!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season, but just don't drink and
drive!
Remember that life is too short to drink poor (but not necessarily cheap) wine!
Al
(from The Beer Box)
The Beer Box and Room 6 Fine Wines
York Hotel
101 St. along 101 Ave.
532 5945
fax 532 0617
Remember, life is too short to drink poor but not necessarily cheap wine!
