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Wines
for the May long weekend
Rick's Picks - May
2010
by Rick
VanSickle
At
this time of year, with the May
24 weekend knocking on the door,
most of the wine we drink gets served
on someone's nice outdoor deck.
The conversation is with friends
and the wine often accompanies barbecued
burgers, sausages and steaks along
with fresh summer salads. The wines
we seek out must be soft, flavourful
and easy to match with just about
anything we can serve. It's in that
spirit that we can recommend the
following wines for all your outdoor
entertainment.
The
Reds:
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Penfolds
Koonunga Hill
Shiraz Cabernet 2008
($16,
LCBO)
A
very popular Aussie
wine for good reason.
This is excellent value
for what you pay. Very
rich with dark fruits
and chocolate aromas
that adds fine cherry
fruit, roasted coffee
bean and spice on the
palate.
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Penfolds
Koonunga Hill
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
($17,
LCBO)
A
nose of cassis, cedar,
spice and blackberry.
It's beautiful on the
palate with dark fruits,
black olives, oak, structure
and nice touch of mint
on the finish.
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Tabali
Reserva Syrah 2007
($17,
Vintages)
A
big syrah from Chile
with black cherry, mint
and a spicy nose. This
has it all, from black
fruits to mint, licorice
and a lasting finish.
Built for BBQ meats.
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Gabbiano
Chianti 2008
($13,
LCBO)
This
is a simple little Chianti
that delivers a very
nice drink at a great
price. Plums, violets,
dried herbs and mocha
notes on the nose. The
red fruits on the palate
are accompanied by the
smooth tannins, spice
and licorice notes.
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Chateau
de Gourgazaud 2007
($12,
LCBO)
A
Minervois AOC wine from
the South of France
that is a blend of syrah
and mourvedre. It has
a delightfully spicy-earthy
nose to go with a bevy
of red fruits. The fruit
turns darker in the
mouth with modest spice
a touch of mint and
herbs. Good bargain
wine.
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Dourthe
Chateau Pey La Tour
2005
($14,
LCBO)
This
is a Bordeaux Superieur
blend of merlot and
cabernet sauvignon that
shows spiced raspberry/cherry
notes on the nose and
palate. It's a meaty
red with good texture
and complexity that
plays outside its pedigree.
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Osoyoos
Larose Le Grand Vin
2006
($40,
Vintages)
OK,
not exactly a sitting-around-the-deck
kind of wine, but one
to take note of. We
don't see a lot of Okanagan
reds in Ontario so to
have this noble wine
available at the LCBO
is a rare opportunity
to taste top-notch west-coast
wines. This is a classic
Bordeaux-style red blend
that delivers dark,
earthy fruits to go
with a touch of raspberry,
leather, spice and smoke.
It's a big wine that
needs to open up or
drink with food. Otherwise,
cellar and enjoy in
10 years.
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And
a couple of nice whites:
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Penfolds
Koonunga Hill Chardonnay
2007
($15,
LCBO)
Penfolds
sources fruit for this
white from all regions
in Australia to ensure
a consistent style vintage
to vintage. The nose
is all about citrus
and creamy, oaky, spice
that is in perfect balance.
The peach-citrus fruit
on the palate is bolstered
by buttery-creamy notes.
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Gabbiano
Pinot Grigio 2008
($13,
LCBO)
Not
a fan of chardonnay?
Here's your answer.
Zippy citrus-tropical
fruits with subtle floral
notes. It's crisp and
fresh on the palate
with tropical fruits
and juicy acidity.
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