WINE PICKS OF THE WEEK
Louis Latour Ardèche Chardonnay 2013, France
Price $14.99 | Score 87/100
UPC: 3466921000101
Light butter, spicy lees nose flecked with peach, honey, baked apple and anise aromas. Fresh, elegant, juicy and dry palate with pear, nectarine, baked apple, light lees, citrus and herb flavours. A solid food-friendly white for current drinking. Good value.
Starborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
Price $15.69 | Score 87/100
UPC: 0850000016602
Classic, pungent-style Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc with herbaceous overtones. Look for a strong gooseberry notes with whiff of passion fruit and jalapeno and citrus. Simple, ready-to-drink Sauvignon, but needs food to really achieve its full potential. Try it with steamed mussels or seafood pasta.
Laya Garnacha Monastrell Vieilles Vignes 2013, Almansa, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Price $11.99 | Score 87/100
UPC: 8437005068889
A 70/30 blend of old-vine garnacha tintorera and monastrell, the 2013 over-delivers for the price. The nose is an intense blend of savoury dried herbs and red fruits. The palate is soft, textures chalky and flavours an earthy mix of coffee, red licorice and a dusting of oak. Try with grilled meat.
Amalaya Vino Tinto de Altura 2013, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Argentina
Price $17.39 | Score 88/100
UPC: 007798104763039
The nose is slightly reduced but opens with time, offering, black cherry, tobacco, black pepper, savoury, orange peel aromas. The palate is fresh, dry and juicy with light tannins and more savoury, blood orange, plum, cassis, black olive, tobacco, peppery flavours. Fine for grilled beef or lamb.
Taken Red Wine Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2011, Napa Valley, Calif.
Price $38.29 | Score 90/100
UPC: 819498010084
A round, dry, elegant red with light tannins. Coffee, peppery, chocolate, cedar, black olive, licorice, cassis and green bean flavours with a smoky leather, savoury note on the finish. Needs a time in the bottle to further integrate the fruit and tannins but an otherwise solid effort. Steak anyone?