WEEKEND WINE PICKS
Intrigue Pinot Gris 2016, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley $16.90 | 88/100
UPC:
843204016039
Expect an attractive, bright, salmon/ coral hue to this Gris. The fruit comes off three vineyards: one in East Kelowna; the second on a west-facing slope in Oyama; and the third from Davis Vineyard, at the winery. Almost a faux Rosé, there will be plenty of interest in sipping this fresh, brightly flavoured white that mixes strawberries, ripe pear and lychee fruit flavours with a sheen of honey in the finish. The winery suggests serving it with garlic prawns, lemon Greek potatoes, or candied bacon.
Stag’s Hollow Sauvignon Blanc Vineyard 2016, Okanagan Valley $20.25 | 89/100
UPC:
626990195771
We love the lean, nimble and nervy style of this Sauvignon from the winery’s home vineyard in Okanagan Falls. Time in stainless and second-fill French oak puncheons for ferment (there is no secondary, acid softening, malolactic fermentation) and a couple of months with twice weekly battonage for texture keep the freshness to a maximum before bottling. Lemon-led, with hedgerow, medicinal white cherry, fine pithy spice and some gooseberry. A severe, fruity, lean style that is not for everyone, but it is a place we must go to improve the breed. Bravo.
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Sonoma County, California
$18.49 | 88/100
UPC:
085000011638
Classic savoury Sonoma nose with dusky red berries, plum, cocoa, fine toasty spice and mocha-supple tannins. Fire up the barbecue and grill one of your favourite meat cuts. Solid value.
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, South Australia $15.49 | 86/100
UPC:
0098137335355 Sourced from vineyards in Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale, expect cedar, black fruit and menthol aromas with a similarly flavoured fruity palate. Tannins are soft and finely granular with smoky cassis, red currant fruit flecked with toasted notes and some acidity poking through the back end. Fire up the barbie and throw some burgers on.
Domaine Bousquet Malbec Reserve Organic Wine 2014, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina
$20.99 | 88/100
UPC:
0879716000242
Made from organic grapes grown in the Alto Gualtallary in Tupungato, the reserve is an 85/5/5/5 mix of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, aged 10 months in French oak. Expect a ripe, intense red and black fruit-scented nose. The attack is equally ripe, with more black raspberry and bits of figs, dried sage and thyme. A fine effort in a difficult year and one of the few labels we see certified organic. A fine match for hamburgers, skirt steak or a Bolognese-style pasta dish.