WINE PICKS OF THE WEEK
Castaño Macabeo Chardonnay 2011, Yecla, Valencia and Murcia, Spain Price: Price: $ $ 14 14 ( ( Everything Everything Wine) Wine) | | Score: Score: 87/ 87/ 100 100 UPC: UPC: 8422443001215 8422443001215
You won’t fi nd this in government stores, but Everything Wine has it. Fresh, juicy, light and elegant with red apple, passion fruit, grassy, grapefruit, honey and fl oral fl avours. Consistently fi ne value with every vintage. Back the truck up.
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand Price: $ 20 | Score: 87/ 100 UPC: 9421018070013
Consistent style here with lemon, grapefruit, jalapeño, lime rind, nettle nose setting the stage for a crisp, clean, juicy, lemon palate with granny smith and passion fruit . The acidity is manageable but it needs food: mussels, clams and creamy pasta dishes.
The Doctor s’ Riesling 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand Price: $ 20 | Score: 88/ 100 UPC: 009419056110136
A low alcohol Kabinett- style Riesling picked at an early stage of ripening to arrive at a minimal 8.5 per cent alcohol level . Light petrol, waxy, green apple nose with guava aromas. Crisp, fresh, juicy and creamy with light sweetness and green apple, honey, lime, slate, guava fl avours.
Michel Torino Don David Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011, Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina Price: Price: $ $ 16 16 | | Score: Score: 87/ 87/ 100 100 UPC: UPC: 7790189000177 7790189000177
Fresh, round, dry, slightly astringent entry with cassis, coffee bean, vanilla, licorice root fl avours fl ecked with smoky peppery, black olive and cassis fl avours. A bit herbal but good overall structure with some tannins to lose. A mustserve with grilled meats .
Catena Malbec High Mountain Vines 2011, Mendoza, Argentina Price: $ 23 | Score: 88/ 100 UPC: 007794450008053
Tobacco, resin, pepper, balsamic nose with hints of prune plum and saddle leather. The palate is peppery with black cherry, licorice, chocolate, tobacco, leather and savoury dried herb fl avours. Good fi nesse and balance for the price and ready to serve with most grilled meats.
Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2009, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia Price: $ 40 | Score: 90/ 100 UPC: 09315705004002
Black pepper, licorice root, smoky, blackberry, light fl oral, rosemary and prune plum aromas. Full, ripe, round, suave palate with fresh acidity. Blackberry jam, blueberry, licorice, smoky, herbal, savoury, coff ee, vanilla and meat fl avours. Ready for drinking now, or in the next two years.