WINE PICKS OF THE WEEK
Three Winds Viognier 2012, Vin de Pays d’Oc, Languedoc, South of France, France
Price $ 14 | Score 87/ 100
UPC: 3760143270629
Super fresh, nutty honey, fl oral nose with apricot and orange aromas. The attack is soft, the palate with an off - dry baked apple fl avour with fl ecks of ginger. Fresh, foodfriendly style. Excellent value.
Norton Malbec Barrel Select 2010, Mendoza, Argentina
Price $ 15 | Score 87/ 100
UPC: 7792319677792
Classic savoury, meaty, peppery notes mixed with black cherry, licorice and light smoky tobacco aromas. Expect round, full, fresh palate with earthy, peppery, smoky, chocolate and black cherry fl avours fl ecked with game. A bit short and chunky but solid intensity. Best with grilled meats.
Torre del Falasco Valpolicella Ripasso 2011, Pedemonte Valpolicella, Verona, Veneto, Italy
Price $ 18 | Score 87/ 100
UPC: 008030625000279
Clean, peppery, chocolate/ cherry aromas. On the palate, the attack is soft and smooth with ripe, sweet peppery, black cherry fruit with a touch of cedar and black licorice in the fi nish. Excellent balance and length . Serve with mushroom or meaty pasta dishes .
Galil Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Upper Galilee, Galilee, Israel
Price $ 19 | Score 87/ 100
UPC: 00736040014270
Open aromatic cherry cedar nose with tobacco, black olive, pepper and earthy notes. The attack is soft and sweet with a fair bit of alcohol, ripe cassis, tobacco, sweet dark plums, mint and olives. Serve this with your favourite hamburger or lamb chops but it will improve in bottle.
Viticcio Bere 2011, Tuscany, Italy
Price $ 20 | Score 88/ 100
UPC: 00751095112139
Meaty, cassis, mushroom, peppery, compost nose mixed with blackberry, tobacco and coriander aromas. Round, fresh, juicy palate with smoky, peppery, savoury, meaty, black cherry, resin and compost fl avours. A bit rustic but otherwise solid eff ort. Grilled chicken or mushroom pasta dishes would be a fi t.
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico 2011, Tuscany, Italy
Price $ 29 | Score 89/ 100
UPC: 00618109027516
The best yet from the continuing revamp at Ricasoli. Respect for the fl oral, red fruit characters of sangiovese give this wine an instant likability. Elegant but with substance and inviting smoky, black licorice with cedar, forest fl oor and plums. A super food wine for chicken, mushrooms, pastas and cheese.