WEEKEND WINE PICKS
Di Lenardo Pinot Grigio Monovitigno 2017, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
$18.99 | 88/100
UPC: 8007711000055
This is classic northern Italian Pinot Grigio the way it should be. Floral honey, baked pear notes with a hint of guava spill across the palate mixing with bright acidity and citrus, apple, and quince flavours with a light, buttered almond undercurrent. Austere in an excellent way with a long, clean persistent finish. A terrific seafood wine especially with clams, mussels, raw oysters and sushi rolls. Real wine, excellent value.
Stina Cuvee White Posip-Vuguva-Chardonnay 2017, Croatia
$19.99 | 88/100
UPC: 3859892605742
I’m guessing few of you have tasted a Croatian wine, yet they have been making wine since the earliest of times. Posip and vuguva are the two main varieties in this Dalmatian coast blend along with a 10 per cent splash of Chardonnay. Grown on the island of Brac only metres from the sea atop limestone dominated soils it was aged six months in stainless steel to best allow its creamy pear, ripe cantaloupe, lemon and green fig nose to sing. The attack is round and honeyed with just enough salinity and acidity to keep it fresh. Think scallops, prawns, steamed mussels or fish tacos.
Tom Gore Chardonnay 2016, California
$19.99 | 88/100
UPC: 086003248014
This is a big improvement over the 2014. Leaner, fresher and better balanced, it hits the palate with medium weight and intriguing leesy, orchard fruit nuances. The nose is infused with pear and apple with flecks of brown spice. The lees add texture and complexity to the wine, with fruit coming from selected Central Coast and North Coast vineyards where cool nights play an important role in acidity management. I love the orchard flavours: apples, pears and lemons mixed with tropical pineapple and guava. Ready to drink and well balanced at 13.65 per cent alcohol.
Château Pesquie Ventoux Les Terrasses 2016, Cotesdu-Ventoux, Rhone Valley, France
$19.99 | 89/100
UPC: 0626990005377
Les Terrasses is an almost 60/40 blend of Grenache and Syrah with traces of Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvedre. Only about a third of the juice is aged in oak for about six months but none of it is new. The style is classic modern Rhone with ripe and fleshy red and black fruits including raspberry, black cherry, and mulberry punctuated with black pepper, bits of resin and tar, with a dried herb/ garrigue finish. There are tannins, but they are mostly silky and rich. Try this with fire-grilled beef dishes.
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Napa Valley, California
$45.99 | 89/100
UPC: 86003051843
A warm, early ripening growing season is reflected in the style of 2015 Napa Cab. The nose is fragrant, offering black plum fruit and black pepper in spades with a dusting of dried herbs. Full-bodied in the Mondavi way, with fine-grained tannins, minerals and coffee grinds, all with a hint of charcoal. This will be a fine midterm red, say three to five years from the vintage, and that makes it ready to drink now with a fire-grilled steak.