A full-bodied Albariño from the Northwestern part of Spain, not far from the border with Portugal.
Technical Data: 100% Albariño grape. Stainless steel only.
Description: Light greenish yellow in color. Fragrant nose displaying aromas of citrus, pear, apple and apricot. Crisp and refreshing, elegant wine showing off flavors of apricot, green apples, pear, white peach, honeysuckle and grass.
Food Pairing & Service: Sip by itself or pair with fish and shellfish. Serve chilled. Quite a delightful wine.
Score: 9/10.
Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $18.99
A full-bodied shiraz with lots of personality from South Australia Region.
Technical Data: 100% Shiraz. Aged 20 months in old and new French and US oak. the grapes for this wine comes from 6 different sub-regions in South Australia, Padthaway, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and Coonawarra.
Description: Deep garnet color. Blackberry aromas and cloves entwined with spices and oak. A Full-bodied Shiraz expressing flavors of ripe blackberry and plum, black pepper, some spices and hint of chocolate backed up by very soft and supple tannins as well as oaky flavors.
Food Pairing & Service: Will accompany really well a cheese called Époisse Berthaut from Burgundy in France, that suggestion of pairing was made by my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in.
Score: 8/10.
Ageing Potential: Can be definitely drunk now, but can also be stored in cellar without a doubt for up to 10 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $17.99
A medium-bodied Pinot Noir with lots of personality and texture from South Australia Region. Predominantly from Adelaide Hills sub-region.
Technical Data: 100% Pinot Noir. Aged in second and third use French oak for a few months. Twist off cap.
Description: Ruby red in color with garnet hues. Surprising nose expressing aromas of sweet cherries well mingled with chocolate, liquorice, toast and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, jammy, chewy and textured with soft refined tannins. The flavors this wine displays are an echo to its nose. Quite delightful long lasting finish.
Food Pairing & Service: Will accompany really well an Extra Mature Aged Cheddar Cheese, the one I tried it on with, was from the brand Fiscalini from California, that suggestion of pairing was made by my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in. I love this wine by itself, what can I do, truth be told, I am a Pinot Noir Lover, but I must confess, this is the first time, Australia impressed me so much, with one of their Pinot Noir! The wine will pair well with roast duck and Turkey as well. Remember that tip when Thanksgiving will come!
Score: 9/10.
Ageing Potential: Can be definitely drunk now, but can also be stored in cellar without a doubt for up to 5-6 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $18.39
A dry Riesling with lots of personality from South Australia Region.
Technical Data: 100% Riesling. Stainless steel only.
Description: Bright pale gold color with greenish hues. The nose shows aromas of pear, lime, citrus and lemon backed up by minerality. Crisp and refreshing Riesling, intricate palate displaying minerality as well as fruity/flowery flavors. The wine exudes of jasmine, lime, pear and grapefruits flavors laced with minerality and a nicely balanced acidity. Long lasting finish which make you cry for more.
Food Pairing & Service: Will accompany really well the French cheese called Morbier as suggested by my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in. I love this wine by itself, and of course, it could do wonders with some spicy Asian/Indian dishes or even oysters and shellfish. Serve chilled.
Score: 8/10.
Ageing Potential: Can be definitely drunk now, but can also be stored in cellar without a doubt for up to 5-6 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $17.99
A silky smooth Merlot Blend from Napa Valley (Yountville South). Just so you know, this wine is quite a charmer!
Technical Data: 99% Merlot and 1 tiny % of Cabernet Sauvignon, just to say there some in there:-). 16 months in 60% French and 40% US Oak barrels, 25% of were new.
Description: Ruby red in color with purple hues. Intense cherry and plum aromas backed up by light oak. Elegant and full-bodied palate showing off very soft tannins and refine characters of cherry and plum, with some tobacco, a hint of black pepper and some earthiness on top of oaky flavors. The wine is textured and jammy as well as well balanced and long lasting.
Food Pairing & Service: Will accompany really well the French cheese called Chaumes as suggested by my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in. Also due to the richness of this wine it will go wonderfully with some hearty dishes or even a steak.
Score: 9/10. I have to say, I am not usually a Merlot Lover but this one got definitely into me!
Ageing Potential: Up to 5 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $26.99
Light to medium-bodied Napa Sauvignon Blanc from the Famous Franciscan Winery. Quite a surprising Sauvignon Blanc, reminiscent of one from New Zealand for the flavors it displays.
Technical Data: 100% Sauvignon Blanc. A very small portion of the fruit was fermented in neutral French oak barrels on the lees for a very short time to lend more texture to the wine.
Description: Pale straw yellow in color. Intricate nose exuding grapefruits and lemon zest aromas. Crisp and delicate palate for this refreshing Sauvignon Blanc showing off grapefruits flavors well mingled with lemon zest, grass, lime and limestone. A bit of minerality, a nice acidity, some texture and a good balanced round up this wine.
Food Pairing & Service: A crisp and zingy Sauvignon Blanc to pair with a goat cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Poitou region in France and is called Chabichou du Poitou, I could never have enough of that pairing! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well, or paired with light spicy food, creamy linguine and the usual shellfish and mild fish. Serve chilled.
Score: 8/10.
Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $22.49
Full bodied Napa Chardonnay from the Famous Franciscan Winery. This wine has long been one of their Flagship.
Technical Data: 100% Chardonnay. 8 months on the lees, French and US Oak. The grapes for this wine are originated from Carneros and South Napa Valley.
Description: Bright pale yellow in color. Fragrant nose for an appealing wine, baked apple and pear with a touch of sweet aromas mingled together with a slight touch of oak from its light barrel ageing on the lees. Very focused palate, lots of honey flavors at first, followed by pear and baked apple, a touch of white pepper, some buttery flavors and a hint of oak, for a long lasting, creamy style, mouth watering Chardonnay. The wine has intense flavors but is still very round and soft.
Food Pairing & Service: A delightful Chardonnay wine which will pair well with a creamy/buttery type of cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Burgundy in France and is called Délice de Bourgogne, I could never have enough of that pairing! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well if you are like me and love a full of characters Chard. by itself, or paired with creamy linguine and shrimp/shellfish or even better, my favorite would be with salmon on the plank nicely rub with herbs. Serve chilled.
Score: 9/10. Great find, stack it up.
Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $25.99
Full bodied and generous in character wine coming from Mendoza, Argentina.
Technical Data: 100% Chardonnay. 5 months in 100% French Oak . The grapes for this wine, comes from three different vineyards which are all sub-region from Mendoza, 60% from Tupungato, 20% from Tunuyán and 20% from Agrelo.
Description: Pale and bright yellow in color with greenish hues. Quite a nose for this enticing wine, pear and honeysuckle aromas mingled together with a slight touch of oak from its light barrel ageing. The palate exudes rich flavors and is balanced thru and thru, showing off pear and citrus flavors, backed up by oak and light caramel flavors. Some nice texture to this full bodied wine with a good acidity.
Food Pairing & Service: A full bodied and charming wine which will pair well with a creamy/buttery cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Burgundy in France and is called Délice de Bourgogne, you’ll love that pairing! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well, or paired with creamy linguine and shrimp/shellfish or even salmon with herbs. Serve chilled.
Score: 7/10. Great find, stack it up.
Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $13.39
This crisp and delightful wine is coming to us from Cafayate, which is a sub-region of Salta, located in Northwestern Argentina.
Technical Data: 100% Torrontés Riojano also known as Torrontés in Argentina. Stainless steel only. This wine is has twist-off cap.
Description: Light gold in color with greenish hues. Fruity and flowery aromas interwoven together in this clean and crisp wine. Generous wine showing off flavors of apricot, white peach and muscat well laced with honey and jasmine with a back drop of fresh herbs. Although the flavors seems to be on the sweet side, make no mistake, this is a crisp and dry wine with a clean long lasting finish and a nicely balanced acidity. A nice touch of sweetness by the end of the palate.
Food Pairing & Service: A crisp but quite charming wine which will pair well with a Goat cheese, try the one recommended to me by one of my friends from the “Cheese Fromagerie” Department from the store I was tasting in, the Cheese is from Vermont and is called Coupole, this pairing will knocks you socks off I guarantee it! Of course, this wine can be sip by itself as well or paired with salad and mild fish. Serve chilled.
Score: 9/10. Great find, stack it up.
Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $13.99
A rich dry wine from South-Eastern Australia. This wine is kind of reminiscent to me of an “old loved gloved” you put on your hand…Something dear you are glad to go back to once in a while, you’ll understand what I mean exactly, when you’ll try it, try it out and you’ll adopt it!
Technical Data: 100% Shiraz, parcels of this wine were matured for 14 months in seasoned oak..
Description: Deep garnet red color with purple hues. The nose expresses aromas of black fruits and plum laced with bitter chocolate, black pepper and just a tiny hint of oak. A very rich fruits forward and soft palate for this full-bodied Shiraz loaded with blackberry and blackcurrant flavors backed up by cedary notes, black pepper, leather and oak. A bit herbal at the very end. Silky smooth tannins.
Food Pairing & Service: Personally I would match this wine with “hearty” dishes.
Score: 7/10.
Ageing Potential: up to 5-7 years.
Price as seen on DC shelf: $12.99
