Element Classic White 2008
Western Australia
Sandalford
A blend of Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Riesling.
Light yellow in the glass.
Gooseberry on the nose.
Light to medium bodied, fresh, crisp, gooseberry, lemon, quite peppery and tangy, lightly honeyed, a hint of floral, clean and refreshing.
Gooseberry and lemon on the tangy finish.
Screwcap closure.
Purchased at $13.95 (Canadian).
Peninsula Ridge Viognier 2007
Niagara Peninsula
Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
Light yellow-gold in the glass.
Spicy, citrus and peppery on the nose.
Orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit rind, peppery, honeyed, good acidity, creamy, good weight, intense fruit.
Bitter grapefruit rind, peppery on the mouthwatering finish.
Purchased at $14.95 (Canadian).
St. Hallett Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Barossa, South Australia
Light yellow in the glass.
Citrus rind, spicy, peppery on the nose.
Zesty lemon, grapefruit, peppery, tingly acidity, very clean and refreshing, medium bodied, lightly honey, a light bitter bite.
Screwcap closure.
Purchased at $14.95 (Canadian).
The Beach House Sauvignon Blanc- Semillon 2008
Western Cape
Douglas Green
Light yellow, almost clear, in the glass.
Spicy, citrus, light gooseberry on the nose.
Gooseberry, grapefruit, lime, good mouthfeel, spicy, tangy acidity, some sweetness, medium weight, clean and refreshing.
Mouthwatering, bitter citrus rind on the finish.
A very good summer wine and a good QPR.
Screwcap closure.
Purchased at $9.95 (Canadian).
Beaumont Des Crayeres Grande Reserve Brut Champagne NV
Light yellow in the glass.
Good streams of fine bubbles.
Nutty, yeasty, doughy, caramel candy and beef bouillon on the complex and rich nose.
Lemon, good acidity, nutty, showing nice maturity, tangy, crisp, medium weight, an unusual metallic note, zingy, quite rich.
Mouthwatering, lemony finish.
Can't recall how much this cost me, but I am guessing around $25 American.
Boschendal 1685 Shiraz 2007
WO Coastal Region
Very dark, almost black, in the glass.
Meaty, smoky, bandaid, chocolate on the nose.
Medium weight, smoky, bandaid-antispectic (which I don't mind in a wine), good tangy acidity, spicy, very shy cherry fruit, dark chocolate, blood pudding, heavily charred.
A long, smoky finish.
Purchased at $18.95 (Canadian).
Celeste Tempranillo Crianza 2005
DO Ribera del Duero
Selección De Torres
Dark red in the glass.
Very little on the nose.
Medium bodied, light dried strawberry, raspberry, red licorice, drying, spicy, lightly floral, sharp acidity, chocolate, with a strong bitter burned streak.
Not nearly as impressive as previous vintages. Quite subdued.
Purchased at $19.95 (Canadian).
Chateau De La Tuilerie Syrah/Grenache 2007
AC Costières de Nîmes
Chantal Comte, Prop.-Recolt.
Very dark red in the glass.
Candied, smoky, meaty nose.
Smoky, quite tangy, cherry, raspberry, rather austere, earthy, bitter, light to medium bodied, red licorice, drying, quite sharp.
Mouthwatering, bitter burned on the finish.
A very unpleasant wine.
Purchased at $15.95 (Canadian).
Loios Red 2007
Alentejo, Portugal
J Portugal Ramos, S.A.
A blend of Aaragones (35 per cent), Trincadeira (35) and Castelão.
Dark purple in the glass.
Jammy fruit, smoky on the nose.
Berry, dusty, very tangy, smoky, tastes like very bad homemade (Editor's note: Howie Hart would not fit into this category).
Purchased at $9.95 (Canadian).
Natura Carmenere 2008
Colchagua Valley
Emiliana Orgánico, V.E.S.A.
Dark purple, bordering on black, in the glass.
Drying, some greeness, tarry-charred on the nose.
Drying, peppery, black cherries, bitter burned, sharp, medium weight, some greeness with obvious alcohol.
Bitter and burned on the finish.
Pretty bad.
Purchased at $15.95 (Canadian).
Palatine Hills Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2004
Niagara Lakeshore
A 65-35 blend. Aged 24 months in oak.
Fairly light red in the glass.
Earthy, veggie, dark chocolate on the nose.
Light to medium bodied, iodine, bitter, good acidity, nothing in the fruit department, tastes dried out. Perhaps shouldn't have spent quite so long in oak.
Purchased at $13.95 (Canadian).
Pelee Island Eco Trail Cabernet Franc-Chabmourcin 2008
Good cherry red in the glass.
Vanilla on the nose.
Very berry, slightly stewed or dried raspberry and cherry fruit, good tangy acidity, a bitter streak, medium weight, drying, somewhat raisany and a wildness-gaminess from the Chambourcin I guess.
Bitter and mouthwatering on the finish.
An interesting wine to try but I found the bitterness to become annoying after a while.
Screwcap closure.
Purchased at $8.95 (Canadian).