Which wine goes best with a turkey dinner?(2)
Sterling Vintner’s Collection Pinot Noir 2009 (California)
SCORE: 90 PRICE: $14.95
It’s got everything one could reasonably expect in a pinot noir at this price: jammy, berry-like fruit, mild notes of beet and cinnamon, a seductively soft texture and good acidity on the finish. Available in Ontario.
Pierre Amadieu Domaine Grand Romane Cuvée Prestige Gigondas 2009 (France)
SCORE: 90 PRICE: $27.95
Mostly grenache with some mourvèdre and syrah, this old-vines red is lavishly oaked, owing to 100-per-cent new barrels, not standard for the Rhône Valley. Full-bodied, it should please fans of earthy French as well as opulent New World reds. Available in Ontario.
Château des Charmes Old Vines Riesling 2008 (Ontario)
SCORE: 90 PRICE: $16.95
Here’s a gorgeous riesling for the money, aromatic and silky, with crisp pear, lime, petrol and green tea flavours and a finish that’s ever-so-slightly offdry. It could almost be Alsatian or German.
Vina Zaco Rioja Tempranillo (Spain)
SCORE: 87 PRICE: $14.95
Smooth and fresh, this modern-style Rioja from Bodegas Bilbainas offers up plum, berry and vanilla notes and an undercurrent of sweet spices on a polished texture and mediumbodied frame. New to Ontario.
Morse Code Padthaway Shiraz 2010 (Australia)
SCORE: 87 PRICE: $12.95
Full-bodied and succulent, this good-value red delivers blackberry and cherry flavours, a smooth texture and a crisp, spicy finish. Available in Ontario and B.C. The B.C. price is $13.99.
Springbank CV Single Malt (Scotland)
SCORE: 93 PRICE: $74.95
Springbank, in Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula that stretches down toward Northern Ireland, is the oldest independent family-owned distillery in Scotland. It was named Whisky Magazine’s whisky distiller of the year in 2010, distinguished for its all-on-site production, smooth, leathery textures and moderately peaty style. This one’s delectably oily, blended from a mixture of casks that once held bourbon, sherry and port. Chewy, with a fruity core, it resolves with a bracing slap of smoke and spice. A well-rounded single malt. Available in Ontario and Alberta.
Warre’s Colheita Single Year Tawny 1997 (Portugal)
SCORE: 90 PRICE: $39.95
Though 14 years old, this rusty brown port is free of sediment and needs no decanting, ready for a cheese course, creamy dessert or post-dinner sipping. With sweet notes of raisin, caramelized sugar and roasted nuts, it’s lively, not syrupy, thanks to a backbone of acidity. Available in Ontario. In B.C., look for the fine Warre’s Otima 10-year-old tawny in the 500-millilitre clear bottle at $29.99.
