Hot Picks for a Spring Fling

Best Wine Buy

89 Colomé 2009 Amalaya, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Argentina

YK $21, BC $20 specialty listing, AB $20, MB $17, ON $19, NS $15, NL $15

Amalaya means “waiting for a miracle,” which aptly describes finding a wine like this in Canada. This malbec, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and tannat blend offers a rich palate of sweet, dark cherry fruit and white pepper, with flecks of mineral and spice. The finish is long, fresh and spicy, with silky textures that do not quit. Grown biodynamically in what are essentially the highest vineyards in the world. (AG)

Local Wine Heroes

89 Inniskillin 2009 Varietal Series Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

BC $16, SK $15, ON $15, QC $16, NB $15, NS $12, NL $16

This cherry-red wine demonstrates the potential for inexpensive pinot noir from Niagara. Aromas of delicate cherry-cranberry fruit, with beet and spice notes. It is fresh, clean and fruity. Best 2011 to 2014. Try with roast lamb or roast pork.  (STh)

88 Hester Creek 2009 Trebbiano, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

BC $19 winery, VQA and private wine shops

The best trebbiano yet from Hester Creek winemaker Robert Summer. Fresh, watery, melon fruit, with bits of peach, pear and a dash of honeysuckle. The finish is medium-long and clean with a floral, spicy undertone. Well done. (AG)

Wine Cellar Dweller

90 Château de la Gardine 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône Valley, France

YK $56, BC $55 specialty listing, AB $50, SK $38, MB $44, QC $20/375ml, $36

Open, peppery, smoky, spicy, black cherry jam nose, with liquorice, barnyard, chocolate and tobacco notes. The palate is full, slightly tannic, but fresh, with barnyard, leather, tobacco, floral, dried herbs and mineral/liquorice flavours. (ST)

After Dinner Wine

88 Fonseca N/V Terra Prima Organic Reserve Port, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal

YK $36, BC $32 specialty listing, AB $31, SK $29, MB $26

Terra Prima is the only “reserve” port we know of in the market made from organically grown grapes and grape spirits. A dry, spicy, tobacco, cedar nose, with menthol, earth, spirit, ash and
liquorice. The rich palate has coffee, tobacco, menthol, dried fig, black tea and smoky, raisin flavours. A bit rustic, but with fine intensity. (AG)

Killer Value Wine

88 Ruffino 2007 Il Ducale Toscana, Tuscany, Italy

BC $20, AB $17, ON $17, QC $19, NS $23, PEI $23

An intriguing nose of perfume, cherry, anise and vanilla is taut and focused. There’s a grippy, tarry note on the palate that’s fun to wrestle with as the white pepper, strawberry, vanilla and cherry notes open up. Solid Tuscan blend showing all three grape varieties in a balanced way. (BMS)

Wine Weekend Warrior

89 Loosen 2009 Dr. L Riesling, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

BC $19 specialty listing, AB $18, ON $14 Vintages, QC $14

An elegant, racy style. The ’09 is a pinch drier, which we like, yet with crunchy, ripe, red apple, citrus, mango and slate aromas. Fresh and crisp, it has enough sweetness to tame spicy dishes and enough citrus to clean up after itself. A ready-to-drink, versatile wine. (AG)