More Wine Ratings from the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Fest 2012

There were more wineries than those from Chile at the 2012 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. It took a while to drag me away from the Chilean wineries, and to try the wines from the rest of the world attending the Festival. There were many nice wines, and now it’s my time to share them with you.

Red Wines (and 1 White Wine)

Just making a quick check on this list and I was surprised that I only had 1 white wine in the list. See if you can find it!

Amalaya Gran Corta 2010, Argentina. Amalaya is Donald Hess’ new brainchild in Argentina, located in Cafayate Valley Northwestern Argentina. The word “Amalaya” means Hope for a Miracle in the indigenous language. This wine is a blend primarily of Malbec, with lesser amounts of Cabernet Franc & Tannat. The wine was deep garnet in colour. Cassis and red fruit nose. Full body with bright acidity. Slight oak and cherries. Dry with soft tannins. Very nice.
Finca Flichman Expresiones Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Argentina. This wine really surprised me with it’s aroma. Dull dark garnet in colour. The nose was of red delicious apples, which continues on the palate. Light body, low tannins with a dry finish.
O. Fournier Alfa Crux Malbec 2008, Argentina. Deep purple in colour. Nice deep plum aromas. Plums, cherries and cassis flavours. And a bit of licorice in the mid palate. Smooth and dry. Really nice.
Las Perdices Reserva Bonarda 2008, Argentina. One of my favourite wines of the Festival. Opaque purple in the glass. Earthy, smoky, with dark fruit aromas. Meaty, smoky, coffee, and dark fruit flavours. Very tasty!
El Porvenir de Los Andes Laborum Torrontes 2011, Argentina. In Argentina, Salta is said to produce the best quality Torrontes wines. This one is a good example. Medium lemon in colour. A nice nose of lychee, flowers and citrus. Light body, round with medium acidity. Lychee and citrus flavours.
El Porvenir de Los Andes Laborum Malbec 2011, Argentina. Deep, yet translucent, ruby in the glass. Most deep wines are opaque. Some earthiness and eucalyptus on the nose. Minerality, cassis, spiciness on the palate. Quite smooth with low tannins and high acidity.
Delas Freres Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette 2009, France. Sorry no detailed notes other than smoky and fruity. Another wine I was enjoying too much to take many notes.
Domaine de la Solitude Cuvee Barberini 2005

Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-pape Cuvee Barberini 2005, France. This was another of my favourite wines. A blend of primarily Grenache, with lesser amounts of Syrah and Mourvedre. Quite an interesting blend! Light garnet in colour. Earthy and dark fruit nose. Very juicy dark syrupy fruit flavours. High acidity with low tannins.
Damilano Nebbiolo d’Alba 2009, Italy. Pale garnet in the glass with light cherry and oak aromas. Light body with minerality and cherries. Elegant.
Damilano Barolo “Lecinquevigne” DOCG 2006, Italy. Pale garnet. Very nice nose with light oak and cherries. Light body, dry with firm tannins. Oak, apples and cherry flavours. A high quality wine.
Quinta dos Roques Quinta do Correio red wine 2009, Portugal (very interesting indigenous grapes used). An entry level wine for Quinta dos Roques that delivers. Light garnet with cloves and meaty aromas, and cinnamon and mint on the palate. The grapes that make this blend are Jaen (that gives the cloves), Touriga Nacional, Tinto Roriz, and Alfrocheiro.
Quinta dos Roques Red 2009, Portugal. Another blend but this time more Touriga Nacional and lesser Jaen, and finishing off with Alfrocheiro and Tinto Roriz. Medium garnet in the glass. Cloves again on the nose. Medium minus body with cassis and clove flavours.
Quinta dos Roques Reserva 2007, Portugal. This blend is 55% Touriga Nacional, 20% Alfrocheiro, 15% Jaen, 5% Tinto Roriz and 5% Tinta Cao. Earthy nose. Smoky, tobacco flavours with spice on the mid palate. Medium minus body.
Lammershoek Winery Pinotage 2007, South Africa. The one and only South African winery at this year’s Festival. I specifically went to try their Pinotage as I was pretty sure it would be the only one at the Festival also. This wine was medium garnet in colour with matchstick nose. Light body, dry with medium tannins. Ripe fruit with matchsticks on the finish.