One of the definitions in The Free Dictionary of “portfolio” is “A group of investments held by an investor, investment company, or financial institution.” I thought that for a wine & spirits agency those bottles of wines and spirits are an investment to them. They search out and try to find value, and then share these gems with the public. I look forward to attending Select Wines & Spirits‘ annual portfolio tasting, trying old favourites, and discovering new gems. Below are a mix of both for you. I hope you have a chance to buy some and enjoy them too, and build your own portfolio at home.
White and Sparkling Wines
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Piper Heidsieck Brut Cuvee Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Brut Cuvee, France ($64.99) – Light toasty now. Light body and light bubble in the mouth. Citrus, red & green apples on the palate. Medium acidity. Lees on the finish. Very nice.
Rating: - Hugel Pinot Gris, 2009, France (SPEC $29.99) – Light stone fruit with a hint of tomato and green bean on the nose. Medium body with light spiciness, and flavours of apricots and stone fruit. Light acidity. A very interesting wine.
Rating: - Ogier Cotes du Rhone Heritages Blanc, 2013, France ($17.99) – Very light fruit nose. Dry with medium body. Red apple flavour and soft acidity. Some spice on the finish. This is an easy sipper.
Rating: - Domaine Laroche Saint Martin Chablis, 2012, France (SPEC $29.99) – Chablis wine is made from Chardonnay grapes. This wine had light aromas of citrus and vanilla. Medium body, with higher acidity. Light citrus and vanilla, together with some flowers and minerality. An elegant wine.
Rating: - Chartron et Trebuchet Pouilly Fuisse “Cuvee de la Chapelle”, 2012, France ($39.99) – From the Burgundy region in France, this wine has a light citrus nose. The minerality in this wine jumps out at you on the palate, together with it’s citrus, apple and vanilla flavours. Smooth, round, and peppery.
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G A Schmitt No 11 Riesling 2013 G.A. Schmitt No 11 Riesling, 2013, Germany (SPEC $12.99) – LIght flowers and lychee aromas. Off dry, light body and soft mouth feel. Flowers and citrus, followed by stone fruit. A great value.
Rating: - Dr. Loosen Villa Wolf Gewurztraminer, 2013, Germany (SPEC $16.99) – Nice sweet spices, flowers and stone fruit aromas. Slightly off-dry with medium minus body. Soft and round mouth feel with flowers, lychee and apricot flavours.
Rating: - Dr. Loosen Villa Wolf Dry Riesling, 2011, Germany (SPEC $16.99) – Light stone fruit nose. Light body with soft mouthfeel. Apricots on the palate. Round with medium acidity.
Rating: - Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2012, New Zealand ($19.99) – Quite a bit of asparagus on the nose. Higher acidity with asparagus and jalapeno pepper flavour up front followed by green bean. A complex wine.
Rating: - Sebastiani Vineyards Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2012, California ($20.99) – Light stone fruit nose. Medium minus body. Soft with light oak and citrus flavour. Easy to sip. A good value wine.
Rating: - MacRostie Sonoma Chardonnay, 2012, California ($29.99) – Nice nose with bruised apple, figs?, vegetal and vanilla. Higher acidity, medium body. Citrus and apple with vanilla, and spice later.
Rating: - MacRostie Wildcat Chardonnay, 2012, California (SPEC $44.99) – Light vegetal nose. Round with medium body. Soft mouth feel with citrus, and vanilla, and sweet spices on the mid palate. Pepperiness toward the finish. Elegant.
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Red Wines
- Ogier Chateauneuf du Papes Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes, 2011, France ($51.99) – This is one of my old favourites and it continues to please. Nice ripe purple fruit nose. Medium plus body with ripe purple fruit and some vanilla. Soft and round, with spice toward the finish.
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Cesari Mara Valpolicella Ripasso 2009 and 2011 Cesari Mara Valpolicella di Ripasso Superiore, 2011, Italy (SPEC $27.99) – Dark fruit nose with a whiff of capsicum. Medium body, dry and soft. Silky on the palate with berry fruit on palate, and cherries on the finish. Nice.
Rating: - Cesari Bosan Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, 2005, Italy (SPEC $38.99) – Nice ripe berry fruit nose. Medium body, soft and dry. Round mouthfeel. Very tasty ripe berries, red cherries and vanilla, together with light spice. Wow.
Rating: - Cesari Amarone Della Valpolicella, 2011, Italy (SPEC $79.99) – Nice nose, with berries and candied black fruit. Fuller bodied, round and soft, with sweet spice, red cherries and berry fruits. Balanced fruit and acidity.
Rating: - Grupo Faustino Campillo Gran Reserva Rioja, 2001, Spain (SPEC $49.99) – This wine is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano grapes. it has a nice ripe purple fruit nose. Fuller bodied, with ripe cassis and purple fruit flavours. Round and dry, with softer tannins. Very good.
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Aquinas Pinot Noir 2012 Aquinas Pinot Noir, 2012, California (SPEC $20.99) – Nutmeg on the nose which leads to the palate. Also roses and red cherries on the palate. Dry with light mouthfeel. Fairly peppery.
Rating: - Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, 2012, Argentina ($22.99) – Ripe purple fruit and cassis on the nose. Medium body. Minerality up front together with ripe purple fruit and some spice. Smooth.
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