Be mine...you lovely wine!

Happy Valentine's Day from me to all of you! May your day be filled with wine-y goodness! I thought I'd take this moment to post some delicious finds for you this week. This recent Vintages release featured some yummy wines for the money. I think there's something for every taste here.

This Vintages LCBO release featured California Cabs. This wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot with some Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.   This wine showed ripe blueberry, chocolate, plum and violet. It's dry with soft, integrated tannins. It's a bit hot on the finish but other than that, it's well-balanced. At this price point, there is a lot to savour!

Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $24.95
Sonoma County USA

I wanted to try something different and I found it with this one. I'm a huge fan of Greek wines. This grape variety is called Moschofilero. Not too high in alcohol, it's dry, very aromatic with lively lemon zest. It's tart with a good finish. I liked it!

Tselepos Moschofilero Mantinia 2010 $16.95
Greece


This lovely Shiraz had a great deep purple colour. It was spicy with lots of berry and licorice with slight vegetative flavours. It had great structure with nothing really jumping out to overpower along with a long delicious finish. I'm not one to normally drink Australian Shiraz but I would drink this one. I trust the wines from Plunkett Fowles. Not only is the quality there but it comes at an affordable price.

Plunkett Fowles Stone Dwellers Shiraz 2008 $19.95
Victoria, Australia

I'm in love! This Tempranillo will surely lure you into the boudoir this Valentine's Day. With it's silky sultry smoothness, it's a typical Rioja. Wonderful nose with vanilla, chocolate and sweet ripe fruit. It's medium bodied so don't expect a macho-macho wine.

Finca Nueva Reserva 2004 $19.95
Rioja, Spain

I have some excellent news to share with you! Remember that tasting challenge that I participated in just before the holidays?

www.theyummygrape.com/2011/11/tasting-blindly-through-sea-of-wine.html

I came in 3rd place in the Amateur division! How about that. I didn't think I did well at all. It was a tough competition. Time to practice for next year! The award ceremony will be April 17th at the oh-so- cool 99 Sudbury. Looking forward to it!