Château de la Greffière Mâcon-La Roche Vineuse 2009
A very stylish, bargain-priced wine from the Mâconnais. Yellow straw in colour with a nose of apple and green pineapple. It’s dry, medium-bodied with zesty acidity; well-structured and firm on the palate. This would make a first-rate house white. Food match: trout with almonds; escargot. (Vintages# 205898, $14.95)
Terre di Rubinoro Vino Nobile de Montepulciano 2006
Think Chianti but with finesse. Deep ruby colour with a minerally nose of dried cherries lifted with a floral note; dry and elegant on the palate. It’s medium- to full-bodied, beautifully balanced and finishes with a savoury note. Food match: grilled quail; fresh Parmesan. (Vintages# 206862, $17.95)
Studert-Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2009
This was one of my highest scoring wines from the March 19th Vintages release. Pure pleasure in a glass. Pale straw with a lime tint; the nose is an amalgam of minerals, honey, citrus and white flowers. It dances on the palate with initial honeyed sweetness that finesses into dry peach and citrus flavours. (Vintages# 970129, $18.95)
Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Now here’s a really tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s Paso Robles region at a good price. Deeply coloured, this wine has a lovely bouquet of blackcurrants with a floral grace note. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a richly extracted spicy flavour. Food match: rack of lamb; steak. (Vintages# 738823, $18.95)
Finca Sobreño Crianza 2007
The grape variety is Tinta de Toro, which is what that region calls the Tempranillo grape of Rioja. The colour is dense purple-black, always an expression of lots of extract and flavour. Creamy blackberry on the nose, it shows full-bodied, spicy, minerally flavours of American oak. Food match: pepper steak; blackened chicken. (Vintages# 40360, $17.95)
Post City Magazines’ wine columnist, Tony Aspler, has written 14 books on wine and food. Tony also created the Ontario Wine Awards. He can be heard on 680News.