StarWines
Chateau La Fleur Cardinale 2008
Bordeaux, France
Retail Price: $77.00 Star Wine Offer: $65.45
“A sleeper of the vintage, this evolved, soft/silky, dark ruby/purple/plum-colored 2008 offers up scents of blue and red fruits, earth and flowers. Medium to full-bodied as well as round, generous and seductive, it is a pure, impeccably made, wonderfully concentrated, endearing wine to enjoy now and over the next 7-10 years.”
Reviewed by Robert Parker, 91 points, Wine Advocate #194
Chateau de Fieuzal 2008
Bordeaux, France
Retail Price:$66.00 Star Wine Offer :$56.10
“A big time sleeper of the vintage and a terrific success for Fieuzal, the 2008 is a wine to buy given its realistic price. Dense plum/purple-colored with a soaring bouquet of blue and black fruits, unsmoked cigar tobacco, lead pencil shavings and spring flowers, it is a suave, savory, medium to full-bodied, remarkably silky, appealing wine to enjoy over the next 12-15 years. Bravo!”
Reviewed by Robert Parker, 92 points, Wine Advocate #194
Chateau La Pointe 2008
Bordeaux, France
Retail Price: $75.00 Star Wine Offer: $63.75
“This generous red shows expressive flavors of black cherry, blackberry, violet and tobacco. The tannins are light, but give focus to the broad flavors, and lively acidity keeps this refreshing. Not muscular, but harmonious. Drink now through 2016.”
Reviewed by Wine Spectator, 89 points
Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2009
Mendoza, Argentina
Retail Price: $40.00 Star Wine Offer: $32.00
“60% Malbec, 40% Syrah; Purple; spice box, plum, and blueberry; some depth and richness.”
Reviewed by Jay Miller, 88 points, eRobertParker.com #191
Dona Paula Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Mendoza, Argentina
Retail Price: $40.00 Star Wine Offer: $32.00
“Grapefruit and other citrus, slightly herbaceous; touch of oak, integrated, good depth and grip.”
Reviewed by Jay Miller, 90 points, eRobertParker.com #191
Dona Paula Malbec Seleccion de Bodega 2007
Mendoza, Argentina
Retail Price: $83.00 Star Wine Offer: $66.40
“Dona Paula’s 2007 Seleccion de Bodega Malbec is a glass-staining opaque purple. It was fermented with native yeasts and aged in new French oak for 24 months. The nose reveals an aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry. Dense, layered, and full-bodied, it has enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years, and a lengthy, pure finish. It will offer prime drinking from 2014 to 2022.“
Reviewed by Jay Miller, 91 points, Wine Advocate #192
Tasca d'Almerita Cygnus 2008
Sicily, Italy
Retail Price:$52.00 Star Wine Offer: $41.60
”The 2008 Cygnus is 58% Nero d'Avola and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 14 months in French oak, 30% of which was new. In general, I am far from a fan of Sicilian blends, but all of the elements come together beautifully here. Layers of black fruit, mint, sweet herbs and licorice build nicely towards the intense, powerful finish. The suppleness of the fruit makes this approachable today, but ideally the wine should really be cellared for at least a few more years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2023.”
Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, 90 points, Wine Advocate #195
Tasca D’Almerita Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Sicily, Italy
Retail Price: $84.00 Star Wine Offer: $67.20
Wine Maker’s Taste Notes:
”Ruby red of very good intensity with garnet reflections. Wild berries, vanilla, black pepper, tobacco, cinnamon, mint, sage.Rich of ripe fruit concentrate, elegant, balanced.”
Tasca d'Almerita Rosso del Conte 2005
Sicily, Italy
Retail Price: $116.00 Star Wine Offer: $92.80
“The 2005 Rosso del Conte has put on significant weight since I first reviewed it in The Wine Advocate last year. The 2005 has grown into a big, generous red packed with perfumed fruit. Stylistically it is a wine that relies on sheer power over subtlety; but the balance and sense of harmony are nevertheless superb. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.”
Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, 92 points, Wine Advocate #190
Kilikanoon Shiraz Killerman's Run 2009
South Australia, Australia
Retail Price: $37.00 Star Wine Offer: $31.45
Wine Maker’s Taste Notes:
”Intense brick red in colour with youthful crimson hues. Beautifully lifted notes of licorice, cedary French oak and ripe spicy plums flood the senses. Textural and persistent, linking perfectly ripened plum fruits, dark chocolate and spice with quality oak char and natural fine grained tannins.”
Kilikanoon Cabernet Sauvignon Killerman's Run 2008
South Australia, Australia
Retail Price: $39.00 Star Wine Offer: $33.15
“The 2008 Killerman’s Run Cabernet Sauvignon provides a medium-deep garnet color and aromas of baked blackberries and black currant cordial over dusty earth and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied with high acid, the palate is warm fruited and full-bodied with medium-firm slightly astringent tannins and a long finish. Drink it now through 2014.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 87 points, Wine Advocate #192
Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz 2008
South Australia, Australia
Retail Price: $85.00 Star Wine Offer: $72.25
Wine Maker’s Taste Notes:
”Lifted sweet plum and berry fruits. Hints of coffee, chocolate and menthol integrate and complex well with the spicy French oak. Palate is richly textured and flavoured, initial sweet plum and berry fruits integrated with the firm tannins and a smooth, alcohol finish. The palates natural acidity and subtle oak characters provide length, complexity and persistence.”
Morton Estate White Label Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Marlborough, New Zealand
Retail Price: $42.00 Star Wine Offer: $33.60
Wine Maker’s Taste Notes:
“Quite a concentrated and accessible style with gentle passion fruit and stone fruit flavours. Good purity and drive. Attractive wine that captures the essence of the style. Excellent value.”
Morton Estate Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Retail Price: $42.00 Star Wine Offer: $33.60
Wine Maker’s Taste Notes:
”Aromas of peaches, stewed pears, papaya, hazelnut and marmalade fill the nose, with subtle banana undertones evident.The palate is weighty and silky in texture. Peaches, honeyed, sweet orange peel and citrus dominate the flavours.The citrus character provides excellent length while clever oak use, with weekly lees stirring, has produced a subtle toasty character that mingles seamlessly with the fruit. A wine for all occasions, it will go well with rich seafood dishes such as scallop mornay or creamy chicken carbonara. As under screwcap, this wine can be cellared for up to five years from the bottling date for increased complexity.”
Morton Estate White Label Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir 2009
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Retail Price: $47.00 Star Wine Offer: $37.60
Wine Maker’s Taste Notes:
”Lifted aromas of mocha chocolate, boysenberry, raspberry and vanillin oak complement an intense Black Doris plum character while underlying hints of maraschino cherries are evident. The palate is silky and medium bodied with berry-fruits prominent while thyme herb characters contribute to a lengthy, fine-grained tannin finish.”