New in Private Order

• Order the following wines by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery in Ontario from VinoLuna wine agency by Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or if in the GTA, phone 416 587-6691.

  
Firriato ‘Nari’ 2016
IGT Terre Siciliane $13.95 13.5% alcohol
Savory-laden aromas of dark berry fruit open this sweet and tangy, Nero d’Avola / Petit Verdot red blend. It blankets the palate with sweet-ripe mulberry and red plum mingling with spice and pie cherry persisting through the mid-length finish. It’s medium bodied and nicely textured with a warm aftertaste joining wisps of grainy tannin. Aerate/decant two hours pouring with spaghetti Bolognese or pasta in rich tomato sauce. (Vic Harradine)  

  
Vinicola de Castilla ‘Señorío de Guadianeja’ Tempranillo Crianza 2014 
DO La Mancha, Spain $16.95 13.5% alcohol 
This 100% Tempranillo matured six months in American oak before bottling. It’s a pale-red hue in the glass with delicate aromas of spice, vanilla and mixed field berry fruit. It bathes the palate with a delightful flow of crunchy red fruit—pie cherry and red currant—mingling with spice and hints of cocoa. This is light on its feet with good style and plenty of tang from cork pop to last drop. (Vic Harradine)

  
Vinicola de Castilla ‘Señorío de Guadianeja’ Tempranillo Gran Reserva 2004 
DO La Mancha, Spain $22.95 13.0% alcohol
After macerating on skins for 12 days, this underwent malolactic conversion then spent 36 months aging in American oak. Aromas of red cherry, leather and spice unleash a spirited rush of red berry fruit, black plum and hints of passionfruit streaking across the palate, infusing the finish and aftertaste. There’s persistent purity of fruit, good balance and a lengthy, tang-laden aftertaste. (Vic Harradine)

  
Vinicola de Castilla ‘Señorío de Guadianeja’ Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2004 
DO La Mancha, Spain $25.95 13.5% alcohol
A lovely orange hue in the glass, it offers alluring aromas of caramel, dark chocolate and hints of toasty notes. It blankets the palate with a broad swath of excellently textured, mature dark fruit—black berry, black cherry and ripe mulberry—dancing across the palate with boundless energy followed by a lingering finish and aftertaste. Pour on its own or enjoy with roast beef or steak. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Bodegas Valdelacierva ‘Valdelamillo’ was sourced from 100% Tempranillo. After macerating on skins up to 15 days, the hand-picked fruit from +25-year-old vines was matured 12 months in American oak barrel and another three months in bottle before release.

  
Bodegas Valdelacierva ‘Valdelamillo’ Tempranillo Crianza 2014
DOCa Rioja, Spain $15.95 14.0% alcohol
Ripe black currant, spice and earthy notes introduce a medium-full bodied, nicely textured river of tangy, juicy fruit decorated with piquant spice and grilled savory herbs coating the palate infusing the lingering finish and aftertaste. Pour with pastitsio or lasagna after a two-hour aeration/decant. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Bodegas Valdelacierva ‘Valdelamillo’ 2012 Tempranillo Reserva was fashioned from hand-picked Tempranillo vines a minimum of 25 years old. It was matured 27 months in American oak barrel and a further seven months in bottle before release.

  
Bodegas Valdelacierva ‘Valdelamillo’ Tempranillo Reserva 2012
DOCa Rioja, Spain $19.95 14.0% alcohol
Rich, lively aromas of piquant spice, dark berry fruit and earthy notes make way for a tang-laden line of red currant, sour cherry and tangy blood orange. This is medium bodied and nicely textured with a lingering, dry, savory, mouth-watering finish. It pours particularly well with tomato, curried goat and root vegetables cooked in a tagine. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2014 ‘Catania’ was sourced from hand-harvested, older vines with an average age of 70 years. Fruit was matured for 12-14 months in French and American oak barrel—both new and seasoned—before being settled in bottle for a further eight months.

  
Viñedos y Bodegas Gormaz ‘Catania’ Crianza 2014
DO Ribera del Duero, Spain $15.95 14.0% alcohol
Alluring aromas of ripe, dark berry fruit black plum and cedar roll from this incredibly juicy, smooth and mellow, good-value beauty. It’s quite rich on the palate with generous flavours of red and black cherry interwoven with spice and tang. Flavours persist on the tangy aftertaste framed by racy red fruit—pie cherry and passionfruit. Pour with pasta in tomato sauce. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Heredad de Uruena ‘Fórum Etiqueta Negra’ is quite interesting as it is a red blend incorporating Tinto Fina and Tinta del País—two native varieties that are both clones of Tempranillo.

  
Heredad de Uruena ‘Fórum Etiqueta Negra’ 2011
Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León, Spain $21.95 14.5% alcohol
This is a red blend of Tinta Fina and Tinta del País, both Tempranillo clones. Wisps of cherry pastille and exotic spice precede a gorgeous gusher of palate-bathing fruit flavours—ripe mulberry, black cherry and hits of vanilla and tangy kirsch liqueur. It’s nicely balanced with good weight, structure and mouthfeel. It finishes with more of the same, delectable and lip-smacking good. (Vic Harradine)

• Hand-picked fruit for a proprietary red blend for the following 2012 Heredad de Uruena ‘Santo’ underwent extended maceration then cap punch-downs before 10 months maturation in 80% French and 20% American new barrels.

  
Heredad de Uruena ‘Santo’ 2012
Vino de la Tierra Castilla y León, Spain $21.95 14.5% alcohol
An involved nose of black licorice, dark fruit and spice aromas provide segue for a gorgeous broad swath of palate-bathing flavour with cassis, black Bing cherry and ripe sweet mulberry persisting over the lengthy finish. This is mid weight with creamy smooth mouthfeel and plenty of style and charm. It showcases purity of fruit, balance, and good acidity and tang. The aftertaste layers on bittersweet chocolate and sweet vanilla—dare I say… yummy. (Vic Harradine)

  
Bodegas Ugalde ‘Bianai’ Reserva 2012
DOCa Rioja, Spain $19.95 13.5% % alcohol
Aromas of earthy notes, cedar and floral notes make way for a medium-bodied, tang-laden gusher of sour cherry and red currant streaking across the palate with racy acidity, great élan. It’s nicely textured, persistent and true with flavours replaying through the dry, mouth-watering, lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. Pour with chicken paprikash. (Vic Harradine)

• The following Finca Albret red blend hails from Navarra, Spain, a region with wine production dating back to the 2nd Century. By the Middle Ages it became a powerful independent state with close ties to France. It’s proximity to the pilgrim’s path—Camino de Santiago—and inclusion in guidebooks because of it, helped sustain its viticulture and viniculture practices.

  
Finca Albret Crianza 2013
DO Navarra, Spain $15.95 13.5 % alcohol 
Lively fruit, mixed spice and cedar aromas on the nose make way for a balanced stream of rich, luscious, palate-bathing stream of black plum compote adorned with piquant spice, touches of oak and black cherry along with racy acidity and tang. It’s medium weight with good texture and a long, dry, balanced finish. Pour with meat-laden red pizza. (Vic Harradine)

  
Finca Albret Reserva 2012
DO Navarra, Spain $19.95 14.0 % alcohol
This 90% Tempranillo/10% Merlot blend offers aromas of grilled savory herbs, fennel and black berry fruit. A well-balanced and flavourful stream of tangy cherry and black currant wash over the palate, medium weight and nicely textured. It finishes crisp and quite dry with plenty of tang. Pour alongside spaghetti Bolognese. (Vic Harradine)

   
La Poulardière Côtes du Rhône ‘Blanc’ 2016
AOP Côtes du Rhône, France $13.95 14.0% alcohol 
This is a southern-France, value-packed, white blend—30% Grenache Blanc/30% Viognier/20% Clairette/20% Roussane—sporting lovely fresh aromas of honeyed stone fruit and wisps of rose petals. It blankets the palate with a powerful, spice-laden wash of lemon curd and ginger snap riding a racy river of delectable sweet and tang—absolutely delicious. It’s medium bodied and slightly off-dry with good texture and a notion of white grapefruit on the crisp, refreshing finish. Pour with spicy Asian cuisine. (Vic Harradine)

Cheers, Vic, Lisa, Susan