Order the following wines and those reviewed in the June 5, 2014 newsletter by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery (in Ontario) from Nokhrin Wines or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; if in the GTA phone (416) 704-8617. 


Bocchino ‘Sori dei fiore’ Moscato d’Asti 2013 
DOCG Moscato d’Asti, Italy $17.95 5.5% alcohol 
Pungent, perfumed aromas of sweet flowers, musk, exotic spice and ripe apricot abound. Sweet waves of peach yoghurt and candied fruit ride a bed of spritzy bubbles. It’s light on its feet, sunshine in a glass. Can be enjoyed on its own or paired with fruit desserts—chill well before pouring. This lo-alcohol gem is also a great party starter; serve as a welcoming wine. (Vic Harradine) 


Agriverde ‘Riseis’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2012 
DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy $16.50 13.5% alcohol 
Delicate aromas of graphite, cedar and berry fruit introduce a silky smooth, balanced and beautiful wash of red cherry and black currant garnished with spice and mocha. This is medium weight with a persistent finish of dark berry fruit, mocha and juicy tang. There are no rough edges and it pours well with grilled beef tenderloin or grilled lamb chops. (Vic Harradine) 


Agriverde ‘Solárea’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2009 
DOC Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy $33.75 14.0% alcohol 
Lively red cherry, black plum and leather on the nose, this delivers a rich, succulent river of creamy smooth cassis, ripe mulberry and bramble berry mingling with mocha framed with excellent acidity and wisps of soft tannin. It’s beautifully structured and well paced with purity of fruit, baking spice and deft balance. It finishes dry and tangy with oodles of charm. (Vic Harradine) 


C & D ‘Saint-Tropink’ Rosé 2013 
IGP Côtes de Provence, France $14.95 13.0% alcohol 
Don’t let the barely pink tinge fool you; there are oodles of piquant spice on the nose along with a basket red berry fruit. It bathes the palate with a lively, fresh splash of spice-laden red currant, sour cherry and red grapefruit tang. It’s light-medium weight with a long and lively, mouth-watering crisp and refreshing finish. It’s delightful on its own with oomph to pour with appetizers, grilled or roast chicken, turkey or pork. (Vic Harradine) 


Crooked Vines ‘Branco’ 2011 
DOC Douro, Portugal $29.95 14.5% alcohol 
This low-yield, indigenous field blend of gnarly, crooked vines struts its stuff with aromas of quince jelly, baked apple and hints of smoky notes. It bathes the palate with mellow flavours of nectarine, blood orange and key lime pie. It’s mid-weight with decent texture and a long, dry finish with grapefruit pith on the aftertaste. Pour with lemon chicken or pan-seared trout. (Vic Harradine) 


Quinta da Castainça Touriga Nacional 2010 
DOC Douro, Portugal $19.95 14.0% alcohol 
Red cherry and spice aromas introduce a fruit-laden river—black currant and ripe, black cherry mingling with espresso roast. It’s mid-full weight with generous mouth feel and a balanced finish of ripe fruit, sweet soft tannin for structure and enough juicy tang for balance and a lip-smacking aftertaste. What’s not to like. (Vic Harradine) 


Lacrau ‘Old Vines’ Tinto 2011 
DOC Douro, Portugal $29.95 14.0% alcohol 
This traditional, foot-trodden red is fashioned from a field blend of indigenous grapes and bottled unfined, unfiltered after a year in oak. Perfumed alluring aromas of cedar, exotic spice and dark berry fruit provide segue for a lively, full-bodied, mouth-watering wash of spice-infused bramble berry robed in excellent acidity and a supple tannin underpinning. The racy, dry finish is tang-laden with sour cherry and red currant. (Vic Harradine) 


Lacrau ‘Old Vines - Barrel Fermented’ Branco 2012 
DOC Douro, Portugal $29.95 14.0% alcohol 
This field blend of indigenous grapes was barrel fermented, left on stirred lees and aged in seasoned French oak barrels. Delicate aromas of minerality, floral notes and hints of yellow peach open the door to a swashbuckling river of Meyer lemon, tang-laden lime cordial and a wide seam of racy, white grapefruit acidity to the fore. It’s medium bodied with good texture and a crisp, mouth-watering aftertaste. (Vic Harradine) 


Leone Rosso Toscana 2012 
IGT Toscana, Italy $18.95 13.5% alcohol 
Charred toast, tobacco and graphite aromas set the stage for a delightful, juicy array of flavour with black currant, ripe red cherry and sweet, ripe mulberry to the fore. It’s value-packed, mid weight and nicely textured with a stunningly good finish—balanced, fruit- and tang-laden and lip-smacking good. Pour on its own for a delicious glass of red or with grilled rack of lamb or smoked, grilled back ribs. (Vic Harradine) 


Castello Sonnino Chianti Montespertoli 2012 
DOCG Chianti Montespertoli, Italy $18.95 13.5% alcohol 
Mocha, sandalwood and berry fruit aromas herald a lively wash of ripe red cherry and red currant framed by spice and bramble berry pie filling. It’s very smooth with good weight and a lengthy, fruit-filled aftertaste of red cherry and mulberry and good moderating tang. Drinking beautifully now, pour with peperoni arrotolati. (Vic Harradine) 


Castello Sonnino ‘Castello di Montespertoli - Riserva’ 2010 
DOCG Chianti Montespertoli, Italy $25.95 14.0% alcohol 
Cedar, floral notes and dark coffee bean on the nose, this bathes the palate with ripe, black cherry, bramble berry and notes of kirsch liqueur. It’s stylish, smooth and mellow with plenty of charm. Mid weight and heavenly textured, the silky smooth aftertaste is dry, extending the lovely purity of fruit flavour with hints of forest floor. (Vic Harradine) 


Domaine de Vénus Côtes Catalanes 2011 
IGP Côtes Catalanes, France $18.95 14.0% alcohol 
Charred toast, cocoa and tobacco open a full-bodied, fully textured and fully flavoured hedonistic red blend of Carignan and Syrah. Palate-coating waves of bramble berry and sweet ripe mulberry robed in great balance and truckloads of crowd-pleasing allure roll persistently through the very long, fruit-laden finish. Just in case the review’s not clear, it’s absolutely delicious. There’s terrific value here. (Vic Harradine) 


Domaine de Vénus ‘Passions’ 2009 
AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages, France $28.95 15.0% alcohol 
Dark berry fruit mingles with roasted herbs and spice on the nose before unleashing a rip roarin’ river of cassis and kirsch liqueur garnished with juicy black cherry dipped in bittersweet chocolate. It’s mid-full weight with generous, creamy mouth feel and an extended aftertaste showcasing a replay of palate flavours robed in delightful tang. Pour with Modena pork chops. (Vic Harradine) 


Domaine de Vénus ‘Tentations’ 2009 
AOP Côtes du Roussillon, France $23.95 15.0% alcohol 
A quiet nose of rose petals and mixed field berry fruit precedes a sweet, ripe fruity wave of briary berry and mulberry jam, coating the palate, infusing the lengthy aftertaste. It’s mid-full bodied with a satin-smooth mouth feel and oodles of crowd-pleasing charm. The finish lingers fruit-laden and sweet. Pour with grilled back ribs mopped in spicy hot barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine) 


Domaine de Vénus ‘L’Effrontée’ 2011 
AOP Côtes du Roussillon, France $29.95 14.0% alcohol 
A brilliant, pale gold in the glass, quiet aromas of citrus and flowers provide intro to a well-balanced wash of racy lemon tang, mandarin orange and notions of salinity. It’s creamy smooth and mid weight with a mid-length finish that’s crisp and refreshing. Pour alongside chicken, pork or veal. (Vic Harradine) 

Order the following wine by the case for home, restaurant or office delivery from Profile Wine Group; if in the GTA phone (416) 598-0033 


Tenuta di Martucino Brunello di Montalcino 2008 
DOCG Brunello di Montalcino, Italy $46.95 13.5% alcohol 
A perfumed bouquet of spice, leather and red berry fruit mingling with mocha heralds an outstanding, elegant, tangy stream of sour cherry and red currant jelly bathing the palate with notions of blood orange and pomegranate. Its medium bodied and nicely textured with a lengthy lip-smacking aftertaste of red and black berry fruit, pin-point balance and charm. Gorgeous on its own, it also pours well with pollo alla cacciatore. (Vic Harradine) 


Rosehall Run ‘Solid Ground’ Riesling 2012 
VQA Ontario $19.95 10.5% alcohol 
Aromas of honeyed pit fruit, lime zest and ripe melon presage a bracing line of lime cordial and lemon tang streaking across the palate, infusing the lip-smacking finish. This is quite versatile at the table as a wonderful aperitif or poured with sushi or sashimi, ceviche, chèvre, freshly shucked oysters or grilled calamari rings. (Vic Harradine) 


Velonosi ‘Brecciarolo’ Rosso Piceno Superiore 2011 
DOC Rosso Piceno Superiore, Italy $15.95 13.5% alcohol 
Sandalwood, exotic spice and red cherry aromas presage a racy, tangy wash of cherry/berry flavours cloaked in cloves, infused with still-resolving tannin. It’s medium weight with a lengthy, crisp and drying, mouth-watering aftertaste. This was made for pasta in tomato sauce or lasagna. (Vic Harradine) 


Velenosi ‘Villa Angela’ Pecorino 2012 
DOC Felerio Pecorino, Italy $17.95 13.0 alcohol 
Pecorino is an ancient indigenous grape in the Marche, once thought extinct. Aromas of banana, almond and ripe apple herald a soft mouthful of Mirabelle plum, grapefruit pith with notions of mineral salts. It has good mouth feel and a bit of tang on the finish. It pours particularly well with a mixed deli platter or all manner of seafood. (Vic Harradine)