Monthly Picks: August'15 - Random Reds

Random red wines to be enjoyed during the last days of Summer.

Pascual Toso 2013 Malbec - $15
A fruit-forward Malbec with ripe'n'tangy blackberry and chocolate-cherry liqueur aromas followed by a bright, yet, approachable palate of similar flavours and added earth, spice, vanilla and light oak notes. Finish is short, though, a touch of spice lingers on the tongue.
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Averill Creek Vineyard 2014 Foch Eh - $16
Offers some classic and uniquely Foch aromas of toasted marshmallow, Grandma's grape jelly (including the canning wax), candied rhubarb, wild berry fruit and dried herbs. Palate is tangy, juicy and very raw with some prune-y fruit characters, smoke and spices on the moderate finish.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2012 Pinot Noir - $20
Offers a nice combination of red fruit and funky, earthy notes with cherry cola, sweet soil and dried herbs as highlights. Palate is medium-everything, as Pinot usually is, with a smooth entry, some juicy red fruit mid-palate and a mouth-watering finish where herbs and cherry notes linger.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2012 Heritage Block - $25
One of the best, mid-range, red blends, consistently every year, that opens with sweet'n'smoky berry fruit, spicy chocolate and perfume aromas on the nose. The tasty palate that follows is structured with soft tannins and berry acidity, offering a flavour profile representative of its blend of Bordeaux varieties.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2013 Cabernet Franc - $26
Shows depth on the nose with blackberry, wild flower'n'herbs, plum, soft spices, boysenberry and light cedar aromas. The dry, well-structured palate expresses similar flavours with added coffee grind and earthy notes and fine, ripe tannins. The finish is long and balanced with lingering wild berry notes.
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Le Vieux Pin 2012 Équinoxe Syrah - $90
A beast of a Syrah, yet, still feminine and floral in style. A true femme fatale with both mass and levity, opening with a gorgeous blend of black cherry, crushed violets, vanilla-mocha, white pepper, spicy plum sauce and sweet pipe tobacco aromas on the memorable nose. The intense, brooding palate follows with concentrated dark red fruit and smooth pepper flavours, effortless acidity and ripe, fine-grained tannins.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca