2006 Monte Antico Sangiovese-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana WS90 $16.99

WS90 WA86 $16.99

Score: 90
Release Price: $12
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Issue: Oct 31, 2009
Designation: Best Values

Bright plum, dried cherry and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and refined berry and cherry flavors. Drink now. 80,000 cases made. –JS

2006 Monte Antico Sangiovese Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Tuscany, Italy
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 184
Aug 2009 Antonio Galloni 86 Drink: 2009 - 2011 $12 (12)
The 2006 Sangiovese-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon offers up red cherries, game, oak and spices in a floral, mid-weight style. The wine shows good balance although some hard edges remain. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product/587113
Lower Mainland 203

2006 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore Ripassa $29.99 WA93

2006 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore Ripassa

Zenato
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 179
Oct 2008 Antonio Galloni 93 Drink: 2008 - 2014 $22-$44 (30)
The 2006 Valpolicella Classico Ripassa reveals lovely clarity and precision in its perfumed dark fruit. This vibrant, poised Valpolicella offers tons of depth and a long, refreshing finish. Zenato’s Valpolicella is made from 80% Corvina, 10% Sangiovese and 10% Rondinella, and is aged in small French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2014.

This is a superb set of wines from Zenato. Sadly, Sergio Zenato passed away earlier this year, but his children Alberto and Nadia, along with their mother Carla, are in good shape to provide continuity going forward.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/456764
Lower Mainland 242, BC 430

2006 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Brolio $29.99 WS90

Barone Ricasoli
Chianti Classico Brolio 2006

Dark-colored, with a meat, berry and dark chocolate undertone. Full-bodied, with a silky texture and lots of fruit. Long and rich. Almost decadent. Drink now through 2012. 37,500 cases made. –JS

Score: 90
Release Price: $24
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Issue: Sep. 30, 2008

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/3962
Lower Mainland 242, BC 600

2004 Pratesi Toscana Locorosso $17.99 WS90 WA87

PRATESI
Toscana Locorosso 2004
Ripe and rich, with a solid core of fruit and ripe tannins. Lots of pepper, berry and chocolate character. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, long finish. Sangiovese. Best after 2007. 2,000 cases made. –JS
Score: 90
Release Price: $19
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Issue: Oct 31, 2006

2004 Pratesi Locorosso IGT
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Tuscany, Italy
Wine Advocate # 165 Jun 2006 Robert Parker 87
Drink: 2006 - 2009
$12 (12)
Aged in new and used oak barrels, this deep ruby-hued blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot offers abundant amounts of red and black currant scents along with hints of graphite, charcoal, and spice. It is a medium-bodied, well-made Italian red to consume over the next several years.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/682633
Lower Mainland 170, BC 420

2005 Podere Sapaio Bolgheri Volpolo $39.99 WS90

PODERE SAPAIO
Bolgheri Volpolo 2005
Aromas of marjoram, rosemary and currant follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a caressing finish. Balanced and refined. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best after 2010. 2,650 cases made. –JS
Score: 90
Release Price: $45
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Issue: Oct 31, 2007

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/265835
Lower Mainland 175, BC 204

2006 Argiolas Costera IGT $24.99 WA90

Argiolas
A Cannonau Dry Red Table wine from
Sardinia, Italy

The 2006 Costera Isola dei Nuraghi (100% Cannonau) is another knock-out effort from Argiolas. It reveals masses of super-ripe fruit bacon fat and licorice flavors. Today the fruit remains enshrouded in a wall of tannins so a year or two of further bottle age is called for, but this is a magnificent wine especially at this level. Cannonau is believed to be a descendant of Grenache and this wine will especially appeal to readers who enjoy the flavor profile of wines from the Southern Rhone. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014.

Argiolas is a reference-point producer of Sardinian whites, reds and dessert wines. The estate works with famed oenologist Giacomo Tachis, who happens to be a native of Sardinia, so perhaps the high level of the wines should not be that much of a surprise. Simply put, I was blown away by the quality of the value-priced wines I tasted from Argiolas and I can-t recommend them highly enough, particularly for readers who haven-t yet discovered the compelling uniqueness of the island's wines. Better still, all of these wines are priced well below $20 retail and offer stunning value

Importer: Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/457911
Lower Mainland 89, BC, 89

2004 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $39.55 WA90

2004 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Avignonesi
A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 171
Jun 2007 Antonio Galloni 90 Drink 2007 - 2016 $20-$31 (23)
The 2004 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (mostly Prugnolo Gentile with some Canaiolo and Mammolino) presents a richer, riper expression of black cherries, licorice and smoke, in a linear, understated style, with notable purity and outstanding balance. Although delicious today, it is also quite fresh and primary. Readers who enjoy a more developed wine will want to give this Vino Nobile another year or two of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2016.
Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/551366
Lower Mainland 174, BC 209

2005 Falesco Merlot Pesano $26.71 WA90

2005 Falesco Merlot Pesano
Falesco
A Merlot Dry Red Table wine from
Umbria, Italy
Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Current (Release) Cost
Wine Advocate # 165
Jun 2006 Robert Parker 90 Drink 2006 - 2009 $12-$16 (16)
An extremely intense, amazing bargain, the 2005 Merlot Pesano (100% Merlot aged 5-6 months in barrel) exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue, and fleshy, concentrated, black cherry, cassis, smoke, herb, and mocha aromas and flavors. This medium-bodied, concentrated, unbelievably low-priced red is too good to be true. It should be drunk within 2-3 years of release. Kudos to Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella for continuing to deliver remarkable wines at these prices. A Leonardo LoCascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620; fax (201) 445-9868.

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/494351
Lower Mainland 74, BC 127

2006 Falesco Sangiovese Umbria $18.78 WS90

Falesco
Sangiovese Umbria 2006
Beautiful aromas of crushed blackberry and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate, with very well-integrated tannins and a clean aftertaste of vanilla and berry. Amazing quality for the money. Best after 2008. 7,000 cases made. –JS
Score: 90
Release Price: $14
Country: Italy
Region: Umbria
Special Designation: Smart Buys
Issue: Nov 30, 2007

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/833152
Lower Mainland 269, BC 376

2001 P Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva Tenute $46.99 WS91 WA90

Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva Tenute

P Antinori 

A Sangiovese Dry Red Table wine from

Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Wine Advocate # 164

Apr 2006 Daniel Thomases 90 Drink 2006 - 2016 $27-$33 (30)

The 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenute Marchese Antinori, a mouthful of a name, is essentially a selection of the best Sangiovese grapes of the house’s Chianti Classico vineyards, with the sole exception of the Badia a Passignano. A solid ruby in color, its nose of red berry fruit, leather, and game is followed by full flavors, plush and classy in their flow and with a rising intensity and density on the finish. Drink: 2006-2016. 

Antinori

Chianti Classico Tenute Marchese Antinori Riserva 2001

Beautifully balanced, with dense raspberry, blackberry and spicy chocolate notes. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine, well-integrated tannins and a long, minerally finish. Fantastic. A better buy than the Tignanello this year. Best after 2005. 28,300 cases made. –JS

Score: 91

Release Price: $29

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Special Designation: Highly Recommended

Issue: Oct 15, 2004

http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/575845

Lower Mainland 107, BC 168