Staff Selections

John Clerides

This is another prime example of just how good Spanish wines can be at such a reasonable price. I discovered this wine earlier in the year while in Spain itself, and after one glass I was fully convinced that our store need to have this wine. Rich dried fruits on the nose lead into a firm and savoury texture, this wine is quite powerful with impressive concentration it to. A great everyday wine, this'll pair up with all sorts of food; pizza, pasta, lamb, you name it. A genuine buy by the case wine.
Buy

Kevin Mckinnon

Domaine Les Pallières is legendary among the area of Gigondas as its wines have been long known for their power and persistence. Established by the Roux family, it was one of the first to bottle wines in the 1890’s, and remained in the same family hands until 1998 when acquired by the Bruniers of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe fame. Medium garnet in colour. With liquorice, raspberry, strawberry and violets on the nose, and a palate dominated by old vine Grenache (from vines averaging 75 years of age), this is a sumptuous and powerful wine. Firm of colour and tannin, with an underlying sweetness and a very long finish, this is very complete in every sense. Match with rack of lamb.
Buy

David Lancelot

Are you looking for a smoking deal from the Rhone? Stop looking and start buying. Old Vines (up to 45 years) Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah grown with great care and thoughtfully blended to make a sumptuous chunky red for drinking over the next 3-6 years. The oak is in check and does not overwhelm the fruit. Very fine.
Buy

Chrystala Georgiou

Loire Valley produces some of the world's best white wines. The moderate climate and well-drained soils favour the maturation of the Chenin grape variety. Vouvray, one of the Loire's most prestigious appellations, produces a varriety of styles from the Chenin grape, (Dry/Sec, mediun dry/Demi-Sec, and Sweet/moelleux and Sparkling) so reading the label is very important. I highly recommend the 2007 Philippe Brissebarre Vouvray Sec. It's a pale wine with green highlights and although a little shy on the nose it explodes in the mouth with a well balanced acidity and flavours of green apple, myer lemon and hazelnut. I think it will continue to evolve so if you open it now give some time to breath or decant it. Enjoy it with charcuterie or goat cheese.
Buy

Andrew Melville

andrew@marquis-wines.com
2009 Bodegas Carchelo 'C' - $17.90
This wine comes from the warm and sunny region of Jumilla, in Southern Spain. Jumilla is a spot where you can always expect a good wine at a good price, but this one was almost shocking how good it is. A blend of 40% Monastrell, 40% Syrah and 20% Cabernet, this wine is full flavoured and intense, with nice smooth tannins and is very velvety. This is a big wine with lots of personality and no hard edges to it at all. Very impressive.
Buy

Jon Ellison

jonellison@marquis-wines.com
2006 Abel Mendoza 'Jarrarte', Rioja - $29.90
A serious and beautifully crafted Rioja. Dark ruby with a sublime nose of black currant, kirsch, espresso and chocolate. The flavors of black currant and tobacco are followed by a smooth tannic progression into a long, lingering and fulfilling finish. Complex, satisfying, and oh so velvety, this wine is year in and year out one of my perennial favourites.
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Doug McClelland

Leah Bickford

100% Marsanne. One of the things I love about the wine world is the discovery of producers like the young Jerome Coursodon. The “Silice” is produced from vines that are over 50 years old and exhibits subtle layers of complexity, concentration and character. What I love best about this understated gem, is that Jerome uses little or no sulphur and his wines are bottled without fining or filtering (so those small but visible floating particles are a good thing people!) This wine is delightful on its own and perfectly paired with a roasted chicken.
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