Saturday February 20, 2016 - Vintages Release Report

16 Feb 2016

 

Key to the 5-star rating system:
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good

Wine colour indicators - Red, Whites, etc.

The Foci … Award Winning Ontario (AWO) and Diverse Australian (DA)
The Skinny … Interesting to note that all of the Aussie wines were under screwcap; as for the Ontario wines, it consists of 5 wines selected from winners of either the Ontario Wine Awards or Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence. The other stuff you’ll wanna buy can be found below and the best value can be found in the “What I’m lining Up For” section at the very bottom.

Argentina …
La Posta 2014 Armando Bonarda ($14.95 - #261586) – pulls back from the usual simple juicy Bonarda and adds a layer of mocha-coffee-latte.  (*** ½+)
Los Clop 2010 Reserva Malbec ($18.95 - #186650) – smooth and silky with chocolate, cedar and blackberry.  (****)
Trapiche 2012 Fincas Las Palmas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvingon ($16.95 - #143206) – a little mocha, vanilla, cassis and blackberry with a nicely spiced finish all at a good price.  (****)

Australia …
Elderton 2013 High Altitude Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #408989) – nice acidity on this one with floral, anise, plum, and mocha; balance is delightful, alcohol only 13.5%.  (****+) … DA
Glaetzer 2013 Bishop Shiraz ($39.95 - #627869) – blackberry, white pepper, plum, cherry, vanilla, oak; ripe and yummy.  (****) … DA
Heartland 2013 Shiraz ($18.95 - #661934) – mocha, cherry with touch of white pepper on the finish.  (*** ½+) … DA
Katnook 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #590471) – good fruitiness with vanilla, herbal, cocoa and spearmint.  (****) … DA
Mr. Riggs 2013 Yacca Paddock Tempranillo ($20.95 - #432989) – chocolate, pepper, cherry, cola and spice with nice tannins; real personality in the glass.  (****) … DA
Twelftree 2012 Greenock Ebenezer Grenache/Mataro ($23.95 - #438226) – floral, cherry, plum, and vanilla; quite silky.  (****) … DA
Two Hands 2013 Fields of Joy Shiraz ($28.95 - #432963) – fruit is sweet with plum, cherry and chocolatey notes.  (*** ½+) … DA

Austria …
Laurenz V. 2013 Friendly Gruner Veltliner ($19.95 - #66225) – an odd choice for a winter release, this refreshingly crisp white is full of pea pod, lemon seed and mineral is perfect for coming in from the cold; really???  (*** ½+)

Canada (British Columbia) …
See Ya Later Ranch 2014 Pinot Gris ($17.95 - #263699) – good apple and peach mix without being overly sweet, there’s even a Bosc pear mid-palate.  (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Creekside Estate 2014 Marianne Hill Riesling ($19.95 - #443572) - **** ½+ (AWO)
Creekside Estate 2014 Queenston Road Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #415877) - ****
Foreign Affair 2012 Petit Verdot ($49.95 - #443648) - ****+ (AWO)
Henry of Pelham 2013 Reserve Baco Noir ($24.95 - #461699) - *** ½
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2010 Dean’s List Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #445759) - *** ½+
Rosehall Run 2014 Righteous Dude Riesling ($19.95 - #426486) - *** ½+
Thirty Bench 2013 Riesling ($18.95 - #24133) - ****+ (AWO)

France (Beaujolais) …
P. Ferraud & Fils 2014 Cuvee Ensorceleuse Saint-Amour ($19.95 - #443044) – plum and cherry with a touch of sweet spice and a delicate tannin backbone.  (****+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Larroque 2010 ($15.95 - #92536) – for the price this one is quite good: spicy with a good layer of oak and fruit.  (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils 2013 Les Clous Meursault ($44.95 - #661322) – orange peel and apple sauce with touches of toffee but it’s not leaning sweet because of the balance of acidity.  (****)
France (Rhone) …
Delas 2013 Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone ($16.95 - #729962) – strawberry, blackberry with sweet herbal-spice, mocha and black licorice.  (*** ½+)
Domaine Grandy 2014 Vacqueyras ($20.95 - #287532) – tasty blueberry, raspberry, sweet cherry, touch of herbal and coffee.  (****)
La Ferme du Mont 2013 Cotes Jugunda Gigondas ($29.95 - #354118) - 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah; big red berry notes with hints of anise, vanilla, smoke and minerality, fresh, full and lovely with raspberry, strawberry and pepper on the finish. (**** ½)

Italy (Tuscany) …
Coli 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva ($16.95 - #436949) – sweet spices, gentle fruit, hint of leather, good tannins.  (*** ½+)
Teruzzi & Puthod 2014 Vernaccia di San Gimignano ($16.95 - #316976) – lemon-lime freshness with grapefruit pith and herbal intensity.  (*** ½)
Tommasi 2012 Poggio Al Tufo Alicante ($21.95 - #70797) – peppery, spicy and black fruited with hints of licorice all-sorts.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Bolla 2011 Creso ($24.95 - #437020) – all-spice, licorice, vanilla, herbal, meaty and mocha.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Greywacke 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($23.95 - #164228) – peach and lime with green pea and melon rind notes.  (*** ½+)
Jules Taylor 2013 OTQ Series Pinot Noir ($32.95 - #438432) – smoky-vanilla and coffee bean with black currant and charred cranberry.  (****)
Kono 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #441394) – gentle grassiness, herbal, citrus pith, and tropical touches; great fruit and length.  (****)

Spain …
Honoro Vera 2014 Monastrell ($13.95 - #167684) – sweet berries from beginning to end with plenty of vanilla-cherry, quite juicy and well-priced.  (****)
Palacios Remondo 2011 Propiedad ($39.95 - #438671) – vanilla-blackberry, oaky, toasty, meaty with cherry and smoke on the peppery finish.  (****)

United States (California) …
Raymond 2013 Reserve Selection Chardonnay ($24.95 - #716928) – fruity core of apple and peach cobbler with a woody exterior; it’s the 70’s wagon of wine filled with your goofy friends.  (****)
United States (Oregon) …
Rex Hill 2012 Pinot Noir ($49.95 - #275735) – smoky-toasty dried fruit, black currant, vanilla coffee; quite firm and fragrant.  (****)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Abbadia Ardenga 2010 Brunello di Montalcino ($49.95 - #672337) – Italy … *** ½+
Le Clos Jordanne 2012 Claystone Terrace Chardonnay ($40.00 - #56929) – Ontario … *** ½
Oliver Chanzy 2013 Meursault ($59.95 - #444398) – Burgundy … ****

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Faust 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.95 - #238261) – California … ****
MollyDooker 2012 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz ($55.95 - #327379) – Australia … ****+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For:  February 20, 2016 …
Elderton 2013 High Altitude Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #408989) – Australia
Mr. Riggs 2013 Yacca Paddock Tempranillo ($20.95 - #432989) – Australia
P. Ferraud & Fils 2014 Cuvee Ensorceleuse Saint-Amour ($19.95 - #443044) – France

Happy Shopping

 

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