Saturday October 1, 2016 - Vintages Release Report

27 Sep 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 … Thanksgiving (THX); Spain (SPN) & Tuscany (TUC)
The Skinny … As we start nearing the holidays you’ll start to notice the high-priced spread is becoming more and more prominent – which is why I will try to show off some lower-priced stuff that you’re going to love: see Spain and Portugal this time round.

Argentina …
Atamisque 2013 Catalpa Old Vines Malbec ($19.95 - #194126) – subtle and supple with good oak integration; blueberry, blackberry, vanilla and a juicy core.  (****+)
Unanime 2011 Gran Vino Tinto ($29.95 - #466938) – hefty bottle, hefty wine; dark and brooding with smoky, coffee, mocha finish.  (****)

Australia …
Wakefield 2013 Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #142398) – red berries, eucalyptus, herbal, oaky; this is a fun wine to sit and sip.  (****)
Zonte’s Footstep 2014 Chocolate Factory Shiraz ($17.95 - #396481) – baker’s cocoa, spice, pepper and black cherry.  (*** ½)

Austria …
Lenz Moser 2015 Prestige Gruner Veltliner ($14.95 - #71233) – pea pod, fresh cut grass, lime zest and good acidity.  (*** ½+)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Quails’ Gate 2014 Chardonnay ($22.95 - #377770) – fresh with lively acidity and a mineral seam; also look for vanilla, crisp apple and a touch of cinnamon.  (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Coffin Ridge 2015 Bone Dry Riesling ($17.20 - #232744) - ****
Creekside Estate 2014 Queenston Road Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #415877) - **** … THX
Redstone 2013 Cabernet ($20.20 - #415885) - *** ½+

Chile …
Echeverria 2010 Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #389221) – minty, mocha, cherry.  (*** ½+)
G7 2013 Reserva Merlot ($15.95 - #464446) – coffee, mocha, blueberry along with mint and cherry.  (*** ½+)
Luis Felipe Edwards 2015 Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #663062) – really citrusy, grassy and some gooseberry elements.  (*** ½+)

France (Alsace) …
Kuhlmann-Platz 2014 Riesling ($16.95 - #196741) – dry with grapefruit and peach fighting it out on the palate.  (*** ½+) – THX
France (Burgundy) …
La Chablisienne 2015 Saint Bris ($16.95 - #641753) – refreshing Sauvignon Blanc with crisp lemon and grassy notes.  (****)
France (Midi) …
Novellum 2014 Chardonnay ($23.95 - #390781) – peach, apple, citrus pith and zest with a slightly bitter finish.  (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Saint-Andeol 2013 L’Excellence Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages ($21.95 - #464735) – juicy yet leathery with dark fruit, plum, smoke and cherry.  (*** ½+)
France (Southwest) …
Chateau Haut-Montplaisir 2011 Prestige Malbec ($24.95 - #462374) – blackberry and earthy with smoky, leathery notes; it a return to the old style Cahors Malbec but with a little more approachability sooner.  (****)

Germany …
Bischofliche Weinguter Trier Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2011 ($23.95 - #670752) – a hint of sweetness with talc and peach up front.  (*** ½)

Greece …
Kourtaki 2013 Kouros Red ($12.95 - #465906) – simple and sippable with nice red and dark fruit and a hint of white pepper.  (*** ½)

Italy (Piedmont) …
Pico Maccario Lavignone 2014 Barbera D’asti ($18.95 - #365486) – juicy with licorice and plum plus some blackberry for depth.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Piazzano 2011 Colorino ($29.95 - #455675) – plum and blackberry with blueberry skin and subtle cinnamon spice.  (*** ½) – TUS
Ruffino 2011 Ducale Oro Reserva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico ($47.95 - #353201) – strawberry, tobacco, dried black cherry, cigar smoke and rugged tannins.  (*** ½+) – TUS
Tenute Sette Ponti 2013 Crognole ($29.95 - #727636) – vanilla, cassis, white smoke, dark fruit, blueberry and elegant spice; pretty wine.  (*** ½+) – TUS
Italy (Veneto) …
San Raffaele 2015 Monte Tabor Soave ($14.95 - #277392) – zesty herbal with grapefruit peel.  (*** ½+)
Tenuta S. Anna Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene ($19.95 - #281386) – slightly sweet with apple and lemon drop.  (*** ½)

New Zealand …
Matahiwi Estate 2013 Pinot Noir ($25.95 - #447409) – dried cherry and spice with good acidity on the finish.  (*** ½+)

Portugal …
Guadalupe 2013 Red ($11.95 - #33613) – lots of red cherry and plum for not a lot of dough.  (*** ½+)
Marques de Marialva 2011 Reserva Baga ($15.95 - #245605) – coffee aromas with earthy blackberry, plus raspberry and balsamic strawberries.  (*** ½+)
Quinta da Rede 2012 Reserva ($17.95 - #431742) – plum, vanilla, black cherry, nice tannins and well-structured.  (****)

South Africa …
Avondale 2009 Armilla Blanc de Blanc ($29.95 - #451930) – dry, crisp and yeasty.  (***+)
Boschendal Rachelsfontein 2015 Chenin Blanc ($12.95 - #455881 – lanolin, apple core, orange, peach pit and good acidity.  (****)

Spain …
Barahonda 2012 Barrica Monastrell/Syrah ($17.95 - #378869) – sweet red and black fruit with plummy-cherry, mint/menthol and floral notes.  (****)
Baron de Ley 2010 Gran Reserva ($29.95 - #642496) – nice depth and balance of smoke and vanilla and fruit vs wood; good tannins and a dark berry finish.  (****+) – SPN
Breca 2013 Old Vines Garnacha ($22.95 - #329086) – black plum and mocha kick things off, then adding layers of sweet fruit with elegance and luxuriousness on the finish.  (****+)
Luis Canas 2012 Crianza ($17.95 - #39925) – sweet cherry and raspberry with vanilla at its core.  (*** ½) – SPN

United States (California) …
Craftwork 2014 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #458646) – vanilla cream, slightly smoky, peach, apple and nicely layered with long finish.  (****)
Earthquake 2013 Zinfandel ($39.95 - #59717) – big on plum and vanilla with sweet fruit and good spice.  (*** ½+)
Kendall-Jackson 2014 Grand Reserve Chardonnay ($29.95 - #59576) – caramel apple, vanilla, buttery and yet still juicy.  (*** ½)
La Crema 2014 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #719435) – juicy cherry with subtle cranberry, baking spice, good acidity and a long finish.  (*** ½+)
Vindicated 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.95 - #462196) – vanilla, cherry, spice and tobacco.  (*** ½+)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Aberrant Cellars 2012 Carpe Noctem Pinot Noir ($82.00 - #406116) – Oregon … ****+
Clos Saint-Jean 2012 Tradition Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($56.00 - #70888) – France … *** ½
Dom Perignon 2006 Luminous White Champagne ($251.95 - #422584) – France … ****+
Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils 2013 Les Clous Meursault ($59.95 - #661322) – France … ****
Flowers 2014 Pinot Noir ($68.95 - #215202) – California … *** ½
Hedges Family Estate, Estate Grown and Bottled Red ($39.95 - #1594) – Washington … *** ½
Nino Franco 2012 Grave di Stecca Brut Prosecco ($43.95 - #422758) – Italy … ****

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne ($63.95 - #924670) – France … ****
Dumangin 2004 Le Vintage Champagne ($61.95 - #439232) – France … ****+
Hall 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($88.95 - #273391) – California … ****
Hartford 2014 Zinfandel ($59.95 - #403113) – California … ****+
Maison Roche de Bellene 2010 Vieilles Vignes Meursault ($62.95 - #241091) – France … ****
Renato Ratti 2011 Marcenasco Barolo ($53.95 - #713479) – Italy … ****+
Russell Hamilton 2015 Pinot Noir ($57.95 - #999516) – South Africa … ****

Other Stuff That’s Fine, But It’s Not Wine …
Alfred Schladerer Schwarzenwalder Kirschwasser Black Forest Cherry Brandy Kirsch ($39.95 - #364679) – Germany … *** ½+
Fratello Hazelnut Liqueur ($35.95 - #455758) – Italy … ****+
Poli Vaca Mora Amaro ($37.95 - #662726) – Italy … *** ½

What I’ll Be Lining Up For (October 1, 2016) …
Barahonda 2012 Barrica Monastrell/Syrah ($17.95 - #378869) – Spain
Quinta da Rede 2012 Reserva ($17.95 - #431742) – Portugal

Happy Shopping

 

 

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