Saturday June 10, 2017 - Vintages Release Report
08 Jun 2017- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
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 … Australian Wine (OZ); French Wine (FW); Dad Wines (DAD) & 150 years of Canada (OhC!)
The Skinny … I would have to say, as highlights go, there are very few wines that are truly outstanding in this release: the Aussie feature looks pretty good, but between the Dad wine, French wine and Canada’s 150 there are few “wow” wines … does that describe the state of the LCBO’s selection committee or of the subject matter? As for those who are budget minded, you are also left out in the dark this release
Argentina …
Cadus 2013 Gualtallary Malbec ($18.95 - #482992) – blueberry, mocha, black cherry and supple leather. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Domaine Naturaliste 2014 Discovery Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #489906) – pretty and elegant Cab with blackberry, cassis and herbal notes. (*** ½+) – OZ
Hugh Hamilton 2015 The Scoundrel Tempranillo ($23.95 - #487876) – gentle fruit and supple tannins, raspberry and black cherry. (****) – OZ
Robert Oatley 2015 GSM Signature Series ($19.95 - #489658) – juicy, jammy and yet still tasty dark fruit touched with a little mocha. (*** ½+) – OZ
Sidewood 2014 Shiraz ($19.95 – #446146) – fruit driven but still with great umph and depth: floral notes add to the spicy and fruity notes; nicely layered wine. (****+) – OZ
Sister’s Run 2014 Bethlehem Block Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #360636) – black currant, vanilla, cinnamon and smoky. (*** ½+)
Wakefield 2015 Jaraman Shiraz ($24.95 - #377036) – black pepper, floral, blueberry, vanilla and balsamic-cherries on the finish. (****) – OZ
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Creekside 2016 Cabernet Rosé ($14.95 - #48819) - *** ½+ … OhC!
Creekside 2012 Laura’s Red ($19.95 - #117960) - **** ½ … OhC!
Domaine Queylus 2013 Pinot Noir Tradition ($29.95 - #392738) - *** ½+ … OhC!
Vieni Estates 2015 Gamay Noir ($17.95 - #498519) - **** … OhC!
France (Alsace) …
Joseph Cattin 2015 Gewurztraminer ($17.95 - #224626) – spicy-sweetness with ginger and pear. (*** ½)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau L’Esperance 2010 ($19.95 - #487868) – lovely dark fruit, mocha, cassis and approachable tannins. (****)
France (Midi) …
M. Chapoutier 2015 Les Vignes de Bil-Haut Cotes du Roussillon Villages ($15.95 - #168716) – blackberry, black raspberry, smoky and mocha. (*** ½+)
France (Provence) …
La Riviera 2016 Cotes de Provence Rosé ($18.95 - #494120) – pretty with mineral, stony, herbal and raspberry notes. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Pierre Amadieu 2013 Le Pas de L’Aigle Gigondas ($36.95 - #354217) – richness of fruit and flavour with red fruit, licorice, cherry and raspberry with a smoky finish. (****)
Germany …
Schloss Schonborn 2008 Hattenheim Nusbrunnen Riesling Kabinett ($19.95 - #496497) – pear, apple, mineral and talc; pretty textbook. (*** ½+)
Greece …
Semeli Feast 2016 Moschofilero ($12.95 - #477562) – pretty floral and lime zest. (*** ½)
Israel …
Galil Moutain 2013 Yiron KP ($36.95 - #095075) – rich plum and black cherry, vanilla-cinnamon, chocolate-mocha and spice; this wine is beautifully layered. (****+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Cantine di Ora 2013 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($22.95 - #451666) – cocoa and plum with strawberry jam and hints of vanilla. (****)
Tommasi 2015 Arele Parziale Appassimento ($19.95 - #224188) – smoky, raspberry-balsamic and coffee. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Thornbury 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #734798) – subtle grassiness with lots of grapefruit zest and lime cordial. (*** ½)
Portugal …
Casal da Coelheira 2013 Red ($12.95 - #486641) – plum and cherry with blackberry and smoke. (*** ½)
South Africa …
KC 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot ($17.95 - #366245) – blue and black fruit with a touch of smoky-vanilla. (*** ½+)
Stellenzicht 2011 Plum Pudding Hill Syrah ($29.95 - #486027) – juicy and smoky with black cherry, tobacco and spicy; the finish is very spicy. (****)
Spain …
Ovdio Garcia 2009 Esencia Crianza ($18.95 - #489757) – dark and brooding with interesting smoky notes with vanilla and dark fruit. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Black Stallion 2015 Estate Chardonnay ($30.95 - #339689) – vanilla, peaches and cream with hints of spice. (*** ½+)
Ironstone 2014 Petite Sirah ($17.95 - #361915) – nice texture with blackberry, plum and black cherry fruit. (*** ½+)
Irony 2015 Small Lot Reserve Chardonnay ($24.95 - #027409) – soft and creamy easy drinking Chardonnay. (*** ½)
Rutherford Hill 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #959320) – juicy and borderline jammy, solid with berry fruit, both red and black, with vanilla underlay. (*** ½+)
The Prisoner 2015 ($49.95 - #104299) – creamy chocolate, spice, plum, blackberry with a juicy palate; pleasing and meaty. (****+) – DAD
Wente Vineyards 2014 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.95 - #963397) – really pleasant Cab with juicy, vanilla, cherry, mint and cassis. (****)
United States (Oregon) …
Erath 2015 Resplendent Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #488635) – carn-strawberry, earthy, white pepper and sweet oak. (****)
Underwood 2015 Pinot Gris ($22.95 - #487017) – pretty pear and ginger notes. (*** ½)
United States (Washington) …
Joel Gott 2014 Washington Red ($24.95 - #488510) – cherry-rhubarb and vanilla; pretty and fun. (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Casajus 2012 Antiguos Vinedos, Spain ($38.95 - #365288) … ****
Domaine Les Bugadelles 2014, France ($25.95 - #493536) … *** ½+
Garofoli 2011 Grosso Agontano Conero Riserva, Italy ($39.95 - #492637) … ****
Meyer 2015 Pinot Noir, British Columbia ($28.95 - #392449) … *** ½+
Southbrook 2016 Estate Grown Small Lot Cabernet Rosé, Ontario ($29.95 - #499251) … *** ½
What I’d Be Getting, If I Were You (June 10, 2017) …
Chateau L’Esperance 2010 ($19.95 - #487868) – France
Sidewood 2014 Shiraz ($19.95 – #446146) – Australia
Vieni Estates 2015 Gamay Noir ($17.95 - #498519) - Ontario
Happy Shopping
