Saturday June 24, 2017 - Vintages Release Report
22 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 … Cosmopolitan Canucks (CC); Super Sparkling (SS)
The Skinny … Not too sure where the Super Sparklers focus fits in to the grand scheme of the LCBO but there are a few bubbles worth getting for under $20 – and those are always good to have on hand. The Cosmopolitan Canucks feature is interesting as to their selection, and reading the stories of Canadians who have gone abroad is interesting; but otherwise the release is rather lacklustre for both wine and values
Argentina …
Alamos 2013 Seleccion Malbec ($16.95 - #322800) – blueberry, mocha and smoke. (*** ½+)
Australia …
McGuigan 2016 Bin Series no. 9000 Semillon ($14.95 - #444554) – crisp and refreshing with lanolin and herbal notes. (*** ½)
Pirramimma 2014 White Label Shiraz ($27.95 - #887784) – plum, cherry, raspberry and chocolate. (*** ½+)
Canada (Nova Scotia) …
Benjamin Bridge 2016 Nova 7 Sparkling ($24.95 - #256289) – refreshing with pink grapefruit, floral and sweetness a la Moscato D’Asti. (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Bachelder 2013 Niagara Chardonnay ($24.95 - #302083) … **** - CC
Featherstone 2015 Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #064818) … ****+
Tawse 2013 Cuddy Cabernet/Merlot ($25.25 - #469031) … *** ½+ - CC
Chile …
Leyda 2015 Garuma Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #099309) – herbal, grassy, and grapefruit zest; quite intense. (*** ½)
France (Alsace) …
Joseph Cattin Brut Cremant D’Alsace ($17.95 - #281329) – a slight creaminess on the front palate with lemon, apple and a touch of vanilla on the finish. (*** ½+) … SS
Pierre Sparr 2015 Reserve Pinot Gris ($18.95 - #983395) – subtle sweetness, with pear notes. (*** ½)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Besson 2014 Chablis ($26.95 - #445536) – mineral with grapefruit and apple. (*** ½)
France (Provence) …
Badet Clement 2016 La Promenada ($19.95 - #490946) – minerality meets peach pit and acidity. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Famille Perrin 2014 Peyre Blanche Cairanne Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($17.95 - #650960) – stony with cherry, raspberry, mocha and blackberry. (*** ½+)
France (Roussillon) …
Saint-Roch 2014 Vieilles Vignes Syrah/Grenach ($15.95 - #195107) – smooth with spiced plum, black cherry and mocha. (*** ½)
Germany …
Loosen Bros. 2015 Dr. L Riesling ($13.95 - #599274) – great value Riesling with talc/mineral notes, apple and a beautiful balance of sweetness to acidity. (*** ½+)
Italy (Emilio-Romagna) …
Umberto Cesari 2014 Liano Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.95 - #225086) – mocha-coffee, plum and chocolate with a lingering finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Sassoregale 2014 Sangiovese ($16.95 - #251785) – dried cherry, rhubarb and smoke. (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Prevedello Asolo 2016 Superiore Extra Dry Prosecco ($16.95 - #262881) – nice dry with lime and mineral. (*** ½+) … CC
Valdo Marca Oro Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ($16.95 - #422840) – looking for bubbles that deliver for not a lot of dough, here it is: easy apple and lemon notes. (*** ½)
New Zealand …
Kono 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #441394) – light hay, grass, herbal and quite zesty. (*** ½)
Mahi 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($23.95 - #063941) – tropically tinged with herbal backing and a citrus pith aspect. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Deu La Deu 2016 Alvarinho ($20.95 - #040642) – light and crisp plus there’s a lanolin and waxy note. (*** ½)
Quadrus 2012 Red ($19.95 - #440305) – nice little number with dark fruit, plum and cherry plus licorice and pepper. (*** ½+) … CC
San Miguel 2014 Escolha Dos Enologos ($16.95 - #445122) – smooth and supple with plum and cherry fruit. (*** ½+)
Taylor Fladgate Fine White Port ($15.95 - #069856) – intense floral, apricot, spicy peach and lemon. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Graham Beck Brut Rosé ($19.95 - #175588) – hint of raspberry, lime and lemon with bracing acidity bringing this all together. (****) … SS
United States (California) …
La Crema 2014 Monterey Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #367896) – easy drinking with touch of spice, cran-cherry, supple and smooth. (*** ½+) … CC
Lake Sonoma 2013 Zinfandel ($28.95 - #498766) – fruit driven, mulberry, cocoa, plum and black cherry. (*** ½+) … CC
Stags’ Leap Winery 2015 Chardonnay ($34.95 - #655381) – shows some restraint but still a balls to the wall (or is that barrel to the wall) Chardonnay, acidity helps to balance. (*** ½+)
Treana 2014 Red ($42.95 - #011221) – chalking, dense and brooding but with sweet black fruit, coffee bean and spice. (****)
United States (Oregon) …
Solena 2014 Grande Cuvee Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #486944) – earthy with hints of spiced plum and coffee. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Anew 2016 Rosé ($19.95 - #451765) – raspberry, strawberry along with some apricot. (*** ½)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Boedecker Cellars 2012 Athena Pinot Noir, Oregon ($52.95 - #283986) - ****
Bouchard Pere & Fils 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy ($59.95 - #661330) - *** ½+
Clonakilla 2015 Hilltops Shiraz, Australia ($30.00 - #481861) - ****
D’Arenberg 2015 The Lucky Lizard Chardonnay, Australia ($25.00 - #683011) - *** ½+
Louis Roederer Premier Brut Champagne, France ($39.95 - #093054) - ****+
Villa Raiano 2015 Greco di Tufo, Italy ($23.95 - #492603) - *** ½
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Chateau La Confession 2012, Bordeaux ($63.95 - #499368) - *** ½+ (CC)
Chimney Rock 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($101.95 - #731810) - ****
Frank Family 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($66.95 - #246900) - ****
Quilt 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($59.95 - #498808) - *** ½
Versado 2012 Reserva Ancient Malbec, Argentina ($59.95 - #316984) - *** ½+ (CC)
What I’d Be Getting, If I Were You (June 24, 2017) …
Graham Beck Brut Rosé ($19.95 - #175588) – South Africa
Happy Shopping
