Saturday August 16, 2014 - Vintages Release Report

13 Aug 2014

To print this report click here for the PDF version.

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 … South of France (SoF) and Malbec from Argentina (MfA)
The Skinny … South of France has some really good value wines, but then again so does Spain and Australia while the Malbecs are an interesting bunch with some good ones to be had.

Argentina …
Decero 2011 Remolinos Vineyard Malbec ($22.95 - #247304) – nice cherry, chocolate, spice and mineral with some plum and anise backing it up.  (****) – MfA
Domaine Bousquet 2012 Reserve Malbec ($15.95 – #55244) – silky and ultimately drinkable with dark fruit and a touch of herbal.  (*** ½+) - MfA
Maipe 2013 Reserve Chardonnay/Viognier ($15.95 - #379073) – tropical notes of pineapple with creamy notes that are pretty and pleasant.  (****)
Vina Cobos 2011 Bramare Malbec ($45.95 - #123729) – elegant, smooth and sexy with silky dark chocolate, spice, blueberry and cherry jam.  (****+) – MfA

Australia …
Beelgara 2010 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #376855) – mocha/coffee with nice cassis and vanilla oak backing; nothing overwhelming, well-balanced.  (****)
Langmeil 2012 Hangin’ Snakes Shiraz/Viognier ($20.95 - #77685) – I like the spiced floral component here amongst all the big fruit.  (****)
Thorn-Clarke 2011 Shotfire Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz ($21.95 - #2959582) – Always a good wine and ages well (from personal experience) this one is mocha, pepper, and spice with more dried fruit than usual.  (*** ½+)
Wakefield 2012 Shiraz ($17.95 - #943787) – bargains don’t get much better: juicy with savoury elements and lots of spiced fruit.  (****)

Austria …
Munzenrieder 2011 Classic Zweigelt ($14.95 - #298174) – anise, spice, cassis and mocha.  (*** ½+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Lailey 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #72728) - ****+
Norman Hardie 2012 Niagara Unfiltered Chardonnay ($39.20 - #184432) - **** ½
Redstone 2012 Riesling - Limestone Vineyard South ($18.95 - #381251) - *** ½+

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Les Cruzelles 2010 ($39.85 - #257907) – plum and currants rule here with touch of spice.  (****)
France (Burgundy) …
La Chablisienne 2013 Sauvignon Saint Bris ($15.95 - #641753) – peachy-lemony character with a nice soft centre.  (*** ½)
France (Midi) …
Bastide Miraflors 2012 Vieilles Vignes Syrah/Grenache ($18.95 - #320499) – quite light but with a nice spice, white pepper and concentrated fruit.  (****) – SoF
Chateau de Cointes 2011 Marie-Anne Malepere ($19.95 - #376525) – nice mix of red and black licorice with gentle spice and red fruit.  (*** ½+) – SoF
Chateau de Lastours 2008 Grande Reserve Corbieres ($22.95 - #383067) - lots of anise and spice with black pepper and cassis (*** ½+) – SoF
Chateau de Treviac 2011 ($17.95 - #670505) – plenty of sweet red fruit, raspberry, cherry, gentle spice and good acidity.  (****)
Gerard Bertrand 2011 Grand Terroir Pic Saint Loup ($19.95 - #376491) – plum and black cherry dominates.  (****) - SoF
Guillaume Aurele 2013 Viognier ($13.95 - #380741) – decent fruit, zesty peach and apple with a touch of tropicality.  (*** ½+) – SoF
Hecht & Bannier 2011 Minervois ($20.95 - #17764) – good dark fruit with blue and black berry with plum and spice.  (****) - SoF
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Autrand 2012 Cotes du Rhone ($13.95 - #380675) – a real bargain full of fruit, gentle spice with a hint of leather.  (****)
Domaine le Grand Retour 2011 Plan de Dieu ($13.95 - #224592) – ripe, juicy and ready with cherry, blue and black berry. (****+)
Domaine Monpertus 2010 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($42.95 - #358663) – dried and fresh dark fruits, almost creamy with cassis and blackberry, nice spiced cherry finish.  (****+)
France (Southwest) …
Les Vignerons de Maury 2009 Maury ($16.95 - #377580) – cherry, blackberry with a decent amount of sweetness with balanced acidity; perfect with your cheese course.  (*** ½+)

Germany …
Dr. Hermann 2005 Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ($23.95 - #376368) – lovely sweetness and good flavour, this one is aged to perfection but still has time to go if you want; not often do you get to buy a wine this aged.  (****)

Italy (Puglia) …
Tormaresca 2012 Neprica ($14.95 - #380774) – smooth dark fruit with cassis, white pepper and tannins.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Tenuta di Capraia 2011 Chianti Classico ($22.95 - #135277) – smooth, soft and silky from first sip to last swallow.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Allegrini 2012 Valpolicella Classico ($16.95 - #379198) – light, almost sweet cherry fruit with a slight hit of tobacco and spice.  (*** ½+)
Mazzolada 2013 Pinot Grigio ($15.95 - #379834) – stone fruit with nice minerality; a surprisingly good Grigio.   (*** ½+)
Villa Annaberta 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella ($39.95 - #338921) – sweet, succulent and juicy; well-balance on the finish with its acid and tannin structure.  (****+)
Zeni Marogne 2011 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($17.95 - #220830) – touch of chocolate sneaks its way between the cherry, blackberry and smoke.  (****)

New Zealand …
Thornbury 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #734798) – very New Zealand with all its gooseberry, pink grapefruit cocktail and nice acidity.  (*** ½+)

Portugal …
Carvalhais 2011 Duque de Viseu Red ($13.95 - #546309) – great way to satiate your taste for Portuguese wine for not a lot of dough. (*** ½+)
Post Scriptum de Chryseia 2011 ($29.95 - #67538) – nice plum and oak with blackberry, black cherry and elegant spices.  (****)

South Africa …
Thelema 2012 Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc ($13.95 - #203877) – interestingly tropical with a touch of sweet lime and grapefruit pith.  (*** ½+)

Spain …
Abad Dom Bueno 2008 Mencia ($16.95 - #291989) – nice balance of tannins and dark fruit at a really good price.  (****)
Basa 2013 Blanco ($17.95 - #381558) – pineapple, guava and grapefruit.  (*** ½+)
Lopez de Haro 2008 Crianza ($15.95 - #377481) – herbal, red berries and hints of oak.  (*** ½+)
Ninin de Antonino Izquierdo 2009 ($23.95 - #380766) – lots of sweet red and black fruit with gentle spice and coffee on the finish.  (*** ½+)

United States (California) …
First Press 2011 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #199810) – balanced and creamy with fruity and subtle oak spice.  (*** ½+)
Irony 2011 Small Lot Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #25106) – medium-bodied, mainly dark fruit with a juicy core; good drinkability.  (*** ½+)  

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet  …
Chateau des Jacques 2011 Clos Rochegres Moulin a Vent ($43.95 - #737494) France - *** ½+
Chateau Lafon-Rochet 2009 ($82.85 - #197228) France - ****
Chateau Langoa Barton 2009 ($99.95 - #201061) France - ****
Erudito 2008 Reserva Especial ($36.95 - #378885) Spain - ****+
Mario Schiopetto 2009 Bianco ($41.95 - #382374) Italy - *** ½+
Nyarai Cellars 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #378398) Ontario - *** ½+
Raymond 2009 District Collection Cabernet Sauvignon ($74.95 - #54734) California - ****


If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Colome 2010 Reserva Malbec ($74.95 - #227827) Argentina - **** (MfA)
Duckhorn 2011 Goldeneye Pinot Noir ($64.95 - #659854) California - ****


What I’ll Be Lining Up For – February 1, 2014 …
Chateau de Treviac 2011 ($17.95 - #670505) – France
Domaine Autrand 2012 Cotes du Rhone ($13.95 - #380675) – France
Domaine le Grand Retour 2011 Plan de Dieu ($13.95 - #224592) – France
Wakefield 2012 Shiraz ($17.95 - #943787) – Australia

Happy Shopping

To print this article click here for the PDF version.

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