Saturday November 8, 2014 - Vintages Release Report
06 Nov 2014- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
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 … Fine Holiday Wines (FHW) and Ports (PTS)
The Skinny … As we get closer and closer to the holidays you’ll see prices rise so value is a little harder to find for the bargain seeker, let’s see if I can help – especially in my What I’d Line Up for section.
Argentina …
Finca Flichman 2011 Dedicado ($29.95 - #721423) – deep, rich, robust, succulent and supple; good fruit, mocha, hint of herbal and plum. (****) – FHW
La Posta 2012 Angel Paulucci Vineyard Malbec ($15.95 - #075515) – floral elements mixed with blueberry, gentle spice and a savoury mix of herbs. (****)
Australia …
Mollydooker 2013 The Maitre d’ Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #246629) – nice rich Cabernet without being over the top; good fruit and spice grabs at the tongue. (****) – FHW
Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2012 Pinot Noir ($40.95 - #556613) – dark cherry with strawberry, white pepper, smoke; but it’s that front palate loaded with fruit that really wows. (****)
Osoyoos Larose 2009 Le Grand Vin ($44.95 - #626325) – This is the bomb: nose lures, palate intrigues, wine delivers; great structure, nice acidity, well-rounded fruit; this continues to get better and better the longer it's open and the more it's sipped. (**** ½) - FHW
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Cave Spring 2012 Dolomite Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #391995) - ****+
Featherstone 2013 Black Sheep Riesling ($16.95 - #080234) - **** ½
Flat Rock Cellars 2012 Gravity Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #001560) - ****+ (FHW)
Foreign Affair 2013 Enchanted ($17.95 - #389767) - *** ½
Hidden Bench 2012 Chardonnay ($28.95 - #068817) - **** (FHW)
Hidden Bench 2010 Terroir Cache Meritage ($38.20 - #505610) - ****
Le Clos Jordanne 2011 Village Reserve Pinot Noir ($30.00 - #033894) - ****+
Queylus 2011 Grande Reserve Pinot Noir ($59.95 - #392878) - ****
Raven’s Roost 2012 Cabernet/Merlot ($19.95 - #395111) - ****+
Tawse 2012 Spark Limestone Ridge Riesling Sparkling Wine ($19.95 - #370361) - **** ½+
Chile …
Boya 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #389726) – has a juicy grapefruit core that really livens the palate, but you will need to take a few sips to get there. (*** ½+)
Concha y Toro 2010 Terrunyo Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.95 - #562918) – mint with balancing fruit and good acidity, nice powerful dark fruit but always with that mint backing. (****) - FHW
France (Beaujolais) …
Pascal Aufranc 2013 Vignes de 1939 Chenas ($18.95 - #329987) – real appealing black cherry with a lovely spice and mineral note; a good half-hour in the fridge would be perfect. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Belle-Vue 2010 ($31.85 - #254276) – lots of dark almost dank mocha notes with blackberry, pencil shavings and tannins with a toasty taste. (****)
Chateau Vieux Chevrol 2010 Lalande de Pomerol ($29.95 - #388579) – mocha and black cherry, with a smoothness and sexiness that includes coffee bean and anise. (****)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Michel Magnien 2011 Cote de Nuits Villages ($36.95 - #392688) – lovely dark fruit, smoky-vanilla, delicious spice; really appealing. (****+) – FHW
France (Loire) …
Roger Champault 2013 Les Pierris Sancerre Rouge ($23.95 - #392084) – smoky raspberry, gentle beet root, cranberry with peppery goodness on finish. (*** ½)
Jean-Max Roger 2013 Cuvee Les Chant-Alouettes Pouilly-Fume ($28.95 - #391623) – mineral and herbal with lemon pith and it just keeps going on the long finish. (****)
France (Rhone) …
Condoulet de Beaucastel 2012 Cotes-du-Rhone ($29.95 - #048884) – ripe cherry, plum, blackberry; this one is so fruit forward and delicious it’s scary. (**** ½) – FHW
Domaine Chaume-Arnaud 2011 Vinsobres ($23.95 - #380709) – nice fruit all dark, smooth and delicious. (*** ½+)
Olivier Ravore 2011 Cairanne Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($18.95 - #394668) – chocolate, raspberry, cherry, vanilla and it delivers on the delicious with fig, licorice and a great backbone of acidity. (**** ½)
Vidal-Fleury 2012 Domaine de Vieille Fontaine Cotes-du-Rhone Villages ($17.95 - #393215) – Another full flavoured Rhone with herbal, plum, black cherry, leather, smoke and blueberry. (****)
Greece …
Domaine Costa Lazaridi 2010 Amethystos Red ($23.95 - #724831) – pleasantly sippable with chocolate, plum and vanilla spice. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Layer Cake 2011 Primitivo ($19.95 - #384065) – jammy, plummy, sweet; an innocent, approachable and friendly take on the grape. (*** ½+)
Rivera 2008 Il Falcone Riserva Castel del Monte ($22.95 - #177295) – herbal through and through with spice and dried cherry. (*** ½)
Italy (Sicily) …
Orestiadi 2008 Ludovico ($19.95 - #388645) – cassis, plum, mint, vanilla, smoky with a raspberry finish. Jumps out of the glass full of flavour and a great value at this price. (****+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Fonterutoli 2011 Chianti Classico ($24.95 - #977629) – not the typical rustic like one would think of Classico, this one is modern, robust and flavourful. (****)
Le Difese 2012 ($31.95 - #147876) – From San Guido, the makers of Sassicaia, this one delivers for both balance and depth of flavour. (****+) - FHW
Le Pupile 2009 Poggio Valente Morellino di Scansano Riserva ($29.95 - #230680) – dried fruit and mocha with cassis and cherry. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Fantinel 2012 One and Only Single Vineyard Brut Prosecco ($19.95 - #390617) – lovely floral and apple with sweet lemonade and a long finish; crisp, clean and tasty. (****)
Tedeschi 2011 Capitel Nicalo Appassimento Valpolicella Superiore ($16.95 - #984997) – all kinds of coffee aromas and flavours along with black cherry, smoke and spiced plum a la Christmas cake. (*** ½+)
Mexico …
LA Cetto 2010 Don Luis Selecion Reserveda Terra ($19.95 - #388520) – for bargain hunters, this might be you wine of choice this release, full of dark fruit, spiced plum and vanilla. (****)
New Zealand …
Churton 2010 Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #237164) – lots of smoke, cinnamon, clove and spiced plum with a touch of tobacco on the finish. (*** ½+)
Cloudy Bay 2012 Pinot Noir ($40.95 - #598813) – one of the better Cloudy Bay Pinots I have had; mixes cranberry and sour cherry with some delicate acidity and firm tannins, plus nice length on the finish. (****) – FHW
Sacred Hill 2013 Halo Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #278671) – hay, grass and grapefruit pith plus hints of tropical; this melds two styles of Savvy B together into its own unique style. (****)
Portugal …
Dalva 1995 Colheita Port ($32.95 - #69930) – smoked cherry, almond, nice acidity, cherry puree and kirsch creeping in the back door. (*** ½+) – PTS
Dow’s 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($17.95 - #613927) – sweetness and class with cassis and black cherry, gentle spice with hints of chocolate. (****) - PTS
Quinta da Romaneira 2010 Touriga Nacional ($29.95 - #385831) – real elegance here from the usual fruit forwardness of the Douro: savoury, chocolate, plum and oodles of raspberry. (****+) – FHW
Vila Santa 2011 Reserva Tinto ($21.95 - #917849) – nicely plumy without going over the top, raspberry, strawberry and subtly hinted with chocolate. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Cathedral Cellar 2013 Chardonnay ($15.95 - #328559) – a nicely fleshed out Chardonnay that shows peach and pear with a hit of spice and vanilla. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut Cava ($13.95 – #521773) – crisp mineral, lemon-lime, green apple, good acidity that jumps and kicks in the mouth; great value bubbly. (****+)
Lustau East India Solera Sherry ($22.95 / 500ml - #342931) – very almond, hazelnut, toffee, mocha and spice; medium dry with good acidity, a perfect nut accompaniment. (****+)
Menade 2013 Verdejo ($16.95 - #392159) – there’s some mineral with bruised apple with a rich mouthfeel full of peach pit and honeyed apricot and a long finish. (*** ½+)
Menguante 2008 Seleccion Garnacha ($16.95 - #313833) – smooth, silky, easy drinking with hints of tobacco and plum. (*** ½)
United States (California) …
Adaption 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #353102) – alluring and enticing nose leads to a palate that does the same; pure chocolate in a glass. (****)
Boneshaker 2012 Zinfandel ($29.95 - #394221) – floral/violet, plum, herbal, raspberry, spice and white pepper; it’s Zin that’s unexpected yet still tasty. (*** ½)
Ghost Pines 2012 Winemaker’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #135376) – lots of chocolate and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Michael David 2012 6th Sense Syrah ($24.95 - #394395) – brambly black fruit, mulberry and anise with hints of herbal. (*** ½+)
Michael David 2012 Petite Petit ($24.95 - #213017) – rich black and blue berry with white pepper notes and a hints of vanilla, chocolate and plum. (****+)
The Prisoner 2012 ($49.95 - #104299) – rich plum and black cherry with hints of spice balanced by acidity along with black currant and mint. (****+) - FHW
United States (Washington) …
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon ($25.95 - #055764) – smooth and supple, rich in plum and blackberry with vanilla, chocolate and a big 14.5% alcohol. (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Barbara Fores Coma D’en Pou 2010 ($38.95 - #393546) – ****
Cakebread 2010 Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon ($149.95 - #924175) - ****
Chateau Coutet 2010 ($62.85 / 375ml - #257261) - ****+
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Antica 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($53.95 - #266551) California, USA (****) – FHW
Antinori 2009 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino ($59.95 - #651141) Tuscany, Italy (****+) – FHW
Duckhorn 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($79.95 - #024190) California, USA (****)
Jonata 2010 Todos Red ($67.95 - #218941) California, USA (****+) – FHW
L’Aventure 2011 Optimus ($63.95 - #683409) California, USA (*** ½+) – FHW
Laurel Glen 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($77.95 - #392217) California, USA (****) – FHW
Le Vieux Donjon 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($63.95 - #700922) Rhone, France (*** ½+)
Sandeman 2011 Vintage Port ($70.00 - #362491) Portugal (**** ½) - PTS
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2011 Oreno ($78.95 - #735597) Tuscany, Italy (****) – FHW
Terlato 2009 Cardinals’ Peak Red ($58.95 - #394924) California, USA (****) - FHW
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – November 8, 2014 …
Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut Cava ($13.95 – #521773) – Spain
Michael David 2012 Petite Petit ($24.95 - #213017) – California
Olivier Ravore 2011 Cairanne Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($18.95 - #394668) – France
Orestiadi 2008 Ludovico ($19.95 - #388645) – Italy
Vidal-Fleury 2012 Domaine de Vieille Fontaine Cotes-du-Rhone Villages ($17.95 - #393215) – France
Happy Shopping
