Saturday April 4, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

01 Apr 2015

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 … Veneto (VEN) and Ontario for Easter (OfE)
The Skinny … Today’s release is one of the weakest since the first one in January; the Veneto wines are good but hardly worthy of a spotlight, I think the LCBO dropped the ball here and the Easter wines from Ontario are of the hit and miss variety as well.  The really good stuff can be found in Spain and a couple from the US.

Argentina …
Luigi Bosca 2011 De Sangre ($24.95 - #261933) – mocha with toasty oak, vanilla, blackberry and hefty tannins.  (****)
Mendel 2011 Malbec ($27.95 - #108225) – more Aussie-Shiraz than Argentine-Malbec, sweet fruit, juicy, big alcohol; it has its place and a real good spicy finish.  (*** ½)

Australia …
Tscharke 2011 Marananga Gnadenfrei Shiraz ($26.95 - #303370) – big, bold, peppery and black fruited.  (*** ½+)

Bulgaria …
Horse Valley 2013 Single Vineyard Chardonnay ($16.95 - #398222) – surprisingly inoffensive wine from Bulgaria, give this one a shot.  (*** ½)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2011 Syrah ($39.95 - #73072) – nice black and white pepper mix, a hint of mocha-strawberry but it’s the pepperiness that stands out here and good acidity on the finish.  (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Coyote’s Run 2013 Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Gris ($16.95 - #116582) - *** ½+ - (OfE)
Creekside 2013 Laura’s White ($18.95 - #121764) - *** ½
Featherstone 2014 Rosé ($14.95 - #117861) - *** ½+
Fielding 2013 Viognier ($25.95 - #142323) - *** ½ - (OfE)
Flat Rock 2014 Riesling ($16.95 - #43281) - *** ½
Henry of Pelham 2013 Estate Chardonnay ($19.95 - #268342) - *** ½+
Jackson-Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Merlot ($24.95 - #563197) - ****+ - (OfE)
Rockway Vineyards 2013 Late Harvest Vidal ($15.95 - #413617) - *** ½ - (OfE)

Chile …
Cousino-Macul 2013 Antiguas Reservas Chardonnay ($15.95 - #730044) – well-made, good fruit to acid ratio with a little vanilla, butter and peach; good buy for Chard-lovers.  (*** ½+)

France (Beaujolais) …
Stephane Aviron 2011 Domaine de la Madriere Vieilles Vignes Fleurie ($21.95 - #405779) – black cherry and blueberry mingle with a nice delicate spice and good acidity on the finish. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Haut Selve Reserve 2010 ($27.95 - #235424) – spicy tangy notes with a mocha mid and strawberry-tannic finish.  (****)
Chateau Les Roches de Ferrand 2010 ($22.95 - #403725) – layers of black and blue berry, vanilla and good acidity.  (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Vincent Sauvestre 2013 Bourgogne Chardonnay ($19.95 - #365056) – while the nose is subtle and white fruited the palate punches you in the mouth with Chardonnay flavour and a nice spiced finish.  (****)
France (Midi) …
Chateau Fontenelles 2011 Cuvee Renaissance Corbieres ($19.95 - #148692) – mocha, cherry, spice and anise.  (*** ½+)
Gerard Bertrand 2011 Fitou ($17.95 - #403683) – mocha, rich cherry, blackberry with nice toasty spice.  (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Alain Jaume & Fils 2012 Clos de Sixte Lirac ($24.95 - #76349) – blue, black and red fruit intermingle with vanilla, cherry and spice.  (****)

Germany …
Mayschoss 140 Jahre Jubilaumswein Trocken Pinot Noir 2013 ($21.95 - #409649) – shows a certain smoky element with nice cranberry and cherry finish.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Tuscany) …
Isole e Olena 2011 Chianti Classico ($31.95 - #704346) – not your best value in Chianti but a damn good fruit driven wine with just enough acid-spice backing.  (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Allegrini 2011 Palazzo Della Torre ($24.95 - #672931) – coffee, spiced-raspberry, cherry jam and plum.  (*** ½+) – VEN
Donatoni Massena 2011 Appassimento ($16.95 - #332403) – cherry, espresso bean, vanilla and spice.  (*** ½+) – VEN
Feudi San Pio 2012 Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($17.95 - #181446) – very cherry, white pepper, with hints of coffee and anise.  (*** ½+) – VEN
Zenato 2013 San Benedetto Lugana ($16.95 - #707158) – apple and peach with a touch of lanolin and lemon.  (*** ½+) – VEN  

New Zealand …
Dog Point 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($24.95 - #677450) – puts all the right things together for summertime enjoyment; good intensity of flavour.  (*** ½+)
Forrest 2013 The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #317842) – nose screams Sauvignon Blanc but the palate is a little more subtle than most.  (*** ½+)

Spain …
Finca Villacreces Pruno 2012 ($21.95 - #312140) – mocha, cigar box, spiced cherry and good acidity.  (****)
Muriel 2008 Reserva Vendimia Seleccionada ($18.95 - #276030) – smooth and easy, silky with a nice fruit balanced by mocha and oak; this one is pretty and tasty.  (****+)

United States (California) …
Bridlewood 2012 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #361824) – pretty fruit, vanilla, cherry, strawberry and just a hint of white pepper with a nice bite of acidity on the finish.  (****)
Cline 2013 Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($22.95 - #719211) – raspberry, vanilla, spice, bold and flavourful.  (****)
Freemark Abbey 2013 Chardonnay ($27.95 - #361949) – tropical fruit, pear, apple, floral with a touch of buttery-vanilla and a nice kick at the end.  (****)
Kenwood 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #990440) – spiced cherry, white pepper and vanilla.  (*** ½+)
La Crema 2013 Chardonnay ($39.95 - #67231) – nice creamy texture, peach, apple with delicate floral notes and subtle spice on the finish.  (*** ½+)
Seghesio 2013 Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($31.95 - #942151) – layers of delicious Zinfandel flavours like cherry, plum, vanilla and cola; Seghesio always makes good Zins and this one ends with a spicy, robust and good acidity on the finish.  (****+)
William Hill 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($44.95 - #212951) – nice blueberry and blackberry with herbal, spice and hints of tobacco.  (****)
United States (Washington) …
Columbia Crest 2012 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #240093) – smooth with mocha, plum and blackberry.  (*** ½+)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet:
Bouchard Pere & Fils 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin ($54.95 - #661330) – France … (****)
Chateau La Tour Blanche 2011 ($49.85 / 375ml - #296319) – France … (****+)
Clos Marsalette 2011 ($39.85 - #298703) – France … (*** ½+)
Domaine Long-Depaquit 2012 Les Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru ($34.95 - #19364) – France … (****)
Vitanza 2007 Riserva Brunello di Montalcino ($89.95 - #236232) – Italy … (****)
Zuccardi 2011 Zeta ($39.95 - #163725) – Argentina … (*** ½+)

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – April 4, 2015 …
Bridlewood 2012 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #361824) – United States
Domaine Vincent Sauvestre 2013 Bourgogne Chardonnay ($19.95 - #365056) – France
Muriel 2008 Reserva Vendimia Seleccionada ($18.95 - #276030) – Spain

Happy Shopping

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