Saturday September 19, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

08 Sep 2015

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 … Ontario Wines (ON) and Antique Europe (AE)
The Skinny … The Antique Europe wines are a real disappointment, meaning that there are so few that it is not good representation – Ontario wines released are plentiful, but the LCBO is once again showing some really bad stuff alongside some really good stuff … and the weird thing these days is we taste 3 weeks before the release and still the wines that come from the closest place (Ontario) are not all represented, I really wish that was explained to me.  On another note, there is some great Portuguese wines and a delightful Loire Savvy B.
    
Argentina …
Bodega Paiman 2012 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #423186) – minty, blackberry, black cherry, vanilla; tastes and smells Chilean.  (*** ½+)
Finca Flichman 2012 Expresiones Reserve Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.95 - #17111) – floral, vanilla, smoky, raspberry and blackberry.  (*** ½+)
Trapiche 2010 Terroir Series Orellana de Escobar Single Vineyard Malbec ($39.95 - #178145) – lovely and smooth with dark cherry, blackberry and plum, hints of blueberry on the finish.  (****)

Australia …
Kilikanoon 2012 Killerman’s Run Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro ($19.95 - #412189) – well-herbed and smoky with blackberry and spiced-plum.  (*** ½+)
Two Hands 2013 Angels’ Share Shiraz ($27.95 - #009480) – always such a beauty of chocolate, black cherry, silky smooth and flavourful.  (****)

Austria …
Laurenz Und Sophie 2013 Singing Gruner Veltliner ($16.95 - #87627) – zippy and flavourful with green apple and pear.  (*** ½)

Bulgaria …
Bulgariana 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($13.95 - #419390) – smooth, easy drinking with a little anise/licorice and black cherry.  (*** ½) - AE

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Chateau des Charmes 2012 Gamay Noir ‘Droit’ ($16.95 - #346742) - **** (ON)
Coffin Ridge 2013 Back From the Dead Red ($19.00 - #260463) - *** ½ (ON)
Featherstone 2014 Black Sheep Riesling ($16.95 - #80234) - ****+ (ON)
Featherstone 2014 Rose ($14.95 - #117861) - *** ½+ (ON)
Huff Estates 2012 Gamay ($24.95 - #423335) - **** (ON)
Keint-he 2013 Portage Pinot Noir ($30.00 - #373415) - *** ½+ (ON)
Rockway 2012 Meritage ($19.95 - #388264) - **** (ON)
Thirty Bench 2013 Riesling ($18.95 - #24133) - ****+ (ON)
Westcott Estate 2013 Chardonnay ($26.00 - #427484) - **** (ON)
Wildass 2012 Red ($19.95 - #86363) - *** ½+ (ON)

Chile …
Santa Alicia 2014 Tierra Sur Sparkling Rosé ($17.95 - #419457) – gentle and subtle, raspberry, good acidity, nice companion to the Brut released earlier in the year.  (*** ½)
Tabali 2013 Reserva Viognier ($13.95 - #406967) – melon, apple, lemon with floral and a little weight.  (*** ½+)

France (Alsace) …
Pierre Sparr 2014 Reserve Gewurztraminer ($18.95 - #747600) – sweet lychee entry, spicy finish and a pineapple middle.  (*** ½)
France (Beaujolais) …
Domaine de la Madone 2014 Le Perreon Beaujolais-Villages ($14.95 - #981175) – fresh cherry fruit a simpe wine to chill and just enjoy.  (*** ½)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau de Braude 2010 ($24.95 - #424614) – coffee, blackberry, oak, spice and coffee bean.  (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Les Lunelus 2014 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #426627) – grapefruit, mineral, shows more fruit than acidity but there’s a nice balance here, and it is tasty.  (****)
France (Midi) …
Hecht & Bannier 2012 Cotes du Rousillon-Villages ($24.95 - #142802) – blackberry, cassis, red currant, spiced-plum.  (****)
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Eric & Joel Durand Empreintes Cornas 2012 ($46.95 - #90829) – firm spices, herbal, acidity and bright cherry fruit.  (*** ½+)

Germany …
Becker Family 2011 Pinot Noir ($20.95 - #424754) – herbal, sour cherry, earthy and touched by oak.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Piedmont) …
Principessa Gavia Gavi 2014 ($19.95 - #250696) – honeycomb, citrus-grapefruit pith.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Capanna 2009 Brunello di Montalcino ($44.95 - #378513) – black raspberry, cherry and herbs.  (*** ½+)
Carpineto 2009 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva ($29.95 - #368910) – nice smoky cherry opening then comes the tobacco, licorice, and smoky oak.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Masi 2010 Brolo Campofiorin Oro ($26.95 - #976092) – dark licorice, coffee, smoke on the nose which gives way to dark fruit and oak on the palate.  (*** ½+)
Storia Antica 2013 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($15.95 - #273672) – black cherry, white smoke and plum.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Astrolabe 2013 Valley Pinot Noir ($23.95 - #374454) – bright fresh red fruit driven Pinot with lots of cherry.  (****)
Kim Crawford 2013 Small Parcels Favourite Homestead Pinot Gris ($24.95 - #415463) – flavourful, Asian pear, apple, with some mineral finesse.  (*** ½+)

Portugal …
Graham’s 2004 Quinta dos Malvedos Vintage Port ($29.95 - #672238) – red fruit, black cherry, black plum, ripe tannins and excellent spice.  (****)
La Rosa 2011 Tinto ($19.95 - #933101) – chocolate, black cherry, coffee and wood smoke.  (****)
Messias 2005 Colheita Port ($24.95 - #342642) – pure gold, though in red wine form, outstanding acidity and spic with dried cherry, fig and orange peel.  (**** ½)
Quinta dos Roques 2012 Vinho Tinto ($18.95 - #986075) – pleasantly plummy with black cherry and sweet spice.  (*** ½+)
Sidonio de Sousa 2012 Brut Nature Rosé ($17.95 - #420679) – strawberry, lime, nice dry finish with a hint of bitter melon.  (*** ½)

South Africa …
Pella 2013 The Vanilla Chenin Blanc ($14.95 - #389619) – they get the vanilla in this wine just right along with floral and honeydew melon.  (****)

Spain …
Vizcarra 2012 Senda del Oro Roble ($18.95 - #331249) – good dark fruit with mocha, vanilla and licorice.  (*** ½+)

United States (California) …
Fuse 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($42.95 - #214817) – light the fuse and you’ll enjoy this tasty piece of Cali-blending with a spicy finish.  (*** ½+)
Marimar 2012 Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #368316) – fruit driven: black cherry, hint of vanilla and oak but on this one the fruit really shines.  (****)
Matanzas Creek 2012 Chardonnay ($29.95 - #932707) – creamy vanilla, citrus zest, bruised apple.  (*** ½+)
Rutherford Ranch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #73817) – smooth, supple, easy drinking, well-priced with lots of red berry and plum.  (*** ½)
Scott 2013 Dijon Clone Chardonnay ($28.95 - #99051) – lime meringue, vanilla cream, toasty, peach cobbler, rich flavour, spicy finish.  (****)
Talbott 2013 Kali Hart Chardonnay ($27.95 - #46417) – butterscotch, vanilla, oak, sweet fruit and finish.  (*** ½+)
Talbott 2013 Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir ($35.95 - #419432) – spiced-cherry and cranberry with a nice earthy finish.  (****)
United States (Oregon) …
J. Christopher Lumiere Pinot Noir 2011 ($44.95 - #425835) – hits some, if not all those really good notes Oregon Pinot Noir is known for; supple fruit that straddles the dark, red, herbal, mineral and earthy – concentrated and delicious.  (****+)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Bischofliche Weinguter Trier Scharzhofberger Spatlese Riesling ($31.95 - #424721) – Mosel, Germany - *** ½+
Chateau Montrose 2014 ($169.85 - #300459) – Bordeaux, France - ****
Convento San Francisco 2005 Seleccion Especial ($32.95 - #185751) – Spain - ****
Marchand Tawse 2012 Meursault ($52.95 - #285866) – Burgundy, Franc - *** ½
Maze 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($124.95 - #429399) – California, USA - ****
Nino Franco 2011 Grave di Stecca Brut Prosecco ($39.95 - #422758) – Veneto, Italy - *** ½
Relic 2008 Artefact ($141.95 - #429357) – California, USA - ****

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Aurelio Settimo 2010 Rocche Dell’Annunziata Barolo ($57.95 - #293761) – Piedmont, Italy - *** ½+
Justin 2012 Isosceles ($117.95 - #684282) – California, USA - ****
Rodney Strong 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.95 - #382325) – California, USA - *** ½+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – September 19, 2015 …
La Rosa 2011 Tinto ($19.95 - #933101) – Portugal
Les Lunelus 2014 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #426627) – France
Messias 2005 Colheita Port ($24.95 - #342642) – Portugal

Happy Shopping

 

Get Our Newsletter

* indicates required

Follow Us on Social Media

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube