Saturday October 17, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

12 Oct 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 … Napa Gold Rush (NGR) and Barolo (BAR)
The Skinny … As we get closer to Christmas you’ll notice the average price of wines goes up, but then so does the quality; my “what I’m lining up for” gets a little above twenty bucks but these wines are worth it – I’d also like to say Ontario has some really good wines to pick up, especially the Cab from Lakeview.

Argentina …
Alta Vista 2011 Atemporal ($19.95 - #144352) – vanilla, cherry, smoky, woodsy; sit it down for 4-5 years.  (****)
Domaine Bousquet 2012 Grande Reserve Malbec ($24.95 - #303701) – good dark fruit oriented wine with plum, black cherry and raspberry.  (*** ½+)

Australia …
Alkoomi 2012 Black Label Shiraz/Viognier ($21.95 - #203166) – silkier than expected, nice cherry, blackberry, violet and smoked meat with nice acidity and tannins.  (****)
Alkoomi 2014 White Label Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #428383) – citrus zest and pith seem to rule this wine with a long finish.  (*** ½+)
Mollydooker 2013 The Boxer Shiraz ($29.95 - #246595) – eucalyptus, smoky, vanilla, plum, blackberry and spicy notes; really smooth and silky.  (****+)
Red Hill Estate 2013 Pinot Noir ($23.95 - #58073) – raspberry-cranberry and a tart lime-like sensation; quite tasty.  (*** ½+)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Jackson-Triggs 2012 Sunrock Vineyard Illumina ($34.95 - #424572) – a blend of Zinfandel and Shiraz from British Columbia that has a nice peppery-plummy sensations and totally enjoyable.  (****+)
Stoneboat 2012 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #429332) – vanilla, black cherry, spice and cigar notes; an interesting take on Pinot Noir.  (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Creekside 2013 Viognier Reserve ($26.95 - #264168) - *** ½+
Featherstone 2013 Red Tail Merlot ($19.95 - #131540) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2010 Speck Family Reserve Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #657874) - ****
Hinterland 2014 Borealis Method Charmat ($22.00 - #431817) - *** ½+
Lakeview Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #43390) - ****
Red Tractor 2013 Premium Collection Riesling ($16.95 - #431627) - *** ½
Southbrook 2013 Triomphe Cabernet Franc ($21.95 - #275958) - *** ½+
Tawse 2014 Sketches of Niagara Riesling ($17.95 - #89029) - *** ½+

Chile …
Valle Secreto 2012 First Edition Carmenere ($19.95 - #371153) – mint, blackberry, black cherry and cedary oak; this is a big Carmenere.  (****)

France (Beaujolais) …
Georges DuBoeuf 2011 Morgon Cote de Py ($17.95 - #424887) – candied cherry with subtle notes of white pepper.  (*** ½)

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Arnauton 2010 ($25.95 - #425454) – menthol, blackberry, black cherry with cocoa and a certain chalkiness to the finish.  (****)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine des Deux Roches 2012 Les Terres Noires Saint-Veran ($26.95 - #429068) – nice pleasant smoky apple, buttery, poached peach, citrus zest and very flavourful.  (****)
Domaine du Meix-Foulot 2011 Clos du Chateau de Montaigu Mercurey 1er Cru ($34.95 - #123927) – lovely raspberry and cherry with cranberry, violets and good acidity.  (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Tresors de Loire 2014 Vouvray ($17.95 - #427427) – sweet but in the right way, pleasant honey and pear notes with a little bitter / acid on the finish for balance.  (*** ½)
France (Midi) …
Domaine de Bila-Haut 2013 Occultum Lapidem ($25.95 - #643239) – chalky, cherry, blackberry and anise.  (****)
Villa Symposia 2012 L’Equilibre ($22.95 - #298620) – rich black fruit, mocha, black cherry and white pepper.  (****+)
France (Rhone) …
Domaine de Cristia 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($43.95 - #67678) – pure red licorice, plum and blackberry jam.  (*** ½+)
Domaines Perrin 2013 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes-du-Rhone ($29.95 - #48884) – sweet and spicy meet right here in this glass.  (*** ½+)
Famille Perrin 2013 Les Cornuds Vinsobres ($17.95 - #566844) – raspberry, white pepper, smoke, cherry, violets; I’ve had better in past vintages but this is still good.  (*** ½+)
France (Rousillon) …
Domaine Lafage 2013 Cuvee Nicolas Vieilles Vignes Granache Noir ($18.95 - #354191) – interesting wine with a little grit, black cherry and smoke.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Molise) …
Di Majo Norante Ramitello 2011 ($18.95 - #973214) – spicy/peppery number with nice tannins and sour cherry.  (*** ½)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Prunotto 2010 Barolo ($40.95 - #928721) – dried & spiced cherry with a slight herbal component and sweet/dried red fruit on the finish.  (****) – BAR
Tenuta Rocca 2010 Barolo ($36.95 - #395103) – cherry and sour raspberry, spiced and dried sweet fruit.  (*** ½+) – BAR
Italy (Umbria) …
Adanti 2007 Sagrantino di Montefalco ($35.95 - #424762) – robust with coffee, licorice, smoke, and herbal notes; mouthfilling and plenty of oak.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Zeni 2013 Marogne Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($17.95 - #220830) – rounded black cherry with gentle spice.  (*** ½+)

Portugal …
Casa Santos Lima 2013 Reserva do Monte ($15.95 - #426452) – sweet cherry, easy drinking and supple.  (*** ½)
Fonseca 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($21.95 - #87551) – balanced Port with great black cherry, spiced plum, and all the things that make Port delicious.  (****)
Pilheiros 2011 Red ($19.95 - #427856) – mocha, blackberry and smoke.  (*** ½+)

Romania …
Budureasca Feteasca Regala 2014 ($11.95 - #416800) – sweet apple, peach and pear with floral overtones; juicy and vibrant.  (*** ½+)

Spain …
Dominio de Tares 2011 Cepas Viejas Mencia ($29.95 - #379891) – smooth and silky with chocolate, black cherry and a lovely mocha finish.  (****)
Palacios Remondo 2012 La Montesa Crianza ($21.95 - #674572) – nice creamy cherry and smoked raspberry.  (****)

United States (California) …
Ca’Momi 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($25.95 - #315002) – cassis, blackberry with hints of leather and a smoky finish.  (*** ½+) – NGR
Duckhorn 2013 Chardonnay ($39.95 - #418319) – forty dollars for a creamy, vanilla, fruit driven Chardonnay? One this tasty – sure.  (****+) – NGR
Stonehedge 2013 Reserve Chardonnay ($22.95 - #311548) – vanilla cream, apple and peach; and then it has its good points.  (*** ½) – NGR
United States (Oregon) …
La Crema 2013 Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #385757) – don’t expect California here, La Crema has made Oregon Pinot Noir in the Oregon style and not tried to make it conform to Cali.  (****)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Barone Pizzini Animante Franchiacorta Brut ($29.95 - #422691) – Italy … ****
Bosquet des Papes 2012 Cuvee Tradition Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($48.95 - #726687) – Rhone … ****+
Cakebread 2012 Zinfandel ($49.95 - #214031) – California … *** ½+
Domaine Jaeger-Defaix Rabource Rully 1er Cru 2012 ($35.95 - #200139) – Burgundy … ****
Joseph Phelps 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($59.95 - #965277) – California … ****
Lowburn 2013 Ferry Home Block Pinot Noir ($45.95 - #429472) – New Zealand … *** ½+


If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Banfi 2010 Poggio Alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino ($69.95 - #372250) – Tuscany … ****
Beringer 2012 Quantum ($69.95 - #362400) – California … **** (NGR)
Caymus 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($99.95 - #222877) – California … ****+ (NGR)
Paul Hobbs 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($116.95 - #119065) – California … **** ½ (NGR)
Shafer 2012 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon ($126.95 - #45476) – California … *** ½+ (NGR)
Silvio Grasso 2010 Bricco Manzoni Barolo ($89.95 - #422105) – Piedmont … **** (BAR)

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – October 17, 2015 …
Alta Vista 2011 Atemporal ($19.95 - #144352) – Argentina
Palacios Remondo 2012 La Montesa Crianza ($21.95 - #674572) – Spain
Villa Symposia 2012 L’Equilibre ($22.95 - #298620) – France

Happy Shopping

 

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