Saturday October 31, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

21 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 … Super Tuscany (ST) and Chilean High Achievers (CHA)
The Skinny … There are some really good wines coming out, and the surprise is that a few are under $20, keep your eye on my “What I’m Lining up for” at the bottom – but prices are also sneaking up because we’re inching closer and closer to Christmas.

Argentina …
Crios 2013 Limited Edition Red Blend ($14.95 - #366146) – 90% Tannat and 10% Syrah make a real good blend of rich, dark, brooding blue and black fruit along with smoky bacon, spice and a long finish; elegant wine for under $15.  (****+)

Australia …
Cimicky 2012 Trumps Shiraz ($19.95 - #027383) – chocolate, blueberry and smoky vanilla.  (*** ½)
Killibinbin 2013 Scream Shiraz ($24.95 - #429662) – more typical but with coffee/mocha sitting on the mid-palate; comes acrossas a very interesting wine with good intensity on the finish.  (*** ½+)
Penfolds 2012 Bin 28 Kalima Shiraz ($34.95 - #422782) – good hit of smoked meat and spice.  (*** ½+)
Wolf Blass 2013 Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #606939) – chocolate-cherry and spice; nicely balanced.  (*** ½+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
2027 Cellars 2012 Queenston Road Pinot Noir ($35.00 - #421370) - ****+
Creekside Estate 2012 Laura’s Red ($19.95 - #117960) - **** ½
Fielding Estate 2014 Riesling ($18.95 - #251439) - *** ½+
Flat Rock 2013 Gravity Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #01560) - ****
Muskoka Lakes Winery 2012 Red Maple ($24.95 - #0050039) - ****
Redstone 2011 Reserve Cabernet Franc ($29.95 - #381244) - *** ½

Chile …
Cono Sur 2013 Single Vineyard Block 21 Viento Mar Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #419010) – delicate and easy drinking; shows some elegance.  (*** ½) … CHA
Luis Felipe Edwards 2012 LFE 900 Single Vineyard Blend ($29.95 - #431809) – juicy with red licorice, cherry, vanilla and milk chocolate.  (*** ½+) … CHA
Ventisquero 2012 Grey Glacier Single Block Carmenere ($19.95 - #325415) – black and blue fruit with plenty of spice.  (*** ½+) ... CHA

France (Beaujolais) …
Arnaud Aucoeur 2013 Cuvee Le Chagny Vieilles Vignes Morgon ($18.95 - #430652) – juicy black cherry, strawberry, wood spice with a peppery finish.  (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Pey La Tour 2010 Reserve du Chateau ($19.95 - #349308) – big bold rich black cherry, cassis, mocha blackberry and some pretty hearty tannins; needs 2-3 years to mellow.  (****)
France (Burgundy) …
Andre Delorme 2013 Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #366427) – earthy, cranberry, sour cherry, precise and peppery.  (*** ½+)
Domaine du Meix-Foulot 2011 Les Veleys Mercurey 1er Cru ($35.95 - #148874) – subtle juiciness with white pepper, black cherry and smoky elegance.  (****)
France (Loire) …
Dauny 2014 Les Caillottes Sancerre ($21.95 - #429340) – delicate of citrus with a little grassy element.  (*** ½)
Domaine Bellevue 2014 Touraine Sauvignon ($14.95 - #082305) – a musky, sweaty, grapefruit number with a long, intense and weighty finish.  (****)
France (Rhone) …
Domaine de Vieux Telegraphie 2013 Telegramme Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($48.95 - #292722) – juicy cherry, gentle spice, raspberry and anise with a smooth and silky palate.  (****+)
E. Guigal 2011 Gigondas ($36.95 - #331900) – lots of lovely rich cherry, smoky chocolate, spiced-plum, and raspberry notes here; good tannin backbone and a smoky red berry finish.  (****+)
Lavau 2012 Vacqueyras ($24.95 - #104927) – blueberry, cherry, violets and hint of milk chocolate.  (****)

Germany …
Dr. Loosen 2014 Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett ($22.95 - #160846) – sweet kissed minerality with pear and delicious apple.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Piedmont) …
Ricossa 2014 Appassimento Barbera ($17.95 - #430751) – smoky and juicy with anise, blackberry and bacon fat.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Barone Ricasoli Brolio 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva ($34.95 - #418822) – nicely spiced mix of red and black fruit backed by good acidity; drinks well now.  (*** ½+) … ST
Borgo Scopeto 2011 Borgonero ($19.95 - #421396) – mocha, spice, blueberry-blackberry-plum, black cherry, vanilla; juicy, fleshy, cinnamon and pepper, complexity at a great price.  (****+) … ST
Il Grigio da San Felice 2010 Gran Selezione Chianti Classico ($46.95 - #403477) – there’s an element of juiciness to the spice, coffee and black fruit all with a good finish.  (****) … ST
Poliziano 2012 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($29.95 - #988055) – oaky and spicy but the dark fruit is there to back it up and so is the acidity; this is one to hold or drink over the next 5-7 years.  (****) … ST
Ruffino 2011 Modus ($29.95 - #912956) – good spice and dark fruit, a real tasty wine though a tad heavy at this moment.  (*** ½+) … ST
Italy (Veneto) …
Feudi San Pio 2013 Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($17.95 - #181446) – smoky, vanilla and spice with coffee and blackberry backing.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Giesen 2013 The Brothers Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #247213) – floral laced oranges with wheat grass and lime pith.  (****)
Wild River 2013 Pinot Noir ($20.95 - #376244) – floral, sweet cassis and anise.  (*** ½+)

Portugal …
Jose Maria da Fonseca 2012 Domingos ($14.95 - #426536) – good for a 15 dollar wine, dry and spicy with cassis and a 70% cocoa note.  (*** ½)
Quinta da Rede 2012 Reserva ($17.95 - #431742) – deep, dark and fruity but it comes off lighter than expected with some spicy, minty, blackberry and plum notes.  (****)

Spain …
Baron de Ley 2010 Reserva ($19.95 - #958868) – lots of spices interact with smoky-dark fruit, there’s even some vanilla-minerality in here.  (****)
Miros de Ribera 2009 Crianza ($21.95 - #431676) – seductive dark fruit, pencil shavings, cinnamon, plum and wood smoke.  (****)
Ontanon 2011 Crianza Tempranillo / Garnacha ($16.95 - #976910) – a modern Rioja with lots of dark fruit and smoked meat.  (*** ½+)

United States (California) …
Rodney Strong 2013 Chalk Hill Chardonnay ($24.95 - #275552) – layers of vanilla and butterscotch with caramel apple and pear with a nice finish.  (*** ½+)
Saved 2012 Red ($29.95 - #417378) – A wacko blend with a whack of flavour and easy drinkability; fruit, acid and just the right amount of spice. Fun.  (****)
Scott Family 2013 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #317784) – lots of juicy black cherry and vanilla, silky palate, good acidity and spicy finish.   (*** ½+)
Simi 2012 Merlot ($22.95 - #417386) – chocolate covered blueberries, juicy and tasty.  (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Adelsheim 2013 Pinot Gris ($27.95 - #27524) – yellow plum and pear with a touch of minerality.  (*** ½+)
Underwood 2014 Oregon Grown Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #421198) – more California juicy than Oregon balance, but it’s still tasty.  (*** ½)
United States (Washington) …
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2012 Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.95 - #055764) – blueberry, vanilla, smooth palate with hints of chocolate-cherry on the finish.  (****)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Sandhill 2012 Phantom Creek Vineyard Syrah ($44.95 - #423475) – British Columbia … ****+
Dunn 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($113.95 - #709501) – California … *** ½+
Paraduxx 2011 Proprietary Red Wine ($54.95 - #919662) – California … *** ½+  

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …

Antinori 2010 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino ($69.95 - #651141) – Italy … ****+ (ST)
Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Champagne ($79.95 - #384529) – see video for full review
Cliff Lede 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($112.95 - #014217) – California … ****
Dutton Estate 2011 Karmen Isabella Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir ($57.95 – #414821) – California … *** ½
Fontanafredda 2008 La Rosa Barolo ($64.95 - #040105) – Italy … ****
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2012 Oreno ($77.95 - #735597) – Italy … **** - (ST)
Two Hands 2013 Lily’s Garden Shiraz ($54.95 - #683086) – Australia … ****+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For:  October 31, 2015 …
Arnaud Aucoeur 2013 Cuvee Le Chagny Vieilles Vignes Morgon ($18.95 - #430652) – France
Borgo Scopeto 2011 Borgonero ($19.95 - #421396) – Italy
Chateau Pey La Tour 2010 Reserve du Chateau ($19.95 - #349308) –
Crios 2013 Limited Edition Red Blend ($14.95 - #366146) – Argentina
Domaine Bellevue 2014 Touraine Sauvignon ($14.95 - #082305) – France
Quinta da Rede 2012 Reserva ($17.95 - #431742) – Portugal

Happy Shopping

 

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