Saturday November 14, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

10 Nov 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 … Fortifieds (F), Large Format Bottles (LF), and All-Stars (AS)
The Skinny … As we start getting closer and closer to the holidays you’ll notice the price of wine is going up; my “If You Can Afford It” section has over a dozen wines in it – but that does not mean it’s all out of reach, France and Portugal come to the rescue as well as a few of the wines from Argentina.

Argentina …
La Chamiza 2012 Legend of Polo Winemaker’s Selection Malbec ($18.95 - #301267) – fresh and juicy with blueberry-blackberry blend.  (*** ½)
Trivento 2012 Amado Sur Malbec/Bonarda/Syrah ($16.95 - #037036) – there’s a red berry juiciness here especially on the finish which is interesting cause it starts out as dark fruit.  (*** ½+)
Zuccardi 2011 Q Tempranillo ($19.95 - #973503) – wow, Argentine Tempranillo, it’s juicy, earthy, black fruited with good spice.  (*** ½+)

Australia …
Pirramimma 2013 White Label Shiraz ($24.95 - #987784) – dark and robust with blackberry, dark chocolate, smoky notes, lots of power and spiced-licorice with a chalky-tannin finish.  (****)
St. Hallett 2012 Blackwell Shiraz ($39.95 - #535104) – robust and tasty but surely not 97; dark, rich fruit with vanilla-cinnamon and a spicy mid-palate.  (****)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut ($28.95 - #206326) – pretty apple and yeasty nose with a palate that has a bitterness with some mushroom and lightly toasted sour dough.  (*** ½)
Osoyoos Larose 2010 Le Grand Vin ($44.95 - #626325) – at five years this wine is coming into its own: oaky, smoky, cassis, black cherry and spice.  (****) – AS
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Closson Chase 2013 CCV Chardonnay ($27.95 - #418866) - ****
Flat Rock 2013 Unplugged Chardonnay ($16.95 - #068015) - *** ½
Pondview 2013 Vidal Icewine ($19.95 - #390351) - *** ½+
Rosewood 2014 Mead Royale Honey Wine ($16.95 - #437319) - ****
Stratus 2012 Red ($44.20 - #131037) - ****+ (AS)
Tawse 2011 Growers Blend Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #130989) - *** ½+

Chile …
Koyle 2011 Royale Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #255760) – very Chilean with loads of mint, blackberry and a little mocha on the finish.  (****)

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Rahoul 2010 ($29.95 - #226043) – it’s like a South African Bordeaux with leathery, smoky, toasty and coffee.  (*** ½)
Chateau Teyssier 2010 ($24.95 - #226035) – chocolate, plum, white pepper, mocha-cherry, intense, good tannins with nice acidity.  (****)
France (Burgundy) …
La Chablisienne 2012 Montmains Chablis 1er Cru ($32.95 - #265090) – quite a bit of minerality here with crisp, fresh mac apple and a touch of peach.  (*** ½+) – AS
France (Loire) …
Raphael Midoir 2014 Pouilly-Fume ($24.95 - #433318) – green lettuce and peas with a citrus salad dressing.  (*** ½)
France (Midi) …
Chateau de Segure Fitou 2012 ($16.95 - #370254) – nice rich raspberry sensation here backed by floral and red licorice, a true drinking delight.  (****)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau de Nages 2012 Vieilles Vignes Costieres de Nimes ($19.95 - #040964) – raspberry and cherry with some blackberry and smoky-licorice.  (*** ½+)
France (Southwest) …
Chateau Croze de Pys 2010 Prestige Malbec Cahors ($16.95 - #681668) – an easy to recommend $17 wine with gritty tannins, plum, cassis and blackberry.  (****)

Germany …
Loosen Bros. 2014 Dr. L Riesling ($13.95 - #599274) – a sweet, acid, mineral ratio that is quite lovely.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Piedmont) …
Paitin Sori’ Paitin Barbaresco 2011 ($48.95 - #106591) – sour cranberry and cherry, peppery and spicy, mineral and tobacco all with a long finish.  (****)
Italy (Puglia) …
Giordano Collection 2013 Primitivo di Maduria ($19.95 - #051797) – vanilla, cherry, smoked-plum and cassis with a little fig nuance. (****)
Italy (Sicily) …
Morgante 2011 Don Antonio Nero D’Avola ($39.95 - #051789) – chocolate, raspberry and licorice.  (****)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Marchese Antinori 2012 Chianti Classico Reserva ($32.95 - #512384) – floral with a sweet fruit finish: cassis, black cherry with a touch of cinnamon and spice.  (****)
Tenute Silvio Nardi 2010 Brunello di Montalcino ($41.95 - #922054) – silky raspberry and cherry with nice minerality, tannins and a long finish.  (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Tedeschi 2013 Capitel San Rocco Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($44.95 / 1500ml - #424549) – lovely cherry, smoky, chocolate, strawberry; really flavourful and quaffable.  (****) – LF
Tommasi 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($49.95 - #356220) – crushed blackberry and candied raspberry with hints of baker’s cocoa along with tobacco, spice and nice tannin backbone on the finish.  (****)
Tommasi Filodora Brut Prosecco ($16.95 - #422683) – floral, apple, citrus and nice acidity.  (*** ½+)
Zenato 2013 Valpolicella Superiore ($17.95 - #995704) – spicy and smoky with chocolate and dark fruit; drinks like a Ripasso.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Cloudy Bay 2013 Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #598813) – sour cherry and white pepper. (*** ½+) – AS
Lawson’s 2014 Dry Hills Pinot Gris ($18.95 - #415158) – honey, peach and mineral.  (*** ½)
Oyster Bay 2014 Pinot Grigio ($18.95 - #326090) – fresh and flavourful with grapefruit/lemon with some fuzzy peach notes.  (*** ½)

Portugal …
Taylor Fladgate Fine White Port ($15.95 - #0698856) – good over ice with tonic water or a fine after dinner drink.  (*** ½+) – F
Quinta do Alqueve 2008 2 Worlds Reserva ($19.95 - #427468) – interesting red and black fruit, chocolate, cherry, a little herbal/mocha/raspberry with fine tannins on the finish.  (****)
Warre’s 2003 LBV Bottle Aged Port ($34.95 - #434936) – proving what I’ve known for years, you can age Late Bottled  Vintage and it still matures gracefully, but this to see or just buy something recent and age it yourself.  (****) – F

Slovenia …
Quercus 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #429936) – soft floral and white peach with citrus and green apple, very pleasant.  (*** ½)

South Africa …
Rustenberg 2010 Buzzard Kloof Syrah ($24.95 - #414151) – plum, black cherry, pepper and smoke; chewy, rich with a gritty finish.  (*** ½+) – AS

Spain …
Alejandro Fernandez 2008 Dehesa La Granja ($21.95 - #192476) – minty-smoky blackberry and cassis with a chalky finish.  (*** ½)
Alvaro Palacios 2013 Velles Vinyes Les Terrasses ($48.95 - #977843) – gorgeous red berries, vanilla, smoke, toasty, meaty, white pepper; just simply put: delicious.  (****+) – AS
Bodegas Lan 2011 Crianza ($29.95 / 1500ml - #424531) – really inviting nose with a palate of sour cherry, herbal, strawberry, currants and vanilla.  (****) – LF
Convento San Francisco 2009 Crianza ($19.95 - #206409) – ripe black fruit with anise, plum and black cherry.  (*** ½+)  
Lustau East India Solera Sherry ($24.95 - #342931) – love the raisiny-nutty character with orange peel and ginger.  (*** ½+) – F
Torres 2012 Altos Ibericos Crianza ($16.95 - #381046) – ripe red fruit, licorice, gentle spice; engaging without being gaudy, pretty and elegant.  (****)

United States (California) …
Cline 2012 Big Break Vineyard Zinfandel ($37.95 - #985176) – extremely fruit driven with raspberry, cherry, a really juicy core, good tannins and well-balanced acidity.  (****)
Decoy 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($35.95 - #186171) – juicy, easy drinking red with plum, wood smoke and a little dark chocolate.  (*** ½+)
J. Lohr 2013 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon ($44.95 / 1500ml - #016915) – juicy black cherry, plum, vanilla and spice.  (****) – LF
MacMurray Ranch 2013 Chardonnay ($21.95 - #262063) – very vanilla and butterscotch.  (*** ½)
McManis 2013 Zinfandel ($19.95 - #256735) – sweet red berries and plum with plenty of vanilla-cherry on the finish.  (*** ½)
Meiomi 2013 Pinot Noir ($57.95 / 1500ml - #429977) – the Zinfandel of Pinot Noir returns with plenty of that robust red fruit: cherry, mocha and black licorice, it’s the Pinot for those who like Syrah, and seriously if you can get over the Pinot Noir moniker it’s delicious.  (****) – LF
Robert Mondavi 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($70.95 / 1500ml - #435131) – spicy core with blackberry and currants on the side, and there’s also a nice tannic grip.  (*** ½+) – LF
Shannnon Ridge Ranch Collection 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #315663) – on the label you’ll see “Vigilance” so look for that: cassis, blackberry, black cherry, plum and a little pencil lead.  (*** ½)
United States (Washington) …
Gordon Estate 2012 Syrah ($32.95 - #432831) – pretty floral and blueberry notes with hints of chocolate and white pepper.  (*** ½+)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Ruffino 2008 Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino ($49.95 - #926402) – Italy - ****


If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Biggio Hamina 2010 Pinot Noir ($60.95 - #435388) – Oregon - *** ½+
Ca’Marcanda 2013 Promis ($55.95 - #745638) – Italy - *** ½+ (AS)
Clos du Val 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($53.95 - #325779) – California - *** ½+
Flowers 2013 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($64.95 - #215210) – California - *** ½+ (AS)
Francis Ford Coppola 2012 Archimedes Cabernet Sauvignon ($77.95 - #431825) – California - *** ½+ (AS)
L’Aventure 2013 Optimus ($82.95 - #683409) – California - ****
Le Serre Nuove Dell’Ornellaia 2013 ($59.95 - #606194) - ****+ (AS)
Masi 2009 Campolongo di Torbe Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($101.95 - #548677) - **** (AS)
Penfolds 2012 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.95 - #414987) – Australia - **** (AS)
Sandeman 2011 Vintage Port ($70.00 - #362491) – Portugal - ****+ (P)
Shirvington 2009 Shiraz ($56.95 - #430629) – Australia - ****+ (AS)
Speri 2010 Vigneto Monte Sant’urbano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($74.95 - #205294) - *** ½+ (AS)
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2012 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon ($69.95 - #708982) - **** (AS)
Versado 2011 Reserva Ancient Malbec ($59.95 - #316984) – Argentina - **** (AS)


What I’ll Be Lining Up For:  November 14, 2015 …
Chateau Croze de Pys 2010 Prestige Malbec Cahors ($16.95 - #681668) – France
Chateau de Segure Fitou 2012 ($16.95 - #370254) – France
Quinta do Alqueve 2008 2 Worlds Reserva ($19.95 - #427468) – Portugal

Happy Shopping

 

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