Saturday July 9, 2016 - Vintages Release Report

03 Jul 2016

 

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 … Smart Summer Pantry (SSP) and Cool Climate Chardonnay (CCC)
The Skinny … This is the LCBO’s summertime answer to their Best Buy release in January – you’ll find plenty of value wines for your outdoor get togethers and BBQs. Plus some interesting stuff from Italy and France.

Argentina …
Famiglia Bianchi 2014 Malbec ($17.95 - #677559) – plum, black cherry, cassis and other currants.  (*** ½+)
Kaiken 2014 Terroir Series Cote Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.95 - #384305) – deep dark fruit: blackberry, cassis, black cherry, smoky vanilla; a real solid wine at a good price.  (****)
Susana Balbo 2013 Signature Malbec ($19.95 - #079798) – mocha, cinnamon, vanilla, black cherry; flavourful and robust.  (*** ½+)

Australia …
Claymore 2013 Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz ($27.95 - #072652) – very chocolatey with black cherry, plum and spice.  (*** ½+)
Mountadam 2009 The Red ($39.95 - #931105) – complex and layered: dark and red plum, cherry, toasty, mocha and mineral with a spicy finish; quite elegant.  (****+)
Stalking Horse 2012 Shiraz ($19.95 - #251215) – rich, bold vanilla, cherry and subtle spice, there’s even a touch of bacon here.  (*** ½+)
Thorn-Clarke 2013 Shotfire Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz ($21.95 - #296582) – nice mocha, choco-cherry and pepper.  (*** ½+)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Tinhorn Creek 2014 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #378489) – drinkable with decent fruit, a pleasure for Chard lovers and light oak.  (*** ½+) … CCC
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2015 Rosé ($15.95 - #117861) - ****
Flat Rock 2013 The Rusty Shed Chardonnay ($24.95 - #001552) - *** ½ … CCC
Flat Rock 2015 Pink Twisted Rose ($16.95 - #039974) - *** ½+
Jackson-Triggs 2012 Grand Reserve Meritage ($24.95 - #594002) - ****+
Tawse 2014 Gamay Noir ($19.20 - #322545) - ****+ … SSP
Viewpointe Estate 2010 Fine Pointe Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #443812) - *** … SSP

Chile …
Santa Carolina 2013 Gran Reserva Petit Verdot ($15.95 - #007484) – blueberry and spice; it’s a fun wine to pour and taste.  (*** ½)
Undurraga 2013 Sibaris Gran Reserve Syrah ($16.95 - #443556) – minty, meaty, smoky, cherry and peppery.  (****)

France (Beaujolais) …
Andre Goichot 2014 Beaujolais-Villages ($16.95 - #445353) – fresh, fruity and easy with strawberry and cherry at its core.  (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Domaine de la Chaise 2014 Touraine Sauvignon ($14.95 - #452540) – grapefruit cocktail with a touch of sweet lemon grass.  (*** ½) … SSP
Hubert Brochard 2014 Les Carisannes Pinot Noir ($17.95 - #450502) – light and sophisticated with a gentle cranberry flavour.  (*** ½)
France (Midi) …
M. Chapoutier 2014 Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Cotes du Rousillon-Villages ($14.95 - #168716) - nice dark fruit, black licorice, vanilla and smoke.  (****) … SSP
France (Rhone) …
Xavier 2011 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($39.95 - #244814) – well-priced and well executed blackberry, vanilla, coffee, plum, black cherry, and smoky.  (****)
Xavier 2012 Cotes du Rhone ($17.95 - #297317) – layered with sweet blackberry, cherry, plum, savoury and smoke.  (****)
France (Southwest) …
Tessellae 2014 Vieilles Vignes Carignan ($17.95 - #343509) – plum, black cherry, garrigue, savoury and supple.  (*** ½+)
Tessellae 2015 Rose ($15.95 - #450817) – fresh raspberry, nectarine and peach.  (*** ½)

Italy (Piedmont) …
Fontanafredda 2014 Treiso Dolcetto D’Alba ($16.95 - #258483) – light red fruit core that’s a chillable / drinkable pleasure; think of it as Gamay Italian-style.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Sicily) …
Baglio di Pianetto 2013 Nero D’Avola ($14.95 - #207423) – sweet black cherry, licorice, vanilla, plum, smoke and mocha on the finish.  (****)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Fattoria Le Calvane Quercione 2014 Chianti Colli Fiorentini ($13.95 - #454934) – simple and easy drinking Chianti.  (*** ½) … SSP
Felsina 2013 Berardenga Chianti Colli Senesi ($24.95 - #454520) – savoury and smoky with earthy-black and red cherry on the finish.  (*** ½+)
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2013 Crognolo ($29.95 - #727636) – coffee bean, black cherry and wood smoke.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Luciano Arduini 2011 Amarone di Valpolicella Classico ($48.95 - #438507) – mocha, cherry, plum, cola, spice; finish is roasted cherry and earthy tannins.  (****)
Pieropan 2013 La Rocca Soave Classico ($37.95 - #092437) – fresh and zesty with mineral, pea pod, apricot, and yellow plum.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Mount Riley 2015 Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #447425) – interesting atypical grapefruit zest with muted tropical and a long peach pit finish.  (*** ½)
Opawa 2015 Pinot Gris ($17.95 – 408625) – very pleasant and easy drinking with peach and apricot notes.  (*** ½)
Spinyback 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #694737) – green grass, gooseberry with herbal and grapefruit zest.  (*** ½+)
Toi Toi 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #454785) – sweaty-ish with lemon/grapefruit pith with a mid-length finish.  (*** ½) … SSP

Portugal …
Quinta do Enconto 2013 Preto Branco Reserva Red ($18.95 - #452755) – smoky blackberry, black cherry, plum and black tea to the finish.  (*** ½+)
Sa de Baixo 2014 Tinto ($14.95 - #452763) – simple, approachable black fruit.  (*** ½+)

Spain …
Cune 2012 Rioja Crianza ($16.95 - #039925) – vanilla, red berries, herbal, plum, cocoa and oak. (*** ½+)
Olarra Laztana 2010 Reserva ($19.95 - #433649) – cigar smoke, dried vanilla, cherry and herbal.  (*** ½+)

United States (California) …
Artesa 2013 Chardonnay ($29.95 - #657585) – vanilla, lemon, apple and oak.  (*** ½) … CCC
Murphy-Goode 2013 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #451369) – juicy, joyful Cali-Pinot that has an easy drinking style.  (*** ½) – SSP
Peirano Estate 2013 The Heritage Collection Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #461491) – fruity, smooth, supple, simple and tasty with a touch of mocha-latte on the finish.  (*** ½+)
Sivas-Sonoma 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #451377) – simple plum, black cherry, raspberry and cocoa.  (*** ½+) … SSP
United States (Oregon) …
Chehalem 2014 Inox Unoaked Chardonnay ($29.95 - #288647) – nice fresh tropical fruit with good acidity with a zesty finish.  (*** ½+) … CCC
Kings Ridge 2014 Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #237776) – plum, cherry, licorice, gentle spice and a sweet smoky finish.  (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Lone Birch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($20.95 - #446971) – gentle vanilla, cherry, smoky, coffee, olive and blueberry.  (*** ½+)

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Miguel Torres 2013 Purgatori ($39.95 - #452102) – Spain … ****+
Mount Edward 2013 Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #452227) – New Zealand … ****
Tablas Creek 2013 Cotes de Tablas Blanc ($33.95 - #36616) – California … *** ½+
Tablas Creek 2012 Esprit de Tablas ($65.95 - #735654) – California … ****

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
La Gerla 2010 Brunello di Montalcino ($63.95 - #642561) – Italy … *** ½+
Rodney Strong 2012 Symmetry ($70.95 - #641142) – California … *** ½+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For:  July 9, 2016 …
Baglio di Pianetto 2013 Nero D’Avola ($14.95 - #207423) – Italy
M. Chapoutier 2014 Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Cotes du Rousillon-Villages ($14.95 - #168716) - France

Happy Shopping

 

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