Saturday July 23, 2016 - Vintages Release Report

18 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 … Spanish Lesson (SL) & Summer Savvy (SUM)
The Skinny … Vintages is looking at six lesser-known Spanish regions with pretty good results and then we have the Summer Savvy, which is just a cute way for them to highlight Sauvignon Blanc.  There are some other nice wines in this release including a reasonably priced Chardonnay from California, a delightful Shiraz from Australia and something from Rousillon (France) that’ll have you grabbing for the BBQ tongs.

Argentina …
Domaine Bousquet 2012 Reserve Malbec ($18.95 - #055244) – on the minty side with savoury, silky dark fruit and gentle peppery; nice juiciness.  (****)
Zuccardi 2014 Serie A Malbec ($16.95 - #167619) – mocha laden dark fruit, simple yet tasty.  (*** ½)

Australia …
D’Arenberg 2013 D’Arry’s Original Shiraz/Grenache ($19.95 - #942904) – dark and plush with plum, black cherry, raspberry and spice.  (****)
Mojo 2013 Shiraz ($18.95 - #327767) – soft and plummy yet with powerful coffee, black cherry, white pepper, and spice mid-palate before coming back to soft with a creamy cassis finish.  (****+)
Wakefield 2015 Merlot ($18.95 - #683201) – juicy black cherry and eucalyptus with a hint of chocolate and vanilla.  (*** ½+)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Quail’s Gate 2014 Gewurztraminer ($17.95 - #354480) – subtle floral apple, lychee, this one is not over the top, but it hits the right notes.  (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
13th Street 2012 Cabernet/Merlot ($19.95 - #056598) - *** ½+
16 Mile Cellar 2011 Rebel Pinot Noir ($22.95 - #461731) - ****
Chateau des Charmes 2012 St. David’s Bench Cabernet Franc ($27.95 - #453415) - *** ½
Pondview 2015 Cabernet Franc Rosé ($14.95 - #241802) - *** ½

Chile …
Boya 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($15.95 - #389726) – citrusy with plenty of grapefruit and tangerine notes, culminates in a pith-like finish.  (*** ½) – SUM
Santa Carolina 2012 Gran Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95 - #461202) – black cherry, vanilla-smoke, hint of mint, touch of cedar with a spice driven finish.  (*** ½+)
Santa Rita 2012 Medalla Real Syrah ($17.95 - #443523) – minty and meaty with spicy blueberries and raspberries at its core and all with a long finish.  (***1/2+)

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Blaignan 2010 ($25.95 - #416727) – decent and smooth with mocha, cedar and spice.  (*** ½)
France (Burgundy) …
Bachelder 2013 Hautes Cotes de Beaune ($27.95 - #445247) – nice depth of flavour with spice, blackberry, red currants and balancing acidity.  (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Roger & Didier Raimbault 2014 Sancerre ($26.95 - #082255) – gentle citrus, grapefruit pith, grassy notes with decent minerality.  (*** ½) – SUM
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Autrand 2014 Cote du Rhone ($13.95 - #380675) – red fruit and gentle spice.  (*** ½)
M. Chapoutier 2014 Belleruche Cote du Rhone ($16.95 - #328831) – subtle, soft, silky with blackberry, plum and white pepper.  (*** ½+)
France (Rousillon) …
Domaine Lafage 2014 Vieilles Vignes Nicolas Grenache Noir ($18.95 - #354191) – gorgeous dark fruit, licorice, chocolate, black cherry, violets, and spice; this one is a layered beauty of a wine.  (****+)

Greece …
Kir-Yianni 2012 Kitma Yianakohori Hills ($19.95 - #419234) – cedary and smoky with cassis and other black fruits. (***)

Italy (Tuscany) …
Querciabella 2013 Chianti Classico ($37.95 - #728816) – herbal and savoury with cassis, violets and spice.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Kim Crawford 2015 Small Parcels Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc ($24.95 - #038240) – passionfruit, grapefruit, lime, herbal all balanced together.  (*** ½+)
Stoneleigh 2015 Latitude Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #324228) – gentle tropical notes with elements of passionfruit and gentle acidity with a floral component.  (*** ½+) – SUM
Villa Maria 2015 Cellar Selection Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #447490) – not too sweet, well balanced with pear and melon rind.  (*** ½+)

Spain …
Castillo de Almansa 2010 Old Vines Seleccion ($16.95 - #586719) – mocha, floral, blackberry with gentle spice, lavender and smoky bits.  (*** ½+) – SL
Abad Dom Bueno 2008 Mencia ($15.95 - #291989) – good blue and black berries with some spice and vanilla on the finish.  (*** ½) – SL
Merayo 2014 Las Tres Filas ($19.95 - #462788) – floral notes lead to black fruit which then changes to cherry and chocolate.  (*** ½+) – SL
Monasterio de las Vinas 2007 Gran Reserva ($17.95 - #082024) – well-aged but still fresh with lovely strawberry, cherry, plum and  wood-smoke.  (*** ½+) – SL
Menguante 2012 Seleccion Garacha ($16.95 - #313833) – raspberry and spice with floral, licorice and smoky-tannins.  (****) – SL
Finca Constancia 2013 Seleccion ($16.95 - #376384) – a five grape blend  that delivers vanilla, black cherry, generous fruit on the palate and a balanced spicy finish.  (****) – SL
Alejandro Fernandez 2008 Dehesa La Granja ($19.95 - #192476) – blackberry, chocolate, blend cherry, vanilla and mint. (*** ½+) – SL
Entresuelos 2013 Tempranillo ($16.95 - #462440) – a flashy label and a flashy wine inside: ripe cherry, licorice, cola, and vanilla; full flavoured with good acidity and spice.  (****) – SL

United States (California) …
Beringer 2014 Merlot ($39.95 - #919647) – what Cali-Merlot should be: rich, generous of fruit with blueberry, black cherry and hint of wood.  (****)
Castle Rock 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #456707) – fresh fruit driven with earthy notes backing: strawberry, black cherry and gentle woodsy-ness.  (*** ½+)
Cigar Zin 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel ($21.95 - #269340) – lots of vanilla and raspberry with a surprisingly lean middle, but it’s that rich raspberry core that’ll get you.  (*** ½+)
Fisticuffs 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #457507) – juicy and flavourful with dark fruit and spice.  (*** ½+)
Francis Ford Coppola 2013 Director’s Cut Zinfandel ($38.95 - #203208) – better than some not as good as others but pleasant with a juicy core of red and black fruit, tad over-priced.  (*** ½)
Ryder Estate 2014 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #458638) – melon, tangerine, peach with some gentle butter and vanilla on the mid-palate; great value for a Cali-Chard.  (****)
St. Francis 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #671164) – layers of dark fruit a la cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cassis and chocolate with a spicy finish and long linger.  (****+)
United States (Washington) …
Watchdog Rock 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #461178) – cassis mocha and typical Washington notes of baked spice and vanilla; an easy drinking Cab that’s just plain delicious.  (****)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  special wines that appear only at the "Flagship" stores …
Creation 2014 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #455279) – South Africa … *** ½
Domaines Ott 2015 Chateau de Selle Coeur de Grain Rosé ($46.95 - #074617) – France … *** ½
Emmolo 2013 Merlot ($69.95 - #096024) – California … **** ½
Fess Parker 2013 Ashley’s Pinot Noir ($61.95 - #456749) – California … *** ½+
Flowers 2014 Chardonnay ($68.95 - #215210) – California … *** ½
Two Hands 2013 Samantha’s Garden Shiraz ($71.95 - #067355) – Australia … (*** ½+)

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Yacochuya 2006 ($57.95 - #035964) – Argentina … *** ½+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For:  July 23, 2016 …
Domaine Lafage 2014 Vieilles Vignes Nicolas Grenache Noir ($18.95 - #354191) – France
Entresuelos 2013 Tempranillo ($16.95 - #462440) – Spain
Menguante 2012 Seleccion Garacha ($16.95 - #313833) – Spain
Mojo 2013 Shiraz ($18.95 - #327767) – Australia
Ryder Estate 2014 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #458638) – California

Happy Shopping

 

 

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