Saturday August 20, 2016 - Vintages Release Report

12 Aug 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 … Must Try Wines (MTW) and German Signatures (GS)
The Skinny … There are some really good Must Tries that you’ll want to put your hands on, but the German focus is a disaster, from personal experience I can tell you there are so many good German wines and here they show only one that is just okay. There’s some delightful French wines that really are value for the money and a South African sparkling that makes you thing of the real thing.

Argentina …
Pascual Toso 2013 Reserve Malbec ($19.95 - #183897) – smoky black currant, blackberry, vanilla, cinnamon and brambly-spicy finish.  (****)

Australia …
Barossa Valley Estate 2013 Shiraz ($22.95 - #402701) – rich and flavourful with dark berries and herbal character and a toasty warmth on the finish.  (*** ½+)
Dutschke Jackson 2012 Cabernet / Shiraz ($27.95 - #447037) – licorice, cherry, clove, cedar, tobacco and blackberry; there’s a nice spicy character.  (*** ½+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Cave Spring 2013 Indian Summer Select Late Harvest Riesling ($24.95 - #415901) - *** ½+
Coyote’s Run 2014 Rare Vintage Late Harvest Pinot Gris ($24.95 - #468009) - *** ½+
Norman Hardie 2014 County Unfiltered Pinot Noir ($45.20 - #125310) - *** ½+
Tawse 2014 Sketches of Niagara Riesling ($18.20 - #89029) - *** ½+

Chile …
Casas del Toqui 2012 Terroir Selection Gran Reserva Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #443499) – there’s a minty tone to this Pinot Noir, it’s odd for Pinot but very Chilean.  (*** ½)

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Pey du Pont 2010 ($23.95 - #416719) – delicate, smoky, black fruit, toasty and earthy.  (*** ½)
L’Expression de Margaux 2010 ($33.95 - #431734) – smoky and toasty, mocha-coffee, burnt cherry and cassis; needs some time.  (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Andre Goichot 2014 Les Guignottes Montagny ($26.95 - #455139) – stone fruit, apple skin, vanilla and a light toasty note gives the wine some edge.  (*** ½+)
Jean Collet & Fils 2014 Montee de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru ($37.95 - #405720) – lime meringue, mineral, stony and crunchy green apple.  (****)
France (Loire) …
Les Charmelles 2014 Sancerre ($27.95 - #448571) – pure and simple with nice grapefruit and grassy notes.  (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Chateau La Bastide 2011 Optimee Corbieres ($19.95 - #448662) – mocha, vanilla and black fruit.  (****+)
France (Rhone) …
Delas Saint-Esprit 2015 Cotes-du-Rhone Rosé ($16.95 - #224964) – rosé with a kick of spice amongst the red berries.  (*** ½+)
Domaine Roche-Audran 2012 Cesar Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages ($24.95 - #452243) – lovely aromas and flavours with licorice, black cherry, raspberry and vanilla; a sheer delight that’s sultry and delicious.  (**** ½)
Famille Perrin 2015 Reserve Rosé ($15.95 - #719062) – dry with raspberry and lime and a touch of apricot.  (*** ½)
France (Southwest) …
Chateau Vincenns 2013 Origine Cahors ($19.95 - #343400) – herbal, licorice, blackberry and smoke.  (*** ½+) – MTW

Germany …
Konigschaffhauser 2014 Steingruble Pinot Noir ($17.95 - #460410) – delicate cran-cherry, pomegranate and raspberry.  (*** ½) – GS
Schloss Schonborn 2011 Riesling ($16.95 - #653535) – fruit driven with a mineral / talc backing.  (*** ½) – GS

Italy (Marche) …
Velenosi 2013 Brecciarolo Rosso Piceno Superiore ($13.95 - #732560) – pure pleasure with blueberry, mocha-cherry, hints of tobacco and plum; nicely layered and great value.  (****)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Balbi Soprani Brachetto D’Acqui ($15.95 - #298570) – nice raspberry-strawberry sweetness with some bubbles; chill and enjoy.  (*** ½) – MTW
Italy (Puglia) …
Leone de Castris 2014 Maiana Salice Salentino ($14.95 - #717959) – red and black cherry with herbal and rose petal; a little flowery but fun.  (*** ½) – MTW
Italy (Tuscany) …
Castello Collemassari Rigoleto 2013 Montecucco Rosso ($17.95 - #455501) – coffee, mocha, smoky and licorice.  (*** ½)
Salcheto 2012 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($33.95 - #685180) – juicy, smoky, cherry and floral.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Thornbury 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #734798) – delicate with citrus and sweetness of fruit.  (***)
Waimea 2014 Pinot Noir ($22.95 - #447508) – fruit concentrated with hints of coffee, dark plum, black cherry and violets.  (*** ½+)

Portugal…
Jose Maria da Fonseca 2012 Domini ($13.95 - #452730) – there’s a mineral note here along with cassis and other dark fruits, plus a slightly spice and juicy note.  (****) – MTW
Quinta Nova de Nossa 2011 Senhora do Carmo Colheita Tinto ($19.95 - #452748) – full of red and black fruit flavour plus a spicy quality that makes this a well-rounded wine.  (****)

South Africa …
Graham Beck 2011 Premier Cuvee Brut Blanc de Blancs ($23.95 - #907568) – this might surprise you as to how crisp, toasty and yeast it is with touches of lemon and lime; you might just be able to fool people into believing it’s the REAL stuff from you-know-where – a real winner for the price.  (****+) – MTW
Man Family 2014 Skaapveld Shiraz ($13.95 - #71332) – no truck tires here, a little smoke with some meatiness, pepperiness and spicy characteristics; fruit of cassis, blueberry and boysenberry.  (*** ½+)
Spier 2015 Vintage Selection Chenin Blanc ($16.95 - #455618) – pineapple rind, peach, lanolin and citrus pith.  (*** ½+) – MTW

Spain …
Alceno 2012 Premium 50 Barricas Syrah ($14.95 - #398933) – plush mouthfeel, silky, minty, meaty, and black cherry.  (*** ½+) – MTW
Alidis 2011 Tinto 6 Messes en Barrica ($15.95 - #461335) – black and blue berry with mulberry, smoke and vanilla.  (*** ½+)
Ontanon 2005 Gran Reserva ($39.95 - #939736) – smoky, mocha, dried cherry and vanilla.  (*** ½+)
Val de Vid 2015 Verdejo ($14.95 - #452086) – peach pit, lime zest and grapefruit pith.  (*** ½)

United States (California) …
Ca’Momi 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.95 - #315002) – cherry, plum, and some vanilla / chocolate plus there’s a little earthiness that grounds this wine.  (*** ½+)
Diamond Ridge 2014 Chardonnay ($22.95 - #458794) – pineapple and apple puree along with hints of lemon candy and a creamy mouthfeel; good value for a Cali-Chard.  (****)
La Crema 2014 Chardonnay ($29.95 - #962886) – creamy vanilla, touch of apple, pear and a nice delicacy on the palate.  (*** ½+)
La Merika 2014 Pinot Grigio ($18.95 - #458828) – there’s a slight sweetness here that contains lemon and apple notes; nice little patio sipper.  (***)
Ravenswood 2014 Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel ($21.95 - #942599) – typically Ravenswood, typically delicious Zin with all the hallmarks of the grape.  (****+)
Sivas-Sonoma 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel ($24.95 - #291096) – really plummy with sweet cherry, a touch of spice and some vanilla cola on the finish.  (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Buried Cane 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #402081) – seductive with plum, cassis, vanilla, coffee/mocha with chocolate and cherry on the finish.  (****) – MTW
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Syrah ($21.95 - #949651) – inky colour with peppery, meaty, and sweet spice; very flavourful.  (*** ½+) – MTW

________________________________________

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Caparzo 2010 La Casa Brunello di Montalcino ($73.95 - #20750) – Tuscany … ****
Goldeneye 2012 Pinot Noir ($69.95 - #659854) – California … *** ½+
Domaine Drouhin 2013 Pinot Noir ($52.95 - #961284) – Oregon … ****

What I’ll Be Lining Up For (August 20, 2016) …
Buried Cane 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #402081) – Washington
Chateau La Bastide 2011 Optimee Corbieres ($19.95 - #448662) – France
Diamond Ridge 2014 Chardonnay ($22.95 - #458794) – California
Domaine Roche-Audran 2012 Cesar Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages ($24.95 - #452243) – France
Graham Beck 2011 Premier Cuvee Brut Blanc de Blancs ($23.95 - #907568) – South Africa
Velenosi 2013 Brecciarolo Rosso Piceno Superiore ($13.95 - #732560) – Italy

Happy Shopping

 

 

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