Saturday September 3, 2016 - Vintages Release Report
30 Aug 2016- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
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 … Chile Simplified (CS) and Best Burgundian Bets (BBB)
The Skinny … There truly are some lovely Chilean wines in this release but the Burgundy wines are a real let down; there is also some delicious wines from Spain and a hell of a deal from France (see: Midi).
Argentina …
Durigutti 2012 Blend ($19.95 - #450171) – smooth and creamy with dark fruit; simple but tasty. (*** ½)
Serbal 2014 Malbec ($16.95 - #444737) – juicy with blackberry and spiced plum. (*** ½+)
Australia …
The Lackey 2015 Shiraz ($17.95 - #005199) – a gentle entry level Shiraz will all the hallmarks you’d expect. (*** ½)
Wits End 2014 Luna Shiraz ($17.00 - #311258) – peppery, smoky bacon and black pepper. (*** ½+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Quails’ Gate 2014 Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #585760) – a nice earthy seam amongst the brambly/black fruit and red pepper. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Cave Spring 2013 Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer ($17.95 - #302059) - ****
Chateau des Charmes 2014 St David’s Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit ($17.95 - #346742) - ****
Featherstone 2015 Rosé ($15.95 - #117861) - ****
Fielding Estate 2013 Cabernet Franc ($21.95 - #036194) - *** ½
Inniskillin 2013 Montague Vineyard Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #997353) - ****
Peller Estates NV Ice Cuvee Rosé ($35.95 - #113035) - *** ½
Sunnybrook 2014 Spiced Apple Wine ($19.95 - #374793) - *** ½+
Tawse 2015 Sketches of Niagara Rosé ($17.15 - #172643) - *** ½
Tawse 2014 Spark Limestone Ridge Sparkling Riesling ($20.20 - #370361) - ****+
Chile …
Errazuriz 2015 Aconcagua Costa Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #462614) – grassy, citrus zest, green apple and nice acidity. (*** ½+) – CS
Signos de Origen 2015 La Vinilla Chardonnay/Viognier/Marsanne/Rousanne ($19.95 - #063909) – fun and flavourful but it’ll take you a few sips to get into it: a little spice with pineapple, pear, apple, peach and biting acidity. (****) – CS
Casa Silva 2013 Cool Coast Pinot Noir ($16.95 - #464420) – raspberry, beet root, strawberry; more fruit than earthy with a white pepper finish. (****) – CS
Arboleda 2013 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #606764) – dark fruit with black and red berries and a touch of white pepper and smoke. (*** ½+) – CS
Montes Alpha 2013 Carmenere ($19.95 - #143230) – roasted peppers and spiced plum. (*** ½+) – CS
Concha y Toro 2013 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #562918) – minty blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry and tobacco. (*** ½+) – CS
Espino 2014 Carmenere ($15.95 - #464412) – dark berry with mineral notes and spice. (*** ½+) – CS
France (Burgundy) …
Louis Bouillot NV Perle D’Ivoire Brut Blanc de Blancs Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #048801) – crisp and lively acidity with citrus and vibrant minerality. (****) – BBB
Louis Max 2014 Cotes de Nuits-Villages ($29.95 - #445312) – nicely spiced with red and black fruit and a long fruit. (****) – BBB
Andre Goichot 2014 Givry Les Servoisines 1er Cru ($33.95 - #466151) – smoky, white pepper, and gentle raspberry fruit. (*** ½+) – BBB
France (Midi) …
Chateau de Segure 2013 Fitou ($16.95 - #370254) – nice smooth entry, well-layered with blackberry, cassis, mocha, cherry and black pepper; good value. (****+)
Tessellae 2014 Old Vines Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre Cotes du Rousillon ($18.95 - #343517) – mocha, raspberry, cherry with good acidity and a silky mouthfeel. (****)
France (Provence) …
Mimi en Provence 2015 Grande Reserve Rosé ($18.95 - #452573) – light citrus/lime with some apple skin to the finish. (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
E. Guigal 2012 Saint Joseph ($36.95 - #030031) – lots of pepper and spice along with black fruit and earthiness. (****)
Mas des Bressades 2013 Cuvee Excellence ($20.95 - #708750) – smoky mid-palate with cassis, raspberry, mocha and spice. (*** ½+)
Italy (Abruzzo) …
Illuminati 2010 Zanna Riserva Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Colline Teramane ($38.95 - #023242) – smoky, mocha, cassis and black licorice. (*** ½+)
Italy (Alto Adige) …
Peter Zemmer 2014 Pinot Grigio ($16.95 - #095802) – white fruit, pleasant, crisp with green apple notes. (*** ½+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Azelia 2011 Barolo ($48.95 - #291963) – spicy, woody and with plenty of dried fruit. (*** ½+)
Beni di Batasiolo 2015 Granee Gavi del Comune di Gavi ($17.95 - #075168) – citrus, mineral and good acidity. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Borgo Scopeto 2013 Borgonero ($19.95 - #421396) – this is good value in a well-made , easy-drinking Tuscan-blend with good structure and dark berries. (****)
Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi 2013 Campo Al Sassi Rosso di Montalcino ($21.95 - #429415) – red licorice, herbal and sweet cranberry. (*** ½+)
Vicchiomaggio 2012 Agostino Petri Riserva Chianti Classico ($27.95 - #993360) – red fruit and violets with a touch of leather, earthy, smoky and nice grit on the finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Masi 2012 Brolo Campofiorin ($26.95 - #976092) – mocha, plum, and spiced cherry; rich and flavourful. (****+)
New Zealand …
Akarua 2015 Rua Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #295592) – well-balanced, sweet fruited with toasty oak, good balancing acidity and a smoky cranberry finish. (****)
Auntsfield 2013 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir ($31.95 - #361246) – dark fruit, smoky / grainy mid-palate and big tannins. (****)
Nobilo 2015 Icon Sauvignon Blanc ($24.95 - #912337) – grapefruit cocktail with floral and hint of hay. (*** ½)
Portugal …
Vadio 2012 Tinto ($22.95 - #463257) – gentle vanilla, black cherry and white pepper. (*** ½)
South Africa …
Rustenberg 2014 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #443374) – really smoky with fresh black pepper and mocha-licorice notes with hints of cassis. (*** ½)
Spain …
Clos Gebrat 2014 CG+ ($19.95 - #360511) – rich vanilla, mocha-cherry, chocolate and dark fruit. (****)
Convento San Francisco 2010 ($20.95 - #206409) – sweet fruited, mocha, vanilla, black cherry, with a smoky intensity on the finish. (****+)
Descendientes de J. Palacios 2013 Petalos ($24.95 - #446484) – raspberry and licorice mingle with smoke and white pepper; gentle yet flavourful. (****+)
Montgo 2012 Monastrell ($13.95 - #452136) – plum and raspberry with toasty notes and mocha undertones. (*** ½+)
Orben 2011 ($39.95 - #191379) – richer style of Rioja than you might be familiar with: vanilla, cassis, blackberry and plum with some spicy-tannins on the finish. (****)
Oro de Castilla 2015 Verdejo ($15.95 - #745562) – pleasantly pineapple, floral with apples and pears. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Black Stallion 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.95 - #256768) – coffee-mocha, blackberry, cassis, black cherry and chocolate; well layered and nicely spiced. (****)
Ferrari Carano 2012 Tre Terre Chardonnay ($40.95 - #458752) – butter, spice and vanilla; quite typically Californian and tasty too. (*** ½+)
J. Lohr 2014 Los Osos Merlot ($21.95 - #027516) – still a soft and silky Merlot with a juicy core or blueberry and raspberry. (****)
La Crema 2014 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #367896) – earthy with smoked meat, raspberry, cherry and a sweet fruit center. (*** ½+)
Rodney Strong 2013 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($35.95 - #456723) – lots of coffee, oak, cassis, blackberry, tarry and toasty. (*** ½+)
Rutherford Ranch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.95 - #073817) – soft and silky with plenty of dark fruit. (*** ½)
Stags’ Leap Winery 2013 Petite Sirah ($39.95 - #590356) – blue and black berry, quite floral and feminine; it’s a wine that’ll keep you coming back for another glass. (*** ½+)
Stonestreet 2014 Chardonnay ($49.95 - #991380) – big and blowsy with caramel apple and spice that reigns supreme. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Columbia Crest 2014 H3 Chardonnay ($20.95 - #441998) – soft and supple with pineapple, egg cream and vanilla, finishes with a nice spice. (****)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Jamieson Ranch 2013 Double Lariat Cabernet Sauvignon ($62.95 - #467175) – California (****)
Olivier Leflaive 2014 Bourgogne Chardonnay ($29.95 - #942282) – Burgundy (****)
Schola Sarmenti Cubardi 2012 Primitivo ($24.95 - #316083) – Puglia (*** ½+)
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Antinori 2011 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino ($61.95 - #651141) – Italy … ****+
What I’ll Be Lining Up For (September 3, 2016) …
Clos Gebrat 2014 CG+ ($19.95 - #360511) – Spain
Chateau de Segure 2013 Fitou ($16.95 - #370254) – France
Columbia Crest 2014 H3 Chardonnay ($20.95 - #441998) – Washington
Happy Shopping
