Saturday October 29, 2016 - Vintages Release Report
25 Oct 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 … Affordable Bordeaux (AB) & Art of the Blend (AOB)
The Skinny … An underwhelming batch of Bordeaux lead things off this release and I can’t say the “Art of the Blend” suff is much better, but there are some really good Spanish and Rhone Valley wines plus (and this is odd for me) a couple of delicious Chardonnays for under $20, and really worth the money.
Argentina …
Crios 2015 Malbec ($14.95 - #162529) – simple yet effective Malbec with strawberry, spice and anise. (*** ½)
HJ Fabre 2014 Barrel Selection Malbec ($18.95 - #455741) – mocha and blue fruit with layers of vanilla and tea leaves. (*** ½+)
Trapiche 2011 Terroir Series Orellana de Escobar Single Vineyard Malbec ($39.95 - #178145) – mocha, blackberry, violet, herbal and spice; it’s a well-layered and pretty wine. (****+)
Australia …
Torbreck 2014 Woodcutter’s Shiraz ($28.95 - #927533) – pure Barossa with that jumpy up-front fruit and spicy character, plenty of pepper leading the way with raspberry and cigar-box finish. (****+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Dirty Laundry 2013 Naughty Chardonnay ($24.95 - #467605) – floral and decent acidity, peach blossom and sweet apple. (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Cave Spring 2014 Riesling Icewine ($49.95 / 375ml - #447441) - ****+
Cave Spring 2013 Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #391995) - *** ½+
Creekside 2013 Iconoclast Syrah ($22.95 - #471797) - ****
Feartherstone 2015 Black Sheep Riesling ($16.95 - #80234) - ****+
Flat Rock 2013 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #286278) - *** ½
Henry of Pelham 2013 Cabernet Icewine ($39.95 / 200ml - #672402) - ****
Queylus 2012 Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #392886) - ****
Rosewood 2013 Lock, Stock and Barrel ($34.95 - #471789) - ****
Chile …
Vina Tarapaca 2013 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #18721) – minty-black cherry, white pepper, hint of smoke and dark fruit. (****+)
Croatia …
Cuvee Benkovac 2011 ($16.95 – 359901) – dark fruit touched by white pepper and red licorice. (*** ½)
France (Alsace) …
Andre Blanck & Fils 2015 Altenburg Gewurztraminer ($19.95 - #168906) – rosy-floral sweetness, thrills gum and lychee. (*** ½+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Fontaine de Genin 2014 ($14.95 - #349910) – black cherry, cassis and coffee. (*** ½)
Chateau Herve-Laroque 2010 ($26.95 - #446393) – heavy mocha / coffee, plum, blackberry and cherry. (*** ½+) … AB
Chateau Siaurac 2010 ($43.95 - #309831) – licorice and all-spice with red berries leading the charge, there’s also some cinnamon backing on the black fruit and spicy finish. (****) … AB
Chateau Teyssier 2012 ($24.95 - #226035) – woodsy and earthy yet still with a myriad of dark berry fruit and wood smoke. (*** ½) … AB
France (Burgundy) …
Mallory & Benjamin Talmard 2015 Macon-Uchizy ($17.95 - #733956) – gentle creamy texture, touch of mineral, apple, pear and other white fruit notes; very well balanced. (****)
France (Loire) …
Jean-Max Roger 2015 Cuvee Les Caillottes Sancerre ($26.95 - #65573) – lemon peel, hay and lime. (*** ½)
France (Midi) …
Chateau Saint-Roch Chimeres 2014 ($19.95 - #119354) – red berries, violets, plum and cherry; red fruit dominant with licorice undertones. (****)
M. Chapoutier 2014 Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Cotes du Rousillon-Villages ($15.95 - #168716) – herbal tones centered around red berries, white pepper and a floral finish. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau de Nages 2013 Vieilles Vignes Costieres de Nimes ($19.95 - #40964) – supple red and black fruit with vanilla, cherry, plum, licorice and earthy notes. (****)
La Ferme du Mont 2014 Premiere Cote Cotes du Rhone ($17.95 - #251645) – red and black fruit mix with mocha cream, black cherry and white pepper; this is one for every day consumption. (****+)
Greece …
Kir-Yanni Estate 2015 White ($17.95 - #464511) – refreshing and clean with lemon drop, melon rind and mineral. (*** ½)
Italy (Alto Adige) …
Ferrari Brut ($24.95 - #352153) – crisp with lemon/ lime pith and zest, minerality and a pretty floral note. (*** ½+)
Italy (Campania) …
Lapilli 2014 Beneventano Aglianico ($17.95 - #472696) – plum, black cherry, vanilla with a touch of mocha. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Masseria 2014 Surani Heracles Primitivo ($18.95 - #434274) – dark plum, black cherry and sweet licorice. (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Valpantena 2014 Torre del Falasco Ripasso Valpolicella ($17.95 - #642421) – tobacco, black cherry and white smoke. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Spy Valley 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #686675) – grapefruit and stone fruit, peach and nectarine with a touch of stony-minerality and balancing acidity. (*** ½+)
Stoneleigh 2015 Latitude Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #324228) – passion fruit, floral and herbal; softer than expected with grapefruit zest on the finish. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Nortico 2015 Alvarinho ($13.95 - #471300) – nice grapefruit, lemon zest and a bitter finish. (*** ½)
South Africa …
Rustenberg 2013 Stellenbosch Shiraz ($19.95 - #399246) – gone is the tar and in its place is fruit, dark fruit, and yummy spice. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Bodegas Olarra 2010 Anares Reserva ($19.95 - #244723) – tea leaves and tobacco aromas with cassis and mocha backing on the palate. (*** ½)
Borsao 2012 Berola ($18.95 - #371518) – still a charmer with plum, chocolate, vanilla and floral. (*** ½+)
El Guardian 2010 Reserva ($15.95 - #461301) – sweet dried cherry, chocolate and woodsy character. (*** ½)
Tarima Hill 2012 Monastrell ($22.95 - #310169) – nice texture and a nice fruit / spice mix: black cherry, mineral, raspberry-mocha and a smooth, supple finish. (****)
Vicente Gandia 2013 El Miracle By Mariscal Garnacha ($14.95 - #461418) – lots of cherry on the front and the back ends. (*** ½)
United States (California) …
Ca’Momi 2014 Merlot ($23.95 - #470187) – sweet oak, vanilla, and lush red fruit; a real charming sippable Merlot. (*** ½+)
District 7 2013 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #458844) – well-balanced with nice mineral / stony notes, peach and apple, quite the sipper. (****)
The Prisoner 2014 ($49.95 - #104299) – dark and spicy, smoky and plummy with blueberry, cherry and chocolate. (****+) … AOB
Toasted Head 2014 Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #686824) – nice for the price; shows its toasty side with plenty of blackberry and cassis. (*** ½)
United States (Oregon) …
Wine By Joe 2015 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #462978) – simple yet tasty; it’s Chardonnay at its basic best. (*** ½)
United States (Washington) …
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2014 Chardonnay ($20.95 - #232439) – buttery and vanilla but with nice peach cocktail, apple, mineral and balancing acidity. (****)
Substance 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.95 - #419770) – Substance strikes again: supple and serious Cab from Washington with a touch of coffee and floral on the finish. (*** ½+)
Uruguay …
Bodegas Carrau 2013 Reserva Tannat ($15.95 - #457598) – softer and suppler than expected it’s good value and quite tasty. (*** ½)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Zuccardi 2012 Zeta ($39.95 - #163725) – Argentina … *** ½+
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Bootleg 2012 Red ($59.95 - #462820) – California … *** ½+
Chateau Dufort-Vivens 2010 ($54.95 - #466540) – Bordeaux … *** ½+ (AB)
Moet & Chandon 2008 Grand Vintage Brut Champagne ($89.95 - #69773) – France … ****+ (AOB)
Quintarelli 2008 Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($104.95 - #986117) – Veneto … ****+
Solaia 2012 ($254.95 - #987586) – Tuscany … ****+
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2013 Oreno ($79.95 - #735597) – Tuscany … ****+
Two Hands 2014 Lily’s Garden Shiraz ($57.95 - #683086) – Australia … ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For (October 29, 2016) …
District 7 2013 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #458844) – California
La Ferme du Mont 2014 Premiere Cote Cotes du Rhone ($17.95 - #251645) – Rhone
Mallory & Benjamin Talmard 2015 Macon-Uchizy ($17.95 - #733956) – Burgundy
Vina Tarapaca 2013 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #18721) – Chile
Happy Shopping
