Saturday October 28, 2017 - Vintages Release Report
26 Oct 2017- 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 … Italian Masterpieces (IM); & New World Big Reds (NWR)
The Skinny … Quite the array of good Ontario wine in this release that is supposed to be about Italy, and the New World Reds line up is far from outstanding. If you’re looking for some real eye openers in this release look to South Africa, France, Spain, Portugal and a German Pinot that will knock your socks off.
Argentina …
Vina Cobos 2014 Felino Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #132365) – lovely with vanilla, black currant, blackberry and black cherry; there’s also a freshness in the mouth and silkiness that does bite back on the finish with tannins. (****)
Zolo 2016 Torrentes ($14.95 - #183913) – very Gewurzt-like. (***+)
Australia …
Pirramimma 2014 Petit Verdot ($26.95 - #986752) – blueberry, spice, and black cherry. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Poplar Grove 2016 Pinot Gris ($24.95 - #467555) – peach, spiced pear and delicate sweetness with a long lingering finish. (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
13th Street 2016 Gamay Noir ($19.95 - #177824) - *** ½
2027 Cellars 2013 Queenston Road Vineyard Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #421370) - ****
Featherstone 2012 Joy Premium Cuvee Sparkling ($34.95 - #310334) - *** ½+
Featherstone 2015 Canadian Oak Chardonnay ($21.95 #149302) - ****
Henry of Pelham 2012 Estate Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #268391) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2015 Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir ($24.95 - #461699) - *** ½+
Norman Hardie 2016 Unfiltered Niagara Pinot Noir ($45.00 - #208702) - ****
Rosewood 2014 Lock, Stock and Barrel ($39.95 - #471789) - *** ½
Southbrook 2015 Triomphe Chardonnay ($24.95 - #172338) - ****
Vieni 2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Franc ($22.95 - #499947) - *** ½+ (NWR)
Wildass 2016 Riesling ($16.95 - #129700) - ****
Chile …
Concha y Toro 2014 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.95 - #562918) – rich and robust with coffee, mocha, black raspberry, blackberry, cigar and spice. (****+) – NWR
France (Beaujolais) …
Cuvee Melinand 2015 Chiroubles ($17.95 - #526699) – sour cherry, violets and spice; chill and enjoy. (*** ½)
France (Burgundy) …
Cave de Vire 2015 Grand Reserve Vire-Clesse ($19.95 - #243782) – lemon, melon rind, mineral and a dry finish; but everything is subtle. (****)
Roche de Bellene 2015 Cuvee Reserve Pinot Noir Bourgogne ($21.95 - #299859) – strawberry dominates with black cherry; juicy and smoky. (****)
France (Loire) …
Thierry Delaunay 2016 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc ($15.95 - #391847) – lime and grapefruit both pith and zest with a nice mineral seam. (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Chateau Saint-Roch 2015 Chimeres ($19.95 - #119354) – big on chocolate with herbal and dark fruit; there is a pretty floral finish to this wine as well. (****)
France (Rhone) …
JL Chave Selection 2015 Mon Coeur Cotes-du-Rhone ($21.95 - #995548) – elegant yet ballsy with spiced blackberry, black cherry, mocha, oak and vanilla undertones. (****+)
Germany …
Kilian Hunn 2014 Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #523985) – smoky, earthy and leathery, very Burgundian in style along with spiced cherry, strawberry and vanilla; great value too. (****+)
Loosen Bros. 2016 Dr. L Riesling ($14.95 - #599274) – still great value in a tart, mineral with good balancing sweetness and acidity Riesling. (*** ½+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Prunotto 2016 Barbera D’Alba ($18.95 - #928754) – birght cherry and cranberry notes. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
12 E Mezzo 2015 Primitivo del Salento ($13.95 - #395053) – smoky, mocha cigar box and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Italy (Sicily) …
Feudo Maccari 2014 Saia Nero D’Avola ($34.95 - #128967) – licorice, violets, leather, and smoke; this just has a real elegance to it. (****) – IM
Italy (Tuscany) …
Carpineto 2012 Vino Nobile di Montelpulciano Riserva ($34.95 - #368910) – earthy, sour cherry, cassis, blackberry, with some vanilla-cinnamon and a little graininess to the finish. (****) – IM
Castello di Querceto 2013 Riserva Chianti Classico ($28.95 - #650754) – smoky and spicy with cherry tannins and good acidity. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Masi 2013 Brolo Campofiorin Oro ($26.965 - #976082) – leather, spiced plum, black cherry, plenty of mocha and muscle; this one needs some time to rest though. (*** ½+)
Pieropan 2016 Soave Classico ($19.95 - #946848) – pea pod, citrus and green apple. (*** ½+)
Italy (Venezie) …
Tommasi 2016 Le Rosee Pinot Grigio ($15.95 - #910497) – lively and crisp with good acidity, green apple and other orchard fruit. (*** ½)
Mexico …
L.A. Cetto 2015 Petite Sirah ($12.95 - #983742) – cheap and cheerful red made for taco / nacho night but make it beef please. (*** ½)
Portugal …
Fonseca 2011 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($18.95 - #87551) – spiced black cherry, plum and chocolate; a textbook LBV. (****+)
Quinta do Quetzal 2014 Guadalupe Winemaker’s Selection Red ($15.95 - #408138) – gentle chocolate, plum and black cherry; wonderfully drinkable. (****)
South Africa …
Hamilton Russell 2009 Ashbourne ($25.95 - #512806) – what is this I see before me? A drinkable version of Pinotage that does not lean on those coffee aspects: licorice root, black cherry and smoke – is this the new face of Pinotage, cause I like it. (****)
Nederburg 2014 The Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95 - #68767) – smoky and woodsy with balancing dark fruit and spice. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Bohigas Reserva Brut Cava ($18.95 - #401216) – dry, crisp and fresh with plenty of lemon and apple notes. (*** ½+)
Conde Valdemar 2016 Rosé ($13.95 - #168278) – still in a rosé kinda mood this will do nicely with the raspberry-strawberry blended with lime pith for a dry finish. (*** ½)
Finca Nueva 2010 Reserva ($20.95 - #268425) – sleek and smoky with licorice, clove and cigar box. (*** ½+)
Ontanon 2005 Reserva Tempranillo / Graciano ($27.965 - #725895) – toasty and oaky with vanilla, blackberry and plum. (*** ½+)
Sein 2011 ($16.95 - #391896) – pretty with violets, smoke, toasty oak, vanilla and cherry; very appealing. (*** ½+)
Volver 2014 Single Vineyard ($23.95 - #142752) – plummy black cherry, vanilla, cigar box, currants, licorice, this thing just keeps giving with layers of complexity. (****+)
United States (California) …
Martin Ray 2015 Pinot Noir ($32.95 - #518209) – pretty with flower, rhubarb, cherry and spice, especially on the finish. (*** ½+)
Seghesio 2015 Sonoma Zinfandel ($29.95 - #942151) – plenty of plum, cola, black cherry, vanilla and licorice; a yummy version of Pinot. (****)
St. Francis 2015 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #217131) – soft and subtle fruit driven Chardonnay with delicious apple, pineapple and spice with a caramel apple finish. (*** ½+)
The Prisoner 2015 ($49.95 - #104299) – plum, black cherry and mocha galore (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Flowers 2015 Pinot Noir, California ($69.95 - #215202) - ****
Jean Baptiste 2015 Ponsot Molesme Rully 1er Cru, Burgundy ($43.95 - #513457) - *** ½+
Rex Hill 2014 Seven Soils Chardonnay, Oregon ($39.95 - #458158) - *** ½+
Stags’ Leap Winery 2013 Ne Cede Mais Petite Sirah, California ($99.95 - #589572) - ****+
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Antinori 2012 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany ($62.95 - #651141) - **** ½
Castelgiocondo 2012 Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany ($113.95 / 1500ml - #963371) - *** ½+ (IM)
Chateau Clos de Sarpe 1996, Bordeaux ($55.95 - #497081) - *** ½+
FontanaFredda 2007 Barolo Riserva, Piedmont ($87.95 - #496836) - ****+ (IM)
Le Mesnil 2009 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne, France ($62.95 - #514208) – ****+
Masi 2011 Campolongo di Torbe Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto ($106.95 - #548677) - ****+
Sassicaia 2014, Tuscany ($216.95 - #480533) - ****+ (IM)
Segla 2010, Bordeaux ($69.95 - #359810) - ****
Walt 2015 Blue Jay Pinot Noir, California ($59.95 - #518217) - ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For (October 28, 2017) …
JL Chave Selection 2015 Mon Coeur Cotes-du-Rhone ($21.95 - #995548) – France
Kilian Hunn 2014 Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #523985) – Germany
Quinta do Quetzal 2014 Guadalupe Winemaker’s Selection Red ($15.95 - #408138) – Portugal
Vina Cobos 2014 Felino Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #132365) – Argentina
Volver 2014 Single Vineyard ($23.95 - #142752) – Spain
Happy Shopping
