Saturday June 9, 2018 - Vintages Release Report
07 Jun 2018- 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 … Milestone Moments (MM) & Cool Summer Whites (CSW)
The Skinny … There are a fair number of under-$20 wines this time out (see the bottom of the report) and if you’re willing to go a couple bucks over my Australia selection hits the mark. As for the foci this week I think the Cool Summer Whites miss the mark (for the most part) while there is some good stuff in the Milestone Moments spotlight.
Argentina …
Colome Estate 2014 Malbec ($24.95 - #477315) – dusty with juicy on the mid-palate, blue and black fruit with herbal and plum finish. (****)
Kaiken 2015 Ultra Las Rocas Malbec ($19.95 - #050849) – dark and brooding fruit with black cherry, coffee and floral. (*** ½+)
La Mascota 2015 Malbec ($16.95 - #555805) – easy drinking, licorice and black cherry. (***+)
La Posta 2016 Estela Armando Bonarda ($15.95 - #261586) – juicy and ripe, a delicious easy drinking Bonarda, red fruit forward and right where it should be. (****)
Zuccardi 2017 Serie A Torrentes ($16.95 - #389262) – floral and orange with nice acidity. (***+) … CSW
Australia …
Peter Lehmann 2015 The Barossan Shiraz ($21.95 - #522235) – spicy black cherry and peppered-plums; a nice intense glass of wine. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Osoyoos Larose 2014 Petales D’Osoyoos Red ($28.95 - #276741) – rich and flavourful with dark and red fruit, spiced-plum, sour cherry and cassis. (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Domaine Queylus 2014 Tradition Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #392738) - *** ½+
EastDell Estates 2014 Black Label Viognier ($17.95 - #443622) - **** … CSW
Foreign Affair 2015 Dream ($29.95 - #364380) - *** ½
Peninsula Ridge 2017 Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé ($14.95 - #177840) - *** ½
Tawse 2016 Gamay Noir ($19.95 - #322545) - *** ½+
France (Beaujolais) …
Domaine de la Madone 2016 Le Perreon Beaujolais-Villages ($16.95 - #981175) – rich sour and black cherry and white pepper; great depth for a Villages Gamay. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau de Lafaurie-Monbadon 2015 ($19.95 - #140012) – earthy black cherry and spice. (*** ½)
Chateau Marsac-Seguineau 2014 ($42.95 - #526863) – subtle softness with mocha, blackberry and cassis. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Closerie des Alisiers 2016 Bourgogne Aligote ($19.95 - #557728) – a Burgundy rarity with mineral, citrus pith and floral. (***+) … CSW
France (Rhone) …
Les Grandes Serres 2015 Les Portes du Castelas ($15.95 - #561803) – solid and well-made if not basic: cherry, cranberry and smoke. (***+)
France (Roussillon) …
Gerard Bertrand 2015 Grand Terroir Tautavel Grenache/Syrah/Carignan ($18.95 - #272575) – plum, black cherry, chocolate, anise and smoke; lovely layering of flavour. (****)
Germany …
Haart Piesporter 2016 Riesling Kabinett ($23.95 - #727461) – nice acidity with good minerality and sweet apple notes. (*** ½+)
Italy (Abruzzo) …
Valle Reale 2006 Montelpulciano D’Abruzzo ($23.95 - #216408) – sweet coffee, black cherry and plum. (*** ½)
Italy (Campania) …
Janare Senete 2016 Falanghina del Sannio ($18.95 - #556787) – grapefruit, lemon zest and salty. (*** ½)
Italy (Puglia) …
Masseria 2015 Altemura Sasseo Primitivo ($16.95 - #366955) – juicy plum, black cherry, cocoa and red licorice nibs. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Banfi 2016 Stilnovo Governo All’Uso Toscano ($18.95 - #515494) – layers of dark fruit and mocha with spice; well-crafted. (****)
Barone Ricasoli 2015 Rocca Guicciarda Riserva Chianti Classico ($24.95 - #943613) – anise, black cherry and mocha. (*** ½+) … MM
Cafaggio 2013 Chianti Classico ($21.95 - #176776) – juicy style that’s ready to drink now. (*** ½)
Castelllo di Gabbiano 2013 Bellezza Gran Selezione Chianti Classico ($39.95 - #652438) – nicely spiced, herbal, red cherry, cranberry and smoky. (*** ½+)
Dievole 2014 Chianti Classico ($22.95 - #444448) – lightly spiced, good earthy quality, leather, tobacco, cassis; this one needs a couple more years to come together. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Zenato 2015 Valpolicella Superiore ($19.95 - #995704) – this one shows some restraint with red and black berries, black cherry, smoky notes and a mocha finish. (****)
New Zealand …
Mahi 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($20.95 - #063941) – sweaty and grapefruit notes with good acidity and pretty herbaceous bits. (*** ½+) … MM
Matahiwi Estate 2016 Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #312884) – pretty floral/violet notes with cherry, spice and a light finish. (*** ½+)
Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee Rosé ($22.95 - #280175) – light raspberry, strawberry and lime. (*** ½)
Savee Sea 2016 Pinot Gris ($17.95 - #551689) – fruit sweetness with juicy pear, apple and melon. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Warre’s Warrior Finest Reserve Port ($19.95 - #197202) – black cherry, plum and spiced mocha. (*** ½+) … MM
South Africa …
Bellingham 2016 The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc ($29.95 - #012724) – hints of oxidation but it does not detract from the pear and apricot fruit with a weighty creaminess and smokiness on the finish with good acidity. (*** ½+) … MM
L’Avenir 2017 Far & Near Chenin Blanc ($15.95 - #556365) – fresh lanolin and mineral with hints of citrus pith. (***+)
Spain …
Borsao 2014 Berola ($18.95 - #371518) – big, juicy, plummy and chocolatey with cherry and a fun spiced finish. (*** ½+)
Chivite 2017 Las Fincas Vino de La Tierra Rosado ($22.95 - #556308) – dry and refreshing with raspberry, strawberry and lime. (*** ½)
Lealtanza 2014 Crianza ($18.95 - #114835) – mocha, currant, cherry and spice. (*** ½+)
Lustau East India Solera Sherry ($25.95 / 500ml - #342931) – nuts and caramel with good spice and acid balance on the finish. (****+)
Marques de Murrieta 2014 Finca Ygay Reserva ($34.95 - #209148) – red cherry, red licorice, herbal and spice. (*** ½+)
Muga 2017 Rosé ($14.95 - #603795) – cherry, lemon and watermelon rind. (*** ½)
Ontanon 2014 Crianza Tempranillo/Garnacha ($17.95 - #976910) – meaty with coffee notes, floral, anise and black cherry. (****)
United States (California) …
Brutocao 2016 Bliss Vineyard Estate Bottled Chardonnay ($25.95 - #547182) – vanilla, butter, spice with peach cobbler and a spicy finish. (*** ½+)
Priest Ranch 2016 Grenache Blanc ($34.95 - #361121) – interesting mineral, pear, melon all balanced off by nice acidity. (****) … CSW
Seven Deadly Red 2015 ($24.95 - #570473) – smoked meat, sweet fruit and quite easy drinking. (***+)
William Hill 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.95 - #453647) – juicy blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and plum with a chocolate finish. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Pike Road 2014 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #547695) – spiced-cran, black cherry and earth. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #269357) – blackberry, plum, black cherry, vanilla and spice. (****)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …
Cascina Chicco 2010 Ginestra Riserva Barolo, Piedmont ($92.00 - #551853) - ****
Chateau du Chatelard 2015 Cuvee Les Roches Morgon, Beaujolais ($24.95 - #558528) - ****
Domaine Besancenot 2014 Cent Vignes Beaune 1er Cru, Burgundy ($55.95 - #545764) - ****
Flowers 2016 Chardonnay, California ($59.95 - #215210) - *** ½+
Rex Hill 2015 Jacob-Hart Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon ($89.95 - #562926) - *** ½
Ringbolt 2012 21 Barriques Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia ($44.95 - #367870) - *** ½
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Chateau de Beaucastel 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($93.95 - #711317) - ****+ … MM
Clos de Val 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($64.95 - #325779) - *** ½
Pol Roger 2008 Vintage Brut Champagne, France ($96.65 - #411793) - ****+
Two Hands 2016 Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Australia ($64.95 - #636407) - ****+
Best Values in this Release … (June 9, 2018) …
Banfi 2016 Stilnovo Governo All’Uso Toscano ($18.95 - #515494) – Italy
Domaine de la Madone 2016 Le Perreon Beaujolais-Villages ($16.95 - #981175) – France
Gerard Bertrand 2015 Grand Terroir Tautavel Grenache/Syrah/Carignan ($18.95 - #272575) – France
La Posta 2016 Estela Armando Bonarda ($15.95 - #261586) – Argentina
Ontanon 2014 Crianza Tempranillo/Garnacha ($17.95 - #976910) – Spain
Zenato 2015 Valpolicella Superiore ($19.95 - #995704) – Italy
Happy Shopping
