Saturday September 1, 2018 - Vintages Release Report
30 Aug 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 … Euro Benchmarks (EB)
The Skinny … The Grand Tour is a disappointment but that does not mean the European wines are the winner in this release is those who like French wine, especially Beaujolais. There are also a couple of bargain Chardonnays (one from New Zealand and California), while Portugal and Spain offer up some special wines also.
Argentina …
Petite Fleur 2014 Blend ($25.95 - #568923) – chocolate, mocha, plum, cherry, vanilla and spice. (***+)
Trapiche 2014 Medalla Malbec ($17.00 - #547869) – blueberry and subtle spice. (***+)
Australia …
JJ Hahn 2015 Homestead Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #558569) – mocha, black cherry, silky smooth, yet with nice acidity, vanilla, oak and a spicy finish. (*** ½+)
Sister’s Run 2016 Calvary Hill Shiraz ($19.95 - #222018) – mocha, blackberry, graphite and pepper. (*** ½+)
Yalumba 2015 The Strapper GSM ($19.95 - #295873) – raspberry, cherry, licorice and spice. (*** ½+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2016 Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #556613) – floral with black cherry and a touch of mocha latte. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Chateau des Charmes 2015 Estate Bottled Chardonnay Musque ($16.95 - #640516)
Colchester Ridge 2016 CREW Meritage ($21.95 - #426833)
Featherstone 2017 Four Feathers ($14.95 - #341586)
Nomad 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #581132)
Nomad 2017 Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #446088)
Chile …
Concha y Toro 2016 Marques de Casa Concha Syrah ($21.95 - #019042) – peppery and spicy with nice blackberry fruit. (*** ½+)
France (Beaujolais) …
Vignerons de Bel Air 2016 Regnier ($16.95 - #487157) – great price for this Cru Beaujolais and it has flavours to match: smoky, black cherry, strawberry-balsamic with plum and a pleasant spicy finish. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Carpena 2010 ($18.95 - #466599) – smooth black fruit with vanilla and plum backing. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Faiveley 2015 Marsannay ($39.95 - #556357) – lush mouthfeel with blackberry, plum, cassis and some blackberry backing. (****)
Jean-Claude Boisset 2016 Les Ursulines Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #408310) – earthy black cherry and smoky. (*** ½+) … EB
Jean-Marc Brocard 2016 Petit Chablis ($24.95 - #556506) – nice mineral, apple and pear notes, with a short finish and it comes across with a slight sweetness. (***+) … EB
France (Midi) …
Gerard Bertrand 2015 Fitou Grenache/Carignan ($16.95 - #403683) – easy drinking plum, blackberry and abundant cherry. (*** ½+)
Les Darons 2015 ($16.95 - #448464) – mocha and blackberry; simple yet still approachable and smooth. (*** ½)
France (Provence) …
La Cadierenne 2017 Cuvee Grande Tradition Bandol Rosé ($22.95 - #119453) – dry lemon and cherry. (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau Le Grand Retour 2015 plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($15.95 - #224592) – subtle yet sexy with great black fruit, mocha and plum. (*** ½+)
Chateau Pesquie 2015 Terrasses ($19.95 - #652313) – big on coffee bean and spice with a little bit of licorice. (****) … EB
Famille Perrin 2017 Reserve Rosé ($15.95 - #719062) – dry with peach, strawberry and raspberry notes. (*** ½+)
France (Roussillon) …
Bastide Sobirana 2015 Lieu Dit la Colomine ($18.95 - #561217) – plum, cherry, vanilla, licorice and mocha; bags of flavour here. (****)
Italy (Campania) …
Riolite 2015 Il Poggio Sannio Aglianico ($15.95 - #575225) – plum and black cherry with chocolate and pomegranate. (*** ½+)
Villa Raiano 2012 Taurasi ($39.95 - #344234) – lush with menthol, blackberry, graphite, black cherry, cassis, mocha and vanilla. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Tormaresca 2015 Trentangeli Rosso ($19.95 - #435529) – mocha and blackberry. (*** ½)
Italy (Sardinia) …
Antichi 2015 Poderi Jerzu Chuerra Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna ($18.95 - #270272) – spicy and smoky with blackberry, black cherry with earthy and acid notes; this is one that will reward some cellar time. (****)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Castelli del Grevepesa 2016 Castelgreve Chianti Classico ($17.00 - #573485) – mocha-smoky intensity. (*** ½)
Mazzei Ser Lapo 2014 Riserva Chianti Classico ($23.95 - #288530) – dried cherry, licorice and floral. (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Masi 2014 Toar Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($21.95 - #342444) – mocha, blackberry with intense smoky and spic notes; this is not your father’s easy, simple Valpolicella, this one has layers and 3-5 years of age available. (****)
New Zealand …
Invivo 2016 Chardonnay ($16.95 - #499855) – apple/lemon, white peach with a pleasant finish; great value as well. (****)
Invivo 2017 Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #560284) – plenty of grapefruit and a long finish. (*** ½)
Portugal …
Casa Santos 2015 Lima Colossal Reserva ($15.95 - #5488867) – plum, black cherry with vanilla and chocolate and a subtly spicy finish. (****)
Duorum 2015 Tinto ($18.95 - #215699) – blue and black berry with some real intense vanilla and smoke on the finish. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Bellingham 2016 Homestead Series The Old Orchards Chenin Blanc ($15.95 - #484055) – lanolin, pear, peach, apple and honeydew rind. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Albanta 2016 Albarino ($18.95 - #544254) – yellow plum, lanolin and lime zest. (*** ½)
Bodega Jesus Romero 2016 Rubus ($18.95 - #575944) – mocha, blackberry and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Hacienda Lopez de Haro 2012 Reserva ($19.95 - #357335) – spiced-mocha, black cherry and plum. (*** ½+)
Lealtanza 2012 Reserva ($22.95 - #208223) – smoky dried blackberry and cassis. (*** ½+) … EB
Tarima Hill 2015 Monastrell ($23.95 - #310169) – chocolate, vanilla, spiced-plum, big and ballsy yet still quite approachable. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Bonterra 2014 Merlot ($21.95 - #984724) – spiced-blueberry and blackberry; best Bonterra Merlot in quite some time. (*** ½+)
Enroute 2014 Brumaire Chardonnay ($37.95 - #568279) – buttery with rich oak but there’s a touch of fruit that makes it interesting. (*** ½)
Ironstone 2016 Petite Sirah ($17.95 - #361915) – blue and black fruit with white pepper and mocha; there’s a subtle sweetness but it’s of fruit not sugar. (***+)
Michael David 2015 Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #405175) – plum and chocolate, black cherry, blackberry; this wine is loaded with black fruit and subtle spice. (*** ½+)
Rutherford Ranch 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($39.95 - #073817) – spiced blackberry and cassis, plum and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Ryder 2016 Chardonnay ($17.95 - #458638) – creamed corn, toasty-oak, vanilla and tropical fruit. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Elouan 2015 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #420760) – creamy black fruit, tons of mocha, smoke and black currants with velvety spices, very California in style. (*** ½+)
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If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Domaine Chante Cigale 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($51.95 - #194993) - **** … EB
JCB 2015 Passion Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot, California ($84.95 - #614735) - *** ½
Pine Ridge 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($79.95 - #396184) - *** ½+
Best Values in this Release - (September 1, 2018) …
Antichi 2015 Poderi Jerzu Chuerra Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna ($18.95 - #270272) – Italy
Bastide Sobirana 2015 Lieu Dit la Colomine ($18.95 - #561217) – France
Casa Santos 2015 Lima Colossal Reserva ($15.95 - #5488867) – Portugal
Invivo 2016 Chardonnay ($16.95 - #499855) – New Zealand
Vignerons de Bel Air 2016 Regnier ($16.95 - #487157) – France
Happy Shopping
