Saturday September 15, 2018 - Vintages Release Report
13 Sep 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 … Bring Local Home (BLH)
The Skinny … This release is all about Ontario wine, which there are quite a few good ones making their way to the shelves – but also look at the Best Values, as South Africa has got a couple in there, a Beaujolais, something Spanish and a rare $25.00 Shiraz worth grabbing a few bottles of.
Argentina …
Trivento 2015 Golden Reserve Malbec ($19.95 - #588731) – mocha, black cherry and coffee bean. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Alpha Crucis 2016 Titan Grenache/Tempranillo ($25.95 - #632521) – heady and herbal with the sensation of raspberry and subtle spice. (*** ½+)
Thorn-Clarke 2016 Shotfire Shiraz ($22.95 - #018796) – smoky, mocha, black cherry and spice. (****)
Two Hands 2017 Angels’ Share Shiraz ($24.95 - #009480) – so gorgeous with lovely plum, blackberry, black cherry, silky, hit of smoke, chocolate & meaty. (****+)
Austria …
Hirtl 2016 Gruner Veltliner ($19.95 - #570747) – touch tropical with a bit of a herbaceous undertone. (*** ½+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Oak Bay 2016 Gamay Noir ($17.95 - #392431) – dark fruit with mocha and pepper. (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
13th Street 2012 Premier Cuvee ($34.95 - #142679) - **** … BLH
Chateau des Charmes Brut Sparkling ($25.95 - #224766) - *** ½ … BLH
Chateau des Charmes 2015 St. David’s Bench Vineyard Chardonnay ($23.95 - #430991) - *** ½+ … BLH
Closson Chase 2017 KJ Watson Vineyard Pinot Gris ($22.95 - #469445) - **** … BLH
CREW 2016 Merlot ($17.95 - #310532) - **** … BLH
Henry of Pelham 2016 Estate Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #268391) - *** ½+ … BLH
Lundy Manor 2013 Proprietor’s Blend Red ($21.95 - #579953) - ***+ … BLH
Mastronardi 2016 Syrah ($24.95 - #5812223) - *** ½+ … BLH
Pelee Island 2017 JS Hamilton Red ($18.95 - #581181) - *** ½+ … BLH
Wayne Gretzky 2017 Whisky Oak Aged Red ($19.95 - #617738) - *** ½ … BLH
Chile …
Ventisquero 2015 Grey Glacier Single Block Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #485474) – spicy, minty and slightly herbal. (*** ½)
France (Beaujolais) …
Boisset JCB French Kiss Sparkling Gamay ($19.95 - #614461) – a different kind of sparkling red made from Gamay with cherry and raspberry sweetness on the palate. (***+)
Chateau des Jean-Loron 2016 Les Gandelins Chenas ($19.95 - #561530) – spicy, mineral, and blackberry; lovely and ageable. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Hauchat 2015 ($17.95 - #123489) – easy drinking and smooth with mocha, oak and dried-cherry tones. (*** ½)
France (Lauguedoc) …
Gerard Bertrand 2016 Cuvee Thomas Jefferson Cremant de Limoux ($19.95 - #438838) – bright with acidity, lemon zest backed by a toasty kick. (***+)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau Val Joanis 2017 Tradition Rosé ($15.95 - #707281) – delicate and refreshing with lime and raspberry notes. (*** ½)
Italy (Campania) …
Nativ 2012 Taurasi ($36.95 - #445262) – rich blackberry, plum and black cherry with a nice mineral sensation and mouth filling tannins. (*** ½+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Bosio 2017 Barbera D’Asti ($16.95 - #454009) – easy drinking, plush, mineral, earthy and plenty of red berries. (*** ½)
Italy (Puglia) …
Actarus 2015 Primitivo di Manduria ($25.95 - #569921) – chocolate, cherry, mocha, plum and vanilla; it’s a Zin lovers Primitivo. (****)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Castellani Filicheto 2013 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($19.95 - #184937) – soft and supple with blackberry, black cherry, and a vanilla, dried oak finish. (*** ½+)
Nipozzano 2014 Veccie Viti Riserva Chianti Rufina ($29.95 - #395186) – dried cherry, blackberry, smoke and spice. (*** ½+)
Villa Puccini 2014 Riserva Chianti ($15.95 - #573519) – good smoky, cherry, blackberry with subtle oak finish. (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Bertani 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena ($39.95 - #568741) – light style, well-balanced: cocoa, blackberry and spice. (*** ½+)
Punti Critici 2015 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore ($17.95 - #557017) – mocha, coffee bean, blackberry and cassis. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Squealing Pig 2017 Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #414789) – more citrus tones that’s grassy and refreshing with a grapefruit zest finish; this one hits the New Zealand Savvy B mark. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Cathedral Cellar 2015 Shiraz ($17.95 - #561142) – meaty, black fruit, mocha, floral, boysenberry and smoke. (****)
Graham Beck Method Cap Classique Brut Rosé ($19.95 - #175588) – light sparkling with delicious raspberry, strawberry and a finish of lemon. (****+)
Spain …
Celler de L’Encastell Marge 2014 ($29.95 - #462077) – smoky black cherry, simple yet rustic, pomegranate and raspberry. (*** ½+)
El Goru 2016 Monastrell/Syrah/Petit Verdot ($13.95 - #443945) – good value in an easy drinking red: red cherry with smoky-mocha and licorice on the finish. (*** ½)
Vinademoy 2016 Centenaria Mencia ($18.95 - #574608) – mocha, blackberry, mineral and smoky; fun and a little out of the ordinary. (****)
United States (California) …
J. Lohr 2015 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #686584) – chocolate cherry, mocha, pepper with gorgeous dark brooding fruit; simply delicious. (****+)
Kenwood 2016 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #158790) – big vanilla and oak hit with some tropical flair. (*** ½)
Thorn 2014 Merlot ($39.95 - #568253) – cherry kirsch, mocha and blueberry. (*** ½+)
Wild Thing 2015 Old Vine Zinfandel ($26.95 - #282517) – a layered and gorgeous Zin with plum, black cherry, peppery, smoke, vanilla, lively, zesty with black raspberry and strawberry so well structured and BBQ ready. (****+)
United States (Washington) …
Buried Cane 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #402081) – mocha and black cherry; soft and easy. (*** ½)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …
Black Ops 2015 Shiraz/Saperavi/Nero D’Avola, Australia ($28.95 - #570796) … *** ½+
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2008, Bordeaux ($137.95 - #199406) … ****
GE Massenez Poire Williams, France ($79.95 - #318493) … ***+
Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck 2009 Brut Nature, Champagne ($112.95 - #440891) … *** ½+
Sentieri 2016 Siciliani Etna Rosso, Sicily ($27.95 - #582874) … *** ½+
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Belle Glos 2015 Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir, California ($59.95 - #212076) … *** ½
Masi 2012 Seregoo Alighieri Vaio Amaron Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto ($84.95 - #462812) … ****
Sobrero 2013 Ciabot Tanasio Barolo, Piedmont ($54.95 - #286070) … ****
Best Values in this Release (September 15, 2018) …
Cathedral Cellar 2015 Shiraz ($17.95 - #561142) – South Africa
Chateau des Jean-Loron 2016 Les Gandelins Chenas ($19.95 - #561530) – France
Graham Beck Method Cap Classique Brut Rosé ($19.95 - #175588) – South Africa
Two Hands 2017 Angels’ Share Shiraz ($24.95 - #009480) – Australia
Vinademoy 2016 Centenaria Mencia ($18.95 - #574608) – Spain
Happy Shopping
