Saturday October 26, 2019 - Vintages Release Report
24 Oct 2019- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
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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 … Head-to-Head France / Italy (HFI) and Wine & Cheese (WC)
The New Normal … The LCBO has curbed our tasting of Vintages releases by almost half – they are “curating” what we taste, so instead of finding those gems from the full list of wines being released the LCBO is telling us what they want us to taste and then we are to pick the gems out of those wines …
70 wines were NOT offered for tasting –
plus 15 “Flagship Exclusives” (aka. In Store Discoveries)
The Skinny …
The best part of this release and the wines I tried are three fold: one, there is a great Rhone Valley red that is layered and worth it’s under $20 price tag; two, the same can be said for a much simpler yet equally enjoyable Spanish wine; and three, there is a bottle of Bordeaux that, although not a “bargain” is definitely punching above its pay grade … here are the reviews of those and the rest of the wines I tried for this release.
Canada (British Columbia) …
Mission Hill 2018 Pinot Gris Reserve ($22.95 - #537076) - full review here (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Henry of Pelham 2016 Family Tree Red ($18.95 - #247882) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2015 Speck Family Reserve Cabernet/Merlot ($39.95 - #616433) - ****
Tawse 2016 Limestone Ridge-North Estate Bottled Riesling ($25.95 - #431593) - ****
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau de Saint-Pey 2016 ($34.95 - #011834) – no pee (pey) here just good solid bottle of Bordeaux with all the trimmings: good concentration, hint of smoke, cassis, blackberry and good acidity backing the whole thing up; this is a easy to recommend bottle of wine. (****+) – HFI
France (Burgundy) …
Louis Bouillot Perle D’Ivoire Brut Blanc de Blancs Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #048801) – acidity is on point here with green apple and lemon notes throughout, nicely priced bubble. (*** ½+) – HFI
France (Rhone) …
La Couronne du Prince 2016 ($19.95 - #010340) – mocha, black cherry that starts off supple and easy but develops with more time in glass like hints of coffee and leather. Cheers. (****)
Italy (Alto Adige) …
Kellerei Bozen Bolzano 2018 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #570457) – fresh and clean with apple and a slight bitterness that helps the fruitiness relax a bit. (*** ½+) – HFI
Italy (Puglia) …
Velarino Susumaniello 2017 Salento ($16.95 - #010402) – plum, black cherry and melted bittersweet chocolate with a hint of spice. (*** ½)
Paradiso Darione Podere Belmantello 2017 Primitivo ($17.95 - #010816) – very cherry jam / cherry chutney like; bit fruit sweetness that has its appeal. (***+) – HFI
Italy (Tuscany) …
Castello di Bossi 2015 C. Berardenga Chianti Classico ($22.95 - #994608) – big on fruit but light on colour; good cherry-cranberry character with acids being on point. (*** ½+) – HFI
Italy (Veneto) …
Masi Modello Brut Prosecco ($18.95 - #624932) – pleasant and brisk with bright lemon zest and a clean finish. (*** ½+) – HFI
New Zealand …
Russian Jack 2018 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #149328) – tropical, peach, lime, green apple with grassy and even citrus pith notes and a lovely mouthfeel. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Alvarez de Toledo 2015 Coleccion de Familia Mencia ($23.95 - #010829) – mocha, cherry, chocolate with nice acidity and spice on the finish. (*** ½+)
Potente 2016 ($18.95 - #010682) – cherry, raspberry, chocolate, slight floral but definitely a warming of the cockles wine that needs to be tried. (****)
United States (California) …
Boen 2017 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #010471) – ballsy little Pinot Noir with its dark fruit, licorice, cassis, and black cherry core, plus its coffee-esque finish. (*** ½)
Girard 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ($44.95 - #231712) – soft and supple with plum, chocolate and cherry; nice concentration. (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …
Chateau des Charmes 2016 Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ontario ($39.95 - #332858) - ****+
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Champagne, France ($87.95 - #384529) - **** (HFI)
Peller 2016 Signature Series Cabernet Franc Icewine, Ontario ($98.95 - #012022) - ****+
Masi 2012 Campolongo di Torbe Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($129.95 - #548677) - ****+ (WC)
Warre’s 2006 Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port, Portugal ($54.95 - #189605) - **** ½ (WC)
Xavier 2015 Vignon Cuvee Anonyme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France ($59.95 - #393421) - *** ½ (HFI)
Best Values in this Release - (October 26, 2019) …
La Couronne du Prince 2016 ($19.95 - #010340) – France
Potente 2016 ($18.95 - #010682) – Spain
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