Saturday November 9, 2019 - Vintages Release Report
07 Nov 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 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 …
The Skinny … As we get closer to the holidays the LCBO releases more and more wine – the November and December releases have gotten so big in fact that they have to split them up into two tastings each - I missed the first half of November 9 tasting, so what I have here is the best of the second half …
Austria …
Laurenz V. 2016 Friendly Gruner Veltliner ($19.95 - #066225) – pea pod, lemon zest and floral; a great little refresher or party starter. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2018 Rosé ($15.95 - #117861) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2018 Speck Family Reserve Riesling ($24.95 - #643361) - *** ½+
Westcott 2017 Estate Chardonnay ($27.95 - #424507) - ****
France (Beaujolais) …
Georges DuBoeuf 2017 Chateau des Capitans Julienas ($21.95 - #011359) – floral, cherry and smoky; this is a really good Beaujolais with some good aging potential. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Carmes de Rieussec 2015 ($25.95 - #472092) – citrus, peach, honey and a lovely tropical pineapple-esque note. (****)
Chateau Teyssier 2016 ($24.95 - #226035) – mocha, blackcberry, cassis, smoke and there's even some toastiness. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Cave de Lugny Brut Rosé Cremant de Bourgogne ($22.95 - #297846) – pleasant little bubble with apple, raspberry and rhubarb notes. (*** ½)
Chateau de Santenay 2016 Vieilles Vignes Mercurey ($34.95 - #668202) – smoky, coffee, leather and earthy. (*** ½+)
Roche de Bellene 2015 Macon La Roche Vineuse ($20.95 - #648485) – everything is subtle about this wine: mineral, apple, pear and peach pit. (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Gabriel Meffre Laurus 2016 Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($19.95 - #381053) – fresh and fruit driven with nice concentration; this is an easy drinking Rhone Valley red. (*** ½+)
Michel Gassier 2016 Nostre Pais ($22.95 - #295410) – sweet red fruit with nice licorice and good acidity. (*** ½)
France (Roussillon) …
M. Chapoutier 2016 Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem ($26.95 - #643239) – dark and brooding with some smoky black raspberry and coffee bean notes. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Vanita 2018 Primitivo ($19.95 - #569962) – sweet black fruit, plum, black cherry and vanilla. (***+)
Italy (Trento) …
Ferrari Brut Sparkling ($24.95 - #352153) – click here to see full review. (****+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Caparzo 2016 Rosso di Montalcino ($19.95 - #333575) – red currant, cassis, gentle smoke, great acid punch; this is a wine full of finesse and great for dinner. (****)
Corte Medicea 2016 Erastos Rosso ($15.95 - #010948) – dark fruit and black licorice with vanilla, cocoa, and plum; nice concentration of the dark side. (****)
Le Volte Dell’Ornellaia 2017 ($29.95 - #964221) – dark berries, raspberry, blackberry, coffee, mocha all with a good fruit to oak ratio; this is quite elegant. (****)
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2016 Crognolo ($34.95 - #727636) – coffee bean and earthy with cassis and blackberry. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Palacios Remondo 2016 La Montesa Crianza ($25.95 - #674572) – mocha, black cherry, raspberry, spiced cherry, sweet fruit core; this is good wine worth picking up and cellering for a couple of years. (****)
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If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Chateau de Beaucastel 2017 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France ($93.95 - #711317) - ****+
Kopke 1999 Colheita Port, Portugal ($64.95 - #010903) - ****
Luce 2016, Italy ($119.95 - #685263) - *** ½
Masi 2012 Mazzano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($129.95 - #597476) - ****
Quintarelli 2011 Valppolicella Classico Superiore, Italy ($115.95 - #986117) - ****
Renato Ratti 2015 Marcenasco Barolo, Italy ($59.95 - #713479) - *** ½+
Stags’ Leap Winery 2016 The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($119.965 - #142844) - *** ½ … CW
Other Stuff That’s Fine, But It’s Not Wine …
Giulio Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino, Italy ($29.95 - #461913) - *** ½
Best Values in this Release - (November9, 2019) …
Caparzo 2016 Rosso di Montalcino ($19.95 - #333575) – Italy
Corte Medicea 2016 Erastos Rosso ($15.95 - #010948) – Italy
Ferrari Brut Sparkling ($24.95 - #352153) – Italy
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