Saturday May 2, 2015 - Vintages Release Report
28 Apr 2015- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
To print this report click here for the PDF version
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 … New Zealand’s Best (NZB), Next Generation Germany (NGG) and Rosé (RO)
The Skinny … Tasting outside my regular day and time, he wines had been open since 9am and I was only allowed in starting at 12pm – one of the weird LCBO rules about make-up days – so the wines were either not chilled (whites / rosés) or very open (red). The Rosés were a mixed bag with the New Zealand and German wines being way too warm to get a proper read on them. Reds I’m pretty sure about, but you’ll have to give them time to achieve where I tasted them.
Argentina …
Bodega Lurton 2009 Gran Lurton Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #980334) – smoky, mocha, black cherry and spice. (****)
Tapiz 2008 Seleccion de Barricas ($29.95 - #403253) – lots of nice dark fruit and chocolate; nicely aged, ready to drink. (****)
Australia …
Chateau Tanunda 2012 Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #357517) – smoky, black cherry, coffee/latte, silky smooth, black tea; thick and flavourful. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Jackson-Triggs 2010 Sunrock Red Meritage ($29.95 - #408393) – smoky blueberry and plenty of spice with full, big, bold tannins; there’s also mocha, and black cherry. (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Colio Estate 2012 Bricklayer’s Reward Old Farm Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #395277) - ****+
Fielding 2013 Red Conception ($18.95 - #189183) - *** ½+
Chile …
Santa Rita 2010 Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #275594) – minty, cherry, mocha/chocolate and blackberry; smooth, supple and silky. (****+)
France (Midi) …
Gerard Bertrand 2011 Languedoc Syrah/Grenache ($17.00 - #413237) – pleasant and easy drinking and all at a good price. (*** ½+)
France (Provence) …
Caves D’Esclans 2014 Whispering Angel Rosé ($25.95 - #325076) – colour is anemic, the wine is delicate both nose and palate, shows a lovely floral, mineral note with balanced acidity. (****) – RO
France (Rhone) …
E. Guigal 2014 Cotes du Rhone Rosé ($17.95 - #225003) – pleasant red berries: raspberry and strawberry with cherry, lime joining in on the palate. (****) – RO
Mas des Bressades 2014 Cuvee Tradition Rosé ($15.95 - #950576) – matches up sweet and dry nicely along with notes of apple and raspberry. (*** ½+) – RO
Xavier 2011 Cotes du Rhone ($16.95 - #297317) – nice cherry, raspberry with a touch of leather and smoke. (*** ½+)
Germany …
CH Berres 2012 Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett ($24.95 - #207274) – nice sweetness to acidity ratio with peachy goodness and minerality. (****) – NGG
Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium 2012 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett ($22.95 - #411249) – a real stoniness to this one with a hint of green apple. (*** ½+) – NGG
Runkel 2013 Pinot Blanc ($17.95 - #409730) – pretty with floral and white fruit. (*** ½+) – NGG
Italy (Veneto) …
Antiche Terre Venete 2013 Ripasso Valpolicella ($17.95 - #178459) – this is a cherry dominated Ripasso. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Elephant Hill 2013 Red Label Syrah ($22.95 - #408633) – touch smoky, meaty, peppery; everything Syrah should be with hints of spiced-raspberry and a long peppery finish. (****+) – NZB
Opawa 2014 Pinot Gris ($16.95 - #408625) – nice fruit showing off a little mineral and citrus. (*** ½+) – NZB
South Africa …
Rudera 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #403659) – cedar, blackberry and vanilla. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Castano 2012 Solanera Vinas Viejas ($16.95 - #276162) – lovely, lush and pleasant with great plum and cherry and chocolate; silky finish, under-priced so buy lots. (****+)
Real Agrado 2014 Rosé ($12.95 - #410142) – dry, pleasant and nice acidity. (*** ½) – RO
Torres 2014 Sangre de Toro Rosé ($13.95 - #233437) – sweet cherry nose which gives way to a raspberry-lime palate. (*** ½+) – RO
United States (California) …
Cline 2013 Pinot Noir ($25.95 - #329649) – juicy Cali-style Pinot with vanilla and cherry leading the charge topped off with a little white pepper on the finish. (*** ½+)
Joseph Carr 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #409151) – good fruit, nice mouthfeel; it’s a tasty Cab with plenty of character. (*** ½+)
Sbragia Family Vineyards 2012 Home Ranch Merlot ($44.95 - #412338) – smooth with lots of blueberry, blackberry and mocha, kicks it up with spice on the finish. (****)
Talbott 2013 Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay ($32.95 - #716290) – lovely richness on the palate with nice acidity for balance: white flowers and white fruit with a bit of apple and peach, it keeps on giving; great complexity. (****+)
United States (Oregon) …
Bachelder 2012 Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #333278) – cherry jumps out of the glass with notes of cranberry and violets; best Bachelder Oregon Pinot I have tried to date. (**** ½)
United States (Washington) …
Columbia Crest 2012 Grand Estates Merlot ($17.95 - #263418) – good value Merlot with blueberry, mocha and a long finish. (****)
________________________________________
In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Bachelder 2012 Lowrey Vineyard Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #361816), Ontario - ****
Dog Point 2012 Pinot Noir ($49.95 - #329672), New Zealand - ****
Domaine Serene 2011 Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir ($69.95 - #186858), Oregon - *** ½+
Gundlach Bundschu Estate 2012 Pinot Noir ($49.00 - #397513), California - *** ½+
Jonata 2008 Tierra ($89.00 - #221150), California - ****+
Pedroncelli 2012 Alto Vineyards Sangiovese ($20.00 - #204461), California - ****
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Beringer 2012 Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($69.95 - #392142), USA - ****+
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – May 2, 2015 …
Castano 2012 Solanera Vinas Viejas ($16.95 - #276162) – Spain
Chateau Tanunda 2012 Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #357517) – Australia
Pedroncelli 2012 Alto Vineyards Sangiovese ($20.00 - #204461) - California
Santa Rita 2010 Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #275594) – Chile
Happy Shopping
To print this article click here for the PDF version
