Saturday June 27, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

25 Jun 2015

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 … “Back By Popular Demand” (BbPD), Pan-American (PA) and Canada Day (CD)
The Skinny … This was another time I had to go during the make-up tasting, the whites always show poorly (as they are way too warm) and the reds have been open for 3 hours so they seem to be smooth and easy, but you have to learn to view the wine where it once was.  I think the Spanish offerings were the real standouts in this release.

Argentina …
Finca Sophenia 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #350090) – blackberry, black cherry and vanilla with a hint of chocolate. (****)
Sur de Los Andes 2010 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #404186) – floral, mocha and touches of pepper. (*** ½+)
Trapiche 2011 Finca Las Palmas Gran Reserva Malbec ($16.95 - #186668) – plenty of flavour here with black fruit, pepper, spice and a blueberry skin finish. (****) … PA

Australia …
Claymore 2013 You’ll Never Walk Alone Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro ($21.95 - #409086) – plenty of dark berry fruit and raspberry notes with hints of floral and spicy finish. (****)
Hewitson 2012 Baby Bush Mourvedre ($24.95 - #409029) – lots of red berry fruit and it just stays that way from start to finish. (*** ½+)
Penley Estate 2012 Hyland Shiraz ($19.95 - #409078) – mocha, blackberry and pretty spice; quite tasty. (*** ½+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #089011) - **** … (BbPD)
Queylus 2010 Reserve du Domaine Merlot/Cabernet Franc ($39.95 - #406462) - *** ½+ … (CD)

Chile …
Casas del Bosque 2014 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc ($13.95 - #974717) – grapefruit zest and pith with incredibly lively acidity. (*** ½+) … BbPD
Chilcas 2012 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 – #309757) – blackberry, cassis, black cherry, white pepper and spice. (*** ½+) … PA
Montes 2012 Alpha Carmenere ($19.95 - #143230) – blueberry, mocha and spice with something floral hiding in the background. (*** ½) … PA
Vina San Pedro 2012 1865 Single Vineyard Syrah ($19.95 - #404228) – raspberry, cherry, cinnamon and smoke. (*** ½+)

France (Alsace) …
Bestheim 2013 Classic Gewurztraminer ($18.95 - #656801) – classic is right with its orange peel and spice along with a touch of sweetness. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Domaine le Clos des Cazaux 2012 La Tour Sarrasine Gigondas ($28.95 - #279562) – raspberry, black currant with lively smoke and spice and good acidity on the finish. (*** ½+)

Italy (Basilicata) …
Tenuta del Portale 2012 Starsa ($15.95 - #416164) – leather and spice with anise and dried cherry. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Papale Linea Oro 2012 Primitivo di Manduria ($20.95 - 261784) – cherry, licorice, chocolate, vanilla plus sweet red and black fruit; a real delight for Zin and BBQ fans. (****+)

New Zealand …
Villa Maria 2014 Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #974527) – very floral and fruity with pleasant grapefruit and peach nuances. (*** ½+) … BbPD

South Africa …
Ken Forrester 2014 Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc ($17.95 - #231828) – leesy character with pineapple skin and spicy-mineral. (****)

Spain …
Borsao Berola 2011 ($17.00 - #371518) – soft, smooth and silky with lots of dark fruit and chocolate notes; this is a wine that’s nicely layered. (****)
Breca 2012 Old Vines Garnacha ($19.95 - #329086) – sweet cherry and blackberry with vanilla and elements of smoke; this is one silky wine. (****+)
Flor de Vetus Verdejo 2013 ($15.95 - #320259) – tangy with good spice, peach pit, and well-balanced acidity; better than your average Spanish white. (*** ½+)

United States (California) …
J. Lohr 2013 Los Osos Merlot ($20.95 - #027516) – juicy blueberry, red cherry, mocha and finishes gentle with the spice; what Cali-Merlot is all about. (****) … BbPD
The Prisoner 2013 ($49.95 - #104299) – big, dark fruit with lots of silkiness across the tongue with hints of smoke and spice and a long finish. (****) … BbPD
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Chateau de Chamirey Champs Martin 2011 Mercurey 1er Cru ($54.95 - #414607) – France … ****
Dog Point 2012 Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc ($44.95 - #325977) – New Zealand … *** ½+
Domini 2008 Veneti Espressioni San Rocco Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($74.95 - #416008) – Italy … ****
Pala 2012 Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna ($24.95 - #416016) – Italy … ****
Two Hands 2012 Lily’s Garden ($54.95 - #683086) – Australia … ****


What I’ll Be Lining Up For – June 27, 2015 …
Borsao Berola 2011 ($17.00 - #371518) – Spain
Breca 2012 Old Vines Garnacha ($19.95 - #329086) – Spain
Papale Linea Oro 2012 Primitivo di Manduria ($20.95 - 261784) – Italy

Happy Shopping

To print this article click here for the PDF version

 

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