Saturday April 2, 2016 - Vintages Release Report
23 Mar 2016- Details
- Category: What I'm Tasting
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 … Double Exposure: New World vs Old World (DE)
The Skinny … The “Double Exposure” feature is quite interesting pairing up New and old World wine styles, there seems to be something for everybody – meanwhile there’s a beauty from Spain and a Zinfandel that’s worth having in your cellar for BBQ season.
Argentina …
Don Cristobal 2014 1492 Bonard ($13.95 - #261941) – licorice, black cherry and spice; this is a different departure from the usual juicy Bonarda. (*** ½+)
Fabre Montmayou 2013 Reserva Malbec ($18.95 - #261867) – cedar, herbal and violets with blueberry skin and black pepper. (*** ½+) … DE
Villa de los Enologos 2012 Casta de Salvajes Cronos Malbec ($35.95 - #442301) – juicy blackberry, herbal with vanilla, coffee / mocha; interesting and fun. (****)
Australia …
Piping Shrike 2013 Shiraz ($18.95 - #48504) – blue and black berry, cassis, coffee bean and white pepper. (*** ½+)
Thorn-Clarke 2013 Shotfire Shiraz ($21.95 - #18796) – always such a delicious wine this time with chocolate, black berry / cherry, herbal and spice. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Gray Monk 2014 Gewurztraminer ($19.95 - #321588) – lush lychee, floral, peachy and delightfully fleshy. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Coyote’s Run 2014 Estate Pinot Gris ($16.95 - #450783) … ****
G. Marquis 2010 The Silver Line Epic ($29.95 - #310367) … *** ½+
Chile …
Aresti 2014 Trisquel Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #443341) – peapod, herbal and grapefruit pith. (*** ½+)
Vina Tarapaca 2012 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #18721) – smoky-blackberry, cedar, green olive and chocolate. (*** ½+)
France (Beaujolais) …
Hiver Gourmand 2014 Morgon ($17.95 - #383778) – black cherry and pepper. (*** ½)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau de Lisennes 2009 Cuvee Prestige ($21.95 - #444364) – wood and earthy with black and blue berry fruit. (*** ½+)
Chateau Lamartre 2010 ($32.95 - #444265) – dark cherry, coffee, spice, sandalwood and good tannins on the finish. (****)
France (Burgundy) …
Maison Chanzy 2013 En Rosey Rully ($26.95 - #446153) – gentle cran-cherry with white pepper and a touch of earthiness on the finish. (*** ½+) … DE
France (Loire) …
Roland Tissier & Fils 2014 Sancerre ($27.95 - #108514) – a very sippable Sauvignon Blanc that shows the herbal / citrus pith side of the grape. (****) … DE
France (Rhone) …
Brotte 2013 La Marasque Gigondas ($29.95 - #443119) – wood-smoke, spice and chewy fruit. (*** ½+)
Mas des Bressades 2014 Cuvee Tradition ($16.95 - #143099) – nice fruit of cherry, blackberry, vanilla, cassis with weak coffee on the finish. (****)
Brunel de la Gardine 2014 Hermitage ($23.95 - #339861) – pretty violet, raspberry and cherry notes touched with a black pepper note. (*** ½+) … DE
Italy (Umbria) …
Bocale 2012 Montefalco Rosso ($22.95 - #434316) – blackberry, cassis and black pepper. (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Corte Majoli 2013 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($19.95 - #84061) – a little coffee, black cherry and spice. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Stoneleigh 2015 Latitude Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #324228) – zesty version that’s gentle on citrus with notes of pea pod and fresh grapefruit. (****) … DE
Portugal …
Titular 2013 Red ($16.95 - #445148) – good dinner wine with nice acidity, subtle fruit with a little dose of wood on the finish. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
The Chocolate Block ($39.95 - #129353) – touch of white pepper, mocha, violet and spice. (*** ½)
Waterkloof 2014 Seriously Cool Chenin Blanc ($16.95 - #443382) – refreshing pear and apple with some honeyed notes and good acidity. (*** ½+) … DE
Spain …
Bodegas Langa 2012 PI-3.1415 Concejon ($21.95 - #313841) – juicy red cherry and hint of cedar. (*** ½)
Duquesa de Valladolid 2014 Verdejo ($13.95 - #391649) – lively honeycomb, beeswax and apple skin. (***+)
Gonzalez Byass Solera 1847 Cream Sherry ($18.95 - #446476) – one of my all-time favourite Sherries is back, it’s a delightful creamy version, with a touch of acidity for balance; not as good as past incarnations but still quite tasty. (*** ½)
Torres 2012 Salmos ($30.95 - #450734) – mocha, cherry and cassis with blackberry and toasty notes on the long finish. (****)
Vina Vilano 2011 Crianza ($21.95 - #82180) – this gorgeous piece of business might be the best wine of the release: dark fruit, wood smoke, vanilla, all with a juicy core. (****+)
United States (California) …
Bridlewood 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #449751) – easy drinking mocha and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Decoy 2014 Pinot Noir ($35.95 - #191833) – sweet cherry, sandalwood and spice. (*** ½) … DE
Matanzas Creek 2013 Chardonnay ($27.95 - #932707) – pretty fruit forward with vanilla, peach, apple, hints of pear; creamy smooth, delicate, nice fruit and good acidity. (****+)
Ravenswood 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel ($19.95 - #942599) – goegeous Zin with cherry, plum, blackberry, mocha with a spicy finish. (****) … DE
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2013 Karia Chardonnay ($48.95 - #054585) – high alcohol but it’s expected in a Cali-Chardonnay; ripe pineapple, peach, vanilla, ripe and round – this one’s for those California Chardonnay lovers. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Iris 2013 Pinot Gris ($23.95 - #445726) – touch of orange peel gives this wine something extra to look forward to; also with some beeswax and good acidity. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Hogue 2013 Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #275123) – fruit forward Cab with smoky, cedar, vanilla, spice and dark fruit. (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Feudo di Santa Croce LXXIV 2013 Primitivo di Manduria ($24.95 - #434217) – Puglia … (****)
Groth 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($112.95 - #606517) – California … (*** ½+)
Jean-Luc Colombo 2012 Terres Brulees Cornas Syrah ($72.95 - #448837) – Rhone … (****+)
Palazzo 2009 Right Bank Red ($92.00 - #423194) – California … (****)
Pegaso 2010 Granito ($44.95 - #442749) – Spain … (*** ½)
Sylvain Mosnier 2013 Cote de Lechet Chablis 1er Cru ($35.95 - #318139) – Burgundy … (****)
Yealands 2013 Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir ($49.00 - #416784) – New Zealand … (****+)
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Baron-Fuente 2006 Grand Millesime Brut Champagne ($56.95 - #155119) – Champagne (****)
San Felice 2010 Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino ($59.95 - #991075) – Tuscany (****+)
Whitehall Lane 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($69.95 - #606509) – California (****)
What I’ll Be Lining Up For: April 2, 2016 …
Mas des Bressades 2014 Cuvee Tradition ($16.95 - #143099) – Rhone
Ravenswood 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel ($19.95 - #942599) – California
Vina Vilano 2011 Crianza ($21.95 - #82180) – Spain
Happy Shopping
