Saturday May 14, 2016 - Vintages Release Report
10 May 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 … Customer Favourites (CF); New Zealand (NZ); Stylish Sake (SK)
The Skinny … I’m not sure what constitutes a “Customer Favourite” because the wines I expected to see here were not, but the LCBO has some qualifications for these wines even if I don’t understand what they are. On the other hand there are good wines to be found from Spain, Australia and Italy.
Argentina …
Fabre Montmayou 2012 Gran Reserva Malbec ($24.95 - #279802) – big chocolate with notes of blueberry, spice and white pepper all balanced off with good tannins. (****) – CF
Australia …
Magpie Estate 2013 The Sack Shiraz ($21.95 - #094078) – pretty typical: smoky, spicy and vanilla. (*** ½+)
Mollydooker 2014 The Boxer Shiraz ($33.95 - #246595) – dark fruit, wild blueberry, blackberry, smoky dark fruit with a peppery finish. (****) – CF
Thorn-Clarke 2013 Shotfire Quartage ($21.95 - #024091) – mocha, blackberry and white pepper. (*** ½+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Joie Farm 2013 Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #454819) - *** ½+ (click wine name for full review)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Adamo Estate 2014 The Stopper White Blend ($14.95 - #452235) - *** ½
Domaine Queylus 2012 Tradition Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #392238) - **** (CF)
Fielding 2015 Rosé ($15.95 - #053421) - *** ½
Norman Hardie 2015 Riesling ($21.00 - #131169) - ****+
Nyarai Cellars 2011 Cadence ($21.95 - #451781) - *** ½+
Rosewood 2015 Sussreserve Riesling ($14.95 - #258806) - *** ½+
Tawse 2012 Sketches of Niagara Cabernet/Merlot ($20.95 - #130252) - *** ½+
Viewpointe 2010 Focal Point Cabernet Franc ($24.95 - #450916) - *** ½
Chile …
Estampa 2010 Gold Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Malbec ($29.95 - #163501) – minty blackberry, vanilla-smoke, black currant with meaty notes. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Brande-Bergere 2009 Cuvee O’Byrne ($25.95 - #446674) – coffee, smoked meat, spice and cassis. (*** ½+)
Chateau du Carillon 2010 ($23.95 - #444109) – cedary, smoky, cassis, vanilla, white pepper and blackberry. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #991562) – nice little bit of fizz here with apple, lemon drop and good finishing acidity. (*** ½+) – CF
France (Midi) …
Saint-Roch 2013 Vieilles Vignes Syrah/Grenache ($16.95 - #195107) – blueberry, raspberry, gentle spice and wood smoke. (*** ½+) – CF
Ortas 2011 Prestige Rasteau ($21.95 - #985929) – coffee, raspberry and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Mas des Bressades 2015 Cuvee Tradition Rosé ($15.95 - #950576) – strawberry, raspberry and red currant with notes of citrus. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Amastuola 2011 Centosassi Primitivo ($23.95 - #420661) – plum, blackberry, chocolate, cassis, vanilla, black cherry with a mocha-plummy finish. (****)
Italy (Sicily) …
Barone Montalto 2014 Viognier ($15.95 - #435479) – interesting viognier from unexpected place: lanolin, floral, peach, nectarine and citrus. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
La Regola 2008 Vallino ($26.95 - #440602) – well-aged with dark, smoky blackberry and cassis. (*** ½)
Ca’ di Pesa 2013 Chianti Classico ($38.95 - #453670) – cassis, roasted coffee, cooked strawberry and hints of blackberry. (*** ½+)
Rendola 2009 Rosso di Montalcino ($15.95 - #438564) – herbal, black cherry, raspberry and smoky. (*** ½)
Japan …
I know very little about Sake but I did taste the four available and here’s what I scored my favourites:
Sho Chiku Bai Premium Ginjo Sake ($12.95 / 300ml - #960088) - *** ½
Okunomatsu Sparkling Junmai Daiginjo Sake ($13.95 / 290ml - #2289730 - *** ½
New Zealand …
Dog Point 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($24.95 - #6777450) – clean and fresh, delicate version of Sauv Blanc with lime, grapefruit, floral and decent acdity. (*** ½)
Elephant Hill 2014 Le Phant ($22.95 - #447367) – blueberry, tobacco, cassis with coffee notes on the finish. (*** ½+) – NZ
Thornbury 2014 Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #329706) – sour cherry, spice and peppered-strawberries. (*** ½) – NZ
Villa Maria 2014 Southern Clays Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($29.95 - #447474) – the best of the Savvy B lot this time out, it’s not typical and that’s a good thing. (*** ½+) – NZ
Portugal …
Justino’s 5-Year Reserve Fine Rich Madeira ($24.95 - #196840) – orange zest, clove, caramel / butterscotch and praline almonds. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Graham Beck 2014 Game Reserve Chenin Blanc ($15.95 - #443366) – honey, lemon drop, peach pit and floral. (*** ½+)
Rickety Bridge 2013 The Foundation Stone Red ($18.95 - #444521) – sweet vanilla, red currant and smoky. (*** ½)
Spain …
Castelo de Medina 2015 Rosé ($14.95 - #452391) – apple, strawberry and tropical fruit with nectarine on the finish. (*** ½)
Monterebro 2013 Seleccion ($19.95 - #443929) – layered with strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, plum, vanilla, chocolate, mocha and notes of balsamic. (****+)
United States (California) …
First Press 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.95- #1888110) – good dark and red fruit: blueberry. Blackberry and black cherry. (*** ½+)
La Crema 2014 Los Carneros Pinot Noir ($45.95 - #058024) – ripe and lush of fruit with cranberry, red plum, black cherry, white smoke, strawberry and balsamic with nice acidity on the finish. (****+)
Rodney Strong 2013 Chalk Hill Chardonnay ($24.95 - #275552) – grilled pineapples and peaches, creamy vanilla, apple, delicate citrus, spice and good acidity for balance. (****)
Roederer Estate Brut Sparkling ($39.95 - #294181) – nice creamy mid-palate with lemon, green apple and great acidity on the finish; I hear that bottle variation is an issue here, but this one is still worth a purchase. (****)
William Hill 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($44.95 - #212951) – silky chocolate, white smoke and good spice. (****) – CF
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
De Muller Aureo 1959 Seco Anejo ($37.95 - #452607) – Spain (*** ½)
Mission Hill 2011 Quatrain ($59.95 - #218636) – British Columbia (****)
Pascual Toso 2013 Alta Cabernet ($32.95 - #441907) – Argentina (*** ½+)
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Chateau de Beaucastel 2013 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($89.95 - #711317) – Rhone (****) – CF
Silver Oak 2011 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($125.95 - #943472) – California (****)
What I’ll Be Lining Up For: May 14, 2016 …
Monterebro 2013 Seleccion ($19.95 - #443929) – Spain
Happy Shopping
