Saturday October 14, 2017 - Vintages Release Report

12 Oct 2017

 

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 … Napa Gold (NG) and Pinot Gallery (PG)
The Skinny … I have to admit, this is probably the worst bunch of Pinot Noirs ever assembled on one release by the board – on a happier note there is quite an array of Gewurztraminer in this release that should thrill fans of the grape. Also look for some really good stuff from France, Portugal and Chile; there’s also quite an array from Ontario this time.

Australia …
Mitolo 2014 Jester Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.95 - #43224) – silky smooth, easy drinking, blueberry, vanilla. Chocolate and white pepper.  (*** ½+)
Paxton 2015 MV Shiraz ($19.95 - #327403) – chocolate, vanilla and plum.  (*** ½+)
The Wild Ride 2014 ($23.95 - #493544) – fun little frolic on the tongue with baking spice, plum and blackberry.  (*** ½+)

Bulgaria …
K Cellars 2011 Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #517169) – ripe and dark fruited with cherry and cigar notes.  (*** ½)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Gray Monk 2015 Gewurztraminer ($21.95 - #321588) – subtle rose petal, peach and spiced tangerine.  (*** ½+)
Moraine 2015 Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #393827) – pretty with lots of plum, black cherry and strawberry.  (****) – PG
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Bachelder 2013 Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay ($44.95 - #324103) - ****
Cave Spring 2013 Estate Bottled Gewurztraminer ($17.95 - #302059) - ****+
Fielding 2016 Estate Bottled Riesling ($19.95 - #251439) - ****
Flat Rock 2015 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #286278) - ****
G. Marquis 2013 The Silver Line Epic Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc ($30.65 - #310367) - *** ½
Henry of Pelham 2010 Speck Family Reserve Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #657874) - ****
Muskoka Lakes 2014 Red Maple ($29.95 - #50039) - ****
Strewn 2015 Terroir Pinot Blanc ($18.95 - #520205) - *** ½+
Tawse 2012 Sketches of Niagara Cabernet/Merlot ($21.95 - #130252) - *** ½

Chile …
Ritual 2015 Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #514182) – licorice, mint, black cherry, hint of chocolate; hard to pick out as Pinot Noir but it’s a tasty wine.  (*** ½+) – PG
Tabali 2014 Vetas Blancas Reserva Especial Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #514117) – like Ontario Franc? Well this ain’t it: smoky nuances, deep dark fruit with tobacco influence, a little violet, big tannins, robust and smoky.  (****+)

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Brown 2012 ($48.95 - #496646) – leather, smoky, balsamic strawberries and wood.  (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Joseph Drouhin 2014 Cote de Beaune Villages ($29.95 - #518191) – sweet vanilla, raspberry, cranberry and cherry.  (*** ½) – PG
France (Midi) …
Chateau Auris 2014 Corbieres ($25.95 - #493882) – blueberry and cassis with hints of vanilla.  (*** ½)
Chateau de Segure 2014 Vieilles Vignes Fitou ($17.95 - #370254) – pleasantly spiced with cedar, blackberry and cassis.  (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Lavau 2014 Rasteau ($19.95 - #394650) – rich and dark fruited with licorice, red and black berry plus plum and cherry.  (****)
Ortas 2015 Tradition Rasteau ($17.95 - #998716) – graphite and blueberry, boysenberry and yellow plum.  (*** ½)

Germany …
Darting 2015 Durkheimer Nonnengarten Gewurztraminer Kabinett ($19.95 - #944181) – creamy mid with floral, blood orange and spicy notes and good acidity on the finish.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Piedmont) …
Bersano 2015 Gavi di Gavi ($16.95 - #999979) – lanolin, grapefruit, lemon zest and a surprisingly interesting finish that’ll keep you coming back for more.  (*** ½)
Michele Chiarlo 2012 Tortoniano Barolo ($41.95 - #586388) – pleasant spice, sour cherry and cedar.  (*** ½)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi 2008 Castello di Pomino Vin Santo ($42.95 - #661249) – orange peel, caramel, toasted almonds and praline.  (*** ½)
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2015 Crognolo ($32.95 - #727636) – tobacco, blackberry, smoked cherry and cassis.  (*** ½+)
Villa Cafaggio 2008 Cortaccio ($24.95 - #20966) – smoked cherry, plum with touch of leather and tannins.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Saint Clair 2016 Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($34.95 - #415653) – intense lemon-lime zest and a long finish.  (*** ½)
Thornbury 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #734798) – sweaty notes with passionfruit and grapefruit pith.  (*** ½)

Portugal …
Altivo 2015 Red ($12.95 - #522292) – cherry, strawberry, plum, blue fruit and smoke.  (*** ½+)
Confidencial 2013 Reserva ($13.95 - #452789) – rich, juicy and smooth: cherry, strawberry, vanilla, plum and a pretty finish.  (****)

South Africa …
Nederburg 2014 Manor House Shiraz ($16.95 - #68775) – spicy, peppery and smoky.  (*** ½)

Spain …
Alvear 2014 Pedro Ximenez de Anada ($24.95 / 375ml - #499152) – silky rich with caramel apple  and pecan pie notes with a little bit of spice action to boot.  (****+)

United States (California) …
Atalon 2012 Pauline’s Cuvee ($43.95 - #432310) – white pepper, blueberry with a juicy mid and a spicy finish.  (*** ½+) – NG
Franciscan 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #39388) – mocha mid with plum and cherry fruit.  (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Lone Birch 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.95 - #446971) – slight woody sensation on the tongue with mocha, caramel latte, currant and plum.  (*** ½+)

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Domaine Besson 2014 Mont de Milieu 1er Cru Chablis, Burgundy ($42.95 - #496653) - *** ½+
Icellars 2015 Arinna, Ontario ($39.00 - #524421) - **** ½+ (click name for review)
Torres 2014 Cos Perpetual, Spain ($49.95 - #265710) - ****+

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Duckhorn 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($84.95 - #24190) - ****+ (NG)
Faust 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($60.95 - #238261) - **** (NG)
Robert Mondavi 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($149.95 - #670463) - ****+ (NG)
Two Hands 2015 Lily’s Garden Shiraz, Australia ($59.95 - #683086) - ****
Xavier 2010 Cuvee Anonyme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($61.95 - #352906) - ****+

What I’ll Be Lining Up For (October 14, 2017) …
Confidencial 2013 Reserva ($13.95 - #452789) – Portugal
Lavau 2014 Rasteau ($19.95 - #394650) – France
Tabali 2014 Vetas Blancas Reserva Especial Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #514117) – Chile

Happy Shopping

 

Get Our Newsletter

* indicates required

Follow Us on Social Media

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube