Saturday January 6, 2018 - Vintages Release Report

02 Jan 2018

 

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 … Smart Buys (SB)
The Skinny … As usual the first release in January is a treasure trove of wines that could not / would not / or should not have been sold through the year – it’s a real wasteland of mediocre wines – that being said there is the occasion golden needle in this haystack, I’m going to try and show you a few.

Argentina …
BenMarco 2014 Malbec ($18.95 - #657601) – bitter chocolate, deep rich blueberry and burnt mocha.  (*** ½+)

Australia …
D’Arenberg 2014 The Footbolt Shiraz ($17.00 - #984021) – tobacco and chocolate with mocha-latte and blackberry-cassis.  (*** ½+)
Wakefield 2016 Clare Valley Estate Chardonnay ($15.95 - #711556) – slight tropical with vanilla. (*** ½)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Chateau des Charmes 2016 St. David’s Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit ($18.95 - #346742) - *** ½+

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau La Croix de Queynac 2015 ($14.95 - #138636) – easy drinking into to Bordeaux with blueberry, blackberry and red currants.  (*** ½+)
Chateau Peyrabon 2015 ($23.95 - #10538) – juicy and layered with black and red fruit dominating a dark plum and cedar finish.  (*** ½)
Chateau Siaurac 2010 ($43.95 - #309831) – vanilla, cedar, black fruit and some foresty-earthy notes, a still-playful aged Bordeaux.  (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Louis Max Coteaux 2015 Bourguignons ($18.95 - #527879) – light earthy-cherry combo.  (***+)
Terres Secretes 2015 La Roche Vineuse Macon ($17.95 - #522193) – slight pith-like note with citrus, mineral and green apple. (*** ½)
France (Midi) …
Gerard Bertrand 2014 Fitou ($16.95 - #403683) – mocha-raspberry, cherry, and subtle spice; quite quaffable.  (*** ½) – SB
Paul Mas Estate 2016 Viognier ($13.95 - #370098) – touch of tropical, peach skin and pear.  (*** ½) - *** ½
France (Rhone) …
Courtois La Source 2015 Cotes du Rhone ($14.95 - #526640) – smoky and earthy with some black cherry and tobacco on the finish.  (****)
Foncalieu2012 Reserve du Crouzau St. Gervais Cotes du Rhone Villages ($16.95 - #142943) – up front black fruit, juicy cherry mid with vanilla and a nice tannin bite on the finish.  (*** ½+)
Xavier 2015 Muscat de Beaumes de Venise ($16.95 - #515783) – if you like Muscat wines or even Muscato this one works for what you like.  (***)
France (Southwest) …
Aydie 2014 L’Origine Madiran ($14.95 - #343566) – juicy black cherry, blackberry, vanilla and mocha.  (*** ½+)
Domaine Lafage 2014 Cayrol Vieiles Vignes Carignan ($19.95 - #494039) – lots of re berry juiciness, easy drinking with a vanilla seam; drink now and enjoy.  (****) – SB

Italy (Basilicata) …
Feudi del Vescovo 2015 Tre Stelle Aglianico de Vulture ($15.95 - #539502) – rich blackberry and mineral notes, mocha-plum, herbal and hints of leather.  (****) – SB
Italy (Campania) …
Janare 2016 Fiano ($16.95 - #528786) – grapefruit and lemon with lanolin and lime on the finish.  (*** +)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Irrosso 2015 ($28.95 - #536235) – smoky blackberry, cassis and coffee bean.  (****)
Villa Trasqua 2013 Chianti Classico ($17.95 - #121160) – blue and black berry, oak and coffee.  (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Cantina di Verona 2014 Ripasso Valpoicella Superiore ($17.95 - #424960) – supple yet firm with mocha, cherry and vanilla; well-made Ripasso.  (****)
Feudi San Pio 2016 PassaTempo ($14.95 - #528737) – juicy and jammy with mocha, sandalwood, plum and blackberry.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Momo 2015 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #163972) – ripe cran-cherry, cassis and earth.  (*** ½+)
Mount Riley 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #981670) – crisp yet lean with floral and citrus pith.  (*** ½) – SB

South Africa …
Leeuwenkuil 2016 Shiraz ($14.95 - #536631) – hints of pepper, smoke and leather.  (*** ½)
Tussock Jumper 2017 Chenin Blanc ($12.95 - #480764) – nice bit of tropical with some orange blossom on the finish.  (*** ½+) – SB

Spain …
Alvear Cream Sherry ($16.95 - #515791) -  simple almond, hazelnut with orange zest.  (*** ½)

United States (California) …
Ca’Momi 2015 Merlot ($24.95 - #470187) – not typical Merlot form California, but very welcome: chocolate cherry vanilla, juicy blueberry and plum; just an all-round pretty wine.  (****)
Gnarly Head 2014 Authentic Black ($18.95 - #539171) – it’s what you’d expect: sweet black fruit, it’s an easy quaffer.  (***+)
Klinker Brick 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel ($23.95 - #59113) – spicy raspberry and blueberry with some cherry-cola mocha on the finish.  (*** ½)
Murphy-Goode 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.95 - #427542) – easy drinking and approachable with a juicy core.  (*** ½)
Seaglass 2015 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #539163) – pure cherry juice with a little cran-raspberry and floral.  (*** ½+)
Vina Robles 2013 Petite Sirah ($20.95 - #538694) – a heavy 14.9% alcohol but masked with cola and espresso bean along with black cherry and mocha.  (*** ½+)

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Quinta das Carvalhas 20 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal ($63.95 - #536292) … *** ½+


What I’ll Be Lining Up For (January 6, 2018) …
Cantina di Verona 2014 Ripasso Valpoicella Superiore ($17.95 - #424960) – Italy
Courtois La Source 2015 Cotes du Rhone ($14.95 - #526640) – France
Domaine Lafage 2014 Cayrol Vieiles Vignes Carignan ($19.95 - #494039) – France
Feudi del Vescovo 2015 Tre Stelle Aglianico de Vulture ($15.95 - #539502) – Italy

Happy Shopping

 

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