Saturday July 7, 2018 - Vintages Release Report

05 Jul 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 … Mediterranean Magic (MM) & Cool Chardonnay (i4C)
The Skinny … Spain is the big winner this release having some of the best wines in the release that are the best values. The spotlights are fairly lackluster, thought the Ontario output in Chardonnay is probably the strongest of all the wines in the Cool Chardonnay focus. For the rest of the release wines you should be considering see below:

Australia …
Kilikanoon 2014 Baudinet Blend Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro ($29.95 -#429175) – intense rich black fruit, good character, spiced plum, black cherry and violets.  (***+)
Mr. Riggs 2016 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #126896) – shows some restraint; chocolate and clove, blackberry, purple plum, pleasant floral finish.  (****+)
Sons of Eden Kennedy 2015 Grenache/Shiraz/Mourdevre ($24.95 - #558692) – delicate raspberry fruit with strawberry, vanilla cream and mocha.  (****+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Calamus 2017 Crackle ($18.95 - #547844) - *** ½+
Cave Spring 2016 Indian Summer Riesling ($24.95 / 375ml - #415901) - *** ½+
Closson Chase 2016 Vineyard Chardonnay ($29.95 - #148866) - ****+ (i4C)
Featherstone 2017 Pheonix ($18.95 - #519025) - *** ½
Flat Rock 2016 Rusty Shed Chardonnay ($26.95 - #001552) - **** ½ (i4C)
Megalomaniac 2017 Pink Slip Rosé ($19.95 - #085126) - *** ½+
Rosehall Run Ceremony Brut Blanc de Blancs ($34.95 - #575696) - **** ½
Vieni Sparkling Riesling ($19.95 - #520411) - ***+

Chile …
Maycas del Limari 2016 Limestone Coast Reserva Especial Chardonnay ($22.95 - #143768) – oak and toast with apple and lemon.  (*** ½) … i4C
Toro de Piedra 2015 Gran Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #039362) – minty, blackcberry and black cherry.  (*** ½)

France (Beaujolais) …
Baptiste & Laurent 2015 Le Meilleur des 2 Mondes Saint-Amour ($19.95 - #556449) – nice floral, black cherry and plum.  (*** ½+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau La Roche Bazin ($18.95 - #416701) – leather, coffee, mocha and cherry.  (*** ½+)
Clarence Dillon 2014 Clarendelle Red ($24.95 - #028837) – tannic, grippy, cassis and mocha.  (*** ½)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Chevallier 2016 Chablis ($26.95 - #112227) – mineral and salty, lean lemon and green apple.  (*** ½+)
France (Champagne) …
Gardet Cuvee Saint Flavy Tradition Brut Champagne ($43.95 - #924654) – nice and toasty with almond and lemon/lime, brioche and mineral; great value bubble.  (****+)
France (Lauguedoc) …
Domaine D’Albas 2015 Rouge ($15.95 - #562587) – cherry, blackberry, vanilla, cinnamon and smoke.  (*** ½+) … MM
France (Midi) …
Gerard Bertrand 2015 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre Corbieres ($18.95 - #394288) – coffee, cherry, pepper, blackberry and cinnamon.  (****) … MM
France (Provence) …
Chateau La Tour de L’Eveque 2017 Rosé ($20.95 - #319392) – lots of strawberry and cherry.  (***+) … MM
The Palm by Whispering Angel ($22.95 - #562595) – more fruit driven that usually expected from Whispering Angel, but it has a tart, lime zest leanness on the finish.  (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Lavau 2014 Vacqueyras ($26.95 - #104927) – plum, cherry, floral and spice; very generous of fruit.  (****)

Germany …
Loosen Bros 2016 Dr, L Riesling ($14.95 - #599274) - still great value in a tart, mineral with good balancing sweetness and acidity Riesling.  (*** ½+)

Greece …
Artis Kotsifali Red 2015 ($13.95 - #548206) – smooth and easy with dried raspberry and blackberry.  (***+) … MM

Italy (Emilia-Romagna) …
I Diavoli 2016 Sangiovese Superiore ($19.95 - #542670) – spicy yet with good dark fruit: black cherry, cassis and mocha; give it two years.  (*** ½)
Italy (Lazio) …
Casale del Giglio 2017 Satrico ($17.95 - #569806) – apple, honey and grapefruit.  (*** ½)
Italy (Puglia) …
Messer del Fauno 2017 Negroamaro ($13.95 - #569640) – silky and peppery plus plum and black cherry.  (*** ½+)
Schola Sarmenti Cubardi 2012 Primitivo ($20.95 - #316083) – plummy and peppery with cola, black cherry and red currants but always with big spice.  (****+) … MM
Italy (Tuscany) …
Gattavecchi 2013 Nobile di Montepulciano ($25.95 - #672642) – spicy cherry and mocha with a long finish.  (*** ½+) … MM
Italy (Veneto) …
Bottega Gold Prosecco ($27.95 - #621458) – delicate lemon, apple, lanolin and lemon zest.  (*** ½)

New Zealand …
Paper Road 2016 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #179770) – subtle earthy and black cherry, anise and leather finish.  (****)

Portugal …
Arca Nova 2016 Vinho Verde ($13.95 - #292029) – lime/lemon zest with grapefruit pith on the finish.  (*** ½)
Casa de Cambres 2011 Reserva Red ($14.95 - #470377) – chocolate, cherry and raspberry.  (*** ½)

Spain …
Baron de Ley 2013 Reserva ($22.95 - #958868) – mocha, licorice, balsamic-cherry and strawberry.  (*** ½+)
Izadi Larrosa 2017 Premium Rosé ($15.95 - #490961) – dry and tart with good acid backbone, strawberry-raspberry with herbal and spiciness.  (****)
Tarima 2015 Monastrell ($14.95 - #310151) – rich blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, rich in both oak and spice; but it’s the black fruit that reigns supreme.  (****)
Vina Vilano 2013 Crianza ($23.95 - #082180) – nicely balanced with earthy, mineral, mocha and cherry.  (****)

United States (California) …
Aristotle 2014 Petite Sirah ($21.95 - #572321) – delicate and delicious with vanilla, plum, black cherry, and a hint of chocolate.  (****)
Calera 2015 Pinot Noir ($48.95 - #933044) – big extraction, good spice, upfront dark fruit.  (*** ½+)
Joel Gott 2015 Merlot ($24.95 - #479121) – smooth and silky with blueberry, blackberry, ripe cherry and vanilla.  (*** ½+)
La Crema 2016 Monterey Chardonnay ($26.95 - #158683) – butter, vanilla, apple, peach and delicate spice.  (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Domaine Drouhin 2015 Arthur Chardonnay ($39.95 - #959619) – delicate dried pear, apple, mineral and slightly salty.  (*** ½+)
River’s Edge 2013 Elkton Cuvee Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #557850) – a little more meaty than expected but also has nice spice.  (*** ½+)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …
Leeuwin 2013 Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Australia ($32.95 - #986133) - *** ½
Legon 2012 Reserva, Spain ($35.95 - #303511) - *** ½+
Mure Cuvee Prestige Cremant D’Alsace, Alsace ($27.95 - #643090) - *** ½
Seven Hills 2014 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington ($38.95 - #510792) - *** ½+


If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Antinori 2015 Guado Al Tasso, Tuscany ($117.95 - #986380) - **** ½
Drappier Carte D’Or Brut Champagne, France ($54.95 - #726281) - ****
Frank Family 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($65.95 - #246900) - *** ½+
Kistler 2016 Les Noisetiers Chardonnay, California ($99.95 - #251223) - ****
Hamilton Russell 2017 Pinot Noir, South Africa ($58.95 - #999516) - ****
Xavier 2015 XV Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($54.95 - #244814) - ****+


Best Values in this Release (July 7, 2018) …
Gerard Bertrand 2015 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre Corbieres ($18.95 - #394288) – France
Izadi Larrosa 2017 Premium Rosé ($15.95 - #490961) – Spain
Tarima 2015 Monastrell ($14.95 - #310151) – Spain

Happy Shopping

 

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