Saturday August 4, 2018 - Vintages Release Report
02 Aug 2018- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
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 … Eco-Friendly Wines (EFW) and Puglia / Campania Italy (PCI)
The Skinny … There are some really good values in this release, just check out the bottom of the report, no less than 7 wines make my list … as for the spotlight wines, the Eco and Dual region releases are a little disappointing, but the three under $15 I recommend should more than make up for it.
Australia …
Howard Park 2015 Flint Rock Shiraz ($22.95 - #558726) – mocha, black cherry, plum and smoke with some surprising meatiness. (****)
Sister’s Run 2016 Cow’s Corner Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro ($16.95 - #346510) – easy drinking with raspberry, spice and earthy tones. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Leaning Post 2015 The Fifty Chardonnay ($21.95 - #578864) - *** ½+
Malivoire 2017 Vivant Rosé ($19.95 - #498535) - ****
Organized Crime 2016 Break-In Pinot Noir ($21.95 - #396267) - *** ½+
WildAss 2014 Red ($19.95 - #086363) - ****+
Chile …
Boya 2016 Chardonnay ($14.95 - #569665) – gentle and easy Chardonnay with vanilla, subtle apple, melon and pear notes. (****)
Montes 2015 Alpha Syrah ($19.95 - #000612) – peppery and spicy with blackcherry, mint and plum. (****) ... EFW
France (Beaujolais) …
Laurent Gauthier 2015 Grand Cras Vieilles Vignes Morgon ($21.95 - #279059) – juicy blue and red fruit with smoky-cherry, mineral, rhubarb and strawberry notes. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Clarke 2010 ($42.95 - #503904) – mocha, blackberry, cassis and smoke, all finishing up with mostly dark fruits. (****)
Chateau Larroque 2015 ($16.95 - #092536) – juicy black fruits with pencil shavings, dark plum and mocha / licorice on the finish. (****)
Chateau Tour Grand Mayne 2015 ($18.95 - #550384) – blue and black fruit: cherry, coffee bean, vanilla and strawberry-balsamic. (****+)
France (Burgundy) …
Henri de Villamont Blanc de Blancs Cremant de Bourgogne ($24.95 - #543116) – crisp bubbly with lemon, lime and apple with some toastiness on the finish. (*** ½+)
La Chablisienne 2014 Le Finage Chablis ($19.95 - #556340) – simple mineral , apple and lime with a pleasant finish. (*** ½+)
France (Lauguedoc) …
Abbotts & Delaunay 2016 Les Fruits Sauvages Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95 - #561209) – pretty mocha-cherry, pepper, cassis, well-balanced tanins and acidity with hints of oak and spice. (****)
France (Loire) …
Pascal Jolivet 2017 Sancerre ($29.95 - #264945) – bright lemon and lime with some grapefruit, melon and mineral. (****)
France (Provence) …
Figuiere 2017 Le Saint Andre Rosé ($17.95 - #562728) – orange, raspberry and melon rind. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($47.95 - #539882) – mint and mocha with a juicy core, black cherry, blackberry and chocolate. (****)
France (Roussillon) …
Tessellae 2017 Rosé ($16.95 - #450817) – fun and tasty, sweetish and supple with nectarine and mandarin meets cherry and strawberry all balanced with good acidity. (*** ½+)
France (Southwest) …
Chateau du Port 2014 Cuvee Prestige Malbec ($19.95 - #380683) – good tannin backbone with cassis, black cherry and a meatiness in the mouth. (*** ½+)
Italy (Campania) …
Indomito 2016 Falanghina del Beneventano ($14.95 - #562454) – yellow melon, floral and pear. (*** ½) … PCI
Italy (Puglia) …
Masseria 2016 Noha Primitivo ($19.95 - #569939) – a nice balance of vanilla, cherry and chocolate. (*** ½) … PCI
Li Veli 2016 Passamante Negroamaro ($16.95 - #570077) – sweet and juicy cherry, basic but very tasty. (***+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Brancaia 2015 Tre ($24.95 - #164715) – cherry, strawberry and tea. (*** ½+)
Guado al Tasso 2015 Il Bruciato ($25.95 - #674135) – nice smoky, cherry, black fruit with vanilla and cherry on the finish. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Tezza 2015 Ma Roat Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($17.95 - #084053) – black cherry, smoky, plum, Christmas spices and a hint of mocha. (****)
New Zealand …
Auntsfield 2017 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #663286) – very New Zealand with a twist, there’s some nice weight and texture for complexity, plus passionfruit and melon. (****)
South Africa …
Waterkloof 2017 Seriously Cool Chenin Blanc ($17.95 - #443382) – there’s a hint of apple plus some melon, floral and wildflower honey. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Albret 2012 Reserva ($17.95 - 574434) – lovely vanilla, cherry, plum and mocha. (****)
Borsao 2016 Tres Picos Garnacha ($19.95 - #273748) – coffee, mocha, blackberry and licorice. (*** ½+)
Finca Momica 2016 Tempranillo ($13.95 - #574368) – black cherry, vanilla and floral. (*** ½)
Senorio de Barahonda 2016 Carro ($14.95 - #574426) – real juicy with mocha, cherry, blackberry and spice at its core. (****)
United States (California) …
Edge 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($36.95 - #034223) – a plethora of chocolate, cherry jam, tobacco and raspberry. (*** ½+)
Paul Dolan 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($31.95 - #135152) – nice and smooth with some silkiness among the pepper, mocha and blackberry. (*** ½) … EFW
United States (Oregon) …
Roco 2014 Gravel Road Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #575431) – juicy black and blue fruit with notes of cherry, red licorice, plum and a delicate spicy finish. (****)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …
Austin Hope 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($59.95 - #578005) - ****+
De Morgenzon 2016 Chenin Blanc Reserve, South Africa ($39.95 - #339762) - *** ½+
Quinta da Rede 2013 Grande Reserva, Spain ($28.95 - #491993) – ****
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Nicolas Feuillatte 2008 Brut Champagne, France ($59.95 - #240085) - ****
Other Stuff That’s Fine, But It’s Not Wine …
Stroh Jagertee Spiced Flavoured Rum, Austria ($24.95 - #560730) - ****
Sortilege Prestige – Whisky and Maple Syrup, Canada ($50.95 - #317206) - ****
Best Values in this Release - (August 4, 2018) …
Abbotts & Delaunay 2016 Les Fruits Sauvages Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.95 - #561209) – France
Albret 2012 Reserva ($17.95 - 574434) – Spain
Boya 2016 Chardonnay ($14.95 - #569665) – Chile
Chateau Tour Grand Mayne 2015 ($18.95 - #550384) – France
Montes 2015 Alpha Syrah ($19.95 - #000612) – Chile
Senorio de Barahonda 2016 Carro ($14.95 - #574426) – Spain
WildAss 2014 Red ($19.95 - #086363) – Ontario
Happy Shopping
