Saturday November 10, 2018 - Vintages Release Report
08 Nov 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 … California Premium Wines (CPW)
The Skinny … Sadly due to my trip to Spain, and the size of this tasting, which the LCBO is splitting into two tastings, I only got a chance to taste predominantly the New World wines in this release; so let’s get right to it:
Argentina …
Benmarco 2016 Expresivo ($39.95 - #263517) – coffee, blackberry with some mint and cassis. (*** ½+)
Unanime 2014 Gran Vino Tinto ($29.95 - #466938) – mocha, cherry, smoky and floral all play a part here. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Glaetzer 2016 Bishop Shiraz ($39.95 - #627869) – solid red and black fruit core with spice backing it up; mocha, black cherry, earth and coffee bean most noticeable. (****)
Pirramimma 2015 Petit Verdot ($28.95 - #986752) – nice subtle spice and blue fruit with raspberry and chocolate also making an appearance. (*** ½+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Osoyoos Larose 2014 Le Grand Vin ($47.95 - #626325) – mocha, black cherry and coffee. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Flat Rock 2016 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #286278) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2016 Speck Family Reserve Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #657874) - ****+
Inniskillin 2017 Riesling Icewine ($79.95 / 375ml - #558288) - *** ½+
Lakeview Cellars 2017 Cabernet Franc Icewine ($29.95 / 200ml - #53397) - *** ½
Pondview 2016 Lot 74 Sparkling Brut ($24.95 - #579854) - *** ½
Sue-Ann Staff 2015 The Chestnut Tree Cabernet Franc ($34.95 - #352393) - ***+
The Foreign Affair 2015 Dream ($29.95 - #364380) - *** ½
Vineland Estates 2015 Boteek Clone 327 Cabernet Franc ($35.00 - #621342) - ****+
Chile …
Errazuriz 2016 Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #203364) – minty, black cherry all backed with subtlety and juiciness. (*** ½)
Santa Ema 2016 Gran Reserva Chardonnay ($16.95 - #542365) – gentle vanilla, pineapple, peach and almond praline. (****)
France (Alsace) …
Pierre Sparr Brut Rosé Cremant D’Alsace ($19.95 - #39016) – sweet strawberry and raspberry with hints of lime backing. (*** ½+)
France (Champagne) …
Gardet Cuvee Saint Flavy Tradition Brut Champagne ($43.95 - #924654) – solidly made Champagne at a good price with lovely biscuity notes and citrus fruit. (*** ½+)
Italy (Alto Adige / Trentino) …
Ferrari Brut ($24.95 - #352153) – plenty of mineral, apple and lemon. (*** ½)
New Zealand …
Paddy Borthwick 2016 Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #555516) – a little bit on the spicy side with nice intensity of peach, apple and apricot. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Delheim 2015 Shiraz ($17.95 - #959080) – pleasant and easy drinking with a slight spice and lots of black fruit. (*** ½+)
Ken Forrester 2017 Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc ($17.95 - #231282) – apple and lanolin with hints of mineral and some peach and pear on the finish. (*** ½+)
The Chocolate Block 2016 ($79.95 / 1500ml - #135996) – mocha, mocha and more mocha; it’s hard not to like this wine. (***+)
United States (California) …
Peter Franus 2014 Zinfandel, California ($44.95 - #577387) – sweet cola notes with cherry and plum backing. (*** ½+) … CPW
Robert Mondavi 2015 Oakville Fume Blanc ($44.95 - #439760) – peachy, grassy and lemony. (*** ½) … CPW
Submission 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.00 - #628230) – sweet chocolate, plum and black cherry; straight up this is a Saturday night sipper and will appeal to those who like Apothic as a guilty pleasure. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Wines of Substance 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #419770) – great concentration of dark fruit, plum, mocha and black cherry. (****)
________________________________________
In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …
Abacela 2017 Albarino, Oregon ($29.95 - #629477) - *** ½
Bollinger Brut Rosé Champagne, France ($113.95 - #100503) - ****+
Chateau des Charmes 2016 Paul Bosc Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ontario ($38.95 - #332858) - *** ½
Kistler 2015 Pinot Noir, California ($97.95 - #330274) - ****
Newton 2014 Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($88.95 - #606533) - ****+
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Dominus 2014 Napanook, California ($119.95 - #212357) - **** (CPW)
Duckhorn 2015 Merlot, California ($67.95 - #992529) - *** ½+ (CPW)
Flowers 2016 Pinot Noir, California ($64.95 - #215202) - **** (CPW)
J. Lohr 2014 Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($97.95 - #246918) - ****+ (CPW)
Joseph Phelps 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($118.95 - #189795) - ****+ (CPW)
Kistler 2016 Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay, California ($107.95 - #183921) - *** ½+ (CPW)
Ridge 2016 Geyserville, California ($74.95 - #723072) - **** ½ (CPW)
Shafer 2015 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($149.95 - #45476) - ****+
Best Values in this Release - (November 10, 2018) …
Santa Ema 2016 Gran Reserva Chardonnay ($16.95 - #542365) – Chile
Happy Shopping
