Saturday August 31, 2019 - Vintages Release Report

29 Aug 2019

 

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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 … Super Scores (SS) & Rhone Valley (RV)

The New Normal … The LCBO has curbed our tasting of Vintages releases by almost half – they are “curating” what we taste, so instead of finding those gems from the full list of wines being released the LCBO is telling us what they want us to taste and then we are to pick the gems out of those wines …

65 wines were NOT offered for tasting –
plus 7 “Flagship Exclusives” (aka. In Store Discoveries)

The Skinny … It’s quite the lackluster release, but heck it’s the dog days of summer, so really what do you expect?  The holiday season is coming up and the big guns will be out soon – so for now we have to make do with this rag tag bunch of wines – there are some good ones to be had – check ‘em out below.

Argentina …
Trapiche 2014 Terroir Series Finca Coletto Malbec ($42.95 - #482968) – blackberry, cherry and smoke.  (***+) … SS

Australia …
Coco Rotie 2017 Syrah/Viognier ($24.95 - #108076) – floral, cherry, white pepper and a long finish.  (*** ½+) … SS
Thorn-Clarke 2017 Sandpiper Shiraz ($17.00 - #10436) – meaty, blackberry, and subtle spice; not exactly the blockbuster IU expect from TC but it is still good wine.  (*** ½)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2017 Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #64618) - *** ½+
Featherstone 2018 Pheonix ($18.95 - #519025) - *** ½

Chile …
Hacienda Araucano 2015 Clos de Lolol ($29.95 - #464362) – minty, black cherry, mocha and cocoa; very typically Chilean Cab.  (*** ½+) … SS
Perez Cruz 2016 Limited Edition Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #10591) – supple and succulent with subtle mint notes with lots of blackberry and black cherry.  (****)

France (Beaujolais) …
Henry Fessy 2017 Gamay Noir ($16.95 - #648550) – light, fresh cherry, raspberry; it’s a chill and enjoy that will be easy drinking when you do.  (***+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau La Pirouette 2016 ($23.95 - #644799) – light floral and white smoke with a little underbrush and leather.  (*** +)
Chateau Louelet 2015 Cuvee JJ Lesgourgues ($17.95 - #550293) – black fruit, mocha, oak, black cherry and good tannins backbone.  (*** ½) … SS
France (Loire) …
Domaine de Congy 2017 Pouilly-Fume ($32.95 - #667501) – delicate grapefruit pith and zest along with some nice acidity.  (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Courtois La Grance 2015 Vinsobres ($17.00 - #526632) – cherry, plum, mineral with a nice blackberry finish.  (*** ½) … RV
Delas 2018 Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone Rosé ($16.95 - #224964) – peach, raspberry, lime with a nice hint of floral; this one is a delicious rosé, released at the wrong time.  (****)
Domaine du Grapillon D’or 2016 Gigondas ($35.00 - #981787) – lovely dark fruit with cassis, plum cherry along with mocha, licorice and mineral with a lovely mid-length finish.  (****+) … RV
France (Southwest) …
Chateau Saint-Roch 2016 Roubials ($24.95 - #644567) – dark fruit driven with coffee, black cherry and spice with great texture and acidity.  (****+) … SS

Italy (Piedmont) …
Anzivino 2012 Gattinara ($29.95 - #534909) – dried cherry and herbal notes throughout.  (*** ½)
Rizzi 2015 Barbaresco ($42.95 - #478958) – lush cherry with dried nuances, floral and good acidity.  (*** ½+) … SS
Italy (Tuscany) …
Duca di Saragnano 2017 Sir Passo ($16.95 - #10121) – plum, mocha, black cherry, plenty of sweet fruit with good acid balance; this really is chocolate covered cherries soaked in kirsch.  (*** ½) … SS

Portugal …
Periquita 2016 Reserva ($16.95 - #488007) – blackberry, black cherry, vanilla and smoke.  (*** ½)

South Africa …
Simonsig 2018 Chenin Blanc ($13.95 - #610907) – lanolin, dandelion and green apple skin.  (*** ½)

Spain …
Puelles 2009 Reserva ($19.95 - #692780) – spiced cherry with floral and cassis.  (*** ½)

United States (California) …
Tenshen 2017 Red ($29.95 - #10318) – smoky-mocha-cherry, coffee bean and licorice; this one is loaded with dark fruit.  (****)
________________________________________

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Gabriel Meffre 2015 Laurus Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($55.95 - #699074) - **** … RV
Rene Geoffroy 2012 Empreinte Brut 1er Cru Champagne, France ($69.95 - #665844) - ***+  


Best Values in this Release - (August 31, 2019) …
Perez Cruz 2016 Limited Edition Cabernet Franc ($19.95 - #10591) – Chile

 

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© MichaelPinkusWineReview.com 2019. All rights reserved. You may use the content of this newsletter by including full credit to Michael Pinkus, Grape Guy and a link to www.michaelpinktuwinereview.com

 

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