Saturday May 16, 2015 - Vintages Release Report
11 May 2015- Details
- Category: Vintages Releases
To print this report click here for the PDF version
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 … Australia’s First Families (AFF) and Fresh Whites (FW)
The Skinny … This release is all about fresh whites and big reds; there are some really good wines between 30-40 dollars but for you value seekers the wine selections are few and far between.
Argentina …
Don David 2012 Reserve Malbec ($14.95 - #64998) – dark fruit and vanilla with blueberry, touch of oak and anise. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Henschke 2013 Henry’s Drive ($42.95 - #685578) – rich and flavourful with lots of dark fruit and a spicy finish. (****) – AFF
Tahbilk Estate 2010 Shiraz ($22.95 - #214742) – plum and baking spice, blackberry and cassis, there’s even a little bit of floral. (*** ½+) – AFF
Wakefield 2013 Merlot ($17.95 - #683201) – soft and juicy, very approachable. (*** ½+) – AFF
Yalumba 2012 The Strapper GSM ($19.95 - #295873) – herbal and spice along with plum and blackberry. (*** ½+) – AFF
Canada (British Columbia) …
Gray Monk 2013 Gewurztraminer ($19.95 - #321588) – pretty G-wine with a reigned in floral-ness and lemon zest backing. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Cave Spring 2013 Pinot Gris ($17.95 - #621086) - *** ½
Featherstone 2014 Black Sheep Riesling ($16.95 - #80234) - ****+
Fielding 2014 Pinot Gris ($21.95 - #251108) - *** ½
Henry of Pelham 2012 Family Tree Red ($18.95 - #247882) - **** ½
Rosehall Run 2012 The Certain Ratio ($29.95 - #415554) - *** ½+
Tawse 2011 Growers Blend Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #130989) - *** ½
Chile …
Concha y Toro 2012 Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere ($19.95 - #169862) – black currant, white pepper, blueberry, smoky notes and hints of vanilla. (*** ½+)
Lapostolle 2012 Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #947929) – rich, juicy, black cherry and cassis with touch of sweet cedar. (****)
France (Alsace) …
Kuhlmann-Platz Rose Cremant D’Alsace ($18.95 - #400788) – hints of cherry with a lemon sensation on the finish. (*** ½+)
Pierre Sparr 2013 Reserve Pinot Gris ($16.95 - #983395) – touches the tongue with hints of honeyed white fruits. (*** ½)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Teyssier 2010 ($24.95 - #226035) – mocha, toasty, smoky, cassis, blackberry and licorice. (****+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Berthenet Montagny 1er Cru ($27.95 - #405993) – nice depth and roundness with some apple, peach puree and some vanilla that can be found at the back. (****)
Domaine Chanzy 2012 Mercurey Clos du Roy 1er Cru ($37.95 - #408161) – rich black cherry, smoke, earthy and violets; very pretty. (****+)
Domaine du Colombier 2013 Chablis ($21.95 - #366419) – decent mineral quality with lemon and a strong flinty note. (*** ½+) – FW
William Fevre 2013 Saint-Bris ($20.95 - #626523) – nice nose and flavours of Sauvignon Blanc with grapefruit pith finish. (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Chateau de Gourgazaud 2013 Cuvee Mathilde Minervois ($14.95 - #958629) – quite juicy with hints of licorice, herbal and cassis. (*** ½)
France (Provence) …
Chateau La Tour de L’Eveque 2014 Rosé ($18.95 - #319392) – dry and quite delicious with nice raspberry and strawberry pith. (*** ½+)
Italy (Alto-Adige) …
Tiefenbrunner 2014 Pinot Grigio ($19.95 - #954024) – lemon-lime with hints of grapefruit and lively acidity; pleasantly long finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Recchia 2011 Masua di Jago Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($37.95 - #362921) – rich in cherry, mocha; offering tons of red fruit and a succulent mid-to-finish, balanced by spice and acidity; great value this release. (****+)
Tommasi 2013 Graticcio Appassionato ($15.95 - #338939) – raspberry, cherry and mocha; this one show a bit of depth. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Nobilo 2013 Icon Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #66803) – cherry, raspberry with hints of white pepper and subtle oak. (****)
Rapura Springs 2013 Pinot Gris ($17.95 - #393702) – fresh and fruity; a real patio sipper. (*** ½)
Stoneleigh 2014 Latitude Sauvignon Blanc ($21.95 - #324228) – balancing pink grapefruit with the grassy and tropical; it’s really pretty. (****) – FW
Portugal …
Meandro do Vale 2012 Meao ($24.95 - #244731) – rich with dark fruit, gentle spice and good fruit. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Vinum Africa 2012 Chenin Blanc ($15.95 - #739995) – lanolin and pineapple play a part in the flavour profile along with a creamy note that crosses through the mid-palate. (****) – FW
Spain …
Ondarre 2009 Reserva ($18.95 - #723452) – full bodied and ready: spicy red and black fruit along with plum and baking spice. (****)
Pinyolet 2012 Garnacha ($18.95 - #271791) – fruit forward with raspberry, white pepper and floral. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Artezin 2012 Zinfandel ($23.95 - #4887) – light et with all the fruit you’d expect: cherry, plum and cedar; I call it light but it’s still 14.5%. (*** ½+)
Dry Creek Vineyard 2012 Old Vine Zinfandel ($37.95 - #412288) – from 90+ year old vines; rich and deep with good structure and flavour: mocha, black cherry, spiced plum and spicy pepper on the finish. (****+)
Raymond 2012 Reserve Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($39.95 - #715979) – rich mouthfeel, mocha, plum, black cherry and nice depth. (****)
Wente Vineyards 2012 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #963397) – smooth and silky with vanilla, plum and black cherry. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Carabella Estate 2012 Pinot Noir ($46.95 - #180125) – boysenberry, cassis, black cherry, hint of licorice with a nice mineral aspect on the finish. (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Bergstrom 2011 Old Stones Chardonnay ($41.95 - #410753) – Oregon … ****
Burrowing Owl 2011 Meritage ($54.95 - #343038) – British Columbia … ****
Quivira 2012 Reserve Zinfandel ($44.00 - #394494) – California … *** ½+
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Cade 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($37.95 - #296509) – California … ****
E. Guigal 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($58.95 - #727503) – Rhone … ****+
Jonata 2008 La Sangre de Jonata Syrah ($150.00 - #220517) – California … ****+
Kistler 2013 Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay ($98.95 - #183921) – California … ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – May 16, 2015 …
Ondarre 2009 Reserva ($18.95 - #723452) – Spain
Vinum Africa 2012 Chenin Blanc ($15.95 - #739995) – South Africa
Happy Shopping
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