Saturday May 30, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

27 May 2015

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 … New World Pinot Noir (NWP) and Southern Rhone (SRh)
The Skinny … As a fan of the Rhone Valley and its wines (namely the reds) I am always excited to see the Rhone spotlight, and there are a few good ones on the way, so spark up the BBQ as these wines will go great with the meats you’ll be Q’ing.  There’s a good wine from Chile and a Wild Thing Zin you’ll find fabulous for that back rib dinner you’ve been dreaming about.

Argentina …
Diamandes de Uco 2011 Malbec ($27.95 - #404145) – deep, dark, rich colour: blackberry, mocha, white pepper, tobacco and quite chewy. (****)

Australia …
The Black Chook 2013 Shiraz/Viognier ($17.95 - #066738) – shows a certain juicy blackberry character, very approachable. (*** ½+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Creekside 2013 Queenston Road Pinot Noir ($18.95 - #415877) - **** (NWP)
Lailey 2013 Unoaked Chardonnay ($14.95 - #299776) - *** ½
Raven’s Roost 2013 Pinot Noir ($22.95 - #415828) - ****
Redstone 2012 Limestone Vineyard South Riesling ($18.95 - #381251) - *** ½

Chile …
Errazuriz 2012 Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #203364) – minty blackberry and black currants, touch of cedar and spicy chocolate. (****+)

France (Burgundy) …
Maison Roche de Bellene 2010 Vieilles Vignes Meursault ($48.95 - #241091) – creamy with lime meringue and peach puree all with a shot of vanilla and butter cream. (****)
Louis Bouillot Perle D’Ivoire Brut Blanc de Blancs Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #48801) – crisp of acidity with hints of sweetness on the finish. (*** ½+)
Marchand-Tawse 2012 Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #285601) – black cherry, mineral and cranberry. (*** ½+)
France (Champagne) …
Louis Roederer Premier Brut Champagne ($40.95 / 375ml - #93054) – bready, biscuit, almond skin, bruised apple and hints of bosc pear; quite simply lovely. (****)
France (Loire) …
Chateau de Sancerre 2013 Sancerre ($24.95 - #340893) – pleasant bit of grassy and grapefruit rind. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau de Nages 2012 JT Costieres de Nimes ($24.95 - #736876) - gentle red fruit, spice with a touch of herbal character. (*** ½+) – SRh
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret 2011 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($39.95 - #983650) – chewy with chocolate, herbal and floral;  quite pretty. (*** ½+) – SRh
Domaine Duseigneur 2011 Antares Lirac ($18.95 - #213082) – good fruit, hint of chocolate on the finish, very appealing. (****) – SRh
Domaine les Aphillanthes 2011 Plan de Dieu Cuvee des Galets Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($23.95 - #414367) – floral, black cherry, raspberry, and white pepper; a very pretty wine. (****+) – SRh
Domaine les Grands Bois 2013 Cuvee Philippine Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($18.95 - #286344) – spicy, rich blackberry and black cherry with ripe tannins. (*** ½+) – SRh
France (Roussillon) …
Domaine Bellavista 2011 La Cuvee D’Ava Cotes du Roussillon ($15.95 - #383398) – lots of black cherry and blackberry with a touch of vanilla and an elegant spiced finish. (****)
Famille Perrin 2014 Tavel ($19.95 - #680801) – hints of strawberry and apple skin; dryish with some cherry-lemonade action on the finish. (*** ½+)

Italy (Tuscany) …
Fossacolle 2009 Brunello di Montalcino ($48.95 - #309880) – sour cherry, herbal, smoky/toasty, hint of coffee, plenty of acidity. (****)
Marchesi Torrigiani 2008 Guidaccio ($48.95 - #674499) – quite supple with good acidity on the finish; layers of spice, herbal, black fruit and balanced tannins. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Le Arche 2012 Rossogrande ($15.95 - #410696) – plum, blackberry, hint of toast and earthiness. (*** ½+)
Provolo Campotorbian 2009 Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($19.95 - #974402) – not much on the nose but there is rich cherry, mocha on the palate more than makes up for it. (*** ½+)
Villa Girardi 2011 Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico ($42.95 - #159913) – nicely extracted dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla, smoke and dense tannins; definitely needs a little time. (****)

New Zealand …
Auntsfield 2012 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #361246) – delicate Pinot Noir with cherry, raspberry and tart cranberry on the finish. (*** ½+) NWP
Saint Clair 2013 Premium Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #413591) – delicate black cherry, white pepper and cranberry. (*** ½+)
Spy Valley 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #686675) – lots of tropical fruit amongst the usual grass and grapefruit. (*** ½+)

Portugal …
Alvaro Castro 2011 Red ($17.95 - #285288) – there’s an herbal quality which leads to red fruit, and a slight mocha/coffee sensation; quite elegant. (****)
Dow’s 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($18.95 - #6013927) – black cherry, plum, black licorice, vanilla, spiced-mocha with hints of minerality and generous fruit all backed by that big acidity. (****)

South Africa …
Desiderius Pongracz Sparkling Pinot Noir/Chardonnay ($19.95 - #404111) – nice crisp clean flavours of lemon and apple with good acidity. (*** ½+)

Spain …
G 2011 Garnacha ($18.95 - #132266) – great nose, very good dark fruit, chocolate, cherry, spice almost silky on the palate. (****)

United States (California) …
Migration 2013 Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #412437) – generous cherry nose which follows onto the palate with vibrancy of flavours. (*** ½+) – NWP
Ravenswood 2013 Besieged ($24.95 - #414136) – interesting blend of grapes with dark fruit, gentle spice, licorice and a juicy middle. (*** ½+)
Rutherford Ranch 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #73817) – plum, cherry, blackberry, and vanilla; quite a tasty little Cab. (****)
Wild Thing 2012 Old Vine Zinfandel ($26.95 - #282517) – this one’s on the darker side with plum, black cherry, blackberry, black raspberry but with a juicy sweetish core. (****)
Zynthesis 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel ($24.95 - #412510) – fresh ripe juicy, lots of sweet red fruit and vanilla. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Argyle 2012 Artisan Series Reserve Pinot Noir ($49.95 - #70623) – light yet generous of flavour: cherry framed by spice with fine tannins. (****) – NWP
Duck Pond 2012 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #427872) – straddles between Burgundy and California with good tannins, sweet cherry and peppered minerality. (*** ½+) – NWP
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Bachelder 2011 La Petite Charmotte Nuits-Saint-Georges ($58.95 - #357228) – Burgundy ... **** ½
Domaines Schlumberger 2010 Kessler Gewurztraminer ($33.95 - #307694) – Alsace … *** ½+
Gundlach Bundschu 2011 Merlot ($44.00 - #397497) – California … *** ½+
La Follette 2012 Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay ($50.00 - #394502) – California … *** ½+
Lucien Muzard & Fils 2013 Les Meix Chavaux Meursault ($58.95 - #407072) – Burgundy … *** ½+
Peninsula Ridge 2013 Beal Vineyards Inox Reserve Chardonnay ($18.95 - #007328) – Ontario … *** ½+
Stonestreet 2011 Bear Point Chardonnay ($64.95 - #411579) – California … ****
Stonestreet 2010 Legacy ($99.95 - #708024) – California … ****+

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Chalk Hill 2012 Chardonnay ($54.95 - #706580) – California … *** ½+
Domaine de la Vieille Julienne 2012 Les Trois Sources Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($79.95 - #414433) – Rhone … ****+ (SRh)
Segla 2006 ($53.95 - #359810) – Bordeaux … ****

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – May 30, 2015 …
Domaine Bellavista 2011 La Cuvee D’Ava Cotes du Roussillon ($15.95 - #383398) – France
Domaine les Aphillanthes 2011 Plan de Dieu Cuvee des Galets Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($23.95 - #414367) – France
Errazuriz 2012 Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #203364) – Chile

Happy Shopping

To print this article click here for the PDF version

 

Get Our Newsletter

* indicates required

Follow Us on Social Media

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube