Saturday August 22, 2015 - Vintages Release Report
10 Aug 2015- 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 Focus … Top Scoring Wines (TSW)
The Skinny … There are some really over-rated wines in this release, but there are also some real gems: check out the range of good wines from Spain and Portugal, seven in total, plus a Merlot from BC that’s well worth your time to get to know. There’s also a real steal from the Rhone Valley – you’ll know the one I mean once you see it. It's also a real weak white release so don't be expecting much.
Argentina …
Trivento 2012 Golden Reserve Malbec ($19.95 - #588731) – cassis, black cherry, and plum; robust and quite fruity. (****) – TSW
Australia …
Tahbilk 2013 The Tower Shiraz ($19.95 - #412205) – cherry, smoke, meaty, dark fruited and white peppered. (*** ½+)
Turkey Flat 2012 Butcher’s Block Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvedre ($19.95 - #90241) – nice flavour with smoky, blackberry and herbal/savoury notes with a little tea leaf on the finish. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Gray Monk 2013 Pinot Blanc ($19.95 - #321612) – pear and apple bolster a touch of sweetness in this light, flavourful and juicy offering from the west. (*** ½+)
Black Sage Vineyard 2012 Merlot ($22.95 - #593053) – juicy fruit, mostly red, with vanilla, mocha cherry, gentle spice, blueberry skin like tannins; really enjoyable. (****+)
Canada (Nova Scotia) …
Benjamin Bridge 2013 Nova 7 ($24.95 - #256289) – summer sipper for the end of the summer, this is one you pick up now and drink the day later: sweet floral and peach with a little spritz. (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Charles Baker 2012 Picone Vineyard Riesling ($35.20 - #241182) - ****+ - TSW
Featherstone 2010 Onyx ($29.95 - #372433) - **** - TSW
Featherstone 2014 Four Feathers ($14.95 - #341586) - *** ½
Southbrook 2013 Triomphe Chardonnay ($24.95 - #395855) - ****
Southbrook 2013 Triomphe Chardonnay ($22.95 - #172338) - *** ½+ - TSW
Stratus 2012 Kabang Red ($19.95 - #380022) - *** ½+
Thirty Bench 2013 Red ($24.00 - #320986) - *** ½+
Vineland 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #551168) - *** ½+
Chile …
Vina Maipo 2012 Gran Devocion Carmenere/Syrah ($17.95 - #274100) – minty-herbal, floral, blackberry and cassis. (****+) – TSW
France (Loire) …
Henri Bourgeois 2014 Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc ($15.95 - #672345) – refreshing and full of citrus, both pith and pulp. (*** ½+)
France (Midi) …
Gerard Bertrand 2011 Grand Terroir La Clape Syrah/Carignan/Mourvedre ($18.95 - #370262) – gentle white pepper, meaty and juicy with nice cherry. (*** ½+) – TSW
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Saint-Etienne 2013 Les Albizzias ($16.95 - #415166) – savoury and earthy elements backed by raspberry and boysenberry. (*** ½+)
La Ferme du Mont 2012 Le Ponnant Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($18.95 - #171371) - Licorice, spice, blackberry, spiced-cranberry, loads of acidity with great mid-palate layered with red and black fruit; keeps getting better and fruitier with each sip, finishes with licorice, black cherry and blackberry. (****+)
Italy (Alto Adige) …
Alois Lageder 2012 Mimuet Riserva Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #424150) – Italian take on Pinot Noir with beet and strawberry all lightly oaked. (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Masseria Altemura 2013 Sasseo Primitivo ($17.95 - #366955) – plum and cherry with lots of flavour and just the right amount of spicy goodness. (****)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Borgo Salcetino 2012 Rossole ($16.95 - #412619) – soft and supple, juicy even; easy drinking. (*** ½+)
Castellani Filicheto 2011 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ($18.95 - #184937) – floral, blackberry, coffee bean, herbs and tobacco. (*** ½+)
Lornano 2009 Le Bandite Chianti Classico Riserva ($19.95 - #230672) – herbal and elegant with cigar notes and mocha on the finish. (****)
Michele Satta 2012 Bolgheri Rosso ($22.95 - #39834) – well-balanced, good spice, dark fruit with a little mocha on the back end. (*** ½+)
Mocali 2009 Brunello di Montalcino ($44.95 - #64956) – almost sweet upon entry with cherry-tobacco, vanilla-tea and a dusty finish that bites back. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
S. Cristina Massoni 2014 Lugana ($19.95 - #200097) – grapefruit pith, tropical fruit with a nice weight on the palate; not a guzzler but a delicate sipper. (****)
Scriani 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($47.95 - #413989) – coffee, black cherry and mocha on the nose; palate is herbal, mocha-cherry, spice with a sweet mid and elegant finish with plum, black cherry and gentle spice. (****+)
Valpantena 2013 Torre del Falasco Ripasso Valpolicella ($16.95 - #642421) – sweet and savoury with cherry, spice and hint of cocoa. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Carvalhais 2012 Duque de Viseu Red ($13.95 - #546309) – easy drinking red for the BBQ. (*** ½)
Delaforce 2013 Touriga Nacional ($20.95 - #324517) – rich red full of plum, blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, chocolate and white pepper. (****)
Herdade do Rocim 2011 Red ($17.95 - #423574) – well priced for this herbal, plum and red / black fruit number that has plenty of savoury and spicy notes on the finish. (****+)
Spain …
Balbas 2005 Reserva ($20.95 - #85183) – mellow and smooth with plenty of blackberry, juiciness and spice. (*** ½+) – TSW
Celler Cercavins 2014 Lo Virol ($14.95 - #425702) – real sweet black fruit and plum with chocolate back up; simple but fun. (*** ½+)
Finca de la Rica 2011 El Nomada ($24.95 - #425785) – peppered blackberry, black cherry but not overly fruity, all with a nice vanilla seam. (****)
Palacios Remondo 2014 La Vendimia ($15.95 - #674564) – big cherry nose with touches of raspberry; a real berry bowl flavour. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Ca’Momi 2013 Zinfandel ($21.95 - #396168) – plum, vanilla, black cherry; a decent Zin for the money. (*** ½+)
J. Lohr 2012 Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #186148) – a little herbal and black cherry that goes a long way to giving you a long savoury finish. (****)
La Crema 2013 Monterey Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #367896) – juicy, herbal, cranberry and sour cherry. (*** ½+)
Madison’s Ranch 2011 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #414102) – juicy and sweet fruited with oak, black berries and cherry. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Pendulum 2011 Red ($27.95 - #46300) – smooth and silky with red currant, mocha-latte, plum and gentle spice; ready to drink and enjoy. (****+) – TSW
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In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Cakebread 2011 Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon ($162.95 - #924175) - ****
Poggio Bonelli 2011 Poggiassai ($31.95 - #85365) - ****
Vidal Fleury 2012 Condrieu ($49.95 - #414516) - *** ½
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Foxen 2013 Tinaquaic Vineyard Estate Chardonnay ($54.95 - #414219) - *** ½+
What I’ll Be Lining Up For – August 22, 2015 …
Delaforce 2013 Touriga Nacional ($20.95 - #324517) – Portugal
Herdade do Rocim 2011 Red ($17.95 - #423574) – Portugal
La Ferme du Mont 2012 Le Ponnant Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($18.95 - #171371) – France
Masseria Altemura 2013 Sasseo Primitivo ($17.95 - #366955) – Italy
Happy Shopping
