Saturday September 5, 2015 - Vintages Release Report

26 Aug 2015

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 … Uncork Something Great (USG)
The Skinny … Might be about “Uncorking Something Great” but sadly there is a very uninspiring collection of whites to choose from; but on the other hand there are quite a nice selection of reds to choose from especially from Argentina, Spain and Italy

Argentina …
Kaiken 2012 Ultra Malbec ($19.95 - #50849) – continues to be one of your best value, full flavoured Malbecs that hits all the right notes.  (****+) – USG

Canada (British Columbia) …
Dirty Laundry 2012 Not So Knotty Chardonnay ($19.95 - #353144) – nice fruit driven Chardonnay with cantaloupe, pear and peach notes.  (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Flat Rock 2014 Riesling ($16.95 - #43281) - *** ½
Henry of Pelham 2013 Chardonnay Estate ($19.95 - #268342) - *** ½

Chile …
Montgras 2012 Antu Syrah ($17.00 - #425900) – minty and meaty with good dark fruit, not as robust as in the past but still a good wine.  (*** ½) – USG

France (Beaujolais) …
Georges DuBoeuf 2011 Rochegres Moulin-a-Vent ($19.95 - #424861) – mineral with black cherry and some there’s even some weight; drink now or hold 3-4 years.  (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau de la Riviere 2009 ($34.95 - #653147) – plum, blackberry, peppery, licorice and some definite tobacco notes.  (*** ½+)
Chateau Haut-Logat 2010 ($27.95 - #424556) – gritty tannins are wrapped around red currants and blackberries.  (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Laroche 2012 Les Vaudevey Chablis 1er Cru ($38.95 - #416057) – soft and supple with apple, peach pit, melon rind and hints of buttery-vanilla to round it out.  (****)
Jean-Marc Brocard 2014 Chablis ($21.95 - #424820) – pleasant minerality, lemon, lime with a hint of pear.  (****)
France (Loire) …
Paul Prieur et Fils 2014 Sancerre ($26.95 - #350421) – grass/hay along with grapefruit pith.  (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Le Ferme du Mont 2011 Cotes Capelan Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($80.00 - #78857) - Rich red and black fruit with chocolate, cherry, blackberry, licorice, and spice - nice balanced tannins.  (**** ½)
Le Gravillas 2013 Gigondas ($22.95 - #78808) – juicy black fruit with herbal notes.  (*** ½+)
M. Chapoutier 2013 Belleruche Cotes du Rhone Grenache/Syrah ($16.95 - #328831) – well-rounded red fruit in an easy drinking style.  (*** ½+) – USG

Italy (Piedmont) …
Ferdinando Principiano del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba Barolo 2010 ($44.95 - #210955) – floral, sour cherry, ripe with red licorice and herbs.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Puglia) …
Schola Sarmenti 2008 Dicotto Primitivo ($29.95 - #379842) – plum and black cherry with great vanilla seam down the middle and a finish that shows herbal and spice.  (****) – USG
Schola Sarmenti 2006 Roccamora Nardo’ Negroamaro ($16.95 - #379768) – cassis, anise, rich black fruit and black pepper finish.   (****) – USG
Italy (Tuscany) …
Piccini 2008 Sasso Al Poggio ($19.95 - #134809) – cherry, anise, and spices; this one has a soft and supple palate.  (*** ½)
Italy (Umbria) …
Villa Mora 2008 Montefalco Sagrantino ($21.95 - #342394) – Dark fruit, anise and herbs.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Coopers Creek 2013 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #57802) – juicy cherry seasoned with dashes of white pepper and well-balanced acidity.  (*** ½+)

Portugal …
Croft 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($18.95 - #87601) - no secret I like LBV, this one is no exception, a true delight of spice, black and red fruit, chocolate-cherry and well-balanced.  (****+)

South Africa …
Mulderbosch 2012 Faithful Hound ($20.95 - #922443) – continues to impress with good mocha, currant and spice.  (*** ½+)
Sutherland 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #203877) – soft lemon, melon, hint of gooseberry; all very subtle.  (*** ½+)

Spain …
Alceno 2012 Premium 50 Barricas Syrah ($13.95 - #398933) – vibrant Syrah from a place a you don’t expect if from and at a good value too.  (****) – USG
Inspiracion Valdemar Graciano 2005 ($34.95 - #423525) – ten years old and quite tasty with herbal character surrounds dried blackberry and raspberry.  (*** ½+)

United States (California) …
Franciscan 2013 Chardonnay ($24.95 -#496125) – fresh with butter cream notes along with peach, pear and apple fruit and a crisp middle and good finish.  (*** ½+)
Gallo 2012 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #394197) – inky black and leathery with good juicy cassis, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla oak.  (****)
The Big Easy 2012 Syrah ($35.95 - #83212) – certainly not easy and hard to pick out as Syrah, but there is creamy, smoky, mocha and peppery notes; it is a lovely sip.  (*** ½+) – USG
United States (Oregon) …
Elouan 2013 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #420760) – somewhere between the juiciness of California and the earthy-austerity of Oregon.  (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Sagelands 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #420810) – juicy yet delicate with simple plum, blackberry and herbal notes.  (*** ½+)
________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Domaine Louis Michel & Fils 2012 Forets Chablis 1er Cru ($39.95 - #231936) Burgundy, France - *** ½+
Gundlach Bundschu 2011 Merlot ($39.95 - #397497) California, USA - ****
KWV 2014 The Mentor Chenin Blanc ($29.95 - #419580) South Africa – ****
Les Vins de Vienne 2011 L’Arzelle Saint-Joseph ($37.95 - #115030) Rhone, Franc - *** ½+
Te Whare Ra Toru 2014 ($24.95 - #415141) New Zealand - *** ½
The Hilt 2012 The Vanguard Pinot Noir ($64.95 - #407841) California, USA – (*** ½+)

If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Cakebread Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($99.95 - #710426) California, USA - **** (USG)
Dom Perignon 2005 Vintage Champagne ($219.95 - #280461) Champagne, Franc - **** (USG)
Ridge 2012 Monte Bello ($190.95 - #711085) California, USA - ****+
Tignanello 2011 ($102.95 - #986786) Tuscany, Italy - **** (USG)

What I’ll Be Lining Up For – September 5, 2015 …
Alceno 2012 Premium 50 Barricas Syrah ($13.95 - #398933) – Spain
Croft 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($18.95 - #87601) – Portugal
Kaiken 2012 Ultra Malbec ($19.95 - #50849) – Argentina
Schola Sarmenti 2006 Roccamora Nardo’ Negroamaro ($16.95 - #379768) – Italy

Happy Shopping

 

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