Saturday January 23, 2016 - Vintages Release Report
21 Jan 2016- Details
- Category: What I'm Tasting
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 … Argentina & Chile (A&C) and Portugal (P)
The Skinny … In a release centered around Argentina and Chile the Argentines take the lion’s share of the good wines, meanwhile Portugal has quite a few of its own to crow about. Plus look for some great wines out of France, Spain and California (see the last section of this report).
Argentina …
Atamisque 2011 Malbec ($29.95 - #415208) – plum and blueberry, chocolate, black cherry, white pepper with violets on the finish: intense and concentrated with woodsy notes. (****+) … A&C
Toneles 2012 Tonel 22 Malbec ($17.95 - #415018) – flavourful and smoky with cassis, mocha, black cherry and floral undertones. (*** ½+) … A&C
Trapiche 2013 Broquel Bonarda ($14.95 - #55558) – juicy fruit with red cherry and red raspberry. (*** ½+) … A&C
Trivento 2013 Amado Sur Malbec / Bonarda / Syrah ($16.95 - #37036) – simple with fresh and tasty red berries. (*** ½) … A&C
Australia …
Glen Eldon 2012 Kicking Back Cabernet/Shiraz ($21.95 - #431833) – it doesn’t get much easier than this. (*** ½)
Shingleback 2012 Davey Estate Shiraz ($23.95 - #431296) – intense smoky-meaty, charming black cherry, woodsy-cedary and licorice with a spicy finish. (****)
Chile …
Santa Carolina 2011 Specialties Dry Farming Carignan ($17.95 - #213520) – mint, blackberry, mocha, big alcohol, huge taste and a long finish. (****+) … A&C
France (Alsace) …
Willy Gisselbrecht 2013 Tradition Gewurztraminer ($18.95 - #928190) – orange, blossom, honey and mild lychee. (*** ½+)
France (Beaujolais) …
Laurent Gauthier 2013 Grand Cras Vieilles Vignes Morgon ($19.95 - #279059) – delightful black and red cherry with pepper, herbal and spice. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau de Lamarque 2010 ($39.95 - #440198) – lot of cedary and smoky notes with smoked-blackberry on the leathery finish. (*** ½+)
Chateau des Demoiselles 2010 ($17.95 - #348755) – concentrated with sweetish black fruit, leather and cedar. (*** ½+)
Chateau La Garricq 2010 ($37.95 - #435164) – leather, coffee, smoke and pepper. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Jean-Baptiste Bejot 2013 Pommard ($49.95 - #438010) – upfront cranberry, cherry with mocha on the finish. (****)
Louis Bouillot Perle D’Aurore Brut Rosé Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #48793) – pretty lime, raspberry and strawberry notes. (*** ½+)
Mallory & Benjamin Talmard 2014 Macon-Uchizy ($16.95 - #733956) – becoming an annual staple release and it’s still a tasty budget Chardonnay: fresh apple and pear, with its fruit up-front and touch of vanilla backing. (*** ½+)
Vincent Girardin 2013 Vieilles Vignes Santenay ($37.95 - #435552) – firm black cherry and woodsmoke. (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Domaine Chatelain 2014 Les Vignes de Saint-Laurent-L’Abbaye Pouilly Fume ($19.95 - #958801) – grapefruit and grassy, nice pith notes, very refreshing. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
La Ferme du Mont 2013 Premiere Cote Cotes du Rhone ($15.95 - #251645) – red licorice, cherry, kirsch, cocoa, rich red berries … great value. (****)
Les Amouriers 2012 Signature Vacqueyras ($26.95 - #381038) – chocolate, black cherry and pipe tobacco. (*** ½+)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Michele Chiarlo 2014 Le Marne Gavi ($17.95 - #228528) – orange zest and mineral. (*** ½)
Tenuta Carretta 2009 Cascina Ferrero Barolo ($45.95 - #429779) – dried red fruit, herbs, licorice and white pepper. (****)
Italy (Puglia) …
Tormaresca 2012 Trentangeli ($19.95 - #435529) – meaty, smoky, blackberry, cassis, touch earthy; everything in its place with a nice toasty finish. (****)
Italy (Sicily) …
Terre di Giumara 2013 Nero D’Avola ($14.95 - #174722) – big hit of black cherry, mocha, smoke and sweet spice. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Fattoria dei Barbi 2010 Brunello di Montalcino ($49.95 - #928028) – savoury note with leather, crushed herbs, mineral and dried plum. (*** ½+)
Mocali 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #434340) – flavourful red and black fruit, intense smoke, black cherry and cassis with a little chalkiness on the finish; good value. (****+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Le Arche 2012 Ripasso Valpolicella ($17.95 - #35828) – black cherry, mocha, smoky, balsamic-strawberry. (*** ½+)
New Zealand …
Huntaway 2013 Reserve Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #438424) – ripe red plum, cranberry cocktail, savoury and seductive. (****)
Nautilus 2013 Chardonnay ($26.95 - #331652) – toffee, oak, cinnamon with tropical fruit backing. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Barao de Vilar 2012 Proeza ($13.95 - #427187) – plenty of raspberry and simple spices. (*** ½+) – P
Dalva 2010 LBV Port ($19.95 - #169755) – silky black cherry, coffee, chocolate with great acidity. (*** ½+) – P
Pomares 2011 Tinto ($16.95 - #214007) – red licorice, chocolate and cherry. (*** ½+) – P
Templarios 2012 Colheita Selecionada Vinho Tinto ($14.95 - #332981) – soft red fruit, easy on the palate with a vanillin finish. (*** ½+) – P
Vale do Bomfim 2013 ($15.95 - #16767) – richly full flavoured cherry and mocha; quite easy drinking. (*** ½+) – P
Warre’s 2001 Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port ($49.95 - #189605) – delightful dried plum and dried cherry, clove with juicy and soft leather all nicely seasoned and spiced. (****)
Spain …
Vinessens Sein 2011 ($16.95 - #391896) – lovely intense dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, peppery and smoky notes; it’s got layers of flavour you’ll continue to find and enjoy as the night wears on. (****+)
United States (California) …
Esser 2013 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #675017) – decent fruit, hint of vanilla and citrus with lengthy pineapple finish. (****)
Havens 2014 Chardonnay ($22.95 - #454587) – rich butter, toast and caramel, green apple and vanilla cream with nice acidity on the finish. Good value in Cali-Chard at just over $20. (****+)
Ironstone 2012 Reserve Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon ($34.95 - #702381) – nice smoky-mocha with some chocolate minty notes. (*** ½+)
Lander-Jenkins 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #161398) – pretty label, gentle easy drinking wine with plum and cherry with some vanilla sweetness. (*** ½)
Victor 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel ($20.95 - #428531) – cola, tar, vanilla, herbal and toasty; not typical and that’s a good thing. (****)
United States (Idaho) …
Ste Chapelle 2012 Gem State Red ($17.95 - #441931) – Never put an Idaho wine on the table, now you can: there’s red fruit and cocoa with mineral notes. (*** ½)
United States (Oregon) …
Duck Pond Cellars 2014 Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #333286) – delicate lime, pear and grapefruit pith and zest. (*** ½+)
Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate 2013 Pinot Noir ($45.95 - #974287) – gorgeous and flavourful with ripe red cherry and yellow plum with a delightful herbal sensation mid-palate to the finish. (****+)
________________________________________
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Peter Franus 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($66.95 - #907477) – California … ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For: January 23, 2016 …
Havens 2014 Chardonnay ($22.95 - #454587) – California
Mocali 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #434340) – Tuscany
Victor 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel ($20.95 - #428531) – California
Vinessens Sein 2011 ($16.95 - #391896) – Spain
Santa Carolina 2011 Specialties Dry Farming Carignan ($17.95 - #213520) – Chile
Happy Shopping
