Saturday February 4, 2017 - Vintages Release Report
31 Jan 2017- 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 Foci … Wine Geeks go to Europe (WGE), South Africa (SA) and Valentine’s (VAL)
The Skinny … The Wine Geeks feature is pretty much a bust, South Africa is South Africa, there are wines you are going to like and wines you will turn your nose up at, and the Valentine’s Day looks like more of a peak with only 5 wines on the list, of which the BC wines are the most fun, especially the Blue Mountain bubbles. But take a look at Argentina and the South of France for your best bargains.
Argentina …
Trapiche 2013 Gran Medalla Malbec ($25.95 - #467977) – very minty and blackberry with hints of violets. (*** ½)
Trapiche 2014 Finca Las Palmas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95 - #143206) – lots of smoky black fruit, mocha, black cherry, cinnamon and tobacco spice. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut Sparkling ($28.95 - #206326) - click here for review … VAL
Dirty Laundry 2014 Say Yes Pinot Gris ($19.95 - #423202) – peach and nectarine with subtle finish. (*** ½+) – VAL
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Domaine Queylus 2013 Tradition Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #392738) - *** ½+
G. Marquis 2015 The Silver Line Chardonnay ($17.95 - #258681) - ****
France (Beaujolais) …
Chateau du Chatelard 2013 Cuvee Les Vieux Granits Fleurie ($22.95 - #207886) – cherry, licorice component with subtle white pepper and spice. (****)
France (Burgundy) …
La Chablisienne 2014 Grande Cuvee Chablis 1er Crus ($29.95 - #685222) – apple, melon rind, buttery-vanilla and citrus zest. (****)
Louis Bouillot Perle D’Ivoire Brut Blanc de Blancs Cremant de Boutgogne ($19.95 - #048801) – nice acidity, apple, lemon, pear and pretty on the palate. (****)
France (Rhone) …
Alain Jaume 2013 Clos de Sixte Lirac ($25.95 - #076349) – tobacco, plum, raspberry and smoke. (*** ½+)
Chateau d’Or et de Gueules 2013 Les Cimels ($15.95 - #480301) – red and black fruit driven with a hint of toatiness. (*** ½+) … WGE
La Guintrandy 2014 Vieilles Vignes Cairanne ($21.95 - #362624) – sweet and earthy with a vanilla oak seam. (*** ½+)
France (Rousillon) …
Chateau Saint-Roch 2014 Vieilles Vignes Syrah/Grenache ($15.95 - #195107) – soft and silky, easy drinking with red and black berries with a little currant, vanilla and a spiced finish. (****)
Greece …
Domaine Mega Spileo 2010 Red ($29.95 - #466110) – leather and sandalwood with some mocha and smoky notes for good measure. (***+)
Italy (Basilicata) …
Pipoli 2013 Aglianico del Vulture ($15.95 - #320507) – sweet plum and cherry fruit that end smooth. (*** ½+) … WGE
Italy (Sicily) …
Barone Montalto 2015 Viognier ($15.95 - #435479) – slightly tropical with a touch of citrus and peach. (*** ½) … WGE
Italy (Tuscany) …
Marchese Antinori 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva ($42.95 - #512384) – good acidity, smoky, coffee, cherry and tannins. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Palazzo Maffei 2014 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($21.95 - #338913) – smoky, mocha and black cherry. (****)
New Zealand …
Jules Taylor 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #224428) – grassy galore with citrus pith on the finish. (*** ½+)
Kim Crawford 2016 Small Parcels Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc ($24.95 - #038240) – tropical, peach and floral. (*** ½)
Two Rivers 2014 Tributary Pinot Noir ($28.95 - #465864) – soft dark fruit, currants and cranberry with a juicy yet spicy finish. (****)
Portugal …
Curvos 2015 Loureiro ($12.95 - #471284) – lots of citrus and green apple; pleasant and summery. (*** ½)
Warre’s 2001 Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port ($49.95 - #189605) – silky yet spicy with black cherry and whopping acidity. (*** ½+)
South Africa …
Flagstone 2013 Dragon Tree Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz / Pinotage ($16.95 - #37549) – smoky clove, licorice and tar. (***) … SA
Rustenberg 2014 RM Nicholson ($19.95 - #278390) – dark cherry, blackberry, subtle burnt with wood smoke notes. (*** +) … SA
KWV 2012 The Mentors Shiraz ($29.95 - #403618) – cigar box, pepper, spice, bramble and blackberry with some black raspberry; smooth and appealing. (****) … SA
Spain …
Elias Mora 2012 Crianza ($21.95 - #366815) – nice dark fruit and smoky notes with pretty impressive tannins and spice. (*** ½+) … WGE
Sierra Cantabria 2014 Seleccion ($15.95 - #190520) – dried red berries, smoky-vanilla all with a good tannin backbone. (*** ½+)
Valpidio 2013 ($18.95 - #479774) – blueberry, vanilla and spice. (*** ½)
United States (California) …
Beran 2013 Zinfandel ($29.95 - #431882) – plum, pepper, smoke, cola bean with spicy pepper on the finish. (****+)
Fleur 2014 Chardonnay ($25.95 - #311522) – mellow but still loaded with fruit and wood taking a backseat with gentle rolling vanilla. (****)
Joel Gott 2014 Merlot ($24.95 - #479121) – soft and juicy with blueberry, cherry and cinnamon. (*** ½+)
Mount Veeder Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #708842) – intense fruit, smoke, licorice, blackberry, cassis, mocha with a whack of spice on the finish. (****+)
Murphy-Goode 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #427542) – good fruit and value for the price; blueberry and sweet cherry dominant. (***+)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Andrea Oberto 2012 Barolo, Italy ($54.95 - #477174) - ****
Domaine FL Savennieres-Chenin 2012, France ($33.95 - #470971) - *** ½+
Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg 2014 Riesling Spatlese, Germany ($39.95 - #481374) - *** ½
Tedeschi 2011 La Fabriseria Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Italy ($39.95 - #097600) - *** ½
Veiga 3-Year-Old Full Rich Madeira, Portugal ($18.95 - #477240) - ****
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Banfi 2011 Poggio alle Mura Brunello di Montalcino, Italy ($69.95 - #372250) - ****
Barone Ricasoli 2013 Castello di Brolio Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, Italy ($59.95 - #942607) - *** ½+
Chateau Fontenil 2005, France ($60.95 - #468322) - *** ½+
Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Brut Rosé Champagne, France ($99.95 - #396895) - **** … VAL
Masi 2011 Costasera Riserva Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($69.95 - #324137) - **** ½
What I’ll Be Lining Up For (February 4, 2017) …
Chateau Saint-Roch 2014 Vieilles Vignes Syrah/Grenache ($15.95 - #195107) – France
Trapiche 2014 Finca Las Palmas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95 - #143206) – Argentina
Happy Shopping
