Saturday February 18, 2017 - Vintages Release Report
14 Feb 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 … Australia (OZ), Award Winning Ontario (AWO) & Israeli Wine (ISR)
The Skinny … There’s a good batch of Aussie wines in this release, Israel also shows some promise, but the Ontario Award winners is a lackluster effort by the LCBO. On the other hand, there are some great wines out of Italy this time, so take a look at the very bottom for those under-$20 values I’ll be getting.
Argentina …
Versado 2013 Malbec ($19.95 - #317008) – rich and flavourful with spice, black cherry, vanilla and a wood smoke finish. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Flametree 2013 Shiraz ($27.95 - #474213) – nice complex wine with red licorice, clove and spice, plus blueberry, black cherry and an element of minerality. (****) … OZ
Fowles 2013 Stone Dwellers Shiraz ($19.95 - #265967) – feisty and spicy with lots of plum and cherry. (*** ½+) … OZ
Jansz Premium Cuvee Sparkling White ($26.95 - #566828) – laced with zesty acidity along with lemon, lime, green apple and nice length. (****) … OZ
Jim Barry 2013 The Lodge Hill Shiraz ($24.95 - #998476) – licorice and pepper lead the charge with plum and cherry catching up on the finish. (*** ½+) … OZ
Oscar Estate Vineyard 2013 Shiraz/Viognier ($18.95 - #287961) – dark and red fruit with hints of floral; delicate and delicious. (****) … OZ
Penfolds 2014 Bin 128 Shiraz ($34.95 - #509919) – quiet upfront but definitely ballsy from the middle to its long spicy finish. (****) … OZ
Robert Oatley 2015 Signature Series Chardonnay ($18.95 - #350900) – a Chardonnay for Sauvignon Blanc fans, this one is pink grapefruit. (***) … OZ
Two Hands 2015 Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #219469) – punch in the mouth with flavour: cherry, raspberry, chocolate, and pepper galore; balanced off with nice acidity. (****+) … OZ
Austria …
Stadt Krems 2015 Gruner Veltliner ($16.95 - #295626) – fresh lettuce, pea pod and zesty lime. (*** ½)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2013 Athene ($43.95 - $371336) – pretty with floral, cassis, black cherry, blueberry and white pepper. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
13th Street 2013 Cabernet/Merlot ($19.95 - #056598) - *** ½
16 Mile Cellars 2012 Rebel Chardonnay ($19.95 - #485243) - ****+ … AWO
Fielding 2015 Estate Bottled Riesling ($19.95 - #251439) - ****
Henry of Pelham 2012 Estate Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #268391) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2014 Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir ($24.95 - ****+
Huff 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir ($35.00 - #489708) - ****+ … AWO
Chile …
Montes 2014 Alpha Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #143214) – beet root, dried cherry, boysenberry, pleasant and interestingly spicy. (*** ½+)
Santa Alicia 2013 Gran Reserva de los Andes Cabernet Sauvigon ($15.95 - #060244) – appealing, especially for the price. (*** ½+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Clarence Dillon 2012 Clarendelle Red ($23.95 - #028837) – lots of tobacco, mocha, coffee, herbal and cassis. (*** ½+)
Legende 2015 Bordeaux Rouge ($17.95 - #479816) – cassis, black cherry, blackberry and tobacco; there’s also a nice smoothness thru the mid-palate. (****)
L’Expression de Margaux ($38.95 - #431734) – dark and brooding fruit with black cherry, cassis, mocha, smoky and herbal with a layered appeal. (****+)
France (Loire) …
Domaine J. Laurens Le Moulin Brut Blanquette de Limoux ($19.95 - #180323) – bright, clean, biscuit with lemon and apple notes. (****)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau Sixtine 2013 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($47.95 - #740639) – depth of flavour, smoky, mocha, black cherry and anise with a long lingering finish. (****+)
Grandes Serres Rocca Luna Beaumes de Venise 2014 ($18.95 - #434639) – lush cherry and wood smoke. (*** ½)
Maison Nicolas Perrin 2013 Saint Joseph ($39.95 - #225052) – nice juiciness with good acidity, mineral and spiced plum. (****)
France (Roussillon) …
Chateau Rombeau 2012 Cuvee Pierre de la Fabregue ($22.95 - #479709) – another winner from Rombeau with plenty of plum, cherry and chocolate with good tannins. (****)
Gerard Bertrand 2013 Grand Terroir Les Aspres Syrah/Mourvedre/Grenache ($18.95 - #413245) – cocoa, cherry, blackberry and floral; smooth and silky. (*** ½+)
Israel …
Gilgal 2013 Pinot Noir ($27.95 - #440651) – a good light sour and red cherry fruit Pinot from a part of the world you wouldn’t expect to make good Pinot, exciting. (*** ½+) … ISR
Galil Mountain 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #128058) – rich blackberry, chocolate, black cherry and mocha. (****) … ISR
Jerusalem Wineries 2013 3400 Premium Shiraz ($24.95 - #473900) – chocolate, cherry, boysenberry and a touch of pepper. (*** ½+) … ISR
Teperberg 2014 Impression Syrah ($23.95 - #479246) – raspberry, plum, pepper and even a delicacy with good acidity and a long finish. (****) … ISR
Italy (Piedmont) …
Paolo Conterno 2012 Riva de Bric Barolo ($44.95 - #172783) – licorice, cherry, mineral and raspberry. (****)
Italy (Puglia) …
Casa Girelli 2013 Virtuoso Primitivo ($17.95 - #023424) – mineral, cherry, mocha, not usual but very interesting as it shows restraint and delicacy with a smoky finish. (****+)
Sinfarosa 2013 Zinfandel ($23.95 - #477612) – more typical of a Zinfandel with plum, raspberry, cola and spice. (*** ½)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Aia Vecchia Lagone Toscana 2013 ($19.95 - #476390) – rocks the cherry hard with plum and woodsy notes. (*** ½+)
Banfi 2015 San Angelo Pinot Grigio ($19.95 - #026716) – peach and pear make this one simple but tasty. (***)
Castello D’Albola 2012 Riserva Chianti Classico ($24.95 - #315150) – smoky, coffee, licorice with a hint of mint and leather. (*** ½)
Castelsina 2010 Chianti Riserva ($14.95 - #481184) – modern and approachable with good fruit upfront and earthy acidity on the finish. (****)
New Zealand …
Craggy Range 2015 Muna Road Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($25.95 - #466011) – tropical and grapefruit zest with a touch of spice and good acidity on the finish. (*** ½+)
Portugal …
Solo 2012 Reserva Touriga Nacional ($14.95 - #471292) – licorice, cherry with sweet tobacco on the finish. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Abad Dom Bueno 2006 Crianza ($15.95 - #244699) – a good 10 year old wine with elegant spiced cherry, cedar, plum and still surprisingly fresh; drink now. (*** ½+)
Celler Pinol Portal Crianca 2013 ($22.95 - #146183) – deep cherry and chocolate with coffee notes on the finish. (*** ½+)
Xenysel Pie Franco 2015 Monastrell ($13.95 - #480673) – super sipper with cherry, vanilla, raspberry fruit that repeats in the mouth. (*** ½+)
Vivanco 2010 Reserva ($24.95 - #293431) –silky mocha, cherry, chocolate backed by spice and cinnamon. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Ca’Momi 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #315002) - nice experience of dark cherry, cassis and mocha. (*** ½+)
Joseph Carr 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($39.95 - #409151) – fresh fruit, depth of flavour, cassis, blueberry, mocha and a spicy finish. (*** ½+)
Kendall-Jackson 2013 Jackson Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 – there’s a depth of dark and red fruit: cassis and cherry; steady and firm on the finish. (****)
Ravenswood 2014 Old Vine Napa Valley Zinfandel ($22.95 - #963405) – rich and tasty, a pure expression of Zinfandel with plenty of dark berries and plum. (*** ½+)
Terra D’Oro 2013 Petite Sirah ($25.95 - #479147) – blueberry and blackberry, black pepper and the colour is deep, dark and scary. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Omero 2013 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #470146) – delicate mix of cherry, cranberry cocktail and spice. (*** ½+)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Cono Sur 2014 20 Barrels Limited Edition Pinot Noir, Chile ($29.95 - #684530) - ****
Fel 2014 Pinot Noir, California ($49.95 - #309476) - *** ½+
Planeta 2014 Chardonnay, Italy ($45.95 - #485102) - *** ½+
Taylor Fladgate 2003 Vintage Port, Portugal ($139.95 - #951962) - ****
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona 2011 Brunello di Montalcino, Italy ($71.95 - #001065) - ****
Pinino 2010 Brunello di Montalcino, Italy ($54.95 - #032508) - ****
What I’ll Be Lining Up For (Febraury 18, 2017) …
Casa Girelli 2013 Virtuoso Primitivo ($17.95 - #023424) – Italy
Castelsina 2010 Chianti Riserva ($14.95 - #481184) – Italy
Happy Shopping
