Saturday April 29, 2017 - Vintages Release Report
24 Apr 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 … Washington & Oregon (W&O); Rosé (R) and Germany (GER)
The Skinny … Today’s release focuses on three main areas: Germany is the weakest display, the Rosés for the most part are simple and the Washington/Oregon is heavy handed towards Washington … as for the rest of the release
Argentina …
Quimay 2013 Malbec ($16.95 - #482786) – mocha, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry with spiced tobacco on the finish. (*** ½+)
Australia …
Cimicky 2012 Trumps Shiraz ($21.95 - #27383) – pretty juicy along with floral, black cherry, vanilla and rich plum. (*** ½+)
Sister’s Run 2014 Old Testament Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.00 - #478271) – black fruited with cassis, blackberry, spice and really smooth. (*** ½+)
Tournon 2013 Mathilda Chapoutier Shiraz ($17.95 - #336966) – eucalyptus, blackberry, black cherry and smoke. (*** ½+)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2014 Syrah ($40.95 - #73072) – nice smoky quality with earthy, blackberry, black currant and pepper; this is one pretty Syrah and spot on especially with that spicy character knocking on the tongue. (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2015 Rosé ($15.95 - #117861) - *** ½ (R)
Fielding 2015 Red Conception ($19.95 - #189183) - *** ½+
Flat Rock 2015 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #286278) - ****
Henry of Pelham 2013 Cabernet Icewine ($39.95 / 200ml - #672402) - ****
Vieni Momenti Extra Dry Sparkling Rosé ($16.95 - #486357) - *** ½
France (Beaujolais) …
Domaine des Houdieres 2015 Fleurie ($16.95 - #342725) – nice peppery notes with wild blueberry and good acidity. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau La Gorce 2011 ($22.95 - #91397) – black cherry, smoky and spiced plum. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine de la Denante 2014 Les Maillettes Saint-Veran ($26.95 - #491738) – hints of minerality with floral, peach pit and spice. (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Jean-Max Roger 2016 La Grange Dimiere Sancerre Rosé ($25.95 - #490813) – dry rosé with floral and raspberry. (*** ½) - R
Justin Monmousseau 2015 Vouvray ($18.95 - #271940) – subtle sweetness for summer with melon, apple, peach and a touch of citrus, acidity helps to balance it off. (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau Juvenal 2014 La Terre du Petit Homme ($27.95 - #490672) – dark fruited, vanilla, black cherry, white pepper and mocha. (*** ½+)
M Chapoutier 2014 Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage ($28.95 - #972281) – mineral, red berry, sour cherry, and floral; slightly lean in nature. (*** ½)
France (Southwest) …
Chateau Bellevue la Foret 2013 ($14.95 - #354134) – smoky-mocha, spiced plum and tobacco leaf. (*** ½+)
Germany …
Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt 2014 Kaseler Nies’chen Riesling Kabinett ($24.95 - #940809) – good acidity helps to balance the mineral and talc along with the peach / apple sweetness. (*** ½+) - GER
Italy (Abruzzo) …
Farnese 2015 Soluna Terre du Chieti Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon ($15.95 - #477703) – sweet black fruit and coffee with a hint of vanilla. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Col D’Orcia 2011 Brunello di Montalcino ($49.95 - #306852) – nice herbal, spice, dried berry and smoke. (*** ½+)
La Pettegola 2015 Vermentino ($16.95 - #477927) – this one comes from the folks at Banfi and it’s really pretty: minerality galore with lemon, lime and apricot. (****)
Lamole di Lamole 2013 Blue Label Chianti Classico ($23.95 - #476317) – herbal, cedar and smoky. (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Cantina di Custoza 2013 Val dei Molini Valpolicella ($17.95 - #493189) – black cherry, smoky and cocoa. (*** ½+)
Monte del Fra 2014 Bardolino ($14.95 - #134544) – red berries and summer fruit; gentle and easy drinking, chill and enjoy. (*** ½)
New Zealand …
The King’s Desire 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé ($19.95 - #492926) – SEE FULL REVIEW
Portugal …
Periquita 2014 Reserva ($15.95 - #488007) – supple and simple with cherry and vanilla dominating. (*** ½)
South Africa …
Rustenberg 2013 Buzzard Kloof Syrah ($24.95 - #414151) – shows lots of dark fruit, youthful and flavourful with good spice and tannins; delicious. (****+)
Spain …
Luis Canas 2014 Crianza ($17.00 - #336719) – pleasant, gentle with red berry fruit and a touch of cinnamon. (*** ½)
Torres 2012 Celeste Crianza ($20.95 - #210872) – lean fruit but still well-balanced and good structure: licorice, mocha and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Vina Esmeralda 2016 Rosé ($13.95 - #490920) – bright fruits with raspberry and lime. (*** ½) - R
United States (California) …
Cline 2015 Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($23.95 - #719211) – always a delicious wine with plum, black cherry, vanilla and cinnamon with some mocha sweetness. (****)
Edna Valley Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($20.95 - #369959) – supple and silky; a juicy California Cab. (*** ½)
Murphy-Goode 2013 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($30.95 - #482141) – rich chocolate, licorice and pepper with big dark fruit. (*** ½+)
Talbott 2014 Kali Hart Chardonnay ($27.95 - #46417) – fresh apple, peach and gentle melon notes. (*** ½+)
True Myth 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($32.95 - #482794) – chocolate, cherry, vanilla-caramel, blue and black berries with a touch of coffee, but there is nice tannins and acidity to balance this one out. (****+)
United States (Oregon) …
Argyle 2014 Pinot Noir ($33.95 - #909499) – cran-cherry, spice and pepper with a little hint of black tea, good length and finish. (****+) – W&O
Cloudline 2014 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #159970) – cran-strawberry with white and black pepper backing. (*** ½+) – W&O
Elk Cove 2015 Pinot Gris ($24.95 - #955906) – fresh apple and lime; very pleasant. (*** ½) – W&O
United States (Washington) …
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Indian Wells Red Blend ($26.95 - #421081) – nicely layered with flavours: red and black berries, pepper and spice with a smoky-mocha finish. (****) – W&O
Desert Wind 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #486985) – mocha-chocolate with ripe black cherry, vanilla and sweet fruits. (*** ½+) – W&O
Genesis 2013 Merlot ($19.95 - #349415) – soft and silky with blueberry notes and white pepper and mocha. (*** ½) – W&O
Hogue 2014 Riesling ($15.95 - #363291) – there’s a pleasant sweetness with some lanolin and spice hiding in the background. (*** ½) – W&O
Lone Birch 2013 Syrah ($20.95 - #420695) – plush and supple with gentle pepper, floral, vanilla and spice. (*** ½+) – W&O
Seven Falls 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #360222) – juicy version of Cabernet with mocha, strawberry, vanilla with some balsamic notes. (****) – W&O
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Mollydooker 2014 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz, Australia ($54.95 - #327379) - ****
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Emmolo 2014 Merlot, California ($69.95 - #96024) - ****+
What I’ll Be Lining Up For (April 29, 2017) …
Domaine des Houdieres 2015 Fleurie ($16.95 - #342725) – France
Flat Rock 2015 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #286278) – Ontario
Seven Falls 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #360222) – Washington
The King’s Desire 2016 Pinot Noir Rosé ($19.95 - #492926) – New Zealand
Happy Shopping
