Saturday July 22, 2017 - Vintages Release Report
20 Jul 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 … Old Favourite & New Favourites (ONF)
The Skinny … We’ve hit the middle of the year and just to show you they can still bring in some good wine the LCBO has an Old Favourites / New Favourites release that seems to deliver on both accounts – there are also some great wines for the budget conscious among us, with a handful of under $20 that will keep you going back to the bottle again and again – but make sure to buy a bunch, these ones will go fast.
Argentina …
Luca 2014 Malbec ($34.95 - #167312) – harmonious and tasty with dense blue and black fruit, white pepper and a cherry-chocolate finish. (*** ½+) – ONF
Australia …
Thorn-Clarke 2015 Tera Barossa Shiraz ($16.95 - #595306) – great value for this robust blackberry, mocha, black raspberry, licorice, plum affair; layered and lovely. (****) – ONF
Austria …
Rabl 2015 Gruner Veltliner ($14.95 - #295709) – green peas, green beans and grass on the nose, then find lemon and lime palate to the finish. (*** ½) – ONF
Canada (British Columbia) …
Dirty Laundry 2014 Merlot ($25.95 - #366179) – smoky black and blue fruit with gentle spice and cocoa. (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #89011) - **** ... (ONF)
Fielding 2015 Unoaked Chardonnay ($14.95 - #164491) - *** ½+
Flat Rock 2016 Pink Twisted Rosé ($17.95 - #39974) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2014 Speck Family Reserve Baco Noir ($24.95 - #461699) - ****+
KEW 2014 Barrel Aged Gamay Noir ($17.95 - #515270) - ****
Westcott 2016 Delphine Rosé ($16.95 - #498527) - *** ½
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Haut Rozier 2010 Cuvee Saint Vincent ($16.95 - #496422) – coffee and cassis with licorice and spice. (*** ½+)
Chateau La Fleur 2009 Pourret ($38.95 - #455667) – coffee, black cherry, cassis, touch of cedar and spice. (****) – ONF
France (Burgundy) …
Bailly-Lapierre Pinot Noir Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($23.95 - #420984) – a little on the dry side with a touch of apple and some biscuit leesy notes. (*** ½+)
Domaine des Tourterelles 2015 Macon Villages ($16.95 - #489799) – subtle and fruit driven with floral and melon notes. (*** ½)
Domaine Voarick 2014 Clos Paradis Mercurey 1er Cru ($36.95 - #86603) – subtlety if earth, smoke, floral and cassis. (*** ½)
Roux Pere et Fils 2015 Coteaux Bourguignons ($18.95 - #487454) – spicy, earthy and black cherry. (*** ½+)
Sylvain Mosnier 2014 Beauroy Chablis 1er Cru ($34.95 - #488817) – soft apple, butter, pear and mineral. (*** ½+)
Theulot Juillot 2015 Vieilles Vignes Mercurey ($31.95 - #487462) – black cherry, fruit driven, strawberry, craisins and great mouthfeel. (****)
France (Midi) …
Claude Gros 2013 La Condamine Paulignan Minervois ($17.95 - #493528) – pleasant dark blueberry and cassis with floral and olive. (*** ½+)
France (Provence) …
Chateau de Berne 2016 Rosé ($26.95 - #490847) – dry raspberry with mineral; juicy core. (*** ½+)
Saint Aix 2016 Rosé ($22.95 - #451906) – strawberry, raspberry, lime with great acidity. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
Domaine Maby 2016 La Forcadiere Tavel Rosé ($18.95 - #701318) – full on strawberry. (*** ½+)
Jean-Luc Colombo 2015 Les Forots Cotes du Rhone ($21.95 - #494641) – supple black fruit, mocha, cherry and plum. (****)
Xavier 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($44.95 - #244814) – dense yet delivers blackberry, pepper, cassis and violets. (****) – ONF
Xavier 2015 Cotes du Rhone ($17.95 - #297317) – plum and black cherry, meaty, licorice, blackberry all with a smoky finish. (****) – ONF
Yannick Alleno & Michel Chapoutier 2014 Guer-Van Crozes-Hermitage ($29.95 - #489450) – red and black berry with sandalwood and licorice. (*** ½+)
Germany …
Balthasar Ress 2014 Riesling Kabinett ($19.95 - #496547) – pushes the minerality in your face, but there is also plenty of peach and pear fruit for balance. (*** ½+)
Italy (Campania) …
Janare 2015 Falanghina del Sannio ($16.95 - #387647) – hits of pineapple and lime with some tropical fruit and lanolin on the finish. (*** ½+) – ONF
Italy (Veneto) …
Zeni Marogne 2014 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($17.95 - #220830) – chocolate, black cherry, smoky-vanilla and spice with a long mocha finish. (****) – ONF
New Zealand …
Waimea 2016 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #714295) – plenty of grapefruit and lime zest with a touch of those grassy notes typical in Kiwi Sauv Blanc, plus a long finish. (*** ½+) – ONF
Portugal …
Anselmo Mendes 2015 Passaros Vihno Verde ($13.95 - #190546) – fresh with apple, pear and lemonade. (*** ½)
South Africa …
Cathedral Cellar 2010 Brut Sparkling ($16.95 - #296426) – plenty of apple and leesy notes with fresh citrus and some punch on the finish with expressive acidity that balances this out. (****)
Rustenberg 2015 RM Nicholson ($18.95 - #278390) – cocoa dusted with blueberry, a touch of cedar and some pepper. (*** ½+) – ONF
Spain …
La Tremenda 2012 Monastrell ($19.95 - #490011) – elegant and juicy with red berries, red licorice, spiced-cherry and herbal notes. (****)
Monasterio de Las Vinas 2012 San Jose de Aguaron Reserva ($14.95 - #166579) – cheap and cheerful, that might cover it off but look for cherry, balsamic, raspberry, oak and spice; an easy recommend. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Joel Gott 2014 815 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #444059) – juicy and easy drinking Cab with floral and dark berries, plus a hint of white pepper. (*** ½+) – ONF
Kenwood 2015 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #158790) – butter and juicy pear and peach puree with vanilla and a touch of spice backing. (****)
Sterling 2012 Merlot ($19.95 - #330241) – juicy, smoky, black and blue berry with oak, cedar and vanilla; already 5 years old and ready to drink. (****)
United States (Oregon) …
A to Z Wineworks 2014 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #229781) – soft and easy drinking style of Pinot, it’s uncomplicated with a touches of spice and black raspberry. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Seven Falls 2012 Merlot ($20.95 - #420711) – another 5 year old Merlot in this release, this time from Washington State: mocha, plum with supple tannins, this one is rich and tasty. (****)
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Chateau D’Esclans 2016 Rock Angel Rosé, Provence ($44.95 - #491027) - *** ½+
Dom Perignon 2005 Luminous Rosé Champagne, France ($344.95 - #429365) … ****
Louis Jadot 2014 Beaune Les Greves 1er Cru, Burgundy ($65.95 - #84343) … *** ½+
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne, France ($69.95 - #36962) … ****
Crossbarn 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($56.95 - #438986) … *** ½+ (ONF)
What I’d Be Getting, If I Were You (July 22, 2017) …
Cathedral Cellar 2010 Brut Sparkling ($16.95 - #296426) – South Africa
Kenwood 2015 Chardonnay ($18.95 - #158790) – California
La Tremenda 2012 Monastrell ($19.95 - #490011) – Spain
Seven Falls 2012 Merlot ($20.95 - #420711) – Washington
Sterling 2012 Merlot ($19.95 - #330241) – California
Thorn-Clarke 2015 Tera Barossa Shiraz ($16.95 - #595306) – Australia
Xavier 2015 Cotes du Rhone ($17.95 - #297317) – France
Zeni Marogne 2014 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($17.95 - #220830) – Italy
Happy Shopping
