Saturday September 30, 2017 - Vintages Release Report

28 Sep 2017

 

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 … Family Matters (FM); Super Sangiovese (SSa); Thanksgiving Wines (THX)
The Skinny … The big highlight is all about keeping it in the family from Montes to Torres and plenty of other families who have spread their wings in the world of wine. Meanwhile, it's a lackluster release with a few good bottles to be had, and some really good stuff if you can afford it.

Argentina …
Vina Cobos 2015 Felino Chardonnay ($19.95 - #119099) – see video review here … ****

Australia …
Heirloom Vineyards 2015 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvingon ($22.95 - #493577) – plum, cocoa, pepper, spice and black fruit galore.  (****)
MollyDooker 2015 Two Left Feet ($33.95 - #327106) – sweet fruit, good acidity and this one’s packs a wallop: chocolate, plum and black cherry with a peppery bite on the finish.  (****+)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2014 Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon ($45.95 - #73098) – cocoa / mocha, black cherry, subtle spice and vanilla with nice tannins; dark fruited and edgy.  (****)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
2027 Cellars 2013 Queenston Road Vineyard Pinot Noir ($28.25 - #421370) … *** ½+
Cave Spring 2015 Estate Bottled Chardonnay Musque ($16.95 - #246579) … *** ½ (FM)
Coffin Ridge 2015 Bone Dry Riesling ($17.40 - #232744) … *** ½
Henry of Pelham 2013 Estate Cabernet/Merlot ($24.95 - #395855) - ****+ (FM)
Hidden Bench 2015 Fumé Blanc ($29.45 - #68825) … *** ½
Quai du Vin 2016 Ehrenfelser ($18.80 - #520536) … *** ½
Trius 2015 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay ($19.95 - #251470) … ****+

Chile …
G7 2015 Reserva Syrah ($15.95 - #514067) – interesting Syrah with dark chocolate, black fruit, intense and lively.  (*** ½+)
Montgras 2015 Antu Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #444703) – minty blackberry, supple and smooth with a smoky-spicy finish.  (*** ½+)

France (Burgundy) …
Benjamin Leroux 2014 Savigny-les-Beaunes ($48.95 - #499640) – intense violet and black cherry with smoky notes and hints of boysenberry.  (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Roger & Didier Raimbault 2016 Sancerre ($28.95 - #82255) – fresh and floral with talc and supple lemon / lime.  (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Delas 2015 Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone ($16.95 - #729962) – floral, white pepper, plum and cassis.  (*** ½+)
Famille Perrin 2014 La Gille Gigondas ($29.95 - #906073) – bold yet beautiful:  cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, blueberry, smoky, elegant with a spicy finish.  (****+) – FM
France (Southwest) …
Domaine de la Baume 2016 Elisabeth Viognier ($16.95 - #438796) – plenty of pineapple and subtle citrus.  (*** ½+) – THX
Tessellae 2015 Vieilles Vignes Carignan ($17.95 - #343509) – chalky cherry, smoky, ripe blackberry, cassis and spiced-plum.  (****)

Italy (Alto Adige / Trentino) …
Luna Nuda 2016 Pinot Grigio ($15.95 - #401232) – a little on the bitter side with crab apple and lemon pith, but it is also surprisingly refreshing.  (*** ½)
Italy (Marche) …
Umani Ronchi 2011 Cumaro Riserva Conero ($29.95 - #699587) – licorice, cocoa, black fruit, mineral; big thick wine worth your tastebuds.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Borgo Scopeto 2014 Chianti Classico ($16.95 - #23325) – another god wine from Borgo: juicy mid-palate with cherry, licorice finish.  (*** ½+) – SSa
Carpineto 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva ($29.95 - #47118) – oaky cherry with tobacco and smoke.  (*** ½+) – SSa
Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi 2015 Campo al Sassi Rosso di Montalcino ($21.95 - #429415) – very cherry with smoke, herbal and licorice notes.  (*** ½+)

Lebanon …
Chateau Ksara 2014 Reserve du Couvent ($19.95 - #443721) – smoky licorice and wild berries.  (*** ½+)

New Zealand …
Auntsfield 2016 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($20.95 - #663286) – zesty tropical fruit apricot and guava.  (****)
Cirro 2013 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #493122) – cherry, raspberry and sweetly smoky with generous fruit.  (****) – THX
Te Pa 2015 Pinot Gris ($17.95 - #519884) – see video review here (****)

Portugal …
Barros 10-Year-Old Tawny Port ($28.95 - #964353) – for those who like the Tawny versions this one is pleasantly spiced with orange and caramel notes.  (*** ½+)
Quinta do Crasto 2012 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($13.95 / 375ml - #515536) – supple with plenty of chocolate, plum, black fruit and spice. (*** ½)

South Africa …
KWV 2014 The Mentors Canvas ($24.95 - #348839) – layers of plum, black cherry, mocha and oak.  (****)

Spain …
Cune Rueda 2016 Verdejo ($13.95 - #517177) – grapefruit zest, mineral and pear skin.  (*** ½)
Tarima 2015 Monastrell ($14.95 - #310151) – supple blackberry, cherry and cocoa with a little blueberry notes; easy and accessible with nice acidity on the finish.  (****)
Terra D’Uro Finca 2012 La Rana Toro ($18.95 - #424135) – smoky-tobacco, cassis, wet stone, earthy and mulberry.  (*** ½)
Torres 2015 Habitat Garnacha/Syrah Organic ($19.95 - #511527) – lovely violet, blackberry, earthy, cherry and juicy; very approachable.  (****) – FM
Vina Vilano 2012 Crianza ($23.95 - #82180) – white smoke, cassis, black cherry and spice.  (*** ½+)

United States (California) …
Rodney Strong 2014 Chardonnay ($21.95 - #226936) – apple, peach, and vanilla with subtle caramelized pineapple, plus good acidity.  (****)
Saldo 2015 Zinfandel ($39.95 - #235903) – jammy, juicy and who’s kidding anyone, it’s a real party pleaser: plum, black cherry, chocolate, and strawberry balsamic sweetness.  (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Cloudline 2015 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #159970) – supple black cherry, vanilla and subtle smoke.  (*** ½+)
Elouan 2015 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #420760) – juicy red berries with earthy notes; straddles old and new world wines plus adds vanilla and sweet red fruit. (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
Seven Falls 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.95 - #360222) – black cherry, tobacco, gentle spice and mocha; easy drinking.  (*** ½+)

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Bachelder 2013 Wismer Vineyard #1 Wingfield Block Chardonnay, Ontario ($44.95 - #520403) … ****
Bachelder 2014 Lowrey Vineyard Old Vines Pinot Noir ($44.95 - #361816) … *** ½+
Domaine la Crau des Papes 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France ($39.95 - #499186) … *** ½+
Louis Roederer 2011 Brut Rosé Champagne, France ($99.95 - #368415) … ****+
Mitolo 2014 Angela Shiraz, Australia ($31.95 - #493569) … ****
Twomey 2014 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir, California ($90.95 - #517607) … ****
Vendrell Olivella 2011 Brut Nature Cava, Spain ($26.95 - #518928) … ****


If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Antica 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($69.95 - #266551) … ****+
Chateau Marsac-Seguineau 2010, France ($59.95 - #512350) … ****
Inglenook 2013 1882 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($79.95 - #412502) … *** ½+
Masi 2012 Serego Alighieri Vaio Armaron Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($84.95 - #462812) … ****
Montes 2014 Purple Angel, Chile ($59.95 - #62364) … **** (FM)
Torres 2010 Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon, Spain ($59.95 - #129676) … ****+ (FM)


What I’ll Be Lining Up For (September 30, 2017) …
Tarima 2015 Monastrell ($14.95 - #310151) – Spain
Tessellae 2015 Vieilles Vignes Carignan ($17.95 - #343509) – France
Torres 2015 Habitat Garnacha/Syrah Organic ($19.95 - #511527) – Spain

Happy Shopping

 

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