Saturday March 31, 2018 - Vintages Release Report

29 Mar 2018

 

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 … Sonoma (S) and Golden Oldies (GO)
The Skinny … Another two-fold focus with Sonoma and Old Wines being on the docket … sadly the old wines just seem like “lost in the warehouse” selections, with some notable exceptions, and the Sonoma wines seem very run of the mill (again, with some exceptions) – the real treats are in the main release with Puglia and Spain being the most notable – and one of my favourite Burgundy values is back from the Talmards.

Argentina …
Don Cristobal 1492 2016 Bonarda ($13.95 - #261941) – this one is super simple with plenty of red berries and quaffability. (***+)
Vina Cobos 2016 Felino Chardonnay ($19.95 - #119099) – floral and citrus with delicious apple, peach and pear. (*** ½+)

Australia …
Kilikanoon 2014 Blocks Road Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #481051) – rich black fruit, cedar, vanilla and cherry.  (*** ½+)
Kilikanoon 2013 Prodigal Grenache ($24.95 - #482547) – easy drinking, gentle fruit, earthy yet fruity: dark and red with some pretty floral notes. (*** ½+)
Wakefield 2016 Clare Valley Estate Chardonnay ($15.95 - #711556) – apricot, apple and hazelnut. (***+)

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Bachelder 2015 Niagara Chardonnay ($24.95 - #302083) - *** ½+
Cave Spring 2016 CSV Riesling ($29.95 - #566026) - *** ½+
Coyote’s Run 2016 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #053090) - *** ½+
Henry of Pelham 2012 Estate Cabernet/Merlot ($24.95 - #395855) - ****+
Rockway 2015 Block Blend Red ($19.95 - #546556) - *** ½

Chile …
Loma Larga 2015 Lomas del Valle Quinteto ($19.95 - #546721) - If you’re a fan of Ontario Cabernet Franc it’s time to check out the competition; 60% Cab Franc with Merlot and Malbec mixed in: vanilla, cherry, blackberry and a minty finish. (*** ½+)
Terra Noble 2015 Gran Reserva Carignan ($18.95 - #542118) – smoky blackberry, black cherry and mocha.  (*** ½+)

France (Bordeaux)
Chateau L’Ermitage 2014 ($29.95 - #425496) – big black and ballsy, mocha, black cherry and coffee on the finish.  (*** ½)
France (Burgundy) …
Domaine Louis Moreau 2016 Chablis ($29.95 - #124305) – apple, citrus, lime, with a nice crisp character and minerality. (****)
Domaine Ninot 2015 Vieilles Vignes Mercurey ($38.95 - #534388) – earthy and black currant with plum, black cherry, and boysenberry; rich and juicy on the finish. (****)
Mallory & Benjamin Talmard 2016 Macon-Uchizy ($17.95 - #733958) - Another delicious Chardonnay from the Talmards at a great price: pear, ginger, lemon, apple with some bitter melon on the finish. (****)
France (Champagne) …
Paul Dangin & Fils Cuvee Fantasie Champagne ($40.95 - #514299) – nice biscuit notes with almond, lemon zest, and baked apple.  (*** ½+)
France (Loire) …
Thierry Delaunay 2016 Le Grand Ballon Sauvignon Blanc ($14.95 - #469593) – grass and pea pod with hints of melon.  (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Paul Jaboulet Aine 2015 Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Villages ($22.95 - #526731) – lovely blueberry, smoked raspberry and herbal notes.  (*** ½+)

Germany …
St Urbans-Hof 2016 Old Vines Riesling ($22.95 - #995746) – hint of sweetness with talc and apple notes with peach, floral and pretty orchard fruit.  (*** ½+)

Greece …
Ktima Pavlidis Thema 2014 Agiorgitiko/Syrah ($21.95 - #202622) – spice, plum, and coffee with nice tannins.  (*** ½)

Italy (Abruzzo) …
Il Feuduccio 2014 Fonte Venna Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($16.95 - #541474) – raspberry, menthol, juicy and a touch herbal. (*** ½)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Sansilvestro 2016 Sabbie Roero Arneis ($15.95 - #541482) – light and crisp with apple, lime and yellow plum. (*** ½)
Italy (Puglia) …
Papale 2014 Linea Oro Primitivo di Manduria ($23.95 - #261784) – spicy black cherry with a sweet plum finish. (*** ½)
San Marzano 2014 Vindoro Negroamaro ($19.95 - #473181) – this is one of those paper-weight bottles you could hold a heavy door open with; it’s also rich and jammy with chocolate/mocha, plum, black cherry and spicy, just use a cart when purchasing more than two. (****+)
Italy (Sicily) …
Feudo Maccari 2016 Grillo ($14.95 - #477877) – simply citrus with apricot and bosc pear. (*** ½)
Messer del Fauno 2016 Nero D’Avola ($13.95 - #538132) – simple yet seductive with black cherry, raspberry and mocha. (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Antinori 2012 Badi a Passignano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico ($49.95 - #384552) – sweet plum and herbal with blackberry, cassis, and white pepper. (*** ½+)
Castelli del Grevepesa 2013 Clemente VII Riserva Chianti Classico ($23.95 - #643205) – smoky and bittersweet chocolate with blackberry and cassis notes. (*** ½+)
San Felice 2015 Chianti Classico ($19.95 - #282996) – sweet black cherry, blackberry and earthy. (*** ½)
Italy (Veneto) …
Tedeschi 2015 Capitel San Rocco Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore ($21.95 - #719294) – cassis, black cherry, mocha, blackberry with a punch on the finish. (*** ½+)

South Africa …
Bellingham 2016 Homestead Chardonnay ($16.95 - #544247) – nice value in a basic Chardonnay. (*** ½)

Spain …
Borsao 2014 Bole ($16.95 - #471565) – smooth and supple with blackberry, plum, cherry and rhubarb. (*** ½+)
Castano 2016 Ecologico Barrica Monastrell ($13.95 - #546085) – spiced plum and cherry. (*** ½+)
Palacios Remondo 2016 La Vendimia ($17.95 - #674564) – Great value red from Spain with lots of cherry, raspberry, strawberry fruit backed by subtle oak and anise. (****)
Rioja Vega 2014 Crianza ($16.95 - #471854) – meaty, cherry and white pepper. (*** ½)

United States (California) …
Decoy 2015 Merlot ($35.95 - #460642) – simple but tasty; juicy blue and black berries with cocoa backing.  (*** ½) … S
Frei Brothers 2015 Reserve Zinfandel ($24.95 - #281758) – sweet and seductive with baked plum pudding and black cherry. (*** ½) … S
J Lohr 2015 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #686584) – coffee and mocha with blackberry, and oak, but it’s not over the top; smooth and silky. (*** ½)
La Crema 2015 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($34.95 - #719435) – juicy black cherry, plum, currants and spice.  (*** ½+) … S
Lake Sonoma Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #380188) – juicy and plummy with some cigar notes. (***+) … S
Lander Jenkins 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #161398) – gentle dark fruit, easy drinking. (*** ½)
Ravenswood 2010 Dickerson Single Vineyard Zinfandel ($46.95 - #599183) – layers of sweet fruit flavour with spice, raspberry, anise, cinnamon, hints of herbal and mineral.  (****+) … GO
Seghesio 2016 Sonoma Zinfandel ($29.95 - #942151) – seemingly simple but with depth and layering the more you sip: plum, black cherry, wood and spice.  (****) … S
United States (Washington) …
Columbia Crest 2015 H3 Merlot ($21.95 - #209874) - H3 is Horse Heaven Hills and it’s a region in Washington that makes wonderful wines: blueberry, boysenberry, cherry and mocha. (*** ½+)

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries:  wines that appear at selected Vintages outlet …
Cave Jean et Sebastien Dauvissat 2014 Montmains Chablis 1er Cru, Burgundy ($51.95 - #485383) - *** ½+
Dunham Cellars 2014 Three Legged Dog, Washington ($34.95 - #551515) - ****
Goretti 2009 Sangrantino di Montefalco, Umbria ($49.95 - #542191) - ****
Keint-he 2013 Queenston Road Pinot Noir, Ontario ($30.00 - #442814) - ****
Olarra Erudito 2009 Reserva Especial, Spain ($44.95 - #378885) - *** ½
Quinta do Portal 2014 Reserva, Portugal ($25.95 - #280578) - *** ½+
Tenuta San Leonardo 2013 Terre di San Leonardo, Italy ($24.95 - #541383) - *** ½+


If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Amiral de Beychevelle 2014, Bordeaux ($72.95 - #043877) - *** ½+
Antinori 2012 Pian Delle Vigne 2012 Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany ($64.95 - #651141) - ****
Chateau des Charmes 2014 Riesling Icewine, Ontario ($67.00 / 375ml - #413724) - ****
Hedges Family Estate 2005 Red, Washington ($79.95 - #001594) - *** ½ (GO)
Kistler 2015 McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay, California ($119.95 - #353706) - *** ½+ (S)
Poggio Sant’Enrico 2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany ($62.95 - #998211) - *** ½+ (GO)
Quintarelli 2014 Primofiore, Veneto ($74.95 - #020867) - ****
Rodney Strong 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir, California ($59.95 - #677690) - *** ½+


What I’ll Be Lining Up For … (March 31, 2018):
Mallory & Benjamin Talmard 2016 Macon Uchizy ($17.95 - #733958) – France
Palacios Remondo 2016 La Vendimia ($17.95 - #674564) – Spain
San Marzano 2014 Vindoro Negroamaro ($19.95 - #473181) – Italy

Happy Shopping

 

 

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