Saturday December 8, 2018 - Vintages Release Report

06 Dec 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 … Fabulous Food Wines (FFW) & Top Champagnes (TC)
The Skinny … Sadly due to a trip to the US for Thanksgiving and the size of this tasting, split over two days  – I only got a chance to taste predominantly the old World wines in this release; so let’s get right to it:

Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2013 Joy Premium Cuvee Sparkling ($34.95 - #310334) - **** ½
Featherstone 2017 Four Feathers ($14.95 - #341586) - ***+
Henry of Pelham 2013 Cuvee Catharine Carte Blanche Estate Blanc de Blanc ($44.95 - #315200) - ****+
Henry of Pelham 2015 Estate Cabernet/Merlot ($24.95 - #395855) - ****+
Magnotta NV Venture Series Starlight Sparkling ($25.95 - #582098) - ***
The Organized Crime 2016 Pipe Down ($21.95 - #356865) - ****+

Bulgaria …
Terra Tangra 2016 Organic Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Mavrud ($14.95 - #518977) – nice structure with leather, spice and some dark fruit.  (***+)

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Filhot 2015 Sauternes ($24.95 / 375ml - #514679) – vanilla, sweet pear, floral, honeyed apricot; this is the original icewine but without the cold.  (****)
Chateau L’Esperance 2010 ($20.95 - #487868) – spiced-plum, spiced-oak and cassis.  (*** ½)
Chateau Pey Lat Tour 2015 Reserve du Chateau ($21.95 - #349308) – juicy core with cassis, blueberry skin and cedar-soaked-cherries.  (*** ½)
France (Burgundy) …
Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($19.95 - #991562) – good value bubbles, fresh and fruity with the right amount of croissant and apple.  (****)
France (Lauguedoc) …
Chateau de Fauzan 2016 Minervois ($15.95 - #560771) – plum, black cherry and bittersweet chocolate.  (*** ½)
Gerard Bertrand 2015 Syrah/Grenache ($16.95 - #413237) – soft black fruit, black cherry and subtle spice.  (*** ½)
France (Loire) …
Thierry Delaunay 2017 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #391847) – slightly sweaty, sweet fruited with grapefruit cocktail and pear.  (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Chateau Mont-Redon 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($49.95 - #959627) – lovely, rich and intense: blackberry and black cherry, cassis and cocoa.  (****) – FFW
Domaine de Verquiere 2015 Plan de Dieu ($21.95 - #537936) – mocha, cherry and herbal with a rich and delicious plum note on the finish.  (****+)
JL Chave Selection 2016 Mon Coeur Cotes du Rhone ($22.95 - #995548) – succulent cherry, red licorice, raspberry and floral.  (****) – FFW
Les Hauts de Ventabren 2015 Cairanne ($17.95 - #561340) – smoky and toasty with spiced blackberry.  (*** ½+)


Italy (Abruzzo) …
Terra D’Aligi 2013 Tatone Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($15.95 - #994616) – nice dark fruit, juicy and approachable.  (*** ½)
Italy (Puglia) …
Lirica 2015 Primitivo di Manduria ($17.95 - #326710) – plum, dark chocolate, black cherry and hints of fine Corinthian leather with vanilla on the finish.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Clemente VII Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2012 ($34.95 - #573493) – good structure with dried blackberry, smoky hits and quite leathery.  (*** ½+) – FFW
Tenuta San Guido 2016 Le Difese ($34.95 - #147876) – soft and subtle yet still delicious with great concentration of dark fruit and spice.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Umbria) …
Lungarotti 2014 Rosso di Montefalco ($26.95 - #577668) – herbal, cherry, cocoa powder and a gritty finish.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Biscardo 2016 Neropasso ($18.95 - #582882) – plum, cassis, raspberry, red licorice and mocha/coffee on the finish.  (****)

Portugal …
C. da Silva Dalva 10-Year-Old Tawny Port ($35.95 - #583021) – dried cherries and spice, with a subtle almandine and orange peel finish.  (*** ½+)
Confidencial 2014 Reserva ($13.95 - #452789) – cherry kirsch and plum; lovely and very fruit forward at a great price.  (****)
Quinta do Quetzal 2015 Guadalupe Winemaker’s Selection Red ($16.95 - #408138) – red cherry, herbal with a touch of cedar.  (*** ½+)

________________________________________

If You Can Afford It:  wines worth their high price …
Croix Canon 2012, Bordeaux ($66.95 - #671289) - *** ½
Delaforce 2000 Vintage Port, Portugal ($58.95 - #344861) - ****
Guerrieri Rizzardi 2012 3rd Cru Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy ($53.95 - #568691) - *** ½+
Moet & Chandon 2009 Grand Vintage Extra Brut Champagne, France ($91.95 - #069773) - **** (TC)
Ruinart R de Ruinart Brut Champagne, France ($85.95 - #189878) - **** (TC)
Sandeman 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal ($64.95 - #116176) - **** (FFW)
Solaia 2015, Tuscany ($316.95 - #987586) - ****+
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin 2008 Vintage Brut Rosé Champagne, France ($109.95 - #588475) - **** (TC)


Best Values in this Release - (December 8, 2018) …
Biscardo 2016 Neropasso ($18.95 - #582882) – Italy
Confidencial 2014 Reserva ($13.95 - #452789) – Portugal  
Domaine de Verquiere 2015 Plan de Dieu ($21.95 - #537936) – France

Happy Shopping

 

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