Saturday March 30, 2019 - Vintages Release Report
28 Mar 2019- 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 … Love Connection (LC)
The Skinny … The LCBO has decided to curtail the wines that the media will be allowed to try so this might be one of the longest reports I have over the next little while – see the value wines in the bottom for my best choices in this release.
Argentina …
Finca Las Moras 2016 Paz Malbec ($18.95 - #520486) – floral, smoked-blackberry and cedar. (*** ½) … LC
Australia …
Kilikanoon 2016 Killerman’s Run Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #675223) – deep, dark and delicious: smoky dark berries with generous fruit and tannins with a savoury element, best Killerman’s Cab in a while. (****+)
Riposte 2017 The Dagger Pinot Noir ($22.95 - #508226) – lots of juicy fruit backed by some earthy notes. (*** ½)
Watershed 2014 Senses Shiraz ($26.95 - #073767) – elegant version of Shiraz, less in your face black fruit and more savoury and herbal. (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Closson Chase 2017 KJ Watson Vineyard Pinot Gris ($22.95 - #469445) … ****
Jackson-Triggs 2015 Entourage Grand Reserve Brut ($29.95 - #234161) … *** ½+
Malivoire 2018 Vivant Rosé ($19.95 - #498535) … *** ½+
Chile …
Emiliana 2015 Coyam ($29.95 - #063891) – minty and black cherry with plenty of smoke and spice. (*** ½+)
France (Alsace) …
Pierre Sparr 2016 Sol Gres Riesling ($19.965 - #644419) – fresh and floral with peach and wildflower honey. (*** ½)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Joinin 2016 ($16.95 - #527853) – easy drinking Bordeaux that’s ready to go; wanna show a Bordeaux on the table, this one’ll do. (***+)
France (Burgundy) …
Vincent Baron et Fils Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($22.95 - #624908) – nice and creamy with a citrus freshness and apple core. (*** ½)
France (Loire) …
Domaine Bellevue 2017 Touraine Sauvignon ($16.95 - #082305) – floral, citrus, grapefruit and herbal. (*** ½)
Jean Pabiot 2017 Domaine de Fines Caillottes Pouilly-Fume ($30.95 - #695908) – lovely mineral-stony nose with wildflower, apricot and pear; good rich mouthfeel. (*** ½+)
France (Rhone) …
La Ferme du Mont 2017 Le Ponnant Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($22.95 - #171371) – always a beautiful wine with its red and black fruit, subtle smoke with a leathery-cherry finish; very well balanced. (****+)
Greece …
Kourtaki Muscat of Samos ($15.95 - #938407) – floral and sweet pineapple with honeyed pear notes. (*** ½+)
Italy (Marche) …
Velenosi 2017 Villa Angela Pecorino ($15.95 - #173252) – floral, pear and lemon cocktail. (*** ½)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Rocca delle Macie 2015 Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico ($24.95 - #930966) – smoky dark fruit with slight cedar and hints of bacon fat. (*** ½+)
Italy (Veneto) …
Bottega 2018 Pinot Grigio Rosé ($14.95 - #490938) – pretty floral with some herbal, citrus and even a touch of raspberry. (***+)
Zenato 2017 Bardolino ($15.95 - #096925) – light and easy with good fruit and acid, very food friendly. (***+)
New Zealand …
Two Rivers 2017 Convergence Sauvignon Blanc ($19.95 - #277707) – lots of herbal and grassy notes with plenty of citrus; plenty of gooseberry in there as well. (*** ½) … LC
Portugal …
Casa Santos Lima 2015 Colossal Reserva ($16.95 - #548867) – black cherry, plum and herbal notes with some savoury and spicy character, it’s a yummy BBQ wine. (****)
Croft Reserve Tawny Port ($18.95 - #538983) – figs and spice with a nice black cherry, orange peel and great acid punch. (****+)
South Africa …
Perdeberg 2016 The Dry Land Collection Courageous Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc ($24.95 - #631531) – vanilla cream, citrus zest, baking spices and pulled together with a long finish. (****)
Spain …
Altolandon 2014 Rayuelo ($21.95 - #645531) – licorice, dark fruit, black cherry, subtle smoke and even some strawberry pith, there’s a nice heft in the mouth. (****)
Luzada 2017 Albarino ($14.95 - #625970) – melon rind, lanolin and grapefruit pith. (*** ½)
Obalo 2017 ($17.95 - #644856) – smoky and cedary with a touch of herbal, dark fruit and some pretty cherry notes. (*** ½)
Senorio de la Antigua 2012 Finca Cabanela Mencia ($13.95 - #481549) – nice cherry, fresh herbs, bnlueberry and boysenberry. (*** ½+)
United States (California) …
Decoy 2017 Merlot ($34.95 - #460642) – juicy yet still with a smoky note, cherry, blueberry, raspberry and herbal notes. (****) … LC
J. Lohr 2016 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon ($49.95 - #686584) – rich and savoury with smoky and plummy notes, supple and smooth – yet has some exciting depth. (****+)
Joel Gott 2016 Pinto Noir ($27.95 - #633701) – gentle and fruity with floral and red cherry. (*** ½)
United States (Washington) …
Columbia Crest 2016 H3 Merlot ($19.95 - #209874) – lots of blueberry, vanilla and plum. (*** ½) … LC
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In-Store Discoveries: wines that appear at selected Vintages outlets …
Chateau St. Jean 2015 45th Anniversary Special Edition Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($65.00 - #977173) … **** ½
Morande 2015 Adventure Vigno Vignadores Old Vines Dry-Farmed Carignan, Chile ($21.95 - #638445) … *** ½+
Tedeschi 2014 Maternigo Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto ($26.95 - #631754) … ****
If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Domaine de la Solitude 2015 Cuvee Barberini Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone ($70.95 - #525907) … ****
Drappier Brut Nature Pinot Noir Champagne, France ($57.95 - #179275) … *** ½+
Other Stuff That’s Fine, But It’s Not Wine …
Reif Winery Vinea, Ontario ($29.95 - #645937) … ****
Best Values in this Release - (March 30, 2019) …
Casa Santos Lima 2015 Colossal Reserva ($16.95 - #548867) – Portugal
Croft Reserve Tawny Port ($18.95 - #538983) – Portugal
Kilikanoon 2016 Killerman’s Run Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #675223) – Australia
La Ferme du Mont 2017 Le Ponnant Cotes du Rhone-Villages ($22.95 - #171371) – France
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