Saturday April 27, 2019 - Vintages Release Report
25 Apr 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 … The Big Year (TBY) & Pacific Northwest (PNW)
The New Normal … The LCBO has curbed our tasting of Vintages releases by almost half – they are “curating” what we taste, so instead of finding those gems from the full list of wines being released the LCBO is telling us what they want us to taste and then we are to pick the gems out of those wines …
45 wines were NOT offered for tasting –
plus all 11 “Flagship Exclusives” (aka. In Store Discoveries)
The Skinny … This time I found a Bordeaux wine that truly impressed at under $20 and a couple from Spain and Australia that were also worth it. The Burrowing Owl is a real gem if you are willing to spend the coin and the Treana Cab delivers all you want from California’s Paso Robles region.
Australia …
Chris Ringland 2017 CR Shiraz ($24.95 - #633479) – typical Barossa with sweet fruit, eucalyptus, vanilla, and black fruit; big and ballsy. (*** ½+)
Jeanneret 2016 Cabernet/Malbec ($23.95 - #632588) – blackberry and chocolate; it’s easy drinking and pleasant. (*** ½)
Larry Charubino 2017 Pedestal Chardonnay ($24.95 - #633446) – pretty floral note with so much unexpected acidity and spice with a good finish. (*** ½)
Sister’s Run 2017 Old Testament Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #478271) – raspberry, strawberry, white pepper with a long finish; not so much a punch in the face as a solid sock in the arm. (****)
Canada (British Columbia) …
Burrowing Owl 2015 Merlot ($39.95 - #585737) – big, rich dark fruit with some smoky, mocha and a ballsy finish. (****+) – PNW
Mission Hill 2017 Reserve Pinot Gris ($22.95 - #537076) – slightly sweetness with apple, peach and pear notes. (*** ½)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Jackson-Triggs 2016 Grand Reserve Merlot ($25.95 - #563197) … (*** ½+)
Peninsula Ridge 2018 Beal Vineyard Cabernet Rosé ($14.95 - #177840) … ***
Chile …
Lapostolle 2015 Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.95 - #947929) – floral and cassis with some robust character and big tannins. (*** ½+)
Montes 2015 Alpha Special Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon ($24.95 - #649160) – minty blackberry and smoke with some bittersweet chocolate and white pepper. (****)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau Baracan 2015 ($16.95 - #629980) – dark fruit, cigar box with herbal undertones; excitingly approachable. (****) … TBY
France (Lauguedoc) …
Gerard Bertrand 2015 Syrah/Grenache ($16.95 - #413237) – dark berries, chocolate and smoke, but what really stands out is the black cherry and plum fruit; very pleasant. (****) ... TBY
France (Rhone) …
Lavau 2015 Rasteau ($20.95 - #394650) – raspberry, cigar box touched by pepper. (*** ½+) … TBY
Spain …
O. Fournier 2015 Urban Ribera Tinta del Pais ($19.95 - #645804) – dark fruit, mineral, cherry, raspberry and smoke. (*** ½) … TBY
Solanera 2015 Vinas Viejas ($17.00 - #276162) – full fruited frontal assault backed by tannins with some stony and smoky notes all touched by a shot of vanilla. (*** ½+) … TBY
United States (California) …
Treana 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($39.95 - #639518) – mocha, cherry and blackberry, with some herbal and coffee on the finish; definitely a heavy hitter Cab. (****)
William Hill 2016 North Coast Chardonnay 2016 ($19.95 - #288555) – vanilla and candied apple with butterscotch on the mid-palate; mainly sweet fruit here. (*** ½+)
United States (Oregon) …
Duck Pond 2016 Pinot Noir ($29.95 - #427872) – subtle cran-cherry, plum and spice. (*** ½) … PNW
Roserock 2016 Chardonnay ($41.95 - #573568) – peach and apple with notes of spice and vanilla. (*** ½+) … PNW
United States (Washington) …
Columbia Crest 2014 H3 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #441998) – hints of mineral with subtle pear and spiced peach. (*** ½) … PNW
Wines of Substance 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ($23.95 - #419770) – spicy blackberry, smoky-coffee beans and hints of vanilla. (*** ½+) … PNW
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If You Can Afford It: wines worth their high price …
Chateau Sociando-Mallet 2012, Bordeaux ($67.95 - #594382) … ****
Domaine du Grand Tinel 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France ($52.95 - #993964) … ****+
Best Values in this Release - (April 27, 2019) …
Chateau Baracan 2015 ($16.95 - #629980) – France
Sister’s Run 2017 Old Testament Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.95 - #478271) – Australia
Solanera 2015 Vinas Viejas ($17.00 - #276162) – Spain
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