Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Saturday April 12, 2014 - Vintages Release Report



I am using a 5-star rating system, which appears at the end of each review; here’s the key to the stars:
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average

Key:  Wine colour indicators - Red are red wines, Yellow are whites, etc.

The Foci … Easter (ETR) and Italian Appassimento (APP)
The Skinny … Light load in the great wines to buy department, but the ones really worth buying are quite worth it.

Argentina …
Alamos 2013 Viognier ($13.95 - #507830) – rich and lively with pear and pineapple puree.  (*** ½+)
Catena 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #985002) – rich dark fruit, black and blue berries, vanilla, cocoa; just really delicious fruit.  (****+)
Trivento 2012 Amado Sur Malbec / Bonarda / Syrah ($16.95 - #037036) – juicy black cherry and cassis with hints of white pepper.  (*** ½+)

Australia …
Grant Burge 2012 5th Generation Shiraz ($18.95 - #361295) – I like the price while the wine is tasty with subtle black berry fruit.  (*** ½+)
Jim Barry 2010 The Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.95 - #677476) – great dark fruit with an element of spice to keep it truly honest.  (****)

Canada (British Columbia) …
Dirty Laundry 2011 Merlot ($31.95 - #366179) – soft and fruity with mainly blueberry and mocha keeping it together.  (*** ½+)
Canada (Ontario) … click on wine name for full review
Featherstone 2013 Rosé ($14.95 - #117861) - *** ½+ (ETR)
Fielding Estate 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.95 - #131235) – *** ½+
Lailey 2012 Chardonnay ($19.95 - #193482) - ****+ (ETR)
Rosewood Estates 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir ($39.95 - #318345) - ****+ (ETR)
Tawse 2011 Sketches Cabernet Merlot ($20.95 - #130252) - *** ½+

Chile …
Conchy y Toro 2008 Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere ($19.95 - #169862) – nicely spiced black and blue berries.  (*** ½+)

France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau La Croix de Gay 2010 ($49.85 - #259150) – smoky black fruit and cedar.  (****)
France (Burgundy) …
Georges DuBoeuf 2011 Clef du Bief Moulin A Vent ($24.95 - #371807) - gentle and easy with good fruit.  (*** ½+)

Italy (Abruzzo) …
Ulisse 2012 Unico Pecorino ($19.95 - #249128) – grilled pineapple rind, pineapple core and banana skin; light, crisp and delightful.  (****)
Italy (Piedmont) …
FontanaFredda 2012 Gavi di Gavi ($18.95 - #366948) – lemon and peach fight it out and the winner just happens to be you.  (*** ½+)
Italy (Tuscany) …
Caparzo 2011 Rosso di Montalcino ($19.95 - #333575) – pleasant and fruit driven; a classy little wine.  (****)
Podere Dell’Anselmo 2010 Chianti Montespertoli ($19.95 - #371690) – nicely spiced with cherry and blackberry, good herb and smoky notes too.  (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Astoria 2012 Millesimato Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ($21.95 - #369504) – nice sweetness, pleasant and summery.  (*** ½+)
Monte Zovo 2011 Sa’Solin Ripasso Valpolicella ($17.95 - #650713) – mocha, coffee and smoke rules the roost here.  (*** ½+) – APP
Speri 2011 Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($21.95 - #370353) – nice cherry core, which makes the wine clean and incredibly chuggable, but the acidity makes it food friendly.  (****) – APP
Tedeschi 2012 Capitel Nicalo Appassimento Valpolicella Superiore ($16.95 - #984997) – simplistic label does not mean simplistic wine; this one is loaded with flavour and good value.  (****+) – APP
Tenuta Sant’Antonio 2010 Selezione Antonio Castagnedi Amarone del Valpolicella Classico ($43.95 - #685107) – rich, robust, dark fruited and chocolaty.  (****+) – APP
Zenato 2010 Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore ($25.95 - #479766) – lots of juicy aspects here with black cherry, hints of chocolate with a touch of floral and fig.  (****) - APP

New Zealand …
Julicher 2010 99 Rows Pinot Noir ($24.95 - #367979) – spiced-black cherry, anise, and white smoke with good length.  (****)
Momo 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - #009167) – bright and lively with grapefruit and lime zest.  (*** ½+)

Spain …
Williams & Humbert Walnut Brown Oloroso ($13.95 - #437467) – hazelnut and almond with caramel, spice, fig, great spicy and acid finish.  (****)

United States (California) …
Aquinas 2009 Philosopher’s Blend ($32.95 - #361899) – rich and succulent with a mix of red and black fruit, vanilla and cherry take charge on the finish.  (****)
Bridlewood 2012 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #361824) – lots of vanilla and juicy cherry, maybe too much for a Pinot, then spiced plum swings in to rescue the finish.  (*** ½+)
Handcraft 2011 Petite Sirah ($17.95 - #361907) – blueberry, white pepper, coffee, violets and spice notes with chocolaty elements amongst the peppery finish.  (****) 
La Crema 2012 Chardonnay ($37.95 - #067231) – creamy texture with subtle pith notes, firm mouthfeel with peach and some tropical fruit along with vanilla and spice.  (****)
Lander-Jenkins 2011 Spirit Hawk Chardonnay ($19.95 - #162651) – pretty mango / pineapple and vanilla with depth, nice character and quite mouth filling; quite tasty with good acid backbone for freshness.  (****+)
St. Francis 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($29.95 - #671164) – juicy blueberry and blackberry with hints of vanilla.  (****)
United States (Oregon) …
Bachelder 2011 Oregon Chardonnay ($29.95 - #273334) - a mixed bag of aromas and flavours, from smoke, mineral and baked peach on the nose to white butter and mineral stoniness on the palate … it’s a touch fat in the mouth, but with lovely flavour (*** ½).
Domaine Drouhin 2011 Pinot Noir ($45.95 - #961284) – flavourful black cherry and spiced-cranberry notes.  (*** ½+)
United States (Washington) …
L’Ecole No.41 2011 Red ($29.95 - #366237) – juicy, spicy and woodsy.  (*** ½+)

________________________________________

In-Store Discoveries – wines that just appear on the shelves of your local Vintages outlet …
Bollig-Lenhert 2005 Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spatlese ($22.95 - #368787) – Germany - ****
Georges DuBoeuf 2011 Clef du Bief Moulin A Vent ($24.95 - #371807) -  Burgundy, France - *** ½+
JCB No. 21 Brut Cremant de Bourgogne ($27.95 - #371831) – Burgundy, France - ****
Luce 2008 Brunello di Montalcino ($109.95 - #120881) – Tuscany, Italy - ****
Pali Alphabets 2011 Pinot Noir ($26.95 - #369835) – Washington, USA - *** ½+


If You Can Afford It – wines worth their high price …
Speri 2010 La Roggia Recioto Della Valpolicella Classico ($55.95 / 500ml - #366997) – Veneto, Italy - ****+


What I’ll Be Lining Up For – April 12, 2014 …
Catena 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.95 - #985002) – Argentina
Handcraft 2011 Petite Sirah ($17.95 - #361907) – California, USA
Lander-Jenkins 2011 Spirit Hawk Chardonnay ($19.95 - #162651) – California, USA
Tedeschi 2012 Capitel Nicalo Appassimento Valpolicella Superiore ($16.95 - #984997) – Veneto, Italy

Happy Shopping


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1 comment:

Jeff McCracken said...
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