I must apologize that I was unable to attend the Vintages pre-tasting for the March 16, 2013 release because of weather reasons ... my release reports will return for the March 30, 2013 Vintages release. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Saturday March 2, 2013 - 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: California Trends (CT) and South/Central Italy (SCI)
The Skinny: Check out Spain and Portugal for great value and a couple of red from Australia really impress.
Argentina …
Alamos 2010 Seleccion Pinot Noir ($16.95 - #143172) – juicy with lots of red fruit. (*** ½+)
Finca Agostino Inicio Torrontes 2011 ($14.95 - #303669) – nice with soapy, tangerine and floral notes. (*** ½)
Nieto Senetiner 2010 Gran Reserva Malbec/Petit Verdot ($17.95 - #295170) – there’s a kind of vanilla creaminess to this wine; an unexpected grape combination that proves to be very delicious indeed; also lots of dark fruit and some red licorice. (****)
Australia …
Coriole Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 ($19.95 - #141960) – juicy with hints of spiced-vanilla along with red and dark fruit. (*** ½+)
Devil’s Corner 2011 Pinot Noir ($20.95 - #317966) – I have a weak spot for Taz Pinot and it continues here with this lovely spice and great acidity; power yet with restrained fruit.(****)
Mollydooker 2010 The Boxer Shiraz ($29.95 - #246595) – big Shiraz, 16%, with blackberry, white pepper and anise notes. (****)
Mountadam 2010 Unoaked Chardonnay ($17.95 - #641878) – pleasant on the palate with citrus, peach and nice acidity; clean easy sipper. (*** ½+)
Rolf Binder 2009 Ma I? Have This Evening Shiraz/Mataro ($19.95 - #295899) – this is a beauty, a real seductive wine; as the name suggests this wine has your back on a night out. Shows real elegance and complexity in both aroma and flavour. (**** ½)
Yangarra 2008 Shiraz ($22.95 - #911974) – eucalyptus, dark berry, spice, chocolate along with juicy raspberry, strawberry and cassis. (****+)
Canada (Ontario) …
Konzelmann 2010 Heritage ($24.95 - #149179) - *** ½+
Southbrook Vineyards 2011 Triomphe Chardonnay ($21.95 - #172338) - *** ½+
Sue-Ann Staff 2011 Loved by Lu Riesling ($16.95 - #322636) - *** ½+
Tawse 2011 Gamay Noir ($18.95 - #322545) - ****
Vintage Ink 2010 Mark of Passion Merlot/Cabernet ($17.95 - #250209) - ****
Chile …
Tabali 2009 Reserva Especial ($22.95 - #107540) – good fruit, juicy, blackberry, black pepper, blueberry, black cherry and a touch of sandalwood. (****+)
France (Bordeaux) …
Chateau La Tour de Mons 2009 ($39.95 - #307959) – juicy middle surrounded by spice, pepper and wood. (*** ½+)
Chateau Moulin de la Roquille 2010 Cuvee Speciale L’Esperance ($19.95 - #307249) – nice spice, dark fruit, cocoa and coffee. (*** ½+)
Chateau Segue Longue Monnier 2009 ($21.95 - #307355) – soft, easy drinking, red berries and cocoa. (*** ½+)
France (Burgundy) …
Pascal Renaud 2011 Cuvee Vieilles Vignes Pouilly-Fuisse ($26.95 - #303651) – well balanced with nice apple and lemon pith notes. (*** ½)
France (Rhone) …
Cave de Rasteau 2010 La Domeliere Rasteau ($15.95 - #222927) – well balanced between the fruit, smoky, tannins and earthiness. (*** ½+)
Chateau du Trignon 2007 Le Bossu Gigondas ($27.95 - #309328) – this wine just has some really yummy fruit: smoke, vanilla, plum; very good and the tannins don’t overwhelm. (****+)
Le Ferme du Mont 2010 Vendange Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($42.95 - #309245) – very juicy and jammy, well-balanced, sweet fruit takes over the mid. (****+)
France (Southwest) …
Chateau le Fage 2011 Bergerac Rouge ($14.95 - #309252) – good dark fruit, hint of spice and pepper but it’s always got a core of fruit. (****)
Italy (Abruzzo) …
Aldiano 2008 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva ($17.95 - #51706) – dark chocolate cherry and spice. (*** ½+) - SCI
Italy (Calabria) …
Statti Mantonico Bianco 2010 ($18.95 - #317644) – refreshing with peach, lime, canned pineapple and orange zest. (****) – SCI
Italy (Campania) …
Selvanova 2009 Vigna Antica Aglianico ($15.95 - #313494) – dark and smoky of fruit, plenty of spiced-tannin notes. (*** ½) – SCI
Italy (Emilia-Romagna) …
Umberto Cesari Liano Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 ($29.95 - #225086) – lots of berries and vanilla, kinda jammy but balanced. (****)
Italy (Piedmont) …
Ca’Dei Mandorli dei Giari Moscato D’Asti 2011 ($15.95 - #179259) – it’s moscato, what’s not to like. (*** ½)
Italy (Puglia) …
Apollonio Copertino Rosso 2007 ($16.95 - #23226) – wonderful plum and blackberry with a touch of earthiness on the finish. (*** ½+)
Italy (Sardinia) …
Jerzu Chuerra 2008 Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna ($15.95 - #270272) – raspberry, wood spice and mocha. (*** ½) - SCI
Italy (Sicily) …
Caruso & Minini Sachia Perricone 2010 ($13.95 - #211854) – nice black licorice with cassis, coffee and cocoa; a good buy for BBQ season. (****) – SCI
Terreliade Nira Nero D’Avola 2010 ($18.95 - #120980) – red and black fruit, hints of spice with a juicy core; quite tasty. (****) – SCI
Italy (Tuscany) …
Casale Dello Sparviero 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva ($18.95 - #317313) – rustic leather nose with an indulgent cooked fruit and bacon palate. (*** ½+)
San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello di Montalcino 2006 ($47.95 - #212431) – baking spice and cherry fruit. (****)
Italy (Veneto) …
Giuseppe Campagnola 2010 Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($17.00 - #313486) – nice coffee-laden notes right down the seam with floral accents. (*** ½)
Portugal …
Castelo de Azurara 2010 Reserva ($14.95 - #314542) – has a little spearmint amongst the red fruit. (****)
Herdade do Sobroso 2010 Sobro Red ($14.95 - #306563) – clearly a drink and enjoy red, there’s a nice cedar quality knocking at the backdoor of the fruit. (****)
Quinta da Lixa Pouco Comum Alvarinho 2011 ($14.95 - #316968) – lots of lime on this one, both lime and pith. (*** ½+)
Spain …
Finca Nueva 2005 Reserva ($18.95 - #268425) – nice structure with raspberry, baker’s chocolate, cassis, plum and a nice finish seals the deal. (****)
Marques de Caceres 2004 Gran Reserva ($29.95 - #976670) – plum, tobacco and spice. (*** ½+)
Pinol Ludovicus 2010 Tinto ($13.95 - #313791) – plum, black cherry, hints of chocolate, smooth, vanilla, supple; great value in an easy drinking red. (****)
Tarima 2010 Monastrell ($12.95 - #310151) – very yummy, easy drinking, plum and cherry with a touch of spice to keep the fruit from getting away; great price. (****)
USA (California) …
Bonterra 2010 Pinot Noir ($19.95 - #317685) – light mouthfeel with cherry and hints of oak, cinnamon, vanilla and a nice white pepper finish. (****) - CT
Chalone Estate 2010 Chardonnay ($29.95 - #80226) – full in the mouth with spice and exotic fruits. (*** ½+) – CT
Justin 2010 Syrah ($36.95 - #684290) – dark fruited and juicy, white pepper and chocolate-raspberry also make an appearance. (****) - CT
Kendall-Jackson 2011 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay ($19.95 - #369686) – buttery, melon with a nice use of oak; vanilla cream, peach cobbler and apple; also available in 375ml. (****)
Ridge 2010 Lytton Springs ($48.95 - #982413) – this wine has a beautiful chocolate core, but is so much more than that. (****+)
If You Can Afford It – wines worth their lofty price tag …
Beringer 2007 Steinhauer Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($69.95 - #313551) - **** (CT)
Chateau La Tour Carnet 2009 ($51.85 - #220178) - ****
Justin 2009 Isosceles ($78.95 - #684282) - ****+ (CT)
Giuseppe Quintarelli 2003 Rosso Ca’Del Merlo ($97.95 - #958595) - ****
La Jota 2009 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($77.95 - #659755) - ****+ (CT)
What I’ll Be Lining Up For on March 2, 2013 …
Caruso & Minini Sachia Perricone 2010 ($13.95 - #211854) – Italy
Chateau du Trignon 2007 Le Bossu Gigondas ($27.95 - #309328) – France
Devil’s Corner 2011 Pinot Noir ($20.95 - #317966) – Australia
Pinol Ludovicus 2010 Tinto ($13.95 - #313791) – Spain
Rolf Binder 2009 Ma I? Have This Evening Shiraz/Mataro ($19.95 - #295899) – Australia
Tarima 2010 Monastrell ($12.95 - #310151) – Spain
Happy Shopping
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